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Five Eternal Realities
Whenever He met learned ascetics and heads of ashrams, Neelkanth invariably
inquired about the nature of the five eternal realities, namely, Jiva,
Ishwar, Maya, Brahman and Parabrahman. Though aware of their nature, His
motive for inquiring was to seek out those ascetics who answered satisfactorily.
This would provide Him a basis on which to found the fellowship for which
He incarnated. Nowhere  during
His sojourns did He receive a satisfactory exegesis. After 7 years, 1
month and 11 days, having trudged more than 12,000 kms. over the vast
sub-continent, and graced over 177 places, His footsteps graced Loj, a
tiny village tucked away in a remote corner of Gujarat, in the Kathiawad
peninsula. He was aware that here, He'd receive satisfactory answers,
ending both His 'odyssey' and pilgrimage to redeem.
Ashram In Loj
The cool monsoon wind blowing in the pre-dawn hours dispersed the light
clouds
hovering over Loj. A plethora of birds chirped and twittered noisily as
they fluttered among the trees on the outskirts of the village. As they
hopped from branch to branch, water droplets from the overnight downpour
cascaded below. A few showered Neelkanth. Unflinching, eyes closed in
deep meditation. He sat lotus-postured on a rock slab next to a step well.
Despite His emaciated frame, He radiated  ineffable
divinity. This divine luster arrested the village's womenfolk arriving
to fill their water pots. Wondering who He was and why He had renounced
home, they questioned Him.But the young brahmachari remained absorbed
in meditation, unaware of their presence. Moments later an aged sadhu
named Sukhanand arrived for water. As his eyes fell on the teenaged yogi,
his legs halted involuntarily. Awestruck, he stood there mesmerized, bathing
in the divinity emanating from Neelkanth. Yearning to question Him, the
sadhu prayed to Neelkanth to open His eyes. Moments later, His eyes fluttered
open. The sadhu prostrated, humbly inquiring who He was and requested
Him to grace his guru Ramanand Swami's ashram, to meet Muktanand Swami,
the acting head. At the ashram, Muktanand Swami's answers regarding the
five eternal realities satisfied Neelkanth. He decided to stay until Ramanand
Swami returned from his preaching tour in Kutch. During this period He
humbly served Muktanand Swami and the 60 sadhus in the ashram; cleaning,
washing robes, collecting dung and firewood. Yet he also taught them Ashtang
Yoga. Gleaning His lofty spirituality and extreme detachment from mundane
matters, Muktanand Swami wrote a letter to Ramanand Swami to return as
soon as possible, in case the Brahmachari decided to leave Loj. Aware
of Neelkanth's identity, Ramanand Swami sent his devotees to Loj for His
darshan, informing them that, "I am only the 'drum-beater' heralding the
arrival of the 'chief player'. Neelkanth is the 'chief player'." Revealing
Neelkanth's glory, he said, 'Neelkanth is greater than me, greater than
Dattatreya, Rushabhdeva and greater than Ramchandra. Just as Krishna is
greater than all other incarnations, He is even greater than Krishna.
He is the cause of all incarnations.' |
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)
during
His sojourns did He receive a satisfactory exegesis. After 7 years, 1
month and 11 days, having trudged more than 12,000 kms. over the vast
sub-continent, and graced over 177 places, His footsteps graced Loj, a
tiny village tucked away in a remote corner of Gujarat, in the Kathiawad
peninsula. He was aware that here, He'd receive satisfactory answers,
ending both His 'odyssey' and pilgrimage to redeem. )
hovering over Loj. A plethora of birds chirped and twittered noisily as
they fluttered among the trees on the outskirts of the village. As they
hopped from branch to branch, water droplets from the overnight downpour
cascaded below. A few showered Neelkanth. Unflinching, eyes closed in
deep meditation. He sat lotus-postured on a rock slab next to a step well.
Despite His emaciated frame, He radiated )
ineffable
divinity. This divine luster arrested the village's womenfolk arriving
to fill their water pots. Wondering who He was and why He had renounced
home, they questioned Him.But the young brahmachari remained absorbed
in meditation, unaware of their presence. Moments later an aged sadhu
named Sukhanand arrived for water. As his eyes fell on the teenaged yogi,
his legs halted involuntarily. Awestruck, he stood there mesmerized, bathing
in the divinity emanating from Neelkanth. Yearning to question Him, the
sadhu prayed to Neelkanth to open His eyes. Moments later, His eyes fluttered
open. The sadhu prostrated, humbly inquiring who He was and requested
Him to grace his guru Ramanand Swami's ashram, to meet Muktanand Swami,
the acting head. At the ashram, Muktanand Swami's answers regarding the
five eternal realities satisfied Neelkanth. He decided to stay until Ramanand
Swami returned from his preaching tour in Kutch. During this period He
humbly served Muktanand Swami and the 60 sadhus in the ashram; cleaning,
washing robes, collecting dung and firewood. Yet he also taught them Ashtang
Yoga. Gleaning His lofty spirituality and extreme detachment from mundane
matters, Muktanand Swami wrote a letter to Ramanand Swami to return as
soon as possible, in case the Brahmachari decided to leave Loj. Aware
of Neelkanth's identity, Ramanand Swami sent his devotees to Loj for His
darshan, informing them that, "I am only the 'drum-beater' heralding the
arrival of the 'chief player'. Neelkanth is the 'chief player'." Revealing
Neelkanth's glory, he said, 'Neelkanth is greater than me, greater than
Dattatreya, Rushabhdeva and greater than Ramchandra. Just as Krishna is
greater than all other incarnations, He is even greater than Krishna.
He is the cause of all incarnations.' 
