ANANDA KATHA BY NAGINA PRASAD CONTENTS Introduction 1 Chapter One October 1953: My friend Chandranathji and my vision of Baba. Baba sends His blessings and accepts me as a disciple. My initiation in November 1953 2 Chapter Two I am persecuted by my boss. Baba explains the real meaning of ahim’sa and the importance of iis’t’a mantra. 9 Chapter Three Jamalpur and the tiger’s grave. 11 Chapter Four Baba explains the meaning of varn’aghdana and warns against mean mindedness. The downfall of my persecutor. 15 Chapter Five February 1954: I get a sympathetic boss and am transferred to Begusarai. Manan Prasad miraculously loses weight. 19 Chapter Six Rainy Season 1954: My boss Asthanaji takes initiation and Baba appears before him. 22 Chapter Seven September 1954: Baba gives me the boon of only getting demotion when I myself desire it. My daughter dies and is miraculously resurrected and my wife takes initiation. 26 Chapter Eight The sufi saint Dattaji and his prophecy about Baba 30 Chapter Nine Winter 1954: Baba solves my difficulties in meditation and explains how His assistance is given from a distance. Shyam Charan Lahiri becomes ‘Vajra Bhairav’ at the tiger’s grave. Baba’s disciples of His previous lives. The ‘white lady’. The power and use of iis’t’a and guru mantras. Bindeshwariji’s daughter is initiated and her life is extended. My methods of pracar. 33 Chapter Ten November 1954: Demonstrations. Sunday 7th: Samadhis Sunday 14th Savikalpa and Nirvikalpa samadhi. Sunday 21st: Demonstration of death. Sunday 28th: Nirvikalpa samadhi. 42 Chapter Eleven Deep Narayanji and Vishvanathji are initiated and I try to feed Harisadhanji. 52 Chapter Twelve December 1954: The constitution of Ananda Marga is written and I incur Baba’s displeasure and am punished. I end 1954 in fear. 57 Chapter Thirteen I receive my demotion order in January 1955. Baba withdraws the punishment and He gives me bliss. 5th January 1955 Baba names Ananda Marga and conducts the first DMC in Jamalpur on 9th January. 61 Chapter Fourteen February 1955: DMC in Bhagalpur and Bindeshwariiji is given new life. 66 Chapter Fifteen Baba orders me to appeal my demotion in Patna and Delhi where I undergo temptation. Baba explains complete surrender and I suffer from doubt and disbelief.I return to Jamalpur. 70 Chapter Sixteen Baba’s mother. The initiation of Gopal Mukherjee March 1955: Holi is celebrated. Baba’s method of initiation and my father meets Baba. The first grhii acaryas are initiated. Carya carya is published and Elementary Philosophy is prepared. 78 Chapter Seventeen 22nd March 1955: Baba reveals His iis’t’a mantra and His desire to leave His body. 25th March 1955: Baba becomes kalpataru and again tries to leave His body. He explanation of ‘nirman citta’.. 82 Chapter Eighteen 1st April 1955: The delayed official news of my demotion is received. Baba is upset and again becomes kalpataru at the tiger’s grave. Baba grants my boon and is persuaded to stay in His body. 90 Chapter Nineteen Summer 1955: Baba foretells the persecution of Ananda Marga. Baba sends me home. My father dies and I miss the Jamalpur DMC. 102 Chapter Twenty Baba tells all Margiis to address each other as brother and I prepare for the tattvika examination under Baba. Baba explains liberation, animals and kundalinii. Baba describes His previous lives as a Vedic scholar in Benares and a Muslim fakir, and His disciples of those lifetimes. 107 Chapter Twenty-One May-June 1955: Baba becomes kal[pataru at the ashram and gives me a boon. Baba cures me of my chronic disease and upbraids me for my pride in Him. Baba explains ‘chayamurti’. 110 Chapter Twenty-Two Baba commends the modern acaryas of Ananda Marga and explains the importance of guru, guru-puja, sadhana and japa. Proof of diiks’a and the correct mantra. 116 Chapter Twenty-Three Carya Carya and Elementary Philosophy are translated and published in 1956. Ranchi DMC in 1958. I desire to do sastaunga pranam and massage His feet. 121 Chapter Twenty-Four Opposition to Ananda Marga. The laying of Jamalpur jagrti foundation-stone. 125 Chapter Twenty-Five Baba’s childhood. 128 Chapter Twenty-Six I consult Baba via the general secretary. Ram Bahadur Singh takes intitiation How Baba cured his eye trouble. Baba visits him and writes down the pledge for The Volunteer Social Service. 130 Chapter Twenty-Seven The margiis ask Baba for finacial assistance. My mother, my wife and my son fall ill.136 Chapter Twenty-Eight 1956 New Year programme. My year’s leave finishes and I rejoin my office on 6th January. My younger brother takes initiation from me in Muzzafarpur. Patna DMC .My appeal against my demotion is rejected and I write to Baba. I am transferred to Dalmianagar and in September moved back to Muzzafarpur. Baba advises patience. 140 Chapter Twenty-Nine January 1957: Iam promoted on 3rd January to Danapur Head Office. I arrange Muzzafarpur DMC on 26th January 1956 and Baba visits my house. 147 Chapter Thirty Vaeshakhii Purnima 1957. I am sent to Delhi for training. R. Prasad and Tyagiiji and Gaunga Sharanji take initiation. Tyagiiji is cured of TB. 151 Chapter Thirty-One Prasadji and the smugglers and his cure from paralysis. 156 Chapter Thirty-Two My training in Delhi and my colleague stops me from smoking. August 1957 I am transferred to Hajipur. Baba passes through Muzzafarpur in November 1957. January 1958 Ananda Vanii. 162 Chapter Thirty-Three 26th January 1958 Bhagalpur DMC; Baba inaugurates Rennaisance Universal. I return to Jamalpur in February 1958 for the first time since my transfer in January 1955. My mother falls ill and after Baba’s reply to my letter a doctor arrives and cures her. 166 Chapter Thirty-Four Ranchi DMC Ananda Purnima, 12th May 1958. Baba introduces lalita Marmika dance to kiirtan. I return to Hajipur and confess to Baba in a letter That I am overwhelmed by the desire to eat meat, and the desire fades. I again approach Baba to give up my acaryaship. 171 Chapter Thirty-Five Baba returns by train from Gorakhpur DMC via Hajipur and I feed Baba and all margiis on board. Shankar Swaroop Sinha is initiated. 176 Chapter Thirty-Six September 1958 Ramnagar DMC. I attend the DMC with Deep Narayanji and we return on the train with Baba. October 11958 Krishnanagar DMC. We return from Krishnanagar with Acarya Sakaldeoji. 179 Addendum i-x INTRODUCTION The Second World War was over and as a result of a new wave in international politics the British were compelled to leave India. After centuries of subjugation and suppression, India became independent and the people of India could breathe freely once more. But the leaders of the country remained stuck in the quagmire of politics, and the people, in the absence of social discipline and moral leadership continued to morally degenerate. The common people were exploited. Collective human and spiritual values were violated. Social values were decaying. The sophisticated and cultured began to scoff at those who followed the spiritual path and called them called fools, cheats and old-fashioned. At this juncture Baba undertook the task of initiating some people in yogic sadhana. Perhaps because He could not tolerate the prevailing indifference towards dharma or true spirituality He took up the work of re-establishing it in society. By His grace, Baba made me the medium for an important work in 1955. Not only was I made a medium but directly or indirectly I came to realise I was successful in that mission. Oddly enough, at the time, I was completely unaware that I had been chosen as a medium for the task. Consequently a large number of questions came to me from people who could not suppress their eagerness to know all the details of that historical event. I was deluged by questions from all sides. Everyone wanted to know about Baba and how I came into contact with Him, as well as Ananda Marga and its origins. Though many had urged me over the years, I had never had the inspiration to write it down. However finally I had a request and felt such a compelling force that I felt inspired to reduce my experiences to black and white. I was told that these events have a special significance for so many people and that they would be inspired by their narration. This provided the final impulse to write. Whether this will inspire others - only Baba knows, but I have been inspired to write and therefore I feel grateful. My salutations to He who has inspired me to write these lines. CHAPTER ONE CHANDRANATHJI I consider it my sacred duty to write about that gentleman whose kindness and efforts enabled me to reach the lotus feet of Baba. I shall therefore write about him first. Had he not been especially considerate, Baba would have remained inaccessible to me. I therefore bow to Shri Chandranathji of the pleasant and loving countenance who became instrumental in taking me to Baba. I knew Chandranathji, who is now an acarya, since my childhood as our families were related. His ancestors were very religious, wise and famous for their qualities of bravery and wisdom. In addition, they were highly esteemed and of repute in society. He inherited all these ancestral qualities, and on account of his sacrifice, perseverance, keenness and sadhana he has added immensely to these noble characteristics. Fortunately, right from our adolescence we were together in school and college, and even stayed in the same hostel. After completing his education he chose to pursue a career in the Police.