Shri Madhav Hegde at the Lotus Feet of Gurudeva

Although there were several householder devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda, I have chosen Shri Madhav Hegde to be the first to share the grace and love that he experienced for over twenty years with Bhagavan Nityananda. His surrender to his Guru was extraordinarily unconditional. His devotion was put to the test by making him undergo several emotional challenges, and each challenge he faced by saying, “Come what may my Deva, even if You choose to disown me, I shall never ever let You go away from my life!” I, therefore, thought that studying his life would be interesting to devotees.

Shri Mangalore Madhav Hegde was born on 16th September 1915. His father, Venkatesh, and mother, Gauri, lived in Mangalore. They had five sons and five daughters. Of the five brothers, Shri Narayan Hegde and Shri Madhav Hegde were devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda. Both moved to Mumbai, where they lived all their lives.

When Madhav was eight years old, he had a chance to meet Bhagavan Nityananda, who had come to Mangalore. Tulas Amma had a small ashram near Urva Market in 1921. Bhagavan Nityananda used to often come to Mangalore in those days. Tulas Amma was elder to Baba by age. In 1921, Baba appeared to be 17 to 18 years old. He was very slim and wore long arms. Baba was in an Avadhut state and did not do anything with His own hands. He used to eat only when He was fed. He never remained in one place for long. At times, He used to visit someone and leave the place within a matter of minutes after arriving. Tulas Amma used to feed Baba as a small child. In the evening, Baba used to visit the Mangalore Railway terminus. There, a few devotees used to gather and discuss spiritual matters. Shri Narayan Hegde, the elder brother, often went to this railway terminus to join the group and listen to the discussions. Once or twice, Shri Madhav Hegde accompanied him, and it was then he saw Bhagavan Nityananda for the first time. He must have been eight years old. He did not understand what they discussed, nor did Baba talk to him, but their eye contact was made. Tulas Amma had a small rented house at Dongerkery in Mangalore. Once, Shri Madhav Hegde saw Baba there too. After that, Baba and he never met until one day by chance, he met my uncle, Shri Sitaram Shenoy, in Mangalore, and later he came to Mumbai.

Mangalore Madhav Hegde came into contact with Shri Sitaram Shenoy between 1935 and 1940 when Shri Sitaram Shenoy came to Mangalore for the marriage of his younger brother, Shri Ramakrishna Shenoy. The marriage was in Mangalore, and he was looking for someone who could decorate the marriage pandal with lighting using electric bulbs. Someone recommended Shri Madhav Hegde to him. Thus, the task of decorating the pandal came to Madhav, who did it in a very unique style where continuous ‘Om’ was lit. This pandal was facing the main road. It so happened that Shree Sudhindra Teertha Swami, Mathadipatti of Kashi Matha, was passing by that road in his car. On seeing the Om decoration, he asked the driver to pull the car aside and enquired who was the Yajamana (head) of the marriage party. On hearing that his Dharma Guru had come and summoned him, Shri Sitaram Shenoy immediately ran out with customary gifts (fruits, shawl, Arathi) that are offered to the head of the Matha. When he offered his salutations to Swamiji, Swamiji said that he was impressed by the Om decoration and wanted to know who had designed it. He further said that he had never seen such a beautifully made Om anywhere in India and he wished to acknowledge the artist who designed it. Shri Sitaram Shenoy was pleased that this simple decision of giving this task to Madhav had brought Shree Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji, making it an auspicious sign for the marriage ceremony. After the marriage ceremony, Shri Sitaram Shenoy invited Madhav to come to Mumbai along with him so that he could look for suitable prospects for his living. After obtaining permission from his mother, Shri Madhav Hegde came to Mumbai along with Shri Sitaram Shenoy.

In Mumbai, Shri Sitaram Shenoy gave Madhav a small room to stay in Dongri where he lived and two days later took him to Ganeshpuri (Dongri-Dadar-Vasai-Ganeshpuri), where he introduced him to Bhagavan Nityananda. Bhagavan hardly noticed or paid any attention to Madhav. Shri Sitaram Shenoy consoled him and advised him that he should go alone to Ganeshpuri and meet Swamiji. Accordingly, Madhav visited Ganeshpuri alone and met Baba. This time, Baba treated him with great love. He taught Madhav to prepare coffee and cook various dishes. He taught him how to light wood for cooking and other intricacies of cooking without a stove. Both Baba and Madhav used to drink coffee together and eat food like a mother and son. At times, Baba served him with his own hands, and both sat for lunch, which was mainly rice and sambhar with assorted vegetables. Those moments were very divine and joyful. Thereafter, Madhav visited Ganeshpuri every week. Thus, Shri Madhav Hegde met Bhagavan Nityananda for the second time in 1940 when he was about 25 years old, 17 years since he had briefly seen Him in Mangalore.

Shri Madhav Hegde, his wife, and daughter Nalini were regular visitors to our house, and Mrs. Hegde had immense love and respect for my mother. He had a son named Nityananda, who unfortunately died at the very early age of thirty-two. Of the many householder devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda, I would rate Shri Madhav Hegde as one who practised ‘Anyanasharan’ – unconditional surrender to his Sadguru Nityananda. He had to undergo turbulent roller-coaster rides all his life, but his faith in his Guru was never shaken or diminished. He had a very strong personality: tall, hefty, smart, daredevil, fearless, and very direct in his approach. He never minced his words and accepted no nonsense. As a householder devotee, he evolved first under Sitaram Shenoy, my uncle, and later under the direct guidance of Swami Nityananda. He also had great devotion to Shree Tulsi Amma and Shaligram Swami.

Shri Madhav Hegde passed away on 7th July 2007 (7-7-7), a year that saw several devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda passing away. It was late evening when I received a call from his daughter that he had passed away. I quickly took a U-turn from Andheri Highway and rushed to the Portuguese Church, Dadar, where they lived. He was not keeping well for a few days, but death was not expected. It was sudden and shocking. When I reached, he was no more, and the very idea that my one last link with Bhagavan Nityananda was no more was painful. There were very few close relatives. I requested my cousin, Kamalakar, for help, and he arranged for the priests. While the idea of Shri Hegde passing away was sinking in, the air was filled with the aroma of the blooming of Brahmakamal. Suddenly, several flowers bloomed, leaving a sweet aroma in the air as if to convey that all that he had shared about Bhagavan Nityananda and His Grace would bloom within us even though Shri Hegde was no more. He had nourished our being with the love of Bhagavan, and whatever he had shared with us about Bhagavan’s Grace was beyond our wildest dreams. The flowers soothed me a bit. Since I was closest to the family at that moment, I was to perform his last rites. Shri Sharad Jayawant and Mahendra Hingwala had come to have his last darshan. Normally, the last rites authorization goes to the son. I wondered why Baba chose me to do this! I remembered what Mrs. Hegde once told my mother.

Shri Hegde’s son’s Upanayanam was held at Ganeshpuri. It was Bhagavan Nityananda who had recommended that the Upanayanam of his son be held in Ganeshpuri. Accordingly, the ceremony was fixed, and the entire ceremony was held under the supervision of Bhagavan Nityananda. As the ceremony was in progress, Smt. Hegde asked Baba, “We have no relatives here to grace the occasion, as certain rituals require to be headed by close relatives like uncles and sisters.” Baba said, “All those who are ‘Here’ today are your relatives.” By chance, my parents were in Ganeshpuri, and Smt. Hegde accepted us as their relatives as suggested by Baba, and we actively participated in the ceremony. Since then, the two families came together. During one visit to our house, Smt. Shantha Hegde told my mother, “The Almighty Nityananda declared you all are our relatives. He alone knows why He said so. Must be in the future, there is a role for your family in our lives.” As I was accompanying the body of Shri Hegde to the cremation ground, her words rang in my ears.

Bhagavan Nityananda foresaw years ago that there would come a time when no one would take on the responsibility of very pious and holy duty. This gave me some respite. With all devotion and respect, I fulfilled my duty and lit the pyre of one of Bhagavan Nityananda’s most devout followers.

The life and times of Shri Madhav Hegde were enigmatic, divine, and mystic. He shared his experiences with Baba directly with me, and I found his accounts authentic, as they were based on his personal experiences without any hearsay or tale-telling. Shri Madhav Hegde’s experiences, what he saw, and what he heard were all shared with me, much like how Ramakant Prabhu shared the grace experienced by his mother, Susheela Prabhu, and his own experiences with me.

Shri Madhav Hegde first came to Baba in Ganeshpuri in 1940 during the Second World War. At that time, Baba lived in a small hut close to the Bhimeshwar temple, where the hot springs were buried under the mud. Baba cleared the tanks and rebuilt the temple and the Kunda. Shri Madhav Hegde was one of the many devotees who joined Baba in taking early morning baths in the Kunda. This was a rare honour that he could get as nobody was allowed to enter Kunda when Bhagavan took a bath in the Kunda. When Madhav was in Ganeshpuri, they would go for a bath at 4 AM in the second tank of the Kunda, which was otherwise off-limits before that hour.

From 2004 to 2007, I visited Shri Madhav Hegde several times and was blessed to hear about the grace of Bhagavan Nityananda. Much of my understanding and learning about devotees, devotion, and the teachings of Bhagavan Nityananda came from the various incidents he shared with me. Here, I share some of these experiences, although they may not be in chronological order. Some details may seem repetitive, but they add depth to the understanding of his experiences.

Early Days

As a typical member of the G. S. B. community, his loyalty was to his Dharma Guru from Kashi Matha. As a young man, he studied Bhagavan Nityananda carefully and soon became an ardent devotee. Sometimes, Baba would allow Shri Hegde to prepare coffee for Him during overnight stays in Ganeshpuri. Despite Baba’s youthful demeanour and playful interactions with children and visitors, Shri Hegde noted Baba’s profound spiritual presence.

They often bathed together in the hot Kunda water. This honour was not for many except children. Nobody went near Kunda when Bhagavan took His bath Shri Hegde mentioned that Baba preferred the middle Kunda, which Baba referred to as Koti Teertha. While some claim Baba favoured the first Kunda with its hot water spring, Shri Madhav Hegde insisted that Baba’s preferred Kunda was the second one, and he made it a practice to take dips there throughout his life, considering its water sacred.

Shri Hegde recalled Baba’s playful nature, mentioning how Baba would sometimes playfully splash water using both palms clasped together. It was a cherished honor for Shri Hegde that Baba occasionally shared lunch with him, a privilege bestowed on very few devotees.

To the UK

Shri Madhav Hegde soon joined Naval Dock at Dockyard in Mumbai as an apprentice. As an apprentice, he received a small stipend, and the apprenticeship usually lasted for a couple of years. At the end of the apprenticeship, the candidate was generally absorbed into regular employment in the organization. During one of his visits to Ganeshpuri, Bhagavan Nityananda asked the young Madhav, “What are you doing nowadays? How much are you earning?” At that time, Bhagavan was living in Vaikuntha Ashram. Shri Madhav Hegde replied, “I have completed my apprenticeship and have now been absorbed into regular employment. As a trainee, I get a few rupees, just enough to maintain my body and soul together.” Baba asked him, “What a stupid fellow you are! How can you be so satisfied with meagre earnings? Do you not wish to improve your prospects? Why do you not read a newspaper?” Shri Hegde replied that he wished to improve his prospects and that he read the newspaper regularly. Bhagavan then asked him, “Did you not read about the Bevin Boys’ Training Scheme in London, which was sponsored by the then-British Government?”

How Baba knew about the Bevin Boys’ advertisement in the newspaper when remote villages like Ganeshpuri did not get the newspaper daily is a mystery. Who can doubt the all-knowing Baba? Bevin Boys were young British men conscripted to work in the coal mines of the United Kingdom between December 1943 and March 1948 to increase the rate of coal production, which had declined during the early years of World War II. The program was named after Ernest Bevin, a former trade union official and then British Labour Party politician who was Minister of Labour and National Service in the wartime coalition government. Chosen by lot as ten percent of all male conscripts aged 18–25, plus some volunteering as an alternative to military conscription, nearly 48,000 Bevin Boys performed vital and dangerous civil conscription service in coal mines. Although the last ballot took place in May 1945 (shortly before VE Day), the final conscripts were not released from service until March 1948. Few chose to remain working in the country’s coal mining industry after demobilization; most left for further education or employment in other sectors.

In the advertisement, there was a scope for training in engineering under the Bevin Boys’ Training Scheme. Shri Hegde had read the advertisement but, because he was a migrant from Karnataka, did not qualify. He told Baba, “The quotas are allotted province-wise in which I may not fit. My application will be outright rejected as I would not be considered eligible since I am not a domicile of Bombay.” His reply made Baba angry, and he admonished Shri Hegde for viewing life through such a narrow prism. He, in fact, ordered that the very next day he should apply under the scheme. Once told by his Guru, Shri Hegde went to Mumbai and applied. As foretold by Baba, he got selected! All the selected candidates were to undergo a medical examination. Shri Madhav Hegde was very tall, strong, and had robust health. He was confident that he would pass the medical test. But during the medical examination, the medical officer, upon observing that he had applied from Bombay although he was not eligible, objected and, without examining him, rejected him as medically unfit. Dejected, Madhav immediately went to Ganeshpuri and informed Baba of how his application was simply rejected because he was not eligible to apply from Bombay. Instead of showing sympathy, Baba admonished him again, “Are you mad? Is there no superior to the medical officer? Go and register your plea with him.” Shri Hegde returned to Mumbai and approached the Senior Medical Officer, who was British. Looking at the young and strong man, the officer wondered how he could be found medically unfit. He immediately sent for the medical officer who had rejected the application and asked for the grounds for declaring Shri Hegde medically unfit. Not finding any substantial reason coming from the officer, the Britisher gave him a severe warning and revoked the rejection. With several twists and turns, Shri Hegde received a formal appointment letter only because of the grace of Bhagavan Nityananda, who guided and coaxed him to face each hurdle and persevere.

Manifestation in the UK

In London, Shri Madhav Hegde, now a well-groomed young man, attracted attention and courted a local girl. This girls was interested in hooking him as he appeared to come from an aristocratic family. She encouraged him to take her to an isolated park as it was a cold winter night. However, during a romantic evening in a park, Bhagavan Nityananda manifested before him, admonishing him for deviating from his purpose. Bhagavan appeared angry and Madhav was frightened from the looks of Bhagavan. Bhagavan asked him “Is this why you were sent to study abroad? What would your parents think of you finding you engaged in such an act?” The sudden appearance of Baba frightened both Madhav and the girl who fled from the place leaving Madhav alone in the dark. Somehow, Madhav gathered himself and staggered to the nearest bus stop.  He was thoroughly shaken and profusely sweating. Those standing at the bus stop wearing thick woollen clothes wondered how he was sweating when temperatures were so low. He boarded a bus and reached his hostel still dazed and frightened. He wondered how Bhagavan could manifest in London. It impressed upon him that he was under the watchful eyes of Bhagavan. This encounter transformed his life that night and he surrendered to Bhagavan accepting Him as his Guru unconditionally.  He completed his training and returned to India.

Strange way to hunt for Job

Upon returning, Shri Madhav Hegde sought Baba’s guidance for employment. Baba’s unconventional advice was to wear his suit and walk up and down Sir Pherozshah Mehta Road from 10 AM to 5 PM. Though initially perplexed, Madhav followed Baba’s instructions. After several days of pacing the street, a British man, Mr. J. H. Brown, noticed him and called out.

Mr. Brown asked him, “I see you every day walking down this street from morning to evening in this attire. What are you up to?”

Shri Hegde told him, “I am looking for a job.”

The British laughed loudly, “How do you expect to find a job by walking up and down the street wearing a suit?”

Without being offended, young Madhav said, “My Guru instructed me to do so and promised that I would find a job. I have full faith in my Guru.”

Hearing him, the British became curious. He asked to know what he was. Shri Hegde told him that he was trained in London and described the experience that he had gained in London in engineering. The British said that he was looking for a candidate with the qualifications and experience that Madhav had. He asked him to come to his office in the Laxmi Building on the same road. The British drove away leaving Madhav excited. He made his way to the Laxmi Building where there was also the office of famous Marcopolo.

He entered the office. Soon Mr. Brown entered and called him into the cabin. After going through his credentials, he told Shri Hegde, “If you are ready to travel to Calcutta in the next couple of days, the job is yours.” Madhav agreed and was given an appointment letter with a respectable salary and instructions that any moment he would be required to board the ship to Calcutta.

Holding the envelope in his hand, Shri Hegde walked down the stairs with his heart full of gratitude for his Guru. He could not believe that what looked like a weird suggestion to find a job would come true. He decided to go to Ganeshpuri.

Shri Madhav Hegde left for Ganeshpuri the next morning to inform Baba of his getting a job. As he reached some metres away from Vaikuntha Ashram, he saw Baba running towards him, “Go back! Go back immediately if you do not wish to miss the ship!” Confused Madhav bowed to Baba from a distance and hurriedly made his way back to Mumbai. He wondered, as he was sitting in the train, why Baba mentioned missing a ship. He was not to travel to Calcutta for the next couple of days as the ship was not ready to sail.

When he reached his home, he found a man in a white uniform waiting at his door. When Shri Hegde approached him, he handed over an envelope that contained his ticket to Calcutta and said the ship was ready to sail that night which he should not miss if he wanted the job. Madhav heaved a sigh of relief. He once again felt immense gratitude towards Bhagavan Nityananda. Every moment of his life, Baba came to his help in strange ways. He remembered Baba saying, “Guru has a Kurma Drishti”. Yes, like the mother turtle, after laying her eggs on the shore, swims in the sea all the while keeping a watch from a distance on the eggs. It is said that the warmth of her love through her eyes helps the eggs to hatch and guides them safely into the sea.

After completing the assignment given to him, Shri Madhav Hegde returned to Bombay. He worked directly under Mr. Brown, who offered him the job. Because of his personality, intelligence, ability to deliver, and good etiquette that he had mastered in London, Madhav became a favourite of his boss. He got the best of everything in his job although there were many seniors to him. He was given a car, an errand boy, a separate cabin to work from, and all disciplines reporting to him. His life began to settle wonderfully, much more than he expected. Coming from an ordinary family in the village of Karnataka, he could not have wished for better. It was all by the grace of his Sadguru, Nityananda. Every weekend he went to Ganeshpuri in his car. He got married to a lady called Shantha on 21st February 1945. They had a son, whom they named after their Guru Nithyananda, and a daughter called Nalini. Everything was looking fine. Name and fame and a weekly visit to Ganeshpuri in a car were a big luxury in those days.

Just as Shri Hegde was thinking that ‘all is well,’ he did not know that things would change soon. Because of his closeness to his British boss, which got him a position and extraordinary perks which his seniors did not get, his colleagues became jealous of him. There was a lot of backbiting going on. Soon another Britisher was sent to replace Madhav’s boss. The new manager was immediately brainwashed by others and made to go against Shri Hegde. No sooner had the new boss taken charge and the old boss left for England, than the new boss began to withdraw all the perks that Madhav enjoyed. He also started demeaning him. Life was no longer like before, leading to pain and frustrations.

Losing Job

Every weekend Madhav used to visit Ganeshpuri. Sometimes he went alone and sometimes with his family. Every time he told Baba about office politics and his discomfort in the office environment that was created by the new boss for him. During one such visit, Baba said, “Then leave the job (if you are disturbed).” Shri Hegde was shocked to hear Baba telling him to leave the job. But since this was what his Guru suggested, he went to the office the next day and submitted his resignation which was readily accepted. All the comforts and perks vanished. Life was no longer what it was. However, he continued to visit Ganeshpuri and spend some time with Baba. One day Baba asked him about his job. Shri Hegde replied, “I have resigned from my job as ‘Here’ I was told to do so.” Baba appeared very angry and said, “Now suffer! You will not find a job.” Madhav said, “I was told by You, so I resigned. Now You say I will not find a job! Your Wish will prevail.”

For several months Shri Madhav Hegde did not have any job. But he did not easily give up. He went on searching and with some help, he got a job in an engineering firm. The job was of the ordinary shop-floor worker, much below what job he had before. Yet he accepted and began to work as an ordinary worker. He soon gained the respect of workers through his knowledge and experience. Workers loved working with him.

In that firm, there was huge imported machinery that appeared brand new but was not in use. It was barricaded by an iron enclosure. Every day, Madhav looked at it and wondered why it was there unused. He finally asked his co-workers who told him the story behind it. It seems that by paying a huge price, the owner had imported it from Germany. After it landed in the factory, it could not be commissioned as whenever it was started it made a loud sound and did not function. The engineers from Germany came to address the problem but they could not repair it. Since then it has been lying there and to prevent anybody from doing any mischief, it was enclosed with a warning. The owner was quite hurt and disturbed by the loss. On hearing this, Shri Hegde made his way to the owner’s cabin and told him, “I see that machine lying unused ever since it has come here. I can repair it.” Looking at Madhav’s confidence, the owner laughed. He said, “The engineers from Germany who manufactured this machine could not repair it and here are you challenging to repair! No way. You are wasting my time.” But Madhav pursued and pleaded for one chance. The owner saw a spark of confidence in his eyes and said, “I will give you one chance. If you succeed, I will offer you the top position as an engineer in this company. If you fail, I will throw you out.” Madhav said, “Accepted on one condition. I should be given the freedom to select my team and for fifteen days nobody should interfere with my work.” The owner agreed and soon empowered Shri Madhav Hegde through an office circular giving all rights and power him to work independently by selecting his team members.

For fifteen days, Madhav slogged day and night with hands he trusted and who trusted him. They all worked hard. Nobody dared to interfere although they all made fun of them behind their back. On the fifteenth day, the owner came on the shop floor and sought Madhav. Madhav was ready with his team. The entire workforce and senior managers gathered to watch the event. When Madhav gave the signal, the foreman from his team started the machine. No sooner had the start button been pushed, the machine made a loud sound and fell silent for a moment and then started to function. His team screamed in joy and began to hug each other. With the machine repaired, Shri Hegde was immediately accepted and respected by all. The owner called him to his cabin and said, “As promised, from today you shall head this section and you will be in the management cadre.” Shri Hegde asked for an extra increment and bonus for the team members who helped him in his endeavour and the same was readily accepted. Thus Shri Madhav Hegde regained his past position and glory. He went to Ganeshpuri to inform Bhagavan. Since then Bhagavan addressed him as Engineer Hegde.

Preparation of Sadhak on the Principle of Nishkamabhavana

I asked Shri Madhav Hegde, “Why did Bhagavan ask you to leave your job in the first place and then say that you would not find a new job after giving it up under His instructions?” Shri Hegde replied, “He wanted to test me to see if I would follow His order. Having followed Him, He wanted to test whether I would happily endure the agony, pain, insults, loss of social status, etc., without complaint. He also wanted to test my Atmavishwas—self-confidence, my perseverance, and my ability to go beyond limitations. He put me through these tests before He accepted me. I too tested Him. I wanted to see if His Grace was continuous and seamless. When I took the challenge to repair the machine, I hardly knew what was wrong with it as nobody was allowed to examine it. I simply took a chance with my faith in Him.”

The challenges that Shri Madhav Hegde faced were just a preview of what was to come in his life as a sadhak who surrendered unconditionally to Sadguru. Disaster after disaster came into his life, which would shake a common man. But Shri Madhav Hegde lived as a witness to every event, good or bad, that happened in his life. A true sadhak would not leave his Guru, and Shri Madhav Hegde stood this test successfully. Let us now see how.

Shri Madhav Hegde was now well-settled in life and of marriageable age. He married Shantha on February 21, 1945, with the blessings of Baba. In 1951, he took a house on rent in Bhatia Bhagavan, in Portuguese Church, Mumbai. Their son was born on May 18, 1947. He was named Nithyananda. Madhav’s father-in-law did not approve of his son-in-law following Bhagavan Nithyananda. As a member of the G.S.B. community, they had their Dharma Guru, Shree Sudhindra Teertha Swami of Kashi Matha. He was a strong follower of Kashi Matha Swamiji and did not like Madhav going to Swami Nithyananda. The Kashi Matha was a Dharma Sansthan, and the Guru carried a certain degree of privileges and stature, whereas Bhagavan Nithyananda wore nothing but a loincloth and did not follow any religious strictures. To the father-in-law, Bhagavan Nithyananda was like any other ordinary sadhu, and he wanted nothing to do with Him. He often made fun of Bhagavan Nithyananda as “one whose worth is not enough to buy His own loincloth.” However much he discouraged his son-in-law, Madhav,  did not give up on Bhagavan Nityananda all his life. He held His Feet firmly.

Life to the Son

One day, Shri Madhav Hegde, with his family and his father-in-law, visited Ganeshpuri. Nithyananda was still a small child. Both grandfather and grandson were playing in Kunda. Suddenly, the young child fell into the water and drowned. There was total commotion as everybody began to run here and there, calling out to Shri Madhav Hegde. Madhav and Shantha carried the dead child to where Baba was sitting and placed the child at His Feet. The mother was inconsolable. Baba asked that the body of the child be kept in a gunny bag and for all of them to leave. They all left, leaving Baba with the dead child’s body. After some time, when they returned, the child was found playing with Baba. The parents’ joy knew no bounds. The grandfather, who until then did not accept Bhagavan Nithyananda, surrendered to Him after this incident.

An Insect in the Ear

Once it so happened that when Shri Madhav Hegde was in Ganeshpuri, an insect went into his ear. It was so painful that Madhav rolled on the floor in agony. When Baba was told, He came with a torch and asked Madhav to hold still so that the ear was lit inside. Baba then called out to the insect to come out. Soon, the insect crawled out of his ear and flew away. Madhav experienced immense relief. However, he asked Baba why He did not kill the insect. Baba said, “It was not purposely that the insect entered your ear. It was by mistake. Why kill?”

Upanayanam Ceremony of son

As it was a tradition among Gowd Saraswat Brahmins, Nityananda reached the age for the Upanayanam ceremony. Shri Madhav Hegde went to Baba to seek His permission.

Upanayanam, Janai, or Janeau is one of the traditional Saṃskāras (rites of passage) that marks the acceptance of a student by a guru (teacher or tutor) and an individual’s entrance to a school in Hinduism. The tradition is widely discussed in ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism and varies regionally. The sacred thread (Yagyopavita or Janeu) is received by the boy during this ceremony, which he continues wearing from the left shoulder to the right, crossing the chest thereafter. Generally, this ceremony should be done before the age of 16.

The Upanayanam was restricted in many medieval Hindu texts to the upper three of the four Varnas (castes) of society — Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas. Upanayana means “the act of leading to or enlightenment or near the eye (or eyesight/vision/third eye/Pineal gland).” It is an important and widely discussed samskara in ancient Sanskrit texts. The rite of passage symbolizes the leading or drawing towards the self of a child, in a school, by a teacher. It is a ceremony in which a guru (teacher) accepts and draws a child towards knowledge and initiates the second birth that is of the young mind and spirit.

The “sacred thread” (Yajñopavītam or Upavīta) that a boy wears after his Upanayanam ceremony is a thin cord, composed of three cotton strands. The strands symbolize different things in different regions. For example, among Tamil Hindus, each strand represents one of the three trinities of goddesses: Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. The proper manner of wearing the upper garment or thread, according to the ancient texts, is from over the left shoulder and under the right arm.

Once when Shri Madhav Hegde visited Ganeshpuri along with his wife, as approached Baba for His permission to leave, Bhagavan asked him what about performing the Upanayanam ceremony of his son Nithyananda, who was now 12 years old, Madhav said “Whatever is told ‘Here’ would be accepted wholeheartedly”. Baba told him the ceremony should be held in Ganeshpuri and he gave them a very short lead time for preparations. Once instructed by Baba, it was followed without question. Accordingly, the Upanayanam ceremony was fixed in Ganeshpuri and all arrangements were made by Baba to facilitate the event. Hegde’s had no time to get all their relatives invited for the ceremony as Bhagavan fixed the date. It is an important event in the life of a Brahmin family; Mrs Hegde felt sad that she could not call her near and dear ones. She rarely expressed anything to Bhagavan, but that day she expressed her feelings. Bhagavan comforted her by saying “Whosoever comes ‘Here’ is your relative”. That day there was a flood of people at the gate of Kailash and Bhagavan offered lunch to all.  Thus, Shri Nithyananda’s thread ceremony happened in Ganeshpuri with the blessings of Baba. Baba offered the young Nityananda the traditional ochre colored silk  Dhoti which is known in Konkani Patyatodope. The Patyatodope is essential for the young Bhikshuk to wear when he undergoes the Upanayana ceremony. Similarly, Bhagavan gave ochre coloured saree to his sister, Nalini, because as per tradition, the brother should give his sister a gift.

Baba had made all the arrangements. He delegated Shree Narayan Bhatji of the Bhadrakali Temple to preside over the ceremony. From the day Bhagavan announced the date of the thread ceremony and the Hegde family reached Mumbai, Mrs. Hegde developed a high fever. This fever lasted till the day of the ceremony not giving her any opportunity to invite their relatives and friends. The ceremony was held in Kailash Hall. Opposite Kailash Hall was a sugarcane juice vendor. Baba usually served His devotees this juice, calling it Amrita-nectar. The guests who attended the Upanayanam ceremony were offered the juice. Baba also made a sweet dish called ‘Patoli,’ which is made with turmeric plant leaves, known as Haldipan.

When it came to the guests, as mentioned above, Smt. Shantha Hegde looked outside the gate of Kailash Hall and saw that it was jam-packed with locals. Disappointed, she asked, “Baba, where are our relatives?” Baba replied, “All who have come ‘Here‘ are your relatives.” Chance had brought my parents with children to Ganeshpuri, and it was Baba’s words that made us relatives of Shri Madhav Hegde. This friendship remained strong till the end. Smt. Shantha Hegde regularly met my mother, sharing Baba’s grace and their joys and pains. Whenever there were challenges and uncertainties, my mother prayed to Baba. We had a large life-size picture of Baba, and my mother used to offer a garland worth three annas (one anna being six paise) to Baba’s picture for every wish fulfilled and worry resolved. They experienced His grace even after His Mahasamadhi, often finding that a promise of a three-anna garland facilitated their prayers being heard.

Learning various Vidhya

Shri Madhav Hegde learned various secret Vidhyas from Baba. Once, in 1955, it rained so heavily that the river Teja got flooded and water was on the verge of entering Vaikuntha Ashram. Baba asked Shri Madhav Hegde, Gangubai, and Madhav Mama to carry things from Vaikuntha Ashram to the Kailash Building to prevent them from getting wet. They hurriedly began to shift things. By the time they carried the last item to safety, the water had reached the first step of Kailash. There was no sign of the flood abating. Baba then told Shri Hegde to offer flowers to the flooded river and perform Arathi. No sooner were the flowers offered and Arathi performed, than the water started receding. Baba taught Shri Hegde how to make floodwaters recede.

Shri Hegde told me that Baba had taught him how to revive a person from death and treat Parkinson’s disease. He did not reveal the technique, but I believed him, as he had ample opportunity to learn these Vidhyas from Baba. Being intelligent and very committed, Baba would have selected Shri Hegde to learn such secrets.

Bhagavan as supervisor

Bhagavan took great care of His devotees. Whenever Madhav visited Ganeshpuri on weekdays, his juniors on the shop floor told him “In your absence, we saw a tall dark man in langoti supervising and instructing us”. Bhagavan thus took care of his job.

There was labour unrest in the factory. One day the union leaders came to hammer Shri Madhav Hegde. As they entered his cabin to beat him a tiger roared out His photo which was kept behind his chair. The intruders ran out of his cabin in fear.

Time and again Bhagavan took care of His devotees, protected them and looked after them

An old friend from the Himalayas

It was a quiet morning as usual in Ganeshpuri. Baba was in Vaikuntha Ashram. Shri Madhav Hegde sat near the entrance of the Ashram, his legs blocking the entrance. Baba was sitting on the slope leading to His room. All was quiet, and there were no visitors except Shri Hegde. When he turned his head towards Baba, Shri Hegde suddenly saw a Sadhu walking towards Baba. The Sadhu went close to Baba and audaciously pulled Him by the arms, making Him stand on His feet. Shri Hegde wondered where this Sadhu must have entered from. He was blocking the entrance, and unless someone crossed over his legs, there was no possibility of entering.

This Sadhu was tall and hefty, with a long white beard and matted white hair, resembling Rishi Vishwamitra as described in books. Both Baba and the Sadhu started walking up and down the hall, with the newcomer keeping his arms across Baba’s shoulders as if they were old friends. They seemed to be enjoying some reminisces, joking, laughing, and patting each other’s back.

When they reached the end where Shri Hegde was sitting, the newcomer stopped and said to him, “You know, I am his friend from the Himalayas. We have known each other for 760 years.” No sooner had the Sadhu shared this, Baba then became angry and hit his chest, causing the Sadhu to disappear instantly. Baba appeared very stern and displeased.

Shri Hegde asked Baba, “Where did he disappear to? Why are you angry with him?” Baba replied, “It was wrong of him to boast and share such secrets with you. If the public comes to know such things, there will be a big crowd here. It was not right for him to do so.” Baba disliked publicity, as it often attracted people for the wrong reasons.

Hath yogi wants to walk on the water.

One day when Shri Madhav Hegde was in Ganeshpuri, the Maharani of Kolhapur came to have Darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda. She was accompanied by a Hath Yogi. The Maharani of Kolhapur had some spiritual discussions with Baba and took His guidance. The Hath Yogi asked Baba to give him the power that would make it possible for him to walk on water. Baba did not say anything and kept quiet. The Maharani left but the Yogi stayed behind and made a small Ashram across the river near the Anusuya Kund. He pursued his desire to acquire the power of walking on water. One day Baba said “If you wish to have that power you must write Omkara on 100,000 leaves of Peeple tree, (Ficus Religiosa). Yogi made a grand arrangement in Bombay for an event where he claimed that he would perform in front of an audience act of walking on water. All the tickets were sold. In Ganeshpuri the Yogi hired young boys and made them collect 100,000 leaves of Peeple tree and write Omkar on them. When it was ready he decided to test whether he had acquired the power to walk on water. It was in June/July when the river was full. Meanwhile, Bhagavan Nityananda sent a few people across to him. While the Hath Yogi attempted to walk on the water, the river swept him away. The people, whom Baba had sent in advance, save him. The event that the Yogi had planned in Bombay failed miserably and the Yogi ran away never to be seen in Ganeshpuri.

When Bhagavan was asked why did this Yogi fail He said “He was told to write om on 100,000 leaves. He found an easy way out by asking others to do this task. Were he serious, he would have done it himself and would have thus acquired the Siddhi to walk on water.”

Instant visit of Madhav to Tungareshwar and back

Tungareshwar, situated at an altitude of approximately 2177 feet, stands as one of the highest mountain plateaus in Vasai. For most trekkers, the journey begins at the highway junction, about a kilometre from the base, where a forest checkpost marks the entry point. The trek itself spans about 3 kilometres and involves crossing two streams before reaching the revered Lord Shiva temple. Due to its popularity among pilgrims, weekends can be crowded, prompting some to prefer quieter weekdays for visits. For many visitors, a visit to the temple and a refreshing swim in the overflowing water pond constitute a perfect outing.

According to mythology, Tungareshwar is steeped in legend as the place where Lord Parshurama subdued the demon Tunga, as mentioned in the Puranas. It is also noted as a meditation site of Adi Shankaracharya, near what is now known as Nalasopara or Sopara. The temple itself is adorned with symbols of sacred geometry and is believed to be designed according to Vastu Shastra, resonating with spiritual energy.

From Ganeshpuri, Tungareshwar Mountain is approximately 20 kilometers away, accessible via the Vajreshwari – Shirshad Phata road

Just 15 days before His Mahasamadhi, Bhagavan Nityananda moved from Kailash Bhuvan to the Bangalorewala Building. Baba repeatedly told His devotees that He wished to go to Kanhangad, but they did not let Him go. When Shri Laxman Shah Khoday came to Ganeshpuri, Baba asked him whether he would take Him to Bangalore. Anticipating Baba’s visit, Shri Khoday had made all preparations by building a new building for Baba. Baba celebrated His last Guru Purnima on 27th July 1961 in Bangalorewala Building. Though He was not well, devotees served Him, closely guarding Him from visitors.

One night, about 5 or 7 days before His Mahasamadhi, Shri Madhav Hegde was serving Baba in the Bangalorewala Building. It was late at night and raining heavily. Suddenly, Baba went to the window on the south side of the building and pointed towards Tungareshwar hill. Baba caught Shri Hegde’s thumb, and within seconds, they were standing on the edge of a water reservoir in Tungareshwar. Baba showed Shri Hegde large gold slabs and copper pots filled with gold coins in the water, telling him they had been there for over 1000 years. Baba asked, “Do you wish to have them?” Madhav replied, “My Deva! What will I do with them? They mean nothing to me. I need You.” Pleased, Baba held his thumb again, and they returned to the Bangalorewala Building.

Many times Shri Madhav Hegde broached this topic. He used to say, “I do not know why Baba took me to Tungareshwar and showed me the treasure. I wonder what He expected me to do with it by telling me the process to reach the treasure, which otherwise would not be noticed. Without knowing the secret, the treasure is beyond any human being’s reach as there is a certain process to get it. What use did He expect me to make of all that wealth? The secret to reaching and getting this treasure was revealed to me by Him! ” He further said, “I am looking for the right person who is capable of handling this treasure and making proper use of it for the welfare of others. If I find a person authorized by Him, I will teach him and share the trick of reaching the treasure.” He also said, “I wonder why He wanted me to know about that treasure in the hills of Tungareshwar. Maybe I will have to take one more birth to fulfil the purpose of using the treasure for the right purpose.” Even in his last days, this remained an enigma. With the passing of Shri Madhav Hegde, all the Vidyas that he received from Baba, such as making the dead alive, curing diseases like Parkinson’s, receding water from a flooded river, and the passage to the Tungareshwar treasure, were lost forever.

Need of Pundalik

Just a couple of days before His Mahasamadhi, Shri Madhav Hegde made attempts to have Darshan of Baba. The group of devotees who served Baba did not allow him to enter Bangalorewala Hall. Madhav did some investigation and found that early in the morning, the devotees who had served all night left Baba alone and went to sleep, creating a gap before the next set of devotees came to serve Baba. In this gap, there was an opportunity to slip in and meet Baba. He decided to reach Baba in the early morning hours when Baba was alone. To decoy the devotees, he tied a turban made from a cotton towel and bought a coffee from the vendor who had a small stall opposite the Bangalorewala Building. The coffee vendor knew Shri Hegde very well and always wished that the coffee made by him should be tasted by Baba at least once. When Shri Hegde offered to take the coffee made by him to Baba, his joy knew no bounds. He put all his love, devotion, and effort into making the best coffee and poured it into a cup and saucer. Shri Hegde thus slipped inside disguised as a coffee vendor and reached the place where Baba was. Baba saw him and expressed joy upon seeing him. Madhav went close to Him and prostrated. He then poured some coffee into the saucer, which Baba drank. Baba thus acknowledged the devotion of the coffee vendor. Baba told him, “Now Sthir Samadhi! No one is interested in Bhakti. All come for worldly things. They want a bungalow, children to get top jobs, want them to go to England, get the highest degree, prosper in business, etc. Nobody wants Bhakti, Nishkamabhakti.” Shri Hegde said, “Deva, why don’t you postpone your decision to take Samadhi?” Baba replied, “Yes, it can be postponed if you can bring a devotee of the stature of Pundalik and he makes a request to postpone the Samadhi. It will then be postponed until this devotee desires. Can you make such a request like a Pundalik?”

Who is Bhaktaraj Pundalik?

In Pandharpur, we see Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Vitthal. Here He is depicted as dark, standing with his hands resting on His hips on a brick. Lord Vitthal is also depicted as a dark cowherd boy wearing only a loincloth and holding a stick in His hand with a Ghongadi on His shoulder. Ghongadi is a woollen blanket made by poor villagers and widely used in Maharashtra. Bhagavan Nityananda, when He came to Ganeshpuri, often moved around in a loincloth with a blanket over His shoulder.

The Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana briefly describe why the Lord journeyed to Pandharpur and why He stays there in this form. Once, Srimati Radharani, Lord Krishna’s consort in the village of Vrindavana, visited Dvaraka, where Lord Krishna lived like a king. At that time, Rukmini Devi, Lord Krishna’s queen, noticed that Krishna was dealing more intimately with Radharani than He had ever done with her. Upset, she departed for the forest of Dindirvana, near Pandharpur. Lord Krishna followed Rukmini to apologize, but His apology left her unmoved. So the Lord moved on to Pandharpur to visit one of His devotees, Bhakta Pundarika, now popularly known in Maharashtra as Pundalik.

Pundalik, in his youth, never looked after the needs of his parents and treated them very badly. He misbehaved like a goon in the village, always hurting somebody or the other. His father was Janudev, and his mother was Satyavati. Both Janudev and Satyavati were great devotees of Lord Krishna. They were deeply hurt by daily complaints made by villagers against Pundalik. They thought if they got him married, maybe he would change and mend his ways. However, after marriage, Pundalik started ill-treating them more than ever before. His wife also joined him in hurting and insulting his parents.

Tired of his tyranny, the parents decided to head for Kashi/Varanasi. It is said that those who die in Kashi attain salvation and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Hearing his parents’ plans, Pundalik and his wife decided to join them. His treachery continued, making his old parents walk throughout the journey while he and his young wife rode on a horse. On the way, they came across the hermitage of the great sage, Kakkut Muni. Tired of the long journey, the group decided to spend some days there. That night, Pundalik lay awake and witnessed something remarkable. Just before dawn, he saw a group of beautiful, young women dressed in dirty clothes enter the sage’s hermitage. They did chores like cleaning the floor, fetching water, and washing the sage’s clothes. After that, they went to the prayer room. When they came out, their clothes were spotlessly clean, and they disappeared. Pundalik wasn’t alarmed by this but rather felt at peace. He kept thinking about the incident the following day. He wanted to be sure that he was not dreaming but had truly witnessed such a glorious incident. So he remained awake again. This time, he got closer and decided to speak to the women.

“Who are you all?”
“We are Ganga, Yamuna, and all the holy rivers of India. People take a dip and bathe in us to wipe away their sins. The impurity of their mind, body, and souls makes us dirty. That’s why you see our clothes in such a filthy condition. We come here every night and offer our services to this great sage, Shree Kakkut Muni, who is like our parent. Because of our unconditional service to the sage, all the sins that people have left in us are washed away, and you see us neat and clean. But who are you? You appear to be the biggest sinner of all.”

Pundalik was amazed by their answer. He asked why they called him the biggest sinner. They replied, “You are the biggest sinner of all because of the way you treat your devotee parents. One who ill-treats one’s parents commits a sin that cannot be absolved by taking a dip in holy rivers.” This was a rude awakening for Pundalik. He realized his mistake and asked them the way out. They told him that he should spend the rest of his life in total service to his parents and not hurt them in any way. That day, Pundalik went to Shree Kakkut Muni and asked for his blessings. Shree Kakkut Muni could see the transformation happening in Pundalik. He blessed him and said, “Serve your parents with your mind, body, and words. Do not hurt them in any way. While you are in their service, engage your mind in devotion to Lord Vishnu. Chant His name ceaselessly and sing His glory. Let your hands be engaged in the service of your parents and your mind be engaged in devotion to God.” So saying, the sage blessed Pundalik and asked him to complete their pilgrimage and return to their village.

The parents were astonished to see the sudden transformation in their son. Pundalik changed his ways. He served his parents well and looked after all their needs and comforts. For days and years, Pundalik served his parents while chanting Lord Krishna’s name. His unconditional service to his parents made his devotion so intense that he automatically began to compose Abhangs on Lord Krishna. The villagers came to him and sought his guidance. He, in turn, guided them to devotion and chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna was deeply touched by Pundalik’s commitment to his parents and his intense devotion. He wanted to offer Pundalik liberation in return for his unconditional Bhakti. Pundalik too was seeking Mukti, but his commitment was more towards his service to his parents. When the Lord reached Pundalik’s house late at night, Pundalik was serving his elderly parents. Standing at his door, the Lord called out to Pundalik to come out. Pundalik asked, “Who is it?” The Lord replied, “Pundalik, my child! I am Lord Krishna. I am very pleased with your unconditional service to your parents and your intense devotion. This has made you eligible for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. You will be a Jeevan Mukta and reside in Vaikuntha. I have come to take you with me. Come fast. Do not delay any more.”

Pundalik heard Lord Krishna and His calling for permanent Mukti. He almost got up. But years of service to his parents had brought in him a sense of self-sacrifice. He had now gained the nature of giving, offering to others, and bringing joy and comfort to others. He lost all desire for himself. He thought, “All my life, I did Bhakti only to be a Jeevan Mukta. Now the time has come for liberation from birth and death. Lord Vitthal Himself has come to take me. What more can I expect when the Lord of the Universe has come to my doorstep to take me? If I go out, I will be liberated forever. But what about others like me? What will happen to them? They will not get to have Darshan of the Lord. If I don’t go out and make the Lord wait, then He will be available for all without any restrictions.” Pundalik decided not to go out! He told Lord Krishna, “O my Deva! I am engaged in massaging the legs of my parents. They are still awake. Let them fall asleep, and I will come with You.” So saying, he threw a brick outside for the Lord to rest upon.

So Pundalik gave the Lord a seat of brick and asked the Lord to wait. The Lord did as told. He stood, with lotus hands on His hips, waiting for Pundalik to return. While He was waiting, Rukmini, having forgotten her distress, came from Dindirvana and re-joined Him. Pundalik did not come out. He was ready to sacrifice his own liberation to get the Lord to stay in Pandharpur forever and thus be made available to all devotees easily and freely.

Lord Vitthal and Rukmini stayed in Pandharpur in deity form with their hands resting on their hips. To this day, the Lord stands on the same brick, but now He’s waiting for all His devotees to come to see Him. While waiting, the Lord seems to tell the devotees, “Do not fear. For those who have surrendered unto Me, I have reduced the depth of the ocean of material suffering. See, it is only this deep.”

Baba was looking for a Pundalik-like devotee whose devotion was unconditional and pristine.

Search for a Devotee- A modern day Pundalika

Baba was looking for a Bhakta who was of the stature of Bhaktaraj Pundalik. Only such a devotee could stop Baba from taking His Mahasamadhi. Baba asked Shri Madhav Hegde, “Can you claim to have the stature of Bhakt Pundalik?” Shri Hegde said that he was a worldly person and was far from what Pundalik was. There was silence for some time. Shri Hegde then asked, “Whom shall I call?”

Baba asked him whether Swami Janananda had reached Ganeshpuri. Shri Hegde informed him that Swami Janananda was on his way from Kanhangad. Baba then inquired about Shri Devrai Master. Shri Hegde responded that Devrai Master had moved to Kailash to sleep. Shri Hegde went to an adjoining room where Madhav Mama was sleeping. He tried to wake him, but Madhav Mama was in a deep sleep. So Shri Hegde threw a jug of water on his face. Madhav Mama woke up angry. Shri Hegde explained to him the purpose of such a drastic step in waking him up. For a very strange reason, Madhav Mama refused to accompany Shri Hegde and plead with Baba to postpone His Mahasamadhi. However much he cajoled him, Madhav did not budge. Finally, Shri Hegde told him, “If you are so hard bent, declare three times that you do not wish to come with me.” Madhav Mama said, “I am not coming with you. I am not coming with you. I am not coming with you,” and went back to sleep.

Shri Hegde felt dejected, let down, and helpless. He found Gulabi Akka, who was in charge of Anand Matha of Tulas Amma at Managudda, after sleeping. He went to her as she was his last hope in his attempt to stop Baba from taking Mahasamadhi. He woke her up and told her his purpose for waking her up. She asked Shri Hegde, “Did Swami mention my name?” Hegde replied that He had not mentioned her name as one who could stop Him from Samadhi. To which she said, “If Swami has not taken my name, I do not want to do anything with it.” She too went back to sleep.

Shri Hegde retraced his steps to where Baba was sleeping and fell to his knees, sobbing like a child as all his hopes of preventing Baba from Mahasamadhi were lost. He said, “Swami Deva! None is available to plead. Only I can now offer myself totally to You. Please accept my request and hold your decision on Mahasamadhi.” Bhagavan Nityananda laughed and said, “You are a Samsari! You have to cultivate Nishkama Bhakti. You should cultivate Nishkama Prema towards ‘This One.’ If you have that, then ‘This One’ will be ever with you. ‘This One’ will never leave you.”

Baba then asked for some more coffee. Shri Hegde poured some more coffee into the saucer and was about to take it close to Baba’s lips. Just then, one of the devotees who were assigned the job of not allowing anyone to approach Bhagavan arrived. Noticing that Shri Hegde was making Baba drink coffee, he hit hard on his hand, making the saucer fly into the air and crash on the floor. He shouted at Shri Hegde loudly and pushed him out of the hall. Baba did not like what happened. He said, “Mithi! Sabh Mitthi!” That was the last time that Shri Hegde saw Baba before He finally took Samadhi.

This incident Shri Madhav Hegde shared with me several times. He used to say, “Four persons could have probably made Bhagavan Nityananda postpone His Mahasamadhi. Swami Janananda, Shri Devrai Master, Madhav Mama, and Gulabi Akka could have probably made a great difference. But that was not to happen. I could do nothing. I was helpless. Unfortunately, Swami Janananda could not come on time.”

What Shri Madhav Hegde meant was that in his desperation to postpone the Mahasamadhi, he desperately tried to identify a devotee who could do that. Baba had asked only for Swami Janananda and Shri Devrai Pai. Swami Janananda had not reached that night. Shri Devrai Pai was in Kailash. Madhav could find only two devotees in the Bangalorewala Building, Gulabi Akka and Madhav Mama. He felt that they could probably meet what Baba expected in a devotee capable of holding God by his Bhakti.

Baba Beckoning Shri Hegde to Ganeshpuri

I asked Shri Madhav Hegde, “How and when did you reach Ganeshpuri at the time of Samadhi?” He replied, “Just a few days before Baba’s Mahasamadhi, I was at Ganeshpuri when Baba took me to the Tungareshwar hills at lightning speed. On the eve of Samadhi day (07 August 1961), I went to my office as usual. I was sitting in my cabin doing my work when suddenly, Baba appeared and said, ‘Come to Ganeshpuri immediately.’ Just as He appeared, He disappeared. I immediately called my colleagues, assigned work, and left for home. I picked up my wife and children and left for Ganeshpuri. When I told my wife that Baba had manifested in my office cabin and called us to Ganeshpuri, she began to weep. We reached Ganeshpuri in the evening and stayed in our usual room in the Bangalore Walla Building. It was Baba who called me to Ganeshpuri on the eve of His Mahasamadhi. Upon reaching Ganeshpuri, I couldn’t hold back my tears. No pain or sorrow in my entire life had made me cry, but the thought of losing my Guru forever did.

Another interesting incident I would like to share here is of a man wanting to walk on the water.

The Ultimate Test:

It is important to mention here the ultimate test that Shri Madhav Hegde had to undergo to establish that he qualified as a true Bhakta. His son, Nityananda, died at the age of 42 due to cardiac arrest on 28 June 1989. This was the son Bhagavan Nityananda had saved when he had fallen in the Kunda as a child. Shri Hegde was not around when this happened and thus could not use the Vidya that he had learned from Bhagavan to bring a dead person to life. This was the greatest blow that nature gave him. But his faith in Bhagavan remained unaffected. While lighting the pyre of his son, he took the fire in his right hand and, raising his left hand towards the sky, he took an oath: “However much you may try, my Deva, to forsake me, I shall never let go off Your Feet.” At that very moment, he was transformed from a Bhakta to Nishkambhakta.

Shri Madhav Hegde, a householder devotee, was lovingly called Engineer Hegde by Bhagavan Nityananda, who was a householder devotee and qualified Nishkam Bhakta. All his life, he lived absorbed in his Sadguru. When asked why only pain and sorrows came to him as a Bhakta, he used to answer, “What you take as pain and sorrow means nothing to me. Only my Sadguru matters. My association with my son was limited. When the time was over, he went his own way. It was destined that way.”

The last words Bhagavan Nitynanada uttered to Shri Madhav Hegde on the day of His Mahasamadhi, 8th August 1961, became his guiding principle. He used to maintain a diary and on the first page of the diary he used to write it. Below are those precious words of Bhagavan in Shri Madhav Hegde’s handwriting.

All his life he lived by these principles. When he appeared in Ganeshpuri, he received special attention. When he decided to enter the sanctum scrotum, nobody could dare to stop him. He was tall, erect, firm and very strong.  His faith in Bhagavan created an aura around him. In my life, Shri Madhav Hegde played a significant role in taking me close to Bhagavan Nityananda. He passed away on 7th July 2007 at around 6 pm. Even today I remember that evening when the air was full of aromas from Blooming of Brahma Kamal, the auspicious flowers! As his Godson, even today I offer oblation to him every day and during the nights of Mahala – Pitrapaksha (All Anchestors fortnight), I offer Tarpan -special oblation on his name.

Bhagavan had told Smt. Shanta Hegde, “All those who have come ‘Here‘ are your relatives!” He meant the Oneness, that One which pervades all in this universe. We are all connected by one Essence, and That alone is our relation. Today, we are more divided and separated than ever before. Bhagavan knew that His devotees would often find themselves alone and left out because the feeling of brotherhood would be lost in times to come. Therefore, He wanted all His devotees to be connected with a common bond, just as children of one mother find a huge connection between themselves. They should regularly visit each other and offer support when help is needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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