Thursday, November 25, 2010

Baba Shri Manohar Das ji, the Pride of the Spiritual World-X

Banks of the Narmada in Maheshwar


Baba took him to the banks of the Narmada River for a stroll. Seeing the beautiful ghats , Shri Maharaj told Baba, “I have seen these banks in my dream some months back.” Shri Maharaj ji even enjoyed a boat ride with Baba at this spot.

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Nandgaon


Highly revered Maharaj ji would often take Manohar Baba along and venture to Nandgaon, Barsana, Goverdhan and other such sites. He made Baba have darshan of several siddh saints residing in the lowlands of Nandgaon and Goverdhan. At times Maharaj took him to their huts and occasionally he introduced him to them when they were roaming around the place.

Shri Hari Baba


Baba had the good fortune of meeting most respected Udiya Baba, Hari Baba,Saint Sain Kokil ji, Narayan Swami ji (judge saheb), Mira ji,Raghunath Das ji Maharaj of Ranganath Garden, Manohar Das ji Maharaj of Govind Kund (Goverdhan), Gaur Govind Das ji and Madhav Das ji of Poonchri,Subal Das ji of Radha Kund, Sakhi Charan Das ji and other great saints through the medium of highly revered Maharaj ji.




Brahmachari Mandir, Vrindavan


It was Maharaj ji who explained the spiritual significance of various sites which were renowned for Thakurji's lila to Baba. In those days the Raas lila (Krishna's dalliance and dance with the herdgirls of Braj) would be enacted in the Udiya Ashram and Brahmachari Mandir (Gwalior Mandir) of Vrindavan throughout the year. 


Enactment of the Raas Lila


Baba would invariably venture out with Maharaj ji to see the Raas Lila every single day. During the festivities of Holi and Shravan (many important festivals such as Janmashtami, Naga panchami, Avani Avittam, Shravan Poornima and Raksha Bandhan are celebrated in this month) Baba would watch Raas Lila at several places in the span of a day.

Manohar Baba's lived in an extremely simple manner since his needs were very few. Ever since his mother passed away in 1954 he had never worn stitched clothes.


Shri Manohar Baba


His attire comprised of an outer wrap, a saafi or sash tightly tied around his waist and an upper cloth. During winters he would tie a silken cloth, measuring three metres, firmly around his chest. He wound a white cloth around his head, very much like a turban, alongside. A divine saint had taught him to dress up in this fashion.


Revered Devi ji

Revered Devi ji strived to convince Baba for wearing a sweater during the biting cold but she did not succeed. 

Shri Sushila Bahen ji had firmly told Baba on his ninety-first birthday that she would have a long warm choga (a long loose knee length cloak) made for him in the next winters, which he would have to wear for certain. 

But Baba evaded the matter by saying, “ He would consider the suggestion.” Sadly Baba departed, leaving all of us forever, before the next winters set in.


Saraswati Bai Mule, the Mother of Manohar Baba


Manohar Baba always held his mother in great esteem. He often used to say that when his mother was distressed and missed him, he could relish the delicacies cooked by her without eating a bite, while he sat in Vrindavan. 

At times his heart would writhe in pain like a fish out of water and that is when Maharaj ji would say, “ It seems your mother is remembering you.” (Page 360 of 'Smriti Kaumudi,' the memoirs of Manohar Baba)

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