Insights during Parivaraachaka🔗

MAHAVTAAR BABAJI

How mysterious are the ways of Life! When she appears to be at play, and we forget ourselves in her everchanging games, she brings us face to face with a moment of supreme Truth!

One blessed day, while meditating at holy Tapovan beyond the Gangotri, the young Swami beheld a lovely vision. A young man with flowing locks and a divine countenance, glowing with youth and rare grace, was walking towards him with long strides. Wonderstruck by the beauty of the man, drawn by the radiance that spilt forth from him, Swami was suddenly certain that this indeed the revered Mahavtaar Babaji, who is said to have conquered age and death, and dwells in the mountains in a state of perpetual youth.

At the moment of passing him, Babaji looked into Swami's eyes and pronounced, 'Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda!'

Startled, Swami could give no answer.

The image of the charismatic Babaji, who had called him so familiarly by an unfamiliar name, stayed with Swami through the years. But the portent of that name would be hidden from him until years later, when upon taking sannyas, he received from his master's lips that very name. In that moment of clarity, Swami was overwhelmed with reverence and gratitude for his elusive spiritual guide.

Omkareshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Swami's wanderings took him to the virgin forests of Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh in central India. Deep in the secret recesses the forest, miles away from the nearest human settlement, Swami enjoyed a state of absolute solitude and undisturbed sadhna. Just once a week, he would trek 30 kilometres to the closest village, and return with a frugal meal of a few rotis – sufficient to sustain himself over the next seven days.

His favourite spot for meditation was a small, beautifully shaped rock which stood on a hillock nearby, the perfect seat for the meditator. Late one evening, reposing on the rock, he spied someone through the trees, approaching him from a distance. Surprised at the first sign of humanity he had ever seen in those parts, Swami hopped off the rock to meet the visitor. Only halfway down the path did he notice with horror that the figure he'd perceived in the failing light was not a human at all, but a giant bear walking upright! There was no time to turn and flee, for the bear's cruel eye was already fixed on him. Throwing himself upon the mercy of the Divine, Swami stood totally still, inert with fear. Perplexed, perhaps, at this unexpected reaction, the bear approached the young man, returned his stare for a while, and then passed him by without a sound! Once again, it was revealed to Swami that a benevolent eye watched over his life.