My roots and the cluster of leaves;

“O Agni, you are born of earth and sky (dvava-prithivi).-Rig Veda V (2.7.)


You know the definite path of the pittriloka, there, be thou so bright as to illumine that path”.-Rig Veda V (4.4)

As regards the last available link, in respects of the roots of my family tree, which I could gather  from my uncle, Dr. Narendra Mohan (ex- IAS), the elder son of my  grandfather’s  cousin, Dr. Krishna Swarup of Jaipur, begins from Choudhari Mantokh Rai (Adheoliya), hailed from the village – “Adheoli” situated some where near Delhi, to my findings, in district Bulandshahar (UP). He happened to be one of the courtiers of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great.  The related legends (popularly accepted as  true), reveals that on becoming impressed and happy with him for the distinguished qualities possessed by him; like – righteousness, dutifulness and his competency, the Ruler of the time had bestowed upon him, the title of “Choudhari” along with the  donation of 555 villages’ area property. 

 It is said that the whole of this property is, now a days, is situated in the district Mainpuri and the nearby areas in Uttar Pradesh, those days used to be called – “Bhumigram”. Bhogaon is renamed, far-evolved from the Middle Indo-Aryan language.

                          

Choudhari Mantokh Rai had three sons – (1) Sri Seva Ram, (2) Sri Bhuvan Daas and (3) Choudhari Hem Chand, who had three sons-

[1] Choudhari  Basant Rai,
[2] Choudhari Naval Rai,
[3] Choudhari Doolha Rai
[4] Choudhari Jasvant Rai;

Choudhari Naval Rai two sons - [1] Choudhari Prithavi Pat
                                                  [2] Choudhari Hulas Rai - who had three sons;

[1] Choudhari Mani Ram Rai (issue-less),
[2] Choudhari  Makkhan Laal,
[3] Choudhrai Manohar Rai,

Choudhari Makkhan Laal had only one son - Choudhari Chunni Laal; who had two sons -

[1] Choudhari Vrindaban Laal,
[2] Choudhari Shri Krishna Laal

Choudhari Vrindaban Laal had two sons - [1] Choudhari Harbaksh Rai,

                                                                [2] Choudhari Ulfat Rai.

The lineage of our family flows further, from the offspring of same third son, Choudhari Hemchand.

The branch of this ‘Banyan Tree’ brings-forth from;

Choudhari Hemchand

Choudhari –Hulaas Rai

Choudhari – Makkhan Laal

Choudhari – Chunni Laal

Choudhari- Vrindravan Laal;

(Popularly, known as “Ajaanbaahu”)   

Choudhari Vrindravan Laal had two sons – Choudhari Harbaksh Rai and; Choudhari Ulfat Rai. Choudhari Harbaksh Rai, was my great- grandfather, who had endowed with an extra ordinary intellect-ion, in addition to his administrative wit, he had inherited from his Landlords' ancestors.

The British Government Officers had gratefully acknowledged him as an asset for the office, he was entrusted upon. In acknowledgment to their appreciations they had granted their valued certificates to that effect, in their own handwriting on the Royal-embossed letter-pads. The prints of which are appended herewith. He had two sons – Ramchandra

Mahatma Ramchandraji (Laalaaji )Maharaj

and Raghubar Dayaal.

Mahatma Raghubar Dayal.

Choudhari Ulfat Rai had also two sons – Ram Swarup and Dr. Krishna Swarup. Choudhari Ram Swarup had no issue. Dr. Krishna Swarup had two sons;

Narendra Mohan retired from Rajasthan Administrative Services and is still alive.He has three sons; named, Amittabh, Ananva and Anurag, respectively and two daughters – Alka and Dr. Amita (presently in U.S.)

His younger brother, Rajendra Mohan having one son, named sunil and four daughters, is also in Jaipur. The current and the actual details of their further generation are not available, on date.

Fatehgarh a small but important town, situated on Kasganj- Kanpur section of North Eastern Railway, is civil head quarter of the Farrukhabad district in Utter Pradesh (India). This small town was chosen by Laalaaji Maharaj as center of his spiritual activities and with the lapse of time, came to be regarded as the heartthrob of the mission, which has spread to all corners of India, attracting millions of devotees from all castes and creeds and from different regions, speaking different languages strung together as beads of the same rosary with the thread of love that passes through then all.

The path of saints transcends barriers of caste and creed, race and religion; it is a unifying force that binds man and man through spiritual practice, percept and experience.It was at this place, Fatehgarh, that Laalaaji who had drunk deep the nectar of life at the feet of the great Sufi saint,

Hazrat Maulaanaa Fazl Ahmad Khan R. A.

 Hazarat Maulaanaa Fazl Ahmad Khan Sahib Raipuri,

Mazzaar-e-Mubaarak of Huzur Maharaj in qusbaa-Raaipur, Tahseel - Kaimganj, Disst. Farrukhabad (UP)

 for full sixteen years, first lit the lamp of spirituality in the year 1911, which has engulfed every nook and corner of this country and has spread to foreign lands as well.

It was here that he chose his final resting place and his mortal remains are laid in his Samadhi, situated in Navadia (Kanpur Road), Fatehgarh (U.P.).

Samaadhi of Laalaaji of Fatehgarh.

Here the seeker after truth throng in ever increasing numbers, as years pass on and assemble once in a year in Easter Holidays at the annual congregation, ‘Bhandaaraa’ to quench their spiritual thirst and renew the bonds of love.

Copy of Fatehgarh - Google Map.

My Grandfather, Laalaaji Maharaj veiled from his physical-body at 10.15 PM on Friday the 14th August 1931 [AD]. His cremation ceremony held at the south bank of River-Gangese, by  my father, Mahatma Jagmohan Narain at 10.00 (AM) on August 15, 1931. According to the customary reasons of the Hindu religion, my father along with the other kith and kins went to collect the corpse’s, popularly called – “phool”, (last remains) from the cremation site and kept safely to create Laalaaji’s memorial for some well-defined charitable purpose.

An appropriate piece of land (35 dismil, in measurement, as per sale-deed) was purchased on December 23, 1931, and soon after having its legal-possession; here the formal proceedings of the task were carried-out, on December 24, 1931 by giving a Holy-Fatiha (recital of the prayer given in the first chapter of Quran Majid; the prayer in the name of, and offerings to the great Saint, Parampujya Laalaaji Maharaj.

 

Subsequently, a Shrine-shaped “Samaadhee” (as shown here above), the plan of this shape was designed by my father, Mahatma Jag Mohan Narain. The main person who did the job of masonry-work, was one of Parampujya Laalaaji’s own trusted disciple, Shri Jagannath Prasad Barodia, affectionately called as “Daa Saaheb” of Malva State (now merged in Madhya Pradesh), 

Daa Saheb.

 who came here specially for the mentioned purpose and stayed here, amongst the so many other devotees, until completion of the whole work. Within few years, my father Mahatma Jagmohan Narain established a school, named as 'MAHATMA RAM CHANDRA VIDYALAYA' up to VIII class and a charitable Homeopathic Dispensary was also run. The adjoining land of 17 dismil was also donated to the aforesaid Samaadhee by their owners - S/shri Suraj Narain and Prakash Narain on 09th June 1959. The combined area (35 + 17 = 52 dismil) of this Samaadhee is now in the Municipal are of Fatehgarh (UP), the H. No. 01/114 of Mohalla Navadia (at Kanpur Road). <>

Parampujya Laalaaji Maharaj, a household-saint, assimilated all that was best in different religions, did research and evolved a system, which was most suited to the present circumstances and the short span of life which is the lot of us, the ‘Grahasthas’ (householders) to whom it was mainly addressed. It made possible for them to realize God in their existing lives and that too within the shortest possible time; the Guru(spiritual Master) standing sentinel on them watching their every step to uplift them from Morass in which they might fall and to goad them on the pastures new, irrespective of the fact whether he/she is living with us or not. That was its special feature. Having attained oneness with God, he was best qualified to establish the missing link between man and his creator.

He was not only great spiritual leader but also molded the temporal life of his followers in more ways than ways than one by laying down guide lines for conducting the affairs of daily life in matters of birth, marriage, death etc. He was also great social reformer, advocating a life of simplicity, austerity, without ostentation, doing away with outmoded, expensive and meaningless social customs. He was a champion of adult education, Harijan-uplift widow-remarriage and abolition of dowry. Truly he was ‘Maryaadaa Purushottam’ keeping within bounds all the constraints of life, aimed at a social and spiritual regeneration.

As a result of the benediction of a great saint, the Holy Man Laalaaji was born to Chaudhari Har Bux Rai, the superintendent of Customs and Excise, Farrukhabad, on Basant Panchami, February 3, 1873. Having passed his Middle class ‘Anglo-Vernacular Examination’ in April 1891, he entered in Government service. It was at this time, at the early age of 18, that he came in contact with his peer-o-Murshad (Preceptor) and was formally initiated by him on June 06, 1896 and was granted full powers of the saint-preceptor on October 11, 1896.

He is not only a Saint par-excellence but is a complete Satguru as well. He had not only attained the highest stages of ‘Yoga’, but is such a thorough Master of all its various steps leading to the highest ones, that he could make others to realize any of these stages at his will, at any moment of time, and like a very competent ‘Physician’, he could prescribe both, the cure and the regimen, to his devotees according to their special needs, for which he had the insight of a great seer.

Not only this, he put his experiences in words so as to make them comprehensible for the common man, he was a prolific writer and the numerous works he turned out, bear the stamp of his grasp, learning and scholarship, thoroughly ingrained as he was in all great religions of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity.

He was a great pillar of Santmat (Sufism beyond religion). No rituals, no dogmas and no ceremonies were prescribed by him. His Writings meant for householders are truly soul string and have universal appeal and application. They are simple like truth.

The Holy man Laalaaji lived in a small house (now known as “Laalaaji Nilayam”) in Mohalla-Talaiyalane (renamed as Mahatma Shri Ramchandra Marg), Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a well known hermitage of NaqshMuMRa Citizens. Parampujya Laalaaji Maharaj served the Government for earning his livelihood. He was epitome of virtue, etiquette, culture, kindheartedness, truth, purity, simple-living and amicability. He did not accept service from others for personal needs rather he used to take pleasure in serving his disciples and devotees, who thronged in numbers at his feet. Such was his human touch that he would described his caste, if ever, equivalent to that of a sweeper and a washer man, perhaps because he was chosen to cleans the Augean stables of the teeming millions. He had immense and unshakable faith in God.

Laalaaji breathed his last at Fatehgarh (in the house referred to above) on August 15, 1931 and his tradition was ably carried on by his son, Mahatma Jagmohan Narain, till his demise

 on August 30, 1944.

In respect of my father, Jagmohan Narain the only living son, my Grandfather has recorded in his “Vasihatnaamaa” (the last will) “amongst  all my children, my son Jagmohan’s virtues are inborn right-minded and amongst the Lataifs (Spiritual subtleties) the Latifa-Qulb (the Spiritual center of heart) is activated from the day of initiation”. My father, Mahatma Jagmohan Narain  out worldly looked to be a prince enjoying all the worldly comforts but from within he was an ascetic and totally free from desires. He was used to be called ‘Jaggu Baabu’ amongst his fellow brothers and because of his qualities he was quite popular within the society. He was a great exponent of Indian wisdom and an active worker for a new renaissance. He had chosen the path of sacrifice and service. He was very courageous and enthusiastic, never tiring and fully committed. A treasure of  many qualities, he is the trivet rather a symbolized person of our family-ideals, even now a days.

 He had the capability to do his work on his own. It is difficult to find so many qualities at one place in a single person. It was thus because that he charmed Huzur Maharaaj (the Holy Master of my Grandfather).

Once it so happened that my Grandfather visited Raipur at the ‘Khanqah’ (the cloister) of Huzur Maharaaj with the entire family. They were all enjoying the benefit of His company. They were bathing in the bliss flowing from His Holiness, oblivion of the surroundings, deeply absorbed and quiet, as if they had completely in his existence, in His love and in His fold. On the other hand my father (then aged four years) was lost in his own world. He was playing with the ‘Khadaaun’ (wooden slippers) of Huzur Maharaaj. He had tied both the slippers with a sting and was engrossed in taking care of them. Strolling Huzur Maharaaj appeared there and after just having a look asked him smilingly – “kyon Miyaan kyaa ho rahaa hai?” (what is this happening, my son?) Engrossed in whatever he was doing my father replied – “my horses are tied. I am on the watch, they may not run away”. This answer given by my father at the age of a four years’ child, so fascinated to Him that while departing from there He did not forget to bestow him those ‘Khadaaun’ to my father. They are still preserved in our house as the Spiritual heritage, for which my Grandfather has a mentioned in the diary of that day – “I was prepared to give all that belongs to me, all my achievements, I was prepared to sacrifice but I could not get them and my son had got them just on the first step of his beginning”.

By giving His wooden-slippers to my father, Revered Huzur Maharaaj had pulled down a long veil between that insect and the light of lamp, symbolizing the attraction of wealth and other luxuries of life. This act of benevolence on the part of the Holy Master of our family, Huzur Maharaaj, saved him through out his life from falling in the trap of worldly pleasures.

My grandfather, himself has written in respect of my father, “beloved Jagmohan Narain   in the form of my lone son is a fructification of my dream. The entire Satsang family has a lot of expectations from him. He is endowed with latent potentiality. He is not only a close associate in tendering the flower-bed laid by my Revered Master with great care and understanding but also competent to be a future ‘Sant-Sadguru’ (the Supreme Guide and preceptor in human form), as he is an ideal seeker of truth. He is capable of providing the right direction to the entire Satsang family. He gets so engrossed in taking care of the seekers coming from other places that he forgets about his own sleep, thirst, hunger or other comforts. During the ‘Saalaanaa Jalsaas’ (congregations or Bhandaaraas) and during the camps, he has been seen going without sleep for nights together. At times he has been witnessed offering spread-bedding to the incoming ones and himself slept on a sack-cloth or even cover surface of  slippers of the devout, but no one came to know about it. He has many facets of his life, hidden from a common eye. It is a coincidence that my daughter-in-law too is a true companion to him and his close associate. She herself bears with all difficulties and feels elated in serving the Satsangies. Two wives of my darling son, Jagmohan Narain have already died and she (Bhagwati Devi), who is quite identical to him in modesty, virtue and service. God may bless them with long and happy life. She does not have a child yet. No one knows the ways of the Almighty as to when He may shower His grace on this couple and bestow upon them with all the happiness.” 

After passing away the later, his son-Mahatma 

Mahatma Akhilesh Kumar

Akhilesh Kumar carried on the work of the mission by publication of the work of his grandfather and by editing a periodical “Adhyaatma Dhaara” till his untimely death on May 15, 1974. Now the burden of carrying on the torch of the Master has fallen on Mahatma Dinaysh Kumar, his younger grandson.

The Holy lineage of H.H. Mahatmaa Ramchandra (03.02.1873 -15.08.1931), affectionately known as Laalaaji Maharaaj, begins from Choudhari Harbaksh Rai. Reverend Laalaaji Maharaaj had only one son, Jagmohan Naraayan (Born on 02.11.1901- died on 30.08.1944) and eight daughters, about whom the correct and updated information is under process of collection. My grandfather, had one more son, elder to my father, Jagmohan Naraayan whose name was Harish Chandra, but he passed away after having granted four months life only. From my mother, Bhagwati Devi (died on 16.02.1995), was the third wife of my father, Jagmohan Narain married in the year 1923 .

Smt. Bhagwati Devi.

  She was blessed with three sons and three daughters. Her first son born on 26.03.1926, but died after about two months from his birth. He was named Gurudatt by my grandfather. Her next child was my sister, Madhuri 
who lived for one and half year only. Thereafter she gave birth to, two more sisters, Madhawi Lata (about 10 years elder to me) and Nirmala (about 06 years elder to me and two sons – Akhilesh Kumar (lived from 28.06.1941 to 14.05.1974 and Dinaysh Kumar ( born on 28.10.1944, i.e. me).


 Madhvi Lataa, married to Sri Ved Prakaash of Barielly (UP) .

Nirmala Devi Married to Shri Mahesh Chandra Saxena (both of Bareilly). My younger sister, Mrs. Nirmalaa Devi, also died in the year 1957, leaving behind no issue. My elder brother about whom the actual description is not known, on date. Out of two grandsons – Akhilesh Kumar (28.06.1941 -14.05.1974),

the second one, Dinesh Kumar Saxena (born on 28th October 1944 is still alive and is active to carry the Holy Mission of his Grand Father, headquartered at his parental House at Fatehgarh (UP), India.

Akhilesh Kumar has two sons- Vinai Kumar, born on July 17,1966, married to a household lady – Mrs. Shefaali and is presently a Mechanical Engineer in Shahjahanpur (UP), a disciple, in the name of Revered Dr. Shyaam Laal Saxena of Ghaziabad (UP) and his younger brother,

Samir hosted by Chariji.

Shri Samir Kumar about two years younger to him, is an active member of Sri Ram Chandra Mission, Hd. Qrd. at Chennai, has recently been made 'Prefect' and the "Care-Taker" of the SRCM-Aashram, situated at Road-side (at Kanpur Road) furthermore in the same direction about Two Kms. away from the Mahaa Samaadhi of H.H. Mathamaa Ramchandra Ji (Laalaaji) Maharaaj,  by its present President, P.Rajagopalachari.

Revered Laalaaji’s younger Grandson, Dinesh Kumar Saxena, married with Dr. Suman, on 08.07.1972. He  retired from Railway service in the year of 2002’s July, 10th. He has two daughters – (1) Mrs. Shalini Rajesh, Married to Rajesh Kumar, a software Engineer in Australia. (2) Mrs. Saarikaa Saxena married to Shri Venkat Raman Sonnathi, also a software Engineer in Bangalore. (3) His Son – Himanshu Vikram, who is also a software Engineer, married to Mrs. Anjali Himanshu, a scientist in Government of India, both in Chennai. All are practicing and following the Holy path of Rev. Laalaaji’s hierarchy. It is mentioned worthy, here, that it is the only stream of whole of the family that all the marriages have been solemnized according to the ideology and the ‘will’ of Reverend Laalaaji Maharaj. Shalini has two sons, named, Raghupati Laal and Bharat chakkravati. Sarika has two daughters, named, Kanti and Vara Lakshmi and Himanshu has two sons, named, Sudarshan Saxena and Sukhdev Saxena.
 

Dinaysh Kumar Saxena (myself) took Bay't, formal initiation, in the formal tradition of Naqushbandia stream from a Sufi Master, Dr. Shyaam Laal Saxena of Ghaziabad (U.P.), of Laalaaji’s Lineage and trained all his children, in a well organized manner. The said Sufi Master, as a result of a great labor, did on him (me) and also by the grace of the Great Masters of the tradition, took Dinaysh Kumar Saxena, to the heights of a Mystagogue.

Nirmala &Mahesh Chand

My younger sister Mrs. Nirmalaa Devi married to Shri Mahesh Chandra Saxena of Bareilly (UP), both are no more now. My elder sister Mrs. Madhawi Lata, married to Shri Ved Prakaash,( no more now), is still alive in Bareilly, about 81 years of age, having five daughters and one son – Mrs. Kiran, Mrs. Bhaarti, Mrs. Poonam, Mrs. Neelam and Mrs. Kumkum. The youngest one is the only son, Ashok. All are married in respective honorable families. None of them is carrying on the tradition of their great-grandfather’s esoteric lineage.

Choudhari Harbaksh Rai’s, younger son was (Mahatma) Raghubar Dayaal; He was born on 07th October 1875 and took Mahaasmaadhi (died) on 09th June 1947.

His Samaadhi is situated at Hamirpur road in Kanpur (UP).

Samadhi of Mahatma Raghuvar Dayal (Kanour)

He was a very great saint, par excellence, of his times. He had three sons, Brijmohan Laal, Raadhaamohan Laal  and Jyotehdra Mohan Laal.

He was a very great saint, par excellence, of his times. He had three sons, Brijmohan Laal, Raadhaamohan Laal  and Jyotehdra Mohan Laal.
All the three ones carried on well the tradition, true to the hierarchy, up above. The spiritual heights can just be imagined by viewing the Daily News Paper, Pioneer dated 21st January 1955;

“KABIR RE-LIVED”

 Mahatmaa Brijmohan Laal

“The life and death of Kabir was enacted in a revised form when Hindus and Muslims climbed the last remain of a saint known to the Hindus as ‘SWAMI BRIJ MOHAN LAL’ and to Muslims as ‘BANA SHAMS-UDDIN’.


The saint it is clamed was a ‘GRAHASTHA SANYASI’ and also belonged to the ‘NAQSHBANDIA’ system of Sufis. His disciples and admirers were in the ranks of both the communities.


He went into a Spiritual Trance in Bombay three days ago and his soul left its human abode while he was in that state. His body was brought to Lucknow. Hindus and Muslims alike accompanied his funeral procession, which was first taken to the burning ghat. Before his cremation, the last prayer (Namaz-E-janaza) was offered by a Muslim divine. Later a portion of his ashes was removed for burial.”

As mentioned above; Mahatmaa Brijmohan Laal was the eldest son of Mahatmaa Raghubar Dayaal (Chachchaaji Maharaaj), the own younger brother of Mahatmaa Ramchandra JI (Laalaaji) Maharaaj. His subtle understanding made Revered Laalaaji Maharaaj to choose him, to whom he used to call affectionately – “Birju” worthy to take a share in, exaltation of the mission of his Holy-Masters hierarchy. Bearing this concept in heed, Laalaaji lodged enamored with him along-share, to give him the connoisseur esoteric-initiation into learning of humanitarian doctrine of Sufism. He wanted no stone unturned to proved him worthy of, or give a chance anybody to censure upon. Mathamaa Brijmohan Laal was, since, elder than my father, I used to call him “Taauji”. He was (is) a saint par-excellence and it is beyond my ability to depict, the heights of Spirituality, except that “he was my Taauji”, therefore, I will continue my version what actually I saw and experienced through my limited mental-grasp.

I found him constantly vehement to accomplish the work possessed with the fullest of his vigor and  religious-zeal. This was to the extent that he seldom sit worthless inactively. Most of the days I heard him to be on satsang-tours. I always found him focused his eye-shot objected to his defined aim. He went in every nook and corner, far and near from Fatehgarh and carried on the mission enliven. He was master of all the arts; his voice was melodious, the music-personified was to drifting fluently from his presence and to be the poetic was his inborn nature.For the unknown reasons, Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) was the city dwelling in his heart. The destination of all such circumgyratory programs had  often used to be Bombay only, where he used to camp for weeks together. The place there, for his lodgment was a  magnificent flat (a suit of rooms on one floor forming a separate residence), owned by one of his trusted disciples, Seth Balakrishna Dass situated at sea-front in Marine drive.

The flat of Sethji in Marine Drive.

Powai Lake in moonlit night.

He had a large following there. Many a disciples, including some film-stars and the music-directors and his famous poet friends used to come for Spiritual-promotion and the meditational-training. During his camp days in Bombay, almost all of them used to be remain with him, suspending their carrier related jobs. Resuming back into those days’ memories, those who had relished the moments in the holy-aroma of his manifestation, used to refresh their recollections; like – once there happened to be an occasion to go for picnic on Powai Lake. It was moonlit night; just a heavenly-liking that they all took a mind for excursion trip by boat and it came into existence.

 

It is one of the stared souvenirs of my early childhood is excerpt-enlivening me. There were about  two dozen persons, including the renowned music-directors, like Gopalbabu Paathak, Madanmohan, one dancer film-star, Raagini, Sethji himself, his wife Pushpaa  and the brother-in-law, Sri.Anand Prakaash, Kudan Laal Sahagal, few more young women film-stars and models; whom, either I do not recollect or purposely I do not name them, and me, a small child. Taauji (Mahatmaa Brijmohan Laal) was during those moments, was getting lost in cosmorama of  some higher mental plane. Here, the flock around him went into ecstasy, purported the influence of ‘Muse’ Taauji, sheikhfuly, seized their state of mind and turned to address, “Bhaai mera gaana to ruhani hai” (But, the darling ones! My chants are Spiritual). This elegant gesture of my Taauji, had as if, filled their enchanting hearts with the willed boon. It was (perhaps) then like a reverie, he begin with – “chaandni raat men, chaand ke saamne, tumse nazren milaanaa ghazab ho gayaa”. (in the moonlit night, in comparison of moon it became disastrous to exchange glances his beloved). It was then, beyond my estimation, the extent of time, it had lasted.  But, the substance of the our, the people who witnessed the scene, still remember that the boat was stationary and motionless altogether, whole of the time.

Bombay the coastal city famous for its illusory-splendor, thus, filled with the aroma of esoteric-fervor, by a great Mystagogue, my Taauji, Mahatmaa Brij Mohan Laal ‘gharib’.

“Hazaaron saal Nargis apni be-nuri pe roti hai!

Badi mushkil se hotaa hai chaman mayn didaavar paidaa”.

            [The narcissus tantalizes!

         For countless-rhythmical years
  Scarcely, manifests there,

                                                                One who discerns her.]

  

Taauji’s conclusive expeditition for the eternity started from Lucknow in the first week of January 1955. Routing  through Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Pilibhit, Bareilly, Moradabad, Delhi and after catching the train from there he reached at the railway station, Bombay VT at about 05.00 A.M. on January 17,1955. From the railway station he reached directly at the ‘flat’ of Seth Balakrishan Padampat. The same was since on the seventh floor and because the elevator was not working and even after an adequate time it did not come back in to its active condition, the whole convoy around him, went up stairway. Soon after such a long tiresome journey and getting in side the doors of Sethji, passing through such an unusual course, made him down to ill-health confined on bed, all through the day-long. Later in the evening, apparently, some homeopathic medicines, but as a matter of truth, his inner-power, brought him in his usual health and his original glow re-appeared on his look. What mattered then; the assembly waiting for, gathered around him and he again came back into his “ghaibi-quafiat” (hidden-mood) and Taauji started to dispersing a good amount of Spiritual-food for the flock around him. His speech was “tawajjoh” (fervor), instead the fluency of his words.

The subject of the delivery of his discourse was  - “Salvation”. Release of the soul from the body and from further rebirth. He reproduced a couplet of Maulaanaa Jalaaluddin Rumi; the English translation is –

“I died a mineral and became a plant,

I died a plant and rose an animal,

I died an animal and was man,

Why should I fear ? when was I less by dying?

Yet once more I shell die as man, to soar

With the blessed angels; but even from angelhood

I must pass on. All except God perishes.

When I have sacrificed my angel soul,

I shall become that which no mind ever conceived.

O, let me not exist! For Non-existence pro claims,

To him we shall return.”

                      

He was speaking from the plane of highly developed cosmic intelligence, called in Vedic-etymology as Hiranya-Garbha. On the subjective side, buddhi is the first element of the subtle body.

He quoted some of the references, like the Princes of the Timurid family, several were interested in the Sufi movement, for instance, Prince Dara Shukoh, son of Emperor Shahjahan (executed in 1659). He studied Sufism and Indian Vedantism and endeavoured to show the similarities existing between them. He caused translations to be made of the Ramayana, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Upanishads (under the title of Sirr-ul-Israr or secret of the secrets) and the Yogavashishta. He declared the difference between Sufism and Vedantism as verbal and that in there higher aspects, they were practically identical.

Sooner he rejoined  the main stream and continued the thread of his version without interruption. Now he was explaining the essence of the subject in the light of katha Upanishad, were in the development of principles the great self stands after the undeveloped and the primeval spirit. Hiranya- Garbha, the World-soul is the first product of the principle of non-being influence by the Eternal Spirit, Eeshwar. The purusa of the Saamkhya is the Eternal Spirit made many. Hiranya-Garbha is the great self, Mahaan Aatmaa, which arises from the indiscriminate, the avyakta, which corresponds to the primitive material or waters of the Brahmmanas, or the prakrti of the Saamkhya. We have the Supreme self, the absolute, the Supreme Self as the eternal subject observing the eternal object, waters or prakrti and the great self which is the first product of this interaction of the eternal subject and the principle of objectivity. The Supreme Lord, Eeshwar, who eternally produces, outlasts the drama of the universe.

Those days I was a boy of about eleven years only. Taauji had gone there alone, no other family member, even Taaiji had not been in that trip. Sri. P.C. Mittal was the only adult person, closely associated to me, was with him and it was just a matter of coincidence that he was sitting at a closest distance from Taauji. He was habitual of taking notes of Taauji’s discourse all the times, with no exception. Mittal Sahib was the only source of making over to me the text quoted above. But unfortunately the discourse was while on the full swing, but in the mean-time, all of a sudden, he passed into the state of catalepsy. In the mean time, one of the participants, who was also in the Spiritual languishing state, came out abruptly, in an innocent manner; “ Huzur-e-waalaa! Whether Lord Rama sentenced to kill Raavana for offending of the Lady Sitaa kidnapped by him?

Was he killed or bestowed upon to liberate him? If liberated, how; because it was consequent result of a great war between the two huge army.

Likewise, he desired to know more, about the narrations, he had gone through in, ‘RamcharitMaanas’; such as “pratimaa rudahin” –(VI.101.6-11), i.e. the images (as of deities) started crying, or “naabhikund peiush bas yaaken” (VI.101.06-5), i.e. the brother of Raavana (Vibhishan) reveled to lord Rama that, there is ambrosia in his umbilical cord. etc.

All these quarries made by the aspirant turned the track of the talk was being delivered by my Taauji. He gave a miserly smile and quoted a reference from Sheikh Ibrahim Gzur-i-Ilaahi who related a story in his “Irshaadaat” (Kitaab-ut-Tasawwuf) that a certain fakir entered the cloister of Junayd, wrapped in a black blanket. Junayd asked him the reason for his mourning. He said “my God is dead”. Junayd ordered the fakir to be peremptorily turned out. This was done three times. On the fourth occasion, the fakir was asked to explain. He said “not knowing that my Nafs was a manifestation of God, I have killed it and there fore I am in mourning for it”.

In fact “Nafs” meant in Vedanta philosophy is for “naabhi chakkra”, located near the navel. In respect of ‘Chakkras’, Taauji mentioned that it is something which is understood only and can not be expressed in words. The main ones are six. The first latifa is Nafs located near the navel; the second one is Qualb, located above the heart; the third is Rooh, on  the right side of the chest the fourth is Sirr, near the mouth of the stomach; the fifth, Khafi is in the fore-head and the sixth is Akhfah on the top of the head. According to Shaykh Ahmad of Sirhind, all these Lataayaf are encircling the each other.

Brother P.C. Mittal, one of the adherent disciples, praised his master – “he was an ocean of the mystical knowledge”. He quoted the relevant text from his diary of the date, under reference – “he spoke about the Qualb (heart); is not the lump of flesh like pine-shape, located near the left nipple of the human body, the soul of motive power. In reality, it is the landmark between Rooh (soul) and Nafs (the faculty of cognizance), i.e. between it, or because it takes an inverted image of the world. This can well be understood by taking an example of the retina of an eye takes an inverted image of things, by the laws of refraction of light in the crystalline lens; but actually we see things upright; for Qualb has again inverted an upturned image, and makes it upright. The Western psycho-spiritualists simply say that we have an upright view, because of the force of settled inclination. Qualb is a drop in ocean of Rooh (soul), which has manifested itself in limitation according to the nature of the gross-body. It is compounded of the subtle soul and the coarse body; and has thus established connection between the two. It receives impressions from the external world through the (five) external senses, and then from the internal world through the internal senses (viz., Thought, Instinct, memory, Reasoning and fancy).” In respect of Raavana’s secret about the deep basin of  ambrosia in the umbilical-cord (i.e. Nafs), unmasked by his own brother (Vibhishan); Huzur-e-Waalaa (Mahatmaa Brij Mohan Laal) quoted Imaam Ghazaali’s book ‘Kimiyaa-i-Saadat’ “when the Nafs separates itself from the body, it bears away with it, the faculty of Waahima (fancy);and nothing else accompanies him from the life of this world. At death, it is cognizant of separation from the body and from the world”. Mittal Saahib explained the meaning of the book ‘Kimiyaa-i-Saadat’ – “knowledge of the Future World”, were in the faculties of the Nafs are four in kind, i.e. retentive faculty, imagination, thinking, and fancy. The centripetal force that keeps all these together, and the common ground of there meeting is common sense.

In respect of the quarry about, “pratimaa rudahin” –(VI.101.6-11), according to the diary of Br. Mittal, Taauji went much deep. He quoted clippings of the letters by Saiyed Muhammad Hussein (son of Saiyed Nasiruddin Jaffrey) – “Hazrat Umar remarked to Ali that the Black Stone i.e. ‘Sang-e-As bad’, or Kaalaa Patthar, could not hurt him or benefit him; that he would not have kissed (lip-to-lip) it, had he not seen the Prophet himself do so. It was a stone after all.” Ali replied- “ there is benefit in kissing it. The promises that Adam and his descendants had made are in the mouth of this stone; and the kissing of the stone is the kissing on the promises; and the Prophet had said that the stone is the right hand of god.” When Hazrat Umar heard this, he said: “thou hast saved me, O Ali, from ruin.” In the world of mithaal (mythical), this stone has a form, and the kissing if it means the revival of the promise made by man to His maker on the day of promise viz, “that when he grew out of the sodden earth, he would remember his creator.”

According to my own finding, in respects of ‘Sang-e-As bad’, the dictionary-meaning (Urdu-Hindi Shabdakosh, its V edition of 1982 Published by utter Pradesh Hindi Samsthaan, Hindi Samiti Prabhaag) given there in (1) Kaalaa Patthar, (2) Krishna prastar, (3) woh Patthar jo kaabe men lagaa hai aur jise dekhne ke liya har saal Muscleman makke jaate hai, jise Hajj kahten hain. “Krishna’s” complexion does not mean, the “Black”; but to me it is the 8^th color.

The diary of Br. Prem Chand Mittal is the evidence of the Jazbi Qafiat (the state of absorbedness) of my Taauji was performing the journey on the road of Truth beyond the veil. He, who had already much tired, by traveling on this road, embarked on the pro  longed discoursed-journey, personifying the answer of all the questions, had reached in the state of salvation, itself. He was, then, not merely a person, what he looked to the audience, but a soul manifested for some special purpose. He was drooping into the context under run. Whole the flock was drunken to cloud. The words blowing through his tong were overflowing beyond the touch of the intellect of the listeners.

Once again he turned the track and started to narrate a hidden story related to the subject question, i.e. “how Lord Rama librated Raavana?” he told – “soon before the life force was just leaving the gross body  of Raavana, the Lord ordered his rightward-brother, Laxman to go beneath the King Raavana and to learn the substance of his political knowledge.

Laxaman.

Sooner the massage of Lord Rama in the submissive words of Laxman, his concern about the Lord, immediately transmuted into the altered concept. Like a devotee turned from as an enemy, lost into the Lordship of his heartfelt Master, he lost in the deep feelings, like, how great he, who won the whole battle, smashed all his (Raavana) possessions and how amazing his greatness that even at this juncture he is giving so much merciful that he has sent the bravest one of his army, his own younger brother to learn something from his enemy like me, and so on, with the feelings full of piety and devotion, his soul absorbed into the mercy of the Lord and hopped into His mighty feet …. ….”

Raavana liberated.

His ever flowing words were blowing in the ethereal-air and the sense of ears of the flock were up above the reach of there own. Not known the time passed when the men and women started coming back, one-by-one, into their usual senses and watched the Master’s (Mahatmaa Brij Mohan Laal) head was resting on his left shoulder, his mouth was shut, in eternal silence. He was no more in the body but is ever alive in the innumerable minds for the time immortal.

His last remaining are still alive in the Samaadhi Mandir, situated in Tilak Nagar, Aish Baugh, Lucknow.

Samadhi of mahatma Brijmohan Lal.

The premises is administered by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mamta Devi, through a registered Trust.  Mahatma Brijmohan Laal had three sons; Mahata Onkar Nath, Kailash Nath (died unmarried as student), and Mahatma Devendra Nath. From his first wife of Mahatma Onkar Nath was blessed with five sons; Prabhat Mohan,

Prabhat Mohan &Vinay Kumar

Deepak Mohan, Aanad Mohan, Prakash Mohan and Sudesh Mohan, and three daughters; Sarita, Geetaa and Seema, all are married and carrying on well along with their families. Mahatma Devendra Nath has one son and one daughter both are married. The detailed information is being collected.                     
                                                                       

Mahatmaa Raghubar Dayaal’s second son Mahatmaa Raadhaamohan Laal

(Died on 21st July 1966) also carried on well the tradition which is still active.

Mahatmaa Radhamohan Laal (Munshi babu)

The well known organization, named “The Golden Sufi Center”, active in U.S., U.K. and Europe. Apart from this, one of the world’s most famous books titled – “Daughter of Fire”, a daily diary compiled by Ms. Irina Tweedie is worth readable amongst the seekers of truth, she was also his adherent disciple.

 Ms. Irina Tweed

Mahatmaa Raadhaamohan Laal Adheoliya, affectionately known as “Munshi Bhaisahib” was the second son of Mahatmaa Raghubar Dayaal (Chachchaaji), the own younger brother of my grandfather. He was since, relatively little than my father in age, I  used to call him “Munshi Chaachaa”. Although, amongst my both the grandfathers’ families, ours was settled here in Fatehgarh and the other one was in Kanpur, but even then, the whole was literally a joint family, in all respects. All the festivals were used to be celebrated jointly. Either, we the complete Fatehgarh family would go to Kanpur, join them as a compact structure and enjoy the theme of the occasion; the remaining kinsfolk from Kanpur used to come and join to carry out entirety of the ‘one’ family.

In whole of the entire family, from Fatehgarh to Kanpur, Munshi Chaachaa was a bit different  in look and style. On account of a deep reverence for Laalaaji Maharaaj, keeping aside the age and relation, he had although a special but esteemed love for me. But for the reason, not intelligible to me, I always used to keep a bit distance from him; perhaps because he was a perfect Sufi in look and behavior, both.  He used to interact with the people  in such an unusual manner, which often lead them to misunderstand him.

Now, at this age I realize that he was really a worth mentioning saint. Worldly he was not much learned but his esoteric reaches were unmatchable. Quick-witted Munshi Chaachaa seldom gave way any person to leave any question unanswered. He was ‘answer’ of all the questions.

I recollect how his astral body used to go for journeys around the world. I personally witnessed many ones of the both the genders; like Irina Tweedie, Miss Lillian and many others from a dozen of countries of Europe and U.S.A. and used to camp with him for years long.  

After completing his primary education in Fatehgarh, he went to his maternal uncle, Sri. Nem Chand’s house, for his further education in Shahjahanpur (UP), from where he passed X class. Thereafter, he got married with Ms. Jaanki Devi, daughter of Sri. Sheoti Prasad of Bareilly (UP) in the year 1926. He joined Government Service as a paid-apprentice in the Judge’s Court and subsequently got regular in the same office in the year 1931, from where he retired as Office-Superintendent and settled in Kanpur (UP). My aunt Mrs. Jaanki Devi passed away, leaving behind a small male child, Sri. Ravindra Naath Saxena, to whom I use to call affectionately, “Bade Daadaa”. Fortunately, he is still alive and is the eldest one in my generation, guiding me in every step.

Ravindra Nath Saxena.(Bade Daadaa).

My aunt Mrs. Jaanki Devi was the own eldest sister of my wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Suman’s father, Sri. D.B.Saxena. “Aunt”, in Hindustani dialect, is called – “Chaachi”. Those who are selected to be summoned by the Father of all the fathers, have simultaneously been found masters of all the heavenly excellence. She was the goddess of love-extending and conscientiousness. By virtue of being the only younger woman of the extended family of Laalaaji Maharaaj, she had an esteemed love for my mother. Her demise after a very short stay in our family; I swear to God, I am not lying, it was an irreparable loss to all the remaining once. For the many more untold reasons, my mother used to miss her all the time. Leaving 'Bade Daadaa', a small child, my chaachi, Smt. Jaanki Devi passed away. For some traditional reasons, Munshi Chaachaa was re-married. Munshi Chaachaa's second wife (my aunt) was blessed with another three male children - Narendra Naath (Babboo), Satendra Nath and Virendra Nath (Bhimsen), and two female children - Smt.Durgesh (now no more) and Smt. Poonam.

In the mean time Chaachi’s younger brother- Sri. Dhoom Bahadur Saxena, who had four daughters and out of them, the second one, Suman, when she became of marriageable age, he started to find out some suitable match for her. The Saxena Kayasthas are popularly known for meat and liquor users. But in the family of Chaachi’s whole family of her parents side in Bareilly, it was a special feature about them was that: what to talk about using these two it was a sin even to smoke or eat betel leaf also. They are all strict and orthodox vegetarians. This was the starred-point on which they were not prepared to compromise even on any  sort of allurement. Because of this reason, Sri. Dhoom Bahadur Saxena was feeling uneasy to get a vegetarian match for Suman. God knows better, whether it was only a coincidence or a play of the Providence that Suman’s father asked one of his colleagues, Sri. R.N. Singh belonged to the disciple lineage of Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj. I was then working for R.D.S.O./Lucknow, Government pf India (Ministry of Railways). R.N. Singh felt proud to propose my name for his daughter. This is how Sri. D. B.Saxena felt contented and without loosing any more time he sent a formal proposal, addressing to my elder brother, Akhilesh Kumar, having no knowledge as to whom he was going to contact with. Because a long time had passed and the old relationship had almost been broken. But the bio-data of the girl made my mother to understand, that who was she. In the first instance, my mother had to face the situation – “to be or not to be”. But her old esteemed affection for my late Chaachi, Jaanki Devi, pierced my mother, right that through and Taaiji’s (wife of Mahatmaa Brij Mohan Laal, favorable vote made easy my marriage with Suman became manifesting, in Bareilly on July 08.1972.

Munshi Chaachaa was not only a saint pre-eminently, but also a skilled palmist, as well. it was once, we both, me and my elder brother - Akhilesh Kumar the boys of teen-agers, were sitting before him and he was in a homely mood. He started to have cignizance of by the senses of his soul. First on turn was my elder brother, for whom he pridicted to be a moneyed  person. He then interrogated whether he would share with him or not. There after he turned towards me and for a while, he remained into the state of trance.

He told so many things, which although on the moment, I gave no thought; perhaps thinking that he was making me happy, seeing me a child then. The complete description relating to the truth about my life span state of existing; what I could  retain in my immature mind that time, I did not noted any where, on the same day. This was because of an image of the great soul, “Munshi Chaachaa”. No matter those days it was of no use for me, but I heard him with unfathomable concentrated mind. The first thing he told, I still remember, is that ‘Kundalini’, the vital energies of coiled-power as described in Hath, Yoga “is awakened right since birth, from innate faculty”. There after he engaged in describing my revered father’s esoteric reaches and that I had inherited those powers as inborn nature. During the narration he told, “Kundalini is full of sex”. Simultaneously, he also cautioned me to remain nimbler with in the company of ‘fair-sex’, especially while in the ‘Satsang-circle’.. He added – “I am telling you! This is always and  without discrimination of age. A woman does become never old, sexually she is ever young. If a woman becomes old, the creation would disintegrate. The physical form, of course, become weaker, but not old.” He continued – “the more sex-power, the human being will realize the Truth in an easy way. Great sex power is great help in spiritual life”. He quoted some where from Quran Majid – “the out come, the emanation of esotericisms is coming down in to manifestation as ‘Virya shakti’, the creative energy of God”. He clarified – “on the lowest plane of manifestation it appears as  seminal fluid in men; in women it is preserved in the subtle bodies (Chakkras). This is why the esoteric learning on the etheric level for men and women is different.

Samaadhi mander of Mahatmaa radha Mohan Laal.

None could understand  Munshi Chaachaa, through out his life time. His spiritual heights were beyond the reach of a normal intellectual person. He was a great psycho-spiritualist of his times. In the words of sister Irina Tweedie – “Yes, my dear Sheikh … … …if you should die without me being able to reach you, when you have gone (Heaven knows, it seems such an impossibility!!), then I don’t return to the West. I will go to the mountains and there fade away like good soldiers do. But at last I have learned to love the King and it is not a small feat. And for that, my Sheikh, my very deepest gratitude to you. As the nearness increases, my gratitude grows, for I know, what looks like cruelty is the greatest kindness …” Thus, Munshi Chaachaa left for his final resting place on July 21, 1966. His Samaadhi Mandir is situated at Hamirpur Road in Kanpur (UP).

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