Diary 1 of Divine Great Saint Ushaji: 3.30am to 5am

Saint Usha ji's Thakurji or Sri Radha-Krishna

After posting let us bow to the lotus feet of 'Bhagavad Gita, 'Ramayana' and 'Srimad Bhagavatam' respectfully. Almost everyday new insights on the life of great Saint Ushaji, fondly called Boboji, dawn upon me. Perhaps it's the direct fruition of the divine scriptures, their grace or Granth-kripa as nobody can truly understand a saint. One of these observations prods me to humbly bow to Her holy feet ( Adi Shankacharyaji says Amba twaam which means O Mother Gitaji) and vividly make a note of Ushaji's sublime actions since Brahma -muhoorat in the morning to Shayan of Her Thakurji or Lord Radha-Krishna Yugal Sarkar at 9.30 pm.

Usha Bahenji Fondly Known as Bobo

My childhood was blessed with the divinity of Saint Ushaji popularly known as Boboji or elder sister. As a child I grew up under Her benign shelter, closely watching Her daily routine and above all a part of it. The impressions or Sanskars of Her divine life are deeply etched in my mind and soul. I was 29 years old when She left for Gaulok Dham on 20th Feb 1992 at the age of 67 ( DOB : 30th July , 1925 .) During this time span I little realized the grace bestowed upon me. Now that she is no more amongst us, I can fathom what I miss out on and deeply cherish the good fortune I had of growing up in the presence of a true saint, to be able to serve Her and imbibe lessons of divinity from Her. As I dredge up old memories, it is a privilege to share her daily routine with all the readers who have not come across her, giving them a bird's eye view of Her pious actions since Brahma-muhoorat in the morning to Shayan of Her Thakurji or Lord Radha-Krishna Yugal Sarkar at 9.30 pm .

Ever since I can remember, I slept at 9.30 pm and usually woke up at 3.30 am. Inevitably I found her awake, silently sitting before Her Thakurji or the Yugal Sarkar of Radha-Krishna, the sacred couple. Probably she had got up earlier and begun sadhana in front of Her Thakurji. All the earlier saints, be it Swami Vivekananda or Swami Sivanandaji of Divine Life Society , Rishikesh, stressed on waking up in the wee hours of the morning for Sadhana or Yoga to attain manifold results.The age-old adage in English 'Early to bed and early to rise, this is the way to be healthy, wealthy and wise' endorses this fact. The broadcast of Swami Ramdevji's tour to USA, UK in July-Aug 2008 and many TV channels emphasise on rising up much before sunrise for better well-being. Ushaji was practicing this regime from 1931 since childhood. The Bhagwadgita says Mahajana Sa Pantha, meaning whichever track great men tread on this is the main path. Her followers also adopted the same habit of getting up before sunrise and started their day by chanting Lord Sri Hari's names .

Dot at 4 am, she would start kirtan or devotional songs and all those present would join in. Everybody joyously began their day singing bhajans along with Her, compiled by Her father, my Dada, Shri Manmohan Swaroop Bhatnagarji , a pious soul. The words of the Sankirtan were as follows:

HARI HARYE NAMAH ..KRISHNA YADVAY NAMAH ...Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva

KRISHNA YADVAY NAMAH ..RAMA SHRIYEH NAMAH

RAMA SHRIYEH NAMAH ...KRISHNA YADVAY NAMAH

JAI JAI GANPATI JAI GANNAYAK ,... Lord Ganesha

SHAIL SUTA SUT SIDHI VINAYAK

SHAIL SUTA SUT SIDHI VINAYAK

VIGHNA VINASHAK MANGAL DAYAK

VIGHNA VINASHAK MANGAL DAYAK

JAI JAI GANPATI JAI GANNAYAK ,

JAI GAURI JAI SHANKAR

JAI JAI GAURI SHANKAR

JAI DURGA JAI SHANKAR

JAI JAI DURGA SHANKAR

JAI JAI HANUMAN GOSAIN ... Lord Hanumaan

KRIPAKARAHOO GURUDEV KI NYAIIN

Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare ;

Hare Krishan Hare Krishan, Krishan Krishan Hare Hare

RAMA RADHE , RAMA RADHE , RAMA RADHE PAHIMAM

RAMA RADHE , RAMA RADHE , RAMA RADHE RAKSHMAM

KRISHAN KESHAV KRISHAN KESHAV KRISHAN KESHAV PAHIMAM

KRISHAN KESHAV KRISHAN KESHAV KRISHAN KESHAV RAKSHMAM

RADHEGOVIND RADHEKRISHNA RASBIHARI POORAN KAM

RASBIHARI POORAN KAM GOPIVALLABH RADHESHYAM

RADHEKRISHAN PAHIMAM , RADHEY SHYAM RAKSHMAM

Her very first words in the morning propitiated Hari-Har or Lord Hari-Shivji ,hence http://hariharji.blogspot.com . This daily kirtan, would continue for about an hour or so and at 5 am She began ......Arti Kije Navngar Ki, the very same Arti, that is sung daily at the famous Banke Bihariji temple of Vrindavan.

On a lunar or solar -eclipse She was wide awake for every minute of its tenure reciting the sankirtan :

Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare ;

Hare Krishan Hare Krishan, Krishan Krishan Hare Hare

After the Aarti followed Sri Radha-Krishna Kripa-Kataksh Stotra compiled by Adi Shankarcharyaji ..credit goes to ADI SHANKRACHARYAJI and some Rasik songs by Soordasji or Ashtachhap poets of ancient Acharya Vallabhachryaji of the'Gita' or Saint Meera Bai . Soon after, She joyously announced

* Krishan Bhagwan ki jai

* Siya Ramchandra ki jai

*Pawansut Hanuman ki jai

* Uma-Mahadev ki jai

* Radha-Krishanchandra ki jai

Hope it will be a delight to further browse through the diary of Divine Great Saint Ushaji from 5 am onwards. Whenever a sacred experience is narrated for the first time, it has a distinctive innocent and pristine flavour since it is written straight from the heart, needs no editing and of course the Bhagwat-Gita and Ramayana vouch for it