30th July, 2019: Janam Utsav of Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

The pivotal concept of madhurya defines the love of Krishna. An important Vaishnava concept of shringara bhakti, it evolves in 'Braj Vaibhav Ki Apoorv Shri Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji',.the biography of revered Usha Bahenji. 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, Boboji reflects the madhurya of Krishna in equal measure.

 Boboji's Yugal Sarkar

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. 

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 as she was fondly called. 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

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, utteringjaya jaya radhika madhava, creating a peculiar vibration in the room. 

The Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna

On being asked the siddha replied mystically that he was Charan Sakha (friend of the feet) and that 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 or divine plays 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 Vrindavan, her chosen destination, permanently 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.

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 theshringara rasa of Radha by smarana, a concentrated internal practice of imaginative recollection by living through the countless legends of the playful dalliance of Radha and Krishna. 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.