Chapter 33: Shriji Lives in Seclusion for Fourteen Months (Part One)

Shriji Left for Some Secluded Place in 1955

One fine day Shriji suddenly left for some secluded place in 1955. Month after month passed by but there was neither any letter from him nor any news about him.  Despite being absorbed in sadhana  an anxiety was constantly weighing on the minds of his parikar (inner circle of devotees). About six months had passed but there was no information about Shriji. That is when we decided to go in search of him. Letters were posted everywhere but there was no information about his whereabouts.

“ I have to go and stay in a secret place for  two years,” Shriji used to say humorously at times.

Ranchhodji Temple, Dakor

We wondered if this was the reason of his leaving us? On unanimous assent, Ghanshyamji and I set out in search for Shriji. We went to Dakor, Rajkot, Dwarka and Junagarh but were disappointed and returned to Vrindavan without getting any clue. Shriji used to sometimes talk about staying at Jagannath Dham so Ghanshyamji and I left for Jagannathji. Roaming for eight days in Jagannath we could not get so much as an inkling about him.  

 Varanasi

A special pilgrim train from Gita Press, Gorakhpur had arrived in Jagannath. Under the management of Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar (Bhaiji) and Chakradhar Swamiji (Radha Baba) this train had been conducted. Ghanshyamji had a close relationship with them. On Radha Baba's urging we accompanied them to Calcutta, Varanasi and Gorakhpur but our hearts were not at ease. Remembering Shriji was the reason for this dejected state. Disappointed, we again came back to Shri Dham.

Narration of Shriji's Nectarous Acts

All of us were very dejected. Time would be spent in remembering our beloved Shriji and talking about him after our sadhana We were feeling orphaned without him and had almost stopped interacting with outsiders. Talking about his nectarean acts was our only support during this anguish of separation. Some memories of Shriji's former experiences were coming to mind.

1)    It was the pleasant rainy season. The sky was overcast with clouds. River Yamuna was flowing with full force. In 1950, on the 3^rd lunar dark night of the Shravan Month we were all sitting with Shriji on the sand 

 

Tatiya Sthan, Vrindavan

 Majestic beauty of the Yamuna

near Tatiya Sthan and watching the majestic beauty of the Yamuna in the evening. At some distance a saint was playing the flute. Hearing the flute play, Shriji had bhava avesha and went into a trance like state of religious rapture and swooned. After about half an hour he regained consciousness and slowly we brought him to the Ganga Mandir in this state of ecstasy.

Next day on our request he gave his self-experience in writing to us: 

 ' It was much after the hour of cowdust. The soil at that site was brightly radiant despite dark clouds having overcast the sky because it was past evening. 

 

 Cowherds & Shiromani Krishna Head Towards Braj

 It was drizzling slightly but astonishingly the group of cowherds and their shiromani Lord Krishna were getting wet and swiftly heading towards the village of Braj as Krishna played the flute. Clinging wet locks of hair were adding to the beauty of dark-hued Krishna’s wide forehead. As the flute was getting filled with drops of water Lord Krishna would wipe it with His yellow sash and play it.

He was wearing a full-sleeved yellow garment on His body and that too had clung to His blue-hued body because of getting wet. Raindrops falling around Lord Krishna's circle of friends were shining brightly. It seemed as if lovely gleaming blue pearls were being rained down. Lord Krishna dress up was very amazing. There was no peacock plume adorning His head and no vanamala around His neck; there was no kachani [1] around His waist and no tinkling anklets on His feet as well as no tilak on His forehead. Surprisingly, the daily route to Braj was not taken by them.  

 

The Ground Was Dry & Soil Radiant

 They were coming from the forest, walking amidst forest trees and the forest was not dense. The trees were as tall as the cowherds. Raindrops could be seen on the leaves but the ground was dry. There was not a trace of rain and the soil was radiant and spotlessly clean. There were no fallen dry leaves, either. But of course it was not known why it had taken them so long to return to Braj which they usually did at the time of cowdust. Neither was there wet land nor any trace of rainfall.

2)    The year 1947: Just as Shriji used to go away several times without telling anyone, he had gone today and returned after three to four days. The body had certainly become feeble but his countenance was very pleased and glowing profusely. He had got many oranges with him, which he kept in front of us.

“ What is the matter? Why are you so delighted today?” we asked.

Shyam Kutir, Goverdhan

After much insistence he revealed, “ Lost in some thought of mine I had gone to Goverdhan. An ancient site of Krishna's divine sport called Gwal Pokhara near Shyam Kutir is located there. It is a small lake and a small three-storeyed dilapidated cottage of some saint is situated closeby. Nobody lives in it. The place is surrounded by a dense forest. I went and sat on the roof of the cottage. Without eating a bite, three days passed by and I went on weeping.  

 

A Mala Jholi

On the third day, at midnight many siddh[2]  saints holding mala jholis[3] descended down from the path of the sky. Coming close they began consoling me. But I did not pay any heed to them so they went back. Pitch darkness loomed all around and I resolved to jump down to death from the roof.

Youthful Krishna Appeared Before Shriji

I was about to jump when two divine cowherds stood in front of me, wanting to stop me with lathis, held diagonally. I did not listen to them as well. Meanwhile, Lord Krishna clad in yellow robes, appeared before me in His youthful form and held the string of my kopeen or loin cloth (I had taken off all my clothes and stood wearing just a kopeen) Shriji did not reveal what happened later, even after much insistence.”

3)    The year was 1948-It was 3 o' clock in the afternoon. Due to the intense heat of Jyesth month (June) 

Radha Kund

Radhu Kund was devoid of people. Shriji was sitting on the western steps of the kund [4] and taking a bath.

Krishna  Appeared as a Twelve Year Old boy

A twelve year old boy arrived, playing merrily by himself. 

 

A Peacock Plume

In the meantime, a peacock plume flew from the eastern side of the tank and fell in the water, close to where Shriji was bathing. Shriji took the peacock plume out of the water. Shaking off the water and drying it with his breath, he handed it over to the boy playing quite close by. One doesn't know how the plume again fell into the water from the boy's hand. The boy tried to recover it by stepping down into knee deep water but could not do so. The boy's dhoti had got wet because of wading in water.

' Baba, nek pankh nikas deejo | ' or 'Baba, just take out the feather.' He requested Shriji

The boy's voice was very sweet and charming. Shriji took out the peacock plume and gave it to him, once again.

'Baba meri dhoti bheej gai hai, yaya sukhvaya deejo, nahin to maiya-baba moye marenge | ' or ' Baba, my dhoti has got wet. Help me dry it up otherwise my parents will beat me,' the boy entreated.

Shriji was bewitched because of His sweet voice. It seemed as if someone was forcefully drawing his heart to the boy. Shriji held one end of the dhoti and the boy held the other end, and jointly they dried the dhoti. Wearing the dhoti and taking the peacock plume in His hand as soon as the boy climbed up a couple of steps, He vanished, all of a sudden. Shriji's condition became strange once again.  In the anguish of separation from Lord Krishna, he lay there for three days at a stretch, without eating or drinking.

Resuming:

I shall resume and take the readers to the topic in hand. Fourteen months had passed since Shriji had departed from Shri Vrindavan Dham. We were disappointed, counting the days but there was still hope.  All of us were busy in sadhana due to Shriji's imperceptible influence but now it was becoming tough to pass the days. 

The Postman Arrived

One fine day all of us were sitting and talking about Shriji when the postman called out. Even though no letter of Shriji's had come for the past fourteen months we used to expect it every day. I ran to take the letter and saw that it was from Ram Swarup of Kosi. Sadly, I opened the letter. Soon after, I saw a ray of hope on reading its contents.

Dakor

' I received Shri Maharajji's letter from Dakor,” it stated.

On getting the information a wave of delight swept across the parikar, hoping that they would soon be blessed by Shriji's presence, most probably. That was it! Ghanshyamji and I left for Dakor on that very day. We reached Shri Ranchhod Dasji's place in Dakor next day but could not get any clue. Going to Devkaran Bhai's house we were told that Shriji had gone to Rajkot on the previous day. 

 

Rajkot

We instantly left for Rajkot. At 8'clock in the night we reached the residence of Mannibhai, brother of Vitthalji.

On hearing “Shriji is here!” from him, our hearts leapt with joy.

 “ Kirtan is going on at my elder brother Popatbhai's place. You will be able to behold Shriji's there itself,” he revealed.

Instantly we left for Popatbhai's house. 

Shriji (Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj)

We could hear Shriji singing devotional hymns from downstairs. It seemed as if someone had poured nectar into our ears. Going upstairs we saw that Shriji was splendidly seated on a seat with Thakurji's image placed beside him. Some devotees were sitting near about and they became curious on seeing us. We managed to control our feelings somehow and both of us touched Shriji's feet, sitting near him. Shriji smiled on seeing us and looked at us with loving eyes. After sometime, the kirtan ended. Taking prasad[5] after the arti [6] we came to Manibhai's house with Shriji. Our restrained emotions gushed forth. Shriji spoke a couple of words in consolation. We stayed there for four days with Shriji.

Professor Shri V.P.Prabhu of Bhavnagar had darshan of Shri Maharajji in Manibhai's house. He was very devoted to his mother and very emotional. Fair-complexioned, Shri Prabhu  was very robust. 

 

Shri Hanuman

Lord Hanuman was his isht or family deity. He did not get married so that he could serve his mother. V.P.Prabhu took Maharajji to his home in Bhavnagar and attended to his needs with great veneration. Shriji was very pleased with him.

Journalist Maganlal Raichura met Shri Maharajji at Bhavnagar itself. He had implicit faith in Shriji. Getting introduced by him to Shriji, the chief medical officer  Shri Hemant Kumar, came to see Maharajji. Ghanshyamji and I were with Shriji. One day he begged Shriji to visit his residence. He himself came to fetch Shriji and driving his car, took him home. While driving Hemant Kumar was reciting the shlokas of 'Gita.'

Shri Ramana Maharshi

Dr.Hemant Kumar had memorized eighteen chapters of the 'Gita'. He had had darshan of all the contemporary great saints like Shri Ramana Maharshi, Arvind Ghosh and others.

“ Why is there so much sorrow in this world? Either God must make the entire world happy or take us away. I can not bear to see the pain of this mundane world,” he would ask them this question. 

” I am very pained to see the suffering of my patients in the dispensary. Coming home, I weep my heart out at night and only then can I go off to sleep,” he asked Maharaj ji the same question.

Shri Maharajji tried to console him in many ways by preaching.

The Gopi Geet

A Muslim householder named Amina Behan used to live in Bhavnagar. She was a devotee of Lord Krishna. Hearing from Maganlalji about her we went with Shriji to see her. She was very sattvik[7] and a devotee of Lord Krishna. Soon after, she sang the 'Gopi Geet[8]' for Shriji. Her voice was melodious and the enunciation of Sanskrti was very clear. Offering some fruits to Thakurji as bhoga[9] she presented them to Shriji. He was very pleased to meet this Muslim lady who had immense love for Krishna.

 Shriji's satsang at Dr. Hemant Kumar's house went on for three days. Amina Behan kept coming daily. Thereafter we all came to Rajkot again and then started for Shri Dham with Shriji. With his permission the good news of 'We are reaching Shri Dham with Shriji' was telegraphically given to Deviji. Taking Shriji when we reached Gopal Mandir everyone was infused with a new lease of life on seeing him. Shedding tears everybody touched his feet and pacified the painful anguish of separation they had been enduring for the past fourteen months. Next day, sitting next to Shriji all of us asked about his secret stay in seclusion.

Jagannath Puri

Shriji told us, “ I had gone straight to the South from here. I went to Jagannath Puri on foot from Kokanada. At Kokanada Station I sighted Gangaramji from a distance but slipped away unnoticed.  I stayed for a year at Jagannath Puri in a secretive manner. During this span I had money on me. 

Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra

Prasadi Rice

Taking out six annas from this sum I used to buy prasadi rice[10] which had been offered to Lord Jagannath. I had got a small hut near the Jagannath Mandir and would keep lying about in it only.

Some months later I had bhava avesha and entered a trance like state of religious rapture an ecstatic state when the rasika sees, enjoys and plays with Krishna, and experiences the anguish of separation when He disappears.

 

Stones 

 I just remember people began calling me insane, and children teased me by pelting stones at me.  I have no inkling from where a policeman would come at that time and protect me. When the tonga drivers ridiculed me and passed unpleasant remarks the same policeman would rebuke them. When people saw me at the sea shore they would scold me and send me back to the town or the  constable would come there too and take me back. It is crystal clear that in the form of that policeman divine protection was provided to me at every place.”

Later on we came to know from onlookers that in his trance like state of religious rapture Shriji would roam like an insane man on the path, he would fall and get up as well as begin dancing sometimes. 

 

While dancing he would sometimes venture towards the ocean. 

Swargadwar, Puri

One fine day he headed towards Swargadwar located on the shore and fell into the ocean while dancing. Somehow he was caught hold of and taken out of the sea.

Shri Hari Baba

Shri Maharajji revealed, “ During those very days Shri Hari Baba materialized next to me and remained with me for about a month. Other than me nobody could see his subtle body. When I would go by rickshaw at times he would stay by my side. In Vrindavan I had seen Shri Hari Baba sing devotional hymns for the Mother Goddess, at times for Mahadevji, and at other times for Hanumanji so I could not understand which path he belonged to. What was his aim? I was certainly convinced that he was a siddh mahatma, a great self-realized soul. However, when I got his constant divine company in Jagannath Puri for a month I could grasp his reality.   

 

Madhurya Rasa of Shri Radha Krishna

Baba meant a great high class rasik[11] saint, diving deep into the ocean of the madhurya rasa, the sentiment of sweet romance which takes us to the very heart of the love of Sri-Radha-Krishna.”

Shriji used to call Hari Baba the monarch of saints.

He used to say ,”At this time Hari Baba is such a saint at this time who can grant us whatever he wants by the power of his wish. There are very few saints who can give us what they want to by their wish and will power. I too was very blessed by his grace in Jagannath Puri. There was much that happened between us which can’t be revealed.”

Thereafter, whenever Hari Baba would visit Shri Dham, taking a garland Shriji would go along with Ghanshyamji to see him, garland him and touch his feet. A point to be noted at this juncture is that when Shri Hari Baba manifested in Jagannath Puri and stayed there with Shriji for a month he was physically present in the ashram of Shri Udiya Baba in Shri Vrindavan Dham.

Jagannath Puri

Shriji further told us that a time of great joyous abandon was being spent in Puri when an obstacle presented itself.  A priest of Shri Jagannathji began coming to Shriji with the hope of knowing the numbers of speculation but Shriji remained indifferent to him.

Shriji revealed, “ Some people would come and sit with me in my state of normal consciousness for the sake of satsang which that priest could not bear. Well, these very things provoked him and he began to harbour feelings of enmity towards me. One fine day he mixed poison in my 'prasad' (offered food). Because of which I vomited hundreds of times. I was pained due to diarrhea for four months and my nails had turned blue. Besides, I was not sure whether my body would survive or not. At this crucial juncture, an extraordinary divine intervention took place for my well-being. A South Indian was residing a bit away from my hut. He would keep coming to me at times for satsang. 

 

Tirupati Balaji

While talking to him it came to be known that he was a resident of Tirupati Balaji and a former acquaintance of my father. He took me to the dispensary and got me treated by a good highly qualified doctor at his own expense. I had written my address in Vrindavan and given it to him so that even if I left my body and died it should be sent to Vrindavan. I recovered after a treatment of about four months. He had spent roughly three hundred rupees in my cure. I wish to send him this amount and so I have brought his address along with me.”

We sent this money to the South Indian. Had we known about Shriji's ill health in Jagannath Puri we would have insisted and somehow got him to Vrindavan. However, true saints always rely on God's grace. Why would they depend on any human being!

'Mor dAs kahAi nar AsA | Karai to kahahu kahA biswAsA  | '

'One calls himself my devotee (servant) and yet nurtures expectations from human beings. Tell me then, where is the faith? '

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

This is precisely what becomes effectual in a saint's life. The whole world is their family or 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam', and no one is their own as well no one is a stranger for them. Therefore even on suffering terrible pain for four months Shriji did not so much as remember any of his acquaintances. In fact, all these theoretical

 considerations did not come to his mind. He remained forever absorbed in relishing the rasa of Lord Krishna's love.