‘MOTHER’ – the Primal Guru ~
The Shenoys were a large, traditional joint Hindu family, typical of the time, where multiple generations—grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, children, cousins, and grandchildren—lived together under one roof. Such close-knit living fostered strong familial bonds and a shared cultural identity, but it also came with its own share of friction. In such a large domestic setup, harmony was often fragile, especially among the women of the household. Clashes of temperament and views were common, particularly between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law—each vying, knowingly or not, for emotional or social supremacy within the home.
Sitaram Shenoy’s household was no different. His wife and his mother, both strong-willed women, could never quite find common ground. The relationship between them remained tense, strained by daily disagreements and emotional distance. Eventually, the situation reached a breaking point. In a fit of anger and frustration, Sitaram’s mother abruptly left their home in Mumbai and returned to her ancestral home in Padubidri, a quiet town in South Karnataka. Her departure created a permanent wedge between mother and son. Sitaram, too proud to plead or apologise, let the silence linger. They stopped speaking to each other.
Around the same time, Sitaram nurtured a long-cherished dream—to build a house near Bhagavan Nityananda, his beloved Guru. In the late 1940s, Bhagavan used to sit near the Vajreshwari Temple, close to the ancient Samadhi shrines of Natha saints like Machendranath and Gorakshanath. The powerful spiritual vibrations of the place, combined with Baba’s divine presence, drew many seekers to Vajreshwari. Sitaram was one among them. It was Baba himself who advised him to build a house opposite the temple. With reverence and excitement, Sitaram secured the land on lease from the Vajreshwari Temple Trustees.
By the time the paperwork was completed, Bhagavan Nityananda had shifted his residence to Ganeshpuri, then known as Vaikuntha—now the site of his Samadhi shrine. Sitaram visited Ganeshpuri to seek Baba’s blessings for the Bhoomi Poojan (groundbreaking ceremony). He prostrated before Baba and said, “Dear Deva, as per your instruction, I have taken land near Vajreshwari to build a house and a small motel for devotees visiting you. It is my deepest wish that you grace the Bhoomi Poojan with your divine presence.”
Baba, however, smiled and said, “Go fetch your mother. Let her bless the ceremony.”
Sitaram froze. The command felt impossible. The very thought of going back to the mother he had distanced himself from for years—both emotionally and physically—gnawed at his pride. He folded his hands and pleaded, “Baba, you are my God, my Guru, my Mother and Father. You alone are enough. Your presence is all I seek.”
But Bhagavan Nityananda was firm: “Only your mother should be given this honour.”
Still unwilling to bend, Sitaram replied, almost defiantly, “If you will not come, then I shall still go ahead with the Bhoomi Poojan. I shall keep your photograph at the site and begin the work by invoking your name alone.” And with that, he left Ganeshpuri in a huff.
This incident reveals the unusual yet intimate bond between Sitaram and Baba. Sitaram saw Baba not just as a Guru but as the ultimate source of love, authority, and refuge. He believed he had the privilege to argue with Baba, to challenge him, even to disobey, because he felt that nothing—not even his birth family—mattered more. What he did not realize was that Baba’s love for him was even deeper. Baba tolerated Sitaram’s emotional outbursts because he saw through them—he saw the ego that needed to be softened, the karma that needed to be resolved, and the soul that needed elevation.
The next day, Sitaram arranged for the Bhoomi Poojan. He placed Baba’s photograph at the site, offered prayers, and began the ceremony. Construction started with great enthusiasm. Large stone walls began to rise.
But the next morning, to everyone’s shock, the newly constructed walls had collapsed. Sitaram called the engineers, who were baffled. They rebuilt the structure. The following morning, the same result. The walls had again come crashing down. This continued for three consecutive days.
By the third day, Sitaram’s stubbornness gave way to surrender. He returned to Ganeshpuri and fell at Baba’s feet, confessing everything. He asked for forgiveness, admitting that he had disobeyed.
Bhagavan Nityananda only laughed gently and said, “Mother is the Adi Guru—the first Guru. Only by her blessings can you attain success, both in the world and in spiritual life. When the mother is hurt, no amount of penance can bear fruit. Go to your mother, invite her with love, and give her the honour that is due to her. At the Graha Pravesh (housewarming), wash her feet, gift her a new sari, and begin your new life with her blessings.”
Sitaram understood. This time, truly and deeply. He completed the construction and, swallowing his pride, made a journey to Padubidri. He invited his mother to come to Vajreshwari. He brought her with great honour and respect. At the Graha Pravesh ceremony, he seated her in the centre of the house, washed her feet in a ceremonial padapooja, offered her a beautiful new sari, and bowed at her feet. Then he took her around every room, every corner of the house, requesting her blessings to sanctify the home.
From that day onward, Sitaram treated his mother as a divine presence in his life. The experience changed him. The deep realisation of the Guru’s wisdom and the sanctity of the mother’s role reshaped his understanding of family, devotion, and Dharma.
That moment also planted a seed of tradition. To this day, in the Shenoy family, it has become customary to perform padapooja of one’s mother and to seek her blessings every day. In honouring the mother, they continue to honour the silent teaching of Bhagavan Nityananda—that humility before one’s roots is the gateway to true spiritual progress.
