Biography by Fr Cyril
Siva Subrahmanian———————(original name) was born in a traditional Tamil Hindu Brahmin family. As a child in the Brahmin family of advaitic tradition, he learned the scriptures and mantras needed for a Brahmin. As an ideal teenager he set his own standards and tried to live up to them. As he grew up to a young man he realized that he miserably failed in his own standards. He now started to search for the reasons for his failure. He was searching for an answer to a simple question related with moral issues: Why can I not live a perfect life, even for a single day, up to my expectations?
Initially he sought answers from the Hindu scripture and tradition. He faithfully followed his family tradition to find an answer and took up performance of pujas, rituals (like sandyavandanam), reading and memorizing the scriptures (like Abirami andhadhi, Soundarya lahari, Sivapuranam) and mantras (like Gayatri and a few other mantras related to gods). Thereafter he attended several satsanghs (called ‘katha kalakshebam’ in Tamil), read Tamil scriptures (Sivapuram, Devaram and several sectarian scriptures). Thus his enquiry lead him to his family tradition, the elders, the scripture, the rituals, the various sampradayas and the religious teachers- swamis, sannyasis, and Acharyas. The answers he received from them were not {satisfied him}1satisfactory only to him. Some answered him that it was due to his past karma, while some others said that it was due to the present age i.e., kaliyug. Some others told him that it was his fate. Sometimes he was encouraged by them to perform more rituals, chant more mantras, visit more temples and observe other vows. They all advised him that if he continues to try and live a good life now, may be in his next life, he may overcome the kala(yuga) karma and fate by his own efforts or by the Grace of God. He also learned from his tradition that without a proper guru, he will not be able to find the right answers to such questions.
Therefore, he set his mind on finding that guru who will answer him satisfactorily. His search using several means was very serious and sincere. It took him to several people and it also brought him to some Tamil Christian missionaries who were working among the tribes in Periyamlai. He stayed with them for three days and had long discussions. The answers given by these missionaries were the traditional answers which did not satisfy his quest. They handed him a copy of the New Testament and asked him to read it with an open mind. He left them to continue his search. But something else happened in his interaction with them. Their life in that tribal rural context had challenged him.
Due to his earlier unpleasant experience in the school days with Christian students who interpreted and claimed that Hindu gods were fallen angels, he was suspicious of the Christians and the New Testament. However, he started to read the New Testament but with reservation. He said to himself, “I have tried several things to find my guru, so let me try this also. If I find my answer and guru in Jesus, then I am going to gain. If not, then I am not going to lose anything, but at least I will gain some knowledge about the Bible”. Finally, when he read the letter to the Romans 7:15-24, he found what he was searching for. Rather, he found more than what he was looking for. Not only did he find a guru but he also found his Lord in Jesus whom now he fondly addresses as Muktinath, the one who gives salvation. He says that he finally found that Guru he was searching for, who is the Muktinath, and who diagnosed his problem and prescribed the solution. This Muktinath helps him to live his own creed and live a normal human life, enjoying every moment of his life on the death {earth. Typing error I think}. He was looking for a mukti which is received not after death but here and now. Once he accepted Jesus as the Muktinath, he experienced that mukti, right here in this life while still he lives in the body.
Now, he was a new man, a new creation. He took up the new name {swami. My name is Dayanand bharati. Because my life style and dress others call me Swamiji. Some others call me guruji. Neither I accept those titles nor I reject them. I prefer to be called as ‘Bhakta’. No Swami is not part of my name. It is the recognition given by others.2} Dayanad Bharti. He now read the bible in a new light. He now viewed Hinduism in a ne {new}light. He now looked at life with a new insight. Life and the material creation for him now is not maya but a responsibility to live and to leave for the next generation in a better way. Human beings are all equal and not to be discriminated on anything. He celebrates the human relationship and appreciates the best in every culture and tradition.
He now follows Jesus as a Hindu. He strongly believes that in order to accept Jesus as Muktinath and to live according to Muktiveda(the name by which he calls Bible), he does not have to give up his birth right as a Hindu. Hinduism gives him and all its adherents the freedom to choose the path that best suits their nature. He feels that he is privileged and blessed to live as a Hindu Bhakta of Muktinath. He points out, “I need not give up my birth right as a Hindu by leaving my birth community and joining another sociological community called Christianity in India in order to follow my guru and worship him as my god. Both the Muktiveda and my Hindu tradition gives me all the freedom to be a Hindu (in every sense) and be a bhakta of bhagavan Muktinath without compromising my convictions. Of course, this is not acceptable both to some Christians and some Hindus. But thankfully as my guru accepted me as a Hindu as his bhakta, though I still struggle a lot with that identity (because of misunderstanding by the both communities), yet he helps me to live a meaningful life as his bhakta”.
Presently Swami {better remove this title here} Dayanad Bharti has become a spiritual guide or Christachrya – a name I like to ascribe to him because of the role he plays in the life of Christ-devotees, for many Christ-devotees. He has accepted lifelong sanyasa and lives as a wandering holy monk, taking the vow of poverty and celibacy and travel around the country in saffron robe meeting and encouraging Christ-devotees. {Now I am staying with my aged mother who is 95 and taking care of her. So I stopped all my other activities as my present priority is only to take care of her as her son}3 The general Hindu community respects them as they honour other Hindu sannyasis. His books Living Water and Indian Bowl and Understanding Hinduism are read widely all over India. Many devotees read these books and get inspired by them.
Although he is based in Tamil Nadu he travels around the country meeting Christ-devotees. He has a blog in which he publishes his bhakti songs, majority of them are in Tamil. His numerous bhakti songs presents not only a means for devotion but they also display his theological thinking. However, he also writes in English which is regularly read by many people. Dayanad Bharti could be rightly called the spiritual guide/Christacharya and theologian for thousands of Hindu devotees of Christ. People approach him with all kinds of questions related to faith and how to live the new faith in the Hindu family context. Just like the Hindu gurus are approached by people on spiritual matters, Christ-devotees approach him for all kinds of answers, especially about the spiritual matters. They approach him through either personally or through the modern technology platform such as email and whatsaap. Thus he has become an instrument in the hands of Christ to remove the darkness of the soul of Hindu devotees of Christ.
My comments
1 I think I didn’t understand the word ‘satisfied’ in general. What I want to say is that those answers didn’t satisfied only me but I won’t say that they were incorrect or not satisfactory to others who might have listened or received such answers facing those crises in life.
I am very cautious to use the title ‘Swamiji’ for me. At the same time strict Hindu tradition won’t approve me as a ‘Swamiji’ or even a ‘sannyasi’. Of course as there are various Hindu traditions which one is correct is also questionable. As I was much inspired by the life and teaching of Swami Vivekananda I decided to remain as a single person to serve others in whatever possible way. So when I become a bhakta of the Lord I preferred to use the saffron dress as it symbolises renunciation. So I never chose the title ‘Swami’ as part of my name but it is the recognition given by others.
3 Initially my mother stayed with me in my ashram for few years. But considering her health and medical need, finally as she decided to move back to her house, I also came with her to take care of her. Though my other siblings are willing to take care of her, as she prefers only to stay with me, I accept this privilege and now staying with her to take care of her.
Thanks Father for sharing your article before publishing it. In principle I want to remain a recluse and not known to the world. So I have my reservation about anyone writing about me. However as I have already shared my thoughts in my blog I have no right to say ‘no’ to others to write something about me based on those materials. Yes I have written many articles and my personal struggles particularly with Christians. But I am not going to share them with anyone as I don’t feel it is right to share as it might hurt others who never have done it intentionally to hurt me. Similarly I have written another book: Living Dialogue. But it still remains in manuscript stage and one person accepted the responsibility of editing it properly before publishing it. As he is very busy with his other works, he will take more time to do it. Until he finishes I cannot share it with others also. But I think I have shared enough in my blog sharing my bhakti and my journey in the Lord, particularly through my poems with English Translations and comments in English. At present I am taking care of my mother. So I stopped all other activities—including my travel. As long as my mother lives my present only priority and dharma as a son is to take care of her. I wish I could be there. Particularly I am seriously looking for a small but remote place to live my life as a recluse. When the Lord opens the way for it I will do that.
Take care. God bless you.
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I have added my comments within { } and also explained about them in the foot notes. Kindly go through them. Thanks.
9-03-2021
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