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Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu (Hindi: संत श्री आसारामजी
बापू),(Sindhi: سنت شري آسارام باپو), is a saint from India, endearingly called 'Bapuji'
by his followers. He was born in Berani village of the Nawab district in Sindh
(Un-Partitioned India) on the on the sixth day of Chaitra month (Hindu
Calendar), 17 April 1941 (Gregorian calendar), as Aasumal. His father was
wealthy businessman Thaumal Sirumalani and his mother was Mehngeeba.
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Today there are several Sri
Yog Vedanta Seva Samitis (SYVSS) around the world working under the guidance
of Bapuji. The main ashram is in Ahmedabad (Gujrat, India). SYVSS is
involved in many social, religious and spiritual activities in India and
abroad. A magazine in various different languages is also printed by the
ashram called "Rishi Prasad" and a monthly newspaper called "Lok Kalyan Setu".
Biography
At the time of Aasumal's birth, a sage stopped
at shri Thaumal's house and told him that he got a divine feeling of a
saintly child being born in his family. For that special child he had
brought a swing. Aasumal was the fourth child in the family.
When Aasumal was three years old, kulguru (the family guru) Shri Parsuramji
came to Shri Thaumalji's home. As he saw child Aasumal he said that the
child is not a normal child. He said that the child Aasumal will be a great
saint and will show the path of spiritualism to the people living in
ignorance Biography of Pujya Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu. YVSS NJ Ashram, US.
Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
Since his childhood, Aasumal was very much inclined towards religious epics.
Manhgeeba maa used to tell stories from Ramayana, Bhagawad Gita and other
scriptures to Aasumal. That was his first introduction to the world of
spirituality.
He was the most favourite students in his school. Lovingly, the students and
teachers used to call him "Hansmukh bhai". He always had a very sharp memory
from his childhood.
Due to the division India, his family moved from Sindh to Maninagar near
Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Aasumal started his studies again in Maninagar. During
recess time, when other children used to play, Aasumal would sit under a
tree for meditation. Maa Mehgiba would put makkhan-mishree (sweetened
butter) in front of Aasumal when he would be sitting for meditation with his
eyes closed. She would tell Aasumal to open his eyes and see what god has
sent for him. This built up his interest in Dhyaan (Meditation) and Bhajan
(Prayers) and he started enjoying it.
When Aasumal saw that school education is only useful for earning bread and
it only fulfills the worldly enjoyment, he lost the fascination of school
education. Whenever there was any time spare, he would go and meditate.
At a very young age Aasumal lost his father and
he had to discontinue his education and take care of the family business
along with his elder brother. But Aasumal was always yearning for spiritual
knowledge. His meditation grew longer and longer and provided him with many
siddhis (spiritual powers) in a small age of 10 years. He went to Sidhpur
for a job and came back to Maninagar after 3 years. His mother wanted to get
him married now, but Aasumal was never into marriages and social life. But
his family got him engaged. |
Aasumal kept postponing marriage
for two and half years. Eventually, his family fixed a date of his marriage but
he ran away from his home eight days before the day of marriage. His family
started searching for him and found him in Ashok Ashram in Bharuch and took him
back to home. Aasumal was married to Lakshmi Devi.
He told his wife that his ultimate goal is to self realise, hence not to
obstruct his way. He joined a Sanskrit school. Four days before the final exam
he was influenced by a shloka which meant "The one who has disowned expectations
& materialistic desires & has adopted the desireless state, the penances &
worship of such a person has reached completion." His desire to attain God got
intensified. He made up his mind to break from family so as to realize God.
After leaving his dominions, Asumal went from place to place and at nights slept
on the grass, homeless and alone. He did intense spiritual practices in deep
forests, on hills, in deep caves, in various great temples. At Kedarnath, the
Pujari blessed Asumal to become a millionaire, but Asumal did not appreciate
this. He worshipped again & made a pledge to attain God.
Asumal then went to Vrindavan, the land of Lord Krishna. Here he was inspired to
goto the ashram of the Great Guru, Swami Shri Lilashahaji Maharaj. He had to
wait for 40 days in the Ashram to get the glimpse of Gurudev. There he stayed
and served his SadGuru with true devotion. He waged war with so many troubles.
He used to take just Moong Dal as food, sleep in a small 4.5 feet room.
SadGurudev made Asumal go through several hardships for another 30 days & then
finally Asumal was blessed. Swami Shri Lilashahaji Maharaj asked him to go back
to home & continue his spiritual practices at home.
While coming back to his home, he left the train and went to Moti Koral (A place
in Gujarat. His mind was attuned to only self-realization. No one can stop a man
who is on his way to Paramapada (Ultimate Realization). He started doing dyaan
at the bank or river Narmada. A local saint Shri Lalji Maharaj got impressed by
Asumal's intense spiritual practices. Lalji Maharaj made arrangements for Asumal
to stay in Datt Kutir of Ram Niwas (Lalji Maharaj's Ashram). Asumal started the
40 day Anushthan here.
One day while Asumal was meditating in the bank of river Narmada, heavy rain
poured. Asumal did not want to stop his meditation. He went to a nearby
fisherman's hut, and there he sat in meditation, soon he merged himself in deep
meditation. Sometime later, the owner of the house came outside to attend his
natural call & he saw our Asumal. He suspected Asumal to be a thief and
collected all the fishermen in the neighbourhood. Everybody in the near vicinity
came with their weapons, sticks and swords etc. But Asumal was deeply merged in
meditation. After some time he slowly opened his eyes and saw many people around
him with all kinds of weapons, making noise. But who can do anything to a person
who has conquered all sensory tendencies, like evil, animosity.
All people that came there gazed at him in wonder and beheld him with respect.
They realized that he is a great saint doing meditation. Asumal immediately left
that place with heavenly dignity. All these people asked for forgiveness &
looked upon him with great reverence and esteem.
When Asumal's wife and mother came to know that he was staying at Moti Koral
they visited him. They requested him to come back. But Asumal told them without
completing the Anushthan he cannot come. He successfully completed the Anushthan.
The whole village & Shri Lalji Maharaj himself came to the railway station to
see them off to Ahmedabad. As soon as the train started moving from Miyagaun
junction, Asumal jumped out and boarded a train towards Bombay to meet Gurudev
Lila Shahji Maharaj.
Asumal reached Bombay (Mumbai) and met Gurudev Lila ShahJi Maharaj. Lila ShahJi
Maharaj were very happy to see his disciple's keen interest to attain the truth.
Hence, on 2nd Day of Ashwin month in Samvat 2021 at 2.30pm in the afternoon
Asumal was transformed into Sant Sri AsaramJi Bapu by the blessings of
Sadgurudev Shri Lila ShahJi Maharaj. Asumal went into samadhi for next two and a
half days.
Asumal started seeing the one supreme being in all. With SadGuru's grace
Asaramji discovered the absolute truth. Affinity for the world disappeared. Each
moment of life was overflowing with the divine realization of existence of One
in All. The stage beyond pride & material attractions was reached. The final
destination where the Jiva becomes one with Parmatman was reached. The blissful
state where nothing can separate one from God was finally attained.
Gurudev Lila Shahji Maharaj instructed Asaram Ji to serve the humanity by
staying as a householder. After Self-Realization Sant Shri Asaram Ji Bapu stayed
in solitude for seven years. Pujya Shri used to stay fully immersed in the bliss
of the Atman (Brahmanand Masti) & give religious discourse to all those who came
for darshana (meet & see Bapuji). Pujya Shri spent His solitude in various
places like Disa, Naareshwar Dhaam, the Himalayas, Mt. Abu & so on...
Bapu Ji met Swami Lilashahji in Haridwar in Vikram Samvat 2028, & by the
commands of SadGuru, in order to provide a good example to common householders,
Bapu Ji entered the life of a householder. It was the day of Guru Punam in
Vikram Samvat 2028 when Pujya Shri reached Ahmedabad after staying in solitude
for seven years.
Bapu Ji chose a peaceful place in the Motera village on the banks of Sabarmati
river. Later on some of the devotees constructed a small room for Bapu Ji which
is very well known as "Moksha Kutir". Though this place in Motera village was
very unusual and a place of thieves and bootleggers, Bapu Ji lived there
submerged in the joy of communion with Atman. Slowly, the number of devotees
coming to Motera kept on increasing and in a very short time the place became a
great spiritual centre.
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