Guruji’s Jeevani from the book YOGESHWAR GURU GANGESHWAR
By Smt Ratan Behn Fojedar.
- Sent by Lata / Geeta
IDEAL PARENTS
It was Vikram Samvat Pausha Shukla Saptami in the Hindu year 1938 which according to the English calendar coincides with the year 1881 27th December.
He was born in the Star of Uttarabhadra Nakshatra in the Meen rashi in a small village in the land of 5 rivers PUNJAB.
Pandit Ramduttji and his wife Smt Sarladevi were a very pious couple who were not bestowed with a child for a long time .Although a house holder Panditji’s life was spent as an ascetic.He spent all his time in the study of the scriptures,the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra and in the service of saints.All Atithis(those who visit without an appointment_or_tithi)were welcome in his house and his wife Sarladevi walked in the footsteps of her husband.
There was wealth,abundance of food ,conveyances,gardens and lands and hence Panditji had not to toil hard for his daily living.This invaluable lifetime was thus spent in the field of devotion and in the study of scriptures.With all other worldly endowments there was one wealth that was not with them and that was a PUTR RATNA.
Smt Sarla devi remained disturbed when she heard that there was no Gati (progress in the cycle of birth and death) unless a jeeva brings forth a worthy progeny to continue his lineage.
Pandit Ramdutt paid his debts to various devis and devtas and atithis but was unable to pay the debt to his ancestors—the PITRS.
Due to this shortcoming in his life Panditji remained a UDASEEN although a householder.
BLESSINGS OF SWAMI RAMANANDJI
Panditji and his wife went for a holy dip to Haridwar in the hindu calendar year 1936 English –1879. Swami Ramanandji was famous for His celestial powers and so the couple sought His blessings. It was not difficult for swamiji to know through His divya shakti that this couple were ADHIKARIS(worthy) for His blessings.The couple poured out their heart to Swamiji and were soon put to ease by the kind words of Swami Ramanandji.
Panditji expressed his desire for a progeny in the language of the Vedas by quoting from the Rig Veda a hymn where it says---“Rishis desired a learned and wise son who would be bestowed with gold in his ears(good skills of SHRAVANA)and a Gem in his throat(good oratory skills) Rishis were ever keen to produce sons who would be brave ,studious,a sacrificer and someone who would be worthy to carry the torch forward .
Such a son born then became the responsibility of the Rishis who would protect him.
Swamiji immediately understood the connotations of the quote and consoled Panditji with a promise of a son .They were asked to perform certain Upasanas and swamiji bid them farewell with a SHREEPHAL in the lap of Smt Sarladevi.
BIRTH OF POOJYA GURUDEV
The couple did the prescribed penances and upasanas and Smt Sarla devi was Blessed with a son –our GURUDEV.
Panditji was overjoyed and saw that it indeed was Bhagwan Shankar who had taken birth as his son.
He distributed sweets and gifts to Brahmins and on the 11th day the child was named CHANDRESHWAR.
THE PREDICTIONS FOR Gurudev.
Pandit Laxmandasji was a learned astrologer and also a dear friend of Pandit Ramduttji.
On preparation of the birth - chart there was both joy and remorse on his face.The disappointment was because the birth chart did not promise any worldly joys of a householder.
The ecstasy on the astrologer’s face was because in front of him was a chart that spoke a thousand words.
Chandreshwar's chart promised that this child would achieve world wide fame and thus bless the lineage of His ancestors.
He was destined to be a maha VIBHUTI –whose fame would stay in the world for years to come.He was to be a Brahmachari and even before the undertaking of scriptural studies and penances be blessed with GOD REALIZATION.
Such predictions astonished Pandit Ramduttji.
PROGRESS OF CHILD & DEMISE OF MOTHER
The child Chandreshwar progressed in infancy just as the moon progresses during the Shukla Paksh Period. People were magnetized to His brilliance,quietude and the beautiful brilliance on His face. Sarla devi called Him CHAND—the moon sent to her by the Gods.
At the tender age of 2 or 3 He lost his mother.This was perhaps the Lord,s divine scheme to make the child detached from a young age itself . He was brought up by his grandmother thereafter.
BAL LILAS
The Bal lilas of Great men are also meant for the welfare of man kind.From a young age ,young Chandreshwar was fond of solitude and would often wander into the jungle. On one such occasion he went to the forest and slept off under a tree.A peacock spread its wings and held it like an umbrella to the sleeping child. Panditji came in search of the child and was astonished to see this sight. It felt as if Lord Krishna HIMSELF lay there under the tree with the peacock feathers as his umbrella. By the age of 5 years the young child had memorized all that his father had taught Him.Since He was not an ordinary child His grasp and memory was astonishing.
Shastras have prescribed various Samskaras for a human being and thread ceremony is an important Samskara especially for the Brahmins, Kshatryas and the Vaishyas.
Those eager to devote their life to the Lord have to perform this at the age of 8 years but as Chandreshwar was an exceptional child his father thought of performing the thread ceremony early to expedite his progress.One more reason was that Ramduutji saw a good occasion to call Swami Ramanadji to see the special child and to shower His blessings on Him.
Sarladevi had always envisioned handing over her child to Swamiji saying that He was Swamiji’s gift to them .
Tera tujh Ko arpan Kya laage Mera!!!!!!
Destiny intervened and she was unable to accomplish the task herself.
After the Gayatri Upadesh Panditji offered young Chandreshwar at his holy feet.
Swamiji endearingly picked up the child and ran his hand all over his body and smelt his head too.This ancient tradition of learned Gurus was done when they wanted to bless someone with a specific reason.
A TRUE DREAM
It was Shiv Ratri and Panditji had kept a Nirjala Fast All night long there was Rudra Abhishek to please the Lord lovingly called Ashutosh(the one who is quickly pleased)Chandreshwar Plucked a lotus and offered it to the Lord and proclaimed that like His father he too would carry out all austerities on Shiv Rati hence forth.
Chandreshwar’s voice was very conspicuous in the group chanting of the Rudrabhishek which pleased the father who was also proud of his son’s reverence and capabilities.
During the course of the night panditji went for a short nap and that is when he had this dream.He saw that in place of the Shivling stood his own son and Lord Krishna stood beside Him.He was astonished but his son pacified him by saying that Lord Vishnu is in the heart of Shankar and vice versa .Both are the same Hari and Har are not different.This dream confirmed the exceptional powers of his son.
SHASTRA SHRAVAN
Panditji’s daily routine was self study ,Jaap,austerities and havan. After this he would daily relate Krishna Leelas to his son.Through the medium of story telling he explained the mysteries embedded in the scripture like Srimad Bhaagwat,Bhagwat Geeta,Harivansh and the Mahabharat.
These stories created an adoration for Krishna in the young child and this made Panditji decide to take his son to Vrindavan to do the darshan of Banke Behariji.
He consulted his astrologer friend and after determining a good mahurat started off on the journey.
IN THE ASHRAM OF SANT RAM
Father and son proceeded to Vrindavan and en-route stopped at the ashram of an aged Tapasvi, a Phalhari baba called SantRam.
Panditji had earlier made several visits here and on baba’s insistence they stayed for a week now.There was a daily influx of saints,yogis and tapasvis to the ashram who were taken great care of by Babaji.
All this Nishkaam seva left an imprint on the mind of Chandreshwar.
He as a young child attended to all the duties of the ashram like cleaning and seva in the cow shed.
At night paad seva (pressing the feet)of Babaji.
A week went past fast and now it was month since they had arrived.Chandreshwar was now eager to proceed to Vrindavan and so Panditji shared the mysterious events surrounding the birth and childhood of his son and the promise of the birth chart and of Swami Ramanandji.
Babaji now had more love for Chandreshwar so explained the importance of sant seva and that where the saints reside the Lord too resides there.Without the blessings of saints there is no way to reach the Lord.
Once during meditation Babaji intuited the previous birth Of Chandreshwar and came to know the purpose of His birth now..Babaji beckoned Chandreshwar and asked Him to be vigilant for 4 nights as the Lord would surely give Him His Divine Darshan .He also explained that there was no need to rush to Vrindavan as the Lord himself would come to see Him.
The young boy was instructed to be vigilant and be ready to greet the Lord and not to insult Him in anyway and to have milk,flowers and fruit ready to greet his ISHTA DEVTA.
THE BLESSINGS OF LORD KRISHNA
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Through the technique of shaktipat(a method by which a Guru or a Saint can directly pass on His power to a worthy disciple by merely touching him)
Babaji’s promise made Chandreshwar quiet and introverted and His father had no idea about all this.
Chandreshwar camped outside Babaji’s room and also stayed away from food for 2 days and nights.
During the Brahm Muhurat and the hour (prahar) of Ramji approximately at 4 am on the day of Hari Prabodini Ekadashi our BELOVED GURUJI HAD THE DARSHAN OF LORD KRISHNA .The young Chandreshwar could not handle this divine grace and stood frozen in a Samadhi.Seeing this the ever loving Lord reduced His effulgence and touched Chandreshwar with his hands saying “Child this is the result of your tapasya of many births and also due to the insistence and intervention of my disciple Phalhari Baba.
Now ask me for a boon, child!!!!”
Chandreshwar was overjoyed and quickly did the prescribed seva with flowers fruit and milk.
He said”Lord many Rishi Munis are not blessed with your darshan and I a small child has had the supreme grace for which I am very happy and also extremely satisfied so I have no further wish or boon to ask for”The Lord was happy to hear such mature words from the child and said”Child My darshan never goes without blessing the Adhikari and even though you yourself has not expressed any desire ,may all your Sankalps henceforth fructify and may my divine powers be with you always and also may you uplift the masses and attain worldwidefame.At the end of your journey may you merge in my divine light.”
Chandreshwar saw this LIGHT come forth from the Lord which entered His body through His forehead and the Vigrah (embodiment) of Lord Krishna disappeared.The young child was totally immersed in the divine love and
fell asleep .The next day He got up and hid all the pooja items and when Babaji
got out from His Samaadhi He saw the glow on Chandreshwar’s face and accepted the silent thanks of the child.This secret was kept from others and after this event father and son proceeded to Vrindavan.
Let us all live up to His name and may we become worthy disciples of a wonderful lineage
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After the divine darshan of Lord Krishna at the ashram of Phalhari Baba Chandreshwar was ecstatic.
He felt a light entering His body through His forehead and soon after He fell asleep.
Next day Panditji had to wake Him up as Chandreshwar was sound asleep and had slept till late. Panditji had no clue about the incident of the previous night.
Phalhari Baba went straight towards Chandreshwar and recognised the glow on the face of the child.
Chandreshwar touched his feet and sought blessings.
Phalhari Baba shared the secret of the child with His father and asked him to proceed to Vrindavan.
MAATA KA PRAKOP
Man proposes and God disposes!
The next day Chandreshwar had very high fever and therefore the yatra was postponed.
On the third day it increased and at night Chandreshwar’s body was covered with the marks of small pox ( maata).
He was in this condition for fifteen days. Panditji was grieved to see his child suffering.
His pain increased when he got to know that his young son had lost the vision in both eyes!
Phalahari Baba consoled Panditji and said _” Panditji calm down. If this has happened in spite of all our efforts to cure Him we must then consider this as the divine will. Please calm down,I am sure something good will come out of this .Do not think that this is the anger of the Gods! On the other hand think that this a special boon! Your son has had the darshan of the Lord with these eyes so now He does not need the mortal vision. He has been granted a divine insight ( Prajna Chakshu ).”
Tapasvi further said that it is true that it is difficult to know the leela of the Lord!
Even Kabir has said --
“Nayana Bheetar aav tu Nayan Jhanp tohe lu
Na main dekhu aur ko na tohe dekhan doo”.
Oh Lord please enter my eyes so that I can close them and keep you there,
I won’t see anything else and nor will I allow you to see anything else too!
Panditji was still not completely convinced about this sad occurrence.
Later catching an opportunity Phalhari Baba told him ,” Panditji remove all the worries from your heart regarding your child. Endowed with the divine vision of the Lord your child will become a legendary figure in the field of bhakti and gyan like Sanatkumar and others. He is destined to work for the welfare of the world. Time will prove my words. Ramduttji at that time you and me will not be alive but the fruit of our tapasya will benefit this child. Do not be sad and do not be worry because of your attachment for your son”.
Ramduttji recalled the predictions made at the time of Chandreshwar’s birth by Pandit Laxmanduttji and hence his sorrow was reduced because he knew that this was meant to be.
IN VRINDAVAN.
Father and son took leave and proceeded to Vrindavan. Phalhari Baba while blessing him said –“ Son, my hand will always be on your head. May the punyas of all my austerities and good conduct benefit you and remember never consider yourself weak and disabled. You are never alone .The Lord will do His work through you which will benefit all mankind.”
Hearing these words Chandreshwar was happy and forgot the sorrow<