Odyssey of the Enlightened — 73: Gayatri on the Banks of Yamuna — 2
Rishi Durvasa's Tapasthali
Shriram had completed designing the map of Gayatri Tapobhumi. He had chosen the name "Gayatri Tapobhumi" for the sadhana-center.
He kept the map and lay down on his bed. At that time, it was only a decision about the place and its name, but Shriram's mind was so immersed in the thoughts of Gayatri Tapobhumi that he even started watching its activities like a film — 'Many people were doing japa-tapa, many were conducting yagya in the yagyashala. Discourses and interactive discussions (satsang sessions) were going on in the lecture hall on important topics of spirituality, Gayatri Sadhana, and ancient Indian Culture. In some other corner of this centre, people were also busy in self-study (swadhyaya) of the ancient Indian texts and enlightening thoughts of great personalities on these topics.'
Everything appeared so real! Shriram could not make out whether it was a flashback of some events of the old age or was a glimpse of the future he had envisaged. Suddenly he saw that a grand yagya was going on in a vast ground in which thousands of people were participating. More than these people in number were those who were standing around the fire-altars of this yagya in subtle bodies. These appeared like the rishis — they had long hair and beard; only the lower parts of their bodies were wrapped up with leaf-like material; the divine glow on their faces had brightened further in the light of the flames rising from the yagya-fire. They seemed delighted by listening to the chants of Vedic Mantras, seeing the yagya-fire, and smelling the soothing fragrance of herbal preparations offered in it.
Shriram was lying on the bed, and his eyes were open. His consciousness was fully engrossed in this majestic experience — which was neither a dream nor a physical reality. Suddenly he saw that one of those rishis is looking at him. Shriram recognized him; he was his angelic mentor, spiritual guide, his Gurudev! He came towards Shriram through the sky and stood before him. Shriram experienced it that indeed his Gurudev had again appeared before him in a subtle body. Shriram got up and bowed his head on the holy feet of his Gurudev.
The angelic being blessed him and said — "The grand yagya you watched just now is a glimpse of what you have to do as purnahuti (completion) of the Gayatri Mahapurashcharanas you have done. This event will also mark the preparation for what you have to do later on. Don't worry if the space you have got at present is small or if your resources are limited. There will be no shortage of support. The rishi-souls you saw standing around the yagya-fire will help you make all the arrangements."
His angelic master further said — "The place you have chosen today is destined for the establishment of Gayatri Tapobhumi. Thousands of years ago, rishi Durvasa had done intense tapa-sadhana at that place." A doubt arose in Shriram's mind — a temple of rishi Durvasa is located on the other side of river Yamuna and people call that as his tapa-sthali in ancient times. But Gurudev is telling that the bagichi he saw today was the tapa-sthali of rishi Durvasa!
His Gurudev sensed this doubt and clarified — "The place you have chosen has been the tapa-sthali of rishi Durvasa. In his times, river Yamuna used to flow in the front of that place."
The suspicion of Shriram's mind had vanished. But now there was a question — if Gurudev wanted to choose some rishi's tapa-sthali, why did he inspire Shriram to select the tapa-sthali of rishi Durvasa, who is known more for his anger? He humbly expressed this query before his Gurudev.
Gurudev explained: "At the right time, you would come to know the facts and reasons behind the common convictions regarding rishi Durvasa. Rishi Durvasa's tapa-sthali is chosen in the Brij region because, on this land, no other rishi carried out ardent tapa of such grandeur as he did. He attained immense radiance through this ugra (extremely ardent) Gayatri Sadhana. People used to feel intense heat and radiation in his presence and were not able to tolerate it, and often used to take it as the effect of his anger on them."
"This is for the first phase of the tasks the Almighty has assigned you. You will also have to work in the tapa-sthalies of rishis Vashishtha and Vishwamitra at advanced stages," — Gurudev said. This way, Shriram received transcendental instructions on the formation of Gayatri Tapobhumi and the next phase of spiritual endeavours. This continued till his mind went into yoganidra.
Dedication of Punyas
Shriram's epochal sadhana of twenty-four Mahapurashcharanas of Gayatri Mantra had commenced in the year 1926. With the completion of one Mahapurashcharana every year, this was to be completed by the year 1949–50. However, it got delayed due to Shriram's dedicated participation in the peaceful freedom movement of India, which his divine guiding force defined as part of his sadhana.
Shriram had been an active volunteer for this unprecedented national movement. Though he had to go to jail and face tortures of the British rulers, he did not deviate from this patriotic sadhana. The freedom movement disturbed the strict continuity of his daily japa for nearly three years, so he prolonged the duration of his Mahapurashcharana Sadhana by three years.
After his japa-sadhana next morning, Shriram continued with his regular activity of writing one article for Akhand Jyoti and responding to pending letters to the parijans. He used to regard every reader of Akhand Jyoti and everyone associated with it as his family member — addressing these people as parijans. Shriram discussed the Gayatri Tapobhumi plans with all parijans and acquaintances.
The series of Mahapurashcharana Sadhana was due to complete in two years — by the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami in Samvat 2010 (i.e., Jan/Feb 1953 AD). He planned to organize the grand yagya of its purnahuti on Gayatri Jayanti the same year.
The Meeting and Taiji's Donation
Shriram called a meeting of volunteers. One person got up and said — "You are going to call so many people to participate in this Mahapurnahuti Yagya! But then your great punya of the intense arduous sadhana of twenty-seven years is going to get distributed among all these people. What will you gain then?"
Shriram told him that as per the ancient tradition of great rishis, all sadhanas and devotional worships are offered to the Almighty. Real spiritual sadhana of japa-tapa is that which is aimed at the welfare of all. "Anyone who gets its punya will also work for this very goal, which is all the more better for everybody."
While talking about the Gayatri Tapobhumi project, Shriram made it clear that he would purchase the land using his own resources, while contributions from many people would be required for construction. "There will be transparent accounting of every single penny donated for this purpose. Everyone will have a right to crosscheck and verify the accounts."
Taiji entered the meeting room at that moment and announced — "My donation should be accepted first of all. I will donate eleven hundred rupees for this noble cause." As a mark of signature to her pledge, she took out eleven silver coins in her hands and placed them on the chauki (small table) kept in front of Shriram. Everyone was stunned by her sudden appearance and this announcement.
Akhand Deepak and Sacred Fire
The family was worried about where the incessant flame of the Akhand Deepak should be enshrined. After listening to everyone, Shriram said — "This Deepak has witnessed all my upasana-sadhana. Mataji has taken the responsibility of looking after this Akhand Deepak. So if we take this Deepak to Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mataji will also have to live there. Is that possible?"
It was finally decided that the Akhand Deepak should remain where it is enshrined at present. Before the conclusion of the meeting, Shriram, inspired by some sudden intuition, declared — "Sacred fire will be brought from the sublime cores of the Himalaya, where my divine guiding force meets the enlightened disciples. This sacred fire will kindle the yagya-fire in Tapobhumi, and this yagya-fire will be maintained as Akhand Agni (sacred fire which will never extinguish)."
All sadhakas present felt blessed to know they would have an opportunity to do yagya in this beatifying Akhand Agni.
[To be continued]
"With our faith in our community of two or more, we can go anywhere. Often in our daily lives, we are just focused on survival. But fidelity is not a question of survival. It is one of vitality." — Thich Nhat Hanh
"If you are working on something that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you." — Steve Jobs