Mandleshwar
Shriji had come to Mandleshwar in 1949, on the insistence of his devotees. Shri Deviji and I were with him. As soon as Shriji arrived the ceaseless flow of sankirtan surged in the houses of bhaktas. Sankirtan would often be held in the house of Haribhau Patwari (a bhakta who was one of the prime recipients of Shriji's grace). Unattached to worldly objects he had come to Vrindavan in 1949 itself and spent the rest of his life by taking refuge in Shriji's feet.
Shri Avantikaji (headmistress) of Maheshwar had gone to her brother in Ujjain
in those days. On getting news of Shriji's arrival in Mandleshwar she wrote a letter to him and requested him to come to Ujjain. Shriji agreed to do so and after staying for a few days in Mandleshwar he left for Ujjain, taking us along. Shri Avantikaji was very delighted. Her brother was prosperous and had a huge
bungalow in Ujjain. He welcomed Shriji with great regard.
Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain
Ujjain is counted as one of the seven sacred cities of India. Out of the twelve famous 'Jyotirlingas' of India, the jyotirlinga of Lord Mahakaleshwar is situated here. It is smeared with the ashes of funeral pyres everyday. The huge 'Shivalaya' is situated on the banks of Shipra River. Avantikaji made Shriji have darshan of the Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. On seeing the lingam Shriji was immensely delighted.
In the sprawling house of Avantikaji's brother, his uncle who had been roaming as an ascetic for the past 25 years, and his faqir[1]friend were staying in a room opposite to that of Shriji's. Both of them were honoured as siddh[2] saints here. A Shastri pandit[3] who was a palmist and a scholar of the English language, was putting up in a nearby room. On seeing Shriji he wished to read his palm. Shriji was seated on the swing in his room. Soon enough, Panditji came to see Shriji. Bowing, he respectfully
greeted him, sat in front and expressed his desire. Smiling, Shriji extended his right hand.
Seeing his hand, the Shastri instantly exclaimed in astonishment, “ You are a great soul of the highest order! I have never seen such a palm before.”
The pandit said many more things and left after bowing respectfully. He went and highly praised Shriji in front of that ascetic and faqir.
Out of curiosity, both of them paid a visit to Shriji and
The Bhagavad Gita
asked him some questions based on the Gita, to test Shriji. He gave answers in all seriousness to them. Sitting for a while, they went to their room.
Shri Manohar Bhaiya (left) With Shrji
Shri Maharajji kept sitting in a sombre mood . After just a few a moments, symptoms of bhava avesha, a trance like state of religious rapture, were perceptible in him. His eyes became red-hued and intoxication by divine
madness possessed him. Suddenly, he stood up and with staggering steps tried to step out of the room. I held him by the arm from one side. Intoxicated and swaying he entered the room of that sadhu and faqir.
“ Answer! You want an answer! Then listen, listen to the answer!” Shriji exclaimed in a mood of maddened frenzy.
Seeing Shriji's bhava stithi the sadhu and faqir were
nonplussed and kept staring at Shriji's face. They could not bear his emotionally charged
state any longer and trembling with fear,
hastily ran out of the room. The truth was that their life was immoral from within. They indulged in drinking alcohol, eating prohibited food and leading an unprincipled life. Shriji had gauged them with his inner insight. I held
Shriji's arm and brought him to his room but he swooned due to
spiritual ecstasy.
A pada
burst forth from his mouth. It is compiled in 'Alibhav Nirjhar;' (verse 182, page 113.)
'vishay grah bhavambudhi bhanvri, bahut trishit bechain,
madhav bahut trishit bechain |
arun sunder sushyamal sheetal, mohan kar mam sain || madhav |
shravan dishi dishi pal pal vanshi , amiya madhur ras bain,
shyam tav amiya madhur ras bain |
daman darun dukh karuna nalini dal nij nav ras nain || madhav |
giridhar madan gopal lal yash, rasna nit din rain |
kab vah samay manorath puran , mangal ali pad dain |
madhav trishit bahat bechain|| madhav | '
Shriji Longs to Hear Krishna's Flute Play
'I am floating, O Madhava! Discontent and miserable in the whirlpool of this worldly ocean and abounding in the crocodiles of sense objects. Beckon me with your beautiful, cool, reddish black eyes. My ears hanker to listen both to the sweet sounds of Your flute and nectar like voice from all sides. With Your lily like bewitching eyes and Your mercy abolish my paining sorrow. When will my desire to sing your glory day and night with my tongue get
fulfilled. O Girdhar, Madan Gopala?
Lord Krishna's Auspicious Feet
When shall I attain your auspicious friendly feet.'
Staying in Ujjain for a couple of days Shrji returned to Mandleshwar again.
Divine Signal to Shri Girija Devi
The life of Shri Girija Devi is very mysterious. It can easily cover a thousand written pages
even if it is narrated briefly. Her life story is connected to the Dwapur Yuga. Only that part of her life which is expected at this juncture is being given.
Arrah District, Bihar
There is a village named Jamira in the Arrah district of Bihar State. Giriji
Devi’s husband Shri Mritunjay Prasad Singh was the zamindar of that village.
Since it was a large landed estate, its zamindar was called Raja (ruler.) He belonged to a high class Rajput family and was related to the family of Shri Meera Bai of Chittor. The seed of religious devotion had sprouted in Girija Devi since birth. Her husband loved Girija Devi profoundly. She had a retinue of male and female servants attending to her needs. Despite this luxury she was prone to weeping bitterly for something unknown.
Shri Girija Devi used to say, “No comfort or facility in the house appeals to me. I do not even get a chance to cry as I am surrounded by family members, as
well as male and female attendants. Therefore I go to the bathroom and burst out crying. Even on reflecting I do not get a clue as to why I am weeping.”
Shri Girija Devi had two sons and two daughters. The younger son had passed away on reaching the age of five.
Gaurang Mahaprabhu
Girijaji used to say that this son of hers was as beautiful and fair-complexioned as Gaurang Mahaprabhu. Her other elder son
had breathed his last a year after his marriage. Their expiry made her so anguished that she wept constantly for two years at a stretch. In those days she was not conscious about eating or drinking and the mundane world. Only both the sons appeared before her as if they had been incarnated.
Shrimad Bhagwat
Her family guru became possessed with an unknown spiritual power and he began reciting the 'Shrimad Bhagwat' to her every day. However, lost in the grief of losing her sons she would keep sitting inert. The words of 'Shrimad Bhagwat' could not gain entry into her ears. Nevertheless, the guru[4] used to regularly read the scripture to her as a custom. Two years passed by in this fashion.
Girija Devi Had a Vision of Dark-hued Krishna
One day the guru was describing the sweet beauty of Lord Krishna when she had a vision of Lord Krishna. Ever since that day the anguish of separation from her departed sons left her but a yearning for Lord Krishna was awakened in Girija Devi. Her former longing for the unknown materialized in this way. This secret did not remain hidden from her but it became unbearable for her to live in Jamira in this pitiable condition. After some time she came to Shri Dham Vrindavan. She was fifty years old now and a strange divine radiance used to gleam on her face. Shri Girija Devi began living in a rented house, in the precincts of Radharaman Mandir. On coming to Shri Vrindavan Dham she came to know of her previous 18 births.
Now Shri Girija Devi's condition was such that Lord Krishna began living with her constantly. She would experience that He was by her side all the time, while eating, drinking, sleeping, sitting and walking. This condition lasted for three years at a stretch.
Thereafter, Prankster Krishna only knew what prank He wanted to play on her. He would certainly come close to her and vanish after staying with her for a few days. Again, she would be
wallowing in the deep anguish of separation from Him. Dark-hued Krishna would appear
yet again. It would be unbearable for her when Lord Krishna would disappear for a couple of day. Her pillow would get drenched because of weeping all night. We have seen this
plight of hers with our own eyes.
Once it struck her sad heart, “I have heard that He always lives with his beloved devotees. If I get to find His most beloved devotee in Vrindavan I will ask for Lord Krishna from him, because the Lord is under the jurisdiction of such devotees.”
Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj
When Girija Devi's simple heart had hit upon this idea, Lord Krishna thought of playing a prank on her. That very night, dark-hued Krishna told her that the most devoted and loving bhakta of His named Shri Balkrishna Dasji Maharaj resided in Sewa Kunj. In short, she must go there! Her joy knew no bounds. Girija Devi began thinking that she would ask Shriji
for Lord Krishna, for all times to come. As soon as day dawned she set out in search of Him. After coming to Sewa Kunj she roamed for several hours but could get no inkling of his whereabouts.
Shriji would always live incognito in Shri Vrindavan Dham. Since he
perpetually avoided public contact he was known only to a handful of people. He would stay miles away from fame and honour. Because of this
apprehension he did not keep in touch with any sect, local mahants[5] or the wealthy. Shri Maharajji always liked to live in seclusion. Thus even on searching Girija Devi could not trace him down and had to return home, disappointed. The next day she was sitting in her room and weeping
over this sorrow of hers when a woman came to meet her. Shri Girijaji told her about her dream.
“I know this Mahatma very well. He is a high class saint who loves Lord Krishna but is a hidden and simple saint,” on hearing her dream the woman responded
Her name was Ramayani and she had great faith in Shriji whom she had known for the past so many years. On hearing the dream the woman instantly responded
“ Come along with me and I will make you have his darshan and meet him,” she told Girija Devi.
Girijaji seemed to get a new lease of life. She stood up at once and accompanied Ramayani to the Ganga Mandir.
Mandleshwar
Shriji had gone to Mandleshwar at that time. So she could just meet Shri Deviji, Maji and Motiramji. Once again poor Girijaji had to come back disappointed. This incident happened around 1949.
Eight days later, the mischievous prankster Krishna revealed
to
Girija Devi in a dream that the saint had now come back. Hastily she reached Ganga Mandir in the morning. Shriji was sitting there. She bowed, did pranam and sat down in front of him. Soon after, Shriji asked the reason of her coming and Girijiaji narrated all that had taken place.
“ However, Lord Krishna has given me no such order,” laughing, Shriji
joked
Shri Girija Devi began coming daily to have Shri Maharajji's darshan. She would sit down after bowing from a distance. Her self-imposed restraint was that she would not touch the feet of any other person other than her husband's. So she had this inhibition.
One fine day Lord Krishna told her in a dream, “Do you think him to be a man? Look here...”
Thereafter, Girijaji saw a Rasa Sthali[6]surrounded by a dense forest on the banks of the Yamuna. An old door-keeper was sitting at the outer gate. There was a beautiful dressing room behind the Rasa Sthali, in the bower. Shriji was sitting outside it.
Shri Girijaji asked the gate-keeper, “What is happening here?”
Girijaji replied, “ Which Lalitaji? Where is Lalitaji?”
“ Are you a newcomer who has come to Vrindavan for the first time today?” The doorman
was curt in his reply.
Pointing towards Shriji he said, “Who is he? Don't you see?”
Girijaji said, “ Indeed, he is Maharajji.”
The doorman retorted, “ Which Maharajji?”
Shriji Assumed the Form of Lalita Sakhi
Meanwhile, Shriji went inside the dressing room and came out in half a moment. As soon as Girijaji lifted her eyes she saw that Shriji was standing in the form of Lalitaji, beautifully adorned from top to toe as an adolescent girl. The doorkeeper looked at Lalitaji.
Lalitaji informed him, “ I am going to the Rasa “ and left. Girija Devi now saw Shriji as Shri Lalitaji and that form resided in her eyes, for good.
When Girijaji came to Ganga Mandir in the morning she actually beheld Shriji as Shri Lalitaji. Her joy knew no bounds.
She began to think, “ Shri Lalita is the foremost and most beloved consort of Lord Krishna. It is certain that I will now attain Lord Krishna for all times to come.”
All her
inhibitions disappeared and she began touching Shriji's feet. Moreover, when she would come to Ganga Mandir she would oil and comb Shriji's hair. She would always perceive Shriji as Shri Lalitaji. Three to four months passed by in this fashion.
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