Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 26

Lahiri Mahashay’s disciples experienced many times that their life was saved by the mercy of their preceptor, one family was coming to visit Mahashay in a bullock cart and on the way the main part of the wheel was broken, the bullock cart got stuck on the ground, it was an isolated place famous of thieves, devotees cried for help and prayed to Yogiraj, soon their bullock cart started rolling from the place, everyone was surprised at this event.  As soon as they arrived in the home of Mahashay, they narrated the mishap, devotee felt Gurudev is not giving attention to the trouble he had gone through to reach so far, so he continued to describe with all his energies, Yogiraj said “Don’t you see, you are sweating, and you did not understand who brought you here.” 

Once a lady arrived to meet Yogiraj, she heard the splendor of Mahashay from her friends, that day onwards she started admiring Yogiraj and had a great belief in him.  While talking she said “ Gurudev, will you give me a photograph of yours? I could not make a visit to you quite often. I would be happy to worship your photograph.” Yogiraj gave a photograph and said “ If you keep this photograph as protective armor, it would do that job, or it would remain photograph always.”  After few days an interesting incident took place, there was a heavy downpour, streets were flooding, she was reciting scriptures, she was sitting close to the daughter-in-law of Mahashay, there was a photograph of Yogiraj near to them.  Suddenly deafening noise of thunder and lightning made the lady shirked out of fear “ Lahiri Mahashay, kindly protect us.”,  lightning appeared too close to them but both of them were miraculously escaped.  Later she said that they were experiencing an ice wall surrounded by them while the lightning appeared close to them. 

Yogiraj used to have amusement with his devotees, Dr.Chandramohan De, a young graduate of medicine arrived to get blessings from Yogiraj, they were talking about many things, finally, Yogiraj asked: “ How did you declare a patient died?” Dr.Chandramohan said, “ when the pulse beat stops we declare dead.” Yogiraj stretched his hands and asked to check his pulse beat and asked him to tell dead or alive. Chandramohan checked the pulse, then he checked the heartbeat, he went to pale, he shrieked out of surprise “It is a super miracle.” Yogiraj asked him to write a death certificate, Chandramohan said: “ I have no problem to follow your orders, but you are alive and speaking.” They laughed at the wit of Mahashay. 

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 25

Lahiri Mahashay had a disciple Kevalanandhji who always had the mercy of his preceptor upon him.  There was a servant named Ramu at Lahiri Mahashay’s residence, he was blind, Kevalanandhji used to think that Mahashay always showers his mercy upon his devotees, why he is distant to Ramu? He always stands behind Mahashay and fanned him, once Kevalanandhji asked Ramu “ When did you become blind?” Ramu said, “ Maharaj, I was born blind.” Kevalandhji said “ You please request Guruji to restore your eyesight, if you attain the blessings of Guruji, you will be able to see the world, people around you and deities.’  The next day Ramu reluctantly spoke to Mahashay about this matter, Mahashay said: “somebody had played a trick on you and put me in trouble, I do not have that skill to restore your eyesight.” Ramu said, “You are my Lord, if you bless me, I will be able to see the world.” Lahiri Mahashay asked him to sit close and touched his middle part of the eyebrows and said “recite Ramanama for another seven days concentrating on the middle part of your eyebrows.  God will give you the eyesight,” After seven days Ramu regained his eyesight and he could able to see his family, Gurudev, and people around him.  Later Guruji said, “continue to recite Ramanama all through your life.”

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 24

Dr. Govardan used to conduct tours to various places while he was at work, whenever he visited India, he immediately arrives Benares to meet Lahiri Mahashay.  Mahashay asked why he is taking the pain to meet him often; Dr.Govardan narrated his work requirements, and revealed his yearning to meet him on a daily basis, Yogiraj kept silent.  Before conducting a trip abroad, once again Dr.Govardan arrived to meet Lahiri Mahashay.  Later, Dr.Govardan had the opportunity to meet his preceptor on daily basis as he was wished.

Pranavanandhji who was one of the railway employees, an ardent disciple of Lahiri Mahashay also had the same experience, he achieved greatest heights in spirituality with the blessings of preceptor and hard work, he used to conduct practice till midnight, he attained the fruit of immense bliss, one-day Pranavanandhji spoke to Yogiraj “Guruji, I want to meet the supreme spirit, my restlessness will not stop until I witness,” Yogiraj advised him to continue his practice, after several months he met Yogiraj and said “ I am not interested to work anymore, I want to take up Yoga and spend all my life in search of superconsciousness,” Yogiraj said “ Apply for pension and do as you wish.” Prananvandhji said that he had started working in Railways a few years before, and there is no proper reason to retire from the work, Yogiraj said, “tell any reason whatever comes into your mind.”  Another day Pranavanandhji applied for pension, the doctor asked for the reason for retirement, he said he is having pain in the spine and creates hindrance at work, without any further inquiries, the doctor sanctioned his paper for the pension.  After retirement, he spent most of the time in practicing Kriya Yog and meditation and he became one of the famous Siddha Yogi and he wrote the famous book ‘Pranava Gita’.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 23

Lahiri Mahashay had a disciple named Abhaya from Kolkata, she conceived eight times and each time she had lost her child.  She conceived for ninth time, she decided to go to Gurudev and earnestly pray for the well-being of the child, she was anxiously waiting to go to Benares, she came with her husband in Howrah station, found that the train is leaving, they had to get the ticket and cross the long way of platform to board on the train, she stood near the ticket counter praying to Yogiraj, she prayed “ Gurudev, kindly stop the train. I cannot wait to see you.” Surprisingly, the engine started the wheels roll down, but the train was not moving from an inch.  The driver, guard, and passengers got out of the train and watching this miracle, soon a stranger came to Abhaya and said “ Sister, please go and board the train, I will bring your tickets. I am also going to Benares,” Abhaya gave the money to the stranger and went to board on the train, soon the stranger rushed to her gave the tickets through the window, because the train was started moving.  No one did understand what’s happening.  Abhaya and her husband prostrate before Guruji, Mahashay said “you could have come by another train; otherwise, you should have left home early.”  Abhaya started crying before Guruji, Mahashay said “ I understood the reason behind your visit. You will have a girl child, during the early hours of labor pain, keep an earthen lamp lighten and keep it carefully, make sure to fill the lamp with enough oil  so that it keeps burning till the next morning.  Don’t let the lamp go off without oil.”  As predicted by Guruji, Abhaya delivered  a beautiful girl child; she was with a lady in her room to take care of her in that night.  During the midnight the light of the lamp became low and low, two ladies were fallen asleep, suddenly the door got wide opened, two ladies were stunned, there the ladies saw Lahiri Mahashay, he said “I have cautioned you, but you were failed to follow it, the earthen lamp is going to go off, pour oil on the lamp immediately,” Abhaya rushed to fill the lamp with oil, she looked around for Lahiri Mahashay, but there was no sign of him.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 22

Krishna Ram was one of the devotee and  close associate of Lahiri Mahashay, they both used to go to have a dip in Ganga, one-day Yogiraj said “ tear-off your clothes,” he repeatedly said to Krishna Ram, he could not understanding anything, soon one brick fell at the feet of Lahiri Mahashay and wounded badly, Krishna Ram torn off his clothes and tied the wounds, Krishna Ram said “ Gurudev, if you know that the brick is going to fall on your feet, you are aware and you could have moved away, why did you stand in the same place and got yourself hurt.” Yogiraj said “ Son, It is not like that, if I stand away from the Prarabdhakarma, definitely, it would make its way to come back, so it is good to receive the fruit of Karma as it comes.”

Yogiraj used to give lectures on scriptures to his devotees and disciple while giving lectures he found some difficulties in continuing, later it was not audible and found difficult follow the lectures and people started staring at each other’s face.  The next day there was a tragedy happened in Japan, it was reported in the newspaper that an aircraft sunk in the ocean and many people have died.  Lahiri Mahashay took great care of his disciples who had intense devotion and faith in him.   He was always been with them in their difficult times.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 21

Lahiri Mahashay was not only proficient in scriptures; he was eminent in philosophies as well.   He used to give elaborate lectures  on the practice of meditation and its benefits, the meditation brings the awareness of supreme spirit which resides as a soul in human beings; this realization brings immense bliss in the worshiper. All the problems can be resolved with Kriya Yoga leads the worshiper to the path of liberation from worldly existence, its fruitfulness depends on the sincerity of the practice; this is the ultimate source which leads to liberation from repeated births.  The practice of Kriya Yoga is meant for all the people who belong to all the Ashrama dharma and Varnna.  The meditation is like a woman keeping the water pot on her head and keeps singing and moving, ultimately her concentration will be on the water pot on her head.  Everyone can perform all their responsibilities while practicing meditation and Kriya Yoga, the fire has the nature to purify the ingredients applied to it, just like the Pranayama purifies the sense organs.  A wavering mind always compel to do sinful deeds, with the regular practice of Pranayama one can achieve stability of the mind when the mind is calm eventually the sense organs also remain calm, when the breath completely stops he is declared as dead, Pranayama lengthen the life span,  Bhagavad Gita says Yogis absorbs Apan Vayu in vital air, the Practice of Pranayama removes fear, anxieties, anger, etc..

Lahiri Mahashay used to prostrate in between the lectures, disciples guessed that there must be the presence of subtle energy of noble-soul in the chamber that could be the reason for it, one disciple had a doubt, and he wanted to clear his suspicion so he came out of the chamber and stood.  Lahiri Mahashay’s home is a pilgrimage to the noble-minded people, so people who pass through the streets offer humble salutations and proceed their journey,  Lahiri Mahashay who was sitting inside the chamber receives their salutation  and respond to them with folded hands, later the disciple  understood that he is prostrating before the people who were walking on the street and offer salutation to Maharaj, everyone highly admired his supernatural powers.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 20

Hithlal who was a worker lived a small village in Bengal, though he had low wages he was contented and good-hearted, he always think of good for others and serve others selflessly, while working he used to feel dull, he did not find the reason, so he silently go to the river bank of Ganga and sit for some time.  One day afternoon he felt distressed and thought of leaving his village and wanted to settle where there are no people of his own, instantly he went to the railway station and approached the ticket counter “kindly give me a ticket.” Officer thought he must be mad, the officer asked “where do you want to go? Hithlal said “Give me a ticket to anywhere. I have this much money, give me a ticket where I can travel with this money.” Ticket officer immediately understood this guy must be crazy, he must have had some serious fight with his wife that is why he is leaving this place; Ticket officer asked “Did you ever visit Benares?” Hithlal said “ No”,  the officer said “ Go to Varanasi. It is one of the sacred lands, there will be lots of saints and noble-souls, Baba Bholenath is there, and you can have Dharshan of him. Then you will get peace of mind.”  He arrived in Varanasi, he asked for Bengali Muhulla and came out of the station, he was starving, he looked around, saw a house was wide open and a gentle person asked: “ Hithlalji  come here.” He was surprised to see the gentle person with a wide smile.  Hithlal looked at him in awe, he tried to recollect from his memory where did he meet this gentle person, Hithlal said “ Forgive me, I am not able to remember you, surprisingly you know my name,” Gentleperson said “  come inside and take bath and have  a meal, after that we will introduce to each other.”  He took bath and had a meal; he came to meet the gentle person that was Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay who was surrounded by disciples and devotees.  Lahiri Mahashay said “ I have to give you Dheeksha today. That’s the reason I have brought you here.  I am Shyamacharan Lahiri,” In this way, Mahashay brought the deserving disciple from far off places without even their knowledge, once Yogiraj mentioned about the mystical way of the preceptor to absorb his disciple, all that needs is intense faith and devotion, and complete surrender to one's own preceptor.   Hithlal bowed down before Mahashay, he felt fortunate to meet Yogiraj.