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Swami
Vidyadhar
An
Embodiment of Intense Sadhana
"A
lion performed pradakshina of Swamiji's aasan in
the forest"
-
Prakash Kaul
Swami
Vidyadhar was born on the 13th bright
day of Ashad 1942 (Bikrami), corresponding to 1886
AD, in an orthodox Brahmin household of a
Kanthdhomayan 'Gotra'. His father, Shri Ganakak
Razdan (Khonmushi) died when Vidhlal, (the Swami's
parental name) was only six. His mother, Harmali,
was from a respectable Khushoo family of Malayar
and an embodiment of the finest traditions of
Indian womanhood. His elder brother, Shri Gopi
Nath, entrusted him to the able care of Shri
Madhav Joo Chander and Shri Rajkak Ganz for being
taught in the traditional Brahminic ritual. Later
he obtained the degree of Visharad.
Swami
Vidyadhar
Courtesy:
Pran & Asha Chaku, Houston, TX (1997)
Devout
Behavior
Right
from his boyhood Vidyadhar astounded everyone by
his sharp intellect and humility. He had a sharp
memory and a resolute disposition. For his devout
behavior and ability, he was deeply loved by his
teachers and others. At the age of 15, he was
married to Shrimati Padmavati, the illustrious
daughter of Shri Rishi Kak Kalu, a noble Brahmin.
There
is no record how and when Vidyadhar surrendered
himself at the feet of his master, Yogiraj Ramji.
Swami Ramji, the embodiment of allÑ pervading
bliss, initiated and taught many of his disciplesÑchief
among them being Swami Mahtab Kak, Swami Vidyadhar
and Swami Govind Kaul. The backdrop of this stream
of Gurus is depicted thus in Shri Vidyadharastava.
Vidyadhar
studied Shastras under his Guru and also received
initiation into mysteries of the 'Shaiva Sadhana'.
Swami Ramji was a perfect Guru - Stroti and
Brahmnisht. It was the benevolence of the Lord
Himself personified in Swami Ramji that guided the
real Sadhakas like Vidyadhar. By and by Vidyadhar
became absorbed in his inner self and the only
longing he had was to free himself from the
mundane chorus of household activities. He
attended his worldly jobs with more of a detached
bent of mind. During this period, Vidyadhar lost
his mother. He was only 28 and still a perfect
Sadhaka. Gradually, he lost all taste for worldly
life and he would remain aloof confined mostly to
a room in his house. Occasionally, however, he
would teach scriptures to those who came to him.
Then
came the turning point. In 1915, Swami Ramji shed
his mortal frame. From now onwards, it became
virtually impossible for Vidyadhar to remain
confined to the four walls of his house. In 1919
came the breakthrough. He left his home and
remained for some time at the holy place of
Thajiwara - a hallowed place near Bijbehara.
Thence, he went to the aloofness of Kamlavan a
solitary place near village Tral. An SOS from his
elder Gurubhai, Swami Mahtab Kak, unsettled his
future plans. Swami Mahtab Kak, after the exit of
his Guru, was in command of Shri Ram Shaiva
Ashram. The Gurubhai asked him to return home
apparently on the entreaties of his (Vidyadhar's)
father-in-law. He would not spurn the directive of
the Gurubhai.
Wandering
Monk
His
stay at home did not, however, check the strong
yearning for the life of a wandering monk. At
times, the future care of his small children would
flash through the ascetic Vidyadhar's otherwise
serene mind. At the same time, the absolute mood,
said euphemistically that he did not like to see
majority of his Srinagar disciples running
agitatedly here and there. All laughed far it
referred to the usual practice of Srinagar
disciples going to villages where Swamiji would
stay, entreating him to come over to Srinagar.
Last
Days
On
Amavasi at about 10-30 a.m. Swamiji addressed
three of his disciples present rather unexpectedly
thus: "World is changing fast and Adharma is
growing. It is better that you people be of some
help to these mortal remains". Then he asked
one of his disciples to check up the 'Tithi' from
the 'Panchang' while going to the bathroom down in
the courtyard. When Swamiji came back the
disciples informed about the 'Tithi' and 'Mahurat'.
With a smile, the Swami said "All right"
and wiped his hands and feet with a towel. A few
moments later his body had a paralytdc attack and,
simultaneously, the outward sensations ceased. The
body remained in this state for about two-and-a-
half days amidst the continuous chanting of hymns
by the great concourse of disciples and other
people. On the third bright day of the Margshirsh
at about 3 a.m. the numb body of Swamiji opened
eyes at the conclusion of the Bhairavstotra of
Swami Abhinavagupta. The eyes were full of tears.
The
Bhaktas started the daily Aarti and at its
conclusion the mortal frame ceased to breathe. The
revered Gurumata of the disciples, Shrimati
Padmavati, had also come there after 30 years of
her seclusion and Sadhana and paid homage to her
departing illustrious consort. In deference to the
wishes of the Swami, expressed to some of his
disciples, the last rites were observed without
any fanfare.
Many
are the anecdotes of Swami Vidyadhar's acts of
benevolence and miracles to which even to this day
many are eyewitness. To respect the sentiments of
Swamiji's disciples not to write about any such
miracles of their illustrious Guru, it would not
be worthwhile to recall all the majesty of the
Yogi both in his spiritual and social spheres.
Compositions
Swamiji
had great command over Sanskrit grammar and
language and an astounding hold on Shastras. In
his moments of intense Bhakti, he composed some
devotional Sanskrit poems and many of these hymns
are popular among the Kashmiris even to this day.
The hymn to 'Rangy Bhagwati' forms part and parcel
of the 'Aarti' being recited at Kheerbhawani.
For
his erudition he was called lovingly Vidyadhar and
rightly so. Swamiji, throughout his life, remained
an embodiment of intense Sadhana and complete
detachment. Self-abnegation and an unflinching
faith in himself were hall-marks of his
illustrious life. Never in his life did he show
any traces of exhibitionism; in fact, he shunned
all such extraneous propensities. He lived a
simple ascetic's life. Never after renunciation
did he touch money. He had absolutely left 'Kamini'
and 'Kanchan' as Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa
enjoins upon the travelers on spiritual path in
his gospel.
The
Swami knew no fear and showed great courage in
going against the tradition in dealing with
matters of suffering and injustice. It will be fit
to recall some of the prominent incidents in his
life which undoubtedly show his lofty disposition.
At
the death of one of his sons, a relative came to
Swamiji apparently to offer his condolences and in
the process wept bitterly. Swamji gave him
sympathy and advised him not to grieve over the
inevitable.
Once
when Swamiji was coming down the stairs of his
Ashram for his usual 'Sandhya' a thief loaded with
articles stolen from the Ashram passed his way and
even paid homage to him. In the morning when
disciples informed him of the theft, he told them
that a man loaded with the stolen articles had
paid him respects in the early hours of the
morning and he did not catch him then.
Among
Kashmiri Pandits, there was a subcaste called 'Leji
Bhat' who due to changing fortunes of the valley
had got converted at some distant past and had
reverted to their parent faith subsequently. Even
though their lives were ideal, high caste Brahmins
would not even partake the meals prepared by them.
Likewise, was the situation for the Bohra
sub-caste in the Pandit community. Swamiji could
stand no such differentiation. He initiated fairly
good number of disciples from among the sub-castes
and started a slow but sure propaganda against
this high-handedness of the so- called top-class
and orthodox Brahmins.
Menace
Eliminated
Finally,
a big Yagya was organized by the sub- castes at
Bijbehara. Swamiji invited all the learned and
orthodox Brahmins of the valley to the Yagya along
with other leaders of the Pandit community. They
could not spurn his offer. At the conclusion of
the Yagya food was served by the brethren who had
been wronged and everybody took the meals. Thus
the menace to the integrity of the Pandit
community was eliminated.
Swamiji
was fond of music and often musicians, both Hindus
and Muslims, used to recite rare Sufi and
devotional poetry of great Siddhas like Parmanand
and Lalleshwari to him. One among them was Swami's
constant companion. Swamiji loved him like a
child. But the musician married a Muslim girl and
got alienated from his community. Some time later,
the musician left the company of the girl and came
to Swamiji after a period of self- imposed exile.
While others despised him, the Swami received him
with open arms. Nothing had changed the love of
the Swami for his child.
Playful
Countenance
That
was Swami Vidyadhar, the great saint who would
keep the audiences spell-bound by his sweet voice
and great discourses, opening new vistas of
spiritual path. This scribe, whose father was a
disciple of Swamiji, had the great fortune of his
constant company right from his early childhood to
his early teens. He cherishes the playful
countenance of the great Yogi for the Yogi seemed
to be his playmate all the time he was in contact
with him. He vividly recollects the mock horse
which the Yogi would lovingly offer himself to be
while the writer as a conscious Balak rode on his
back.
Source:
Koshur
Samachar
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