Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 12

It was Kumbhamela in Prayag, there were Dhashanami saints assembled in the Ganga Ghat which was packed with a huge crowd of saints, holy men, ascetics, and devotees.  Suddenly the crowd of Sanyasis had a big argument about Prabhupada Vijaykrishna Goswamiji.  Dhashanami saints do not want Prabhupada Vijayakrishna Goswamiji who was a Grihasthi Sanyasi, arrived with his wife to construct a tent in their area,  Bholanandji came to know about this argument, he rushed to the site to clear the dispute and said “ What are you doing here? Goswamiji is a great Sanyasi, although he is a Grihastha, he had attained highest of the state in spirituality, in fact, many of you could not even imagine.  If he wants he can perform Rudra Thandav on this land.”  The saints assembled became quite after listening to Bholanandji.  He went to meet Goswamiji and said: “ My Ashutosh, don’t get angry, these are children practicing asceticism, kindly forgive them.” Goswamiji said “ Maharaj, I have done that already. Kindly take your seat.”  Later Prabhupada Vijay Krishna Goswami said to his devotees, “ Our Bholanand Giri Swamiji is a unique saint of this Yuga  if he wants he can destroy this Universe with his Thapobal.”

Bholanandji was a great Yogi, who always strived hard to bring harmony and peace among the ascetics, he was well known for humility, simplicity, kindness. He was one of the Dhashanami Sanyasi of Giri sect, a system of monastic tradition associated with Adhvaitha Vedanta Tradition.   Thridandi Sanyasin are Vaishnav Sanyasin and Ekadandi worship Lord Shiva and wear sacred thread across the chest, Ekadandi Sannyasins do not wear the sacred thread, and people from any caste or religion can seek Sanyasashram according to Dhashanami Sampradaya which was established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

Bholanandji had a great liking to saint Gambheernath from Nath Sampradaya, during the period of Kumbhamela, he said “ My tent is for Gambheernath and Goswami, after that all my disciple can occupy the place.”  These two saints are Yugapurushas, not possible to understand their glorious myths for ordinary people.