Shri Rang ji Temple, Vrindavan
In the month of Asadh[1] ,1943, a Brahmin couple was sitting near the western gate of Shri Rangji Temple with a small box of belongings. Wrapped in the same black blanket, Shri Maharajji was speedily walking past the couple in his carefree gait from that gate when the couple's attention was naturally drawn to him.
Dark-hued Krishna, The Darling Son of Nanda
Raising both his hands in salutation the brahmin said in a loud voice, “ Convey my respectful greetings to that darling son of Nanda.”
Shriji was startled on hearing these words and stopped suddenly. Saying,” Radhe Shyam” in response, he asked to be introduced. After getting the brahmin's introduction, he instructed them to stay at the 'Shri Ahilyabai Holkar's Kunja' of Indore State and to meet him off and on, and then left. The line 'Convey my respectful greetings to the darling son of Nanda' had left an indelible mark on Maharajji's heart.
The Mahamantra
Motiram was the name of this brahmin. He was a Narmadiya[2] Brahmin of village Maud located in district Nimar, Madhya Pradesh. Though a patwari[3] by profession he had always been a failure in it. The reason being that he was very simple- hearted and innocent since childhood and had an inborn attachment to saints. Not caring for any material work, not even his job, Motiram would invariably go to hear a katha, kirtan and satsang. He had been dismissed from service several times on account of this nature of his. His family members,particularly his elder brother, were displeased with him. Once he had filled an important government document by writing the 'Mahamantra' on it. When that document went to the tahsildar for signature, he was taken aback. Called to give an explanation, Motiram was embarrassed and begged to be forgiven.
Attacked by tuberculosis after sometime Motiram became very distressed. He had heard about the glory of Vrindavan. A wish arose in his ailing disappointed heart to give up his body in the sea at Jagannath Puri after visiting Vrindavan. The couple left for pilgrimage after mutual consultation. Call it his earlier good deeds, or a saint's grace, the grace of God or the grace of Shri Vrindavan Dham, that he got the unfailing benefit of Shri Maharajji's darshan at the gate of Shri Rangji Mandir, on coming to Vrindavan.
By adopting the mode of bhiksha[4] Shri Motiram started living as a pauper in Shri Dham. He served the saints and lived on whatever alms he got
during the day. His devoted wife fully co-operated with him in this attitude of his. At times, Shriji had to go to Motiram's residence for some time
because of his humility and insistence. Maharajji would readily accept anything which was offered to him there with great love, simplicity and open heartedness.
Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj
Whenever Maharajji would leave Vrindavan for Mathura, Goverdhan or Nandgaon and spend many days there, Motiram would become restless for his sight and step out in search of him. As per his bhava or love flowing towards Maharajji, Motiramji would meet him somewhere or the other, and on seeing his immense love and the effort he had made, Maharajji would return with him to Vrindavan. Otherwise Shri Maharajji would not stay with any householder but after my coming to Shri Vrindavan Dham, he would sometimes take me along to stay at Motiramji's place. Surrendering completely to Maharajji, this couple attended to his needs and served him lifelong.
The Rasa Lila
After a year of Motiram's coming to Vrindavan a Vaishya couple 'Loknath and Mayawati,' came to visit Shri Dham from Rewa. Shri Rameswarji, an affluent businessman who passionately loved Krishna, had inspired them to come to Vrindavan. Everyday the couple had darshan of Shri Bihariji and saw enactment of the Rasa Lila.
One day they happened to meet Motiramji. He got this sentimental couple home with the objective of seeing Shriji. Seeing their sentimentality Shriji kindly gave a small spiritual discourse and ordered them to put up at Shri Vrindavan Dham. They were affluent people so they rented a small house in the Bhatt Lane as per his orders and happily began living a life of religious devotion. They had parents at home so both the younger brothers began looking after the business. The couple would visit their home in Rewa for a few days at times and return to Shri Dham.
Kishor Van
Loknath was a simple-hearted person who loved God but could skillfully deal with practicability too. His wife Mayawati was two steps ahead of him in the field of sadhana While living in Vrindavan she would chant the Name of God three lakh times as ordered by Maharajji, sometimes in Kishore Van and at times sitting beneath the creepers of Rasik Bihariji. She would follow this regime with a firm resolve whenever she went to Rewa.
Satna Junction
Once Shriji went to Rewa at their insistence. An incident took place at the Satna Station when he started for Rewa. He was not getting a ticket because of the huge crowd.
Suddenly a person offering him a ticket for Rewa urged, “ You need a ticket for Rewa, don't you! So take it. I had to go there but I am not going now.”
Taking the ticket, Maharajji boarded the train. The couple's joy knew no bounds when he reached Rewa. These people did not fully know Shri Maharajji's nature and his essential needs of food and drink because he
had been known to them for a short while. The whole family welcomed him very hospitably and with great enthusiasm. Since it was summer they got a fresh and tasty water melon from the market and served it to Shriji.
A Water Melon
On asking what he ate for meals Shri answered jovially, “ I live only on water melon these days.”
The simple-hearted couple believed this statement of his. Water melon began to be served instead of meals on a regual basis. They had this notion that saints and ascetics have an independent daily regime, and they take only a sattvic diet. Maharajji also went on eating the water melon without saying a word. Fifteen to twenty days passed by in this fashion. Missing him particularly, Motiramji happened to reach Rewa to meet him. He was very disturbed to see him eating just water melon at meal time. He spoke some harsh words to Loknath for this treatment of his but seeing the simple nature of the couple what more could he do. Food was cooked instantly and served to Shriji.
After about three to four days, Shriji left for Shri Vrindavan Dham along with Motiram. Loknath
gifted five hundred rupees and sufficient cloth to Maharajji when he was leaving. Motiramji thought that Shri Maharajji's needs could be looked after for many days on reaching Vrindavan but by the time they reached Mathura merely twenty rupees were left. Shriji had got all the money and cloth distributed by then.
Allahabad Junction
On the fourth day, Shri Maharajji wanted to go to Shri Dham but he was still unable to move about. Motiramji faced the problem of how to escort him to the railway platform. Getting tickets was also tough because of thronging crowds. Leaving everything on God's will Maharajji was sitting peacefully and happily.
Ivory Idol of Krishna
A young sanyasi named Shri Nirvikarananda was staying close to where they were putting up. On seeing a beautiful ivory idol of Lord Krishna with him, Maharajji's attention was drawn to him. He sent Motiramji to get an
introduction of the sanyasi. Shri Nirvikarananda was engrossed in worship. On enquiring it was known that he was also going to Vrindavan. Motiramji gave him Shri Maharajji's introduction and told him that they too were going to the same place. Completing his service and worship of the deity, the young sanyasi came to Shriji. After prostrating before him and getting to know of Maharajji's ill health plus his intention of proceeding to Vrindavan, he went to the railway station at once, arranged for a wheel chair after meeting the station master and even brought the tickets.
The Train Refused to Budge
They were still trying to make Shriji board the train after reaching the platform when it whistled. Everyone was perturbed.The train was whistling again and again but it was not moving. Some European officers and guards got down. They were wondering why the train was not moving despite frantic efforts of the driver. Suddenly their gaze fell on Shri Maharajji. Seeing his radiant face it did not take them long to
grasp that the train was waiting for this Mahatma to board it.( Several such incidents had taken place in Maharajji's life, earlier as
well.)
Shri Hari Baba
Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj
Spellbound, Hotichand went
on gazing at him. The brahmin's wish was fulfilled. Shri Maharajji's grace drew
Hotichand. He began to come daily for
bandaging the toe and derived some benefit of Maharajji's satsang. The doctor arranged for Shriji's milk and needful diet on his
own. Gradually, Shri Maharajji's health began to improve. Doctor Sahab began
having implicit faith in Shri Maharajji and came
everyday to see him.
Ahmedabad
One night Shriji was
sitting in a peaceful mood at Loknathji's house. All the people gathered there,
one by one. The satsang or spiritual discourse began. In a seriously emotional
state Shri Maharajji was describing the madhurya or sweetness of Lord
Krishna's ineffably beauteous form. Everyone was sitting stock still, deeply
absorbed and listening to him with an intent mind. Suddenly doctor sahab stood
up, ran, and banged into the front wall. His spectacles broke. Thereafter,
he relaxed himself and sat down quietly
at one side, on the ground.
Ineffably Beautiful Krishna
Becoming somewhat
normal, Dr. Hotichand revealed on Shriji's asking, “Lord Krishna flashed before
me in the same beauteous form which you were describing. When I ran eagerly to
catch Him, He vanished. On colliding I came to know that there was a wall here.
“
After this incident, doctor
sahab's faith enhanced even more. He began to
understand Shriji's true svarupa.
A Gopi Wearing a Heavy Nose Ring
Once all these associates
of the satsang had accompanied Shri Maharajji to Barsana. After darshan of Ladliji (Shri Radha Rani) all of them rested
in the front verandah of the mandir and were in deep sleep.
Shri Radha Rani's Sakhi
On hearing this voice
Mayawati woke up from sleep and got up to open the door. Soon after, she saw a divine 'gopi' was standing at the door. As the door opened, the gopi
entered the temple right in front of Mayawati's eyes despite all doors of the
inner portion being closed. Mayawati's astonishment knew no bounds.
Hearing that incident from
her in the morning Maharajji clarified, “ You have had the divine darshan[7] of
Shri Ladliji's sakhi.”
It has been said earlier
that the level of Mayawati's sadhan was much
higher than that of her husband, Loknath. She was forever detached from
worldliness and intensely yearned to attain God. She dedicatedly carried out the smallest command of Maharajji. Mayawati followed the routine of chanting three lakh Naam Japas
[8]
throughout her life. She
would weep at the feet of Shri Maharajji for a vision of Lord Krishna.
A heart-rending incident brought a drastic
tragic turn in Mayawati's life. The husband and wife had a tiff over
something and the quarrel stretched out too far. Overpowered by compunction
Loknath abandoned his home, never to return again. Loknath's nephew was
staying with them during these days. Thinking that she was the sole cause of this
happening Mayawati was grieved and wanted to give up her body. Shri Maharajji
tried to console her through satsang.
Seeing her very depressed
one day, Shri Maharajji got into an emotionally charged state and gave a
discourse. Apart from Mayawati there were other people
present on that day; including Nageshwar Baba, a
spiritual practitioner of Dhargaon, Madhya Pradesh. His body began trembling
and he suddenly got up and left. It was getting difficult for everyone to bear
the surge of the satsang's spiritual emotions. Intoxication was afloat in the
atmosphere and it seemed that Lord Krishna was just about to manifest in the
satsang. This incident is related to the
Ganga Mandir. I had come into the refuge of Shriji's feet in those days.
Eventually, Mayawati's heart could be pacified after
three days of constant efforts put in by the satsang.
Shriji gave her his own chanting beads for japa and persuadad her to go
back to Rewa with Loknath's nephew. Mayawati began living in her paternal house
and became all the more intensely steeped in spiritual practice.
After Mayawati reached
Rewa, Loknath's elder brother came to Shri Dham in search of Loknath. He
suspected that Maharajji knew about Loknath's whereabouts. Threatening Shriji,
he used some indecent words whereas Shriji calmly listened to this outburst of
his. Well, a saint may neutrally bear honour and insult as per his innate
nature but God can not tolerate the disrespect shown to His own devotees.
' sadhu avagya turat
bhavani karikalyan akhil kee haani | '
Maa Bhawani
(Sunderkand,doha 41)
'O
Bhawani, disrespect to a sadhu, harms one's welfare instantly.'
Loknath's brother became
insane as soon as he reached Rewa, his house caught fire, his son had a truck
accident and broke his leg.
“See, this is the consequence of sinning against a siddh[9] soul," Mayawati cautioned her family.
She firmly told the members
of her husband's family and paternal family that if they wanted her to stay
at home they must apologise to Maharajji for their false accusati. If they misbehaved with Maharajji they would lose her the
way they had lost Loknath. Shri Maharajji was invited in all humility to
Rewa, and falling at his feet, Loknath's elder brother asked for pardon. I was
also accompanying Maharajji on this visit to Rewa.
Three griefs would torment
Mayawati all the time. Firstly, she felt that she had been the cause of her
husband's going away for good, secondly, she was deprived of staying at Shri
Vrindavan Dham and thirdly the divine company of this great saint (Maharajji) was not easily available now.These
sorrows acquired the form of tuberculosis and attacked her. Her body began to
deteriorate in degrees but paying no heed to her failing health she was steeped
in sadhana with an ardent longing to realize her treasured wish.
Sugarcane
Mandaleshwar
Shri Vrindavan
Waking me up he asked, “Did
you touch my toe just now?”
On my denial he lay down again.
The same thing happened next day.
On the third day Shri
Maharajji was startled and got up again. Waking me up he said, “ A divine soul
came and stood before me. She was saying, ' Get me settled in
Vrindavan.' Who could it be? Is it possible that Mayawati has passed away. You
write a letter to Rewa and find out.”
I wrote a letter at once.
Soon after, a reply was received from that end that Mayawati had given up her
body eight days ago while remembering Vrindavan.
Pleased, Shri Maharajji remarked,
“ Well, I am not worried now. Her soul has come to Shri Vrindavan Dham and
merged into the parikar or inner circle
of sakhis here.”
Eternal Abode of Krishna
[2] Narmadiya:Narmdiya Brahmins,
are descendants of the priests
of the Somnath temple
who were forced to
migrate from Gujarat to
Madhyapradesh and are settled
along the bank of
the Narmada River.
[5] Satsang: In
Indian philosophy it means company of the
"highest truth,,
the company of a
guru, or
company with an assembly
of persons who listen
to, talk about, and
assimilate the truth. This
typically involves listening to
or reading scriptures, reflecting
on, discussing and assimilating their
meaning, meditating on the source
of these words, and
bringing their meaning into
one’s daily life.
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