Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 10

Sri Amarnath Rai who was lived in Srihut district, Assam was a fervent devotee of Swami Bhoalanda Giri, his only son became ill, his health was deteriorating after several months of treatment, his entire family felt miserable.  Soon he received a message from Bholanandji to conduct Namasankeerthan and charities; there was nothing much written in the message other than these two sentences.  On the same night after the recitation of Nama, his son put his hands around his father’s neck and said “Father, I am feeling better now.”  The child was unconscious in the whole day till afternoon became alright by night, his father got shocked, he could not believe, with tears overflowing he hugged his son.  His son said “Father, why are you crying? I am alright now, a few minutes back Guruji Maharaj came, he sprinkled water on me from his Kamandalu, I am feeling good now. ” Amarnath Rai asked “ Guruji Maharaj came? When and where?” Amarnath Rai shocked, his son said “ He came a few minutes back, there was one more Baba with him,” at that moment the people assembled were confused and could not believe anything, he asked, “Did you recall the appearance of Guru Maharaj, could you describe please ?” His son said “He had long stature, medium built body, his head was covered with a turban, Kamandalu on hand and radiant body,” Amarnath Rai realized the boy was giving the right description of Guruji.  The boy said “Don’t you believe my words? He sprinkled water on me from his Kamandalu, see my hands and face, you can see the drops of water” People assembled were looked at the child in awe.  Amarnath Rai sincerely prayed to Guruji with all his heart.

A few days after that incident, Bholanandji, while he was in the Ashram in Haridwar, received a message from Amarnath Rai.  Bholanandji smiled and called his disciple “  I have received a message from Amarnath Rai from Srihut, he mentioned in his letter that I have visited his home in Srihut, Assam and cured his sick child.  You all know that I did not make any visit for the past few months; it is the pastimes of the Supreme Lord.  It is definite that if we pray sincerely with dedication and faith, he will shower his grace on all occasions. This is the reason I am telling you all to conduct meditation sincerely with intense devotion and faith, contemplate upon the Supreme Lord.  We do not know after how many births we have attained the birth of a human, human life is like a dewdrop, past and future is not with us, the present is with us, therefore always contemplate upon Paramathma,”

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 9

The famous Mathematician Somesh Chandra and his wife had shared a unique relationship; these couples were too affectionate with each other.  He lost his wife; in her absence, he slowly cultivated the sense of abandonment towards everything.  He spends a good part of his life in the veneration of Lord and recitation of Namasankeerthan.  He approached many preceptors seeking for Dheeksha, unfortunately, he could not make it real.  This Mathematician put forward a condition that he will choose a preceptor who can give Dheeksha to him and his deceased wife, honestly, this condition made the preceptors to keep him away.  It is believed that after death, the soul immerses with the five essential elements.  The Preceptors questioned him “how is it possible to recall the soul and give Dheeksha, which is already immersed in the five elements.    We are not a superhuman who can bring the dead person alive.”  But the Mathematician was not willing to accept any of these explanations; he continued his journey to several places in search of a preceptor who is willing to follow his condition.  Finally, he arrived at the hermitage of  Bholanandji and narrated his story, Bholanandji smiled and said “Don’t’ worry, everything will work the way you want.  I will give Dheeksha to both of you.” The mathematician could not believe his words; he was in a state of bliss.  He felt “ At last, I have made it, I have found my Guru.”  The mathematician had a doubt, “ How did I know my wife received Dheeksha or not. Is it possible for her to appear as an ordinary human being?”  Bholanandji said “Definitely, she will appear before you and sit with you to receive Dheeksha. You can see her before your eyes, but you have to promise me that you will not touch her.”  The mathematician readily agreed for the conditions of Bholanandji, an auspicious day has chosen to give Dheeksha to Mathematician and his wife, three seats were arranged and one for preceptor and another two for Mathematician and his deceased wife. The mathematician took his seat, and Bholanandji next to him, and Dheeksha rituals began.  

Mathematician looked at his left and startled,  he saw his wife seated next to him, and she had the same appearance, usual attire, and smile.  They looked at each other with intense love; soon he remembered the words of his preceptor not to touch her.  He controlled his senses, Bholanandji whispered Beejamanthra in his ears and later to his wife, they both prostrated before Bholanandji, soon his wife disappeared from the sight.  The mathematician was so thrilled and happy to see his wish was fulfilled after so long.  He shed tears of joy at the feet of Bholanandji.

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 8

Once Mahamahopadhyay Gopinath Kaviraj enquired Bholanandji about the significance and secrets of Ajapa Japa,  Bholanandji replied “ The primary organs of the respiratory system are lungs, which function to take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide,  Ajapa Japa Sadhana is the process of uniting  breathe with the sounds of Pranava Manthra.  The process of breathing begins the moment child comes out its mother’ womb and removed its umbilical code from its mother, the process of breathing continues from here till the individual declared as dead, while the child in the womb of its mother, it breathes with the help of umbilical code and consume liquids through it, the development in a child takes place with the breath of its mother.  When the child comes out of the mother’s womb, it will instantly persuade by illusion, the duration from birth to death is the journey of life.   The Ajapa Sadhana is the technique utilizing the breath as the prime source and blends it with the Pranava Manthra.  There are not many restrictions or physical exercises are involved in this practice of Ajapa Japa Sadhana and the fruit of this Sadhana depends on the commitment and devotion to it.”

A disciple cannot achieve the respect of his preceptor without the intense and devoted practice of Tapasya and meditation practices.  This intense practice of Tapasya removes impurities; it increases mental strength and physical stamina as well.  A Grihasthi has to follow all the Dharmic rites to obtain purity of mind and intellect, he has to perform all the spiritual and religious rites; he has to produce virtuous offspring to attain Moksha.  In the same manner, a preceptor and a disciple will have the relationship of father and son, a preceptor guides his disciple meticulously, ultimately it is the responsibility of the disciple to put great effort in the form of extreme penances, the vow of celibacy, and meditation for achieving spiritual heights.  Bholanandji was too strict to his disciple and was too kind to his devotees.

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 7

Bholanandji with his disciple arrived in the hermitage which was located in Prasthana, Kurukshetra. He narrated all that happened in the Himalaya during the Tapasya to his preceptor.  Gurudev was extremely happy at his advancement, he said “ I have given all that own by me, you are flawless now, my blessings are always with you.  You can build your own hermitage, you do not need my help anymore, and you are well capable to conduct your spiritual practices at your will.”  He continued Tapasya in Himalaya for several years and later he arrived in Lalthara in Haridhwar.  He liked this place for meditation and practices, soon his fame spread all over this place, his devotees and disciples grew in large numbers.  He had adopted the same practices and disciplinary methods of his preceptor.  He taught the disciple to work in agricultural fields, daily chores in the Ashram, cleaning, and maintenance, cooking meals for the Ashram people and devotees, engages in the practice of Yoga and meditation, daily rites, etc...  He used to impose strict punishments on the disciple who commit any fault or laziness at work.  When he becomes cool down, he calls for the disciple and showers an abundance of love.

Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 6

Once Bholanandji was sitting in Padmasana and conducting meditation, there appeared a bear and pounced upon him from the back, Bholanandji courageously fought with it, finally, he took the bear and thrown down the hill, he said “There you go I am going my own way.” and came out severely wounded.  He continued to explore the dense wood for Tapasya, soon he found difficulty in finding rooted vegetables or any meals, he continued Tapasya, without a meal, eventually, his body shown the sign of deterioration,  he was consuming leaves and water that all he could get in the wild forest.  In the summer, the watercourse also stopped, he came out a long way for fetching the water, and due to exhaustion, he was fallen unconscious in the water.  When he opened his eyes, saw a tribal man taking care of him, he had consumed a lot of water due to this his lungs were blocked.  The tribal man said “I do not know how you ended up in the water when I saw your body was floating on the water; I thought it is a lifeless body, but I realized the heartbeat, so I brought you here. Kindly treat this home like yours, you can relax here.”  With the help of the tribal man, Bholanandji got recovered from this incident.  Later, he gave Dheeksha to the tribal man, for his humility and kindness.  This tribal man was the first disciple of Bholananda Giri Swamiji.

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.