A Brief Biography of Sri Brahmananda Maharaj - 3

 A brief biography of a Great Saint – Sri Brahmananda Maharaj - 3

Later on, one night, Shri Shastry found himself, while sitting on meditation, surrounded by many serpents, with some of them moving over him, tied him as a rope, hissing all the time. Shri Shastry  tolerating the intolerable pain, prayed to Shri Maharaj with closed eyes that he was only working out his order, and if he dies without completing, it was not his fault but considered as his Guru’s Will. Suddenly, Shri Maharaj emerged from the Shiva-Linga, and approaching Shri Shastry, put His hand on his head. All of a sudden, the serpents vanished.  On seeing shri Maharaj, Shri Shastry executed deergha danda namaskar, with tears of happiness on seeing his beloved Guru.. Maharaj put his arms round Shastry and gave an affectionate hug, which gave him the Divine Ananda, He was seeing The God Ram every where. After releasing him, Shri Maharaj  brought him back to the normal state. Shri Maharaj told Shri Shastry that he was impressed by his steadfast determination and hard penance. So he was bestowing him the Divine Ananda, forever. He conferred him the name “Brahmananda”. Shri Maharaj told him to finish his penance with in a day or two and go to Indore. Shastry became very happy and began to chant the prayer, "Brahmendra Mukhya maradurlabham….."

Then Shri Maharaj vanished.

According to his Guru’s advice, Shri “Brahmananda” completed his penance, and went to Indore.

He went straight to Bhayya Saheb’s house. In spite of having lost a lot of weight because of  having only leaves for food, Shri Shastry was recognized and welcomed there. Shri Brahmananda asked whether Shri Maharaj was in Indore. He was told that Shri Maharaj had gone back to Gondavale three days back. When they were talking, Shri Bhayya Saheb received by post, a letter from Shri Maharaj. Shri Maharaj had written that Shastry would be coming there after attaining ‘Brahmananda’, and that he should be looked after well, and be sent to Gondavale after two days. Likewise, the Indore devotees detained and looked after Shri Brahmananda, with affection and regards for two days, and then sent him to Gondavale.

Sri Brahmananda came to Gondavale and straight went to Shri Maharaj, and with tears in his eyes bowed down to His feet. Shri Maharaj raised him with affection. Shri Brahmananda, began to chant “Sashtanga vandhooni Sadguroo raayaache”, spontaneously.

Sri Brahmanand with his Guru’s Grace, had attained self-realization. But, still he involved himself in the service of Shri Maharaja’s household, doing all the menial chores and was in attendance of Shri Maharaj all the twenty four hours.

One day, early in the morning, Shri Maharaj called him to his side, and told him that he was happy with the service he was rendering. But, due to the effect of Kali, righteousness was retreating and the unrighteousness was advancing everywhere. So, it was necessary to spread Rama Bhakthi, and to teach people the moral values. “Now you are fit for it. So, you go to your area of Karnataka and spread Rama Bhakthi there. You teach them how the people can attain the God even in domestic life, attending all the household responsibilities and one need not renounce the world by taking Sanyasa. So, your motherland of Karnataka is waiting for you. Go there”, Sri Maharaj gave him a Kapini, a Kulavi (Cap) which was on his head, His sandals, and a coin, and told him that he will always be at his side, and if any where, at any time, if he was in a problem, he will come there to his aid.  Sri Brahmanand Maharaj felt very sad to leave shri Maharaj, and spent the remaining day alone. Shri Maharaj, noticing his absence, went in search of him and finding him alone, told him of his duty of resurrecting the Dharma buddhi of the people. Of course, all the time, he will be at his side.

Shri Brahmananda Maharaj, after leaving Gondavale, with the blessings of Shri Maharaj, went straight to Jalihala, his birth place. He stayed in the Vithal Mandir near his house. In the evening, he put Shri Maharaja’s picture, and the padukas, in front of him and with closed eyes did the Manasa pooja.(pooja performed mentally). Afterwards, in his sweet voice, he started to sing Bhajans. On hearing his Bhajans, the village people began to assemble. His elder brothers also had come there. He had gone away twelve years back. Now he was with moustache and a beard, red cap on his head, only loin-cloth and a dhoti covering from waist to knee, speaks Marathi; no one recognized him. Completing his Bhajans and Arathi, as his usual custom, he enquired about the welfare of the surrounding villagers. Many of them, requested him to go to their house for Phalahar (night meals). He refused all of them, but went with his brothers. He saw his thinned down mother Jevoo Bai, and bowed down to her. Thinking that he is a Maharashtrian saint, Jevoo bai asked his daughters-in-law, to serve him food. But, Shri Brahmananda asked Jevoo bai to serve the food herself.. He took the food served by his mother, with pleasure, and went back to the Vitthal Mandir, after bowing down to his mother, again.