All World
Gayatri Pariwar

Meeting with Jalahari Baba

On the way to Tirupati, Shriram met some saints, one of whom was Jalahari Baba. He met him (Baba) in Athirala Teerth, which was popular at the regional level. This Teerth is about one hundred kilometers from Madras (now Chennai). It is believed that Lord Parshuram took bath in a pond located here, after which he got deliverance from the sin of Matrihatya (maternal killing). There is a temple of Lord Shiva near the pond. Jalahari Baba had made his hermitage near this temple. He used to wear only the loin-cloth. There would be no other cloths on his body. Most of the time, he would sit near the Dhooni (firepit). His real name was different; but as he lived only on the Ahar (diet) of Jala (water), he was called Jalahari. People never saw him eating / drinking anything other than water. As Shriram approached Babaji, he tried to introduce himself. Baba responded with indifference. Shriram said – “I have one curiosity. Only you can satisfy.” Jalahari Baba avoided the question and said – “No sadhak is able to remove other’s doubts. The question is answered by the Source from where it arises or the Indwelling Lord satisfies it.”

Shriram didn’t give up. He said –“I want to ask something about you. People say that you survive only on water. Do the needs of body get fulfilled by it?” Hearing this, Baba removed his attention from Dhooni and looked at the questioner. After a few moments he said –“Are you not surviving on buttermilk and the bread of barley? Are the needs of body fulfilled by this diet?”

Shriram was taken aback by this answer of Baba. How did Baba know about his sadhana – tapascharya? Not many people knew about it even in his native place. No one, other than the near and dear ones at home, had the knowledge of his vow. Seeing Shriram stunned Baba said –“Don’t worry. Not only me but many other sadhaks also know about your sadhana and its purpose. The astral guide, who has asked you to perform tapa, has also inspired many other sadhaks to help you.” A new fact was revealed about his sadhana. After that, Shriram didn’t consider it necessary to ask anything more. But Baba said – “After the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara, you are visiting the Ashram of Mahayogi in Pondicherry. Is it? From there you go back home....(Pause). Now don’t make me speak more. Some people are waiting outside.”

Shriram glanced back. Some devotees were standing with folded hands outside Baba’s hermitage. They had come to pay their respects to Baba. Shriram again bowed down to touch his feet and got up from there. He started contemplating on Baba’s words of revelation. Difficult Journey of Tirupati

It was appearing that, in future, he would have to accomplish great tasks. The participation in the freedom struggle was only a small part of that task. The background and the circumstances that inspired him to visit this place too were conveying that he should keep away from active political and social activities for some time. of this, the climb of 6 km was very tough. The climber had to stop at several places and take rest. It took about 7 – 8 hours for Shriram to climb up the hill. He also stopped at some places other than the resting ones.

On the way to Tirupati, several mythological stories, personal experiences and feelings of devotees about Lord Venkateshwara were heard. The temple of Lord Venkateshwara or Balaji, situated on Tirumala Mountain is the richest holy place in the world. This is no exaggeration; indeed this has been verified by the Revenue Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The mountain on which it is situated is named ‘Tirumala’ which means literally ‘Prosperous’ (Tiru means rich and malai means mountain). The environment of Sheshachal was extremely charming. The hill was covered by Mango and Sandalwood trees. Therefore there was shade and scent present everywhere. It appeared as if he was traveling through the Ashrams of the Rishis as described in Ramayan and Mahabharat. A person, who has read these epics, when passing through such surroundings, will start imagining that the regions where seers and sages made their hermitages which were suffused with the atmosphere of Puja – path, yagya, etc, might have been of this kind.

It is said that mythological Sheshanag is sitting here in the form of a mountain. That is why it is also called Sheshachal. While going up to get darshan (view) of Lord Venkateshwara, the holy mountain has to be trodden upon (considered to be a sacrilege), and hence some devotees bow down at the foot of the hill and go back. With reference to the Puranas, King Ambarish and Bhakta Prahlad didn’t climb the mountain. They worshipped the Lord at the foot of the hill and returned. Ramanujacharya found a way out of this belief. He went up the mountain by repeatedly performing Dandavat Pranam (prostrating himself). Later on many devotees followed this procedure.

Sheshachal or Tirumala is surrounded by seven hills. Now-a-days a spiral shaped bus route has been made to reach the temple situated on the hill. The route is about 33 Km long from Tirupati. But in those days, the mountain had to be climbed up through a steep slope of about 8 km span. Out He also visited Pandu cave which came on the way to Venkateshwara temple. This cave contains the idols of five Pandavas and the footprints of Lord Vishnu. Shriram felt the cave to be filled with live vibrations of Tapa-Sadhana and hence, instead of roaming here and there, he sat there and meditated for about half an hour. After that, without stopping anywhere he went straight to Tirupati temple.

A feeling of exhilarating joy was awakened by looking at the standing idol (about 2 meters high) of the presiding deity (Lord Vishnu). Chaturbhuji Vishnu is holding shankh (conch shell) and chakra (discus) in his two hands. One hand is raised in abhay mudra (assurance of protection) and left hand is kept on the waist. All this is seen when one looks at the idol minutely, otherwise these expressions of the deity are hidden by clothes and ornaments. Now-a-days, one can get only a fleeting glimpse of the idol. The crowd surging from behind does not allow the devotee to stand in front of the idol even for a fraction of a minute.

The volunteers of the temple too push them aside. But in those days, that surge of crowd was not there. The devotees used to wait for their turn. This patience evolved automatically after taking a tiring journey of several miles on foot.

Adornment of the Idol

How old is the temple? There are different opinions about this. Shriram didn’t waste his time to investigate it. For about ten minutes he stood in front of the idol of Lord Venkateshwara (which is an integrated form of Lords Shiva and Vishnu) and gazed at it intently. At first glance it appeared that the radiance was coming from the ornaments of the idol. But when he saw minutely, he found that effulgence was emanating from the idol and not from the ornaments. The suggestion came from within. If the idol is suffused with consciousness, this effulgence ought to radiate. Dressing, adornment, etc are done to cover it. The effulgence of the idol may move the mind of a normal viewer. Then he may leave his familial duties and engage himself in worship / service of the Lord, for which the person’s consciousness has not been developed thus far.

After watching the grandeur and regal arrangements, a thought came to Shriram that the splendor of the Ishta / Aradhya (object of adoration) of the millions should be like this only. Instead of going into more details, Shriram took more interest in the mode of worship. Prior to eleventh century, the method of worship was different. After that the Puja - rituals are done as prescribed by Swami Ramanujacharya. In this method, the number of rituals is very large; for example, ashtanga aarti, snan, bhojan, shayan, etc are done through elaborate methods. In order to understand the mystery of these rituals, he sat down near Pushkarni (pond) for some time. Extraordinary Realization Performing the rituals in the mental world, Shriram was feeling awakened and enlightened. He was feeling that each ritual was awakening a specific thought / virtue in his mind. For example, when water was offered for aachaman to Venkateshwara, it appeared that the ray of sanctity emanated from the idol and entered in his own mind like a blessing. Similar rays kept coming when different rituals like Prachhalan, Snan, Ahar, Vishram, Shayan, Mangla, etc were performed. Some devotees were taking bath in the Pushkarni after getting their heads shaved. This tradition exists only in Tirupati. It is considered that the devotee after getting his wish fulfilled gets his head shaved. Shriram thought that this is a symbol of freeing oneself from the debt of gods (Devrina).

Possibly, the Puja – rituals may not be required for the Sadhaks of elevated status; but they are certainly needed for average devotees. After this realization, he started returning from Pushkarni. While returning, he looked up towards the peak of the temple. It was glittering in the sunshine. That glitter attracted the attention of Shriram. He stopped suddenly and started gazing the top. While he was gazing, someone from behind said – ‘What are you gazing at? People see their future in it; are you also seeing something?” Shriram heard these words; but he neither replied nor looked back. He perceived the snowy peak of Himalayas at the top of the temple. It was the same peak which he had seen when he was in the company of his Gurudev (guide) on the Himalayas. For a few moments, he could get the glimpse of his Gurudev also. When he again saw the temple top minutely, it was shining as usual. It was not difficult for Shriram to decipher the message of this scene. It was very clear. Shriram again saw the temple top attentively and folding his hands bowed towards it. Then he bowed towards the main gate of the temple. He realized that, in future, Tirupati would become a bridge between North and South. If the endeavor of spreading Gayatri Sadhana and keeping the nation united has to be done, the vibrations of this place are the best to start from. Thinking this and gazing at the temple, he moved towards his next destination.