Tuesday, January 25, 2011

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

Shri Radha Krishna

Revered Manohar Baba once saw that Shri Radha-Krishna passed by in front of him with tinkling anklets when the evening sankirtan of Venu Vinod Kunj had reached its zenith. 

Before Baba could ask for a confirmation of this scene, the sound of highly revered Maharaj ji's voice came from his room, “Sometimes Priya-Priyatam delightfully appear right in the midst of the kirtan's gushing religious rapture.” 

Hearing these words from Shri Maharaj ji, Baba was ecstatic.

Manohar Baba in the Verandah of Venu Vinod Kunj, Vrindavan


Once the evening kirtan was going on in Venu Vinod Kunj. In the presence of rasacharya Svami Shri Ram Sharma and rasacharya Svami Fateh Krishna Sharma, the unprecedented rasa of the melodious kirtan was surging forth. 


Thicket of Jasmine Flowers

Precisely then Manohar Baba saw that close to the thicket of jasmine flowers stood an extremely tall saint, whose long matted hair fell down to his feet. He who wore a wooden kaupin ( a small piece of wooden solid belt to cover the private parts) and was listening to the devotional songs in rapt attention. Five to ten other saints also stood behind him. Apart from them, some saints were standing on the threshold.

Seeing this scene, Baba got up and going close to them bowed with religious devotion. Soon after, he reverentially insisted that they take a seat in the kirtan.


Shri Venu Vinod Bihari


The group of saints moved forward, did pranam and bowed before Thakur Shri Venu Vinod Bihari . Shri Baba had them respectfully seated in the verandah which lay in front of Thakur ji.

After some time when the circle of saints got ready to leave, Baba instantly got up from his aasan or seat. Folding his hands and approaching them he went to see them off at the door.


Shri Ram Das ji Kathia Baba


Later on, Baba revealed to some members of his parikar (inner circle) that it was none other than the great renunciant Shri Ram Das ji Kathia Baba, renowned for his austere penance.


Shri Radha Baba, Gorakhpur


In the same manner Manohar Baba once saw when the evening sankirtan of Venu Vinod Kunj was going on that Shri Radha Baba, the famed saint of Gorakhpur, slowly came and sat in the verandah outside the temple. Amazingly he vanished after listening to the kirtan for some time.


Shriji's Temple, Barsana



Watching the festivities of Shriji's temple in Barsana on the festival of Holi was a very old religious regime of Manohar Baba. Once he could not go to Barsana for some particular reason and hence his mind was very dejected.

Holi Being Celebrated with Joyous Abandon in Barsana


Therefore meditating upon the Holi of Barsana, Baba mentally enjoyed the joyous abandon of its celebration there.

The very next day, Mohini, a lady who was an income tax officer, came to Venu Vinod Kunj from Delhi. 

“When did you come from Barsana?” on seeing Baba she asked instantly.

 “ I just could not go to Barsana,” Baba answered with surprise.

“What are you talking about? I saw you sitting right in front of me,” the lady responded on hearing this statement.


Shri Radha, the Godhead in Female Form


Manohar Baba was rapturous by this infinite grace of Shriji showered on him.

Revered Manohar Baba once went with highly revered Shri Maharaj ji to have darshan of Kara's(Uttar Pradesh) revered Shri Baba Ratandas ji Maharaj (the virtuous guru of Shri Ramdas Baba). He would never allow anyone to click his photographs. If a person happened to do so secretly, the photographs came out to be hazy.

But surprisingly when Baba wanted to take his snap, Ratandas ji Maharaj agreed and readily posed along with his kamandal (an earthen or wooden water pot used by ascetics).His photograph which Baba came out sharp and clear. Later on the idol which was made after Ratan Das ji Maharaj left this world, was based on the sole snap which had been taken by Manohar Baba.


Shri Anand Das ji Baba


Revered Ram Das Baba (disciple of Shri Ratan Das Baba) of Kara would come to the ashram of revered Shri Anand Das Baba

Goswami Tulsidas ji


on the occasion of Tulsi Jayanti. Once it so happened that Manohar Baba also went there on this Jayanti and instead of sitting on the dais, he sat down. On this act Shri Ram Das Baba insistently made him get up from where he sat and sit on the dais next to him.

Simultaneously he asked Baba as to why he had sat down and not on the platform. “In any case siddh (perfected or sanctified by penance)saints are going from the surface of this earth, one by one.” 

Manohar Baba's response to this statement was, “You are the machine who makes siddh saints, yourself. Whichever person you place your hands on will surely become a perfect saint.” At this enthused exultation of Manohar Baba, Ram Das Baba held his hand with immense affection and smiled slightly.

Shri Subal Das ji Maharaj,the great rasika and siddh saint of Vraja rasa (blissful sentiments) used to live at Radha Kund. Once Manohar Baba went along with Bal Krishna Das ji Maharaj to have his darshan. He too would not let anyone click his photographs. Surprisingly when Baba persisted to take his snap, he readily agreed. The sole photograph of Subal Das ji which is available as of today has been clicked by Baba.



Krishna Janamashtami


It so happened that once on the festival of Janamashtami, a peculiar pain gripped Manohar Baba's chest and ribs. He took several medications but there was no improvement in his condition for three-four days. On basis of the Supreme Being's indications it appeared to Baba that he would take leave of this world very soon.

Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj


Precisely then he put a pinch of highly revered Shri Maharaj ji's prasadi sugar ( remnants of the sugar which have been offered to an idol; the entire parikar of Maharaj ji used to always keep these granules of sugar with themselves) in his mouth. It was a matter of great astonishment that his unbearable pain disappeared in a moment's time before the sugar could completely dissolve on his tongue.


Shri Manohar Baba


In another miraculous incident Manohar Baba was reading the 'Ras Panchadhayi' (a quintet of chapters in the Bhagavata Purana on the theme of Krishna's relationship with the gopis) in Venu Vinod Kunj at midnight. 


A Black-coloured Snake

That is when a small poisonous black-coloured snake slithered out. However Baba was not at all perplexed and instantly covered it with a basket like utensil. The very next morning he left it at Yamuna ji. Such a fearless person was Baba.(pages 383-384 of 'Smriti Kaumudi,' the memoirs of Manohar Baba)

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