A Celebration of Knowing and Becoming
Dr Miru Appadurai
“Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
soar to uncreated light…”*
On Nov 10th 2018, a special function was held at the Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi, to commemorate the release of the book “A Great Association - Glimpses into the Life of Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha”, written by Nutan Swamiji. Devotees from India and abroad eagerly assembled at the hall to be a part of this celebration.
“A Great Association” began as a series of articles written by Nutan Swamiji for Vicharasethu. The serial was subsequently discontinued due to time constraints. The idea of this “long awaited book” – as described by Mā Gurupriyāji - was first conceived during Poojya Swamiji’s 80th birthday celebration. What was initially planned as a coffee-table book evolved into something far deeper and more meaningful.
The Program
While the smog in the city was reported to be at hazardous levels, inside the auditorium the air was thick with Guru–bhakti, energizing and invigorating all who were present.
The evening began with Bhajans performed by Poojya Swamiji’s devotees Smt Shweta Roy, Sri Sreenivasan, Dr Aravindan, and Smt Mala Sridhar. The ethereal voices set the tone for the program with a combination of divine bhajans and nectarine .lokas honouring Guru and Truth, before concluding with a sublime rendition of the Guru-aṣṭakam.
The event was compered by Brahmacharini Namrata Swaroopa, undoubtedly the best person for the task. Namrataji’s poise and eloquence, and (more importantly) deep involvement in the project, maintained the seamless flow of the programme.
Following the bhajans, Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Mā took their places on the stage together with the evening’s Chief Guest Sri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, and Guest of Honour Dr E. Sreedharan. Poojya Swamiji was garlanded by Sri Sushil Salwan (Supreme Court advocate and Chairman of the Salwan Educational Trust) and his wife Dr Roopa Salwan. Dr Roopa, an interventional cardiologist and Senior Director of the Max Hospitals, is better known to devotees as the much-loved doctor of our Gurus, keeping them safe and in the best of health. Namrataji touchingly recollected her special role in guiding from distance during the events surrounding Mā’s sub-arachnoid hemorrhage.
Beautiful bouquets of fresh roses were then presented to the remaining revered guests on stage by Sri Pankaj Bhatia and Smt Anu Bhatia, devotees from Virginia, USA.
After the lighting of the inaugural lamp by Mā, the first copy of the book was presented by Sri Shashi Shekhar Vempati to Dr E. Sreedharan. Shashiji is the CEO of Prasar Bharati, India’s principal public broadcaster. Sreedharanji, Padma Vibhushan, also known as “Metro Man”, is the person responsible for building the Metro system in the country. In the Ashram however, he is more well-known as one of Swamiji’s closest disciples.
Each of the guests then took their turn to address the audience:
Sri Shashi Shekhar Vempati
“…Very rare that during his lifetime are
the teachings of the Master
captured beautifully in a book…”
Shashiji referred to “A Great Association” as a “fine exposition of the Guru-śishya paramparā that our Land has been blessed with”. He also expressed hope that the book would have a strong digital presence in multiple languages to make the learnings accessible across the globe.
Speaking candidly, he shared how he had dealt with his own work challenges by looking to Sreedharanji’s experience and learning from his biography. In that way, Sreedharanji had indirectly become his Guru. This occasion was to Shashiji a double blessing - having received blessings from both Sreedharanji and Poojya Swamiji.
Shashiji made us appreciate that the unique Guru-śishya relationship transcends all boundaries, and is relevant in every sphere and phase of life.
Dr E. Sreedharan
“…This book is an outcome of the fundamental principle
of Guru-śishya paramparā…”
Having read the book, Sreedharanji recognized the great pains Nutan Swamiji had taken to collect various known and unknown (even to senior devotees) aspects of Poojya Swamiji’s life, with appropriate photos and descriptions, and quotations from Poojya Swamiji which he described as “spiritual pearls”. He was amazed to see how all aspects of Poojya Swamiji’s life, work and vision of bringing Brahmavidyā to the world, were brought out so beautifully.
Sreedharanji had wondered what prompted Nutan Swamiji to author this book, and concluded that it was the “eloquent response to the high traditions of Guru-śishya paramparā”.
Epitomizing the humility that comes with true greatness, Sreedharanji spurred us to go into the depths of the book, to bring forth greater understanding of the relationship between Disciple and Master.
Nutan Swamiji
"I know only that I am a seeker.
I have been a seeker of Truth throughout my life, and I am still a serious,
sincere seeker in all parts of my being ... "
Visibly emotional, Nutan Swamiji explained that this book was an “unfoldment”. Being a seeker, the focus was always on the Truth and how it manifests through the life of a realized Soul. For the Arjuna in each of us, asking Krishna what the lakshaṇas of a sthitha-prajña and stitha-dhī are, the answers are explicitly expressed on every page of this book. This is therefore, not a “biography” of the life of Poojya Swamiji.
The events and anecdotes have been narrated - of course, with as much accuracy and fidelity as possible - for the sole purpose of expressing the fundamental values that make a Mahātmā what he is. Each depiction of Swamiji’s thoughts, words and actions, brings to life those lakshaṇas in the most tangible form. Just as Rama in Ramayana, and Krishna in Mahabharata, were exemplars of the values, virtues and forces (including social forces) that keep the society on the auspicious path, so too is Poojya Swamiji in “A Great Association”. His constant, untiring efforts - in the most natural manner – for loka-saṅgraha, have been brought forth stunningly in this treasure.
Publishing a book of this nature was uncharted territory. Providence delivered the right publishing team Sri Ashok Sharma and Smt Poornima Sharma from Bangalore, who wholeheartedly embraced this journey. Nutan Swamiji had to stay in Bangalore twice, for 2 weeks with Namrataji and Dr Aravindan, and for a week with Namrataji and YB Prasad, working day and night on the book. This joyful endeavour continued back and forth between Ashram and Bangalore. Through a conjunctional process where the book was being written as the publishing was going on, it finally came to be.
Reiterating that this is not a coffee-table book, Nutan Swamiji in all earnestness urged us to read the book from cover to cover with utmost seriousness. Whatever is presented in the book, he said, is whatever he has learned and felt to be the most important in his life.
All in the hall felt extremely humbled, and emotionally related to the journey of this book. The new seeds of sādhanā planted by Nutan Swamiji could be felt germinating deep within.
Poojya Swamiji
If you ask me who I am, I am a Guru-bhakta.
When I met my Gurudev I developed an affinity and
closeness to him which even today survives.
Nutan Swamiji is also an equal,
or even better, Guru-bhakta
The momentous occasion reached its pinnacle when Poojya Swamiji took to the microphone. He characterized the occasion as “very, very strange”. Such a book would ordinarily be written and released only after the Saint has dropped his body. Swamiji described his life as noted for many extraordinary developments, and himself as an atyāśramī - not conforming to rules and practices of sannyāsa-āśrama. But he has always carried the spirit and purpose of sanny.sa, with full scriptural sanction.
Poojya Swamiji extolled the necessity of asceticism for any serious seeker, declaring ascetic life as the core of human life. He himself has been an ascetic for 62 years, and this book is an outcome of 31 years of an austere and enlightened life led by Nutan Swamiji. Had Nutan Swamiji and M. not taken to ascetic life, the closeness they have with him, knowing him inside out, would simply not have been possible.
Poojya Swamiji also spoke about the social movements they had undertaken, which were always conducted in a constitutional manner. All the movements had given him the feeling of buoyancy and expansion, and all of them had succeeded.
Knowledge cannot be had from a book, Swamiji reminded. Guru represents the human dimension of Godliness, displaying realization, perfection, fullness and fulfillment. The very close association with the Guru is absolutely indispensable, and this is where knowing leads to becoming. Guru permeates himself into the śishya, and will be happiest to see the śishya shining as a possible Guru.
Swamiji proclaimed that an enlightened person can be written about only by another enlightened person, and this was very clearly visible in this book. Such a writer is almost impossible, he said.
Poojya Swamiji concluded by relating a meeting with Swami Nihshreyasananda Puriji just before Nutan Swamiji and Mā joined the Ashram. The latter had described them both as very good vessels, urging Poojya Swamiji to fill them well.
Swamiji always says that what we have is what we deserve. Knowing that we have our Guru, and deserve this, is sometimes unfathomable. As every fibre of our being vibrates with blessedness and gratitude, we pray that we too will be fit receptacles to be filled with Swamiji’s grace.
Conclusion
“Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
in the love of joys unknown…”*
It is difficult to properly articulate what was felt that evening. All words seem insipid and inadequate.
There was not a dry eye in the hall. No words, only tears of immense gratitude – for being able to witness and soak in the beauty and wisdom of our beloved Saints, and for having had a glimpse of a truly great association.
Just as a picture of a fire adds clarity to the words describing the fire, so too is it with this book. The pictures and narratives are to be relished together to make the Knowledge more comprehensible and relatable to our own lives.
The effects of a fire can only be felt when it is real. This precious tome has now come into our hands, and it is for us to understand and imbibe the values and messages embedded within. With Guru’s blessings and the right effort, these too will become real, and our very own.
Jai Gurudev.
[*From Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, a composition by Johann Sebastian Bach]