Modern Hindu Sages - Part 1

The year was 2013. It was the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (12 January 2013) celebrated all over India and in different countries of the world. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh [HSS] chapters throughout USA carried out celebrations. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’s national team had created this amazing documentary style video for the occasion. [Link for this video is towards the end of the article] I was awe-struck watching this wonderful film and was feeling intense gratitude for Swami ji who introduced our Dharma and civilization to the Western world decades before you and I set foot on this soil. He laid out the foundation on which Hindu Americans today have constructed their empire of success. The seed for this post-series was born at that moment while watching this film. It struck me that we Hindus pan-India have been talking about the same luminaries when the discussion comes about our notable sages and Gurus for generations. We will talk about 15th century exemplary sage Meera Bai or Tuslidas ji or 18th century sages Swami Vivekanand or his guru Swami Ramkrushna Paramhans. Yes, these are our pioneering sages with special place in history and our hearts. But we also only talk about them because we simply do not know OR do not know enough about more modern sages thanks to whom our Sanatan Dharm still thrives and continues to be preserved in our daily lives. They are keeping us connected to our roots and yet we in our collective ignorance have managed to keep them out of the attention they deserve. This series will be dedicated to those sages and Gurus who we, the Hindu Samaj (society) has not offered our enough obeisance and gratitude. Suggestions about other sages to be included are welcomed.

1) Dongre ji Maharaj [डोंगरे जी महाराज]

 [15th February 1926 - 8th November 1990]

Dongre ji Maharaj is to Gujarat what Tulsidas ji is to Bharat-Varsh. Just how Tulsidas ji written - Ram Charit Manas is read/recited in every Hindu household occasionally, weekly or daily depending on the customs of the family, Dongre ji Maharaj's translation of Srimad Bhagvatam or Bhagavat Puran is read, heard or watched in every Gujarati household at some frequency. His translated version of the Bhagavatam is the de-facto print copy you would find in every devout Gujarati family home. His reach and influence are not limited to Gujarat. You would find other North Indian states such as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh also reading his version of Bhagavatam in Hindi widely. It is most common for expecting Gujarati mothers to read his Bhagavatam over those nine months period. If Gujarat has remained resolutely dharmic over the decades post-indepedence of Bharat, Dongre ji Maharaj is one of the sages to be thanked for. And yet, most Gujarati's or Indians at large know almost nothing or very little about him. 

BIRTH

Birth place: Krushnapura, Vad (tree) gali (street), Deshmukh vada, Indore.

Dongre ji's father's name was Keshav-Chandra Ganesh-Chandra Dongre. Their native was a small village called Palset in the Ratnagiri District in the Konkan of Maharashtra. However, for more than 200 years their ancestors had settled in Vadodara of Gujarat. Do not want to get off the topic but a side note. There is little known piece of history of Goa called Goan Inquisition. It's basically sordid tale of how local Konkani Hindus were persecuted by the zealot Portuguese Missionaries and that is the reason why Dongre ji's ancestors were forced to migrate to Gujarat and settle in Vadodara. If interested on this topic, listen to this amazing talk by Smt. Shefali Vaidya ji.  Link to Youtube talk

Back to our topic, will use term 'Maharaj' to refer to Dongre ji going forward. Maharaj's mother Kamalabai's father was originally from Vadodara but had migrated to Indore for business. According to the customs of woman returning to paternal house for the delivery of first child, Kamalabai was staying at father's place in Indore where Maharaj was born on Fagan (Hindu calendar month) Sud 3rd of 15th February 1926. His birth name was "Ram-Chandra". As you may have already noticed, it is Marathi tradition to append 'Chandra' to the first name for males from this region. 

Maharaj's father, Keshav-chandra was a pious man who lived a very simple and Saatvik life. Maharaj was the eldest of the three children of the couple. Prabhakar and Sushila were Maharaj's younger brother and sister respectively. The Kundali for Maharaj written by one of his father's learned friend prophesied that Maharaj would lead a very austere life and will become key figure promoting Dharma. It also said, eventually Maharaj would completely detach from material aspects of world and turn into a Sanyasi(the one who denounces everything and survives on minimalistic food while meditating on Supreme being, Parmatma.

However, Maharaj led a Sanyasi style life from the beginning. From young age he would wear only dhoti and Vraj-vasi style upper top called "Angarakhu" in Gujarati. He was deeply influenced by the 15th century Vaishnav Sage Vallabhacharya and made all attempts to follow his footsteps. Like Vallabhacharya, he would never wear any footwear. Sakshatkar - seeking live darshan of lord Krishna was the only motive of his life. 

CHILDHOOD

Child Ram-Chandra was sent to his mother tongue Marathi language school where he studied until 4th grade. However, with God's grace he eventually became a popular preacher who chose Gujarati as his language for Srimad Bhagavatam and Ramayana discourses and lectures. When he was young, his father had intense desire to educate him in the Shastras and Dharmic texts. His father wished him to grow up to become a person spreading Vaidik Dharma - a dharma where four Veda's are deemed supreme and life is lead as prescribed in the Vedas. Thanks to this desire when Ramchandra turned 10, his father took the hard call to send him to Pandharpur for further studies. Given his tender age and daily life under British India, understandably there was resistance from his mother about this decision. His father had the final say and he was sent off to Pandharpur in the larger interest of Hindu Samaj. Both KeshavChandra and Kamalabai wept for days after sending him off. 
When Ramchandra set off for Pandharpur, being from an ordinary family, he had little possessions if any. The only valuables he carried with him were the noble teachings and Dharmic Sanskar he had inherited from his parents. Let us all bow to the strength of parents who literally sent off their kid with just a prayer to Vitthalnath (presiding deity of Vithoba Temple of Pandharpur - another form of lord Krishna) to protect him on his quest for knowledge.

Pandharpur is known as the Kashi of the South India. Unassisted and lone child Ramchandra managed to find lodging in one of the Vaishnava-Math in the town. There was no arrangement for food. He was to lead life of a true Dwij - a student of religious studies where there were no means of daily food for survival other than seeking Bhiksha. Lucky days he would get enough bhiksha however it was common to bear many days when he would sleep hungry due to lack of bhiksha. It was here in Pandharpur Maharaj found his Guru Pandit Pradyumanacharya Varkhedkar. After learning from him, at the age of 12 Maharaj appeared for his first religious exam called "Nyay-Shastra" in Pune. After that his fate brought him to Karnavati (Ahmedabad) where he learned from Kedarnath Oza at local Sanyas Aashram for his next religious exam in Kashi called Darshan-Shastra Madhyama. After clearing this exam, he remained in Kashi to study further on Nyay and Vedanata. He remained in Kashi for next seven years.

The life in Kashi hadn't become any easier than before. The survival by means of Bhiksha continued. He did not even possess necessary utensils to carry the food offered as bhiksha. He would tie the food at the corner of his top cloth, arrive to the Ma Ganga river front, sit there and eat along with holy water of Ganga. One of these days, he did not get bhiksha and with disappointment, he returned to Ma Ganga water front and sat there on the Ghat. A divine mother with dazzling aura on her face appeared out of nowhere and offered him Prasadam. The moment he accepted the offering, that mother disappeared. He later recounted this incidence and realized he was blessed by Ma Ganga. From that point on, he started ascending on the path of Bhakti and spirituality. His years of Tapas was now starting to shine through his words and his speech. His words made an impact on people thanks to power and energy of accumulated tapas over the years. He appeared for the final Vedanata-Shastra exams in Kashi and after clearing them he formally became Shastri-ji. 

He also went back to Pune for clearing additional Vedanta exams. 
After completing formal studies, he returned to Vadodara, Gujarat. Even here he continued his studies at Sanskrut Pathshala in town. He now started delivering talks on Pauranik stories in Marathi language. Per Southern style he would talk and perform kirtan while standing only. Maharaj had special affection to Srimad Bhagvatam and had very thoroughly studied the text of this Purana. In those days, Narhari Maharaj was a popular katha-kar (religious story teller/preacher). Maharaj became part of the singers on Narahari Maharaj's troupe. With Narahari Maharaj he started studying Puranas in Gujarati.

Poojya Narhari Maharaj was a learned sage and he identified the caliber and potential Dongre ji Maharaj had to carry forward our Dharma and for doing good to the Samaj. Narhari Maharaj desired to see Dongre ji maharaj offering Kathas in his place and hence occasionally in between on-going kathas he started asking him to continue Katha citing his tiredness or weakness. This is how Maharaj started his journey of being a Gujarati Kathakar. Whenever Narhari Maharaj would travel to Amdavad, Mumbai, Rajkot and other places, he would bring along Dongre ji Maharaj and keep assigning him task of reciting the katha. This experience transformed Maharaj into a speaker par excellence. His pious Sadhu lifestyle and accumulated knowledge over the years along with true Bhakti started to work as magnet to attract listeners across towns. 

Maharaj's first Katha

The first ever Katha by Maharaj took place in Rokadnath Hanuman Temple in Vadodara when he was 23. In addition to the Srimad Bhagavatam he would also have weekly Kathas on Devi Bhagavat, Bhagwad Geeta ji and Ramayana. Once he said, it's not enough time to narrate the Bhagavatam in mere 7 days. He would occasionally do a 15-day long Katha where people would assemble in large crowds to listen to his fluid language with simple anecdotal examples ordinary people can understand.

Marriage

Despite his desire otherwise, Maharaj bowed down to parents demand for his marriage and entered in new phase of life with Shri ParashRam's daughter Shaliniben at the age of 23. Post marriage Shaliniben assumed new name of Sita. 

The Ram-Sita couple entered into Gruhastha-shram however Maharaj had made vow of BrahmCharya (Celibacy) as a pre-condition for marriage for initial 12 years which he had eventually extended further. One who has no attachment to material life or the sensual worldly pleasures would lead a Vanvasi or Sanyasi life wherever he lives. Hence Maharaj's home turned into his Tapovan. This pious and revered Sadhu-Sadhvi couple was strikingly similar to Swami Ramkrushna Paramhans and Sharda Ma who had also lived a celibate life despite being married. Maharaj would address Sitaben as Mataji and Sitaben would address Maharaj as Baapji. Excluding two months of monsoon, the couple would roam from village to village and Maharaj would do weekly Bhagavat Kathas. Maharaj observing strict practices of Sanatani Brahman would never accept food cooked from regular kitchen. Most times he would simply survive by consuming elephant foot yam. (સૂરણ OR ओल/जिमीकंद/सूरन)

His popularity was rising at astonishing pace. At one occasion in Karnavati (Amdavad) close to half a million people gathered to listen to his Katha. Considering city population of less than 20 lakhs, it was the largest religious event that took place in the city ever.

His contemporary kathakars such as Shri KrushnaShankar Shastri ji observes, 

"The love and affection of the people received by Dongre ji Maharaj is unparalleled in Gujarat state's spiritual history."

On the banks of river Narmada there is a village named Malsar. There is a SatyaNarayan Temple on the banks. One of the devotees of Maharaj had performed repairs on one of the old standing residential structure on the banks and turned into a staying place for the pious couplet. The calm waters of the river, chirping of the birds in the lush green surroundings on a bright wonderful morning makes it a surreal place to be. In there when Sitaben used to sing Meera Bai's famous pad (पद Or Bhajan) "Mai ri maine Govind leeno mol, Koi kahe Sasto, koi kahe Mehngo, liyo taraju tol" it would add such divinity to the place that will leave the listeners spell-bound. You can listen to this amazing pad in the voice of Ashwini Paranjape below.

Kathakar life  

Over the years Maharaj performed over 1100 Kathas (Typically lasting a week). As his popularity was scaling new heights, he continued to receive letters from Brahmans saying that because of him they are not being called to perform katha and it is affecting their livelihood. Maharaj was perturbed by these letters. Due to these letters, he made a vow in 1960 and stopped accepting any remuneration for doing katha for himself. There would be 108 Brahman japiyas (those doing japs) doing japs continuously during his kathas. He would distribute the funds received among these brahmans. Also received funds would be given away particularly to Gaushalas. He would also give it to Maha-Vidyalaya or hospitals or temple's food banks where devotees are offered daily free meals. He maintained that the sole reason for performing katha is his intense Prabhu-Preeti (Love for God) Maharaj was very introvert sage. He would always speak without making eye contact with listeners. He always maintained that he is not worthy of being anyone's Guru. Instead he always believed Ishwar is the Guru for all. He led a very pure  life free of material world. When not delivering katha, he preferred staying quiet and doing japs (continuous solo and silent chanting). He had a dislike for someone praising his Katha. He used to say 

"Prasidhdhi means Patan" (Popularity is beginning of downfall).

In around 1970's Sitaben decided to separate from Maharaj in order to take refuge under her new Guru Vimalatai. This decision came as a surprise to Maharaj and was unsettling for him. However, he respected her choice and would occasionally go and meet Sitaben at Vimalatai's aashram in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. From that point on Maharaj had become more recluse and in one of the articles in Dharm-Sandesh then a very well-known writer Ishwar Petlikar mentioned that this had profound impact on Maharaj.  Sitaben and Maharaj both had reached great heights in their spiritual journey together and their simplicity and dedication to lord Krishna had made them one of the most revered sage couple of the times. Their separation also sent shock waves among the devotees.

MahaPrayan (Beginning of a long journey)

In later years, despite being feeble Maharaj as always refused having a brahman living with him to assist him in daily chores. He maintained that "I am a common man and let me live like one" He would prepare khichdi or any other single item by himself. This naturally deprived him of any balanced diet and he was loosing physical strength and would feel tiredness. Either way, he never stopped performing kathas. 

He was in New Delhi and was performing katha on the banks of river Yamuna near Kaasganj. That is when he was struck with paralysis attack. On his request devotees brought him to Santram Mandir in Nadiad via air from Delhi. After a few days, under intense pressure from devotees, he agreed to be shifted to a hospital for treatment. He was brought to Hinduja hospital in Mumbai. He was there from 16th to 28th October 1990. Being recluse sage, he was very uncomfortable having doctors and nurses around and making a physical contact. He then told his devotees that my departure is imminent, kindly take me back to my Guru's feet at the Santram Mandir. I would leave behind my mortal body there.

Back in Nadiad, despite living a pristine life as a Sanyasi, on Maharaj's request, temple Mahant Shri Narayandas ji formally him diksha for Sanyas, the forth and final Aashram for humans as ordained in Vedas, the Sanyasashram. More and more people started to come and visit for his darshan as his ill-health news started to spread throughout Bharat. Pujya Shri KrushnaShankar Shastri ji arrived with his students and they started Akhand jap of Vishnu Sahastranaam and Bhagavat. Shastri ji would sit next to him and do jap of "Shri Krushn Sharanam Mam" [श्री कृष्ण: शरणम् मम]

On 8th November,1990, on Thursday at Nine O clock and thirty seventh minute, while listening to Sankirtan, Maharaj departed this world to unify with Paramatma Shri Krushna.

Those interested in learning more can download and read this pdf below. This pdf is yet to be completely translated in to English by one of you :) Thank you to that great Guajrati reader in advance!

Lastly, below is the link to the video about Swami Vivekanand 150th year celebration mentioned earlier.