The Recluse: The Whole Thing – The Real Thing (Chapter: 04)

Excerpt from the book: The Whole Thing – The Real Thing: A brief biography of Shri Gurudeva
Chapter Number: 04
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.

Twenty-five was the age when Shri Maharaj accompanied by his Guruji descended from Uttarkashi having completed his study of the scriptures and having discovered the truth about his innermost Self. For about a moth, they stopped over at the small picturesque village of Kajliwan, near Rishikesh. Set amidst a dense jungle that supported many wild carnivorous animals, it was a place that nevertheless held a special welcome to the Sadhus and Mahatmas. Maharaj Shri and Guruji were given a rousing reception by the people of Kajliwan and other surrounding villages.

Among the throng of darshan-seekers was a Brahmin milkman, whose practice it was to offer milk to the holy guests that visited the place. Maharaj Shri arranged with him to bring everyday half a litre of milk which he would boil and serve to Guruji every night. One day, it so happened that the Brahmin’s wife said, “The cow has given very little milk today. It will not be enough even for the children.”

The Brahmin, however, paid no heed to his wife and supplied half a litre as usual to the honoured guests. When Maharaj Shri warmed up the milk and served it to Guruji, he said, “There is the woe in the milk today. I shall not drink it. Please return it to milkman and tell him to stop giving it.” Maharaj Shri did as he was told. About fifteen days later, as fate would have it, the milkman’s son died. The whole plac was agog with the rumour that Guruji was displeased with the Brahmin milkman and therefore he had lost his son. Maharaj Shri conveyed this to Guruji, who merely said, “When the people take the boy’s corpse to the cremation grounds tell them to send for me before making the funeral pyre.”

That was done. The corpse was placed on the ground pending Guruji’s arrival. Guruji came. He had the strings securing the shroud removed the kicked the lifeless head gently with his foot, saying, “Why do you sleep so much?” And lo, the boy was on his feet! It was a miracle that dazed everyone present. Wonderstruck, they bowed to the great Mahatma in their midst.

On reaching their hut, Guruji said to the Maharaj Shri, “It’s better to leave this place right now before all the dead people here start pestering us for life!” And with that Guruji left – leaving Maharaj Shri alone!

The Ganga was in furious flood, rising every minute. All the low lying spots threatened by the gushing waters had already been vacated. But two Sadhus, caring two hoots about their safety, continued to sit calmly on their wooden planks that were tied by ropes to two separate acacia trees. Maharaj Shri saw them and wondered why they were so unconcerned about their lives when they could, like the other Sadhus, have easily found shelter elsewhere. In order to probe their fate, he climbed up a tree situated at a higher point and kept a constant vigil on the Sadhus. Three days thus passed but the three of them remained rooted to their precarious spots, unmindful of the danger. On the fourth day, the torrential flow of the flooded Ganga uprooted one of the acacia trees and set it afloat. The wooden plank tied to it, with the Sadhu still sitting on it, was also afloat! But what did Maharaj see? Not the least trace of worry on the floating Sadhus’s face. No anxiety. No perplexity. Clam, composed , unperturbed he gave a beaming smile to the other Sadh, “Glory to the Lord of the Universe. At last, I’m on the move.” The other one unmoved by the situation returned the smile and said, “Glory to the Lord of Universe. Wherever you be, in whatever circumstances, remember Him and remain steadfast.”