Maharaj - An Ocean of Bliss
Born on 29th November 1921 (Amavas day of the month of Margshirsha) in Gazipur near Patna (Bihar) in a well-to-do Brahmin family, Maharaj in his childhood itself exhibited proclivity towards a monk’s life. At the age of 20, he left his home to embrace a monk’s existence under the guidance of his Guru Paramhansa Swami Vigyananand Giri Ji Maharaj and Grand Guru Yogiraj Swami Nityanand Giri Ji Maharaj. He learnt Panini Ashtadhyayee (A treatise on Sanskrit grammar) and Paatanjal Mahabhaashya (The commentary on The Panini Ashtadhyayee by a great seer named Patanjali) from an eminent scholar Shri Brahmanand Avdhoot for 2 years. Intense desire for further learning brought him to Varanasi, where he passed the Vedanta and Sarvadarshanacharya examinations in first class. He started teaching at the Dakshina Murti Math, where he stayed during his studies.
As a gesture of reverence to the Acharyas of Dakshina Murti Math, Maharaj accepted their proposition to shift to Sanyas Ashram Delhi to head The Vishwanath Sanskrit Mahavidyalya run by it there. Maharaj obtained formal Sanyas Deeksha from the Acharyas of Sanyas Ashram Delhi in January 1968. At the behest of some senior saints he proceeded to Rishikesh in July 1969 to occupy the chair of Kailas Ashram after rendering unsurpassed selfless service to the above Mahavidyalaya as its principal for 10 years.
The Tenth Acharya H. H. Swami Vidyanand Giri Ji Maharaj ascended to the Kailas Peeth on 21st July 1969 at a time when Kailas ashram had been without a regular chairperson for the last four years. On this occasion Maharaj had the good fortune of receiving blessings from the sixth and the eighth heads of Kailas ashram in person, and also from host of other Acharyas (Heads of Institution) of the region Haridwar and Rishikesh. Soon after assuming charge, Maharaj sincerely set out on the errand of building and strengthening each and every sphere of the Institution.
Maharaj had a rare amalgamation of the qualities of learning, governing, writing, teaching, planning, executing and hard working. Under his able leadership, Kailas ashram made tremendous progress. Its number of branches increased from 3 to 12, spread all over the country. The old structures of Kailas Ashram (Rishikesh), Brahmanand Ashram (Rishikesh), Kailas Ashram (Uttarkashi) and Dashnam Sanyas Ashram (Haridwar) were renovated and expanded beyond recognition.
The publication work was the most important activity embarked upon by Maharaj after taking over. The Kailas Ashram as of now has nearly 100 publications to its credit. Kailas Ashram is the only Institution from where complete works of Adi Shankaracharya’s Bhashya (commentaries) on the three Prasthaanas i.e. The Upanishads, The Geeta and The Brahmsutra have been published along with the sub commentaries of Anand Giri (On the Shankar Bhashya of The Upanishads and The Geeta) and of Govindananda (Ratnaprabha on The Brahmsutra Bhashya of Shankaracharya).
Maharaj was a living legend of the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and had authored numerous Vedanta texts that have been highly acknowledged by those erudite in this field. His Sanskrit commentary on The Brahmsutras called ‘Vidyanand vriti’ along with its Hindi translation is extremely helpful to those wishing to understand the kernel of the ‘Shaarirak Bhashya’. Maharaj’s commentary in Sanskrit namely ‘Chhatratoshini’ on The ‘Chitsukhi’, one of the most convoluted Vedanta texts, has been acclaimed as a work without any parallel in the history of Vedanta writings. His Sanskrit commentary ‘Chhatratoshni’ along with its Hindi translation on the great Nav-Nyaya work ‘Vyaptipanchakam’ demonstrates his absolute hold not only on the Vedanta works but also on the Nyaya texts. For those not able to comprehend the scriptures in Sanskrit Maharaj had written Hindi commentaries named ‘Lalita’ on The Geeta and The Brahmsutras that encompasses the Shankarbhashya and the sub commentaries of Ananadgiri and Govindananda respectively on these Prasthaanas. His commentaries by the name of ‘Vidyanandi Mitakshra’ on the twelve Upanishads have enriched the Hindi language greatly. His commentary, both in Sanskrit and Hindi on ‘Sankshaep Sharirkam’, an exalted Vedanta text, is another landmark in the field of Vedanta writings. He has numerous other texts to his name the details of which can be had from the 'works' page. It goes without saying that Maharaj was one of the foremost writers on Advaita philosophy in the recent century.
Maharaj’s determined efforts for the spread of the legacy of Adi Shankaracharya have no parallel. As President of the committee of saints for the 12th centenary celebrations of Adi Shankaracharya, he traveled across the whole country to popularize Shankara’s works and teachings. All branches of Kailas Ashram have besides other deities, a deity of Adi Shankaracharya. The New Delhi branch of Kailas Ashram, namely Kailas Vidya Teerth, houses a big memorial of Adi Shankaracharya displaying his life in 27 beautiful marble sculptures. His writings have been inscribed on marble slabs of the walls of the memorial. Similar memorials have also been constructed at branches in Rohtak, Rajgir and Haridwar. The Haridwar memorial is housed in Sumitra Hans Satsang Bhawan of the Dashnam Sanyas ashram, whose beauty is a great attraction for the visitors.
The exclusive aim of human existence and the manifold practices of spiritualism is to realize God, the quintessence of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss, and break free from the repetitive phenomenon of birth and death that is the root cause of all despondency. Maharaj’s constant endeavor was not only to bring home this Truth but also to bring about its realization in any sincere seeker.
Maharaj had outmost reverence for the Vedic scriptures and followed their injunctions and prohibitions in both letter and spirit himself as well as advised the same to his followers. His first lesson to anyone who desired him as a Guru was to wear the sacred thread (The Yagyopaveet) if he was a Brahmin, Kshatriya or a Vaish and then start worship. There is hardly an eligible devotee of Kailas Ashram without the Yagyopaveeta. The respect of elders was paramount to Maharaj, and he moralized each one of his devotees to greet their elders every morning with a Pranama at their feet.
Maharaj had a very pleasing personality. He was easily accessible to each and everyone who aspired for him. His immaculate style of conversation made anyone comfortable in his company. He provided a personal touch in understanding the problems and doubts of the aspirants and recommended apposite solutions. He was never without work, yet was relaxed as if doing nothing. He followed a strict routine and advised others to be regular in their spiritual practices. His discourses were lively and enlightening.
After enlightening innumerable aspirants with the knowledge of Brahman, Maharaj gave up the Earthy body on 13.12.2007 to merge in that Transcendental Truth, verily called Brahman by the Shrutis.
Hari Om