boy to be most lucky as the whole consignment of 1,000 statues (because of the young boy's touch) had been sold in one day, as against his usual sales until then, wherein he was barely able to sell 1-2 idols. News of the incident spread quickly through the town, and from that moment, the young boy was known as 'The one with the golden hand'. This gave him the name "Thanga Kai" (golden hand). It is mentioned that this idol was worshipped by Sri Seshadri Swamigal himself for many years, after which his younger brother Narasimha Josiar and his descendants continue the worship the same idol to date. Aged 14, his father, Sri Varadarajar, died unexpectedly. Kamakoti Sastrigal took the family to live at Vazhur. It was there that Swamiji completed his education. Aged 17, his mother died, and Seshadri's uncle (Sri Varadarajar's younger brother, Sri Ramaswami Josiar) and aunt, Kalyani, took charge of Seshadri and the younger brother Narasimha Josiar, as their children since they were childless. It is said that his mother, Maragatham, on her death bed, advised him to go to Arunachala / Tiruvannamalai, referring to a Shloka that states that the very thought of Arunachala grants Mukthi. Young Seshadri was deeply shaken at that particular moment. Having lost his mother and, with that, both his parents, Seshadri sought refuge in the divine grace, gravitating more and more towards spirituality resulting in intense pooja and tapas, all of which were to reflect shortly in the times to come. Early adulthood At the age of 19, he met Sri Balaji Swamigal, a wandering saint from North India, an avadut, who gave Seshadri sannyasa diksha (the only formal diksha Seshadri is said to have) and instructed him in the Mahavakyas, the holy sayings of the 4 Vedas. Shortly after, Seshadri Swamigal started travelling to various Tamil Nadu spots, eventually ending up at Tiruvannamalai at 19. Seshadri Swamigal moved about Tiruvannamalai for 40 years, an ascetic with a total disregard for either name or form. Journey from Kanchipuram to Tiruvannamalai On the day of the annual death ceremony for his father, Sri Varadaraja Josiar, his uncle Sri Ramasami Josiar and his aunt Kalyani forcibly brought him home from the streets of Kanchipuram where he was roaming, having renounced the worldly way of life, and locked him inside a room in their home, while the annual ceremonies were underway. When this