Chapter 4: Religious Sentiments and Winsome Manners of Childhood (Usha Bahenji's Birth Anniversary:30th July 2026)

Krishna's Spirited Antics 

Even Lord Krishna draws His bhaktas by His spirited antics as a child. Children have been considered as the svarupa of God. When the materialistic world influences an infant, he is invariably distanced from the Supreme Being with the course of time.

Shri Radha-Krishna in the Rainy Season

The rainy season was at its peak and the newborn girl began to be affectionately called 'Munno' after shasti pujan. Everyone tried to draw her attention by chanting 'Shri Radhe, Shri Radhe and Shri Krishna, Shri Krishna'. Gradually the infant began to mumble and focus her eyes as she grew up. Her mama (maternal uncle) was irked by her dark complexion but inevitably drawn by her charm. The dadi (paternal grandmother) was delighted by her winsome manners, little knowing that this girl was a braj bala and a very dear sakhi of Krishna's, born for His service.

Not particularly attached to her mother, she began crawling  in a few months.. Her faint laughter turned to cries of delight.

Munno's mother was busy with household chores so most of the child's time was spent with her dadi. Ever since childhood a distinctive detachment was apparent in her. While crawling she would never sit on the ground but on an elevated place. When she was roughly nine months old Munno began to toddle and spoke quite fluently on crossing her first year. The house always resounded with her prattle and irrepressible joy.

Shyama ji's Thakurji

Shyama ji's life abounded with religious devotion and she had the full support of her husband. Munno got up early in the morning with her . She watched with concentration when her mother did puja as if she relished the devotional practice. Looking intently at Thakurji , Munno would invariably sit in a cross-legged posture.

Her father raved, "I will not make my Munno a Sita or Savitri but Gargi(the daughter of sage, Vachaknu whose inclination towards academics was very conspicuous from an early age) in academics and Mira in bhakti.

As Munno grew a bit older she would toddle around the courtyard and trying to go near Thakurji became easier. At times she would join in the ongoing kirtan with eyes closed. An innate interest in the Supreme Being,a distinctive impact of religious devotion, love for every person and compassion towards living beings was obvious early in her life.

Lord Shiva

Time passed by and Munno stepped out to light incense sticks before the tulsi plant, circumambulate the temple, offer water to Lord Shiva, hop up and down the temple's stairs and attentively hear kirtans, cuddled next to her grandmother. She was drawn to her dadi because the conversation was  focused on Lord Krishna.

Bulandshahr

Munno was very sharp-witted and sitting next to her parents during recitation of stotras; she learnt several of them by heart. When roughly two and a half years old she went to her nana (maternal grandfather) in Bulandshahr. There she recited the' Ram Raksha Stotra' so naturally that he was enraptured with her perfect rendition. He opined that this girl seemed divine and had certainly come to give them salvation.

Right from childhood Munno was never fond of idle gossip or play. Whatever tales of Lord Rama and Krishna she had heard she would often narrate to children who were spell-bound. Once at her grandparents' residence she narrated the Satyanarayan Vrata Katha at her nana's insistence. Observing her religious sentiments, Munno's nana and others often exulted about her attributes.

As she grew older the young girl easily imbibed knowledge of the Hindi and English languages from her mother Shyama, with focused attention. Many a times she was steeped in her own thought process, in absolute isolation. A certain restlessness nagged her as the month of Shravan set in. She was particularly fond of the rainy season .which gave hope to love-struck souls and tried to find the cause of an inner pathos of longing. During this particular time she abandoned all activities.

Mischievousness

Several times Munno was seen playing kabaddi, gulli-danda and other sports with children. She entreated deities and read the hanuman chalisa in order to triumph in the play. Seeing her short height and lean physique,she seemed a repository of intense energy. Spirited and mischievous, Munno would often be clad in a dhoti and kurta. 

Munno Intensely Loved Shri Radha-Krishna

As she grew up a bit, on hearing her knowledgeable questions-answers, it appeared as if reminiscences of her previous life were surfacing. With the passage of time, Munno's bond with the Supreme Being was visible by her intense passion for Lord Krishna. Her childish mindset wanted to do away with the typical imaginations and doubts which tugged it. However, God's wish is supreme and love for Radha-Krishna soon transformed into bhava or love flowing towards the Lord. On maturing it made her conscious of connectivity with the Divine and led her on the hungering path which was her destination.

Seeing the young girl's absolute inclination for Shri Radha-Krishna everyone was convinced that she had a previous relationship with them. I am going to narrate an incident which endorses this fact. She must have been six years around this time. She went to her nana's house and became very close to her cousin sister. They would play around together but on seeing a particular absorption in Munno and a trance like state at times, her cousin was stunned.

Once both of them were playing in a room on the upper floor of their house, when Bobo(Ushaji) stood up all of a sudden. Her condition turned strange with ears desirous, eyes teary, sight vigilant and the heart restless. In a peculiar state she crossed the verandah and strove to peep into the environs in front. Mellifluous notes, a lilting melody from behind a tree planted behind the facing wall, arose from the flute in Krishna's hands and filled her with a delicious anguish. She longed to offer her entire being to that dark god fluting. It seemed as if Krishna's terrifying rush of love had invaded her heart. When her cousin shook her she woke up as if from a reverie.

Another occurrence is worth mentioning. Her father was employed as an adjudicator in an insurance company based in Lahore and Ushaji was with him. The servants swept the house but she had made it a practice to clean Thakurji's room with her own hands. Satsangis, ascetics and saints often dropped in. While sweeping the room she would look lovingly at Thakurji. Once, while doing so she stopped all of a sudden and the broom fell from her hands. Leaning against the wall,she rolled over to one side. With eyes shut and oblivious, she sat still. Later on she related this scene to her devoted friend Sushila Bahenji.

Munno Sees Dark-hued Krishna Playing the Flute

"When Munno had turned to look towards Thakurji she had seen a dense pipal tree. An unfired brick platform stood beneath it on which the dark-skinned cowherd frolicked with the flute. Tenderness and teasing loaded Hs eyes and a slight smile played on His lips. She could hear the chirping of birds and clearly saw Krishna's dark blue-black figure glowing in yellow garments. He was wearing a garland of flowers. Aching with separation, she experienced the joy of His presence followed by the emptiness of His absence." Interdependence of separation and union is the distinguishing attribute of Krishna's sakhis as romantic heroines.

Chapter 3: Ushaji's Birth (Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji's Birth Anniversaary:30th July,2026)

Saint Usha ji At the Age of Eight

There is never a lack of saints in this world. They appear for the well-being of mankind. Often God sends His close ones for giving direction to devotees hungering for Him. Whatever these personages say is seconded by the shastras and their acts form the essence of scriptures.Their speech in simple dialect is followed by the bhaktas and their characters, manners and dispositions abound with the pride of religious devotion.

Government College, Lahore

Shri Manmohan Swarup Bhatnagar was the only son of his father, Vishnu Swarup,a tehsildar of Muzaffar Nagar. His sister was married and living with her son at that time. There was no financial constraint since his father had a government job with British Rule. Manmohan Swarup went to Lahore for acquiring higher education.

Later he returned to Ambala after his studies. In spite of accolades and interacting with people impressed by western civilization, he had implicit faith in Indian culture. Manmohan ji was passionate about reading the shastras.

Narrating Shri Krishna's Lila

Thereafter Shri Manmohan got married to Shyama ji, daughter of an affluent man of Sikandarabad,Bulandshahr. Her life also abounded with the bhakti bhava. Living in Ambala Cantonment with his mother and wife, a spiritual scene was predominant in the house. Shyama ji had great interest in going for darshan to the temple and listening to sermons of saints and kathas of the shastras and puranas. Manmohan ji narrated several divine lilas to Shyama ji when she was carrying Usha Bahenji.They had a great impact on the child, just like the tale of penetrating the chakravyuh had on Abhimanyu when he was in his mother's womb.

Sanatan Dharma Mandir, Ambala Cantt

At present Manmohan ji was residing in a lane next to the Bengali Muhallah, near the Sanatan Dharm Temple. It was not a very modern house but had all the basic amenities. In the courtyard some flowers were planted for offering to Thakurji (svarupa of Lord Krishna). A tulsi plant was resplendent at one end. Shyama i did tulsi pujan and kept vratas with conviction. Another family of bhaktas lived nearby and the two families interacted religiously.

Peacoks Danced in Joyous Abandon

In this manner the year 1925 began. The fragrant spring scene of Chaitra (first month lunar of the Hindu year March-April) gradually vanished and the summer season stepped in. In Asarh (fourth month of the Hindu year, June to July) nature changed its course yet again. Fatigued, it stretched out its legs and darkness shaded the clouds. Summer retreated and welcomed the rainy season. The cuckoos sang, enchanted peacocks danced in joyous abandon and deer skipped about in enchantment.

Swings Were Hung Up on Trees

The month of Shravan took over now. Dense clouds gathered,swings were put up on trees and young girls, dressed in brightly coloured finery, frolicked with tinkling anklets. The clouds had rained heavily since morning on the ashtami of shukla paksha and winds blew at full blast. A wave of delight overwhelmed family members, relatives and dear ones. At midday, a girl child was born precisely at six minutes past one.

A distinctive joyous scene prevailed as she was the first girl child. Bells began ringing instinctively at the neighbour's house. Congratulations poured in from all over. Pleased and excited, various sorts of people dropped in. Some of them whispered that it would have been far better if it was a boy. But Manmohan ji's enthusiasm never encouraged such baseless comments.

Songs were sung and loads of sweetmeats distributed generously. Such enthused exultation at the birth of a girl child was a rare spectacle. Possibly, the entire scene had been destined earlier by the Supreme Being.

Her horoscope was made and the configuration of planets left everyone stupefied. Jupiter signified topmost education, sun meant absolute fame, the moon implied abundance of religious devotion and Saturn pointed towards renunciation. It was an unprecedented combination.

The infant girl wept inconsolably on birth. People said that she was steeped in bliss from where she had come and separation from her earlier joy hurt her. Her fair-complexion, large eyes, high forehead, beautiful nose, budding cheeks and curly hair invariably attracted everyone.

Maa Kali Temple, Ambala

Several religious observances were adopted for her long life. Her grandmother had pujan done at the Ma Kali Temple in Ambala and she made her wear the Ma's prasadi garment to avert the evil eye. It is believed that the instant she was clad in the cloth,the infant's complexion became dark but she retained a certain charm. Her inner bhava, love flowing towards the Lord, which gushed forth later on was apparent. It touched everyone's heart and drew them to her.

Chapter 2: The Current Scene (Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji's Birth Anniversary:30th July,2026)

Revered Usha Bahenji was born on 30th of July, 1925. The political scene was not particularly comforting at that time. The British were ruling India since long. Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and other national leaders were doing intense propaganda and satyagraha against British Rule. In Punjab, initially Lala Hardyal and later Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev were working towards independence. The common people of Punjab had not yet forgotten the carnage at Jallianwala Bagh.

 

The Gandhian Era

The era was considered to be overly Gandhian. The ideals of non-cooperation and non-violence which he upheld were admired by everyone. They were confronted at some places but due to the absence of any other alternative, Mahatma Gandhi became the leader of both moderates and extremists in the political arena.

Shri Manmohanji (Ushaji's father) was a staunch nationalist. Burning foreign goods, opposing and non-cooperating with the British Sarkar was deeply-rooted in him. With the passage of time this mindset had a certain impact on Bahenji's life.

There was a sense of antagonism against some conventional norms on the social front but an increased aversion could be seen now due to the influence of western civilization. Several dignitaries had joined hands with the British for their self-interest. Those well-versed in the English language began to weigh Hindu social customs, religion, customs and tradition on the scale of reasoning. This sparked off social and religious movements.

The Brahmo Samaj

The Brahmo Samaj was involved in doing away with social malpractices and stopping Hindus from converting to Christianity. Its founders raised the slogan, 'Head towards the Vedas' and termed other religions to be baseless and hypocritical.

A Great Leader of the Samaj

There was propaganda of Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra, which payed attention to the backward classes. The Dayal Singh Trust spread this concept in Punjab.

Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa & Vivekananada

The Ramakrishna Movement had begun in Bengal. Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa considered all religions as genuine. He believed in idol worship as the means of leading to the all powerful Supreme Being. Practicing sadhana of tantric, vaishnava and advaita, he soon became renowned as Paramahamsa.

Shri Vivekananda adopted his teachings. He argued that how could a certain religion which can not wipe a widow's tears and is unable to provide food to an orphan, be worthy of acceptance? The state of nirvikalpa samadhi of Paramahamsaji was imbibed by Swami Brahmananda (Rakhal) and Nag ji.This religion also aimed at reforming society.

The theosophical society was formed by western scholars particularly impressed by Indian culture. A German lady had laid its foundation. Its followers professed to achieve knowledge of God by spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition or special individual relations. They believed in the concept of previous birth and karma and were inspired by sankhya philosophy and the Upanishads.

Mrs Annie Besant

Mrs.Annie Besant abandoned Christianity and became well-versed with Indian culture. The founder of this society Madame Blavatski's strength was occult and not spirituality. However, Annie Besant became a Hindu and under her this movement led to a awakening in India. She lay the foundation of Central Hindu College affiliated to the Banaras Hindu University.

Indian culture and religion had such a great influence in all spheres that religious sentiments intensified even on opposition.The bhakti wave was at its crest in the 15th century.

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Nimbarkacharya Maharaj had contributed in his own way to make religious devotion easily accessible for us. Shri Ramanujacharya had brought about invaluable change by propagating religion in the south.Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya spread Krishna worship in entire India and most of his followers were from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, chief exponent of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Movement in eastern India, surfaced with Krishna worship in Bengal. Several saints like Tulsidas and Kabir were born to propagate religion. To worship in the Vrindavana Rasa were Haridasji, Harivanshji and Goswami Vithalnthji. Surdasji as well as the asthachhap poets, Roopji, Sanatanji and Jeev Goswamiji composed several works on Krishna.

Saint Tukaram

The Alvars or Tamil Bhakti saints, had already begun the mass bhakti movement in the south. Devotees are certainly aware of Andal, a 10th century Tamil poet, revered as the only woman Alvar (saint) of Vaishnavism. Lord Vitthalnath enraptured great saints like Tukaram and Eknath in Maharashstra. Mira, a bhakti poet-saint and Rajput princess, whose disdain for her royal husband was more than matched by her love for Krishna, impacted the entire world. In the north Shri Guru Nanakji and other gurus called upon devotees to engage in worship through the word of God (Naam-japna).

Hindu Saint Poet Sant Surdas

A series of bhaktas-saints came to Vraja and began propagating religious devotion. Several religious texts were composed. Jayadeva's, 'Gita Govinda,' written in perfect and flawless classical Sanskrit, was the climax of romantic love poetry. At this end, the poetry of Chandidas, Shri Billavmangalji's 'Shri Krishna-Karnamrit' and Vidyapati's poems were truly inspiring. On the other front ashtachhaap and bhakti poets Surdas and Nand Das worked on the  widespread development of Krishna worship.

Swami Shri Haridas

Shri Vyasdevacharya ji's, Swami Haridasji and Harvanshji's compilation of padas became available. Shri Druvdas ji and his uncle Vrindavandas ji and several devotees wrote their experiences and published them. Shri Roop ji, Jeev ji, Prabodha Nand Saraswati and Vishwanath Chakravarti created many religious texts. In the meantime compositions like Shri Krishna-Karnamrit, Sur Sagar, Shri Radha-Sudhanidi, Vrindavan Shatak as well as Lalit-Madhav were penned and published.

Hanuman Prasad Poddar & Shri Radha Baba

Vrindavan remained the centre of all these sampradayas and consequently its importance escalated. Society was impressed by the gushing bhakti wave and voluminous repertoire of poetry.The next generation of bhaktas had Swami Ramteerth, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Vivekanandji, Udiya Baba, Gwariya Baba, Anandamayi Ma, Hari Baba, Gangeshwar Anand ji, Sharnanand ji, Hanuman Prasadji Poddar and Chakradhar Baba. The essence of that bhakti era invaded our hearts and is steeping us in the bhakti bhava even today.

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

Several great saints remained hidden from the public eye because of their unaffected simple lifestyle. Those with a pure heart were influenced by their persona. Ushaji was one such saint, also affected by the current scene but her disposition was independent. The sacredness apparent in her devotional practices, experiences and conduct inflamed the desire of the individuated soul for union with God. Her religious devotion did not violate the shastras but was free from the restraints and reasoning of the scriptures. 

.Those whom God accepts because of His loving tenderness come into contact with such saintly personages. They lead us to our ultimate destination which is union with Krishna. Bhava was sacrosanct for Ushaji. Bhava is understood as love flowing towards the Lord. 

Dark-hued Krishna is Waiting for Us

Spreading out both His arms Krishna is standing, waiting for us. Shyam Sunder is inviting us.The same dark-hued radiant Krishna, standing beneath a kadamba tree on the banks of the Yamuna, is gazing at us in astonishment from the thicket in front, waiting for us.