Divine Life of Holy Guruji
In allegory, this world is often depicted as a prison, symbolising the limitations and illusions that bind individuals, restricting them from true freedom and spiritual understanding. Saints, however, enter this world as free beings, not as prisoners, driven by their own free will and pure, unselfish purposes. They come to dispel negativity, alleviate suffering, and bring the light of wisdom and truth. Through their presence, they work to restore compassion and spirituality, uplifting every being toward a higher purpose.
His Holiness Hindu Dharmsamrat Paramhans Sri Swami Madhavananda – Holy Guruji – was one of those great saints, who served everyone. He was Vishwaguruji's spiritual teacher or guru. He tirelessly travelled throughout India to spread the teachings of Bhagwan Sri Deep Mahaprabhuji, bringing light into the lives of many devotees and other people.
Holy Guruji bestowed the divine wisdom of Om Sri Alakhpuriji Siddha Peeth Parampara to Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwarananda, Vishwaguruji, and inspired him to move to Europe, from where Vishwaguruji spread these holy teachings all around the globe. Holy Guruji also visited Europe twice with Vishwaguruji and brought joy and divine wisdom to all devotees, who had deeply longed to meet him.
Holy Guruji met God Krishna in the form of Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Sri Swami Madhavananda was born on 11 September 1923 and felt an attachment to God Krishna from his early childhood. Even when he was a little boy, he deeply worshipped Krishna, crying desperately in longing to see him. Later he used to read the Bhagavad Gita and then prayed to Krishna for him to appear in his meditation. One day when he, again, desperately prayed from the depth of his soul, he received a glorious inner vision of God Krishna himself, who said to Holy Guruji, "In three and a half months, at ten o'clock in the evening, you will see me with your eyes open. Remember this."
When Holy Guruji first saw Mahaprabhuji at a satsang in Jodhpur, it was precisely at ten in the evening. He recognised him at once, for it was indeed Krishna whom he had seen in his meditation. His eyes filled with tears and he fell prostrate on his knees and completely surrendered to him.
After Holy Guruji had lived with his divine guru and joyfully served him for about a month, Mahaprabhuji asked him to go home to inform his parents about his decision. When he finally arrived home, he found that his parents did not agree with his decision to spend his life with Mahaprabhuji. But when they finally accepted his choice, they tried very hard to delay his departure. So, one night he had just quietly left his home in Nipal village and walked 300 kilometres to reach his divine guru in Khatu Ashram.
Holy Guruji received his sannyas diksha (monastic initiation ceremony) on the day of Chaitra Shukla Purnima, in April 1942. During this holy initiation, Mahaprabhuji put his hands on Holy Guruji's head and blessed him. Then he said, "A sannyasi must serve all, without prejudice or partiality, irrespective of race, social position or religion. The duty of a sannyasi is to lighten people's burdens, not to become a burden to them. To truly serve all is to serve me. Madhavananda, never forget these rules and never deviate from the path of truth!"
At the festive opening of Nipal Ashram
When Sri Mahaprabhuji left this world in 1963, Holy Guruji found himself deeply wounded in his soul, so he asked Mahaprabhuji to bless him with his darshan, his presence. And his divine Gurudev really appeared to him in meditation after only a few days. He gave him an instruction, "Madhavananda, in my name you shall build an ashram in your home village of Nipal. My divine power will always be there and all devotees who will come with a pure heart shall have their wishes fulfilled."
Holy Guruji decided to build an ashram on a site that was west of the village, on the bank of a river. When the building was finished, bhaktas (devotees) urged him to bless the ashram with a marble statue of Sri Mahaprabhuji. The statue was made in Jaipur and was reverently unveiled by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, who was already Sri Swami Madhavanandaji's disciple. On that day, 13 July 1965, the day of Gurupurnima, thousands of devotees, distinguished guests and others, attended the celebration.
“I want to be with Guruji!”
Vishwaguruji's mother Srimati Phool Devi – Holy Guruji's older sister – was also invited to attend the festive opening. She had received a postcard, sent by her brother, and was happy that the occasion would be an opportunity to visit him. Vishwaguruji, then a young boy named Mangilal, had fought hard with his older brothers to finally get the mother's approval to accompany her.
The two somehow arrived one day late, as they needed to take a short bus ride and then a long walk to finally reach Nipal village. They visited his mother's family in the village and then went to see Holy Guruji. Though Vishwaguruji very deeply longed to meet his uncle, he hid behind his mother at first.
In his autobiography, Vishwaguruji writes that on the way back to the village of Nipal, he loudly urged his mother, “I want to be with Guruji!” He repeated this sentence over and over incessantly. The next day, when they again stopped at the Nipal Ashram, Holy Guruji said, “Sister, I would like your son to stay here with me.” And that was it. Vishwaguriji was infinitely happy.
Madhavanandaji, your wish will be fulfilled!
Vishwaguruji spent many years with Sri Swami Madhavanandaji. He has often remarked, "Holy Guruji taught me with love and strictness." And after he finally departed for Europe for the first time, he deeply missed his guru and longed to be with him again.
When Vishwaguruji first returned to India, he was determined to remain there and never go back to Europe. Then his European devotees urged him in letters, "Swamiji, we miss you! Please, come back!"
So, he turned to Guruji and asked him whether he may return. Though Holy Guruji would like him to stay in India, he gave him his approval to go back again. Then he told Vishwaguruji, “You are the fulfilment of Sri Devpuriji's promise to Mahaprabhuji and also Mahaprabhuji's answer to my prayer.”
Many years ago, during the 1940s, when Holy Guruji had lived with Sri Mahaprabhuji at Mount Abu, he expressed his wish to him in a prayer, "Lord of the Universe, please listen to my request! I deeply wish that the whole world may be enlightened by Your divine grace and light! May Your divine message reach all those who suffer. So, that they may find eternal peace and happiness. I wish a great soul would incarnate in this world soon and show these people the path of the truth. That is my prayer to you."
Mahaprabhuji put his divine hand on his head and replied, "It will be so."
A long time before, Sri Devpuriji also gave the same promise at the Nakki Lake, “Soon, one of the seven Rishis will incarnate on the Earth. His childhood name will be Mangilal. He’ll be especially protected by Sri Devpuriji and later he’ll become famous by the name of Swami Maheshwaranandaji. This great yogi will fulfil your wish."
Holy Guruji's bhajans are an immense inspiration
On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of Sri Swami Madhavandaji's mahasamadhi (31 October in the Western calendar, 8 November in this year's Vedic lunar calendar), we honour his life, as he will always be here, amongst us. Although he is infinitely missed in the hearts of devotees, comfort is found in singing his devotional bhajans and beautiful prayers.
Holy Guruji was a great composer. He was capable of writing the lyrics and music of the song in a few minutes. His wonderful bhajans – devotional spiritual songs – were created spontaneously and without prior preparation. He often composed them right in the middle of his satsangs.
He was an outstanding, great singer. He sang with a strong, yet very gentle voice, while all immersed in singing.
In one of his bhajans, Holy Guruji urges us to “wake up” and not miss the precious chance of a human life:
BHAI TUMA JAGO RE
Brother, wake up! Wake up! You are missing your chance, the chance of human life!
Every minute is precious and irretrievable. Wake up, brother! Wake up!