1. Shree Lalita Mauli

Life & Teachings of Shree Lalita Mauli

Part V

“At the Lotus Feet: Where Grace Became Destiny”

The Fiery Compassion of the Sadguru

As narrated earlier, Lalitadevi reached Ganeshpuri, experiencing the unseen grace of her Sadguru at every step of the journey. What outwardly appeared to be a difficult travel from Mumbai had, in truth, become a sacred pilgrimage guided by divine hands. Accompanied by young Raghuvir and the two ladies with a child who had providentially become her escorts, she finally arrived at Vaikunth Ashram, the holy abode sanctified by the presence of Bhagavan Nityananda.

On reaching there, she learned that for the past four days Bhagavan had not granted darshan to anyone. He had remained within His room, and no one knew whether He would appear that day. The hall, however, was filled with devotees waiting patiently, hoping for a glimpse of the Master.

Then, suddenly and without warning, Bhagavan emerged from His room.

A wave of expectancy passed through the gathering. Yet though all longed for His darshan, none dared move forward. Such was the awe and spiritual force of His presence. At that moment, Lalitadevi, moved by devotion rather than hesitation, passed through the crowd and came directly before Him. Bowing fully, she prostrated at His sacred feet.

Bhagavan raised His hand in blessing and said:

“Go and bathe in the Kunda.”

Obediently, Lalitadevi went at once to the hot spring and bathed in its sacred waters. She then returned to the hall where Bhagavan was seated.

Approaching Him again, she placed before Him the mangoes lovingly sent by her relatives in Mumbai and said:

“Baba, please accept these.”

Immediately Bhagavan repeated, in the very tone and words used earlier by her relative:

“Monks do not eat mangoes. They distribute them to children.”

Lalitadevi was stunned. These were the exact words spoken in Mumbai before she had left for Ganeshpuri. How could He know what had transpired there?

With childlike affection, she replied:

“Usually, it is the Mother who gives to the child. But sometimes the child too should give something to the Mother.”

Bhagavan responded with His characteristic Humkar—a deep sound of approval—and returned the mangoes to her as prasad, saying:

“Take these. Have your snacks and rest awhile.”

Soon after, the same ladies who had accompanied her from the bus arrived carrying coffee for her. Even the smallest wish had been silently arranged through His grace.

The Sadguru Reads Hearts, Not Faces

Bhagavan then turned His attention to the many devotees gathered before Him—people who had come with worldly troubles, spiritual doubts, hidden motives, hopes, fears, and burdens.

Suddenly, Lalitadevi noticed the very man at the Vasai bus stand—the one who had refused to buy fruits for her despite bearing the tattoo “Shree Nityananda” on his arm.

Bhagavan thundered:

“After stealing a gold chain in Mangalore, you ran to Mumbai. Here, too, you have stolen necklaces, bangles, and valuables from others—and now you come here? Get out at once!”

The man trembled in shock. His past, known only to himself, stood exposed before all.

To another man, Bhagavan said:

“You torment your wife and children, then go regularly to Falkland Road to worship women there. Now you come here with fruits to wash away your sins?”

So saying, Bhagavan flung aside the basket of fruits the man had brought.

The devotee stood humiliated and shaken. His outer offering had been rejected because his inner life remained impure.

Then, suddenly, Bhagavan ran out of the hall, hurling stones toward someone hiding behind the Deep Stambh—the lamp pillar.

“Have you come here to learn betting numbers for gambling? Get out!”

The terrified man fled.

Bhagavan returned and muttered:

“One more fool is coming. A college boy. He sits in bars at Vasai drinking liquor. He will be here within half an hour.”

True to His words, the young man soon arrived—and was sternly admonished before he could speak.

Lalitadevi’s Revelation

Lalitadevi watched all this with astonishment. Until then, many knew Bhagavan only through stories of miracles or blessings. But here she witnessed another dimension of the Master—the fierce compassion that burns falsehood.

An inner understanding arose within her:

When a person approaches a saint or Sadguru, he should come seeking transformation—to purify life, rise above lower tendencies, become worthy of human birth, cultivate divine love, and free the mind from bondage.

But when one comes with selfish motives—to gain advantage, hide sins, test the saint, exploit spiritual power, or seek blessings without repentance—the Master may choose another method.

The Sadguru may appear stern. He may rebuke, expose, or shock. This is not anger born of ego, but compassion wearing the mask of severity.

A realised being like Bhagavan Nityananda has no personal anger, hatred, or grievance. Established in the Self, such a one abides in uninterrupted peace and joy. Yet for the upliftment of seekers, He may display wrath externally when gentleness alone will not awaken them.

To Him, sinner and saint are equal manifestations of the same Divine. He rejects none. He discriminates against none. His only purpose is transformation.

Some, unable to understand this truth, were disturbed by Bhagavan’s outer behaviour—His sharp words, sudden actions, or intense manner. But those with insight knew that behind the thunder was only grace, behind the sternness only mercy, and behind the seeming fire only boundless love.

The Lesson of Ganeshpuri

For Lalitadevi, this first day in Ganeshpuri became a profound initiation. She realized that the Sadguru does not merely bless devotees—He cleanses them, corrects them, protects them, and redirects them toward Truth.

Where ordinary eyes saw anger, she saw compassion.
Where others saw harshness, she saw healing.
Where many feared, she recognised the blazing love of the Guru.

The Healing Touch and the Guru’s Command

After taking some refreshments, coffee, and resting for a short while, Lalitadevi once again went to have darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda. Bhagavan was seated in the hall, radiating His usual majesty and silent power. Drawn by devotion, she approached and stood before Him.

Bhagavan looked at her and, making a gesture with His fingers to indicate something small, asked:

“Have you still retained a little body-consciousness?”

Lalitadevi, with simplicity and honesty, replied:

“Baba, I suffer such severe pain in my hip. How can I forget body-consciousness while in such pain?”

Bhagavan then gave her a few subtle spiritual instructions and said with authority:

“Go and take a dip in the Kunda. The pain will disappear.”

At that time Lalitadevi was suffering intensely. The pain in her hip had become so severe that she could scarcely stand upright. Yet with complete faith in the Guru’s words, she immediately made her way to the sacred hot springs.

She entered the first Kunda and took a single dip.

The moment she arose from the water, she was astonished. The pain that had troubled her so deeply had vanished completely. She could now stand erect with ease. What physicians and medicines had failed to accomplish, the grace of the Sadguru accomplished in an instant.

Filled with gratitude and wonder, she hastened back to Bhagavan.

A Destiny Yet to Unfold

When she returned, Bhagavan again addressed her:

“A little of your duty still remains to be completed. After that, you must step into the Universe. Return to your home tomorrow itself. In three days, there will be heavy rains. While returning, take darshan of Vajreshwari.”

These words were layered with meaning. Outwardly, Bhagavan instructed her to return home. Inwardly, He was revealing that her worldly responsibilities were nearing completion and that a larger spiritual mission awaited her. She was not destined to remain confined to the narrow boundaries of personal life. She would one day belong to the world.

Obeying His command, Lalitadevi returned with Raghuvir and the two ladies, taking darshan of Shree Vajreshwari Devi on the way. The next day, she departed Mumbai and resumed her journey home.

The Years of Trial

In 1947, Lalitadevi again came to Mumbai for the marriage of her eldest son, Subbarao. This period proved to be one of turbulence and severe testing in her life. Outer circumstances became difficult, and the pressures of worldly duties weighed heavily upon her.

Yet she did not waver.

She had now learned to perform her responsibilities while remaining inwardly anchored in the Self. She understood that life had to be lived, duties had to be fulfilled, and the play of destiny had to unfold—but one need not lose oneself in the process.

She remembered the wisdom of Sant Tukaram:

“Whatever is destined to happen must be experienced.
Why suffer by forgetting one’s true nature?”

This insight became her strength.

The bhajans of Sant Tukaram that had inspired her from childhood, the sacred twelve Abhangs, and the Haripath of Shree Dnyaneshwar Maharaj became sources of courage, peace, and inner nourishment. They steadied her mind amid storms, gave contentment amid hardship, and reminded her that grace was ever-present.

The Inner Victory

Thus, even while facing trials, Lalitadevi continued forward with dignity and faith. Outwardly, she fulfilled the role of mother, wife, and householder. Inwardly, she remained a seeker ripening toward realisation.

Bhagavan had healed her body in Ganeshpuri.
Now life itself would refine the mind and heart.

The Guru had already seen her future.
The remaining duties were only the last pages before a new chapter would begin.

A Blessed Return to Ganeshpuri

As destiny would have it, Lalitadevi once again received the opportunity to visit Ganeshpuri and have darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda in the year 1949. This time, the occasion that brought her to Mumbai was the marriage of her daughter, Parwati.

Parwati was married to Shri Maruti Chikarmane, a qualified doctor who had completed his MBBS and established a medical dispensary in Girgaon, Mumbai. After the joyful and auspicious marriage celebrations were concluded, Lalitadevi felt inwardly inspired to undertake a pilgrimage to Ganeshpuri. She desired to place her son Ramanand at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan, for he had recently passed his law examinations and was beginning a new phase of life.

To receive the blessings of the Sadguru at the threshold of one’s future was, in her eyes, more valuable than any worldly qualification.

The Prayer that Opened the Window

Lalitadevi set out for Ganeshpuri accompanied by Ramanand, Parwati’s mother-in-law, and another lady. Upon reaching there, they learned that Bhagavan had not come out for darshan for several days.

In those times, travel from Mumbai to Ganeshpuri was long and tiring. The journey required effort, patience, and determination. Yet Lalitadevi had come not merely as a visitor, but as a devotee moved by longing. She resolved within herself:

“Unless I receive Bhagavan’s darshan, I shall neither eat nor drink.”

Standing there disappointed, yet filled with faith, she prayed silently:

“O Deva! Where are You? How can I return without Your darshan?”

One of the ladies accompanying her mockingly remarked:

“As if He will appear merely because you prayed!”

No sooner had these words been spoken than Bhagavan Nityananda suddenly appeared at the window of His room.

The timing stunned everyone present.

Bhagavan looked directly toward Lalitadevi and raised His hand in blessing. Overcome with devotion, she hurried to the window and prostrated. She then lit incense sticks in reverence before Him.

Bhagavan addressed her with profound assurance:

“Remain in peace in Sadguru’s awareness. Everything will happen automatically and effortlessly.”

In a single sentence, He gave the essence of surrender: remain anchored in the Guru-consciousness, and life will unfold in harmony.

Vaikunt Ashram, where Shree Lalita Mauli had Darshan

Ramanand Before the Master

Lalitadevi then gently pushed Ramanand forward and said in Konkani:

“Swami, Ramanand seeks Your blessings. I seek Your love and care for him.”

Bhagavan turned His gaze toward the young man and said:

“He is young. He has the right culture.”

Then Bhagavan closed His eyes and remained silent for some moments, as though inwardly reading Ramanand’s nature, tendencies, and future path.

After a pause, He opened His eyes and, to everyone’s surprise, spoke in English:

“Where intelligence fails, wisdom succeeds.”

He then repeated the meaning in Konkani:

“Where intelligence falls short, it is Self-knowledge that carries one across. Do not worry. Everything will turn out well.”

The Guru’s Deeper Teaching

This was not merely advice to Ramanand alone. It was a universal teaching.

Intelligence can analyse, calculate, argue, and reason. It has its place in worldly life, education, and profession. But intelligence alone cannot solve the deeper riddles of existence, nor can it guide one through all crises.

When intellect reaches its limit, wisdom begins.

Wisdom arises from discrimination, inner maturity, humility, spiritual insight, and contact with the Self. It is wisdom that steadies the mind when circumstances are uncertain. It is wisdom that transforms knowledge into right living.

Bhagavan’s blessing, therefore, was both practical and spiritual: pursue your worldly path, but never rely on intellect alone. Let wisdom illumine intelligence.

A Mother’s Fulfilment

For Lalitadevi, this visit brought deep contentment. Her daughter had entered married life, her son had completed his studies, and both had now received the grace-filled glance of Bhagavan Nityananda.

She knew that worldly accomplishments become fruitful only when sanctified by the Guru’s blessings.

Thus, once again, Ganeshpuri had become not merely a place of pilgrimage—but the sacred ground where destiny was guided, family was blessed, and wisdom was silently planted for generations to come.

From Ripeness to Radiance: The Call to Serve

As Lalitadevi’s inner journey approached its natural culmination, a quiet but profound transition began to unfold. The years of intense sadhana, unwavering faith, disciplined living, and the ceaseless grace of her Sadguru had ripened her consciousness. What she had sought within was no longer a matter of effort—it had become her very state of being. The seeker was dissolving, and in her place was emerging Lalita Mauli—one who was no longer walking the path, but had become a guiding light upon it.

At this stage, her life was no longer meant to remain confined to personal experience or inward absorption. The divine will, which had patiently shaped and refined her, now began to express itself outwardly. She was being gently led into the world—not as a preacher or a scholar in the conventional sense, but as a living embodiment of wisdom, compassion, and direct experience.

Wisdom that Simplifies the Infinite

In the course of this unfolding, Lalitadevi came into contact with many learned individuals, scholars, and seekers well-versed in scriptures and philosophical traditions. These interactions were not always passive. At times, she was questioned, even challenged, on subtle aspects of spiritual doctrine and interpretation.

Yet, what distinguished Lalitadevi was not scholastic mastery in the academic sense, but the clarity born of realisation. Where others relied on intellectual understanding, she spoke from direct experience. Complex philosophical constructs, layered in abstraction and terminology, found effortless clarity in her presence. She had the rare ability to translate the highest truths into the simplest expressions—making them not only understandable, but also livable.

Her words carried conviction, not because they were argued, but because they were lived. What she conveyed was not theory, but truth verified in the crucible of her own life.

Reverence Earned, Not Sought

It was not long before even seasoned scholars began to recognise the depth of her insight. Many who initially approached her with questions or scepticism found themselves disarmed by her simplicity and humbled by her clarity. There was no display of authority, no assertion of superiority—only a natural flow of wisdom rooted in humility.

In time, respect arose spontaneously. Those who came to examine her began to revere her. They bowed not to an individual personality, but to the light of understanding that shone through her.

The Emergence of Mauli

Thus, Lalitadevi’s journey entered a new phase—not of seeking, but of sharing; not of becoming, but of being. The transformation into Lalita Mauli was not marked by any formal declaration, but by the quiet recognition of those whose lives she began to touch.

The divine had completed its work of preparation. Now, through her, it began its work of upliftment.

What had once been an inward quest for truth had become an outward flow of grace.

Reference: Shree LalitaMauli by Smt Lila R Joshi, Shree Nityananda Nilay Gurukul, Panvel 

I am deeply grateful to Shri Vinay Masurkar, Smt. Lilatai Joshi and the many devoted followers of Shree Lalita Mauli who have lovingly shared and preserved the fragrance of her grace.

In particular, Smt. Lilatai Joshi, through her remarkable work Shree Lalita Mauli, written in Marathi, has played a significant role in bringing Mauli’s life and teachings closer to countless devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda. Her dedicated effort has ensured that the spiritual legacy of Shree Lalita Mauli continues to inspire seekers and devotees across generations.

Note:

“Images shared in this article are in good faith for spiritual purposes.
Credit unknown. Will acknowledge/remove if required.”