Saturday, March 29, 2008

Reminiscences of Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj

Love of Senses May Lurk Under Even a Good Intent.

Once four disciples of the well-known Saint Gulabrao visited Sri Maharaj to pay their respects. Accompanying them was a man who had no sight. One of them said to Sri Maharaj. “ You are said to have brought a dead body to life on the Manikarnika ghat”(one of the ghats on the ganga). This gentleman with us is totally blind. His sole wish, if he were to regain his sight, is to read the sacred Jnaneshwari. We request you to bless him with the sense of sight.” Thereupon Sri Maharaj replied,” It is incorrect to say that I brought a dead body to life on the Manikarnika ghat. If I had that power, none from my village, Gondavale, need to die. Yet people do die there as a matter of course. When that particular body came back to life, it was ordained that it be so: besides, it was the rare event of Kapilashasti ( a day marked by combination of six astronomical specialities). Sri Rama wished to bestow life on it. He only made me an instrument, and the dead body came to life. I cannot in the least be credited with doer ship of the deed. You now wish me to bestow sight on this blind man. Assuming I were to do so, can you guarantee that he will not look at any other object whatever?. Obviously you cannot do so. Please do not think that I have given a lawyer’s reply only to silence you. Your guru was blind from birth. Yet he used to place his hand on the Jnyaneshwari and was able to read it. Let this blind person develop a similar yearning by ardently worshipping his guru. If he does so, I guarantee that he will be able to read the Jnyaneshwari merely by placing his hand on it, like your guru.”

(From the book Reminiscences of Sri Sadguru Brahmachaithanya Maharaj,by Shri L.G. Marathe, and translated by Dr.A.G.Damle and Shri M.D.Sawai.

Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaja's Mandirs

Sri Rama Mandirs established by Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj and by his disciples:
1. Big Rama Mandir at Gondavale...1892
2. Small Rama Mandir at Gondavale.1895
3.Rama Mandir at Beladadhi........1896
4.Ananda Rama Mandir,Jalna,Anandavadi..1896
5.Tilwankar RamaMandir,Varanasi..1897/98
6.Pattabhi Rama Mandir,Harada.....1900
7.Rajaadhiraja Rama Mandir,Maandape.1901
8.Rama Mandir at Giravi...........1901
9.Rama Mandir at Sorati,Ujjain....1901
10.Rama Mandir at Yavagal.........1901
11.Rama Mandir at Kagavada........1902
12.Rama Mandir at Gomewadi........1903
13.Rama Mandir at Mhasoorne.......1903
14.Rama Mandir at Vita............1903
15.Rama Mandir at Manjarde........1905-06
16.Bhadagavkar Rama Mandir,Pandarapur.1908
17.Janaki Jeevana Rama Mandir,Morgiri.1908
18.Vitho Anna Daphthardar Rama Murthi,Patna..1909
19.Javalgekar Rama Mandir,Solapur..1909
20.chidambara nayakara Rama Mandira,Hubballi.1909
21.Kurthakoti Rama Mandir,Kurthakoti.1909
22.Atapadi Rama Mandir,Atapadi.....1909
23.Kannhad Rama Mandir....... 1911
24.Kuravali(Siddeshwara)RamaMandir.1913
25.Dahavadi Rama mandir............1912
26.Haradasi Rama Mandir,Sangli.....1912-13
27.Kukkadavada Rama Mandir,........1912-13
28.Likthe Rama Mandir,Pune.........1914
29.kherdi Rama Mandir, konkan......1914
30.Ashwathapur Rama Mandir,karnataka.1915
31.Emmikeri Rama Mandir, Dharawada.1915-17.
32.Line Bazar Rama Mandir,Dharwada.1915-17
33.Sri Vishwanatha Seetha Rama chandra Mandira,Gajendraghada-1916
34.Kaanchi Samudram Rama Mandir,A.P.1923
35.Sri Shendurani Ghat Rama Mandir..1923
36.ShivaRama Mandira, Kurundavada...1929
37.Rama Mandir at Viduraashwatha....1930
38.Rama Mandira at Indoor...........1931
39.Brahmachaithanya Rama Mandira,Mandaleshwara...1932
40.Rama Mandira,Gowdigalli,Hubballi..1945
41.Sri Brahmachaithanya sri Rama Mandira,Chintamani,karnataka.1949
42.Rama Mandira,Kudoor,karnataka.....1969
43.Sri Brahmachaithanya Ashrama & Rama Mandira,Parvathi Payaatha.1976
44.Rama Mandira,Hadonahalli..........1983
45.Sri Rama Mandira,Samartha Kuti Bedi,Udavah..1994
46.Rama Mandira, Vudagyav,Pune.......1995
47.Rama Mandira,Maardi...............1997
Sri Datta Mandiras established by Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj
48.Datta Mandira, Aatavaadi..........1892
49.Datta Mandira, Yavagal............1901
50.Datta Mandira,Satara..............1908
51.Datta Mandira,Gondavale...........1911
Vitthala Mandirs Established by Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj
52.Vitthala Mandira,Khathavala.......1909
53.Vitthala Mandira,ViKhaleh.........1909
54.Vitthala Mandira Uksaan...........1909
Other Mandirs Established by Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj
55.Hanuman Mandir, Kaagavaada........1909
56.Shani Mandir, Gondavali...........1911
Mandirs Renovated By Sri Brahmananda Maharaj On The Instructions Of Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj.
57.Vitthala Mandir, Naragunda........1909
58.Venkatesha Mandira,Venkatapura....1909
59.Venugopala Mandira,Bidarahalli....1909
Maharaja's Paduka Mandirs
60.Rendaalkar Paduka Mandir,Kolhapur.1920
61.Brahmachaithanya Mutt,Malhad......1929
62.Brahmachaithanya Mutt & Hanuman Mandir,Mandasour.1947
63 Sri Brahmachaithanya Mandir,
# 1692, 5th Cross
16th MainRoad
B.S.K. 1st Stage 2nd Block
Banglore-50 Hanumantha nagar,Bangalore..........1972
64.Paaduka Mandir, Londa.............1982
65.Paaduka Mandir, Hebballi..........1984
66.Paaduka Mandir, Halenagara,Bhadravathi.1988