Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 14

Once the entire villagers were afflicted with the small-pox, it created huge chaos among the people, they were forced to leave the village and their properties behind, and people were panicked and rushed to various directions with no hopes.  Lokenathji was in his hermitage undertaking meditation, he could realize the pathetic state of the people, and soon he entered in a transcendental state.  Lokenathji arrived in the dense wood where he could see Matha Sheethala who was angrily leaving the village.  She was too unhappy with the evilness, selfishness, and inhuman deeds of the people.  Lokenathji  stood before her and putting a sudden halt to her movement, he requested her ‘You are the mother of the people in this Universe, how can you leave like this while your children are in a wretched state.  Kindly go back to your children and take care of them.”  Matha Sheethala was calmed by Lokenathji and she returned to the village soon the peace was restored.

One day Babaji was giving lectures on mortality, he explained to his devotees assembled “ The supreme Lord assumed the form of Ram and Krishna, he lived like an ordinary human on the Earth, he allowed himself to go through the pains, afflictions, miseries, and grief of the worldly existence.  He incarnated on the Earth to reinstate righteousness, none of the afflictions could deviate them from their objective, they become an object of worship to the common people, when their purpose of the incarnation was accomplished, they left the Earth and returned to their supreme abode.”  In that huge crowd of devotees, Babaji announced his decision to leave his mortal coil, it was extremely shocking news for his disciples, King, and the devotees.  Malini Ma said “ Babaji, you are Mahapurusha, you can live in this world as long as you wish, why you want to discard this body.  Kindly do not leave us.”  Babaji said “Ma, This body is perishable, Yogis have no death. I will not leave you all, where will I go, I will be here always, and I am leaving this perishable body, that’s it.” After saying so, he entered inside his hermitage, the people assembled were reciting sacred chants.  Mahayogi Lokenath  was 160 years old,  it was on the 19^th day of Jyeshta/ 3^rd June, 1890,  he was seated on Gomukh Yogasana posture, as usual, went to transcendental state and the eyes were wide open, it was around 11.30 in the afternoon Mahayogi left his mortal coil and attained union with the Bramham.

Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 13

Once the Ashram was filled with devotees and disciple,  Shyam Bakshi, a disciple of Goswamiji came rushing in search of Babaji and cried before him describing the miserable state of his preceptor Bijoy Krishna Goswami who was affected by pneumonia, doctors left any hope, he was so worried about the poor health of his preceptor.    Babaji took a test of his Guru Bhakti, he proved himself as the sincere disciple of Bijoy Krishna Goswamiji.  Babaji invited him to take a meal, but his disciple was not willing to eat anything thinking about the ill health of his preceptor.  Lokenathji pacified him and took inside the hermitage and served his meal.  Soon Babaji entered in a state of transcendental, people could not recognize anything, Babaji arrived at Bijoy Krishna Goswamiji’s hermitage at Dharbhanga, where Goswamiji was in his bed. Babaji said “You are my beloved Krishna,”  he smeared some herbal paste on the stomach of Goswamiji.   While in the Ashram, Shyam Bhakshi looked at Babaji who was in a state of transcendental. After a few minutes, Bijoy Krishna Goswamiji rose from his bed and started speaking normally.

Once, Bijoy Krishna Goswamiji with his wife Yogamaya and few of his disciples arrived in the Barodi Ashram.  After the formal introduction to his wife, Lokenathji went into a state of ecstasy after listening to his wife ‘Yogamaya’, he approached Ma Yogamaya and asked: “ Ma, could you feed me with your hands.”  The thirty-five-year-old Yogamaya was too shy, smiled at the Babaji of 156 years old.  Soon meal was prepared by Yogamaya and food was fed by her to Babaji.  His interaction with Yogamaya was like little Krishna’s communication with his dear mother Yasodha.

Once the King arrived in the hermitage of Babaji Lokenath with a request to allow him to take a photograph, Queen wanted to worship him, Babaji laughed at the request of the King.  Babaji was surprised and took the King and camera person inside the Hermitage.  He seated majestically on his seat in Gomukh Yogasana posture and pleased his devotee.

Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 12

One day Babaji was giving lectures to villagers, as usual, the old woman arrived with a bowl of milk to feed Babaji, he invited someone to partake the milk, people assembled were shocked to see that it was a venomous serpent.  Babaji guided the serpent to climb the small stairs of the Ashram,  and said: “ It is Malini Ma brought the milk, drink as much as you want.” The serpent took milk from the bowl, after drinking the milk the serpent raised its hood and left silently.  Babaji drank the remaining milk saying “It is Prasadh.” The people assembled were terrified to see that.

Once people were assembled in the Ashram to listen to the speeches of Babaji, Malini Ma served them with the offerings, suddenly they could hear the loud roar of tiger, this Ashram was situated close to the dense forest, the people ran off to different directions after hearing the sound of the roar.   A few of them took shelter at Babaji’s feet.  Babaji was very calm as usual, he took a bow full of meal and went close to the tiger, and said: “ You must be feeling very hungry right.  Eat this.” Smiled and said “ Eat as much as you want.  See how many people are scared of you; I have already made arrangements for your food.” The tiger finished the meal and left the place silently.  Lokenath Babaji never find any difference between humans or animals, he treated them equally, he conversed with them in his usual peaceful and pleasant manner.

Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 11

Lokenathji settled in the Ashram in Bar0di, Sonargaon Upazila, in Narayanganj District.  This Asham was built by a respectable person and it was meticulously followed all the spiritual rites and fire sacrifices.  Babaji spends hours and hours imparting knowledge on scriptures to the people of this village.  One day Babaji instructed his disciple to rush to the shore of Ganga, to receive two holy men to Ashram; it was Bijoy Krishna Goswami and his disciple who witnessed the great Baba Lokenath who is beyond religion or form.  After witnessing the serene form of Babaj, he forgot his hunger and tiredness, he was fed by Lokenathji.

There was a grand feast organized in the Ashram for serving villagers.  There were many disciples and devotees of Baba Lokenathji were present to partake the meal, suddenly a dog entered from nowhere in the kitchen and put its mouth in the food which was kept for serving the villagers, one of the organizers Madhu  took a wooden stick and bet the dog ruthlessly.  It ran off from his sight and disappeared.  Madhu who was taking care of the feast came to Babaji’s chamber and complaint that the dog spoiled the meal and he also conveyed the message that he did not leave the dog like that, Babaji said, “ Yeah I know, You bet the dog at your heart's content.” Madhu was surprised to hear Babaji who removed his upper cloth and showed the bruises on his upper back.   People assembled were shocked and felt awful. Babaji smiled and said, “You bet me very badly indeed.” Madhu felt terribly guilty and fallen at the feet of Babaji who advised him to “control your anger; otherwise, it will kill a person.”

Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 10

He took Babaji in his small cottage and received him with all honors,  he introduced Babaji to his wife who prostrated before him.  Soon two of his sons arrived there and insulted Babaji, the father of young men does not like their behavior at all, husband and wife shouted at the arrogant behavior of their sons, “ This Mahapurusha is our guest, you have no right to insult him.” His son forcefully took Babaji out of their house, husband and wife cried and ran after him, the husband got intense chest pain and fallen unconscious and died.  The two sons saw the pathetic state at home and rushed to   Babaji.  They took Babaji on his shoulder; soon a respectable person in the village arrived and shouted at them for their arrogance, asked them to stay away from the noble-person.  He came closer to Babaji and said “ Maharaj, I feel extremely calm and serene at your presence.   You are not an ordinary person, where are you living here?” Lokenathji said, “ I am also an ordinary human being like you.” He invited Babaji to his home, Babaji said: “ I have this whole Universe as my home, this widespread sky is my roof and the Earth is my shelter place.” Babaji continued pointing at a place “I prefer to stay in that funeral ground which is our ultimate resting place.”  The respectable person said, “ Maharaj, order me, I can build an Ashram for you.” Babaji said, “ As you wish.”  In a short period, a hermitage was built in the funeral ground, there was an old lady who used to serve Lokenath Babaji in the Ashram, she brings milk for him on a regular basis, Babaji used to address her ‘Ma’.

There was a royal family in Kolkata, the king, and wife had a dream of a noble-man with matted hair locks and pristine white robe, they came to know from Rajapurohith about the miracles of Baba Lokenath.   They discussed the noble saint Baba Lokenath who arrived in Sonargaon and settled in  Barodi Ashram.  Maharani requested King to make a visit to the Ashram with her, King was not willing to visit any place without proper invitation, she said it is the place of Mahapurusha where people do not require an invitation to visit him.  King and the Queen made arrangements to visit Baba Lokenath.  They reached the hermitage of Babaji, Baba Lokenath walked at the entrance of the Ashram to receive the King who was hesitant to visit places without invitation and the Queen who was not in their Royal attire. Babaji expressed his awe, they both prostrated before Babaji.  On that day a grand recital of scriptures and Keerthans were conducted, the whole village was assembled to witness this marvelous occasion.

Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 9

Once a few Bhramin priests were finding it difficult to remove the knots in the sacred thread which they were holding in their hands, Lokenathji arrived at this spot and looked at the sacred thread, soon the knots were removed effortlessly, the Bhramin priests fallen at the feet of Baba.  Lokenathji advised them to recite Gita on a regular basis, which could teach them how to remove the knots of worldly bondage and attain the supreme abode of Lord.

Lokenathji arrived in a village of Sonargaon, in Bengal, there was a pious young couple lived in this village.  The husband was wrongly charged in a murder case, he pleaded his wife not to believe all the rumors, and he sincerely prayed his Guruji and hoped he would do some miracle to relieve him from this trouble.  On the day of the verdict, he came out of the home with his advocate.  He saw a Baba sitting on the pathway in a Gomukh Yogasana posture, he waved and called out for the man and said: “The person who committed the crime will definitely get punished, you do not worry, you will be freed soon.”  He was surprised at his words but he did not pay much attention to Baba and hurried to court with his advocate.  Finally, the verdict was heard, he was released from the charge of crime which he was not committed. He rushed out of the courtroom and came running towards Baba, and fallen at his feet and wept bitterly. Babaji described the significance of the performance of righteousness; it was his Dharma saved him from the clutches of evil.  He became inconsolable, Babaji said, “ Go, go to your Badi/house, take rest for a while, you are emotionally drained.” He was not willing to move an inch from Babaji, he felt intense peace and serenity in his presence, and he does not want to leave Babaji and stayed at the feet of him. 

Mahayogi Baba Lokenath Bhramachari

Pranams at the lotus feet of Baba Lokenath Maharaj!

Chapter – 8

Once Lokenathj witnessed the forest fire engulfing the life of a Vaishnava saint who was in deep meditation in the wood of Chandranath hills, he put off the fire with his Manthrasiddhi and saved his life. It was Saint Bijoy Krishna Goswami who was saved from the forest fire.  When Goswamiji opened his eyes, he witnessed a saint in a white robe, grey matted hair locks,  and the effulgent face disappeared from his sight.  Bijoy Krishna Goswami conducted a rigorous search for the Yogi but he could not meet him.  Later he was initiated to Sanyasa and renamed as Sri Acchyuthananda Saraswathi.  Several years after that incident, one day he received an invitation from Lokenathji to meet in his Ashram, he hired a boat and arrived in Sonargaon with his disciple.  When he met Lokenathji, he was in a state of utter dismay and immediately recognized the Yogi who saved his life with his heroic and fearless acts from the forest fire.  He fallen at the feet of the Yogi, they embraced each other.  Bijoy Krishna Goswami found Baba Lokenathji was the younger brother to his great grandfather and he is above 156 years of age.

Once Lokenathji arrived in a village where there were a few Muslim villagers assembled, they received Lokenathji with great reverence and gave a seat.  He asked for something to drink, the Muslim people said that they are not supposed to give him anything to eat or drink, because they are not Hindus,  he is a Mahapurusha, he is a Bhramin, therefore they have no right to serve a Hindu saint.  Lokenathji said “What’s that Hindu or Muslim, we are one, we have no difference at all, I am Hindu, I am Muslim and Christian as well. I am beyond all the religion.” and he asked them to bring water.  He happily drank the water and blessed them.