A brief biography of a Great Saint – Sri Brahmananda Maharaj - 16

  A brief biography of a Great Saint – Sri Brahmananda Maharaj - 16

Shree Brahmanand Maharaj was getting intermittent fever. He might have felt that his time had come. One day, (Bhadrapada bahula sapthami), after attending to the regular pooja to the Lord Venkateshwar, in venkatapur, he went to Beladhadi in the  evening. After taking darshan of Sri Ram, he went round Beladhadhi and met all the house -holders with a smile on his face. Later, he left for Hubli. He went to Sri Dattopanth Tabib’s house. This was the house where Sri Maharaj had stayed in, when he visited Hubli to install Sri Ram near that house. That was a fortnight of Pitru Paksha. During that period, most of the people celebrate a ritual remembering their ancestors. Sri Brahmanand Maharaj celebrated the ritual remembering Sri Maharaj on the Dashami day, in Sri Tabib’s house. He went to Kagawad, next day, on Ekadashi. Next morning, he asked Sri Moodalappa who had accompanied him from Beladhadhi to return. When Moodalappa refused to leave him alone, commenting on the weakness of Sri Brahmanand  Maharaj,  Guruji told him that as there was plague  in Kagawad, he must return as he was a householder with  young children. After being convinced to return, Sri Moodalappa, noticing that Guruji’s bag was empty, offered one hundred rupee note to Guruji.  Guruji refused with a laughter, “why, do you think I have no money?”, stating that he poured hundreds of coins from his small bag. Moodalappa was dumb-founded. Guruji told him that the marriage of the daughter of Tirukambhat scheduled to be held at Venkatapur must be held at the scheduled time, even if there was any delay in his returning.

In Kagawad, many devotees came for his darshan. Some expressed surprise about his visit, as the Navarathri festival was approaching, and nobody would have dreamt of his leaving Venkatapur-Beladhadhi during that time.

Next morning, Sri Brahmanand Maharaj and others were waiting for the bullock cart to go to Navabhag, River Krishna flows near Navabhag.. He was joking with the GuruBhaktas who were there. He addressed Sri Hari Bhavoo and told that if he died, not to burn the body or do any kind of rituals. He advised them to tie the body with four empty pots to the four corners and immerse it in the Krishna River, where the river is deep. He told that as he was a bachelor, no rituals were necessary. When they reached Nava Bhag he went to the river with the devotees to bathe. While bathing he enquired to know where the river was deep. Then, he asked some one present to wash the small bag he was carrying as it was dirty. Afterwards, he felt that he did not require the bag any more, and filling it up with water, he immersed it in the river. In the evening he did Bhajans. The Bhajans were very emotional. He did not take any food that night.  As it was Thursday, he would not take any thing accept Sri Guru Theertha.

He woke up early and did his morning ablutions. After finishing up his usual prayers, he lied down on his bed and started to breathe heavily. Noticing that he did not wake up even after 7 a.m. the devotees thought that he must be oversleeping as he might have some disturbed sleep in the night. So, they began to chant Bhajans. Again, after some time, noticing that he did not wake up still, they got worried. They sent for a doctor from a near-by village. He checked the pulse, and found the pulse rate had come down and declared him as no more. The devotees shifted down the body to floor. They sent telegrams to Sri Bheema Rao Gaadagoli of Gadag who was Sri Brahmanand Maharaj’s brother’s son, and to some other devotees. .

At about 10-30 a.m. they found a sudden movement of hands, and suddenly Sri Brahmanand Maharaj opened his eyes and looked at the surrounding devotees with a smile on his lips. The surrounding devotees were delighted that nothing had happened to Guruji. But, suddenly, chanting ‘Ram, Ram’, he closed his eyes not to open any more.

Thus ended the life of a great saint. He left his body to mingle with his Guru Sri Brahma Chaithanya Maharaj. He was an Ichchaa Marani (a person who can die only when he wants) like Bhishma. He might have felt his work living in that body was over.

 Sri Brahmanand Maharaj‘s body was immersed in the Krishna River as per his wish.

He was a great disciple, a great saint. His devotion and obedience towards his Guru can not have an equal..

Once Sri Brahmanand had gone to Gondavale. Though he himself had thousands of followers, he would be the humblest of servants to Sri Maharaj. When he was present, he would allow none to do the personal service to his Guru. He would always be at the beck and call of Sri Maharaj.

Sri Maharaj had to go to Naravani village which is about 10 kms from Gondavale. Sri Maharaj started on the journey soon after lunch. Sri Damle and Sri Manjreji immediately got over the tonga and sat with Sri Maharaj. Sri Brahmanand maharaj came with some articles needed by Sri Maharaj and kept them in the Tonga. Sri Maharaj asked him to accompany them. Sri Brahmanand immediately started to follow them walking behind the Tonga. Sri Maharaj asked him to climb up into the Tonga, but Sri Brahmanand did not heed him. It was a hot day. Then, Sri Maharaj threw out his sandals (foot-wear) asking  Sri Brahmanand to wear them as he was on bare foot. But, as soon as he got Sri Maharaj’s sandals, he put them on his head and began to follow the tonga some time running and some time walking. Sri Maharaj finished his work and returned after about two hours. Sri Brahmanand again followed the Tonga, running bare-foot. Sri Damle and Sri Manjreji felt Sri Brahmanand disobeyed Sri Maharaj by not getting into the Tonga. They discussed this matter with Sri Bahu Saheb Ketkar. Sri Ketkar, told them that it was they who committed mistake by sitting next to Sri Maharaj in the Tonga, and not Sri Brahmanand Maharaj. Then, Sri Damleji asked Sri Brahmanand  why he did not wear the sandals thrown by Sri Maharaj, Sri Brahmanand maharaj told them Sri Maharaj’s sandals were fit only to be carried on his head. He told that as soon as he put them on his head, the scorching Sun became cool towards him and he did not feel any heat or tiresomeness for running behind the Tonga.

His Gurubhakthi knew no bounds. The scholar who was well versed in Sanksrit Vedantha, Meemaamsa,and Shastras discarded them all on coming into the hold of Sri Maharaj. He considered Sri Maharaj as Ram himself. And Sri Maharaj used to tell that there was no difference between   himself and Brahmanad.

                      ---------Sri Brahma Chaithanya Maharaj ki Jai ---------------

                                     Sri Brahmananda Maharaj ki Jai
                                     Sab Sadhoo santhon ki Jai.! Jai Jai Raghuveera Samartha.