Chapter 63 (part 2): Shriji Steeped In the Realm of Bhava

Abhishek on Bihar Panchami, Nidhi Van

18^th December, 1993 was the day of Bihar Panchami. On this very day Shri Banke Bihariji's patotsav[1]  is celebrated in Nidhi Van with much fanfare. Thousands of people go to Nidhivan to have darshan of the site where Shri Bihariji appeared and  visit the samadhi of Shri Haridasji.

As was the practice, we went with Shri Maharajji to Nidhivan to behold the site. Shriji got into a bhava stithi , a state of awakened spiritual consciousness, on our return after seeing the site. 

 Shri Banke Bihari ji, Vrindavan

Shriji went with Ghanshyamji to have darshan of Shri Bihariji after resting for some time in Venu Vinod Kunj. As soon as he reached  Shriji got into a bhava avesa, a trance like state of religious rapture. He saw that the entire mandir was dazzling with ethereal divine decoration. Today was a day of badhai, of congratulating and celebrating.  

Devotees Dancing in Joyous Abandon

Men, women, children, gopis and gopas adorned with divine decorative ornaments and decked in cololurful clothes had gathered in the courtyard and were dancing in joyous abandon. Shriji got engrossed in this bhava and felt himself to be in the sakhi[2] svarupa. He kept striving to support himself as long as he had some consciousness of the outer world but Shriji could not think of a proper path to be adopted. Where should he go, which side he should go was beyond his good sense. He was trying his utmost to control the upsurge of spiritual emotion.

Front Side of Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan

Ghanshyamji was walking behind Shriji, giving him support. He made Shriji climb up the stairs leading to the front verandah of Shri Bihariji and got him there. It was becoming tough for Shriji to stand due to an onrush of spiritual emotion. Holding on to the criss cross iron door on his back, Shriji leaned his head on it and stood there. Tears were constantly streaming down his cheeks. Shri Maharajji's eyes were half-closed. Regaining some consciousness of the external world he was trying to find a solitary place to sit down but was not able to grasp and see anything. It was becoming tough for Shriji to control this upsurge of spiritual emotion.  

Shriji Steeped in the Realm of Bhava

Sensing the situation Ghanshyamji gently took hold of him and took him to the store house at the back side. The baithak or sitting room of Shri Rasbihari Gosainji was situated right next to it. His sister saw this state of Shriji's emotionally charged state and rushed to get a chair, making Shriji sit on it.  

Shriji(left) at Venu Vinod Kunj

A little later his trance like state came under control and Ghanshyamji brought Shriji to Venu Vinod Kunj. Even on reaching here Shriji was steeped in that mood of exalted spiritual emotion for a long time. On regaining normal consciousness Shriji apprised us of all that he had experienced.

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[1]     Patotsav: In essence, Patotsav is a re-consecration ceremony, re-invoking the Divine. However, the Lord's divinity never dissipates. It is only our bhava  of devotional love, that ebbs. By celebrating Patotsav, our inner sentiments for  the Divine and the guru or spiritual perceptor are rekindled and reinvigorated.

[2]     Sakhi: A sakhi is the love-messenger, whose only concern is to see Radha and Krishna united and joyous in love. To this end she not only carries messages but comforts and even admonishes them.