Late Shri Janaki Mandal Ji, the Grandfather of Revered Swami

Late Shri Janaki Mandal ji, the grandfather of Revered Swami Bhagirath Baba, was a resident of Lalganj, a village under Rupauli Police Station of Purnia District in the state of Bihar, India. He was an intensely devout person, and used to organise every year a series of discourses on Bhagwat (a scripture illustrating the exploits of all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, especially that of His incarnation as Lord Shri Krishna) for a fortnight spanning from Amavasya (New Moon Day) to Poornima (Full Moon Day) of the Hindu month of Vaishakh (coinciding with the month of May usually). It was during one such occasion that Swami Bhagirath Das ji was born - on Tuesday the 09th May of 1945, the 11th day of the light half of the month of Vaishakh - while the discourse on the Bhagvat was going on. It is for this reason that Late Shri Janki Mandal ji gave the name ‘Bhagvat Mandal‘ to him. His venerable mother, Late Mrs. Dhanasi Devi, took ill immediately after his birth and, thus, the onus of his upbringing fell upon his grandmother and aunt (father’s sister). So, Bhagirath Baba got very little opportunity of receiving his mother’s milk. Swami Bhagirath Das ji was very quiet or calm by nature. He loved sitting quietly in solitude. His family members would get amazed by his temperament. Even in his childhood days he displayed a natural attraction for sages; seeing hermits or sages he would run to them and pay his obeisance. He did not have much inclination towards studies; he preferred rather to sit alone with his eyes closed. When his grandma and aunt went to the farm field, he, too, would accompany them, and as they got busy with their farming work, he would sit on the boundary-mend of the field in a cross-legged posture and close his eyes. This would surprise them. They tried to divert his attention by calling his name loudly from afar, but this would have no effect on him. Then they would move closer and shout again. Getting annoyed at being disturbed he would abruptly stand up and leave alone for home. When he grew up as a child, his family members wanted him to go to school, but he did not evince any interest. Following a lot of loving persuasion and pressuring by his parents, he started going to a private school for studies. There he displayed a very sharp memory and grasped very quickly whatever was taught to him and, thus, came to be loved very much by his teachers. After two years he shifted to a primary school with the kind consent of his parents. Mr. Arvind, the Principal of this school was struck by his quiet disposition and paid him special attention. One day Mr. Arvind told him, "Your name is Bhagvat which is also the name of a puran (puranas are a class of voluminous work in Sanskrit dealing with aspects of ancient Indian history, legend, mythology or theology). In our country, there was a great, virtuous king named Bhagirath; he had, by dint of his Herculean penance, brought the Ganga River down to the earth. That is why, I would like to give you a new name ‘Bhagirath‘." And he himself wrote ‘Bhagirath Mandal‘ (Mandal being the surname) on the cover page of one of his notebooks. Since then, people began to call him ‘Bhagirath‘. Later, when he joined into the personal attendance of His Holiness Maharshi Mahi Paramhans ji Maharaj, looking at his exemplary self-less and devoted ‘seva‘ (service) to his Guru, people began to call him ‘Gurusevi‘ (One who serves the Guru). Thus, he is known by the combined name ‘Gurusevi Shri Bhagirath Baba‘. On passing Class III with flying colours, he expressed his desire to the Principal Mr. Arvind Babu, "Sir, I wish to get admission to the Class IV at Dholbajja School, because there I would be able to continue up to Class VII." Giving his consent to the proposal, Mr. Arvind asked him to come prepared the next day. When Bhagirath Baba went to him the next day, Mr. Arvind Babu was ready. Bhagirath Baba touched his feet. Mr. Arvind blessed him and took him to Mr. Madan Babu, the Head Master of Dholbajja School and got him admitted there. Bhagirath Baba was struck with fever the same evening as he returned home from the new school. However, the fever slowly subsided and he subsequently began to attend the school regularly. He continued at the school till he passed the examination of Class VII. While in the Sixth, he was awarded the Merit Scholarship by the Welfare Department of Government which used to be granted to a select few meritorious students. While returning home after having taken the last paper of Class VII, Bhagirath Baba, walking through the Baluka Maidan (name of an open space or ground), asked his friend, "Praksah (name of his friend)! Which stream of study are you going to opt for at the high school - arts or science? (In those days, arts and science streams used to be separated right from Class VIII. However, now a day a common curriculum is followed till the Class X.) Prakash ji (‘ji‘ or ‘Babu‘ are the terms used to call someone respectfully in India) replied that he would pursue a course in medicine. Reacting to this, Bhagirath Baba said, "Well yes! You can pursue medical education because your father is rich and can afford to bear the higher fees. But my father is poor. He will not be able to manage the required expenses. I think that in case I could not continue my studies further, I would seek the shelter of some Mahatma (Great Soul, or sage), serve him and practise all that he would command me to do." No sooner than he had said this that a miracle happened. He saw an old-aged Mahatma dressed in saffron clothes sitting on the ground. He had a broad forehead, a swollen gland (or protrusion of flesh) on the left side of his head, long white hair, flowing beards and thick moustaches. The Mahatma was constantly staring at Bhagirath Baba as if he was telling, "Have a good look at me. You have to be in my service only." Looking at the Mahatma, Bhagirath Baba respectfully bowed his head, closed his eyes and offered his pranam. Then as he opened his eyes, Mahatma had disappeared. What was more amazing was that the Mahatma had manifested himself to Bhagirath Baba alone; Prakash ji had not seen him. From that very day devotion to God took deep roots inside Bhagirath Baba who once again developed distaste for formal studies. Nonetheless, he did take admission, obeying the instructions of his father, to Class VIII at a High School about three kilometres from his village, but could not appear at the annual examination of Class VIII. He still got admitted to Class IX at Dholbajja High School and continued his education for some more time. However, just before the Half Yearly examinations were to commence, he, as advised by his father, joined a training programme on eradication of small pox. And with this his formal education came to an end. After the completion of training, he stayed back home and began to assist his brother in domestic assignments. Every now and then the captivating picture of the Mahatma, who had shown himself on the Baluka Maidan, would flash before his eyes. Looking at his keen affinity for satsang (spiritual gathering) one day an old satsangi from the village, Late Shri Hanuman Das ji told him, "My Guru, Maharshi Mehi Paramhans ji Maharaj is coming to Tikapatti (a place nearby). Please come along, if you so desire, to have his darshan (glimpse)." Bhagirath Baba, drawn by an unknown force, proceeded to the place with other co-villagers on the scheduled date. He was left dumbfounded to look at the sage who was seated on the stage, "O My God! This is precisely the same Mahatma who had granted his divine darshan to me on the Baluka Maidan!" He could not believe his eyes. He offered his heartfelt pranam to Him from a distance. Suddenly a spontaneous feeling flashed through his mind, "Now I need not wander any further. I shall be in the service of this great soul all my life. He alone would be my guide." The very next day i.e. on the 9th December 1966, Sadguru Maharshi Mehi Paramhans ji Maharaj initiated him at 9 PM. After being initiated when Bhagirath Baba went to Maharshi Mehi to pay his respect the next morning, he began to gaze at him constantly as if they been very old acquaintances; Seeing him looking at him Bhagirath Baba got Goosebumps. This time also he was come over with an inner feeling that Gurudev would surely keep him in his personal service. He made an offering of five annas (sixteen annas would make one rupee of Indian currency then) at his Holy feet and went back to the Satsang Hall. In the morning session of satsang when the Revd. Guru was being escorted to the stage, the volunteers in their efforts to make way for him made people gathered there stand on two sides. Bhagirath Baba also stood on one side to have a glimpse of Gurudev from close. Walking towards the stage as Gurudev came near him, he stopped briefly and began to look fixedly at him. "Why Gurudev keeps looking at me repeatedly? There must be something to It." was the thought that crossed his mind.

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