Mahashivratri - 2020 / 21.02.2020

MAHASHIVRATRI – 2020

21.2.2020, Dandi Ashram

I left for Dandi on 19^th morning along with Sridhar Mani from Bangalore whom I picked up from Mumbai domestic airport at around 7.30am. It was a very peaceful drive and we stopped for breakfast at Silver Miles restaurant. After breakfast, we again drove on peacefully till we reached Vapi around 9.30-9.45. The bridge at Vapi was being repaired and half the carriageway going towards Gujarat was blocked. There was a massive traffic jam as people tried to squeeze in from the left in their vehicles. I too was in the left lane as the right lane was not moving at all – as I edged towards the top of the bridge, I realised why – one of the workers had blocked the road with a red plastic barrier and was just letting one vehicle at a time pass by. We reached that point and were waiting for him to either remove the barrier so that we could go on or for the traffic on the right to move. On my right was a huge trailer truck and there was a distance of about a foot, foot and a half between my vehicle and the trailer. The truck started moving and to my horror it turned slightly towards me and I saw my rear-view mirror touching the trucks edge and it was being pushed back. I started shouting and luckily the truck driver stopped. I turned my car left and the worker who had put the red barrier removed it (actually no reason for it to be there as the road ahead was clear) to make room for my car. I rolled down the window and pulled back the mirror – luckily it was not damaged or broken, just a scratch or so. I turned the vehicle in front of the truck and got out of the vehicle to argue with the truck driver. Then I saw the size of the vehicle and realised that the driver may just have turned his steering a couple of inches left and because of the size of the vehicle it had brushed against my vehicle. I let go, and got into my car and in the meanwhile the traffic started moving again. As my car started moving it started wobbling quite a bit and a kid in a passing car was pointing out something and I looked out to the left and saw the rubber padding on the front wheel metal hanging loose. The car was punctured and as I came down the bridge, with Swamiji’s grace we found a puncture mechanic just as the bridge ended. We took the car to him and he removed the tyre to repair it – he said this tyre cannot be repaired and he will patch it and put a tube. Probably a metal part of that truck had run a gash in the tyre and there was a through and through hole about an inch wide. After some introspection, I told him to replace the tyre with the spare one and not repair the torn tyre as that would have involved removing the air pressure sensors on the rim, and if those got damaged then the cost would shoot up. By the time the tyre got repaired and we paid him for his efforts, it was around 10.45am. We went looking for someone who would fix the flapping rubber, but did not find anyone. I managed to fix it temporarily and called Dipeshbhai at Bhavan office and narrated the incident. He said he will arrange a mechanic to fix the minor issue. We reached the Bhavan office around noon and were waiting for the mechanic. Bhuvanbhai was there in the office and he asked what the matter was, I told him, he said there is a sadhak who has a garage just behind the office and we went to see him around 1pm, the mechanic whom Dipeshbhai had called had still not turned up. The sadhak fixed the loose rubber protective strip and did not take any money which I had offered – he just said ‘Jai Baba Swami’. I thanked the sadhak and Bhuvanbhai for all their help. In retrospect, I feel that we were totally protected by Swamiji, else that incident could have become major with the entire right side of the car getting damaged – apart from the torn tyre, scratch on the rear-view mirror there was absolutely no other mark on the car – truly miraculous. We left the Bhavan and reached the Ashram at around 2pm. We took the keys to the room which we had booked, took prasad and went to the room to relax after almost 7 hours on the road (twice the time it normally takes!).

Later, at around 5pm we came down and went to the meditation hall for some meditation. After meditation, I went and mixed around with the sadhaks, then had evening prasad and retired for the day.

Next morning (20.2.2020), I woke up at 3 in the morning and freshened up and sat for meditation. After some really deep meditation for about an hour or so, I noticed that Sridhar too had woken up and gone for a bath. We went down for meditation at the Gurushaktidham. The energy there was palpable, there was a cool whoosh of energy which was bathing the body as we sat with eyes closed. The sensation was unbelievable – as if the Guru-energies were bathing the body with consciousness. After this divine experience I went to the dining area for breakfast. Met friendly sadhaks and chatted with them for a while. We had a Aadhar Board meeting at 2 in the afternoon. So, post breakfast I went to the office and chatted with some of the trustees who were there. I then returned to the room and found Sridhar already there. We were just relaxing for a while when we heard a lot of loud chatting coming from the next room and I recognised a few familiar voices. I found Suresh Patel, Vineet, Dinesh Sagar amongst others enjoying fruits. They were part of the security detail during the 45 days anushthan from inside. We too enjoyed eating those fruits and listening to their spiritual experiences. After some time, we took our leave and returned to our room. We went for prasad at around 1pm and then after prasad we went to the office for the meeting. I was informed that officials of the Nepal Tourism Board had come and wanted to meet us. So, before our board meeting, we sat with the members and explained to them about Samarpan and about the Mahashivratri event and how many people were expected. I also informed Ms Pamfa Dhamala, Executive Board Member, that even though Swamiji had been appointed as the Nepal Tourism Board Brand Ambassador 2020 for Nepal Tourism his name did not appear on the Nepal Tourism Board website – 10 people were appointed and 9 names were there – Swamiji’s name was missing. She said she will look into it – but so far nothing has happened. After this meeting our board meeting commenced which went on till about 3.30pm and thereafter we all dispersed with the Ashram committee going ahead with the next day’s planning.

The Ashram had already started getting crowded with lots of sadhaks registering for the night before Mahashivratri – there was a continuous buzz of expectancy in the consciousness filled atmosphere even though the weather was warmish. The warm weather continued till after sunset. It became slightly cooler thereafter but not as it used to be in the past, when one used to feel that the Himalayas had descended into the plains.

After evening meditation, we partook of prasad and retired for the night. The next morning was the big morning when His Holiness Shivkrupanand Swamiji comes out of 45 days of intense meditation in isolation, fully energised and recharged to carry out His Gurus work.

Mahashivratri Schedule

The registration process had started at 3am and was to continue till 5.30am. I was ready by 4am post my morning meditation. Sridhar and I went down and we were given badges for the VIP section. We went to the VIP section and sat down with eyes closed. It was around 5am when we took our seat, the weather was warmish. Parasbhai and Sheenaji were doing the compering – Parasbhai with his usual finesse and Sheenaji for the first time. They were exhorting the sadhaks to take their seats as the meditation session at 5.30am with Ramkaka was due to start. With the usual announcements for switching off the mobiles, the music and chant prior to commencement of meditation started playing. My eyes were shut, visualizing Shiva in the cosmos represented by the slim brilliant crescent moon high up in the sky. The energy was palpable, with the human buzz of sadhaks settling in guided by the volunteers. This time the seating arrangement was south-north and helped in accommodating more people without any hindrance. Swamiji’s stage too was set at the dome-end of the Ashram. At exactly 5.30 am Ramkaka started the meditation with chanting of the Guru-ahavan mantra (invoking of the Guru-energies). As the meditation started the weather started becoming cooler, a soft, cool gust of breeze started blowing across the ashram, indicating that the Guru-energies were blessing us with their presence. There was a tingling in the spine as the eyes closed and mind became quiet, the energy was flowing and the crown chakra palpitating. Half and hour passed in a jiffy and I was finding it difficult to open my eyes. Announcement was being made for calling the dignitaries to light the ceremonial lamps, I heard my name called along with Sundeepji and Maheshbhai to step forward for lighting the lamp. The Nepal Tourism Board team led by Mrs Pamfa Dhamala along with Tulsiramji were there, Mrs. Bhartiben Patel MP along with her husband and a couple of other dignitaries (can’t recollect their names) and Sharmilaji were also called to light the lamp. I led the Nepal team forward and handed the candle to one of the members of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and he was so enamored by the whole process that he proceeded to light all the wicks without returning the candle! (lolz). After the lighting of the lamp a group photograph was taken.

Dignitaries and sadhaks after the ceremonial lamp lighting ceremony

At 6.10 Pujya Guruma took the stage to the sound of conches and loud applause. Literature was inaugurated at her hands – ‘Navyug ki aur’ in 5 languages – Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil and English. Guruma spoke a few words on the book and thanked the different teams who completed this Guru-karya in the given restricted time-frame. After the launch of the books, the chant started playing with the announcement that His Holiness Swamiji will arrive shortly after undertaking a 45-days deep meditation anushthan. Swamiji arrived on the dot at 6.30am on stage to the sound of conches blowing and loud applause with shouts of ‘Swamiji ki jai’. As Swamiji came on stage the temperature visibly dropped a couple of degrees as the consciousness emanating through His being filled the atmosphere. Swam-ji lit the lamp and prostrated before Shiv Baba before taking His seat. Ramkaka then requested Swamiji thrice to shower us with his words of divine blessings. Swamiji then started his discourse at around 6.40am and as the discourse progressed the temperature started dropping dramatically and the shawls and sweaters started coming out.

My Salutations to all Pious Souls…..

Now, just as you chanted the Guru-mantra, generally we have been hearing this Guru-mantra at many places. Come, we will understand this mantra itself. I have experienced each alphabet of this mantra, each word of this mantra in my life. And on the basis of that experience I will try to explain to you the meaning of this mantra. Actually, if you come to understand the meaning of this mantra in its totality, then the state of roaming around in life will end.

First is – Guru Brahma! ‘Brahma’ is not the name of any one individual; Brahma’ is the name of creative energy, it is the name given to the energy which creates anew, it is the name given to giving of new birth. Man has taken birth physically again and again; he has taken it many times; but he has taken birth again and again to obtain the soul’s birth. But the way a potter does not fill water into the pot till the pot is not solid, similarly, man does not obtain self-realisation till he does not receive that divine body which can absorb the energy of self-realisation. Self-realisation has a divine energy! When you get the experience of that energy in life, then you start receiving all knowledge, all wisdom from within itself. So, first and foremost, you have received this divine body because of your parents, your parents have been chosen by the soul that is resident within you. So, first and foremost, however your parents are; whatever be their nature, in whatever state they have kept you; in whatever state they have nurtured you; whatever facilities they may or may not have been able to give you; they may or may not have given you a good education – all these are related to the physical body. But that divine physical body which can receive the energy of self-realisation has been given by them. Hence, first and foremost express your thanks to your parents from the bottom of your heart because of whom you have received this divine body.

The physical body was there in the past birth too and the medium was there in the past births too; even then the event of self-realisation did not take place because the medium was not authorised to bestow self-realisation. The entire spiritual sphere is based around only one word and that is – authorised. Till such time you are not authorised, till then work cannot take place at all in the right direction. Saint Gyaneshwar has described self-realisation very beautifully in the sixth chapter of ‘Gyaneshwari’ (a translation of the Bhagwad Geeta in simple Marathi) – attaining self-realisation is man’s objective in life and after attaining self-realisation he obtains inner satisfaction, inner happiness one finds inner-peace and his entire external search ends and he attains everlasting joy within itself. He has written a lot on self-realisation. But after writing he felt however much one has written, how much it has been described, till the time on does not get the spiritual experience of self-realisation, this description written in the book will not make man get that experience. So, he asked his Guru, “Should I bestow spiritual experience?” He could have given the spiritual experience, but his Guru said, “No, this is not the authorised time. That authorised time will come 700 years from now, 800 years later; then lakhs of souls will obtain self-realisation in collectivity.” So, we are those lucky souls, those divine souls who have taken birth in that time period in which self-realisation can be obtained in collectivity. And you too have waited for years together for this divine time; both have waited for a long time. And you and the medium were together during that long time-span too! It is only that I remember it and you don’t. You too reach that stage in meditation, that state in meditation where you body consciousness ends. Then you will easily come to understand all the relationships, all the relations – who you are, who is the medium, what is your relationship with him, what is the connection – you will understand everything.

So, what is important – divine body, what is important – authorised medium and third – appropriate time, authorised time. It is said isn’t it, time is all powerful! It is true! Saint Gyaneshwar wrote about self-realisation and did the work of awakening the public. And at exactly the same time the sages, monks seated in the Himalayas started looking for a way by which the knowledge of self-realisation, the values of the spiritual experience of self-realisation, all this could reach the common man. There is one uniqueness about Paramatma – Paramatma distributes everything to everybody equally. Similarly, he thought about the common man and decided that these divine values should reach the common man. Hence, first and foremost, what state you are in, which situation you are in, what problems you are facing, what situations you are facing, forget all that. First of all, know your ‘self’; you are a divine soul that has attained self-realisation.

Sadhaks listening in rapt attention with the Shree GSD in the background

The Himalayan Gurus performed spiritual practice for many years and then…. There was only one objective and that was to deliver the spiritual experience of self-realisation to the common man. But they had sat down for many years in one place only and had merged with nature. Merged with nature means, they had been seated on one mountain only and then they had established a oneness with the mountain and then even if they wished they could not descend from the mountain. Then with their will power they created such a medium who was totally empty from within, completely void; in which there was nothing of his own. An ordinary, such an ordinary person was created and included the values of self-realisation within him and authorised him for this work. And they deliberately selected an ordinary person so that it could reach the ordinary folk. They had three objectives for his creation – first objective was – it should reach the common man. Meaning any person who wished for self-realisation regardless of caste, religion, country, colour, these values should reach every such individual – it is with this objective that they sent the medium to society. The path from there, the road from there is uni-directional. Those who went to the Himalayas isn’t it, they went to the Himalayas, and never returned! What is the reason? There is only one reason – as soon as we reach the sphere of the Gurus we become (the property) of the Gurus. The society over here, this world, one remembers nothing; one does not get any thoughts! So, if one does not get any thoughts, then the question of returning too does not arise. Hence those who went, went. But they have sent (me). And because they have sent, the medium was able to reach society.

Next, they have sent me to rebut the false beliefs which have become widespread in society. And one wrong belief in society is that meditation, spiritual progress, inner development can only be accomplished by saints. To meditate one needs to be an ascetic; one needs to leave the world to meditate; one needs to leave society to meditate; meditation is not meant for the ordinary person. From when such wrong notions were created, I don’t know. But these beliefs have been created in society and they have sent the medium into society to break those wrong beliefs. The whole world is not an ascetic, isn’t it! The whole world is not a saint, isn’t it! And it is not possible for the whole world to leave society, isn’t it! So, that’s why they placed an ordinary householder as an example to society, who even while staying with his family, while staying in his home, while staying in his world can progress spiritually. Look at our ancestors themselves isn’t it, whom we call gods, all of them were worldly people. So many Rishis-monks, so many Rishi-Mothers, it was all there. But this belief….many times what happens, we create such a distance that it is impossible for us to do this. That’s why they sent an ordinary person as a medium – so if he can do it then you too can do it. If he can progress then you too can progress. Meaning, an ordinary person can progress spiritually by staying at home, by staying with his family. Actually, you can let go (of something), when you have a hold of it. Don’t catch hold of anything then there is no question of letting go. Stay amongst everybody, like a lotus flower stays isn’t it? The lotus flower stays in muck, blooms in muck and it does not break its relationship with muck. It stays connected to the muck through its stem, but not a single drop of the muck stays on the lotus flower. Similarly, you stay in your world, stay with your family, stay in your society. Stay in all physically; stay aloof through your chitta. You can be in everything and still stay separate. Staying like this is possible. If you try this can happen. That’s why I have placed the example of the medium before you.

And the Himalayan Gurus had a third objective – society has another wrong belief that women cannot progress spiritually. Also, that women are a barrier to spiritual progress. I don’t know when these wrong beliefs started; but they have sent the medium in society to break this wrong belief too. Next, as many people, as many Gurus who went to the Himalayas isn’t it, all of them have gone from this society itself. They have not landed in the Himalayas from the sky! They have gone from society. And the belief which is present in society, they too have the same belief. They too went to the Himalayas with the same beliefs, and after going there they developed their aura. Their aura encompasses a whole mountain, large sphere come under their influence. Each Guru’s area of influence is spread over 50-50 kilometres, 40-40 kilometres! After that there is a commitment, that no woman should enter my sphere because they have taken that belief from here. But after meditating and meditating….. when they raised themselves above body consciousness, they themselves came to realise their mistake that man and woman are just physical distinctions. The soul within is uniform, the soul within is just like one only. Man can also progress and so can a woman. And a woman is not a hindrance to spiritual progress, she is a supporter. And they have sent the medium to society to give this very example. And while sending him they had warned him, that even if we want to we cannot correct our mistakes, because we have created such a powerful aura, that we cannot go outside this aura even if we want to! We cannot rectify our mistakes; hence you go and rectify our mistakes and dispel this wrong belief in society that women cannot progress spiritually and that women are hindrances to spirituality. That’s why women have been given equal status in Samarpan Meditation. Leave aside Samarpan Meditation, this Deep Meditation Practicum too is taking place with the help of a woman. You would definitely have heard the story of ‘honest Savitri’! This story is proved during every Deep Meditation Practicum; else the person who has left his body and gone, does anyone come back? Nobody comes back and it is not possible to come back! It is only because of Guruma that this is possible! Where there is no sensation of time for 45 days, there is no physical sensation, there is no sensation of place, one does not know whether it is day or night, in such an Anushthan it is possible to bring the kite down at a definite time on Mahashivratri only because of Guruma. I am giving you this example to show you that a woman is not an obstacle, but a support to spirituality!

So, Guru Brahma means Brahma, that creative energy, that creative energy is the Guru which can bestow self-realisation, which can give birth to the soul; the mother who gives birth to the soul is a Guru. So, the Guru in the form of Brahma is your mother. Next is Gurur Vishnu. Vishnu means the energy of self-realisation; the energy of self-realisation which you have obtained, you stay focused on that path, and you progress on that path – this work too the Guru performs in the form of Vishnu. And I have felt that every moment of my life. In many places in the Himalayas one is unable to know whether there is water or ice. One could put a step forward by tapping a stick on the ice and checking (whether it is solid ice or not). Many times, it used to happen that it appeared to be ice but on placing one’s foot the surface of the ice would crack and there would be water inside. And when the medium is roaming around alone, and if he falls in the water, then there won’t be anyone there to remove him from the water! But always Guru would be with me in the form of Vishnu, he used to always be around me. That’s why he had kept me safe all my life and continues to do so even today. Even today there is a group of eleven gurus with me at every moment. Even now, even today they are with me. You feel it. As soon as you sense it isn’t it, you will come to know things one by one. So, the more you sense it that much more you will obtain a protective shield in the form of Vishnu. Why don’t you feel it! You too experience very moment that the guru is with you only, he is with me only. And he is with you always, but you are not with him. You will always get the benefit of this feeling in your life. For one, you will not be able to carry out any wrong act at all, because your chitta will always be on the Guru. So, the Guru’s energy will not let you go in the wrong direction! Also, one has a fear of indefiniteness that no, what will happen tomorrow….. what will my future be…… there will be no such worries in your mind because you know that the Guru personified is with you, so nothing bad can ever happen to me! Guru in the form of Vishnu nurtures you, he provides you with protective shield, and he always tries to provide you with a good state and atmosphere to meditate. He comes and wakes you up between 3.30-4.00 in the morning too. There is a different kind of joy to meditate during this auspicious time. At that time there are no thoughts in the atmosphere. The way in which the Himalayan Gurus are seated in uninhabited areas, similarly if you want to obtain such an uninhabited place by staying in society, then wake up at the auspicious time in the morning and meditate because at that time there will no thoughts around you. So, it gives you a suitable environment, so that you get facilities for meditating, so that you walk on the meditative path.

The third is – Guru Brahma, Gurur Vishnu…..Guru Maheshwara. Mahesh too is there – he reduces your karma. Mahesh’s work is that of a potter. Select good clay, roll it, prepare it and then giving the pot its final shape and touch is that of Mahesh, of Shiva. It is not that after receiving self-realisation there would have been no difficulties in your life, you did not face difficulties, they will come. I too had faced them isn’t it! Even after self-realisation there were difficulties in my life, there were hardships. And many times the Gurus themselves had given the hardships, the Gurus themselves had created difficulties, the Gurus themselves had vexed us. But there was a kind of complete faith, that nothing bad can ever happen at the hands of a Guru! So, after one Guru had given me a lot of hardships, and when I took my leave from there, at that time he said – whatever hardships you had to face in life I have personally given you in my presence, now there won’t be any more hardships in your life. It happens isn’t it, a potter takes a bundle of cloth and provides the pot support from down, from inside and then beats the pot with a wooden hammer from outside. You go to some potter’s house and see for yourself – how he makes the pot. He supports it from inside and beats it from outside and he beats it just so much that it does not break! So, your Guru too will beat you, definitely beat you, but to create the pot. He will not allow you to break. He will give you that much strength to face the hardship as required by you – why? Because you have to face all your hardships in this birth itself. There is no next birth. I too do not have another birth; you too do not have a next birth. So whatever karmas are remaining isn’t it, you will have to face them isn’t it! But face them in the presence of the Guru, in the proximity of the Guru, so he gives them in parts, he hammers just as much as you can bear. So, Mahesh’s work, Shiva’s work, is to destroy, but not to destroy you, to destroy your bad karmas.

Gurur-Brahma, Gurur-Vishnu, Guru-Maheshwara…… and Guru Sakshat Parabrahma (Guru as the Almighty personified), so he is in the form of the Guru. The search for God, for Paramatma is life-long. And while searching…. searching…. Searching….. as soon as I reached the Himalayas and as soon as Shiv Baba bestowed the spiritual experience on me, the spiritual experience (Anubhuti) was divine, that anubhuti has still not reduced so far! And after I turned inwards, and the Paramatma whom I was searching, looking, roaming for for outside all my life….. that entire life-time’s search came to an end with the spiritual experience. And I too got the experience that Paramatma is within me too, you too have experienced it. But wake up that feeling – you are still roaming around, going here, going there, looking over there ….. it is nothing! This roaming will continue all your life. It will never end. That’s why, many years of my life have been wasted in this…. In looking, in searching. Yours should not be wasted, that’s why I am saying this, Paramatma is within you itself. Where are you looking for me brother, I am with you only.

 So, Paramatma means that universal consciousness, that universal consciousness which was there yesterday, is there today and will be there tomorrow. The medium through whom I received this universal consciousness himself became Paramatma for me, he became Almighty personified because I received it through his medium. All universal consciousness had selected this medium to reach up to me. So, the experience of the Almighty personified, the spiritual experience of the Almighty personified happened in a moment! That’s why I told you in the beginning itself, this mantra which you chant, internalise this mantra! If you internalise this mantra then the roaming, entire search, everything will stop and the amount of time you are wasting in looking outside, give that time for internalizing!

Next, this year has been declared to be the ‘Children’s Year’ by the Guru-energies, that’s why there is special grace showering on children. What is the reason? The coming times are very bad. In the time to come so many things are put in your chitta through the medium of newspapers, TV, internet, YouTube! So much dirt is filled in your chitta! When you see any image isn’t it, when you see any picture, its good or bad effect definitely falls on you. That definitely gets stored in your chitta. And if we want to take the values of Samarpan Dhyan to the next generation, it is that this tradition has been continuing for the last 800 years, from 800 years slowly, very slowly it has reached up to here, so it is also our duty to take it to the next generation. I worry more about the next generation. That’s why their chitta should be purified since their birth to such an extent, it should be made so pure, such a good aura be created around them, their chitta should be so filled with consciousness that there is no scope for external dirt to enter, there should be no place for it! Automatically a circle of good energy, an aura filled with good energy, an aura with good energy should be created around them. This polluted environment should not pollute their chitta.

Next, even your life has two objectives – one objective is – obtain self-realisation and inner spiritual experience. That you have obtained. But the other objective is not yet complete. The second objective is, the Guru-karya of self-realisation that has to happen through your medium. You should become its medium. Some other souls should obtain self-realisation through your medium – why am I saying this? You cannot attain liberation just by obtaining the knowledge of the values of self-realisation. To attain liberation, you need to become a void. You need to become empty. The Himalayan Gurus have attained so much knowledge and they gave that to the medium and became void, empty, liberated. It is not possible to have liberation just with knowledge. Become free from everything. Whatever you have adorned through this body, whatever you have absorbed – become free from it all. So, you received the values of self-realisation, developed it – this is good. But you need to ensure that it reaches other people through your medium. And you too become empty. Whatever you have received, distribute it. Become free from karma, free from knowledge – then you will get the state of liberation just like this! You do not attain liberation (moksha) after death, liberation is that state which you reach in your life-time. That karma free state, knowledge free state, empty state, void state - you have to attain that state of void in your life-time itself.

This Deep Meditation Practicum is a study, a practise on how to connect with the subtle body. You must have seen, you may have experienced that in these 45 days you get beautiful, good spiritual experiences, good experiences! What is the reason? During these 45 days we connect with the subtle body and not with the medium. This physical body which is there isn’t it, it is perishable, it is there today, it won’t be there tomorrow. But the subtle body is eternal. It is there today, it was there yesterday, it will be there tomorrow. It is situated in the Himalayas. As soon as you connect with it, you obtain a good state. That’s why you should connect to the subtle body and not the physical body. The Guru-energies make you study, do the practice of connecting to the subtle body during these 45 days anushthan. Just as we give a smile at the photographer’s studio while taking our photo – but we should always have a cheery face always, then life will be so good! In the same manner, we connect with the subtle body in these 45 days, but if we are always connected, if we experience that Gurudev is there with us always and we are with Gurudev, then your life itself will change.

Also, the Gurus have carried out innumerable processes after spiritual practice on this this physical body, various kinds of procedures have been carried out. And the objective of these procedures that they wanted to convey good energy to the ordinary people through the medium of the physical body. That is why my Guru has said isn’t it, that your work will commence after you take samadhi. This is no the sun-rise, this is the period of dawn, the sun has yet to rise. So, what I mean to say is, the way in which you see a farmer, he grows paddy - at first, he plants seeds on a small piece of land, he sows the seed. After that, he removes each sapling one by one and spreads them all over the field. Whatever is happening in the life-time of the medium isn’t it, just the nursery is being created. The plantation will start only after taking samadhi. So, you imagine, if this is the state now what will be the state later! Also, all the energies, powers which are bound in one body, they will all be freed. Every medium in his life-time establishes one-ness with nature in accordance with life’s rules. But the subtle body itself has a huge sphere; it is a gigantic sphere. It is going to develop in that sphere. This time the banyan tree below which I meditated isn’t it, that banyan tree got so many fruits that the leaves are less visible than the fruits. And suddenly once, I came down with such great energy and with such great force that the whole banyan tree shook. That’s why such big cracks have developed on the structure surrounding the tree. It is possible to meditate by leaving the body by fixing a pre-decided spot. Also, as you continue meditating regularly isn’t it, you will start experiencing the same in your life.

I am thankful to all of you from the bottom of my heart. I am thankful because my life’s objective has been fulfilled because of you. See, however wonderful the food that the mother cooks, however tasty, with however much love with which she prepares it, if the children eat it isn’t it, then the mother feels satisfied, she obtains a kind of satisfaction. Similarly, however many objectives have been given, if you had not come in my life-time, if you hadn’t attained self-realisation, the objective of my life itself would not be achieved isn’t it! My life’s objectives have been fulfilled because of you, that’s why a lot of thanks to all of you!

On the holy occasion of Mahashivratri I have been given a list of announcements on the conclusion of the Deep Meditation Practicum –

·       2020 – is Children’s Year. That’s why special shibirs for children should be organised. Before going into the Deep Meditation Practicum I had recorded four video shibirs and gone so that the two months of January and February should not be wasted. Some work should take place.

·       Also, Guruma and I will be going on a tour of South Africa from the 28^th. If you have any relatives, any friends in Durban, in Johannesburg then you can inform them. Two big programmes and a retreat are going to take place there.

·       Also, another announcement is we have created a new NPO named Shree Shivkrupanand Swami Foundation. The two existing trusts are 20 years old. So, there are some kinds of work, some areas of work which we cannot do. We have created this new NPO so that work can take place in those areas, work can progress and grow. The Mahudi Ashram will be developed in the Foundation and the opening ceremony for the Gurushaktidham will take place there on 2^nd April on the occasion of Ramnavami. The creation of the new Mangal Murti which took place during this Anushthan, has been created for Gandhinagar itself. So, 30, 31 March, and 1 April, I will perform Anushthan over there for three days. After completing the Anushthan, on 2^nd its opening will take place – of the Gurushaktidham in Gandhinagar.

·       Also, I repeatedly keep referring to Gyaneshwar, I keep speaking about the Gyaneshwari; so that Saint Gyaneshwar Samadhi Mandir Trust has kept a programme on 19^th April in Alandi. Just as the programme in Shirdi had taken place on behalf of the institution isn’t it, similarly this programme is being organised by the Saint Gyaneshwar Samadhi Mandir Trust. So, all of you are invited.

Salutations!

H.H. Swamiji showering consciousness from the chariot.

After the discourse Swamiji went on his rath yatra showering consciousness with the chariot being pulled by sevadharis accompanied by his sons. The chariot made the rounds to the accompaniment of bhajans. I was focused on the energy flowing from Swamiji – my eyes shut and enjoying the bliss. As the chariot ride got over, Swamiji’s departure was announced at around 9am. Arrangements were made for paduka naman ceremony. After Swamiji left, Ramkaka requested Pujya Guruma to leave, but I think she did not hear the announcement as she continued being seated. The bhajans were continuing and the announcement for the paduka naman was being made, when I went and told the announcers that Pujya Guruma was still at her seat. Then the announcement was made again and Pujya Guruma took her leave with her customary waving of hands to the crowd. She left to loud applause and shouts of ‘Pujya Guruma ki jai’. The paduka naman ceremony started and I offered my prostrations and surrender to the Guru-energies and moved on. It was around 9.30am by the time I completed the offerings. The ceremony continued till about 12 noon by which time the 30000 + devotees completed the paduka naman ceremony. The prasad was being distributed at the exit and sadhaks were told to eat and then leave. I partook of the prasad and returned to the Ashram as we had Madhuchaitanya Editorial Board meeting from 2pm onwards on 21 and also on 22.3. After the Edit Board meeting there was a meeting of the Aadhar Board with Swamiji and Pujya Guruma from 12 noon on 22^nd. Later on, in the afternoon there was a meeting with the sevadharis at the Bhavan with Pujya Guruma. By the time the sevadhari meeting got over it was 7pm. I returned to the ashram and partook of prasad in the Bhojnalaya. There were still a lot of sadhaks in the Ashram. We retired for the day and left next morning at around 9am for Mumbai. The drive back was incident free (as opposed to the drive to Navsari) and we reached home after having lunch at MIG club in Mumbai. Sridhar and I relaxed at home for some time and he took a cab to the airport at around 4.30pm.

My sincere thanks to the Ashram Committee for organising this Mahashivratri event with aplomb and finesse. It went through without a hitch and was one of the most memorable and enjoyable Mahashivratri festivals I have attended.

Jai Baba Swami to all!!!