Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 5

Once Gulab Giri Maharaj shouted at Bholanand “ Get out of my hermitage, go out wearing a loincloth, you are no longer belongs to this Mutt,” He sincerely followed the order of Guruji and came out of the hermitage and stood under a tree, it was one icy cold night, he had nothing other than a loincloth on his body, an icy wind was piercing through his skin, he sincerely prayed “ Gurudev, this body is yours, I cannot leave your shelter, I do not want to go anywhere,  do as you wish.  I will not leave your feet until I leave this world.”

The next morning Guruji came out of the hermitage and saw his favorite disciple Bholanand standing under a tree, holding both the hands together close to the body, Gulab Giri Maharaj asked “ Why are you standing here? No prayer or meditation? Go to the shrine and make arrangements for the worship.” Bholanandji was well aware of his Gurudev's nature, he prostrated before Guruji and entered inside the Ashram.

One day Gurudev called Bholanand and said “ Vathsa,  you have to conduct penance for a few days, and you will be accompanied by three Bhramacharis, you come back after finishing the practice, I will let you know what to do next.”  Bholanandji and three Brahmachari's arrived in Himalaya,  found a cave on a beautiful mountain peak, they have chosen it as their Karmabhoomi, there was a river close to this place, this mountain peak was surrounded by dense forest in all four sides.  They have cleaned the cave and engaged in meditation, they constructed bone fire in the night to protect themselves from the wild animals and they conducted the recitation of Manthra.  One night, the fire went off in the middle of the night, they saw a bear with its tongue hanging out, it was standing on the entry point of the cave, its eyes were sparkling.  Bholanandji advised the Bhramacharis not to get scared, sit on their place and keep reciting the Manthra, pray to the preceptor he will protect.  One of the Brahmachari Prakashchandra was too nervous; suddenly he rose from the seat to hide in a safe place.   The bear pounced upon the Bhramachari and dragged him to the woods.  Bholanandji said “If he had firm faith and recited Manthra, remembering the preceptor, he would have been saved from the bear, a preceptor never leaves his disciple in troubles, and he always protects them.  Therefore Prakashchandra is responsible for his  death.”