Tuesday, December 7, 2010

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



Raas Mandala

Bal Krishan Das ji Maharaj exulted, “Countless gopis had assumed the form of a mandala (formed a circle) on a huge Raas Mandal posited in the vault of the sky. Whereas Shri Priya-Priyatam were resplendent in their centre.

Even if I had left my body in such a situation, I would have united with the same mandala (the gopis circumscribe a space between heaven and earth which is sanctified and eternal.)” Baba confirmed that he learnt that this ailment was also one of the highest states of religious rapture like longing, anxiety and wakefulness; which becomes conspicuous in some rare individuals.


Mandleshwar

A day after the above-mentioned incident, highly revered Shri Maharaj ji took Baba, revered Devi ji and Gaur ji along with him and went to Mandleshwar. Having gone there, he began getting sankirtan of the 'mahamantra'  done in the neighbouring villages.
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Padas Sung by Bal Krishna Das ji Maharaj


In a state of bhavunmat dasha, Shri Maharaj ji would weep and dance in quick succession while getting the kirtan done. At times he would enter a semi-conscious state, without response to stimuli.The padas which burst forth from Maharaj ji's mouth after he went into a trance, were written down precisely as they were by Manohar Baba.



Sri Narayan in His Chaturbhuj Form


It was here that Maharaj ji showered such great blessings on the widowed sister of Shri Balwant Rao Mandloi that she had darshan of the chaturbhuj (four-armed) form of Sri Narayan. Later on, her very life went through a radical transformation.



The Ram Mandir near Mandleshwar

The Idols of Sri Ram, Lakshman & Sita in Ram Mandir

Baba made Shri Maharaj ji visit many sites which were worth seeing around Mandleshwar. Shri Maharaj ji was very delighted to see Baradwari,Ram Mandir and Kamal Sarovar.



Markati Sangam


There is a place by the name of Markati-Sangam on the southern banks of River Narmada, in Mandleshwar where there is a confluence of river Vedvati with the Narmada River.

It is here that Manohar Baba stayed along with Maharaj ji for a span of fifteen days and formed a satsang by the name of 'Suprabhat'.


Shri Krishna Frolicking with His Sakhas


Amazingly, Shri Maharaj ji had the darshan of Sri Krishna frolicking with His sakhas in the waters of the Yamuna at this spot.

Revered Manohar Baba used to say, that as long as Shri Maharaj ji stayed in the Ganga Mandir of Vrindavan his surging bhavas of love flowing towards the Divine, would invariably gush forth.The deposited padas which ensued from its towering rays have become the wealth of his own people, very much like gems-pearls.


The Temple of Nathdwara


Baba undertook long arduous journeys and visited Nathdwara, Rajkot, Dwarka, Junagarh, Kathiawar, Radhanpur, Harij, Ahmedabad, Jadheshwar,Girnar and other places along with Shri Maharaj ji. 


Shri Deviji (left) & Baba (right) with Shri Maharaj ji (centre)

Baba and revered Devi ji enjoyed excessive company and satsang of Shri Maharaj ji from the year 1945-1950. Both of them would constantly chant the 'mahamantra' for twelve hours at a stretch. They would be persistent like children in front of Shri Maharaj ji for attaining the divine.


Buland Shahr


In the year 1952, the father of respected Devi ji took Maharaj ji along with his family to Shikar Pur (Bulandshahr).There the satsang of Shri Maharaj ji went on for fifteen days non-stop. ('Smriti Kaumudi,' pg 363)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Sri Krishna Ashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya ji


The Ashtakam Sings the Glories of Sri Krishna

In this stotra or hymn, comprising of eight stanzas and composed by Adi Shankaracharya ji,dark-hued Krishna is construed as the object of longing towards whom his hungering devotees are passionately drawn.


Highly Revered Usha Bahenji, Fondly Called Bobo

Highly revered Usha Bahenji, a great saint of Vrindavan, gave me this stotra glorifying Lord Krishna.The ashtakam may be chanted daily to satiate the perennial quest of mankind for a divine and transcendental love.


sucharu vaktra mandalam, sukarnh ratna kundalam

suchchirtaang chandanam, namaami nand nandanam ||1||


Round-faced Krishna Wearing Kundals

The round face of Lord Krishna is so very lovely, and the precious kundals adorning his ears so attractive. His body smeared with the paste of sandalwood is beautifully scented. We bow to Lord Krishna, the illustrious son of Nanda.


sudeergh netra pankajam, shikhee shikhand moordhjam

anang koti mohanam, namaami nand nandanam ||2||

Lotus-Eyed Krishna

Lord Sri Krishna has large lotus-like eyes.His head is decked with feathers of a peacock's tail.Krishna enchants the whole world as millions of devotees are ardently drawn to him. We bow to Lord Krishna, the joyous son of Nanda.

sunasikagra mauktikam, svachh dant panktikam

navaambudaag chikkanam, namaami nand nandanam ||3||


Baby Krishna with Sparkling Teeth

Lord Krishna, the tip of whose nose glistens with a beautiful pearl and whose line of teeth is sparkling white. His cheeks are so very smooth and He is the true Lord of the Universe. We bow to Lord Krishna, the distinguished son of Nanda.


karen venu ranjitam, gati kareendra ganjitam

dukool peet sushobhnam, namaami nand nandanam ||4||


Graceful Krishna is Dressed in Yellow

Krishna holds the delightful flute in His hands. His gait is graceful like an elephant's and He is dressed in yellow silk garments which are most becoming.We bow to Lord Krishna, the illustrious son of Nanda.


Tribhang deh sundaram, nakhdhutee sudhaakaram

amoolya ratna bhooshnam, namaami nand nandanam ||5||


Lord Krishna Playing the Flute

Lord Krishna is depicted playing the flute in the tribhang mudra with bent legs, hips and neck. His nails shine like moonbeams and He is decked with priceless ornaments studded with precious stones. We bow to Lord Krishna, the delightful son of Nanda.


Sugandh ang saurabham, uro viraajit kaustubham

sphuraachchee mauktikam, namaami nand nandnam ||6||


Krishna, the Beautiful Son of Nanda

The fragrant limbs of Lord Krishna exude a certain fragrance. The kaustubh mani is resplendent on His chest whereas the radiant pearl glistens on his nose. We bow to the beautiful son of Nanda.


Vrindavan sunaagram, vilaasunaag vaassam

surendra garv mochnam, namaami nand nandnam ||7||


Young Krishna Lifts Mount Goverdhan

Lord Krishna is the star attraction of Vrindavan with every action of His being so very majestic. He lifted mount Goverdhan


Mighty Krishna Triumphs over Indra

and triumphed over the ego of Indra. We bow to Lord Krishna, the valiant son of Nanda.


Vrajaangna sunaayakam, sadaa sukh pradaayakam

jagan manah pralobhnam, namaami nand nandnam ||8||


Handsome Krishna, Adulated by the Gopis

The gopis of Vraja adulate dark-hued Krishna as their saviour. He bestows eternal joy on hungering devotees of the entire world who are invariably drawn to Him. We bow to Lord Krishna, the enchanting son of Nanda.


Shri nand nandnam ashtakam, pathed ya shradha na vitah

tared bhavaabdee dustaram labhet dranghee yukta kam ||


Adi Shankaracharya ji

Whosoever chants these eight stanzas, singing the glories of Lord Krishna, with sincere devotion will easily cross over the ocean of this temporal world.Such is the blessing granted by Adi Shankaracharya ji, the composer of this ashtakam.


The following addendum to the above stotra is also sung though it is a part of the Damodar Stotra.

Mohaandh poorne vishyaatee sakate sansaar koope patito hay gaadhe

karaamlanban mam dehi naath, govind daamodar maadhaveti ||


Oh Madhava, Help me Evolve Spiritually !

Oh Lord! I am steeped in the mundane world of attachment and delusion. Kindly give me Your hand so that I can evolve spiritually. Oh Govinda, Damodara and Madhava (epithets of Lord Krishna), this is my ardent entreaty to You!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

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

Therefore Baba and revered Devi ji would take turns in looking after Maharaj ji by keeping awake till midnight. Simultaneously, Baba would keep the main door of the Ganga Mandir locked. In case Baba forgot to lock the door, Maharaj ji would quietly sneak out. One fine day it so happened that while sitting on the Yamuna's sandy banks, Maharaj ji filled both his fists with soil and began to eat it. Strongly Baba caught hold of both his hands and stopped Bal Krishan Das ji Maharaj from doing so.


Shri Bal Krishan Das ji Maharaj


At times when he was in a state of bhava unmada( intoxicated by divine madness), Maharaj ji would bolt the door of his room from within.That is when an indefatigable effort was made and the door was somehow opened with a metal plate. Often, Shri Maharaj ji would enter a state of unconsciousness that would last for five hours. And alongside, he would be in a state of lila avesha, intoxicated by divine madness, for twelve hours at a stretch. 

“We were oblivious during this time span that there was some other mundane world. It appeared as if the entire universe was delighting in the joyous abandon of love for the Divine,”Manohar Baba used to say.


The Playful Dalliance of Lord Krishna


The various kinds of playful dalliances(Lord Krishna's lila ) which incarnated before our eyes by Maharaj ji's emotional frenzy, is a matter which can not be bound in writing. Forgetting about our unworthiness, we can not help but admire our great good fortune.By living with Maharaj ji,the likes of us reached the heights of elation and ecstasy.



Banks of the River Yamuna in Vrindavan


Shri Manohar Baba took utmost care of conscientiously attending to the needs of highly revered Shri Maharaj ji. Once in Vaishakh Month of the year 1947, Shri Maharaj ji was doing satsang with some of his extremely close people, on the sandy banks of the Yamuna when he became ill, all of a sudden.

He felt nauseatic and vomits started along with constant loose motions(diarrhoea). Everyone was rightly alarmed.Instantly Baba ran and got Dr.Hotichand but his medicine was of no use .Shri Maharaj ji was made to lie down on a charpoy in one of the huts.



Goddess Ganga


Soon after, they got him to the Ganga Mandir, as he lay on the charpoy.There Dr. Narayan Das (Pran Jeevan Das) and others also came from Gyan Gudri (Vrindavan) but there was not the slightest improvement in Maharaj ji's condition with their medication. Thereafter, all the medical practitioners had given up hope of Maharaj ji recovering from his illness.

Rai Saheb, the father of Shri Krishna ji, also dropped in at twelve o'clock in the night. When the feeble state of Maharaj ji was revealed to Krishna ji, he went to the terrace and foresaw by religious contemplation. 

 Coming down he affirmed, “Shri Maharaj ji can not leave us and he will regain his health, for sure.” Dr. Hotichand started his treatment and began giving homeopathic medicine at short intervals of four minutes. Amazingly, the condition of Shri Maharaj ji steadily improved and he recouped. On this incidence,the doctors exulted that Shri Maharaj ji was not an ordinary person.



Lord Krishna Meditating


Baba was very concerned as at how Maharaj ji would be meditating upon the Divine when he was ailing? 

“There was a beautiful scene in front of me,” Maharaj ji revealed on being asked. (page 362 of 'Smriti Kaumudi', the memoirs of Shri Manohar Das ji)