Bhagavan Nityananda as I remember
My Father………..X To remain ceaselessly connected
There is a famous Abhang by Shree Sant Tukaram Maharaj which runs as given below:
जेथे जातो तेथे तू माझा सांगाती
चालविसी हाती धरुनिया
चालो वाटे आम्ही तुझाची आधार
चालविसी भार सवे माझा
बोलो जाता बरळ करीसी ते नीट
नेली लाज, धीट केलो देवा
तुका म्हणे आता खेळतो कौतूके
जाले तुझे सुख अंतर्बाही
Jethe Jato Tethe Tu Majha Sangati Lyrics
Jethe jaato tethe tu maajha saangaati
Chaalawisi haati dharuniya
(Wherever I go, Thou art my companion. Having taken me by the hand Thou movest me.)
Chaalo waate amhi tujhaachi adhaar
Chaalawisi bhaar sawe maajha
( I walk through my life depending/relying solely on Thee. It is Thou who bearest to my burdens in my life’s journey.)
Bolo jaata baral karisi te nit
Neli laaj, dhit kelo dewa( If I am likely to say anything foolish or babble, Thou makest it right. Thou hast removed my bashfulness and madest me self-confident, O Lord).
Tuka mhane ata khelato kautuke
Jaale tujhe sukh antarbaahi
(Says Tuka: Today I am basking under the fame and appreciation and all the people have become my guards, relatives and bosom friends. I have attained divine peace within and without)
Suvarana Paduka given by Bhagavan Nityananda to Shri Raghunath Shenoy during World War ||
Shree Sant Tukaram Maharaj’s Abhang captures the essence of divine companionship—a guiding presence that not only supports but transforms the devotee’s journey through life. Tukaram describes how God walks beside him, bearing his burdens, correcting his missteps, and turning fear into courage. This divine partnership brings profound inner peace and outward harmony, uniting him with the world in joy and fellowship. Tukaram’s words vividly portray the grace and love that flow from an unwavering connection to the Divine, a presence that illuminates even life’s darkest moments.
This sentiment finds a beautiful parallel in my father’s profound experience with Bhagavan Nityananda during the tumultuous days of the British Raj. Amid communal violence, curfews, and fear, Bhagavan became his guide, protector, and constant companion—just as Tukaram describes the Divine in the Abhang.
Our family’s grocery store, “Shree Guruprasad Harilal Stores,” located near Sandhurst Road Railway Station, was often graced by Bhagavan’s unannounced visits. During one particularly fraught time of riots and unrest, a Pathan was killed, and his body was left in front of the shop. Despite the declared curfew, my father, unaware of the body at first, had opened the store. When he saw the lifeless figure at the doorstep, fear overtook him. The ruthless police of the British Raj were known for their atrocities, and my father froze, paralyzed by the thought of what might happen next.
At that very moment, Bhagavan appeared inside the shop, radiating calm amidst the chaos. He sternly instructed my father to close the shop and go home immediately. Although my father obeyed, he worried about how he could reach Girgaon with police patrols enforcing a shoot-at-sight curfew. Sensing his dilemma, Bhagavan raised his hand, pointed to the street, and said, “Here.” A Victoria carriage materialized out of nowhere, a miraculous provision for his safe passage.
My father boarded the Victoria without hesitation, and the rider urged the horses forward. The journey home, from Sandhurst Road to Girgaon, was extraordinary. Despite crossing multiple police checkpoints, the Victoria moved invisibly, untouched by the officers enforcing the curfew. My father reached home safely, enveloped in the undeniable grace of Bhagavan’s presence.
This incident mirrors the sentiments of Tukaram’s Abhang: wherever the devotee goes, the Divine walks alongside, bearing their burdens and guiding their steps. Just as Tukaram experienced the Lord correcting his words and filling him with confidence, my father found himself protected and uplifted by Bhagavan Nityananda in his hour of need.
For my father, Bhagavan was not merely a Guru but a ceaseless companion who walked with him all his life. Tukaram’s closing lines, “I have attained divine peace within and without,” resonate deeply with my father’s experience, affirming that grace and surrender lead to unshakable peace and joy. My father’s life stands as a testament to the transformative power of faith, where the Guru’s presence becomes the guiding light through all of life’s trials.
By the 1950s, Bhagavan Nityananda was well-known across India. People from all walks of life—rich and poor, noblemen, kings, queens, ministers, businessmen, saints, monks, and Mathadishas—came to seek His blessings, advice, and guidance for both spiritual and worldly concerns. Bhagavan’s presence was open to all, and those who came were willing to give anything to Him. Yet, though He had nothing but a simple loincloth, even the wealthy and powerful, those who had everything, came to Him in humility, seeking what only He could offer.
Two young girls, inspired by their devotion, decided to stitch a robe for Bhagavan after learning tailoring. They chose a beautiful, flowing light blue silk from Dadar Market, envisioning how it would look on Him. But upon returning home, they faced a challenge—no one could measure Him! They hesitated, as no one dared to directly approach Bhagavan for his measurements. Their mother suggested using a life-size photo of Him in a seated Padmasana pose. With their best effort and devotion, they fashioned a robe, or Kafni, for Him.
Their father, Raghunath Shenoy, carefully packed the robe and made the journey to Ganeshpuri to present it. With silent reverence, he waited until Bhagavan called him. When Bhagavan asked, “What’s up?” Raghunath slowly unwrapped the Kafni, explaining with pride and humility that his daughters, Kusum and Shenalata, had stitched it specially for Him. Bhagavan laughed heartily upon trying it on, drawing everyone around to see. The robe was delightfully oversized—the sleeves hid His hands, and the neckline dropped low. Unbothered, Bhagavan playfully searched for pins, and Raghunath rushed to pin the neckline and fold the sleeves. With a warm smile, Bhagavan walked up and down the corridor, proudly wearing the robe, silencing the laughter with His gracious acceptance.
This story reveals the vastness of Bhagavan’s heart and His “connectivity” with all beings. He respected the love and creativity of the two young girls, and He honored Raghunath Shenoy’s offering with such grace. Although Bhagavan’s miracles often take the spotlight, His true essence lay in His immense compassion, respect, and love for all—a divine warmth often overlooked.
As Swami Vivekananda emphasized, miracles should not overshadow the teachings and love of great saints like Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Similarly, Bhagavan’s life was not just about miracles; His love and wisdom were at the core of His Leelas. My parents taught us to look for this wisdom within each story, understanding the love and compassion that defined Bhagavan’s presence.
On the evening of June 6, 1986, my father passed away. For over 30 years, he had shared an intimate association with Bhagavan Nityananda. However, the profound loss of Bhagavan’s Mahasamadhi on August 8, 1961, left him utterly devastated.
For the major part of his life, my father lived under Bhagavan’s divine guidance and presence. With Bhagavan’s passing, he felt like an orphan, unable to navigate the immense void that had formed in his life. His entire being—his sense of purpose, identity, and strength—was so deeply intertwined with Bhagavan that he struggled to cope without Him. Indeed, the entire Shenoy family was shaken. Bhagavan, who seemed eternal and beyond the mortal plane, had now relinquished His physical form, a reality they found inconceivable.
Over those 30+ years, Bhagavan had imparted profound teachings to the family—initiating them into Kundalini Shaktipat, fostering Bhakti (devotion) and Dnyan (wisdom), and guiding them on how to balance spiritual pursuits with worldly responsibilities. His presence was so magnetic, so enveloping, that they never imagined life without Him. Despite His repeated hints about the inevitable—reminding them of the Mahavatars of yore who transcended their gross physical forms to merge with the Supreme Consciousness—the family’s attachment to His form blinded them to this reality.
After Bhagavan’s Mahasamadhi, it was Swami Janananda who embraced the family with compassion, providing much-needed solace and guidance. Swamiji, too, eventually attained Mahasamadhi on December 27, 1982.
What Connected Them to Bhagavan?
The Shenoy family, like all mortals, had their weaknesses and worldly desires. Initially, their connection to Bhagavan was driven more by worldly needs than spiritual growth. Bhagavan often admonished them for this, urging them to transcend material attachments. Yet, their ceaseless connection with Him—even for “wrong reasons”—brought about a profound transformation. This is the mysterious power of a Sadguru.
Even outwardly worldly, the family experienced inner evolution. Every moment of their lives was filled with thoughts of Him. They conversed with Him, remained absorbed in Him, and sought His guidance at every step. What many attain through rigorous penance, the Shenoys received effortlessly through their proximity to Him. As described in the Guru Gita, Guru Sannidhya (the presence of the Guru) alone is enough to bring liberation (Moksha). Bhagavan taught them not through sermons but through practical demonstrations and real-life examples.
From Shri Sitaram Shenoy to Raghunath Shenoy, their father, and grandfather, the Shenoys spanned five generations of direct discipleship under Bhagavan’s grace. This legacy of divine connection extended to subsequent generations, blessing them with extraordinary experiences of grace, love, and compassion.
In their final moments, each Shenoy family member proclaimed with unwavering faith:
“Second to none, none like Him was this Mahavatar Nityananda. Such a God, we can never find or behold again. He is a standalone entity, Whole and Complete, a manifestation of Vairagya (detachment), Compassion, and Love. In Him, I rest.”
Soon, I will share my father’s personal experiences of Bhagavan’s grace.
