Dada’s tryst with Lord Shiva enlightened him on why the Ganga River is not confined to Varanasi but flows at the feet of a spiritual Guru
“Of purifiers I am the wind; of the wielders of weapons I am Rama; of fishes I am the shark; and of flowing rivers I am the Ganga” - Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 3:14
Adip in the holy waters of Ganga that flow through Varanasi is considered as the ultimate destination for cleansing of one’s sins and thousands yearn to go on this pilgrimage even today.
Several decades ago, when the River Ganga was cleaner than it is now, Dada had the golden opportunity of accompanying Sadhu Vaswani to the holy city of Varanasi. Little surprise that Dada was delighted that soon his ardent wish to have a dip in it would be fulfilled; and he was also showered with requests to do so, on behalf of those who like Dada, yearned for the pilgrimage but could not make it. In Dada they found a holy and noble persona to represent them to seek purity.
Dada recalls in his own words, of the holy dip that remained a mirage and of an enlightened lesson that came through a dream. Read on...
I had always longed to have the sacred dip in the Ganga River at Varanasi, and now here she was, flowing ight outside the house where we were lodged! It was, indeed, a dream come true!
Every morning, I got ready to take my Ganga snaan – but some work or the other came up, and I couldn’t make it.
Soon it was time for us to leave Varanasi. Our train’s departure was 12.30 p m and so I thought to myself that I could still make it to take a dip in the Ganga.
I grabbed a towel and prepared to go for my bath in the river. I had just taken a few steps, when a sister called out, saying that Sadhu Vaswani was looking for me. I promptly retraced my steps and went to the Master’s room. He wanted me to write a letter on an important and urgent matter, and I forgot all about the Ganga.
As our train chugged out of Varanasi station that day, my heart was filled with sadness at not being able to take the much desired dip in the sacred river. I was seated close to the Master, and felt comforted by his presence. But I was not at peace; I felt restless in the heart within.
That night, I had an unforgettable dream. Lord Shiva appeared before me, resplendent in his leopard skin attire around his waist; holy ash spread on his forehead; his trishul held majestically by his side - smiling at me and holding up his hand as if to bless me.
However, I was taken aback to see that the gentle Ganga was not flowing from his intricately knotted locks, as it usually does.
“Dear Lord!” I gasped, even as I gazed at him with folded hands. “What is this I see? Where is the Ganga? Why is she not flowing from your locks?”
“Don’t be so shocked, dear Jashan,” the Lord said, smiling. “True, the Ganga used to flow from my head – but now, she has changed direction.”
That night, I had an unforgettable dream. Lord Shiva appeared before me, resplendent in his leopard skin attire around his waist; holy ash spread on his forehead; his trishul held majestically by his side - smiling at me and holding up his hand as if to bless me.
“I will tell you dear Jashan,” the Lord replied. “The Ganga flows at the sacred feet of the saints of this sacred land. You need not be so sad and restless.’’
``Were you not at the feet of your beloved Gurudev these last few days in Kashi? The Ganga was flowing right there, at his feet. Why are you sad then?”
The train braked and came to an abrupt halt; I woke up with a jerk.
I was filled with a tremendous sense of peace and joy. A light seemed to illuminate my soul, spilling over to light up the holy feet of Sadhu Vaswani who slept, as always, with a beautiful smile on his angelic face.
Instinctively, I touched his feet and bowed my head in devotion. “Foolish, foolish me!” I chided myself. “I spend my days and nights at the feet of a saint; how can I long for Ganga jal? Are not Kaaba and Kashi, Mecca and Mathura, Ganga and Jamuna, at the feet of the Guru?”
Indeed, the relationship between the Guru and the disciple is so sacrosanct that Guru’s feet is synonymous with the sanctum sanctorum.
By Dada J P Vaswani
