Divine Helmsman Among the first to inflame my flickering a reward given to him by the Viceroy for the curiosity in lives of great spiritual King’s bravery and was a prized item for the personalities was the owner. He proudly handed it to the Mahatma Bengali book series to examine. Holding it with great curiosity, ‘Bharater Sadhak’ Swami suddenly tossed it (Saints of ) overboard into the river. The King was at his authored by Shri wit’s end. He begged the saint to retrieve his Shankarnath Roy. treasure, ‘Please give me back my sword, Being a student at Sir’, he pleaded. The Swami smiled that time, I did not innocently and prepared to leave. Frustration have too much began giving way to anger as the outraged money to spare. Yet King continued to ask for return of his ‘my after completing each volume containing sword’. Swami-ji then leaned over, dipped around a score of spiritual life-tales, I rushed his hand in the water and took out two to buy the next, as if addicted, and identical swords asking the King to identify completed close to a dozen volumes. The which one was ‘his sword’. The King, very first biography of the first volume was unable to make out any difference, was that of Mahatma Trailanga Swami and it was stunned into bewildered silence. Trailanga my earliest introduction to him. This Swami then threw one of the two pieces incomparable strode like a colossus in back into the water and handed over the the spiritual arena for anything between other to the stupefied Maharaja saying ‘Why three to four hundred years, the last century do you talk about something as being yours and a half of which was in open public gaze if you cannot even recognize it?’ It is in the holy city of . Innumerable therefore no wonder that he was revered as historically documented tales of his the ‘Sachal Vishwanath’ or ‘Walking ’ - legendary yogic powers known from the Lord of the Universe himself who, encounters with all kinds of people - having perfected that body was using it as a plebeians, royals, administrators, skeptics, vehicle for divine manifestation. humbugs, devotees, aspirants and saints - In the book ‘’, are folklore. It struck me that each such Paramhansa Yogananda, while giving a display of yogic perfection contained deep reference to Trailanga Swami remarked, ‘He wisdom expressed with infinite compassion was one of the (perfected beings) and child-like playfulness. I take this who have cemented India against the opportunity to mention one such incident erosions of time.’ This line somehow that continues to excite me whenever I recall intrigued me as being loaded with inner it. meanings that Yogananda-ji did not possibly An Indian Raja reverentially invited the fully elaborate in public. Often many secrets Swami to his boat on the River Ganga. learnt through inner realizations or through Aboard the vessel, Swami-ji expressed the Parampara are not stated in public. interest for the bejeweled sword that was in A quick research on Trailanga Swami the Maharaja’s possession. Apparently it was revealed his connections to a large number

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 38 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬ of saints and spiritual lineages. Yogananda-ji asking whether was singular (advaita) has mentioned his close relationship with Sri or dual (dwaita)? Swami-ji, in response, Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay. I also lifted one finger and then joined the two read how the fingers. This has been explained as – when then Brahmo the self is fully immersed in the preacher, Sri Sri transcendental during then in Bijoy that state of absolute unity (advaita) God is Goswami, tried realized as one; again when one approaches to run away God as a devotee then the duality (dwaita from the great bhava) of bhakta-bhagwan comes into play; Swami who this duality is also a conjoined unity like the kept on joined halves of chick-peas or gram. After insisting that he this sign-based interaction both saints went had been into deep Samadhi. Coming out from this instructed by state Sri encircled Trailanga God to give Swami in a rapturous sankirtana-like dance him a with his hands raised. Later Sri Ramakrishna and prepare arranged for bhog of payasa of several Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri Mahashay him for his kilograms for the ‘God in motion’, all of primary mission just before Sri Bijoy which the Swami consumed in his inimitable Krishna met his own Sadguru. This became style of eating only when fed. The Swami a turning point in the life of Gosai-ji, who offered Sri Ramakrishna his little gold snuff later transformed into a self-realized saint. box as a gift in return. Shankari Mata, who Sri Lokenath Brahmachari, a great yogi was also the daughter of Sri Kalikananda himself, refers to Trailanga Swami (whom he Abadhut, (one of the principal and highly met in the Himalayas advanced disciples of Trailanga Swami) before he came to lived for more than a hundred years and Varanasi) as one of the recounted to Swami Yogananda her times greatest personalities he spent with Sri Lahiri Mahashay including had encountered and occasions when Maharaj acknowledged the spiritual appeared before both of them. (I remember help that he received from Sree Sree Maa insisting on visiting the the Swami, then known in room of the late Shankari Mata the mountains as Hitalal during one of our early trips to Varanasi and Mishra. the wonderful vibrations we felt there.) Swami-ji’s famous Though we hear of only a few formal interaction with Sri disciples of Trailanga Swami, a little research Ramakrishna Paramhansa revealed an illustrious lineage that spans was witnessed by the several spiritual arenas covering and woman saint and illustrious Shankari Mai Jew . Other than Sri Kalikananda Abadhut disciple of Trailanga Swami, Shankari Mai and his divinely pre-destined daughter Jew. The story goes on like this: During the Shankari Mata and their distinguished interaction, Sri Ramakrishna first lifted his lineages, one of the foremost disciples of fore-finger and then two fingers, apparently Trailanga Swami was his nephew Swami

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 39 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬ Paramananda , who also lived for stone statue suddenly spoke up and became almost three hundred years. Sree Sree Maa a statue again! I also remember that Sri had mentioned to me that Swami Pranabananda Giri Maharaj (disciple of Paramananda later stayed in the Shyamacharan Lahiri Baba) mentioning a Manasarovar region and guided more than a sadhana experience of his as follows: I was hundred advanced sadhaks into in deep when a pranava-like sun Paramhansa-hood before finally returning to appeared in the inner sky and, from within the plains prior to leaving his mortal coil. the pranava jyoti, Mahatma Trailanga Sree Sree Maa was once invited to the Swami’s smiling head popped out. He Kolkata Ashram and Temple of the blessed me and went back within, into the Mahananda Mission by the then head, omkar-sun, again. Swami Bimalananda Giri Maharaj. I had the Yet, I knew that if I approached Sree Sree good fortune of being in the party that Maa, I would get more spiritual insights. She visited the temple-ashram. They uphold a first showed me Sant Dariya Sahib’s -sadhana lineage of Trailanga Swami description of his realization of ‘Alakh that branched though his reclusive yet very Niranjan’ - the Absolute Infinite Supreme advanced yogi disciple Swami Suryananda Existence-Consciousness – Giri, not even a photo or picture of whom I could locate. This was followed up by high "Sadho, Alakh Niranjan Soyi, order saints like Swami Mahananda Giri (in Guru Partap Ramras nirmal, whose name the mission runs) and Swami aur na duja koi; Bhabananda Giri prior to Swami Sakal gyan-par gyan-dayanidhi, Bimalananda. During an interaction with Sri sakal jyoti par jyoti, Saumyendranath Brahmachari, of Jake dhyan sahaj agha nasai, Dev Sangha, whose lineage includes the sahaj mite jam chhoti." divine parampara of Sri Bijoy Krishna Chattopadhyay, Satyadev, Sri [Sadho, I slept into Alakh Niranjan, Pulin Bihari Brahmachari and Sri Through the divine Grace of the Sadguru, Narendranath Brahmachari Maharaj, I was Purified by the nectar of the soul, thrilled to hear that they draw their glittering (I reached where) lineage of self-realized saints from Mahatma There was no second person; Trailanga too. Sri Saumyen Baba informed (There I experienced) me that Sri Bijoy Krishna Chattopadhyay Beyond all Knowledge had said that he had received the divine The Knowledge-Compassionate, initiation from Trailanga Swami. Saumyen The Light behind all Light - Baba also related some very interesting Whose submerged dhyan stories he had heard of how the great Cleanses away all sins, Mahatma Trailanga would start speaking And frees from the clasp of Death.] from absolute silence - all of a sudden, immediately attaining full volume without After I completed reading the delightfully need for any warming up - and after inspiring Hindi verse, Sree Sree Maa began, completing, again instantly become “Alakh Niranjan is a name for Parabrahman deafeningly silent and still. It was as if a where ‘alakh’ refers to the pristine

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 40 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬ Existence-Consciousness which is the divine Himalayas, before so many people for so primordial Light-matrix of all Jyoti; long a period. But, away from public view, dissolution of the atma-satta into which takes yet well known to the great Mahatmas and one to nirvikalpa maha-nirvan samadhi-pada Devatas, this great personality took many leading to the realization of an eternal, other simultaneous embodiments to bring imperishable state of Parabrahman. about an unbelievable spiritual renaissance Manifesting this alakh-niranjan nature of in the dark age of Yuga. Parabrahman through its descent into the This sage of ages eternal, a torchbearer of physical form displayed in full public gaze spiritual manifestation in this universe since for almost two kalpas, was the Living Shiva time immemorial, is highly respected and of Kashi – Mahatma Trailanga Swami - the revered by the sages and alike. That is jivan-mukta, bhagwat-vetta, shining light of why, from the depths of my self-realization, the supreme divine. I would like to give you a glimpse of my Holding the divine mantle as the ‘Sri Shiva-Guru-like maha ’s inner work Jagannatha-swarupa’ he guided the spiritual through other saint embodiments that he ship of this sacred land as its central took during his Trailanga Swami life-span so helmsman covering the period of almost that you may all feel his exemplary three hundred and fifty plus years bridging omnipresence in the fortification of sanatan the gap between the two direct Krishna -, and through that appreciative , namely Sri Krishna Chaitanya reverence, receive his merciful grace in Mahaprabhu and Haripurusha Prabhu these difficult times. Jagadbandhu, covering the last phase of During his physical life-time he emanated Kali-yuga as Kali progressed into Dwapara several of sparks of himself to revive the in its reverse cycle, working closely with principal post-Vedic philosophical currents Nanga Baba, Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj and of self-realization and devotion - symbolized Krishna-Dwaipayan Vyas. As a special primarily by the forms of Shiva, , embodied avatar of the Sri Krishna Krishna and the Divine Mother - that keep swarupya-attained sage Brahmarshi the spiritual ark of this ancient civilization Vashishta, through divine directive, directed towards the shores of the Mahatma Trailanga Swami remained the supramental divine - acting as its pre- cornerstone of the great spiritual movements eminent helmsman, a work that he has been and upheavals of the era. It is therefore doing from the beginning of creation as natural, as you have already observed, that Brahmarshi Vashishta. As Trailanga, he sat almost all other great yogi- of that time ensconced as the Jivanta Mahadeva (or who had descended under the divine order Paramshiva), presenting the epitome of connected with him in some way or the Yogic perfection and anchoring the other other. Throughout recorded history, in embodiments. He spread the other pilgrimage after pilgrimage, event after principally gyana- oriented paths event we hear about him as an immaculately through exemplary lives of his alter-egos. perfected, infinitely powerful yogi with To re-enliven Purushottam Sri Rama unimaginable spiritual powers manifesting spiritual legacy of atma sadhana and navada the active maha-nirvana state of Godhood, bhakti, he took birth as Goswami , rarely seen in full public view below the whose Sri Ramcharit Manas - a version of

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 41 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬ the written in the regional These streams culminated in a grand vernacular (Awadhi) - combining finale through the life of Sri Ramakrishna foundational philosophy and land-marking Paramhansa, with all currents merging into social reforms - resurrected the spiritual and one unique manifestation of divine avatar- social lives of people in the heartland of hood demonstrating the oneness of all these northern India. He followed it up as paths. It was around this time that Prabhu Mahatma Janardani, reinforcing Sri Rama- Jagadbandhu appeared on earth as a mahima in the same social milieu. Actually Krishna-avatar Sadguru. Soon after Prabhu this was a continuity of his ongoing work of Jagadbandhu took up the mantle, Sri spreading Navada-Bhakti in the minds of the Ramakrishna and Trailanga Swami local people (beyond the priestly class) physically met and drew down the curtain to which he had initiated earlier as Sri Krittibas this almost four century old saga. The great Ojha, the medieval poet who was one of the sage, has however continued his divine earliest to present the Ramayana in a local manifestations through different overlapping language - Bengali in Ojha’s case – ushering and subsequent lives. For example, as in a devotional revolution of sorts in rural Sadhak Bamakshepa he came to revive as if preparing them for the imminent Vashishta’s age-old Tara sadhana.” I jovially advent of . remarked, “So now I know why Trailanga In a sequence of overlapping lives as a Swami remained silent so much, He had devotee of the Divine Mother, he took birth much work all around to witness and as Kabikinkan , Sadhak handle!!” Sree Sree Maa laughed, “You are Kamalakanta and Dasarathi Ray in Bengal right. But he hardly ever reveals what he will and Parashar in Gaya, spreading a unique do next.” devotion-driven style the Shakti-sadhana I could not resist myself, “So that meeting seed sown by another great sage - in which Swami-ji and Sri Ramakrishna Krishnananda Agambagis (who had interacted through finger signals was their appeared along the time of Mahaprabhu and crucial decision making meeting of leela lived a long life initiating several Mother- culmination?” Sree Sree Maa began devotees including Ramprasad). laughing, “I knew what was going on in This venerable sage of the ages, your mind. The ‘juicy’ part for you to Vashishta, had earlier worked with the Rishi consider is whether Sri Ramakrishna raised Mandala to set the foundations for the one finger first and then two as if asking to advent of Krishna-avatar Sri Chaitanya and confirm – ‘Are we one or two separate revival of Radha-Krishna leela-madhurya- personalities?’ and Trailanga Swami first rasa sadhana when, as Jayadeva, he raised one finger and then two fingers joined composed the masterpiece ‘Geet- to supposedly reinforce his - ‘Yes, we Govindam’, following it up as Dwija are one, and also separate, in conjoined Sri Chandidas prior to Mahaprabhu and as -Balarama forms; though in Govindadas Kaviraj, just after. He also essence we are one and the same’ – which demonstrated in practice the iconic ‘simple they indeed were.” I chuckled with joy, living, high thinking’ life of a philosopher- imagining in my own way, how they may teacher as the desireless, self-abnegating and have interacted. “There is also some dedicated Buno Ramnath of Nabadwip. vagueness as to whether Trailanga Swami

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 42 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬ had married or not”, I commented. Sree Sree of Sir Francis Younghusband with Babaji Maa said, “Our Sri Sri Baba told me that Maharaj and the enchanting experiences of Trailanga Swami’s wife’s name was Rukmini Sri Dutt. Devi.” Finding a rare opportunity I pushed Manick Lal’s grandfather, Sri Kali Charan in the next curiosity question, “Shankari Dutt, a jeweller of repute, had left his home Mata was a beloved disciple-rishi of in a split moment’s decision when his great Trailanga Swami. So she Guru suddenly appeared in must have been someone his office room and asked, very close to him in her ‘Will you not come?’ Kali origins I suppose?” “She Charan, an affluent family was Rishi Pundarika, man, simply replied ‘I am Vashishta and Arundhati’s ready, my Lord’, and went elder daughter”, replied Sree away with his Guru Sree Maa. instantly, leaving behind I now took up another everything as it is at that pending query, “Maa, what very state including the is the relationship between shop office open and the Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj keys on the jewel-safe. A and Mahatma Trailanga week later, a letter came Swami? Except for Lahiri from Kali Charan telling his Mahashay and Trailanga son, Shyama Charan Dutt, Swami’s well known respect Trailanga Swami with Shankari Mata that he had left with his and affection for each other, or some of his Guru and it would be futile searching for disciples like Pranabananda-ji and Sri him. Looking at the letter and identifying Yukteswar referring to or visiting the Living that it had been posted from Varanasi, Shiva, the only place where we find some Shyama Charan went there in search of his direct reference to Babaji is about Shankari father. Through a queer turn of fate, Shyama Mai Jew meeting Babaji Maharaj in the Charan also met his Gurudeva there, who presence of Lahiri Mahashay. We know that was none other than Trailanga Swami. It is Shankari Mata was the Swami’s ‘manas Trailanga Swami who had forecast the birth kanya’. Sree Sree Maa immediately replied of Manick Lal and I quote from the Red back, “They need not interact in public. Book, ‘In harmony with the divine Why should they? For example, if Sri dispensation, a well-known saint in light, Loknath Brahmachari has not spoken of his named Trailanga of Kashi, known to be the interaction with Trailanga Swami in the Guru of the Maharaja of Ramnagar, amidst Himalayas, would anyone have come to his frequent vows of stringent know? In any case, have you forgotten speechlessness, opened his mouth to say, to about Sri Manick Lal Dutt, the reclusive my father, who was his pet pupil, that is first rishi-disciple of Babaji Maharaj? See what is child (meaning me) would be born in Dhanu written in the Red Book and the Bengali Rasi. It is a most condescending favour, in book Jibanabhas.” I immediately recollected which, this saint added, that this child, when what I had read these books earlier in grown in grace, would in the voice of one connection with the very interesting meeting speaking behind, communicate to the

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 43 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬ regenerate ones, the first-hand experiences elucidating on the surest way to spiritual of God’s redeeming grace.’ It is very victory and eternal prosperity, proclaims in interesting to note that Shyama Charan also the Gita, received similar revelations from Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa as Manick Lal ‘Yatra Yogeshwarah Krishnah, writes, ‘Amidst the senses, naturally sunk in Yatra Partho Dhanurdharah sleep, spoke another Paramhansa named Sri Tatra Shreer Vijayo Bhootih, Sri Ramakrishna, to my father, that by forty Dhruvaa Neetir Matir Mama.’ years hence, his house would be a most delightful retreat, whereto would be would Sri Manick Lal Dutt was a true be resorted, men from far and near’. Later dhanurdhar in whom the Yogeshwar Sri Manick Lal came to know that his Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj worked as ‘the grandfather’s mysterious Sri Gurudeva was voice of one speaking behind’ foretold by the same as his own – Sri Kailash Behari Trailanga Swami.” Babaji Maharaj, as Manick-babu would refer “I understand Maa, but there must be a to the Mahavatar. much deeper eternal relationship between I replied to Sree Sree Maa, “Yes indeed, Trailanga Swami and Mahavatar Babaji Sri Manick Lal Dutt is another interesting Maharaj in the setting of the spiritual order?” connection. See even Sri Ramakrishna is in I asked. Sree Sree Maa replied, “They are the loop here! So is two avatar personalities, one is the great Paramhansa of Gyangunj, where Mahavar Sanat Kumara and the other, Vashishta. They Babaji is present as Mahatapa. It’s a pity that along with several others were requested to Manick Lal babu’s room is now so descend from Brahmaloka into this earthly dilapidated that I could not go there - the world, Prithivi, by Rishi Kardama, the roof has caved in. But Maa, what is the governing Prajapati of this world, to usher in special significance of Dhanu Rasi the divine order. Sanat Kumara descended as mentioned by Trailanga Swami?” Sree Sree Kapil Muni, the divine avatar son of Rishi Maa explained, “Not only was Manick Lal Kardama. Kardama had nine divine Dutt born in that astrological position, but it daughters all of whom he got married to has a deeper spiritual meaning. When the great sages. He gave Arundhati’s hand to mind (mon) is surrendered to God Vashishta. So Vashishta is not only (becoming anugato mon), it receives Kardama’s manas putra but also his son-in- enlightenment of the anu (atomic soul) and law. The sages work in harmonious the self-realized one is called Monu. After synchrony, though very few know. Does that this, when within this Monu’s consciousness satisfy you? And I know what you are sounds (dhwani) of Sri Bhagwan’s amrit- thinking. Don’t write it.” I smiled, knowing vani echoes, then it acquires the name of that Maa reads my mind like a book. I said, dhanu. The satta who is capable of holding “Ok, I will not write, but I will definitely tell (dharan) on to dhanu is a dhanurdhar or the it to people when they ask me in private”, yogic-archer. In dwapara this dhanu was and we had a good laugh together. held by mahavir dhanurdhar Partha or -By Sri Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, Arjuna. That is why Sri Krishna, when Her Blessed Child

Hiranyagarbha a Volume 5 No. 1 a 15th April, 2012 44 ø˝ı˛Ì…·ˆ«ìrnh„gdCo¬