Reminiscences

An astrologer examined ShriMaharaj's horoscope. ShriMaharaj asked, "What did you find in it ?" The as­trologer said, "Maharaj, at present you are under the in­auspicious influence of Saturn." ShriMaharaj said, "Well, let it take its course ! We adhere to ours." The astrologer said, "Your horoscope indicates poverty." ShriMaharaj said, "Truly so. But how can one discern from it that in spite of poverty, I have spent liberally enough for a king to emulate?" The astrologer said, "The horoscope indi­cates great intelligence." Upon this ShriMaharaj said, Thehouse of intelligence (Jupiter) must be under Guru's in­fluence." After saying this much, he further said, "The sway of planets extends over only the physical body. He who has lost his awareness of the body does not suffer harm from the planets. Likewise, for him who has sur­rendered himself to the sadguru's authority, the tribula­tions in the body's lot are not contingent upon the move­ment of planets, but are determind by the wishes of the sadguru. The tribulations in a disciple's lot, the guru can adjust so as to be suffered when convenient."

Reminiscences

A social worker once asked ShriMaharaj, "I have ob­served you for so many days. People of many different types visit you, but you behave with them in the same loving manner. How can you manage it ?" Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "I do not understand philanthropy. But I always feel a longing to lighten the sorrow of every one; you may, if you so wish, term it philanthropy. Persons coming to me belong to one of four types. The first type is extremely selfish; persons who seek to use the world to fulfil their own selfish interests. The second type is prag­matically selfish: persons who help fulfil others' inter­ests while also fulfilling their own. The third type is un­selfish; persons who set aside their own interest to fulfil others'; and the fourth type is persons led by Divine will, persons who use up their 'selves' for the upliftment of the world, in the belief that God is their master and the world belongs to Him. My object is that a person meeting me should be helped to rise from where he stands today to a higher type."s

Reminiscences

ShriMaharaj had given a pair of his wooden padukas (sandals) to Shri. Ambegaonkar. Because of regular bath­ing during daily worship, one of them split. It deeply wounded his heart. He expressed regrets to ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj said, "I am now crippled because of one leg getting broken. Now I cannot leave even if you were to think of driving me away. Therefore, what has happened is to your advantage. The worship of the remaining paduka will reach me, will suffice for me."

Reminiscences

Someone asked, 'In a temple there is a tortoise carved in stone, on the floor, and a bell suspended from the ceiling. What do they signify ?' ShriMaharaj said, "The tortoise is at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. A tortoise can withdraw its limbs into its shell whenever it wants. A sadhaka should, similarly, withdraw all thoughts from mundane subjects and concentrate on God, before proceeding for a darshan of the Deity. The sound of the bell is the articulated Aum.* It is, of course, identical with nama. It is after ringing the bell that the darshan of the deity is to be taken. Also, it is only after thundering the name of God that a devotee advances for a darshan of the deity."

* Aum (ॐ ) -The Mystic name of the Deity prefacing all the prayers. It is formed of 'a' a name of Vishnu, 'v' a name of Shiva, and 'm' of Brahma.

Reminiscences

In ShriMaharaj's days the banking system was avail­able only in large towns, and people used to give their money to ShriMaharaj for safe custody. ShriMaharaj used to accept it and used to give it back as and when the depositor asked for it. At times some even took more money than they   had deposited; but that too did not bother ShriMaharaj. For about a year before he cast off the mortal body ShriMaharaj used to say frequently, 'Be­ware ! My bank is going to close down soon. So whosoever has kept a deposit should withdraw it in good time; if not, I am not responsible if anyone suffers a loss.' Treating the warning as a joke, people who used to deposit money took no notice. ShriMaharaj cast off the mortal body on 23rd December 1913; and then everyone realized the meaning of his words. ShriBrahmanandamaharaj called all those who claimed that they had deposited money with ShriMaharaj, and refunded their claims to them.

Reminiscences

The village of Naravane is about a dozen kilometres from Gondavale. ShriMaharaj wanted to go there for some business. ShriMaharaj started soon after the midday meal.

Shri. Damle and Shri Manjire were asked to accompany him. They climbed into the coach. ShriMaharaj asked ShriBrahmanandamaharaj to accompany, too. After ShriMaharaj himself climbed into the coach and the coach started on its journey, ShriBrahmanandamaharaj began running after it. As the sun was shining fiercely ShriMaharaj clearly indicated to him to sit in the coach; ShriBrahmanandamaharaj,-however, continued running after it.   ShriMaharaj threw down his slippers and told him to put them on and follow; ShriBrahmanandamaharaj held those slippers over his head and again continued running,   barefooted.   After   reaching   Naravane, ShriMaharaj finished his business and started back for Gondavale. ShriBrahmanandamaharaj followed in the same manner while returning. On reaching Gondavale a misgiving arose in the minds of Damle and Manjire that ShriBrahmanandamaharaj had disobeyed his guru's in­junction. Shri. Bhausaheb Ketkar dispelled it. He said, 'You committed a gross mistake in that you hurriedly scrambled into the coach before ShriMaharaj. The second mistake was that you sat beside him as equals. No breach of command took place on ShriBrahmananda's part. But on the other hand you lost a big opportunity.' In this matter ShriBrahmanandamaharaj said; 'It is true that I suffered from scorching of the feet till some distance had been gone. But ShriMaharaj threw down his slippers and I held them over my head, and my pain immediately dis­appeared. I began to feel as if I was walking in moonlight. I had no consciousness of myself. If you had run after the coach you too would certainly have had a similar experi­ence.'

Reminiscences

Dr. Kurtakoti had great respect for ShriBrahmanandamaharaj. When ShriMaharaj was vis­iting Kurtakoti, ShriBrahmanadamaharaj arranged for Dr. Kurtakoti to meet Shri Maharaj. When they were alone together, Dr. Kurtakoti asked ShriMaharaj two questions. The first question was, 'Have you obtained everlasting bliss ?' and the second question was, If you have obtained it, can you bestow it on me?' ShriMaharaj did not reply 'yes' or 'no' to the first question. He said, 'I do not know if I have obtained everlasting bliss. But I sincerely wish that every living being should obtain love for Rama and become fully happy and contented.' In reply to the second question he merely placed his hand on Dr. Kurtakoti's head. Dr. Kurtakoti immediately went into a trance and lost consciousness of his body. When, after some ten min­utes, he regained consciousness of his body ShriMaharaj asked him, 'What did you feel ? He said, 1 was extremely happy.' Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'Is your second ques­tion answered ? It is not difficult to reach this state, but it is very difficult to maintain it. It is necessary to make continuous efforts for it over a long period of time.'