Chapter 2 :Birth and Childhood

Shri ThiruNarayan Swami, Melkote

Shri Maharajji was born in a pious lineage at the holy pilgrimage destination of Melkote-ThiruNarayanpuram which was founded and consecrated by Shri Ramanujacharya and adorned with the Narayan Mandir. He was born on Shukla Paksha Ekadashi, on a Saturday in the Margashirsha Month at 12:55 AM, 29^th November 1918 AD. Astrologically speaking it was the coming together of Kanya Lagan, Mesha Rashi and Bharani Nakshatra.

I am Margashirsha Amongst Months

Declaring, “I am Margashirsha amongst months” (Geeta X, 35) Lord Krishna had given the sermon of 'Shrimad Bhagavad Gita'; thousands of years ago on this very Ekadashi. Thus Shri Balkrishna Das ji’s birth was illumined by the sacred confluence of an auspicious day, a holy place and a pious family tradition.

Shri Partha Sarathy Iyengar, the jewel of Acharya lineage, a music lover and a proficient singer had the good fortune of being Shri Maharajji father. His original name was Shri Krishnan Iyengar but he had changed it later on.The First World War (1914-1918) had broken out in 1914. Striving for India’s independence, revolutionary groups were active in the United Kingdom and France. Shri Krishnan Iyengar was in contact with them and had taken part in one of their international meets when the British Government came to know of it. British Rule issued a warrant against him under the Defense of Realms Act. Somehow Shri Krishnan Iyengar managed to escape to his homeland India and named himself Partha Sarathy Iyengar.

Hari Kirtan

He immersed himself in God realization once again due to the influence of family culture. Particularly renowned for Hari Kirtan[1], he sang hymns in a melodious voice along with his expertise in playing the harmonium. He was actively interested in the art of painting as well. Shri Maharajji's extremely devout mother Shrimati Kamalamma who was erudite in philosophy and greatly learned in Sanskrit, was a poetess and a simple-hearted person. She spoke Sanskrit fluently and was an Acharya degree holder in philosophy. There are several poetic compositions of hers in Sanskrit and Kannada.

Child Sampat Kumar

Shri Maharajji was named Sampat Kumar at birth. His father had nine children in all--five sons and four daughters. Their names were Yadugiri, Sampat Kumar, Vedvalli, Rajgopal, Rangnath, Shri Mohan, Gita (Shyamla), Jyoti and Indrani respectively. Kumari Yadugiri was the eldest of the lot. At the tender age of seven she had begun narrating the 'Harikatha[2]'. The fame of her narration reached Shriman Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore. Consequently, the delightful stream of 'Harikatha' billowed out in the Mysore royal court. Pleased, the Maharaja of Mysore conferred the titles of 'Kirtan Dhurina' and 'Bal-Bharati' on her and honoured Yadugiri with a gold medal. As their family was affluent, money accrued from the 'Harikatha' was distributed among mendicants and the needy.

Shri Sampat Kumar, the protagonist of our biography, was three years younger to Kumari Yadugiri. However, sattvic[3] tendencies had begun appearing in his persona, ever since childhood. His nature was calm and keenness of mental perception was evident from the very beginning. At the age of five, Shri Sampat Kumar had remittent fever which lasted for three years. His body had become extremely weak, Shri Sampat Kumar lay supine as if in deep meditation. If someone fed him he ate and if someone gave him medicines he would have them.It seemed as if the wise child was absorbed in meditative practice of his previous birth as he lay passively with eyes closed. Thus the initial stage of his sadhana was attained under cover of a diseased state.

Jambavan Gifts His Daughter to Krishna 

The first incident of Sampat Kumar's bhava stithi [4] occurred at the age of eight. He used to study in a primary school at that time. One day the class teacher read out the story of the combat between Lord Krishna and Jambavan related to the Syamantaka mani from 'Chintamani.' Sitting amidst the children on a chair Shri Maharajji was listening attentively when he swooned and fell down unconscious from the chair. Sattvik bhavas [5]of tremor, hair-thrill etc., were aroused in his body. The class teacher and pupils were amazed to see this bhavavesh [6]. He was carried home to his parents. On coming to his senses, Shri Sampat Kumar narrated the actual visualization of this legend to his family who were greatly astonished at this transcendental experience of his.

Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa & Swami Vivekananda

Shri Sampat Kumar had become particularly interested in reading spiritual literature and had managed to read biographies of several saints at the young age of ten. He was immensely fond of the life-stories of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Dev, Swami Vivekananda and

Swami Rama Tirtha

Swami Rama Tirtha. Studying the biography of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Dev so impressed him that the seed of bhakti sprouted in his heart and he longed to have his own life thus illumined. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa now began to shower his grace on Sampat Kumar.

On way to school with his siblings, when Sampat Kumar saw people chatting idly near the tonga stand he would say,” Look, how these people indulge in trivial talk. None of them is talking about God.”

Portrait of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Around the age of ten Shri Sampat Kumar once went to the temple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Dev along with his father, elder sister and family. His eyes fell on the huge portrait of Paramahamsa Dev hanging on the altar wall. Instantly his eyes closed and tears began streaming down his cheeks. Just as sattvik bhavas[7] used to arise in the body of Paramahamsa Dev, short lived symptoms of tremors, setting in of torpidity and unblinking of eyes were visible in Sampat Kumar. The family saw these symptoms and felt that he was not an ordinary child. Then onwards, people at home began calling him 'Ramakrishna' in fun. Whenever he got an opportunity to read and listen to sacred lore, sattvik bhavas would arise in his body.

  

Basavanagudi

Shri Sampat Kumar's parents and sister Yadugiri used to travel to different regions for the propagation of kirtan[8] . Sampat Kumar used to accompany them. The whole family resided in Tumkur[9] for a few years and his schooling began here. Later on, he lived with his maternal grandfather, Shri Nrisinha Iyengar at Basavanagudi[10], for some time. 

Shri Sampat Kumar, As an Intermediate Student

Thereafter his father put him, Kumari Vedavalli, and younger brother Rajgopal at their maternal uncle Shri Venkatacharya's residence in Bangalore for schooling. His uncle was a doctor. This narrative is related to the time period of 1932-1933 when Shri Sampat Kumar was in his sixteenth year. Having a sharp intellect he was naturally adept at studies. He stayed here for about three years and perused the life story of Shri Paramahamsa Dev. The spare time which Sampat Kumar got was spent in meditating upon God.

The Material World

Gradually thoughts of the material world's unreality began to arise in Sampat Kumar's mind. His heart began getting detached from external doings and a sort of general indifference pervaded his being. There was just one room for all the siblings where they read and slept at night. Thinking about the Almighty when he would sleep at night, a restlessness to attain an obtainable object would unconsciously tug his heartstrings; this feeling steadily got ingrained in his heart.

“Can such a high state of spiritual evolution be attained by me?' This worry would constantly agitate Sampat Kumar.

The True Sunrise of Sampat Kumar's Life

Sampat Kumar's days were passing by in this concern, when the day he had longed for, arrived. The sun arose that day too, as of yore. It was the true sunrise of his life, which had appeared with the golden daybreak of change. He lost all interest in eating, drinking and even talking to anyone on that particular day. So much so that he did not like the presence of his beloved brothers and sisters. Somehow the day passed and night dawned but Sampat Kumar's restlessness kept on increasing. Completing the daily chores, he lay down on bed. 

 

Vision of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

His brothers and sisters were fast asleep but Sampat Kumar lay with eyes closed as if he was half asleep. All of a sudden some divine light illumined the room. Startled, his eyes opened wide. Thereafter he saw the vision of a beaming divine lustre pervading the room. Hurriedly, Sampat Kumar sat up. Steadying his eyes, he saw a remarkable figure ensconced in a radiant splendid halo of light. It was the image of the same Ramakrishna Paramahamsa whose life story had inspired him for so long. He had manifested before Sampat Kumar in reality now. Sampat prostrated before him in devotion. Shri Paramahamsa smiled  benignly and gazed upon him. It seemed Parmahamsa was showering his grace upon him with his glance.

“Come along! Don't stay here! Go there!” urged Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa .

Shri Paramahamsa's features were radiant and his gentle laugh sparkled with pearly white teeth. Grace was cascading from his love-laced eyes, inebriated with pure passion, and his face was flushed. The room was filled with the jasmine flower like fragrance of his body. This condition lasted for a few moments.

Soon after Shri Paramahamsa Dev's lips trembled slightly, they parted a bit and a nectarine lilting voice said, “Come along! I have come to take you!” Absolute silence followed, thereafter.

“Wake up! Get up! Look up! Look! Behold Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa!” Sampat Kumar exclaimed as he woke up his brothers and sisters. Tears were constantly streaming down his cheeks.

Vedavalli and Rajgopal woke up with a start. They saw a halo of cool bright light and sensed a pleasing gentle smell but could not behold Shri Paramahansa Dev. The transcendental scene vanished in an instant

Bangalore

It became virtually unbearable for Sampat Kumar to stay on in Bangalore for even a second. He lost all interest in studies and became averse to his surroundings.

The call,” Come along! I have come to take you!” constantly resounded in his ears.

Soon after, he told his younger brother and sister,” Paramahamsa Dev is calling me! I will go away!'

How could they possibly believe this statement of his?

Only those who are truly blessed with God's grace can understand the essence of this heart-rending call. It brings about a drastic change in their lives and they speedily advance on the path of attaining Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lover without pausing en route. This divine message was for Sampat Kumar and thus he alone could grasp its importance.

Shriman Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu

Love Incarnate, Shriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had also received the sweet signal of blue-hued Krishna. On hearing this loving summon, he had instantly left his old doting mother, young beautiful religious wife, relations, learning and fame, for all times to come.

Magh Purnima

At twelve o' clock, the midnight of Magh Purnima, Shriman, Mahaprabhu had crossed the cold wide expanse of river Ganges by swimming across it in the bitter cold. With an ardent longing, he had frantically headed towards Lord Krishna, his heart's beloved.

A miracle takes place at the behest of divine intervention and draws us in delicious anguish to Lord Krishna's side:

'govindapahritatmano na nayavartant mohitah :'

'When Govind seizes the soul, the infatuated one can't act otherwise.'

Now let us see where this divine incident led the protagonist of our biography and how?

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[1]    Hari Kirtan: singing devotional hymns for Lord Krishna

[2]    Harikatha: narrating stories of the Lord, is a form of Katha storytelling format, in which the story teller explores a religious theme, usually the life of a saint or a story from an Indian epic. A composite art form, Harikatha is composed of story telling, poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy. During its peak Harikatha was a popular medium of entertainment, which helped transmit cultural, educational and religious values to the masses; any Hindu religious theme could be the subject of Harikatha

[3]    Sattvic: A person can be called sattvic if he has predominantly sattvic tendencies.These people are highly spiritual, and tend to broadcast this spirituality out into the world.  Sattva as an energy naturally lead to a higher state of being or toward knowledge and experience of the divine.  Sattvic individuals always work for the welfare of the world., live life moderately, and have good concentration. Sattvic qualities include leading a chaste life, eating moderately, using precise language and speaking truths palatably.

[4]    Bhava stithi:is a state of communion with God. It is related to the sub-conscious mind (chitta). When one’s spiritual emotion is awakened, for that time one transcends one’s usual state of identification with a worldly existence. The awareness of one’s own existence also reduces. Thus in a state of spiritual emotion one transcends the little ‘i’ and identifies with the big ‘I’. Spiritual emotion gives us a spiritual experience of Bliss.

[5]    Sattvik bhavas:Involuntary bodily responses or Satvik Bhavas like Sveda (sweating), Romancha (hair standing on end),Svarabheda (changes in one’s tone of voice), Vepathu (trembling),Vaivarnya (changes in the colour of one’s face) are awakened by some external stimulus

[6]    Bhavavesh: an emotionally charged  trance like state of religious rapture. Through avesh or deep absorption one may directly experience the feelings and moods of another realm.

[7]    Sattvik bhavas: temperamental reactions to the rise of a permanent emotion

[8] Kirtan: devotional singing

[9]    Tumkur: an industrial city located in the state of Karnataka

[10]  Basavanagudi: a residential and commercial locality in the Indian city of Bangalore