How and Why Me? – A Doubt on Authorization!

What Made Me Share on Bhagavan Nityananda

In my early days, I would document the experiences shared by elders, my parents, and senior devotees of Bhagavan Nityananda—about the grace they had received. Initially, this was purely for personal interest, and I never considered sharing it with others.

Pictures below: 1. Shree Sitaram Shenoy, 2. I sitting on the lap of Shree Kuttiram Swami, 3. My mother, Sunita, 4. My maternal grandparents, H Devrai Pai, 5. Ratnakar Shenoy weds my aunt (daughter of H Devrai Pai), 6. Bhagavan in our Mumbai house in Banaman Lane, 7. My father, Raghunath Shenoy, 8. Bhagavan with my elders in our Mumbai home, 9. My father first from Baba.

Raghunath Shenoy with folded hands near Baba’s head.

Shri Niranjan Suvarna compiled all my notes, had them bound into a thesis, and presented them to me. It was then that the idea of publishing these accounts came to light, suggested by Niranjan himself. This turning point occurred in front of Baba’s Samadhi in Ganeshpuri. At the time, Niranjan was preparing a documentary on Bhagavan Nityananda and was gathering all possible information. He allowed me to contribute by including me in his team, and also encouraged me to write books.

Earlier, I had once visited Shree Govind Swami at his Bhiwali Ashram in Ganeshpuri. After I was introduced, he spoke about my family, mentioning that we had published the original Chidakasha Geeta, compiled by Shree Tulas Amma. Then, out of the blue, he asked me, “Will you write on Chidakasha Geeta?” I was taken by surprise. I had made several attempts in the past to study this book, but after reading a few pages, I often found myself drifting into deep sleep. My cousin, Ratnakar Shenoy, was with me, and he immediately replied on my behalf, “By the grace of Baba, he will do it.” I wondered what made him so confident in my ability to undertake such a monumental task. I neither had the necessary background nor the qualifications to take on such a responsibility. But this incident stayed with me.

When I was five years old, during one of my visits to Ganeshpuri with my brother Harinand, Bhagavan called me close to Him. I was small, and He would often give me chocolates, biscuits, or sweets. This time, to my surprise, He gave me a blue-colored fountain pen. In those days, we only used chalk or pencils in kindergarten, so a pen was something far beyond my reach. Yet, I was given a pen!

When Shri Niranjan Suvarna suggested that I should share all my collections publicly, I was hesitant. When Bhagavan Nityananda took Samadhi, I was only six years old. Everything I knew about Him was what I had heard from His direct devotees. After Bhagavan’s Mahasamadhi, my house often became a gathering place for devotees to meet and share their experiences. I would listen intently, and the stories I heard remained deeply embedded within me.

As I grew older, I realised that very little was known about Bhagavan, especially from the perspective of householder devotees. Fearing that I might forget what I had heard, I began jotting down these stories in a book. When Shree Gopal Anna and Shri Chandawarkar approached me, requesting that I share whatever I knew about Bhagavan, I shared my notes with them. Shree Gopal Anna later published a book on Bhagavan.

Years later, I met Prof. Kamath in Kanhangad, who compiled aphorisms from Chidakasha Geets themewise as ‘Perls of Wisdom.. When I was introduced to him as the grandson of Shree Devrai Pai, he showed interest in learning about Bhagavan Nityananda. I was able to share spontaneously everything I knew. After listening to me, he said, “You have knowledge that is unknown to many. You must publish it, or else it will be lost—and future generations of devotees will not know about Bhagavan and His devotees.” I told him about my predicament: “I don’t have a flair for writing, and I’ve never done any writing. The only writing I ever did was in my English composition class, where I rarely scored well. I have no mastery of English.” He responded, “Forget about limitations. Write about the One who is beyond all limits. Write from your heart and share with love. The rest, Bhagavan will take care of.”

Despite his encouragement, I was still sceptical about publishing anything. I kept asking Bhagavan for guidance. When I was in this dilemma—whether to write or not—I came across an Abhang written by Shree Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. It read:

पाहेंपा ध्वजेचें चिरगुट ।
राया जतन करितां कष्ट ॥
तैसा मी एक पतीत ।
परि तुझा मुद्रांकित ॥
मसीपत्र तें केवढें ।
रावो चालवी आपुल्या पाडें ॥
बापरखुमादेविवरदा ।
सांभाळावें आपुल्या ब्रिदा ॥

I felt a deep connection to this poem, but struggled to understand the message it held for me. After several attempts, I approached my colleague Shri Arun Tembe, who was well-versed in Marathi literature. He shared it with his father, who translated it for me as follows:

“Just as a piece of rag becomes a flag when taken by the king, and all rally under it, struggling to keep it fluttering,
So too I, a downtrodden one, am uplifted by You.
Just as an ordinary paper becomes a law when stamped with the king’s emblem,
So too are those under Your care, protected by You, O Lord Vitthal, husband of Rukmini.”

This beautiful metaphor illustrates how something ordinary becomes extraordinary through the touch of divine grace. Shree Dnyaneshwar Mauli’s poetry, known for its depth and spiritual insight, offered me the answer I was seeking. Just as a rag becomes a banner by the will of the king—or an ordinary paper becomes law by his stamp—so too does an individual, embraced by divine grace, become a bearer of light. Bhagavan Nityananda often said, “Sanyasacha swan, gaonva bhari maan,” meaning “The whole village respects a monk’s pet dog.” This speaks to the powerful impact of divine association—how it confers recognition and respect, even on the most humble.

Reflecting on the chain of events—from Bhagavan giving me my first pen, to Shree Govind Swami’s unexpected request, to Prof. Kamath’s words of encouragement, to Niranjan Suvarna’s compiled thesis placed before Baba’s Samadhi, and finally, to Shree Dnyaneshwar’s Abhang—I found the courage to write and share about Bhagavan’s devotees and teachings. Through my writings, I aim to offer a glimpse of Bhagavan’s grace by sharing the divine experiences of His devotees.

My first book was Anant, followed by The Endless One, Blooming of Brahmakamal Part I & II, Shree Nithyanandeshwari, Sadguru Sthavan, and several smaller pieces shared on blogs and social media.

Today, many have taken to writing about Bhagavan Nityananda and His devotees. I have tried to make my work as authentic as possible, sharing what I received directly from those who were witnesses to His Grace. I have deliberately avoided any exaggeration so that Bhagavan is made accessible to all—easily, openly, and effortlessly.

Some information on the internet creates uneasiness—for example, a post that claimed Bhagavan Nityananda came from Nagloka. Even His direct devotees never made such claims. Bhagavan was a Mahavatar, and spreading such misinformation, especially by those who never had His direct darshan, is deeply disturbing to devotees like us.

I have remained at His Lotus Feet like a child and simply share what my elders told me about Him and their share of His Grace. I have limited myself from sharing directly about Bhagavan Nityananda, and I have shared more about His devotees so that we can get a glimpse of Bhagavan.

  My effort has always been to bring Bhagavan amongst us—not as a distant or mystical figure, but as someone available, loving, and unconditionally graceful. Since most of His direct devotees never documented their experiences, what I’ve shared comes from heartfelt retellings. Some discrepancies may occur—not from any intent—but simply from the human side of oral history.

This work is offered to ensure that Bhagavan’s leela, presence, and grace continue to shine ceaselessly, freely and unconditionally upon all.