GARUDESHWAR
(Continued) Maharani Indirabai Holkar
Indirabai, grand daughter of Anandrao Talcherkar, was to be married to Tukojirao Holkar of Indore. The betrothal ceremony took place at Indore in Shaka 1834 (1912 A. D.) Tukojirao then went to Europe and eleven months passed, but he had not returned Talcherkar family was very anxious about the future of Indirabai. Her horoscope was sent to Swami Maharaj through Narayan Dattatraya, a priest of Wadi. Seeing the horoscope Swamiji remarked, "There is no Raj Yoga". Narayanrao said, "As the horoscope has reached Swami Maharaj. the marriage must take place."
Swami Maharaj informed Indirabai to worship and recite the mantra "^Devedrani Namastuyumam^" etc. The marriage would be cele¬brated in Margasheersha Accordingly the marriage was ceremo-nised on Margasheersha Shuddha 10, Shaka 1835 (1913 A. D.) and K.umari Indirabai was known as Sou. Maharani Indirabai Saheb Holkar. She had great regard for Swami Maharaj, and she has donated liberally for the publication of his volumes, construction of ghats, mandirs, houses at Managaon, Kurugaddi, Karanja, Garudeshwar etc.
Insufficient Prasad Given to Hundreds
One day there were 300 to 400 persons. The prasad was very little. When males were given prasad, Swamiji looked at the pot of the prasad removing the cover and found it was more than half the pot. It was distributed amongst the females.
Rain Stopped on Krishna Jayanti
On Krishna Jayanti after Kirtan, Bhajan was started. Be¬yond Narmada it was raining and it was expected that the rain would be on this side also and Bhajan will have to be stopped. Swami Maharaj looked at the sky and said, "Do not be afraid. Let Bhajan be continued." After completion of the Bhajan all went under the shed and then there were showers of rain. Swamiji said to Shri Sabnis, "This is the rain you were afraid of."
Vithal Sonar of Baroda prepared a Datta Murti. It was installed at the hands of Koparkar by Ramchandra Shastri Prakash-kar on Ashwin Shuddha 9. One serpent was seen at the place of the Datta Murti. Swamiji chanted a mantra and put the "akshat" on the serpent. Next day at the time of Geeta prava-chan the serpent began to move. Swamiji came to him and asked him to go away. The serpent went away from that place. Some persons followed to kill it. Swamiji said, "Do not kill the serpent. You may leave the serpent in the Narmada".
The amount offend to Swami Maharaj and God was put in a box. One day the balance was only Rs 3/-. Daily 200 to 300 persons were being fed. Shri Sabnis informed this to Swami Maharaj who said, "why do you care? God will manage the affairs " After 8 to 10 days Swamiji said, "Make payment to the persons who supplied the material " When Shri Sabnis opened the box he found that it was full of guineas.
Once Swami Maharaj had passed through the field of Ambadas Bhake of Berar. He got bumper crops. He and his wife were devotees of Swamiji. They came to Garudeshwar and offered gold guineas of Rs. 3000/- Swami Maharaj had asked him to write 'Ram' on a piece of paper which was mixed with wheat flour dough and he was asked to give pills of this to the fish. He devotedly did this.
Guru Dwadashi function was observed with grandeur. Thousands of persons had dinner. Everyone was given Dakshina. Swami Maharaj then addressed the people as follows :-
Swami Maharaja's Last Advice
"I have to tell you in brief what I have been advising and what is contained in the books, I have written with the adesh of Shri Datta from time to time. The principal aim of a human being should be to gain mukti (salvation). For this, the mind is to be controlled first, which is possible by observing daily rituals, as per one's caste and religion. Hearing, thinking and meditation of Vedant should always be done. Hearing should receive more attention and this would make the mind less attached to family affairs. Man's sublimation depends on his pure behaviour. To achieve this, your food should be simple, limited and pure. The signs of satwik mind are to have great regard for one's religion, to have daily bath, Sandhya, Puja, and to do five sacrifices regu¬larly, have regard for the Atithi (guest), to serve the cow, have liking for Katha-Kirtan-Pujan-Bhajan, to speak sweet with all, not to harm anybody by one's action, to serve parents, the fe¬males should serve their husbands and also obey the mother-in-law and father-in-law and other elders.
"For one's maintenance, trade, agriculture or service may be done; but behave as per Vedic religion obeying the Guru and the elders should not be neglected or forsaken. By doing one's duty the heart becomes pure, which gives strength for devotion. By devotion one's mind becomes quiet and one can know his self and consequently attains salvation."
He also explained seven stages of knowledge nicely and assured that one who acts as directed would live happily.
Shri Datta Jayanti was observed on a grand scale. About 2 to 3 thousand persons had gathered. In Vaishakha of Shaka 1836 dysentary troubles again started and Swami Maharaj became weaker and weaker day by day. Knowing this, water was being poured on the Padukas at Wadi continuously. When Swamiji knew this he informed the Wadi priests, "Do not trouble God. This body wijl soon pass away."
Shri Datta Lives At Garudeshwar
Swami Maharaj asked Shri Datta, "what arrangement should be made of your murti here?" Shri Datta replied, "I intend to stay here. The murti need not be removed anywhere." Here¬after whatever money was received was kept here and was not sent to Wadi as was being done so far.
Garudeshwar Trust
Swami Maharaj was lying in bed for a month. Replies to letters were also got written by others. Swamiji was often in samadhi or meditation. He spoke only 10 to 12 sentences thro¬ughout the day. In order to have smooth management at Garudeshwar, Brahmanand Swami appointed a Panch committee as follows:-
1) Chairman- Shri Narsinha of Wadi.
2) Vice-Chairman- Shri Ramchandra Vithal Adhikari.
3) Cashier- Shri Parashram Kuberram Bhat.
4) Members- Shri Amritrao Purushottam Sabnis.
5) Laxmishankar Hari Govinddas Thanedar.
6) Pradyumnanand Teerth.
Brahma Niryan
People requested Swami Maharaj to take medicine, but he replied, "This body will pass away soon. There is no necessity of medicine. Shri Shankaracharya lived only for 32 years. Comparatively I have lived longer. This body was bitten by serpent twice, once it -was affected by Plague, thrice by Cholera, once by Typhoid, twice by Leprosy. Dysentary is almost from birth Who gave, me medicine all these years? The Physician I chose from birth, is still there. What he wills will occur". In the end he recited the Shloka, which Bhishmacharya had recited. He uttered 'Datta' 'Datta' and asked others to do the same.
On Jeshtha Vadya 14 he asked Dhondopant to recite a mantra 1200 times daily, observe Gurudwadashi, Datta Jayanti and Guru Pratipada and feed Brahmins. Saying this he gave his chati to him. Even on Amavasya, he persisted to do the daily rituals. But water could not stand on his palm. When Pratipada started, he sat on siddhasan facing God, did Tarak (a kind of mudra) and with Kumbhak did long 'Pranavochhai' and assimilated him¬self in the Brahma. It was Ashad Shuddha Pratipada Shaka 1836 Tuesday (July 1914 A D.), Ardra Nakshatra, Uttarayan time II P.M. in the night. On hearing the news of Swamiji's Niryana, all the devotees were sunk in great grief.
Next day Swami Maharaj was given a bath with Purushsu-kta and Rudrasukta. Wreaths of flowers, Tulsi, Bel were offered. Placing the body on a seat of flowers specially prepared, it was taken on the bank of the Narmada in procession. The mortal remains were again worshipped. Naivedya, fruits, tambul and dakshina were offered. Swamiji's Dand was broken in three pieces and placed on his laps His Bowl was bored at the bottom. Stones were tied to his body and it was sunk in the holy Narmada. This biography of Yogiraj Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati Tembe Swami Maharaj is dedicated to his most holy feet with great regard and humility.
Topic: YOGIRAJ VASUDEVANANDA SARASWATI (A Biography) (Continued from February 1975 (Read 4418 times)