Mahaprayan of senior Prout Dada
Namaskar,
It is with much sadness that we share the news of the mahaprayan of
Acarya Trayambakeshvarananda Avt. All who knew Dada ji remember him for his
many contributions and dedication to Sadguru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji.
He underwent his mahaprayan on 22 December in the morning hours in Kolkata, and was 72 years of age.
Here are just a few of the many highlights about Dada Trayambakeshvarananda ji's life:
- Dadaji was keenly involved in Prout for many years since becoming a Wt in 1979.
- Dadaji was a veritable Proutist leader convening seminars; and,
his publication “Prouter Ruparekha” is very convincing and widely
circulated.
- He also worked as Public Relations Secretary wherein he handled all legal affairs etc.
- Dada Trayambakeshvarananda worked primarily in Delhi sector.
With his mahaprayan, Dada Trayambakeshvarananda will
be greatly missed by many in our AM society. May we all take solace in
the fact that our dear Dada Trayambakeshvarananda was a bhakta of
Sadguru Baba. Certainly he will
attain mukti or moksa, accordingly. Baba will lovingly bestow His
infinite grace.
at the lotus feet of Baba,
Nityesh Bhattacharya
~ In-depth study ~
We have seen that when somebody dies then in offering their
condolences people say now Mr So-and-so is sitting on Baba's
lap. On other occasions when telling a Baba story people also
say, "Such and such person sat on Baba's lap." But these days the trend is that "sitting on Baba's lap" is used more in
connection with death. And that causes some confusion in
reader's mind. To unknot the situation please read below.
Dogma: if "on Baba's lap" only used
for death
Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various
forums, wherein the writer uses the phrase - "in Baba's lap" -
with the occasion of death:
- "May Parama Purusa Baba accept her in HIS divine lap"
- "May his soul rest in the lap of our beloved BABA"
- "Now she is taking rest in Baba's Lap."
- "May Baba accept him in HIS divine lap....."
- "May he rest in HIS loving lap of eternity."
- "We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap."
- "May his soul rest in Baba's lap forever."
- "Let her rest peacefully in Baba's Lap - which she always
desired."
- "now he is in beloved Baba's lap"
- "May his soul get peaceful place in His lap"
- "He is now in Bábá's loving lap"
- "May Baba bless him with a seat in His lap."
- "May BABA accept him in HIS divine lap!"
- "May Baba take him in his eternal loving lap."
- "May his soul rest in peace taking shelter in Baba's lap."
- "Please keep him on Your lap forever."
- "We all collectively pray to Baba to take him on Baba's divine
lap forever.”
All of the above lines are commonly written in eulogizing the
deceased. These days mostly it is used in a eulogy and rarely
used to recount one's intimate spiritual experiences -
unfortunately. By this way, the phrase "in Baba's lap" is being
misused and step by step the real meaning is being forgotten as
now people more commonly use the phrase to eulogize those who
have died, and much less so to express their inner feelings of bhakti.
Unfortunately, the meaning and inner spirit of the phrase is
getting lost.
Baba story: "sitting on Baba's lap"
Some time ago after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting
his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba. He said, "After being lovingly scolded by Baba for my
wrongdoings, then He called me close and placed me on His lap -
I remained there for some time soaking up His love - and He
blessed me."
We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba
during dharma samiiksa. When he finished telling his factual and
historical event, there was a call for questions. Various people
posed their queries. Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, "How
did Baba bring you back to life?"
Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look
of astonishment all around - people were really shocked to hear
him say this. The new sadhaka sensed that something was wrong He
said very matter-of-factly, "I thought that sitting on Baba's
Lap means that he (the margii) died - that is why I asked that
question."
This was quite eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through
our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to
think that being on Baba's lap is the equivalent of death.
Because it seems that nowadays people only use the phrase
"Baba's lap" when a person has died, such as "Let him rest
peacefully in Baba's lap", as if in order to sit on Baba’s lap
one has to die. But that is false. Sincere sadhakas regularly
sit on Baba’s lap in their meditation. It is His grace. It is
just like a child need not die in order to sit on his father’s
lap.
The idea is that this phrase - Baba's lap - has been linked with
death due to extreme overuse. So for some time if sadhakas use
this phrase exclusively for spiritual purposes, that will be
best. The phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", should not meet a similar
fate. It should not lose its pure spiritual quality and just refer
to one's death. That will be very negative.
Baba would bless bhaktas and place them on His lap
There are tens of thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas
where they use the phrase, "on Baba's lap", when describing
their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and
bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply mystical value of this expression, and not just think that
Baba's lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at
the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis
walking this earth who sat in Baba's lap. And not only that,
there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in
dreams and sadhana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today
this deeply intimate experience is attainable by sadhakas, by
His grace.
There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba's lap
including in sadhana. That is the main idea that should be
preserved. Sadhana is a spiritual practice and one can sit on
Baba's lap in sadhana. We should make it cent-per-cent clear to
one and all that the phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", does not
mean death.
"Mahaprayan" means death of mortals - confirm for
yourself
from the Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary
Mahaprayan (Death): Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is
the common term used in India and especially in our Bengal to
describe the death of any human being, even ordinary people. In
that way, the obituary columns of the newspapers of Bengal
regularly cite the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of
society who died or passed away.
Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word
'mahaprayan' (death) is one extraordinarily term of bhakti to
be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at
all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal
presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no bhaktas ever use the
word 'mahaprayan' in reference to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna.
Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is
no question of Their mahaprayan (death).
Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question
of His mahaprayan.
Here it should be known that the convention of an annual death
day ceremony (i.e. shraddhainjali or mahaprayan) is a foundation
of the Islamic tradition. Muslims are well known for this, and
their approach of an annual death day ceremony was adopted by
the leader of a particular group in AMPS. So no one should think
that mahaprayan is some type of sacred event. It is done on the
death day anniversary of Muslims.
And for those who need still more technical proof then all this
can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary.
Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary 3rd
edition on page 848. Checking there it will be confirmed that
the word 'mahaprayan' means death. Which is why it is used to
refer to the passing away of even common citizens. And that is
the case in this letter also. The term mahaprayan means death
and this is the ideal term for this purpose.
Mahaprayan is only for humans not for Sadguru
Here it should be qualified that there is both real mahaprayan
and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan marks the death of any
ordinary human being, just like the aforesaid news. This is the
proper use of the term: To note a person's departure from this
earth. That is the meaning of the mahaprayan term and that is
the standard way the term is used in Indian languages.
Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan.
That is when certain vested interests try to apply the
mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa. This is grossly inappropriate
because when Parama Purusa Sadguru Baba is that Divine Entity
who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our
heart, then it is entirely wrong to proclaim that He is gone.
That is why rational margiis are protesting; because the Oct
21st program is so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that
something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for some
vested interests to declare "mahaprayan of Parama Purusa" is
nothing but so-called mahaprayan.
Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings, not
Parama Purusa. Those doing mahaprayan for Sadguru are
hypocrites. On the one side in meditation they ask His grace
thinking that He is ever-present, and on the other side they
think that Baba has passed way. That is their hypocrisy.
== Section 2: Links ==
Dictionary Meaning of Mahaprayan Term
Recent postings
Other topics of interest
More important letters
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