Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 9

Yogacharya Dr.Ashokumar Chatterji in his book “ Purana Purusha” mentioned that Lahiri Mahashay was introduced  Sai Baba to Kriya Yoga. In the year 1886 after retirement from the work, he invested a major part of his life on Meditation and Kriya Yoga, during this period of time he had several visitors. Lahiri Mahashay never revealed the fact that he is a holy man, he enlightens people with the knowledge in scriptures, Veda, Dharma Shastra, etc.. Grandson of Yogiraj wrote in a book about the incarnation of saint Kabirdas in the three Yug.  Yogiraj used to write his diary in Hindi, not in Bengali, he does not believe in religion, though he was a born in a strict Bhramin family. He advises people that we are children of Supreme Lord, none of the wealth or possession is not ours and it’s not going follow us, one day we have to leave this behind, therefore always remember the supreme soul which is the ultimate asylum of all.  Everyone knows that Lahiri Mahashay never saw any difference between Hindu, or Muslim or Christian.

Lahiri Mahashay went to attend Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, he was roaming around with the saints and holy men assembled there.  Suddenly his eyes fallen on a heavy matted hair lock Sanyasin, in front of the Sanyasin his preceptor was sitting humbly and massaging the feet of Sanyasin. Lahiri Mahashay asked his preceptor “ Gurudev, you are serving this Sanyasin,”  his preceptor did not look at Lahiri Mahashay and answered “ Now I am massaging his feet, later I will clean his vessels, I am learning humility by serving knowledgeable as well as people of no knowledge.” Lahiri Mahashay understood that it was an instruction of his preceptor about service to noblemen, the Supreme Lord resides as the soul in humans, after this incident, Lahiri Mahashay had a tremendous change in his behavior.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 8

Lahiri Mahashay resumed his work at Benares after returning from Ranikhet, he sincerely followed the instructions of Mahavathar Babaji.   He concentrated on conducting lectures on Bhagavad Gita, and various scriptures.  He initiated many people into Kriya Yoga and Meditation, to the people from all religious faith, he had disciples from Hindu, Christians, and Muslim religion, though it was unusual for a twice-born to practice, he had disciples from various professions, and notable among were Sri Yuktheshwar Giri, Panchanan Bhattacharya, Pranavanandha, Keshavanandha Bhramachari, Bhupendranath Sanyal and parents of Sri Paramahamsa Yogananda.   The prominent people who received an initiation to Kriya Yoga were Bhaskarananda Saraswathi of Benares,  Balanandha Bhramachari of Deoghar, Maharaja Ishwari  Narayan Singha Bhahadhur of Benares and his sons.   After retirement from work he was teaching lessons on scriptures to the sons of Maharaja Ishwari Narayan for a monthly wage, an everyday ferry would come to pick up Lahiri Mahashay to palace, Girish Chand who is the senior officer to Maharaj Ishwari Narayan was aware of proficiency of Lahiri Mahashay, they were college mates.  One day Girish Chand said “ Maharaj, kindly take care of your preceptor very well, make sure he is honored and respected well,  Lahiri Mahashay is not an ordinary teacher, he is a great Yogi, but he is taking all efforts to remain simple and unnoticed.  I have seen and aware of his supernatural powers, kindly make sure to keep him comfortable.” Maharaj said “ I also think the same about Lahiri Mahashay. After seeing his knowledge and dedication I have understood about him thoroughly. He should not face any disgrace from anyone; therefore you should take care of this matter.”   Maharaj and his sons became disciples of Lahiri Mahashay, they believed that Yogiraj is a noble- soul born on Earth like Sant Kabirdas.  

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 7

Lahiri Mahashay returned to his work, people in the office were happy to see Lahiri Mahashay.  The last ten days Lahiri Mahashay was missing and absent at work, they thought he met with an accident in Ranikhet and passed away, his office mates continuously enquired his reason for absence, but he did not say anything about his life in Himalaya.  In order to pacify his office mate, he said “ I was lost in the woods. It was a new place for me; therefore I took the time to come back.”  After a few days, he received a letter from the head office that they wrongly appointed him in Ranikhet and soon he will be back in the office in Banaras, and the person who was in charge of the duty in Ranikhet will be appointed to work immediately.”  While returning from Ranikhet, he stopped at Muradabad at the request of his office mates, one day while talking one of his friends said “ There are no true saints today, all are taking pleasures in food and sleep.  It is frustrating to see them, they build a big hermitage and spread advice, and make fool of people.  A true saint will not touch the precious things like money, clothes, fruits, ornaments, etc…”  Lahiri Mahashay was sitting there said “ Your perception is wrong, there are true saints living in India, we are unfortunate to understand them, they stay away from the crowd and engages in spiritual practices, my preceptor is also one among them. I have attained a new life with his mercy.” He resumed the glories of his preceptor, but none of them believed his words.  Even though Lahiri Mahashay has attained the virtues of one of the supreme ascetics with the mercy of his preceptor and the piousness he had attained in previous births, like an ordinary person, he could not control his pride.  Listening to the hilarious comments of his friends he was so frustrated and said: “ I can ask my preceptor to be present here to prove you all.” No one listened to his words, he felt insulted and became so angry, he forgot that it is not advisable to perform any supernatural powers before these kinds of people who are not deserving the same or does not have divine sight to understand the supreme consciousness, Lahiri Mahashay went to a room and asked them to sit out of the room, “until you hear my call no one should enter or try to peep in what’s happening inside.” saying so he closed the door of the room, and started meditating.  After some time he could visualize a brilliant ray in the room, in that ray he could see his preceptor, he was not pleasant and said “ Shyamacharan, you have called for my presence for a group of non-believers and sinners, I am going now, never expect my presence for ridiculous matters like this in the future .”  Lahiri Mahashay felt terribly guilty and upset, he prostrated before Gurudev and begged for pardoning him, he wanted to make those people aware of the knowledge that there are still saintly people living on Earth.   Lahiri Mahashay pleaded before Gurudev, finally, he agreed for it, but warned him not to repeat, and assured to be present before him if he really feels the need of his preceptor.  Lahiri Mahashay opened the door, people looked at him in awe, one of the people said it is just an illusion it is not real, Gurudev moved among the people  and touched them, also offered sweet pudding, many of them were returned after consuming the offering, one person came forward and attained Dheeksha from Lahiri Mahashay.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 6

 Gurudev asked him to consume the meal, and instructed him to go to his cave and practice meditation, he went inside the cave and sat on the woolen blanket, Gurudev touched his forehead with his fingers, soon Lahiri Mahashay entered into a transcendental state.  In this manner, the practice of meditation continued for another few days.  On the eighth day, Gurudev said “My task is over, you have to return from this place very soon.  In fact, I have persuaded your head office to send you here to finish this task, so that you can attain Dheeksha.  They will call you back to join the duty.  ” Lahiri Mahashay was anxious to hear all these and said “ Gurudev, kindly do not send me back, kindly give me an opportunity to serve your lotus feet.  I wish to live in your presence,” Gurudev said “ No son, you have to go back, not like a Sanyasin, you should remain in Grihasthashram and perform service to society.  Many people will approach you for Dheeksha.  Seeing the devotion of a  Grihastha, they will understand the fact that even the Grihastha can attain the highest achievement in spirituality with the knowledge of self and knowledge of Bramham. You need not be away from Grihasthashram. You have already freed from that bondage.  Always remember to give Dheeksha to an appropriate disciple.  In order to attain the knowledge of superconsciousness, everything can be sacrificed.”  After this incident Lahiri Mahashay undergone drastic changes, he does not want to go back to Karmakshethra, leaving this blissful abode of spirituality. He sincerely prayed to Gurudev should keep him as a disciple with him, Gurudev understood the mind of Lahiri Mahashay, he said “In this birth, you have attained an abundance of supernatural powers of several births. I did not bring you here until your marriage took place.  You should continue your life as an ideal Grihastha. Several people will approach you to learn Kriya Yoga and meditation.  You should make them aware that even the Grihastha can perform Yogic practices, when you give Dheeksha to your disciple, always recite these verses of Gita to them about Nishkamya Karma, which keeps away the soul from sufferings, agonies, pains, sorrows and repeated births, always give lessons to deserved people who are ready to sacrifice everything for the attainment of knowledge of self and knowledge of supreme soul, these are the requirements of the people who want to receive the knowledge of Kriya Yoga.”  The time has come to leave his preceptor, Lahiri Mahashay started weeping like a child, The preceptor said “ You are not leaving for once and all, I will always be with you, whenever you think of me, I will be there for you. You need not worry about the separation at all.” 

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 5

Lahiri Mahashay sat near the lake, soon the snow started falling heavily, water current of river Vegvathi has increased, and he could hear the growling of wild animals.  He realized that his body temperature is increasing slowly; he continued to stay like that for some time. A Brahmachari came near Lahiri Mahashay and give a set of Dhothi and asked to follow him, he said, “ Gurudev is waiting for you.”  He walked with the Bhramachari for some time, suddenly he saw a marvelous sight, Lahiri Mahashay asked, “ is it going to be dawn?”  Brahmachari said “ It is mid night, the light you are seeing from Swarna Mahal, it was created today for a specific purpose by Gurudev.  You will get Dheeksha from this Swarnnamahal today, so that all your worldly bondage will disappear from now onwards.”  Lahiri Mahashay with raising heart beat arrived and stood near the Swarnnamahal, he was mystified by the sight, the fortress was decorated with various gems, the sparkling gems created an illusion of dawn, there were many saintly people standing at the door, there was an extremely rich fragrance in the air, inside the fortress he could visualize numerous saints and holy men sitting and meditating, the whole area was decorated with lamps, brilliant rays emitting from the body of holy men and saints, there were children reciting Vedas, everything looks  super natural, he never imagined in his whole life that he would witness this kind of magic.  He moved forward through the Swarnnamahal and found Gurudev, he immediately prostrated before him, “ Son, wake up, today all your worldly bondage will be removed, you will be enlighten with the knowledge of the supernatural world, You will be receiving Dheeksha  on Kriya Yoga to attain the knowledge of supreme bliss,” saying so, Gurudev spread his hands near the fire pit, instantly the whole place near the fire place filled with flowers, before the glowing fire place, Gurudev offered Dheeksha on Kriya Yog to Lahiri Mahashay.  After receiving Dheeksha, Lahiri Mahashay looked around the Swarna Mahal to his heart’s content and sat at the feet of  the preceptor who said “ Shyama Charan, close your eyes and keep silence,” after some time he was opened eyes at the instruction of his preceptor.  At that moment, there was no Swarna Mahal, no holy men, or no Vedic chants.  He was sitting in the cave before his preceptor and his disciples.  It was quite astounding for Lahiri Mahashay, he was recollecting all those marvelous sights from his memory once again. 

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 4

One day Shyamacharan Lahiri received a notification from his office, found that he is transferred from Dhanapur to Ranikhet, he left the family behind Kashi and left to Ranikhet.  Those days commuting was not easy, there were no railway lines, so he had to adopt various means of transport to reach Ranikhet.  Once he was settled in Ranikhet, he used to watch in awe the beauty of Himalaya, he walks for some time.  One day he went for a walk and moved up to Dhruvgiri, soon he heard somebody is calling him by name for once or twice, but the voice reverberated in the whole area for several times.  He was so surprised and went to check the person, Lahiri Mahashay conducted a rigorous search for the voice in all surrounding areas, after some time he saw a young man standing on the top of the hill, and he was showing gestures to come up.  Lahiri Mahashay went up to the hill but he could not recognize the youth, he said “ I was calling out your name. You did not recognize me?” Lahiri Mahashay said, “ No, I do not  know you.”  He took Lahiri Mahashay to a nearby cave. He showed the woolen blanket and Kamandalu and said: “ Could you recognize these items?” Lahiri Mahashay said “ No, Maharaj, I could not understand you or any of these items, but you know my name. How?” Babaji said “ I know you very well, I have brought you from Dhanapur to Ranikhet, after some days you have to return to Dhanapur,” Lahiri Mahashay was surprisingly watching at him, he was standing like a statue and watching at the astounding youth.  He touched the forehead of Lahiri Mahashay, with the single touch his body roused with divine energy; slowly he could regain all the memories of the past rushed in.  Soon Lahiri Mahashay understood that in his previous birth, he used to conduct Tapasya in this cave, the Kamandal and the woolen blanket were used by him, he used to meditate by sitting on it, his face shone with extreme bliss, he immediately prostrated before the youth and said “ Gurudev, I have recollected all those memories, this cave was my field of spiritual practice, kindly forgive my ignorance.” The youth continued “ I was waiting for you for the past forty years.  After leaving this place I was following you like a shadow, I was watching you from the day you have born, now only you have come to me, now I will perform purification process, drink some oil from the vessel, and wait near the lake,” he followed the instruction of Babaji and went to lay near the lake. 

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter - 3

There were three illustrious Yogis highly remembered and discussed in Bengal for the past hundred years, they were Sri Loknath Bhramachari, Shyamacharan Lahiri, and Swami Vishudhdhanandha.  These Yogis had several numbers of disciples, hence the glories of their preceptors came into light.   Yogiraj Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay was born on 30^th September 1828, in Ghurni village, in Nadhiya district, Bengal.   There were two children in the first wife of his father Gaur Mohan Lahiri, one was a daughter and another was a son.  After the death of his first wife, Gaur Mohan Lahiri remarried to Mukthakashi and Lahiri Mahashay was born as the first child to this pious Bhramin couple.   In the year 1833,  Jalangi river near to his birthplace changed its course and swept off the Lahiri properties, one of the Shiva shrine built by this family was also disappeared into the depth of river Ganga.  Later, one of the devotees found the swirling image of Lord Shiva in the water and installed it in a new shrine in Ghurni village.  Gaur Mohan Lahiri left the Ghurni village and settled in Benares, he built a Shiva temple in Benares, conducted worship, he continued a Vedic way of living, reading scriptures, the performance of ceremonial rites, observance of charity, etc.. Lahiri Mahashay has done schooling in a Bengali institution found by Joy Narayan Goshal, he learned English, Sanskrit, French and Bengali, later he joined in Sanskrit college and attended Sanskrit lessons. He had a great interest in learning scriptures and attending lectures on scriptures given by the famous scholar Nag-Bhatta.  Lahiri Mahashaya learned lessons on Upanishads and scriptures from Nag-Bhatta.  There was a neighbor Debnarayan Sanyal who was close to this family.   In order to firm their relationship between the families, they decided to perform the marriage of the children within the two families.  In the year 1846, Shyamacharan Lahiri married to Kashi Monidevi who was the daughter of Debnarayn Sanyal.  This couple had two sons and two daughters.   At the age of 23, in the year 1851 Lahiri Mahashay was appointed as an Accountant in the Military Engineering Department of English Government.  He attained great success in career life and spiritual life too. He had to work in various places and arrived in Dhanapur, as a play enacted by the supreme Lord.  Suddenly, there was chaos among the family members about the family wealth after the death of his father,  Lahiri Mahashay was a peace-lover, he entrusted all the family properties with his stepbrother and left.  He bought a house in the Garudeshwar Mohulla in Benares.