Miracles Yogi

March 15, 2017 | Author: light4share | Category: N/A
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miracles Yogi Miracles yogi

Sri Vishuddhananda Gandhbaba

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Mahatapasvi€Shri€Kumarswami€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€2€ Mahatapasvi€Shri€Kumarswami€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€3€

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Mahatapasvi Shri Kumarswamiji

In€his€previous€life,€His€Holiness€Mahatapasvi€Shri€Kumarswamiji€was€in€ Gyanganj€(Jnanganj)€Ashram€in€the€Himalayas.€His€name€was€Swami€ Kshemananda€then€and€his€Guru€was€Paramhansa€Swami€Nemananda€ Ji.€In€Jnanganj€Ashram€there€are€two€branches€–€Yoga€and€Science.€ Swami€Kshemananda€Ji€was€a€student€in€Yoga€branch.€In€this€life,€as€Shri€ Kumarswamiji,€he€was€in€close€and€continuous€contact€with€Gyanganj€ Ashram.€Gyanganj€Ashram€has€many€adepts€working€for€the€benefit€of€ mankind€and€the€whole€universe.€To€mention€a€few€names€of€the€ adepts€of€Gyanganj€Ashram€–€Paramhansa€Maha€Tapa€Ji€Maharaj,€ Paramhansa€Bhrigu€Rama€Ji,€Paramhansa€Nemanand€Ji,€Paramhansa€ Abhayanand€Ji,€Paramhansa€Jnana-nanda€Ji,€Paramhansa€ Vishuddhananda€Ji.€There€are€many€Bhairavis€(women€adepts)€too€–€ Uma€Bhairavi,€Shama€Bhairavi,€Jnana€Bhairavi€etc.€While€Paramhansa€ MahaTapa€Ji€Maharaj€is€head€of€Jnangang€Ashram,€Uma€Bhairavi€is€head€ of€medical€unit€of€Jnanganj€Ashram.€ € Paramhansa€Vishuddhanand€Ji€Gandhababa€is€His€Holiness€Shri€ Kumarswamiji’s€Guru-bandhu€(brother-disciple)€from€his€past€life.€ Towards€the€end€of€his€this€life,€Shri€Kumarswamiji€consulted€with€his€ Gurudeva€and€the€adepts€from€Gyanganj€Ashram;€for€his€Sadhana€ (penance€and€spiritual€practices)€in€this€life€was€not€complete€and€asked€ them€what€should€be€next€course€of€action€therefore.€The€adepts€asked€ Shri€Kumarswamiji€to€build€a€temple€with€his€own€money€and€place€the€ spiritual€power€which€he€had€accumulated€in€his€50-years€long€ contents

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penanace.€At€the€mandate€of€the€adepts€from€Gyanganj€Ashram,€Shri€ Kumarswamiji€built€Divya€Devalaya,€the€Divine€Temple€in€1995€at€ Tapovan,€Dharwad.€The€Divine€Temple€does€not€have€any€image€or€idol€ or€deity.€It€has€7€mantras€written€on€the€wall€which€holds€Shri€Swamiji’s€ spiritual€power.€The€adepts€also€told€Shri€Kumarswamiji€that€they€ would€send€one€of€their€adepts€(Siddha-purush)€from€Jnanganj€to€reside€ in€the€Divine€Temple.€Accordingly€Shri€Kumarswamiji’s€elder€Gurubandhu,€Paramhansa€Shri€Vishuddhanand€Ji€Gandhbaba€has€come€to€ stay€in€the€Divine€Temple€at€Dharwad€in€his€subtle€body.€ The€Divine€Temple€is€maintained€in€strict€accordance€with€the€rules€laid€ by€the€adepts€from€Jnanganj€ashram.€ € Sri Gandhbabaji – birth and Childhood € There€is€a€small€village€by€the€name€of€Bandul€situated€fourteen€miles€ north-east€of€Burdwan€in€the€state€of€West€Bengal€(India)€near€a€place€ called€Bhandar-dihi.€There€lived,€since€a€very€long€time,€a€ Chattopadhyaya€Brahmin€family,€well-known€for€their€piety,€a€religious€ way€of€life€and€hospitality.€In€this€family€was€born,€in€1853,€a€son€to€Shri€ Akhil€Chandra€Chattopadhyaya€and€his€wife€Shrimati€Raj€Rajeshwari€ Devi.€The€whole€atmosphere€at€the€time€of€his€birth€was€supremely€ calm,€the€air€gentle€and€fragrant€and€everything€around€looking€at€its€ best€so€that€it€appeared€as€if€nature€too€was€rejoining€and€extremely€ happy€at€the€birth€of€this€great€soul.€From€its€very€birth,€the€baby€ exhibited€extraordinary€magnetic€attraction€for€his€parents€and€visitors€ through€his€charing€features,€smile€and€grace.€He€impressed€everyone€ contents

as€a€soul€descended€from€the€higher€world.€In€consideration€of€his€very€ simple€innocent€nature€his€parents€called€him€Bhola€Nath€–€Bhola€in€ Sanskrit€means€innocent.€ € €€€€€€€€€€€€ Baba’s€birthplace€at€Bondul€ € Glimpses of Greatness € From€his€very€childhood€Bholanath€gave€evidence€of€uncommon€ spiritual€and€moral€gifts.€He€exhibited€great€strength€of€character,€ determination,€untiring€strength€and€fearlessness.€Once€Bholanath€was€ severely€reprimanded€by€his€uncle€Chandranath€for€no€fault.€This€ uncalled-for€reprimand€touched€Bholanath’s€sensitivity€to€the€core.€His€ self-consciousness€was€aroused.€He€thought€that€since€a€man€is€only€an€ instrument€in€the€hands€of€God,€the€real€doer€being€God€himself,€so€the€ reprimand€that€his€uncle€had€given€him€must€really€be€the€doing€of€Shri€ Shyam€Sunder,€the€deity.€So€thinking,€he€took€hold€of€the€idol€of€Shyam€ Sunder€from€his€Puja-room,€clasped€it€to€his€chest€and€jumped€into€the€ house-pond€with€a€view€to€commit€suicide€for€the€insult€meted€out€to€ him€by€God€through€his€uncle€Chandranath.€ € But€the€wonder€of€wonders€happened.€The€pond€was€full€of€deep€ water.€Nevertheless€whichever€way€Bholanath€moved,€the€water€ contents

became€shallow€and€never€reached€above€his€knees.€Even€Bholanath€ was€surprised.€Soon€it€was€evening€time€and€the€lamp€in€the€puja-room€ was€lighted.€It€was€discovered€that€the€idol€of€Shri€Shyam€Sunder€was€ missing.€A€search€for€it€started.€When€the€search-party€came€to€the€ pond,€they€were€wonder€struck€to€withness€the€scene.€They€took€ Bholanath€with€the€idol€of€Shyam€Sunder€to€the€house€with€great€ jubilation.€Here€was€yet€another€example€of€Bholanath’s€belief€that€God€ alone€was€the€doer€of€everything.€ € Complete change in the way of life € One€day,€in€about€1866€A.D.€or€so,€when€Bholanath€was€about€13€years€ old,€he€was€coming€down€the€steps€from€the€roof€of€his€house.€ Accidentally€he€stepped€upon€the€dog€sitting€at€the€foot€of€the€stairs.€ The€dog€instantly€bit€him.€It€was€a€mad€dog€and€its€poison€soon€spread€ throughout€the€body€causing€excruciating€pain.€The€pain€became€ intolerable€so€much€so€that€Bholanath€started€crying,€his€body€twisting,€ turning€and€smarting.€No€treatment€proved€to€be€of€any€avail€and€ finally€everybody€lost€hope€of€Bholanath’s€life.€Hindus€believe€that€if€ one€breathes€his€last€on€the€bank€of€the€pious€river€Ganga€or€in€its€ stream,€he€gets€salvation.€Accordingly€Bholanath,€having€despaired€of€ his€life,€one€evening€started€treading€towards€the€bank€of€the€Ganga€ (Gangaghat)€with€a€view€to€put€an€end€to€his€life€there,€as€his€end€now€ seemed€certain.€ €€€€€€€€€€ Baba’s€residence€at€Bondul€ contents

€ But€the€Almighty€had€some€other€plans€for€Bholanath.€On€reaching€the€ bank€he€saw€a€Sanyasi€taking€his€bath€in€the€river€Ganga.€He€was€struck€ with€wonder€to€see€that€a€column€of€water€would€rise€up€when€the€ Sanyasi€would€emerge€from€the€water€and€would€go€down€with€his€dip€ under€the€water€and€curiously€the€phenomenon€was€repeated€with€ every€dip.€The€Sanyasi€spotted€Bholanath€and€called€out€to€him€in€a€ deep€sweet€voice€saying,€”My€dear€child,€why€are€you€so€upset€with€the€ excrutiating€pain?€Just€wait€a€minute.€I€will€cure€you€of€this€in€no€time.”€ And€so€saying,€he€got€out€of€the€water€and€came€to€the€boy€on€the€bank€ and€placed€his€hand€on€the€boy’s€head.€Bholanath€felt€as€if€a€slab€of€ice€ had€been€placed€on€his€burning€head.€He€experienced€great€relief,€all€ the€unbearable€pain€vanished€and€hope€of€life€revived€in€him€once€ again.€Thereafter€the€Sanyasi€pulled€out€a€herb€from€the€shrubs€on€the€ bank€and€gave€it€to€Bholanath€to€chew€and€told€him€that€the€whole€ poison€of€the€mad-dog-bite€will€be€now€expelled€from€his€body€with€his€ urine€and€he€will€become€perfectly€fit€and€healthy€once€again.€He€also€ assured€him€of€a€long€life€and€told€him€that€he€will,€in€due€course€of€ time,€become€a€famous€Yogi.€Thereafter€he€told€him€to€return€home.€ € Bholanath€felt€great€reverence€and€gratefulnesss€towards€the€Sanyasi.€ The€thought€of€taking€initiation€from€the€Sanyasi€and€living€with€him,€ the€one€who€had€bestowed€a€new€life€on€him,€came€to€his€mind.€ Apprehensively,€Bholanath€expressed€his€intense€desire€before€his€ reverent€mother.€Surprisingly€the€mother€gave€him€permission€to€go€ with€the€Sanyasi.€The€Sanyasi€taught€one€Yogasan€(yogic€posture)€to€ Bholanath€and€gave€him€a€bij-mantra.€He€also€told€him€that€he€was€not€ contents

his€Guru.€For€the€present€he€should€stay€at€home,€practice€the€asan€and€ mantra.€These€will€purify€his€mind€and€body.€In€due€time,€he€shall€come€ and€take€him€to€his€Guru.€ € By€and€by€two€years€passed€yet€there€was€no€trace€of€the€Sanyasi.€ Bholanath€used€to€visit€a€shop€in€Burdwan€market€for€purchasing€dayto-day€requirements.€One€day€he€heard€a€story€about€a€strange€Sanyasi€ and€this€revived€his€old€memory.€He€longed€to€go€and€see€the€Sanyasi€ and€he€obtained€his€mother’s€permission€and€went€to€Bandul€with€his€ friend€Haripada.€On€reaching€their€destination€they€met€the€Sanyasi€in€ the€morning.€Bholanath€reverently€made€obeisance€and€his€friend€ Haripada€did€the€same.€Bholanath€requested€the€Sanyasi€to€take€him€ along€with€him€this€time€as€promised€earlier.€On€enquiry€Bholanath€ explained€to€the€Sanyasi€that€Haripada€was€an€intimate€friend€of€his€and€ he€too€was€very€earnest€to€stay€with€and€under€the€guidance€of€the€ Sanyasi€was€no€other€than€the€great€Siddha€Yogi€Swami€Nimanand€ Paramahansa€of€the€secret€Gyanganj€Yogashram€in€Tibet.€He€asked€ them€both€to€come€to€him€in€the€evening.€It€is€only€through€the€ Almighty’s€extreme€grace€and€compassion€that€one€out€of€a€million€ succeed€in€their€goal€of€self-realization€which€these€two€youths,€ Bholanath€and€Haripada,€set€for€themselves€that€day.€ € All€set€for€the€great€journey€to€Gyanganj,€the€Sanyasi€asked€them€to€ confirm€if€they€were€still€keen€to€accompany€him€which€they€did€ without€the€slightest€hesitation.€He€once€again€emphatically€reiterated€ to€them€all€the€pit-falls,€difficulties€and€sufferings€likely€to€be€ encountered€on€the€way.€Thereupon,€Swami€Nimanand€tied€cloth€ contents

bandages€on€the€eyes€of€each€so€that€they€could€not€see€anything.€ Holding€one€on€either€side€by€each€hand,€he€let€them€over€forested€hills€ and€plains€by€air€route.€The€two€felt€as€if€they€were€walking€on€a€ smooth€silken€carpet.€By€morning€the€first€lap€of€the€journey€was€ covered.€Their€bandages€were€removed€and€they€found€themselves€on€ top€of€a€barren€hillock€on€which€stood€a€grand€temple,€surrounded€by€ hill€ranges€on€all€its€four€sides.€They€realized€that€they€had€reached€ some€place€far€away€from€Bengal.€On€enquiry€they€found€that€they€ were€at€the€temple€of€Vindhya-Vasini€Ahsta-Bhuja€Devi€in€Vindhyachal€ town€in€the€district€of€Mirzapur€in€Uttar€Pradesh€state€of€India.€From€ Dhaka€in€East€Bengal€they€had€thus€traversed€the€states€of€West€Bengal€ and€Bihar€and€a€part€of€Uttar€Pradesh€–€a€stretch€of€about€a€thousand€ kilometres€–€during€the€course€of€a€single€night.€This€occurrence€ enhanced€their€esteem€and€respect€for€Swami€Nimanand€many€fold.€ The€Sanyasi€then€asked€the€two€boys€to€stay€there€free€from€fear€as€no€ wild€beast€would€harm€them€and€not€to€lose€heart€till€his€return€to€take€ them€on€to€the€Ashram.€So€saying€he€suddenly€vanished€before€their€ very€eyes.€A€week€passed€before€the€Sanyasi€arrived€again€to€take€ them.€He€disclosed€his€name€to€them€as€Swami€Nimananda€ paramahansa.€As€before,€he€tied€bandages€over€their€eyes€and€took€ them€both€with€him€to€an€Ashram€situated€amongst€a€cluster€of€hills€ about€twenty€kilometres€away€from€Vindyachal,€where€some€saints€ were€residing.€He€left€the€two€children€at€this€Ashram€and€himself€went€ away€to€some€other€place.€He€returned€after€another€five€days€and€this€ time€took€the€children€with€him€by€the€air€route.€On€reaching€the€ destination€the€bandages€were€taken€off€their€eyes.€They€found€that€it€ was€morning€and€they€had€reached€a€charming€celestial€place€on€a€plain€ surrounded€on€allsides€by€snow-covere€high€hill€ranges,€calm,€majestic€ contents

and€peaceful.€On€enquiry,€they€were€told€by€Swami€Nimanand,€”This€is€ the€normally€inaccessible€and€secret€Yogashram€situated€in€the€midst€of€ the€mid-asian€highlands,€Tibet,€known€by€the€name€of€Gyanganj€ Yogashram.€After€a€stay€of€nine€to€ten€days€at€the€Ashram,€Bholanath€ and€Haripada€were€both€presented€by€Swami€Nimanand€before€His€ Reverent€Holiness€Shri€Mahatapa,€for€initiation.€Shri€Mahatapa€first€ transmitted€spiritual€energy€into€each€one€of€them€by€placing€his€hand€ on€their€heads€and€thereafter€gave€Bij-mantra€to€each€of€them.€Both€of€ them€thus€became€Guru€Bhais€of€Swami€Nimanand,€who€was€an€earlier€ disciple€of€Mahatapa€Maharaj.”€ € Baba’s Personality € The€Personality€of€Yogiraj€Vishuddhanand€Paramahansa€-€€Shri€ Vishuddhanand€Paramahansadeva’s€physical€body€was€extraordinary,€ his€spiritual€practices€were€wonderful€and€his€way€of€life€exceptional€in€ many€ways.€His€character€was€spotless.€He€had€a€strict€sense€of€ discipline,€regularity€and€adherence€to€rules€and€regulations.€He€was€ very€€kind-hearted€and€considerate.€He€possessed€a€very€keen€intellect€ and€would€accomplish€jobs€with€dexterity€and€skill.€He€had€an€ independent€nature€and€his€behaviour€with€all€was€always€very€ charming€and€courteous.€He€was€a€self-realized€Yogi€of€exemplary€ character.€Very€rarely€in€the€world€today,€do€you€come€across€a€pure€ and€pious€soul€like€him,€in€whom€you€find€a€very€balanced€mixture€of€ grandeur€coupled€with€extreme€compassion.€He€had€reached€the€very€ climax€in€all€three€Yogas€of€Karma,€Gyan€&€Bhakti€and€finally€attained€ Prem.€Through€very€austere€spiritual€practices€and€the€extraordinary€ contents

grace€of€Deities,€he€acquired€complete€knowledge€of€all€the€truths€and€ realities€of€the€inner€and€outer€worlds€and€thereafter€attained€the€ supreme€state€of€self-realization.€ € Baba’s body € As€a€result€of€austere€practice,€Baba€did€not€need€to€inhale€the€polluted€ air€from€the€outside€atmosphere.€He€would€rather€breathe€self-purified€ air€from€within€his€body€and€that€too€through€his€navel€and€not€through€ the€nose€as€we€humans€normally€do.€His€body€had€been€highly€purified€ and€that€is€why€the€air€inside€his€body€was€pure€too.€His€body€always€ emitted€the€Padma€Gandha€(lotus€fragrance)€continuously.€This€stage€is€ reached€when€one€attains€the€ability€to€confine€the€movement€of€his€ breath€through€Sushumna€Nadi.€Thereafter€one’s€body,€breath€and€ mind€all€get€purified€serially€one€after€the€other.€€Baba’s€perspiration€ and€faeces€matter€were€also€full€of€fragrance,€unlike€ours.€At€the€time€ of€worship€the€whole€worship-room€used€to€get€filled€with€lotusfragrance.€His€body€was€surcharged€with€electromagnetic€current€of€ such€high€intensity€that€poisonous€insects€like€wasps,€hornets,€blackbees,€mosquitos€etc.€would€die€instantly€they€bit€him.€Once€a€disciple€ put€a€question€to€Baba,€”Baba,€is€there€any€difference€between€a€Yogi’s€ body€and€that€of€an€ordinary€person?€Seemingly€they€look€so€much€ alike.”€Baba€just€pushed€his€hand€through€a€wall€which€was€quite€a€ distance€away,€by€just€elongating€his€arm€and€his€hand€was€visible€on€ the€other€side€of€the€wall.€Similarly€on€another€occasion,€a€disciple,€ after€obtaining€special€permission,€was€pressing€Baba’s€legs€(Baba€ would€not€normally€allow€anybody€to€touch€his€feet€or€body).€Suddenly€ contents

quite€a€few€‘sphatics’,€transparent€crystal€balls€oozed€out€of€Baba’s€legs.€ Baba€pushed€these€big€crystal€balls€back€into€his€legs€through€the€tiny€ pores€of€his€body.€ € Baba’s Gaze € Through€the€intensity€of€his€gaze,€he€set€ablaze€the€silk€sheet€lying€on€ the€shoulders€of€the€astrologer-pundit€during€his€stay€at€Burdwan.€Also€ a€Shiva-Linga€crystal€brought€by€a€Sadhu€to€test€Baba’s€Yoga-Shakti€ could€not€withstand€Baba’s€gaze€and€was€blown€to€pieces.€On€another€ occasion,€Baba€extracted€the€chronic€disease€of€a€very€sick€person€ through€his€gaze.€When€he€fixed€it€on€to€a€Banalinga,€the€Banalinga€ could€not€withstand€the€intensity€of€Baba’s€gaze€and€burst.€ € €€€€€€€€ Baba’s€residence€at€his€native€place,€Bondul€ € Baba’s Food € Baba€used€to€eat€only€once€in€a€day,€at€about€10a.m.,€after€the€morning€ Bhog€and€Arati€of€the€Deities€was€over.€If€for€any€special€reason€he€ failed€to€take€his€meals€by€this€time,€he€used€to€forego€his€meals€ altogether€for€that€day.€His€food€usually€consisted€of€rice,€mung€or€ chana€dal,€cooked€along€with€raw€papaya€in€it.€Amongst€vegetables€he€ contents

particularly€preferred€ochcha€(very€small€karela),€zamikand,€kashiphal€ or€sitaphal,€brinjal,€patal€or€parwal€and€ninua€or€torai.€Before€partaking€ his€food,€his€first€€morsel€would€invariably€be€a€bit€of€‘Kumari€Prasad’.€ This€might€consist€of€one€or€two€batashas,€one€or€two€pieces€of€banana,€ a€rasogulla€or€chamcham€or€a€bit€of€bundi€or€khir€–€any€one€or€two€of€ these€picked€out€of€leftover€from€the€pattal€(plate€formed€of€big€leaves€ of€trees)€of€a€Kumari€after€she€had€finished€eating€plus€a€little€halwa€of€ Gopalji’s€Bhog.€Baba€considered€a€‘Kumari’€to€be€the€true€manifestation€ on€this€earth€of€God€mother,€‘Jagadamba’.€ € Baba’s Sleep € Baba€would€go€to€sleep€at€9.00€p.m.€exactly€by€the€watch€and€get€up€at€ 11.00€p.m.€He€used€to€say€that€sleep€during€these€two€hours€is€most€ refreshing€and€sound.€It€is€equal€to€four€hours€sleep€from€11.00€p.m.€to€ 3.00€a.m.€and€equal€to€six€to€eight€hours€later€during€day€time.€After€ awaking€at€11.00€p.m.,€he€would€attend€the€call€of€nature,€brush€his€ teeth,€massage€oil€on€to€his€body€and€take€a€bath.€Thereafter€from€ 11.30€p.m.€till€3.30€a.m.€he€would€sit€on€his€Asan€and€perform€his€Kriya€ worship.€Then€he€would€take€yet€another€half€an€hour€or€more€to€ descend€from€that€exhalted€supersensuous€state€of€trance€to€the€ normal€human€plane,€when€he€would€be€in€a€mood€and€like€to€converse€ with€disciples€and€devotees.€ € € contents

His Nature € Baba€was€very€simple-hearted.€His€nature€was€like€that€of€a€child,€full€of€ innocence,€love,€humility,€straightforwardness,€truth€and€honesty.€ There€was€not€an€iota€of€deceit€or€conceit€in€him.€He€was€ever€gentle€ and€courteous€in€behaviour€and€familiarity€always€brought€him€closer€to€ you.€He€was€very€kind€and€compassionate€particularly€towards€the€poor€ and€those€in€distress.€Besides€being€very€generous€at€heart€he€had€a€ very€charitable€disposition.€ € Baba’s truthfulness € Baba€was€inflexible€in€his€opposition€to€untruth.€He€is€never€known€to€ have€spoken€a€lie€throughout€his€whole€life.€He€advised€his€disciples€ also€never€to€take€the€line€of€untruth,€irrespective€of€the€consequences.€ But€if€any€truth€was€unpleasant,€he€advised€against€stating€it,€suggesting€ silence€in€such€cases.€If,€however,€a€fact€had€to€be€stated,€‘Truth€and€ nothing€but€the€Truth’€was€his€motto.€He€would€say€that€once€one€got€ established€in€Truth,€anything,€thereafter€coming€out€of€his€mouth,€ would€happen€exactly€as€uttered.€His€character€was€spotless€and€his€ conduct€exemplary.€ € € € contents

Simplicity of Nature € Baba€related€a€story€of€his€own€stupidity€as€follows:€”I€was€no€less€ foolish€than€the€poet€Kalidas.€Kalidas€was€cutting€that€very€branch€of€ the€tree€on€which€he€was€sitting;€my€performance€was€even€a€shade€ better€in€stupidity.”€It€was€like€this:€”Once€quite€a€few€of€us€Sanyasis€ had€gone€in€a€group€to€Vindhyachal€hills.€One€day€we€saw€a€ripe€mango€ on€the€branch€of€a€mango€tree,€on€top€of€the€hill.€Quite€a€few€of€us€ spotted€it€simultaneously€and€all€rushed€to€the€tree€and€climbed€up.€ Without€a€thought€of€consequences,€I€was€the€first€to€leap€from€the€ branch€to€catch€hold€of€the€mango,€but€came€crashing€down€on€to€the€ rocky€floor€fifty€feet€below€and€became€unconscious.€When€I€regained€ consciousness,€I€found€myself€being€flown€over€the€Vindhyachal€hills€by€ my€Guru€Swami€Bhriguram€Paramahansa.€Seeing€him,€I€got€a€bit€ frightened.€He€placed€me€there€and€called€me€‘a€stupid€fool’€for€the€way€ I€had€behaved.€I€just€kept€quiet.€Then€he€asked€me€to€eat€the€mango.€ On€first€impulse€I€refused.€At€this,€he€said,€”But€why€not?€Was€it€not€for€ this€very€mango€that€all€this€untoward€incident€has€taken€place?€Now€ eat€it€up.”€I€did€as€I€was€told.€Owing€to€the€fall€from€the€tree€on€to€the€ rocks,€I€had€received€many€cuts€and€bruises€on€my€body€and€thighs.€ After€applying€ointment€on€to€my€wounds,€he€said,€”Now€promise€that€ you€will€not€repeat€such€a€stupid€thing€again.”€I€replied,€”But€why€not?€I€ shall€do€so€again.”€He€was€aghast€at€hearing€my€reply€and€just€kept€ staring€at€me.€Seeing€him€wonder-struck,€I€just€said,€”Sir,€I€can€afford€to€ be€stupid€again.€After€all,€nothing€has€happened€to€me.€And€as€long€as€ you€are€there€to€protect€me,€I€see€absolutely€no€reason€for€me€to€be€ afraid€of€anything.”€Dada€Gurudeva,€Swami€Bhriguram€laughed€and€ contents

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after€placing€his€hand€of€blessing€over€my€head,€he€left.€This€shows€how€ stupidly€straightforward€and€simple-minded€Baba€Vishuddhanand€was.€ € Baba’s Devotion to Duty – Karma € Baba€was€a€great€exponent€of€extreme€one-pointed€devotion€to€duty€as€ per€the€tenets€of€the€Shastras,€and€proper€conduct€in€every€sphere€of€ life.€He€was€never€satisfied€with€mere€showmanship€but€wanted€sincere€ service€and€unfailing€application€to€one’s€Karma€or€Kriya.€Baba€used€to€ say,€”Unless€you€do€your€duty€assiduously,€no€amount€of€reading€the€ Shastras,€even€for€a€million€of€years,€is€going€to€give€you€Gyan€ (knowledge).€Scriptures€can€only€show€you€the€way€but€you€shall€reach€ your€goal€only€by€treading€it€yourself€sincerely€and€steadily,€bit€by€bit.€ You€can€change€your€destiny€even€by€dint€of€persistent€arduous€ practice.€Unceasing€effort€is€of€inestimable€value.€Yogabhyas€is€the€real€ purpose€of€life€and€continuous€effort€in€that€direction,€the€real€Karma.”€ € Baba’s Non-Attachment € As€per€the€orders€of€his€Guru,€Maharshi€Mahatapa,€Baba€adopted€the€ life€of€a€householder.€But€during€his€whole€lifetime€he€never€got€ engrossed€in€worldliness€(materialism)€and€false€attachment.€He€kept€ himself€mentally€aloof€from€all€attachment€to€worldly€beings€of€things.€ His€wife€bore€him€two€sons€and€a€daughter.€The€elder€son€was€named€ Durgadas€and€the€younger€Haridas.€In€the€year€1911,€a€little€after€the€ contents

establishment€of€the€Ashram€at€Bondul,€Baba€lost€his€wife€and€the€same€ year€his€mother€also.€And€soon€after,€he€lost€his€son€Haridas€and€the€ daughter€also.€The€death€of€a€single€close€relative€causes€so€much€ mental€agony€and€here€Baba€had€to€face€the€death€of€wife,€mother,€son€ and€daughter,€four€of€them,€in€quick€succession.€This€could€have€turned€ any€human€being€insane,€but€Baba€bore€the€losses€and€grief€with€great€ fortitude.€Taking€it€all€very€philosophically€as€the€will€of€the€Creator,€he€ did€not€allow€his€mental€equilibrium€and€tranquility€of€mind€to€be€ disturbed€and€kept€calm€and€composed.€He€proved€to€the€hilt,€the€ dictum€of€the€Shastras€that€”One€who€has€attained€self-realization€is€no€ longer€affected€by€the€sad€happenings€and€griefs€of€this€world.”€Such€ was€Baba’s€non-attachment.€ € Baba’s Implicit Faith In the Veracity of the Shastras (scriptures) € Shri€Baba€had€implicit€faith€in€the€veracity€of€the€Shastras.€He€used€to€ emphatically€state€that€every€word€of€what€was€stated€in€the€Hindu€ Shastras€was€true.€It€is€only€to€those€who€fail€to€interpret€them€ accurately€at€times,€that€some€statements€made€therein€appear€to€be€ wrong.€Whenever€anybody€brought€any€apparent€incongruity€to€Baba’s€ notice,€he€would€prove€the€veracity€of€the€Shastras€by€practical€ demonstration€and€remove€the€last€iota€of€doubt€from€hsi€mind.€ € € € contents

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Baba’s Compassion € Once€when€asked€about€his€relationships€with€his€disciples,€i.e.,€GuruShishya-Sambandh,€Baba€said,€”It€is€the€same€as€between€father€and€ son.€I€keep€watch€over€you€at€all€times,€save€you€from€pitfalls€and€ accidents,€cure€your€diseases,€help€you€out€from€difficult€situations€and€ am€all€the€time€engaged€in€forthering€your€spiritual€progress.”€ € Baba’s Main Teachings € One€cannot€attain€divinity€without€devotion€and€pure€love.€Real€ devotion€gives€rise€to€true€love.€But€purpose-oriented€devotion€for€the€ fulfillment€of€a€desire€can€never€lead€to€true€love.€In€fact,€it€is€wrong€to€ term€it€as€‘devotion’.€Every€aspirant€should€keep€away€from€this€sort€of€ devotion.€ € Evolution€of€true€knowledge€is€essential€for€the€achievement€of€real€ devotion.€The€knowledge€derived€from€the€study€of€scripture€is€empty€ purposeless€knowledge.€True€knowledge€is€not€acquired€till€the€mind€ (Chitta)€gets€purified€and€mind€purification€depends€on€the€appropriate€ performance€of€religious€rites€and€Kriya.€ € One€who€implicitly€follows€the€Kriya€prescribed€by€the€Guru€with€ devotion,€steadiness,€regularity€and€faith,€while€keeping€his€conduct€ contents

and€character€pure€and€above€board€at€the€same€time,€is€bound€to€ achieve€true€knowledge€(Jnan).€Yogis€call€this€aforesaid€action€itself€as€ yoga.€As€against€this,€to€engage€yourself€in€other€types€of€work€is€not€ Yoga€and€that€does€not€conduce€to€Chitta€purification€either.€Hence€if€ one€keeps€his€conduct€and€character€unblemished€and€applies€himself€ wholeheartedly€in€the€practice€of€Yoga,€steadfastly€without€a€break€for€ a€long€time,€he€is€bound€to€achieve€mind-purification€and€selfrealization.€The€knot€in€the€heart€gets€unfastened,€all€doubts€vanish€and€ aggregated€ill€effects€of€Karmas€of€innumerable€previous€births€get€ anihilated.€ € Some of Baba’s Teachings and Instructions € 1.€Perform€the€Kriya€(religious€commandment)€given€by€the€Guru€ regularly€and€implicitly€according€to€his€instructions€and€all€shall€be€ well.€The€grace€of€God€is€bound€to€descend€on€you€in€due€time.€ € 2.€Give€up€self-praise€and€talking€ill€of€others€completely.€These€traits€ are€very€harmful.€Never€waste€time€in€these.€ € 3.€When€tragedies€and€ill-times€overtake€you,€increase€your€mantrajapa,€both€in€terms€of€time€and€number.€ €

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4.€Never€trust€anybody€in€a€hurry.€Test€him€thoroughly€first,€else€you€ will€be€duped.€ € 5.€Every€bit€and€particle€of€this€world€is€against€your€interest.€You€are€ your€only€friend€and€well-wisher.€So€depend€on€your€own€efforts€and€ do€not€look€up€to€others€for€help€as€they€are€likely€to€fail€you€in€your€ times€of€need€and€distress.€ € 6.€During€your€Sadhana€(spiritual€endeavour)€constancy€and€regularity€ in€practice€are€of€prime€importance.€Reading€of€scriptures€is€only€dry€ intellectual€gymnastics.€Dramatised€Bhakti€is€also€not€Bhakti€in€the€real€ sense.€True€Jnan€and€real€Bhakti€are€very€prestigious€and€difficult-toattain€stages€in€spiritual€advancement.€These€develop€automatically€ one€after€the€other,€only€after€constant€and€regular€austere€spiritual€ practice€over€a€long€period.€ € 7.€To€depend€solely€on€the€grace€of€God€is€not€an€act€of€wisdom.€Grace€ is€no€doubt€very€sublime€and€is€also€being€showered€upon€us€by€ Mahashakti€all€the€time.€Without€it€there€is€no€hope€of€our€ advancement€towards€salvation€either.€But€this€grace€can€only€be€ attained€through€constant€practice€of€Yogic€Kriya€which€can€lead€to€the€ attainment€of€even€the€unattainable.€ € 8.€Do€not€let€anything€ever€worry€you.€”I€(your€Guru)€am€always€there€ with€you.”€After€performing€your€Kriya€properly€for€some€time,€you€will€ contents

yourself€realize€the€truth€of€my€statement.€I€shall€see€that€all€your€ legitimate€wishes€are€fulfilled€and€you€are€never€in€want.€ € 9.€To€bring€a€mood€of€calm€repose€in€the€mind€before€you€start€your€ meditation€first€invite€the€following€thought:€”The€world€was€there€ before€I€was€born€and€it€will€be€there€even€after€I€am€gone.€So,€nothing€ really€depends€on€me,€hence€why€should€I€be€in€a€state€of€tension?€It€is€ only€with€calm€consciousness€that€I€can€help€myself€and€help€others.€ The€Divine€remains€calm€despite€all€the€turmoils€in€the€world.€It€is€the€ Divine€spark€in€me,€present€as€my€soul,€that€sustains€me.€Let€me€ concentrate€on€that.€Let€me€get€a€few€moments€of€leave€from€the€ demands€of€my€body,€from€the€desires€of€my€life€and€from€the€ restlessness€of€mind€and€enter€into€my€soul€–€my€true€Self.€Let€peace€ and€calm€sustain€me.”€ € 10.€I€am€aware€of€each€and€every€thing€that€you€do,€so€never€try€to€ deceive€me€by€telling€lies.€ € 11.€Electrical€energy€gets€accumulated€particularly€in€the€fore-finger€of€ the€right€hand,€which€should€not€therefore€be€used€for€rubbing€teeth€or€ pointing€out€the€direction,€else€it€leads€to€unneccessary€waste€of€the€ accumulated€electrical€energy.€ € 12.€Spiritual€progress€depends€upon€the€loftiness€of€character.€Never€ hurt€anybody’s€feelings.€Keep€your€senses€under€control€and€follow€the€ contents

truth€in€body,€mind€and€speech.€Keep€unswerving€faith€in€the€Guru€and€ be€patient,€compassionate€and€forgiving.€ € 13.€Dear€Son,€all€your€happiness€or€suffering€is€a€result€of€your€earlier€ deeds.€Do€not€add€further€to€these.€Give€up€doing€bad€and€unholy€ deeds€now€at€least,€so€that€you€do€not€create€new€sins,€the€ consequences€of€which€you€will€have€to€suffer€in€future.€ € € 14.€You€develop€interest€in€the€Kriya€through€constant€practice,€so€ much€so€that€in€due€course€of€time€you€will€not€be€able€to€give€it€up€ even€if€you€will€want€to.€In€the€beginning,€you€will€have€to€force€yourself€ to€sit€for€your€Kriya,€but€later€you€will€start€feeling€greatly€perturbed€ whenever€you€are€not€able€to€do€so.€The€Guru€can€only€advise€you,€ explain€to€you€and€demonstrate€the€technique€to€you€but€the€actual€ performance€will€have€to€be€done€by€you€and€you€alone.€So,€for€your€ own€benefit,€get€down€to€the€practice€of€Kriya€wholeheartedly€and€ arduously;€only€talking€will€not€help.€Once€you€get€firmly€established€in€ the€practice€of€Kriya,€you€will€not€be€able€to€leave€it€thereafter.€ € 15.€Through€the€practice€of€Kriya,€keep€meditating€upon€the€‘Mother’€in€ your€heart€all€the€time;€the€Mother€who€is€the€source€of€all€Creation,€ directly€perceptible.€Mother€who€cannot€otherwise€be€achieved€even€ through€Yoga€and€is€superior€even€to€‘Brahma’€and€is€the€reality€behind€ the€psychological€manifestation€of€the€Supreme€Emotion.€Instead€of€ getting€influenced€by€external€emotions,€always€keep€your€mind€in€ contents

communion€with€the€Mother.€Once€you€are€able€to€stay€in€that€state,€ there€is€nothing€further€to€be€done.€ € 16.€While€you€are€in€the€physical€body,€you€cannot€but€be€doing€one€ thing€or€other.€Then€why€not€engage€yourself€in€the€pursuit€of€such€an€ act€as€will€absolve€your€all€binding€actions€for€all€time.€At€the€exact€ moments€of€sunrise€and€sunset,€sit€down€for€your€Kriya€daily€without€ fail.€Even€if€your€mind€is€not€steady,€do€not€bother€about€it.€Learn€to€ depend€solely€on€your€Guru,€then€no€demon€will€be€able€to€do€any€ harm€to€you€–€be€certain€about€it.€ € 17.€My€disciples€will€not€be€born€again€and€thus€will€not€have€to€ undergo€the€sufferings€in€a€mother’s€womb€again.€My€elder€Gurudeva€ Shri€Bhriguramji€Paramahansadeva€has€created€an€abode€for€them€ where€they€shall€all€reside,€after€their€death€in€this€world.€ € 18.€The€first€requirement€for€spiritual€advancement€is€character€which€ must€be€kept€unblemished€and€next€come€light€meals€and€less€sleep.€As€ you€progress€in€your€Kriya€the€last€two€come€by€themselves.€Peace€and€ tranquility€is€the€natural€outcome€of€spiritual€practice.€ € 19.€You€acquire€riches€and€property€as€a€result€of€your€past€actions.€ What€is€ordained€in€your€destiny,€that€much€you€will€certainly€get.€But€ even€so€it€is€not€wise€to€sit€back€aboslutely€inactive.€You€must€make€all€ efforts€to€procure€them.€ contents

€ 20.€Every€thing€is€within€your€very€self.€Only€it€has€become€overladen€ with€dirt€and€filth€as€an€outcome€of€undesirable€tendencies€and€ associations€of€previous€lives.€Once€you€are€able€to€get€rid€of€that€ covering,€you€will€be€able€to€see€and€recognize€your€real€self.€Just€as€ you€cannot€see€your€face€in€a€mirror€covered€with€dirt€and€to€do€so€you€ have€to€clean€the€mirror€by€rubbing,€wiping€and€washing,€so€also€once€ you€keep€rubbing€off€the€dirt€of€the€mind€through€the€constant€ repetition€of€the€Guru-given-mantra,€the€mind€will€become€purified€in€ due€course€and€then€you€will€be€able€to€see€your€real€self€once€again.€ The€aforesaid€‘rubbing,€wiping€and€washing€of€the€mind’€is€really€the€ Yogabhyas€Karma€viz€the€incessant€friction€between€the€mantra€and€the€ mind€through€constant€repetition€of€the€former.€Get€up€early€in€the€ morning€at€about€3.30€or€4.00€a.m.€and€try€to€do€your€Kriya€upto€ sunrise€for€two€to€three€hours€at€one€stretch€and€so€also€in€the€evening,€ daily.€In€the€evening€start€about€half€an€hour€before€sunset€and€ continue€for€an€hour€and€a€half€beyond€it.€Besides€this,€make€it€a€habit€ to€mentally€repeat€the€mantra€at€all€other€times€also€while€you€are€ working€with€your€hands€etc.€in€the€course€of€your€job.€Do€not€waste€ your€time€on€other€useless€things.€Your€japa€should€co-ordinate€with€ the€rhythm€of€exhalation€and€inhalation€of€breath€called€Ajapa€Jap.€ € 21.€It€is€not€proper€to€tell€anybody€about€your€Kriya,€or€vision€of€any€ deity,€or€any€spiritual€dream.€Any€discussion€on€these€subjects€may€ inhibit€further€expositions€of€a€similar€healthy€experiences€and€may€ even€prove€harmful.€These€indications€are€only€precursors€to€coming€ events€and€stabilization€of€certain€good€atributes€in€a€person.€In€such€an€ contents

event,€you€must€preserve€these€most€secretly€within€yourself€and€ intensify€your€spiritual€practices€with€greater€vigour.€By€talking€about€ such€experiences€their€further€revelation€may€get€stopped,€it€may€then€ take€a€very€long€time€for€their€revival€and€even€never€repeat€in€this€life.€ € 22.€Whenever€you€have€to,€speak€the€truth€and€truth€only.€If€anybody€ feels€dissatisfied€at€your€speaking€the€truth€let€him€feel€so;€if€you€lose€a€ friend€thereby,€do€not€mind€it;€but€never€be€afraid€of€speaking€the€ truth.€Tell€the€truth€and€openly.€Of€course,€this€does€not€mean€that€you€ should€put€anybody€into€trouble€by€telling€the€truth€unasked€and€ without€any€purpose.€Do€not€tell€the€truth€even€if€it€is€unpalatable€ unless€compelled€to€do€so.€But€if€you€are€forced€to€relate,€tell€the€truth€ only€otherwise€keep€quiet.€ € 23.€Never€get€suddenly€agitated€over€an€issue.€Seeing€a€wee-bit€or€ hearing€a€part€of€an€incident,€to€flare€up€suddenly€is€not€right.€First€try€ to€understand€the€pros€and€cons€of€a€thing€wholly€and€properly,€ investigate€all€the€aspects€of€it,€think€over€it€intelligently,€try€to€get€to€ the€bottom€of€the€whole€affair,€before€losing€your€temper.€Otherwise€ many€a€time€one€has€to€repent€and€eat€the€humble€pie.€ € 24.€Do€not€feel€astonished€at€any€happening€in€this€world.€Difficulties€ arise€only€when€you€feel€flabbergasted€and€upset.€Householders€have€ to€do€and€arrange€for€all€sorts€of€things€for€the€satisfaction€of€their€ relations€–€wife,€sons,€daughters€and€wife’s€relations.€You€will€have€to€ behave€with€people€differently€according€to€the€relationship€you€have€ contents

with€each€one€of€them€since€you€have€to€live€and€work€amongst€them.€ You€need€money€all€the€time,€irrespective€of€your€field€of€activity.€To€ procure€this€you€will€have€to€engage€yourself€in€some€type€of€business.€ But€be€careful€not€to€use€unfair€means€therein€and€spoil€your€name€and€ fame€by€falling€into€dishonest€ways.€Do€every€thing€honestly.€You€will€ have€to€perform€some€kind€of€work€to€earn€a€living,€but€you€must€not€ lose€your€sense€of€justice,€honesty€and€fair-play€during€its€performance.€ Work€in€an€unattached€manner€like€mercury€in€a€vessel€or€water€drops€ on€a€petal€of€lotus€which€stay€there€but€do€not€stick€and€keep€quite€ unattached.€All€the€time€that€you€are€working€with€your€hands,€feet€or€ other€limbs€of€the€body,€you€must€keep€your€mind€fixed€on€God€and€His€ name.€Keep€reciting€His€name€and€Mantra€uninterruptedly€with€each€ breath,€Ajapajap.€ € As€a€Guru,€Yogiraj€Shri€Vishuddhanand€Paramahansadeva€was€soul€ personified,€the€over-soul-incarnate,€while€at€the€same€time€so€graceful€ and€surpassingly€human€–€a€quality€that€attracted€us€humans€so€much€ to€him.€ € He€combined€an€inscrutable€mystery€with€an€inexhaustible€variety.€He€ enchanted€and€haunted,€soothed€and€sustained.€His€loving€touch€ chastened€and€exalted,€transmuted€and€exhilirated.€He€was€simple€as€a€ child€and€baffling€as€the€sphinx.€He€held€eternity€in€the€hollow€of€his€ palm.€He€raised€creatures€of€dust€to€the€heights€of€emphyrean.€In€him€ indeed,€incompatibles€automatically€reconciled€themselves.€€Such€a€one€ was€Yogirajadhiraj€Shri€Vishuddhanand€Paramahansadeva,€popularly€ contents

known€as€Gandha€Baba,€Perfume€Saint,€to€the€world€and€as€‘Baba’€to€ his€disciples.€ € Yogis€of€his€calibre€have€been€very€few€in€this€world,€who€could€ transmit€spirituality€with€just€a€touch€or€a€look€and€convert€even€the€ most€degraded€amongst€men€into€saints€in€a€matter€of€moments.€Such€ Yogis€are€the€teachers€of€all€teachers,€the€highest€manifestation€of€God€ in€man.€We€cannot€see€God€except€through€them€and€hence€we€ worship€them.€Since€ages€India€has€been€the€home€of€true€Yogis,€people€ who€have€transcended€the€lower€self€and€have€attained€Siddhis€(extrasensory-perceptions)€and€psycho-kinesis,€i.e.,€the€power€of€man’s€mind€ and€will,€to€move€objects€at€a€distance,€what€in€common€parlance€are€ called€‘mirracles’.€ €€€ Paramhansa€Abhayananadji€from€Jnanganj€Ashram€ € His€numberless€miracles€relate€to€subjects€like€travel€through€space;€ bringing€back€the€dead€to€life;€converting€one€form€of€matter€into€ another;€producing€scents,€sweets€and€fruits;€seeing€things€far€distant;€ multiplying€small€amounts€of€food€etc.€into€large€quantities;€appearing€ simultaneously€in€several€distant€places€at€the€same€instant;€healing€the€ sick€and€deformed;€telepathy;€clairvoyance;€precognition;€power€to€ read€minds;€to€see€through€walls€and€go€across€them€without€ hindrance;€to€foretell€future€events€and€even€to€mentally€cause€or€ change€the€motion€of€physical€objects.€These€miracles€go€to€prove€to€us€ contents

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mortals€his€super-human€powers€by€which€he€infused€‘Confidence€in€ Divinity’€for€the€upliftment€of€society€and€alleviated€its€sufferings.€ € According€to€Yogiraj,€‘Religion€consists€of€realization;€not€of€reason,€ theories,€documents,€doctrines,€scriptures€and€rituals€–€which€all€are€ only€aids€to€religion.€We€have€to€realize€religion€through€constant€ practice€and€this€realization€is€a€long€process.€There€are€no€jumping€ steps,€we€have€to€work€up€the€ladder€step€by€step.€To€attain€ ‘realization’€we€have€to€pass€through€the€concrete€and€then€come€to€ the€abstract,€like€the€children€learn€the€alphabet€through€pictures.€ € From€the€age€of€fourteen,€Baba€spent€the€next€twelve€years€under€ rigorous€training€in€‘Yoga’€and€‘Natural€Sciences’€like€Surya-Vijnan,€solar€ science,€Chandra-vijnan,€lunar€science,Vayu-vijnan,€wind-science,€ Nakshatra-Vijnan,€stellar€science,€Shabda-Vijnan,€sound€science€and€ Kohana-Vijnan,€Instant€of€Time€Science,€etc.,€in€the€very€ancient€secret€ Gyanganj€Yogashram€in€Tibet,€and€attained€excellence€in€all€of€them.€ € Shri€Vishuddhanand€was€an€exception€amongst€Yogis.€Through€his€yogic€ power€of€Iccha-shakti,€he€planted€grapes€on€the€branch€of€a€Jamun€tree€ and€that€of€a€castor€tree€and€transformed€an€old€Jawa-flower-tree€into€ one€of€rose.€While€enunciating€the€principle€of€Rishi€Patanjali,€ ”Jatyantar€parinamah€prakrityapurat”,€viz.€that€one€thing€can€be€ converted€into€another€by€transplanting€into€it€the€deficient€particles€of€ the€latter€after€attracting€the€same€from€nature,€he€practically€ contents

demonstrated€conversion€of€a€rose€flower€into€jawa,€a€jawa€flower€into€ a€coral€and€a€bela€flower€into€a€sphatik€(crystal€ball).€ € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Paramhansa€Vishuddhanand€Ji’s€Life-size€statue€(built€during€HIS€lifetime)€at€Kali-ghat,€Kolkata€ € Baba€shunned€fruitless€gossip.€He€would€sit€quietly€for€hours€in€the€ presence€of€his€disciples,€giving€them€time€and€opportunity€for€ introspection€and€nam-japa.€He€was€very€kind,€compassionate€and€ generous€at€heart€and€helpful€to€one€and€all.€He€had€developed€the€ feelings€of€friendship€and€happiness€(instead€of€jealousy)€at€seeing€the€ prosperity€of€others,€and€indifference€to€sin€instead€of€hate€and€ repulsion.€He€had€overcome€his€ego€completely.€He€was€never€after€ name€and€fame€and€did€not€like€making€disciples€indiscriminately.€Baba€ was€a€great€appreciator€of€fine€qualities€and€good€character€in€people.€ He€particularly€loved€children€and€enjoyed€their€company.€He€played€ with€them€and€showed€them€little€tricks€and€miracles.€He€entertained€ them€with€jokes€and€funny€stories€with€morals.€ € In€effect,€Baba’s€greatness€comprised€of€a€combination€of€sweetness,€ affability,€great€super-natural€powers€to€do€things,€supreme€knowledge,€ compassion€for€all€and€assistance€to€the€needy.€Baba€used€to€say,€ ”Attachment€is€the€cause€of€unhappiness€and€this€cycle€of€birth€and€ death.€Self-realization€through€the€control€of€mind€is€the€only€way€to€ contents

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salvation.”His€main€aim€was€to€wake€up€his€disciples€and€devotees€from€ the€slumber€caused€by€the€indriyas,€which€delude€one€first€into€thinking€ that€they€give€one€real€happiness,€to€find€later€that€the€happiness€was€ only€transient€and€unreal.€ € Self-realization€is€possible€only€through€constant€practice€of€Yoga-kriya.€ Through€constancy€in€Kriya,€one€can€change€even€his€destiny.€One’s€ own€sadhana€(effort)€and€the€Kripa€(grace)€of€Mahashakti,€both€are€ necessary€for€success€in€God-realization.€However,€sadhana€by€itself€will€ beget€Kripa€and€provide€the€needed€prop€in€the€form€of€a€Guru€ (preceptor).€God€himself€descends€in€the€form€of€a€real€Guru,€takes€hold€ of€the€‘being’€and€helps€him€in€his€salvation.€One€only€needs€to€ surrender€completely€to€the€Guru€and€act€according€to€his€instructions.€ This€total€unqualified€surrender€is€the€key€to€success.€ € Baba’s€main€stress€was€on€Kriya-karma.€He€would€say,€”Karmebhyo€ Namah‘€i.e.,€”Do€it€!€€€Do€it€!€€€Keep€doing€it€!”€ € Baba€kept€a€constant€vigil€over€his€disciples.€He€knew€from€day-to-day€ nay€moment-to-moment,€what€they€were€thinking,€talking€and€doing,€ even€when€hundreds€of€miles€away€from€them.€In€times€of€emergency€ he€would€even€appear€before€them€in€physical€or€subtle€astral€form€as€ appropriate€and€help€them€out€of€a€difficult€situation,€e.g.,€in€the€form€ of€a€railway€porter,€a€beggar€or€a€mendicant,€etc.€Gurudeva€had€taken€ total€responsibility€for€his€disciples.€He€used€to€say,€”I€place€each€one€of€ you€in€the€state€and€situation€needed€for€your€advancement.€I€also€give€ contents

you€and€do€for€you€just€as€much€as€is€really€necessary.€The€sole€aim€of€ life€is€to€get€back€to€your€real€self€and€get€established€permanently€in€ your€own€conscious€self.€Man€is€suffering€because€he€has€got€torn€away€ from€his€moorings€–€his€real€self,€the€supreme€self.€Once€he€is€able€to€ establish€his€contact€with€the€self€again,€all€his€troubles€and€miseries€ will€automatically€come€to€an€end.”€ Yogis€never€die€!€ € Shri€Vishuddhanand€Paramahansadeva€passed€away€in€July€1937,€but€ he€presents€himself€even€today€in€different€forms,€at€so€many€places€ simultaneously€before€his€disciples€and€devotees,€to€cure€them€of€their€ illnesses,€protect€them€against€accidents€and€help€them€out€of€their€ predicaments€and€troubles.€ € It€appears€only€relevant€to€give€here€a€few€facts€about€Baba€for€a€ proper€understanding€of€the€personality€of€the€great€soul€in€the€correct€ perspective.€ € 1.€€€Baba€most€frequently€taught€through€actions€and€self-example€what€ most€preceptors€tried€to€teach€through€words.€ € 2.€He€could€sometimes€speak€in€parables,€leaving€his€devotees€to€work€ out€the€answer.€ € contents

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3.€He€had€the€peculiar€art€of€giving€information€to€particular€individuals€ in€the€midst€of€a€group€in€a€way€that€they€alone€could€understand€and€ not€the€other€members€of€the€group.€ € 4.€Another€peculiarity€of€Baba€was€that€instead€of€answering€a€question€ directly€he€would€sometimes€send€the€questioner€to€someone€who€is€ found€to€be€reading€the€same€very€thing€in€a€scripture€and€thus€get€an€ answer€to€his€question.€ € 5.€Baba€was€living€and€operating€in€other€worlds€also€besides€this€world€ in€invisible€forms.€ € 6.€Shri€Baba€had€the€power€to€guide€the€dead€as€well€as€those€living.€ € 7.€He€belonged€to€a€hidden€spiritual€hierarchy.€He€travelled€at€will€in€ subtle€body€and€spoke€of€his€travels€over€great€distances€of€space€and€ time€to€his€disciples€at€times.€ € 8.€Even€when€in€flesh€in€this€earthly€life,€he€was€not€confined€to€his€ physical€body.€It€may€truly€be€said€of€him€that€he€is€alive€even€now€ though€he€took€mahasamadhi€in€1937.€ €

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9.€He€never€spoke€untruth€and€meaningless€jargon.€Only€those€who€ were€familiar€with€his€ways€could€make€out€the€meaning€of€what€he€ said€or€did€and€that€too€only€when€it€was€intended€for€their€ understanding.€ € 10.€He€had€the€most€detailed€knowledge€of€distant€events€and€ circumstances.€Also,€whether€he€directed€the€actions€of€some€other€ person,€or€himself€materialized€in€a€distant€place€to€play€his€part€there,€ he€could€do€so€without€interrupting€his€normal€activities€at€his€ashrams€ at€Kashi,€Burdwan€or€Calcutta.€ € 11.€Baba€used€to€say,€”Having€undertaken€responsibility€for€you,€I€will€ never€allow€any€of€you€disciples€to€escape€from€me.€Only€keep€faith€and€ I€will€do€the€rest.€I€will€give€you€what€you€want€if€it€be€to€your€benefit€ and€wish€that€you€will€in€due€time€desire€what€I€want€to€give€you.€ Wherever€you€may€be,€think€of€me€and€I€will€be€with€you.”€ € 12.€Baba€exerted€a€tremendous€influence€over€his€devotees,€causing€a€ remarkable€change€in€their€life-style€for€their€spiritual€upliftment.€ € € € € € contents

P.Vishuddhanandji at Burdwan € €Swami€Vishuddhanand€Paramahansa€was€a€liberated,€realized€Yogi€of€ ideal€character,€pure€and€pious€in€his€day-to-day€living,€an€ideal€in€the€ practice€and€application€of€the€principles€of€Karma-yoga,€Gyan-yoga€and€ Bhakti-yoga,€an€extraordinaary€combination€of€grandeur€and€ sweetness.€He€attained€salvation,€the€highest€state€beyond€all€senseperception,€after€achieving€knowledge€and€mastery€over€all€the€ principles€and€philosophy€of€the€world€within€and€the€world€without€ through€strenuous€and€austere€spiritual€practices€and€extraordinary€ grace€of€God.€He€had€completely€annihilated€his€ego€and€established€ stable€and€perpetual€communion€(yoga)€with€Maha-Shakti.€There€was€ not€the€slightest€trace€of€self-ego€left€in€him,€it€was€all€pure€perception€ only.€ € In€the€year€1911€Baba€shifted€to€Burdwan.€Many€extraordinary€ incidents€took€place€furing€his€stay€there.€In€Burdwan€people€respected€ Baba€with€great€devotion.€But€one€wily€person€got€obsessed€by€the€ wicked€desire€to€find€out€the€method€and€rituals€of€Baba’s€Puja,€even€ though€he€was€fully€aware€that€Baba€performed€his€Puja€in€a€closed€ room€and€nobody€was€permitted€to€see€how€and€what€he€did€then.€So€ one€day€this€gentleman€got€an€opportunity€and€surreptitiously€slipped€ into€Baba’s€prayer€room€and€hid€himself€inside€before€ahnik€time.€ € At€the€appropriate€time,€Baba€entered€the€Puja-room€to€perform€his€ Puja-kriya€and€bolted€the€door€from€inside.€He€first€started€with€the€ contents

Paranayam-kriya€as€usual.€As€he€inhaled€air€from€the€atmosphere€and€ retained€it€within€himself,€all€the€air€in€the€room€got€transfixed€and€it€ became€impossible€for€the€hidden€person€to€breathe.€When€his€throat€ got€almost€suffocated€due€to€lack€of€air,€he€shouted,€”Baba€He!”.€ Hearing€the€yell€Baba€looked€in€that€direction€and€on€spotting€the€ fellow,€understood€what€the€matter€was.€He€immediately€released€the€ air€and€established€the€equilibrium€and€by€so€doing€saved€the€life€of€ that€individual.€ € Thereafter€Baba€scolded€that€person€and€said,€”Look,€never€again€ should€you€dare€to€test€a€Yogi€or€try€to€see€his€Kriya€stealthily.€If€I€had€ not€noticed€you€instantly,€your€body€would€have€been€chaired€to€ashes€ in€a€jiffy.”€That€man€felt€very€ashamed,€humbly€begged€pardon€and€got€ out€of€the€room.€ € Establishment€of€Ashrams,€to€mention€only€three€out€of€six€of€them€ € 1.€Vishuddhashram€at€Burdwan€ € €€€€€€€€ Baba’s€rice€fields€at€beautiful€Bondul€ € As€per€direction€of€Shri€Bhriguram€Paramahansa,€the€first€Ashram€was€ established€by€Baba€in€Burdwan.€It€was€named€after€Baba€as€ contents

‘Vishuddhashram’.€Bhriguram€Swami€had€framed€and€sent€a€set€of€rules€ to€regulate€the€proper€working€of€this€Ashram,€which€apply€equally€to€ the€other€Ashrams€established€by€Baba.€Out€of€that€set€of€rules,€two€are€ particularly€important:€–€Whenever€any€subject€regarding€Yoga€or€ scriptures€or€of€a€confidential€nature€be€under€discussion€with€a€ particular€disciple,€nobody€else€should€be€there,€not€even€another€codisciple.€It€should€be€clearly€understood€and€kept€in€mind€that€the€ exposure€of€a€secret€subject€can€result€in€harm€to€the€whole€ congregation.€–€Permission€for€entry€and€stay€in€the€Ashram€must€not€ be€granted€to€anybody€who€comes€on€worldly€business,€or€mundane€ matter€or€for€pleasure€and€recreation.€ € 2.€The€Ashram€at€Bondul€(distt.€Burdwan)€ € €€€€€€€€€€ Ashram€at€Bondul€ € €Shri€Baba€established€the€second€Ashram€in€1911€at€his€native€village€ Bondul.€After€the€construction€of€the€Bondul€Ashram€was€completed,€ one€day€Baba€received€a€letter€from€Shri€Bhriguram€Paramahansa€which€ contained€the€following€directions€regarding€the€Ashrams:€”These€ Ashrams€do€not€belong€to€you.€They€are€the€property€of€your€disciples.€ This€rule€applies€not€only€to€Bondul€Ashram€but€to€the€Vishuddhashram€ at€Burdwan€and€to€all€other€Ashram.’€Baba€merely€acted€as€custodian,€ with€no€self-interest€or€attachment€to€these€Ashrams.€During€his€lifecontents

time€alone€he€formed€a€trust€and€set€of€rules€for€their€proper€working€ ad€management€after€his€death.€ € 3.€Vishuddhanand-Kanan-Ashram€at€Kashi€(Varanasi)€ € Baba€desired€that€at€this€Ashram€also,€there€should€be€adequate€ provision€for€training€and€research€in€Yoga€and€natural€Sciences,€on€the€ same€pattern€as€in€Gyanganj€Yogashram.€But€due€to€some€unknown€ reason€(maybe€witholding€of€sanction€from€Gyanganj)€Baba€had€to€ finally€shelve€this€scheme.€ The€Nav-mundi€Asan€ € €€ € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€The€Nav-Mundi€Asan€at€Kashi€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Harihar€Banlinga€Banduleshwar€at€Bandul€ € When€Shri€Baba€failed€to€get€the€approval€of€his€proposal€to€set€up€ ‘Centre€for€training€in€Yoga€and€sciences’€at€Kashi€from€his€superior€ authorities€of€Gyanganj,€then€he€dedicated€the€fruits€of€over€forty€years€ of€his€arduous€penance€and€austerities€for€the€well-being€and€ upliftment€of€his€disciples€and€devotees€by€establishing€‘Navmundi€ contents

Asan’€on€14th€February€1935€at€Kashi€Ashram.€But€unless€one€is€ endowed€with€purity€of€body,€good€samskaras€(vasanas€carried€over€ from€earlier€births)€and€the€special€grace€of€the€Guru,€it€is€not€possible€ to€sit€on€this€Siddhasan€and€perform€Kriya.€ € Gyanganj (Jnan-ganj) Yogashram in Tibet € The€Gyanganj€(Jnanganj)€Yogashram€–€the€ancient€name€of€this€ Yogashram€was€‘Indra€Bhawan’.€This€ancient€Ashram€was€renovated€ and€restored€to€its€pristine€glory€again€by€Swami€Gyananand€ Paramahans,€a€disciple€of€Maharshi€Mahatapa.€Under€his€able€ administration€and€responsible€management€it€started€functioning€ properly€once€again€under€the€new€name€Gyanganj.€ €

Gyanganj€is€an€extraordinary€spiritual€training€centre.€The€ Brahmacharis,€Brahmacharinis€and€Paramahansas€of€this€centre,€after€ getting€established€in€the€state€Aham-Brahmasmi,€roam€about€in€the€ €€ universe€as,€when€and€where€they€like.€ € The€Gyanganj€(Jnanganj)€Yogashram€with€a€perimeter€of€about€16€ kilometres,€is€situated€in€the€western€region€of€Tibet,€an€upland€in€the€ Himalayas€to€the€north€of€India.€This€ancient€Ashram€was€renovated€ and€restored€to€its€pristine€glory€once€again€by€Swami€Gyananand€ Paramhans,€a€disciple€of€Maharshi€Mahatapa.€Under€his€able€ administration€and€responsible€management€it€started€functioning€ contents

properly€once€again€under€the€new€name€of€Gyanganj.€All€this€ renovation€took€place€about€seven€hundred€years€earlier,€i.e.,€say€about€ 1225€A.D.€Yogiraj€Shri€Vishuddhanand€had€eulogised€about€the€ eminence€of€Gyanganj€Yogashram€in€brief€at€times€about€the€ supernatural€experiences€and€powers€of€the€Yogis€of€this€Ashram.€ € About the name ‘Gyanganj’ € Now€‘Gyan’€is€a€Sanskrit€word€and€‘Gan’j€appears€to€be€a€Persian€word.€ How€come€that€the€words€of€these€two€different€languages€have€been€ joined€up€to€form€the€word€Gyan-ganj?€In€actual€fact€Ganj€is€a€word,€the€ root€of€which€is€Sanskrit€and€it€travelled€from€Bharat€(India)€to€Persia:€ Ganj€:€Gaji€(Bhwadi€ganiya€Dhatu)€+€Yan€(Pratyaya)€The€word€‘Ganj’€ means€‘Treasury€of€Jewels’€so€‘Gyanganj’€literally€means€‘Treasury€of€ Knowledge€of€All€Kinds’.€ € A brief description of the Ashram

This€extensive€Yogashram,€having€a€perimeter€of€16€kilometres,€is€ situated€in€the€western€part€of€the€plateau€of€Tibet,€surrounded€by€hillranges€on€all€sides.€It€has€a€rampart€all€around€it,€with€a€deep€ditch€full€ of€water,€running€all€along€the€rampart€on€the€outside,€having€arched€ bridges€across€it€for€purposes€of€communication.€Every€block€of€the€ Ashram€is€suitably€furnished€with€all€materials€necessary€for€instruction€ in€the€particular€discipline€to€be€taught€in€that€block.€The€arrangements€ contents

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for€instruction€in€Yoga€and€Science€are€indeed€exquisite.€The€two€ faculties€are€independent.€The€Yoga-faculty€is€under€the€charge€of€ Swami€Bhriguram€Paramahansa€and€that€of€Science€under€Swami€ Shyamanand€Paramahansa.€The€overall€incharge€or€the€Chief€Executive€ is€Swami€Gyananand€Paramahansa.€ € It€seems€appropriate€to€give€here€a€brief€description€of€some€of€the€ yogis€intimately€connected€with€this€Ashram.€ € Maharshi Mahatapa € He€is€the€Head€of€this€organization.€According€to€Swami€Vishuddhanand€ he€is€over€one€thousand€four€hundred€years€old.€His€body€is€beyond€ material€requirements€of€food,€water€and€air€and€has€become€sublime€ and€divine.€He€has€transcended€the€limitations€of€time€and€space.€He€ can€travel€unfettered€to€any€‘loka’€(world)€as€per€his€wish.€He€does€not€ stay€in€the€Ashram€itself,€but€generally€in€a€cave€amongst€the€hills€of€ Tibet.€An€idol€of€‘Raj-Rajeshwari€Devi’€is€installed€in€that€cave,€and€the€ cave€is€therefore€known€by€the€name€of€‘Raj-Rajeshwari€Math’.€There€ are€no€hutments€in€the€neighbourhood€and€the€yogis€who€stay€in€the€ Math€(monastery)€have€all€transcended€the€necessity€for€doors€or€ houses.€In€that€part€of€the€Himalayas€there€are€many€monasteries€ similar€to€Gyanganj€Yogashram.€All€these€are€under€the€administrative€ jurisdiction€of€Raj-Rajeshwari€Devi.€Maharshi€Mahatapa€does€not€ permanently€stay€in€any€particular€monastery.€He€occasionally€visits€the€ Gyanganj€Yogashram€and€sometimes€he€goes€to€Manohar-Tirtha€to€pay€ contents

homage€to€his€Gurumata€‘Kshepa-Mai’.€He€is€all€the€time€in€a€sort€of€ trance€and€is€not€used€to€talking€much.€Amongst€his€disciples,€who€stay€ at€the€Gyanganj€Yogashram,€there€are€many€over€hundreds€of€years€of€ age.€The€main€ones€are€Paramanansas€Swami€Bhriguram,€Nimanand,€ Shyamanand€and€Gyananand.€ € Swami Bhriguram Paramahansa € He€is€over€five€hundred€years€old€and€is€the€foremost€disciple€of€ Maharshi€Mahatapa€in€the€line€of€Yoga.€He€is€the€head€of€the€faculty€of€ Yoga€in€the€Ashram.€Swami€Vishuddhanand€got€his€Yoga€training€ directly€from€him.€He€is€the€chief€administrator€of€all€the€monasteries€ under€the€jurisdiction€of€Raj-Rajeshwari€Devi.€He€is€wholly€and€solely€ responsible€for€their€upkeep,€maintenance€of€law€and€order,€inspection,€ conducting€of€examinations€and€supervision.€The€heartfelt€prayerwaves€from€the€distressed€souls€are€caught€by€his€ears€immediately€and€ he€has€the€capability€of€instantly€appearing€before€them€in€human€ form.€Swami€Bhriguram€Paramahansa€had€unobstructed€access€to€the€ innermost€recesses€of€the€mind€of€the€disciples.€His€mode€of€travel€is€ ‘flying€through€space’.€His€feet€would€not€touch€the€ground.€He€is€the€ only€one€Yogi€on€the€face€of€this€earth€who€can€go€upto€‘Surya-loka’.€His€ body€is€no€longer€composed€of€the€five€elements€nor€of€the€six€Koshas€ (Pranamaya,€Gyanamaya€etc.).€It€is€a€supernatural€divine€body.€ € € contents

Swami Nimanand Paramahansa € This€great€Swami’s€insight€was€responsible€for€detecting€the€latent€ spiritual€greatness€in€Bholanath€and€leading€him€up€finally€to€become€a€ Paramahansa.€When€Bholanath€lost€all€hope€of€life€and€had€excruciating€ pain€due€to€the€poison€of€a€mad-dog-bite€and€had€come€one€evening€to€ the€Hoogly€river€to€get€drowned,€this€was€the€Swami€who€had€saved€his€ life.€Again€after€two€years€Bholanath€and€Haripada€travelled€all€the€way€ from€Burdwan€to€Dacca€and€met€him.€When€they€entreated€him€and€ showed€great€keenness€to€tread€the€path€of€Yoga€to€become€Yogis,€it€ was€he€who€brought€them€along€to€Gyanganj.€Swami€Nimanand€Ji€is€ also€amongst€the€foremost€disciples€of€Maharshi€Mahatapa€and€is€a€ realised€Yogi€endowed€with€supernatural€powers.€Paramhansa€Swami€ Nemanand€Ji€is€also€Guru€of€Param€Poojya€Mahatapsvi€Shri€ Kumarswamiji.€ € Swami Shyamanand Paramahansa € Swami€Shyamanand€is€another€disciple€of€Maharshi€Mahatapa€who€ excelled€in€the€knowledge€of€Natural€Sciences€under€the€tutelage€of€the€ Maharshi.€He€is€the€Head€of€the€faculty€of€Science€in€the€Yogashram.€He€ imparts€training€in€Solar€Science,€Astronomy€and€Astrology,€Etherial€ Science,€Lunar€Science€etc.€Solar€Science€is€the€most€superior€prime€ science€amongst€all€these€sciences.€After€attaining€knowledge€and€ proficiency€in€Solar€Science,€the€other€Sciences€can€be€learnt€ comparatively€easily.€Swami€Vishuddhanand€learnt€Surya-Vijnan€(Solar€ contents

Science)€thoroughly€under€the€direct€tutelage€of€Swami€Shyamanand€ Paramahansa.€Swami€Vishuddhanand€was€the€first€one€to€throw€some€ light€on€Surya€Vijnan€and€bring€it€to€the€notice€of€our€world€for€the€first€ time.€Before€this,€nobody€on€this€earth€knew€anything€about€SuryaVijnan.€Surya-Vijnan€has€a€very€close€connection€with€Yoga.€Only€he,€ who€is€an€adept€at€the€Science€of€Yoga€can€attain€full€and€ comprehensive€knowledge€of€Surya€Vijnan.€So€you€will€now€be€able€to€ get€an€idea€of€the€depth€of€knowledge€and€high€status€of€Swami€ Shyamanand€Paramahansa€who€is€also€over€five€hundred€years€old.€ € Swami Gyananand Paramahansa € As€aforesaid€Swami€Gyananand€is€one€of€the€foremost€disciples€of€ Maharshi€Mahatapa.€It€was€through€his€efforts€that€almost€seven€ hundred€years€earlier€the€ancient€Indra-Bhawan€was€resurrected€and€ named€Gyanganj€Yogashram.€Swami€Gyananand€had€already€become€ Paramahansa€before€he€resusciated€Indra€Bhawan.€At€that€time€he€ should€have€been€over€a€hundred€years€old.€So€his€present€age€will€be€ anywhere€over€eight€hundred€years.€Paramahansa€Gyananand€is€the€ chief€administrator€in€charge€of€Gyanganj€Yogashram.€He€is€endowed€ with€supreme€supernatural€spiritual€powers.€ € € € € contents

Swami Abhayananda Paramahansa

Paramhansa€Abhayanand€Ji€pictured€above€at€the€top€of€this€webpage€ Paramhansa€Abhayananad€Ji,€a€brother-disciple€(Guru-bandhu)€of€ Paramhansa€Vishuddhananda€Ji€is€from€Jnanganj€ashram€and€disciple€of€ Maha€Tapa€Ji€Maharaj.€He€is€currently€in€deep€samadhi€state€ undergoing€spiritual€penance.€ Yogiraj€Vishuddhanand€Paramhansa€deva€ € €€ € € Paramhansa Vishuddhanand Ji Gandh-baba € Shri€Vishuddhananda’s€childhood€name€was€Bholanath€ Chattopadhyaya.€Siddha€Yogi€Swami€Nimanand€Paramahansa€of€the€ secret€Gyanganj€Yogashram€in€Tibet€took€Bholnath€to€Gyanganj€ashram.€ Yogiraj€Vishuddhanand€Paramhansadeva€was€the€first€Yogi-Saint€to€ introduce€and€propagate€Surya-Vijnan,€solar€science,€into€the€world€for€ the€first€time.€Up€till€then€this€science€was€confined€to€the€precints€of€ the€ancient€secrets€of€Yogashram€at€Gyanganj€in€the€Himalayas€in€Tibet€ and€was€known€only€to€the€ancients.€Baba€stayed€in€Gyanganj€Ashram€ for€12€years.€Surya€i.e.,€Sun€or€Savita€means€‘source€of€creation’.€ According€to€Surya-Vijnan€there€are€360€rays€of€the€sun€which€go€to€ contents

form€the€whole€creation€of€the€Universe.€Baba€converted€cotton€wool,€ flowers€and€leaves€into€stones,€wood,€etc.€by€the€incidence€of€ appropriate€rays€of€the€Sun.€He€demonstrated€practically€how€minute€ particles€of€ingredients€of€various€objects€could€be€dispersed€or€ assembled€and€destroyed€or€created€through€the€proces€of€SuryaVijnan.€As€a€result€of€his€adherence€to€the€strict€rules€of€the€ Brahmacharya€period,€Bholanath€had€freed€himself€from€the€influence€ of€ego€and€had€also€developed€the€spirit€of€surrender€to€the€will€of€the€ Supreme€Power.€ € Matter€is€indestructible€ € Shri€Baba€demonstrated€practically€that€matter€is€indestructible.€ € 1st Instance € He€asked€Shri€Gopinath€to€write€something€on€a€piece€of€paper,€burn€it€ and€pulverize€the€ashes€by€his€hands.€Thereafter€he€resurrected€from€its€ ashes€that€very€same€paper€with€the€sentences€written€on€it€by€ Gopinath.€ € € € contents

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2nd Instance € Another€day,€Baba€had€a€pail€full€of€milk€thrown€into€the€river€Ganga€in€ Varanasi€at€one€Ghat.€After€a€couple€of€days€he€reclaimed€that€pail-full€ of€milk€from€the€Ganga€at€another€ghat€of€Varanasi.€ € 3rd Instance € Even€if€a€person€passes€away€from€the€world€of€curse€(Mrityulok)€to€ heaven€(Brahmalok),€a€yogi€can€bring€him€back€in€the€world,€through€his€ yogic€power.€For€example,€Baba€brought€back€his€dead€father€in€bodily€ into€this€world€at€Bondul€at€the€earnest€request€of€his€elder€brother€Shri€ Bhutnath.€This€incident€has€been€described€later€in€chapter€6€of€this€ book.€The€above€proved€beyond€doubt€that€nothing€is€ever€lost€or€ destroyed€in€Nature.€ € Materialization of the Dead Father in Physical Form € Once€Bhootnath€told€Vishuddhanand,€”Bholanath!€I€have€heard€that€ through€spiritual€practice€you€have€acquired€extraordinary€powers.€For€ a€long€time€I€have€a€yet€unfulfilled€desire€in€my€heart.€If€you€could€fulfil€ the€same,€I€will€consider€myself€blessed.€I€want€to€see€our€late€father€in€ physical€form€just€for€once,€I€hear€that€the€soul€is€eternal€though€man€is€ mortal.€The€changes€take€place€only€in€the€physical€form€of€the€body.€ contents

But€the€yogi,€through€his€yogic€powers,€can€resurrect€the€soul€in€its€ physical€bodily€form.€The€yogi,€through€his€yogic€powers,€can€resurrect€ the€same€as€it€were€in€the€past€at€any€time.€I€know€you€can€fulfil€my€ desire€if€you€so€wish.€I€have€no€other€wish.”€Bholanath€said,€”Dear€ brother,€what€you€have€stated€is€quite€true.€There€is€nothing€that€ cannot€be€accomplished€by€yogic€power€or€super-science.€After€the€ battle€of€Mahabharat€at€Kurukshetra,€Maharshi€Vyasadeva€had€ resurrected,€her€dead€relatives€before€the€very€eyes€of€the€griefstricken€Gandhari,€in€fulfilment€of€her€wish.€A€yogi€can€do€this€through€ his€will-power.€The€same€can€also€be€accomplished€by€the€application€of€ super-science.€But,€dear€brother,€what€will€you€gain€by€simply€seeing€ our€late€father?€Only€know€that€the€soul€never€dies.€Death€only€changes€ the€form.€You€will€not€be€able€to€keep€your€equanimity€at€seeing€our€ dead€father€now,€in€his€old€physical€form.€Therefore,€it€will€be€better€ that€you€accept€the€will€of€God€in€whatever€has€already€come€to€pass€ and€do€not€press€to€see€our€late€father€in€phyiscal€form€now.”€But€ Bhootnath€persisted€and€pressed€his€wish.€Bholanath€was€well€aware€ that€anybody,€on€seeing€his€dead€relative,€cannot€normally€keep€his€ sanity€intact€and€develops€insanity.€Hence€he€tried€very€hard€indeed€to€ dissuade€his€brother,€but€Bhootnath€was€insistent.€In€the€end,€ Bholanath€acceeded€to€his€request.€A€room€was€set€as€per€instructions€ of€Bholanath.€In€it€a€cot€was€placed€and€on€it€a€new€bedding€was€ spread.€At€the€appointed€hour,€their€late€father€appeared€in€his€usual€ physical€form€and€took€his€seat€on€the€bed.€He€even€replied€to€the€ questions€put€to€him.€He€stayed€thus€for€about€fifteen€minutes€and€ then€departed.€But€the€sight€in€bodily€form€of€the€late€father€left€a€deep€ harmful€impact€on€the€mind€of€Bhootnath.€ € contents

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Pre-Knowledge of Future Events € Bholanath€(now€Swami€Vishuddhanand)€used€to€visit€Burdwan€now€and€ then.€Once€he€found€his€elder€brother€Bhootnath€suffering€from€a€ chronic€disease.€The€treatment€there€was€giving€him€no€relief.€ Bholanath€cured€him€by€his€yogic€power,€just€by€a€sheer€gaze€at€him.€ But€before€leaving,€he€told€Bhootnath€in€no€uncertain€terms€that€he€ was€not€ever€to€take€onions€or€eggs.€He€also€impressed€this€point€on€ Bhootnath’s€wife€and€warned€her€of€the€consequences.€But€Bhootnath€ was€never€a€person€to€follow€rules€or€restrictions€for€any€length€of€time.€ He€started€taking€onions€and€eggs€again.€After€some€time,€the€disease€ reappeared€in€Bhootnath€in€a€virulent€form.€He€became€worse€day€by€ day€and€no€medicine€was€able€to€provide€him€any€relief.€You€can€ imagine€the€feelings€of€the€mother€under€such€circumstances.€Although€ Bholanath€was€at€that€time€in€a€very€distant€place,€even€there€he€could€ get€the€inkling€of€his€brother’s€condition€and€the€state€of€mental€agony€ of€his€mother.€For€a€yogi,€distance€is€of€no€consequence€and€ Vishuddhanand€appeared€instantly€at€his€village€Bondul.€There€he€ explicitly€explained€to€his€mother€that€Bhootnath,€having€disobeyed€the€ instructions,€could€not€be€cured€anymore.€Simultaneously€he€indicated€ the€date€and€time€of€the€death€of€Bhootnath€to€the€mother€and€ disappeared.€Needless€to€say€that€Bhootnath€died€exactly€on€the€same€ day€and€time€as€had€been€prophecised€by€Bholanath.€The€mother€ became€miserably€grief€stricken.€Bholanath€again€appeared€on€the€ scene.€He€relieved€the€mother€of€the€grief€by€a€simple€touch€of€his€ hand.€Swami€Vishuddhanand€had€acquired€many€supernatural€powers€ through€the€constant€practice€of€Mantra€Jap€(meditation),€Tapasya€ (penance)€and€Samadhi€(superconsciousness).€But€he€used€to€utilize€ contents

these€Siddhis€only€for€the€benefit€of€mankind.€Whenever€requested,€he€ used€to€provide€relief€to€all€relatives€or€non-relatives€in€their€bodily€and€ mental€sufferings€and€all€kinds€of€troubles.€Many€people€suffering€from€ chronic€and€virulent€diseases€were€cured€just€by€a€single€benevolent€ gaze€from€his€or€by€exercise€of€his€will-power.€There€was€no€end€to€his€ yogic€powers€and€it€is€impossible€to€comprehend,€leave€alone€describe€ all€of€them.€ € Bholanath in Gyanganj (Jnanganj) Ashram € Bholanath€embarked€on€his€regular€training€in€Yoga€in€Gyanganj€ Yogashram,€under€the€expert€guidance€of€Shri€Bhriguram€Paramahansa.€ His€sharp€intellect€and€rigorous€application€enabled€him€to€atain€ complete€mastery€over€the€eight€stages€of€Yoga,€one€by€one,€in€a€period€ much€shorter€than€other€aspirants€who€inspite€of€having€started€earlier,€ had€not€yet€attained€the€same€proficiency.€ € Shri€Bhriguram€Paramahansa€was€greatly€impressed€by€Bholanath’s€ intensity€of€purpose€and€dedication.€In€appreciation€thereof,€he€gave€ away€the€‘‘Harihara€Banalinga”€–€Shivalingam€which€was€in€use€in€the€ Ashram,€for€testing€the€progress€of€trainees€–€to€Bholanath€as€a€prize.€ € This€was€a€Shivalinga€in€Gyanganj€Yogashram€which€was€exceptionally€ powerful.€It€was€used€for€testing€the€progress€of€trainees€in€Yogic€ Tratak.€Ordinary€aspirants€of€Yoga€could€not€fix€their€gaze€at€it€steadily€ contents

for€any€length€of€time.€Only€Brahmacharis€and€Yogis€fully€established€in€ Yoga€technique€were€able€to€fix€their€gaze€upon€it€for€a€while.€Its€colour€ would€change€after€every€three€hours€interval€and€its€hue€would€thus€ change€eight€times€during€the€twenty-four€hours€of€day€and€night.€ Many€people€have€witnessed€the€two-fold€forms€of€the€Lord€viz.€Hari€ (Vishnu)€and€Hara€(Shiva)€in€it€and€hence€this€Shivalinga€had€been€ named€as€Harihara€Banalinga.€This€Banalinga€was€greatly€instrumental€ in€Bholanath’s€meteoric€rise€in€the€practice€of€Yoga.€The€residents€of€ the€Ashram€took€strong€objection€to€the€presentation€of€this€Banalinga€ by€Shri€Bhriguram€Paramahansa€to€Bholanath.€They€claimed€that€not€ only€was€it€the€property€of€the€Ashram,€but€it€was€in€constant€use€here€ as€an€instrument€for€testing€the€progress€i.e.,€the€stage€of€attainment€of€ Yoga-aspirants.€Hence€it€could€not€be€handed€over€to€an€individual.€ Bhriguram€Swami€explained€to€them€that€he€had€taken€the€decision€to€ present€this€Banalinga€to€Bholanath€because€he€deserved€it€fully€by€ virtue€of€his€excellent€performance€and€showing€in€Yoga-practice.€It€was€ also€quite€true€that€this€Banalinga€would€no€longer€be€available€at€ Gyanganj€Ashram,€but€it€would€soon€be€installed€at€a€very€auspicious€ place€in€Bengal.€And€any€one€of€you€could€go€there€and€offer€prayers€ and€concentrate€on€it,€as€distance€does€not€present€any€hindrance€or€ obstacle€and€is€therefore€of€no€consequence€to€a€Yogi.€Besides,€its€ installation€in€Bengal€would€be€of€immense€public-benefit.€ € Gurudeva,€Shri€Mahatapa€Maharaj,€approved€the€action€of€Shri€ Bhriguram€and€blessed€Bholanath.€This€Banalinga€could€stand€the€gaze€ of€Bholanath€during€his€meditation.€Ordinary€Linga€could€not€normally€ stand€his€gaze€and€would€get€shattered€to€pieces.€After€some€time€ Bhriguram€Swami€directed€Bholanath€(Vishuddhanand)€to€instal€this€ contents

Banalinga€in€the€village€of€his€birth€viz.€Bondul,€in€a€temple€and€have€an€ Ashram€built€alongside.€The€Swami€made€it€clear€that€it€was€to€be€ installed€in€Bondul€and€Bondul€ony.€He€even€indicated€the€spot€for€its€ installation€saying€that€on€digging€at€the€mentioned€spot€Trishul€ (Trident)€would€be€found€about€two€metres€below€the€ground.€The€ Harihara€Banalinga€was€installed€during€auspicious€Muhurta€(moment)€ under€the€name€of€Bonduleshwara.€ € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Harihar€Jnanganj€Banlinga€(Banduleshwar)€at€Bandul€ € In€this€way,€under€the€instructions€of€Swami€Bhriguram€Paramahansa,€ Bholanath€developed€into€a€perfect€Yogi.€He€spared€no€pains€to€learn€ natural€sciences€under€the€tutelage€of€Swami€Shyamanand€ Paramahansa.€He€learned€Vayu-Vijnan€(science€of€natural€sciences),€ Nakshatra-Vijnan€(astrology),€Chandra-Vijnan€(lunar€science),€SwaraVijnan€(science€of€sound€vibrations),€Kshana-Vijnan€(science€of€instant€ of€time)€and€Surya-Vijnan€(solar€science)€etc.€Like€in€Yoga,€Bholanath€ attained€great€prificiency€and€mastery€in€all€above€sciences€also.€ € Yogiraj€Vishuddhanand€Paramhansadeva€was€the€first€Yogi-Saint€to€ introduce€and€propagate€Surya-Vijnan,€solar€science,€into€the€world€for€ the€first€time.€Up€till€then€this€science€was€confined€to€the€precints€of€ the€ancient€secrets€of€Yogashram€at€Gyanganj€in€the€Himalayas€in€Tibet€ and€was€known€only€to€the€ancients.€Baba€stayed€in€Gyanganj€Ashram€ contents

for€12€years.€Surya€i.e.,€Sun€or€Savita€means€‘source€of€creation’.€ According€to€Surya-Vijnan€there€are€360€rays€of€the€sun€which€go€to€ form€the€whole€creation€of€the€Universe.€Baba€converted€cotton€wool,€ flowers€and€leaves€into€stones,€wood,€etc.€by€the€incidence€of€ appropriate€rays€of€the€Sun.€He€demonstrated€practically€how€minute€ particles€of€ingredients€of€various€objects€could€be€dispersed€or€ assembled€and€destroyed€or€created€through€the€proces€of€SuryaVijnan.€As€a€result€of€his€adherence€to€the€strict€rules€of€the€ Brahmacharya€period,€Bholanath€had€freed€himself€from€the€influence€ of€ego€and€had€also€developed€the€spirit€of€surrender€to€the€will€of€the€ Supreme€Power.€ € Bholanath,€now€Swami€Vishuddhanand,€had€acquired€many€supernatural€powers€through€the€constant€practice€of€Mantra€Jap€ (meditation),€Tapasya€(penance)€and€Samadhi€(super-consciousness).€ But€he€used€to€utilize€these€Siddhis€only€for€the€benefit€of€mankind.€ Whenever€requested,€he€used€to€provide€relief€to€all€relatives€or€nonrelatives€in€their€bodily€and€mental€sufferings€and€all€kinds€of€troubles.€ Many€people€suffering€from€chronic€and€virulent€diseases€were€cured€ just€by€a€single€benevolent€gaze€from€him€or€by€the€exercise€of€his€willpower.€ € Vishuddhanand€had€unlimited€faith€in€his€Guru€and€he€accepted€the€ command€of€his€Guru€even€though€it€was€not€to€his€own€liking.€After€ having€lived€as€a€Sanyasi€for€four€years,€Swami€Vishuddhanand€did€not€ like€the€idea€of€marriage.€He,€however,€implicity€believed€in€the€dictum€ that€the€Guru’s€commands,€deeds€and€thoughts€are€always€directed€ contents

toward€promoting€the€good€of€the€disciple.€Hence,€when€his€Guru,€ Mahatapa€Maharaj,€asked€him€to€marry,€he€bowed€down€to€his€ command€and€agreed€to€lead€the€life€of€a€householder.€With€all€ humility,€he€only€enquired€of€his€Guru,€”Gurudeva,€I€hope€my€marriage€ will€not€stand€in€the€way€of€my€progress€in€Tapa,€i.e.,€practice€of€ austerity.”€The€Guru€replied,€”No,€with€my€blessings€the€influence€of€ your€Tapa€will€increase€day€by€day€after€marriage€instead€of€declining”€ and€this€proved€to€be€true.€After€his€marriage€Vishuddhanand€pursued€ his€spiritual€austerities€with€even€greater€vigour€and€tenacity.€He€soon€ attained€the€stage€of€Tirth-Swami€and€during€that€period€he€acquired€ many€additional€Yogic€Siddhis.€ € € Paramhansa Ji with Mata Ji € After€marriage,€Vishuddhanand€went€to€his€in-laws’€place€at€ Manteshwar.€There€he€went€to€the€pond€for€his€daily€bath.€The€pond€ was€overladen€with€water€weeds.€While€bathing,€he€was€bitten€on€his€ chest€by€a€snake.€He€immediately€came€out€of€the€pond.€Blood€was€ flowing€out€of€the€bitten€spot.€Vishuddhanand€entered€the€Shiva€ temple€at€the€pond€and€told€his€brother-in-law€to€ensure€that€nobody€ entered€the€temple€till€such€time€as€he€prayed€inside€it,€irrespective€ how€long€he€took€inside,€so€nobody€disturbed€him.€The€whole€day€went€ by,€the€whole€night€passed.€Only€on€the€second€day€in€the€morning,€the€ door€of€the€temple€was€opened€from€inside€and€he€emerged.€His€eyes€ were€blood-red€and€the€whole€body€was€wet€with€perspiration,€but€ contents

there€was€no€visible€sign€of€snake-bite€poison,€except€the€dent’s€of€ snakes€fangs€on€his€chest.€ € Paramahansa Vishuddhanandji’s Siddhis € €€ Siddhis€–€super-natural€powers€ € There€was€no€end€to€Shri€Baba’s€super-natural€powers.€But€he€did€not€ consider€those€to€be€of€much€intrinsic€value.€The€sole€purpose€behind€ his€exhibiting€them€to€his€disciples€and€devotees€was€to€increase€their€ faith€in€God€and€worship,€in€religion€and€in€the€unbounded€and€ unlimited€power€of€the€Mahashakti.€ € During€his€life-time€his€disciples€and€devotees€had€witnessed€many€of€ his€miracles€at€different€times,€in€different€places€and€under€varying€ circumstances€and€environments.€Even€after€his€demise€on€14th€July€ 1937,€his€disciples€and€devotees€till€today€continue€to€witness€them.€It€ has€thus€been€correctly€stated€in€our€scriptures€that€a€Guru€never€dies.€ He€lives€for€ever€in€astral€form€and€keeps€guiding€his€disciples.€ € With€regards€to€these€miracles€Baba€one€day€told€his€disciples€,€”In€my€ childhood€I€used€to€think€that€all€this€talk€about€miracles€and€supernatural€powers€in€our€scriptures€is€nothing€but€a€fabrication€of€ contents

imagination.€But€after€going€to€Gyanganj,€I€was€stunned€to€see€what€all€ was€possible.€That€place€appeared€to€me€like€a€magic-land€full€of€ wonders.€Every€thing€and€event€seemed€to€come€within€the€scope€of€ possibility.”€ Baba€keeps€a€watch€over€his€disciples€at€all€times€ € One€Sunday€during€his€stay€at€Vishuddhashram,€Burdwan,€Baba€was€ stressing€the€need€for€regular€practice€of€Kriya€and€the€surety€of€good€ outcome€therefrom.€One€of€the€disciples,€an€advocate€of€the€High€Court€ in€Calcutta,€who€had€come€to€visit€Baba,€complained€that€he€did€not€ seem€to€be€making€any€progress€in€the€spiritual€realm.€ € Baba€enquired,€”Are€you€regular€and€sincere€in€the€performance€of€your€ Kriya?€He€replied,€”Yes,€Baba”.€Then€Baba€said,€‘Look,€only€the€day€ before,€as€you€were€going€to€sit€for€your€Kriya€in€your€Puja-room€in€ Calcutta,€a€client€called€for€you.€Did€you€not€instantly€wrap€up€your€Puja€ asan€and€come€out€to€meet€him?€And€then€you€kept€on€discussing€the€ client’s€legal€suit€with€him€for€full€two€hours€and€thereafter€never€did€ your€Kriya€that€night?€Now,€if€this€is€the€way€you€do€your€Kriya€how€do€ you€expect€any€progress?”€ € The€advocate€admitted€the€fact€and€felt€very€ashamed.€Another€disciple€ asked,€”Baba,€do€you€keep€vigil€over€our€actions€all€the€while?”€Baba€ said,€”Yes,€I€have€to,€being€your€Guru.”€ €€€€€€€€€ contents

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Paramhansa€Vishuddhananda€Ji€Gandh€Baba€(Perfume€Saint)€ € The Attainment of Yogic Powers by Shri Vishuddhanand € Many€of€the€blessed€disciples€of€Yogiraj€Shri€Vishuddhanand€have€ variously€described€many€wonderful€miracles€brought€about€by€him.€ But€it€would€be€interesting€and€instructive€to€know€also€the€pains-taking€ and€sustained€practice€undergone€by€him€before€he€was€able€to€attain€ these€marvellous€powers.€Bholanath€spent€twelve€long€years€as€a€ Brahmachari€in€the€Gyanganj€Yogashram€in€Tibet€under€training€and€ strenuous€practice€of€the€various€branches€of€Science€and€Yoga.€After€ his€initiation€into€the€Yoga-technology€and€appropriate€instruction€and€ practice,€as€was€customary,€he€had€to€undertake€a€pilgrimage€to€all€the€ pilgrim€centres€throughout€the€length€and€breadth€of€India€and€stay€for€ long€periods€all€alone€in€the€mountain€caves,€depending€solely€on€the€ Divine€Mother€–€the€force€which€motivates€the€whole€universe.€He€ stayed€in€dense€forests,€in€caves€braving€the€severe€chilly€winds€and€ scorching€sun€and€amongst€ferrocious€beasts.€ € The€purpose€of€these€stringent€rules€was€to€educate€the€aspirants€to€ learn€to€depend€on€and€have€faith€in€the€Divine.€Bholanath€was€ subjected€to€many€physical€obstructions€and€impediments€but€was€ always€saved€from€them€by€the€grace€of€his€Guru.€He€transcended€all€ the€good€and€evil€circumstances,€obeyed€all€the€stringent€rules€and€not€ for€once€even€swerved€from€his€cherished€path.€Being€bitten€by€a€dog€ contents

during€his€childhood€or€by€a€cobra€after€his€marriage€were€both€physical€ impediments.€ € As€a€result€of€his€adherence€to€the€strict€rules€of€the€Brahmacharyaperiod,€Bholanath€had€freed€himselef€from€the€influence€of€ego€and€had€ also€developed€the€spirit€of€surrender€to€the€will€of€the€Supreme€Power.€ He€did€not€now€suffer€from€any€kind€of€fear€or€any€form€of€agitation€like€ anger,€hatred,€jealousy.€God€alone€used€to€be€his€silent€guide€in€all€ matters.€ An Illustration of Vayu-Vijnan (Wind-Science)

Once€Shri€Gopinath’s€Rudraksha€rosary€broke€up.€He€took€the€beads€ and€silk€thread€to€Shri€Baba€for€getting€it€wreathed€in€the€way€ prescribed€in€the€Shastras€(scriptures)€Baba€kept€the€beads€and€the€silk€ thread€in€the€Gomukhi€(silk€bag€for€keeping€the€rosary)€and€clasped€the€ silk€bag€in€his€hand.€He€turned€round€the€Gomukhi€in€his€hand€a€couple€ of€times€and€handed€it€back€to€Gopinath.€The€whole€process€took€ hardly€a€couple€of€minutes.€On€examining€the€rosary€it€was€found€to€ have€been€beautifully€wreathed€with€the€silk€thread,€with€the€Sumeru€ bead€affixed€in€the€proper€place€and€style.€The€knots€were€also€tied€in€ proper€scriptural€fashion.€On€enquiry,€Baba€replied€that€the€job€had€ been€done€by€the€technology€of€Vayu-Vijnan€(Wind-Science).€Regarding€ the€short€time€taken,€Baba€explained€that€once€you€enter€into€the€state€ of€super-concentration,€even€long-time€consuming€acts€can€be€ accomplished€in€minutes.€ € contents

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In€this€particular€case,€Baba€used€the€technique€of€Vayu-Vijnan€but€by€ and€large€Baba€would€display€and€talk€about€Surya-Vijnan€and€produce€ things€by€that€science.€ Production of Lord Krishna’s Fragrance through Surya-Vijnan € On€another€occasion€in€1920,€Shri€Gopinath€Kaviraj€was€sitting€with€ Baba€at€the€Ashram€at€Puri.€A€few€other€disciples€were€also€present.€He€ casually€mentioned€the€description€of€Lord€Krishna’s€Gandha€ (fragrance)€given€in€Chaitanya€Charitamrit€and€other€books€and€ enquired€if€that€was€so€in€reality€or€it€was€only€an€allegory€in€the€ Scriptures.€ € Baba€told€Gopinath€Kaviraj€to€start€naming€ingredients,€one€by€one,€ which€formed€the€Krishna-Gandha,€as€per€description€given€in€GovindLilamrit.€Gopinath€started€naming€them:€blue€lotus,€musk,€etc.€As€each€ name€was€being€pronounced,€so€also€Shri€Baba€moved€his€hand€each€ time€in€space.€By€the€time€Gopi€Dada€named€the€last€ingredient,€Baba€ brought€his€hand€close€to€Gopinath€and€other€disciples€and€asked€them€ to€smell€the€Krishna-Gandha€(Lord€Krishna’s€fragrance).€Baba€told€ Gopinath€that€as€he€kept€naming€each€ingredient€Baba€kept€attracting€ the€same€out€of€the€Sun’s€rays€by€the€process€of€Surya-Vijnan€and€by€ the€time€the€last€ingredient€was€€added€the€fragrance€was€created.€ Gopinath€and€other€disciples€present€smelled€the€fragrance€which€was€ marvellously€sweet€and€enchanting.€ € contents

Immense Capabilities of Surya-Vijnan € €Shri€Gopinath€Kaviraj€and€scores€of€other€disciples€were€direct€ witnesses€to€the€creation€of€valuable€diamonds,€gems€and€pearls€of€ different€types€and€shades;€ornaments€of€gold;€sweets€of€various€ descriptions€like€Chamshams,€Rasogullas,€Sandes€etc.;€fruits€like€grapes,€ pomegranates,€apples€and€pine-apples€etc;€flowers€like€lotus,€rose,€ jasmine,€pandanus€(Kevra),€Parijat€(a€flower€of€paradise)€etc.;€cow’s€ ghee;€coconut€oil€and€numerous€other€articles,€through€Surya-Vijnan.€ € €€€€€€€ Mahamahopadhya Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj Ji € Baba€presented€all€these€articles,€prepared€through€Surya-Vijnan,€to€his€ disciples€some€of€whom€have€preserved€many€of€these€intact€in€their€ possession€even€till€today,€proving€beyond€doubt€thereby€that€it€was€ not€a€case€of€magic,€hypnotism€or€hallucination€but€one€of€pure€ scientific€knowledge€and€its€application.€Baba€converted€cotton€wool,€ flowers€and€leaves€into€stones,€wood,€etc.€by€incidence€of€appropriate€ rays€of€the€Sun.€He€demonstrated€practically€how€minute€particles€of€ ingredients€of€various€objects€could€be€dispersed€or€assembled€and€ destroyed€or€created€through€the€process€of€Surya-Vijnan.€ € € contents

€ Transformation of one object into another

Once€some€disciples€requested€Baba€to€elucidate€by€actual€ demonstration€how€one€object€is€converted€or€transformed€into€ another.€ € Baba€picked€up€a€rose€out€of€the€flowers€offered€by€devotees,€lying€ before€him€on€the€bed€on€which€he€was€seated,€and€enquired,€”What€ do€you€want€this€rose€to€be€converted€into?”€Seeing€no€jawa€flower€ round€about,€a€disciple€requested€Baba€to€convert€the€rose€into€a€jawa€ flower.€Baba€held€the€rose€in€his€left€hand€and€by€means€of€magnifying€ glass€in€his€right€hand,€he€focussed€the€rays€of€the€Sun€on€to€the€rose.€A€ gradual€change€started€taking€place.€First€a€reddish€glow€appeared€and€ slowly€the€rose€started€disappearing€till€finally€a€fully€blossomed€jawa€ flower€appeared€in€its€place.€To€satisfy€his€lingering€doubt,€Gopinathji€ took€this€jawa€flower€to€his€home€and€it€remained€for€quite€a€few€days€ till€it€gradually€faded€away€in€the€normal€way.€On€being€asked€about€the€ process€employed,€Baba€replied€that€he€had€used€Surya-Vijnan€for€this€ transformation€although€the€same€transformation€could€have€been€ achieved,€though€more€slowly,€through€the€agency€of€any€other€natural€ science€such€as€Chandra-Vijnan€or€Vayu-Vijnan.€Also,€this€very€ transformation€from€a€rose€flower€into€a€jawa€flower€could€have€been€ brought€about€by€the€exercise€of€pure€Ichcha€Shakti€(will€power)€by€a€ Siddha€Yogi.€ € contents

Thus€any€and€everything€in€this€world€is€possible€as€regards€creation,€ maintenance€and€destruction,€either€by€Yoga€or€by€Natural€Science,€ both.€ € € € € € € € € € € € € € € € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€www.shivayoga.net€

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Parahamsa yogananda € CHAPTER€5.€A€“PERFUME€SAINT”€DISPLAYS€HIS€WONDERS€ “To€every€thing€there€is€a€season,€and€a€time€to€every€purpose€under€ the€heaven.”€ I€did€not€have€this€wisdom€of€Solomon€to€comfort€me;€I€gazed€ searchingly€about€me,€on€any€excursion€from€ home,€for€the€face€of€my€destined€guru.€But€my€path€did€not€cross€his€ own€until€after€the€completion€of€my€ high€school€studies.€ Two€years€elapsed€between€my€flight€with€Amar€toward€the€Himalayas,€ and€the€great€day€of€Sri€Yukteswar's€ arrival€into€my€life.€During€that€interim€I€met€a€number€of€sages−the€ “Perfume€Saint,”€the€“Tiger€Swami,”€ Nagendra€Nath€Bhaduri,€Master€Mahasaya,€and€the€famous€Bengali€ scientist,€Jagadis€Chandra€Bose.€ My€encounter€with€the€“Perfume€Saint”€had€two€preambles,€one€ harmonious€and€the€other€humorous.€ “God€is€simple.€Everything€else€is€complex.€Do€not€seek€absolute€values€ in€the€relative€world€of€nature.”€ These€philosophical€finalities€gently€entered€my€ear€as€I€stood€silently€ before€a€temple€image€of€Kali.€Turning,€ contents

I€confronted€a€tall€man€whose€garb,€or€lack€of€it,€revealed€him€a€ wandering€SADHU.€ “You€have€indeed€penetrated€the€bewilderment€of€my€thoughts!”€I€ smiled€gratefully.€“The€confusion€of€ benign€and€terrible€aspects€in€nature,€as€symbolized€by€Kali,€{FN5−1}€ has€puzzled€wiser€heads€than€mine!”€ “Few€there€be€who€solve€her€mystery!€Good€and€evil€is€the€challenging€ riddle€which€life€places€sphinxlike€ before€every€intelligence.€Attempting€no€solution,€most€men€pay€forfeit€ with€their€lives,€penalty€now€even€as€ in€the€days€of€Thebes.€Here€and€there,€a€towering€lonely€figure€never€ cries€defeat.€From€the€MAYA€€ of€duality€he€plucks€the€cleaveless€truth€of€unity.”€ “You€speak€with€conviction,€sir.”€ “I€have€long€exercised€an€honest€introspection,€the€exquisitely€painful€ approach€to€wisdom.€Self−scrutiny,€ relentless€observance€of€one's€thoughts,€is€a€stark€and€shattering€ experience.€It€pulverizes€the€stoutest€ego.€But€ true€self−analysis€mathematically€operates€to€produce€seers.€The€way€ of€'self−expression,'€individual€ acknowledgments,€results€in€egotists,€sure€of€the€right€to€their€private€ interpretations€of€God€and€the€universe.”€

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“Truth€humbly€retires,€no€doubt,€before€such€arrogant€originality.”€I€was€ enjoying€the€discussion.€ “Man€can€understand€no€eternal€verity€until€he€has€freed€himself€from€ pretensions.€The€human€mind,€bared€to€ a€centuried€slime,€is€teeming€with€repulsive€life€of€countless€ world−delusions.€Struggles€of€the€battlefields€ pale€into€insignificance€here,€when€man€first€contends€with€inward€ enemies!€No€mortal€foes€these,€to€be€ overcome€by€harrowing€array€of€might!€Omnipresent,€unresting,€ pursuing€man€even€in€sleep,€subtly€equipped€ with€a€miasmic€weapon,€these€soldiers€of€ignorant€lusts€seek€to€slay€us€ all.€Thoughtless€is€the€man€who€buries€ his€ideals,€surrendering€to€the€common€fate.€Can€he€seem€other€than€ impotent,€wooden,€ignominious?”€ “Respected€Sir,€have€you€no€sympathy€for€the€bewildered€masses?”€ The€sage€was€silent€for€a€moment,€then€answered€obliquely.€ “To€love€both€the€invisible€God,€Repository€of€All€Virtues,€and€visible€ man,€apparently€possessed€of€none,€is€ often€baffling!€But€ingenuity€is€equal€to€the€maze.€Inner€research€soon€ exposes€a€unity€in€all€human€minds−the€ stalwart€kinship€of€selfish€motive.€In€one€sense€at€least,€the€ brotherhood€of€man€stands€revealed.€An€aghast€

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humility€follows€this€leveling€discovery.€It€ripens€into€compassion€for€ one's€fellows,€blind€to€the€healing€ potencies€of€the€soul€awaiting€exploration.”€ “The€saints€of€every€age,€sir,€have€felt€like€yourself€for€the€sorrows€of€ the€world.”€ “Only€the€shallow€man€loses€responsiveness€to€the€woes€of€others'€ lives,€as€he€sinks€into€narrow€suffering€of€ his€own.”€The€SADHU'S€austere€face€was€noticeably€softened.€“The€one€ who€practices€a€scalpel€ self−dissection€will€know€an€expansion€of€universal€pity.€Release€is€ given€him€from€the€deafening€demands€of€ his€ego.€The€love€of€God€flowers€on€such€soil.€The€creature€finally€turns€ to€his€Creator,€if€for€no€other€reason€ than€to€ask€in€anguish:€'Why,€Lord,€why?'€By€ignoble€whips€of€pain,€man€ is€driven€at€last€into€the€Infinite€ Presence,€whose€beauty€alone€should€lure€him.”€ The€sage€and€I€were€present€in€Calcutta's€Kalighat€Temple,€whither€I€had€ gone€to€view€its€famed€ magnificence.€With€a€sweeping€gesture,€my€chance€companion€ dismissed€the€ornate€dignity.€ “Bricks€and€mortar€sing€us€no€audible€tune;€the€heart€opens€only€to€the€ human€chant€of€being.”€

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We€strolled€to€the€inviting€sunshine€at€the€entrance,€where€throngs€of€ devotees€were€passing€to€and€fro.€ “You€are€young.”€The€sage€surveyed€me€thoughtfully.€“India€too€is€ young.€The€ancient€RISHIS€{FN5−3}€laid€ down€ineradicable€patterns€of€spiritual€living.€Their€hoary€dictums€ suffice€for€this€day€and€land.€Not€ outmoded,€not€unsophisticated€against€the€guiles€of€materialism,€the€ disciplinary€precepts€mold€India€still.€By€ millenniums−more€than€embarrassed€scholars€care€to€compute!−the€ skeptic€Time€has€validated€Vedic€worth.€ Take€it€for€your€heritage.”€ As€I€was€reverently€bidding€farewell€to€the€eloquent€SADHU,€he€ revealed€a€clairvoyant€perception:€ “After€you€leave€here€today,€an€unusual€experience€will€come€your€ way.”€ I€quitted€the€temple€precincts€and€wandered€along€aimlessly.€Turning€a€ corner,€I€ran€into€an€old€ acquaintance−one€of€those€long−winded€fellows€whose€conversational€ powers€ignore€time€and€embrace€ eternity.€ “I€will€let€you€go€in€a€very€short€while,€if€you€will€tell€me€all€that€has€ happened€during€the€six€years€of€our€ separation.”€ contents

“What€a€paradox!€I€must€leave€you€now.”€ But€he€held€me€by€the€hand,€forcing€out€tidbits€of€information.€He€was€ like€a€ravenous€wolf,€I€thought€in€ amusement;€the€longer€I€spoke,€the€more€hungrily€he€sniffed€for€news.€ Inwardly€I€petitioned€the€Goddess€Kali€ to€devise€a€graceful€means€of€escape.€ My€companion€left€me€abruptly.€I€sighed€with€relief€and€doubled€my€ pace,€dreading€any€relapse€into€the€ garrulous€fever.€Hearing€rapid€footsteps€behind€me,€I€quickened€my€ speed.€I€dared€not€look€back.€But€with€a€ bound,€the€youth€rejoined€me,€jovially€clasping€my€shoulder.€ “I€forgot€to€tell€you€of€Gandha€Baba€(Perfume€Saint),€who€is€gracing€ yonder€house.”€He€pointed€to€a€dwelling€ a€few€yards€distant.€“Do€meet€him;€he€is€interesting.€You€may€have€an€ unusual€experience.€Good−by,”€and€he€ actually€left€me.€ The€similarly€worded€prediction€of€the€SADHU€at€Kalighat€Temple€ flashed€to€my€mind.€Definitely€intrigued,€ I€entered€the€house€and€was€ushered€into€a€commodious€parlor.€A€ crowd€of€people€were€sitting,€Orient−wise,€ here€and€there€on€a€thick€orange−colored€carpet.€An€awed€whisper€ reached€my€ear:€

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“Behold€Gandha€Baba€on€the€leopard€skin.€He€can€give€the€natural€ perfume€of€any€flower€to€a€scentless€one,€ or€revive€a€wilted€blossom,€or€make€a€person's€skin€exude€delightful€ fragrance.”€ I€looked€directly€at€the€saint;€his€quick€gaze€rested€on€mine.€He€was€ plump€and€bearded,€with€dark€skin€and€ large,€gleaming€eyes.€ “Son,€I€am€glad€to€see€you.€Say€what€you€want.€Would€you€like€some€ perfume?”€ “What€for?”€I€thought€his€remark€rather€childish.€ “To€experience€the€miraculous€way€of€enjoying€perfumes.”€ “Harnessing€God€to€make€odors?”€ “What€of€it?€God€makes€perfume€anyway.”€ “Yes,€but€He€fashions€frail€bottles€of€petals€for€fresh€use€and€discard.€ Can€you€materialize€flowers?”€ “I€materialize€perfumes,€little€friend.”€ “Then€scent€factories€will€go€out€of€business.”€ “I€will€permit€them€to€keep€their€trade!€My€own€purpose€is€to€ demonstrate€the€power€of€God.”€ “Sir,€is€it€necessary€to€prove€God?€Isn't€He€performing€miracles€in€ everything,€everywhere?”€ “Yes,€but€we€too€should€manifest€some€of€His€infinite€creative€variety.”€ contents

“How€long€did€it€take€to€master€your€art?”€ “Twelve€years.”€ “For€manufacturing€scents€by€astral€means!€It€seems,€my€honored€saint,€ you€have€been€wasting€a€dozen€years€ for€fragrances€which€you€can€obtain€with€a€few€rupees€from€a€florist's€ shop.”€ “Perfumes€fade€with€flowers.”€ “Perfumes€fade€with€death.€Why€should€I€desire€that€which€pleases€the€ body€only?”€ “Mr.€Philosopher,€you€please€my€mind.€Now,€stretch€forth€your€right€ hand.”€He€made€a€gesture€of€blessing.€ I€was€a€few€feet€away€from€Gandha€Baba;€no€one€else€was€near€enough€ to€contact€my€body.€I€extended€my€ hand,€which€the€yogi€did€not€touch.€ “What€perfume€do€you€want?”€ “Rose.”€ “Be€it€so.”€ To€my€great€surprise,€the€charming€fragrance€of€rose€was€wafted€ strongly€from€the€center€of€my€palm.€I€ smilingly€took€a€large€white€scentless€flower€from€a€near−by€vase.€ “Can€this€odorless€blossom€be€permeated€with€jasmine?”€ €“Be€it€so.”€ contents

A€jasmine€fragrance€instantly€shot€from€the€petals.€I€thanked€the€ wonder−worker€and€seated€myself€by€one€of€ his€students.€He€informed€me€that€Gandha€Baba,€whose€proper€name€ was€Vishudhananda,€had€learned€many€ astonishing€yoga€secrets€from€a€master€in€Tibet.€The€Tibetan€yogi,€I€was€ assured,€had€attained€the€age€of€over€ a€thousand€years.€ “His€disciple€Gandha€Baba€does€not€always€perform€his€perfume−feats€ in€the€simple€verbal€manner€you€have€ just€witnessed.”€The€student€spoke€with€obvious€pride€in€his€master.€ “His€procedure€differs€widely,€to€accord€ with€diversity€in€temperaments.€He€is€marvelous!€Many€members€of€the€ Calcutta€intelligentsia€are€among€his€ followers.”€ I€inwardly€resolved€not€to€add€myself€to€their€number.€A€guru€too€ literally€“marvelous”€was€not€to€my€liking.€ With€polite€thanks€to€Gandha€Baba,€I€departed.€Sauntering€home,€I€ reflected€on€the€three€varied€encounters€the€ day€had€brought€forth.€ My€sister€Uma€met€me€as€I€entered€our€Gurpar€Road€door.€ “You€are€getting€quite€stylish,€using€perfumes!”€ Without€a€word,€I€motioned€her€to€smell€my€hand.€ contents

“What€an€attractive€rose€fragrance!€It€is€unusually€strong!”€ Thinking€it€was€“strongly€unusual,”€I€silently€placed€the€astrally€scented€ blossom€under€her€nostrils.€ “Oh,€I€love€jasmine!”€She€seized€the€flower.€A€ludicrous€bafflement€ passed€over€her€face€as€she€repeatedly€ sniffed€the€odor€of€jasmine€from€a€type€of€flower€she€well€knew€to€be€ scentless.€Her€reactions€disarmed€my€ suspicion€that€Gandha€Baba€had€induced€an€auto−suggestive€state€ whereby€I€alone€could€detect€the€ fragrances.€ Later€I€heard€from€a€friend,€Alakananda,€that€the€“Perfume€Saint"€had€a€ power€which€I€wish€were€possessed€ by€the€starving€millions€of€Asia€and,€today,€of€Europe€as€well.€ “I€was€present€with€a€hundred€other€guests€at€Gandha€Baba's€home€in€ Burdwan,”€Alakananda€told€me.€“It€was€ a€gala€occasion.€Because€the€yogi€was€reputed€to€have€the€power€of€ extracting€objects€out€of€thin€air,€I€ laughingly€requested€him€to€materialize€some€out−of−season€ tangerines.€Immediately€the€LUCHIS€{FN5−4}€ which€were€present€on€all€the€banana−leaf€plates€became€puffed€up.€ Each€of€the€bread−envelopes€proved€to€ contain€a€peeled€tangerine.€I€bit€into€my€own€with€some€trepidation,€ but€found€it€delicious.”€ contents

Years€later€I€understood€by€inner€realization€how€Gandha€Baba€ accomplished€his€materializations.€The€ method,€alas!€is€beyond€the€reach€of€the€world's€hungry€hordes.€ The€different€sensory€stimuli€to€which€man€reacts−tactual,€visual,€ gustatory,€auditory,€and€olfactory−are€ produced€by€vibratory€variations€in€electrons€and€protons.€The€ vibrations€in€turn€are€regulated€by€“lifetrons,”€ subtle€life€forces€or€finer−than−atomic€energies€intelligently€charged€ with€the€five€distinctive€sensory€ idea−substances.€ Gandha€Baba,€tuning€himself€with€the€cosmic€force€by€certain€yogic€ practices,€was€able€to€guide€the€lifetrons€ to€rearrange€their€vibratory€structure€and€objectivize€the€desired€result.€ His€perfume,€fruit€and€other€miracles€ were€actual€materializations€of€mundane€vibrations,€and€not€inner€ sensations€hypnotically€produced.€{FN5−5}€ Performances€of€miracles€such€as€shown€by€the€“Perfume€Saint”€are€ spectacular€but€spiritually€useless.€ Having€little€purpose€beyond€entertainment,€they€are€digressions€from€ a€serious€search€for€God.€ Hypnotism€has€been€used€by€physicians€in€minor€operations€as€a€sort€of€ psychical€chloroform€for€persons€who€

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might€be€endangered€by€an€anesthetic.€But€a€hypnotic€state€is€harmful€ to€those€often€subjected€to€it;€a€negative€ psychological€effect€ensues€which€in€time€deranges€the€brain€cells.€ Hypnotism€is€trespass€into€the€territory€of€ another's€consciousness.€Its€temporary€phenomena€have€nothing€in€ common€with€the€miracles€performed€by€ men€of€divine€realization.€Awake€in€God,€true€saints€effect€changes€in€ this€dream−world€by€means€of€a€will€ harmoniously€attuned€to€the€Creative€Cosmic€Dreamer.€ Ostentatious€display€of€unusual€powers€are€decried€by€masters.€The€ Persian€mystic,€Abu€Said,€once€laughed€at€ certain€FAKIRS€who€were€proud€of€their€miraculous€powers€over€water,€ air,€and€space.€ “A€frog€is€also€at€home€in€the€water!”€Abu€Said€pointed€out€in€gentle€ scorn.€“The€crow€and€the€vulture€easily€ fly€in€the€air;€the€Devil€is€simultaneously€present€in€the€East€and€in€the€ West!€A€true€man€is€he€who€dwells€in€ righteousness€among€his€fellow€men,€who€buys€and€sells,€yet€is€never€ for€a€single€instant€forgetful€of€God!”€ On€another€occasion€the€great€Persian€teacher€gave€his€views€on€the€ religious€life€thus:€“To€lay€aside€what€you€ have€in€your€head€(selfish€desires€and€ambitions);€to€freely€bestow€what€ you€have€in€your€hand;€and€never€to€ contents

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flinch€from€the€blows€of€adversity!”€ Neither€the€impartial€sage€at€Kalighat€Temple€nor€the€Tibetan−trained€ yogi€had€satisfied€my€yearning€for€a€ guru.€My€heart€needed€no€tutor€for€its€recognitions,€and€cried€its€own€ “Bravos!”€the€more€resoundingly€ because€unoften€summoned€from€silence.€When€I€finally€met€my€ master,€he€taught€me€by€sublimity€of€ example€alone€the€measure€of€a€true€man.€ {FN5−1}€Kali€represents€the€eternal€principle€in€nature.€She€is€ traditionally€pictured€as€a€four−armed€woman,€ standing€on€the€form€of€the€God€Shiva€or€the€Infinite,€because€nature€or€ the€phenomenal€world€is€rooted€in€the€ Noumenon.€The€four€arms€symbolize€cardinal€attributes,€two€ beneficent,€two€destructive,€indicating€the€ essential€duality€of€matter€or€creation.€ Cosmic€illusion;€literally,€“the€measurer.”€MAYA€is€the€magical€power€in€ creation€by€which€ limitations€and€divisions€are€apparently€present€in€the€Immeasurable€ and€Inseparable.€Emerson€wrote€the€ following€poem,€to€which€he€gave€the€title€of€MAYA:€ Illusion€works€impenetrable,€Weaving€webs€innumerable,€Her€gay€ pictures€never€fail,€Crowd€each€other,€veil€

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on€veil,€Charmer€who€will€be€believed€By€man€who€thirsts€to€be€ deceived.€ The€RISHIS,€literally€“seers,”€were€the€authors€of€the€VEDAS€in€an€ indeterminable€antiquity..€ Flat,€round€Indian€bread..€ Laymen€scarcely€realize€the€vast€strides€of€twentieth−century€science.€ Transmutation€of€metals€and€ other€alchemical€dreams€are€seeing€fulfillment€every€day€in€centers€of€ scientific€research€over€the€world.€The€ eminent€French€chemist,€M.€Georges€Claude,€performed€“miracles”€at€ Fontainebleau€in€1928€before€a€ scientific€assemblage€through€his€chemical€knowledge€of€oxygen€ transformations.€His€“magician's€wand”€was€ simple€oxygen,€bubbling€in€a€tube€on€a€table.€The€scientist€“turned€a€ handful€of€sand€into€precious€stones,€iron€ into€a€state€resembling€melted€chocolate€and,€after€depriving€flowers€of€ their€tints,€turned€them€into€the€ consistency€of€glass.€ “M.€Claude€explained€how€the€sea€could€be€turned€by€oxygen€ transformations€into€many€millions€of€pounds€ of€horsepower;€how€water€which€boils€is€not€necessarily€burning;€how€ little€mounds€of€sand,€by€a€single€whiff€

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of€the€oxygen€blowpipe,€could€be€changed€into€sapphires,€rubies,€and€ topazes;€and€he€predicted€the€time€when€ it€will€be€possible€for€men€to€walk€on€the€bottom€of€the€ocean€minus€ the€diver's€equipment.€Finally€the€ scientist€amazed€his€onlookers€by€turning€their€faces€black€by€taking€the€ red€out€of€the€sun's€rays.”€ This€noted€French€scientist€has€produced€liquid€air€by€an€expansion€ method€in€which€he€has€been€able€to€ separate€the€various€gases€of€the€air,€and€has€discovered€various€means€ of€mechanical€utilization€of€ differences€of€temperature€in€sea€water.€ € € € € € € € € € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Autobiography€of€a€Yogi€

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Dr. Paul Brunton

CHAPTER€XI€ THE€WONDER-WORKER€OF€BENARES€ € MY€wanderings€in€Bengal€must€hasten€into€the€limbo€of€ unrecorded€experience,€and€my€unexpected€contacts€ near€Buddha-Gaya€with€three€Tibetan€lamas,€who€ proffer€an€invitation€to€their€mountain€monastery,€must€likewise€ follow€suit,€for€I€am€eager€to€enter€the€sacred€city€of€Benares.€ The€train€thunders€across€the€great€iron€bridge€near€the€city,€ its€noise€heralding,€no€doubt,€modernity's€further€invasion€of€ an€antiquated€and€static€form€of€society.€The€holy€Ganges€can€ hardly€remain€holy€much€longer€when€alien€and€infidel€men€ send€snorting€fire-chariots€across€its€greyish-green€waters.€ So€this€is€Benares!€ A€huge€crowd€of€pilgrims€jostle€each€other€while€I€pass€out€ of€the€station€and€step€into€a€waiting€carriage.€As€we€drive€ along€the€dusty€road€I€become€aware€of€a€new€element€in€the€ contents

atmosphere.€I€try€to€ignore€it€but,€with€increasing€insistence,€ it€forces€itself€upon€my€attention.€ So€this€is€India's€holiest€city!€Well,€it€possesses€a€most€ unholy€smell!€Benares€is€reputed€to€be€the€oldest€populated€ town€in€India.€Its€odour€fully€confirms€its€reputation.€The€ unsavoury€air€seems€insupportable.€I€begin€to€lose€courage.€ Shall€I€order€the€driver€to€take€me€back€to€the€station?€Is€it€ not€better€to€be€an€arrant€infidel€and€breathe€clean€air€than€ acquire€piety€at€such€a€monstrous€price?€And€then€I€reflect€ that€time€will€somehow€acclimatize€one€even€to€this€air,€as€it€ acclimatizes€one€to€more€unfamiliar€things€still€in€this€stale€ land.€But€Benares!€you€may€be€the€hub€of€Hindu€culture,€yet€ please€learn€something€from€the€infidel€whites€and€temper€your€ holiness€with€a€little€hygiene!€ I€learn€that€the€stench€arises€partly€because€the€roads€are€ paved€with€a€mixture€of€cow-dung€and€earth,€and€partly€ because€the€old€moat€which€surrounds€the€city€has€been€used€ by€the€people€of€many€generations€as€a€convenient€refuse€ heap.€ If€Indian€chronicles€can€be€credited,€Benares€was€an€established€ contents

city€as€long€ago€as€twelve€hundred€years€before€the€ Christian€Era.€Just€as€pious€Englishmen€journeyed€to€the€holy€ city€of€Canterbury€in€the€Middle€Ages,€so€have€Indians€flocked€ from€every€part€of€their€country€to€the€holy€city€of€Benares.€ Hindus€come€in€their€wealthy€state€or€poverty-stricken€ condition€to€receive€its€blessing,€while€the€ailing€come€to€eke€ out€their€last€days,€for€death€here€will€take€the€soul€straight€ into€Paradise.€ The€next€day€I€wander€afoot€through€old€Kashi€-€as€the€ Hindus€prefer€to€call€their€city€-€and€explore€the€labyrinth€of€ crooked€streets€which€compose€it.€There€is€a€purpose€behind€ my€aimless€wandering,€for€I€bear€in€my€pocket€a€paper€which€ describes€the€location€of€the€house€of€a€Yogi€wonder-worker,€ whose€disciple€I€met€in€Bombay.€ I€pass€through€stuffy€streets€along€which€a€carriage€would€be€ too€wide€to€pass.€I€make€my€way€through€crowded€bazaars,€ where€seethe€the€people€of€a€dozen€different€races,€and€where€ mangy€dogs€and€innumerable€flies€add€to€the€bustle.€Old€ women€with€grey€hair€and€shrunken€breasts;€young€women€ with€supple€figures€and€smooth,€brown€limbs;€pilgrims€fingering€ contents

their€rosaries€and€muttering€the€same€sacred€words€which€ they€have€already€repeated€perhaps€fifty€thousand€times;€the€ gaunt€figures€of€ash-besmeared€elderly€ascetics;€all€these€and€ other€types€throng€the€narrow€ways.€Among€a€tangle€of€ streets€which€are€full€of€turmoil,€noise€and€colour,€I€come€ accidentally€upon€the€Golden€Temple,€which€is€famed€among€ the€orthodox€throughout€India.€Ash-bedabbled€ascetics,€whose€ uncouth€appearance€is€repellent€to€Western€eyes,€crouch€around€ the€entrance.€Worshippers€flow€in€and€out€in€an€endless€ stream.€Several€carry€lovely€flower€garlands€and€thus€give€a€ gay€colour€to€the€scene.€The€pious€touch€the€stone€door-posts€ with€their€foreheads€as€they€leave€the€temple€and€then,€turning,€ start€in€momentary€surprise€on€beholding€the€white€infidel.€I€ become€conscious€again€of€the€invisible€barrier€between€these€ men€and€myself,€the€profound€barrier€between€white€and€brown€ skin.€ Two€domes,€made€of€thick€sheets€of€gold,€glisten€in€the€quivering€ sunlight;€screeching€parrots€swarm€on€the€nearest€tower.€ The€Golden€Temple€is€given€over€to€the€god€Shiva.€Where€is€ he€now,€I€wonder,€this€god€to€whom€these€Hindus€cry,€before€ contents

whom€they€pray,€and€to€whose€stone€representations€I€have€ seen€them€offer€scented€flowers€and€cooked€rice?€ I€move€on€and€stand€near€the€threshold€of€another€temple,€ where€I€watch€the€god€Krishna€being€worshipped.€Lighted€ camphor€burns€before€a€golden€idol;€the€temple€bells€peal€out€ their€insistent€calls€for€his€attention;€and€the€sounds€of€conch€ horns€stray€up€to€his€unhearing€ears.€A€lean€and€austere€priest€ comes€out€and€looks€questioningly€at€me,€and€I€proceed€upon€ my€way.€ Who€can€count€the€multitude€of€images€and€idols€which€teem€ within€the€temples€and€houses€of€Benares?€Who€can€explain€ these€serious-looking€Hindus€-€so€often€childish,€yet€sometimes€ so€profoundly€philosophical?€ Through€the€dark€alleys€I€thread€my€way,€afoot€and€alone,€ seeking€the€house€of€the€wonder-worker.€At€length€I€emerge€ from€the€swarming€streets€into€wider€roads.€A€straggling,€ ragged€column€of€little€boys,€thin€youths€and€a€few€men,€swing€ past€me€in€single€file.€Their€leader€carries€a€makeshift€banner,€ with€something€indecipherable€inscribed€upon€the€flag.€They€ shout€queer€catchwords€and€occasional€snatches€of€song.€They€ contents

look€at€me€with€hostile€faces€and€scowling€eyes€as€they€go€by,€ so€that€I€sense€the€political€nature€of€this€motley€procession.€ Last€night,€in€a€packed€bazaar,€with€no€European€or€policeman€ anywhere€in€sight,€someone€behind€me€hisses€out€a€threat€to€ shoot€me.€At€once€I€wheel€round€-€only€to€behold€a€crowd€of€ bland€faces,€for€the€young€fanatic€(I€guess€his€youth€by€the€ sound€of€his€voice)€has€disappeared€around€a€corner€into€the€ darkness.€And€so€I€gaze€with€pity€upon€this€ragged€procession€ which€now€disappears€down€the€road.€Politics,€that€deceptive€ siren€who€promises€everybody€everything,€has€gathered€a€few€ more€victims€into€her€insidious€arms.€ I€come€at€last€to€a€street€where€the€houses€are€large€and€well€ built€and€where€the€compounds€are€spacious€and€trimly€kept.€ I€quicken€my€pace€until€I€reach€a€gate,€upon€whose€post€the€ name€VISHUDHANANDA€is€inscribed€on€a€stone€tablet.€I€ enter€the€compound,€for€this€is€the€house€which€I€seek,€and€ approach€someone€who€lounges€on€the€veranda.€He€is€a€young€ man€with€an€unintelligent€face.€I€ask€him€in€Hindustani:€ "Where€is€the€teacher?"€but€he€shakes€his€head€and€gives€me€ to€understand€that€no€such€person€is€known€here.€I€utter€the€ contents

teacher's€name,€but€again€receive€a€negative€reply.€The€result€ is€disappointing,€but€I€am€determined€not€to€be€beaten.€An€ inward€monitor€warns€me€that€the€young€man€thinks€no€ European€can€possibly€have€any€business€here,€and€that€he€has€ jumped€to€the€conclusion€I€am€really€seeking€some€other€house.€ I€look€again€at€his€face€and€write€him€down€as€stupid.€Ignoring€ his€gesticulations,€I€walk€straight€into€the€house.€ In€an€inner€room€I€come€upon€a€semicircle€of€dark€faces.€ A€group€of€well-dressed€Indians€squat€around€the€floor.€A€ bearded€old€man€reclines€upon€a€couch€at€the€far€end€of€the€ room.€His€venerable€appearance€and€seat€of€honour€are€enough€ to€inform€me€that€here€is€the€object€of€my€quest.€I€raise€my€ hands€in€salutation,€palms€touching.€ "Peace,€master!"€I€make€the€conventional€Hindustani€ greeting.€ I€proffer€my€introduction€and€present€myself€as€a€writer€ travelling€in€India,€yet€withal€a€student€of€their€native€philosophy€ and€mysticism.€I€make€it€clear€that€the€disciple€whom€I€ encountered€was€careful€to€explain€that€his€teacher€never€made€a€ public€exhibition€of€his€wonderful€powers,€and€that€even€under€ contents

the€shadow€of€privacy€he€rarely€displayed€them€to€strangers.€ Nevertheless,€in€view€of€my€deep€interest€in€their€ancient€wisdom,€ I€crave€their€indulgence€and€beg€to€be€treated€as€an€ exception.€ The€students€stare€blankly€at€each€other€and€then€turn€ towards€the€teacher,€as€if€in€wonderment€at€his€response.€ Vishudhananda€is€a€man€of€more€than€seventy€years€of€age,€I€ judge.€A€short€nose€and€a€long€beard€adorn€his€face.€I€am€ struck€by€the€large€size€of€his€eyes,€which€are€deeply€pouched.€ The€sacred€thread€of€a€Brahmin€hangs€around€his€neck.€ The€old€man€fixes€his€eyes€coldly€upon€me,€as€though€I€were€a€ specimen€to€be€studied€under€a€microscope.€I€feel€something€ weird€and€uncanny€touch€my€heart.€Indeed,€some€strange€ force€seems€to€pervade€the€whole€room,€and€I€feel€slightly€ uneasy.€ At€length€he€addresses€some€words,€in€a€dialect€which€I€ recognize€as€Bengalee,€to€a€disciple,€who€turns€and€informs€me€ that€no€audience€can€be€granted€unless€I€bring€Pundit€Kavirj,€ who€is€Principal€of€the€Government€Sanskrit€College,€to€act€as€ interpreter.€The€pundit's€perfect€knowledge€of€English,€combined€ contents

with€his€long€standing€as€a€disciple€of€Vishudhananda,€ perfectly€fits€him€to€act€as€a€medium€between€us.€ "Come€with€him€to-morrow€afternoon,"€says€the€teacher.€ "I€shall€expect€you€at€the€hour€of€four."€ I€am€forced€to€retreat.€On€the€road€I€hail€a€passing€carriage€ and€drive€through€the€winding€streets€to€the€Sanskrit€College.€ The€Principal€is€not€there.€Someone€thinks€he€may€be€at€ home,€so€I€drive€on€for€another€half-hour€until€I€find€him€at€ last€in€a€tall,€ancient€house€with€a€projecting€upper€storey,€ whose€appearance€is€strangely€like€that€of€a€medieval€Italian€ building.€ The€pundit€sits€on€the€floor€of€a€top€room,€surrounded€on€ every€side€by€small€hills€of€books,€papers€and€scholastic€paraphernalia.€ He€has€the€Brahmin's€typical€high€brow,€thin€long€ nose€and€lighter€complexion.€His€face€is€refined€and€scholarly.€ I€explain€my€errand;€there€is€a€slight€hesitation€on€his€part;€ and€then€he€agrees€to€accompany€me€next€day.€The€appointment€ fixed,€I€withdraw.€ I€ride€down€to€the€Ganges€and€dismiss€the€carriage.€I€ saunter€along€the€river€bank€which,€for€the€benefit€of€bathing€ contents

pilgrims,€is€built€into€long€rows€of€stone€steps.€The€feet€of€ many€centuries€have€worn€down€the€steps€until€they€are€rugged€ and€uneven.€How€untidy€and€irregular€is€the€water-front€of€ Benares!€Temples€tumble€into€the€water;€glistening€domes€ are€neighbours€to€squat,€square,€decorated€palaces€which€rise€ to€varying€heights;€while€the€whole€hotch-potch€of€buildings€ mingles€the€ancient€and€the€modern€indiscriminately.€ Priests€and€pilgrims€swarm€everywhere.€I€come€across€some€ pundits€teaching€their€pupils€in€small,€open€rooms.€The€walls€ are€plainly€whitewashed;€the€teachers€sit€on€rugs;€and€the€ pupils€squat€respectfully€around,€absorbing€the€cobwebbed€ doctrines€of€their€creed.€ A€bearded€ascetic's€appearance€causes€me€to€make€enquiries.€ He€has€rolled€over€and€over€in€the€dust€for€four€hundred€miles.€ A€strange€way€to€make€one's€pilgrimage€to€Benares!€Farther€ on€I€meet€another€weird-looking€individual.€He€has€held€one€ arm€aloft€for€years.€The€sinews€and€ligaments€of€his€unfortunate€ limb€have€almost€withered,€while€the€flesh€which€covers€ it€has€shrivelled€to€parchment.€How€account€for€such€futile€ austerities,€unless,€indeed,€the€unending€tropical€sun€has€made€ contents

the€minds€of€these€men€a€trifle€mad?€It€may€be€that€existence€ in€a€temperature€of€one€hundred€and€twenty€degrees€in€the€ shade€has€helped€to€unbalance€these€unfortunate€members€of€ a€race€which€is€already€so€prone€to€religious€hysteria.€ € The€next€day,€precisely€at€four€o'clock,€Pundit€Kavirj€and€I€ drive€into€the€courtyard€of€the€teacher's€house.€We€enter€the€ large€room€and€greet€him.€About€six€other€disciples€are€ present.€ Vishudhananda€asks€me€to€come€a€little€closer,€so€I€squat€ down€a€few€feet€away€from€his€couch.€ "Do€you€desire€to€see€one€of€my€wonders?"€is€his€first€ question.€ "€I€f€the€master€wishes€to€grant€this€favour,€I€shall€be€ extremely€pleased."€ "Give€me€your€handkerchief,€then.€If€you€have€a€silk€one,€ so€much€the€better,"€translates€the€Pundit.€"Any€scent€which€ you€desire€will€be€created€for€you,€with€nothing€but€a€lens€and€ the€sun's€rays€as€equipment."€ Fortunately€I€do€carry€a€silk€handkerchief€and€pass€it€to€the€ contents

wonder-worker.€He€takes€out€a€small€burning€lens€and€then€ explains€that€he€wishes€to€concentrate€the€sun's€rays€but,€owing€ to€the€orb's€present€position€and€the€sheltered€aspect€of€the€ room,€that€cannot€be€done€with€directness.€The€difficulty€will€ easily€be€overcome,€however,€by€sending€one€of€the€disciples€ outside€into€the€courtyard.€The€man€will€use€a€hand€mirror,€ catch€the€rays,€and€then€reflect€them€through€an€open€window€ into€the€room.€ "I€shall€now€create€a€scent€for€you€out€of€the€air!"€ announces€Vishudhananda.€"Which€would€you€like?"€ "Can€you€produce€white€jasmine?€"€ He€takes€up€my€handkerchief€in€his€left€hand€and€holds€the€ burning€lens€above€it.€For€the€brief€space€of€two€seconds,€ a€gleaming€ray€of€sunlight€hovers€upon€the€silken€fabric;€ then€he€puts€down€the€lens€and€hands€back€the€handkerchief.€ I€put€it€to€my€nose,€and€am€rewarded€with€the€delightful€fragrance€ of€white€jasmine!€ I€examine€the€handkerchief€but€can€discover€no€trace€of€ moisture,€no€evidence€that€some€liquid€perfume€has€been€ dropped€on€it.€I€am€puzzled€and€look€half-suspiciously€at€the€ contents

old€man.€He€offers€to€repeat€the€demonstration.€ The€second€time€I€choose€attar€of€roses.€I€watch€him€ narrowly€during€the€further€experiment.€Every€move€which€he€ makes,€every€bit€of€space€around€him€is€scrutinized€with€all€the€ care€I€can€muster.€I€examine€his€puffy€hands€and€his€spotless€ white€robe€with€critical€eyes,€but€can€detect€nothing€suspicious.€ He€repeats€his€former€procedure€and€evokes€the€perfume€of€ attar€of€roses,€which€strongly€impregnates€another€corner€ of€the€handkerchief.€ My€third€choice€is€violets.€Here€again€he€is€equally€successful.€ Vishudhananda€is€quite€emotionless€about€his€triumph.€ He€treats€the€whole€demonstration€as€a€sort€of€everyday€affair,€ as€a€mere€minor€event.€His€grave€face€never€once€relaxes.€ "And€now€I€shall€choose€the€scent,"€he€unexpectedly€ declares.€"I€shall€create€the€perfume€of€a€flower€which€grows€ € only€in€Tibet."€He€concentrates€some€sunlight€upon€the€last,€ unscented€corner€of€the€handkerchief€and€lo!€it€is€done€he€ has€evoked€a€fourth€perfume,€which€I€fail€to€recognize.€ Slightly€bewildered,€I€put€the€piece€of€white€silk€into€my€ contents

pocket.€The€feat€appears€to€border€on€the€miraculous.€Has€ he€concealed€the€perfumes€upon€his€person?€Has€he€hidden€ them€in€his€robe?€Then€he€would€need€to€carry€a€formidable€ stock€because,€until€I€spoke,€he€could€not€know€which€scent€ I€should€choose.€His€simple€robe€could€hardly€contain€such€ an€ample€stock€as€would€be€requisite.€Besides,€not€once€has€ his€hand€disappeared€into€the€folds€of€his€robe.€ I€ask€for€permission€to€inspect€the€lens.€The€latter€proves€to€ be€quite€an€ordinary€magnifying€glass,€set€in€a€wire€frame€with€ a€small€wire€handle.€I€can€see€nothing€suspicious€about€it.€ There€is€an€additional€safeguard,€for€what€it€is€worth,€in€the€ fact€that€Vishudhananda€is€being€watched,€not€only€by€me€ but€also€by€the€half-dozen€disciples€around€us.€The€Pundit€ has€already€informed€me€that,€without€a€single€exception,€they€ are€all€men€of€high€standing,€good€education€and€responsibility.€ Hypnotism€offers€a€possible€explanation.€The€value€of€this€ explanation€can€be€simply€tested.€When€I€return€to€my€ quarters,€I€shall€show€the€handkerchief€to€other€persons.€ Vishudhananda€has€another€and€greater€piece€of€wonderworking€ to€show€me.€It€is€one€he€seldom€performs,€though.€ contents

He€tells€me€that€he€needs€strong€sunlight€for€this€second€feat;€ now,€the€sun€is€sinking€and€evening€is€approaching.€So€I€am€ to€come€again€at€high€noon€of€a€later€day€of€the€week.€He€will€ then€display€his€amazing€feat€of€temporarily€restoring€life€to€ the€dead!€ I€leave€him€and€drive€home,€where€I€show€the€handkerchief€ to€three€persons.€Each€one€finds€that€it€still€bears€strong€traces€ of€the€perfumes.€The€feat,€therefore,€cannot€be€accounted€for€ on€the€hypothesis€of€hypnotism.€Nor€is€it€much€easier€to€ regard€the€whole€affair€as€a€piece€of€trickery.€ €€ Once€again€I€am€in€the€house€of€the€magician.€The€latter€ tells€me€that€he€can€restore€life€only€to€a€small€animal;€usually€ he€experiments€with€a€bird.€ A€sparrow€is€strangled€and€left€exposed€to€our€gaze€for€about€ an€hour,€so€that€we€can€assure€ourselves€that€it€is€really€dead.€ Its€eyes€are€motionless,€its€body€sad€and€stiff;€I€cannot€discover€ a€single€sign€which€might€betray€the€presence€of€life€in€the€little€ creature.€ The€magician€picks€up€his€magnifying€glass€and€concentrates€ contents

a€ray€of€sunlight€into€an€eye€of€the€bird.€I€wait€while€a€few€ minutes€pass€uneventfully.€The€old€man€sits€bent€over€his€ strange€task,€his€large€eyes€fixed€in€a€glassy€stare,€his€face€cold,€ emotionless€and€non-committal.€Suddenly,€his€lips€open€and€ his€voice€breaks€out€into€a€weird,€crooning€chant€in€some€ language€which€is€unknown€to€me.€A€little€later€the€bird's€ body€begins€to€twitch.€I€have€seen€a€dog€twitch€its€suffering€ frame€in€the€same€manner,€when€the€spasms€of€approaching€ death€have€overtaken€it.€Then€comes€a€slight€fluttering€of€the€ feathers€and€within€a€few€minutes€the€sparrow€is€on€its€legs,€ hopping€around€the€floor.€Truly€the€dead€have€come€to€life!€ During€its€next€phase€of€this€strange€existence,€the€bird€ gathers€sufficient€strength€to€fly€up€into€the€air,€where€it€busies€ itself€for€a€while€in€finding€new€perching€points€as€it€flies€ around€the€room.€The€thing€seems€so€incredible€that€I€pull€ body€and€wits€together,€in€an€effort€to€reassure€myself€that€ everything€and€everyone€surrounding€me€is€real,€tangible€and€ not€hallucinatory.€ A€tense€half-hour€passes,€while€I€watch€the€fluttering€efforts€ of€the€revived€creature.€At€last€a€sudden€climax€provides€me€ contents

with€a€fresh€surprise.€The€poor€sparrow€falls€through€the€air€ and€lies€motionless€at€our€feet.€It€remains€there€without€ stirring.€An€examination€reveals€it€as€breathless€and€quite€ dead.€ "Could€you€have€prolonged€its€life€still€further?"€I€ask€ the€magician.€ "That€is€the€most€I€can€show€you€at€present,"€he€replies,€ with€a€slight€shrug.€The€Pundit€whispers€that€greater€things€ are€hoped€for€from€future€experiments.€There€are€other€things€ his€master€can€do,€though€I€must€not€over-use€his€indulgence€ and€make€him€play€the€part€of€a€street€showman.€What€I€have€ seen€already€must€satisfy€me.€I€feel€once€again€the€pervading€ sense€of€mystery€which€fills€the€place.€The€stories€of€Vishudhananda's€ other€powers€only€heighten€this€feeling.€ I€learn€that€he€can€bring€fresh€grapes€seemingly€out€of€the€ air€and€deliver€sweetmeats€out€of€sheer€nothingness;€that€if€ he€takes€a€faded€flower€in€his€hand€it€will€soon€regain€its€pristine€ freshness.€ € € contents

What€is€the€secret€of€these€apparent€miracles?€I€try€to€ elicit€some€hint€and€receive€an€extraordinary€reply.€It€is€one€ of€those€explanations€which€do€not€really€explain.€The€real€ secret€still€remains€hidden€behind€the€square€forehead€of€the€ Benares€wonder-worker,€and€he€has€so€far€not€revealed€it€ even€to€his€closest€disciple.€ He€tells€me€that€his€birthplace€was€in€Bengal.€At€the€age€ of€thirteen€he€was€bitten€by€a€poisonous€animal.€His€condition€ became€so€serious€that€his€mother€despaired€of€his€life€and€took€ him€down€to€the€Ganges€to€die.€According€to€the€Hindu€ religion,€there€can€be€no€holier€or€happier€death€than€beside€ this€river.€He€was€carried€into€the€sacred€stream€while€the€ mourning€family€gathered€on€the€banks€for€the€funeral€ceremonies.€ He€was€lowered€into€the€water.€And€then€a€miracle€ happened.€The€deeper€they€dipped€him,€the€more€the€water€ sank€around€his€body.€When€he€was€raised€again,€the€water€rose€ upward€in€harmony€until€it€reached€its€normal€level.€Again€ and€again€he€was€dipped;€again€and€again€the€waters€sank€of€ their€own€accord.€In€short,€the€Ganges€refused€to€receive€the€ boy€as€its€dying€guest!€ contents

A€Yogi€sat€on€the€banks€of€the€river€and€watched€the€proceedings.€ He€got€up€and€predicted€that€the€boy€was€reserved€ to€live€and€achieve€greatness,€and€that€his€destiny€was€most€ fortunate,€inasmuch€as€he€would€become€a€famous€Yogi.€ The€man€then€rubbed€some€herbs€on€the€poisoned€wound€and€ went€away.€Seven€days€later€he€returned€and€told€the€parents€ that€the€boy€was€now€quite€cured,€and€indeed€it€was€so.€But,€ during€the€interim€a€strange€thing€had€happened€to€the€child.€ His€entire€mentality€and€character€had€changed,€and€instead€ of€being€content€to€remain€at€home€with€his€parents,€he€thirsted€ to€become€a€wandering€Yogi.€Henceforth€he€worried€his€ mother€constantly€until,€a€few€years€later,€she€granted€him€ permission€to€leave€home.€He€went€forth€in€quest€of€the€Yoga€ adepts.€ He€made€his€way€to€Tibet,€that€trans-Himalayan€land€of€ mystery,€in€the€hope€of€finding€his€destined€teacher€among€its€ reputed€miracle-working€hermits.€For€it€is€an€idea€strongly€ inherent€in€the€Indian€mind€that€the€aspirant€must€become€a€ personal€disciple€of€someone€who€has€himself€mastered€the€ mysteries€of€Yoga,€if€he€is€to€succeed€in€the€same€quest.€The€ contents

young€Bengalee€sought€for€such€a€man€among€the€solitary€ €hermits€who€dwell€in€huts€or€caves,€sometimes€when€the€ mountains€were€swept€by€howling,€icy€blizzards,€but€he€ returned€home€disappointed.€ Years€passed€uneventfully,€yet€his€desire€found€no€abatement.€ Once€more€he€crossed€the€border€and€wandered€the€ bleak€wastes€of€Southern€Tibet.€In€a€simple€habitation€among€ the€mountain€fastnesses€he€discovered€a€man€who€proved€ to€be€the€long-sought€teacher.€ I€hear,€next,€one€of€those€incredible€statements€which€might€ once€have€moved€me€to€satiric€laughter,€but€now€actually€ startles€me.€For€I€am€solemnly€assured€that€this€Tibetan€ master€is€no€less€than€one€thousand€two€hundred€years€old!€ The€assertion€is€made€as€calmly€as€a€prosaic€Westerner€might€ mention€that€he€is€forty.€ This€amazing€legend€of€longevity€has€cropped€up€at€least€ twice€before.€Brama,€the€Yogi€of€the€Adyar€river,€once€told€me€ that€his€master€in€Nepal€was€over€four€hundred€years€old,€ while€a€holy€man€whom€I€encountered€in€Western€India€said€ that€there€was€a€Yogi€living€in€an€almost€inaccessible€mountain€ contents

cave€on€the€Himalayas€who€was€so€old€-€over€one€thousand€years,€ was€the€figure€given€me€-€that€the€lids€of€his€eyes€actually€ drooped€heavily€with€age!€I€had€dismissed€both€these€assertions€ as€being€too€fantastic,€but€now€I€must€again€entertain€ a€repetition€of€them,€for€this€man€before€me€hints€at€being€on€ the€track€of€the€elixir€of€life.€ The€Tibetan€teacher€initiated€young€Vishudhananda€into€the€ principles€and€practices€of€the€Yoga€of€Body€Control.€Under€ this€rigorous€training,€the€disciple€developed€powers€of€body€and€ mind€which€were€supernormal.€He€was€also€initiated€into€a€ strange€art€which€he€calls€Solar€Science.€For€twelve€years,€ despite€the€hardships€of€life€in€a€snow-bound€region,€he€ continued€his€pupilage€at€the€feet€of€the€Tibetan€possessor€of€ immortal€life.€His€training€finished,€he€was€sent€back€to€ India.€He€crossed€the€mountain€passes,€descended€into€the€ plains,€and€in€due€course€himself€became€a€teacher€of€Yoga.€ He€settled€for€a€while€at€Puri,€on€the€Bay€of€Bengal,€where€he€ still€maintains€a€large€bungalow.€The€flock€of€disciples€which€ gathered€around€him€belong€exclusively€to€the€higher€class€of€ Hindus.€They€comprise€wealthy€merchants,€rich€landowners,€ contents

Government€officials€and€even€a€Rajah.€I€get€the€impression€ -€perhaps€I€am€wrong€-€that€humbler€folk€are€not€encouraged.€ How€did€you€perform€those€wonders€you€showed€me?"€ I€ask€bluntly.€ Vishudhananda€crosses€his€plump€hands.€ "What€you€have€been€shown€is€not€the€result€of€Yoga€ practice.€It€is€the€result€of€a€knowledge€of€Solar€Science.€ The€essence€of€Yoga€is€the€development€of€will€power€and€ mental€concentration€on€the€part€of€the€Yogi,€but€in€Solar€ Science€practice€those€qualities€are€not€required.€Solar€ Science€is€merely€a€collection€of€secrets€and€no€special€training€ is€necessary€to€make€use€of€them.€It€can€be€studied€in€exactly€ the€same€way€that€any€of€your€Western€material€sciences€are€ studied."€ Pundit€Kavirj€supplements€the€hint€that€this€strange€art€is€ more€akin€to€the€science€of€electricity€and€magnetism€than€to€ any€other.€ I€feel€as€much€in€the€dark€as€before,€so€the€master€vouchsafes€ some€further€information.€ "This€Solar€Science€which€now€comes€from€Tibet€is€nothing€ contents

new.€It€was€well€known€to€the€great€Yogis€of€India€in€very€ ancient€times.€But€now,€except€for€a€rare€few,€it€has€almost€ been€lost€to€this€country.€There€are€life-giving€elements€in€ the€sun's€rays,€and€if€you€knew€the€secret€of€separating€or€ selecting€those€elements,€you,€too,€could€do€wonders.€And€ there€are€etheric€forces€in€sunlight€which€have€a€magic€power,€ once€you€get€control€of€them."€ "Are€you€teaching€these€Solar€Science€secrets€to€your€ disciples?"€ "Not€yet,€but€I€am€preparing€to€do€so.€Certain€disciples€ will€be€selected€and€the€secrets€imparted€to€them.€Even€now€ we€are€building€a€large€laboratory€where€study€classes,€demonstrations€ and€experiments€will€be€carried€on."€ "Then€what€are€your€disciples€learning€at€present?"€ "They€are€being€initiated€into€Yoga."€ The€pundit€takes€me€to€inspect€the€laboratory.€It€is€a€ modern€structure€several€storeys€high€and€distinctly€European€ in€design.€The€walls€are€built€of€red€brick€and€large€gaps€take€ the€place€of€windows.€These€gaps€await€the€coming€of€huge€ sheets€of€plate€glass,€for€the€research€work€to€be€conducted€ contents

in€the€laboratory€will€involve€the€reflection€of€sunlight€through€ red,€blue,€green,€yellow€and€colourless€glass.€ The€pundit€tells€me€that€no€Indian€works€can€make€glass€of€ the€size€required€to€form€the€giant€windows,€and€therefore€the€ edifice€cannot€be€completed.€He€asks€me€to€make€enquiries€ in€England,€but€emphasizes€that€Vishudhananda€wants€his€ specifications€to€be€adhered€to€completely.€These€include€the€ condition€that€the€makers€should€guarantee€their€glass€to€be€ absolutely€free€from€air€bubbles,€and€that€the€coloured€glass€ € should€be€quite€transparent.€Each€sheet€is€to€measure€ twelve€feet€in€length,€eight€feet€in€width€and€one€inch€in€ thickness.1€ The€laboratory€building€is€surrounded€by€spacious€gardens,€ which€are€girdled€and€screened€from€prying€eyes€by€rows€of€ feather-branched€palm€trees.€ I€return€to€the€wonder-worker€and€sit€down€before€him.€The€ disciples€have€thinned€out;€only€two€or€three€are€left.€Pundit€ Kavirj€squats€beside€me,€his€study-worn€face€fixed€in€devoted€ regard€of€his€master.€ contents

Vishudhananda€momentarily€glances€at€me€and€then€studies€ the€floor.€Dignity€and€reserve€mingle€in€his€manner;€his€ face€is€preternaturally€solemn,€and€the€faces€of€his€disciples€ reflect€his€solemnity.€I€attempt€to€penetrate€behind€his€mask€ of€gravity,€but€can€perceive€nothing.€The€mind€of€this€man€ is€as€impenetrable€to€my€Western€mentality€as€is€the€inmost€ shrine€of€the€Golden€Temple€in€yonder€town.€He€is€steeped€ in€the€strange€lore€of€Oriental€magic.€I€feel€strongly€that€ though€he€has€shown€me€his€wonders€even€before€I€express€ a€second€request,€nevertheless€he€has€put€up€a€psychic€barrier€ between€us€which€I€shall€never€cross.€My€welcome€is€but€ a€surface€one;€Western€investigators€and€Western€disciples€ are€not€wanted€here.€ He€drops€an€unexpected€remark€quite€suddenly.€ "I€could€not€initiate€you€as€my€own€pupil€unless€I€secure€ permission€beforehand€from€my€Tibetan€master.€This€is€a€ condition€under€which€I€have€to€work."€ Has€he€read€the€thoughts€which€run€through€my€brain?€ I€gaze€at€him.€His€slightly€bulging€forehead€betrays€a€faint€ pucker.€Anyway,€I€have€expressed€no€desire€to€become€his€ contents

disciple.€I€am€in€no€undue€hurry€to€become€anyone's€disciple.€ But€of€one€thing€I€feel€sure€-€such€a€request€would€bring€forth€ a€negative€answer.€ "But€how€can€you€communicate€with€your€master€if€he€is€ in€far-off€Tibet?"€I€query.€ 1€I€wrote€to€the€largest€manufacturers€of€plate€glass€in€Great€ Britain,€but€they€refused€to€undertake€the€task€because€the€technical€ conditions€laid€down€by€Vishudhananda€were€impossible€of€fulfilment.€ They€declared€that€it€was€beyond€the€wit€of€any€manufacturer€to€ devise€a€process€which€would€guarantee€the€absence€of€any€air€bubbles€ in€the€sheets;€that€the€glass€could€not€be€coloured€without€diminishing€ its€transparency€to€the€sun's€rays;€that€plate€glass€could€not€be€made€ satisfactorily€thicker€than€one€quarter€of€an€inch;€and€that€the€sheets€ would€have€to€be€made€in€halves€if€breakage€on€the€long€journey€to€ Benares€was€to€be€avoided.€ "We€are€in€perfect€touch€upon€the€inner€planes,"€he€replies.€ I€am€conscious€of€listening,€but€not€of€comprehending.€Yet€ his€unexpected€remark€has€turned€my€mind€away€from€his€ miracles€for€a€while.€I€fall€into€a€pensive€mood.€Unwittingly€ I€find€myself€asking:€ contents

"Master,€how€can€one€find€enlightenment?"€ Vishudhananda€does€not€reply;€instead,€he€puts€me€another€ question.€ "Unless€you€practise€Yoga,€how€can€you€obtain€enlightenment?"€ I€think€the€matter€over€for€a€few€seconds.€ "Yet€I€am€told€that€without€a€teacher€it€is€extremely€ difficult€to€understand€Yoga,€let€alone€practise€it€successfully.€ Genuine€teachers€are€hard€to€find."€ His€face€remains€indifferent€and€imperturbable.€ "When€the€seeker€is€ready,€the€master€always€appears."€ I€express€my€doubts.€He€spreads€out€a€plump€hand.€ "A€man€must€first€make€himself€ready;€then,€no€matter€ where€he€is,€he€will€eventually€find€a€teacher.€And€if€the€ master€does€not€come€in€the€flesh,€he€will€appear€to€the€inward€ eye€of€the€seeker."€ "How€shall€one€begin,€then?"€ "Mark€off€a€part€of€your€time€every€day€to€sit€in€the€simple€ posture€which€I€shall€show€you.€That€will€help€to€prepare€ you.€Take€care€also€to€curb€anger€and€control€passion."€ Vishudhananda€proceeds€to€show€me€the€Lotus€posture,€ contents

with€which€I€am€already€familiar.€Why€he€calls€this€a€simple€ posture,€with€its€intertwined€and€folded€legs,€I€cannot€understand.€ "What€adult€European€can€achieve€such€a€contortion!"€ I€exclaim.€ "The€difficulty€lies€only€in€the€early€attempts.€It€becomes€ easy€if€practised€every€morning€and€evening.€The€important€ thing€is€to€fix€an€exact€time€of€the€day€for€this€Yoga€practice,€ and€to€keep€regularly€to€that€time.€At€first€five€minutes'€ effort€is€enough.€After€one€month,€you€can€lengthen€the€time€ to€ten€minutes;€after€three€months,€to€twenty€minutes,€and€ so€on.€Take€care€to€keep€the€spine€straight.€This€exercise€ will€enable€a€man€to€acquire€physical€poise€and€mental€calmness.€ Calmness€is€necessary€for€the€further€practice€of€Yoga."€ "Then€you€teach€the€Yoga€of€Body€Control?"€ "Yes.€Do€not€imagine€that€the€Yoga€of€Mind€Control€is€ superior€to€it.€Just€as€every€human€being€both€thinks€and€ acts,€so€there€must€be€training€for€both€sides€of€our€nature.€ The€body€acts€on€the€mind,€and€the€mind€inter-acts€on€the€ body;€they€cannot€be€separated€in€practical€development."€ I€become€aware€once€again€of€an€inner€reluctance€on€the€ contents

part€of€this€man€to€submit€to€further€questioning.€A€mental€ coldness€fills€the€atmosphere.€I€decide€to€withdraw€soon,€but€ fling€a€last€question€at€him.€ "Have€you€discovered€whether€there€is€any€goal,€any€ purpose,€in€life?"€ The€disciples€break€their€gravity€and€smile€at€my€simplicity.€ Only€an€infidel,€ignorant€Westerner€could€ask€such€a€question.€ Do€not€all€the€sacred€Hindu€books,€without€exception,€indicate€ that€God€holds€this€world€in€His€hand€for€His€own€purpose?€ The€teacher€does€not€answer€me.€He€relapses€into€silence,€ but€glances€at€Kaviraj,€who€thereupon€supplies€the€answer.€ "Certainly,€there€is€a€purpose.€We€have€to€attain€spiritual€ perfection,€to€unite€with€God."€ And€then,€for€the€next€hour,€the€room€remains€silent.€ Vishudhananda€fingers€the€large€pages€of€a€thick€book,€whose€ paper€cover€is€printed€in€Bengalee.€The€disciples€stare,€sleep€ or€meditate.€A€soothing,€mesmeric€influence€begins€to€steal€ over€me.€I€feel€that€if€I€stay€long€enough,€I€shall€either€fall€ asleep€or€fall€into€some€kind€of€a€trance,€so€I€pull€my€faculties€ together,€thank€the€teacher,€and€take€my€departure.€ contents

€ After€a€light€meal€I€pick€my€way€through€tortuous€alleys€in€ this€motley€city,€which€seems€to€attract€saints€and€sinners€alike.€ It€lures€the€pious€from€all€over€the€land€into€its€crowded€homes,€ but€it€also€draws€the€impious,€the€ruffianly€and€the€vicious,€to€ say€nothing€of€the€priestly€parasites.€ The€jingling€temple€bells€along€the€bank€of€the€Ganges€ peal€out€their€call€to€evening€worship.€Night€is€advancing€ rapidly€on€the€greying€sky.€Sunset€adds€another€to€its€own€ sounds,€for€the€muezzins€call€to€the€followers€of€the€Prophet€ to€come€to€prayer.€ I€sit€on€the€bank€of€this€ancient€river,€this€much-revered€ Ganges,€and€listen€to€the€rustling€fronds€of€palms,€which€sway€ slightly€in€the€temporary€breeze.€ An€ash-besmeared€beggar€approaches€me.€He€halts€and€I€ gaze€at€him.€He€is€some€sort€of€holy€man,€for€something€that€ is€not€of€this€world€glows€in€his€eyes.€I€begin€to€realize€that€I€ have€not€succeeded€in€understanding€this€old€India€so€well€as€ € I€thought.€I€grope€among€the€few€coins€in€my€pocket,€wondering€ contents

the€while€whether€we€can€leap€across€the€abyss€of€civilization€ which€separates€us.€He€takes€the€alms€with€a€quiet€dignity,€ raises€his€hands€to€his€ash-covered€brow€in€salutation,€and€ withdraws.€ I€have€mused€for€long€over€the€mystery€of€the€wonderworker,€ who€plays€tricks€with€the€ether€and€restores€fleeting€ life€to€dead€birds.€His€plausible€but€brief€exposition€of€Solar€ Science€does€not€capture€me.€Only€a€thoughtless€man€would€ deny€that€modern€science€has€not€fully€explored€the€possibilities€ latent€in€the€sun's€light;€but€there€are€features€in€this€case€ which€incline€me€to€look€elsewhere€for€an€explanation.€ For,€in€Western€India,€I€had€learnt€of€the€existence€of€two€ Yogis€who€could€perform€one€of€Vishudhananda's€feats,€ namely,€the€extraction€of€different€scents€from€the€air.€Unfortunately€ for€my€investigation,€both€these€persons€died€ towards€the€close€of€last€century,€but€the€source€of€my€information€ seemed€reliable€enough.€In€both€cases€a€fragrant,€oily€ essence€was€made€to€appear€on€the€palm€of€the€Yogi's€hand,€ as€though€it€exuded€through€the€skin.€Sometimes€the€perfume€ was€strong€enough€to€scent€the€room.€ contents

Now,€if€Vishudhananda€possesses€the€same€strange€gift,€ he€can€easily€transfer€some€scent€from€his€palm€to€the€handkerchief,€ whilst€appearing€to€fumble€with€the€magnifying€lens.€ In€short,€the€whole€performance€of€concentrating€the€sunlight€ may€be€nothing€more€than€a€piece€of€play-acting€to€cover€the€ transference€of€the€magically€produced€scent.€Another€point€ which€favours€this€view€is€the€fact€that€the€wonder-worker€has€ failed€to€reveal€the€secret€to€a€single€one€of€his€disciples€so€ far.€Their€hopes€have€been€kept€up,€meanwhile,€by€the€ protracted€building€of€costly€laboratories.€Even€this€work€has€ come€to€a€standstill€because€of€the€impossibility€of€procuring€ the€giant€sheets€of€glass€in€India.€And€so€they€wait€on€and€ hope.€ What€process€has€Vishudhananda€really€used,€if€the€concentration€ of€sunlight€is€merely€a€blind?€It€may€be€that€the€ production€of€fragrant€odours€is€another€of€the€Yoga€powers€ which€can€be€developed€by€personal€effort,€but€I€do€not€know.€ Nevertheless,€though€I€cannot€provide€a€tenable€theory€to€ account€for€the€wonder-worker's€feats,€I€need€not€jump€at€ the€theory€of€Solar€Science€which€he€offers.€Why€trouble€my€ contents

head€further€My€duty€is€but€to€play€the€scribe€and€record€ these€happenings,€not€to€explain€the€inexplicable.€Here€is€ a€side€of€Indian€life€which€must€remain€sealed,€for€even€if€the€ plump€little€wonder-worker,€or€some€chosen€disciple,€demonstrates€ this€strange€art€to€the€outside€world€and€engages€the€ astounded€attention€of€scientists,€it€is€unlikely€that€the€secret€ will€be€made€known.€I€think€I€have€read€so€far€into€his€ character,€at€least.€ An€inner€voice€asks€me:€How€has€he€revived€the€dead€bird€ And€what€about€this€legend€of€a€perfected€Yogi's€ability€to€ extend€indefinitely€the€duration€of€his€life?€Have€some€ Eastern€men€really€discovered€the€secret€of€protracted€age?€ I€turn€my€head€away€from€the€inner€questioner€and€wearily€ look€up€at€the€heavens.€The€imponderable€immensity€of€the€ star-filled€sky€awes€me.€Nowhere€are€the€stars€so€bright€as€ in€the€tropical€sky.€I€continue€to€gaze€fixedly€at€the€twinkling€ points€of€light.€.€.€.€When€I€look€around€again€at€my€fellowcreatures€ and€at€the€amorphous€mass€of€houses,€I€begin€to€feel€ deeply€the€recondite€mystery€of€this€world.€Tangible€things€ and€ordinary€objects€recede€quickly€into€unreality,€and€the€ contents

blend€of€shadowy,€moving€figures,€slowly€gliding€boats€and€ a€few€bright€lamps,€turn€both€night€and€environment€into€ some€enchanted€land€of€the€dream€world.€The€old€Indian€ philosophical€doctrine€that€the€universe€is€but€phantom-like€ in€its€real€nature€drifts€into€my€mind€and€begins€to€abet€this€ destruction€of€my€sense€of€reality.€I€become€ready€for€the€ strangest€experiences€that€this€planet,€which€hurries€so€swiftly€ through€the€abysses€of€space,€can€bring€me.€ But€some€creature€of€the€earth€world€breaks€rudely€into€my€ heavenly€dream€by€giving€loud€voice€to€the€monotonous€ rhythm€of€an€Indian€song,€and€I€return€rapidly€to€that€potpourri€ of€uncertain€pleasures€and€unexpected€sorrows€which€ men€call€life.€ € € € € € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€A€SEARCH€IN€SECRET€INDIA€

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Rishi singh gherwal

CHAPTER 11 FOOD AND SILVER MANIFESTED DIRECT FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BY YOGI VISUDDHANANDA Traveling€through€India€I€met€again€a€very€good€ friend€of€mine€of€many€years'€standing,€Yogi€Visuddhananda.€ It€was€around€1900€when€we€first€met,€and€at€ that€time€we€traveled€together€a€great€deal.€He€was€a€great€ Yogi€and€would€often€surprise€us€with€his€wonderful€ powers.€For€example-once€when€we€were€high€in€the€ mountains€with€no€food€and€I€was€extremely€hungry,€ I€turned€to€him€and€said,€"Would€it€do€any€harm€if€we€ should€take€some€money€with€us€to€buy€food€from€the€ villagers,€then€I€should€not€have€to€fast€unwillingly?"€ (See€illustration.)€ "You€want€some€silver?"€ "Yes."€Although€I€had€asked€for€a€small€amount€he€ handed€me€a€bar€of€silver€weighing€approximately€a€pound€ contents

and€told€me,€''flow€you€can€eat€that."€ I€carried€that€bar€of€silver€on€a€rope€thrown€over€my€ shoulder€for€a€long€time,€and€its€swinging€against€my€back€ gave€me€many€an€ache€and€pain.€But€boylike€I€stubbornly€ kept€it€and€after€many€months€I€showed€it€to€a€silversmith€ who€upon€minute€examination€assured€me€of€its€ genuineness€and€purchased€it.€That€was€my€first€experience€ in€witnessing€the€extraordinary€powers€of€Yogi€Visuddhananda;€ after€,that€I€often€saw€displays€of€his€miraculous€ powers€in€producing€food,€clothing€and€many€other€ articles€for€our€use.€His€mental€telepathic€powers€also€ thrilled€me,€likewise€his€unfailing€ability€to€locate€the€ 'now-hidden€caves€where€we€rested€each€night.€ One€day€I€asked€him,€"Will€you€produce€a€couple€of€ rupees€for€me?''€ "No,"€came€the€quick€response,€"the€rupee€is€made€by€ The€government€mint€€;€if€you€want€another€piece€of€silver€ I€can€give€you€that,€but€I€am€not€starting€a€new€mint€ here."€ Each€time€when€I€queried€him€as€to€his€method€of€ contents

production€his€reply€was,€"Simply€out€of€the€finer€elements€ contained€in€the€atmosphere€which€are€in€the€silver€ also.€I€can€concentrate€the€elements€and€produce€silver."€ It€was€one€of€the€outstanding€joys€of€my€trip€to€meet€ him€again€in€1936€after€these€many€years,€and€he€proved€ to€be€the€same€man€of€power€with€his€lovable€personality€ and€sense€of€humor€as€when€I€first€knew€him.€His€first€ question€to€me€was€to€inquire€if€I€wanted€another€bar€of€ silver.€"No,"€I€replied,€"food€will€be€more€satisfactory€ than€silver€right€now."€He€demonstrated€for€the€other€ visitors€by€producing€many€articles,€food,€etc.€ Later€he€settled€down€and€founded€an€ashrarna€near€ Calcutta.€I€was€indeed€sorry€to€read€in€the€newspapers€ six€months€after€my€return€to€America€that€this€great€Yogi€ had€passed€on€to€heaven.€Any€one€visiting€Calcutta€should€ include€a€visit€to€his€ashrama€as€there€are€many€fine€disciples€ of€his€living€there.€ I€am€quoting€below€an€article€pertaining€to€the€passing€ of€this€great€Yogi:€ Yogi€Visuddhananda€Paramhansa€Dev,€the€renowned€ contents

Yogi€of€Bandul€(Burdwan)€who€had€his€ashrama€in€ Calcutta€at€6€Kundu€Road,€Bhowanipur€breathed€his€last€ yesterday.€The€news€quickly€spread€and€his€numerous€ disciples€and€followers€assembled€at€the€ashrama€and€carried€ his€body€bedecked€with€wreaths€and€flowers€to€the€ Keoratala€burning€ghat€where€his€last€rites€were€performed€ by€his€son,€Sj.€Durapada€Chatterjee.€ Yogi€Visuddhananda€was€an€enigmatic€personalitythe€ like€of€which€can€rarely€be€seen€in€the€world.€He€ represented€the€old€Indian€school€of€thought€and€had€ miraculous€powers€which€he€manifested€from€time€to€time€ t€s€his€disciples€when€explaining€the€esoteric€significance€of€ Indian€Yoga€to€them.€The€writer€of€these€lines€has€thus€ seen€him€converting€a€copper€coin€into€a€flower,€a€flower€ into€a€crystal€and€things€like€that€in€the€twinkling€of€an€ eye.€These€were€but€the€ABC€of€what€the€Yogi€could€ perform.€Volumes€could€be€written€if€his€disciples€narrated€ their€experiences€concerning€the€Yogic€powers€of€ their€Guru.€His€theory€was€that€atoms€of€all€things€were€ floating€in€the€air€and€a€man€could€by€will€power€collect€ contents

them€and€convert€one€thing€into€another.€Thus€he€had€ transformed€lumps€of€cotton€into€pieces€of€diamond.€ The€early€life€of€Yogi€Visuddhananda€was€spent€in€ great€struggle€in€the€jungles€of€the€Himalayas€where€he€ passed€his€days€in€extreme€hardship€and€meditation.€After€ finishing€his€Yogic€course€he€returned€to€his€family€at€the€ instance€of€his€Guru€who€inculcated€in€him€the€duty€ of€teaching€his€disciples€the€Yogic€lore.€ With€the€passing€of€this€great€Yogi€a€void€has€been€ created€in€the€religious€life€of€India€which€can€hardly€be€ filled€in€the€near€future.-A.€B.€Patrika€ € € € € € € € €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€LIVES€AND€TEACHINGS€OF€YOGIS€OF€INDIA€

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