Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 31

Lahiri Mahashay, The King of Yogis was attained the highest of the spiritual state known as supreme bliss.  He proved that the Kriya Yoga /Raja Yoga, meditation is for all who want to achieve self-realization and the realization of God in them.   Mahashay affirms that every human on the Earth has the right to learn the supreme knowledge of self-realization, it does not matter whether the person belongs to Hindu, Muslim or Christian, it does not matter whether he is professional, non-professional, labor or ordinary men.  He performed the role of a husband to Kashimoni Devi, father to his children and a sincere Accountant in the British Military Engineering Department, and rose to the status of King of Yogis.  He taught the ordinary people how to nullify the balance sheet of Karma with the practice of Pranayama and meditation.  He immensely served the distressed people, saved many lives, with the peaceful tool of Kriya Yoga.  Yogiraj had gone through various troubles in the family life, one of his sons had the attack of insanity, one of his daughter married died of cholera, another daughter became widow at a young age and returned to home, but Yogiraj with firm determination performed service to humanity and spiritual practice, he had silently allowed himself to take up the Prarabdhakarma.  Lahiri Mahashay was born on 30^th September 1828, it was on the day of Dussehra one of the most auspicious days of worship of Goddess Durga in the village of Ghurni, West Bengal.  His mother died during his childhood days when he was not even five years old.  The family lost all its properties in the natural calamities when Jalangi River changed its watercourse.  Thus, King of Yogi proved to the entire world that steadfastness, intense faith, and devotion, are the essential requirements to reach the highest state of spirituality and achieve supreme bliss.   This great Yogi who was humility personified is inspiring us to follow the practice of meditation and Kriya Yoga in order to achieve union with the Bramham. 

Yogiraj was fallen severely ill  on September 26th, 1895, he was silently bearing all the sins of his disciples, he remembered the verdict of Mahapurusha Babaji Maharaj, which was conveyed by Yuktheshwarji after coming back from Allahabad Kumbha Mela “ Time is limited, energy is draining.” One day Panchanan Bhattacharya, the disciple of Mahashay saw his Gurudev standing before him and asking him to hurry to Kashi.   Swami Pranavanandh in Udaipur also received the same instruction from Yogiraj.  In this way, many disciples received the message from Yogiraj.  All the disciples arrived at the home of Yogiraj and saw he was reading scriptures and the recitation continued for several days,  One day he said “ I have finished my work, I am leaving to my home,” all the disciples started crying,  Yogiraj consoled them “ No need to cry, I am leaving this perishable body, but I will remain next to you always.” He seated in a Padmasana posture and in a few minutes he immersed in Mahasamadhi.  In the year 1895, September 26^th  Lahiri Mahashay attained Mahasamadhi, his mortal coil was cremated followed with elaborate Bhraminic rite at the Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 30

During this period of time, Mahashay came to visit Thrailanga Swamiji who was known as living Lord of Kashi, people persistently talk about the supernatural powers of Swamiji.  One day Yogiraj with four of his disciples came to Panchaganga Ghat to meet Thrailanga Swamiji.  Seeing Mahashay coming closer, Thrailanga Swamiji rushed towards him and embraced him, he took Mahashay to his place. They discussed for a few minutes, and after that Yogiraj left the place.  One of the devotees who was assembled before Swamiji asked “ Maharaj, you are an eminent Yogi, surprising to note the way you have welcomed another noble-soul.  I did not understand anything.  Usually, people respect people of their own rank isn’t it?”  Thrailanga Swamiji said “He is not an ordinary soul, he is a renowned personality in Yogic practices, he is a Yogi of high rank, he achieved highest of the spiritual state as a Grihastha, I had to abandon even my loincloth in order to achieve that highest state, you cannot understand that.” Eventually, Mahashay’s fame spread across Kashi with the great admiration of Thrailanga Swamiji, people crowded to meet Mahashay.

Once a disciple asked Maharishi Angirass, “ Gurudev, how did humans get rid of the darkness of ignorance and purify his intellect?.”  Maharishi said “Son, It is easy to practice for the person who is steadfast and willing to follow, otherwise not.  The sincere practice of learning Upanishads and practice Upasana/worship, meditating upon the supreme Bhramam would remove the darkness of ignorance and leads to liberation from worldly existence.  The Universal spirit is supreme bliss, the spiritual seeker should learn from the qualified preceptor, never be suspicious about the preceptor and do not expect that the preceptor will show supreme spirit and he will take you to the highest state of spirituality.  A preceptor can guide a disciple; he cannot fulfill all the desires of the disciple.  The disciple should take sincere initiative to learn, the preceptor cannot quench his thirst to envision the supreme spirit, it is the responsibility of the disciple to put sincere effort and constant practice in search of it, earnestly follow the instructions of the preceptor, only truthful and righteous would attain the supreme bliss, eventually it will take the disciple to the state of liberation.  Whoever witnesses the supreme spirit with his divine sight would automatically leave the attachment to senses and worldly desires, he will not worry about the physical body, and ultimately the mind will remain calm and serene.  Once the illusion goes away from the mind, all the fickleness will destroy and all the Karma ends.  It is true that a Jeevathma cannot be a Bramham, but it can transform into a form of Bramham.  In this way, a soul attains supreme bliss.”

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 29

Yuktheshwarji and his disciple Mukundlal Gosh had Dharshan of Babaji.  There was a disciple Kalikumar Rai of Yogiraj, he used to visit his preceptor regularly, unfortunately, Kalikumar Rai’s boss does not like this habit of him, his boss thought all the saints are making fool of people.  He tried many times to put off the spiritual interest in Rai Sahab, but his faith and devotion to Yogiraj had never changed.   He regularly visits Yogiraj and serves him.  One day Rai Sahab’s boss followed him and arrived at the house of Yogiraj, he sat on the last row of the devotees,  he arrived with a firm decision to expose the wickedness of this saint, he sat there and keenly watched at Yogiraj.   Mahashay asked his disciple “Would you like to watch a movie?” everyone agreed to it, Lahiri Mahashay asked to put off the light in the chamber, asked the disciples to sit in a circle and one person should close the other person's eye, Lahiri Mahashay asked, “ Could you vision anything?” Everyone said “ Yes, we could see a beautiful woman in red saree standing under the Gajakarnna plant,” Mahashay asked the boss of Rai Sahab “ Do you know this woman?” he said “ Yes I know her, I am ignorant leaving my beautiful wife at home, I was chasing this woman.  I am ashamed of my wicked sense.  Kindly forgive me and give me Dheeksha and bless me.”  Yogiraj said, “ If you can leave all these illicit relationships for six months, then I will give you Dheeksha.”  He could control his sense for three months, not more than that.  Once again he started chasing the prostitute for sensual pleasure, within a month he passed away.

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 28

Yogiraj had several disciples and these disciples had their own disciples, and many of them attained the highest of the spiritual state.  There was Panchanan Banerji who was one of the prominent disciples of Yogiraj,   had a disciple Varadhacharan and he had disciples Kaji Najrul Islam, and Subhashchandra Bose.  In this way, the succession of Yogis goes endless.

Yogiraj’s disciple Ramdhayal Mazumdar had a disciple Sant Seetharam Omkarnath.  Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj elaborately mentioned about all these saints in his work.  There was a shrine built in Puri in the name of Lahiri Mahashay by Bhupendra Sanyal who attained Dheeksha without visiting his house in Kashi.  Bhupendra Sanyal heard about Mahashay and admired him dearly, he sincerely prayed with all hearts.  One night while he was in deep sleep, Lahiri Mahashay appeared in his dream and gave Dheeksha to Sanyal.  In this way, though he did not receive Dheeksha personally from Lahiri Mahashay, with his intense faith and devotion he attained Dheeksha from Mahashay in his dreams.   Later when he arrived in Kashi, he asked Dheeksha from Yogiraj, Mahashay said “I have already given Dheeksha to you. So there is no meaning in giving Dheeksha again.”

Yogiraj had a nephew Tharaknath Sanyal, once he became severely ill, with the grace of Lahiri Mahashay he regained his good health, he was so surprised to see the supernatural powers of his uncle,  One day Sanyal said “ I want to meet your preceptor.” Sanyal thought if the disciple had these much divine powers, then the preceptor must be supreme in Yogic skills, he wanted to get maximum benefit out of the visit, Yogiraj said “ I asked my preceptor to visit, but he is not willing to do that,”  Yogis are visible only to a very few truly ascetic and pious people, Tharaknath Sanyal did not get Dharshan of Babaji, but a non-believer in Moradabad attained Dharshan of Babaji. 

Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj!

Chapter – 27

There was a mysterious incident happened to photographer Gangadhar.   Mahashay’s disciple Kalikumar Rai wanted to have a photograph with Mahashay, they made to sit Yogiraj in the middle and took a photograph.  The next day after washing the negative the photographer found the photo is fine but Yogiraj is missing.  There was another photographer who came took several shots not to repeat the previous mistake, and he too found that Mahashay was missing in the photograph.  He understood the supernatural powers of Yogiraj and bowed down before him.  He cried and said, “ Maharaj, kindly forgive my mistake, and let me have your picture.” Yogiraj said, “come tomorrow.” Later the photographer managed to get the picture of Mahashay that is widely circulated among the public. 

Once Yogiraj played a trick to his wife Kashimoni Devi, after giving Dheeksha to his wife, they rarely meet each other in the house, they do not spend together in a room,  all the household responsibilities were taken care by Kashimonidevi.   Yogiraj will be always with his devotees and disciple in the ground floor of the house.  One day he came up to meet Kashimonidevi, she shouted at him “ You are too busy with disciples and devotees the whole day, you have never bothered about me or children,  never known about managing affairs of the house, and the work taking place, etc..” seeing her angry, Lahiri Mahashay disappeared from her sight.  He said, “Look at this, are you seeing anything?” Kashimonidevi got really anxious; she did not expect that he would disappear like this.  She begged for pardon and requested him to appear before her.  Yogiraj produces noise from the corner of the room or outside, and continued to play this trick for a while, Kashimonidevi felt uneasy and asked him to appear before her.  She started crying thinking about she had committed an unpardonable mistake to her husband.  Soon Yogiraj appeared before her and said “Leave all the bondage to material things, and always yearn for supreme consciousness, once you attain the supreme bliss, you will never feel for any outward happiness or desire.  Do not worry, soon a disciple will come and give you money to run the house smoothly.” 

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.”