Vijay Bhaiya Pays Shraddhanjali to Pujya Bobo
The
metaphorical search of the impassioned soul for union with Lord Krishna is
centered within earthly Vrindavana or perhaps that region in the heart wherein
god is ultimately found. The truth revealed in ancient scriptures by Valmiki
and Vyasadeva to help the seeker's quest for Krishna is not easily accepted by
us in the new millennium.
Ardent
devotees have been born from time to time in the history of Krishna worship.
The lives of bhaktas, their perspectives, thoughts, voice as expressed
in the thousands of padas in common daily and festive use, stutis,
stotras and sermons, throw light on the prestigious Vaishnava world and
simultaneously inflame the desire of the individuated soul for union with god.
Dark-hued Krishna, the Cowherd
The
energy, joyous abandon and love of rasikas is known to passionately draw
Krishna, the beautiful dark-skinned cowherd to Vrindavana, hungry for
the fulfillment of His love. The very foundation of a religion of union is that
the individual, partial and manifest self must ultimately be joined with the
universal, whole and un-manifest Self.
Devotion
to Lord Krishna is the pride of Vraja. For us in the Indian tradition shringara
rasa is considered the peak of human emotions, taking us to the very heart
of the love of Radha and Krishna. Clearly bhakti shringara sees the love of Shyama-Shyam
and the gopis (considered kaya vyuhas or replications of Shri
Radha) as transcendental love of the highest order.
'In
Braj Vaibhav Ki Apoorv Shri Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji' madhurya
which defines the love of Krishna and is the pivotal concept of shringara
bhakti evolves. He richly shares madhurya with Ushaji His hungering
devotee and it unfolds in idyllic Vrindavana Krishna is the repository of madhurya
and Bobo is seen to be equally tender in expressing and experiencing her love
for Krishna. Whether it is in the pleasure of belonging or the pathos of
longing, participating in the innocent lilas of Krishna or being charmed
by his flute, she in equal measure reflects the madhurya of Krishna.
She
becomes a paradigm of the perennial quest of mankind for a divine and
transcendental love. This intense attraction to Vrindavana is apparent in Bobo
as she was fondly called. Bhaktimati Shri Usha Bahenji lived in Vrindavana for
over half a century, inspiring educated youth to live lives of celibacy and tapa.
Shunning self-publicity, she led a life of stern simplicity and attained great
heights of spiritual realization.
Sanatan Dharma Mandir, Ambala Cantt
Ushaji
was born in the city of Ambala on 30th of July, 1925. Her parents Shri
Manamohan and Syama brought her up with loving care. Educated in a reputed
school, she went on to take up the job of teaching and subsequently became
principal of a certain school in the city. But these felicities did not bind
her down to Ambala. Right from the start she intensely felt as if she belonged
to Vrindavana and she was born elsewhere as a matter of chance.
In
the course of passionately being drawn to Vrindavan an interesting incident
took place on 30th July 1954, her thirtieth birthday. While she was
wondering over the meaning of nila parivestita, a saintly figure dropped
in all of a sudden, uttering jaya jaya radhika madhava, creating a
peculiar vibration in the room. On being asked the siddha replied
mystically that he was Charan Sakha (friend of the feet) and that he lived at
Kusuma Sarovara in Vraja where Uddhava also lived. It was by the bidding of
Lord Krishna that he had come to Ambala.
He
narrated various lilas of Lord Krishna and kept them
spell-bound. He visited Ushaji's house for years and his mystic revelations had
a tremendous impact on her. Deciding to leave for Vrindavan her chosen
destination permanently on 17th November,1959, Ushaji left behind her parents,
friends, students institution and job. She soon became a paradigm of the seeker
for ultimate reality.
Her seva to the Yugal Sarkar made her assume a particular relationship
with the Lord. She attended selflessly to the needs of Thakurji, the
living presence of Lord Krishna and soon
developed an all-consuming intimacy with Him.
Her
devotional practices require the devotee to savour the shringara rasa of
Radha by smarana or a concentrated internal practice of imaginative
recollection by living through the countless legends of the playful dalliance
of Radha and Krishna. For both the bhakta and the rasika,
madhurya is the key to understanding and celebrating the love of Radha and
Krishna and in so doing get a glimpse of one's transcendent self. As madhurya
translates into ananda comes the realization that everyone is ultimately
a nayika searching for Krishna and worshippers come to find the god
within themselves.
Bobo's
gaining entry into the eternal nikunja was seen by all well-wishers who
were present at time. The explicit movement of the eyes in this manner
with the eyeballs turning completely towards Priya-Priyatam, is truly
astonishing.
The
very next day that is on 21st February,1992, revered Bobo was taken
into the constant closeness of Shri Yamuna and this is what she had ardently
longed for.
Shri Radha-Krishna Beckon Bobo to a
Nikunja on Yamuna Banks
Krishna,
the Supreme Lover, and Radha His beloved were beckoning Bobo to the nikunja
situated on the banks of the Yamuna whereas arrangements for living in their
constant proximity had been attended to earlier...
Kamda Bahenji
While
Bobo was being taken for union with the Divine,Shri Kamda Bahen a devout
recipient of her grace, made an obeisance and prayed, “Bobo! Take me along too.
Do take me along.”
And
she also departed when Bobo was being taken to be consigned to the Yamuna's
water, as if she had come readily prepared in advance.
Blessed
is this unprecedented incident, remarkable spiritual leader ,Bobo and her
dependent disciple Kamda Bahen, yearning for the nectarean fruit of Vrindavan.
Spiritual Lighthouse Usha Bahenji,
Fondly Known as Bobo
Being
a witness history will continue repeating this incidence, the well-wishers may
get tired of raving about its distinction, the pen may stop when pages after
pages expound its glory but the grandeur of Bobo will be etched in golden
letters forever. Becoming a spiritual lighthouse for us all, Usha Bahenji,
fondly known as Bobo will show us the divine path for all times to come.
I
bow a hundred times before such a famed, great, stalwart saint who was above
all self-assured and dignified.
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