In The Company of Saints

She had walked long distance in heat, cold and rain. As she walked, she met various saints, sadhus and people. She was in her own world of joy and ecstasy, not aware of her surroundings. At times she danced in great abandon amongst sadhus and, at other times, she fell into a trance state. She only ate what was offered by others. At it was sweets, at other times a full meal, and sometimes just plain cooked rice water.

But no matter what her circumstances, she was always in a state of great ecstasy, always dancing within as Lord Krishna constantly played his flute inside her being. After several days of traveling on foot, carriage and on horse back, she reached the home of the cobbler saint Rohidas. When she arrived, he was in his compound painting a piece of leather with various colors from his coarse brush.

She stood in front of him and said "I have come to you in search of eternal knowledge by which one is free from this cycle of birth and death." Saint Rohidas looked up at her and laughed. She remained unperturbed by his ridicule. He said, "Oh! So you have come to this insignificant illiterate untouchable for knowledge. Why? You have traveled so far, you could have walked a bit further to Kashi. There you will find the great learned saint, Tulsidas. He would be the right Master to learn from. What can you get from poor me?"

Rohidas went on talking with his head down, continuing to paint the leather. After a long time he realized that she was not responding. So, Rohidas looked up. He saw that as he was painting the leather, he had splashed the colors from his brush on her, making a wonderful spray design from her feet to her head. He said, "Meera you are already colored!" Having stood intently before Saint Rohidas, she had absorbed his Shakti and fallen into a deep trance. Through Rohidas' Grace, Meera united with Lord Krishna, the dark eternal Endless One. Just by being in presence of a Sadguru like Rohidas, Meera had gone across!

The Sandalwood Krishna

When Bhagawan Nityananda was in Kailas (in the Ganeshpuri ashram), a small sandalwood idol of Krishna was placed on the wall. It was a beautiful idol of baby Krishna holding a lump of butter in his right hand and a flute in his left hand. It was an image of a chubby child with his hair tied in a knot around a peacock feather. The face was full and vibrant. Baba used to play with the small statue, entertaining Lord Krishna by singing songs. With his own hands he used to apply sandalwood oil to the statue.

One day it fell from the wall and one of the hands broke off. Bhagawan gave the statue to Raghunath Shenoy to get it repaired. Raghunath did so and took it back to Baba. Baba told Raghunath to keep the statute. Raghunath was afraid to keep it, as one does not keep an idol once it has been broken. Bhagawan assured him that Krishna is always whole and complete and that no harm would befall him by keeping the statue in his house. In truth, Baba had infused the Murti with his own Divine shakti.

Bhagawan Nityananda's beloved Krishna thus came to live with us. It had very strange moods. At times it used to laugh, sometimes it showed anger, and at other times it used to cry. Whenever it cried, Sunita offered him a spoon of milk. Krishna used to smile when milk was offered. By applying Sandalwood oil, the light brown idol had turned dark brown, acquiring the color of Bhagawan Nityananda. From the back the statue looked as if it was none other than Baba. Thus, Bhagawan Nityananda came to our house in the form of baby Krishna.

The Photo

It was Ganesh Chaturthi, the time in which people in India make clay statues of Lord Ganesh for worship of him. One afternoon somebody knocked on the door. It was Suvarna, the photographer devotee of Bhagawan Nityananda. Suvarna told Sunita, "I have brought Baba’s life size photo for Raghunath to take and install it at Kanhangad." Outside the door, we all saw a red sports car with the top down. Sitting on the seat was a life-size photo of Baba. We carried it home and placed it in the hall by the drawing room. It was so beautiful and real, as if Bhagawan Nityananda was sitting right in our hallway. This photo was made specially by Suvarna for the Kanhangad Ashram. For several days it had been hung in Kailas Bhuvan in the Ganeshpuri ashram. Bhagawan Nityananda had given his approval for the picture to be taken.

In those days (1959) photo enlargements of that size were a great technical achievement. Sunita Shenoy was stunned and also troubled on seeing the photo. Keeping a life-size picture of a Saint or Guru would be very demanding. One had to perform puja everyday and offer pure food as Prasad. Having this picture of Bhagawan Nityananda in the house also meant that everyone living in the house would have to lead a very pure life. In considering all this, Sunita's husband, Raghunath, went to Ganeshpuri to ask Baba’s permission to deliver the photo to the Kanhangad ashram. Baba admonished him saying, "Are you from that village? In what way are you concerned?"

Then one day, Head Master ( Ragunath’s father-in-law) visited Mumbai. He agreed to take the photo along with him to Kanhangad. Then his plans suddenly changed and he could not take the picture. Next it was Swami Muktananda who volunteered to take the photo along with him to Kanhangad. Each time somebody volunteered to take the photo, a puja was performed and sweets were offered to Baba as a send-off. We children were happy because we then got the sweets to eat.

Once again, in anticipation of Swami Muktananda being successful at traveling to the Knahangad ashram with the picture, preparation and puja was done. He was to arrive at noon. We all waited and waited. We then found out that Swami Muktananda had left on steamer, without being able to pick up the photo. It was then and there that Sunita looked at the picture and declared, "You shall now go nowhere. You will now be installed right here in my house. In whatever way I can, I shall take care of you and perform puja. You shall never ever leave my house." Saying this, Sunita installed the photo of Bhagawan Nityananda on the wall in her puja room.

Baba looked so beautiful there. The picture brought so much of Bhagawan's Grace into our home that, people walking by our house used to push the curtains apart and offer their Namaskar to Baba from the window. On every Diwali celebration Baba’s golden padukas were placed at his feet on a table. Then the fifteen days of Diwali were celebrated with great devotion. Thus Bhagawan Nityananda came to stay permanently in our house. The baby Krishna, Baba’s life size photo and the golden padukas became a wonderful Divine set in mother Sunita’s house. And my father Raghunath felt that no devotee of Baba was as fortunate as this "Bondu."

My Mother

With Bade Baba installed in this way, her house had become a temple. Sunita lived as if Swami Nityananda was ever present in the house. Every morning a large glass of coffee was placed in front of his life size photo. In the afternoon a full course of lunch was placed there, and dinner at night. A pot full of drinking water was also offered everyday. We only ate after the food was first offered to Bhagawan Nityananda. Every evening we sang bhajans and arati was performed. While performing all her duties as mother, wife and friend, Sunita did her spiritual practice with complete devotion. Baba’s Grace was always with her.

Because of her devotion to Bhagawan Nityananda, Sunita became reverred by the members of her society. When people had a problem or were in some kind of trouble, she prayed to Bade Baba and made an expensive garland for Bhagawan Nityananda, in return for delivering those people from their problems. Even when Sunita had difficulties or her children were not well, she offered a Seva of making a garland to attract Bhagawan Nityananda's Grace to make things well. Sunita was always serving others in Bhagawan's name. Nobody left her house without being offered a meal or some other Blessing. She learned this Seva from her father, Head Master Hosdurga Devrai Pai, and did it even more intensely in her home in Mumbai. By serving others she served Bhagawan Nityananda.

A Story

There was a great demon King named Bali. Although he was a demon, he was also a great disciple of Lord Vishnu. His Guru, Shri Sukracharya, advised him to perform a Yajna (fire sacrifice) which would enable him to become the ruler of the three worlds. In performing this Yajna, King Bali also had to distribute alms and give freely whatever the Brahmins demanded of him. When the news spread that the demon Bali was to perform a Yajna that would make him a Chakravati Raja (King), the Devas were frightened because this meant Bali would also be the king of heaven. Then they would have to surrender to a demon. So, they approached Lord Vishnu to save them from this predicament. Vishnu assured them that he would protect them from Bali.

Sukracharya, though a Guru of Demons, had great spiritual prowess. Through his spiritual power he realized that Lord Vishnu would visit Bali during the Yajna to undermine the purpose of the Yajna. Sukracharya warned King Bali and told him to withdraw from giving alms and fulfilling promises made to the Brahmins. But Bali was man of his word and refused to heed to his Guru's advice. The Yajna went on as scheduled. At the end of the sacrifice it came time for Bali to give alms and for the Brahmin priests to ask for any wish.

Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a dwarf priest. He carried an umbrella and a pot of holy water. He stood in front of Bali and demanded his share of gifts. With complete total humility, King Bali asked the dwarf priest who he was and what he wanted as a gift. Lord Vishnu replied, "I am Vaman the priest. I want only a small piece of land, just what my three-and-a-half steps can cover." Bali was amused and wondered how much land a dwarf could measure out with his three-and-a-half feet. He said "Holy Priest. Why three-and-a-half feet? I can give you the whole village." Vaman insisted that he only wanted the space covered by three-and-a-half of his steps. Bali agreed to fulfill his wish. No sooner he agreed then the dwarf assumed his infinite form as Lord Vishnu form and, with one step, covered the entire Universe. With second step he covered Heaven and with the third step he claimed hell.

Vishnu then thundered, "Oh Bali, I have now covered all the space in the worlds and they all belong to me, per your promise. By this you now possess nothing to give me. Yet half a foot still remains for you to give me. Where shall I place my half-a-step now? The demon King Bali had lost the right to all space, except his own body. Being a great disciple, he bowed and said, "My Lord, Oh King of kings, the only place I now possess is my body. Please place your holy foot on my head." No sooner had he said this than Lord Vishnu placed his foot on Bali’s head and pushed him into the nether world. The devotion of this demon king is remembered even today and he is counted among Narada and Praladha as Vishnu’s foremost disciple. The placing of Lord Vishnu's foot on Bali’s head is considered a Blessing.

A Blessing

Sunita Shenoy was a Gowda Saraswati Brahmin (GSB). One of the Dharma Gurus of the GSB community is from Kashi Mutt. The Gurus of this Mutt often blessed disciples by placing a foot on the head of the disciple. One day in 1961, Bhagawan Nityananda was sitting in Kailas on his favorite chair. Sunita sat close to his chair. Baba repeatedly gestured, asking her what she wished for. She did not understand the reason for his gestures. Bhagawan Nityananda knew that he would be taking Mahasamadhi soon. He wanted to grant a wish to one who had served him with devotion all her life.

He offered his hand to her. Sunita took his hand in both her hands and touched her head to his hand. She mentally expressed her wish, silently saying, "Keep my house full (prosperous). My children should be always content and prosperous." What else would a mother wish for her children? Baba lifted his foot and placed it on her cheek, blessing her in the way her Dharma Guru would have blessed her. This was the last contact Sunita had with Bhagawan Nityananda. He granted the wish of a mother who, although younger than he, served him like a mother. Such was the greatness of Sunita Shenoy. She lived in this world serving all while, at the same time, making her spiritual journey through Bhagawan Nityananda's Grace. Following her duty to her family and community was part of her spiritual progress. She was an example of serving God in doing one's Seva.

During one of her visits to Ganeshpuri, Bade Baba had given Sunita a small steel box with four compartments. She remembered that, when she was a young girl carrying food for him in a small box, on the way back from school, the box was stolen. Her family was poor and she was not able to readily replace the box. Bhagawan was now compensating for that loss.

Repayment

When Bhagawan Nityananda lived in the old Ganeshpuri ashram, he used to take a regular walk, barefooted, in the compound. The compound was full of very small and sharp stones which were very painful to walk on barefooted. One day Ratnakar Shenoy and Padiyar (now Sadananda Swami of Kanhangad) decided to cover the place where Baba walked with fine sand. Both of them worked very hard for the whole day. They finally covered the entire area with sand, making it comfortable to walk on. After accomplishing this job they washed their hands and feet in the Kunda (hot spring) and went to have Baba’s darshan in Vaikunth.

They bowed to Bhagawan. Baba opened his eyes and slowly slipped his hand below the mattress on which he was sleeping and removed some money. He offered this money to them as compensation for their work. Ratnakar refused the money, as he felt that it was not proper to be compensated for serving his Guru. But Baba insisted saying, "You have sweated for it." How often do we forget to compensate people in some way for making a contribution to our lives. Our parents, teachers, neighbors, friends are never repaid for what good they have done for us. On the spiritual path, compensating one’s Guru is considered impossible, even if you dedicate your entire life and all other future lives in service to the Master. And yet, Bhagawan Nityananda was compensating his disciple! Bhagawan Nityananda always found a way to compensate those in dire need, even after granting them his Grace.

Once, while spending time in Mangalore, the young Bhagawan Nityananda slept in the veranda of a person selling snuff. In south India there were many who were addicted to snuff. This person who was called Puddi (snuff) Shenoy saw a young boy wearing only a loin cloth sleeping in the cold on his veranda. He went inside his house and brought a blanket to cover him with. This one redeeming act of Puddi would be remembered.

Puddi Shenoy had a son who graduated college and became a Doctor. The son came to Mumbai to establish his practice and lived near Wadala Station. He, however, was not religious like his father. A friend of his named Shetty, one day requested the doctor accompany him to Ganeshpuri. Since the doctor knew that Bhagawan Nityananda was a regular visitor to his village when he was growing up in Mangalore, he agreed to accompany Shetty to visit Baba in Ganeshpuri. He did so mostly out of curiosity rather than respect.

The two arrived at the ashram late in the evening. Just as they stepped in the room where Baba was seated, Baba said, "Oh! So Puddi Shenoy has come." How Bhagawan Nityananda recognized anyone in that pitch dark without being able to see is still a wonder. By acknowledging the doctor, Baba repaid the doctor’s father, Puddi Shenoy, for offering him the blanket so many years before when he was sleeping in the cold on the veranda in Mangalore. When a saint acknowledges someone by name it is considered a rare honor. Such was Bhagawan's Grace.

The Passing of My Mother

It was June 22nd, 1971. Ten years had passed since Swami Nityananda had taken Mahasamadhi. It was raining the whole day and the rains continued through the evening of the 23rd, making it the highest rainfall in fifty years. All her six children had gathered in the house. Her husband and the Kamath family, who were also disciples of Baba, were there as well.

Two days before, an elephant had passed by her home. Sunita insisted that it be fed jaggery (untreated sugar) and wheat. A cow was running back and forth calling loudly to her calf. This is considered a sign of the mother separating from her child. So, Sunita asked that the cow may also be fed. These gestures are also signs of a divine soul preparing to leave the body.

It was 9am and Sunita Shenoy was sleeping. Suddenly she woke saying, "Oh! Janananda Swami has come in the house. Lay my head on his feet." After some time she indicated her father's presence by saying "Devrai Head Master has come. Place my head on his feet." She had never addressed her father by his name before. But on that day she was in a different state and experienced her father only as Bhagawan Nityananda's disciple. She then cried out that all the windows should be opened wide. Her soul was seeking a way out and she therefore demanded that the windows should be opened. Soon my mother passed away in the presence of all her loved ones with the gods crying and flooding Mumbai with their tears of rain.

Sunita Shenoy had predicted, "I shall die and my remains shall be washed away in the sea." It rained so much that her ashes got washed away. Thus passed away Sunita Shenoy, daughter of the first disciple of Bhagawan Nityananda, Hosdurga Devrai Pai, of Kanhangad, wife of Raghunath Shenoy, on June 23rd, 1971. This was ten years after her Lord, Bhagawan Nityananda, took Mahasamadhi.

Wish-fulfilling Journey

The Grace of the Divine Mother is becoming more and more evident for those who are participating in this journey of Gurukripa Yoga at this web site. Recently two students of Acharya Kedar made a pilgrimage to temples and holy places in India. They brought to Acharya Kedar the Prasad from Vaishno Devi, Shirdi Sai Baba's Mahasamadhi shrine and Bhagawan Nityananda's Mahasamadhi shrine. At the same time that the Prasad was reaching the USA, in India, I was praying to the Divine Mother for her guidance and Grace to connect me to all the Siddhas and their peers. These two incidents were happening simultaneously, independent of each other.

Acharya Kedar was inspired to forward some of the Prasad to me. The bond between two Gurubandhus was thus blessed by the Divine Mother and Bhagawan Nityananda, making this bond deep and intense. Two unknown people who have never met before, by chance, crossed paths by e-mail through the Grace of their Guru Nityananda.

Another time, while I began preparing the Grace-filled story of Tulsi Amma for this site, along with the story of Shaligram Swami, I felt their Grace wash over me. I later found out that, at the same time, back in the USA, Acharya Kedar was leading the Miracle Intensive on Bhagawan Nityananda's service to humanity; a meditation retreat in which people were healed by Bhagawan Nityananda's Grace and Blessings.

This journey of Gurukripa has now reached a very important stage. The purpose of this journey is to share Divine Love with all those who love Bhagawan Nityananda and all those who are seekers of the Truth. In this collaboration between myself and Acharya Kedar, that we call Gurukripa Yoga, there have been so many Blessings and we feel the very real presence of Shiva-Shakti and Swami Nityananda Bhagawan in a way that no words can adequately describe. We are so very thankful for the experience of great Joy that this project has brought to us. You too can experience His Grace and Blessings just by reading these pages and contemplating the stories and teachings being shared here.

We are eternally indebted to the Guru. This debt cannot be repaid, not even by dedicating our entire life and all future lives at the Master's feet. Bhagawan Nityananda did not preach the way most Gurus do. Instead his whole life was a perfect example of the highest teachings of every great spiritual path and religion. Bhagawan Nityananda lived his teachings in a way that, just by observing him, one could realize God. This is the mark of a supreme Avadhut.

One may wonder how simple people like Head Master, Raghunath Shenoy, Sunita Shenoy and many others received Bhagawan Nityananda's Grace. Just being in his company brought them transformation and they grew spiritually. You do not have to be extraordinary to receive extraordinary Grace from God. Just be simple, authentic and sincere. Do your Seva (selfless service to others) and while doing your Seva, make time to do your spiritual practice. This is what one can learn from these simple ordinary devotees with extraordinary dedication to their Seva and their Guru.

Gopalkrishna Shenoy

Discipleship, Sunita Shenoy, Sunita Shenoy-Part Two, The Compassion of the Sadguru, Sitaram Shenoy.