SAGE VASHISTHA

Vasistha & Arundhati performing Yagna

                                                      The tale of Vashistha


Sage Vashistha was Ram's guru and the Rajpurohit of Ikshwaku dynasty. He was a peace-loving, selfless, intelligent and great Rishi. He had established Gurukula (residential college) on the banks of the river beas, where he and his wife Arundhati were taking care of thousands of students.

Vashistha was the Sadguru of his time, possessing 20 "kala's" (divine arts) and had complete knowledge of the whole cosmos and the god. Many of his Shlokas are found in Vedas as well.

Vashistha summons Kamadhenu alias Sabala, the cow of abundance, to provide for a feast
Vashista possessed a cow named Nandini daughter of Kamadhenu who could instantly produce food enough for a whole army. The king Kaushika (later called Vishwamitra), who visited Vashistha's hermitage, was very impressed with the cow and tried to take it away from Vashistha by force, but Kamadhenu/Nandini's spiritual power was too great for him.

After being unable to conquer Nandini, Vishwamitra decided to acquire power himself through penance like Vashistha. He gained much power and many divine weapons from Shiva. Once again he attempted to conquer Kamadhenu/Nandini. But even the divine weapons he acquired could not defeat the power of Kamadhenu/Nandini.

Vishwamitra finally decided to become a Brahmarishi himself, he renounced all his possessions and luxury and led the life of a simple forest ascetic.

The tale of King Dileepa

King Dileepa or Dilip was a king of the Raghuvamsha dynasty. He had a wife named Sudakshina, but they had no children. For this reason, Dileepa visited the sage Vashistha in his ashram, and asked him for his advice. Vashistha replied that they should serve the cow Nandini, child of Kamadhenu, and perhaps if Nandini was happy with their service, she would bless them with a child. So, according to Vashistha, Dileepa served Nandini every day, and attended to her every need for twenty-one days. On the twenty-first day, a lion attacks Nandini. Dileepa immediately draws his bow and tries to shoot the lion. But he finds that his arm is paralysed and cannot move. He reasons that the lion must have some sort of divine power. As if to confirm this, the lion started to speak to him. It said that Dileepa had no chance of saving the cow because the cow was the lion's chosen meal. The lion tells Dileepa to return to Vashistha's ashram. Dileepa replies by asking if the lion would let Nandini go if he offered himself in Nandini's place. The lion agreed and Dileepa sacrificed his life for the cow. But then the lion mysteriously disappeared. Nandini explained that the lion was just an illusion to test Dileepa. Because Dileepa was truly selfless, Nandini granted him a son.

Arundhati and Vashishtha pair of stars

In traditional Indian astronomy, pair of Alcor and Mizar in constellation Ursa Major is known as Vashishtha and Arundhati

Mizar is known as Vasistha and Alcor is known as Arundhati in traditional Indian astronomy.[2] The pair is considered to symbolize marriage (Vashishtha and Arundhati were a married couple) and, in some Hindu communities, priests conducting a wedding ceremony allude to or point out the constellation as a symbol of the closeness marriage brings to a couple.[3]
[edit]Vashista Ashram

Brahmrishi Vashistha had an Ashram in Ayodhya that was spread over 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land. Today all that remains of it is a small ashram in about one fourth of an acre of land. The ashram has within it a well that is believed to be the source of the river Saryu. Brahmarishi Vashistha was the Guru of the Suryavamsha. The King at that time was King Ishvaku who was the king of Ayodhya. He was a noble king and thought of the well being of his subjects. He approached Sage Vashista telling him that the land had no water and requested him to do something to let the kingdom have adequate water. Sage Vashistha performed a special prayer and the river Saryu is said to have started flowing from this well. Sarayu is also known as Ishvaki and Vashisti. It is said that the well is connected underground with the river. Many spiritual people who visit this ashram find an enormous spiritual energy around this well. Some believe that this is one of the better spiritual tirth's in Bharat (India).

There is also another ashram past Rishikesh on the way to Kaudiyala on the Devprayag route that is known as Vashistha Guha Ashram. The ashram itself is located on the banks of the River Ganges and it is a very beautiful place. It has a wonderful long cave with a large dark Shivaling installed at the end inside. The head of the ashram is a Sanyasi monk of South Indian origin by the name of Swami Chaitanyanandji. There is also another cave smaller to the side facing the river called 'Arundhati's Cave', also known as 'the Jesus Cave', since the 1930's when Papa Ramdasji had mentioned in his book about his vision of Lord Jesus there.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashistha

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MAHARSHI VALMIKI

Maharshi   Valmiki

Valmiki with Lava & Kusha

The story of Rama and Seeta devi is the 'Ramayana'.


It is remarkable that Sri Rama himself listened to the story of the Ramayana' and was pleased. Lava and Kusha sang the story before Rama very sweetly; Rama did not know that they were own sons!

The poet, who composed 'Ramayana' and taught the song and story to Lava and Kusha, was a great sage by name Valmiki. How this man became a sage and a singer-poet is itself a very interesting story.

Valmiki's Ramayana is in the Sanskrit language. It is a very beautiful long poem narrating the story of a very great hero is called an epic.

Valmiki's 'Ramayana' is the very first such poem in Sanskrit. Therefore, it is also called the 'Adikavya' or -the First Poem; Valmiki is also known as the 'Adikavi’, which means the First Poet.

Valmiki was not the name that his parents chose for the poet. His real name was Ratnakara. The word 'Valmika' in Sanskrit means an ant-hill. Since he came out of an ant-hill, he got the name of Valmiki. But how strange! How did he come out of an ant-hill? Now, that is a wonderful and delightful story.

Valmiki also lived in the age of Sri Rama - called the 'Treta Yuga' (the Age of Treta). In those days, there was a thick forest all along the banks of the river Ganga. Many sages built their hermitage in that forest for their 'tapas' (penance); that means they meditated on God. Among them was a sage by the name of Prachetasa. He had, a son called Ratnakara. When he was s a very young boy, one day he went into the forest. While playing he lost his way and began to cry. Just then a hunter came there looking for a prey. He saw the chubby boy and fondled and pacified him. The hunter had no children. He took the boy to his hut in the midst of the jungle.

Ratnakara's father searched for his son all around the hermitage, but could not find him. Finally he and his wife thought that the boy had become the prey of some wild beast. Both wept very much.

The hunter and his wife brought up the lad with great love. Ratnakara forgot his parents. He took the hunter for his father and the hunter's wife for his mother. He was taught how to hunt by the father. Ratnakara was a clever boy and learnt it quickly. He became a hunter with a sure aim.

To the birds and beasts of the forest, he became verily Yama, the God of Death. When he came of age, his foster father searched for a bride and celebrated his marriage with a beautiful girl from a hunter’s family. In a few years she gave birth to some children. Thus Ratnakara's family grew in size. It became very difficult for him to provide food and clothing to his large family. So he took to robbery. He began to attack people going from one village to another, frighten them and to away all that they had. If they opposed him, he killed them.

One day Ratnakara was sitting by the side of a road waiting for a victim. It happened that the great sage Narada was passing that way. Narada had his favorite musical instrument, a Veena, in his hands. As he played on the Veena, he was singing a song in praise of God. When he was thus lost in joy, suddenly Ratnakara rushed at him. He lifted the stout staff in his hands and shouted, "Look here! Hand over all you have or else I'll break your head."

But Narada was not an ordinary man. He was a divine sage, and one who wandered all over the Earth, the Heaven and the Underworld. He was not frightened by the loud shouts of Ratnakara. He smilingly said, "My dear man, all that I have only this old Veena and the rags I wear; if you want them, you can certainly take them. Why should you break my head for these?"

Ratnakara was astonished at these words. He looked up at Narada's face. There was neither fear nor anger; there was only peace. And how bright was that face! He was surprised to see a face tender and innocent like that of a child. He had never seen such a lovely face. As he gazed, his cruel mind melted into tenderness.

Narada sat beneath a tree and as played on the Veena, sang a song in praise of God. It was sweet like the song of cuckoo. Ratnakara was deeply moved. Noticing the change, the sage Narada paused in his song and said, "Brother, stealing is a sin. Killing animals is also sinful. Why do you do such evil?"

"Sire, what can I do Ratnakara replied, I have a large family. There are my old parents and my wife and children; they partake of my happiness and my troubles. I have to provide them with food and clothing. Hunting and stealing are all I know. What else can I do?"

The sage smiled and said, "My friend, will any member of your family partake of your sin also? Go and ask them, and bring back their reply."

Ratnakara thought that Narada was trying a trick to make his escape. Narada understood it and again said, "Well, child, if you do not trust me, you can tie me to this tree and then go."

Ratnakara thought that was all right. He tied Narada to a tree and went home.

On reaching home, he first went to his father and said, "Father, I rob people to get food and clothing for you all. It seems that is a sin. Do you not share in that sin?"

His father was angry and said, "You sinner, you should not do such bad things. Am I to share your sins? No, never. You have to suffer for what you do."

Ratnakara went to his mother and said, "Surely, mother, you will share my sin, won't you?" But she also scolded him and sent him away. He then went to his wife and said, "Do you know how I earn to provide you and your children with food and clothing? It is by robbery. But I steal for your sake. Therefore you are also partners in my sin. Isn't that so?"

The wife was displeased and said, 'What are you saying? What have we to do with your sin? You are my husband, and my children are your children. It is your duty to look after us and give us food and clothing."

Ratnakara's eyes were opened. He realized that he alone was responsible for all his sins no one else would share his sin. As soon as it was clear to him, he ran to Narada. He untied the sage and amidst weeping, narrated to him all that had happened in his home. Falling at Narada's feet he asked the sage, "Oh, sire now what of me? How can I atone for all the sins I have committed? You are my only savior."

Narada lifted him up and wiped his tears. He consoled him saying, "Do not be afraid. I shall teach you a way to wash off your sins." So he taught Ratnakara the sacred name of Rama - 'Rama Nam'. He made him sit beneath a tree and asked him to go on repeating the sacred name of Rama. He said, I shall come here again, Till then you should not get up and go away." Then the sage departed.

Ratnakara continued his 'tapas’ chanting the name of Rama. His eyes were closed. His whole mind was concentrate on the chanting of the name of the Lord He forgot his existence. He had neither food nor sleep for days and days. And in this way quite a few years passed. An ant-hill grew all around and above him. He could not even be seen by anybody.

At last one day the sage Narada again came that way. Of course, he knew that Ratnakara was inside the ant-hill. Very carefully he cleared that ant-hill still Ratnakara was wholly lost in his 'tapas' and did not wake up to the world around him. Narada chanted the name of Rama in his ears. Then he opened his eyes and saw the sage standing before him. He saluted him from where he was sitting. Narada helped him to get up. He also gently touched him all over. Ratnakara felt new life flowing through him. He touched the sage's feet; Narada lifted him up and embraced him. He said to him, "Ratnakara, you are blessed. God is pleased with your 'tapas'. You are now a sage of the highest order, a Brahmarshi. As you are now reborn from a Valmika (the ant-hill), will here after be famous as Valmiki."

Tears of joy welled up in Valmiki’s eyes at these words. He prostrated before Narada again and said, "Sire, all this is your kindness. The company of good men uplifts man. I am myself a proof of this." Narada blessed him and went his way.

The sage, Valmiki, now formed his ashrama or hermitage near the river Ganga. His fame spread every – where Many other sages went with their families and settled down in his ashrama. There sons became the disciples of Valmiki.

One day Sri Rama with his wife Seetha and brother Lakshmana came to Valmiki's ashrama. Valmiki's joy knew no limit. With the help of his disciples he waited on them with great enthusiasm. His disciples brought them water to wash their hands and feet, and spread mattresses for them to sit upon. They offered the guests fresh milk and tasty fruits.

After resting a while, Sri Rama narrated his story. He had come to the forest so that his father's promise might be fulfilled. Valmiki was very pleased to hear it. He said, "Ramachandra, there is none so truthful as you are. You have given up your kingdom so that your father's promise may be kept. Giving up a king's throne, you have come to the forest. You are not an ordinary man but the Almighty Himself. The power of your name is such that I have changed from a sinful hunter to a sage, a Brahmarshi. Your grace is great."

Sri Rama smiled. Then he said to Valmiki, "O great sage, we have come he to live near your hermitage. Please show us a suitable spot." There was a hill very near Valmiki's hermitage. It was called Chitrakuta. It was a beautiful place with many kinds of plants full of flowers and trees bearing fruits. Valmiki guided Rama to that hill. Sri Rama lived for a while on the hill with his wife and brother.

Like the story of Valmiki's becoming a sage, the story of his composing the Ramayana' is also very interesting. One day the sage Narada came to Valmiki’s ashrama. Valmiki was very happy. He showed him great courtesy, offered milk and fruits. Valmiki and his disciples sat with folded hands before Narada. Then Valmiki said to the divine sage, "Sire, you visit all the three worlds, and therefore know what happens anywhere. You can certainly answer my questions. Please tell me, who is the most virtuous person among all the human beings on the earth? One who always speaks the truth, and is always calm? Who is he, who desires the well being of everyone, and is loved by all? Who the man, whose words and actions are praised by the Gods? Who is famous as the greatest hero and the noblest of men in the world?"

In answer to Valmiki's question, Narada mentioned the name of Sri Rama. Narada narrated how Sri Rama was born as the eldest son of King Dasharatha, married Seethadevi, and went to the forest for fourteen years to honour his father's promise. He told them in detail how in the forest Ravana stole Seetha, how Sri Rama killed that very evil person, returned to Ayodhya with Seetha and Lakshmana, and was finally crowned as King. Hearing all this, Valmiki was very happy. He praised Narada and bowed to him. The divine sage blessed him and left.

Some time after Narada left, Valmiki went to the river Ganga to bathe. A disciple by name Bharadwaja was with him carrying his clothes. On the way they came across the Tamasa Stream. The water in it was very clear. Valmiki said to his disciple, "Look, how clear is this water, like the mind of a good man! I will bathe here today."

Valmiki was looking for a suitable place to step into the stream, when he heard the sweet chirping of birds. Looking up he saw two birds flying together. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy bird couple. Just then one of the birds fell down hit by an arrow. It was the male bird. Seeing the wounded one, its mate was screaming in agony. Valmiki's heart melted at this pitiful sight. He looked around to find out who had shot the bird. He saw a hunter with a bow and arrows, nearby. The hunter had shot the bird for food. Valmiki was very angry. His lips opened and words came out: "You, who have killed one of a happy couple, may you not yourself live long!" Of course, he spoke in Sanskrit. The form he used is called a 'sloka' in Sanskrit. It means a couplet. A sloka was born out of his sorrow.

The sad plight of the birds had moved Valmiki to curse the hunter, but yet he felt very unhappy, because he had cursed him. He expressed his sorrow to Bharadwaja who was with him. He was equally surprised that a sloka should have come from his lips. He was thinking of this all through his bath. As he walked back to his ashrama and also later, he thought only of the sloka.

While Valmiki's mind dwelt so intensely on the sloka that had sprung from his lips, Brahma, the Lord of Creation, appeared before him. He said to Valmiki, "O great sage, the sloka which came from your lips was inspired by me. Now you will write the 'Ramayana' in the form of slokas. Narada has narrated to you the story of the 'Ramayana'. You will see with your own eyes all that happened. Whatever you say will be true. Your words shall be truth. As long as there are rivers and mountains in the world, people will read the 'Ramayana'." So Lord Brahma blessed him and disappeared.

Valmiki wrote the 'Ramayana'. He taught the slokas first to the sons of Sri Rama, Lava and Kusha. They were born twins in Valmiki's ashrama and grew up there. Now, why did they, a king's sons, grow up in a hermitage? That is also an interesting story.

After Sri Rama killed Ravana in a great war to regain Seetha, he returned to the city of Ayodhya with Seetha and Lakshmana. He was then crowned King of the Kosala country. Seethadevi was now the Queen. They were happy. All his subjects were also very happy and joyful. After some years Seethadevi became pregnant. Sri Rama was very pleased that his line would continue. He said to her, "Seetha, you are now with child and you may have some desire or the other. Tell me whatever it is, and I shall fulfill it."

Seetha smiled and said, "My lord, what other wish can I have? I only desire your happiness and your love. Still there is a small thing I would like to mention. When we were in the forest years ago, we used to go to the hermitages of the Rishis. But I could not give anything to the wives of the sages at that time. Can I go there now, and offer them gifts to my heart's content? I would like to spend some time with them." Sri Rama gladly agreed to fulfill her desire.

After a few days, one morning Sri Rama was sitting in his chamber attending to his kingly duties. Then a spy came to him. His work was to disguise himself at night and to listen to what different persons said. In the morning he met the king and reported everything. The previous night he had heard some persons criticizing Sri Rama. It was his duty to tell the king whatever he had heard. He said to Rama, "Sire, the people of Ayodhya are full of praise for you. But there are some who do not speak well of one action of yours. 'Queen Seethadevi was a prisoner in Ravana's palace. Ravana was the King of Rakshasas, and a wicked fellow. Therefore what of Seetha. Who was his prisoner? Sri Rama was wrong in bringing her back.' I have heard some persons speak like this. "

Sri Rama was greatly pained to hear this. He knew that Seethadevi always thought only of him, and was very pure. But a king should always so conduct himself as to please and satisfy his subjects. That is the quality of a good king. Therefore Sri Rama decided to give up Seetha. He sent for his brother Lakshmana and told him all that he had heard from the spy. He asked Lakshmana to take away Seethadevi at once and leave her near Valmiki's hermitage. Lakshmana was shocked at the order he received from his elder brother. He tried to change the mind of Sri Rama but could not succeed. Lakshmana had no choice; he had to take away his sister-in-law.

He brought a chariot to the gate of Seethadevi's palace. Seethadevi thought that Sri Rama was fulfilling her desire to visit the ashramas of sages. She was all enthusiasm. She got up a big package of haldi, kumkum, bangles and gold ornaments to be given to the wives of the Rishis. She told everyone in the palace that she was going on a visit to hermitages, and took leave. Sri Rama was not in the palace. So she requested Kausalya, her mother-in-law, to inform Sri Rama. She then entered the chariot. Lakshmana himself drove the chariot.

They sped along and soon reached the banks of the river Ganga. Nearby was the hermitage of Valmiki Rishi. But Lakshmana did not go to the ashrama. He got down in the forest near the ashrama. He helped Seethadevi to alight from the chariot. Then tearfully he said to Seetha, "Mother, Sri Rama has asked me to leave you in the forest. Some people in Ayodhya have spoken ill of you with doubts in their minds. They blame Sri Rama for having brought you back from Ravana's prison. A king has to win the respect of his subjects. Therefore Rama arms given you up. This has given him great pain, but he is bearing it because he thinks of his duty. I have obeyed his instructions. I am a very great sinner, to be leaving you in the forest. Kindly forgive me." He touched her feet. Then he left the weeping Seethadevi in the forest and returned to Ayodhya.

Lakshmana's words were like a thunderbolt to Seethadevi. She stood for a long time staring at Lakshmana who was going away. Deep sighs escaped from her lips. Unable to stand, she collapsed on the ground. She recalled the entire story of her life. Should this be the fate of a woman who always thought of her husband as her God? She wept and wept. But yet she did not blame her husband. She thought it was her bad fate. She was soon to become a mother and was wearied by the journey; she had eaten no food and her mind was full of agony, so she crumpled up. She was overtaken by sleep and lay down under a tree.

Seethadevi awoke from her sleep by the evening. She did not know what to do and began to cry loudly. Just then Valmiki’s disciples had come to the forest to gather flowers and leaves for the master's worship. They heard the loud wails of Seethadevi and followed in the wake of the sound.

They approached her and said to her, "Mother, who are you? Why are you crying alone in the forest? We are disciples of the sage Valmiki. Have no doubts. Guruji's hermitage is quite near. Please come with us, Mother."

The very mention of Valmiki Rishi brought Seethadevi some comfort. She took courage and went with the disciples to the ashrama.

As soon as she saw Valmiki, Seethadevi prostrated before the sage with great devotion. Weeping, she narrated her whole story to the sage. Valmiki was deeply moved. He consoled her in various ways. He then assured her that he would keep her in his hermitage. He asked the women of the ashrama to look after her. He told them that she was a very virtuous lady and they should look after her with all possible care and affection.

After a few days. Seethadevi gave birth to two sons. They were born on a good day under very auspicious stars. The two babies were beautiful like dolls made of moonlight. Valmiki rejoiced when he saw them. On the tenth day after their birth, he named them Lava and Kusha. Every one in the ashrama was very fond of these babies. Someone or the other among the inmates of the ashrama was always carrying the babies and fondling them. Their affection for her children filled Seethadevi with joy. Seeing those pretty children, she was able to forget her sorrows. And this brought Valmiki great relief.

Lava and Kusha grew up day by day like the waxing moon. Valmiki himself taught those boys the first letters. He taught them to read and to write. The boys also learnt to recite several songs of prayer. They had very sweet voices. When they sang, all around listened spellbound. Valmiki would often make the children sing before Seethadevi; their song delighted her like divine nectar (Amrita).

Lava and Kusha were now eight years old. Valmiki performed their 'sacred thread ceremony" - the Upanayana. Then he began to teach them the sacred Vedas. He had by now completed the Ramayana', which also he taught them. The two boys learnt it by heart. They sang the 'Ramayana'

So movingly that Valmiki was filled with joy. He made them sing his long poem before Seethadevi. Her heart melted at the story of the 'Ramayana', at the singing and the sweetness of the voices. Their recitation gave the story of 'Ramayana' a new beauty and appeal. Seetha’s eyes were filled with tears of joy. Valmiki felt proud of the boys and their singing. He would ask Lava and Kusha to sing the 'Ramayana' before everyone who came to his ashrama.

The boys grew up day by day and advanced in their education in Valmiki's ashrama. Sri Rama's reign continued. He thought of performing the great sacrifice of Ashwamedha. In those days an Ashwamedha Yaga was no small matter. It was the greatest aim and ambition of many a king. Only the most heroic of kings in the world would be able to perform that sacrifice successfully. A king desirous of undertaking it would worship a horse of a fine breed. As the horse was free to roam, if any other king tied up the horse he had to be conquered in a war. Thus the king who wanted to perform Ashwamedha had to conquer all kings on the earth and become an emperor. After the horse roamed over all countries and returned home, the owner could perform the Ashwamedha sacrifice. Sri Rama undertook such a venture. All other kings on earth offered their tributes and gifts, and accepted him as Emperor. Then he performed the great Sacrifice. All the sages in the land were invited to the sacrifice. So was Valmiki Rishi, who went there with his disciples.

Sri Rama's Ashwamedha Yaga went on for several days in grandeur. Poor people were given food and good clothing to their heart's content. Brahmins and rishis were pleased with the generous gifts and money. On the final day when all the rishis were gathered together in the evening, Valmiki asked Lava and Kusha to recite his 'Ramayana. Another disciple of his played on the flute pleasingly. It was a night of the full moon. The two boys sang the 'Ramayana' to the accompaniment of the flute. The recitation went on all night. The rishis and the Brahmins who had assembled there were overjoyed. The sages and Brahmins, being so pleased, gave gifts to the boys. Valmiki was over whelmed with joy at this appreciation of his poem and of the recitation by his disciples.

During the night when Lava and Kusha were singing, Sri Rama was lying down on the open terrace of his palace. He heard the song of the boys. It was like nectar to him. He sent for the boys the next morning. When they came there, he requested them to sing the 'Ramayana' again. As they sang and as he listened to the story of his own life, he was very pleased. He shed tears whenever there was mention of Seethadevi. Alas, how much had she suffered! She had married him; what happiness had the marriage brought her? Her whole life was full of trouble and sorrow. Sri Rama wiped his tears; hardly able to speak, he asked the boys, "Who are you?’

"We are Seethadevi's sons and disciples of Valmiki," they said.

Sri Rama was stunned at the mention of Seethadevi. 'Did Seetha, whom I sent away to the forest, give birth to these children? Are they then my own sons he thought. He sent for sage Valmiki atonce. When the Rishi arrived, Sri Rama heard from him the story of those two boys in detail. He was very eager to get back Seethadevi and begged Valmiki to fetch her. He gave the assurance that she would again be his Queen.

Valmiki sent his disciples to fetch Seethadevi from the ashrama. When Seethadevi arrived, Sri Rama said to her, "Seetha, swear before all the sages assembled here, that you loved me alone and are in truth a virtuous woman. Let the minds of all those who doubt you be cleared. Then I shall take you back." Sage Valmiki protested. He said to Sri Rama, "Lord Rama, Seetha is the most virtuous of women. Please do not test her again and again. Why should she again swear before this gathering? Her mind is already greatly hurt. Do not pain her again. You are verily Lord Mahavishnu, the great Protector of the Universe, and she is your divine consort, Mahalakshmi. Let there be no further test."

But Sri Rama did not agree. He said the test was needed in order to remove the suspicion of people.

Seethadevi felt ashamed. She stood with her head bowed. Tears flowed like a stream from her eyes. All the Gods came down from heaven to witness the test of this most virtuous woman. Before all those Gods and the rishis, Seetha prayed to the Earth Goddess, "O Mother Earth, if it is true that I have never thought of anybody but Sri Rama, receive me in your arms. O Mother Earth, if it is true that I have always worshipped only Sri Rama, then please receive me. If my words are true at all, O Mother Earth, receive me in your arms."

As Seethadevi uttered these words, the Earth burst open, and a throne rose. Bhoodevi, the Goddess of the Earth, was seated on the throne, which was held up by four serpents. Bhoodevi drew Seethadevi into her arms and embraced her. In a moment, both disappeared into the earth with the throne. The earth, which had opened, closed again.

Seeing Seetha vanish underground, Sri Rama was in great misery. He wept loudly. Seetha was the daughter of Bhoodevi. She had again entered the mother's womb. Sri Rama prayed to Bhoodevi, his mother-in-law, to give his wife back to him; he blamed himself, craved for Seetha, and raved angrily. But it was all in vein.

Then Brahmadeva, the Lord of the Creation, appeared to him and soothed him. "Sri Rama," he said, "You -are no human being, but Lord Narayana. You were born a human being to kill the demon-king Ravana. That mission is over; you must now get back to your own world of Vaikunta. Your wife Seethadevi awaits you there as Lakshmi."

Sri Rama realized that these words were true. His sorrow subsided. The assembled Gods and sages were filled with wonder. After some days Sri Rama left the earth and returned to Vaikunta.

The story of Valmiki is meaningful. Valmiki is a great example of how people are uplifted by the company of good men. By coming into contact with Narada, he became a great sage, a Brahmarshi; and he also gave the 'Ramayana' which the world can never forget. It is one of the great epics of the world. People of other countries read it in their own languages. The study of the 'Ramayana can reform our lives. We can never forget Valmiki who gave this great epic to us. Let us offer our salutations to that great sage and bard.

Author: T.S.Shama Rao

Source : http://yousigma.com/biographies/maharshivalmiki.html

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Goddess SARASWATI appears 

                                                                           

Sage Yajnavalkya

By

Sri Swami Sivananda

The name of Yajnavalkya of Mithila stands distinguished both in the Srutis and in the Smritis. Yajnavalkya is especially known for his unsurpassed spiritual wisdom and power. The seer of a Veda Samhita from Bhagavan Surya, the revealer of Brahma Jnana to Janaka, Maitreyi and others, Yajnavalkya hails supreme among sages of sacred memory. As to his obtaining the Shukla Yajurveda Samhita from Bhagavan Surya, there is the following history.

Yajnavalkya was the son of the sister of Mahamuni Vaishampayana, the Vedacharya of the Taittiriya section. He was studying the Taittiriya Samhita from Vaishampayana who was also his Guru. Vaishampayana had many other disciples too and they all were students of the Taittiriya Shakha.

Once all the Rishis decided to form an association near the Meru mountain and made a rule that any Rishi who absented himself at the appointed hour should incur the sin of Brahmahatya (the sin of killing a Brahmin) for seven days. On that appointed day fell the Sraddha ceremony of Vaishampayana’s father. Vaishampayana thought, "Somehow I have to perform my father’s ceremony. If the sin of Brahmahatya comes to me, my disciples will observe the expiatory penance therefor". So Vaishampayana did not attend the meeting of the Rishis. And accordingly he incurred the sin of Brahmahatya.

Then Vaishampayana said to his disciples, "Now I have to expiate this great sin of Brahmahatya. Therefore, you all will observe, for my sake, an expiatory penance for seven days".

At once Yajnavalkya stood up and said, "O Guru! All these are poor-spirited young students. They will not be able to undergo such a hard penance. So, instead of all, I myself alone shall observe it in the manner in which nobody else can". Vaishampayana told Yajnavalkya not to undertake it alone. But Yajnavalkya persisted. The preceptor was offended at this audacious attitude of the disciple and said, "O proud one, you are very conceited. You get away from me. Enough of you who is disposed to despise wise Brahmins. Give back to me immediately whatever you have learnt from me".

Upon the order of the Guru, Yajnavalkya, the son of Devarata, vomited out the collection of the Yajus in the form of food. The other disciples ate that food taking the form of the Tittiri birds, because they were very eager to receive the same. They then had the direct revelation of those Yajurveda collections. As the Tittiri birds ate this Veda, it is thenceforth called the Taittiriya Yajurveda. It is also known as Krishna (black) Yajurveda on account of its being vomited substance.

Then Yajnavalkya determined not to have any human Guru thereafter. Thus he began to propitiate the Sun-God, Surya. Yajnavalkya worshipped and extolled the Sun, the master of the Vedas, for the purpose of acquiring the fresh Vedic portions not known to his preceptor, Vaishampayana.

Yajnavalkya said, "Prostration to the glorious Aditya, who in the form of the Atman, abides in all beings. I bow to Him who surrounds all like Akasa, who is one and not separated or distanced by limiting conditions. O Great God, O Creator, I contemplate upon that glowing sphere which lights and warms the whole world! O God who burns all miseries wrought by unrighteous activities, who burns ignorance which is the seed of activity! O Lord, I worship Thy lotus-like feet praised and worshipped by the rulers of the three worlds. Give me those portions of the Veda which are not known to others".

The Sun-God, the glorious Lord Hari, pleased with Yajnavalkya’s penance, assumed the form of a horse and taught the sage such fresh portions of the Yajurveda as were not known to any other. This portion of the Yajurveda goes by the name of Shukla Yajurveda. It is also known as Vajasaneya Yajurveda, because it was evolved in great rapidity by Surya in the form of a horse through his manes. Yajnavalkya divided this Vajasaneya Yajurveda again into fifteen branches, each branch comprising hundreds of Yajus Mantras. Kanva, Madhyandina and others learnt those branches.

Yajnavalkya married two wives. One was Maitreyi and the other Katyayani. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini. When Yajnavalkya wished to divide his property between the two wives before starting for the fourth Ashrama of his life, Maitreyi asked whether she could become immortal through wealth. Yajnavalkya replied that there was no hope of immortality through wealth and that she would only become one among the many who were well-to-do on earth. On hearing this, Maitreyi requested Yajnavalkya to teach her what he considered as the best. Then Yajnavalkya elaborately described to her the sole greatness of the Absolute Self, the nature of Its existence, the way of attaining infinite knowledge and immortality, etc. This immortal conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi is recorded in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The central theme of the discourse is this: "All things are dear, not for their sake, but for the sake of the Self. This Self alone exists everywhere. It cannot be understood or known, for It alone is the Understander and the Knower. Its nature cannot be said to be positively as such. It is realised through endless denials as ‘not this, not this’. The Self is self-luminous, indestructible, unthinkable".

The other wife Katyayani, the daughter of Bharadhwaja, was of common intelligence, and through her Yajnavalkya had three sons—Chandrakanta, Mahamegha and Vijaya.

Yajnavalkya, though a great Brahmajnani, was a great Karmakandi too. He caused many Yajnas to be performed and himself became the Acharya of those great Yajnas. He was a celebrated Srotriya and a Brahma-nishtha Guru. Once King Janaka of Videha wanted to know from which real Brahmanishtha to receive Brahma Vidya. In order to find out who was the real Brahma-nishtha, Janaka performed a huge Bahu-dakshina sacrifice to which all the Rishis from far and wide were invited. And he offered one thousand cows with their calves, all their horns being decked with enormous gold. Then he proclaimed to the assembled ones, "Whosoever is the best Brahmana amongst you may drive these cows home". None dared to get up and take away the cows as they were afraid of censure by the others. But Yajnavalkya stood up and asked his disciple Samasravas to drive the cows home.

The other Brahmanas got angry at this and said to one another, "How can he declare himself to be the best among us?". Thereupon several Rishis challenged Yajnavalkya with many questions on transcendental matters to all of which Yajnavalkya gave prompt reply. There was a great debate in which Yajnavalkya won over all the others. Janaka was convinced that Yajnavalkya was the best Brahma-nishtha and received Brahma Vidya from him thereafter.

The third and the fourth chapters of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad abound with the great philosophical teachings of Yajnavalkya. Yajnavalkya was also the author of the famous Yajnavalkya Smriti. His other works are Yajnavalkya Shakha, Pratijna Sutra, Satapatha Brahmana, and Yoga-Yajnavalkya.

At the sacrifice of Janaka, there was an exchange of words between Yajnavalkya and Vaishampayana. But on hearing that Yajnavalkya had obtained a fresh Veda from the Sun-God, Vaishampayana was much pleased and he requested Yajnavalkya to teach that Veda to his own disciples also. Yajnavalkya consented and taught his Veda to the disciples of Vaishampayana.

In the end, Yajnavalkya took Vidvat Sannyasa (renunciation after the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman) and retired to the forest.

Yajnavalkya was one of the greatest sages ever known. We find him arguing with and overcoming even his teacher Uddalaka at the court of Janaka. His precepts as contained in the Upanishads stand foremost as the crest-jewel of the highest teachings on Brahma Vidya

Source : http://www.dlshq.org/saints/yajnavalkya.htm

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                                                        MAHARSHI   VYASA                                          

Maharshi Vyasa

By

Sri Swami Sivananda

In ancient days, our forefathers, the Rishis of Aryavartha, went to the forest to do Tapasya during the four months following Vyasa Purnima—a particular and important day in the Hindu calendar. On this memorable day, Vyasa, an incarnation of the Lord Himself, began to write his Brahma Sutras. Our ancient Rishis did this Tapasya in caves and forests. But times have changed and such facilities are not common nowadays although Grihasthas and Rajas are not wanting who are able and willing to place at the disposal of the members of the fourth Ashrama such help and facilities as they can afford. The forests and caves have given place to the rooms of Sadhus in their own Gurudwaras and Mutts. One has of necessity to suit himself to time and place; and change of place and situation should not be allowed to make such a difference in our mental attitudes. Chaturmas begins from the Vyasa Purnima Day when, according to our Shastras, we are expected to worship Vyasa and the Brahmavidya Gurus and begin the study of the Brahma Sutras and other ancient books on ‘wisdom’.

Our mythology speaks of many Vyasas; and it is said that there had been twenty-eight Vyasas before the present Vyasa—Krishna Dvaipayana—took his birth at the end of Dvapara Yuga. Krishna Dvaipayana was born of Parasara Rishi through the Matsyakanya—Satyavathi Devi—under some peculiar and wonderful circumstances. Parasara was a great Jnani and one of the supreme authorities on astrology and his book Parasara Hora is still a textbook on astrology. He has also written a Smriti known as Parasara Smriti which is held in such high esteem that it is quoted by our present-day writers on sociology and ethics. Parasara came to know that a child, conceived at a particular Ghatika or moment of time, would be born as the greatest man of the age, nay, as an Amsa of Lord Vishnu Himself. On that day, Parasara was travelling in a boat and he spoke to the boatman about the nearing of that auspicious time. The boatman had a daughter who was of age and awaiting marriage. He was impressed with the sanctity and greatness of the Rishi and offered his daughter in marriage to Parasara. Our Vyasa was born of this union and his birth is said to be due to the blessing of Lord Siva Himself who blessed the union of a sage with a Jnani of the highest order, although of a low caste.

At a very tender age Vyasa gave out to his parents the secret of his life that he should go to the forest and do Akhanda Tapas. His mother at first did not agree, but later gave permission on one important condition that he should appear before her whenever she wished for his presence. This itself shows how far-sighted the parents and the son were. Puranas say that Vyasa took initiation at the hands of his twenty-first Guru, sage Vasudeva. He studied the Shastras under sages Sanaka and Sanandana and others. He arranged the Vedas for the good of mankind and wrote the Brahma Sutras for the quick and easy understanding of the Srutis; he also wrote the Mahabharata to enable women, Sudras and other people of lesser intellect to understand the highest knowledge in the easiest way. Vyasa wrote the eighteen Puranas and established the system of teaching them through Upakhyanas or discourses. In this way, he established the three paths, viz., Karma, Upasana and Jnana. To him is also attributed the fact that he continued the line of his mother and that Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura were his progeny. Vyasa’s last work was the Bhagavata which he undertook at the instigation of Devarshi Narada who once came to him and advised him to write it as, without it, his goal in life would not be reached.

Vyasa is considered by all Hindus as a Chiranjivi, one who is still living and roaming throughout the world for the well-being of his devotees. It is said that he appears to the true and the faithful and that Jagadguru Sankaracharya had his Darshan in the house of sage Mandana Misra and that he appeared to many others as well. Thus, in short, Vyasa lives for the welfare of the world. Let us pray for his blessings on us all and on the whole world.

Everybody knows that there are six important systems of thought developed by our ancients known as the Shad Darshanas or the six orthodox schools of philosophy, viz., Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Purva Mimamsa and Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta. Each system has a different shade of opinion. Later, these thoughts became unwieldy, and to regulate them, the Sutras came into existence. Treatises were written in short aphorisms, called "Sutras" in Sanskrit, meaning clues for memory or aids to long discussions on every topic. In the Padma Purana, the definition of a Sutra is given. It says that a Sutra should be concise and unambiguous; but the brevity was carried to such an extent that the Sutra has become unintelligible and particularly so in the Brahma Sutras. Today we find the same Sutra being interpreted in a dozen ways. The Brahma Sutras written by Vyasa or Badarayana—for that was the name which he possessed in addition—are also known as Vedanta Sutras as they deal with Vedanta only. They are divided into four chapters, each chapter being subdivided again into four sections. It is interesting to note that they begin and end with Sutras which read together mean "the inquiry into the real nature of Brahman has no return", meaning that "going by that way one reaches Immortality and no more returns to the world". About the authorship of these Sutras, tradition attributes it to Vyasa. Sankaracharya, in his Bhashya, refers to Vyasa as the author of the Gita and the Mahabharata, and to Badarayana as the author of the Brahma Sutras. His followers—Vachaspathi, Anandagiri and others—identify the two as one and the same person, while Ramanuja and others attribute the authorship of all three to Vyasa himself. The oldest commentary on the Brahma Sutras is by Sankaracharya; he was later followed by Ramanuja, Vallabha, Nimbarka, Madhva and others who established their own schools of thought. All the five Acharyas mostly agree on two points, viz., (i) that Brahman is the cause of this world and (ii) that knowledge of Brahman leads to final emancipation. But they differ amongst themselves on the nature of this Brahman, the relation between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul, and the condition of the soul in the state of release. According to some, Bhakti and not Jnana, as interpreted by Sankara, is the chief means of attaining liberation.

Vyasa’s life is a unique example of one born for the dissemination of spiritual knowledge. His writings inspire us and the whole world even to this day. May we all live in the spirit of his writings!

Source : This biography is from the book "Lives of Saints".

              http://www.dlshq.org/saints/vyasa.htm

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JAGAD GURU RAMANANDACHARYA

                                    Jagad Guru Ramanandacharya

A Celestial Personality:

His HolinessJagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Shri Rajiv Lochanacharyaji, is a personification of piety, penance, and divinity. It is not surprising therefore, when he was conferred the honor of 'Jagadguru or 'world spiritual master at the Maha Kumbha Mela at Haridwar in April 1998. It made His Holiness the youngest Jagadguru, at 36 years, after the first Jagadguru, Adi Shankaracharyaji 1200 years ago. The elevation to the position of Jagadguru starts from a Sadhu to a Swami (Mandaleshwar); to a Maha Mandaleshwar. One out of 108 Maha Mandaleshwars is elevated to the title of Acharya Maha Mandaleshwar and one out of 1008 Acharya Maha Mandaleshwars is given the honor of Jagadguru by the entire saint community of India. To achieve that at such a young age is nothing short of miraculous. Jagadgurujis divinity took its loots even before his birth. His parents went to Lord Jagannaths temple in Puri in Orissa, India, to pray for a son after they were blessed earlier with daughters. His Holiness was born after that. Through the years Jagadguruji rose above the sense-gratifying forces to carry on his mission of spreading peace, love and compassion for all humanity with the sacrosanct system of 0m Kriya Yoga. This system of Om Kriya Yoga, originating from Lord Shiva (the third of the Trinity), was taught by Lord Krishna to the Pandava prince Arjuna on the battlefields of Kurukshetra as described in the Bhagavad Gita. His Holiness received the divine wisdom from the celestial being Mahaavatar Kriya Babaji of 'Autobiography of a Yogi' by ParamahamsaYogananda, fame. It is a system of using the sound of the Brahmanada or OM (the original sound at the time of creation) to awaken the kundalini or the enormous potential power in us. It helps to create cosmic energy in us and enables us to feel the vibration and see the light of God. This results in the cleansing of our being and elevation of our consciousness from the animalistic propensities to the divine level. Jagadguruji is blessed by his spiritual master Brahmarishi Barfani Dadaji, regarded as the greatest living saint in India, who also stayed with Mahaavatar Kriya Babaji for 36 years. Under his guidance, Jagadguruji has mastered spiritual sciences like Srividya, Ayurveda, Kundalini Yoga among many others, Jagadguruji was directed by Mahaavatar Kriya Babaji, who revealed himself before him in Mount Kailash in 1995, to teach this science of self-realization to the people irrespective of their nationality, caste, creed, religion or sex and help them drink the divine nectar of Gods love. Jagadguruji has created the Om Kriya Yantra in response to his realizations. Ishwar, God is the Supreme Being; Sadhana, the discipline of life; Karma, the rightful duties; Love, essence of God; Seva, ego and selfless service; Meditation, concentration of mind. It is his mission to bring about world peace through love, service and meditation. His Holiness has graciously traveled to numerous countries all over the world to preach the sacrosanct system of 0m Kriya Yoga to humanity. He has attended conferences in the U.S.A., Holland, U.K., South Africa, among others and Trinidad, where he was invited by the Prime Minister. He has created 0m Kriya Yoga foundation, a non-profit, religious foundation that would help spread his message throughout the US and the world. His Holiness JagadGuru Ramanandacharya by accepting the "tridanda" (Three Holi Sticks from God) has made an unwavering resolution to use all that he possesses in the service of mankind. Divine Immortal soul Brahmarishi Barfani Dadaji and Mahavtar Kriya Babaji Blessed him and said, " Go and serve humanity! Create peaceful spiritual environment in the world through Om Kiya Yog where peoples may acquire Ananda (happiness). Serve the Poor and destitute without any consideration of cast, creed, religion and show them the right way, that have strayed from the path to true happiness."

DHUNIWALE DADAJI MAHARAJ

                                  DHUNIWALE DADAJI

                                                              DHUNIWALE   DADAJI

About Dadaji Dhuniwale Maharaj :

Shri Dadaji Maharaj was the actual incarnation of Lord Shiva. Around 1850 AD, he was spotted on the bank of river Narmada as a radiant boy of 8 years by Brahmarshi Gourishankar Maharaj. He was taken into the Guru’s fold, and was given basic lessons in yoga, meditation and spirituality. For higher learning, he was sent to Kashi. Thanks to his sharp intellect, he was able to master ancient scriptures like the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas etc. before the stipulated time. A pleased Gourishankar Maharaj handed over the reins of his Ashram to his wonder protege whom be renamed as Swami Krishnanand.

               

 However, young Krishnanand was interested in higher pursuits. The mundane day-to-day chores of the ashram did not interest him. He would often enter deep woods, and engage himself in fierce meditation. Very soon he achieved all 8 siddhies. He willingly handed over the reins of ashram to the next in command; and embarked on a pious journey of dhyan, tapa, pilgrimage and social uplift.

               

Saikheda Connection

                

One day, the Zamindar of village Saikheda in district Narsingpur (M.P.), found him performing deep penance in a dense forest. He persuaded Dadajji to visit his village and save it from the epidemic of small-pox. Dadaji obliged him, cured the villagers and cleansed the entire pox-infested area of pollution with his spiritual powers. He made Saikheda his seat where he stayed for next 27 years.

                he used to visit other villages on the bank of river Narmada and set up his dhuni. Grateful people began to call him ‘ Dadaji Dhuniwale’ maharaj. In different places he came to be known by different names, like Swami Ram-phal Avadhoot Maharaj, Pehalwan Baba, langotiya Baba etc. But essentially he was Swami Keshvanand Sukirti Maharaj alias Dadajee Dhuniwale Maharaj.

                Often he used to be seen at two or more distant places, all at the same time. Soon he attained the ‘Paramhansa’ status of the yogi wherein one ceases to live for himself, and his existence is for the benefit of others only. He abandoned all worldly possessions and assumed the diagambar State.

Panacea Personified

                

He attained enormous spiritual energy and superhuman prowess which he generously sprinkled on the needy to rid them of worldly pains like diseases, poverty, barrenness etc. There are also instances where he restored life in the dead, and gifted sight to the blind. True devotees are experiencing his benevolence even today.

                

He left his mortal body several times, and assumed a new form elsewhere under a different name. Finally he bestowed his mortal throne on his dear disciple Swami Harihar Bhole Bhagwan, and entered sanjeevan Samadhi at Khandwa (MP), in 1930 AD.

                

He vehemently supported India’s freedom struggle against British rule. Eminent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Motilal Nehru, Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya etc. had personally obtained his blessings.

Source : http://dadadhamravinagpur.org/pages/about_us

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SRI SRI BARPHANI DADAJI

SRI SRI BARPHANI DADAJI

                           

Ageless Great Himalayan Sage Pratah Smarniya Yogiraj 1008 Sri Sri Barphani Dadaji is Sat Chit Anand Swaroop. Purity can be difined by him..Legend is that, while meditating in the Himalayas, his body was covered with snow, hence his name 'Barfani'. Yogi Raj Barfani Dada was born in the Dodi Kheda Village on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, in a royal family.His father, having no issues, had married thrice. Finally he became a disciple of Sant Dhuni Waale Dada ji of Sai Kheda. The saint blessed two of his wives and told them that they should pledge the youngest of their to-be-born sons to a saintly sect. Both the wives had two sons each, of which Barfani Dada was the youngest. Hence at the age of 8, his father took him to the Ashram of Dhuni Waale Dada ji and pledged him to the Saint. In those days , Saint Arjun Das Maharaj of Ayodhya was camping there. Dhuni Waale Dada ji put Barfani Dada under Arjun Das Maharaj's tutelage. Shri Barfani Dadaji travelled all over India with the saint. He attained knowledge of Sanskrit, Religion, Philosophy, Mathematics and Ayurveda under the tutelage of Shri Kela Brahmachari of Varanasi. Shri Barfani Dadaji then left for the Himalayas to meditate.

In the Himalayas, he visited Nepal, Ranikhet, Pithorgarh, Tibet and Mansarovar temples and engaged himself in rigorous meditation attaining rare powers. He also learnt the secrets of meditation from the saint of Gyanganj, Paramhans Phuleri Baba. In 1930, the Dadaji relinquished his old body and attained a new one through Kayakalp Vidya. Following the Chinese invasion of 1962, Dadaji left his Himalayan abode and settled down at Amarkantak temple. He chose Amarkantak temple because, it was an important pilgrimage centre where nearly 4 crore pilgrims visited every year and where Lord Shiva himself makes his presence felt in the form of the Narmada River. His Holiness Barfani Dadaji was known as Hari Dutt Dubey during his childhood years.

The very word ‘Baba’ has to the Indian mind, a unique sweet resonance evoking images of a loving mother, a protective father and a kind but strict spiritual mentor. Like Shirdi Baba and Sri Satya Sai Baba, Barphani Baba also is a centre of Divine Energy that heals physical and psychological ailments, that grants the desires of devotees only to help them reach the peace - promoting desireless state that can be ushered in when the limits and limitations of the ego are shattered.

Sri Barphani Baba is living proof that, with yogic powers, an evolved man can defy and defeat the so-called immutable biological laws of nature like growing old and becoming decrepit. The duly recorded birth day is Diwali 1792, which means that he is now two hundred and six years old. The answer of the eighty year old and ninety year old disciples of Barphani Baba to queries about Baba’s actual age is invariably, “No one knows. All we can say is that we first had darshan of Baba when we were young boys. He has not changed. He looks now exactly as he did at that time". Some claim that Baba is thousands of years old. In fact, nobody knows his real age.

Baba’s father Ramdutt Dubey was a Brahmin feudal lord living in the village Dodekoda, (District Unnan) in Uttar Pradesh. He was a good and pious man, well-liked by everyone. God gave him everything any human being can ever wish for, except children. When his first wife failed to give him any children he was advised by elders in the family to marry again and he did so. But he had no luck this time also and married a third time. When fate decreed that this should also be a barren union, the now desperate Ramdutt went with his wives to Omkareswar begged Sri Gowri Sankar Maharaj to give him the boon of children. The compassionate Baba from whom Shirdi Baba received his initiation into the spiritual path, took pity on Ramdutt and giving two whacks each to the first two wives of Ramdutt with his “brahma dandam”, the cane he carries, he blessed them and said they both would have children but that the youngest child should be given tohim to be made a sadhu. Ramdutt and his wives agreed to the condition and went home.

The Sun and the Moon may stray from their course but the words of Mahatmas never fail. In the course of time the Dubey family was blessed with four sons and the youngest, Haridutt is the saint now worshipped by devotees as Barphani baba. The boy in his eighth year was handed over to Dhunivala Baba.

A Godman named Arjundas, who had an Ashram at Ayodhya visited Saikeda at about the same time and Dhunivala Baba entrusted to him the care of child Haridutt. With Arjundas and his disciples Barphani Baba went on a tour of all the major shrines in India. He spent ten years in Benares learning Sanskrit from Vidvan Sri Kola Brahmachari. The Vidvan also gave lessons to his young disciple in Logic, Grammar and Ayurveda. After mastering these subjects Baba went to the Himalayas to do “tapas”. In the next decade he visited Nepal, Ranikhet, Pitorghad, Tibet and Manasa Sarovar and after years of intense and extremely difficult to follow spiritual practices he acquired many occult powers. Many esoteric yoga secrets were explained to him by Himalayan Masters like Languria Baba, who, living in an invisible form at Jnanganj selects eligible aspirants and imparts to them many yogic powers.

Godmen like Barphani Baba are born to accomplish a particular chosen mission in life and till they achieve that goal they have to be physically fit to endure all hardships in all sorts of climates. Keeping this in mind, Barphani Baba with the help of Siddhi Ganesh Lama of Tibet, underwent “Kaya Kalpa Chikitsa”, (a rejuvenation procedure prescribed in yoga) at the age of 136, i.e., in 1928, and manages to retain the vigour of youth even after crossing two hundred and six. Barphani Baba himself told some of the Ashramites that Puleria Baba taught this rejuvenation technique to him, to Ganesh Lama, to Dr. Rambhaji and to many others including some Godmen who are now residing in Australia. Even today he initiates Buddhist Lamas into several orders. Sri Baba is an adept in Lama Vidya (travelling in air with the physical body,) and Khanda Vidya (separatingparts of body and again connecting them).

One of Barphani Baba’s disciples, Moni Baba heads the Ashram at the remote village ‘Ram mandir’ in Gujarat had the good fortune of receiving this rejuvenation from the hands of his master.

Chief among the many Ashrams of Barphani Baba is the Ashram at Amarkantak on the banks of the holy river Narmada. Baba chose this place because four crore evolved souls reside here in invisible form. Sri Hanuman and Sri Aswatthama are among the regular visitants to this place. It is only the merit accrued from many previous lives, combined with a highly evolved Guru’s grace that allows one access to this Ashram located in breath takingly beautiful surroundings. The towering mountains all round it, the pure air fragrant with incense, camphor and the scent of rare medicinal plants like ‘Gulebakavali’ have rightly made it the centre for Baba’s many instructional courses in such incredible subjects as coming out of the body to enter a dead person’s body, learning the secret of eternal youth, mastering the ability for astral travel, the technique of walking across water, the science of awakening the kundalini and so on.

Baba’s second major ashram is located in Indore. Here the idols of Mother Tripura Sundari, Bagla Mukhi are installed. Sri Ramayan Das, a disciple of Barphani Baba, looks after ashram known also for the reasearch centre for medicine. With the knowledge of Vedic herbs taught here aspirants have cured people suffering from many life-threatening diseases like cancer. Plans are afoot here to establish a research centre for hitherto unravelled secrets of occultism and ancient yogic practices.

It is beyond human comprehension to know anything about the ‘sensors’ used by Godmen to pick up channels through whom their mission of world welfare would be carried out. It is a matter of rejoicing for us that Master EK was most definitely one such Godman. It is only his grace that enabled a few of his disciples to spend ten days in Barphani Baba’s Ashram. Baba’s sending through them a “Meru” and a ‘Salagram’ to be installed in the shrine room of Sri MRL, one of Master EK’s closest disciples (a favour Sri MRLearned for his devout and affectionate nature, profound scholarship and dedication to the cause of implementing Master EK’s teachings) shows that our lives are an open book to Godmen and events are not accidents but fruition of the Divine will manifesting through these pure hearted brothers. 

Sri MRL, used as he was to receiving visitors at all odd hours of the day and night seeking his advice for medical or astrological problems was astonished to find a young lady Ms.Anuradha Bindal, from Raipur, knocking on his door and informing him that Barphani Baba had sent her to him to receive advanced instruction in astrology and other occult subjects. She also told him that all she was told was to go to Visakhapatnam and meet Mr. MRL and that her faith in Barphani Baba helped her to locate his address from among the hundreds of others in the city who bore the same name as MRL.

Godmen’s lives abound in miracles or at least what we in our as yet unenlightened state consider miracles, though to the Godmen performing them they are natural occurrences normal in the dimension of the reality of the sixth sense.

The miracle of Barphani Baba reported to Sri MRL concerned the experience of Ms.Bindal's parents. As a teenager, her father, a contractor was a devotee of Baba. But later on in life, caught up in the rat race of modern day living he stopped meeting Baba. He got married. One day when he was away and his wife was all alone in the bungalow, she came across an old calendar carrying a portrait of Lord Vishnnu. As she gazed at the picture it seemed to come to life. The next minute, to her utter surprise a strikingly divine looking old man with a flowing beard emanated out of the picture and stood before her. She was too overawed to speak and the old man told her that her husband was once his disciple and that he wanted him to come and meet him as he had an important piece of advice to pass on to him. Saying this he vanished.

The contractor’s wife immediately phoned to her husband to come home urgently. When he came she asked him if he had a Guru in his younger days. He thought for some time and replied “Yes. His name was Barphani Baba”. She then asked him to describe hisGuru. He described Baba exactly matching the old man she had seen earlier. She recounted everything that happened. They spent a sleepless night wondering where and how they could meet Baba because he left no address and the contractor, being out of touch with Baba for nearly fifteen years, had no idea where he could be found.

Next morning through an amazing coincidence, in a newspaper wrapped round something they bought, they found a brief mention of a mysterious Sadhu creating a sensation in a nearby village by his astounding occult powers. The photograph printed along with the news report was that of Barphani Baba! That evening the couple went to the village to seek Baba’s blessings. Gently chiding the contractor for forgetting everything he was taught about sadhana, Baba suggested to him a solution to a financial problem that had been weighing on his mind and they vouched to Mr. MRL, based on their experience that the love with which Baba looks after the welfare of his devotees is a thousand times more intense than that of one’s own mother.

Source : http://spiritsc.blogspot.in/2011_02_01_archive.html

SAINT - BRAMHARSHI BARFANI DADAJI - The Great Kayakalpi Saint

BRAMHARISHI BARFANI DADAJI The Great Kayakalpi Saint of the Himalayas

His Holiness Brahmarishi Barfani Dadaji nestled in the midst of the beautiful Mekal mountains and the Narmada, is the Barfani Yogashram. It is here that Himalayan Kayakalpi Saint 'His Holiness' Brahmarishi Shri Yogaraj Barfani Dadaji resides.  Legend is that, while meditating in the Himalayas, his body was covered with snow, hence his name 'Barfani'. Yogi Raj Barfani Dada was born in the Dodi Kheda Village on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, in a royal family. His father, having no issues, had married thrice. Finally he became a disciple of Sant Dhuni Waale Dada ji of Sai Kheda. The saint blessed two of his wives and told them that they should pledge the youngest of their to-be-born sons to a saintly sect. Both the wives had two sons each, of which Barfani Dada was the youngest. Hence at the age of 8, his father took him to the Ashram of Dhuni Waale Dada ji and pledged him to the Saint. In those days , Saint Arjun Das Maharaj of Ayodhya was camping there. Dhuni Waale Dada ji put Barfani Dada under Arjun Das Maharaj's tutelage. Shri Barfani Dadaji travelled all over India with the saint. He attained knowledge of Sanskrit, Religion, Philosophy, Mathematics and Ayurveda under the tutelage of Shri Kela Brahmachari of Varanasi. Shri Barfani Dadaji then left for the Himalayas to meditate. In the Himalayas, he visited Nepal, Ranikhet, Pithorgarh, Tibet and Mansarovar temples and engaged himself in rigorous meditation attaining rare powers. He also learnt the secrets of meditation from the saint of Gyanganj, Paramhans Phuleri Baba. In 1930, the Dadaji relinquished his old body and attained a new one through Kayakalp Vidya. Following the Chinese invasion of 1962, Dadaji left his Himalayan abode and settled down at Amarkantak temple. He chose Amarkantak temple because, it was an important pilgrimage centre where nearly 4 crore pilgrims visited every year and where Lord Shiva himself makes his presence felt in the form of the Narmada River. His Holiness Barfani Dadaji was known as Hari Dutt Dubey during his childhood years. His father, Ram Dutt Dubey was a landlord of Dandiakhera, in the district of Unnav. He had daughters but no son. So along with his everyday puja in the Shiv Mandir, he also married thrice to get a son. On his pilgrimage to Lake Mansarovar, he met Sant Dhuni Waale Dadaji of Sai Kheda and did seva to him. Pleased with his service, the saint hit his two wives with the thin stick that he carried and gave them a boon of begetting two sons each. He however, told Ram Dutt that youngest of the sons belonged to him and he would come and take him. Dadaji was 8 years old when Sant Dhuni Waale Dadaji of Sai Kheda took him away. He took diksha from Saint Arjundas, a vaishnava saint. He also studied Sanskrit in Varanasi from Khela Brahmachari and attained knowledge of Sanskrit, Religion, Philosophy, Maths and Ayurveda under his tutelage then left for the Himalayas to meditate. Thereafter, he went to Mansarovar and learnt tantra from Ganesh Lama. Once an avalanche fell on him and he came out of it by melting the snow through sadhana. Hence, he was known as Barfani Dadaji. He also learnt the secrets of meditation from the saint of Gyanganj, Paramhans Phuleri Baba. In 1930, he did kayakalpa and rejuvenated his physical body once again. He continued to live in Mansarovar till 1962 from where he came to Haridwar during the Chinese invasion. Presently he stays in Amarkantak, which is the source of the Narmada River. He chose it because, it was an important pilgrimage center where nearly 400 million pilgrims visit every year and where Lord Shiva Himself makes his presence felt in the form of the Narmada River.

Source : http://www.barfanidadaji.org/

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