Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu
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Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu (Hindi: संत श्री आसारामजी बापू),(Sindhi: سنت شري آسارام باپو), is a saint from India, endearingly called 'Bapuji' by his followers. He was born in Berani village of the Nawab district in Sindh (Un-Partitioned India) on the sixth day of Chaitra month (Hindu Calendar), 17 April 1941 (Gregorian calendar), as Aasumal[1] His father was a wealthy businessman named Thaumal Sirumalani and his mother was Mehngeeba. There are 111 (April 2000) Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu Ashrams around the world.[2]. Also, there are several Sri Yog Vedanta Seva Samitis (SYVSS) around the world working under the guidance of Bapuji. The main ashram is in Ahmedabad (Gujrat, India). SYVSS is involved in many social, religious and spiritual activities in India and abroad. A magazine in various different languages is also printed by the ashram called "Rishi Prasad" and a monthly newspaper called "Lok Kalyan Setu". Ashram also produces Ayurvedic medicines and items used in Hindu prayers (Pooja Samagri).
BiographyBirthAt the time of Aasumal's birth, a swing seller stopped at Shri Thaumal's house and told him that he got a divine feeling of a saintly child being born in his family. For that special child he had brought a swing. Aasumal was the fourth child in the family. First brother to the three sisters. There is an Indian myth that a son born after three daughters is concidered in-auspicious and called "Trekhan". But birth of Aasumal brought more business and profits for father Thaumal. ChildhoodWhen Aasumal was three years old, kulguru (the family guru) Shri Parsuramji came to Thaumal's home. As he saw child Aasumal he said that the child is not a normal child. He said that Aasumal will be a great saint and will show the path of spiritualism to the people living in ignorance [1] Since his childhood, Aasumal was very much inclined towards religious epics. His mother used to tell stories from Ramayana, Bhagawad Gita and other scriptures to Aasumal. That was his first introduction to the world of spirituality. He was the most favourite students in his school. Lovingly, the students and teachers used to call him "Hansmukh bhai" (Jolly Fellow). He always had a very sharp memory from his childhood. Due to the partition of India, his family moved from Sindh to Maninagar near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Aasumal started his studies again in Maninagar. During recess time, when other children used to play, Aasumal would sit under a tree for meditation. Maa Mehgiba used to put makkhan-mishree (sweetened butter) in front of Aasumal when he would be sitting for meditation with his eyes closed. She would tell Aasumal to open his eyes and see what god has sent for him. This built up his interest in Dhyaan (Meditation) and Bhajan (Prayers) and he started enjoying it. YouthWhen Aasumal saw that school education is only useful for earning bread and it only fulfills the worldly enjoyment, he lost the fascination of school education. Whenever there was any time spare, he would go and meditate. At a very young age Aasumal lost his father and he had to discontinue his education and take care of the family business along with his elder brother. But Aasumal was always yearning for spiritual knowledge. His meditation grew longer and longer and provided him with many siddhis (spiritual powers) in a small age of 10 years. He went to Sidhpur for a job and came back to Maninagar after 3 years. His mother wanted to get him married now, but Aasumal was never into marriage and social life. But his family got him engaged to Laxmi Devi. MarriageAasumal kept postponing marriage for two and half years. Eventually, his family fixed a date of his marriage but he ran away from his home eight days before the day of marriage. His family started searching for him and found him in Ashok Ashram in Bharuch and took him back to home. After reaching home Aasumal was married to Lakshmi Devi. Aasumal told his wife that his ultimate goal is to self realise. He made her understand that he'll come back to home for a normal life after getting the state of self realisation. In order to understand the spiritual books properly he joined a Sanskrit school. Four days before the final exam he was influenced by a shloka which meant "The one who has disowned expectations & materialistic desires & has adopted the desireless state, the penances & worship of such a person has reached completion." His desire to attain God got intensified again. He made up his mind to break from family so as to realize God. Journey to SpiritualityAfter leaving his dominions, Asumal went from place to place and at nights slept on the grass, homeless and alone. He did intense spiritual practices in deep forests, on hills, in deep caves, in various great temples. At Kedarnath, the preist blessed Asumal to become a millionaire, but Asumal did not appreciate this. He told the preist to do prayers again and bless him to attain God. Asumal then went to Vrindavan, the land of Lord Krishna. Here he was inspired to goto the ashram of the Great Guru, Swami Shri Lilashahji Maharaj. He had to wait for 40 days in the Ashram to get the glimpse of Gurudev. There he stayed and served his Sadguru with true devotion. He waged war with so many troubles. He used to take just boiled Mung as food, sleep in a small 4.5 feet room. Lilashahji made Asumal go through several hardships for another 30 days & then finally Asumal was blessed. Swami Shri Lilashahji Maharaj asked him to go back to home & continue his spiritual practices at home. While coming back to his home, he left the train and went to Moti Koral (A place in Gujarat). His mind was attuned to only self-realization. No one can stop a man who is on his way to Paramapada (Ultimate Realization). He started doing dyaan at the bank or river Narmada. A local saint Shri Lalji Maharaj got impressed by Asumal's intense spiritual practices. Lalji Maharaj made arrangements for Asumal to stay in Datt Kutir of Ram Niwas (Lalji Maharaj's Ashram). Asumal started the 40 day Anushthan here.[1] When Asumal's wife and mother came to know that he was staying at Moti Koral they visited him. They requested him to come back. But Asumal told them without completing the Anushthan he cannot come. He successfully completed the Anushthan. The whole village & Shri Lalji Maharaj himself came to the railway station to see them off to Ahmedabad. As soon as the train started moving from Miyagaun junction, Asumal jumped out and boarded a train towards Bombay to meet Gurudev Lila Shahji Maharaj. The Day of Atama JnanaAsumal reached Bombay (Mumbai) and met Gurudev Lila ShahJi Maharaj. Lila ShahJi Maharaj was very happy to see his disciple's keen interest to attain the truth. Hence, on 2nd Day of Ashwin month in Samvat 2021 at 2.30pm in the afternoon Asumal was transformed into Sant Sri AsaramJi Bapu by the blessings of Sadgurudev Shri Lila ShahJi Maharaj. After this Asaramji went into samadhi for next two and a half days. [1] Asumal started seeing the one supreme being in all. With SadGuru's grace Asaramji discovered the absolute truth. Affinity for the world disappeared. Each moment of life was overflowing with the divine realization of existence of One in All. The stage beyond pride & material attractions was reached. The final destination where the Jiva becomes one with Parmatman was reached. The blissful state where nothing can separate one from God was finally attained. Lila Shahji Maharaj instructed Asaram Ji to serve the humanity by staying as a householder. After Self-Realization Sant Shri Asaram Ji Bapu stayed in solitude for seven years. Pujya Shri used to stay fully immersed in the bliss of the Atman (Brahmanand Masti) & give religious discourse to all those who came for darshana (meet & see Bapuji). Pujya Shri spent His solitude in various places like Disa, Naareshwar Dhaam, the Himalayas, Mt. Abu & so on. The GrihasthaAsaramji met Swami Lila Shahji in Haridwar in Vikram Samvat 2028, & by the commands of Sadguru, in order to provide a good example to common householders, Bapu Ji entered the life of a householder. It was the day of Guru Punam in Vikram Samvat 2028 when Pujya Shri reached Ahmedabad after staying in solitude for seven years.[1] Asaramji chose a peaceful place in the Motera village on the banks of Sabarmati river. Later on some of the devotees constructed a small room for him which is known as "Moksha Kutir". Slowly, the number of devotees coming to Motera kept on increasing and in a very short time the place became a great spiritual centre. Today Motera is the main spiritual centre for the devotees coming to Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram. Sri Yoga Vedanta Seva SamitiThere are over 1200 Sri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti's established by the guidance of Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu around the world. [2] These Samities are responsible for the spiritual and social activities in their local area by the guidance of Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu. Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu AshramThere are 111 ashram's working under the guidance of Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu.[2] These ashrams organise spiritual and social activities on a regular basis. Some of these activities include Weekly Satsang, Distribution and sale of Rishi Prasad and other spiritual publications. Sri AsaramayanThe Biography of Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu is available in poem form called Sri Asaramayan. The printed form of Sri Asaramayan is available from local Sri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti or Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu Ashram. References
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