Life & Teachings of Shree Lalita Mauli
Part VI
“Manifestation of Divine Love”
The Awakening of Divine Love
After her sacred visit to Ganeshpuri and the transformative darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda, a profound inner change began to unfold within Lalitadevi. The spiritual current awakened by the Sadguru had now become intense and continuous. Increasingly, she remained absorbed in the awareness of the Self, detached from ordinary worldly consciousness. At times, she appeared unaware of her surroundings, her mind naturally resting in an inward state of divine contemplation.
It was during this phase that Shri Pandurang Rao informed her that Swami Ramdas of Anandashram had expressed a wish to see her during His stay in Mumbai. Accompanied by Shantabai, Lalitadevi immediately went for His darshan.
The Gift of Divine Knowledge and Bhakti
When Lalitadevi reached the place where Swamiji was staying, she saw a long queue of devotees patiently waiting for darshan. Men and women carried coconuts, flowers, garlands, and fruits as offerings for the revered Master. Observing this, Lalitadevi suddenly realised that she herself had come empty-handed. In the Indian spiritual tradition, approaching a saint without an offering was considered improper—not because the saint desired anything, but because the offering symbolised surrender, humility, and devotion.
Quietly, with childlike simplicity, Lalitadevi plucked a few Tulsi leaves from the garland that Shantabai was carrying in her plate of offerings. Holding them reverentially, she waited for her turn.
As the line slowly moved forward, Lalitadevi finally stood before Swamiji. With deep humility, she placed the Tulsi leaves before Him from a distance and prostrated at His holy feet, inwardly yearning only for His grace and blessings.
As she rose from her prostration, Swamiji gently took a book and a pair of chipalya (small hand cymbals) and silently placed them into the pallu of her saree.
Though outwardly simple, the act carried immense spiritual significance.
The book given to her was Adhyatma Raaskrida—“The Divine Dance of Consciousness.” Along with it came the cymbals, symbolic of devotion expressed through divine love, kirtan, and ecstatic remembrance of God.
It was as though Swamiji had blessed her simultaneously with:
- Jnana — spiritual wisdom,
- and Prema Bhakti — divine love.
The Blossoming of Radha Bhava
From that moment onward, a remarkable transformation became visible in Lalitadevi. The current of divine love within her intensified beyond measure. She would often sing bhajans for hours together, completely oblivious to the world around her. Holding the cymbals gifted by Swamiji, she would dance in ecstatic devotion, immersed in the remembrance of Shri Krishna.
Her state increasingly resembled the Radha Bhava described in the lives of great devotees—a condition in which the individual self dissolves in overwhelming love for the Divine.
Day and night, she remained absorbed in chanting, singing, and inward communion. Worldly concerns gradually lost their hold over her consciousness. Her devotion was no longer ritualistic or intellectual; it had become living experience—spontaneous, consuming, and all-pervasive.
To those around her, Lalitadevi no longer appeared merely as a devoted householder. Something far deeper had begun to manifest through her—a soul intoxicated with divine love, moving steadily toward complete union with the Supreme.
The Divine Vision of Shri Dattatreya
Lalitadevi was now passing through a period of profound inner transformation. Spiritual experiences, visions, and states of absorption were arising spontaneously within her consciousness. The grace of the Sadguru was steadily unfolding deeper dimensions of devotion and realisation in her life.
In 1947, Lalitadevi was once again in Karnataka, her native land. It was the sacred month of Margashirsha, a period especially revered in the Datta Sampradaya, for it marks the holy appearance day (Datta Jayanti) of Dattatreya.
During this auspicious period, Lalitadevi began to experience within herself the tender and sacred motherly feelings of Anusuya Mata, the divine mother of Shri Dattatreya. Her mind was no longer merely engaged in devotion; it had begun to inwardly identify itself with the spiritual moods (bhava) of the great divine personalities.
It was during this phase that she received the divine darshan of Ekamukhi Dattatreya—the one-faced form of Lord Datta. In that vision, the Lord lovingly instructed her:
“Mother, henceforth remain absorbed in meditation and compose bhajans on Nirguna Bhakti. On My appearance day, offer Me Panna.”
(Panna is a cooling drink traditionally prepared from raw mangoes.)
Almost simultaneously, and as if divinely ordained, Lalitadevi unexpectedly received by post a copy of Dattabhajanavali, written by Shri Vittalrao Padubidri. To her, this was yet another confirmation that the unseen hand of grace was guiding her spiritual work.
The Birth of “Adhyatma Datta Janma”
For seven days, the festival of Datta Jayanti was celebrated with deep austerity and devotion. Lalitadevi undertook strict spiritual discipline throughout the observance. As the sacred celebrations progressed, the maternal feeling of Anusuya Mata became increasingly intense within her.
On the concluding day, while waving the camphor aarti, a powerful inspiration surged through her consciousness. In that exalted spiritual state, she spontaneously composed Adhyatma Datta Janma—a mystical and deeply devotional rendering of the divine birth of Shri Dattatreya.
Immersed completely in the consciousness of Mother Anusuya, Lalitadevi sang a lullaby to the infant Datta as though she herself were cradling the Divine Child in her arms.
Initially, the composition arose in Kannada. Years later, in 1953, after returning to Mumbai, she felt inwardly inspired to translate the work into Marathi.
The Midnight Translation
One day, Lalitadevi and Shantabai were invited to Shri Nayak’s house in Tardeo, Mumbai. A discourse on Pranayama was being delivered there by Professor Shri Khanvilkar.
As the lecture progressed, Lalitadevi slipped into a deep state of spiritual absorption. She lost all outward awareness and remained in a trance even after the discourse had ended and the gathering dispersed. Finally, Shantabai gently brought her back to ordinary consciousness.
Before leaving, Shri Nayak showed her the sacred Padukas of Swami Samarth and lovingly offered her a flower that had been placed upon the toe of Swamiji’s right foot.
That very night, at around 1:30 a.m., Lalitadevi suddenly awoke. Drawn inwardly by an unseen force, she sat beneath a large photograph of Shri Swami Samarth. A dim zero-watt bulb glowed above the image. In that silent midnight atmosphere, absorbed in divine inspiration, she began translating Adhyatma Datta Janma into Marathi.
Before dawn broke, the entire translation had been completed effortlessly.
The following day, she also composed in Marathi Sadgurucharanache Swaroop—a profound reflection on the nature of the Sadguru’s holy feet.
When Shri Annasaheb later read the Marathi rendering of Adhyatma Datta Janma, he was astonished by its beauty, clarity, and spiritual depth. It appeared impossible that such a flawless composition could emerge spontaneously.
At that moment, Lalitadevi once again entered into a trance. When she gradually regained outward awareness, she softly remarked:
“Anna, to write about the Divine Appearance of Datta, one must not merely enter the form of Datta, but also become Mother Anusuya herself.”
The Lullaby of Mother Anusuya
बाल जो जो रे । जो जो रे निजबाळा । तू सर्वाठायी व्यापला ॥
जीव-शिवरूपी तूचि नटला । म्हणुनी नमने तुला ।
निजविन आनंद पाळण्यात । तद्रूप होवुनी त्यात ॥१॥
अनसूया आत्मरती तुज गाऊ । तनमन निजरूप ध्याऊ ।
ध्यानात गुंतुनि तुजला सेवू । तदाकार होतुचि जाऊ ॥२॥
वृत्ती तद्रूप करुनी सुटू । अहंभाव समूळ मोडू ।
विरुनिया सहज ब्रह्मांत । स्थितिमती विहारित ललित ॥३॥
Bāla jo jo re | jo jo re nijabālā | tū sarvāṭhāī vyāpalā ||
Jīva-Shivarūpī tūchi naṭalā | mhaṇunī namane tulā |
Nijavin ānanda pāḷaṇyāt | tadrūpa hovunī tyāt ||1||
Anusuyā ātmaratī tuj gāū | tan-man nijarūpa dhyāū |
Dhyānāt guṇṭunī tujlā sevū | tadākār hotuchi jāū ||2||
Vṛttī tadrūpa karunī suṭū | ahaṁbhāv samūḷ moḍū |
Viruniyā sahaja Brahmānt | sthitimatī vihārit Lalit ||3||
O Divine Child, Sleep in Peace
Sleep gently, O my Divine Child,
You who pervade the entire universe.
You alone appear as both the individual soul and Shiva Himself;
Therefore, I bow before You.
In the cradle of bliss beyond worldly sleep,
May I become one with Your very form.
As Mother Anusuya, absorbed in the Self, I sing to You;
With body and mind, I meditate upon Your true nature.
Lost in meditation, serving only You,
May I gradually become one with You.
Let all mental tendencies merge into Your form;
Let the ego be uprooted completely.
Dissolving naturally into the Infinite Brahman,
Lalit moves freely, established in that supreme state.
The State of Lalitadevi’s Consciousness
This lullaby was not a literary composition born of imagination or poetic effort. It arose from an exalted spiritual condition in which Lalitadevi’s individual identity had become submerged in divine consciousness.
She was simultaneously:
- the devotee,
- Mother Anusuya,
- and the witness of the Divine Child.
Her consciousness had entered the mystical union where Saguna Bhakti and Nirguna Jnana cease to appear separate. The lullaby outwardly appears to be addressed to infant Datta, yet inwardly it is a profound Advaitic revelation. The “Child” being cradled is none other than the all-pervading Self.
The poem reveals the culmination of devotion:
from worship,
to meditation,
to identify with the Supreme.
Lalitadevi was now increasingly living in a state where divine love, wisdom, and Self-awareness flowed together effortlessly as one continuous stream.
The Blessing of Faith and the Handwoven Thread of Grace
One day, Shri Latore took Lalitadevi to his home in Bhiwandi by car. Along with her were Shantabai and Shri Pandurang Rao. During the journey, the car halted near a small temple of Shree Ganesha maintained by a local Ganesh Mandal. This Mandal had been established by Shri Latore’s Guru, Shri Trayambak Maharaj, and the idol of Shree Ganesha installed there was the very deity worshipped daily by the Maharaj with deep devotion.
Lalitadevi entered the temple with great reverence. Placing a one-rupee coin at the Lotus Feet of Shree Ganesha, she prayed with childlike simplicity and intense devotion:
“O Ganoba! I am neither proficient in language nor learned in philosophy. You alone must accompany me. Remove every obstacle and reveal Your glory throughout Maharashtra. With utmost love and surrender, I place this prayer at Your Feet.”
The prayer arose not from scholarship, but from purity of heart. It was the spontaneous cry of a devotee who had completely surrendered herself to the Divine Will.
When they reached Shri Latore’s house, Lalitadevi immediately noticed that the central prayer room was neglected and disorganised. Pictures of Shri Trayambak Maharaj and Shree Dattatreya were lying without proper arrangement upon the altar. She gently asked Shantabai to clean the room thoroughly. Thereafter, Lalitadevi herself carefully cleaned the pictures and sacred objects and placed them respectfully in order.
She then performed Abhishek while chanting sacred mantras and stotras with deep concentration. A lamp was lit, and the entire room gradually became charged with spiritual vibration and serenity. Addressing those present, she explained:
“The deity installed in an idol is not mere stone or metal. Through faith, purity, and devotion, the Divine Presence becomes awakened there. Many install gods in their homes, but few cultivate the awareness that the Lord is truly living there. Where there is intense faith and loving worship, God responds.”
Her words deeply touched Shri Latore.
With folded hands and complete faith, he then said:
“Mother, I am not finding success in my business. Please bless my home with abundance and prosperity.”
Hearing his sincere prayer, Lalitadevi spontaneously entered a devotional mood and composed the Aarti “Jai Mahalakshmi Purnakame.” Singing it in her enchanting and spiritually charged voice, she performed Aarti before the altar.
Thereafter, she took a hastmaga dagha — a sacred handmade cotton thread — and tied it to a hook on the wall of Shri Latore’s room. The hastmaga dagha, being handwoven and simple, symbolised purity, effort, faith, and the unseen protective grace of the Divine. Looking compassionately at Shri Latore, she blessed him, saying:
“Child, from today onward, you shall experience success in your efforts. Do not worry.”
Her words proved prophetic.
Soon thereafter, Shri Latore purchased the open land situated in front of his house and began a business dealing in handmade thread. By the grace of the Divine and through sincere effort, the business prospered rapidly. In the course of time, he became both successful and financially well established.
Thus, through even a simple handwoven thread, Lalitadevi transformed ordinary life into a channel of divine grace, teaching that where faith, devotion, and purity unite, prosperity follows naturally.
The State Beyond Outer Appearance
Lalitadevi mostly stayed with her son while in Mumbai, and many devotees lovingly invited her to their homes seeking her presence and blessings. One among them was Shri Shankarao Latore, who frequently took her to his residence in Bhiwandi.
During this period, Lalitadevi was deeply absorbed in the divine mood of Mother Anusuya, the mother of Shree Dattatreya. She experienced within herself the living presence of the Divine Child and maintained intense austerity and spiritual discipline. Her inner state was one of sacred motherhood. In keeping with this divine Bhava, she wore rich resham sarees adorned with zari work, considering them appropriate for the Mother of God. She also wore simple diamond ear studs gifted by devotees.
Many people visited Shri Latore’s house to seek her Darshan. One gentleman who came there was inwardly disturbed on seeing her dressed in fine silk attire. A thought arose in his mind:
“What kind of saint is she? She appears fond of expensive sarees and ornaments. A true saint should possess Vairagya.”
Even before he uttered a word, Lalitadevi called him near and smilingly asked:
“Child, I do not know what true Vairagya is. Please explain it to me.”
The man was stunned. Realising that his hidden thoughts had been revealed, he stood speechless with embarrassment. Lalitadevi then compassionately explained:
“Do not attach too much importance to outer appearance. True renunciation is internal. One may wear simple clothes and still be filled with ego, greed, and attachment. Another may live amidst worldly objects and yet remain inwardly untouched. Real Vairagya is freedom from possessiveness and ego, not merely abandoning external objects.”
Her words deeply transformed the man’s understanding of spirituality.
The First Steps into Panvel
Shri Latore often brought Lalitadevi to Bhiwandi, and during one such visit, some guests from Panvel happened to meet her. Deeply touched by her presence, they lovingly invited her to Panvel.
Thus, in April 1953, Lalitadevi stepped into Panvel for the very first time. At that moment, nobody could foresee that this sacred land would soon become her Karma Bhoomi — the field where her divine mission would blossom and touch countless lives.
Her hosts were Shri Traimbaknath Pavle and his wife, Parvati. During her stay, many devotees flocked to have her Darshan. Lalitadevi remained mostly absorbed in divine ecstasy, immersed in the Bhava of a Gopi longing for Shree Krishna. She would spontaneously sing bhajans, clap her hands rhythmically, and dance in divine abandon. The atmosphere around her became charged with devotion and bliss. Those who came merely as visitors soon found themselves drawn into kirtan, singing and dancing with tears of joy flowing from their eyes.
“Where is the Butter for Krishna?”
During one such ecstatic gathering, Lalitadevi suddenly exclaimed in a playful mood:
“How is it that no Gopi has come bringing butter?”
The devotees smiled, not fully understanding the significance of her words. But within five minutes, a Gujarati lady named Diwalibhen unexpectedly arrived carrying a bowl full of freshly churned butter.
She had no prior knowledge of what Lalitadevi had just spoken.
Seeing her, Lalitadevi smiled radiantly. Diwalibhen lovingly fed butter into Lalitadevi’s mouth, just as the Gopis would feed young Krishna. The remaining butter was distributed among the devotees as Prasad.
Shri Latore stood astonished, witnessing how effortlessly divine play unfolded around her.
At that very moment, another Gujarati lady entered the gathering. The instant she saw Lalitadevi, she became overwhelmed with emotion and cried out repeatedly:
“Oh my Rama! My Rama! My Rama! At last I have found my Rama!”
She rushed forward and embraced Lalitadevi tightly, losing all awareness of her surroundings. Lalitadevi gently placed her hand upon the lady’s head, calming her overflowing devotional ecstasy. Gradually, the woman regained normal awareness and quietly sat near Lalitadevi with tears streaming down her face.
Such incidents revealed how devotees experienced in Lalitadevi the living presence of the Divine in the very form their hearts adored.
The Child Named Chaitanya
One day, Parvati, the wife of Shri Traimbaknath Pavle, approached Lalitadevi in great distress and said:
“Our son Dinanath, his wife, and their newborn child are in grave danger. Both the mother and the baby are critically ill. The doctors have almost given up hope for the child’s survival. Please shower your grace and save the baby.”
Hearing this heartfelt plea, Lalitadevi immediately asked for two small wooden platforms to be brought. Upon one she arranged a lamp, kumkum, halad, akshata, flowers, milk, and sugar, invoking the divine presence of Shree Mahalakshmi.
She then called Dinanath and his ailing wife and instructed them to worship the Goddess with devotion.
Thereafter, Lalitadevi gently lifted the two-month-old infant — weak, emaciated, and seemingly at death’s door — and placed him upon her lap near her feet. Closing her eyes, she placed her palm upon the baby’s head and entered deep meditation.
After some time, the child suddenly vomited violently, staining her costly saree.
Distressed at seeing this, Dinanath exclaimed:
“O Mother! Your expensive saree has been spoiled!”
Lalitadevi replied compassionately:
“My saree has no importance. The life of this child is far more precious to me. The impurity and affliction within him have now left through this vomiting. Do not worry. He shall recover completely. New Chaitanya shall enter his body. Next month, celebrate his naming ceremony and name him ‘Chaitanya.’”
Exactly as she had foretold, the child gradually recovered and regained strength, bringing immense joy and faith to the entire family.
Thus, wherever Lalitadevi went, she carried not merely teachings, but living compassion, divine love, and transforming grace.
The Bestowal of the Mahavakya
(A Recognition of Spiritual Maturity)
In 1954, Lalitadevi visited the Chitrapur Math at Shirali in Karnataka. It was the sacred month of Kartik, and her husband, Shri Devrao, had undertaken the performance of a Laghu Rudra Abhishek at the Math. What appeared outwardly as a family pilgrimage was, in reality, another significant milestone in Lalitadevi’s spiritual journey.
During her stay, Shree Anandashram Swamiji closely observed the profound spiritual transformation that had been unfolding within her over the years. Her deep absorption in the Self, her spontaneous spiritual insights, her state of divine love, and her growing detachment from worldly attractions revealed that she had crossed many inner thresholds of sadhana.
Recognising her spiritual attainment, Shree Anandashram Swamiji conveyed that he wished to bestow upon her the Mahavakya. This great Upanishadic declaration reveals the identity of the individual Self with the Supreme Reality. He accordingly instructed the Vedic scholars and priests of the Math to make the necessary arrangements.
On the auspicious day of Kartik Pratipada, in a solemn and sacred ceremony, Shree Anandashram Swamiji initiated Lalitadevi into the Mahavakya. The moment the initiation was completed, she entered a profound state of spiritual absorption. For several hours, she remained in a deep trance, completely withdrawn from body-consciousness and immersed in the experience of the Divine.
Observing her condition, Swamiji remarked to Shri Devrao:
“She will soon enter the spirit of Vanaprastha. Her love will no longer be confined to family, community, or nation. She shall become a Vishwapremi—a lover of the entire universe.”
These words were not merely a blessing; they were a prophecy. The transformation from Lalitadevi into the Universal Mother, whom countless devotees would later lovingly call Shree Lalita Mauli, was steadily unfolding.
A Father’s Care
Shree Anandashram Swamiji held deep affection for Lalitadevi and cared for her with the tenderness of a father caring for his daughter. During her ten-day stay at the Chitrapur Math, he personally ensured that all arrangements necessary for her comfort and spiritual practices were made.
Knowing her tendency to become completely absorbed in meditation and lose awareness of the body, Swamiji instructed Shri Pandurang Shastri with special concern:
“When she enters meditation, she may entirely forget hunger and thirst. Ensure that her meals are properly arranged. Also, do not allow anyone to disturb her while she is absorbed within.”
This instruction reveals the extraordinary spiritual state Lalitadevi had attained. What for others was meditation had become for her a natural and spontaneous absorption in the Self. Hours would pass without her awareness of the external world.
Thus, the bestowal of the Mahavakya was not the beginning of her spiritual journey but the formal recognition of the spiritual heights she had already attained through years of devotion, selfless service, contemplation, the Guru’s grace, and unwavering faith. The seeker was gradually blossoming into a guide, and the daughter of devotion was being prepared to become a mother to countless seekers who would come to her in the years ahead.
This episode marks a very important transition. Lalitadevi is no longer merely a sincere seeker receiving guidance and experiences; she is now being formally recognised by realised Masters as one who has become established in higher spiritual awareness and is destined to serve the world. The time had come for her now to move into the world
