The 10th Mathadhipati of Shri Chitrapur Math – Parama Pujya Parijnanashram Swamiji III
Once, Smt. Shantabai and Shri Shankarnarayan Shukla, along with their son Ravindra, traveled from Mumbai to Ganeshpuri for the darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda. They left early in the morning and, upon arrival, joined the queue at Kailash Ashram, where devotees waited to see Bhagavan.
The young Ravindra grew impatient with the long wait. While in the queue, he noticed crates of cold drinks in a nearby hotel and demanded one. His mother tried to pacify him, saying, “We are in the queue, and if we leave, we will have to wait all over again.” However, Ravindra could not accept this and became more restless.
Just then, the doors of Kailash Ashram opened for public darshan. The devotees surged forward. Baba was sitting on his bench, and a barrier prevented devotees from touching his feet. When the Shukla family’s turn came, they bowed before Baba. Suddenly, Baba, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, got up, lifted young Ravindra, and made him sit on his lap. Baba gently passed his palm over Ravindra’s head and instructed an attendant, “Go to the restaurant and fetch a cold drink.”
Perplexed but obedient, the attendant quickly fetched a bottle. Baba made Ravindra drink it and then lovingly said, “Guru! Maha Guru! Jyani, Atma Jyani!” With that, He handed the child back to his mother. Outside, Ravindra asked, “How did he know that I wanted a cold drink? Is he God?” His mother replied, “Yes, my child.”
This child, Ravindra, later became a disciple of Shrinad Anandashram Swamiji of Shree Chitrapur Mutt. On 1st March 1959, at the tender age of 11, he was initiated into the order of monks and named “Parijnanashram” by his Guru, Swami Anandashram. For 15 years, he served as the Mutthadipati of the Chitrapur Saraswat community and later established the Durga Parmeshwari Temple at Karla, Maharashtra. His Guru, Shree Anandashram Swamiji, was aware of Bhagavan Nityananda and had visited the Panvel Ashram of Shree Lalita Mauli. Baba’s declaration that the child is a Guru came true, revealing the profound connection and foresight of Bhagavan Nityananda.
