Shri Swami Brahmanand Saraswati Maharaj: The Whole Thing – The Real Thing (Chapter: 05)

Excerpt from the book: The Whole Thing – The Real Thing: A brief biography of Shri Gurudeva
Chapter Number: 05
Author: Prem C. Pasricha (sometimes credited as Rameswar Tiwar)
Subject: His Holiness Jagadguru Bhagwan Shankaracharya Shrimad Swami Brahmanand Saraswati Maharaj
Length of Book: 75 Pages
Content: Explores his teachings, spiritual journey, and his role as the source of Maharishi’s core meditation ideas.

At the age of thirty-six, on the occasion of the auspicious Kumbh fair at Prayag, Guruji’s illustrious disciple was formally ordained into the ascetic order. Guruji presented him with a kamandalu (a kettle-shaped wooden pot) and a kaupeen (a brief loincloth) and gave him the name “Shri Swami Brahmanand Saraswati Maharaj.”

The Vedic ritual was performed at the holy confluence, Triveni Sangam, in the presence of a large gathering of Brahmacharis, Sadhus and Dandi Swamis. They were given a sumptuous feast and honoured with many presents.

Maharaj Shri, already much sought after for his darshan and blessings, was even more sought after now. He still preferred to live a secluded life but whenever he visited places such as Kashi, Prayag and Ayodhya, people got wind of his presence and thronged his abode for his darshan. His devotee hosts aware of his love of solitude, usually made arrangements in the upper portion of their buildings, where he could and did shut himself up for long stretches of time. It was not impossible to have his darshan but it was certainly very difficult. People used to start collecting from 4 p.m. onwards and would wait for his darshan fixed from 8.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. He would ask for a list of the people waiting for his darshan, study it, and on many days, at nine, he would send a message to the darshan seekers, “Will not meet today.” In fact, he had got a sign board prepared in Hindi which conveyed this message, “Aaj nahin milenge.” Man people with disappointment writ large on their faces would reluctantly leave the place to try their luck on another day. Sometimes, after about two hours, he would enquire whether any of them had stayed on. On getting a positive answer such as, “Two persons”, he would say, “Please ask them to come up.”

When they came, he would make much of them and say, “These are the genuine seekers, others were just casual visitors.” He would have a hearty talk with them and relate his experiences with great gusto that served to illustrate his philosophy and ethics. He would usually pass on to them a treasure key that helped them later to resolve their lives. They would go thanking their stars for having risked the extra wait.