The Divine Life of Sri Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari Maharaj Ji[]

Shree Shree Mohanananda Brahmachari
Shree Shree Mohanananda Brahmachari
	Shree Shree Mohanananda Brahmachari
Personal
Born	Manamohan Bandapadhyay; 17 December 1904; Midnapore, West Bengal
Died	29 August 1999 (aged 95); Tennessee, United States
Religion	Hinduism
Nationality	Indian
Philosophy	Naishtika Brahmacharya
Religious career
Guru	Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari

From the time of creation of the universe and mankind, God has manifested in myriad forms. Sometimes He has incarnated as Sri Krishna, soothing those in agony, through his Bansuri. While, sometimes He has incarnated as Narsingh Devta, reaping apart the evil and establishing Dharma. And then again, He has incarnated, for millions of tormented souls, in form of our immensely worshipped, Sri Sri Guru Maharaj – Sri Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari.

Sri Sri Guru Maharaj was born on Saturday, the 17th of December, 1904 at Midnapore, West Bengal (As per Bengali calendar, 2nd day in the month of Pausa, Shukla Paksha, at the conjunction of Dasami and Ekadasi Tithi) to exceedingly pious and Godly personages, Sri Hemchandra Bandhopadhyay (Father) and Srimati Binoyini Devi (Mother), which marked the advent of an era.

While, Sri Sri Boro Guru Maharaj – Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari was physically present in Midnapore, during the holy birth of Sri Sri Guru Maharaj, however, the first heavenly meeting between Guru-Shishya happened one and a half years later, at Deoghar Ashram. Where his parents, had taken Sri Sri Guru Maharaj, to have the holy darshan of Sri Sri Boro Guru Maharaj. It was there, that the divine interaction occurred and the path of an immortal and holy chronicle was sieved. It has been later laid down by the family and acquaintances of his pre-monastic life, that Sri Sri Guru Maharaj had always had a calm and composed persona. He had an unexplainable divine aura, which often led to his companions looking up to him for suggestions and guidance. While, other students of his age were loquacious and would indulge in fun and games, Sri Sri Guru Maharaj would be found quietly listening to Rabindra Sangeets or reading multitudinous books. His love for sangeet was quite ardently seen all through his life. While, his love for reading was evident in the fact that he carried an entire suitcase of books, through all his travels. Even now, his holy room in Deoghar Ashram (Mohan Mandir) is filled with awe-inspiring books, which stands as an exemplar for his love of reading and garnering knowledge.

After having completed his schooling, Sri Sri Guru Maharaj took admission in the Scottish Church College, Calcutta, for Intermediate (I.A). Where, he resided at the Ogilive Hostel, for pursuing his higher education. But, as it is truly said, there is no barrier strong enough to disrupt God from attaining his grand scheme. Similarly, nothing could stop Sri Sri Guru Maharaj from leaving behind his materialistic life and moving ahead towards ultimate divinity. In the second year of his college life, on 9th September, 1921 at the age of just Seventeen, he went to Deoghar Ashram, offering himself at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari (Sri Sri Boro Guru Maharaj). Even after several persuasions nothing could alter his perseverance. Finally, after 21 days, on the auspicious occasion of Durga Mahashtami, he renounced all worldly desires and walked on to the path of embracing the life of a Naisthik Brahmachari. He attained his diksha from Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari and went on to become one of the revered saints, in all over India and abroad.

During his early years at Deoghar Ashram, he set an example of astounding Guru Bhakti. His seraphic devotion and divinity towards his Guru, stands as an anecdote to all. From carrying several buckets of water for more than 750 ft. from the feet of Tapovan hill to the top, to staying awake all night to attend to his Guru, speaks of his monumental fidelity and adherence. The divine affection was such between Guru-Shishya that right after Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari, left for his heavenly abode on 9th June’ 1937, a ray of light was seen to be transferred from his divine body and merged into Sri Sri Guru Maharaj Ji’s holy body. It is also said, that after the demise of Sri Sri Boro Guru Maharaj, his disciples had heard his divine voice saying “Hum Mohan Ek Hai” (Mohan and I are one). Sri Sri Balanada Brahmachari appointed Sri Sri Guru Maharaj to shoulder all responsibilities of Ashram as well as made him the Sevayat of Devi Maa (Sri Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Maa or Baleswari Maa). However, Guru Maharaj Ji’s attachment for his Guru was such, that thereafter, he renounced everything and secluded himself in the darkest forests of Naimisharanya. That is where he got the heavenly direction from Sri Sri Boro Guru Maharaj to return to Ashram and set out to the restore the lives of millions of awaiting his divine grace.

From there on, Sri Sri Guru Maharaj, set on his celestial work throughout the nation. In all his works, he ensured to spread the holy name of his Guru – Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari. He started off by establishing numerous temples and starting various Pujas and yagnas at Deoghar Ashram, such as Durga Puja, Dol Purnima Yagna for Sri Sri Boro Guru Maharaj’s abirbhaab tithi, Kali Puja, Annakut and many such works. Similarly, over his lifetime, he went on to establish Ashrams and Tirthashrams all over India, such as Badrinath, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Benaras, Puri, Vrindyavan, Durgapur, Bankura, Berhampur, Jamshedpur, and many more. His ultimate objective was to re-establish the Sanatan Dharma and offer a place for peace and divinity to mankind. For which he endeared the severe cold temperatures and high altitudes of Badrinath and performed Bishnu Lakshmi Yagna continuously for twenty four years at Badrinath Ashram. Similarly, he performed Rudra Yagna, Shiv Shakti Yagna for several years at Benaras Ashram. Through his establishments, he provided a place of solace for thousands of devotees. Besides these, he established numerous schools, colleges, Bridhyashrams and hospitals such as Sree Sree Mohanananda Cancer Hospital, Durgapur; Behala Balananda Brahmachari Hospital & Research Centre, Kolkata; Mohanananda Brahmachari Sishu Seva Pratisthan, Kolkata. Further to carry on his noble work, he established various trusts and societies, which till date, still function under his holy vision, guidelines and principles. His vision and mission was to build a sustainable society where health and education was made available to people belonging from all works of life. He has devoted his entire life to the betterment of the society, for each day, every day, until he left for his heavenly abode on 29th August’ 1999, in Tennessee, USA.

Our beloved Guru Maharaj Ji has imparted to us his more viable pillars of teaching, i.e., “Seva o Sadhana” (Devotion to God through Service to Mankind). Through his unperturbed devotion towards his Guru – Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari (Boro Guru Maharaj), meditation through Kirtans & Bhajans, selfless service to mankind in form of innumerable charitable works (such as establishment of Hospitals, Schools, Colleges, Bridhyashrams, Anna Chhetras through his various ashrams, Daridra Narayan Seva during natural calamities, all over India), Guru Maharaj has laid down the foundations that treading on the path of humanity and humility is the ultimate direction to attain the Supreme Being. He established the core crux of Kali Yuga, by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that God the Almighty can be achieved by Hari Naam Sankirtan. That Hari Naam is the ultimate path to attain moksha. His teachings, sermons, principles and guidelines for life were all conveyed through his Kirtans and Bhajans.

Sri Sri Guru Maharaj’s Kirtans form the pillar of hope and faith through the darkest of times, for all his disciples. Through his divine teachings and Hari Naam Sankirtan, he has uplifted many iniquitous people, transforming them into saintly devotees. Through his unperturbed affection and compassion to mankind, he has restored the lives of millions of distressed souls. He is our Guru, but more than that, He is our Father, in all true sense. Being grateful to him is not enough. We have to apply his teachings in all works of our lives and achieve ultimate humanity and humility, as a token of our devotion and endearment to our Param Pujaniya Sri Sri Guru Maharaj.

Early life[]

He took birth on 17 December 1904 in the town of Midnapore in Bengal province. His parents, a devout Brahmin couple, Binayani Devi and Hemachandra Bandopadhaya were devotees and disciples of Sri Balananda Brahmachari, a great saint who had taken up residence in the temple town of Deoghar in Bihar province. Sri Manamohan, as he was then named, passed his Entrance Examination in 1920 from Dhanbad English High School. Thereafter, he joined the Scottish Church College in Calcutta for his graduate studies and stayed in the Ogilvie Hostel. His classmates later remembered him for his pleasant yet indrawn personality, and for his touch of artistic sophistication which he brought to every task. Later on, it became apparent that Sri Manamohan had developed a great attraction for the divine life during this time and had begun practicing various austerities as well as studying several religious thought leaders such as Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo. He had also collected detailed information about the religious practices followed at Deoghar Ashram from his family. Finally, he left the hostel on September 9, 1921 and travelled to the Deoghar ashram of Sri Balananda Brahmachari.

Spiritual training and enlightenment[]

Over the next three weeks, Sri Balananda Brahmachari thoroughly tested the resolve of young Sri Manamohan and, after obtaining the consent of his parents as well, admitted him to the monastic life as Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari. His life at the Ashram was marked by the practice of severe austerity, the single-minded devotion and service to his Guru, and the total conformity with most rigid disciplines prescribed in the scriptures.

The smooth and efficient management of the diverse activities at the Ashram was given due attention while he continued with the most rigorous 'tapasya' and undertook many arduous pilgrimages to numerous sacred places. Even after Sri Balananda Brahmachari passed away on 9 June 1927, Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari continued these arduous monastic pursuits. Only after receiving an express command from his Guru, given in a vision while he was practicing austerities at holy Naimisharanya, did Sri Maharaj assume the most difficult task of arousing the spiritual potential of people on a large scale by going himself to the devotees while adhering to the stringent discipline of "naisthikbrahmacharya". Sri Maharaj also founded many institutions for the material welfare of the public at large. All these activities were instituted to further his belief that sadhus (holy men) had the duty to contribute significantly to human society.

Spiritual practice and establishments[]

Guru Mohrajji continued the Guru Parampara of ancient vedic practices for the benefit of humankind and all beings in entire universe. He expanded upong his Guru's work and went on setting up charitable ashrams to establish Dharma in its pristine form. Apart from the major Hindu festivals being conducted in Vedic ways across ashrams, he also used to conduct the extremely difficult Vishnu Lakshmi Yagna for benefit of universe.

His permanent state of spiritual divine glow blessed the souls of all beings fortunate enough to witness. The enormous spiritual powers accumulated through his Sadhana were never made explicit, except for the aura of ineffable peace which always emanated from him.

Teachings and Amrita Lahiri[]

Very early in his life, Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari had learned that music and songs were very effective instruments available for arousing divine consciousness in the human spirit. He was deeply attracted by the lyrics and music of Rabindranath Tagore during his college days and he also witnessed the ability of the saint, Ramdas Babaji Maharaj, to bring ecstasy to massed crowds through his Kirtan.

Having the gift of a sweet and melodious voice himself, Sri Maharaj regularly performed Kirtan at Deoghar Ashram and even his Guru was moved by his music. Sri Maharaj was thoroughly eclectic in his choice of lyrics. Apart from his own numerous compositions, Sri Maharaj liberally drew upon the works of Nanak, Brahmananda, Vidyapati, Surdas and other classical devotional compositions, as well as from the works of modern poets, most notably of Rabindranath as well as Girish Chandra, Atul Prasad and others. However, he did not hesitate to modify either the lyrics or the tune in order to create the maximum impact in the minds of the listeners. His audience, however, did not always know the lyrics. Finally, Sri Gobinda Prasad Ghose, a disciple of Sri Balananda Brahmachari, undertook the task of collating the Kirtan lyrics through laborious transcription, and published the volume in July 1955. Pleased with the effort, Sri Maharaj named this volume Amrita Lahari or Waves of Nectar. Subsequently, a second volume was also published under the name Sudha Sagar or Sea of Nectar, bestowed by Sri Maharaj. Later on, the two volumes were merged into a single entity under the initial name of Amrita Lahari, and the combined volume has undergone many editions with an ever expanding inventory of songs. A collection of his songs from Amrita Lahiri is available in Amrita Lahiri online

Samadhi[]

Sri Maharaj left the mortal world at McMinville, Tennessee on August 29, 1999, but the soothing and uplifting influence of his memory, and of his Kirtans, continues to bring solace and joy to his innumerable disciples, devotees and admirers across the world even today.

References[]

Official website of Sri Sri Balananda Ashrams

External links[]

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