JAGAT MATA ( A disciple of OM GURU - Jangli Maharaj )

                       J A G A T   M A T A  

JAGAT   MATA

Born : 1941

Jagat Mata was born in 1941 at Karadga, a large village situated in the south of the Maharashtra state, a few kilometres from its border with Karnataka. About 1822 a great saint, Jangli Maharaj, came to live in this village for 7 years. He founded one of his major ashrams there. The ashram is filled with his spiritual energy up to the present day.

Jagat Mata is one of the first disciples of Omgurudev. Initially she lived a normal life of a married country woman. However, quite early in her life she started to have a visions of Omgurudev, whom she met only after many years. Jagat Mata has two sons who now have their own families and live in Karadga. When Jagat Mata moved to the ashram for good, her husband became a sadhu, too, and started to live in Janglidas’ ashrams.

In the early eighties Jagat Mata, together with other matas, began practising Panchiagni tapasya (the ceremony of five fires). During her sadhana she underwent many ceremonies of five fires (Panchiagni). Nowadays she stays in the main ashram at Kokamthan, where she meets (at darshans) many devotees of her guru, Janglidas Maharaj, and practices very deep meditations (samadhi). Together with Omgurudev and other disciples, she goes to all satsangs, where often thousands of devotees gather.

Jagat Mata conducts many other sublime activities, such as educational work.. She organizes, among other things, meetings for married women. These are very colorful ceremonies, where women attempt to see positive qualities in their husbands’ personalities and to expose them in front of other participants. The effects of these activities cannot be overestimated, as thanks to them families live in great harmony.

The ceremonies presented at the ashram are part of old Indian tradition and culture. They astound us with their up-to-date value, depth and wisdom. The Western psychology expressed them, relatively recently, in the form of the positive thinking theory.

Living on the grounds of the Kokamtham ashram, Jagat Mata stays among the students of Gurukula. Her daily presence among the young people, as well as her presence at the school ceremonies, has a very positive influence on them.

Jagat Mata’s family (two sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren), who live in Karadga, visit her at the ashram. Jagat Mata speaks about these visits quite willingly and in a very beautiful way, making the truth about the role of the woman–mother more evident. Watching her activities, one can realise the edifying truth, that sainthood is available also for those who perform the so-called common family duties.

All who visit Jagat Mata can feel the great power of her meditation, even after a short stay in this yogini’s presence.

source : http://omgurudevselangor.blogspot.in/p/om-gurudev_18.html

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BHARAT MATA ( A disciple of OM GURU Maharaj)

                         BHARAT   MATA          

BHARAT   MATA

Born : 1962

Bharat Mata came into the world in 1962 as Babutai More. Her parents ran a small farm in a little village, near the town of Karad in the south of the Maharashtra state. Bharat Mata was the oldest among her siblings. From early childhood her favorite pastime has been meditation in the local Shiva temples.

The first of the many important spiritual events (that we know about) in Bharat Mata’s life took place when she was 7 years old. She saw in her dream an unknown yogi who had given her a darshan (darshan is “seeing” a divine person, connected with receiving his/her blessing), leaving her with an indelible memory. Years passed one after another, and her parents, in accordance with the local custom, arranged the marriage of their 11 years old daughter. Bharat Mata was not interested in the new role imposed upon her. Some time later she started leaving her family home to meditate in various Shiva temples. Once she went to a neighboring village and in an old Shiva temple there started a 21- day seclusion, meditating unceasingly, without eating and drinking. This practice was accompanied by some extraordinary events, e.g. a big cobra appeared in a tree that grew in front of the temple (a cobra is in Indian culture a symbol of the Kundalini energy, and also a main attribute of Shiva), and remained there until Bharat Mata left the temple, where a crowd of local inhabitants had gathered, awaiting her darshan. In that deep meditation the young woman-yogi sensed that 22 stone boards lay hidden under the temple floor, with human figures engraved in them. Soon, historians, guided by her directions, dug out the sculptures, and declared that they came from the period of the Pandava brothers (Krishna’s times), which is to say that they are 5000 years old. This event was widely discussed in the contemporary press of the Maharashtra state. Now several sculptures remain exposed at the place they were found.

When Bharat Mata was about 14 years old, she again experienced meeting the unknown yogi in her dream. The yogi told her to visit him in one of the caves on the AgaShiv Mountain (there are about 110 carved Buddhist caves there). When she told her parents about her dream, it turned out that all three of them had dreamt the same dream. It was decided to investigate the truth of the message. The villagers did not know about any yogi meditating on the AgaShiv. However, when they got to the indicated place, it had turned out that Janglidas Maharaj was awaiting them there. Bharat Mata then stayed at the feet of Omgurudev, and for the first six months did not leave her teacher, meditating together with him in the caves and doing more and more difficult spiritual exercises at his command. From that time comes a mystical poem written in the honor of Bharat Mata by Babaji (in truth, it was only then that he gave her this spiritual name).

One year, in a small mountain village situated in the jungle near Karad, a lion started to show up, attacking the adults and carrying away the children. The villagers were unable to deal with this threat. The envoys from the local elders went to Janglidas to ask his help. In answer to their plea, Omgurudev sent Bharat Mata back with them. The young yogini meditated in the cave, inhabited by the wild beast for about 90 days. Not the slightest harm was done to her. The lion stopped to show up in the village and soon disappeared from the area for good.

When Bharat Mata was asked why the dangerous wild animals do not attack her, she explained that during the meditation she reached such a deep level of oneness with nature, that it was impossible for any animal to harm her – it is as with the tiger who will not bite its own tail or paw (we know a very similar story from the Old Testament tale about Daniel …)

In other circumstances numerous witnesses saw grown-up tigers in the direct vicinity of Bharat Mata, who were nestled close to her like little kittens.

Mataji is sometimes asked for help, too, when a snake wanders to the village or into somebody’s house. She then takes the animal in her hands (she says she is giving it darshan) and carries it away to a safe place.
During her sadhana Bharat Mata underwent numerous tapasyas – yogic spiritual exercises, full of severe renouncements. Performed on Guru’s command and under his spiritual guidance and protection, they are often connected with unusual transcendence of the limitations of human body and mind.

During such exercises there is an intense accumulation of “tapas”, that is spiritual fire – the energy that can be used for increasing the depth of meditation; sometimes it is accompanied by the appearance of siddhis – supernatural yogic powers. Tapasya can also be performed for the benefit of people in need who ask for help.

In spite of cultural and linguistic difficulties I have been able to find out a few details concerning Bharat Mata’s tapasya practices.

In the eighties, Mataji, together with other women disciples of Omgurudev, underwent the Panchagni ceremony (tapasya of five fires) several times. Another Bharat Mata’s tapasya consisted of 90 days’ meditation, during which she remained submerged neck-deep in water. Another time she was buried neck–deep in the earth. A few years ago she carried out an unusual practice, when sitting on a large stone near her kutir (hermitage) – she remained in meditation for a month without any breaks or sleep.

Now Bharat Mata spends most of the year in a simple mountain hermitage on the mountain slope, not far from her native village. There, in solitude, she performs tapasyas for several months, and the days when she ends her exercises are a great holiday in the lives of the inhabitants of the nearby villages and her many devotees who come from Puna and Bombay.

Besides the periods of tapasya, Mataji leads an ascetic life, filled with meditation, and with her presence and spiritual guidance serves many people coming to her for blessing or help. Limiting her needs to a minimum, she does not take any food for many months, and she only drinks Indian chai (tea with herbs, sugar and milk). Three-four hours’ sleep a day is enough for her, even during journeys. Fully devoted to her Master, she sees in him a source of her own power, and gives darshans through his grace. Wonderful, pure meditation aura can be felt around her. The depth of silence that surrounds Bharat Mata is thrilling. In this special atmosphere eyes easily look within, and the mind enters into meditation spontaneously.

source : http://omgurudevselangor.blogspot.in/p/om-gurudev_18.html

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DHARMANANDA MAHARAJ ( Disciple of OM GURU Maharaj )

            DHARMANANDHA   MAHARAJ 

DHARMANANDA   MAHARAJ

 Born : 1948

Dharmananda Maharaj was born in 1948 in a small village of Sulkur, situated about forty kilometers from the city of Kolhapur, near the border of the Karnataka state. He is the oldest child in the family and has four brothers and four sisters. His father was a respected village carpenter. His two younger brothers are of the same profession, too. Dharmananda Maharaj’ family tradition was singing religious songs – bhajans. At the beginning there were no signs that the eldest son would become a sadhu, because, like his brothers, he got married and has a son. Dharmananda Maharaj first met Omgurudev Janglidas Maharaj in 1971 in his native village of Sulkur, where Janglidas was carrying out his first public program in an ancient temple of Hanuman.

Shyamsundar, the third son of Dharmananda’s parents is now a well- known bhajan singer. In the course of his career he won many radio and TV prizes. Presently he has a twenty seven-year old son who was born with a severe problem with his legs. When the son was three years old, the complications caused by gangrene were so serious that doctors suggested amputation. The parents did not want to accept that and took the boy child to Janglidas for help. Omgurudev cured Shyamsundar’s little son in the course of two months, but at the same time he told them: “I will give you one, but I will also take one”, meaning that he would take Dharmananda from his parents for spiritual life.

One day in the village of Sulkur Dharmananda and his two friends heard a voice of an invisible person who instructed them to go to a certain tree and see what was there. All three of them went to the indicated tree. There they found three plates filled with food and three notes placed upon the plates. The notes said that each of them should become a sanyasin (a spiritual person) and take the proper vows. They hastily ate the food and quickly ran away from the place, frightened by the voice speaking to them from nowhere. However, only Dharmananda became a sanyasin.

At the beginning Dharmananda did not practice his meditation intensively, but in the years 1984-86 he lived in Naganath Mandir, situated not far away from the present ashram in Valivalde, on the outskirts of Kolhapur. Many times he meditated there incessantly from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then, after a short break he additionally sat in meditation during the night. His wife and young son were then staying in his native village of Sulkur. At that time, on Janglidas’ command, Dharmananda organized Panchagni (tapasya of five fires) several times for Janglidas’ women disciples: Hindu Mata, Jagat Mata, Maha Devi Mata and Bharat Mata. He, too, underwent the Panchagni tapasya, but it lasted for one day only. Then, some time later, when he was on a visit in Sulkur, a man brought him a message from Omgurudev, commanding him to burn 16 man of wood (one man is a weight unit equal to about 100 kg) on his head. It meant that Dharmananda had to burn 1600 kg of wood on his head, and he knew that during one Panchagni day only 100 kg was used.

Dharmananda did not believe that he would survive this ordeal, and inwardly prepared himself for death. However, it did not even cross his mind that he might not obey his guru’s command. For two days he thought how to execute it, till at last an idea occurred to him to dig a hole in the ground, deep enough to contain his body sitting in padmasana; a steel plate was to be put 15 cm above his head. It was agreed that the wood-burning would take place in Sulkur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Two persons were chosen to keep the fire burning and to pull Dharmananda out of the hole after the practice was finished. Before this ordeal by fire Dharmananda had to sign a document at the police station, stating that he has decided to submit to this tapasya all by himself, without any external pressure. On the day of the ordeal all the villagers gathered around the fire to watch it and to pray to Janglidas for its successful ending. In the morning, when the steel plate was removed, “baked” Dharmananda was found; his body lost its water completely and weighed the inconceivable 5 kg, while his normal weight was 72 kg. The man, who was assigned the job of pulling Dharmananda out of the hole, wanting to see if he was still alive, touched his body and left signs on his thigh, visible till the present time.

When asked if he had felt the heat, Dharmananda said that at the beginning, when he was entering the samadhi state, he had felt a little heat, but after a while everything was all right.

In 1982 Dharmananda, Omgurudev and many other sadhus from the ashram set off on a big pilgrimage all around India, southwards to Rameshwaram, and northwards to the Himalayas. As many as 20 cars traveled in the pilgrimage caravan. During the journey South one of the cars broke down and it was necessary to stop at a repair shop. While the vehicle was repaired, Dharmananda went to a restaurant to have some tea. A tall and nearly naked man approached him there, as if appearing from nowhere. At the beginning, Dharmananda did not realize who he was, but he quickly recognized him - it was nobody else but the great Jangli Maharaj himself. Jangli looked more or less the same as on our website photograph. Dharmananda embraced him, bowed to him, and they started talking. When Jangli learned that the cavalcade of 20 cars was going to the Rameshwaram temple, he gave Dharmananda 1 rupee and 25 pice for abishek there. After the car had been repaired, the cavalcade set off on the road once again, and Dharmananda’s car was the last one in the line. And here some strange thing happened, because for 3 km, Janglidas’ hand was seen in the open car window, holding the money.

Since 1994 Dharmananda has been running an Omgurudev ashram in Valivade on the outskirts of Kolhapur. Some young students live in the ashram; they attend the university during the week, and take part in the meditation practice in the mornings and in the evenings. Dharmananda’s son, now grown up, has a wife and three sons, and is the ashram manager; his wife and his son’s wife help run the ashram kitchen. It is worth knowing that in the Hindu tradition the sanyasin’s closest family generally become his devotees, and normal family relations cease to exist. Dharmananda’s wife, mother, son and grandson address him as their Guru and not as the family member.

Dharmananda has an enormous spiritual charisma, he lives very spontaneously and often takes part in public programs, where he gives lectures and sings bhajans. Although his younger brother is a professional classic singer, it seems that due to the power of Dharmananda’s spiritual practice, the bhajans sung by Dharmananda are much more inspiring.

source : http://omgurudevselangor.blogspot.in/p/om-gurudev_18.html

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OM GURU ( In previous birth he was Jangli Maharaj )

Janglidas Maharaj as OM GURU in 2nd birth

Janglidas Maharaj as OM GURU

OM   GURU

Omgurudev was born in Bombay, in the state of Maharashtra. He was an unusual boy since early childhood. He was fascinated by saints and their spiritual teachings, and that is why he tried to meditate himself. His parents feared that their son might leave them in search of spiritual knowledge; when away from home, they locked him in his room. At that time, young Janglidas lived with his family on the outskirts of Bombay, and the nearest temple was a Portuguese church. He often sneaked away from home to pray before a tall crucifix of the suffering Christ, where he often sank into deep, many hours long meditations, from which his parents, upset by the long search for their son, had to rouse him.

One day, when Janglidas was nine, he felt the Supreme Power pull his soul out from his body through the subtle opening at the top of his head, called brahmarandra. The boy experienced the Vishwatmak darshan, which is a vision of the Highest One, Vishwatmak Jangli Maharaj – he then took the name of Janglidas that is Jangli’s servant. He has been using this name ever since.

When Janglidas was sixteen, he went to Bhamburde (near Puna). A saint by the name of Tekawadekar Maharaj lived there, a disciple of Jangli Maharaj in a former life. In that life Jangli Maharaj told Tekawadekar that he would recognize him by a certain special gesture (swastika-mudra). When Janglidas appeared before Tekawadekar and made this gesture, the disciple recognized in Janglidas his old-time guru.

Janglidas received his initiation and was given the Guru mantra (a traditional mantra passed from the guru to the disciple in the line of his Masters). Next, he was sent to the town of Yeola – the same town in the Nasik District where Swami Muktananda had meditated before he settled down in Ganeshpuri. It was in Yeola, too, where a saint by the name of Somgiri Maharaj went into sanjivan samadhi. Janglidas started an intensive spiritual discipline there. Among other things, he stayed in a walled-up room, without any food and water. Afterwards he set off on a pilgrimage, walking around India, giving advice and blessing thousands of people.

Omgurudev (Janglidas is called by this name, too) began the work of the restoration of temples. The first one was an old temple at Divshi (in the Satara District), then other temples followed. Janglidas also founded many schools, where the standard education program was expanded by yoga classes, meditation and applied ethics based on universal values. Furthermore, to help the sick and the suffering, a medical clinic was opened on his initiative. Among other things, blood-giving actions are organized there on a regular basis, free medical consultations, and so on. Also, from the time when his first ashram was opened, charity work has been carried on there, and every visitor can have some food in the ashram kitchen. Five to ten hundred free meals are given here every day.

Thousands of devotees gather for satsangs, which are meetings with the Guru. In Janglidas Maharaj’ ashrams and schools no symbols of any religion can be seen. No elaborate rituals or ceremonies are held. Many outstanding yogis and yoginis are Omgurudev’s disciples, for example Dharmananda Maharaj, Jagat Mata and Bharat Mata. The teaching of Omgurudev is relatively simple: you should keep your mind concentrated through unceasingly repeating the mantra given by the Guru and contemplating the nature of the Self (atma chintan).

Nowadays dozens of thousands of devotees in all major cities of India cannot wait for the visit of this small, silent saint. They meditate and put his message into life.

One who seeks me in the Heart attains me.

O m G u r u d e v !

Source : http://omgurudev.w.interia.pl/omgurudev_en.htm

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JANGLI MAHARAJ

                     JANGLI   MAHARAJ

JANGLI   MAHARAJ

Born : 1806
Passed Away : 1890

Vishwatmak Gurudev, known as Jangli Maharaj, was sent into incarnation by Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha (the main Gods of Hinduism) as the embodiment of universal power. Jangli Maharaj was unusually tall (more than seven feet), of athletic build, and very strong. He was a hatha yoga expert and an invincible kusti (Indian wrestling) competitor. As a young man he liked to show off his yogic powers and used them against ordinary people.

It is believed that he was born in the state of Baroda (Vadodara of present day Gujarat)

One day, while walking through the town of Akkalkot, situated in the eastern part of the Maharashtra state, near Solapur, Vishwatmak Gurudev heard about Swami Samarth and decided to use some of his “black magic” against him. Swami Samarth from Akkalkot, who was one of the greatest spiritual masters of India of all times (he is thought to be the sixth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya), sensed this immediately. He only laughed at Vishwatmak Gurudev’s efforts and asked the people present, how such trivial “magic trick” could possibly harm him. Jangli Maharaj quickly learned that Swami Samarth had laughed at his yogic powers, and was very surprised that they had not worked this time. His failure made him decide to personally meet Swami Samarth. During this meeting Swami Samarth requested Jangli Maharaj to never use his powers against common and illiterate people and to never harm them. He advised him to use his powers to help the suffering humanity instead.

Since that time, inspired by Swami from Akkalkot, Vishwatmak Gurudev began to help the needy. After some time he went into deep jungle, where he devoted himself to meditation. It was because of this meditation in the jungle that he was given the name of Jangli Maharaj. Vishwatmak Gurudev visited Karadg, Nerela, Rethere Harnaksha, and since then these places have been considered sacred. Finally, he went to Shivajinagar and sank into deep meditation in the Bhamburde jungle. In the last phases of his rigorous meditation practice Jangli Maharaj passed on the Guru Mantra (the initiation ceremonial) to his disciple Tekawadekar Maharaj, and spoke the following words: “I will continue my work in the next incarnation, after I am reborn”. He also left a sign enabling his disciples to recognize his next embodiment. It was the Swastik Darshan. When Tekawadekar Maharaj asked him how his next incarnation would be called /what his name  would be in his next life /, Vishwatmak Gurudev opened his clenched hand, and flowers fell down from it onto the ground, forming the words “OM GURUDEV”. Since that time Satguru Janglidas Mauli has been called OM GURUDEV. This name has become commonly used since the beginning of 2003, when one of Janglidas Maharaj’ close disciples was inspired by a vision that instructed him to call his Satguru “Om Gurudev”.

 In 1890 Vishwatmak Gurudev, alias Jangli Maharaj, left his body.

His samadhi place has since been changed into a temple and it can be visited in Puna. It is situated at one of the main streets – Jangli Road. Many people come there every day for morning and evening arati.

source : http://omgurudev.w.interia.pl/jangli1_en.htm

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GRAET SIDDHA SRI RAM PARADESI SWAMIGAL

Great Siddha  Sri Ram Paradesi Svami

SRI RAM PARADESI SWAMI

Sri Ram Pardesi Swami

[Sathguru Venkataraman revealed the story of Sri Rama Paradesi Swami Siddha to us in the summer of 1988. The photographs in this article were taken in December 1989. What is covered in this article is but a miniscule part of the details revealed by Sathguru Venkataraman. We may cover the rest in the future. More on Siddha Jeeva Samadhi Shrine Worship]

 Have you ever met a human being who isn't interested in short cuts? Whether it be fame, wealth, title, position, educational qualifications or any other goal, humans would rather take the short cut than go the roundabout way. This is only natural; and it extends to spirituality too!

 What's the short cut to spiritual upliftment? Many of us have asked ourselves this question at one time or another. But how many of us have come up with a good answer? Not many, because only a Siddha can provide an answer to this question.

 The shortcut to spiritual upliftment is discipleship under a Siddha divine teacher. To learn from a Siddha when he or she is in the flesh and blood is the easiest way of achieving spiritual upliftment. But few get this opportunity and fewer still make use of such an opportunity.

 It's shame that when the Siddha teacher is amongst us, we doubt him, vilify him and abuse him. But when he leaves his mortal frame, we build temples for him and worship him! This is indeed the bane of humans in the Kali Yuga, the present age.

 While there's nothing quite as uplifting as learning personally from a Siddha teacher, those who can not do this must at least seek out the tomb shrines of great Siddhas and request them for their guidance and grace.

 Can a Siddha's tomb shrine uplift us spiritually? YES! Make no mistake about it. A Siddha's tomb shrine is a living, breathing power center of spirituality from which the great teacher who has departed his or her mortal frame bestows knowledge and grace on all those who seek the same. Try it and experience it yourself.

 For the benefit of all, we have begun a series of articles on great Siddhas. This is the first article in this series and it features a great Siddha teacher named Sri Ram Paradesi Svami.

We have described the importance of timing in spirituality in an earlier article in AUMzine Issue 1. There are spiritually potent times within a given day, paksham, maasam, varusham and so on. And then there spiritually unique times which occur once in many yugas! The Siddhas refer to the best of these time periods as amirtha néram; these have been further sub classified.

 Sri Agasthiar says that one of the most unique of these time periods was that time period when Lord Siva as Neelakanta consumed the Aalahaala venom and saved the universe from annihilation. During this most compassionate act of the Universal Lord, many great Siddha beings manifested from His divine frame. These great Siddhas are reprints of Lord Siva whom the Lord has manifested for the sake of our spiritual upliftment. Hence we use the epithet "divine" while referring to these teachers. Sri Ram Paradesi Svami Siddha is one such divine teacher.

Sri Ram Paradesi Svami Siddha is a merciful incarnation of the Universal Lord in whom the universal teacher (Dakshina Moorthi) attributes reign supreme.

 Sri Ram Paradesi Svami, being a part of parcel of the Universal Lord, is beginningless and endless. He manifests his physical form at will for the sake of uplifting souls in all parts of the universe. In our own world, we can be in the presence of this divine master at his tomb shrine located near the Villianur railway station in Pondicherry, a town about 100 miles south of the city of Madras in south India. There's a large Siva temple near this shrine.

 As we said earlier, the great teacher manifests his physical form at will. Guru Mangala Gandharva Venkataraman says that in the eighteenth century, this great Siddha manifested his physical form for a while and personally blessed those who were fortunate enough to be in his divine presence. A work crew was unknowingly digging near his tomb and out walked the great master! He lived among the people for a while and then reentered his tomb whereupon a shrine was built in his honor. This shrine may have been rebuilt many times over the course of the years. The images in this article show the shrine as it was in December 1989.

 This great teacher was very fond of the divine name Ram. His very presence would heal the sick, offer peace to the troubled and bestow spiritual knowledge on the seekers. He did not speak much, but when he spoke, all he would say was the divine mantra, "Ram". Hence the townfolk referred to him as Ram Paradesi Swami.

 What did he eat? You'd be surprised! Recall that the momentous event that happened during his incarnation was Siva consuming the most lethal Aalahaala venom. True to form, this Siddha master would stick out his tongue when he was hungry and snakes would come from nowhere and deposit their venom on his tongue. He would consume the same thus proving His Neelakanta attribute to doubters. Sri Agasthiar tells us that the kids around him enjoyed this so much that they called him visham thinni svami which means the svami who eats venom! Unique are the ways of Siddhas. Ours is not to reason why, ours is to enjoy and make use of their divine presence for our own spiritual upliftment.

 We urge you to visit this shrine and offer worship to this great master. Do not think of this shrine as a tomb; think of it as a living, breathing temple. Do not think of Sri Ram Paradesi Svami as just another Siddha; think of him as the Universal Lord Himself. Sri Ram Paradesi Svami can make any one of us a Siddha at a moment's notice. Our sincerity alone matters, nothing else.

 While any day is an auspicious day for offering worship at Siddha tomb shrines, Sundays are ideal for those travelling from afar. Those living nearby should offer worship every day.

 When you arrive at this shrine, first make sure that you clean it properly. Then perform abishekam for the great master using water perfumed with rose essence. Clothe his form with brand new silk cloth. Light incense sticks and offer dhoopam and deepam. Meditate on the most exalted Ram mantra and request his guidance and grace.

 Of course, as AUMzine readers know very well, no worship is complete without feeding the poor. Make sure you feed and clothe the poor when you're in the presence of Sri Ram Paradesi Svami.

 Finally offer thanks to the great teacher and take your leave from his presence. Make sure you come again. And make sure you share this knowledge with one and all. It is not enough that we work on our own spiritual upliftment, but we must do our best to induce others towards this goal also, while being totally conscious of the fact that we are not the doers and it's the Lord who's the prime mover. It's the Sathguru who induces us to induce others towards spiritual upliftment. Thus all praise and glory to the Sathguru.

Om Salutations to Sri Ram Paradesi Svami SiddhaOm Salutations to all SiddhasOm Salutations to the Siddha lineageOm Salutations to the Sathguru

source : http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0006-great-siddha.htm

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The place is a Siddhar Peedam of Sadguru Sri Rama Paradesikal Swamigal. This siddhar was lived during 1800. His name, birth place and parents are not known and he did not say about that. He reached to Villianur and stayed there. As he spoked Telugu, people of villianur believed that he may from Andra Pradesh. As he always hummed "Sri Ram", he also was called as Sri Rama Paradesikal. He saved lot of deaths particularly by snake bites. One day he informed to the people of Villianur that a heavy rain will destroy the whole village in during a summer and go for safe place. However, people did not believe his words as in that season never such kind of rain poured. But as the Mahan said heavy rain destroyed the village and many people died. After that the people went to see the mahan and his place also water logged. Mahan was not there. After about thirty years 1868 French Governemnt constructed a railway line from Pondicherry to Villupuram via Villianur. For the railway line work, workers digged the sand in a particular place blood was come out from sand. They feared and informed to higher officials. Higher officials and villianur people digged further and find a man sit in Yoga position. A Doctor called. His blood flow was good, temperature and pulse were normal. The old people confirmed that he is Mahan Sri Rama Paradesikal and officers informed to French Chief Official and he came to that place. Official waited for his awakening for 2 days as all the things normal. But he did not awake. So all decided to put him a Dumb and construct a koil over it. This details were recorded in French documents. After that he is being workshipped by devotees and mahan is being get rid of many problems of his real devotees to this day. 

Place : Sri Sadguru Rama Paradesi Swamikal Siddhar Peedam, Villupuram Main Road, Villianur, Puducherry, India-605 110.

Posted by his one of the devotee-M. Janagan and J.Jayavarzhenee, Villianur

Nearby cities: Villupuram, Marakkanam Salt Pans, Tindivanam

Coordinates:   11°55'9"N   79°45'26"E

source:

http://wikimapia.org/17284572/Mahan-Sri-Rama-Paradesikal-Siddhar-Peedam-Villianur-Puducherry

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ASTRONOMICAL DATING OF THE RAMAYANA

Astronomical Dating of the Ramayan

By Dr.P.V.Vartak

Introduction

It has been believed that there is no evidence to determine the dates of events in the Ramayanic era. Some historians of the past even refuse to acknowledge that Rama and other characters from the Ramayana even existed. However, Sage Valmiki has recorded the dates if events in detail, albeit by describing the positions of stars and planets. To decipher the astronomical encodings has not been a trivial task, and not many have attempted to do so. It should be noted that the ancient Indians had a prefect method of time measurement. They recorded the 'tithis', days according to the nakshatra on which the moon prevailed, the months, the seasons and even the different Solstices. By therefore noting a particular arrangement of the astronomical bodies, which occur once in many thousand years, the dates of the events can be calculated. Dr. P.V. Vartak has thus attempted to calculate the dates of important incidents that occured during the Ramayanic Era. The correct astronomical records goes to show that Valmiki's has chronicled an account of a true story and also, that the an advanced time measurement system was known to the Hindus (Indians) atleast 9000 years ago. Please refer to Dr. Vartak's celebrated book "Vastav Ramayan" for further reading.

Before coming to the astronomical method, it should be noted that the Mahabharat has recorded a number of facts about Ramayan (and not otherwise). The precedence of the Ramayanic era to that of the Mahabharat can therefore be inferred. An attempt to fix the dates of the events in the Mahabharat era, mainly based on internal astronomical records. The Mahabharat Era has already been dated by Dr. Vartak to 5561 B.C. [Reference: Dr. Vartak's book "Swayambhu"].

Genealogical links available from the Mahabharat and Puranas, Yuga calculations and some archaelogical findings also provide clues to the dating of the Ramayanic era. Also, literary references to the characters from the Ramayanic Era provide limits after which the Ramayan could not have occured. For example, Guru Valmiki (the author of Ramayana) is refered to in the Taittiriya Brahmana (dated to 4600 B.C) and therefore Ramayana must have before the Brahmana was composed. However, archaeological and literary methods can only provide approximate datelines and for determining the precise time of the Ramayanic events, astronomical calculations may alone be useful.

Astronomical Dating

Mahabharat states that Sage Vishwamitra started counting nakshatras from Shravana (Aadiparva A.71 and Ashwamedha A.44) and a new reference to time measurement thus initiated. According to the old tradition, the first place was assigned to the nakshatra prevelant on the Vernal Equinox. Vishwamitra modified this and started measuring from the nakshatra at the Autumnal Equinox. Sharvan was at this juncture at about 7500 B.C, which is therefore the probable period when Vishwamitra existed and also that of the Ramayanic Era.

Formerly, the year initiated with the Varsha-Rutu (season) and therefore was termed "Varsha". Ramayan shows that the flag was being hoisted to celebrate the new year on Ashwin Paurnima (Kishkindha 16/37, Ayodhya 74/36). Ayodhya 77 mentions that the flags were defaced and damaged due to heat and showers. These descriptions point to the fact that their new year started on the Summer Solstice when heat and rain simultaneously exist. The Summer Solstice fell on Ashwin Full Moon, so the Sun was diagonally opposite at Swati nakshatra. This astral configuration can be calculated to have occured around 7400 B.C.

Kishkindha 26-13 describes the commencement of the rainy season. In shloka 14, refers to Shravan as "Varshika Poorva Masa". Kishkindha 28/2 clearly shows that the rainy season began in Bhadrapada Masa. Further description "Heated by the Sun and showered by new waters, the earth is expelling vapours" (Kish.26/7) points to Bhadrapada as premonsoon. Kish.28/17 tells that there was alternate sun-shine and shadowing by the clouds. Kish.28/14 describes the on-coming rainy season. Thus Bhadrapada was the month of pre-monsoon, that is before 21st June or Summer Solstice. Naturally, months of Ashwin and Kartika formed the rainy season. It is therefore concluded that Ashwin Full Moon coincided with Summer Solstice, that year being 7400 B.C.

Rama started forest-exile in Chaitra and ended it in Chaitra. He was coronated in the same month and one month later, proceeded to Ashokavan with Seeta (Uttar 41/18) when the Shishira Rutu terminated. So it seems that Vaishakha Masa coincided with Shishira. So the Winter Solstice was at Vaishakha with the Sun at Ashwini. At present, the Winter Solstice takes place at Moola. Thus a shift of 10 nakshatras has occured since the Ramayanic Era. Precession has a rate of 960 years per nakshatra. Therefore, Ramayan must have occured 9600 years ago, which is 7600 B.C approximately.

Shri Rama's Date of Birth

Now we shall proceed with the astral route. Valmiki records the birth of Rama as Chaitra Shuddha Navami (9th), on Punarvasu Nakshatra and five plants were exalted then; Sun in Mesha upto 10 deg., Mars in Capricorn at 28 deg., Jupiter in Cancer at 5 deg., Venus in Pisces at 27 deg. and Saturn in Libra at 20 deg. (Bala Kanda.18/Shloka 8,9).

Ayodhya 4/18 states that Sun, Mars and Rahu were at Dasharatha's nakshatra. It was the month of Chaitra, so the Sun was in Revati, Ashwini or Bharani. Naturally, either Rahu and Ketu was in any one of these nakshatra (Rahu and Ketu are diagonally opposite).

The planetary positions on 16th October 5561 B.C., the date of commencement of the Mahabharat War, have been calculated and known [Dating of the Mahabharat, by Dr. P.V. Vartak]. Therefore, calculating further backwards for the astral combination noted above, the date concludes to be 4th December 7323 B.C. On this date, Saturn was at 205 deg., Jupiter at 94 deg., Mars between 283 and 298 deg., Rahu at 179 deg. and Sun at 2 degrees. 4th Dec. 7323 therefore is the date of birth of Rama, when the aforementioned 4 planets exalted. Venus is always within 47 degrees from the Sun, and might be in Pisces in an exalted state. Thus Rama's date is confirmed.

The Date of Exile

Rama completed 17 years of age (Ayodhya 20/45) and his coronation was fixed on Chaitra Shuddha 9th on Pushya day. However, he had to proceed to the forest on the same day, at the behest of Kaikeyi. At this time, Dasharatha states that Rahu, Mars and Sun were disturbing his nakshatra (Ayodhya 4/18). Calculating 17 years from Rama's birth date, the location of Mars can be determined at 303 degrees in Dhanishta nakshatra. From here, Mars casts its fourth-sight on Krittika. Rahu, after 17 years had been at 211 degrees in Vishakha, and so was in opposition to Krittika. Being Chaitra masa, the Sun was at Mesha and so it could be at Krittika. This the planetary positions agree with Valmiki's statement. Dasharatha's nakshatra appears to be Krittika.

Valmiki has beautifully described the sky (Ayodhya 41/10), when Rama left for forest exile. He states, "Crux (Trishankhu), Mars, Jupiter and Mercury have cornered the Moon. Vaishakha and Milky Way are shining in the sky". Crux is on line with Hasta (Corvus) on the southern side. On the eastern side of Hasta, there are Chitra, Swati and Vishakha. As seen earlier, Mars was at 303 deg. in Dhanishta. Calculations show that Jupiter was in Poorvashadha at 251 deg. Pushya was at the western horizon with the setting Moon. On the southern side, from the west to the east, all the other planets were situated. So poetically Valmiki describes the sketch as if the Moon was cornered by the planets. The description of the sky, 17 years after the birth-date of Rama, is perfect astronomically.

After 14 years of Rama's stay in the forest, Valmiki tells that Rohini was imprisoned (6-24-7, 6-93-60, 6-92-60), Mars marched on Rohini (6- 93-46 or 6-92-45) and mars was torturing Rohini (5-17-24 or 5-15-22, 5-19-9, 6-113 or 116-2). The bracketed seven statements show the vicinity of Mars with Rohini. Calculations reveal that 14 years later, Mars was at Ardra and was retrograde. Mars therefore moved in the reverse direction (from Ardra) to Rohini, resided at the "gate" of Rohini, thus in a way imprisoning the latter. It is to be noted that the constellation of Rohini is V-shaped. The apex of the angle points to the west and the two limbs towards east, and therefore appears like a "gate". Mars was situated in between the two limbs (or two doors) of the gate and appeared like a guard. Thus can the simile be explained.

Amavasya (No Moon Day)comes 10.883 days earlier each successive year. 25th November 7323 B.C., 9 days before Rama's birth, was a Amavasya. In 17 years, the Amavasya shifted by 185.011 days backwards. It means that 6 Amavasyas (each 29.53 days) were completed and a shift of 7.8 deg. was noticed. The original Amavasya before Rama's birth took place at 353 deg. Deducting 7.8 deg. from it, we obtain 345 deg. as the position of this Amavasya which falls in the Uttara Bhadrapada nakshatra. Naturally, the next month was Chaitra, when the coronation was arranged on Pushya day at 104 degrees. One 'tithi' contains 12 degrees. So the moon was in Pushya on 29th November 7306 B.C., when Rama proceeded to the forest. Calculations show that this day was a Thursday, so said by Seeta as well(Ayodhya 26/9).

Rama left for the forest on a Thursday, the 29th Nov. 7306 B.C. He completed the required 14 year period in the forest and returned on 5th Shuddha 9th was over, and the 5th tithi refered to must have been Chaitra Krishna 5th. Amavasya recedes by 10.883 days each successive year. So in 14 years it must have receded by 152.3 days. Deducting 5 Amavasya periods (29.53 days each), 4.7 days remain which implies that Amavasya came 4 days days earlier on 15th November 7292 B.C. Calculating backwards for 14 years from 29th November 7306 B.C, when the Amavasya was at 345 deg., the Amavasya falls at 340 deg. (receded by 4.7 days in 14 years). This is Uttara Bhadrapada, the month being Phalguna. Since the next month was Chaitra, Krishna 5th tithi happens to be 5th December 7292 B.C. when Rama entered Bharadwaja Ashram.

Hanuman's visit to Lanka

Hanuman set out to Lanka in the hopes and mission to search for the kidnapped Seeta. He reached this destination at night, roamed around a little until he located Seeta the next morning. While describing Hanuman's return in Sunder Kanda (S.56 or 57 /1/2), Valmiki states using a simile of sea to the sky:

" The Moon was attractive like a lotus, Sun like a good crane and a span from Pushya to Shravana was seen. Punarvasu appeared like a big fish, Mars like a crocodile, Airavata like an island and Swati like a swan."

Even though a poetic simile, Valmiki provides a plot of the nakshatras from the west to the east. When Hanuman started from Lanka it was early morning, because Seeta tells him to rest for a day in some hiding place (Sunder 56/3,11; 57/18). Since it was morning, the Sun was rising and appeared like a crane and the moon like a lotus. As both the moon and the sun were present simultaneously in the sky, it probably was a Paurnima (Full Moon Day) with the moon on the western horizon and sun on the eastern. The span of nakshatras streched from Pushya to Shravan, that is from 104 deg. to 281 deg. Punarvasu was also seen. Aairavat connotes an elephant, and it is possible that Scorpio was seen like an elephant showing its trunk. The span of nakshatra's from Punarvasu to Sharavan is seen early in the morning of Krishna paksha of Pushya Lunar month. Sun-rise could also be seen. Hence, most probably, Hanuman returned from Lanka of Pushya Paurnima or Pushya Vadya paksha.

Hanuman had set out for Seeta's search after Ashwin masa as he himself says in Kishkindha 53/21,22. So he must have started the campaign in Kartika masa. One month, that of Margashirsha was spent in the cave of Swayamprabha. Some more time was spent in the search upto the South sea, after which Hanuman entered Lanka, possibly on Pushya Shuddha 14th. Thus it highly probably that he returned on Pushya Paurnima or Pushya Krishna 1st.

Ravana had abducted Seeta in the season of Hemant (Aranya 16/1) and had given a period of 1 year, that is upto the next Hemant to consider marrying Ravana (Aranya 56/24, Yudh 12/19). Had Seeta not accepted this offer, Ravana would have killed her in Hemant. Hemant is composed of 2 months. Sunder 58/106 or 108 state that Seeta told Hanuman that only 2 months of her life remain, after which she will die. Seeta therefore must have conveyed this to Hanuman before Hemant began, that is, in the season of Sharad. Thus Pushya lunar month coincided with the season of Sharad.

According to the above description, Mars was near Punarvasu and Pushya. It was noted that during the (Lanka) war, Mars was at 102 deg. in Pushya. Naturally, since Mars many a time becomes stagnant, Mars would have been near Punarvasu and Pushya two months earlier.

The distance from Kishkindha (Vijayanagar to Hospet) to the centre of Lanka is about 600 miles. An army can travel about 20 miles a day, therefore accordingly, Rama's army would have taken a month to reach Lanka. Even assuming a pessimistic speed of 30 miles per day, Hanuman may have covered the distance in 20 days. Also, it is known that the army of Vaanar tribe were searching for Seeta in many directions, and therefore, may have taken 2 months to reach Lanka. This army had started searching for Seeta in mid-Kartika, and would have reached Lanka in mid-Pausha. The assumption that Hanuman returned from Lanka in the month of Pausha therefore appears to be reasonable. The Vanar army hurriedly returned to Kishkindha and could have spent 20 days in the interim and the date falls at Maagha Shuddha 5th. Rama marched to Lanka in one month and reached there on Phalguna Shuddha 5th (22nd Oct. 7292 B.C). Rama observes, "Today is Uttara Phalguni. Tommorrow when the moon will rise on Hasta, we will proceed to Lanka" (Yudh s.4). Probably on Magha Krishna 1st (2nd Oct. 7292 B.C), Rama commenced his journey and reached the shores of Lanka on Phalguna Shuddha 5th. Subsequent three days were spent before Rama could cross the sea. Phalguna Shuddha 8th ended. Thereafter, starting on the 9th, Nala built a temporary bridge (Seetu) within 5 days. On Phalgun Shuddha 14th (31st Oct. 7292 B.C), Rama's army crossed over to Lanka. On Phalgun Shuddha 15th, a full moon day, Rama positioned his army at strategic points and surveilled the territory from Mount Suvela (Yudh 38/18). Ravan also observed the approaching army from a tower, held a meeting with his ministers and deployed his army for defence. On Phalgun Krishna 1st (2nd November 7292 B.C.), Ravana arranged his troops at strategic points.

The Great War started

On Phalgun Krishna 2nd, Rama's army seiged the gates of Lanka. Angada proceeded as Rama emmisary on a peace mission to Ravana's court. However, any peace proposal was rejected by Ravana and the next day (Phal.Kr. 3rd), Rama-Ravana war commenced. The great war spanned 13 days and concluded on Phalgun Krishna Amavasya, with the death of Ravana. The very next day, Chaitra Shuddha 1st was celebrated as a Victory Day. This tradition still continues to be a New-Years's Day and is marked by hoisting flags.

End of Rama-Ravana War. Ravana killed.

15th November 7292 B.C was then Phalguna Amavasya. Valmiki states that Ravan came out for the last battle on the Amavasya day (Yudh. 93/66) and was killed. In the description of the battle, Sage Valmiki writes, "Kosala's nakshatra Vishakha is aspected by Mars" (Yudh. 103/37). The annual motion of Mars is 191.405 degrees. In 14 years, it will progress by 159.58 degrees. At the time of Rama's exile, Mars was at 303 deg. 159 deg. added to this provides Mars at 102 deg. in Pushya. From Pushya Mars could cast its fourth-sight on Vishakha. So, the calculations presented so far seem to be correct. It also shows Valimiki's minute observations and time recording capabilities. Thus the date of the last battle of the War is 15th November 7292 B.C.

 
Following are the dates of few events from the Ramayana:

   
Rama's Birth Date            4th  December 7323 B.C

   
Rama-Seeta Married           7th  April    7307 B.C

   
Rama Exiled                  29th November 7306 B.C.


Hanuman enters Lanka         1st September 7292 B.C

   
Hanuman meets Seeta          2nd September 7292 B.C.

   
Seetu (Bridge) built         26-30th Oct.  7292 B.C 
on the ocean

   
The War begins               3rd  November 7292 B.C

   
Kumbhakarna is killed        7th  November 7292 B.C.

   
Ravana is killed by Rama     15th November 7292 B.C.

   
Rama returns to Ayodhya       6th December 7272 B.C.


References

Dr.P.V.Vartak, Vastav Ramayan in Marathi, Vedvidnyana Mandal, Pune

source : http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/ancient/ramayan/rama_vartak.html

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SHANKARANYA PURI

                                      Shankaranya Puri

Nitai dancing in Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha

Vishwarup Becomes Nitai

Adapted from Srila Nityananda Das'
Prema-vilasa 7.18-49

Sachi Thakurani was the wife of  Jagannatha Mishra. Sachi and her husband  were very proud of their attractive elder son, Vishwarup, who was a great scholar. Sachi's father lived at Belpukur Belpukhuria. His elder son was Yogeswar Pandit, his next son was Ratnagarbha Pandit, and then his daughter Sachi Devi.
The son of Yogeswar Pandit was Lokanath Pandit, who possessed all good qualities. He was Vishwarup's schoolmate and constant companion. After some time, Vishwarup also became great friends with Adwaita
Acharya. They used to spend their time together discussing various scriptures. Within a short while, both Vishwarup and Lokanath became accomplished scholars. However, Vishwarup had no interest in material life, and very soon he decided to renounce the world and become an ascetic. Despite the pleading of his bereaved parents, Vishwarup gave up his sikha and brahmana thread and accepted the danda, kaupina, and the saffron colored dress of a sannydsT and was renamed Shankaranya Puri. Pandita Lokanatha became his disciple and accompanied Vishwarup as his assistant in their travels to various tirthas.

source : http://archive.org/stream/KkBindu001-234/bindu171_djvu.txt

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H.H.NAMACHARYA SRIMAD SRI BAYABABA ( DISCIPLE OF RAMDAS BABAJI MAHARAJ )

       H.H.NAMACHARYA SRIMAD  SRI  BAYABABA 

Sri Srimad 108 Sachinandan Das Baba
(BAYA   BABA)

Pushpa Samadhi of Nama Sidhdha Sri Sri Baya Baba at Ramanreti , Vrindavan

My Baba Sri SrimadBaba Sachinandan Das Baba( Baya Baba ): A Remembrance by Asoka Ma - Disciple of Baya Baba

To explain the relationship of the Guru and the disciple is one of personal experience. To attempt to describe the sampradaya he belonged to one must be familiar with Gaudiya Vaishnavas of Bengal. Nimai and Nitai need no introduction who tried to flood the earth with Divine Love of Prema Viksham Dehi.Nimai became a sannyasi at 24 and with mother Sachhi's instruction stayed at Jagannath, Puri so that she could get news of him. Now Orissa is blessed also later when the milita tanu or the combination of Nitai and Nimai who came together in the body of Bada Babaji Mahashaya or Radharaman Charandas Dev. When he danced his way to Orissa with the Nagar Sankirtan the trees danced. His disciple, Ram Das or Babaji Mahashaya of Pathbadi Ashram followed him. Prabhupada came to the west but India was not deprived of this great opportunity of Hari Naama in Kali Yuga. My Baba Sri Srimad 108 Namcharya Sidhdha Sachinanadan Das Babaji ( Baya Baba as popularly know in whole orissa, Bengal and Vrindavan) born as Bansidhar only son of rich landlord parents in a princely state showed all the signs of Mahabhava even as he was born but kept it so skillfully hidden that now only after so many years I can understand. He was born on a heap of cowdung when he was in the womb only 7 months. He did not take water or drink milk until the grandmother in great worry got the priest of the Krishna Temple to get Tulsi water. A monkey took him away to a tree top and would only return after much cajolling with fruits etc, He was so sick that his parents offered him to the Lord Jagannath. I met him when I was 9 and the bond was instantaneous. He was this silent Yogi in his late fifties and yet Naama Sankirtana was his constant companion. He had already or was in the process of establishing Akhanda Naama Sankirtana at Vrindavan, and all over Orissa. Silent with Bhagavata or Bharater Sadhak ( saints of India ) being read before him while the sweet sounds of the Holy Name

"Bhaja Nitai Gour Radhe Shyam - Japa Hare Krishna Hare Ram"

 in the background. This is my childhood memory. There was a peace which passed all understanding in his presence. There was joy - there was prasaad 4 hot meals a day for rich and poor alike as he had also Annapurna Siddhi. Many saints recognised him like Chidananda Saraswati of Sivananda Ashram but with his power of humility and love he conquered all so as not to reveal his presence so much.

My Baba was named Sachinandana Das by his Guru Ram Das upon his initiation. Later on he would be known as Baya Baba or the Mad Baba although he looked far from being mad. He graduated from prestigious Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, Orissa but even while a student went to look after the sick and poor.

He got married at the age of 18 and left home and his vast properties the age of 20. He came back later to establish the Sada Bhuja Gouranga or the 6 handed Gouranga in a temple and presented the murti to his wife belonging to the former grihasta ashrama as a son who is immortal-in every respect. The penance during the Murti Sthapana which he made at Calcutta was severe. The sculptor mixed some metal in the statue that he was not asked to do and went blind. My Baba had to visit him at the hospital and after he owned he got his sight back. Orissa never saw after the Pancha Sakhas the renaissance of Bhakti like this whether it was Cuttack, Puri, Bhubneswar, Sambalpur, Jajpur Jagatsinghpur, Anandapur, Kendrapara, Balikuda or Maalanchala where akhanda naamasankirtana and akhanda deepam was lighted. It still goes on to this day. He did severe saadhana at Maalanchala in a small cave like room and it is said that snakes guarded that room or were nearby .He was given the first anna or food by an old woman like Buddha was given who called him Baya and the name stuck. He also started the Akhanda Naama Pratistha at Vrindaban - Ramana Reti .

The first time my mother heard Hari Naama Sankirtana when she was worshipping at the Mangala Mandir sweet memories of her childhood filled her being. Her maternal uncle had left home to be a Vaishnava and he was the disciple of Radharaman Dev ( Bodo Baba ) . When my mother was small and in her father's house Nanda Kaka as he was called came with Ram Das (My Guru's Guru) to visit his sister. Now sweets and fruits were served in Thalis and Hari Naama Sankirtana would be in the background.My mother knew nothing of this divine connection which was attracting her soul to this sweet sound. She came home to ask my grandfather whether they would enquire where that sankirtana is being held. It was found out that it was in the house of Sri Bansidhara Patra who was working with my father. So I went with my grandfather to find out more. My Baba was wearing all white and sleeping facing the wall of their house in a verandah. I waited impatiently for him to wake up and tell us the meaning of what was making my mother so nostalgic. He did not get up and I told my grandfather - "Lets Go" little knowing that I had not waited for Baba to wake up who would be my Guru one day. He came on a beautiful afternoon with Naama Sankirtana. What a joy for us children. My father an industrialist who had very little time on his hands could not wait for this mystery guest any longer and was just leaving when Baba entered. They came face to face. Little did my father know that day that this person will soon be everything in his life. Every year Asta Prahari and Nava Ratri celebrations went on since that year. Summer Holidays was spent this way. What made me so happy is the fact that many strangers came to our house to meet Baba. Not understanding who or what God was, just good food relatives visiting - parents busy and joy pervading the air, thousands eating inside and outside the house was enough to make one's head spin. I was 9 years old but understood something important was happening around this man whom everyone reveres. I watched him - followed him - listened to him and thus started my spiritual training without my knowledge For the next 7 years every year Astaprahari and Navaratra was performed at our house during summer holidays. That required preparations like whitewashing the house inside and outside and cleaning it so that Vaishnavas and devotees can come. Cooking was done on a large scale because the number of people who dropped by to see Baba could never be predicted and as in India hot and fresh meals were provided those days by those who could afford it - festivities and activities went on which was more exciting than any wedding preparation. Baba who was the person responsible for all this appeared to be so humble, silent and totally devoid of any sense of ego that the children understood his love rightaway. My brothers would be dressed as mini vaishnavas and made to go around the mandap. They were small like me. It came very natural to me that I should take care of every small detail that is remotely concerned with Baba so I was always hovering around him. It must have looked and sounded comical to the elders that I would phone the doctor if he so much as sneezed or had fever. Little did I know that the grace of God takes many forms to draw souls to it's lap. It was after the first year that I fell deathly ill. It was rheumatic fever and our family physician did not know this right away. I was crippled and in bed for 6 months because the doctor thought that my heart would be affected. I had met My Baba and I cannot tell you that my faith in him was complete for I did not know him but he came just in time for it was pure hell to be sick like that and the only thing that kept me going is his prasad of tulsi and bel leaves. When I went back to school in the new year after 6 months no friend of mine believed that I had been deathly sick. I would suffer this every 5 years and be crippled and in bed everytime but academically never missed a year or suffered. I was trusting more and more on some power that was beyond myself by suffering a lot. Each time I would bounce back and do well. My love for Baba grew not as a Guru for I knew not what that meant but as a loving third parent who somehow was helping me but I did not know how as yet. He encouraged to enquire first hand the truth from the scriptures. I was going to missionary schools and had studied the bible but my eyes opened the day he asked me to read the book "Imitation Of Christ" by Thomas A Kempis. Thats when I decided that he was beyond the limitations of belonging to any faith that was not the whole truth In simple words Baba expounded Great Truths. He took simple words out of a Varnabodha written by Bhaktakabi Madhusudan and said that anything written by a devotee was sweet and full of meaning. Ghara Pachha Bara Gachha meant there was this huge tree behind a house. For Baba house meant this body and the tree was the tree of life or wish fulfilling tree called the Kalpataru Vriksha which can grant to man anything he so desires so to be careful so as to what he desires.. Arana Mahisi Rahichhi Anai - Mahisira Paase Na Jao Danei - meant a wild buffallo is looking or staring at us let us not go near the buffallo. The true meaning is that the 6 enemies of Man like desire anger pride jealousy greed and attachment is the wild buffallo and so man should not go near that. Bhala Mana Dhana Jana - Meant that a pure and simple mind is the cause for wealth and progeny. He said repeatedly one does not become a good person by doing good deeds - a good person whatever he does the result will turn out good. His most popular english proverbs that I have heard are: 1. Silence is Golden. 2. A simple mind and a pure heart are the two wings to the kingdom of heaven. 3. Virtue is vice itself when misplayed. He always said this in Oriya. Emti bhabare katha kahuthiba kehi na kahibe jhut boli. Emti bhavare basi rahi thiba kehi na kahibe uth boli. Emti bhavare chali jauthiba kehi na kahibe jhunt boli. It meant speak words that no one can call a lie. Sit in a place where no one will ask you to leave. Walk so that you never will stumble and fall. He did not speak at all when I met him in 1959 but rather wrote on the ground and people could follow him. His silence of thirty years or more left his mark on him so that later also he spoke measured words of love and that too only about God. He looked heavenward for any questions put forth as if he is praying to a power that He is aware of and he is just as ordinary - like a servant of servants. Daser Das.

 What Radha meant to Krishna the Bhagavataars sing - but how Radha must have hidden her affection for Krishna I know because I have seen first hand from My Baba how he hid his real love for God under the garb of a vaishnava silently listening to Bhagavat or the Akhanda Hari Naama Sankirtana in the background. He distributed Paan. Everyone thought it was ordinary paan or tambula till a rasika bhakta found out that only Shreemati or Radharani used to feed Krishna with tambula or Paan. I was astonished because I could not fathom My Baba's love as Radharani he saw the entire creation as Shree Krishna. Jaya Shree Radhe Radhe!!! Like I have said before when he was born he did not open his mouth to drink anything till Tulasi water was brought from a temple and fed to him by his grandmother. Other devotees must correct me if they know a better version of this story. This reminds me of Radha's birth when she did not open her eyes till Krishna was brought over by Yasodha and then she opens her eyes to see Him for the first time. Jay Shree Krishna!!!Radharani the daughter of Vrishbhanu was called Bhanulali in affection. She by her pure selfless love taught us the right way to love God. We cannot approach the brilliance of Shree Krishna but through Gururupa sakhi ie Radharani one could aspire to know Him one day even love Him one day. Jiva or the individual soul is feminine by nature and the only Purussottam is ShreeKrishna. That was Meera's reply to Jiva Goswami. Through hard Sadhana our saints of India have easily handed out to us the result of their penance ie love for God. What kind of selfless love is this. is this any less than Radharani's love for Shree Krishna ? Therefore on this Radhashtami day I choose to remember all the episodes of my childhood which reviewed now reminds me of Radharani's love. Giving of prasaad to each and everyone. Giving of Tulsi and Tambula. Bowing to everyone before they could approach him. Hiding the Bhava or Mahabhava so deftly that no one even guessed. Keeping the holy name always all around him and passing away on Hari Das's remembrance day. So much love so well hidden that no one guessed who he was and what he had come to deliver. Every summer vacation Baba came to our house. Asthaprahari Navaratra etc was duly performed. Akhanda Hari Nama Sankirtana meant Baba was somewhere in the vicinity. So you all can imagine the joy the name of God instilled in our hearts although we were unaware of that significance as yet. I am sure even now if we ever here Uddanda Kirtana the souls of my siblings will dance with joy. Hearts pounding we waited for Baba to arrive when the sound of Kirtan filled the air. I have mentioned the activities that preceded his arrival. Once he arrived and the Nama Mandapa set up etc. I sat straight in front of him. He took my Grandfather's Room which was very near the gate. My father's father NandaKishore having given his son Nabakishore to his younger brother Govinda lived like a guest in his own son's house.  But it was for him that My Baba came as it was proved later on. So many people came that my love for people must have started at that point of my life. All my family members somewhere in that huge house hidden away and here I was enjoying every second in the presence of something or someone that my soul recognised although my physical eyes did not.

                                                     (Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhe Shyam
                                                       (Japa ) Hare Krishna Hare Ram

That was the akhanda kirtan. Radharaman Dev ( Bodo Babaji ) in his moments of ecstasy started this which his disciple Ramdas continued and Baba being the right disciple continued. If one prays to Nitai Gour then by their grace one could hope to approach Radhe Shyam. The means was the Mahamantra Hare Krishna Hare Ram. We deserved it or not God's Grace came pouring down on us. We met many many vaishnavas. Although we did not know who or what is God - who is a Vaishnava - why so many people thronged to meet My Baba some unknown joy seized our souls. Good food as prasaad maybe - people maybe but I think it was much above all of that. We were still children so we could have a glimpse of this eternal joy before all too soon we became adults. Baba was late fifties did not look like a traditional Vaishnava but we had no clue what a traditional Vaishnava is supposed to look like. He still had dark hair and a beard. My brother Ranjit Mohanty who tries anything from pottery to photography took his first picture at our house. Hope someone will preserve and post that picture. He loved us children. Must have seen through our past karmas but that did not stop him from loving us unconditionally. My brothers became his mini vaishnavas. This impact still has not left all of them. Although householders Baya Baba never left their hearts for he permanently resides there. One of my brothers Sujit Mohanty told me the other day "How can one love any one else after having loved once ? " It seems Baba had told him this One evening Baba came with his akhanda harinaama sankirtan to our house. He came upstairs to my father's room and sat there holding my third brother's (Munna) hand. We were all surprised. I always prided myself as being the best behaved etc. and Munna constantly teased me so what was Baba doing holding his hands ? Now Munna constantly questioned everything and everyone but he never questioned Baba. Although later on when Baba asked him to finish his matriculation he told all of us, "Baba does not know english maybe that's why he asked me to appear for matriculation for he does not know about Senior Cambridge etc ". As events would unfold Munna did appear for Matriculation and he often remembers Baba's words Baba also asked him to view the world as Baba then judgement for another will not enter one's heart. Like this Baba did spend time with my four brothers and the effect is seentill today for they cannotforget those times nor someone who for them was the very personification of unconditional love. My two elder sisters were shy and did not come to see Baba when people were around. Baba later on would visit their individual homes and continue the leela which he started at out parent's home. As for me I cannot remember if I thought that life was anything else except wait for those summer holidays when I knew with a certainty that My Baba will come. I would watch people fanning him because it was hot in summer and when Baba went to sleep in my grandfather's room they would still continue to fan him. I watched and imitated their action. When Baba asked me where did I learn how to do Seva I promptly replied by watching Benga Mausi and he seemed very pleased with my reply. I heard him tell others she did not say that I did it but said that she learnt from watching others. My eldest brother being creative never sat still for a second but he would always watch me being near Baba and would remark something to the effect that it was a great thing that I was doing. Never understood his quiet depth till recently when I understand that he all along understood Baba very well. When he went to study at Delhi Baba told him this which translated into english means "Babu there is colour everywhere just dont let it touch you". Before joining service he was told "Babu do your work in a way that thorns don't pierce your feet". Baba often remarked to our father that this son will look after all family members. So not knowing what the future held for us which is always a blessing in disguise we happily spent our childhood years near a great saint of no less stature than the great Masters and the Rishis and Munis of India.He was silent pointing the way that the Holy Name was effective only in the dark age of Kali where nothing else neither penance nor yoga will help one much as the body is highly dependant on food. Annamaya Sarira. Harer Nama Harer Nama Harer Namaive Kevalam Kalau Nastaive Nastaiva Nastaiva Gatiranyatha.

Since early childhood the training started whether I was qualified or not. Grace descends without condition. In various ways My Baba pointed to the Self as being all in all. He would point to the chair leg and his own leg and say that that will burn and so will this. He would say things like no one loves Baba and when feeling very important I would remark that they love themselves he would look at me and say but do they really love themselves? If they really love themselves then they would love Baba. Impermanence and the transient nature of relationships was pointed out to me in more ways than one. That the effulgent SELF was all in all was being conveyed. I cannot tell you if he was a sufi or a muslim or a hindu or a christian as sometimes I felt he was much above caste creed or religion although dutifully the Akhanda Kirtan went on all around him. I could look back now and ascertain that his religion was about LOVE. The first time I ever met My Baba I had my first niece on my lap. Since then every year there would be a child in my arms as both my sisters were married and their children became all in all to me. Baba used to say finish all your desires Now. I never understood what he meant by that till many years later when I was childless and it did not bother me because the words of My Guru would often ring in my ears. Although if I looked at a calender of Baby Krishna in Yosodha's arms he would give me his special look and say it will happen and smile. My husband would present me with a Balgopal on our anniversary many years later. I was always with My Baba and I would follow him like a shadow when he was in our house he would often look at his disciple Vinod Baba and say "Vinoda she is like Suki" Vinod Baba being his personal attendant, he started looking after me too like giving me his adharamrit and lovely prasaad. My Baba asked me to tie a rakhi on his hand one day. I feel very sad now when I meet Vinod Baba as if his life has departed along with Baba or so it seems to me. For Vinod Baba always heralded the advent of Baba into our home. His smiling face would declare that Baba is not far behind and that he has come to make arrangements for his arrival. My mother once asked me to get blessings for my four brothers so that they surrender at His lotus feet. I was the emissary of my parents as they saw me always with him. It was 4 am in the morning at Murlidhar Patra's house. I asked Baba. He laughed and remarked, "So your mother feels that her daughters have fully surrendered and now she wants her sons to surrender." But I think a mother's heart and a Guru's blessing worked fine at the Brahma Muhurta for my brothers became very close to My baba and their faith is something to be admired.

Some of the visitors who came to see Baba were always satisfied with their answers. I remember two young german girls came to see him with one saint called Mintu Maharaj. They posed him a question which was what is the best way to reach the Kingdon of Heaven. He answered simply by this age old saying "A simple mind and a pure heart are the two wings to the Kingdom of Heaven". Answer coming from his lips had the desired effect and they went away pretty happy with their answer. Another person from ISKON probably looking for a genuine Krishna follower came to see him. He was american and he listened to Baba intensely for a few days and then asked his question as to how best to practice sadhana. Baba replied this:


                          "Harer Namaiva Harer Namaiva Harer Namiava Kevalam
                               Kalau Nastaiva Nastaiva Nastaiva Gatir anyathaa..."

God knows what he derived from this answer he was in a trance and he ran out and hugged a tree in the ashram as if everything had Krishna Consciousness in it and left the ashram soon after. The akhanda kirtan in the background went on 24 hours and not even for a second was Baba's attention anywhere else. If this is Samadhi of some sorts then Baba was constantly in Samadhi for even when the tune went off key or he sensed someone had dozed he would send someone to the Naama Mandap to find out the cause even in the middle of the night. That gave me clue that he rarely slept if at all. Bhagavat was read almost every evening and Bharater Sadhak a bengali book about the Saints Of India was read by his close associate Kunjabihari every afternoon at the Kendrapara Ashram. Apart from that Ashram he had to look after many other Ashrams all over Orissa like Cuttack, Puri, Bhubneswar, Balikuda, Maala, Phorada and the one at Vrindavan. Akhanda Kirtan continues in all these ashrams even to this day. Seeing Baba all in white, with white hair and beard looking after the day to day affairs so meticulously one would be almost fooled into thinking what is so extraordinary going on here ? So many people are coming to meet him - what are they getting here that they don't get anywhere else ? For one they got unconditional love and they were taken care of by rest prasaad etc. But it was Baba's peaceful magnetic presence that was drawing crowds from near and far. All kinds too, some noble some not so noble but who is judging ? All got his pranaam and his loving care.

Kings and Statesmen as well as common man all received uniform love from this great soul who had pierced the veil of ignorance, to let the shining Divine Light and Love to be perceived and felt by one and all. Sitting near him even small children were not fidgety as if aware that a benevolent source of energy was near them. He received people by bowing down his head. Then he distributed prepared betels and charan tulsi as prasaad. Charan Tulsi is Tulsi and Chandan offered to God and kept to distribute to people. It was his only offering to all ailments. Like Brother Andre the miracle man of Montreal distributing oil in the name of St.Joseph and Uddi being distributed by Shirdi Sai Baba, Baba's disciples swore by this charan tulsi. Any one who was there during prasaad time at lunch or dinner got hot meals whether they came from near or far. This was remarkable for so many people to be fed like that. Some say that Mother Annapurna herself had blessed Baba. People came offering Baba prepared betels in boxes and usually garlanded him with flowers woven by their hands. Next moment some lucky person was garlanded by Baba. The care that he took of each and everyone to their satisfaction was extraordinary. Like the moon in the sky belonged to everyone, He was everybody's Baba, in fact I feel shy to call him My Baba. But that is the title of the book that I will write one day he said on a glorious morning at Kendrapara. So I easily slip into addressing him as that. Like asking Kalpataru every one came and demanded whatever they wanted and whether they got what they wanted or not the love of the people for Baba was growing day by day. First I thought my father is rich so thats why so many people are coming here to our house. How foolish I was for everywhere I went to be with Baba the people came from far and near to be with him. He managed to ask every one's welfare and although he was very careful to appear most ordinary sometimes words slipped which proved beyond a doubt he was Antaryami. He once asked me about a picture Of Yasodha pulling Kahna's ears and how frightened Krishna looks in his bedroom at our house. I jumped because after hanging that picture Baba had not visited our house - how did he know ? Children are simple and still very close to God so that is the best time to sow the seeds of spirituality. I always conversed with someone called God by many without understanding who or what God was. I had asked God to please come down and tell both my sisters that I am right and that should stop their scolding me. Once in my absence he told both my sisters you both are nice but mandi is best. That proved to my childlike mind beyond doubt that God had indeed listened to me and come down in the form of Baba. If I am wrong in remembering this I will ask my eldest sister for I lost my other sister much more spiritually advanced than anyone I know. She taught me that spirituality is all within and never to be flaunted. Now I know that I am nothing compared to all my siblings and their love for my Baba.

Going to a Baptist school I started reading the Bible and really liked Jesus. The story of Jesus telling someone, "Go thy way woman thy sins are forgiven thee" touched my heart very much. I told myself I wish I lived during the time of Jesus and lo and behold one fine day Baba repeats the simple assurance that my sins were forgiven. I was convinced of the presence of Divinity.

On September 13th early morning repeating the name of Madhusudan, My Baba while sitting left quietly his body. Not one for pomp glory or funfare he left this world quietly. Once I remember asking him lets go to America and he said why are you so eager to distribute the wealth you have. I guess he knew my nature that I cannot enjoy anything alone. Because I never left his side when he took ill he used to tell me when the real time comes you will be far away. The Cuttack Ashram where he had predicted this is the place of his Samadhi for he chose to leave his body there although he had many places where he could have been. That was an honour for the people of Cuttack although few realise who they had in their midst, for Baba never advertised. Nama Sankirtan was his only advertisement as if he was saying he was practicing it and if you wish to follow that it is your freedom to do so. That was his only silent indication to the world of how to exist in this Kali Yuga. Having no idea that I will not be seeing him anymore and looking forward to my first visit to India I was sleeping peacefully when My Baba gave me the last chance to do Sevaa in my dream. I dreamt that lots of water is pouring out of his body and the faster I wipe it with a towel the faster he was perspiring. However I was not daunted by my task and my energy was concentrated in wiping his body so that he is not uncomfortable. What causeless mercy for a fallen soul like me. It was 3 years 3 months and 3 days to be exact that I had been away from him and restlessly awaiting in Canada to go back and see him. I went back but his physical form was gone. Neena and Munna will write about their experiencs on that day which was very powerful for them indeed. If they do not wish to share I will understand! Jaya Guru Shree Guru.

What will I describe those years filled with joy that I spent with my Guru. The strangest thing is there was much sorrow also but somehow the sorrow was not felt for HIS PRESENCE made it alright somehow. This huge blanket of protection that came saw us through many painful incidents or life events. HIS unconditional love made us strong to face future events. We did not know who or what is a Guru. He never explained in so many words. His silent action spoke volumes. Later on looking back at those years I am sure my siblings will agree with me when I say that one cannot have enough of LOVE and He came exactly to give us that more of LOVE. We were still in a joint family structure and there was no dearth of affection from the larger family. A Guru's Love extends beyond the physical mental and intellectual and eradicating all the vaasanas or desires can take one directly to SATCHITANANDA which is our Swaroopa. He told once to my brother Muna you love Baba so much why can't you see the whole world as Baba. He told me always to read even when I am 80 years old for that way I will get to decide what is right or wrong instead of being confused by many who try to impose their thoughts. I asked him shall I ask someone to explain to me the Sankrit words in Gopala Sahasra Nama and he replied no the Shastras will be kind and have mercy and the meaning shall dawn on me. He never preached just silently pointed the way like Ramana Maharshi by examples. One day someone was switching the lights on and he said if the correct switch is not pressed no matter how many switches you turn on the LIGHT will not be on. He was silent most of the time unless people asked him questions and that too the answers were always to awaken the person. I complained one day that I am going to the University in a rickshaw. A rickshaw is a carriage pulled or cycled by a person. That was so painful for me that I thought it warranted to be reported to My Guru. I thought because I am used to cars all my life My Baba will sympathise with me and do the needful to correct the situation. He dismissed it but by telling me something so useful that it can help each and every on of us. BE SAD ONLY WHEN YOU FORGET GOD. THAT IS REAL SORROW. Material things will come and go whats the use of being sad about it ? When I used to visit him along with my younger brother Tuna to complain about my mother's poor health or my father's business he said many things but what stood out was this, ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. He seemed so unconcerened about physical and material aspects, without ever hurting the sentiments of young hearts he tried to point towards the INFINITE. If you have EXPERIENCE speak he said. Anyone can read and speak but the words spoken from experience has greater impact .


He came to our house in 1959 for Astaprahari and stayed for Navaratra and for 2 whole months. Once he had come with Kirtana in 1958 but he did not remain long. Since 1959 to 1965 he used to come to Bansidhar Patras house then our house for the entire summer holidays and those days were the most fun filled days of my life. Akhanda Kirtana and Amruta Prasada and so many people 24/7.

He came with Kirtana to our house once in 1972 when I had chicken pox and could not go to meet HIM at Dr Kesav Sahoo's house. All day I was crying with pain both physical and mental reading the Kalyan (Gita Press) all the time where it said if the longing is intense God has to come. Then my aunt came with a garland and tulsi but my crying only increased at the sight of his gifts but no Baba. Suddenly I heard Kirtan in the evening and I ran to the terrace forgetting that I cannot leave the house. Thought, if I could only get a glimpse of My Baba. BUT car TURNED and came towards our house and Baba came up and sat in HIS ROOM. Happily I sat at His Feet forgetting that I have chicken pox. He looks into my eyes and says in HINDI "AB DIL KHUSH HAI?" My small brain can only comprehend that as I was reading Kalyan and talking to God all day Guru chose to talk to me in that language. He was there for us in our darkest hours and infact He is always with us.

Baba never liked self preaching or individual name and fame so we have been very silent about how he led us towards light and how we looked towards HIM in our darkest hours. To tell you the truth after coming abroad and meeting the people from the different parts of India I have realised that in Orissa our parents or our teachers are mostly responsible for our spiritual training for eg. my mother used to ask me to read Oriya Bhagavata 1 chapter every day before her. We both benefitted as we both got satsang. Through practice of rituals through the generations without understanding the deep rooted meaning behind fasting or worship the women folk of Orissa passed on the tradition. If there is no backing of the learning of the Shastras at schools and home how can one proceed towards the light? This is where the role of the Guru comes. He has researched and experienced the search and has had self realisation and now He can pass on this light to us common folks and householders who are so busy looking after their material affairs that there is no time to look after our spiritual welfare.

Baba had not only the best Guru Parampara of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas from Shree Nityananda and Gouranga Mahaprabhu to Shree Radha Raman Dev and Shree Ram Das but he also met many masters and did deep and long sadhana to validate the proclamation that Harer Nama Harer Nama Harer Namaiva Kevalam Kalau Nastaiva Nastaiva Nastaiva Gatir anyatha. He lived his life in silence and taught by example of his life by listening to Bhaja Nitai Gaura Radhe Shyam Japa Hare Krishna Hare Ram 24 hours and established Akhanda Kirtan in many places. His Guru Parampara was from Bengal but he loved Lord Jagannatha he was proud to be an Oriya and was very much like the Pancha Sakhas of Orissa Balarama Jagannatha Yasovanta Ananta and Achyuta and signed Dasanudasa Baya. He was much above caste creed race religion ranks and loved all as the Divine.

Acknowledgement: Asoka Ma gave us the permission of reproducing her article published on Spirit Dharma Forum

source : http://www.nitaisundar.com/site/Baya%20Baba.html

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