Shri Manohar Baba,the Main Pillar of Sanatan Dharma & Acharya of Shri Hari Kirtan (1919-2009)

Lord Harihara

The mundane world flooded with the grace of Shri Harihar (Vishnu and Shiva), this earthly region resounding with Shri Ram-Krishna, the ten incarnations of Vishnu, the four Vedas,the Shrimad Bhagavat consisting of shlokas, all acharyas of religious devotion, and Shri Adi Shankaracharyaji, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Vallabhacharya, Bhakt Soordas, Mirabai, Tukaramji, Tulsidasji and Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa thereafter are all icons of the Sanatan Dharma.

Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar

In the year 1927, Lord Vishnu gave darshan to Shri Hanuman Prasad Podar in this context for the very first time. Soon after, the triple-braid of Bhaiji, Seth Goenkaji and Shri Radha Baba initiated such a current of religous devotion, knowledge and discernment that 'Kalyan',a monthly periodical and other publications of Gita Press Gorakhpur gushed forth and are delighting the world of bhakti or religious devotion even as of today.Shri Manohar Baba was the main bastion of this spiritual chain.

Narsingh Bhagwan

Though Bhagwan Narsingh was the family deity of Manohar Baba he had instinctive faith in Lord Shiva, the Aadi Guru of Vaishnavas and Shri Hanuman who was his incarnation. His conduct towards us was like the live Shri Ramcharit Manas, the celebrated epic which portrays the life and deeds of Lord Rama. The mahamantra ,

Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare |

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ||

was extremely dear to him and he urged everyone to chant a mala (vaishnava rosary) religiously.

Shri Ram Harshan Das ji Maharaj of Ayodhya

True saints have a distinctive virtue,they wish to have darshan of other saints and do satsang (a congregation gathered to worship and sing bhajans.)Ardently longing to have darshan of a genuine saint,Shri Manohar Baba undertook a long arduous journey at the age of 88 and reached upto Ayodhya to have darshan of Shri Ram Harshan Dasji Maharaj. On coming back he raved that Maharaj Harshan Dasji is very similar to Shri Hanumanji and tears stream down his cheeks in his great love for Lord Rama.The condition of Shri Manohar Baba on his return became like-Sumiri so dasha magan gaureesa.

Revered Usha Bahenji or Bobo

Though devotees of Venu Vinod Kunj would address Shri Manohar Dasji as Baba, we the kids of hariharji fondly called him Bhaiya, simply because Bobo did so. It was a term particularly coined by Saint Ushaji for him.

Revered Manohar Baba & Saint Shri Usha Bahenji

His saintly attributes, affectionate nature and benevolent attitude were much admired by Usha Bahenji and she would often quote the famous quatrain sabke priya, sabke hitkari of Shri Ramcharitmanas in his honour.

Shri Manohar Baba

Shri Manohar Baba was born on the night of Akshay Teej in May, 1919 (Vaishakh shukla chaturthi). Maheshwar situated on the holy banks of the Narmada River in Nimar district of Madhya Pradesh, has the honour of being his birthplace. His father was the family priest of Rani Ahilyabai and hence a learned brahman or pandit. Manohar Baba belonged to an affluent family, the landed gentry which owned acres of land coupled with cattle and the likes.

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

The great moment of renunciation surfaced in 1945. A saint came to Maheshwar and chanted the Hare Rama Hare Krishna mahamantra with such enthused exultation that Manohar Baba left for Shri Banke Bihariji Temple in Vrindavan, right away. Who knows the saint could be Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself come to bless the young soul, Manoharji.