== STORY: VA'MADEVA FORM OF BABA ==
Namaskar,
As we all know, Baba is that great Sadguru who benevolently guides His
devotees in all situations and in all circumstances. Sometimes that
guidance comes in the form of sweet words and affection; and, sometimes
that guidance comes in the form of strong scolding and abuse. That is
the way of Sadguru: To both love and punish. Yet both ways are wholly
grounded in the spirit of welfare. And by this dual approach, He hastens
our journey towards that Supreme stance-- towards Him.
It happens, however, that some may misunderstand His severe punishment--
His form of Va'madeva-- as being something really bad & terrible. But it
is not like that. For His punishment and scolding can never exceed the
love and closeness which He has for that sadhaka. Rather, He can only
strongly punish those who are extremely close to Him. That is the
special point to always remember.
So ultimately, whether He is using affectionate words or harsh scolding,
it is all an expression of His boundless love for us-- whereby He is
bringing us closer to Him.
BABA STORY: BABA'S FAREWELL TO JAIPUR MARGIIS
(Part 1)
Here following is one beautiful story which perfectly encapsulates the
above ideal. It is an account of one of Baba's visits to Jaipur,
Rajasthan. By His grace, I was personally present on this magnificent
occasion.
The date was 12 October 1964 and we were blessed by Baba to receive Him
in the evening time. Previously He had just been in Allahabad and Agra.
And on Monday, the 12th of October, Baba traveled via train from Agra to
Jaipur. And many of us were fortunate to receive Him that evening in
Jaipur.
The next day, Tuesday October 13, Baba graciously gave DMC. It was a
grand event and we were all ensconced in His flow and divine aura.
And then at midday on Wednesday, October 14, Baba was making His
departure from Jaipur in order to take a plane journey to Bombay. And it
is this momentous occasion that I am going to rely to you now in full
detail.
BABA STORY: BABA'S FAREWELL TO JAIPUR MARGIIS
(Part 2)
Firstly, it should be stated that during Baba's stay in Jaipur He
showered immense grace and He was also quite stern and strict with the
margiis as well. Some became affected by His scolding. By His grace, at
the time of His farewell, Baba beautifully cleansed our minds and erased
any doubts we may have had.
Here then is a word for word rendition-- from my journal of that day--
of Baba's farewell from Jaipur on 14 October 1964. Baba spoke the
following:
'There are some great devotees who want to remain with Parama Purusa
always and while with Him they want serve the society. Wherever Parama
Purusa goes and takes form as Taraka Brahma, then those devotees always
want to accompany Him and perform service.'
'And some other great devotees just want to become one with Parama
Purusa. They do not have any desire to live in the world and serve the
society.'
'So it is up to the devotees's desire and accordingly Parama Purusa will
bless them with what they want.'
'But the true enjoyment is to be with Parama Purusa and serve the
society. That is great and I also want that service to be done to the
society. Ultimately though, it is up to the devotees to decide what they
want.'
Then the margiis told, 'Baba, we want to serve the society and be with
You'. And Baba replied, 'Yes that is also what I want'.
Then Baba said, 'There is another point I want to tell'.
Referring to Himself, Baba explained, 'Baba sometimes can become very
tough. He sometimes plays a very tough role. And also in this DMC, a few
margiis were thinking that Baba is really tough. So we have to think, is
it that Baba is really being tough, or is it that He is just playing to
show His toughness. Is He just adopting a role of toughness. The answer
to this is only known to Baba because otherwise people would not be
afraid or take it seriously.'
Then, with everyone still around Him and addressing one and all, Baba
faced towards another margii and started talking.
'You know I am your gula'm (servant) and when I see any wrong or
negative thing in your mind then it is my duty to clean that. It is just
like a servant who wipes up the dirt from the house to make it clean.
Similarly it is my duty to clean your mind. So I do my duty.'
Then Baba cited one Urdu poem: 'I am your servant and you are my master...'.
'So it is my duty to clean you'.
Then Baba told:
'Having a human body and an animal mind, doing great work is not
possible. You are sadhakas; you have to do something great-- something
meaningful. And a sadhaka can do anything and everything.'
Then Baba graciously emanated a very strong devotional vibration. And
everyone present started crying like babies and the air was filled and
flooded with devotion and longing for Parama Purusa. The margiis all
felt so blissful and they could not control their tears.
And they started singing one song: 'Baba, please do not go, You are
mine. Please remain permanently mine...'
Baba was sitting there and listening-- smiling the whole time.
Then, in that highly devotional and charged atmosphere, Baba took leave
of us and went to catch His plane for Bombay.
THE FIVE FACES OF PARAMA PURUSA
From this story we can understand that as a Guru Baba loves and
scolds-- all done for our welfare. And in His teachings Baba describes
how Parama Purusa has 5 faces or 5 personalities. From left to right
they are Va'madeva, Kalagni, Kalyan Sundaram, Iishana, and Daksineshwar.
And all needed.
And it is His face or form as Va'madeva that He strongly scolds and
rebukes us. Whereas other times He is just a little bit angry, or more
gentle, or more calm, or extremely sweet and charming etc. So He has
various approaches yet all are needed-- and all are grounded in His deep
and infinite love.
So it is that in the above story about Baba's departure from Jaipur, He
is explaining the inner beauty and working of Va'mdeva.
BABA IS STILL PLAYING HIS ROLE
Some may think that, 'I did not get a chance to see Baba physically so I
missed out on such an opportunity'.
But it is not like that. Still now and up to eternity, Baba is guiding
and will be guiding devotees in all the ways-- including that of
va'madeva. And here is the proof.
Recently-- just a few years ago around 2000 or so-- one elderly lady of
Purnea district in Bihar was strongly against AM. She was stuck in her
Hindu dogma of doing idol worship and she would outrightly criticise and
abuse the Marga.
Then one night Baba appeared in her dream and scolded her-- verily Baba
beat her on her back and told her that she should sing Baba Nam Kevalam.
Then in that same dream she began singing Baba Nam Kevalam. And then in
the middle of the night she woke up from her dream and started singing
kiirtan.
Her family also woke up and immediately thought that she is crazy.
Because during the daytime she accuses AM and then when no one is
watching she sings kiirtan during the night time. When the lady regained
her senses and became aware of what was going ont hen she explained her
entire dream to her family members. After that experience she has always
had a soft corner for AM. This story was also written about in one of
our Delhi sector magazines.
This all goes to show that Baba still appears in His Va'madeva form and
by beating devotees He brings them closer to Him. His beating and abuse
has a positive affect.
So in a sadhaka's mind Guru's presence never dies; always He is present
and guides in various ways in order bring devotees closer to Him. Thus
even though one may not have been seen Baba those days when HE was
physically performing in His roles as Va'madeva & Kalayan Sundaram etc,
but still those divine expressions are ever available to all His
devotees in their dreams and dhyana etc. Because He remains forever with
all.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, we are all His bhaktas and through His tender love and
harsh scolding He continues to bring us ever closer to Him--onto His
divine lap.
Baba says, "Victory is yours. You are the dear ones of God. Move on and
achieve the Goal." (AMIWL-6)
Namaskar,
Srikant
Note 1: THE INNER SPIRIT OF VA'MADEVA
Nowadays there is a myth in AM that really Baba's scolding was something
terrible and that it should not be talked about. Some think that those
who faced Baba's form of va'madeva really did a horrible mistake-- if
not a crime against the society. But that is not true. Actually, what
they got was Baba's divine blessing. Because Baba can only punish those
who already have a high degree of love for Him. To experience Baba's
form in Va'madeva shows that one has reached a certain qualification as
a devotee. Because to get His punishment, one must be deserving to get
it-- one must love Him dearly. And we all know that side by side Baba
loves those whom He punishes and the more He punishes them the more
grace He has to bestow in His role as Kalyan Sundaram.
Baba says, "Va'madeva is terrible – rudra, rudra'tirudra, rudro'pirudrah
– 'one who teaches others by making them shed tears'. But the underlying
purpose is to teach people, not to harm them...the main purpose is to
teach them, to promote their welfare. Now here also, the two roles of
Va'madeva and Ka'la'gni are controlled by the central face,
Kalya'n'asundaram. He is sundaram, beautiful, because He promotes
kalya'n'a [welfare]: hence, “Kalya'n'asundaram”. He is terrible, but at
the same time superbly calm and tranquil. Yet behind His apparent
dreadfulness and tranquility lies the kalya'n'asundaram bha'va." (NSS,
Disc: 1)
So those who experienced His Va'madeva form really got His special
blessing. And those who could not get scolded by Baba were not up to the
mark so Baba had to resort to other ways to reform them. Because He only
scolds those who were really close to Him. That is the inner secret of
His scolding.
And still this is liila is going on.
Thus it is not that stories should only be written about those sweet
experience with Baba. Also those who faced His wrath and scolding should
also come forward and share their tales. Because all of Baba's five
faces-- all of Baba's five forms-- are highly important and meaningful.
And all five faces are expressions of His divine love, including that of
Va'madeva.
Note 2: GURU MUST LOVE AND SCOLD
Here below is Baba's special guideline that a true Guru was scold as
well as love. Only scolding and only showering grace will not do. Both
sides are needed.
Nigraha'nugrahe shakto gururityabhidhiyate
Baba says, "One who only punishes a person is not a Guru, and one who
only loves is also not a Guru...excessive love and affection spoils a
person. Only one who does both these things is a real Guru. That is why
people should be trained with both love and punishment. Where love
fails, punishment helps." (AFPS-5)
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Those who run to Jamalpur and Tiljala in search of Baba, they are...
Baba says, "One who is devoted to Parama Purus'a, who meditates Parama
Purus'a with madhura bha'va, need not go on a pilgrimage for he remains
constantly with Parama Purus'a. Such a person will say:
Nitya a'chi Vrandavane... sa'r'a'
'I am always in Vrindavana, I am never without Hari, the Lord. If I
call Him, He comes near. If I call, He will respond'." (NKS, 97 Edn, p. 117)
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