Bhagwaanji
As our children know and see Him
by A.N. Dhar
For
the bulk of Kashmiri Pandits now living in Jammu, away from the valley of
Kashmir, the land of their birth, the Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi Ashram at Udaiwala,
Jammu has assumed the sanctity of a Tirathasthan. Within the brief span of only
a few years, it has grown into a vital centre, throbbing with spiritual and
cultural activity. For the young and the old alike, it is a prized fount of
inspiration and strength. This is evident from the sizeable gatherings of
devotees that can be seen here on all days of the week, especially on Sundays in
the evening. Thousands of devotees are served prasad here, consisting invariably
of a full meal, on festive occasions. Yagyas are performed here periodically,
and the birthday of Bhagawaan Ji is celebrated with extraordinary zeal and
devotion every year. One is delighted to watch young volunteers working in
perfect discipline and with exemplary devotion, rendering valuable social
service to the large crowds on such occasions.
The various programmes and
activities organized by the Bhagawaan GopinathJi Trust have produced tangible
results. They particularly serve to promote religious and social awareness among
the youth of our community. This awareness is an indispensable means to
preserving our spiritual and cultural heritage. It is important to mention here
that disciplined and collective participation of the devotees in Kirtan,
consisting of devotional hymns touching upon the spiritual qualities and
attainments of BhagawaanJi, has a significance of its own. The impact on the
young particularly is immediate and enduring. The religious activities of the
Ashram have thus a healthy, formative influence on our adolescent boys and
girls.
It is widely known now
that the Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi Trust has been paying special attention to the
education and spiritual growth of the young. Incentives in the shape of
scholarships and prizes are accordingly given by the Trust to the meritorious
and deserving students of our community in order to ensure that they shape well
and succeed in life. It is in this context that a symposium on the topic
"The Spiritual Eminence of Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi" was held at the
Ashram at Udaiwala, Jammu as part of the annual "Navreh" celebration
on 1st April, 1995. Thirty six young students (boys and girls) presented essays
at the function bearing on BhagawaanJi, which they had thoughtfully planned and
written in advance. A panel of judges evaluated the performance of the
participants, who were formed into two batches - seniors and juniors. From among
the senior participants, Sandeepa Kaul bagged a prize each for i) the best
presentation and ii) for the overall best material. Manu Bhat, from among the
junior participants, got a prize for the best presentation. Some consolation
prizes were also awarded to the other deserving students.
A careful reading of the
written scripts of the young competitors reveals that most of them, as was
desirable, must have consulted the available published materials on the life,
teachings and spiritual achievements of BhagawaanJi. Some of them must have
gathered further relevant information from other sources (such as their parents
who knew the Bhagawaan through personal contact). In almost every script
BhagawaanJi is described in glowing terms as veritably an Incarnation of the
Divine and as a Jagat Guru. None of the writers has failed to mention the
miracles attributed to the great saint, which he is known to have performed,
without making an exhibition of his powers, to help his devotees in diverse
ways, to cure diseases like cancer and to save the country when attacked by
Pakistan in 1947 and 1965 and by China in 1962. Several essays have dwelt on the
intense Sadhana that the Bhagawaan performed with sustained rigour throughout
his life. Some essays highlight the fact that BhagawaanJi's fame as a spiritual
genius and as an eminent saint has spread to countries abroad and that the
number of his devotees has been swelling steadily. In a number of essays there
is evidence, at places, of the young students' introspection - their own
perception of BhagawaanJi's spiritual greatness, though its articulation is not
adequate. Obviously, they owe this gain in self- introspection and spiritual
perception to their consistent participation in the programmes of the Ashram.
Paying tributes to the spiritual qualities and attainments of the Bhagawaan, the
students in general have expressed their adoration for him and acknowledged
their faith in him as the Sadguru who alone can heal our woes.
Salient points from the
essays (with the name of the participant given at the end of each point in
parentheses) are reproduced here for the benefit of BhagawaanJi's devotees and
admirers:
A. Extract from the
essays of senior participants
1. BhagawaanJi was a
spiritual genius, a Master who had the power to carly innumerable souls across
the ocean of samsara (Nidhi Khazanchi)
2. BhagawaanJi's spiritual
life demonstrates the inner divinity of man and the sacredness of Nature
(including the earth we inhabit). He worked for the good of the humanity at
large. (Purnima Kaul).
3. BhagawaanJi's spiritual
presence as a Jagat Guru has been felt by some of his devotees living in
Australia. (Monika Bradoo)
4. BhagawaanJi is the
saint par excellence, the saint of all times. He assumed the human form for the
spiritual upliftment of mankind. (Jharna Jalali)
5. BhagawaanJi dispensed
help to his devotees taking into account their different levels of consciousness
and needs. He was inclined more towards the Tantric method of worship. (Vimal
Raina).
6. BhagawaanJi is 'Kalpavraksha'
in the sunburnt desert that this world is. He gives his bounty to every one
according to the latter's capacity to receive. (Rakesh Pandita).
7. In BhagawaanJi's view
God-realization is within the reach of any one whose devotion is intense and
sincere. (Sachin Bhat)
8. BhagawaanJi had
attained the highest state of consciousness through devotion and self-
discipline. Spiritual seekers experienced bliss in his company. (Asseem Zutshi)
9. A mere glance at the
picture of BhagawaanJi (when I visited the Ashram at Udaiwala, Jammu, for the
first time) made me feel that pulifying Amrita was being showered upon me. I
always perceive a radiant glow on the Bhagawaan's photograph/statue. What his
spiritual eminence consists in can only be felt as 'something' incommunicable. (Sharmishtha
Kaul).
10. BhagawaanJi devoted
all his time to Sadhana and to the spiritual advancement of his devotees. (Usha
Parihar)
11. BhagawaanJi was, in a
sense, a category apart as a spilitual Master; he outclassed many a seer and
saint. (Archana Raina)
12. With his eyes turned
upward, BhagawaanJi remained absorbed in God-consciousness throughout. With the
dhooni aname in front of him, he would now and then smoke his chillum, but
inwardly he was always attuned to the Divine. (Suman Kachroo)
13. A siddha of a high
order, BhagawaanJi was a trikal - drashta. (Davinder)
14. Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi
had descended into the human form to deliver Bhaktas across the ocean of Samsara.
He illuminated the path of spirituality for the seekers he blessed. He was
charitable to all and led men Godward. (Anil Kaul)
15. BhagawaanJi attained
spiritual heights, far beyond the limits of Varnashrama and formal religion. In
marked contrast to his inward greatness, he behaved outwardly like an ordinary
man. (Snehlata)
16. Expressions like 'the
depth of oceans', 'vastness of the blue sky', and 'tolerance of the earth' could
give us a hint of the Bhagawaan's eminence. Yet, no words can express all about
his spiritual greatness. (Sandeepa Kaul)
17. Godlike BhagawaanJi
knew the past, present and future of the devotees who came to seek his
blessings. (Sonu Bradoo)
B. Extracts from the
essays of Junior Participants
1. BhagawaanJi continues to
protect his devotees. When we left the valley in 1990, we had to relinquish all
our belongings there. Our faith in the Bhagawaan has shielded us all through. We
have overcome our difficulties through his grace (Chandrika Jalali).
2. Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi
was an accomplished Aghoreshwar, having attained the highest stage of
self-realization. He lived a simple life, devoid of pomp and show. All that he
said or did during his life time has already become an inspiring legend (Anu
Bhat).
3. Devotees sought
BhagawaanJi as bees go about in search of flowers (to suck honey from). He was a
source of solace and strength to them. Just as sandalwood tree provides its
soothing cool to the poisonous snakes that coil themselves around its stem, so
did the Bhagawaan soothe and heal the worldlings who approached him. (Manu Bhat)
4. Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi
practised meditation both on Sakar Narayan and on the formless Maheshwara. Even
after attaining Mahasamadhi, he continues to guide aspirants on the spiritual
path. (Ridhma Saproo)
5. When BhagawaanJi
provided his healing touch to a devotee in distress, he did so directly himself,
without invoking a spirit or a god, or chanting a mantra. More and more people
are joining the big family of his devotees and getting blessed. (Isha Kaul).
6. It is very difficult to
make an adequate assessment of BhagawaanJi's eminence. As a saint, he was unique
and incomparable. (Nidhi Nehru)
7. Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi
had remarkable qualities as a saint. He commanded rare spiritual powers which
the great siddhas of yore and Avtars only possessed. (Sakchi Nehru)
8. Whoever came within
BhagawaanJi's spiritual hale experienced inward peace and illumination. All the
devotees felt the impact of his presence. (Shivani Raina)
9. The true mark of a
spiritual person is that he is free from prejudices, and is above casteism and
communalism. BhagawaanJi had all these qualities. He was a very liberal and
kind- hearted saint, and Siddha of high order. (Roma Dhar)
10. Though BhagawaanJi has
left his mortal frame, his spirit continues to protect and guide us in all walks
of life. When we bow to his statue, we feel blessed inwardly. (Anmol Kaul)
11. BhagawaanJi never
acted like a preacher. He spoke very little but radiated spirituality that
touched the souls of his devotees. He was virtual Shiva; cosmic rays of
perennial bliss emanating from Him illuminated the minds of his devotees. (Remu
Kaul)
12. I am a naughty girl in
the class and sometimes the teacher taunts me. However, whenever I remember Bab
Maharaj (BhagawaanJi), every one loves me. (Rema Kaul)
13. BhagawaanJi would
rarely talk but he often uttered the words sezar (simplicity/
straightforwardness) and pazar (truthfulness). He was himself an embodiment of
these spiritual qualities. An aspirant who cultivates these qualities in himself
is sure to attain his goal. (Sunnhalee Razdan)
14. Although as displaced
Kashmiri Pandits we are passing through difficult times, we are lucky enough to
remain in BhagawaanJi's blessed fold. I personally feel that His divine Hand is
always on my head, guiding me every moment. (Amit Kaul)
15. BhagawaanJi was truly
an incarnation of God. His divine descent served one important purpose - the
spiritual upliftment'of his devotees. Although he attained Mahanirvana in 1968,
He is always accessible to us through prayer and meditation. He influences our
spiritual growth in many imperceptible ways. (Sushma)
16. BhagawaanJi did not
deliver any spiritual discourses but induced spirituality through a touch, a
look or by offering bhasma, prasad or a puff from his chillum. (Nitin Ganjoo)
17. Personally I am
indebted to BhagawaanJi, who saved my life here in exile (a fugitive from the
valley) when I was stung by a snake. I invoked his name for help and could see
only Him around me. The Bhagawaan's kripa saved my life, which was otherwise
threatened with death. (Ashutosh Ganju)
18. BhagawaanJi's
achievement in sadhana was supreme - he had attained complete union with God. He
was Ishwara in the human form and he made free use of his divine shakti for the
welfare of his devotees. (Avinash Ganju)
19. Although BhagawaanJi
lived throughout in the valley of Kashmir his spiritual influence and fame have
spread far beyond the valley, even to countries abroad. Centres dedicated to him
have sprung up in many parts of the country; one important centre has been
established in Australia. He will continue to inspire generations and multitudes
of devotees throughout the world. (Sunita Sharma)
It is hoped that our young
men and women will continue to explore more facts about the great personality of
BhagawaanJi and his spiritual attainments. They should not rest content with
barely reading the articles and books on the Bhagawaan that have been published
so far. They should read the materials with care, analyse their content and
arrive at their own conclusions. They are expected to extend their knowledge of
what sainthood involves and read more about our spiritual heritage. The more
advanced students among them should build up a good reading background in the
areas of religion and philosophy. Thus equipped, they will develop aptitude for
independent study and research. They can surely explore more illuminating facts
about Bhagawaan Gopi NathJi's spiritual life and teachings if they persevere in
this endeavour.
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