SraddhaanJali

Sraddhaanjali

To

His Holiness Brahmarishi Vishvatma Bawra Ji MaharaJ
January 14, 1934 – February 8, 2002

Shradhanjali - A Tribute by Shiv D. Talwar

His Holiness Brahmarishi Vishvatma Bawra Ji first set foot in Waterloo in the province of Ontario in Canada on October 1, 1978. Three years prior to that time, his disciple Parivrajaka Krishan Kanta Ji had visited our area and impressed us all by her eloquent discourses. Hindus then used to meet in a room at the University of Waterloo for prayers and spiritual needs. Krishan Kanta Ji was requested to return the following year for more of what people had tasted on her first visit. It took Krishan Kantaji three years to return. This time around, she mentioned to some of the then Hindu leaders that her guru, Swami Vishvatma Bawra Ji, popularly known as Swamiji, happened to be visiting U.K. at that time and would visit our area, if invited. Soon, he was on his way to Canada and arrived in Toronto on September 30, 1978. The love affair of our community in Kitchener Waterloo and surrounding areas and Swamiji began on October 1, 1978 when he spoke first to a group of adults and then youth. These first day meetings with him lasted for eight hours or more. We were all captivated and completely won over by Swamiji's humanity, knowledge, scholarship, articulation, and clarity. No one had explained vedic philosophy and doctrine in such a manner to us before and we all felt truly proud, some for the first time, to be Hindus and inheritors of that great culture based on universal and all inclusive philosophy.

Swamiji was the best ambassador of that culture known to us and we were ecstatic. Such was the gift of his first day with us. The ecstasy we felt on our first meeting was lasting and we felt it over and over again through the years as we got to know more and more of him and the worldview which he sought to promote by his tireless efforts. His gregarious and outgoing nature, his love and understanding for each and every individual, his knowledge and scholarship, his instant recall of scripture, his clear and articulate presentations, his approachability and availability to answer individual questions, his simplicity, his transparent lifestyle, his wit, his freedom of thought, his willingness to debate and discuss, his complete selflessness, and his dedication to the welfare of entire humanity endeared him to everyone who chose to listen to him to understand. Such was the stature of this giant of a man whose loss we are mourning at this time. He truly was a man of stable intellect. We are not aware of any contradictions in his elucidation of Vedic scripture and philosophy over the past 25 years that we have known him so intimately. He was a yogi in complete sense of the word. He had completely replaced the principle of individuality as his essential being with the principle of ultimate reality of the universe and beyond. He had achieved the supreme meaning of life having identified totally with this ultimate reality.

Swamiji's teachings centered around one and only one ultimate reality of the entire universe and beyond. This universe bursts forth from this ultimate reality, is maintained by it and finally dissolves into it. Because of the commonality of ultimate reality of every one and every thing, there is no real reason for conflict in the universe. Any conflict that arises is the result of lack of understanding of the unity that underlies seeming individuality and distinctiveness. In fact, the diverse universe is created and maintained through a natural process of mutual cooperation and support called yagya, in which one entity picks up and completes the process of creativity and maintenance where another leaves. Human beings are capable of feeling this unity underlying the apparent diversity. With increasing experience of the underlying unity, a human being progresses from a distinctive individual identification to identification with family, neighbourhood, society, nation, humanity, all life forms in general and then the entire universe. As the circle of one's identification increases, one rises above one's selfish concerns to consider the good of everyone in that circle. A human being reaches his full potential when good of the entire universe is his/her prime motive to the complete elimination of narrow selfish concerns. Spirituality or spiritual development for him meant this progress of a human being.

Spiritual journey starts with individual identification and culminates at identity with entire universe. Common human beings only partially complete this journey. Having completed the spiritual journey, Swamiji encouraged everyone to strive for this ultimate spiritual development. There are two legs that support this process of spiritual development – detachment and service. Unless one detaches from narrow selfish concerns, one cannot attach to wider concerns. Service requires wider attachment. Narrow detachment from selfish concerns and wider attachment to collective concerns are two inseparable requirements of one's commitment to ultimate reality, the cause of underlying unity. This commitment is divine love or devotion. One cannot have divine love without detachment and one cannot have it without service also. This for Swamiji was bhakti.

In symbology of incarnation, Swamiji considered Hanuman Ji as the ideal devotee or bhakta. Hanuman Ji stands tall, straight and strong with mace in his hand ready to strike at the enemies of Lord Rama who is ultimate reality incarnate; and carry out each and every wish and command of Rama. He has no selfish motive whatsoever. His whole life is devoted to the love of Rama to whom he is eternally committed. Note, in this symbology, Hanuman Ji's characteristics indicate physical and mental strength, knowledge, wisdom, will, commitment, and ability. Without strength and capability you cannot serve and in the absence of knowledge and wisdom, you cannot make right choices and develop conviction in your choices. Swamiji's own personal life and his teaching both regarded the acquisition of good health both physical and mental, knowledge, wisdom and capability as tools essential for devotion and spiritual development.

Swamiji lived and died active, if I may use the word death in his case. Traditionally, it is thought that the souls with complete identification with ultimate reality become ultimate reality. Ultimate reality manifests itself or dissolves its manifestation back into itself by its own will, while the word death implies being taken away kicking and screaming. Swamiji did go when he felt the time was right. He always worked tirelessly for the good of humanity as a whole. Even in his last days when his heart function was dangerously below normal, he organized an India wide procession in which he and some other like minded swamis and gurus planned to travel from north to south and back stopping on the way in each locale giving discourses for spiritual awakening of the masses. On this travel, his body became very weak and ill and it was considered prudent to take him back to his ashram in Pinjore in the state of Haryana in north India. Swamiji had been sitting in meditative posture for a long time as his train headed back. His disciple, Swami Chidghananand, who was accompanying Swamiji on his northward journey got worried, checked his pulse and found it had stopped. Swamiji's body was placed in its final resting position in the feet of his ideal Hanuman. There is a large concrete idol of Hanumanji in the compound of Swamiji's ashram and his disciples thought it fitting that Swamiji's body sat in meditative position in the feet of his ideal who inspired his life throughout his spiritual journey and took him to the ultimate human destination of complete identity with ultimate reality. Bodies become frail and become useless for the souls that are eternal. Swamiji will always be with his disciples and followers in spirit, guiding and inspiring their lives now and forever through many lives. Please do not pray for his soul to rest in peace. Swamiji would have regarded such a prayer as a curse for him as he wanted to be born again and again to keep working eternally for the love of humanity. His bodies will rest in peace but he will keep going. He is soul and soul alone. That is the way he treated this body. The best tribute we can pay him is to continue his work in our respective ways.

Shradhanjali by Chandrakant Kothari
President of the Brahmarishi Mission of Canada

It is with great sadness and sorrow that we have learned of the passing away of our beloved Gurujee, H H Vishwatma BawraJi Maharaj. This indeed is not just a great loss for Hindus and India but rest of the world as well. His teachings are the only salvation for the humanity on the path of self destruction.
For those of us who left our homeland, India and settled here in Canada so far away from our ancient heritage and culture, it was Guruji who inspired and guided us back to our roots and our Dharma with the establishment of Brahmarishi Mission Canada. For this, we will be eternally grateful to him.
It was through his inspiration and selfless efforts that eventually a centre was established to teach Sanatan Dharma not only to the people of Hindu origin but to all those who were interested in self realization and personal salvation. This eventually led to opening of Shri Ram Dham Hindu Temple serving the spiritual needs of the Hindu community of Kitchner, Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge area.

However, pujya Gurudev had disciples across Canada. Thousands have benefited and will continue to benefit through his illumined teachings of Veda, Samkhya and Yoga. Without his teachings, many of us here would still be wandering in the darkness of materialism and many of the other false 'isms of the world. He shone for us the divine path of Spiritualism and Universalism.
Though, they may leave their bodies, great pious souls never cease to exist. Our dharmatma-mahatma, beloved Guruji will continue to live in our hearts and minds and will continue to inspire us to spread his divine mission and his much needed message in Canada with the help of pujya Swami Chaitanya Jyotiji, Swami Chidghnanandji, Brahmvadini Swami Krishna Kantaji and all the other Saints and Swamis of the Bramharishi Mission International.
Please convey our heartfelt condolences to all Virat Nagar Ashram Niwashis, his immediate and extened family members and all his followers across the world.

HIS HOLINESS BRAHMARISHI VISHWATMA BAWRAJI

January 14, 1934 – February 8, 2002 Shradhanjali, a tribute by DR. Venkat B. Rao

It was with great shock and sadness that we heard the physical loss of His Holiness Brahmarishi Vishwatma Bawraji on February 8, 2002. Everybody at the Temple was dazed, as if hit by a brick on the head. We were expecting Guruji to visit Kitchener-Waterloo in the month of October 2002 and we were anxious for the reunion and eager to listen to his discourses. Now we cannot expect to meet him in person, and have to reconcile to seeing him in pictures and hear his sonorous voice on tapes and videos. Literally, he was a real Brahmrishi spreading the knowledge of Absolute Truth. Even though he has left his body, his spirit will be alive in our minds and thoughts and will continue to inspire us to do what he has endeavoured to accomplish.

I was fortunate to be associated with Guruji for the last 20 years. I have heard him innumerable number of times. My impressions were that Swamiji was a great scholar. He was an eloquent speaker with characteristic clarity. Whenever he wanted to emphasize a point his familiar refrain was be aware of this fact. This has stuck in my mind. He had great mastery over Vedas, Puranas, Gita and Ramayana. He used to quote from different scriptures to emphasize the point he was trying to explain to us. Even though he did not have formal education, he had superb mastery over all the scriptures, which is undoubtedly a divine gift.

One day I asked him, Guruji, tell us how to find God. He said you can not find God because God is never lost. He is everywhere. Then I asked him how to realize God. His answer was simple. You can realize God only through the medium of meditation and chanting of Mantra. I still recall his practical lesson on meditation where you sat in an erect posture, closing your eyes and mouth. He would say that you are sitting on the globe and the globe is revolving in endless space. This space is filled with divine energy. Breathe divine energy through your nostrils and chant OM Mantra rising from Muladhara chakra to Brahmachakra on top of the head.

He asked us to meditate on our real divine Self. Our Inner Self is the one who is the real observer, thinker, appreciator and source of creative activity. He is the divine entity inside our body, called Atman, the immanent reality. He emphasized the importance of Om and Gayatri Mantra. In his lectures and through his Divine radiance, he emphasized the importance of Gayatri Mantra. Any amount of description is not enough to assert the importance of Gayatri Mantra. To assign the proper emphasis to the importance of this great Mantra, which should be a part of meditation, read the following paragraph.

A few disciples went to a Guru and asked him how to realize God and the Guru said go and read the Vedas. After a few days the disciples came back to the Guru and told him that the Vedas were too vast and consequently they eluded their grasp. Then he instructed them to go and read the Puranas. After a few days the disciples came back to the Guru and told him that there were eighteen Puranas and even after reading them it was difficult to understand God. Then the Guru asked them to read Gita, Ramayan and Bhagavatam. After a few months the disciples came back and said they were still not able to realize God. The Guru said whatever knowledge you can gain by reading all these scriptures you can gain by simply chanting Gayatri Mantra and meditating upon the Creator. When divine light enters into your Brahmachakra through the medium of meditation and chanting of Mantra, one gets enlightened.

Gayatri Mantra: Om, Bhur, Bhuva, Swaha, Tat Savitur varenium, Bahrgo Devasya Dhee Mahi ,Dhiyo yo naha prachodayat.
Bhu means truth, existence, satyam or sat.
Bhuva means light, knowledge, Sivam or chit.
Swaha means ecstasy, bliss, Sundaram or anand.
Bhur, Bhuvaha and Swaha means, truth, light, ecstasy, or Satyam, sivam, sundaram or sat, chit, anand. It has different layers of meaning. You contemplate on the attributes of divine. That was our guruji's message.
Tat savitur varenium means that we accept or choose that life giving creator, savitur. He is worthy of our choice, varenium. We take refuge into his fold.
Bhargo devasya dhee mahi .
Bhargo means divinely brilliant, burningly beautiful, multicolours mixed pure white brilliance and as bright as the core of the sun. Such brilliantly beautiful God must be contemplated upon.
Devasya means up on Gods.
Dhee mahi means contemplate or meditate.
Dhiyo, yo naha, prachodayat. We are asking God to direct and canalize (prachodayat) our (naha) intellect (dhiyo) and our collective intellect towards God. It is a fact that any person who contemplates, meditates, and chants Om along with Gayatri matra, will be enlightened. Gods grace with divine light will enter into his Brahma chakra and he will be able to realize God and he will be able to teach others how to realize God. He will be proficient in all the scriptures. This was the message of our Guruji and it is worth following with great enthusiasm.

Guruji was a scholar amongst scholars. He remains our ideal. In his life he went through the stages of Brahmacharya, grihasta and Sanyasa. He became a sage through the blessings of his Guru. We have read about many past Gurus but our guru was a living Guru to all of us. We will miss him greatly on a physical level but, instead, we will continue the task of what he endeavoured to do which is to spread our Sanatan Dharma, culture and vedic philosophy. Guruji was a man of peace. Only way for peace on earth is through the practice of adhyatmic philosophy. Spirituality is the only way to peace on earth. He wrote many books. He not only preached but also practiced karma yoga. He himself was busy in touring India, inspiring humanity on the principles of vedic philosophy until the last few minutes of his life. Even though he was a very strong person, his heart was failing and he went into a state of samadhi. His resting abode, his samadhi, will be near the Maruti temple in Pinjore. As Maruti was Guruji's ideal, Guruji will be our ideal. We will miss him dearly on a physical level.

We wish to celebrate his life. He was not only a great sage and a great scholar but also a great poet. He wrote many bhajans and songs. He was an accomplished tabla player and enjoyed reciting gazals with romantic love themes. He was a great fun going out on camping or on retreats or on site seeing. He was never tired of answering endless questions from his disciples. He used to tell us his Master inspired him to go into society and spread the Vedic philosophy. He wanted all of us to do the same and we should try to do our best to the extent of our capabilities. We follow his instructions and carry on the torch that he gave to all of us.

He established Brahmarishi mission international. His disciples are all over the world. Mission's inspiring motto has been and will be wisdom- love- service. Guruji asked us to teach doubtless knowledge, lustless love, selfless service, and unity in diversity. Let us celebrate his illustrious life. He showered his blessings upon all of us. We will always be grateful for his kindness and compassion.

Let us meditate and chant his name. Aum Shri Gurave namaha. Hari aum tat sat.