Trailanga Swami : 1607 – 1887
Trailanga Swami is a legendary figure with stories told of his yogic powers and longevity. According to some accounts, he lived to be 280 years old. He was a big man weighing almost 150 Kgs and was sky clad. He is regarded by devotees as an incarnation of Shiva. Sri Ramakrishna referred to him as “The walking Shiva of Varanasi”.
Born in Andhra to Devout Shiva Bhakts, he gave up his wealth and family after the death of his father at the age of 40. Under his mothers guidance he carried out Kali Sadhana for 20 years at a nearby Kali temple in a cemetery. After 20 years of spiritual practice, he was initiated into Sanyasa by his Guru Bhagirathananda Saraswati, in 1679. He led a life of severe austerities and visited holi shrines across the country, before finally settling in Varanasi in 1737. A member of the Dashanami order, he became known as Trailanga Swami after he settled in Varanasi.
He was often found roaming the streets or the ghats, naked and “carefree as a child”. He was reportedly seen swimming or floating on the river Ganges for hours. On many occasions, he was seen to drink deadly poisons with no ill effect. He talked very little and at times not at all.
After seeing Trailanga, Sri Ramakrishna said, “I saw that the universal Lord Himself was using his body as a vehicle for manifestation. He was in an exalted state of knowledge. There was no body-consciousness in him. Sand there became so hot in the sun that no one could set foot on it. But he lay comfortably on it.” Ramakrishna also stated that Trailanga was a real paramahamsa and that “all Benares was illuminated by his stay there.”
