Mahasamadhi of Tulas Amma

 

While writing on the Mahasamadhi of Tulas Amma, I remember the Bhajan written by renowned saint of Maharashtra, Shree Tukdoji Maharaj.

झाला शेवट हा गोड ।
झाला शेवट हा गोड । देवे पुरविले कोड ॥
नाही पडली आटाआटी । हरि उभा राहे पाठी ॥
नसता आमुचिये मनी । हाती घेववी लेखणी ॥
तुकड्या म्हणे गोड केली । सेवा देवे स्वीकारिली

In this bhajan, Shree Tukdoji Maharaj says “At last my end has become indeed very sweet as God has opened to me all the secrets and puzzles of life. I am free from life’s vagaries as Lord Hari is my saviour. Although, it was neither my desire nor intention, He has placed a writing pen in my hand. Tukdya says, ” You have made my end sweet and accepted my service.”

Before I go into the final days of Tulas Amma, let me share a hymn composed by her on her incarnation. This hymn has been taken from her book Sadgurusthavan, which is in Marathi and I have translated it below.

Verses

Poorv janm hota vyaghracha|Swabhav bahoo kroor tayacha||

Udarasathee hindoni deergh|Karitase hani bandhuvarg||1||

Matesi bhakshoni balak peedile|Pore marini gure davadile|

Anik thayee kela janakacha sanhar|Anath zala tayacha sansar|| 2||

 Yapari karit patak  aghor|Shat kari jatharagnicha bhar||

Vanacharachi karoni hani|Phiratase ranoranee||3||

Santanavin vyaghrini |Ahampane chale kananee||

Is pahata dhavati pranee|Jeev rakshavayadujiya sthani||4|

Na pahata lahan thor|Shikar kari nanan prakar||

Dooroni pahata harini|Udee ghalee tatkshani||5||

Rakta sarvahi hironi|Pathavi Kailas bhuvanee||

Aise chalata ekedini|Sainya samavet vipinee||6||

Patala Nrupavar tya sthanee|Shikar hetu manat dharunee||

Rav gela pudhe hounee|Vyaghra pahila ek nayanee||7||

 

Itar rahile taya magonee|Shidha samgree gheuni||

Khoon janunee vyaghra|Didhali garjana bhayankar||8||

Kiti ek Rayache ban |Chukale tayachya mastakavaroon||

Zala kopayman vyaghr|Padal tyache angavar||9||

Kshan lagata |Davile taya Yampur|

Aise lotata anek savatsar|Nissangpane  ek yogeeshvar||10||

Dhyanee asuni Harihar|Akasmat ala tya margavar||Dnanpartichya chaluvar|Vyaghra dhavat ala satvar||11||

Dekhoni pashuche adnyan|Hasata mahanubhave ughadile nayan|Are mee too kon paha vicharun |Sookshma vastu ek jan||12||

Drushya sarv mayik poorna|Poorvache karee ata smaran||

Tethe ahamkarasi nahee karan |Mag kaiche janama maran||13||

Aikata mukhatuni shabd |Tatkal zala stabdh||

Shvanahuni deen houni||Vicharit baisala asanee||4||

Anutap zale manee|Nij bodh padata kanee||

Krupa karavise vat|Pahatase chara neet||15||Sadhuchya darushane phalale apporv|Gela galonee ugra bhav||

Yogbalachya samor kay karel pamar||16||

  Poorna shanticha to agar|Krupa kelee tayavar||

Ghadata charansparshan|Palale sakal avagun||7||

Deen vadan houn|Ala taya sharan||

Dnyanacha hota upadesh|Adnyane sodila desh||18||

Januni mrugacha uddesh|Bolatase avinash||

Pralabdh urale kinchit|Anik janmee hosee  nishchint||19||

Swagruh milel shreemant|Chitt thevoo nako tyat||

Dhyata manee anant|hoiee sada shant||20||

Gruhee atmavichar karit|Nishkame jan sansarmitthya||

Karita sakalanche atithya|Jansil nij satya||21||

Chinta na karee antaree|Pavel tuza Shreeharee||

Kar thevita mastakavaree|Naval zale yaparee||22||

Ashroo vahoni nayanee|Vyaghra padala charanee||

Sthool deh sodonee|Gela adnya gheonee||23||

Ya janmee gheuni streejannan|Zalee paradheen||

Bhogavaya pralabdh pracheen|Asa yog ala ghadoon||24||

Poorveecha jo hota nrupavar|Zala ata bhratar||

Nam tayache Shankar|Paramarthee kela sahay phar||25||

Putrasi mhanati Gangadhar|Taya mage alpayushee chavadhee por||

Sahavee kanya sundar|Rakshak ticha Raghuveer|26||

Bhakshan kelelee harini|bolvite nij janani||

Devakee mhani ek bahini| Tee manachi chinta nivarini||27||

Rajayache hote  sainya  sakal|Daviti mitra mhanuni keval||

Kela tyannee nana pari chhal|Apanache mhane tee kapal||28||

Anandu mhanuni ah eek bhandu|Sad vandi Nityanandu||

Toch ek krupasindhi|Poorveecha ha runanubandhu||29||

In her previous birth, she was a tigress whose nature was cruel and brutal.

For a long time, she used to wander about and create destruction to her clan and species. ||1||

She killed the mother and troubled the child. She had driven out the cattle by killing young cowherds.

She had also killed the father somewhere and made his family orphan. ||2||  

Along similar lines, she used to do many brutal and sinful actions to fulfil and pacify the burden of fire in her stomach (hunger).

She used to wander in the jungles by killing and harming the various creatures of the jungle. ||3||

The tigress that had no progeny, used to wander with great pride in the forest.  

On seeing her coming, all the animals ran for their lives in fear. ||4||

Without any consideration for young and large, she went around hunting and killing ruthlessly.

Seeing a deer from a distance, she used to jump on the female instantly. ||5||

She used to snatch and drink all her blood and send her into the other world.

 One day a king came into that forest along with a troop of his soldiers with the intention of hunting. ||6||

The king went further with the intention of having a good sport of hunting.

With this intention, the king went deep inside and came across the tigress. ||7||

King’s retinue remained behind along with food and other items.

 When the tigress got an indication of the approaching king, she roared very loudly with anger. ||8|| 

Several arrows shot by the king had a near miss and just passed by the top of the tigress’s head.

The tigress became wild with anger and attacked the king. ||9||

Within seconds, the king was killed thus.

In this manner, several years passed away, and one day a Yogeshvar who was alone, came into the jungle. ||9||

He, who was absorbed in contemplation of Lord Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shankar-Harihar), suddenly crossed the path of the tigress in the forest. ||10||

As per her routine method of hunting and killing the animals and human beings day and night, the tigress came running forward with great speed to kill the Yogeeshvar! ||11||

Observing the ignorance of the wild animal, the great Yogee opened his eyes with a smile and addressed “Hey You! Just contemplate on ‘Who are you And Who am I?’ Understand that it is one subtle essence (in both)! ||12||

This entire vision (of duality) is illusory. Remember your previous birth now. There is no reason to bring in the feeling of ego. If that is so, where is the question of life and death also.’’ ||13||

No sooner did the tigress hear these words of wisdom (from that Yogeeshvar), she immediately became calm and still at that very moment!

She became meek and humble, more than a dog, and sat in a posture contemplating. ||14||

Her mind was full of regrets now on hearing the words of true wisdom. After seeing His Lotus Feet, she felt He should bestow His grace and show her the path. ||15||

Just by the sacred sight of a holy monk, an amazing miracle happened. The cruelty just fell apart from her. How can such evil nature stand up to the power of yoga? ||16||

He was the treasure and seat of the complete peace. He bestowed his grace on the tigress. When the tigress touched the feet of Yogeeshvar, her wicked and cruel state of mind vanished quickly. ||17||

She surrendered herself to Yogeeshvar with a humble and helpless face. When she received the instructions of Knowledge from the Yogeeshvar, ignorance had left its place. ||18||

Knowing the intention of the animal, the immortal Yogeeshvar started talking.

  “The impact of your destined effect has remained a little. You shall certainly have to reincarnate. ||19||

 You will be born in a rich house. But do not ever attach your mind to that.

If you think and meditate on The Endless One, your mind will attain tranquillity. ||20||

While living as a householder, contemplate and realize that this worldly life is an illusion. 

 As you perform your duty of hospitality to all, you will be conscious of the truth. ||21||

“Do not worry or be anxious, as God Hari is at your rescue.”  When the Yogeeshvar placed His palm on the head of the tigress after uttering these words, a strange thing happened. ||22||

The tigress fell on HIS feet with tears running down from her eyes.

She left her physical body and left this world by accepting the command of the Yogeeshvar. ||23||

In this life, born as a woman, you lived a life of dependency.

To suffer the effect of misdeeds of past, the chance (destiny) brought this act (misfortune) together. ||24||

That king whom you killed in your previous life has become your husband in this life.

His name is Shankar who has great liking for spiritualism. So, he has helped you in it. ||25||

The name of your son is Gangadhar and after him came four other children who died when young.

 The sixth is a very beautiful daughter. Raghunath is the name of her protector [husband]. ||26||

 The female deer who you killed and ate became your mother in this birth. Your sister Devakee will remove the anxiety and worry from your mind. ||27||

The entire army of the king became your friends in this birth. They just made a show of friendship.

But they tortured and troubled you in different ways and means. You felt utterly miserable and blamed your fate. ||28||

There is one brother whose name is Anand. Always prostrating and respecting Sadguru Shri Nityanand, who is the ocean of compassion and grace. With this brother, there is the bondage of the debt of emotions in previous life. ||29|| 

In this bhajan written by Tulas Amma, she reveals

  • that her association with Bhagavan Nityananda was carried forward from her previous births. The Sadhu whom she had met in her past life was none other than Bhagavan Nitynanada of this life.
  • There was a commitment between her (as the tigress) and the Sadhu (Bhagavan Nityananda) that He will give her Guru Upadesh in this life and that she will progress spiritually in this life
  • Moreover, the law of Karma and its consequences will have to be endured by her in this life although she was assured of liberation by the grace of her Sadguru. The effects of her past Karma were inevitable and she had to endure them. Whatever sufferings that came in this life of Tulas Amma were the results of her past Karma and as instructed by her Sadguru in her previous life, she must suffer them before she would be redeemed. The Sadhu from her earlier life had ordained that she would have to redeem her Karma and she did suffer in her life till her vairagya had become firm and unshakeable.

It is important to understand this before we look at her life so that we can look at it from the right perspective.

Tulas Amma must have been in her sixties when she gave up her body in 1944. Her health was deteriorating very rapidly. She was absorbed in the revelation of her Self. Everywhere she could see the all-pervading Brahman. In every creature, she saw nithynanada, so much so that she had lost her body consciousness. When she stood to sing Bhajan,  she used to shed copious tears and dance unmindful of her dress falling off her body. Those who did not know her and recognize the divine state that she was in, took her to be mentally ill. She was forcefully admitted to a mental hospital in Pune. There the doctors who treated her found that she was nt mad but all who called her were. Her madness was sweet and divine. She was thus discharged and she returned to Mangalore. One day, Tulas Amma left Mangalore to reach Udupi. She took a bath in Madhwa Lake in Udupi. This is the same lake where Shree Madhavacharya bathed the statue of Lord Krishna in Balaswaroop and then installed it in the now-famous Shree Krishna Mandir of Udupi.

From Udupi, Tulas Amma went to her favourite follower, Smt Saraswati Kamath, who lived in Kundapur. She walked from Udupi to Kundapur reached Smt Saraswati Kamath’s home at midnight and knocked at her door. It was too late in night to have any visitors. cautiously, Saraswatibai opened the door and was shocked to see the sorry state of Tulas Amma. Her clothes were soiled and her feet were swollen. She did not appear to be in good health, weak and tired. Saraswatibai took her in and first gave her warm water to clean herself. Keeping her feet in warm water gave her some relief from the strain. When Saraswatibai offered her something to eat, she found that Tulas Amma’s mouth was covered with ulcers and she could not eat. The severe austerities undertaken by Tulas Amma had taken its toll making her very weak and sick. Saraswatibai then offered her milk which was soothing, giving her much comfort.

Tulas Amma by now had become Nityanandamayee. She had become one with her Guru, Bhagavan Nithyananda. The whole world appeared to be pervaded by Nityananda. She saw only Him in everything. She saw her Self in men, women, children, insects, birds, animals, etc. She found Nityananda on each tree. She had reached a state where there was only Oneness and it was difficult for her to retain her body. It was now certain that her body would fall as its purpose was lost.

Tulas Amma’s journey, from a child bride, widow, a student in a distant school in Pune,  a tutor to her nephews and nieces, encounters with her Sadguru, becoming a Yogini, and finally, she was now Anandi, a manifestation of Supreme Joy.  The purpose of her birth had completed a full circle. The prophecy of the Sadhu in her previous incarnation had come true. She had realized the Parabrahmaswaroop after exhausting her Pralabdhakarma and vigorous Vairagya. The Sadhu, as promised, came as Nityananda in this life and took her in His fold by giving her Guru Upadesh.

On Sunday, the 2nd July of 1944, it was Ashadi Ekadashi, For a devotee from Bhakti Marg, there was no better auspicious day than this day. Tulas amma chose this day for dropping her body for one last time and merging in the Supreme Consciousness. On the day of Ashadha Ekadashi, she attained Samadhi chanting “Nityananda Nityananda.”

While the passing away of Tulas Amma happened in Karnataka, Bhagawan Nityananda, was in Vaikunta Ashram in Ganeshpuri. He suddenly declared “Anandi has merged in Sun today.”

Epilogue

There are some reports of Bhagavan Nityananda saying pointing at His heart He said, “Anandi..Anandi Anandi merged here. She had reached the state of an Avadhoota. She is liberated from this mortal world. She had served me with utmost devotion despite condemnation and insult by the male-dominant society.” Bhagawan Nityananda spent the whole day in her memory. He didn’t eat food. Nobody in the ashram had meals. We learnt on that day that even Bhagawan, the one free from all attachments, has so much love towards His devotees.

  • If we study Tulas Amma’s description of her past life(which I have discussed in detail above along with the poem written by her) in which she meets her Guru, such action from a Mahavatar like Bhagavan Nityananda, looks misplaced.
  • It was her Pralabdhakarma that she had to exhaust through the retaliation from all those she had hurt in her past life. So Bhagavan would not talk about ‘male-dominated society’ making her suffer.
  • Further, for Bhagavan, birth and death had no significance. His regular silence must have been misunderstood by people not knowing Him well, that he was mourning.
  • Bhagavan’s eating habits were unpredictable. At times He did not eat for days. It had nothing to do with Tulasi Amma’s passing away.
  • Bhagavan said only one sentence – “Anandi has merged the Sun” What He meant was she had become One with Supreme Consciousness (Sun); Himself being Supreme Consciousness.

Bhagavan was cryptic and never spoke much. One must take clues and understand properly to decipher from the few words that He uttered.