Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 5

Once Gulab Giri Maharaj shouted at Bholanand “ Get out of my hermitage, go out wearing a loincloth, you are no longer belongs to this Mutt,” He sincerely followed the order of Guruji and came out of the hermitage and stood under a tree, it was one icy cold night, he had nothing other than a loincloth on his body, an icy wind was piercing through his skin, he sincerely prayed “ Gurudev, this body is yours, I cannot leave your shelter, I do not want to go anywhere,  do as you wish.  I will not leave your feet until I leave this world.”

The next morning Guruji came out of the hermitage and saw his favorite disciple Bholanand standing under a tree, holding both the hands together close to the body, Gulab Giri Maharaj asked “ Why are you standing here? No prayer or meditation? Go to the shrine and make arrangements for the worship.” Bholanandji was well aware of his Gurudev's nature, he prostrated before Guruji and entered inside the Ashram.

One day Gurudev called Bholanand and said “ Vathsa,  you have to conduct penance for a few days, and you will be accompanied by three Bhramacharis, you come back after finishing the practice, I will let you know what to do next.”  Bholanandji and three Brahmachari's arrived in Himalaya,  found a cave on a beautiful mountain peak, they have chosen it as their Karmabhoomi, there was a river close to this place, this mountain peak was surrounded by dense forest in all four sides.  They have cleaned the cave and engaged in meditation, they constructed bone fire in the night to protect themselves from the wild animals and they conducted the recitation of Manthra.  One night, the fire went off in the middle of the night, they saw a bear with its tongue hanging out, it was standing on the entry point of the cave, its eyes were sparkling.  Bholanandji advised the Bhramacharis not to get scared, sit on their place and keep reciting the Manthra, pray to the preceptor he will protect.  One of the Brahmachari Prakashchandra was too nervous; suddenly he rose from the seat to hide in a safe place.   The bear pounced upon the Bhramachari and dragged him to the woods.  Bholanandji said “If he had firm faith and recited Manthra, remembering the preceptor, he would have been saved from the bear, a preceptor never leaves his disciple in troubles, and he always protects them.  Therefore Prakashchandra is responsible for his  death.”

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 4

Bhola Das returned to his preceptor and said “ Gurudev, I have followed your order,”  The preceptor asked “ Did your mother or anyone recognize you or not? Bhola Das said, “ No, Gurudev, none recognized me.”  The preceptor Gulab Giri said “ Narayan Giri, you can take care of the Ashram like old days, I will keep giving you instruction at the right time.” Bhola Das’s Sanyasashram name was Narayan Giri, he replied, “As you wish Gurudev.”

Narayan Giri took care of all the responsibilities of Ashram which had several cows, buffalos and lands.  The disciples at the Ashram had to look after the daily chores of Ashram, feeding cows and buffalos, and take them for grazing and milking them, bring woods from the forest for cooking meals, preparing meals for all the disciples and devotees, maintaining the shrine and Ashram pristine and if the preceptor find any fault in these work he will not tolerate, severe punishments were imposed for the mistakes. 

In olden days, the education was provided in ‘Gurukul’ where the children were sent to the hermitage of the preceptor, they have to perform various tasks like learn discipline, lessons on scriptures, the performance of religious rites, working in the Ashram and bring necessities like wood, and vegetables, bringing waters from the river, milking cows, preparing meals, begging alms, worship Lord and assisting others in daily chores of Ashram and work on agricultural land. They have to take part in meditation, Yoga, worship of Lord and serve the preceptor whenever he requires.  The child has to undergo strict discipline, follow rules and regulations, serve the preceptor and learn the lessons on Veda and scriptures.  These responsibilities were imposed upon the children to increase their mental strength and physical stamina so that they can take spiritual practices at a higher level and achieve the greatest results.  This was the method adopted by the preceptors who prepare his disciple to an eligible candidate for attaining the greatest heights in spiritual life.  Some children will succeed in their journey, others may run off from the Hermitage during this process.  The preceptors make the children work so hard, so that their inner impurities will get washed off, and they will realize the importance of being responsible and spiritually learned.   There will be hardly any time left for relaxation for the children, if any fault in the work, the preceptor will get annoyed.  If a disciple does not understand the likes and dislikes of his preceptor, he cannot achieve any success in spiritual life.  The life in Gurukul was like shoveling gold bars into the blazing fire to make an exquisite piece of jewel. The preceptor stands as a ladder and a good support system with his disciple throughout the journey of spirituality.  A child named Bhola Das from a small village of Bengal arrived in the Ashram and achieved the status of great Yogi Narayan Giri with his hard work and perseverance.

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 3

Days went on and on, in due course of time Nanda Devi gave birth to a child, and the child was named as Bhola Das, keeping in mind the blessings of Lord Mahadeva.  She gave birth to the third son, and the child was named Shankar Das.  Bhola Das’s sacred thread ceremony was conducted with elaborate rituals, after few days of Upanayana, Bhola Das went missing like his elder brother.  They have conducted a rigorous search but it went in vain.  Once again, the house of Das family went in despair and distress.  After this incident, Nanda Devi gave birth to a fourth child, and the child was named Sundar Das.  Nanda Devi used to recollect the dream in that Lord Mahadeva predicted the future of her children, she was aware of the fact that one day Shankar Das would take up his spiritual journey leaving the family behind and it became true.  Finally, Sundar Das remained at home.  Bhrama Das was quite sure that this child will not leave the family and parents.  They found immense pleasure in the association of Sundar Das, they showered all their love for the three children on him.

Several days passed, Nanda Devi slowly came out of the pain of separation from her three elder sons.  Whenever the thought rushes about the children who left home, she would shed tears in silence.  Sundar Das immersed in the service of elderly parents.  Once Sundar Das and Bhrams Das were out of the house for family work, Nanda Devi was working in the back yard.  She could hear some voice at the door “Jai Shankar” Nanda Devi though it must be some saint begging for alms.  She arrived at the door and saw a saint in a saffron robe.  The saint touched the feet of Nanda Devi, she was shocked and withdrawn herself from the doorsteps, she said in a wavering voice “ You are an ascetic, I am a Grihastha, you are not supposed to touch my feet.  Why did you make me a sinner,” The saint said, “ Ma, I considered you as my mother, that is why I have touched your feet, kindly bless me.”  Nanda Devi said “ You are holy man, you should bless me.  Kindly wait here. I will bring some alms for you.”  Nanda Devi returned with alms, but she could not see the Saint.  She searched for him on the main pathways of the village but she could not find him.  She had various flashing thought, there was no Sanyasin left home without receiving alms, and none tried to touch her feet, “was that my Rathan?” she tried to recollect the facial appearance of the Sannyasin, she realized that it was her son Bhola Das.  She became inconsolable, fallen unconscious at the door.

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 2

One day Nanda Devi was in deep sleep, she saw a dream in that Lord of Lords standing before her and said “Daughter, why are you so distressed? Your son is in search of spirituality, he went to search for the ultimate truth, he will not come back, and he has embraced Sanyasa.  He is conducting Tapasya, it would bring welfare to your family as well. You want a son right? I will give you a boon, you will become the mother of three virtuous offspring, but these three children would become great Yogis.  The youngest one will be with you. You will be respected and honored in the whole world for becoming the mother of great Yogis.  Your children will remove the sufferings and miseries of worldly existence.” Lord Mahadev disappeared from her sight.  Nanda Devi opened her eyes, she was shocked and raised from her bed, and she saw her husband was in deep sleep.  There was the chirping of birds in the early hours of dawn,  Nanda Devi wakes him up and narrated her dream.  He said “dreams in the early hours of dawn would become true, hope we will have the fortune to become parents of virtuous offspring.  You continue your prayers and worship. Lord Mahadeva will not leave us in distress.”

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 1

Smt. Nanda Devi and her husband Bhrama Das had no offspring after several years of marriage.  The elderly women of the village advised Nanda Devi to conduct fasting, worship Peepal tree, conduct veneration of Lord Mahadev, and perform charity to saints and holy men.   Nanda Devi sincerely followed the advice of elderly people and conducted the veneration of Lord of Lords Mahadeva.   In due course of time Nandadevi conceived a child and the child was named as Rathan Das, it was the traditional practice in their household to address the firstborn in the name of paternal grandfather.  Rathan Das was brought up in a happy and loving atmosphere.  This child has grown up to an adult, soon the boy went missing.  Nanda Devi and Bhrama Das shattered at the missing of their only child Rathan Das, they were tormented at his separation, and they lost peace and happiness.   They were tortured by his thoughts without knowing the whereabouts of the child.  They were constantly worried at the thought of “Where did he go? How did he manage to get meals? Where did he sleep?”.  When Rathan Das was at home, he never asks for a meal, it was his mother dutifully feed him on time.  The parents were spent their days in tears and distress.   She sincerely prayed to Lord Mahadev to bring her son back to their life otherwise they would give up their life in grief.  The parents were inconsolable at the separation of their son. 

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

Chapter – 9

Once a twice-born approached Kamali for water to quench his thirst while serving him water they both had the discussion about 'Kumara Sambhava' the great work of poet Kalidasa,  the twice-born felt the girl is highly educated with the knowledge in scriptures, he admired her, she introduced herself as the daughter of Sant Kabir Das but the stranger who belongs to the twice-born family felt that he had committed sin by accepting water from a Muslim girl.   Sant Kabir Das advised the stranger if the heart is pure there is no need for atonement, water has pure nature, and if the mind is impure the water also reflects the same.  The stranger was extremely impressed at the viewpoint of Kabir Das, wanted to prostrate before him.  Kabir Das introduced himself as the father of Kamali.  The twice-born introduced himself as Hardev Bhatt, the son of illustrious preceptor Mahadev Bhatt.   He was anxious that if he did not perform any atonement for his sin, his clan will discard him from their religion.  Sant Kabir Das enlightened him with the knowledge that a sacred thread across the chest will not make a twice-born flawless, an individual who attains the knowledge of Bramham which has the nature of supreme bliss is called Bhramin and described the knowledge of Bramham with the marvelous verses of “ Bhaja Govindam” written by Sri Adhi Shankara Bhagavadpadha.  Hardev Bhatt felt ashamed of his thought, Sant Kabir Das advised him to follow the instructions of his father.  Later, Hardev Bhatt revealed his desire to become a disciple of Kabir Das and started living in the Ashram.

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

 Chapter – 8

Once, Kabir Das invited holy men for a meal, Loi found there was not enough grains to cook, Kabir Das Maharaj said, “ Do something and prepare the meal for the saints, you can pledge anything you want.”  She went to borrow grains from a merchant, he said he cannot give grains on loan, he had wicked idea to persuade her, she remembered her husband’s order to pledge anything and bring grains, she reluctantly agreed for his wish and brought grains, and a sumptuous meal was served to the holy men.  Loi could not control her tears; she wept bitterly and informed her husband all that happened in the shop.  On that night, the merchant was impatiently waiting for Loi he could see her with her husband in front of his home, suddenly he lost eyesight, and soon he regained the sight and saw Lord Rama in place of Kabir Das.  The merchant fell at the feet of Kabir Das and Loi begging for forgiveness. He revealed his willingness to serve Kabir Das, but he was advised to perform his duty.

Kabir Das had to face the rage of Muslims who blamed them that he is too compassionate towards holy men and Hindus, he clearly mentioned that he never look upon the religion, he always serves people who suffer from hunger and thirst.  Finally, the villagers threatened the couple to leave the village otherwise they have to face serious consequences.  They were not scared of the threat, they amicably left the village and ancestral home.

Kabir Das and family settle out of the village, in a small hermitage surrounded by the rich natural beauty.  Once his son Kamal asked for the necessity   of belief/religion in human life, Sant Kabir Das explained, everyone should have a belief to know the true nature of the self which is none other than supreme spirit, he explained the essentialities of Dharma which is the essence of humanity and religion as well.