Baba
Story: power of kiirtana
Namaskar,
We had a smooth journey to Amjharia where we spent blissful days in Baba's divine presence. This marked the time Baba first gave the Baba nam kevalam kiirtan. It was completely new. The kiirtan was extremely vibrating and it super-charged my body and mind. I did as much kiirtan as I could, as did my students. After the program, Bhukti Pradhanji gave me the direction to go back to the children's home with all my students.
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Bridge damaged: no way to cross
From there I walked to the concrete road to catch the bus, but the bus was not available. Then by Baba's grace I saw one truck and I waved my hand and requested the truck to stop. Baba heard my call and the driver stopped. It should be understood that usually one has to wait hours and hours before a truck will stop and offer a ride. The drivers are busy and concerned about crime. But this time a driver stopped immediately. That is why I say it is exclusively due to Baba's grace.
Taking Guru mantra, I requested the driver to take me and all my students to our destination. The driver readily agreed; we were all very pleased to get in the truck and start the journey home. We had driven for some time when vehicles coming from the opposite direction warned us that up ahead in Latehar, the bridge was damaged so there was no way to cross. We were told that we must turn back and take a long detour as no vehicles could get through the river. Hearing this, the truck driver became concerned and scared. He requested us to get down from the truck as he was going to return back and take a different route.
We all told in one voice that, "No, we have to go to Daltonganj at any cost. We are coming from a grand kiirtan program with Baba and He will take care!"
By Baba's grace, we were in a blissful state due to the strong kiirtan vibration. Indeed we had been singing Baba nam kevalam kiirtan the whole time in the truck. In that deeply inspired mood we firmly told and assured the driver that, "Nothing bad is going to happen - let's cross!"
We requested the driver to move on ahead: "Let's go via this route and make it across the river. Your vehicle will make it!" With our firm resolve we convinced the driver and he agreed.
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Scary scene at riverside
It was not long before we reached the river. The bridge was washed out due to heavy rains and we would have to drive through the river. The river was around 3 - 4 feet deep and had a muddy bottom. Our driver looked up and down the bank of the river and saw that many vehicles were on the riverbanks unable to cross the river. He told, "No, this is too dangerous a situation. This truck will not make it across."
We enthusiastically encouraged him and said that we will make it across. The driver requested us to get down to reduce the weight. He told, "I will drive across while you walk or swim across. So please get down."
We told him, "If we get down, then you won't be able to cross - you will surely get stuck. We will sing kiirtan in the truck and with that force you will cross. If you try and cross alone then you will meet the same fate as the other vehicles that got stuck." We were speaking with full confidence and conviction and the driver became convinced and said, "Let's try!"
Up until this point in our journey, we had been singing kiirtan the entire time. The Baba nam kevalam kiirtan was so powerful and the vibration was very intoxicating. Baba was showering His grace. And the whole time the driver was listening and feeling the vibration, so he believed us.
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Baba's grace
The driver felt fully confident that we would make it across. Then he drove into the river - people had told us not to go and they did their best to discourage us - but we did not budge or pay them any attention. The truck was now in the river and we heightened the volume of our kiirtan and began chanting more and more loudly with greater surrender to Baba. The current slowed and the flow of water reduced. By His grace the truck was navigating the waters well. Everyone on either side of the river was watching. We sang more and more loudly. Then by Baba's grace we reached the far bank and drove up to safety.
Seeing us cross successfully, other trucks and buses that were waiting to cross got the courage to drive through the river. As they attempted, again the flow of water increased - seeing this they reversed their course. It was not possible to cross so they again waited by the bank of the river. We could see them from the other side. Watching this, the truck driver became more amazed and exhilarated by the fact that we had made it across and others could not.
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Conclusion
The driver quickly purchased sweets and distributed them among all the children. Then he gave us back the money we had given him. He said today he saw God's grace with his own eyes. God directly helped me. it would be sinful to accept that money. He saw first-hand that the Baba nam kevalam kiirtan is very powerful and that we were doing dharmic work. After hours of driving we reached Medinii Nagar (Daltonganj). The driver asked us our exact address and he kindly dropped us off directly in front of the school by late evening.
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When departing the driver was very, very happy. He said, "Today, I saw and realised God's grace." He then did namaskar and drove off.
Namaskar,
in Baba
Vishvanath deva
By His divine grace, I was present when our Beloved Baba first introduced Baba nam kevalam kiirtan mantra. It was 08 Oct 1970, when Baba was on tour and staying in Amjharia (Palamu Dist, Jharkhand). When I think back today - the entire event is crystal-clear in my mind. I can never forget that blissful occasion and the absolutely incredible scene that took place afterwards.
~ In-depth study ~
Kiirtan dispels all calamities
The above story graphically displays the power of our kiirtan mantra. When chanted sincerely with bhakti, it can eliminate all kinds of disasters.
Baba says, "Now, whatever might be the physical miseries – be they natural or man-made – if people collectively chant kiirtana, the calamities are dispelled then and there. In case of natural calamities like flood, famine, drought or epidemic, or man-made calamities, miseries and tortures – if kiirtana is chanted with maximum sincerity, it will bring direct relief in no time. (1)
And that is exactly what we saw in the above story. By chanting kiirtan they were able to pass the otherwise uncrossable river.
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Certainly, sadhakas of the highest bhakti - ragatmika bhakti - sing only for Parama Purusa, not for averting disasters per se. While those in a different flow may sing to avert disasters. And that is fine; at least they are singing the Lord's name. We have to remember that this world is colourful and that there are all kinds and levels of aspirants on the planet. In the above story, however, all were singing with full faith and surrender to Guru - there was no other idea in the mind.
We should all pay heed to His below directives and chant kiirtan whenever and wherever possible - no matter how little time we may have.
Baba says, "If you have even only one minute’s time, do kiirtan for one minute. If even two or three people gather together, they can do kiirtan collectively; if one thousand people assemble together, then also they can do kiirtan." (2)
Baba says, "Instead of wasting your time in gossiping, in useless idle pursuits, you should do kiirtana even for two minutes or five minutes, whenever you get the opportunity. It is foolish to waste one’s valuable time in gossiping." (3)
This is a story about the great power and tremendous force of Baba nam kevalam kiirtan. It saved us from getting stuck, and perhaps even drowning, in a dangerous river.
Go to Baba's darshan
At the time, I was an LFT teaching in an Ananda Marga school in Medinii Nagar (Daltonganj). There were 12 students in our children's home who attended the school. And each day after teaching class, I was the supervisor of the children's home. One day, Dit.S Dada told me to go to the Baba darshan in Amjharia along with all the children's home boys. So I went along with my students.
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References
1. 16 May 1982, Kolkata, Kiirtana Dispels Calamities
2. 17 May 1982, Kolkata, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
3. 15 May 1982, Kolkata, Kiirtana: The Panacea for all Afflictions
Plagiary?
Why called shúdrocita, kśatriyocita, vaeshyocita, & viprocita service
Here is an important overview:
Note 1: As Baba guides us, it is part and parcel of neohumanism to serve and help all of creation. Yet, everyone’s needs are uniquely different and fall within one of the four categories of service: shudrocita sevá (manual service), kśatriyocita sevá (service of courage), vaeshyocita sevá (economic service), and viprocita sevá (intellectual service). So we have to help all the entities of the cosmos in various ways. Those truly committed to the teachings of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji will engage in each of the four services at the appropriate time and circumstance.
Note 2: When referring to the various eras of the social cycle, the terms should always be used in this order: shudra, ksatriya, vipra, and vaeshya. The order should be fixed, and not mixed around because that represents the proper progression of the social cycle as per the teachings of Prout. In the culminating stage of the social cycle, the vaeshyan era is in vogue.
Note 3: When referring to the types of social service, then the ordering should be done according to one’s mental colour: shudra (black), ksatriya (red), vaeshya (yellow), and vipra (white). So while all of the types of service are needed, it is virpocita seva that is lasting, and it is that mental colour that is more pure and sentient. That is why it is the culminating state.
Note 4: Here we should also bear in mind that anyone can change their mental colour, and sadhana is the best and fastest way. So this is not like the exploitative, Indian caste system where one’s place in society is rigid, and one is branded for life. In our Ananda Marga system, everyone has the potential to serve in all of the ways. Ultimately, all human beings have infinite potential. Nobody is locked into a particular group, caste, or even mental status. All human beings are on the move; everyone born has the potential to serve and realise Parama Purusa. And when we serve the creation in one or more of the aforementioned ways, it means we are manifesting or utilizing our potential in that realm of life.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
== Section 2: Important Topic ==
Why called shúdrocita, kśatriyocita, vaeshyocita, & viprocita service
Here is an important overview:
- The service you provide to the needy by your shudra potential is shúdrocita service.
- The service you provide to the needy by your kśatriyan potential is kśatriyocita service.
- The service you provide to the needy by your vaeshyan potential is vaeshyocita service.
- The service you provide to the needy by your vipran potential is viprocita service.
Note 1: As Baba guides us, it is part and parcel of neohumanism to serve and help all of creation. Yet, everyone’s needs are uniquely different and fall within one of the four categories of service: shudrocita sevá (manual service), kśatriyocita sevá (service of courage), vaeshyocita sevá (economic service), and viprocita sevá (intellectual service). So we have to help all the entities of the cosmos in various ways. Those truly committed to the teachings of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji will engage in each of the four services at the appropriate time and circumstance.
Note 2: When referring to the various eras of the social cycle, the terms should always be used in this order: shudra, ksatriya, vipra, and vaeshya. The order should be fixed, and not mixed around because that represents the proper progression of the social cycle as per the teachings of Prout. In the culminating stage of the social cycle, the vaeshyan era is in vogue.
Note 3: When referring to the types of social service, then the ordering should be done according to one’s mental colour: shudra (black), ksatriya (red), vaeshya (yellow), and vipra (white). So while all of the types of service are needed, it is virpocita seva that is lasting, and it is that mental colour that is more pure and sentient. That is why it is the culminating state.
Note 4: Here we should also bear in mind that anyone can change their mental colour, and sadhana is the best and fastest way. So this is not like the exploitative, Indian caste system where one’s place in society is rigid, and one is branded for life. In our Ananda Marga system, everyone has the potential to serve in all of the ways. Ultimately, all human beings have infinite potential. Nobody is locked into a particular group, caste, or even mental status. All human beings are on the move; everyone born has the potential to serve and realise Parama Purusa. And when we serve the creation in one or more of the aforementioned ways, it means we are manifesting or utilizing our potential in that realm of life.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
This Prabhat Samgiita is for non-margiis यह प्रभात संगीत असाधकों के लिए है प्रभात संगीत 4113: आमार, कानु कोथा गेलो, कोथा लुकालो, खुन्जिया होयेछि सारा
मेरे प्रभु कृष्ण कहाॅं गये? वे कहाॅं छिपे हैं? मैं पूरे दिन से उन्हें खोज रहा हॅूूं अब यह प्रभात संगीत असाधकों के लिए है तो शाम हो चुकी है, मेरी आॅंखों में अॅासू बह रहे हैं। मैं उनकी खोज में भटक रहा हूूं उनकी याद में मेरी आखों से आॅसुओं की झड़ी लगी हैे।
मेरे प्रभु कृष्ण न तो वृदावन में हैं न ही गोकुल में और न ही मथुरा में हैं? पता नहीं किस दिव्य लोक से वे अपनी बाॅसुरी बजाते हुये अपनी गायों को चरा रहे हैं। मुझे क्या हो गया है? पता नहीं मैं किस प्रकार के प्रेम बंधन में उनसे बंध गया हॅूं मेरे हृदय में चुभन हो रही है, उनके
प्रेम में मैं पूरी तरह बेचैन हो गया हॅूं। मेरे प्यारे कृष्ण कहाॅं हैं? यह कैसा प्रेम हैे ! जिसने मेरा मन और हृदय सब कुछ मुझसे छीन लिया है । यह कैसी लीला है?
मैंने तो अपना सब कुछ खो दिया है। मैं किसी प्रकार की बाधाओं की चिंता नहीं करूंगा। मैं तो बिना रुके उन्हे खोजता ही रहॅूंगा, मैं अपने परमप्रिय कृष्ण को अपने जीवन के जीवन को, और अपने धुवतारे को, खोजता ही रहॅूंगा। वे न जाने कहाँ चले गए ।
---
* यह प्रभात संगीत असाधकों के लिए है ।
Shiva and Krsna PS songs are not for Ananda Margiis
Note: This above Prabhat Samgiita composition is for non-margiis. So we Ananda Margiis should learn these types of songs so that we can present and teach them to non-margiis. The Ista of Ananda Margiis is neither Krsna nor Shiva. So committed and dedicated Ananda Margiis know that using these Krsna / Shiva Prabhat Samgiita compositions for their own personal, devotional practices is very detrimental & harmful.
In multiple discourses, Baba guides us that Ista should be one not many, and that is what He is teaching in this following analogy about the mythological devotee Hanuman. Baba tells the story of the mythological devotee Hanuman who would only worship Rama - not any other entity. When in problem, Hanuman could have repeated the names of so many other gods like Narayan, Krsna, Shiva, Vishnu etc, but he only repeated the name of Rama - not any other. In the same way, a sadhaka of Ananda Marga should only repeat and call the name of Sadguru Baba, not any other entity. That is what is meant by strictness in Ista, i.e. never waver in one's faith towards the Parama Purusa, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
Regardless of whether one appeals to the Semitic faiths, prays to nature, or any other kind of worship, if one surrenders to any other conception of the Divine - other than Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji - then one is lacking on the point of Ista. Keeping photos of other so-called gods and goddesses on the puja table or in the house, singing Prabhat Samgiita to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna during one's own devotional practices, or honouring other Deities in any way undermines one's ability to observe non-compromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of Ista. Everyone knows that Ista is the point #10 of Sixteen Points and Sixteen Points is the backbone of spiritual life. Those chanting the names of multiple entities are trying to stand on two boats at the same time. They will surely drown.
Of course, everybody knows that Parama Purusa is one.
If this subject is not clear please write us...
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to Read
Importance of pranayama
How we should live 120 years
Story: ideal social service
Story: why kiirtana started
Main endeavour of life
A few weaknesses in democracy
Self-test: faith in Ista
Kiirtana: ideal tool for pracara
