Glorification of Sri Guru -

I feel that I am reaching a time in my life when taking the shelter of Sri Guru is very near. I have no idea of when such an event may take place, but it is definitely on the "asap" list. I feel that I have spent enough time wrestling with commitment issues and my suitability etc, all I know is that it has to be done before it is too late. At any moment I may die.

In this way, I would like to ask the esteemed Vaisnavas here - especially the dIkSitas - if they would mind sharing some salient facts about their respective gurus?

Specifically, I would like to know about Sri Pandit Ananta das Babaji Maharaja. I would like to know things like, does he exhibit any ecstatic symptoms or so? Are there any nice stories about him that are inspiring, things which you heard and/or personally witnessed?

While we are studying Guru-tattva-vijnana and it has been an issue in my mind for some time now, that someone in whom the guru-potency has manifested and is experiencing all or most of the ecstatic symptoms described in the scriptures is something of an excellent candidate to be a guru.

As well as Ananta das Pandit, I would like to know if there are any other gurus around Vraja who are saintly and who manifest ecstatic symptoms (as far as can be seen by material vision of course), since I would be very interested. I feel simultaneously inspired and deeply regretful when I read about saints such as Siddha Baba, Madrasi Baba (who lived uptil recently) and so on, so I would be most inspired if I could find out the same about any living gurus today whom I could possibly approach. So I would appreciate it very much if the Vaishnavas here can talk a little bit about this. I do love to hear people talk about their gurus.

At the very least, please see it as an opportunity to glorify your guru(s)!

I realise that this is ultimately a confidential topic, but since this is Srivas Angan with restricted membership it should be alright? I wouldn't dare bring this up in the 'normal' forums..

Radhe Radhe!

A nice opportunity to glorify exalted Vaishnavas!

But as far as this:


I would like to mention humbly that an exalted soul will never publicly "show" ecstatic symptoms. The premi-devotees keep their love in their heart. Baba once wrote about how to keep the "love-steam" in one´s heart and using it as a force to progress, like a steam-engine works.
I highly doubt that Srila Gurudeva (Srila Ananta das Babaji) will exhibit such "ecstatic symptoms" in public.

I for myself can say that my bhajan-life DRASTICALLY changed after getting diksha from him. But how to describe subjective feelings or experiences?
Every morning when I sit in front of his picture(s ), I feel totally happy, safe and secure and I know that I am well looked after.

I never had this feeling before ( not with Harikesa Swami, not with SNM). But this really is a completely personal experience and it is hard to bring in word-shape.

What I can say from meeting him is that for me he is the epitome of humility, friendliness and warmheartedness. Also, when you sit in front of him you will realize the unbelievable depth of his dark eyes.

From his pathas I can realize that he has incredibly realized the wisdom of the shastras and from the question/answer-stuff I am MORE than convinced that he can bring such a fool like me to the Lotus Feet of SriSri Yugal Kishor.
What to speak of his life-changing books.

Maybe Madhavaji and Malati dd can share some awesome moments or little stories..

Joy Radhe!

Thank you very much, Tarunji, this is the sort of things that inspire me!


This is indeed true, but is there a possibility that the ecstasy a saint feels may "spill over" at times due to the strong nature of the ecstasy itself? At the very least, these incidents at least "show" that the saint in question really feels the effect of bhajana and gives encouragement. On the other hand, it is upto every individual to see since everyone may interpret it differently. Please don't worry too much about "subjectivity", I would just like to hear.


Yes, I hope so too! Little sweet anecdotes from time spent in the company of devotees in Vraja. I feel so inspired when I hear personal stories, such as those from Karunamayi's website about Madrasi Baba.

Thank you, for giving me the opportunity to speak nicely about such great souls.

Ok, one far-out story from this lowly self.

One night I had a REALLY intense dream. It was in November 2004, short before flying to Babaji Mahasaya. I was sitting in a small dark room, kneeling. Then I knew that Baba was next to me. It was a very very intense feeling of "soulish" closeness. I could hear him breath, but since I looked in a different direction, I couldnt see him.

Then he came so close to me that he was able to whisper in my ears. And he spoke into my ears. I could not understand the language (yeah, messed-up mind at night ), but I was SO moved and touched that I immediately woke up.
I woke up Moni and I told her about my dream. The following day I was on cloud 999.
Incredible. I was over-charged with spiritual energy and I knew then that in India ALL will be fine.

I told Babaji Mahasaya about this dream and he just laughed...

Then Moni, after we came back from Vraja, she also dreamt of Baba. She saw herself as she was taken by him by hand (!), like dragged, into the temple-room of his ashrama-building and she got harinama-initiation in the dream. She too was very sure that this was a VERY VERY real dream.
And it should be mentioned that she is totally critical about that "guru-stuff" after watching me through 3 initiations.

She was very impressed by Baba. The way he lives, with that nice white plastic chair, so humble yet so sublime. And she too was touched by Baba´s friendliness, humility, sense of humour and the way he dealt with people.

I find it a bit contradictory to speak about prema-bhaktas and then claiming they will never show symptoms of ecstasy with others present. Of course they show them when they experience them, yet not in order to exhibit them, but in order to allow the flow of their feelings when they happen. I personally have witnessed several of such out-pourings, for instance in participants of lila-kirtan. I have seen someone fall unconscious during a kirtan (and awaken again when charanamrita was dropped into their mouth...) That was not someone in the first row, it went practically unnoticed, or just tangentially noticed, because everyone else was engaged in their own bhava of sankirtan. How could anyone control a symptom like falling unconscious if and when it happens? Let alone horripilation?

I think there is too much institutional warning about this, too much fear, and too much regulation to avoid the embarassing.

There is truth to what you're saying, Nabadip. Indeed, though the mahAtmas commonly try to cover such symptoms so as to not attract fame and so forth, they sometimes spill over. Or, sometimes they may come out more easily when among one's confidantes, where such considerations do not take place due to the intimate oneness of mood shared between them.

Rupa Goswamipad has explained in the context of sattvika-bhAvas in Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu about the varieties of bhaktas different kinds of psyche: some are gambhira, extremely grave, while the hearts of others are komala, tender and more easily subject to being swayed to and fro by various moods. This in itself does not indicate the depth of one's bhAva, as we know from the famos story of Raghunath Bhatta speaking on the Bhagavata and Rupa Goswami sitting motionless while others exhibited varieties of sattvika-bhAvas.

It is not at all uncommon to see Babaji Mahashaya speaking on Vilapa-kusumanjali, wiping off his tears on numerous occasions during the class. That, the choking of voice, and jubilant horripilations are among the most common bhAvas to be seen among devotees. However, they are almost invariably bundled with attempts to surpress or cover them when among crowds of people, even if in devotional gatherings.

Once during a lila-kirtan at Samaj Bari in Nabadwip one participant started a strange kind of howling which continued for a length of time and accompanied the lila narration and singing. It was a major event, the 64 Mahanta something ten days before Gaur-purnima, with many saints of the Dham present.There were many elders there and young practitioners, and visiting bhaktas, and I as an outsider was wondering at his expression of whatever happened to him. I was wondering whether he would be reprimanded, or attract special attention or what else? Nothing happened. But also noone looked his way; everyone seemed to be following the narration sung there.

What I mean to say here is, one: Bengalis among themselves are not as we tend to think they are. Two: I am not sure whether the learned bhakta who knows about the injunctions of having to guard his expression, does not cover up something, and also invite speculation about the nature of his experiences which he is not supposed to show (and simply may not have). Or to reword this: that learned disciples could tend to project bhavas into their revered elders...

Of course, I have also seen exhibited lila-kirtan sessions where emotion is artificially induced and shown, by professionals in that field. But that is a different world altogether, although not without its own merit also as a tool of popularizing the spirit of lila to the common people.

When I met Sri Ananta das Babaji (in 2000), the thing that was clear was his heartfelt presence, a depth of experience showing through his physical frame. There was a definite evidence there (evidence in the sense of something showing itself by itself, like a light that shines and evokes an immediate recognition in the onlooker). As a bhakta I knew, or thought I knew, what made him evoke that sense of certainty in me, his bhajan and practice of lila-smarana.

When meeting with other saints who do not have any exposure to western bhaktas, there may be too much interference of one's own reflection on the response of the saint so that it becomes difficult to know what is what. Such high-souled bhaktas tend to be exuberantly jubilant when meeting an European, immeditately considering the grace at work that such person was guided to come to the holy land to sing the glories of the holy name. That joy expressed there is definitely also a result of their bhajan, and sweet to witness although immediatly setting off a chain-reaction of self-"defence" in the form of relativation of gratitude versus de-merit.

Bhaktas, sadhakas, are a funny kind of folk

Sorry, nabadip, I didnt mean to "claim" that they will never show.
I used the word "to show" as in consciously putting to show.

Like you, I also think that sometimes the feelings spill over and for example tears will come etc..
But in a natural way.

Next time I will try to better formulate it.

Oh yes, I heartily agree with your good observation here. "He is so grave and deep that absolutely nothing is shown at all."

However, considering that:

1) some may truly be very deep and realized, and cover up their bhAva, and
2) that the sattvika-bhAvas may also be imitated, and an imitiation or a reflection may be very hard for the neophyte to distinguish from the real thing -

... We should understand that these in themselves are not a very reliable method for ensuring the level of advancement of an individual. Therefore, one would do well to primarily observe the presence or absence of the following famous anubhAvas that are more easily observable and verifiable:

Madhavaji, do you have any sweet anecdotes to share? You just spent over four months there, you gotta have something for us!

Taking a bath in the nectar-ocean of prema-rasa during intense lila-katha.

For me personally, very ecstatic!


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It occurred to me today how a saint's fame spreads due to the power of their devotion. While the saint shuns fame he gets its anyway due to Krsna's blessing, thanks to his genuine devotion.

I think this is interesting because today I was reflecting on what made me attracted to the gurus I have encountered so far. As well as reading the teachings of two particular Vaisnavas in IGM who had a profound influence on me, I was convinced of their saintliness by hearing about them and anecdotes that reflected their saintliness.

In much the same way, I think that the teachings of Anantas das Babaji are extremely profound and sweet, but I would like to hear more about him personally so I can be convinced of his saintliness, which I am sure he is anyway (a saint). But it would be nice to hear some stories..

Tarunji, GREAT PIC!

Honestly, I found it very good that I didnt hear much about him.
For me, this was much better.

When I was attracted to Srila Narayana Maharaja, I heard millions of stories about him.
Reflecting upon them, it would be much better if I hadnt heard them...

So, basically, I was so convinced by Baba´s writings and pathas and by seeing him on pictures.

One thing I can recommend: try to contact him via letters. I wrote him many letters and he always wrote back. One day I found such a blue air-mail-envelope in my post-box, handwritten by Baba, from Sri Radhakunda. THAT was ecstatic...

Better you get first -hand information by getting in contact with him.
Nothing to lose, ALL to win. Look at me, the happy fool!

Or go there and MEET him!

Best wishes
Tarunji

Yes, I've finally worked up the courage to write to him. I've asked twice for his address in private but haven't received a reply, and can't find it anywhere on these forums too. Would someone kindly PM it to me? Thanks.

I wish to honour this statement as there is an experience of yours behind it. However, I tend to disagree with the content of the statement, or with the ramifications of it. I have known a number of saints who were not famous and whose devotion and realization was perhaps outstanding. I think that fame is more like a challenge for a saint than a gift. In the Indian situation being famous is really a disaster, as it attracts people's attention so much. Probably the most famous sadhu type person now alive is Sai Baba. I know you are not talking about him here, but he also takes the holy names of Krsna and Hari (along with many others ) while he does a lot of weird things. Fame in his case is really a kind of shame.

I also am not sure whether fame is gotten by genuine devotion, and not rather by people who gain something by making someone famous. Ultimately it is not that important of course. But that is just how things happen. When I was with Sridhar Maharaja who was a really great Mahabhagavat (as attested by all who have known him including later traditional Gaudiyas like Jagat and others), there was talk there as to how it could be explained that in his late life so many Western seekers came to seek his connection. A learned explanation was that he underwent a Rahu Maha-dash at the time which might have brought him so many rough people, he who was such a gentle soul. Of course, it is in the eyes of the beholder, and as for a great soul like yourself everything happens due to Krsna's blessing, such vision cannot be critisized.

But fame seems often to be of human making.

Sorry for not replying, I am very behind in my correspondence and a bit low on both time and energy to handle it.

Here's the address:

Mahant Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaja
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Shastra Mandir
Brajananda Ghera
281504 - Radhakund
District Mathura, U.P. India

When you write, please make it a point to introduce yourself by mentioning the connection you have with some devotees Baba knows, he isn't as comfortable responding when he receives letters out of the blue.

Thank you very much! Now its time to put pen to paper...