Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Tembe Swami Maharaj

A compact Biography.

• Shri Rajarajeshvar Swami
  The then reigning Shankaracharya of the Shringeri seat, Shri Rajarajeshvar Swami was an ardent admirer of Shri Swami Maharaj, ever since they met at Haridwar and spent the Chaturmaas (Shri Maharaja’s 3rd), together. At the instance of the Shankaracharya, Shri Maharaj gave discourses on Adi Shankara’s Bhashya on Upanishads. After his 17th Chaturmaas at Thanjavur, while traveling along the Kaveri River, Shri Maharaj learnt that the Pontiff was staying at Shrirang to pay obeisance to him. Delighted to see him the Shankaracharya welcomed him. Shri Maharaj then composed hymns in praise of Sharadamba and Shankaracharya. The Acharya responded with a stotra in praise of Shri Maharaj. He arranged for the Bhiksha (lunch) of Shri Maharaj and later honored him in following words, addressed to his disciples:
  “You have not recognized the great Swamiji who has arrived today. He is Shri Datta Prabhu himself incarnated by the intense devotion and great virtue of his parents. His continuing endeavor of revival of Vedic religion is comparable to that of Shri Adi Shankaracharya. Strictly living by the Varnashram Code of Vedic religion, he has been responsible for religious and spiritual uplift of a large number of men and women. Traveling on feet from Setu (Kanyakumari) to Himalayas, he has educated the seekers in the paths of Action, Worship and Knowledge, according to their eligibility. We pray to God to grant him a full life to enable him to further his work of the revival of Vedic religion.” In reply Shri Maharaj said that he did not deserve the high praise His Holiness had so gracefully accorded to him; he also added that Shri Rajarajeshvar had graced the Shringeri Seat. The two saints kept in frequent touch with each other through their disciples and Shri Maharaj used to send copies of his works to the Shankaracharya at the latter’s instance.