TRAILINGA SWAMY (Life sketch compiled as per available evidence) Swamy Trailinga is the popular saint of Varanasi. He lived in 19th Century and great mystics considered him to be God himself. One of the spiritual masters of his age has mentioned that there is no difference between Swamy Trailinga and Lord Vishweswara of Varanasi. His ashram is found in Panchaganga ghat near Bhindu Madhava Swamy Temple.

As the very name indicates, swamiji is from Trailingadeshaa(telugu region) persons acquainted with the history of south India or Telugu Language know that the region of the country; where three of the "Dwadasha Jyothirlingams" of Lord SadaShiva namely Srisailam, Srikalashwaram and Daksharamam are located is "Trailinga Desham". The natural boundaries of the Trailinga Desham will not affect the political or emotional or other changes brought in by circumstances. Swamiji was called "Trailinga" by the people of Varanasi in those days because he was from the Telugu region.

Trailinga was observing silence for several years and he was therefore called Mouna Swami. Many people in Varanasi say that he was a mystic with a very big belly and seen moving about without any clothes and he was also familiar as "Digambara Swami". It was mentioned that the rulers then thought that it was a law and problem as he moved naked. But, what surprised them was that when swamiji was taken and kept in prison within four walls and came away; he used to be found on the roof tops. Later on; it was realised that swamiji was no longer confined to his body and he could dematerialize and materialize himself at will.

The name of Swamiji in his Poorvashramam has mentioned as "Sivarama sastri" in some books in Telugu under caption as " Mahabhakta Vijayam". But as per the heriditary tree available in the house of Late shri Tekuru Subrahmanyam, Member of Parliament, Bellay,Karnataka; during 1952-1967, the name of Trailinga swamy is Krishna Sastri and he is the son of Sivananda Sastri. Krishna Sastri possessed miraculous powers right from childhood. He belongs to an orthodox Brahmin Family ( kasyapasa gothram) and inherited the spiritual wisdom from his ancestors. He practiced yoga for several years in the house of his ancestors at Bellary. All the right Siddhis like "Anima, garimastic" were at his Command.

Swami Trailinga went on pilgrimage to Rameswaram.Since he possessed Asta Siddhis, large number of people used to visit him for darshan and blessings.The number of visitors increased and Swamiji realised that there was hindrance for his yogic path by staying further at Rameswaram.He proceeded to Nepal and Tibet and speny few years in Himalayas in penance.

He moved to Varanasi , the oldest city of the country;Varanasi looks as though the city is older than the country.Varuna and Assi are two sacred rivers which flow in the city and it is therfore called Varanasi.It is also called Kashi, the place of shining ; can be interpreted as learning and realisation.Trailinga spernt several years in varanasi.Infact, when once he reached Varanasi, he did not go any where else and made the city sacred with his feet.He had many disciples from all parts of the country.Once, he predicted the death of the son of one of his devotees from Bengal in his native place while the devotee was in varanasi with Swamiji.swamiji consoled him and made him realize the temporary nature of the mundane world. One day, while Trailinga was in yogic state in River Ganges, the wife of a poor person who died on account of the bite of a snake was bitterly crying.The dead body was brought to varanasi for performing last rites on the bank of river ganges.The poor lady approached trailinga and prayed him with absolute faith as Draupadi cied for help when being assaulted by dussaina in the Court of Drutharashtra.Trailinga , the supreme conscvuiousness interfered.Swamiji took pity on the poor lady and brought back her husband into life.

Once, when Trailinga was floating in River Ganges in yogic state , the prince of Ramnagar happened to come there in his boat.Since the prince was aware of the yogic powers of Trailinga, he requested Swamiji to be seated on the boat.Swamiji got into the boat.He took the sword from the prince and threw it in Ganges.The prince was crying that the sword very old and used by his ancestors and he could not part with it.

In the geneological tree referred to above, there is a note under the name of Krishna Sastry that he took up Sanyasa Ashram and went desantara 30 years ago. Thus Swamy Trailinga moved from Bellary around 1860 or so.

Marriage and Celibacy

Krishna Sastry who was known as Trailinga Swamy in Varanasi used to do practice of Yogic sadana even in his early life at Bellary and a room in the ancestral house at car street near Kalamma Bazaar temple at Bellary were shown by the elders as the place where he was carrying on Yogic sadana. Late Tekuru Rama Sastry, my great grand father passed away when I was 8 years old and Tekuru Sitamma my great grand mother died when I was 10. These facts were known to me also throught them.

Krishna Satry (Trailinga) was married to Rukminamma of Havalagi, a village 40 miles from Bellary. He had no issues. He must have observed celibacy (Brahmacharya) throughout though he was married. Krishna Sastry was about 45 years of age as informed by elders when he moved to Varanasi. His wife followed him but she died shortly after there.

In 1862 (26th March 1862), he executed endorsements on 2 Inam title deeds which had been assigned in his name (Tekuru Krishna Sastry) by the Inam commissioner of Madras relinquising his ownership. Ownership of the lands in favour of his uncle Siva Rama Sastry was endorsed and attested by 2 witnesses one of which is in Devanagari script. Fortunately we are able to trace the script of Swamy Trailina and it is produced else where separately. Swamy Trailinga attained Samadhi in Varanasi in 1902 and Mr. Tekuru Krishna Murthy, younger brother of Subrahmanyam was born after his demise and was named after him as Krishna Murthy in his memory.

One lady from Bellary who stayed in Varanasi and who was present at the time of the Mahasamadhi of Trailinga Swamy was set to have returned to Bellary and narrated the details of mahasamadhi to Late Tekuru Rama Sasty, nephew of Trailinga Swamy. A stream of piligrims among our relative circles went to Varanasi during his life time and there after and visited Trailinga Swamy mutt near Pancha ganga ghat furnished information about Swamiji and the mutt to our ancestors and there is not a shadow of any doubt about the identity of Swamiji. Sri Vidya Narayana Tirtha, living monk from Dwaraka peeth has also confirmed about the particulars of Swamy Trailinga. Incidentally during the same time Swamy Brahmananda from Cuddapah also visited and stayed in Varanasi and left a detailed account about Swamy Trailinga.

Mr. Jayaraman who was Post Master General in Indian Postal Services used to say that Swamy Trailinga has taken rebirth as Kulindayananda swamy by appearing as a baby in Madhura Minakshi kovil and did miracles.