Sri Bodhendra Saraswati And The Glory Of Ramanama

In the year 1610 CE, a pious couple Keshava Panduranga and Suguna, being childless for a long time, approached their Guru soliciting his blessings.

- Swami Lakshmidharananda

Their Guru, His Holiness Sri Vishwadikendra Saraswati (Atmabodhendra), the 58th peethadhipati of Kanchi Shankara Math, blessed them that they would soon have a child, and so they returned home happily. A son was born to them shortly. They named him Purushottaman at the suggestion of their Guru.

Purushottaman grew up to be a bright boy. The parents performed his upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) and took him to their Guru, Sri Vishwadikendra Saraswati. When he enquired who the boy was, they replied that he was his. Thereupon, the Guru enquired Keshavapandurangan that if the boy was really his, whether the boy would then be given away to the Math. Keshava stepped back to have a word with his wife. He and his wife knew that giving the boy to the Math meant that he would take sannyasa and would not be able to continue their lineage. The mother began to cry. When the father enquired the reason, she said she lamented seeing his hesitation—when the boy was the gift of their Guru and rightly belonged to him, what need was there to ask her permission? Keshava then happily left his son with Sri Vishwadikendra Saraswati.

A teacher was arranged to teach Purushottaman all the Vedic scriptures. The boy attained extraordinary proficiency in the   Shrutis and the Smritis. He finished his studies when he was just eighteen! The only thing left to be learnt was Brahmavidya which he wanted to learn from his Guru Sri Vishwadikendra Saraswati who had promised to teach him personally.