DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA-4 ( Journey to the South )

              DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA

                                                       Journey to the South
In 1973 Maharaj traveled to South India with Sri Ma, Sri Jivanti Ma, Ramesh Sah, and many other devotees. They arrived in Madras on 9 January and went to stay at the Sindhi dharamshala. The rooms that Baba pointed at were locked, so all the luggage was placed on the veranda in front of them. When the devotees met the manager and requested him to get the rooms opened, the manager refused, saying that they were already reserved for a person coming from Vrindavan. He also made it clear that the other rooms were occupied and suggested that they seek accommodation elsewhere. When the devotees explained the situation to Baba, he insisted, "I will only stay in these rooms."

The devotees arranged some bedding on the veranda so that Baba could rest, but the manager arrived and expressed his displeasure. He asked them to vacate the veranda and then left. Still, Baba did not leave. He said, "Nobody will come for these rooms. Pay no heed to the manager." The day was drawing to a close, so the devotees once again requested the manager to open the rooms. At that very moment a telegram arrived from the person in Vrindavan requesting the manager to cancel his reservations. The manager then opened the rooms for Baba with pleasure.

While in Madras, Baba took the devotees to visit the Vaishnavi Devi temple, which is located about twenty-three kilometers away from the city. Two taxis were taken. Baba got into one taxi, and the devotees got into the second one. Baba's car usually led the others, but this time the devotees' car led. Consequently they passed the temple and drove on about nine kilometers further. Baba followed them until he reached a vast, barren, and desolate place and then stopped. The other taxi stopped too. Walking around, Baba said, "I did not realize, but we have passed the temple." In actuality Baba sanctified that piece of land by stopping there. They all got into the taxis again and drove back to the Vaishnavi Devi temple with Baba's taxi in the lead.

On 19 January 1984 Hukum Chand had Baba's murti installed on the very piece of land at which Baba and the devotees had stopped all those years before. Hukum Chand had not been with Maharaj when he and the devotees stopped there, nor had he heard about the trip. Still, he unknowingly chose the same site that Maharaj had sanctified years before to build the Veerapuram ashram and temples.


Source: http://babaneebkarori.blogspot.in/2006/12/journey-to-south.html
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DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA-3 ( Ram's Name Inscribed On Trees )

                 DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA

Ram's Name Inscribed On Trees

On one occasion many devotees traveled to Chitrakut by bus. Having visited Chitrakut, Hanuman Dhara, Anusuiyya, Sphatik Shila, and other places during the day, they began their return to Allahabad. At Kamtanath, Baba sent all the devotees to see the Ramkullu trees (trees under which Lord Ram rested), and he himself stayed at the car. The devotees were surprised to see the name of Ram inscribed on the leaves and branches of those trees. On their return they expressed their amazement to Baba, who said, "I will accept it to be true if Ramesh endorses it." Sri Ma's son Ramesh was sceptical by nature. He went there and observed those trees in minute detail. He also scraped a piece of bark from one of the trees and examined it. He was surprised to see the name of Ram inscribed even underneath the peeled bark.

                                                     राम

source : http://babaneebkarori.blogspot.in/2006/12/rams-name-inscribed-on-trees.html

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DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA-2 ( Travel Lila )

                 DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA

                                                Travel Lila

In 1949 Baba traveled from Nainital to Kashipur via Haldwani with nine devotees. When they arrived in Kashipur, they stayed in the house of Kishan Chaube, who extended great hospitality to them. Throughout the day all the devotees in Kashipur came with offerings of food and milk for Baba. Baba ate many platefuls of food that day and drank milk in large quantities. Before evening, however, he said he was hungry. He sent his devotee Pooran Chandra Joshi to a nearby lane saying, "A woman is waiting there. She has prepared roti for me. Go and bring it." Joshi went into that narrow lane and saw an old woman sitting in an open doorway. As soon as he spoke Baba's name, she happily disappeared inside and returned bringing a thick roti and some green vegetables. At that moment Baba himself arrived and taking that roti in his hand, ate it with great relish.

Baba and the group of devotees returned to Haldwani by train from Kashipur. Chaube had purchased a second-class ticket for Baba. By mistake he bought only eight third-class tickets for the nine devotees who accompanied him and gave the tickets to one of them. All of them sat in the second-class compartment with Baba except for a pandit, who traveled in the third-class compartment of the train. Suddenly Baba asked the devotees, "How many tickets are there?" A devotee replied that Chaube bought tickets for all. Baba sternly asked, "Where is Pandit's ticket?" They counted them again and realized the mistake.

Baba took all the tickets from them and threw them out of the window of the moving train, making all of them ticketless travelers. A special checking squad was checking the train that day, and the eight devotees sitting with Baba were government servants. They worried about losing their jobs if they were caught traveling without tickets. At the next station Baba got out of the train and went to sit with Pandit in the third-class compartment, as did the devotees. Just then Baba put nine third-class tickets into the hands of a devotee.

The train arrived at the Lalkuan station late at night, after the connecting train to Haldwani had already left. There was no other train for Haldwani nor was a bus available, so they thought they would have to spend the night at the station. However, as Baba got down onto the platform, a Muslim truck driver standing nearby noticed him, wrapped in his blanket. He stared at Baba with great curiosity. Baba also looked at him and said, "Your wife is ill? You are sad? You have taken her to Bareilly, Agra, and other places and still there is no improvement? Do not worry, she will be alright." He listened to Baba in quiet amazement and then humbly asked him, "Baba, where do you want to go? My truck is standing outside." He then took everyone to Haldwani in his truck.
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source: http://babaneebkarori.blogspot.in/2006/12/travel-lila.html

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DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA ( A Journey With Baba )

DIVINE LEELAS OF NEEB KARORI BABA

Maharaj ji's divine lila are so diverse that they do not readily fit into categories. Some reveal his divine attributes, some his kindness and love, and others his humour and close association with those around him. The lila in this chapter describe conversations carried on with Baba, dreams in which he appeared, and journeys taken with him. Many reflect the unpredictable nature of Baba as well as the inexpressible joy of being in his company.

                                      A Journey With Baba

Once, Maharaj talked of taking some devotees to have darshan of Badrinath and Gangotri. Baba asked Tuluram Sah to go with Sri Ma to the house of Hiralal Sah "Habba" at Pauri, Garhwal, saying, "I shall meet you there." He arranged for many other devotees to gather at Habba's house as well, but he himself did not arrive. After staying for about a week, Tuluram Sah thought of leaving Pauri, partly because he felt uncomfortable staying so long at Habba's house and partly because of his disappointment that Baba had not arrived. Whenever he wanted to leave, however, a telegram would come from Baba informing them of his arrival, so nobody could go back home. One day Baba did arrive, and a bhandara was arranged. Many local people came for prasad. Basant Lal, Habba's son, said that they did not have to organize anything extra for it. The monthly provisions for his family were sufficient to meet the requirements of hospitality and the bhandara.

The next morning Baba ordered everyone to continue the journey to Badrinath. However, there was only one bus in Pauri, and it had an engine problem. Though the driver could not get permission to drive the bus for such a long distance, he agreed to take them as far as Srinigar (a small town near Pauri). When they reached Srinagar, they found that there were no buses there either. Baba stayed on the bus they had arrived in and insisted, "We will go on this bus." Though the bus was not in the proper condition and could have broken down at any time, the police gave permission for its use. In those days the buses did not go all the way to Badrinath; they went only as far as Joshimath. The bus took them safely to Joshimath, but on its return, it was damaged in an accident in Kotdwar (a town along the way). To the amazement of the driver and conductor, no one was injured.

From Joshimath the devotees arranged two dandis to go to Badrinath—one for Baba and the other for Basant Lal's two-and-a-half-year-old son, who would have been difficult to carry on the long climb ahead. The dandi bearers were frightened when they saw Baba's huge body and said, "Does this fat man also require a dandi?" The devotees did not want Baba to go on foot and were ready to give the dandi bearers whatever fare they wanted, but the men still would not agree to carry Baba. At last they reached a compromise. The cunning porters carrying the child's dandi said they would change places with those carrying Baba's dandi along the route, though they did not plan to take their turn at the agreed interchange.

The dandi in which Baba was sitting went ahead swiftly. The porters did not feel Baba's weight at all. They felt as if they were carrying an empty dandi. The porters who were carrying the dandi in which the child was sitting trailed behind as they struggled to bear the weight. They were surprised at how heavy the child was but were too ashamed to admit it and kept quiet. Eventually, when they were not able to bear the weight any further, they had to admit what was happening. The child's parents did not believe them, but they made the child walk for some distance. Baba had gone very far ahead, so he got the porters to stop and wait for the rest of the party. When the porters carrying Baba's dandi were asked to change with the other porters, they refused. Then the child insisted on sitting with Baba. Baba allowed him to sit in his dandi, which further complicated matters, as the porters refused to carry both of them on one dandi. Baba persuaded them to try, and when they lifted the dandi, they found it as light as before. They reached Badrinath easily, with the child's dandi carried there empty.

On their arrival in Badrinath, Baba got all the devotees to stay at Kali Kamli Dharamshala, and he himself stayed at Badrivan with Habba ji. There were no settlements at Badrivan in those days. It was rough, rugged, and desolate. Every morning Shrimati Munni Devi, Basant Lal's wife, used to take a bath in the hot springs with Sri Ma. Afterward Sri Ma would leave for Badrivan, and Munni Devi would return to the dharamshala to give the devotees tea. Then after having darshan of Badrivishal, she would also go to Badrivan to have Baba's darshan. Baba gave all the visitors malpua to eat.

One day when Shrimati Munni went to Baba, he said, "You did not have Badrinath's darshan today?" As she had already had darshan, she kept quiet. Baba then said, "Go and have darshan again." Due to the number of people waiting for darshan, the time that one could stay in the temple was limited. However, none of Baba's devotees was asked to move on. When Munni arrived again at the temple, instead of the Badrinath deity, she saw Baba enshrined there. She stared motionless at the spectacle. After sending her to the temple, Baba also sent her father-in-law, Habba, to have darshan. He was standing near her, and he also had Baba's darshan in place of the Badrinath murti for a long time. Tears flowed from his eyes. Sometime later both of them returned to Baba, and Habba said, "Sarkar, you have made us run there for nothing. We had your darshan in that murti as we have your darshan here."

They all left Badrinath, and on their way to Gangotri, Baba sat at a place by the Bhagirathi River. He said to Habba, "In Satyuga [the golden age] this was the Ganga of milk." Habba replied, "Sarkar, it is even now," to which Baba said, "Do you see a river of milk?" Habba answered, "Sarkar, while with you it is seen as that of milk." Baba asked him to bring a tumbler full of Ganges water and a handful of sand. Habba brought them. When he opened his hand, the particles of sand had changed into precious stones, and the water was milk. Maharaj ji told him to distribute those gems among the devotees, but Habba did not agree to this. He felt that the gems had no value in comparison to the grace of Maharaj. With Baba's permission he consigned the gems to the Ganges.

Later in the afternoon they reached Gangotri, and Maharaj made the devotees stay at a house while he stayed elsewhere with Habba ji. In the evening Sri Ma and the accompanying ladies went to the Gangotri temple for darshan. While the other ladies proceeded towards the shrine, the beauty of the Himalayas drew Sri Ma's attention, and as she turned around, she and Munni Devi had darshan of Lord Shiva. Standing with their backs towards the temple, they were enchanted by the sight. People were surprised to see them standing with their backs to the temple, and after some time Tuluram Sah joined them. However, he could not have darshan because the clouds once again covered the mountains. A man standing nearby told them that the clouds always covered the mountains. He said a saint had certainly come that day for whom the mountains had made themselves visible for darshan.

From Gangotri they traveled to Rishikesh. On their way they stopped at a place called Dharali at about eight at night. Most of the devotees stayed in a dharamshala; Umadatt Shukla spent the night in a tea shop, and Baba rested in a timber storehouse at the back of the tea stall. In the morning, when Girish went for Baba's darshan, he saw a snake and a scorpion fighting on Baba's blanket on his chest. He cried out in fear at the sight. As soon as Baba uncovered himself, the snake and the scorpion moved away.

From Dharali they arrived in Rishikesh and stayed for about fifteen days. One day Shrimati Munni was coming out of the Ganges after having a bath. She and Sri Ma were standing with their backs towards the river when Munni turned and saw that Tularam Sah was being carried away by the current. She yelled and drew Sri Ma's attention to the situation. Ma did not know how to swim, but she jumped into the fast-moving current to save her husband. Munni was frightened. She did not know how to swim either, but she decided that if the two of them drowned, she would drown herself as well. Habba was nearby but was unaware of the situation. He was in deep meditation after his bath. Baba was in his kuti at the time. Munni then saw the impossible happen. Ma pulled Tuluram Sah out of the midstream and brought him to the bank. Munni was wonderstruck. She had forgotten her resolve to drown herself and came back to join them. Tuluram Sah did not take much time to recover. Afterwards when everyone went to Baba, he said, "Three lives were saved today. Siddhi saved her husband."
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source : http://babaneebkarori.blogspot.in/2006/12/other-divine-lilas-journey-with-baba.html

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Jeeva Samadhis in Chennai

http://www.youtube.com/v/1zj31q63vsA?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=LtcUuQ3z8_GAT5GNmBzmiw&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share&showinfo=1

Story of Tirupati Venkateswara

Story of Tirupati Venkateswara

Story of Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy or Balaji. According to Puranic calculation of time, a Kalpa is the span of time between a creation (Srshti) and a dissolution (Pralaya) of the universe. The present Kalpa, through which the world passes, is called Sveta Varaha Kalpa. During the last Pralaya, the whole universe was filled with water and the earth was immersed in it. Lord Vishnutook the form of Shweta Varaha (a white boar), dived into the water and lifted the earth. Brahma and the other Devas extolled the Shweta Varahaswamy with the chanting of the Vedas and showered flowers on him for saving the Earth. Lord Vishnu decided to stay on Earth in the form of Shweta Varaha. The Sveta Varaha Kalpa began from that time. 

Lord Vishnu took his abode in an ant-hill on the Venkata Hill (one of theSapthagiri Hills in Tirumala. Also known as Venkatachala or Venkatadri), under a tamarind tree, beside a lake. Brahma and Mahesvara, decided to assume the forms of a cow and its calf to serve him. On their arrival on earth, the king of the Chola country bought the cow and its calf and sent them to graze on the Venkata Hill, along with the cowherd. The cow emptied her udder every day, over the ant-hill and thus fed the Lord. The cowherd did not know that. 

Finding that the cow did not yield any milk, the Chola Queen chastised the cowherd severely. Next day, the cowherd followed the cow and discovered the cow emptying her udder over the ant-hill. The cowherd aimed a blow with his axe on the head of the cow. But Mahavishnu rose from the ant-hill, received the blow and saved the cow. The cowherd fell down and died. The cow returned to the palace of the Chola king, with blood stains over her body. 

The Chola king went to the hill to find out the reason. The King found the cowherd lying dead on the ground. To his surprise, Lord Vishnu rose from the ant-hill and cursed the king to become an Asura. The king pleaded innocence and the Lord blessed him by saying that His curse would end, when he would be adorned with the crown presented by King Akasa Raja at the time of his marriage with Padmavati, the daughter of Akasa Raja.  

Vishnu decided to stay in the Ventakatachala. Lord Venkateswara, also called Venkatachalapati or Srinivasa, is none other than Lord Vishnu. The main temple of Lord Venkatesvara is the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati in the Chittur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Source : http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2013/10/story-of-tirupati-venkateswara.html

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THE LEGEND BEHIND MAHAPRASAD AND NIRMALYA

The Legend Behind Mahaprasad and Nirmalya

By Tarakanta Mohanty

Everybody knows that when the 'Prasad', cooked in the temple of Lord Jagannath is offered to Goddess Bimala it becomes 'Mahaprasad'. What is the eagerness of
devotees of Lord Jagannath to get this Mahaprasad waiting hours long to get it in the
temple of Puri ? By taking Mahaprasad, they feel that they have earned 'Punya'. Even the dried Mahaprasad named as 'Nirmalya' has its very demand. The people of
Orissa preserve it to take even an iota of Nirmalya 0after performing daily Puja. Even in Orissa household it is required at the time of Nirbandha or (marriage negotiation). Even the bride and bridegrooms promise by holding Nirmalya that they will stick to this negotiation and not to betray each other. Moreover at the time of death, the Nirmalya and holy basil (Tulsi) with water is poured in the tongue and throat of the imminent deceased persons with the belief that by taking these items after their
death their soul will remain in peace and there will be no 'Jamadanda' (Punishment) of the Belzibup. This is primarily the Hindu conviction.

There is a legend behind Mahaprasad. It is in 'Tretaya', that after beheading Ravana
the ten-faced monster in Srilanka Lord Ramachandra, Laxman and others had just
returned to Ayodha and the Prajas (subjects) were eulogising their heroic deeds. It was Urmila, the consort of Lord Laxman who was silently listening to the great happenings. All were unanimous that Laxmana was instrumental in killing Indrajit. All were discussing that Indrajit was so powerful and got boon that only that person
who has not taken food for fourteen years constantly and who has not slept for fourteen years uninterruptedly can kill Indrajit. There was a meeting inside the palace in the evening time to know the truth behind this matter. Lord Rama questioned to Laxman that, Oh Laxman you have not taken food for continuous fourteen years, and what happened to those food packets, which I had given you at Panchabati during our stay ? Laxman patiently replied, Oh Lord, I have kept all those fruits in hole of Sami Tree at Panchabati. In order to ascertain the authenticity Lord Rama said, Oh Hanuman you go to Panchabati and bring back those food packets, which have been preserved in the hole of 'Sami Tree'. Lord Hanuman developed enigma on this matter. He thought, Lord is aware of my strength. He knows that I had brought the Gandhamardana in one hand, when Laxman was unconscious, the arrow of Indrajit. He became hesitant to bring those food packets, but at last he performed journey from Ayodhya to Sami Tree at Panchabati. Hanuman saw that those food packets have been kept intact but when he attempted to lift those food packets he could not lift and at last returned to Ayodhya and with humble words told his master, that he could not lift those food packets. Lord Rama could know that due to Hanumana's ego that he could not lift those food packets. At last Laxman said,
Oh ! Respected brother, I will fetch those fruits from Panchabati. Laxman with his powerful arrow could bring back those food packets and all were accumulated in front of Lord Rama. Lord Rama was surprised and asked Hanuman to ascertain that whether the food items supplied to Laxmana for fourteen years have been kept intact or not ? Hanuman counted and informed that seven packets were not available.
Lord Rama was eager to know from Laxman about those missing packets. Laxman most humbly replied, Oh my dear respected brother and Lord ! I am narrating the mistery behind it. Laxman said that when you and I had listened the news of death of our dearest father, Dasaratha in the forest you had not supplied me, the food on that very day. When we got the news that Ravana has kidnapped Sita from Panchabati on that day you did not supply the food packet. Then it was on third occasion when Mahi Ravana took both of us to Patala to offer sacrifice before Lankeswari on that day also we were in fast and took no food. On fourth occasion, when I became unconscious, due to arrow hitting of Indrajit I was not in a state to take food. On the day when Indrajit was beheaded I had not taken food for fifth time. It was on the sixth occasion that when you beheaded Ravana you did not take any food. You had committed Brahmahatya as Ravana was a Brahmin and he was the son of Bisrarba Rishi. Lastly, when there was national mourning due to death of Ravana in Sri Lanka on the next day we joined the mourning and left Lanka without taking any
food. Lord Rama was overwhelmed with the supreme sacrifice, dedication and renunciation of Laxman that Laxmana's Bairagya (renunciation) is par excellence. Then he praised the supreme tyaga (sacrifice)of Urmila, that how she spent fourteen years without Laxman. 'I had gone to fourteen years exile with my consort Sita. See such a wife who had made supreme sacrifice. She had eagerly waited the return of Laxman for fourteen years.'

 All praise goes to Urmila', Lord Rama told. 'In Ayodhya we have got three thrones,
one for me, one for Sita and another throne for Laxman. I order to-day that the fourth throne will be installed for Urmila', said Rama. Urmila with folded hands told Rama, that 'I have no desire for any throne. I may be given the opportunity to serve you. I have no aspiration.' Then Rama was pleased and told Urmila, to seek for the boon as she wants. Then humble Urmila with folded hands said that if you want to grant me any boon, then please grant that in the ages to come there will be neither any temple for me, nor I will be worshipped on any throne. I want to become an incense stick by which I will give fragrance to you all. I will be at your lotus feet for ages
to come as Nivedita.

Lord Rama was so pleased and over whelmed with such devotion of Urmila that, he uttered, 'Oh Urmila' ! I grant you this boon that in the Iron Age (Kalikala) when I will be worshipped at Puri Temple, Goddess Laxmi will not be installed by my side. Laxman in Tretaya has become my younger brother and in Kalikala he will be elder brother Balabhadra. You will be Mahaprasad and by your fragrance you will spread the flavour and will be worshipped. Any Prasad which will be offered to me will be offered to Goddess Bimala and then it will be Mahaprasad and will be taken as Prasad by devotees. You will remain as Mahaprasad and Nirmalya for years to come. Devotees will worship you and they will earn Punya for you, So Tretaya's Urmila is the Bimala in Kalikala. Glory to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra and Bimala. Lord Rama further said, 'In Kaliyuga, you will be worshipped as Annabrahma'. Urmila further prayed, 'When you will be on Ratna Singhasana I will come in Bay of Bengal as a wave, the ripple (Urmi) to touch your golden feet. Lord Rama granting this boon and said 'Oh Urmila ! Your selfless love and sacrifice is unparalleled and par excellence; it will be immortalized forever.'

Tarakanta Mohanty
 Deputy Director (Print Media)-cum-Deputy Secretary in the
Information & Public Relations Department,
Government of Orissa, Bhubaneswar.

source : Orissa Review June - 2004

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