Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram

About Sri Seshadri Swamigal

Sri Seshadri Swamigal was born in Kancheepuram in the Kamakoti family to the couple Vardarajan and Margathammal. The kamakoti families, about 30 in number, were specially brought to Kancheepuram by Adi Shankara, from Central India, to spread the Sri Vidhya Cult.

Seshadri as a boy of four, following his mother to the temple, took an idol of Sri Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) in his hand, from a shop, saying he will do pooja to the idol. The shop keeper, appreciating the child's interest, gave the idol free to little Seshadri.

Next day, as Maragathammal and Seshadri were going to the temple, the shop keeper prostrated, placed child Seshadri's hand on his eyes and cried "golden hand! golden hand !". He explained that the sale was extraordinarily high after the child touched the idols. From that day onwards, till his maha siddhi, he was popularly known as "Thangakkai Seshadri" (Seshadri of golden hand), for whatever he touched turned into gold (flourished).

He renounced material life at the age of 19, left Kancheepuram and came to Tiruvannamalai. He never left Tiruvannamalai till his nirvana in 1929. He was a great upasaka (worshiper) of Shakthi.

He roamed the streets of Tiruvannamalai like a mad man, entering a shop and dumping the cash from cash box on the floor or throwing the flour kept for making dough into the water and so on. However, his strange behavior was known to the town people and they never minded. On the contrary, they eagerly awaited his visit, for his visit meant that their business would flourish.

Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram

Seshadri Swamigal ashram is next to Sri Ramanashramam between the second and third Lingam on the circumambulation route. Regular pujas are performed at the samadhi of Sri Seshadri Swamigal. There are a few platforms for meditation in the open, in a beautiful garden, under the cool shade of trees. One can do meditation facing the holy hill Arunachala, from this garden. A book stall in the ashram sells photographs and books. Accommodation is available and food is served by a canteen inside the ashram.

Ashram Address:

Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram,

Tiruvannamalai- 606 603