|
Nilkanth Varni: Part 3
Master of all
From Haridwar Maharaj travelled eastward through a dense forest towards Badrinath. On the way He came to a small town that had an ashram on the outskirts. As there was danger at night from wild animals, the mahant of the ashram requested Nilkanth to stay with him for the night.
Maharaj replied, “Mahantji, I do not stay in populated places and wherever I stay I prefer to stay under the open sky. I am not afraid of death.” As such Maharaj settled down outdoors to sleep. Later, the roar of a lion shattered the stillness of the night. The residents of the town awoke and became worried for the young ascetic. The mahant saw that Nilkanth was sat in meditation oblivious of the imminent danger. He shouted to Maharaj to warn Him but without success; the mahant was too afraid to go to Nilkanth’s aid.
As the lion approached, the mahant and the town folk held their heart in their mouths, fearful that the lion would attack the young ascetic. But as it seemed that lion was about to pounce, Nilkanth opened His eyes and in a serene manner He simply glanced at the lion. The lion appeared to go into samadhi and sat quietly at the feet of Maharaj whilst Maharaj lovingly stroked the lion; the lion licked Nilkanth’s feet with great affection and gratitude.
The lion stayed with Nilkanth the whole night and even in the morning followed Maharaj as He went to bathe. Nilkanth once again blessed the lion by passing His hand over the lion’s head and then told the lion go on his way. Immediately the lion left and disappeared into the bushes. Bystanders saw a wild lion tamed by the mere darshan of Nilkanth, but Maharaj only saw the soul of the lion. Whatever relation the lion had with God previously, it had now obtained the ultimate liberation.
The mahant and other sages witnessed these events in amazement; they realized that the young boy was no ordinary ascetic and believed Him to be an incarnation of either some great saint or God Himself. The mahant was so taken with Nilkanth that he tried to persuade Him to stay and become the leader of the ashram; he even tried to entice Maharaj by claiming that the ashram had an income of Rs 1 lakh per annum. Maharaj told him, “If I were interested in your ashram ...why would I have left home. I have decided to visit places of pilgrimages and redeem souls. I wish to explain that right conduct is learnt through association with genuine sadhus.” Maharaj was averse to such attachments and so decided to move on.
True taste
Nilkanth arrived at Badrinath where there is a temple dedicated to Nar-Narayan Rishi. There the priest, who recognised Nilkanth as God from the 16 signs on His feet, befriended him. The priest served Nilkanth with utmost supplication and devotion. Maharaj returned the priests love by staying there for the Diwali and Annakut festivals.
Nilkanth gave the priest and other sages spiritual instruction and divine bliss. Maharaj’s frame was slight and emaciated through penance, the priest through his love tried to persuade Maharaj to eat various foodstuffs especially prepared for the festivals. However, Nilkanth would mix his food with water and then eat. One day the priest asked Maharaj as to why eat ate like that, Nilkanth replied, “Food is taken to sustain the body and not to tickle the palate. The taste for a true sadhu should lie in experiencing the bliss of God.”
Maharaj wanted to make sadhus’ who would be totally lost in God and through whom He could carry on His spiritual mission. This He wanted to do by practicing what He preached; that way sadhus’ would abide by His instructions without questioning His authority. Later, in the Swaminarayan sampraday Maharaj instructed His sadhus’ to eat food in a similar fashion to that He himself practiced in order for them to reach theNirswadi state.
Promise to Nar-Narayan Rishi
It was now November 1792 and as winter was setting in, the weather was turning very cold. Badrinath and other towns on the fringes of the Himalayas would become cut-off due to snow; residents of these places always moved south at this time of the year. Whilst the priest made plans to go south, Nilkanth declared His plans to go to the Himalayas. The priest thought that Nilkanth was insane and was inviting death, but Maharaj resolved to have the darshan of Nar-Narayan rishis.
Nilkanth continued His journey unperturbed and without any extra clothing or provisions only in His loincloth into the Himalayas. The weather remarkably stayed calm, but Maharaj still had to walk through thick snow. As Nilkanth walked on towards Nar-Narayan’s ashram, Nar rishi and other sages eagerly went to meet Him. Nar rishi immediately prostrated before Him and greeted Him with devotion.
Nilkanth, Nar rishi and the other sages then walked on to a Nar-Narayan’s ashram at Badrivan, which is known for it’s outstanding beauty. It took the travellers around 25 days to reach there walking some 10 miles a day. Nar, seeing Nilkanth’s emaciated form had requested that Himgiri diety come and carry Nilkanth, but Nilkanth refused stating that a pilgrimage should be done by foot. Upon reaching Nar-Narayan’s ashram, Maharaj offered prostrations, but Narayan rishi came running to Nilkanth to have His darshan; the atmosphere was one of complete divinity.
A sabha was held in Nilkanth’s honour. Narayan rishi showed great gratitude that Maharaj had blessed their ashram, in response Nilkanth replied, “You are the ruler of Bharat Khand. With the motive of performing austerities I have come here for your darshan.”
Nilkanth stayed at the ashram for 3 months but He did not take any food all the time that He was there. Nilkanth also performed many austerities with the sankalp to redeem any one who was keen for his own kalyana (redemption). After completing His austerities, Nilkanth resolved to leave Nar-Narayan but He asked them where He should go, Narayan rishi replied, “You are the supreme Lord of Lords, but since you have asked me I will tell out of respect for You…You should undertake a tour of the whole of Bharat Khand. Then in the West Narad Muni will meet You and take You to Uddhavji. There You will fulfil your goal of establishing Ekantik Dharma.”
With this blessing Nilkanth left Nar-Narayan’s ashram but as He was leaving He made a promise to Nar-Narayan saying, “O respected rishis, you have rendered great service to Me, I will install your murtis in Bharat Khand.”
Resolution to make Paramhansa Santo
Nilkanth travelled onto Mansarovar lake in the Himalaya. It is one of the highest lakes in the world, it is an awe inspiring place with a vast expanse of water. Here despite the cold lotuses bloom and water foul stay. Maharaj stayed there for 5 days, He was taken by the famous swans of Mansarovar known as Raj-hansas (royal swans) because of their snow white plumage. It is said these swans can separate water from milk.
Maharaj wanted to make sadhus of the highest order, those can redeem people by helping them to overcome their shortcomings and showing the way to God (akin to separating water from milk). And so Maharaj resolved to make sadhus that were similar to the Raj-hansas swans; at the time of Shreeji Maharaj in the Swaminarayan samprayda the santo were known as Paramhansa (literally means Great Swans).
|