The Sages of India

What are the advantages of Gurukul Education and why Indian Education needs it ?

2020-12-12T00:45:00.010+05:30

GURUKUL EDUCATION - THE HOLISTIC APPROACH

About The GURUKUL - Ancient Education System of India

India as a country has always been a land of Sages and because of their wisdom and knowledge, there has always been a tradition of imparting that knowledge to the society and in turn overall wellbeing of mankind.

Teaching was given to children away from their homes and family which was more of residential education in the ashram of these Sages.

It originated way back around 5000 BC. This system of education was largely known as “The Gurukul System of Ancient India”.

Focus of Education

This education system focused more on the Holistic development of an individual who took care of both his inner and the outer world.

It paid more attention to the moral, physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of an individual’s life.

The children were sent from an early age of 8yrs away from their family since that is the right period for molding one's character.

The students came from various backgrounds and once they were a part of the Gurukul they all were treated equally.

They were initiated first by the Guru before entering into the deeper knowledge of the subjects.

The system believed that a person should be well balanced at mind, body, and spirit level in order to perform well in the outer world thus preparing them for life in the actual society that we live in.

It also taught how humans and nature were interconnected.

Teachings given were mainly through discussions and debates which later helped the individual to contemplate on the subject.

It inculcated in them practical knowledge of brotherhood, humanity, discipline, and respect to fellow humans since children from all walks of life came to the Guru, be it rich or poor.

This is how Kings and Queens of that age took care of their huge kingdom with the help of their own balanced inner and outer world.

Since knowledge was considered sacred, no fees were charged against education.

The system was run through donations.

The deep knowledge of subjects related to mind, body, and emotions was known way back in those Vedic times.

Everything that we hear and read about subjects on consciousness, kundalini and chakras on the net trending today was known to them in that age.

They knew the science of this body just so well.

That was the only reason people of that time lived so long.

Later this Gurukul System gave birth to the universities which evolved during that period and were known as "Takshashila" and "Nalanda" to name the few who catered to the needs of advanced level students.

Need for a Holistic approach in present times.

How is the inner and outer world connected?

Holistic education is based on the concept that every individual goes through a cycle in his life which includes finding identity, meaning, and purpose in life through his connection with society and nature by inculcating humanitarian values like peace, compassion, harmony, etc.

These qualities or moral values are not achieved overnight but needs a lot of effort and commitment to work on yourself.

If and only if we are ready to work on ourselves rather than working on others, this world will be a better place to live in.

The common issues that the human race is facing in this world are only because of the imbalance of the inner world which results in the wrong actions in the outer world.

This was the only reason children were sent to Gurukul at an early age so that they learn to balance their energies under the guidance of a Guru.

So that when they grow up as teenagers their hormones are not hijacked by their own cruel desires or intentions.

Hence Yoga in those days was a way of life and not just a pastime hobby.

How reading empowers mind and good reads list that can change your life.

2020-11-10T18:54:00.017+05:30

Reading books, inspirational quotes, positive affirmations are always great ways to train your mind.

It was way back in 2005, reading was never on my list.

Those were the days when I had started working.

I always used to wonder how can people read such big books.

But this was the time when I met my boss who was a Bschool pass out, who had worked for leading multinational companies and then was a very successful entrepreneur.

He always suggested me to read at least one article of Speaking Tree.

Following his advice, I started reading but then I realized it has now become a habit...a healthy habit.

After so many years of reading, I must say books have given me a lot.

A book has the power to slow us down, it makes us ponder, understand the things around us, and also helps us in seeking the answers which we think we already know.

Reading books is definitely a great stress buster and good food for your brain.

It helps me improve my communication skills and also gives me a great sense to express my views.

I always prefer reading than using any kind of social media.

Life is full of challenges and reading a good book has always been a great source of motivation.

We get inspired to become our better version. So below is my personal favorite list of books.

You can create yours and make your own world more fulfilling and enriching.

HAPPY READING!!!

1)You Can Heal Your Life by Louis Hay.

You Can Heal Your Life is a self-help best seller book written by Louis Hay.

This book talks about how our negative thoughts, limiting beliefs and lifestyle affects our body and in turn cause us disease and illnesses.

Reading this book makes us calmer by understanding that few things are certainly beyond our control and how letting go is the best way out.

It has a lot of powerful affirmations and for someone who is ready to do the mental work, this is a must-read book.

2) Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda.

It is an autobiography narrated by Paramhansa Yogananda about his life experiences, his childhood, and his encounter with many sages during his youth in search of an enlightened teacher.

This book gives an introduction to the ancient science of yoga and meditation.

You will definitely benefit from this book if you read it with an open mind.

Those with a thirst for knowledge and wisdom are attracted to this literature.

More than highly recommended, this book is a must-read if you are spiritually inclined.

3) Death- An Inside Story by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev.

While most of the book teaches you how to live well but this is one book that tells you how to die gracefully.

An interesting and insightful book which gives us a clear understanding of what death is and through knowledge how can one break this cycle of life and death.

It talks about different spiritual planes that exist.

You will definitely find answers to the burning questions that arise when you face the death of someone close to you.

It is truly one of the must-reads a book for all those who are one day going to die.

4) The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi by David Godman.

This is one of the very useful books for serious spiritual seekers who are searching for a purpose in life.

It gives a vastly different approach to who we really are.

It talks about how we can find a path that fits our personality and then demolish the ego that is the only way out.

5) Inner Engineering-A Yogi's guide to Joy by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev.

It is one of the fascinating books about Sadguru's insights and teachings.

It is highly recommended for those who are interested in self-transformation.

If you are a seeker then this book can be a guiding light.

It talks about the very essence of yoga which helps you to keep your body, mind energy in a healthy state.

A yogi, a mystic - Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his teachings.

2020-10-22T14:59:00.002+05:30

About Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa was born in 1836 to Khudiram Chattopadhyaya and Chandra Devi in Kamarpurkur village which is located at Hoogly District in Bengal. He belonged to an orthodox Brahmin Family.

Once while his father was on a pilgrimage to Gaya where he had a dream in which Lord Vishnu promised him that he would be born as his son. Later on February 18, 1836, a divine soul was born who was later to be known as Sri Ramakrishna.

Childhood of Sri Ramakrishna

As a small boy, Sri Ramakrishna was full of fun. He was very intelligent and blessed with an extraordinary memory. At the age of six or seven Sri Ramakrishna had his first spiritual experience.

His father left his physical body at the age of seven which made him realized that life on earth was impermanent. He used to spend hours together on cremation ground absorbed in his own thoughts.

Slowly he gave more attention to the stories of Puranas and became interested in wandering monks who would stop at Kamarpukur which was on the way to Puri. These holy men entertained the little boy with epic Hindu stories and he on his part used to fetch water and served them in various other ways.

At the age of nine, Sri Ramakrishna underwent a sacred thread ceremony which is a traditional brahmin lineage. His tendency to lose himself in contemplation was first noticed post his thread ceremony where he was permitted to worship his family god, Lord Raghuvir.

At the age of sixteen, Sri Ramakrishna was called to Calcutta by his elder brother Ramkumar to help him in his priestly work. His worship was different from the other priests. He spent hours together decorating the idols and singing hymns. He paid very little attention to his studies.

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple - Calcutta

Sri Ramakrishna was appointed as a priest for the Dakshineshwar Kali temple which was built by Rani Rasmani in 1847. Born in an orthodox Brahmin family, Sri Ramakrishna knew the formalities of worship, its rites, and rituals.

From the very beginning, the inner meaning of rites and rituals was revealed to Sri Ramakrishna. While going through the rituals, he would actually find himself encircled by a wall of fire protecting him.

The glow on his face and the intense atmosphere of the temple impressed everyone who saw him worship Mother Kali. Sri Ramakrishna was a very intense devotee of Kali. For him, Kali was not only a Deity but a living reality. He poured his soul into her worship.

The worship in the temple intensified Sri Ramakrishna's yearning for a living vision of the Mother. He would spend hours decorating Mother Kali, singing devotional songs for her, and would sit and talk to her for hours and weep before her like a child for her vision.

He would spend days and nights in such painful prayers. Sri Ramakrishna's first vision of Mother Kali was a result of such a desperate desire to see the divine mother. His visions became deeper and more intimate. Even while retaining the consciousness of the outer world he would see her tangibly as we see the trees, river, and men around.

Marriage Life

Sri Ramakrishna's ill health and various abnormal activities filled the heart of his poor mother with agony. Later when he showed improvement in his health, his mother decided to get Sri Ramakrishna married at the age of 23.

Saradamani, a girl of five years old was selected as a bride for Sri Ramakrishna. From her tender age, this girl had been praying to God on every full moon to keep her character stainless and pure.

Post his marriage, Sri Ramakrishna lived in Kamarpur for a year and then came back to Dakshineshwar. His madness, his ecstatic mood, his weeping, his sleeplessness, the same indifference to the body, and the outside world reappeared tenfold times.

Sri Ramakrishna regarded women as the manifestation of the divine mother. Never even in his dream did he ever felt the impulse of lust. According to Sri Ramakrishna, all women are Her symbol. He believed Kali is one of Her several forms.

Guru

A few years later a fifty years old Brahmin lady came to Dakshineshwar who played an important role in Sri Ramakrishna's spiritual unfoldment. She was adept at Tantrik and Vaishnava methods of worship.

According to her, Sri Ramakrishna was passing through the unknown spiritual experiences which is an extreme exalted state of divine love. She openly proclaimed that Sri Ramakrishna was an incarnation of God and only such person was capable of this kind of spiritual experience.

A conference of scholars of that time were called upon to discuss the matter. The great scholars too declared Sri Ramakrishna as a divine incarnation. Sri Ramakrishna started practicing the discipline of Tantra after accepting Brahmani as his Guru.

Samadhi

Sri Ramakrishna's new Guru was a wandering monk Totapuri. He arrived at the Dakshineshwar temple towards the end of 1864. Totapuri Baba realized that Sri Ramakrishna's attachment to his devotion was not allowing him to take the ultimate step though he had the potential to do so.

Sri Ramakrishna was devoted to Kali and she was his only interest. Whatever talks about enlightenment Totapuri Baba told him, he was not interested in all that.No matter how many times he sat for meditation the moment he saw Kali he would drip into ecstasy.

Totapuri Baba then advised him that the moment he sees Mother Kali in meditation, he will have to cut that awareness into pieces. The moment Kali arrived, he cut Sri Ramakrishna really deep across his forehead.

At that moment Ramakrishna created the sword of his awareness and cut Kali down becoming free of Mother and the ecstasy. This is the time when Sri Ramakrishna became fully enlightened, he became Paramahamsa. Sri Ramakrishna remained completely absorbed in Samadhi for the next 3 days.

Ramakrishna Paramhamsa on Bhakti Yoga

According to Ramakrishna, there are three types of devotion: tamasic, rajasic, and sattvic. If the person while showing devotion to God still derives his actions through anger, jealousy, arrogance then his devotion is tamasic since it s influenced by tamas(inertia).

If a person worships God from a desire for fame and wealth then his devotion is rajasic. But if a person loves God without any material gain then his devotion is called sattvic.

But the highest devotion transcends all three Gunas with the inclination of mind toward the Inner Soul of all beings. Such a devotee's desire is to love God in all conditions be it pleasure-pain, life-death, honor-dishonor, prosperity- adversity.

Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Sri Ramakrishna used to say when the flower blooms the bees come to it for honey. Similarly, many serious souls on their spiritual journey started visiting the sage of Dakshineshwar to satisfy their thirst.

Sri Ramakrishna showed great respect to all religions and believed that it is the same God towards whom all are stepping, though along different paths.

Swami Vivekananda and sixteen others were direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa.

The Departure of Divine Soul

Sri Ramakrishna suffered from throat cancer. During his last days, he was looked after by his disciples and his wife Sarada Devi. Before his death, he transferred all the spiritual power to Swami Vivekananda.

Later, Vivekananda was given the responsibility to look after the other fellow disciples and the monastic discipline. Sri Ramakrishna left his physical body on 16th August 1886. According to his disciples, the state in which he left his body was Mahasamadhi

Good Read on Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

Top 4 Spiritual places that vibrate at a higher frequency which can uplift your energy.

2020-10-17T16:25:00.011+05:30

Spiritual Places In India With The Most Powerful Energy Fields.

There are certain places on the planet that vibrate at a higher frequency than normal. It is because these places have witnessed the presence of these Great Masters who chose to deposit their entire life work in these places.

It is not easy for people to receive the mystical knowledge cause there are certain limitations like social restrictions, lack of receptivity, psychological issues, physical or karmic bondages on which they need to work on before they are actually open to the knowledge available in such mystical places.

Many Great Masters believe that rocks have great receptivity since they don't resist. Hence they choose to deposit their knowledge in that space where it is not frequently visited by humans, but at the same time, it is easily accessible to seekers who are serious about their spiritual journey.

This act makes these places vibrate at a higher level which is of great significance to serious seekers.

1) Arunanchal Hill :

Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi

Each of the spiritual centers of India are unique in their own way. Among them, one of the very powerful place is Arunachala, a hill in Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, and one of the five main Shaivite holy places in South India. The Annamalaiyar Temple, a Temple of Lord Shiva is located at the base of the hill. The hill is also known by the names Annamalai, Arunagiri, Arunachalam, Arunai, Sonagiri, and Sonachalam. "Aruna", which means the Fire of Wisdom, and "Achala" means hills. Thus, Arunachala means "Hill of Wisdom".

Over the centuries, many saints and sages have been drawn to Arunachala. According to Shri Ramana Maharshi other holy places such as Kailash, Varanasi, and Rishikesh are sacred because they are the abode of Lord Shiva whereas Arunachala is Lord Shiva himself. It is also called as a secret kshetra as it is a place that bestows self-knowledge only to those who are ready to receive it. It is also an important place for devotees of Shri Ramana Maharshi with Shri Ramana Ashram situated at its foothills.

2)Girnar Hill :

It is one of the most favourite place for devotees of Lord Dattatreya. It is situated in Junagadh city of Saurashtra Region of Gujrat State in India. Lord Dattatreya is also known as "Adi Guru" which means First Guru. He is known to be the Guru of the Gurus. Girnar Hill is a Siddhakshetra as Lord Dattatreya himself as the Lord has meditated on top of the hill for many years. He is considered as one of the Lords of Yoga. Lord Dattatreya is an Immortal Guru and is considered to be an Avatar of three Hindu Gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Girnar Hill is 3666 feet high and is said to be older than the Himalayas. It is also a nirvana Bhumi of 22nd Tirthankara Lord Neminatha.

3)Mount Kailash :

Mount Kailash is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Mount Kailash believes to be the axis of the world. From the mystical point of view, there is a great significance to it cause some of the Greatest Masters in history have chosen to deposit and preserve their work there. It is also called as the greatest mystical library on the planet.

4)Velliangiri Hills:

Sadguru Shri Brahma

Velliangiri Mountains are situated at the western ghats border of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. The mountain is known as Sapthagiri which means 7 hills. It is also called as the "Kailash of South". Sadguru Shri Brahma left his body through all the seven chakras there. The one who leaves their body through seven chakras is called "Chakreshwara" which means he has complete mastery over his own energy system. Hence the energy field of this mountain is incredible. IshaCentre of Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev is located at the foothills of Velliangiri Hills. Many such sages have walked this hill which makes it one of the rarest places on the planet.

"Shree Gurudev Datta"

Can you have a powerful soul connection with your Pets?

2020-10-16T23:36:00.021+05:30

Your Dog Or Cat Is Just Not A Pet, You Might Be Sharing A Surprisingly Powerful Spiritual Connection With Them...A Pet Connection.

We all love our pets. We make sure we take care of them like our children. Who knows this better than a pet lover?

They are all set to go against the world for their pets. Pets bring a lot of joy to our world.

Also, there are a lot of health benefits of having pets around like it helps in reducing our cholesterol level, depression, the feeling of loneliness, anxiety, and many more.

They give us so much without even asking for the same. But are we giving them the same in return what they need from us?

So how are we connected to them?

Pets and Consciousness:

Sri Aurobindo says, "It is the same consciousness that functions through all beings. It is we humans that create differences for our own advantages."

It is like the same electricity is running through all gadgets in the kitchen. Only the capacity of every gadget is different from each other.

The consciousness of animals is not that evolved as compared to humans.

For these immature souls, we are almost like a living Guru.

They are constantly learning from us how to behave so that once they evolve into human forms, they have taken a few life lessons from us.

I believe having a pet in your life is never an accident. They must be having certain karmic bondage with us which involves training as to how it is to be a Human.

The feeling of gratitude towards humans is always very deep within them.

The only thing they cannot do is speak to us in sentences, but they communicate with us all the time.

What Masters say about animal beings and their connection with we humans?

Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi

Shri Ramana Maharshi loved all kinds of animals. They were treated all equally as humans and were always addressed by their names.

It was his regular ashram routine that animals were fed first, then the beggars and devotees at last.

Bhagavan always said, "That we don't know what kind of soul has occupied these bodies and for what part of their unfinished karma, they seek our company".

He had different animals in his ashram like dogs, cow, deer, peacock monkey, crow, etc. Laxmi was one of his favorite cows.

We are all in the path of evolution together and so our pets.

So it is a karmic necessity for us to take good care of them and treat our pets well.

So next time when you look into their eyes remember that all they need is your help and support for them to evolve in this life journey as a pet.

Should you share your spiritual experiences during Yoga - Meditation with everyone ?

2020-10-16T23:24:00.014+05:30

Spiritual Experiences During Meditation, Yoga, or Any Spiritual Practice.

Spiritual Journey:

While you embark on your spiritual journey there comes a time when we experience a few events or experiences which we are not aware of or more rightly to put across is that we don’t understand what is happening and most often we feel lost.

It is natural for us to share it with people around us but then we understand that they don’t understand what we are talking about.

Every soul has a journey to walk and we all have the same destination to reach that of self -realization. It’s just that we are not aware.

It’s like we all are on a journey of evolution from A to Z and we all eventually have to reach Z at some point or the other in our life journey.

If we look at the big picture then we understand that some are standing at stage D, some are at H some are at L some are at X, Y, and so on and so forth...We might try to reach Z through different stations like different paths of Yoga during our lifetimes.

Different pathways of evolution:

You believe it or not but we all are in Yoga some way or the other.

Some are following Bhakti Yoga through their emotions, some are following Gnana Yoga through their intelligence, some follow Karma Yoga through their actions and some follow Kriya Yoga through their body.

People who feel they are more emotional as an overall personality follow a path of devotion which includes mantra chanting, bhajans, reading holy books through Bhakti Yoga.

Some people who feel they are more body-centric follow a path of Kriya Yoga which includes asanas and techniques and they might even enjoy that but yes it has to be done under the guidance of a proper living Master cause path of kriya is very intense and without proper guidance, one might not be able to accomplish their desired goal.

Some people who believe in joyfully getting involved in any service activity with no intention of getting anything in return are somehow on the path of Karma Yoga.

When people use their intelligence in an intense manner to gain knowledge, they happen to be on the path of Gyan Yoga.

So, all in all, we are all on the same train but sitting in different compartments of life trying to reach that same last destination Z.

Guidance of a Master:

While we are on this journey we come across few spiritual experiences which we go through knowingly or maybe accidentally without having any prior knowledge about it.

We try to share that experience with our close ones, analyze, think upon, and find answers to what is actually going on.

Here is where our journey to find a true Guru or an Authentic Master begins...someone who has reached the destination Z or is almost close by and not by finding answers from any weekend courses or a trainer or a 2-day workshop course cause they will not be in a position to give you your answers to queries and doubts. Though they are also on their own path of discovery about themselves.

However following a school of Yoga which has a Guru- Deciple parampara is always advisable as you are protected under the energy field.

For all this you need is true and authentic Master who will help you through. Since the unknown territory is vast, you only need an expert in it who has experienced that territory.

That spark on the face of a real Guru/Master's his/her higher vibration itself will convey you a lot of things about themselves as energy can never lie to us.

You can immediately notice that something is really different about them at the energy level.

It is always good to value your spiritual experiences cause it helps you to understand your spiritual progress.

Sages have also mentioned that the more you share it with more and more people around you who are not in a position to understand what you are saying will only at a subtle level somehow inflate your ego which might hamper your spiritual growth. (Inflation of ego – means at the subtle level you might feel you are special to go through the experience and others have not yet been through).

Hence it is advisable to share it with your Guru or an experienced Master if you have one who has been there seen the path and hence will be a guiding light to you on your further journey as to how to walk and which way to go.

Also, it is important that one should not follow any techniques or meditation from the internet or books on their own as they are easily available on the internet these days in order to avoid any kind of mishappenings through wrong yoga practice.

The energy once disorganized becomes very difficult for one to align in the previous order especially when you are alone in the journey without any support or guidance.

“Shree Gurudev Datta”

What is Guru Tattva or Guru Element and why is it so important in our life?

2020-10-03T23:34:00.011+05:30

Understanding Guru Tattva in Yoga- The essence of teacher -disciple relationship.

What is Guru Tattva?

Guru Tattva is the essence or element or that inner voice in you.

Just as you have the other five elements in nature, you have Guru Tattva or Guru Element which is present in all of us and that is the key for all our evolution processes.

Guru need not always be in a physical form. But there is a great significance added to a Living Master.

At times it may also, happen that the Guru that you are currently worshipping may guide you to your Physical Master since as humans we all have our own doubts which we feel need to be clarified by someone whom you can physically see and hear.

From the day we are born till we grow old we are constantly guided by someone or the other for all our queries.

And when it comes to life questions or as you advance spiritually you need someone to guide or show you the torch in that unknown zone for which a physical master plays an important role since he has walked the path before and has seen the pitfalls before we see them.

A Guru has to be a self-realized soul himself to help other human beings to overcome their human weaknesses.

All human beings are equal to them.

While all these saints are endowed with supernatural powers, they never feel the urge or need to exercise these powers.

A guru keeps appearing from time to time in all cultures, all countries, and all religions.

Indeed a Guru is a great gift to the entire humanity.

Those who have come under the shelter of such Guru are blessed indeed!!.

The only difference between Guru and God is that the Guru has a human form and is thus accessible to other human beings.

The Guru-disciple relationship is determined by the Karmic linkages. Such a disciple who has found his Guru is indeed very fortunate.

One gets a Guru one deserves. A sincere aspirant always finds a genuine Guru.

One must pray to God to get a real Guru.

If you go back and see all the Indian Guru’s and sages they all have had their Living Masters to guide them through their path cause without the energy field of your Guru, you will not be able to move ahead, and as it is rightly said when you are ready your Guru will appear.

Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi

As Sri Ramana Maharshi said there is no disciple but from a disciple point of view the grace of Guru is like an ocean.

If he comes with a cup he will only get a cupful.

Hence the bigger the vessel the more he will be able to carry.

Often the word Guru is described for anyone who gives spiritual advice but according to Sri Ramana Maharshi, a true Guru is someone who has realized the Self and who is able to use the power to assist others towards the goal of self-realization.

This is what Sri Ramana Maharshi has to say :

“Sometimes in his life, a man becomes dissatisfied and not content with what he has, he seeks the satisfaction of his desires through prayers to God. His mind is gradually purified until he longs to know God. Then God’s grace begins to manifest. God takes the form of Guru and appears to a devotee, teaches him the truth, and purifies his mind".

I personally feel if you follow any Guru in your life which is essential you can try and form a small Guru Peetha for yourself in your home where you can place Guru Paduka there and worship your Guru every day by offering water and milk every morning as your daily routine.

This would build a strong energy field in your home where you can feel the presence of your Guru and would work as a protecting shield around you.

As the phrase says, “Energy flows where attention goes”.

This would make you more conscious and aware at every moment of your life.

Spending those 5 mins in this energy field will gradually make your inner world more richer and fulfilling.

This is my personal experience and you would definitely grow spiritually moment to moment

|| Shree Gurudev Datta ||

Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Swami )Maharaj of Mangaon. A saint who is considered as incarnation of Lord Dattatreya himself.

2020-10-02T22:24:00.006+05:30

The Great Sage of Mangaon- Maharashtra

About Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Swami )Maharaj

Parents of Brahma Rishi Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Maharaj belonged to a traditional Brahmin Family who was a dedicated devotee of Lord Dattatreya.

It is believed that unless the parents are not spiritually prepared and ready, they are not eligible to give birth to such a great soul who himself is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

His father used to spend long periods, sometimes years together in the remote Gangapur Temple of Lord Dattatreya in Karnataka. His mother also used to regularly spend time in religious pursuits like Japa, Patha(reading holy books), etc.

Lord Dattatreya once appeared in dreams of his Father promising him that the Lord himself would incarnate as their son. Later Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Maharaj was born on the 5th Day of the dark fortnight of the month of Shravan of A.D 1854.

Childhood and Marriage of Maharaj

As per the brahmin tradition, Maharaj underwent a thread ceremony at the age of 8 yrs where he was initiated the Gayatri Mantra.

After this ritual, young Vasudeva started the daily rituals instructed by the scriptures which included 1000 recitation of Gayatri Mantra, daily reading of Shri Gurucharitra(holy book of Guru worship of Lord Dattatreya).

Maharaj with his sincerity, sharp intelligence, and memory became a proficient and respected priest of Mangaon and other nearby places which helped him in a contribution to his daily livelihood.

He was also perfect in his astrological calculations. Maharaj's dedicated practices and devotion soon led to his acquiring supernatural powers manifested through Vedic Mantras.

However, Maharaj never employed his powers for either monetary gain or to impress others. He only used it to help the needy and to relieve the suffering of people. Later at the age of 21, Maharaj was married to his wife Bayo.

Maharaj's married life was never a bed of roses. The thought of renouncing it all for a liberated life was growing stronger day by day. Later he started feeling the urge to travel to Narsobachi Wadi, the place where Lord Dattatreya is worshiped in the form of Padukas(footprints)carved in stone.

This is a place where he met his spiritual mentor Shri Govind Swami who later guided Maharaj on his spiritual journey. Maharaj built a Datta Mandir in Mangaon which was constructed with his own hands.

Spiritual Life

After Maharaj's wife's died, he was completely released from all his family bonding and took his vows of spiritual discipline. Swami Maharaj was initiated by Lord Datta Prabhu himself in his dream.

He traveled all over India to preach the ancient Vedic Path. He was guided by the divine himself through visions, dreams, verbal commands, and other signs.

His only possessions included 4 loincloths, a Kamandalu (wooden water vessel), a woolen wrap, a book of Upanishads, two idols of Lord Datta, and rope to draw water occasionally. He always traveled on foot.

Teachings

Maharaj was a living Master of Vedic culture and used to teach a vast subject in Vedas. His knowledge was not merely theoretical but he was a master who could guide a sincere student to the path of self-realization.

Swami Maharaj was a liberated and self-realized soul himself. His only motive was to obey his Master, Lord Dattatreya's will. He guided seekers with his discourse and writings.

According to Maharaj, the primary objective of human birth is to attain liberation from the recurring cycle of birth and death.

He emphasized the seekers on Shravana(reading the holy scriptures like Gurucharitra), Manan (contemplation), and Nidhidhyasan (Meditation) on what the scriptures say.

Meeting with the other Realized Souls ( Spiritual Brothers)

Shri Swami Samartha Maharaj of Akkalkot


Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon


Sai Baba of Shirdi

Once Maharaj saw a dream where a tall man appeared asking, "You travel all over and also compose poetry. How come you paid no attention to me?".

On waking up Maharaj enquired with his Lord to which Lord answered, "He is Swami Samartha Maharaj of Akkalkot and he desires you to visit Akkalkot and write his life verse". Maharaj then paid his respect to Swami Samartha Maharaj at Akkalkot.

Swami Samartha of Akkalkot is considered as an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya and has even now-massive followers across the world. Similarly, scriptures talk about Maharaj meeting his spiritual brothers, Shirdi Sai Baba and Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon.

They too are considered to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Though Tembe Swami Maharaj and Sai Baba never met each other in person, it definitely showed across their spiritual unity.

Samadhi

Maharaj had scheduled to depart on the dark 8th of Jyeshtha month; however, he did not consider it to be auspicious. He decided to quit the body once the Amavasya was over.

Accordingly, as soon as the Amavasya was over Maharaj sat up facing the Lord to the west, performed Tratak (steady gaze), controlled his breath, and quit the body with a loud chant of "OM".

Disciples of Maharaj

Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj

Gandha Maharaj

Vamanrao Gulvani Maharaj

Dixit Swami Maharaj

Nana Maharaj Tornekar

Sitaram Maharaj Tembe

Dada Maharaj Kanade

A Poet Saint of Gujarat - Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj (Pujya Bapji) - Nareshwar.

2020-09-09T12:54:00.015+05:30

The Great Sage of Nareshwar- Gujarat.

About Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj

In 1898 a boy name Pandurang Vitthalpant Valame was born in Godhra in Gujarat. His family originally belonged to the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra.

Since his early childhood, there were indications that he was not like other normal children. It is believed that these enlightened souls come with preplanned preparations.

The way a farmer sows seeds in different locations for a specific purpose similarly the universe also has its own plan for which these souls arrive at different locations in order to serve a specific purpose which in turn is a part of this huge cosmos.

Little boy Pandurang's father once had a dream of Lord Vitthala saying that he wanted to be born as his son. His father ignored this dream completely. Gujarat is one of the states which witnessed the presence of this great "Brahma Rishi" who arrived on 21st November 1898 in Godhra.

Maharaj as a Child

The childhood of Maharaj was very difficult since his father had left his physical body very early in a plague epidemic. As a child, Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj was a very bright student.

Maharaj completed his school education in Godhra and for his higher studies, he joined Gujarat College in Ahmedabad in order to complete his first year. He perceived his second year from Baroda College and further completed his graduation from Gujarat Vidyapeeth.

Influenced by Gandhiji, he was also involved in the non-cooperation movement during British India. He was very active in the independence movement activities.

Guru Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Swami) Maharaj

Spiritual Life

Maharaj was spiritually inclined since his childhood. Once while 8yrs old Pandurang was on a pilgrimage to Narsobachi Vadi which is located on the bank of Krishna River for his thread ceremony with his mother, he met his spiritual Guru Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Maharaj.

His guru once asked whose boy was he to which he replied "Yours". This showed his immediate surrender to his spiritual guru. This was the only physical contact Pandurang had received from his Guru, though all his life he received guidance from his Guru through dreams, trance, etc.

Once Maharaj received a dream where he was commanded to "Read the holy book- (Gurucharitra)" which he later received it from his uncle. This mystic Saint- Poet followed a path of Datta- Panth (Gurucharitra Tradition Path of Lord Dattatreya).

For his serious tapas, Maharaj moved to Nareshwar which is a place on the bank of the Narmada River. Narmada Ghat has witnessed the presence of many Brahma Rishis who came there for their sadhana.

This became a very fruitful ground for this great soul who had renounced everything for his tapas and resided in Nareshwar. This place was surrounded by dense forest with dangerous creatures.

As guided by his guru, Maharaj recited Shri Dattapurana 108 times written by his Guru Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Swami) Maharaj. He also completed the sacred Narmada Parikrama in 108 days on foot.

Glorifying the name of Lord Dattatreya in his poems, writings, hymns were like his daily routine activity. His every breath was devoted to Lord Dattatreya. Nareshwar is the place that gave him his other name as "Pujya Bapji".

Many seekers from all over the place started visiting him as they witnessed a strange stillness of their mind in his presence. This is the innate quality of a great Brahm Rishi.

Pujya Bapji was later joined by his ailing brother and his mother in Nareshwar who died soon after. After his mother's death in 1968, he left Nareshwar and went to Haridwar. Finally, Pujya Bapji left his physical body on 19th Nov 1968. His physical body was brought back to Nareshwar and cremated 2 days later.

Literature Work:

Pujya Bapji was well versed in Marathi, Hindi, English, Sanskrit, and Gujarati. He has written more than 45 works.

Glorifying Lord Dattatreya in different languages were instrumental in spreading Datta worship to every corner of Gujarat and other places in the world.

His "Gurulilamrut" in Gujarathi is read by thousands of devotees across the world.It includes life stories of Lord Dattatreya, Shripad Shrivallabh, Shri Narshinha Saraswati, and his Guru Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Swami) Maharaj.

"Dattabavani" written by Pujya Bapji is a Gujarati hymn of 52 verses dedicated to Lord Dattatreya is regularly recited by thousands of devotees all over the world.

"Shri Gurudev Datta"

Who was Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi and what were his teachings ?

2020-08-18T22:01:00.004+05:30

Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi

About Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi

A 16yrs old schoolboy who once faced death in his family. This incident brought about a new storm of questions in his mind. All he wanted to know was what happens post-death. Where do we go?

This one life incident made him more curious about that one golden question, "Who am I? There are no accidents in life. We may not be able to analyze but every incident is prearranged which has a very strong past behind it.

Bhagavan as a Child

One day this boy named Venkatraman was alone in an upstairs room of his uncle's house in Madurai when he was suddenly gripped by an intense fear of death.

In the following few minutes, while he was trying to imitate the experience of death, he actually went through a death experience during which he became consciously aware for the first time that his real nature was something different from what he thought.

He realized that the body dies but the spirit that transcends it cannot be touched by its experience. One goes through such kind of experience only after a long period of spiritual practice but in his case, it happened without any prior effort.

It takes many lifetimes of training which becomes a base for these kinds of experiences. Venkatraman told no one about this experience. He just tried to behave normally like other kids around but couldn't hold the picture of being normal for too long.

Before this experience, Ramana Maharshi used to visit Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, play around with his friends and then come back home but post this incident he frequently visited the temple and used to stare at the statues there for hours together.

At the end of six weeks, he went directly to the holy mountains of "Arunachala" which is also called a "Fire of Wisdom".

As a Guru

After spending a few years on the slopes of Arunachala his inner awareness started radiating all around. This radiance attracted a large number of followers from across the globe.

These followers then named him Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi. He is also said to be a reincarnation of "Lord Murugan".

His family tried their best to get him back home but he refused to go even though his mother begged him to come back. Later his mother and his younger brother became sanyasis and stayed with him following wherever he went.

Teachings of Ramana Maharshi

Most of Bhagavan's teachings were in "SILENCE". He constantly radiated a silent force that would still the minds of devotees who were attuned to his silent force.

This is how our Guru transforms us just by his mere energy field which is essential for our process of evolution. Though most of his teachings were in silence he at times gave verbal teachings to those who were unable to understand his silence.

He gave more importance to self-attention which he called "Self Enquiry". Though many people found it abstract or difficult to do it, he mentioned it was a direct path to liberation. He mentioned that the end result of every path is this stage of self enquiry itself. It is also known as a path of Knowledge (Jnana Marga).

He emphasized on discovering the reality of our own self as opposed to trying to understand the world. What makes Bhagavan so special is his simplicity- exhibited both in his lifestyle and in his teachings.

Many times people would come with their doubts but in his presence, they would go in a spiritual trance and after coming out of it they would realize that their doubts were cleared without even asking for it.

Masters who preached the path of Self Enquiry(Jnana Yoga)

Quite a few of the devotees in the presence of Shri Ramana Maharshi have been recorded to have realized the self. Few names of the Masters who preached the path:

Nisargadatta Maharaj

Papaji

Mooji

Annamalai Swami

Robert Adams

A Mystic Sage of Ganeshpuri - Bhagwan Nityanand Swami Maharaj.

2020-08-18T21:43:00.006+05:30

The Great Sage of Ganeshpuri- Maharashtra

About Bhagwan Nityanand Maharaj

The birth of Bhagwan Nityanand is not known to anyone. In 1897 a small boy was found on the streets by a Nair couple in Kerala who bought him home and took good care of him.

The couple were farmers and used to work on the farm which belonged to Mr. Ishwar Iyer. In the next 3- 6 yrs, the Nair couple left their physical body.

Before death, Mrs. Nair handed over her responsibility for this small innocent boy in the hands of Mr. Ishwar Iyer whom they trusted.

Bhagwan as a Child

While raising this child, Mr.Iyer realized that there was a huge difference between this child and another normal world to say. He used to be constantly in this divined consciousness state.

Seeing him in this blissful state, he was eventually named Nityanand. "Nitya" means "always" and "Anand" means "bliss".

One fine day Bhagawan left his home to become a wandering yogi later to realize that he spent a few years of his life in the Himalayas.

By the age of 23, Bhagwan Nityanand was back in South India. As a young man, he traveled on foot throughout India.

Samadhi Mandir of Maharaj

As a Guru

Bhagawan was looked after by a lady named Tulsi Amma. Tulsi Amma played a very important role in Nityanand Maharaj's life.

As a Guru, Bhagwan Nityananda gave very little verbal teachings. Most of the time he was silent. Tulsi Amma used to note down his teachings in the Kannada language which later came to be known as "Chidakasha Geeta".

Later Mr. MP Pandit translated "Chidakasha Geeta" into the English language.

Ganeshpuri a small village in North of Mumbai was home to Bhagwan Nityananda till he left his body in 1961.

Bhagwan's love for children was so immense that children from nearby villages were offered free morning meal every day. They were also given free gifts, toys, and clothes to wear.

Bhagawan Nityananda is quite known for the miracles he performed in the past. Those who wanted to escape from the cycle of birth and death accepted Bhagawan as their Guru.

In the presence of a "Great Avadhoot", people would fall silent. Their doubts would be answered in silence without even been asked for it. His divine consciousness attracted a lot of people from across the globe.

Even today there are records of seekers who have been guided by Bhagawan Nityananda himself in their dreams on their spiritual path.

Teachings of Bhagwan Nityananda

It was believed that Bhagwan Nityananda gave Shaktipat or Spiritual Initiation to people through non-verbal means.

He would also be fiery in his behavior at times with his seekers even to point of hitting them on occasions. This was his way of deterring people who were not serious in their spiritual aspirations or we can say it was one of his way to get them out of the problem.

Bhagwan was a born Siddha(Self -Realised). People were relieved of their illness and miseries by his grace. With knowledge of Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi he guided seekers in different paths according to their capacity. "Noble Silence" was his message to the world.