This is yet another episode of The Dharma Dispatch series titled In the Company of Sadhus, a compilation of Sri Gopinath Kaviraj’s series of monographs on the sadhus that he met with in Kashi.
Happy reading!
APPROXIMATELY 33 YEARS AGO, on a winter evening, I had the first darshan of him.
Shri Hariprasad Vidyant Mahashay was the Superintending Engineer of this province at that time. After retiring from service, he settled permanently in Kashi (Varanasi). He had his own house in Kashi and, apart from that, enjoyed many kinds of renown. He was extraordinarily generous, deeply devout, simple-hearted, and of an utterly guileless nature. From his very childhood, he had the ingrained habit of seeking the darshan and company of sadhus and true saints.
When he came to live in Kashi, he somehow came to know of me (or was introduced to me). After that, he would come to me almost every day, and for many hours we would be engaged in satsang. During these sessions, sometimes several gentlemen would be present, and sometimes he would come alone. In this way, a few years passed.
One day, Vidyant Mahashay spoke to me about a mad-looking sadhu. He himself had very recently obtained the darshan of this great soul, and upon seeing him, a unique feeling of reverence had awakened in his heart.
Unable to fully describe this Sadhu’s extraordinary qualities, he came to me one day, mentioned the sadhu’s name, and spoke about him in a venerated tone. His desire was to take me along to the Sadhu Baba and, in my presence, engage in a deep discussion on spiritual matters with him.
Although this sadhu did not exactly conform to the conventional ideal of the usual circle of sadhus, Vidyant Mahashay nevertheless felt that there was something utterly uncommon in him — something not found in ordinary sadhus. Having experienced the sadhu’s transcendent knowledge firsthand, Vidyant Mahashay had been left stunned but he could not give voice to his feeling.
On the very day Vidyant Mahashay spoke to me about the sadhu, I expressed my desire to go with him immediately. I gave no thought to whether the sadhu should be informed in advance or whether any inconvenience might arise from not doing so. My reasoning was simple: even if we did not obtain his darshan that day, we could at least see where he was staying. With this in mind, I urged Vidyant Mahashay to start right away, for, as the saying goes, there should be no delay in auspicious work.
This incident took place in December. The two of us soon reached the sadhu’s residence at the time. After Vidyant Mahashay had the Sadhu’s darshan, he introduced me to him. I sat down at a designated spot nearby and began waiting for the sadhu to appear.
After a few moments, the saint came out from inside and came to where we were sitting, and sat down close by. Upon seeing the great soul, it did not feel right to address him in the usual way as “Sadhu ji,” because he never wore the attire of a typical ascetic. His clothing was a simple white garment, tied only up to the knees. There was no rosary around his neck, no matted locks on his head, nor was his head shaved. On his head, dry and dishevelled hair lay loosely scattered. It seemed he never used oil. His skin too, was dry; his age appeared to be above fifty. The most striking and attractive feature of his appearance was his eyes. In both his eyes, an unearthly radiance was a visible; both eyes seemed intoxicated, yet inwardly fully alert — his gaze was penetrating.
He sat down, inquired after our well-being, and then asked the reason for our visit. Hearing his question, my esteemed friend Vidyanath Mahasaya pointed toward me and requested him to speak with me. Accordingly, I began speaking with him without any hesitation.
I said to him, “I have come for your darshan after hearing your name. I have heard that you are familiar with the secrets of many branches of knowledge. Besides that, I also wish to ask a few questions regarding the secrets of spiritual Sadhana. If you permit, may I ask you a couple of questions?”
The great soul said, “Whatever questions or curiosities you have, ask away — I will answer to the best of my ability.”
I asked with curiosity — “You have progressed on the path of spiritual practice like a pilgrim who has travelled far. On this path you must have seen many kinds of sights, you have must had many experiences, but have you felt that the true goal has actually been attained?”
Then the great soul spoke — “As I walked along the path of spiritual practice, I beheld many things and phenomena along the way; yet, from time to time, all those visions completely vanished. The true goal of Sadhana is Bhagavat-prapti (attainment of Bhagavan), and that is an exceedingly difficult and arduous matter. I cannot think that this goal has yet been attained by me. The true aim of Sadhana, that spotless Effulgence (Niranjan Jyoti) has, to this day, been attained by none but Bhagavan Himself; no one else has ever been able to reach it. You see, the level in which we dwell is the level of the planets. From this planetary level one must rise and enter the solar sphere or what is known as Jagat-Surya.”
He continued — “This Jagat-Surya is one in its collective aspect (samashṭi), yet in its individual aspect (vyaṣṭi), it is divided into twelve parts. It is the Sun in its various forms when conjoined with the different zodiac signs. What you people speak of as the Twelve Ādityas is absolutely true. When one is able to pierce through and distinguish this Jagat-Surya, one attains the Sun whose nature is Praṇava (Oṃkāra).
“The Praṇava-Sun is also divided into twelve parts; therefore, from the individual standpoint, Praṇava itself is twelvefold. When one rises above this Praṇava-Sun, the right or authority to enter the Bindu arises. This Bindu is called the Īśvara-Jyoti.
“Upon piercing the Bindu, one becomes pure and from direct perception, realises a vast, immaculate single Effulgence. That is what I call the Parameśvara-Jyoti. Yet even this is not the spotless, untainted Effulgence (Nirañjana Jyoti). The clue or direction to the Nirañjana Jyoti is obtained only from here.
“Therefore, only the Bhagavan Himself knows the way to the Nirañjana Jyoti; no one else knows it. Abiding in that Nirañjana Jyoti alone is the true state of being established in the Bhagavat-sthiti. I myself have not yet attained it.”
My curiosity was further heightened. I asked, “On the path you have been following, does one obtain the vision of Shunya (the Void)?”
The great soul smiled and said, “Most certainly. Only when each preceding level has been transcended does Shunya fall within the field of vision. At that point, the process of the cessation of all activity (Kriyā-ruddha) begins. For, even the piercing of Shunya is still dependent on action (Kriyā).
“Once one is able to pierce through Shunya, another level is attained, and in that level one directly realises the specific action that is useful there. As that action comes to its end, Shunya again becomes visible. This Shunya is far vaster than the previous one. Thus, there are many Shunyās, corresponding to each level.
“The very last Shunya is known by the name Ananta Shunya (the Infinite Void). Even Mahāshunya is pierced at this point. If Mahāshunya is not pierced, direct realisation of the Bhagavan does not occur. However, I do not believe that any Yogi or Jñānī has ever yet pierced this Ananta Shunya. The reason is that if that were to happen, the condition of the universe itself would be altogether different.
“Piercing this Ananta Shunya and then realising the spotless Nirañjana Jyoti beyond it is exceedingly difficult. Only Bhagavan Himself is capable of beholding the end of the Infinite; no one else can possibly do so. Even so, it could become possible if one were to attain one’s own Supreme Godhood — but just as in the past, even today, that does not happen for anyone.
“As for myself, having pierced the Mahāshunya, I have not yet gained the capacity to pierce the Ananta Shunya. I am still sitting on this side of the Infinite Void. Whether I shall ever be able to pierce it, I do not know.”
To be continued
The Dharma Dispatch is now available on Telegram! For original and insightful narratives on Indian Culture and History, subscribe to us on Telegram.
