Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by
The Mahayogi Sri Trailinga Swami took Benares by storm as he walked the streets, often stark naked, and performed severe austerities.
Through his sadhana and tapasya he went beyond worldly bondage and developed extraordinary spiritual powers.
Many of the on-lookers at the time thought his spiritual feats, such as levitating above water, manifesting Ganga Jal from his own body, and living to an estimated 300 years, were miracles.
To Trailinga Swamiji however, these were not miracles, as He knows that nobody can go beyond the laws of God’s divine nature. Rather, these feats were a demonstration and a reminder to humanity of our own inherent “mind-made” limitations.
Bound by the mind-body idea, we are limited. It takes a great yogi — a Mahayogi – to remind us of the great illusion (maha-maya).
Though he spoke very little, he had an immense impact on India at the time. As word got out of his presence, not only did he attract people to him for healing, but also he appealed to great Spiritual Masters, such as Ramakrishna and Lahiri Mahasaya, who frequently visited him:
“Trailinga Swami is the walking Shiva of Varanasi”
~ Ramakrishna
“Trailinga Swami is a perfected being who has cemented India against the erosions of time.”
~ Paramahamsa Yogananda
Trailinga Swami’s Nine Core Teachings
Thoughtful Reflections from Shree Maa & Swamiji
From Trailinga Swami, I learned and performed various of forms of tapasya that I ordinarily would have never performed.
His example encouraged me to become more efficient in my daily life — both spiritually and in business.
~ Swamiji
Trailinga Swamiji taught and demonstrated several key aspects of Hindu philosophy, such as:
- Bondage is attachment to the world and liberation is renunciation of the world and absorption in God.
- After attaining the state of desirelessness, this world is transformed into heaven.
- One can be liberated from the cycle of birth and death through spiritual knowledge.
- The chronic disease of humanity is attachment to the world, and the cure is detachment.
- A person’s senses are his enemy, and when he has his senses under control, they become his friend.
- A poor person is one who is afflicted by greed, and one who always remains content is rich.
- The greatest place of pilgrimage is our own pure mind.
- Devotees should follow the truth of Vedanta learned from their Guru.
- A sadhu is one who is free from attachment and delusion.
Learn more about this fascinating sadhu in our Trailinga Swami Archives:
