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The Trail of Hansha Bhagwan

Four sons of approached the sprouted. Bhagwan appeared Lord, before them in a Hansha Avatara form. All And posed a question to the Creator of them bowed before the Supreme Master God; and offering prayers at his lotus feet, Busy in creation, bewildered in Mind, requested him to disclose the Ultimate Truth. Answer to the query, he was unable to Patiently the find; Lord imparted Seeking refuge in , he gave a them Supreme call, Knowledge. In Hansha Bhagwan appeared and taught essence he said, them all. ‘There is really (Bhagwat Purana) nothing outside It was the early hours of the universe. of Me, O great Lord Brahma, the self-born creator of all ones, but to the The chatuhsana Kumaras with beings, was living entity, Lord deeply immersed whose Soul I am, the mind and sense objects in worldly are but outer appearances. The secret of creation. His liberated existence lies in living in the realms divinely radiant of my true essence, the Soul in union with mind-sons, the the Supreme Soul. Therein opens the doors , to my true Service.’ He elucidated on the contemplating on origins of delusion, the way to cut the chains the Supreme Goal of bondage, awakening to the truth behind of the Science of appearances and re-instatement in the , came up to swarupa of the Self, all leading to the true him with their goal of all life - remaining eternally in the unresolved query shelter and in service of the Supreme Divine. and asked: ‘O Having thus revived the light of eternal Master, the Mind wisdom and bliss of inseparable on Lord Brahma and the four pursues the the greatest of , Hansha Bhagwan Kumaras in front of Lord objects of sense, returned, after being worshipped with great Krishna in Hansa Avatara form the sense-objects devotion by the sages and Gods. thus get engraved in the Mind. For the The four Kumaras, also called the seeker of liberation, desirous of overcoming Chatuhsanas (or four Sanas), namely sense-gratification, what is the surest way to Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat break away from such bondage?’ Their Kumara, became the torch-bearers of this father pondered to reply, but being deeply great knowledge of Yoga and imparted it involved in the activity of creation, the through generations in various ways. Their tranquility that was needed to adequately first disciple was the none other than the respond, eluded him. He then sought refuge illustrious sage , their younger in Lord Krishna from whom he himself brother. While all the Kumaras are his

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Gurus, Narada Muni is specially associated light on the path of creation, universal with as is seen in the existence and self-realization , , Sanat Kumara (Brahmavidya)1:- , Narada Bhakti , etc. We present The secrets of Knowledge – some glimpses of the Sanat Kumara unveiled, great thoughts that Lies in name, speech – emanate from the Mind, matter he revealed; discourses of Sanat On hope, will, power, strength – Kumara to Narada:- Memory he expounded, Narada:- At your holy Seeds of Life, truth, faith, action – feet I seek true Where Bliss is founded; knowledge. Teach me, O The finite and the infinite – divine Master. Great realms he opened, Sanat Kumara:- You Roots of the ego and self – are a learned person. Tell The soul he enlightened; me what you know and I ‘One who resides in the self’ – shall teach what is left. Sage Narada ‘Is blessed’ he said again, Narada:- The I have read, the ‘He attains all knowledge – sciences I learnt, in all the arts, politics and With nothing else to gain’; ethics I am versed. There is probably Thus taught Sanat Kumara – nothing through whose course I have not The science of yoga, passed. Yet I am not at peace with my The great Skanda2, who had crossed – learning. Took Narada over. Sanat Kumara:- All this learning is only in name. That which is not identified with the From Brahmavidya, realization of the Self, which you have not become, that Soul within, the great sage then began to knowledge is nothing. elucidate on Param-Brahmavidya, the means Narada:- Yes, my Lord. What you say is to attain and serve Lord Sri , the true. Please teach me. Supreme Soul, after attaining self- Sage Sanat Kumara passed on his realization3. assimilated knowledge received from The highest goal, Sanat Kumara instilled, Hansha Avatara to Narada. He first threw On how eternal divine life is fulfilled;

1 Chhandogya Upanishad

2 Sanat Kumara is called Skanda in the Upanishads, because he has leaped over the bondage of phenomenal existence. One who has crossed the ocean of sorrow, jumped into the Absolute, that divine person is Skanda – who has reached the Supreme and takes others across. There is also a Puranic story that Sanat Kumara was born as Skanda or , the second son of Lord Siva and , for fulfilling a great purpose of the Gods.

3 Sanat Kumar Samhita

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The Supreme, he said, is the eternal worth mentioning here as it follows from the divine seed, unbroken trail of Hansha Bhagwan. He can’t be attained by knowledge or It is said that on instructions of Lord deed; Narayana Hari, his and Pure devotional service is the only way, Shankha (conch shell) descended on earth as To reach the Lord and live in His sway; Sri and his disciple The divine Hansha Bhagwan Srinivasa Bhagwan, respectively, to revive gave, the glory of the Vaishnava faith and Is a sure means to enter His holy heart sadhana. Nimbarkacharya’s mother, Jayanti cave; and father, Aruna were Tailanga , After purascharana is one eligible to who resided on pray, the banks of the Bija’s nyasa on the chakras, unfolds His river Godavari. play; He was christened The divine forms of -Krishna Niyamananda. At appear, a young age, Nitya leela unfurls, spilling bhavas so Niyamananda had dear; mastered the Only unstinted faith and devotion to scriptures and serve, seeking a spiritual Melts the mind-heart into causeless love; life, embarked on In patience the Soul, awaits His Grace, a search for a As the Supreme descends, taking its Sri Nimbarkacharya Sadguru. Upon place; reaching , Pure in love \(s\)he enters Krishna’s he began meditation under a grove of Neem kingdom; trees in Govardhan. Pleased with his spiritual As a Gopi-Gopini of eternal Golak-dham. efforts, Sage Narada appeared and blessed him with the knowledge of Bhakti-. The great traditions of Dwaitadvaita Narada initiated him according to the along with the Gopala Mantra and traditions of the Kumara and Sharanagati Mantra as enunciated by Hansha bestowed him the salagrama Avatara was carefully preserved and deity known as Sri transmitted through Narada Muni (the main Sarveshvara (the Lord of teacher of the four principal Vaishnava sects All). He also imparted and the primary inspiration behind the Niyamananda the treasured magnificent Bhagwat Purana). This specific Gopala Mantra. Eventually tradition of sadhana and worship, as after great spiritual presented by the Kumaras, came to be endeavour, the Lord Sri Srinivasa known as the Kumara Sampradaya. One revealed himself in his Bhagwan important branch sprouted after the advent splendid Sri Radha-Krishna form. of Nimbarkacharya, whose lineage is known Niyamananda worshipped them, and was as . The remarkable blessed with the remembrance of him being life and teachings of Sri Nimbarkacharya is the Sudarshana Chakra of the Lord. The

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Supreme Divine pair instructed him to teach is one such evolved form that draws its roots as a Sadguru. Niyamananda established his from Lord Krishna and Lord through ashram at the neem grove, his place of the Kumaras, Narada and many other sadhana, now known as Nimbagrama. illustrious sages. We bow to their glory:- One day, Lord Brahma in the guise of a The Four Sons of Brahma still do reign, mendicant came to his ashram. The two Pathfinders of Yogic Science they remain; discussed various spiritual matters after -Sadgurus, they descend age which Niyamananda, offered the guest some after age, food. However the disguised Brahma Born prince or pauper, becoming or refused, as the sun had set and it would be sage; against the rules of his sect to eat now. The legendary pair of Narada-Sanat Niyamananda projected the radiance of Kumar, Sudarshana Chakra (his own being) between Appeared again, as Shyamacharan - the branches of a neem tree making it appear Mahavatar; to be still day time. Thereafter, a pleased Reviving Brahmavidya through Kriya Brahma revealed his true form and blessed Yoga, Niyamananda. He also gave him a new As the practice of ‘living the Bhagwat name - Nimbarka, one who placed the Sun Gita’; (arka) in the midst of the Neem (nimba) A holy science they taught to reach the trees. Lord, Sri Nimbarka presented a four-fold Perfecting what was learnt from the approach to sadhana, namely Hansha God; (Works), (Knowledge), Upasana To them all we pay our respectful (Meditation and Worship) and Gurupasatti homage, (Self-surrender to the Sadguru). The Seeking blessings to strive with devoted Nimbarka Sampradaya has produced many courage. luminary saints. The Kathia Babas including the legendary Sri Ramdas Kathia Baba draw References: Bhagwat Purana, their lineage from the Nimbarka root. Chhandogya Upanishad, Mahabharata, The grand tradition that was initiated Sanat Kumar Samhita, Narada Bhakti through Hansha Bhagwan and the Kumaras Sutras, Wikipedia sources on the Four continues unbroken till today in a variety of Kumaras, Nimbarkacharya, Hansha evolved forms (not necessarily limited to the Bhagwan and personal discussions with Nimbarka lineage) that have been perfected Sree Sree Maa. by the great masters over ages. Kriya Yoga –Sri Partha Pratim Chakrabarti Her Blessed Child

Notice Forthcoming Events Effective from January 2013, an annual fees of Dol Purnima: 27th March, Wednesday evening Rs. 100/- has been fixed for all Library card hold- Spiritual Congregation: 31st March, Sunday ers for maintenance of books. Library cards have evening to be renewed every year in the month of January. Bengali New Year: 14th April, Sunday evening

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