30th July, 2024: Janam Utsav of Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

The metaphorical search of the impassioned soul for union with Lord Krishna is centerd within earthly Vrindavan or perhaps that region in the heart wherein god is ultimately found. 

 Boboji's Yugal Sarkar

The pivotal concept of madhurya defines the love of Krishna and an important Vaishnava concept of shringara bhakti evolves in "Braj Vaibhav ki Apoorv Shri Bhaktimati Usha Bahemji.'. 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, Usha Bahenji, fondly known as Bobo, reflects the madhurya of Krishna in equal measure.

Pujya Bobo is Passionately Drawn to Vrindavana

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji becomes a paradigm of the perennial quest of mankind for a divine and transcendental love. This intense attraction to Vrindavan is apparent in Bobo. She lived in Vrindavan 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.

Ambala  Cantt

Revered 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 Sanatan Dharma Girls School in the city. But these felicities did not bind her down to Ambala. Right from the start, Bobo intensely felt as if she belonged to Vrindavan and she was born elsewhere by a matter of chance.

Kusum Sarovar, Vrindavan

In the course of passionately being drawn to Vrindavan an interesting incident took place on 30th July 1954, her thirtieth birthday. While she was pondering over the meaning of nila parivestita, a saintly figure dropped in all of a sudden, uttering jaya jaya radhika madhava and thus creating a peculiar vibration in the room. 

Charan Sakha, friend of Lord Krishna's Lotus Feet

On being asked the siddha mystically replied that he was Charan Sakha and 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.

Saint Usha Bahenji Leaves for Vrindavan

Sakhaji narrated various lilas of Lord Krishna and kept them spell-bound. He visited Ushaji's house for years together and his mystic revelations had a tremendous impact on her. Deciding to leave for her chosen destination Vrindavan for good 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.

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji Attends to the Needs of Shri Radha-Krishna

The English version of 'Braj Vaibhab Ki Apoorv Shri Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji (Poojya Bobo)' is available on this site. Her seva to the Yugal Sarkar, the living presence of Shri Radha-Krishna, made Boboji attend selflessly to their needs.  Soon after, she developed an all-consuming intimacy with them.

Shringara Rasa

Her devotional practices require the devotee to savour the shringara rasa of Radha by smarana, a concentrated internal practice of imaginative recollection by living through the countless legends of Shri Radha-Krishna's playful dalliance. 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. 

Everyone is a Nayika Searching for Krishna

As madhurya translates into ananda comes the realization that everyone is ultimately a nayika searching for Krishna. Thereafter worshippers come to find the god within themselves.

Shri Shiv Stuti by Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

(Composed by Boboji! Sung by her parikar during Shravan month, Shivratri and Guru Purnima)

Audio: Shri Hari Ke Piye Parvati Pati.mp3

Lord Shiva is Very Dear to Sri Hari

shri hari ke priye parvati pati ,

shiva shankar bhole bhandari  |

vaishnav jan aru shaivjanan ke ,

ek samaan sanche hitkaree |

ati udar gurudev hamare ,

aashutosh karuna vistari  |

mo augun prabhuchit na deeje,

kariye kripanij baan bichaari  |

charan kanj dridh nishtha deeje ,

amba sahit kailash vihari  |

priti pragadh shyam charnan manh ,

deeje chhin chhin vardhankari  |

shivshankar bhole bhandari ,

aashutosh karuna vistari  |

English Translation

Lord Shiva, the Consort of Parvati

shri hari ke priye parvati pati ,

shiva shankar bhole bhandari  |

* Shiva *Shankara, the innocent treasurer is

Dear to Lord Hari and is the consort of Parvati,

Shiva Works for the Well-being of Vaishnavas & Shaivites

vaishnav jan aru shaivjanan ke ,

ek samaan sanche hitkaree |

You are the true benefactor of both Vaishnavas and *Shaivites, 

 in equal measure.

 Shiva as Aashutosh  is So Very Compassionate

ati udar gurudev hamare ,

aashutosh karuna vistari  |

So very generous is our gurudev, 

Aashutosh, the spreader of compassion.

Shiva Showers Mercy on the Needy

mo augun prabhuchit na deeje,

kariye kripanij baan bichaari  |

Do not pay heed to my shortcomings,

Shower your  innate mercy on this poor wretch.

  

Lord Shiva with Maa Amba on Mount Kailash

charan kanj dridh nishtha deeje ,

amba sahit kailash vihari  |

O Shiva who dallies with *Amba in Kailash.

 Give me dedicated devotion for Your lotus feet,

Lord Shiva, Grant Me Love for Krishna's Feet

priti pragadh shyam charnan menh ,

deejai chhin chhin vardhankari  |

O giver of boons!

Grant me immense love for dark-hued Krishna's feet,

every single moment!

  

Shiva Shankar, Bhole Bhandari

shivshankar bhole bhandari ,

aashutosh karuna vistari  |

*Shiva *Shankar, the innocent treasurer,

Aashutosh, the spreader of compassion.

Shiv: means the auspicious one

Shankar: the name reflects the benign form of Shiva and means beneficent or conferring happiness

Shaivites: revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivites believe that Shiva is All in all, the creator, preserver, 
destroyer, revealer and concealer of all that is.

Vaishnavas: followers of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, lead a way of life, which gives importance to Lord Vishnu and His 
incarnations.

Aashutosh: a title of Shiva, meaning one who is easily satisfied

Amba: a title of Paravati, the consort of Shiva