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Nilkanth Varni: Part 4
Journey Eastward
After staying with Nar Narayan Rishi for several months, Nilkanth left the Himalayas and trekked back to Ayodhya but only to pass through to travel to the East and then into Nepal. Nilkanth continued to sanctify the places he visited and to set an example of the ideals of being an ascetic.
Once an elderly woman seeing Nilkanth’s tender years was keen to look after him, she tried to pay her respects to the child sadhu by bowing down to Him, but Maharaj withdrew His feet. The woman was surprised and asked why He wouldn’t let her touch His feet. Nilkanth replied, “I have a taken the vow of an ascetic, I cannot allow a woman to touch me; it is prohibited.” The woman observed that other ascetics not only allowed her to touch their feet but to wash their feet in an act of worship. Maharaj emphasised that such behaviour was inappropriate for a sadhu.
Further on His travels Nilkanth came across the King of Vanshipur. The King was instinctively drawn to Nilkanth and invited Him to his palace. Although Nilkanth always preferred to sleep outdoors, seeing the devotion of the King He accepted the invitation. There, Maharaj tried to instil divine knowledge to the King and Queen but both had other designs on the young ascetic. The royal couple had two daughters but no son, they were so taken by Nilkanth’s purity and simplicity that they made up their minds that He was the ideal match for their daughters! The Queen ensured that Nilkanth was well served by her daughters but Maharaj was impeccable in observing His vows; out of respect He would always keep His gaze away from the daughters.
After a few days, the Queen presented Nilkanth with the proposition of marriage to her daughters. Maharaj informed her that He had only come to redeem them and that His austerities would end in the West. The Queen became angry claiming that even the great rishis in history had fallen victim to the kamdev (the god of lust) and that He couldn’t expect to escape. Maharaj stated that He hadn’t come to be bound either by a kingdom or by the Queen’s daughters. That night Nilkanth left the palace to continue His mission, the Royal family were grief stricken.
Severe austerity in Pulhashram
Nilkanth travelled into Nepal with the aim of going to Pulhashram; this is where King Bharat performed austerities having given up his kingdom in order to attain God. King Bharat was so much respected for his celibacy that Maharaj decided to do penance here also. Nilkanth undertook a penance of standing on one leg with His arms up in the air whilst meditating. Maharaj did this solidly for about three months in all types of weather, come rain, snow or shine. Other yogis and sages who were also engaged in meditation were amazed and were in awe of the young ascetic. Everyday they came for Maharaj’s darshan but they were also troubled that such a young boy was undertaking such a severe penance.
Finally at the end of the three months the sun-god Suryanarayan appeared before Maharaj to give Nilkanth his darshan. Maharaj immediately paid His respects and asked Suryanarayan for a boon that He be protected from all vices and to be blessed so that He would observe complete and unbroken celibacy (brahmacharya). Suryanarayan was perplexed stating that the supreme God cannot be touched by such base instincts, but he conceded that as Maharaj wanted to establish the highest morals by setting an example, so he then granted Maharaj the boon.
Maharaj wanted to re-establish dharma with the highest ideals and produce sadhus’ who would be God-like; one of the greatest virtues in order to achieve this is celibacy by both thought and deed. This is why Maharaj undertook this harsh penance in order to invoke Suryanarayan in order to receive the boon of celibacy.
A sadhu’s ego destroyed
Maharaj continued His journey eastward through Nepal. He travelled from Butolnagar towards a place known as Pokhra. In a small kingdom there Nilkanth came across a king who had an insatiable greed for gold. So much so that the king had acquired help from his guru. The guru was full of self esteem and ego, and took due advantage of the king’s greed; in return for undertaking rituals so that the king would fulfil his desires he demanded luxuries, comforts and honour that did not befit a true sadhu. On this particular occasion the guru had convinced the king that it would take several years of rituals in order to acquire all the gold that the king desired.
When Nilkanth arrived, the king was impressed by Him and was convinced that the young ascetic must be very powerful and someone who could fulfil his desire for gold, particularly as he was getting impatient at having to wait for years to get his treasure. So the king approached Nilkanth to fulfil his desire; Maharaj agreed!!
However, Shreeji Maharaj told the king to no longer afford his guru the honour and special privileges that were being heaped on him. Accordingly, the next morning when the guru came outside after getting ready to meet the hoards of crowds who usually came to see and honour him with praises and rose petals, absolutely no one had come. This stunned the guru; his ego was mortally wounded and he promptly died from a heart attack!
Having destroyed the guru’s ego, Maharaj then told the king that His aim was to redeem people and the He did not believe in fulfilling the type of material desires that the king craved for. Nilkanth immediately left to continue His journey.
up in the air whilst meditating. Maharaj did this solidly for about three months in all types of weather, come rain, snow or shine. Other yogis and sages who were also engaged in meditation were amazed and were in awe of the young ascetic. Everyday they came for Maharaj’s darshan but they were also troubled that such a young boy was undertaking such a severe penance.
Finally at the end of the three months the sun-god Suryanarayan appeared before Maharaj to give Nilkanth his darshan. Maharaj immediately paid His respects and asked Suryanarayan for a boon that He be protected from all vices and to be blessed so that He would observe complete and unbroken celibacy (brahmacharya). Suryanarayan was perplexed stating that the supreme God cannot be touched by such base instincts, but he conceded that as Maharaj wanted to establish the highest morals by setting an example, so he then granted Maharaj the boon.
Maharaj wanted to re-establish dharma with the highest ideals and produce sadhus’ who would be God-like; one of the greatest virtues in order to achieve this is celibacy by both thought and deed. This is why Maharaj undertook this harsh penance in order to invoke Suryanarayan in order to receive the boon of celibacy.
A sadhu’s ego destroyed
Maharaj continued His journey eastward through Nepal. He travelled from Butolnagar towards a place known as Pokhra. In a small kingdom there Nilkanth came across a king who had an insatiable greed for gold. So much so that the king had acquired help from his guru. The guru was full of self esteem and ego, and took due advantage of the king’s greed; in return for undertaking rituals so that the king would fulfil his desires he demanded luxuries, comforts and honour that did not befit a true sadhu. On this particular occasion the guru had convinced the king that it would take several years of rituals in order to acquire all the gold that the king desired.
When Nilkanth arrived, the king was impressed by Him and was convinced that the young ascetic must be very powerful and someone who could fulfil his desire for gold, particularly as he was getting impatient at having to wait for years to get his treasure. So the king approached Nilkanth to fulfil his desire; Maharaj agreed!!
However, Shreeji Maharaj told the king to no longer afford his guru the honour and special privileges that were being heaped on him. Accordingly, the next morning when the guru came outside after getting ready to meet the hoards of crowds who usually came to see and honour him with praises and rose petals, absolutely no one had come. This stunned the guru; his ego was mortally wounded and he promptly died from a heart attack!
Having destroyed the guru’s ego, Maharaj then told the king that His aim was to redeem people and the He did not believe in fulfilling the type of material desires that the king craved for. Nilkanth immediately left to continue His journey.
up in the air whilst meditating. Maharaj did this solidly for about three months in all types of weather, come rain, snow or shine. Other yogis and sages who were also engaged in meditation were amazed and were in awe of the young ascetic. Everyday they came for Maharaj’s darshan but they were also troubled that such a young boy was undertaking such a severe penance.
Finally at the end of the three months the sun-god Suryanarayan appeared before Maharaj to give Nilkanth his darshan. Maharaj immediately paid His respects and asked Suryanarayan for a boon that He be protected from all vices and to be blessed so that He would observe complete and unbroken celibacy (brahmacharya). Suryanarayan was perplexed stating that the supreme God cannot be touched by such base instincts, but he conceded that as Maharaj wanted to establish the highest morals by setting an example, so he then granted Maharaj the boon.
Maharaj wanted to re-establish dharma with the highest ideals and produce sadhus’ who would be God-like; one of the greatest virtues in order to achieve this is celibacy by both thought and deed. This is why Maharaj undertook this harsh penance in order to invoke Suryanarayan in order to receive the boon of celibacy.
A sadhu’s ego destroyed
Maharaj continued His journey eastward through Nepal. He travelled from Butolnagar towards a place known as Pokhra. In a small kingdom there Nilkanth came across a king who had an insatiable greed for gold. So much so that the king had acquired help from his guru. The guru was full of self esteem and ego, and took due advantage of the king’s greed; in return for undertaking rituals so that the king would fulfil his desires he demanded luxuries, comforts and honour that did not befit a true sadhu. On this particular occasion the guru had convinced the king that it would take several years of rituals in order to acquire all the gold that the king desired.
When Nilkanth arrived, the king was impressed by Him and was convinced that the young ascetic must be very powerful and someone who could fulfil his desire for gold, particularly as he was getting impatient at having to wait for years to get his treasure. So the king approached Nilkanth to fulfil his desire; Maharaj agreed!!
However, Shreeji Maharaj told the king to no longer afford his guru the honour and special privileges that were being heaped on him. Accordingly, the next morning when the guru came outside after getting ready to meet the hoards of crowds who usually came to see and honour him with praises and rose petals, absolutely no one had come. This stunned the guru; his ego was mortally wounded and he promptly died from a heart attack!
Having destroyed the guru’s ego, Maharaj then told the king that His aim was to redeem people and the He did not believe in fulfilling the type of material desires that the king craved for. Nilkanth immediately left to continue His journey.
Yoga mastered in just one year
Nilkanth now marched on through deep forests with purpose as He now had to give darshan to Gopal Yogi, who was a supreme master of Hatha Yog and a great devotee. The yogi’s mode of worship was to meditate on the God seated in his heart known as par-atma but he had an intense desire to attain union with God in human form.
Nilkanth approached Gopal Yogi, the yogi was sat in deep meditation. As Maharaj stood and watched him, Gopal Yogi stirred from his dhyan as if drawn by some force. As the yogi opened his eyes and saw the young ascetic standing before him, he immediately realised Nilkanth to be the same form that was seated in his heart. Gopal Yogi became ecstatic at the darshan of the supreme God; he quickly got up and ran to Nilkanth. Maharaj showed great pleasure in seeing the yogi and both embraced each other with tears in their eyes due to pure spiritual love.
Nilkanth said to the yogi, “I have trudged through forests and mountains in search of a yogi like you. I met many on the way, some steeped in worldly desires and some proud and full of arrogance... but I met none like you, endowed with sterling qualities and a pure unblemished heart... I now shall learn yoga from you”
As per Maharaj’s desire, Gopal Yogi taught Him yoga starting with yoga theory and then Hatha Yoga. Maharaj learnt very quickly and within a year Nilkanth had mastered yoga even the most difficult aspects that mere mortals took years to master. During this time although Maharaj was the supreme God, He treated Gopal Yogi as His guru and served Him accordingly.
After attaining such mastery, Nilkanth professed to Gopal Yogi that He now had attained atma realisation. Gopal Yogi, who knew Nilkanth to be the supreme God and as the knower of each and every soul wondered what Maharaj’s motive was in saying such a thing. Maharaj then explained to the yogi His most fundamental principle, “The fruit of ashtang yoga is nirvikalp samadhi (absolute bliss) but if the senses become inclined outward towards worldly pleasures then obstacles arise... But if the atma (even after attaining atma realisation) unites with Brahm and becomes brahmrup then there is no obstruction; this is called the pure Gunatit state.”
Gopal Yogi received this supreme knowledge that enabled him to go beyond atmanishta (soul realisation) and to attain the brahmic state whereby he eternally effaced himself in God. In that state of the ultimate realisation Gopal Yogi left is mortal body.
Promise made to Laxmimata
Nilkanth having fulfilled His mission with Gopal Yogi, travelled into East Bengal. There He encountered false sadhus who used their limited powers to frighten people and hold them to ransom. Maharaj exposed them by instigating events that showed their hypocrisy and their worldly desires so that people would stop following them. On His travels Maharaj also came across a tantric (someone who performs black magic to invoke powers from deities and demons) by the name of Pibek. When Maharaj challenged his powers Pibek tried to physically hurt Maharaj by using black magic but none of his invocations worked. Finally when he realised nothing would work against the young ascetic. It dawned on him that although he had started out wanting to attain God, he had taken the wrong path. Pibek fell at Nilkanth’s feet and with tears in his eyes begged for forgiveness. Maharaj forgave him and instructed him on the correct path.
Nilkanth travelled through Balvakund and Gangasagar (Gangasagar is near Kolkata) on His way to the south of India. In a village nearby Nilkanth came across a mahant of a temple who had a devote family. The family were taken by the divine lustre on Maharaj’s face and His emaciated body and matted hair reminded them of Shivji. Nilkanth explained scriptures to the family in a manner that they had never heard before; they felt that certain that the travelling ascetic was God-like. Maharaj stayed with the family for a short while; the son of the mahant called Jairam served Maharaj day and night.
One day, Jairam brought some lotus fruits to Nilkanth. Maharaj asked Jairam where he had found them, to which Jairam took Him to a lake that was full of lotus plants. At the lake there were beautiful lotus plants in full bloom. Maharaj gazed at these and saw Laxmiji on them and promised her, “I shall install your murti. You are the shakti of God and therefore you have to be honoured.”
Jairam had an intense desire to attain God and so when Nilkanth left to continue His journey south, Jairam accompanied Him.
In Jagannath Puri
Nilkanth arrived in Jagannath Puri accompanied by Jairam and stayed to observe the Rath Yatra Festival. In Jagannath there is a holy temple built upon the ashes of Krishna Bhagwan. But there was constant trouble from bawas (wayward sadhus) and the priest of the temple was also deceitful and dishonest; he would steal articles meant for the murtis and keep for himself the money that was donated by worshippers.
Maharaj had entered the murti of Jagannathji and witnessed the true devotion of bhakto as well as the faithlessness of others. Nilkanth pointed out the deceitfulness of the priest and told him that he should serve the murti with devotion. The priest felt that Nilkanth could not possibly know about his deeds, but Nilkanth described incidences for which there were no witnesses except the murti of Jagannathji. The priest was taken aback and thought that this young boy must truly be an incarnation of Krishna Bhagwan. The priest realised his fault and felt ashamed, and repented.
At the Rath Yatra festival, the bawas were honoured and served by the local king, but they showed their true colours behaving most inappropriately by becoming drunk, being riotous and being promiscuous towards women. The king, who genuinely wanted to serve sadhus was greatly disturbed this and wanted to punish them. Nilkanth consoled him and said that there was need to punish them, as they would receive their comeuppance soon. Later the different bawas factions got into fight with each other and killed each other.
Sevakram
Nilkanth continued His journey. By this time Jairam had left Maharaj despite being a pure soul and with a thirst for God. Jairam missed his family and longed to go home but wanted Nilkanth to come back with him. Nilkanth had to fulfil His mission and told Jairam, “The love of relatives is full of attachment, it is noose of maya. You are inclined to God that is why I am telling you to come with me.” But this was to no avail and so Jairam and Nilkanth parted company.
Maharaj continued to teach about right behaviour and how sadhus behave. On His way to Kancheepuram Nilkanth met a sadhu called Sevakram who was very learnt but was expert at getting service from others and was very ungrateful. When Maharaj came upon Him, Sevakram was ill will loose motion and fever. Maharaj took pity on him and stayed to look after him.
Nilkanth would prepare fresh bedding for the ill sadhu, wash his spoiled clothes and cook food for him. Sevakram who had a stash of money would send Nilkanth to the nearest village to buy food but only just enough for him; Maharaj had to beg for alms and sometimes would go hungry if no alms were given. Despite this the selfish sadhu would not allow Maharaj to eat his food.
When Sevakram was better, both he and Nilkanth travelled from village to village but Sevakram gave Nilkanth all his belongings to carry on His head whilst he himself walked free with no burden. This continued for a few days when finally told Sevakram that He was leaving to which Sevakram tried to persuade Maharaj to stay with him because of his own selfish reasons. Maharaj explained to Sevakram how he had behaved, that he was very ungrateful and that one should not keep the company of the ungrateful (this story was recited by Maharaj in the Vachanamrut G I 10).
Bhagwandas
Swaminarayan is the supreme God. It is said that in days gone past an aspirant had to search for God but in the reign of Sahajanand (Swaminarayan Bhagwan) God now comes searching for the aspirant.
In a village near a place called Devipattan there was a very devote women who had a son called Bhagwandas. From his childhood, his mother would tell him to go in search of her beloved Krishna. Bhagwandas was now grown-up, married and working on their farm. One day the mother suddenly became even more insistent that Bhagwandas should go and find God, so much so that he finally consented.
The mother told him to look everywhere all over India including the Himalayas is necessary and not return home until he found Krishna Bhagwan. Bhagwandas’s wife prepared food and provisions enough for what might be a very long journey. Bhagwandas instructed his wife to pray to God that he should find him quickly and so be able to return home to his loving family. As he prepared to leave home, he asked his mother as to how he would recognise God when he found him. His mother told him to look out for the sixteen signs of God on His feet, and to check whether He casts a shadow.
Bhagwandas set out early the next morning. He had travelled quite far and as the afternoon was drawing on he was wondering where he would sleep for the night when he heard someone shouting, “Bhagwandas, come here.” He looked around to find a young teenager dressed as an ascetic sitting under a tree. Bhagwandas wondered who the young boy was and what’s more how he knew his name.
Nilkanth called out again, “Brother Bhagwandas, I have called for you to pull out the thorn in my foot...” Bhagwandas went to help but found no thorn, instead noticed nine symbols attributable to God on the sole of Nilkanth’s foot. “The thorn must be on your other foot”, said Bhagwandas. So Maharaj stretched out His other leg and placed His other foot on Bhagwandas’s lap. Again no thorn was found but Bhagwandas saw seven marks attributable to God on Nilkanth’s left foot. He remembered his mother’s words about how to recognise God and immediately looked for a shadow from Nilkanth’s body; he saw none.
Bhagwandas became ecstatic as he was convinced that he had found God. He requested Nilkanth to come along with him to his home; Maharaj agreed. By nightfall both reached home. Both Bhagwandas’s mother and wife were amazed to see Bhagwandas return home so quickly and were mesmerized by Nilkanth’s divine personality.
The family served Nilkanth with great love. The mother then went around the village to tell everyone that Bhagwandas had found God and had brought Him home. All came to see if this was true. Nilkanth preached to them and convinced them about His identity by giving them darshan of His Chaturbhuj form (four armed form).
Nilkanth stayed with the family for two days. Before He left, He said to Bhagwandas, his mother and wife, “All three of you will leave your mortal bodies in a few days and will be reborn in the family of Jumakhram Bhavar in Vadnagar in North Gujarat. I will meet you there, accept your services and will fulfil your wishes...”
Onwards into Gujarat
Nilkanth’s path now took Him on to the southern most point of India called Kanyakumari, and then northwards up along the east of India. Maharaj would stop at temples for the darshan of the deities or previous avatars and to sanctify these places. He walked onwards into Maharastra state, through Poona, Nasik and then into Gujarat.
Once in Gujarat Nilkanth passed through Dharampur, Surat to reach Bharach. After staying there for a short while and sanctifying the waters of the Narmada river He moved on to Vadodora, Anand, Buchansan, Vartal, along the south coast of Gujarat and then onto Junagadh and finally Loj where He was about to start the next phase of His mission.
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