Swami Parijñānāshram – A Yogi, A Mahayogi!

Swami Parijñānāshram

Swami Nityananda used to say that any work related to a saint must be done by a saint. Hence the opening of any temple, and consecration of any idol must be done by a monk. To share the experiences of grace and love of Bhagavan Nityananda in Part-I of They Lived with Bhagavan Nityananda, I have chosen to share about Shree Swami Parijnanashram of Chitrapur Matha. He was the calibre of Jagadguru. His own Guru, Shree Anandashram Swamiji often visited the Ashram of Shree Lalita Mauli whenever he passed by Panvel. Shree Lalita Mauli was a renowned devotee of Bhagavan Nityananda and Swamiji often visited her Ashram to give her Darshan and bless her as he was her Dharma Guru. He recognized the spiritual heights that Lalita Mauli had reached as a disciple of Bhagavan Nityananda. So the connection with Bhagavan was established

Early Life and Divine Grace

Swami Parijnanashram was born to Shantābai and Shankarnārāyan Laxman Shukla (Bhat) on June 15, 1947, at Shirali in Karnataka. He was named Ravīndra Shankarnārāyan Shukla (Bhat). He did His primary schooling till the age of 6 at Shirali, under the watchful eyes of the incumbent Head of the community Swami Ānandāshram. Even before He was born, His mother Shāntabai claims to have known that her offspring was Divine, even while she was pregnant. Claims include her having dreams like the Vision of a 7 hooded serpent, the impulse to offer her offspring to Lord Bhavānishankar during the aarti, and so on. In 1953, Shankarnārāyan Shukla (Bhat) and his family shifted to Mumbai where the education of young Ravīndra was done at Poddar High School, Santa Cruz in Mumbai.

Divine Encounter with Bhagavan Nityananda

One day, his parents took young Ravindra to Ganeshpuri to have Darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda. When they reached there, there was a huge queue for Darshan as the door of Kailash Bhuvan was closed. The couple with the child stood in line not knowing when the doors would open and they would have Swami Nityananda’s Darshan. Since they had got up early morning and it was a long journey requiring travelling by train and state transport Bus from Vasai Station to Ganeshpuri, the child had become restless. He kept on nagging his parents about how long it would take them. To divert his attention, his parents got him involved in things around him. The child saw cold drink bottles kept in crates in the hotel owned by Shivram Shetty, He began to demand a bottle and would not relent. However much the parents tried to pacify the young Ravindra, he was not ready to listen to them. Just then the doors of Kailash were opened and the queue began to move forward. The mother, Shantabai, told Ravindra “My child, the doors are opened and we have to go inside to have Darshan of God Himself. If we now leave the queue to get the cold drink, we will miss the Darshan. Once we have Darshan of God, we will get the cold drink for you.” So pacifying him, they moved inside. Inside Kailash, Swami Nityananda was sitting on His chair. There were poles tied in front of Him as a barricade to prevent devotees from falling on His Feet. The devotees filed by Him, prostrating at Him from a distance and laying the offerings brought along by them for Him. Most of the time, Baba had His eyes closed but occasionally He opened to address the luck devotee He chose to speak to. Even though His eyes were closed, He was fully aware of who was filing by. Whenever He opened and addressed particular, known, or unknown devotees, He spoke of the thing that was worrying the devotee or that which the devotee was seeking His blessings.

Shantabai, Shankarnarayan and Ravinder entered Kailash and soon it was their turn to prostrate at Swami Nityananda. Just as they reached in front of Swami, He opened His eyes and gave a broad smile. He got up from His chair and moved forward across the pole barricade picked up the young Ravindra and went back to His chair. The crowd stopped as the line did not move forward. Swami made the young child sit on His lap and called out in Kannada to an attendant and gave him some instructions. The attendant ran outside and returned carrying a bottle of cold drink in his hand. He came and gave it to Swami. Swami gave the young boy to drink. The young Ravindra was surprised at the turn of the events. He was so longing to have the cold drink and just as he was to give up, here was this man offering him the very cold drink he wanted. He gladly began to drink rapidly. Swami Nityananda watched lovingly as the child sipped from the bottle. When the bottle was empty, the attendant took away the bottle. Swami then passed His palm over the child’s body from head to foot repeatedly uttering as He did so “Yogi! Mahayogi! Guru! Jagadguru!!” He then handed over the child back to his parents. There was a glow over Swami’s face which was full of love. The parents were full of awe at the unexpected extraordinary grace of Bhagavan Nityananda to their child. The child was extremely happy for having gotten the cold drink which he had desired. He turned up to his mother and asked “Mother, how did He come to know that I wanted to drink the cold drink?” Mother replied “Ravinder my child! He is God. God knows everything about all.”

The young Ravinder studied in Poddar School till He was ordained to be the Shishya of Anandashram Swami of Chitrapur Math. As a child, He was an avid collector of stamps and coins- a hobby He pursued even after becoming the Head of the Community.

Ordination and Leadership

At the age of 12, Ravinder Bhat was chosen by the incumbent guru, Anandashram Swam, to be his Shishya (disciple). He was ordained as the successor to Swami Ānandāshram in a grand ceremony of initiation as a disciple at Shivaji Park, Mumbai on March 1, 1959. At this ceremony, he was given a new name as Parijñānāshram. This ceremony was attended by over 10,000 devotees. The religious heads of other Saraswat Mathas were present at the ceremony and they blessed Him too. He studied under His guru for a long period of 7 years until Swami Ānandāshram attained Mahā-samādhi on September 16, 1966. After the Mahā-Samādhi, He took over as the sovereign head of the community of Sāraswats. This long period of tutelage under His guru allowed Parijñānāshram to attain a great command over the Sanskrit scriptures. He toured along with His guru everywhere and thus could attain hands-on experience in matters of spirituality as well as administration.

Swami Parijñānāshram III was one who had a keen thirst for knowledge, be it Vedic or technical. His progressive outlook resulted in large-scale development which gave the community and its head matha (Monastery) –

The Chitrāpur Matha the financial stability it needed. He aimed at making the Chitrapur village a self-sustaining viable township with an agricultural, industrial and commercial life of its own with an underlying spiritual base. His progressive outlook also included compassion. Under his regime, several healthcare facilities were developed. He was an animal lover and constructed deer parks, top quality cow sheds, and regularly visited and cared for the animals there. He was a person who was highly interested in technical spheres of knowledge. He possessed a first-grade Ham Radio license (probably the first religious saint to possess such a license in India). Under His regime, a wireless station and an observatory post were established near Shirali. He kept a keen interest in archaeology and established an Archaeology museum at Chitrapur. His sense of compassion was well-known by people both within and outside the community. He would visit devotees in hospitals regularly irrespective of status or wealth.

Later Life and Legacy

He abdicated the post of the Head of Chitrapur Math (Mathādhipati) in 1979. He relinquished the title of the Head of the Community fully by 1981. After this, He travelled all across India and even went abroad (The first guru of the community to do so), before He settled down in a Matha constructed under his regime, at Karla. He continued His service for the welfare of the people even though He was not Mathādhipati of the community. This allowed Him to extend His welfare programs to the downtrodden people irrespective of community, caste, creed or status. Swami Parijñānāshram took Mahasamdhi on August 29, 1991, while He was staying in Bangalore. His body was later flown to Karla where his Samādhi is situated (at the Karla Math).

Miracles

Two miracles have been observed at the temple at Karla after Swamiji’s death. They are listed below:

Opening of the Samādhi (shrine) during renovation Swamiji’s samādhi (Shrine) is situated near the Durga Parameshawari Temple at Karla. But for the shrine to be completed, a Shiv-linga was to be installed. So during February/March 1993, the samādhi slab was removed. To the surprise of everyone, the Marigold flowers and the tulsi leaves that had been placed over the body of Swamiji were still very fresh. Swamiji’s scalp and hair were intact as well despite being interred for nearly 18 months.

Goddess Durga and Lord Shankara appeared in flames. Many devotees have claimed to have witnessed the image of Goddess Durga along with Lord Shankar in the flames of the Homam (Ritual where offerings are placed into the fire, usually offerings to Lord Agni.

Reflection

Swami Parijnanashram III’s connection to Bhagavan Nityananda and his illustrious spiritual journey exemplifies divine grace and selfless service. His life inspires both spiritual seekers and householders, illustrating how unwavering faith and dedication to one’s Guru lead to extraordinary accomplishments and enduring legacies.