== BABA'S DARSHAN OF NIILKANTHA DIVAS ==
Namaskar,
We all know that the festival of Niilkantha Divas stands as one great
occasion in our AM society. That of course marks the day-- Feb 12,
1973-- when in the divine liila of Parama Purusa, Baba Himself swallowed
the poison dealt to Him by those sinful forces during His incarceration.
Upon initial reflection, one might sincerely think this day of
Niilkantha is a time to grieve or be sorrowful and to solemnly recall
the past-- since after all this was the time when a dreadful attack was
done against our Sadguru. In this way some were thinking those days.
To clear the matter to one and all, in His divine way Baba Himself has
guided us that Niilkantha Divas is a day of great joy and tremendous
dharmic spirit that holds long-term & far-reaching ideological
significance. Hence, Baba has declared this day as a full-fledged
festival in AM-- full of merriment and righteous action.
I WAS THERE ON THAT OCCASION
By Baba's fathomless grace I was present at that very morning general
darshan on 12 Feb 1979 in Patna when Baba Himself has given the full
descriptive analysis about the inner meaning of Niilkantha Divas as well
as how it should be celebrated. By Baba's grace I could note down the
various scenes and expressions of that blissful day in my diary. And all
of that-- my entire journal entry from that very occasion-- is presented
down below in this email.
ONE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE
Perhaps of greatest import regarding this day is that Baba has declared
Niilkantha Divas as a day to oppose any and all injustices and sinful
acts-- wherever one may be. Baba wants that Niilkantha be an extra
special occasion where we whole-heartedly raise our voice and take a
staunch stand against all sorts of misdeeds committed by those terrible
sinners of the present.
According to Baba, it is a time when we are to express our sentient
anger (sattvika krodha) and forcibly create the necessary circumstantial
pressure to make those unrighteous and wicked people give up their nasty
activities and mend their unjust ways. It is a time bring negative
elements onto the path of welfare. This is one of the special aspects of
Niilkantha Divas.
And here following is more about this entire occasion of this great and
holy AM festival.
LITERAL MEANING OF NIILKANTHA DIVAS
Niila Kantha is a Samskrta term. "Niila" means blue; "Kantha" means
throat. This is the literal meaning of Niila Kantha: Blue throat. And
'divas', as we all know means day. So the entire meaning of Niila Kantha
Divas is "blue throat day". As this was the day when Baba Himself
allowed His throat to 'turn blue' by swallowing the deadly poison that
those papiis gave Him when He was in jail.
FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF BABA'S DARSHAN THAT DAY
(Directly from my diary notes of that occasion)
Here now begins my first-hand account of what transpired at that morning
general darshan of the first celebration of Niilkantha Divas after Baba
was released from jail. As all may recall Baba Himself came out from the
Jail towards the end of 1978. So Baba's below darshan took place on
Monday, 12 February 1979 in Patna, six years to the day of that
poisoning incident.
---
As Baba majestically appears on the scene at that morning General
Darshan the Margiis vigorously raise the slogan, 'Niilkantha Baba Kii--
Jai!!'.
Hearing this Baba lovingly jokes with the margiis and says, 'Enemies
wanted to kill Me but by your well-wishing I was saved'.
Then, in a very sweet and caring way, Baba states that up till now
margiis have been observing a fast on this day and treating Niilkanth
Divas as a solemn occasion. But why should margiis fast on this day, He
says. Rather, instead of fasting, Baba says that we should follow
sentient anger-- sattvika krodha, not tamasik krodha (static anger), aka
revenge.
Baba then explains that sadhus do sattvik krodha; and Baba begs the
question, what is sattvika krodha?
Baba explains: Sattvika krodha is a day of sentient anger where
righteous people oppose all wrongdoings and injustices. On this day of
Niilkantha Divas, Baba declares that it is the duty of dharmikas to put
forth a challenge to all sinful and wicked forces. To bring about the
needed momentum and force those sinners to change their ways and rectify
themselves. It is a day when righteous people in one voice strongly
stand up against injustices.
After Baba raises the dharmic point about sattvika krodha He raises
another aspect of this festival of Niilkantha Divas.
Baba says: You know that on this day sinners gave Me poison. And what
should you do? According to your capacity and strength, you should serve
the best and tastiest food possible to one needy person-- lovingly feed
them up to their heart's content.
Baba continues: In return for the poison which we received, you should
offer nectar (a'mrta).
Baba clarifies: According to your capacity serve the highest calibre and
best food possible to at minimum one person. Margiis can serve food to
more persons than that, but at least one needy person-- margii or
non-margii-- you should serve. And our wholetimers should do the same.
In the case of avadhutas or wholetimers who do not have money, they will
have to beg and get the necessary money in order to serve food to at
least one needy individual.
This is Baba's dharmic directive for this day.
...Then there is a short lull.
Margiis then respectfully request Baba that He should say something.
Baba sweetly replies, 'Oh I have to say something'. (margiis laugh)
Then in a jolly and joyful way Baba says, 'Let Ramananda say something'.
In a reverential way Ramanandji politely requests Baba to speak instead.
Baba indicates that Ramanandji should speak first.
Ramanandji begins, 'Actually you know on 12th February 1973 on this very
day Baba was poisoned in Bankipur Central Jail. This conspiracy was
hatched up by the CBI, those who since the very beginning are trying to
finish Baba from this world. So on this very day in 1973 He was poisoned
in the Jail. Actually I was the first visitor to visit His cell. When I
saw Him lying on the bed then He was not in position to move; He was not
in position to speak and I came to know...'
And for the next minute or two Ramanandji continues to explain how he
understood and got confirmation from doctors that Baba had indeed been
poisoned.
Then Ramanandji tells, "We just tried that there should be an inquiry
into this incident that who is behind..."
Baba interjects, "Judicial proof."
Ramanandji continues, "Who is the person behind this nefarious work. So
we wanted judicial inquiry-- judicial proof. Then [because] the Indira
government... never gave us the opportunity to express ourself to place
the fact before the public that what are the things. She suppressed this
point. She did not institute inquiry. Then Baba was compelled to go on
fast from 1 April 1973 and He continued His fast up to 1 Aug 1979."
Then many people politely say, "1978".
Then in a very decent and humble way, Ramananda corrects himself and
says, "1978-- sorry".
Ramanandji continues, "So 5 years, 4 months, and 1 day He continued His
fast. So these things, actually..."
Then Revered Baba graciously offers what He told the leader of India
regarding the poisoning incident.
Baba says: 'I wrote a letter to the President of India that I know who
are the black hands working from behind the curtain'.
This was Baba's dharmic message to the corrupt leaders those days.
Thereafter Ramanandji continues to explain how so many letters were
written and how so many problems happened. There were so many torments
and difficulties and some did self-immolation in order to get justice.
Baba says, 'So many boys and so many girls died.'
Ramanandji explains that up till today we were not knowing how to
celebrate this day. The question was proposed what the day should be
called and we collectively decided it should be-- Niilkantha Divas. But
since 1973 we did not have proper guidance how to observe this occasion.
Ramanandji explains how Baba asked them earlier their opinion how to
celebrate the day. And none of the Dadas present could give an
acceptable reply. And then it was at that moment that Baba first
beautifully revealed the concept of sa'ttvika krodha as well as the
program of feeding at least one person a tasty and savory meal. (All of
which is described up above.)
Note: This concludes my diary entry from that memorable morning general
darshan of 12 February 1979.
---
SOME UNIQUE ASPECTS OF NIILKANTHA DIVAS
Hence Niilkantha Divas is not something that is limited or just related
with that particular historical incident, but it also has a long-term
ideological significance.
So it is not just a point of history but a way to live life in a new
way. It is a day to oppose injustices. That is the purpose.
Up till now, through this present moment in 2007, this aspect of
sentient anger has mostly ignored or forgotten during our Niilkantha
celebrations.
Yet as shown above, Baba has clearly given the point of opposing
injustices-- especially on this day of Niilkantha Divas. And those who
were also present that time can also confirm that Baba has told like this.
So just like other festivals have their own specific purposes such as:
Light festival, Spring festival, Ananda Purnima etc. Likewise Niilkantha
Divas has its own special significance.
In the past usually we were just feeding people, but the significance is
more than that. By Baba's direction we are to take the strong resolution
and vow to fight against injustices and establish dharma.
The various religions just give lectures and then feast during their
festivals. But our Marga is not like that. All our festivals are joyous
and hold the seed of dharma and righteousness also.
During our Niilkantha Divas it is our dharmic duty to change sinners
into good people. By Baba's grace we are to save and rectify them.
In this grand endeavour of following the proper spirit and guideline of
Niilkantha Divas, Baba's eternal blessing is with us every step of the way.
Namaskar,
Amoghasiddhi
Note 1: SA'TTVIKA KRODHA
In His below teaching Baba clearly outlines the meaning of sentient
anger-- sa'ttvika krodha.
Baba says, "Suppose a very good man is harshly rebuking an immoral
person for having insulted him. Is that unfair? No, no, it is not
unfair. It is called sentient anger. Anger is static; but sometimes it
may be sa'ttvika, it may be sentient. And that type of anger is sentient
anger-- sa'ttvika krodha in Sanskrit." (AV-2, p.73-4 Sept '78)
So once again on this occasion of Niilkantha Divas we are to follow
Baba's directive of Sattvika Krodha and oppose injustices wherever they
may be present. We are to help guide this whole humanity into the era of
white peace and righteousness. That is the grand spirit of Niilkantha
Divas.
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