SHRI DADU LEELA " RAMA NAMA PARIKRAMA" SHODH SANSTHAN

 

 


 

Om Parmatmane Namah
Shri Dadudayalve Namah
Saint Dadudayaljee Maharaj

Providential commands:
Indian culture emphasizes a lot on tapa. We have always been told that doing tapa or meditation is the only way to attain divinity and nirvana (mukti). Tapa has been performed by our Rishis, Munis and even demigods or semi-gods (Sur, Nar and Muni). Great warriors, even among demons, have gained great powers through tapa, which they then used to conquer the world. The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh have attained divine powers of creation, preservation and destruction through meditation only. 

Tapa bal rachai prapanchu Vidhata Tapa bal Vishnu sakal jag trata
Tapa bal Shmbhu karahin sanhara Tapa bal Sheshu dharahin mahi bhara
( Ramacharitmanas)

Once, three great men (siddh purush) were meditating on an island in the middle of the sea. Suddenly there was a divine voice from heaven (akash vani) which said that one of them should go amongst mankind to save humanity from destruction. They accepted this as God’s voice and one of the Siddh Purush disappeared from the island and reappeared as Dadu Dayalji Maharaj. His beloved disciple Shri Raghavdasji writes in Bhaktamal:

Sagar main tapoo tamain, teen siddh dhyan Karen. 
Ek ko ju aagya bhai, jeev nistariye.
Nijanand nij brahma apaara. Tinkee aagya soun tan dhaara.
Sab jeevan ki poori aasha. Bhakti hetu hari kiyo bilasa.

Modern science has not yet reached the level of spiritualism developed by our ancestors. The moment science understands it, it will be able to accept Godly acts and Divine providence and lead the mankind to the pure science of spiritualism.

The boon granted to Lodhiramaji:
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Vikrama Samvat, 1600 A.D.
There lived a rich, famous and kind-hearted Brahmin by the name of Shri Lodhiramaji Nagar. He had great respect and devotion for saints and virtuous people. Although Nagarji had every comfort in life, he was a worried man; he was 45 years old and did not have a child. 

One day as he was returning home after a bath in the River Sabarmati, he met a saint. The saint had a divine glow around him. This saint was one of the three saints who had decided to come to this world. The saint said to Nagarji, “O, great Brahmin! When you go for your bath in the Sabarmati tomorrow morning, you will find a huge lotus flower floating in the river. In the flower, you will find a divine baby. Take that child, for he will be your son.” After this, the saint disappeared. 

Nagarji was dazed, and when he regained his senses, he hurried home to tell his wife what had happened. His wife was overjoyed and said, “Afterall merciful God has been very kind to us. He has heard and fulfilled our wishes.” Nagarji could not sleep that night in anticipation of sheer happiness of the next morning. The feeling of being completely overwhelmed stayed with them almost throughout the night. The next day, Nagarji got up much before dawn and went to the Sabarmati for his bath. It was still dark but Nagarji could not wait. His steps were full of enthusiasm while the sadness and lethargy had disappeared.

Appearance:
When he reached the river, he searched its length and breadth but could not see a thing. He stepped into the waters and looked around anxiously. Although he had a moment of doubt, he dismissed it quickly because he knew the virtues of faith and patience. So he thought to himself that the words of a saint could not go wrong. What had happened was that in his excitement, Nagarji had forgotten that he had to take a bath first to become clean and pure before he could see and touch the divine baby. By grace of God, he realised this and uttering “Shri Hari”, took a dip in the waters. As he surfaced, he saw a huge lotus floating towards him. 

When the flower came close, Nagarji saw a baby in it smiling gracefully. Nagarji was so overwhelmed that he closed his eyes and was lost in joy. He only came to consciousness when a petal of the lotus touched his navel. Nagarji saw that the baby was looking at him with divine smile. Joyously he lifted the baby with love and care.

As he took the child into his arms, Devtaas, Gandharvas and Kinners appeared in the skies, showering divine flowers with saffron. The whole atmosphere was filled with the heavenly music of divine instruments. Other people who were by the riverside at that time said, “Nagarji is very fortunate”. Nagarji understood that he had been graced with a divine soul. He left for home, his heart filled with joy and wonder.

At home, Nagarji's wife was waiting anxiously for her husband and baby. After reaching home, Nagarji placed the child in his wife’s lap. She was filled with happiness upon seeing such a charming and beautiful child. Her joy was endless and she experienced such maternal feeling that by the grace of God, milk started flowing from her breasts. That was the auspicious day of Falgun Shukla Ashtami of Vikrama Samvat, 1601 A.D, though some literature on Daduji says the event took place on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami.

Samvat solah sou laagat hee, Gujrat dhara madhi Ahmedabadu;
Brahma prakaash uday bhayo bhaanooju, 
Aay dooni madhya avtare Dadu.
Harsh uchhaah bhayo tihoon lok main, 
Gaavat yashsha munee siddh saadhoo;
Shesh, Mahesh, Bramha, Dhruva lok main, 
Soor suyashsha kare sani aadoo.
Gaib ko baalak aayo gagan thain, 
Nadee pravaaha main khelat paayo;
Peechhale prahar nahaan gayo vipra, Baalak dekhi uthaakar laayo.
Aapani naari ko aan diyo ghar, Gaib ko doodh pravaah bahaayo;
Gaavat mangal naari dason dish, baant badhaaee uchhaah karaayo.

Attainment of a Satguru:
When Daduji was only seven years old, he was playing with the other children on the banks of the lake Kankaria. Suddenly, a saint appeared from nowhere. Seeing this, all the other children ran away with fear, but Daduji went and bowed to him. This saint, who was no other than God himself, became very happy seeing Daduji’s humility, dedication and faith. He blessed him with wisdom, spiritual awareness and detachment. The saint vanished the same way he had come.

Baalpane darshan diyo, Bhagvat boodhan hoye.
Nagar Ahmedabad main Dadu bhaj toon moye.

Since Daduji was born with wisdom, spiritual awareness and detachment, he did not have to search for a Guru. Satguru himself came to him, and that need, which is an essential part of everyone’s life, was fulfilled. When he was 11, the Guru appeared to him again. This was to let Daduji know that as he was now fully blessed with the knowledge, the time had come for him to impart it to others. The Guru did not have to utter a single word to tell Daduji all of this; such was the power of knowledge and Bhakti.

Daduji accepted his Satguru’s command and started giving sermons to devoted listeners. He explained the secrets of the omnipresent, formless Brahma (Nirguna Brahma), God almighty and the intense practice of meditation and yoga in very simple language. He explained great Vedic teachings like: 

Tatvamasee, Soham, Ekoham dvitiyonaasti

He was easily able to convince a great number of scholars and masters with his arguments. All of Nagar society was very proud of him. Apart from the sermons, Daduji used to read out saakhis and couplets too. His poetic vocabulary was self-made and, that is why his saakhis and couplets were easily accepted and understood by all. The ordinary man had no problem in grasping his teachings.

Widening the spectrum:
Inspired by his Guru, Daduji realized that he should not restrict spreading his teachings amongst his own people only, but also to everyone else, because he came to this world to bless and bestow knowledge on all mankind. So Shri Dadu Dayalji Maharaj left Ahmedabad and then went to Rajasthan via Petlad, Abu Hills. From there onwards, he preached and blessed people in Kardala, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittor, Karauli, Sambhar, Aamer, Narayana, Bhairana and Sikri. 

In Sikri, Emperor Akbar too benefitted by listening to his sermons for 40 days. For a number of years, Daduji Maharaj blessed the masses with his meaningful spiritual sermons and encouraged people to adopt a virtuous way of living. Along with his regular teaching and sermons, he used to meditate for long periods. Through the Mahamantra ‘Satyarama’, Daduji Maharaj graced and blessed countless people and even freed unhappy spirits from their misery.

Satyarama:

This is the Mahamantra, the focal point of all knowledge, the eternal and practical source of the knowledge of all four Vedas namely Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. This Satyarama Mahamantra is immortal, illuminative, eternally conscious and full of all the secret teachings of the Vedas. Even the secret of Rama Naam Satya Hai is incorporated in it. Shri Daduji Maharaj was expert in ‘Hatyoga’, ‘Nadiyoga’, ‘Samanyayoga’ and ‘Sadhnayoga’. He would explain the teaching and uses of these in the simplest language to the masses. 

He said that in the Universe, all were bound by a unique thread in which there were millions of mantras and techniques for the fulfilment of every wish and desire. So Daduji Maharaj gave the Mahamantra Satyarama to all humans because it was simple and understandable.

Supreme saint Shri Dadu Dayalji Maharaj reached Narayana on the special request of the then king of Narayana, king Narayandasji. Daduji Maharaj stayed in the temple of Shri Raghunathji. For three days, the king and his people enjoyed the pleasure of Daduji’s company and his teachings. After that, Daduji meditated for seven days in solitude, on top of Tripolia. On the eighth day, a snake appeared under Maharajji’s mat and requested that he follow him. Daduji accepted this as the command of God and did so. 

The snake went through a lake overflowing with water and Maharajji followed him, walking on the surface of the lake. After crossing the lake, the snake stopped under a big Khejada tree and signalled to Maharajji to sit under it. The snake then disappeared. Daduji Maharaj immediately understood that he was being asked to meditate there and followed the Divine Command. In deep stage of meditation, a divine light started emanating from every pore of Daduji’s body and the whole atmosphere around him became illuminated. King Narayandasji reached this spot at that very moment, with his subjects.

Everyone saw the divine light and they also saw many beings floating around Daduji. Some had human faces with animal body; others had animal faces with human bodies. Seeing this strange phenomenon, people were startled and some were even frightened. On the third day, things returned to normal, and Daduji Maharaj opened his eyes and with raised hands, blessed the people around him, uttering Satyarama, merged back into his own self. 

Towards the end of Shri Maharajji’s life, his head disciple Gareebdasji asked him, “Master, the path that you have shown us goes beyond Hindu and Muslim philosophy, how will it be maintained after your departure?” Shri Maharajji said, “Don’t worry about that because Rama will guide those who are on the path of truth, and if you still want some thing special, then you can keep this body of mine. Through it, you will be able to get all the answers you need to know from time to time. And don’t worry about its rotting, because it is not made up of Panchtatva (PANCHTATVA - sky, fire, air, water & soil are the basic elements according to SANATANDHARMA philosophy). 

“My body is abstract. It is just an image and not composed of physical matters. Try to touch me.” Gareebdasji tried to touch his master’s body but his hands could not feel any thing at all. Then Gareebdasji said, “But if we keep your body in this state, people will think we are worshippers of a dead body and that is incorrect according to your principles.” Shri Maharajji then said, “There will be an Akhand Jyotee (a lamp which is kept lighted 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year for ever) here without any ghee or oil which will guide you further in life.” But Gareebdasji said, “By seeing the great miracle of the Akhand Jyotee, too many people will visit us and it will cause disturbance to our Sadhana, which is not proper.” Shri Maharajji was very happy to hear Gareebdasji’s views, and said, “Those who do selfless Bhakti by following my words (Vaani) and philosophy will be looked after by God.” Shri Maharajji’s Vaani was thus compiled in a handwritten book format and worshipped. Even today, Dadu-discipline performs the main pooja of Vaaniji and many devotees have also placed his pictures for praying. 

In the meantime, the time had come for Daduji Maharaj’s Mahanirvana.

Baasur hoye sameep rahe din, aavat paalaki panth aakaasha.
Keshar chandan chhaaye sugandhit, lyaaye dhare sur mandir paasa.

It was Jyeshta Krishna Saptami – Vikrama Samvat 1660 A.D. four pall bearers descended from heaven with a paalki. All of Maharajji’s disciples including the king of Narayana saw this extraordinary phenomenon. When they asked Maharajji what it all meant, he said: 

Kal karihoon nij lok praveshaa

On the day of the auspicious Ashtami, a voice from heaven requested Maharajji to sit in the palki, and he did. The news of the heavenly palki had spread far and wide, so thousands of devotees gathered for a glimpse of Daduji. Soon, the palki lifted towards the skies and moved into the Bhairana Hill Cave (now called Dadu khol). 

The crowd followed the palki and reached there with it. Suddenly, heavenly beings appeared in the sky and showered divine flowers and petals of saffron on him. They hailed him saying ‘Jai Jai’. Apsaras started singing and dancing. The same things had happened on the day that Daduji had appeared which coincidentally had also been Ashtami. The palki then lifted high and went up to the entrance of one of the caves on Bhairana Hill which now has a temple called the Cave Temple

Before disappearing into the cave forever, Shri Maharajji raised his right hand in blessing and said, “Saints and disciples, Satyarama”. Since then, the Satyarama Mahamantra has been used by Dadu devotees as a symbol of blessing, as well as to greet each other. This is how they remember their Guruji, by saying Dadurama Satyarama

This is Shri Dadudayalji Maharaj’s history in brief.


 

© 2003 Shri Dadu Leela "Rama Nama Parikrama" Shodh Sansthan