Yogiraj Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay

Pranams at the lotus feet of Yogiraj Lahiri Mahashay!

Chapter – 32

Sri Paramahamsa Yogananda describes an incident in his famous book “The  Autobiography of a Yogi”.  He had an opportunity to visit Kashi Moni Devi, wife of Late Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay in their residence in Kashi.  He introduced himself as the son of Bhagavathicharan Gosh and Gyanprabha Gosh, devoted disciples of Lahiri Mahashay.  Kashi Moni Devi was too old at that time, she had attractive features and good physique, she has managed to keep her health in under good control at that age too.  She invited Paramahamsa Yogananda with a motherly love; she took her room upstairs where a pristine bed of Lahiri Mahashay was kept as her veneration place.  She showed the place where Mahashay used to conduct meditation before giving Dheeksha to Kashi Moni Devi.  After receiving Dheeksha from Lahiri Mahashay and initiated her to Kriya Yoga, he never spent his nights in the same room with his wife.  He spent his whole life in the hall on the ground floor, most of the time he will be with his disciples, giving lectures on scriptures, or discussing spiritual matters hours and hours.  He hardly sleeps those days, he never felt the need for sleep, he engages in solid hours of Kriya Yoga and meditation. 

Once Kashi Moni Devi had a dream in that, her husband is undertaking meditation and several divine personalities were standing with folded hands before him, suddenly she got out of the sleep in utter shock and saw her husband practicing meditation sitting on the floor.  She thought it was a mere dream, she prostrated before her husband saying that she feels guilty for considering him as her husband, she had realized that he was not an ordinary human, he is divine personified.  Lahiri Mahashay asked her to prostrate before all those divine personalities, she sincerely followed the instructions of her husband. Kashi Moni Devi fell at his feet and said, “ Mahashay, kindly accept me as your disciple, forgive all my mistakes.” Mahashay took his wife who was fallen at his feet with tears overflowing, and said “ Lady, you need not feel guilty, finally you are qualified to become a disciple of mind, the time has arrived,  you will be receiving Dheeksha and lessons on Kriya Yoga, that would take you to the highest level of spirituality.”  Kashi Moni Devi received Dheeksha from Mahashay and became his disciple, and her two sons also attained Dheeksha from Mahashay.  After receiving Dheeksha from Mahashay, they had the relationship of preceptor and disciple; they never had the relationship of husband and wife afterward.

Yogi Sri Balanand Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balanand Bhramachari!

Chapter – 13

It was during the period of 1920,  Balanandji arrived in Gangonath Ashram, his preceptor Bhramanand Bhramachari organized a grand Maharudra Yagna, and Maha Mrithyujjaya Yagna, the preparation for the grand Yagna was taking in full swing, one evening Bhramanandji said to Balanand “ Bala, I am thinking of sacrificing my mortal coil which is perishable,” Balanandji said “ Why so suddenly Guruji? You can live several years with this mortal coil at your own will.” Bhramanandji said  “ No, Not any more, it is too old now,”  It was on the month Magh, on an auspicious day he undertook meditation in his chamber in the Ashram, he soon entered in transcendental state and never returned to real world, while Balanandji was in Tapasya on the river bank of Narmada, situated close to Ashram.  Suddenly he could envisage a brilliant light originated from the place where Bhramanandji undertook his meditation in the Ashram, this bright light took a dip in the waters of Narmada and disappeared in the sky.  Soon Balanandji understood that Yogeeshvar Bhramandji left his mortal coil and attained union with the Bramham.

Balanandji was the prominent disciple of Bhramanand Bhramachari, he does not want to live in the Gangonath Ashram after the Mahasiddhi of his Guruji.  Though the Ashram responsibilities fell upon the first disciple Balanandji, he offered all those responsibilities to the next disciple Keshavanandji and returned to Deoghar.   Gradually the number of disciples of Balanandji increased.  Once Balanandji left his Ashram located in Karnibag, Deoghar, and settled in Baidhyanath Dham, he attained Mahasamadhi in the midnight.  A divine soul started its spiritual journey at the age of nine from the shrine of Ujjain Mahakal attained unison with the Bramham in the Baidhyanath Jyotirlinga Kshethra.

Yogi Sri Balanand Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balanand Bhramachari!

Chapter – 12

Thapovanparvath is the divine land of spirituality, here is Balanandji got the Dharshan of his mother Narmada Bai.  After the death of Ramcharan, his wife established an Ashram, Balanandji lived in this Ashram and guided several people through the divine path of spirituality, he elevated many souls from sufferings and miseries of worldly existence.  The two disciple Magadhi and Poornanandswami lived with Balanand Bhramachari, soon many disciples like Krishna Bandhopadhyay,  Prangopal Mukhopadhyay was joined with them.  Balanandji used to say “when a person passes in four tests like ego, pride, jealousy and desire, then he will qualify to stay as a disciple.”  Balanandji carefully chose his disciples, like the gold is put in the blazing fire to create an exquisite piece of jewels, before accepting them as a disciple, he had to go through many tests which requires mental strength as well as spiritual knowledge, he was treated the people of different Ashrama Dharma with great love and care, a Bhramachari needs to undertake intense religious and spiritual practices, strict celibacy, Yogic practices, sense of selflessness, simplicity, humanity, etc.. A Grahasthi needs to follow all the Dharmic rights, morality, discipline, etc..  He always worked for the welfare of his disciples and his devotees.

Balanandji lived in Baranagar, Kolkata for a few days.  This place was always crowded with devotees and disciples.  One day Yatheendhra Mohan Thakur sends a messenger to invite Balanandji to his home, those days it was a practice to invite holy men to home and get their blessings for the welfare of the family.  Balanandji sarcastically said, “ Yatheendhra Mohan is a nobleman, I have heard of him, people here call me the same, if two noble men meet together what is the harm in it, I was expecting him here.”  Balanandji narrated a story to the people assembled there.  Once a saint was settled on the entry point of the Kingdom, he was seated in the middle of the pathways, the King was supposed to arrive on the pathway that day to make country visit and its subjects, the King’s men and people warned the Sanyasin to move away from the pathway, respectable personalities compelled Sanyasin to move away from the place, Sanyasin said “Tell your King that one Maharaj is sitting in the middle of the pathway.” People were alarmed at the answer of the saint and conveyed the message to the King.  The King got out of the palanquin and rushed to the saint, he prostrated before the saint and said “I have heard you are Maharaj, where is your army?” Sannyasin said “ Why should I need army men? I have no enemies in this world.”King laughed and asked, “Where is your wealth?” Sannyasin smiled and said “ Why should I need to keep wealth? I have no expenses, I do not need meals to survive, I do not need expensive shelter to live, I take shelter under trees, I eat root vegetables and on alms, I do not even need clothes, so I do not need any wealth.” King reverentially prostrated before Sannyasin, and silently moved through the other side of the pathway.  The messenger of the Yatheendhra Mohan Thakur conveyed all the messages to his Master.  He felt so embarrassed at his act; soon he arrived to meet Balanandji and reverentially greeted each other.  

Yatheendhra Mohan Thakur asked Balanandha Bhramachari “What are the duties of a Samsari/Grihastha,? He is already attached to the worldly bondage, how can he achieve the highest of the piousness in spirituality?”  Balanandji said “ all that wealth and material possessions remain with the Grihastha can be utilized for taking minimal pleasures in it, but a Grihastha should always concentrate on spending a major part of the wealth for performing charity, spending the wealth on religious and spiritual rites.   All that you need to bring some changes in perception and attitude.  You have to turn all your thoughts towards the supreme spirit, not on to you and one should stop keep feeding the senses.  It will remove ego, it will give you a new insight that soul is none other than supreme spirit.”

Yogi Sri Balanand Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balanand Bhramachari!

Chapter – 11

There was another fervent disciple of Balanand Bhramachari, he was Dhayanidhi who was living in an Ashram established by Deoghar Maharaj, he was living his son in the Ashram, one night his son got bitten by a venomous serpent, but Dhayanidi was not alarmed, he sincerely prayed to his Guru, while he was meditating he could envisage an miraculous sight,  in that Balanandji with a trident chasing behind the evil spirits who were trying to enter into the Ashram.  Dhayanidhi’s son got recovered from the serpent bite miraculously. 

Balanandji was undergoing extreme penance in the Thapovan near Deoghar, he was sitting inside the cave, he was on trans state, after few hours he got out of the meditation and opened his eyes, saw a huge serpent with its hood standing before him.  This serpent has long hairs on its mouths like the beard of human,  Balanandji understood it must not be an ordinary serpent.  It must be a noble-soul in the form of a serpent taking a test on him.  Balanandji assumed Thratakamudra and fixed his gaze on the eyes of the serpent, soon the serpent withdrew its hood and moved away silently from the cave.

Balanandji was sleeping covered in a woolen blanket, in the night he felt somebody removed the woolen blanket from his body and thrown away. His eyes were opened, saw the blanket was away from him; someone was standing close to him and showing gestures to go to the hill.  He immediately went climbing the hill and arrived in a cave, usually, it remains locked in the morning hours, but the doors of the cave were open, the person who took Balanandji entered into the cave, he was followed by Balanandji.  The cave was filled with darkness, Maharaj was searching for a matchbox, soon the light spread all over the cave, but Balanandji could not see the person who took him to cave, he was a little confused about whether he was in dream or awakening state, eventually he entered in trans.  The next day his disciples found Balanandji was missing in the Ashram so they came up the hill and entered into the cave in search of him.  He was in a transcendental state, It was an afternoon at that time, he got out of the meditation from the voices of his disciples.

Yogi Sri Balanand Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balanand Bhramachari!

Chapter – 10

Balanand Bhramachari used to give lectures to his disciples “Whenever you meet divine personalities, Yogis, Saints who are enriched with nectar like spiritual knowledge, never hesitate to get closer to them and take the opportunity to learn that supreme knowledge.”  He sincerely followed what he had preached.” Balanandji’s preceptor was Bhramand Bhramachari, and Gaurishankar Maharaj, although there were many divine souls and saints in his life who showered an abundance of spiritual knowledge upon him.  He was taught Hatha Yoga by Sage Markandeya who immerses in the meditation on the river banks of Narmada.  Mandaleshwar of  Kashi and Ramgiriji of Dhruveshwar Mutt taught intricate knowledge of Vedantha and various philosophies.    Balanandji lived with Mahatma Manasagiri who resides at Thriyuvi Narayan in Uttarakhand for some time, he learned various sacred Manthra from him, he had a close association with Yogiraj Lahiri Mahashay too.

Balanandji’s fame spread across the regions, numerous disciples and devotees were benefited with the Dharshan of Balanand Bhramachari.   Ramcharan Bandhopadhyay who was popularly known as “Rambabu’ was an important disciple of Balanandji.  There was an interesting myth behind the acceptance of Rambabu as a disciple of Blanandji who was after returning from Kamakhya shrine took a journey through Bengal.  One day he arrived in Ranaghat, Ramcharan was working in Railway at that time, he was in huge trouble, there was a train accident happened in Ranaghat and many were killed and injured.  All the blames were fallen upon Ramcharan for not performing his duty properly and his job was at stake.  Ramcharan’s mother was highly devoted and spiritually involved; she continued her sincere prayers at the feet of his beloved Lord.  There was something she could hear her heart saying “do not worry, there is a Saint has arrived in your home, all the troubles will go away.”   Immediately her eyes fallen on the saint with heavy matted hair locks and great effulgence, entering inside her home.  He asked Ramcharan for the skin of the animal, he knows that Ramcharan is a skillful hunter.  Ramcharan was stood with great reverence, he showed the skin of animals to the saint but he does not like any of them.   Ramcharan was attracted towards the saint immediately, he repeatedly witnessed the saint in his dreams, after that Ramcharan and his family became the disciple of Balanandji, and he became one of the important disciples of Balanandji.   Once Ramcharan had to undergo surgery, he refused to have anesthesia, he was just remembering the feet of his preceptor and operation went on well.  After some time he received a message from Balanandji who was taking Tapasya in Girinarparvath, one day while he was on meditation, he could envisage the operation of Ramcharan, and he was not feeling any pain at all, Ramcharan was extremely happy to receive the message from his preceptor.

Yogi Sri Balanand Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balanand Bhramachari!

Chapter – 9

Balanandji arrived in Tharakeshwar after returning from Kamakhya, while traveling through the district of Hubli, he remembered a very old shrine of Lord Shiva located in Jaleshwar, he traveled through the woods and arrived in Jaleshwar at night.   He took ablutions in the temple pond and arrived at the sanctum where the Linga was located, and immersed in meditation.  He had a unique experience here, he was feeling that he is sinking deep into the four walls of the shrine, he was going through mixed emotions and trepidation, soon he could hear a divine voice “ You contemplate upon Panchamundi throne and recite Aghoramanthra,” he followed the divine instruction.  He continued recitation all night and came out of the shrine in the morning.

Once, Balanandji was traveling in the woods of Uttarakhand,  he met a divine personality and had discussions, Balanandji’s disciple Hemanand Bandhopadhyay described the incident beautifully.  There was a region called Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, Balanandji lived with a prominent Swamiji Gomathi for some time.    One day they were seated in a place, at that moment a noble-soul arrived here and had the Dharshan of these saints, they three had a discussion for some time and the saint returned.  These two saints heard a loud voice “ Jai Gurudev, Jai Gurudev”, so they came out their Ashram and witnessed a miraculous incident. The saint who visited them a few minutes ago was clapping his hands vigorously, he was loudly pronouncing ‘Jai Gurudev, Jai Gurudev,”  his feet were not on the ground, he was slowly elevated from the ground and raised towards hills and mountains and disappeared in the highest peaks.  Later Balanandji felt very disappointed for not having a proper introduction to each other.  Balanandji asked Gomathi Swamiji about the whereabouts of the saint arrived to meet them, even Swamiji was not aware of this Yogi, but he could not get any proper replay other than he had seen this Yogi once or twice moving through the sky, he must be residing up in the hill and there is no specific idea of why he is taking a visit to the foot of the hills. He must have attained the supernatural power with Yogic practices.  Even Balanandji attained various Siddhi with his rigorous Yogic practices and meditation.

Yogi Sri Balanand Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Balanand Bhramachari!

Chapter – 8

During Narmada Parikrama, Balanandji had witnessed many miracles of Ma Narmada.  Many a time, her Abhayahastha protected him from death.  Once Balanandji arrived in Kamakhya Theerth, he had Dharshan of Ma Kamakhya and spent several days in the hills situated close to this shrine and engaged in spiritual practices.  He visited various sacred shrines close to this place, he had an attack of small-pox, he was severely ill and became too weak.  He was completely immersed in the meditation, at this moment a divine girl child appeared before him and said “ Babaji, you don’t worry, you will not die, you have to leave this place immediately.” Saying so, the girl child disappeared from his sight.  Balanandji had fallen in deep sleep.  The next day when he opened his eyes, he was all fine but too tired to walk around.  He managed to arrive near a well, the people assembled were poured water on Balanandji, and it gave relief from his trouble of small-pox.  He was too hungry, but he was not in a position to consume the meal, one pious man cooked Kichadi for Balanandji, he consumed the meal and felt better.