SAGE’S MISSION SAGE’S MISSION English Version of TWENTY ‘GULAB VATIKA’ BOOKLETS Life Mission of Saint Gulabrao Maharaj Translated By Vasant Joshi Published by Vasant Joshi SAGE’S MISSION SAGE’S MISSION English Version of TWENTY ‘GULAB VATIKA’ BOOKLETS Life Mission of Saint Gulabrao Maharaj * Self Published by: Vasant Joshi English Translator: © Vasant Joshi B-8, Sarasnagar, Siddhivinayak Society, Shukrawar Peth, Pune 411021. Mobile.: +91-9422024655 | Email : [email protected] * All rights reserved with English Translator No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the English Translator. * Typesetting and Formatting Books and Beyond Mrs Ujwala Marne New Ahire Gaon, Warje, Pune. Mobile. : +91-8805412827 / 7058084127 | Email: [email protected] * Cover Design by : Aadity Ingawale * First Edition : 21st March 2021 * Price : ₹ 500/- SAGE’S MISSION DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY WIFE LATE VRINDA JOSHI yG y SAGE’S MISSION INDEX Subject Page No. � Part I I to XVIII Prologue of English Translator by Vasant Joshi II Babaji Maharaj Pandit III Life Graph IV Life Mission VIII Literature Treasure Trove XII � Part II 1 to 1. Acquaintance (By K. M. Ghatate) 3 2. Merit Honour (By Renowned Persons) 43 3. Babajimaharaj Pandit (By V. N. Pandit) 73 4. Friendship Devotion (By Vasudeorao Mule) 95 5. Mankarnika Mother (By Milind Tripurwar) 110 6. Swami Bechirananda (By Milind Tripurwar) 126 7. Autobiography (By Self) 134 8. Saint’s Departure (By Self) 144 9. Self-opinion Decision (By Babaji Padit) 164 10. Gem-casket (By Self) 177 11. Soul-study Dialogue (By Babaji Pandit) 207 12. Atheist Dialogue (By Babaji Pandit) 246 13. Religion Dialogue (By Babaji Pandit) 274 14. Family Dialogue (By Babaji Pandit) 304 15. Various Dialogues (By Babaji Pandit) 322 16. Historic Vision of Hindus (By K. M. Ghatate) 346 17. India-Glory (By K. M. Ghatate) 367 18. Distortion of Hindu Culture (By K. M. Ghatate) 397 19. Worldly Existence of Aryan Culture (By K. M. Ghatate) 419 20. New Contribution (By Babaji Pandit) 440 My Tribute (By Vasant Joshi) 477 G SAGE’S MISSION I PART I SAGE’S MISSION PROLOGUE II PROLOGUE OF ENGLISH TRANSLATOR t was the insistence of great computer scientist Padmabhushan Dr. Vijay IBhatkar that initiated my foray into unknown territory of philosophical world and I started translating the popular book ‘Sadhubodh’ in Question/ Answer pattern authored by Divine-eyed Saint Gulabrao Maharaj. That was titled as ‘Sage’s Advice’ and published by Multiversity Publication during Gulabrao Maharaj literature-conference held at Pune on occasion of his hundredth death anniversary on 15 April 2015. Later on the same book has been recast by me as ‘Sage’s Wisdom’ and has been published both in printed and digital versions during February 2021. In the mean time I had embarked upon the task of translating the series of 20 booklets titled as ‘Gulab-vaitka’ contributed by different authors and published by Gulabrao Maharaj Sarvoday Trust, Devachi Aalandi, Dist. Pune, again as insisted upon by Dr. Vijay Bhatkar. Now on changing the pattern of 20 small booklets into a single book titled as ‘Sage’s Mission’ is being brought out and will be published soon. I do hope that this humble effort on my part will meet the approval of esteemed readers and I shall be thankful to them if they take little trouble to point out the deficiencies if any that might have occurred inadvertently on my part so as to be able to rectify them in future. I am thankful to Mrs Ujwala Marane of Books And Beyond for Formatting of this book in both printed and digital versions. Vasant Joshi E-mail: [email protected] G SAGE’S MISSION BABAJI MAHARAJ PANDIT III BABAJI MAHARAJ PANDIT Sculptor of literary idol of Saint Gulabrao Maharaj hri Narayan Paikaji Pandit hailing from Chandrapur at his teenage of S19 on leaving behind his parents, home and education came in contact with Blessed Intelligence eyed Gulabrao Maharaj during the year 1905 and wholeheartedly immersed himself in his service which included washing his linen, providing water for his bath, preparing his meals and feeding him as if Guru-service envisaged in Dnyaneshwari had become alive. Shri Pandit was prominent among five trusted disciples of Maharaj like Haribhau Kevale and Gangadhar Mule etc. He never craved for anything from Maharaj in lieu of purposeless service he rendered. Observing his sincere service, Maharaj once said that “I have become subjugated to Pandit”. What more does a true disciple wish from his revered Guru? Maharaj while on his deathbed blessed Pandit on his own by saying “Friend Pandit, I haven’t given anything to you so far but you do read my books and you would be enlightened”. The whole life of Pandit was then brightened with those words as they transited from one heart to another. In that divine light all the literary works of Maharaj were published in the form of ‘Suktiratnavali’. Pandit thus through his untiring efforts sculptured the literary idol of Maharaj and made it available for benefit of all. G SAGE’S MISSION LIFE GRAPH OF SAINT GULABRAO MAHARAJ IV LIFE GRAPH OF SAINT GULABRAO MAHARAJ (1881 to 1915 AD) “My attitude is to convince through logic.” ntelligence eyed Blessed Gulabrao Maharaj is none other than Gulab IGundoji Mohod hailing from a nondescript village Madhan in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, who became blind at the tender age of barely four months, was bereft of any formal education and lived hardly 34 years of his enlightened life. In spite all these odds vast amount of his literary works that opened up knowledge trove for all is an unparalleled feat. Blessed Gulabrao Maharaj used to call himself as daughter of Saint Dnyaneshwar and wife of Lord Krishna due to his romantic devotion towards God. He founded the ‘Blessed Dnyaneshwar Romantic Non- duality (Madhr-advaita) Tradition’, a branch of ‘Nathh Tradition’ which is akin to ‘Warkari Tradition’ prevalent in Maharashtra. By synthesizing post-knowledge Para-devotion (Dnyanottar parabhakti) of saints and ‘Non-duality (Advaita) Vedanta’ of Shankarachary while employing scientific argument method of ‘Refutation-affirmation’ (Khandan-Mandan). Maharaj lent new meaning to devotion-science. With firm belief that Lord’s personal manifestation (Sagun vigrah) isn’t false but it is absolute Reality (Brahma) in the form of ‘Existence-truth-bliss (Sat-chit-anand) and it isn’t destroyed even by acquisition of knowledge, he coined totally new terminology of ‘Undisguised revelation’ (Andhyasts-vivart) for propagating new devotional concept. Maharaj devised basic theory of coordination (Samanvaya) between all religions by with the intention of not allowing the mutual hatred between different religions of world and between different segments of Hinduism to engulf hearts of people. In order to bury the hatchet permanently between segments like Arya-anarya, Arya-srevant, Arya-dravid, Brahman-non Brahman, Northerner- SAGE’S MISSION LIFE GRAPH OF SAINT GULABRAO MAHARAJ V southerner etc, Maharaj gave a powerful weapon of coordination in the hands of the intellectuals. • Name: Gulab Gonduji Mohod, Pandurangnath, Dnyaneshwar-daughter. • Parents: Shri Gonduji and Smt Alokabai Mohod. • Birth; 06.07.1881 at Lonitakli. • Blindness since forth month’s age, Life span 34 years. • Residence at Madhan for first four years. • Mother expired during year 1885 • Residence at Lonitakli for next six years. • Experience of intellect-vision during this period. • Residence at home in Madhan till year 1900. Rise of Godly qualities and acquaintance with omniscience during this period. Extreme efforts in getting books read from people. • Marriage during year 1996. Wife: Mankarnika. • Composing devotional verses and essays since year 1897. Refutation of Aanandmarg. Death of father. • Consecrating friends at Sirasgaon since 1900. Wandering in Chndurbazzar and Yavali for creating people’s elevation. Leaving home by getting frustrated with family feud and poisoning attempt and relinquishing village-authority. • Direct consecration from Dnyaneshwar Mauli during year 1901. • Sending letter to Shri Jathar, Editor of ‘Svanandsamrajy’ from Gwaliar mentioning about Mahanubhav during year 1902. • Critical assessment of theories of Darwin and Spencer. • Composition of female songs and folk songs. • Pandharpur pilgrimage. Shifting to Amaravati. • Meeting with best disciple Haribhau Kevale. • Initiating Katyayani festival at Deurvada during year 1903. SAGE’S MISSION LIFE GRAPH OF SAINT GULABRAO MAHARAJ VI • Remembering events from past life during year1904 (Pious person Bechiranand Swami from Zinzuvada years 1795 to 1880). • Meeting with pious person Damodar Aapaji Maharaj from Aarvi. • Starting discourses on ‘Dnyaneshwari’. • Told verse from Dnyaneshwari not included in original version. • High tide of Romantic nectar-ocean. • Discourses on various subjects. • Instructions issued to Ramchandrbapu, first friend and disciple at the time of his death. • Initiation of Aaland pilgrimage. • Initiation of female-vow. • Marriage with Lord Krishna during year 1905. • Arranging Rukmini’s self selection of bridegroom (Svayamvar). • Constant worship of Krishna idol and Dnyaneshwar feet-symbol. • Meeting with dear friend and successor Narayanrao Pandit. • Birth of son Aanant. • Meeting with L.R. Pangarkar and Loknayak Bapuji Ane. • Establishment of Dnyaneshwar printing press at Nagpur and start of book- printing during year 1907. • Critical assessment of Mayer’s book. • Critical assessment of Jagdishchandra Bose’s book. • Stay with Prof. Priynath Mukherji at Kolkata. • Pilgrimage of Jaggannathpuri. Composition of books like ‘Yogaprabhav’, ‘Chittopadesh’ and ‘Sadvaijayanti’. • Initiation of constant worship of Shiva idol. • Composition of ‘Priyalilamahotsava’. SAGE’S MISSION LIFE GRAPH OF SAINT GULABRAO MAHARAJ VII • Composition of aphorism-book ‘Antardnyansamhita’ and delivering nine lectures on 9 aphorisms from that book during year 1909. Pilgrimage of Vrindavan. • Letter addressed to Dr. Munje during year 1910. • Guidance on Science from ‘Nyayvaisheshik’. • Meeting with literature emperor N.