Name Krishna Priya Role Film actress | Spouse Atlee Kumar (m. 2014) Marriage location Chennai | |
Movies I'm Not a Saint, Red Chillies, Soan Papdi Similar People Atlee Kumar, Priya, Suseenthiran, Neelima Rani, Krishna Prabha | ||
Director Atlee - Krishna Priya Got Married Today
Krishna Priya, also known as Divine Mother, (18 November 1923 – 5 December 1987) was a devotee of Lord Krishna and a proponent of Sai Krishna tradition as a disciple of Sai Baba of Shirdi. Her mission as a Sadguru was to guide those who sought refuge in her towards spiritual path through the divine knowledge and grace bestowed upon her by her Guru Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Contents
- Director Atlee Krishna Priya Got Married Today
- Early and domestic life
- Visions and miracles
- Ashrams and activities
- Death
- Books on Mathaji Krishnapriya
- Books by Mathaji Krishnapriya and her disciples
- Audio CDs by Mathaji Krishnapriyas disciples
- References
Early and domestic life
Krishna Priya was born on Sunday, 18 November 1923, at Parlakimidi to Arardhi Jogubai and Arardhi Hanumantha Rao, a Telugu Madhwa Brahmin couple. Krishna had education at Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh) and was considered a child prodigy as she excelled in studies, music, paintings and sports. She was married to Koduganti Sheshagiri Rao at Gondia, Maharashtra in May 1936. Koduganti Sheshagiri Rao's family hailed from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh and he was then working in Post and Telegraphs Department at Nagpur, Mahrashtra. She was sent to her in-laws' house at Nagpur in February 1938. They had four children: two sons Radhakrishna and Vijayanand, and two daughters Sundari and Meera. She renounced married life after handing over the responsibilities of her household and children to her younger sister Rukmini in March 1953.
Visions and miracles
Krishna's celestial vision was revealed in 1925, when she was 2 years old. Her younger brother Dattatreya was suffering from high fever and at midnight, her parents were awakened by her shrill calls of "buchi" (meaning a frightful person), crying and pointing to her younger brother, who had died.
She had first vision on her Guru Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in 1931, at the age of eight. Sai Baba of Shirdi appeared and reminded her that she had been his disciple since several births and assured her of his continuing instruction and protection. There after, she had many visions of Sai Baba of Shirdi and deities including Lakshmi Narayan, Gopal (Krishna) and Lord Krishna. Many of which left a telltale mark on those present during such occasions.
Her life has been characterised by many miracles experienced by those who were close to her. In 1950, she miraculously recovered from an illness, which left her with near death experience. During her recovery, she had frequent visions of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Raghavendra Swami of Mantralayam, who left her with three lines of Vibhuti on her forehead, Theertham and askhinta sprinkled around her cot after each vision. Her husband Sheshagiri Rao and her household servants experienced many miracles like her being present in two places at the same time and chores being done in her absence. Also many of her associates like Dr. Pillay, Viswanathan Chetty, M.K.N. Pillay, Yerramilli Ramachandra Rao (Chanchala) and others experienced miracles which they attribute to her. In 1963, during Rama Navami celebrations at Ramachandrapuram, Andhra Pradesh, she revealed "Aatma Jyothi" to her devotees. In 1971, at the request of her devotee Pushadapu Veera Swamy during Gurupournima celebrations at Ramachandrapuram, she made Ganges flow from her right toe.
Ashrams and activities
In 1953, Jyosula Ramachandra Rao (Jnani) established Sai Samaj at Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh in the name of Sri Krishna Bai and a temple was constructed by Shyamabhakta which was complete by Rama Navami in 1954. On 11 April 1954, the deities Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi Sai Baba of Shirdi along with Radha and Lord Krishna were installed in this temple. Sriramanavami (Rama Navami) (also the day of Sai Baba's birth) and Gurupournima are celebrate here by the devotees.
In 1958, Mathaji Krishnapriya decided to build an ashram at a lonely and scenic place. She entrusted the task of finding the location to her disciple Chandrasekhar Rao (Bandhita) and Kala Venkata Rao then Minister in Andhra Pradesh Government. Kala Venkata Rao discussed this with Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the then Governor of Madhya Pradesh, who suggested Pachmarhi, a hill station in Madhya Pradesh. Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Kala Venkata Rao, Chandrasekhar Rao (Bandhita) and other devotees bought a spacious bungalow set in a four-acre compound called "Fern Vale" from an English couple named "Hogshaws". In Telugu New Year's Day of 1959, the same was registered and "Fern Vale" was renamed as "Shyam Vihar". The bungalow was converted into an ashram and in May 1961, the deities were installed as per Vedic rites. The ashram in Pachmarhi remained her abode till 1973, whence the ashram was moved to Nagpur, at the request of devotees, where it is currently situated. In May 1974, the deities were re-installed in the newly constructed "Shyam Vihar" at Nagpur and Mathaji Krishnapriya, made it her permanent residence till her last days.
Mathaji Krishnapriya wrote a concise version of Sri Sai Satcharitra for the purpose of Paaraayana (daily recitation as a form of prayer), which she dedicated to her guru "Jagatguru Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi" on 20 July 1978. This book is popular among devotees as a wish-fulfilling and peace giving holy book.
On 7 November 1981, the "Sai Krishna Seva Samiti", a society of devotees, was registered with registration number 451 at Visakhapatnam by Chandrasekhar Rao (Bandhita) with the blessings of Mathaji Krishnapriya with the purpose of renovating and maintaining the temple at Ramachandrapuram, to create facilities for devotees and to propagate the divine message of Mathaji and publish religious literature.
Death
Mataji Krishnapriya attained samadhi on 5 December 1987 at M.V. Hospital for Diabetes at Chennai.