Yada
Yada hi Dharamasya Glanirbhavati Bharata,
Abhyutthanamdharamasya
Tadatmanam Srijamyaham
Thus goes a famous shlok of Gita
encompassing within its deep meaning the timely appearance of great souls,
Avataars and Yug Purushs in different ages on this earth. Ages sure have
differed but not the aim of these enlightened beings who by their benign presence
make a herculean attempt to propel mankind to higher states of mental and
spiritual evolution, by making them break free of their dogmas and false
beliefs and by reintroducing them to the real science of life which is as
ancient as it seems to be new every time it is rediscovered.
On 21st April 1933 in a remote village of Rajasthan divinity
descended to the mortal planes in a surprisingly inconspicuous manner – an
element which would later mark all his achievements. His every success would be
beyond belief, yet it never robbed him of his simplicity, easy ways and
frankness. Years later disciples, followers and those who knew him would wonder
how he remained so unassuming and unpretentious in spite of the laurels and
fame bestowed upon him.
Struggle was his constant companion on the path of life, yet no problem or
obstacle could match his resilience and perseverance, as he took on the
challenges of life, rising from poverty to gain the best education, a job as a
lecturer and then as a professor in university, by the dint of sheer courage
and hard efforts.
Such worldly success he no doubt
viewed as indispensable, however he never made it the sole purpose of his life.
Even as the household was celebrating his marriage at just eleven, to Ma
Bhagwati Devi, who later was to be his most helpful companion and a loving
mother to millions of Sadhaks, he announced his decision to leave home to
explore the Himalayas for the lost sciences of ancient India.
Love and filial duty sure had a place in his heart, yet these never infatuated
him or diluted his strong resolution, and ultimately he had his way. Many
decades later, the Himalayas continue to echo his footsteps, his divine
rendition of Vedic verses and his clarion calls as he challenged Pseudo-gurus
and Sanyasis. His inquisitive spirit led him to hundred of Masters many of whom
proved to be foxes in sheep-skin. Yet he did discover precious pearls, from
whom he gleamed wonderful pieces of divine knowledge, which could transform the
miseries and sorrows of mankind into joy of total fulfillment.
Even though bestowed with amazing powers these Yogis felt content to repose
peacefully in the seclusion of mountains and jungles. But to him this was a
waste of divine talent and he worked hard to gain from them all that they had.
His honesty and sincerity easily won their hearts and they felt delighted to
impart to him the secrets of Sadhanas, Mantras, astrology, Surya Vigyan, Paarad
Vigyan and many more sciences.
They gave him much, yet it is an
inviolable rule of Guru-Shishya Parampara that knowledge cannot be had free. In
return Guru Dakshina is a must – in the form of service to the Guru, money or
knowledge. Serve he did many masters, yet he always declared that he had
limited time and he did not want to spend many years mastering just one single
Mantra or Sadhana. He wished for total success and he got it. Also these Yogis
had no use for money, hence what he gave them to them is a much a secret as his
true identity which continues to baffle even to closest of his disciples till
today.
However one of these very savants once exclaimed, “What could I have given him?
To the world it seems, and he makes it seem so, that I gave him Dikshas and
Sadhanas, but I know the truth. He has very Kindly bestowed upon me spiritual
success which I might never have achieved even after thousands of years of
Sadhanas. I know who he is, for he very kindly revealed it to me, but I cannot
tell……… Time shall do it and then the men and women of this world shall realise
who had been with them and what they missed.”
Mystery continues to shroud his
divine persona. He never spent years at a stretch in the Himalayas, rather he
returned home from time to time to complete his education and fulfil his duties
towards the family. How he alternated these roles, struck a balance between
them and succeeded in both is really amazing.
Having achieved the highest level
of success in the spiritual world when he finally returned to his family for
good, millions came into contact with him and benefited a lot by consulting him
as a Spiritual Guru, astrologer par excellence, Vedic scholar, expert of Karm
Kaand and a Bestower of fruitful blessings. However none could claim to fully
know him, even though he willfully introduced himself as Paramhans Swami
Nikhileshwaraanand – the most revered of Masters of the divine land of
Siddhashram who had appeared in simple human form to bring about a spiritual
transformation in the social circles, not just in India but all over the world.
But this introduction deepens the
mystery rather than clarify it, and so do the introductory books about his life
as Nikhileshwaraanand penned by his ascetic disciples who themselves are
renowned for their divine powers. The mind boggles on reading about his
spiritual achievements. And I believe that so depressed we are today, so much
inferiority complex has been built into us by the so called modern education
that it is hard to believe that all this can be true, for it seems more a
description out of pages of some fantasy like Superman and one wonders if all
this is mere hype.
Could be, for these are just printed words. But one is forced to withdraw one’s
scepticism when one meets the common men and women who have accepted him as a
Guru and also when one is thrown by destiny into his benign presence and made
to experience amazing things. Guru? Seems a familiar, oft-repeated title, which
one feels like rejecting with disdain having read and heard of the infamous
exploits of so many pseudo-spiritualists.
Yet ask these disciples and
Sadhaks and before they could speak their eyes, their facial expressions tell
all. The tears which well up with the mere utterance of the word Guru reflect
genuine love, adoration and regard. “He is a father to us,” says a disciple
bringing to the mind the ageless incantation imprinted on every Indian mind-
Tvamev Maataa Cha Pitaa Tvamev……
“He is the best friend, my
saviour, my diety,” sobs another in a deluge of emotions.
IS? But he is no more there!
Hasn’t he left his mortal frame? For the world which views everything through the
glasses of gross materialism he sure has, but how can you explain the hundreds
of letters from Sadhaks and disciples pouring in every day thanking Gurudev for
making a timely appearance (in physical) and saving them from danger and even
death?
Thousands continue to rush to Sadhana camps which go on uninterrupted by virtue
of his blessings. His words, spoken years back, suddenly flash back to the
mind. “If people find it difficult to come to me, I shall go to them. I have
very less time and much to achieve.”
Thus was initiated a chain of
Sadhana camps all over India and even abroad to which thousands were drawn by
his magnetic persona to take a dip in the holy ocean of Sadhanas. And when he
felt that even Sadhanas and Mantra chanting were proving too much for the weak
willed, frustrated people of the world, he started doling out his own divine
energy in form of Diksha which incinerated their problems, ailments, worries
and brought them wealth, success, prosperity and even spiritual upliftment.
“Devotion for the deity is important, but I don’t want my disciples to beg even
before the gods. I want them to be masters of Tantra and capable of demanding
and getting what they want from the gods and goddesses and even other human
beings. But know it that once I am your Guru I won’t allow misuse of these
powers, you simply won’t be able to. I don’t want to prepare Padampaads,” he
said not once but on many occasions.
Preparing Sadhaks and disciples
who could ring in a new phase of spiritual enlightenment was his aim and he
started this mission by first reintroducing India to the ancient science of
astrology, which had lost its foothold due to the wave of false education and
propaganda of Mughals and the British. He authored no less than 120 books on
astrology, a record of sorts, which brought this complex science to the reading
table of the common man in a simple form. His uncannily on the mark predictions
made him world famous and revived belief of millions in this predictive
science. Had fame and recognition been his aim he could have continued to bask
in the glory of his success as an astrologer. But no, his work was done, people
once had faith in astrology and quietly he withdrew from the limelight and
Presidentship of World Astrology Conference in spite of vehement protests of
admirers.
Next he aimed at regenerating a
similar faith in the masses for the sciences of Mantra, Tantra and Sadhanas,
which had become much maligned over the ages due to the greed of corrupt
priests and pseudo-Tantriks. When he set about this task people feared and
despised the word Tantra which had unfortunately become linked to vile
practices like money spinning and satiation of carnal desires at the expense of
the gullible and ignorant common folk.
“Tantra,” he said, “is the beauty
of life. It is harmonising with nature, it is seeking the aid of spiritual,
divine forces to make life prosperous, pure and better. It has nothing to do
with the wrong beliefs attributed to it.”
This message he propagated
through the illustrious Hindi monthly Mantra Tantra Yantra Vigyan which not
just dispelled fear and doubt regarding these sciences through the publication
of veritable extracts from Shastras, Vedas and Upanishads, but also through
Sadhana experiences of his disciples who had gained amazingly much with their
help. Simultaneously was launched the Siddhashram Sadhak Parivaar whose aim is
to carry the torch of true Sadhana knowledge to each and every corner of not
just India but the whole world through the medium of Sadhana camps graced and
managed by Gurudev, and which today has branches all over India and in major
cities globally.
Yet this path to success was not
paved with just roses. Criticism, verbal attacks, denigrating campaigns and
vile plots however never daunted him and accepting all challenges he had
roared, “This torch lit by me cannot be extinguished. It shall continue to
light new lamps and to illuminate millions of lives lost in darkness of
ignorance, poverty and problems. Those who are against this mission are either
ignorant or have their own axes to grind or have selfish interests in leaving
the people unenlightened. I accept their challenge, for in Rajasthan they say-
Maai Edaa Poot Jan, Dushman Hoi
Hajaar i.e. O mother bear a son who has a thousand foes at least and who could
attain to fame by fighting and defeating them.
“I want my disciples too to be fearless. I want them to have problems and
enemies galore, for I have equipped them with the divine powers of
Nikhileshwaraanand and they must now have the guts to face all adversities and
emerge victorious. I want to show the world that with Mantras, Sadhanas and
spiritual powers even the worst of adversities can be overcome.”
Almost 20 years after he started on this mission, today Indian subcontinent is
redolent with the fragrance of his success. Parched, desert like lives have
been transformed into green heavens. His books on spiritualism, Sadhanas and
other ancient Indian sciences (again no less than 150) are proving to be
guiding beacons for millions. His voice recorded in cassettes continues to
soothe disturbed lives.
“I have nothing against modern
science,” he once said, “but their knowledge is limited. Spiritualism is much
deeper and greater than any science and the scientists have yet to realise this.
Till they do I want this ancient knowledge to be preserved, and here science
alone can help. I want the shloks, Mantras and Sadhanas which I speak or
perform to be recorded and saved for the future generations, otherwise all this
will be lost forever. You may not realise it but the later generations on listening
to my cassettes and reading my words shall wonder who it was who assimilated so
much knowledge in such a short life span.”
How true are proving his words!
His recorded and printed words continue to draw thousands of new Sadhaks to the
folds of the Parivaar, whose only aim is propagation of true knowledge and not
fanatic belief in some set dogmas. All his life he laboured day and night to
fulfill his dream of making every man and woman self dependent in the use of
Mantras and Sadhanas so that they could be freed from the clutches of corrupt
priests and capable of solving their problems themselves with the blessings of
the Guru.
“I am right behind every Sadhak,
who bestows faith in me, on the path of life. Whenever you face a problem and
feel worried you just look over your back and you shall find me there guiding
your footsteps.”
No wonder millions continue to
experience his strength and his presence. A devout cry, feeblest of prayers, or
even just a desperate call “Gurudev” and he is there to help. He continues
moulding misshapen lives into perfect shape and guiding lost souls. And know it
for sure that this feeling germinates not by listening to or reading about
experiences of others but by own personal feelings – the gentle, elating tingle
in the spine when he is subtly around or the gust of Ashtgandh fragrance
broadcasting his presence or the sudden tears not just of sweet remembrance but
of elation and joy which spring out without rhyme or reason. It’s love! Love
with one who knows the art of turning a desert into an oasis and one who can
remotely control the affairs big and small of millions even from the portals of
Siddhashram. And it’s this love that bonds one to the man of this Age, who
worked selflessly to make us humans truly independent. And we know that he
continues his work of making us realise the true essence of the words Aham
Brahmaasmi !
It’s this very goal that keeps us moving onwards and each moment we feel the
blessings, love and kindness of one whom we have known as Gurudev Dr. Narayan
Dutt Shrimali, showering in our lives from the unending source of divinity
Paramhans Swami Nikhileshwaraanand.
Buddha when leaving his mortal
frame had said to his disciples – ” Apa Deepo Bhavah – be a self enlightened
lamp.” Gurudev had once addressed his loved children during the last days of
his Avataar as a family man, “but I don’t want you to be mere lamps so I say –
Apa Suryo Bhavah – be a sun unto yourself!”
