The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

Chapter - I

Umacharan Mukherji visited Kashi after hearing about Thrailanga Swamiji, he had no intention to become a disciple of Swamiji, he wanted to know what is a rebirth, he was a twice-born had intense devotion and faith, he had deep faith in Dharma and scriptures.   He had the confidence that Swamiji like Siddhapurusha with the divine energy could describe well about his queries.  He took a holy dip in Ganga, he got the information about Thrailangaswamiji’s hermitage and visited Swamiji.  He sat in a corner; he did not go near Swamiji, after sometime Swamiji’s eyes fell on him.  Swamiji was observing the vow of silence, therefore with gestures, Swamiji asked Umacharan to go out of the hermitage, though Umacharan wanted to stay there for some time watching at the saints.  Mangaldas one of the servants of Swamiji informed Umacharan to stay out of the hermitage, this incident kept repeated for another few days, every day Umacharan arrived in the hermitage and seated in a corner, Mangaldas again asked him to go out of the Hermitage.  Umacharan was so disappointed and came out of the hermitage, this time another servant of Swamiji came and took Umacharan out of the Hermitage.  Umacharan came home and wept miserably, he had various thoughts in mind ‘How a noble-saint could throw his devotee out of the hermitage? Why did Swamiji insult me?’ he never imagined harsh treatment like this.  Umacharan was not disturbing anyone in the hermitage; he was just watching the saints and holy men. After all these, Umacharan was not willing to accept his failure.  He thought if he pays some money to his servants, it would be easy to get inside the hermitage, he paid money to Swamiji’s servants and revealed his intention to visit Swamiji, two of the servants happily received the money, but Mangaldas flatly refused and said if Swamiji does not want to see you, then that is final.  Umacharan was confident this time and firm too, two of the servants are on his side, he wanted to get his answer from Swamiji, he went inside the Mutt. 

The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

 A Bengali person Jayagopal used to visit Swamiji on a regular basis, he had a great devotion to Swamiji, whenever he visits Swamiji he will bring flowers, fruits, sweets, or milk for Swamiji.  Soon Swamiji realized that Jayagopal’s visit has no selfish motive, he is visiting Swamiji because of his intense devotion and faith in ascetics.  One day he arrived with an increased heartbeat, he said: “ Bhagavan, my heart is beating so fast from the morning, I have come in the morning to meet you.” Swamiji asked him to come in the evening so that he can explain the reason for that.  Swamiji said ‘Your father was not well in the morning, he was thinking of you.  He passed away.” while Jayagopal was too busy with the service of Swamiji.  The next day  Jayakumar was getting ready to leave to his village; he received a telegram saying that his father is expired.

 It was in  1874 Swami Vidhyanandhagiriji, a disciple of Sri Prithvigiri Maharaj arrived in Kashi and stayed in Rajghat, people of the Mutt told him that he had made a visit after several years to Kashi.   There are many temples were built in his absence and several Yogis and noble-souls are living here, they requested him to visit all.   Swami Vidhyanandhagiriji said he had visited all the shrines, this time he had come to visit Thrailangaswamiji, other than he had nothing to do in Kashi.  One day Vidhyanandhaji arrived at Thrailangaswamiji’s hermitage, seeing him Swamiji immediately embraced Vidhyanandhji, people surrounded were shocked, these two Saints disappeared from the sight instantly.  People have not witnessed a sight like this before, after thirty minutes they could see Swamiji sitting on the same place, but this time he was alone and Vidhyanandhagiriji was missing.  Some people went to Mutt where Swami Vidhyanandhji was residing; there Swamiji was conversing with the people.  Thrailangaswamiji never accepts anyone as his disciple easily.  Most of the saints build Ashram in their own name, but Swamiji did not do anything like that, because most of the people are not willing to follow the guidance of their preceptor, most of the people want to fulfill their desire, it will add sins to the preceptor, if a disciple did not follow the disciplines and instructions of a preceptor, it should be completed by preceptor.  In ancient times, Siddhas and Saints won’t accept disciple easily, they conduct many experiments to choose the right disciple who sincerely and fearlessly follows the instructions of a Preceptor can only achieve the highest of the state in spiritual practice.  It is essential to have courage, faith, discipline, perseverance, dedication, and devotion to become a disciple of an illustrious preceptor; one should take up a lot of hardships to attain the blessings of a preceptor.

The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

Once there was a King with all his family members visited Kashi, those days females were compulsorily remained behind the screen as a mark of great respect, they used to keep the women of the royal family away from the public, this royal family resided in a grand house near the banks of river Ganga.  Whoever visits Kashi, it is their objective to earn piousness and take a dip in the holy river the Ganges.  Royal women cannot take a bath in the Ghat like ordinary ladies, so they have constructed a screen stretched from the house to the Ghat where Rani was proposed to take bath so that she can have the privacy of bathing.  The two sides of the screen were protected with heavy securities so that none of the locals can enter.  One day Raja and Rani finished bathing in Ganga and returning to the house, the couple was shocked to see a naked saint inside the screen, how did the saint enter inside the screen after having heavy security? This made Raja infuriated, Rani and her female servants were alarmed, Raja asked ‘Who are you? How did you come inside the screen?’ but the naked saint did not utter a word, Raja in a rage screamed at the securities, all of them rushed towards the King, by the time Rani and her female servants returned to the home, Raja asked the securities how did this naked saint enter inside,   if they fail to reply he will shoot them to death.  The securities were in dilemma, they were safeguarding the place standing outside, none of them were seen this naked saint, securities were looked at each other’s face anxiously, King understood that this naked saint has entered inside the screen without the knowledge of securities, and this saint’s intention was not right.  King ordered ‘Arrest him and put him in Jail, we will make further inquiries from there.’ Swamiji did not utter a word while questioned, King was in a rage, one person appeared from nowhere and appealed to King to leave Swamiji who is not an ordinary saint, he is Thrailanga Swamiji’.   King was surprised as soon as heard the name of Swamiji, but he could not remember exactly where did he hear the name of Swamiji, but he was not in a position to believe how Swamiji entered inside the screen that too naked in the middle of women, is he saintly person or mad? King thought Kashi is under British rule, it is no use of making this issue into a huge one, King ordered to release Swamiji and increase the securities, if the Swamiji appeared again inside the screen all will be punished to death, the arrest of Thrailangaswamiji spread all over, all were scared of the consequences.  That night there was a long shriek for help raised from the chamber of King, all the securities were rushed to King’s room, King was unconscious, people served the King with emergency requirements, huge chaos was raised in the chamber, family of the King enquired about the incident, none could give a proper answer, and people guessed that something terrible happened to King.  As soon as King regained his consciousness, he ordered his men to find the hermitage of Thrailangaswamiji, he wanted to get Dharshan of him.  Soon it was found that Swamiji is available in Panchaganga Ghat.  King rushed to Swamiji and prostrated before him and said, ‘Bhagavan, kindly forgive me I have committed sin unknowingly.’ Swamiji raised his hands and blessed the King.

The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

 Sri  Bhaskaranandhji and Shyamacharan Lahiri were two illustrious Yogis who lived during the period of Thrailangaswamiji.   Swamiji used to visit Bhaskaranandhji very often in his small chamber in Durga Kund.   Sri Lahiri Mahasaya was living with his family; therefore Swamiji will not visit his home.  Yogi’s realizes the spiritual advancement of other Yogis though they live in far off places.  Lahiri Mahasaya was aware of Thrailangaswamiji.  Once Lahiri Mahashaya arrived in Panchaghat to meet his favorite Yogi, at that moment Thrailangaswamiji was sitting with his disciples in the Ghat.   Swamiji hurried to Lahiri Mahasaya spreading his two hands in the air, he embraced Shyamacharan Lahiri, it was like the union of Ram and Bharath.  They both looked at each other in silence, people assembled were stunning and looked in awe at the two Yogis, one is Grahastha Yogi and another one is Sarvathyagi who has abandoned even his loin clothes.  Thrailangaswamji’s disciple was believed that there is no greater Yogi other than Swamiji lived in this world, whoever visits Baba will get their wishes fulfilled, he never bothered to see people with pride and wickedness.  His disciples were surprised why Swamiji giving so much of honor to a Bengali Grihastha Lahiri Mahashaya.    The two Yogis were sat in silence for a long time as if they are finding words to communicate due to the sudden rush of emotions as if they were asking questions to each other in silence.  After sometime Shyamacharan Lahiri prostrates before Swamiji and returned to his home.  One of his disciples asked ‘ Swamiji, I have a doubt to clear with you, kindly pardon me if I am wrong, you are Sarvathyagi and a Mahapurusha, Bengali Babu Lahiri Mahasaya who was dressed in Dhothi Kurtha is a Grihastha,  he has wife and children, why did you so much admire him?” Thrailangaswamiji smiled and replied ‘ Your doubtfulness is quite right, Bengali Babu is a Grihastha but you people do not know the difference of  a Yogi and a Bhogi, he is a Yogi, he has done so many piousness in the previous birth, he had to take birth as Grihastha, and it is his final birth, his every limb has divine symbols. You should visit him on regular basis and prostrate before him to make your life blissful.” Shyamacharan Lahiri is known to a very few people, he was not well known as Thrailanga Swamiji, he was highly admired by Lord Vishwanatha of Kashi himself, therefore it is crystal-clear that Lahiri Mahasaya is a great Yogi.

The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

Once Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa arrived in sacred Kashi, he felt some magnetic pull towards a divine soul, he conducted the search for that noble soul with few of his people.  It was extremely hot in Kashi, and he proceeded from Dhashashvamedha Ghat to northern areas, they have crossed many Ghats, they have to stop in between because of the extreme heat.   Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa was walking barefoot, rest of his followers were wearing footwear, there was Madhuranath Biswas who was son in law of Rani Rasmoni who was the founder of famous Dhakshineshvar Kali Temple in Kolkata.   Suddenly they have noticed a naked saint hurried towards them, he was spreading both the hands-on sideways, as if he was rushing towards to meet his long lost friend.   He embraced Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa as if two friends are meeting after several years.  Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa’s followers understood that this naked saint must be divine personified, otherwise, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa will not take up a journey in the extreme heat.  Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa said ‘Oh! dear fellows, why are you staring at us, prostrate before this Yogi, he is Lord Vishwanatha of Kashi, feel fortunate to have Dharshan of this noble-soul, prostrate before him and make your life fruitful.  My journey to Kashi has become rewarding now.”  These two saints remained in silence for a long time as if they are conversing in silence.  While returning Ramakrishna Paramahansa told Biswas Babu " I have met a flawless saint for the first time in life, what a beautiful physical feature, a sincere servant of Kali will not find any difficulties, she will protect him always.’ Biswas Babu was surprised to hear that Swamiji as a devotee of Ma Kali, they have not even visited the hermitage of Thrailangaswamiji, he was shocked how did Paramahansa know that Thrailanga Swamiji is a devotee of Ma Kali, Paramahansa replied that he had seen all the divine symbols of the devotee of Ma Kali in Swamiji’s body, he realized the spiritual powers of Swamiji in the embrace.  There was no Yogi in the last three hundred years like Thrailangaswamiji, he has no awareness of his body, everyone was finding to difficult to walk with foot-wear in the heat.  After this incident, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa often visited Thrailangaswamiji in his hermitage, they immerse in endless conversation about their spiritual practices, but the people assembled were not in a position to understand anything.  One day a miraculous event happened, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa was walking with his followers, all them were holding vessels, Ramakrishna Paramahansa said ‘Today I will feed my Lord Vishwanatha with Kheer/sweet soup. Let me see my Baba how much consume.’ Thrailangaswamiji smiled at the words of  Ramakrishna Paramahansa and he began to feed Thrailangaswamiji, he had nearly 20 big vessels of Kheer with no difficulties at one stretch and it is impossible for an ordinary person.  People who were watching this event were amazed.  Swamiji never refuse any meal offered with love and compassion, sometimes he won’t consume meal for a week, sometimes he drinks water and chew bale leaves.

The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

Vijaykrishna Goswami a twice-born before his Deeksha immersed in the practice of God-realization, he wanted to meet a divine personality who has achieved the highest state in spirituality, he visited various places in all over India, and finally arrived in Kashi.   He immediately understood there was only one prominent personality Thrailanga Swamiji who could guide him in search of spiritual seeking, he was worshiped as Walking Lord  Vishwanatha of Varanasi,  he remains silent most of the time, sometimes he answers the doubt of his devotees.   Vijayakrishna Goswami arrived to meet Thrailanga Swamiji, he was surprised to see Thrailangaswamiji’s enthusiasm, he heard of Swamiji that sometimes he undertakes meditation or dive into the waters of Ganga.   Goswamiji took Dharshan of Thrailangaswamiji two-three times, once he asked ‘Maharaj, have you seen God?’ Swamiji explained if I say yes I did it, you may burden with various question, you are capable to envision Lord, therefore you can do it and it is possible only with the help of a preceptor.” Goswamiji asked ‘Which preceptor? The guru who teaches the spirituality or initiate to Sanyasa? Or some other preceptor?’ Swamiji continued ‘ You should understand the significance of Guru, a preceptor is a supreme soul, a preceptor is a mother and father as well, a preceptor can save from the anger of deity, that is why we call Guru is Bhrama, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is supreme Lord Maheshwara, Guru is absolute Bhramam,  he is the only one can take us to the absolute Bhramam, therefore we always should worship preceptor.  There are two types of preceptor one is Shiksha Guru and another one is Dheeksha Guru. Unless and until we receive the wisdom of the Universe and its living beings, we can’t attain knowledge, without this knowledge it is impossible to attain Mukthi.   The preceptor is the source of Mukthi.’  In this way Thrailangaswamiji engages in conversation with Goswamiji, it is usual to engage in conversation like this with a suitable discipline, but Swamiji’s plans were different, they share the intricate knowledge of Brahmam which was lacking in Goswamiji.   Swamiji never entertains these kinds of lectures with ordinary people.  One day, Goswamiji came to meet Swamiji, and they both went for a walk, he was surprised at this, while walking on the shores of Ganga, they reached at Varunasangam near Adhikeshav shrine.   Swamiji asked Goswamiji to take a dip in Ganga, he said ‘I will give you Dheeksha today’.  Goswamiji stunned at the words of Swamiji.  Goswamiji asked why did he choose to give Dheeksha, Swamiji said it was his wish, then Goswamiji said he is not willing to take up Dheeksha from Swamiji.   Goswamiji said he don’t want to take Dheeksha from a person who passes urine on the Shivlinga. Thrailangaswamiji said ‘ I will definitely give you Dheeksha, that is why I have taken you here, I have to follow the instruction of supreme spirit, therefore go and follow my orders.” Goswamiji was stubborn to follow the order, therefore Swamiji dragged him into waters and dipped him, Goswamiji was screaming for help, but no one was there to help him. After that Swamiji meticulously followed the Dheeksha procedures and Kriyas were followed, at the end Goswamiji was transformed into all new person as if raised from a dream he reverentially has fallen flat on the feet of Swamiji. Swamiji continued ‘ It is not your final Dheeksha, you will receive Dheeksha and Beejakshara Manthra from  your Guru when the time comes, at that moment you can have Dharshan of your favorite Lord.”  It was the query he was made to Swamiji in his first meeting.  He was advised to have patience until he meets his preceptor.

The walking Lord of Varanasi – Sri Thrailanga Swamiji

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swamiji!

There was a woman named Ambalika, she believed Swamiji as Lord Vishwanatha, every morning she takes a dip in holy Ganga and visit Swamiji with a handful of flowers and fruits, she had a daughter named Shankari, she also follows her mother in the worship of Baba, soon she also became a staunch devotee of Swamiji.   Once the whole Kashi was afflicted with the chicken pox and Shankari was also fallen severely ill, seeing the critical situation of daughter Ambalika became inconsolable, taking bath and consuming the meal has become difficult, suddenly Shankari stopped talking, Ambalika understood that Shankari cannot be saved, she sat at the head side of her daughter and started weeping, Shankari said ‘Ma, why are you weeping?’ Ambalika said ‘ I am not in a position to see your troubles and  unbearable pains, why we are lacking mercy of Lord Vishwanatha and Swamiji? I am unfortunate to have the blessings of Swamiji,” Shankari said ‘No Ma, see Swamiji is standing close to you, look at him.’ Ambalika was shocked and looked around in search of Swamiji, she did not see Swamiji, she thought it was Shankari’s illusion, Ambalika kept asking about Swamiji, Shankri took the hands of her mother and put it on the feet of Swamiji, at that moment, she could visualize Thrailanga Swamiji, he replied ‘ Don’t worry my child, your daughter will be fine very soon, it is not her Mrithyuyog/time for death,’ After few days Shankari became perfectly hail and healthy.  There was an idol of Lord Ramachandra in the house of Ambalika, Shankari used to worship that idol and play with it as if her childhood playmate. One day she thought why should I worship a wooden idol, she decided to worship Thrailangaswamiji as her mother does, that was the moment her mother was not at home, she had gone to have a bath and worship of Swamiji.  Shankari took a vessel of Ganga water and decided to go Thrailangaswamiji’s hermitage, she looked at the wooden idol of Ramachandra but it was disappeared, where she could see Swamiji sitting on the place of the idol, ‘Child, you can do my worship, I am here for you.’ While doing worship she became attained transcendental state, she got out of the Samadhi and found that idol of Ramachandra in its place, she thought it was her illusion, she came to the hermitage of Thrailangaswamiji, and saw he was in a transcendental state, she was surprised to see the garland she was adorned Swamiji while worship at home was still on his neck, Swamiji got out of the Samadhi, Shankari asked ‘Baba, who adorned you with this garland,’ Baba smiled at her said ‘It was you did it’ small Shankari who was eight years of age was astonished, she adorned it while Swamiji was at home, how come the same garland in the neck of Swamiji, she kept on thinking about it.  One day Swamiji was leaving to Ganga for bathing, he saw Shankari and asked her to follow him, he made to sit her on the Ghat and he dived in the waters of Ganga, he took Shankari in hand and asked her to take bath, Shankari said she is not familiar with swimming, Swamiji said to travel on her back, he carried Shankari on his upper back and dived into the waters, soon Shankari realized they were sitting in a house near Gangaghat, he asked Shankari ‘ Child, where are we sitting now?’ she said ‘ it seems new building’ there was a girl child standing before her of the same age, Shankari asked ‘Baba, who is this girl?’ Thrailangaswamiji said it is ‘ It is Supreme Goddess Sri Bhagavathi, child prostrate before her.’ She followed Swamiji, she asked ‘ Baba, where is mother Ganga?’ Swamiji said ‘check with your hands, you will find it’ Shankari realized water all around her, later she realized that she was sitting on the shore of Ganga and Babaji was taking a dip in Ganga. Shankari asked Baba’ Baba, where were we?’ Swamiji said you are a sinless child that is the reason you could reach that supreme state.