# Trailanga

Trailinga Swami (also Tailang Swami, Telang Swami was a Hindu yogi and mystic who lived in Varanasi India. Born: 1607, Vizianagaram, India Died: 1887 (age 280 years), Varanasi, India Sri Trailanga Swami ji was born in Kumbilapuram (now known as Kumili of Puspatirega Tehisil) at Vizianagaram District in Andhra Pradesh, with the name of Shivarama. His biographers and his disciples differ on his birth date and the period of his longevity. According to one disciple biographer, Sivarama was born in 1529, while according to another biographer it was 1607. Sivarama's parents were Narashingha Rao and Vidyavati Devi, who were devotees of Shiva. After the death of his father in 1647, at the age of 40, he gave up wealth and family responsibilities to his half brother Sridhar. His mother then shared with him the fact that her father at the time of his death expressed desire to be born to her and continue his Kali sadhana for the benefit of mankind. She told Sivarama that she believed that he was her father (his own grandfather) reincarnated and that he should take up Kali sadhana. Upon the initiation of a Kali mantra from his mother, Sivarama carried out Kali sadhana in the nearby Kali temple and Punya Kshetras, but was never far away from his mother. After his mother's death in 1669, he saved her ashes (chita bhasma). He would wear her ashes and continue his Kali sadhana day and night (teevra sadhana). During that time, Sivarama lived the life of a recluse in a cottage, built by his half-brother, near a cremation ground. After 20 years of spiritual practice (sadhana), he met his preceptor swami, Bhagirathananda Saraswati, in 1679 from the Punjab. Bhagirathananda initiated Shivaram into monastic vows (sannyasa) and named him Swami Ganapati Saraswati in 1685. Ganapati reportedly led a life of severe austerities and went on a pilgrimage, reaching Prayag in 1733, before finally settling in Varanasi in 1737. A member of the Dashanami order, Sivarama became known as Sri Trailanga Swami ji after he settled in Varanasi, living the monastic life.In Varanasi, till his death in 1887, he lived at different places including Assi Ghat, the Vedavyas Asharama at Hanuman Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat. He was often found roaming the streets or the ghats, stark naked and "carefree as a child". He was reportedly seen swimming or floating on the river Ganges for hours. He talked very little and at times not at all.
There are many stories about the spiritual powers of Telang Swami. According to Robert Arnett's writings, Telang Swami's miracles are well documented and storied. He lived a great life for around 300 years and displayed his miraculous powers. Even though he ate seldom, he weighed over 140 kg. It is noted that he was fully able to read a person's mind like a book.
Many times he was seen drinking toxic poisons with no effect. Once upon a time, some of the disbelievers wanted to declare him a hoax. As a result, they brought a bucket full of a calcium lime mixture. Trailanga Swami drank the full bucket without any effect. Then he broke his natural silence in order to clarify the law of karma, its reason and effect. Pilgrims at Varanasi saw him many times in a sitting position on the surface of the Ganges for many days. It is also believed that he was disappeared for long periods under the waves, and reappeared as well.