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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 37

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Gather together and listen further; I tell what followed. The great yogi renowned and honored was Muni Atmanand.

For eight watches, only nine ghadis short of a full day, he remained in blissful samadhi, having made his own soul one with Brahman, in an unparalleled way,

able to sustain his body for long periods, and equally able to give it up at once - by the grace of his own guru he had become independent and self-mastered in this.

By his own guru's grace he had attained the perfection of yoga; his disciples, gathered in number, surrounded this great sage, Muni Atmanand.

Coming before him with resolve, Uddhav offered him salutation - such was Muni Atmanand, exceedingly powerful and renowned.

Bowing to him with certainty, Uddhav remained a month upon that mountain. Observing Atmanand's practice, he reflected deeply within his mind:

"This one, in his samadhi, must surely be given the vision of Shri Krishna." Thinking thus, Uddhav folded his hands and offered salutation.

Offering his prayer, he spoke: "Listen, Swami, remover of suffering. I wish to have the direct vision of Shri Krishna himself.

Tell me, out of grace, O sage, the means to attain this." Then Shri Atmanand said, "Through the practice of yoga, joy shall come to you.

Whatever you desire shall be accomplished - know this for certain." Hearing these words, Uddhav's mind filled with great joy.

Recognizing him as a great master of yoga, he became his disciple to attain this practice, and, making his supplication, touched his feet. Then the guru spoke thus:

"Listen, O king of ascetics - your name shall be Shri Ramanand." Then he taught him yoga together with all its limbs, with great love.

Hearing this, the merciful ascetic Uddhav himself became accomplished within a short time, attaining oneness with Brahman within his own soul, just as his guru had.

Then Swami Ramanand beheld the unbroken radiance of Brahman, a single unbroken essence pervading every direction, seen constantly in his samadhi, day and night.

But within that radiance he did not attain the vision of Shri Krishna. Not finding satisfaction in this, Uddhav grew exceedingly restless,

and then, folding his hands before his guru, said: "Please show me your grace, Lord. I have attained perfection in samadhi,

and behold only the pure, unqualified radiance of Brahman. But that is formless and without support; what I desire is Krishna in his form.

I do not behold him, Lord, and so I consider myself without a true refuge. My mind grieves for not beholding Shri Krishna, the Lord of Radhika."

The guru said, "Listen, brahmachari - Krishna is a mass of light, formless. Whatever has form is illusory (maya); the formless alone is unbroken and one."

Hearing these words of his guru, the wise ascetic fell into a swoon, collapsing to the ground in despair. After a couple of ghadis his breath returned,

and then he wept without measure, hearing that Shri Krishna was said to be formless. He considered this teaching of Krishna's formlessness to be a grave error,

and then, abandoning his guru, he departed from there with firm resolve. His guru tried to stop him, but he would not remain; he went instead to the seat of Ramanuja.

He beheld Shri Rangji with great joy, and dwelt for a time in Vishnu Kanchi. He held constant remembrance of Shri Krishna, and found it exceedingly dear to dwell there.

He bathed daily in the pure waters, performing his daily rites with love. He beheld Shri Rangji with a heart full of devotion, circumambulating the temple again and again.

When the last watch of the day arrived, he would listen with full attention to the commentary on the Gita. He would read the Shri Vaishnava scriptures daily as well, becoming absorbed in hearing them.

He listened with single-minded attention to the Prapannamrita text daily, with great love. In it were the deeds of Ramanuja, exceedingly sacred and pure.

He heard all of it attentively, from beginning to end, and there he found many accounts of Ramanuja's greatness.

Then he thought within his mind: "Ramanuja must indeed be exceedingly great." He also listened with reverence to both the small and great works of Ramanuja.

Thus, listening to these sacred texts, two months passed for the ascetic there. Having reflected upon these texts, he understood Ramanuja to be truly powerful,

certainly a great devotee, exclusively devoted like Indira (Lakshmi) herself. "He must surely dwell here in a divine body," he thought within his mind.

"Whoever are his exclusive devotees must surely be able to see him. And Shri Krishna, the Lord God himself, must surely be under his command."

Having thus resolved with certainty, the king of ascetics grew eager to have his darshan. Having heard of his birth and deeds, Uddhav held meditation upon him,

and as Swami continued in this contemplation, the fifth day of Chaitra arrived. On that very day, in the beautiful morning, an extraordinary dream came to him,

in which he beheld Ramanujacharya, shining generously like the sun. He beheld him exactly as he had heard him described, matching every sign,

and, recognizing him, fell at his feet, tears of joy filling his eyes. Knowing Uddhav's wish for the vision of Krishna, Ramanuja then met with him,

and the two sat together in one place. The ascetic spoke, offering his reverence:

"After many days I have attained your darshan; today I consider myself blessed, blessed indeed. From the day I heard your scriptures, I knew you to be truly powerful.

And I have come to understand in my mind that you are an exclusive devotee of Shri Krishna. I have no doubt at all that Krishna must be under your command.

So show me some means by which I may quickly attain the vision of Krishna." He offered further praise, and in the dream, Swami bowed his head.

Ramanujacharya was pleased, and hearing the ascetic's words, his affection grew. He thought, "I shall establish this ascetic as my own, and give him the Vaishnava initiation."

Thinking thus, Shri Ramanuja gave him two auspicious, joy-giving mantras, saying, "Recite these constantly,

and Krishna, being pleased, shall come to meet you himself. Recite the mantra, fortunate one, and along with it practice dharma, knowledge, and detachment,

and, with these, devotion to Shri Krishna, wise one, free of all obstacle." He explained to him the full secret of the daily and occasional service of Krishna,

telling him the manner of observing vows and festivals, which the ascetic heard with full attention. He performed the fivefold sacraments upon the ascetic, and gave him the two great jewel-like mantras,

saying, "Make disciples and give them this mantra, that they may cross over the ocean of worldly existence. If you can remain here, remain; otherwise wander the earth."

Having thus given Uddhav this blessing, he then vanished from sight.

Thus in the Bhaktachintamani, composed by Nishkulanand Muni, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, the establisher of the exclusive path of devotion, ends the thirty-seventh chapter, named "Ramanand Swami's Meeting with Ramanuja Acharya."

Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj-Kutch / Vadtal Gadi, AI-translated, unverified · Source details