Paramapuja Sadguru Sri Swami Janananda Baba: Part I

Swamiji as the Caring Mother

Janananda Swamiji and Bade Baba had simplicity in their way of being. During my various visits to Kanhangad, I never found Swamiji behaving artificially. He was always his natural self, very authentic. For example, he never treated a wealthy person differently or undisciplined just because they were rich and could provide funding. Regardless of wealth, he treated everyone equally.

In his early days, he kept a distance and did not patronize anyone. Only when the person showed commitment and integrity, Swamiji accepted him in his fold. It took great courage to approach Janananda Baba. Only those who had faith and love within could approach him. Baburao Khade and his group were regular visitors to the Kanhangad Ashram in the 1930s -1950s. He, along with a few others like Shri Merchant, Shri Ravi Dhoorandar and Shri Devarai Pai, the Head Master could easily approach him. To small children, he was very gentle and loving. He used to personally supervise the afternoon Bal Bhojan. He was like a loving mother too.

During one of my stays at the Ashram, Swamiji permitted me to spend a night at Guruvanam. Accompanied by Andrew, Sharad Jaywant and I stayed for a night. The next day, we were to return to the Kanhangad Ashram. That morning, Janananda Swami was sitting on a parapet overlooking the main gate of the ashram, as if he was earnestly waiting for somebody. We were still at Guruvanam enjoying ourselves. Finally, around 11 am, we decided to return. Once again, we walked back and waded through the river. The river was safe during normal times, but during rains, it could be difficult to cross. None of us were swimmers, so it could have been dangerous. But we were not concerned.

Finally, we reached the Ashram gate. When Swamiji saw us, he got up and walked back to his room. Just as he did so, it began to rain very heavily. The rain was pounding against the Ashram and the hill, and we were safe inside the Ashram. The watchman, PT, told us that Janananda Baba was restless because we had not returned. We now understand why Swamiji was waiting for us. He knew that we would have to wade back through the river and that none of us would be able to swim in that current in the rain. He held the rain until we were safe inside the Ashram. This is what Janananda Baba was to me; a most wonderful and loving mother!

Prasad from Sabarimala.

At the same time that we were visiting the Kanhangad Ashram, a few pilgrims from the Ayyappa Temple of Sabarimala visited the Ashram. They gave Swamiji Prasad from the Ayyappa Temple. It was a syrupy, dark-brown sweet in a small green plastic box. Swamiji saw Andrew and me in the hall. He came to us and opened the small box. With his fingers, he took the Prasad and placed it in our palms, saying “Eat. It is from Lord Ayyappa.”

Blessed indeed were both of us to get Prasad from Swamiji’s own hand. Janananda Few must have been lucky to get Prasad in this manner from Swamiji where he used his own fingers to scrap out the semisolid prasad and wipe it on our palm to eat!

It is well-known that Bhagawan Nityananda spent much of his childhood days close to the Ayyappa Temple. Often, when tired, Bhagavan uttered “Ayyappa, Ayyappa.” It is also known that the priest of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple witnessed Bhagavan merging into the idol of Ayyappa in that temple. Getting the Prasad of Sabarimala Ayyappa from Janananda Baba’s hand was, therefore, of great significance for us.

A Karma Yogi

I have seen Swamiji working very hard in the fields. He used to grow vegetables along the Ashram land parallel to railway tracks. Janananda Baba was tall and had a robust physique. On his strong shoulders, he used to carry water pots from the pond to water the fields. He took care of the cows and exercised the young calves. One day, I saw him playing with a young bull. The bull was trying to drag him, and he was holding the rope very firmly. Both of them were enjoying the “tussle,” with the bull running in circles, pulling Swamiji along.

Swamiji also worked hard at Guruvanam. This place used to be a jungle. He created a beautiful garden and orchard. During festivals, people would come to participate in the Utsav such as Shivratri, Guru Purnima, Datta Jayanti, etc. After these festivals, I saw Janananda Baba cleaning the Ashram left dirty after the Utsav was over and people had left as if it was service to his Master. He approached every task as if it was service to his Master. At the same time, he never accepted any service for free from others. A local doctor used to visit him to administer his insulin shots. At every visit, Swamiji used to pay him more than the standard rate for a doctor’s visit. He used to distribute money freely to the poor, without ever worrying about finances. Janananda Baba, like a true saint, was loving, caring, disciplined, and practical. But he never worried about anything or about the future. A Sanyasi lives for the moment with unconditional trust in God or Guru to take his care.

Mr. Laxman Shah Khoday, who was an industrialist and Chairman of the Kanhangad Ashram, once promised to sponsor a particular project that was essential in the Ashram. However, he became preoccupied with his business matters and forgot his promise. One evening, Mr. Khoday saw Janananda Baba in his dream. Swamiji appeared in a fit of anger and admonished him.  Swamiji’s appearance was so frightening that Mr. Khoday got up shivering and sweating. He immediately visited the Kanhangad Ashram and apologized to Swamiji. Swamiji said, “This Ashram is not dependent on anybody but Nityananda. If he wants, he can create ten Khodays to run this Ashram.” Shri Khoday was an adherent devotee and spared no efforts to offer his seva, be it Ganeshpuri or Kanhangad. He and his son remained lifelong devotees and as the Trustees served the Ashram and Baba with great love. The Banglorewala building where Bhagavan moved just fifteen days before His Mahasamadhi at Ganeshpuri was built by Shri Laxman Khoday.

There were times when funds were low, and salaries for full-time caretakers of the Ashram could not be paid. This situation never worried Swamiji In fact, he used to say, “This Ashram belongs to my Master. He will arrange for everything.” In a similar situation, one day a devotee from Karnataka visited the Ashram and presented a donation of Rs. 50,000. He had held a fair in his village, and it had earned him a good profit. He offered a portion of his profit to the Ashram.

After the man left, Swamiji instructed PT to distribute the salaries that had not been paid to the caretakers for more than two months. He then paid the other outstanding bills. Still, there was some money left. PT was hoping that Swamiji would save the money for the next month’s expenses. Janananda Baba had other plans. As a monk, he was not supposed to concern himself with the future. He sat on the parapet near the railway tracks. While sitting there, he distributed money to every poor who passed by. He gave away all the money that was left and after giving it all walked to his room with a naughty smile to PT. PT was short of watchman and was called PT because in the local school, he was a physical trainer. 

Whether he had money or not, did not matter to him. This did not mean he was being irresponsible. He spent money carefully but being a Sanyasi, he never provided for ‘tomorrow. It was ‘Live Here and Now’. When necessary, devotees like Dayananda Pai, son of Head Master Devrai Pai, came forward to serve the Ashram financially. Janananda Baba called Dayananda with great affection. Dayananda had great respect for Swamiji. He never revealed to anyone that he used to offer Seva to Swamiji. He did it out of extreme love and respect.

Unlike other direct devotees of Bhagawan Nityananda, Janananda Swami, could never live a life of comfort. He always had to work hard. I have seen Swamiji’s contemporaries and those who came later live very comfortable lives, travelling by car, living in hotels and air-conditioned rooms with disciples providing for all their needs. For Swamiji, it was always hard work as he was ordained to be a Karma Yogi. From the day Bhagavan Nityananda asked him to leave Ganeshpuri and settle the Kanhangad Ashram, and “break stones” (symbolic of building and constructing), he had been working. He started early morning around five and went around the ashram overlooking the fields, any construction work that was going on, instructing the labour, and working in the fields. Around ten he met the visiting devotees and took care of their worldly problems. He overlooked the Balbhojan ensuring that the children were properly fed. At noon, he ensured that the visiting devotees who stayed overnight in the Ashram were given a proper lunch. Thereafter, he oversaw the fields, orchards, construction activities, etc. He attended to Ashram dogs, cows and young calves. There was a lot of love and care when he treated them. Evening, again there was a stream of visiting devotees to attend. After the evening arti, he stood at the entrance of his room and addressed each devotee, guided them and insisted that they were served with dinner. He then retired for the day. He often visited Guruvanam and supervised the activities there. He was indeed a Karma Yogi.

I recall certain incidents during Swamiji’s visit to Ganeshpuri, after his tapasya at Gangapur, the land of Lord Dattatreye at Nasik. When Swamiji returned from Nasik, Bhagavan told devotees to receive Swamiji with honour. For his stay in Ganeshpuri, Bhagavan gave him the very room in which Bhagavan lived until He shifted to Kailash from Vaikunt. This room of Bhagavan was kept unoccupied and a lamp was regularly lit.  It was only Janananda Baba, who was given the honour of staying in the very room that was occupied by Bhagawan Nityananda in the old Vaikuntha Ashram. No one was ever allowed to use this room.

When Swamiji offered to massage Bhagavan Nityananda Baba’s feet, Baba permitted him to do so. This was photographed by M. D. Suvarana. In this picture, one can sense tremendous love emanating from Bhagawan Nityananda. At the same time, it should be noted that Janananda Baba and Bhagawan Nityananda never displayed their relationship externally. They communicated internally, without words. While all other disciples had the opportunity to be close to Bhagawan, Swamiji was always far away at the Kanhangad Ashram. Thus, Janananda Baba had the honor of occupying Baba’s original Ashram True to Baba’s command, Swamiji dedicated his life to building this Ashram and serving the devotees.

Bhagavan Nityananda and Swamiji were One

Baba and Swamiji had identical natures. They were always direct in their dealings and did not hesitate to speak their minds. They were straightforward and honest. Their room doors were always open, and visitors could walk in without an appointment. There was no system for reserving rooms in advance. Janananda Baba was always available. The attendants only restricted visits/entry to the Ashram when the number of devotees demanded regulating their flow. I have seen instances when Baba Himself got up to open the door for devotees who were earnestly praying for his blessings.

When I started visiting Kanhangad regularly, Swamiji had become less strict than devotees had described. We could walk in without an appointment. There were no schemes for making money or side businesses. Whenever money was needed, it manifested. Money came from one end and was distributed from the other. Money used to appear out of nowhere from below the gunny bag on which Bhagawan Nityananda slept. Baba used to pull out money from below the mattress to pay expenses. Bhagawan Nityananda never managed financial affairs and did not concern Himself with cash flow. Janananda Baba managed the finances of the Ashram, Guruvanam, other properties, and later, the Udupi Ashram. All these places required money, and he ensured their finances were kept in order.

Bhagawan Nityananda and Janananda Swami shared a dislike for noise. Talking loudly, munching sounds while eating, dropping things that make noise, etc., invited expressions of displeasure. The doors had long chains for locking them up. If the door was opened without carefully holding the chain, it would make an irritating noise. This was a mistake to avoid.

There was complete silence except when Bhagawan Nityananda was speaking to a group, and the sound of laughter could be heard. Bhajans and prayers were always appreciated. Other noises may not have been liked because they disturbed their state of samadhi. However, they did not mind the sounds made by children. They enjoyed children playing and singing. Both, Baba and Swami loved Bhajans. They used to make small children chant and sing bhajans. To some visiting devotees, they would request to sing bhajans. When the devotees sang, they sat and heard with interest. At times, when the singer made mistakes or sang without understanding the essence, they would intervene and explain.

Bhagavan Nityananda used to express his acceptance or consent by responding with a strong “humph” sound that has come to be known as His “Humkar.” In 1982, Swami Janananda was hospitalized in Dr. Thakhar’s hospital at Kayan. An elderly devotee of Bhagawan Nityananda visited the hospital to have Swamiji’s darshan. He bowed low, stayed there with his forehead on the floor, and addressed Janananda Baba inwardly, saying “If you are Bhagawan Nityananda’s true disciple, then please show some common sign.”

No sooner had this request passed through his mind than Swamiji gave the Humkhar just like Bade Baba, as a mark of acceptance of his Namaskar. This devotee was so moved that his eyes filled with tears. At that moment, he remembered Baba and the fact that he used to visit his father.

Both Bhagawan Nityananda and Janananda Baba respected women. They also had a profound love for children. They enjoyed holding babies and distributing sweets, toys, and clothes to small children and were often found surrounded by them. Janananda Swamiji respected and cared for the devotees of Baba and was always available for guidance and support. In doing so, he never took any credit. He gave all the glory to Baba and insisted that the devotees offer their prayers and attend Arathi at Bade Baba’s temple at the top of the caves.

I have seen many disciples using their Guru’s image and name to acquire notoriety, fame, and wealth for themselves. This was not so with the direct devotees of Bhagavan. Bhagavan described Swamiji’s pure devotion as that of Bali Chakravati. Bali is known to always be at the feet of Lord Vishnu. So too, Swamiji remained humble at the feet of Bhagawan Nityananda. Even his living room was below the temple of Bhagavan as if he was always at the feet of Bade Baba.

I have also observed Janananda Baba’s concern for the poor. One day, Swamiji was sitting on the parapet close to the lane leading to the railway tracks. He was talking to one devotee called Mr Sundhar Shetty of Padbidri, Karnataka. He seemed to be engrossed in addressing his concerns. At that moment, a poor, old, fragile woman came to offer her respects to Swamiji. Seeing Swamiji talking to visitors, she probably decided not to go in front of him, not wanting to disturb their conversation. Instead, she quietly placed a couple of red hibiscus flowers on the backrest of the parapet and folded her hands in reverence. Although Swamiji appeared not to have noticed her, without even turning to look, he gently lifted the flowers to his nose. Now, hibiscus has no scent and yet Swamiji made this gesture. What became clear to me was that Swamiji was present to all, and by taking those flowers to his nose, he was acknowledging her, her love and her devotion.

Obligation to Lord Ganapati

Devotees like my father, Sitaram Shenoy, Baburao Khade, Madhav Hegde and many others surrendered totally to Bhagawan Nityananda. They gave up all their rituals to the family deities and ancestors. For them, Bhagawan Nityaananda was all-encompassing, and they considered him to be the very manifestation of God Himself. They feared nothing and took refuge in Bade Baba. I have never seen my father visit any temples or pray to any other God. It was only Bhagawan Nityananda for him, and in Bade Baba, he saw everything.

Sharad Jaywant had the same kind of devotion for Janananda Baba. He considered Swamiji to be the centre of his faith and belief in God. In his family, they worship Ganesh. Each year, in the month of Bhadrapad (Hindu calendar), bring the image of Lord Ganapati and worship. There is a tradition within families concerning this worship. Once you undertake the obligation to perform this worship of Ganesh, it must be done every year. This obligation is passed on from generation to generation as long as there is a male child in the family.

Sharad used to perform this Puja at his elder brother’s house, where the image was installed every year for one and a half days. When he performed this Puja, he did so considering Janananda Baba to be his Lord Ganesh. In this way, he expressed great devotion during the Puja. There were other times when Sharad was not able to do this Puja because he was visiting the Kanhagad Ashram. He would go to Kanhangad to perform the famous Nityananda Arathi. All devotees of Swamiji, as well as devotees of Baba, always performed the Nityananda Arathi because they considered Swamiji and Baba to be the same.

Swamiji treated Sharad with great affection and always had concern for his well-being. Swamiji used to refer to him as “Railwaywalla,” as he was a railroad engineer in Mumbai. During one of his visits to the Kanhangad Ashram, Sharad went to the village of Kanhangad to buy embroidered cloth to decorate the Ganapati Murti as a shawl. He selected a beautiful white embroidered cloth and returned to the Ashram. Janananda Baba asked, “What have you purchased from the market?” Sharad answered, “I purchased a shawl for Ganapati.” Swamiji said, “Hand it over to me. I too am Ganapati.” Janananda Baba then took the shawl from him, placed it over his own broad shoulders, and walked away to his room. Sharad stood there, surprised and amused. This happened every year when Sharad bought embroidered cloth for Lord Ganesh.

During one Shivaratri festival, Sharad visited the Kanhangad Ashram with his cousins Ashok Shankar from Pune and Sashi Kulkarni, who also worked on the railroad. They visited Guruvanam and shared their experiences. During their conversation, the above incident about the shawl came up. They decided to play a trick on Swamiji. After returning from Guruvanam, they went to the Kanhangad market and bought another shawl for the upcoming Ganapati festival. They decided that, without saying a word, they would offer the shawl to Janananda Baba to see what would happen.

Swamiji was sitting on the bed in his room. They bowed low, and Sharad carefully placed the small shawl over Swamiji’s shoulders. Just as he did so, Swamiji loudly exclaimed, “Ganapatibapa Mourya.” This is a common phrase that is uttered for hailing Ganapati. All three of them burst into laughter. Janananda Baba was completely in tune with the intentions of his disciples and knew what was on their minds. He accepted the shawl as if it were for Lord Ganapati.

Years later, Sharad asked me about the significance of Janananda Baba taking the shawl each year that he had intended for his family’s Ganapati Puja. I told him, “It is your family’s obligation that you perform Ganesh Puja at their home. Since you believe Swamiji to be your Lord Ganapati, your feelings are all centred around Swamiji and not for your Ganapati, which should have been the case. To make up for this shortfall, Swamiji accepted this shawl and fulfilled your obligations. When you tested him to see his reaction on placing the shawl over his shoulders, he acknowledged Lord Ganpati and accepted it on his behalf.”

Worship of The Formless Absolute

One day, a tall, powerfully built American Sanyasin in ochre clothes visited Swamiji. Chairman Ravindran was also present, along with a few other foreigners. Janananda Baba and the American entered into a conversation.

Swamiji said, “You are a very strong man. I am old now. I do not possess any strength now.” The man replied, “But Swamiji you have tremendous Atmanshakti”.

Swamiji: “Then which Shakti is greater?”

American: “The inner Atmanshakti is greater. Is formless Bhakti greater or one with form?”

Swamiji: “Nirgun Bhakti (devotion to the formless Absolute) is greater than Saguna Bhakti (devotion to one which has form). Nirgun Bhakti gives quick results and faster experience of the Divine.” Continuing Swamiji said, “This Ashram, land, house, and everything else, you will have to leave behind and go. This cannot go along with us.” When Swamiji said this, the American Sanyasin was disturbed. With great emotion, he said, “Oh! Swamiji. please promise me that when I visit this Ashram again, you will meet me here and be seen here at the same spot in the same form that I have seen you today.” Janananda Baba placed his right hand over the man’s head as a blessing. As he did so, the Sanyasin’s eyes filled with tears.

Janananda Swami Manifesting as Lord Dattatreya

There is a small pond on the grounds of the Kanhangad Ashram. and the cowshed is also located on that side of the Ashram. It was a common practice for Swamiji to go near the pond and sit facing the cowshed, with his back to the pond, He would do this around 4 pm. He used to sit quietly for an hour or so, and no one was allowed to disturb him. It is believed that during this hour, Janananda Baba would travel in his subtle body to places where Lord Dattatreya manifested.

One day, Sharad Jaywant, Ashok Shinkhar and Sharad’s cousins were all in the Ashram and wanted to discuss their personal problems with Swamiji. They had been attempting to meet Swamiji in private but had not been successful. They were to leave for Mumbai in a few days, so they decided to interrupt Janananda Baba during his meditation time at the pond. Each time they tried to do so, PT prevented them by engaging them in a discussion of trivial matters. In this way, PT prevented them from disturbing Swamiji.

One day, they decided to sneak by PT to talk to Swamiji. Before PT could catch up with them, they managed to find Swamiji sitting by the pond. Swamiji remained absolutely still. As they approached him, Swamiji became furious. “What? You people don’t even allow me to tend to my rounds of alms seeking!?” They were stunned and immediately withdrew. PT caught up with them and informed them that Swamiji had given strict instructions not to disturb him during his rounds at the pond. It was then that it dawned on Sharad that, although Janananda Baba was seated in his chair, he must have been travelling to Nasik, manifesting as Lord Dattatreya, to collect alms as Lord Datta.

By the grace of Nityananda Baba and Swami Janananda, I have made this small offering at his Lotus Feet.



Shri Sadgurunatharpanamasthu!

Hari Om Tat Sat