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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 45

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Then word spread among the people that a sadhu had come to Swami who, though young in age, had performed austerities beyond what is possible at such an age. Hearing this, men and women came from country after country; ascetics and renunciants came by the thousands for his darshan.

Swami himself introduced this person to them as "the Brahmachari" — extremely thin from great austerity — and seeing him, people were astonished. They asked Swami, "Where has this king of ascetics come from? He is so young, yet performs such great austerities, Maharaj." They observed: "See, he wears the sacred thread, matted locks on his head, and his mind is utterly at peace. Every vein in his body stands out visibly. He wears the urdhva-pundra mark and a tulsi garland; he carries a deerskin. His eyes are fixed in meditation; he has entirely forgotten his body. Utterly free of desire and pride — who is this God-like being?"

Swami told them: "Listen — he has come from the land of Koshal. His parents were both people of great righteousness, devoted to worship of God, and he, hearing of this from childhood, took it deeply to heart. Understanding devotion, knowledge, dispassion and the greatness of God exactly as he heard them, he renounced all his kin and went, fortunate soul, into the forest. There he performed terrible austerities and pleased Shri Hari through devotion. From there he has come, by God's will, having performed austerities that even Dhruva did not perform."

Hearing these words of Swami, the people were struck with the greatest wonder. Having seen and been delighted, they returned each to their own homes. Recognizing him as wise and capable, Swami kept him close by, and knowing him skilled in the worship of Krishna, kept him to bring the articles for worship.

The Varni rose early each day and performed his own service, then attended upon Swami at the time of worship, bringing tulsi, sandalwood, flowers and incense, bringing the offerings, bringing whatever he understood to be wanted — anticipating exactly what was needed. Swami was pleased with this, and the Varni himself became devoted to Swami. Thus he remained, performing much worship of Krishna through Ramanandji.

Whatever items of worship were offered, all of it was received directly — though no one but Uddhav could see this. Then Swami desired in his heart that the Varni too should behold this as he himself did. So Swami said to Shri Krishna, "The Varni wishes for your darshan." Bhagwan smiled and said, "I shall grant the Varni the gift of darshan." So saying, he gave him darshan, and beholding it the Varni was overjoyed.

He remained in service of his guru, and Hari became pleased with Swami in this way. He would eat the food-offerings given to him, and do whatever pleased Swami. Thereafter, whenever Swami performed worship, the Varni would regularly witness this greatly renowned vision. The Varni then understood: "If I too perform worship, he will grant me darshan out of love, just as he accepts Swami's worship — when the Lord accepts my worship too, I will consider myself fulfilled. Through this service to Swami, Hari will fulfill my heart's desire."

So, serving Swami with faith, the monsoon season passed by there. In Samvat 1857, on the auspicious day of Kartik Sud Ekadashi, called Prabodhini, a most beautiful, blissful day — Shri Ramanandji Maharaj desired to give the great initiation (maha-diksha). To receive it, the Varni observed a fast and repeated the Krishna mantra. A learned Brahmin, skilled in the rites of their own tradition, was summoned there.

Through him all the prescribed Vedic rites were performed. Then the eight-syllabled mantra of Shri Krishna was spoken into his right ear, along with its meaning, on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi — thus was given the wealth of great initiation. Music of many kinds was played, and a festival was held with the sadhus invited. The Brahmacharis and other sadhus came, and everyone's joy increased greatly.

The meaning of the Krishna mantra that had been given was then explained fully: it is meant to restrain the movements of the inner faculties; through it light dawns within the heart, and the devotee attains the fruit of Krishna's darshan. "This mantra bears such blissful fruit," said Swami, "listen, O Brahmachari. As long as bodily awareness remains, dharma should never be abandoned — this I tell you. Your father taught you these principles of dharma, and you follow them accordingly.

Moreover, I give you this further instruction: perform worship of Krishna twelve times , recite the Panchadhyayi. According to your ability, recite the Vasudev Mahatmya to the fullest. Take only consecrated fruit and flowers, drink only consecrated water. Eat the food offered to Krishna with greater love. Sleep after one watch of the night has passed, and rise in the last watch. Sit upon the bare earth, and sing kirtans of Krishna's name. Never let any time pass in vain without devotion to Krishna, O compassionate one. Whatever text contains the greatness of Krishna, listen to it and recite it with love."

Thus giving instruction in dharma, he established him as chief among his disciples. He then gave him a name along with its meaning, taking which name people attain the abode of bliss: "Since bliss belongs naturally to the sadhu, in accordance with that meaning, I name you Sahajanand, revered by the world." "Because your very nature, in form and character, resembles Narayan, everyone, man and woman, shall also call you by the name Narayan Muni." Thus Swami Ramanand gave these names, and the blissful one heard them.

Then the Varni worshipped Swami with the sixteen forms of ceremonial offering (shodashopachar puja), circumambulated him and made prostration, and then worshipped all the assembled sadhus. He worshipped the Brahmin priest according to proper rite, completing the full Vedic ceremony. Then, with joined hands, he stood before Swami and offered praise with great devotion. Swami said, "Ask a boon of me, whatever your heart desires." The Varni said, "This is what I ask: that Krishna accept my worship as he accepts yours, and that he grant me his manifest darshan as he does to you — that is all I ask, Maharaj; I desire nothing else today." Swami said, "This is the truth — he will accept your worship and grant you darshan."

As they spoke and listened to such things, the day ended and night fell. All the people together kept vigil, singing kirtans of Shri Krishna. As morning came, a fine feast was prepared. Brahmins, brahmacharis, sadhus, and satsangi men and women all ate. Swami Ramanand had everyone fed, and held a great celebration with joy. Clothes and generous gifts were given, and all the Brahmins departed satisfied.

Thereafter, whenever worship was performed in the manner of Swami, Shri Krishna himself regularly and lovingly accepted it. Hari was greatly pleased by this, and considered himself fulfilled; moreover, he continued to grant darshan in this way, remaining ever pleased. He would appear two-armed alongside Radhika, playing a beautiful flute with joy — a captivating, playful form, gazing with tender charm. Sometimes he appeared with Rama , sometimes with Rukmini, Maharaj; sometimes as Arjuna's companion, sometimes appearing all at once. Sometimes two-armed, sometimes four-armed — beholding this brought the greatest delight to the mind.

Thus he himself performed this human-like play (nar-natya); wearing the guise of an ascetic, Maharaj enacted human conduct. Thus, understanding this as Krishna's own doing, Hari himself served his guru.

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