Twenty-four days before the Gayatri Jayanti of 1953, when the temple enshrinement was due to take place at Gayatri Tapobhumi, Acharyashri (Shriram) began his arduous fasting – Jala Upawasa (fasting on water alone). His family and associates were informed about it a couple of months before.
As he was going to take no food or drink except water while continuing with japa and meditation all these days, his family members, especially Taiji was quite worried. Her concern was genuine as survival only on water for 24 days at a stretch was risky. She tried to convince her son, arguing that he had been taking only one meal a day for nearly past twenty-four years; there is no need for him to observe such ascetic fasting; he may do so only for one or two days before the inaugural function of Gayatri Tapobhumi. She even tried to put emotional pressure, but nothing could budge Shriram’s decision. Mataji was also worried about his health, but she did not say anything, as someone from within her inner self used to assure her – ‘She should have full faith in whatever her husband – her ideal, her guide, decides. His decisions have some far-reaching and sublime purposes. He is an extraordinary sadhaka; she should support his endeavors, follow his advice instead of opposing him or doubting the success of his endeavors.’
She felt inspired to observe similar fasting herself. One day she put this desire before Acharyashri. He said that if both of them took up Jala Upawasa simultaneously, who would
look after the volunteers and guests who would visit their home in connection with the forthcoming ceremony? He also explained that the angelic mentor had instructed only him to follow this ascetic discipline. Therefore, he suggested that she should better take the responsibility of looking after the arrangements.
Mataji agreed to Acharyashri’s suggestions. But it was challenging to convince Taiji. She was adamant about her demand that her son should drop the idea of observing Jala Upawasa. Every time she would come up with a new alternative against whatever reason or justification her son gave in this regard. “I will beg pardon from your angelic Guru for the sin of compelling you not to follow his instructions this time. I will do whatever prayashchit
(atonement) he asks to rectify this mistake” – she insisted. At some point in time, Acharyashri thought that he might have to agree to her wish. But suddenly, a new idea clicked in his
mind!
The following day Taiji reiterated her demand and asked what he had decided finally. To her pleasant surprise, he said – “Okay, Taiji. I would accept your suggestion and will not observe this fasting for twenty-four days. But why don’t you also request Lord Dwarikadhish (Krishna), whom you worship every day in His temple, to tell us what is to be done in this regard? Will He permit me to break the pledge and disobey my Gurudev? You pray to him to give you the answer. I will follow whatever direction you get from Him”.
Taiji agreed happily. This was sometime in March; Holi – the festival of colors was only a few days ahead. This festival, associated with Lord Krishna’s beautiful ways of spreading love and harmony among the masses, attains special significance in the cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, where he was born and had spent his eventful childhood. Varieties of religious and social functions begin there weeks before Holi. Some such religious celebration was happening in the Dwarikadhish temple when Taiji went there as part of her daily chores. Today she had gone with greater enthusiasm and devotion. She was a saintly woman, a staunch devotee. The prayers of such a sincere heart indeed reach the Almighty and are answered soon in the inner mind.
Taiji closed her eyes and stood in front of the magnificent idol of Lord Krishna in the temple. For her, the idol was like God Himself. She implored through the depths of her saintly heart — “O’ God! Why my son has to observe such strict fasting that too in the middle of summer? Is it necessary for auspicious endeavors? So many kinds of sweets, fruits, and
dry fruits are offered to you in this temple. Don’t you accept them? Then why will he have to survive only on water for more than three weeks?” She continued talking to the idol for several minutes, didn’t realize when it all stopped, and her mind got engrossed in a meditative state. What she experienced then was amazing! She has herself narrated it
several times before several people. Some excerpts follow.
“I felt absolute silence. Nothing except the idol in front existed there around me. Immense light emitted around it. I felt as though there was movement in the lips of the idol. God
was talking to me! He asked me – ‘Who was looking after my son when he was in the fetus, whether I had seen him eating anything at that time? Bhavani (Mother Supreme) would take
care of Shriram (Acharyashri); it is with Her blessings and orders only that he has been asked to do this Jala Upawasa. So, why should one worry about a devotee like him who is being looked after by the Omnipotent Divine Mother Herself?’ Lord Dwarikadhish also clarified the secret of His eating the varieties of delicious Prasad offered in the temple, saying that – Nature arranges to (subliminally) nurture the devotees like Shriram using this prasada accepted by me.”
Taiji was more than delighted after this ‘silent’ conversation with her Thakurji (one of the names of Lord Krishna). All the doubts and concerns of her mind had vanished. She was
a great believer in the power of devotional prayers. In the moments of adversities and testing phases, too, she had always relied on His guidance inspired in the inner cores
of mind. However, today’s experience was indeed unique! The conversation was never so clear and alive! For her, this experience was no less than the realization of God or the ultimate blessing of the Almighty. She could not hide her joy and excitement after reaching home.
She called Shriram immediately and conveyed the message she had received in the temple. Mother and son both were so happy. In a lighter mood, Shriram told her – “Taiji! So, you see, I was ready to follow your order and almost prepared my mind not to start Jala Upawasa.
But now that God has Himself ordered, I can’t help it but follow whatever He has asked”. The topic was closed with their joint laughter.
Now there was no pressure from Taiji’s side. But still, another emotional issue was to be tackled. It was from the side of the parijans who were eager to do the Jala Upawasa along with Acharyashri. They had been seeking his permission through letters or in person. Acharyashri had to explain to them that such arduous endeavors required a different mindset
and substantial experience. As it would have harmed their health to fast in summer in Mathura, where the temperature rises pretty high, he advised them to observe such fasting
only for a day and put in the best of their sadhana efforts in doing japa and meditation for an auspicious beginning of Tapobhumi. He wrote or told this message to several enthusiastic volunteers every day and guided them about accelerating the Sahasranshu Brahma Yagya.
As planned, Acharyashri’s Jala Upawasa began on Vaishakha Purnima, 30th May 1953. A takhta (flat wooden cot) was kept in front of the temple in which the enshrinement of Gayatri was to take place. A thin cloth carpet and a bedsheet were spread on it. A mini tent-like shed was also tied above it. The temple in front was closed as the invocation and enshrinement of the Goddess (Gayatri) in the marble-made idol here was still 24 days ahead. Painting of its walls and finishing touches on the idol were going on in full swing.
After completing his daily Gayatri Upasana at home, Acharyashri reached the Tapobhumi early in the morning that day. Mataji also accompanied him. He sat on the cot. It was at around 5 am. As he was also the noble guru of hers and all the disciples present there, as a mark of paying respect to the guru-element and also greeting his unprecedented endeavor, Mataji put a tilak on his forehead, kept a leaf of a holy basil plant in his mouth and touched his feet. She and five other parijans who were present there loudly chanted the Gayatri Mantra during this ritual. This was like announcing the commencement of his sacred ascetic
experiment.
The activities before the enshrinement ceremony continued with higher intensity for the successive 24 days. Almost 25-30 volunteers from outside were arriving there every day. Local volunteers were also coming in connection with the preparations. The sacraments were to begin five days before Gayatri Jayanti. Many of the sadhakas among them used to sit there throughout the day and do silent japa. The gathering of so many people at a
new place in that region of Brij itself was a significant event!
Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2021 Sept-Oct