Br Bhaskarananda performs puja before Sri Ma and Lord Padmanabha
Sri Ma once said before several witnesses “This body is Padmanabha”.
Sri Ma’s
kheyal for Padmanabha is clearly illustrated below.
The ashram
image of Padmanabha was consecrated on the Mahanavami of Durga Puja 1971. Swami
Nirvanananda kept the image for daily puja until, after a short time, it was
passed to Swami Bhaskarananda. In 1984 Padmanabha was passed to Swami
Nirgunananda, who kept it for 17 years, until it was passed into the care of
the ashram.
The following accounts explain how Lord Padmanabha came to
Sri Ma.
They were written by H. H. Marthanda Varma, the Elia Rajah
of Travancore. (Lord Padmanabha is the presiding deity of the State of
Travancore, and the old ruling family are the servants of Padmanabha).
(They are related through edited excerpts from Ananda Varta
magazine).
“Both my wife and I had the privilege of Sri Ma's darshan in
Trivandrum in 1952, when Mother was touring the South. It was in the right hand
pavillion in the grounds of Kaudiar Palace. At that time, both Swami Ramdas of
Kanhangad and Rama Devi of Mangalore were in Trivandrum. This was a vision, but
we understood little of what we had glimpsed.
In July 1971, while we were staying in Bangalore, my wife
saw an article on Mother in the 'Illustrated Weekly of India' and was eager to
have Her darshan. It was possible to find out from friends in Bombay that
Mother was at Hardwar. On Saturday, July 10th, 1971, my wife, daughter and I
flew to Delhi and motored to Hardwar the next day. I went to Kankhal to find
out when we could have Ma's darshan. I was asked to wait and in a few minutes
was given the joyful news that all of us could come to the Ashram at 9 p.m.
Very soon we went inside for Mother's darshan. She was seated on Her couch, with
a few people sitting in front of Her on the floor. We did our pranamas, offered
fruit and sat down. Peace and serenity pervaded the whole place.
The next day we went to the ashram for darshan and later
were served with great care and attention.
When we returned to the ashram Mother told us that She would be leaving for
Dehradun the next day.
We were anxious to go to Dehradun as well and gracious
permission was given.
Thus we motored to Dehradun on July 12th, reaching
the Kishenpur Ashram by
midday. My wife and
daughter we very near Mother's room. I
was allotted a cottage in "Kalyanvan", the last one in the grounds.
I retired for the night by about 9.30 pm. My bed was near
the left hand window of the cottage. Being a good sleeper, I went into deep
slumber at once. It must have been
around 11.30 or 12 midnight that I became wide awake for some unknown
reason. I am absolutely certain that
all vestige of sleep had left me.
There was a glow outside my window.
I sat up and looked out and beheld:
" The entire space, as far as the eye could see was a
brilliant blaze of light." I recollected the words of the 11th chapter of
the Bhagavad Gita, particularly the slokas (verses) 12 and 13 which say :
“If the splendour of a
thousand suns were to blaze out at once in the sky, that would be akin
to the splendour of that Mighty Being."
And also sloka 20—
“The space between the
heavens and all the quarters are filled by you alone.” The experience is
very clear in my mind but I struggle to find words to convey what I saw. This
wondrous sight was Mother—encompassing the boundaries of my vision fully and
completely; Mother, magnificent, lustrous and universal; Mother in Her Mahima
form but as always seen by us, and most remarkable was the radiance in and around
Her hands in which She held Padmanabha Bhagavan.
This experience lasted for about five to six minutes. I was
thrilled and so profoundly at peace that I was able later to get the sleep of
wonder and joy unalloyed.
On July 14th, 1971, while still in Dehradun, I had a call
from Delhi that I should go there to meet someone on the 15th. So we had to ask
Mother's permission to leave on the 14th night. On the 14th morning someone
from the Ashram suggested to me to show my Bhagavans or Thakurs (Deities) to Mother.
I asked for permission and was allowed to take my puja box to Mother's room on
the first floor of the Ashram. It was about 5.45 p.m.
Mother was sitting on Her bed and I placed the box on the
carpet and opening the box, started to take out its contents. When I was about
to take out Padmanabha Bhagavan, Mother asked me to place Bhagavan not on the
floor in the tray but on Ma's bed, next to Her. I also put the other vigrahas
there, namely Mahalakshmi, Sri Krishna, Ayyappa (Sastha), Ganeshji and Siva.
For the next half hour I stood entranced as Mother adored
the Bhagavans and when She got up She told me to pack the puja box only after
She would go down to the hall. Thus after Mother left the room, I packed the
box and went downstairs, took leave of Mother and departed for Delhi.
Later I heard that when some members of the Ashram went to
Mother's room the next morning, they found Her lying down on Her bed just like
Padmanabha Bhagavan on Ananta. (Note added later from another source: she then said “This
body is Padmanabha. Do pranam.” She
also said that Padmanabha had not left, and showed some small footprints on her
sheet). From the next day a snake came to the Ashram daily and when
Mother was told about this, She said that Ananta had come and soon Padmanabha
Bhagavan would also come. The snake used to come and do pradakshina
(circumambulation) of the Panchavati, next door to Kalyanvan.
On the 24th of July Sri B. K. Shah telephoned to me to
Bangalore. After the trunk call I wrote to him : "I was enthralled to hear
what you so kindly conveyed to me over the trunk lines. I have no words to
express the feelings that come to my mind and heart about Mother's decision to
have a Padmanabha Swami Vigraha and I am already arranging to get a vigraha,
similar to the one that I am privileged to do puja."
August 9th brought a letter from Sri B. K. Shah which reads
as below :
"It is Mother's kheyala that Sri Padmanabha Swami’s
vigraha installation should take place on September 29th, which is Mahanavami
(of Durga Puja). However, I appreciate that it will not be possible for you to
be present, because Vijayadasami (the day after Navami) is the most important
celebration for you. If Rani Saheba is there, she can represent the
family."
As is usual in South India, a wax model was made and then
covered in mud and then the wax melted away with hot water. Then the silver is poured and the mud cast
broken up. Instructions were left to
purchase the silver and keep it ready. But when I came to
Bangalore on a
Sunday morning, I found that the silver had not been procured. The casting was to be in the early hours of
the following Monday morning. On a
Sunday afternoon or evening it was not easy to get 6 kilos of silver. The markets were scoured and all of a
sudden the required quantity of silver was found and bought. Next morning, at the proper muhurta
(moment), it was cast and when, after cooling, the mud mould was removed, a
perfect cast emerged.
Padmanabha Bhagavan and all the other articles for the puja
were got ready. Permission was taken from my brother to be absent at the
Dussera as the installation (chal pratishta) of Padmanabha Bhagavan was all
important.
On the Saptami day
of Dussera my wife was ready to leave for Delhi but due to a bereavement she
was unable to do so. Since she could not go, I got ready. On the morning of the
29th I was in Dehradun and the astonishing things that happened there are well
known.
Mother was in mouna at that time. As soon as I arrived and
had darshan, I was asked to go to a cottage in Kalyanvan and wait for Mother.
In Her presence I unpacked the box and submitted the newly made image of
Padmanabha Bhagavan. A procession was immediately organized and Mother, leading
everyone, went to the cottage where I had stayed before and had the wonderful
first experience. Bhagavan was kept and puja done where I had slept previously.
From nowhere seemingly, all the requisites for a puja appeared and then
Bhagavan was taken to the Durga Puja pandal. Bhoga had been prepared for all
the Deities there as is the custom on all Durga Puja days. When Padmanabha
Bhagavan was enshrined in the pandal, it was seen that there was an extra thali
(tray) of bhoga ready for Him. Mother then remarked that Padmanabha Bhagavan
had already begun to see to all arrangements for Him. The Chal Pratishta
(installation) was performed by the Nambudiri pujaris from Trivandrum.
On the 30th I was able to fly to Trivandrum from Delhi. It
so happened that due to a difference in the calenders of North and South India,
Vijayadasami that year was one day later in the South. So I was able to be
present in Dehradun for the Chal Pratishta and also to get to Trivandrum for
the Vijayadasami.
As mentioned earlier, Mother was in mouna and would only occasionally pronounce
words like "Bhagavan, Name, Krishna, Hare, Padmanabha Bhagavan." It
is a magnificent recollection that during this Durga Puja it was my good
fortune to be called "Padmanabha Baba." In course of time the cottage
at Kalyanvan where I had the first and most marvellous experience has become a
temple for Padmanabha Bhagavan. It is also a matter of joy and bliss to know
that wherever Mother went Padmanabha Bhagavan would also be taken.”
“The year 1972 was very
gratifying, in fact a year to be treasured, for Mother made it possible for my
wife and me to be with Her for many days. She came to Trivandrum for the
Lakshadeepam ceremony in the Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple which was celebrated
on the 14th of January (Sankranti day). Mother was in Trivandrum for 5 days,
from 10th to 15th.”
“As soon as the Samyam Saptah
(1974)was over we too moved to Anandamayee Ashram, Kishenpur. I was staying in
the cottage in Kalyanvan above the one which I had been given in 1971, where I
had the vision and my first experience. I found that by this time a marble
peetam had been made and it was here in this cottage that puja was performed of
Padmanabha Bhagwan by Swami Bhaskaranandaji whenever Ma was in Dehradun. It was
thrilling to see that the cottage where I had had three years ago the Divya
Darshana of Ma, had become a Temple of Sri Padmanabha Swami. The aura and
vibrations here were indescribable. It was also my good fortune to do my daily
worship there for a couple of days.”
“Everyone by now had come to know that I always have my puja
box with me wherever I go and many had seen the, contents and there was a lot
of silver. I was very concerned about the safety of the Deities, for after all
the tents had only a moral protection. The very day we reached, I submitted my
anxiety about this to Ma. This was on the 17th of November. It was about 6 in
the evening when we had darshan after reaching Chandod from Baroda. Ma solved
my problem and worry at once. She decided that before and after my puja was
over in the mornings, the puja box was to be packed and kept in Ma's own room
and taken to my tent only for worship. So from the 17th to 25th Sri
Padmanabha Swami and the other Deities
were with Ma most of the time.
Tradition, pauranically, has it that in the golden past of
India's heritage many ceremonies for the good of mankind used to be done and
performed regularly by the Kings and Rulers in those ancient times. One of them, particularly in South India,
was a ceremony called mura japam. This
translated would mean japa done traditionally, numerically and
religiously. This ceremony, almost a
yajna, takes 56 days to perform and had
Veda parayana, recitation of the Vishnu Sahasra Nama and jal japa (where
the Ritviks do japa standing in waist deep water) in the evening at dusk. All this was for the wellbeing of the
state and of the people of the state. This is done like the Ardha Kumbh, once in 6 years. King Karthaveerarjuna used to conduct this
ceremony, as we are told in the Mahabharata.
It has been the good fortune of the Travancore Ruling family to have
done this seva to Sri Padmanabha Bhagwan for years and years. (It may be recalled that in the year
1972 Ma had come to Trivandrum for the
last day of this festival which is on the 56th day. This was all done in the temple of Sri Padmanabha Bhagwan and the last day's function is called Lakshadeepam when literally Lacs of lights are lit in the temple and a
yatra within the 4 furlong long
corridors of the temple takes
place at 8-30 p.m. on the 14th January which is the Sankranti day). On the 20th of November, when I had darshan of Ma, I submitted that on this
day, at Trivandrum, my brother would be commencing
the Murajapam festival which
would conclude on the 14th of January, 1978. I prayed for Ma's blessings that
this 56 day ceremony should be accomplished auspiciously and with all propriety
and grandeur and that Ma be gracious to bless my brother in this undertaking.
Ma said that something should be done here in Chandod that day, that a lamp
should be lit for Sri Padmanabha Bhagwan and that Bhaskaranandaji would tell me
what was to be done. I had no idea as to where this lighting of a lamp was to
take place : in my tent or in Ma's Kutia or somewhere else. At about 5 p.m.
Swami Bhaskaranandaji told me that Mother had told him that it was to be done
in the pandal. At dusk, I went to the pandal and Sri Padmanabha Swami was kept
in a silver tray on top of the puja box next to Mother's asana. I lit a lamp
and waited. When the hall was full to overflowing and the Mandaleswars and
Mahants had been seated and Mother had also come, I was permitted and
privileged to sit behind Sri Padmanabha Swami and Mother on the dais for the
whole evening. In no time Ma had numberless candles brought and lit in front of
Sri Padmanabha Swami and it was like a mini Lakshadeepam itself. Sri Padmanabha
Swami was to the right of Ma and constantly Her attention would be on HIM, so
much so that one of the Mandaleswars said in Hindi "Ma, where is your
shraddha ? It is not with us !"
“January 1975 found
me in Naimisharanya. The experience did
not happen to me directly nor was I in any way really connected with it ; but
what it was all about was so much in keeping with my devotion, love, respect
and reverence that I feel that I could lay at least a partial claim to its
being my experience as well. Actually it is an Ashram experience and
particularly Swami Bhaskaranandaji's. It was related to me in hallowed Nimsar
as Naimisharanya is now called.
It was in the year
1971 that it had been my privilege to submit to Mother a Padmanabha Bhagwan in
Dehradun during the Durga Puja of that year and if I could use a metaphor, a
twin of the Padmanabha Bhagwan I have been doing worship to since 1946.
When I had taken the
Padmanabha Bhagwan for Mother to Dehradun, I had covered the Lord with a yellow
cloth typical of Kerala, gold laced and with black borders and then packed the
puja box.
Naimisharanya in
January is very cold and one night Mother felt very chilly and the girls
brought blankets for Her to cover Herself but still Mother kept on saying that
She was feeling cold. Then Swami Bhaskaranandaji was sent for and asked where
was the yellow cloth that was used to cover Padmanabha Bhagwan and that it was
not on him right then. When this was checked it was found that the cloth had been
misplaced. Right then another suitable covering was arranged for and as soon as
that was done Mother no longer needed the blankets and required only the usual
wraps that had been in use till that night.”
Note for readers:
The image of Lord
Padmanabha shows Lord Vishnu reclining on the many hooded snake Sheshna
(Sheshnag), also known as Ananta (eternal). A lotus (padma) is shown growing
out of his navel (nabha) with Brahma seated on it. Next to Vishnu’s right hand
is a Siva Linga – hence the image represents the trinity Brahma, Vishnu and
Siva.
