All World
Gayatri Pariwar

The command of the guiding light

“One who was Kabir, one who was Ramdas and one who was Ramakrishna, you are that. This inner vision has been revealed to you with a view to energize you and not to astound you.” The lips of his guide who was visible in his luminous form, moved. The vibrations through which the command was being communicated had no sound. It cannot be called para vani also because movement of lips is not necessary while communicating in para vani. The pashyanti vani that originates from the navel or the heart is audible to only that person for whom it is intended. Gurudev was telling, “For now, there is only one inspiration that I give you. Take it as a command. The essence is – Single-pointed intense Sadhana”.

A doubt arose in the mind of Shriram. This can be called curiosity also. But in his first meeting itself Shriram had developed such an intimacy with his Gurudev that he did not hesitate to ask an odd question. Shriram who was seated in sadhana asked his guide, “I did not go in search of you. Why did you search for me and then give me the mandate of sadhana? What kind of sadhana is it?” saying this, a subtle smile played on Shriram’s lips.

The divine guide also smiled back. His smile was clearly visible from beneath his dense and long moustache. He said, “The Guru always searches for the disciple and not vice-versa. You have completed the journey of several of your previous births along with this body of mine. You have walked holding its hands. Now that you have grown up and have reached a state of undertaking the journey, I am again holding you.” Whenever the Divine luminous being referred to the ‘body’, he indicated towards his own self.

“This is your divine birth. I will help and guide you in this life, too. I will make you do everything that is required for establishing the Yugdharma.” It was as though the divine being had already decided the course for Shriram’s life. He continued, “Based on what the Almighty expects each being to accomplish, He would have provided the necessary strength and resources beforehand to achieve the task. But these resources are not obtained without adequate effort. For that, it is essential to do sustained sadhana.”

“From today and from this very moment, resolve to take up a special sadhana. One phase of the sadhana is to perform a series of Gayatri Mahapurashcharans for the duration of 24 years. You have to complete a Mahapurascharan of doing the Japa of 24 lakhs of Gayatri Mahamantra in one year. In addition to various restrictions on food and life-style, there is a strict discipline of tapascharya that needs to be followed. The rules have already been decided. You have to eat bread made of barley flour with buttermilk. Eat only as much as is required to maintain the body. Do not pay heed to taste, aroma or even to nutritional content of the food. The health and vigor needed by you to complete the assigned task will be given by Divine Powers.”

IntenseTapa commenced

The process of worship that was outlined was bound to take six hours per day. The day when Shriram engaged himself to do the sadhana was the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami. His regular sadhana for the day was complete. Only the rituals of Jap nivedan and visarjan were remaining. Shriram started the new sadhana as recommended by Gurudev. To complete twenty four lakhs of Japa in one year, one has to complete sixty-six malas of Jap per day (this would mean reciting Gayatri mantra nearly seven thousand times a day). That day he remained seated for five hours after sunrise to complete the assigned Jap.

He did not know when the Japa was completed. During the japa and meditation of the Savita (rising Sun), various questions arose regarding the sadhana. He did not have to search for words to frame his questions. The questions were transmitted automatically and they were answered in the presence of the divine guide. There was a curiosity as to where Gurudev resided. The answer came that he lived in the heart of the Himalaya. Nobody with a normal body could reach that region. There are limitations of the physical body. To reach the place that is called as heart of the Himalaya is an impossible task for a normal person. It is even difficult to reach there with a normal subtle body too.

In the later phase of the reply, it got clarified that the physical body of Gurudev was hundreds of years old. The history of his body is not known to anyone. Only the work taken up by that body stands as a testimony to it. History is being searched but even today that task is incomplete. According to some evidence, his physical body is said to be six hundred fifty to seven hundred years old. According to some others, it is older than 2500 years. On the first day of the anushthan itself Shriram felt the desire to know more of his Guru, but he heard only silence in reply. There was only one realization that was floating in that silence; and it was that he was a symbol of Nirvikar Anand (pure bliss) of the Eeshwar (Lord) of Sarva (all). Those sadhaks and siddhas who gave evidences of their subtle presence in the Himalaya told that Gurudev’s name was Swami Sarveshwarananda.

The limitations of the physical body and its necessity

Gurudev seemed to tell – ‘The physical body can work only upto a certain limit. However great and strong the physical body might be it cannot accomplish divine tasks. For divine purposes, it is essential to get firmly established in subtle state of the body. The objective of intense penance is to take the physical body to the subtle state.’

There arose a question that if there was no special use of the physical body, then why should it be retained? Why should it not be transformed directly into the subtle state? The answer to this question also appeared to come from his own heart. ‘Physical body has its own importance. It is true that much of the physical energy is expended in fulfilling the needs of the body. Disease, illness, weakness and old age do not let the body work to its full capacity. The greater part of the physical energy is spent in preserving the physical body. Even then, it is useful because all the tasks that are visible to the eyes can be accomplished through the physical body alone’.

‘Is it possible to reach the place where Gurudev resides?’ This question arose in the mind and the answer came back immediately. It would be incorrect to say that the answer came immediately. It was as though the answer came along with the question itself. The realm of consciousness is not bound by time; hence it is possible that the answer came before the question itself. The reply was, “You will be introduced to Devatma Himalaya also at the appropriate time. It is just the difficulty posed by the body you have today; otherwise you should have known that you are a resident of that place. You have been sent here for accomplishing a very special task. You have to complete worldly tasks and hence have been covered with a garment of the physical body.”

“This place which is the heart of the Himalaya is located near Kailash. It is however not the same Kailash that people show on the map. The Kailash of divine souls is altogether different and unique. Saints and Mahatmas live in the vicinity of Gomukh. There is also a suitable place near Kedar region for them. They prepare themselves to enter the subtle worlds from there. All of them do not manage to reach. Only one or two succeed. It is like what is said in Bhagavad Gita – ‘Only one among thousands of people tries to attain self realization; and among those who attempt, only one succeeds’.

“The same is applicable when it comes to going to the heart of Himalaya which is the heart of spiritual consciousness of the Earth. After you have successfully completed the routine of sadhana as outlined, you will be called there. You will then have to stay there for four days. I will be with you in the form of your guide. After assuming a subtle form, it is not difficult to travel anywhere or to enter anywhere. Such a facility will be created for you. After the first experience you will realize how efficient and capable the subtle form is. After experiencing the power of both the bodies, you will find it easier. You will then be able to understand how the rishis fulfill their divinely assigned missions. In the company of those great sages, you will be able to awaken the powers required for completing the great task given to you.”

Two more special responsibilities

The same day on which Purashcharan sadhana was advised, two other responsibilities were given. Though they were part of Mahanushthan, they were more mundane in nature. The inspiration was, “You should resist whatever is wrong in society. You have to prepare people by coaching them to fight against all evils in the society. God wants to liberate India from foreign rule; it is time for the dark forces to take a back-seat. The Lord desires that India should play a new role in the world. The coming centuries will establish India on the pedestal of respect and glory. For this to happen, India should become independent. It is because of divine inspiration that we see a surge of emotions among the masses to get freedom. You should take part in the struggle for freedom. Wherever necessary, resort to active resistance. In ordinary situations, use your pen and voice to prepare the people. There might be other means of transmitting God’s message. Try to use all of them.”

When this message was being received from Gurudev, other thoughts were also popping up in Shriram’s mind. The Divine inspiration put a stop to all those thoughts from proceeding further. Then there came a reply to his thoughts, “God can easily generate the inspiration to free themselves from foreign rule in the minds of the people as naturally as the breathing process, but his actual plan is to prepare the people through sustained mass efforts. In the war of righteousness that will be waged in the coming days, all kinds of people should take part. It is not necessary that all of them are great warriors. People (who are rhetorically like monkeys, bears, squirrels and other not-so-great creatures) will also have to take part. All roles big-small, good-bad have already been decided for both armies in the war. The victory and defeat has also been decided. You just have to ensure that the message reaches the masses. Don’t think how you can do it alone? You will find a large group of helpers and associates waiting for you. The group will expand with time and you have to guide them.”

The plan for participation in freedom movement and educating the masses had almost been finalized. During this period, the flow of thoughts and the company of the guiding light were constantly felt. The mind would at times get engrossed in the meditation of Savita or at times would feel that mind itself had been submerged in the brilliance, as though everything had been burnt to ashes. After a few moments, it would begin to be aware of its individual consciousness. But it would appear to be much more mature and capable than it was before the meditation. It was as though the contents of consciousness have undergone a transformation.

Mother’s complaint

During this period mother (Taiji) had peeped into the puja room several times. Everyday Shriram used to complete his sandhya before the sun changed its red hues. “What has happened today? Sandhyavandan has not been completed yet? Is it possible that he has entered into the state of Samadhi as it happened earlier? Then Shriram’s father was alive and could get him out of Samadhi? Now, if he has reached a similar state, who will get him out of it?” Several thoughts and worries began to emerge in Taiji’s mind. Inside the room Shriram was experiencing the presence of his guiding light in front of him as he began his new process of sadhana. Body, mind, and soul were bathed in the bliss of his divine presence.

“Are you going to sit in the room all day? Let the Divine Mother take some rest.” These words of the mother brought his consciousness to the real world. After peeping into the room several times during the day, the mother could not stay quiet. She tried to wake up her son in her own way and Shriram tried to get up. When mother saw her beloved son get up, she went away. Shriram added some more ghee in the Deepak (lamp) that was kept at the altar of worship. Till now the routine was that after the completion of puja, the lamp used to be left as such. When ghee would get used up completely, the flame would get extinguished. The meaning of adding ghee was to keep the lamp burning continuously. The instruction given by Gurudev was being put into practice. Along with Mahapurashcharan sadhana, Akhand Jyoti also descended in the Deepak on that day of Vasant Panchami. Since then, the “Akhand Deepak” has been kept alight. In course of time, it had traveled to Agra and Mathura. It was installed in Shantikunj, Haridwar in the year 1971.

Shriram prostrated to the Divine Mother but did not do the visarjan (concluding ritual). In regular sandhyavandan, Gayatri is invoked during Jap and then visarjan is also done. But in Mahapurashcharan, there is no need to do visarjan because it is a continuous and unbroken form of worship.  The establishment of Akhand Deepak and its continuity was a physical evidence of the presence of those subtle forces.

When he stepped out of the Puja room, his mother reproached him gently, “What were you talking to Mother Gayatri for so long? Will you give her some respite or not?” Saying this, her face was filled with loving tenderness towards her son. Somewhere there were also pride and happiness reflecting from her being - that her son was preparing to continue the tradition of his ancestors. According to her the next stage of puja was nothing other than becoming a purohit or conduct katha. Shriram did not try to give a reply but was silently engrossed in his thoughts. Mother asked again, “What did Mother Gayatri say? What did you beseech from her after your long worship?”

“I did not beseech anything”, said Shriram. “While doing sandhyavandan, my Gurudev appeared before me. He outlined the future path of my life and instructed me on what is to be done next. I have to walk on the path he has set for me.”
“What path has he shown you? Hope you will not be breaking your word if you share it with me. Has your Gurudev asked you to become a sanyasi?” Taiji was getting anxious. Shriram gave her an assuring reply: “No, mother. Gurudev has asked me to stay with you and do sadhana. I will do Jap-dhyan for about 5-6 hours a day. Gurudev has said that I will have to do this sadhana for 24 years. My diet will consist of buttermilk and bread of barley. The lamp in the puja room should be kept burning incessantly. It should always remain filled with ghee.”

The announcement of lighting the Akhand Deep

“Why just 24 years, do sadhana for the whole of your life. I just want that you stay with me. Never leave me and go away.” Taiji replied in a relieved tone. Then she was lost in thought for some time. Suddenly, a thrill of delight passed through her being. Maybe it was due to a pleasant thought or idea. She called Shriram and in the same vein began to say, “If the lamp has to be kept burning continuously, special attention has to be paid at all times by adding ghee to it whenever required. I will not be able to take full-time care of this activity.”
Shriram was listening to Taiji’s words carefully and he had also noted the joyous rapture on her face. Taiji continued after a few moments and said, “You have reached the age of marriage. If you marry, the daughter-in-law will take care of Akhand Deep and also assist me in household work.”

Shriram did not say anything. His mother took it as a silent assent. Internally she was preparing to use her authority in case Shriram refused to the proposal. But such an opportunity did not arise. That very day, Taiji told her family and relatives to suggest a suitable girl for Shriram. Shriram was always aware of what Taiji was doing and bearing these in mind, he planned future activities. After conversing with his mother, he went to the cow-shed and chose a Kapila (grey colored) cow for service. In this choice, the resolve to use only the ghee and buttermilk made out of the milk of Kapila cow played a decisive role.

He collected the dung of Kapila cow and smeared the floor of puja room with it. Though his mother observed his activity, she did not say anything. Had it been any other day, she would not have let Shriram do this work. But today, it was different. He had done sadhana for 5-6 hours and had obtained the instructions of his Gurudev to do sadhana for 24 years. She did not want to intervene in any of his activities. She knew that if she came forward to manage the puja room, her son would not agree. She stopped and kept hovering around him so that she could assist him, if required. But Shriram was totally engrossed in arranging his puja room as though he was in a deep Samadhi. He was not aware of who was coming or going or what anyone else was doing.

After having resolved that the lamp will burn incessantly, he transferred the wick to a bigger lamp. That day, he himself took complete care of the lamp. After some practice, he did not have to worry too much about it. Shriram spent more time than usual during the evening sandhyavandan too. He was seated in Jap for about 2 hours. That morning and evening of Vasant Panchami created a new page in the history of not only Shriram but the entire world.

Obsessive contemplation of negative thoughts is like playing with fire.