Immerse yourself in the Life Journey of Guruji Sundar

Guruji Sundar was born during 1965 in Chennai on a Wednesday at 5 am. Guruji Sundar was born as the sixth and the youngest child to Shri Thangaraj and Smt. Suguna Thangaraj. He was born in Chennai Naval Hospital in Periamet, Chennai, India. His father was working in railways and mother in telephones and were a middle-class family. Guruji had 3 elder sisters and 2 elder brothers. His second elder brother died at the age of 3. Since Guruji was born after the demise of their second son, Guruji was naturally loved more by his parents and was the darling of the family. Guruji started going to school only by the age of 6 as during those days there was the first standard (grade) straight away without any kindergarten system. Till the fourth standard Guruji used to always obtain 3rd rank in school. During His fourth standard Guruji’s family shifted their residence from Periamet to Adambakkam (This happened during the year 1973). Subsequently Guruji completed his 12th standard during 1982 and then bachelor’s degree in physics during the year 1985.

In those times, with that kind of high spiritual drive, Guruji found it difficult to find a place that is conducive for meditation apart from his home and Saibaba temple. Sai baba temple would be open only in early mornings and late evenings and would remain closed during daytime. So, Guruji used to wait at the Saibaba temple gate before the temple opens and used to come out of the temple only at the closing time of the temple. During the daytime, Guruji used to travel in local trains from the starting station till the last station back and forth and meditate in the train unnoticed. Guruji used to buy first class monthly pass and travel everyday sitting and meditating on one corner seat in the train. For other normal people, Guruji seemed like just another common man sleeping in the train. But for Guruji, the train journeys played a significant role in his spiritual upliftment. Our Guruji used to quote the example of a rocket. A rocket can escape the force of gravitation only when it travels at escape velocity. Similarly, a seeker can reach the truth only if he has a similar kind of escape velocity to break the never-ending chain of karmas. Thus, the local train was his daytime temple. Due to his intense sadhanas, Guruji remained in an intoxicated state. Guruji’s divine intoxication was so much that he lived in a state of madness, mad with divinity.

From 1986 – 1989 Guruji lived totally in meditation and wholly for meditation. Guruji did not go to any job after his graduation. His only work was meditation, meditation and meditation! Guruji’s father and mother never forced their son to go for a job. They stood rock solid by his side throughout his journey. Guruji will meditate the whole day and return home in the evenings. After a small nap, again he will leave to meet his friends and discuss about meditation. Guruji would reach home late at night. Whatever time he returned, Guruji’s mother used to wake up from her sleep and make fresh chapathis and will serve him. Only after Guruji had his fill, she would go to sleep. Similarly in the mornings, Guruji used to meditate at his home. Guruji’s mother will serve the food before him and slowly wake Guruji up calling to have his food and then continue meditation. Guruji used to come out from his deep meditation, have the food in the same trance state and again close his eyes. Eventhough Guruji’s parents never forced him to go to a job, Guruji felt bad seeing them suffer in silence. So he started to attend tests and interviews for securing a job. Guruji’s father would fill all his application and bring them to him. Guruji’s only work was to sign them and attend the tests. This went on for sometime. During 1989, Guruji attended a test and interview in Government’s top financial institution and got a job there. For a sincere seeker, existence always charts and alters the course of their life such that they move closer towards their spiritual enlightenment.  Likewise, Guruji’s job was in such a manner that Guruji’s meditation and thirst did not wane but started to wax more. In this period, Guruji started visiting temples and jeeva samadhis and started meditating there. Guruji obtained profound experiences when meditating in Marundheeswarar temple, Thiruvanmiyur which altered his perception towards ancient temples and jeeva samadhis. Ever since he started meditating in Jeeva Samadhis, Guruji’s spiritual growth took quantum leaps.

His visit to Narayana Theertha swamigal jeeva Samadhi in Thirupoonthuruthi and experiences obtained there took Guruji to the “point of no return”. By divine indication and consent, Guruji got married during 1992. His marriage did not deter his sadhanas, but only increased the quality of the sadhanas. During 1993, Guruji chanced to visit Gurulinga Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi temple in Saidapet, Chennai. When Guruji visited Karneeswarar temple in Saidapet and read the sthala puraanam, he came to know about a saint who wanted to attain jeeva samadhi in the same temple, but later attained samadhi in another place in the same street. When he came to know about the saint, something struck a chord in him. He began searching every nook and corner of the street to find the saint’s samadhi. After almost two years, he found the samadhi in a dilapidated state in front of which an oil shop was run at that time.

The alive temple was managed by Sakunthala Ammaiyar who looked after the temple for more than 30 years by that time. She was the grand daughter of Vasulingam who was a devotee of the saint. Sakunthala Ammaiyar(we used to call her aaya – which means grand mother) single handedly was doing seva to the saint’s Jeeva Samadhi. She used to take care of all the temple needs herself. She seldom used to allow outsiders in the temple. However, when Guruji went there, she allowed Guruji along with his fellow seekers and did not say anything. Slowly, our Guruji started to spend long hours in meditation in Gurulinga Swamigal’s jeeva samadhi. During this time, Guruji’s spiritual growth took quantum leaps due to the grace of Gurulinga Swamigal.

When our Guruji witnessed his first taste of enlightenment, it was Gurulinga Swamigal who helped our Guruji to digest his experience of enlightenment.