Govardhan: the cremation ground, the natural Shivalingam, the campus and daily life there

climatically, it is not possible to plant them, and they are planted in a cremation area, so they are the only 27 Rudrakshas in a cremation spot. See, all these are Rudrakshas; are there special properties to the Rudraksha? Well, they are supposed to have come from the eyes of Shiva. So they carry a very holy vibration. Yes, and most of the Rudrakshas in our trees are three-faced. So, three-faced means the representation of Dattatreya with three faces. Okay? I will give you one. I have not given it to you yet. So today, I will give you one. All these are 27 Rudrakshas. And this is our Shiva temple. We found

a natural Shivling in Govardhan Hill. For the first time in the history of Govardhan Hill, a natural Shivling has been found, which we have installed exactly on the cremation spot of the late King of Bharatpur, Jaswant Singh. Okay, his period is supposed to be the golden period of the Bharatpur dynasty. He was a great man. So this is the monument where he was cremated, and he made it very clear that you must build my monument as a wooden structure because he considered it pure. So, he died in 1893, so maybe it was finished in 1894. So this is it, so many people in the

The last cremation in our shmashan took place in 1995, on the 8th of July.

In India a raja is supposed to be equal to one million common people. If one raja is cremated it is believed that one million people are cremated.

Before the death of this raja the atmosphere here was very different. Everything was absolutely quite, even the wind was not blowing.

Ten days before the raja was to be cremated (he was still alive) more than four hundred vultures landed on the spot. It looked like a sort of a meeting. We were emptying the pond and bringing the water here when the birds appeared. They came from the east. The last to come was a very big vulture — it looked like a king of the vultures, maybe one and a half times bigger than a normal one. Very impressive. Me and three-four of my disciples were here, and it was between eleven and twelve in the noon. When that big vulture landed, all the vultures gave him the way towards the water. He walked with great style to the water, took three sips and flew towards the North. And one by one all the vultures flew away.

We have never seen a vulture again in this area — they have simply disappeared. And before the big vulture landed there used to be lots of these birds here.

I established my yoga academy in 93 on Shiva Ratri day. We had it registered officially and on every Shiva Ratri my disciples were coming from everywhere and we were celebrating it. We were fasting and doing puja and practicing 1000 pranayams . In 1998 I came to know that this is called Shiva Ratri which means the night of Shiva so we should keep awake all night and do something to Shiva. So I called five priests from my hometown and in this room I had this big Shiva Ling. So we did abhisek the whole night. Many disciples were gathered and continuous abhisek was going on. Abhisek is the pouring of the milk continuously uninterrupted and the priests were chanting mantras. Then exactly around midnight I heard a very deep surrounding voice: “Go to red Samadhi ,” it was painted red then, “and do a ritual to purify the land” (that is called bhoomi puja). So I took two priests with me. I went there. It was very horrible looking. It was so fearsome that nobody was going there even in the daytime. So I went there about 12. Pandits were afraid but I forced them to do puja there and we came back after 20 minutes. Then in the morning, when we were doing the final thing, I again heard the same voice and that place appeared in my vision. The voice said: “I am waiting for you very long time. Now I want to live with you. Send somebody and have me picked up and I will remain with you.” So I immediately declared that they should search there. I told them the place: “Search and you will find a Shiva Lingam, ” so they searched that day, the next day after Shiva Ratri, but they couldn’t find. But the next day – it was about 10:30 in the morning – it was found by two of my disciples. They brought it here. We weighed it – it was 39 kilos in weight – and we cleaned it. My sister took it up in my bedroom.

I had no money for repairs then suddenly some money came. We had that Samadhi repaired and I think on 26th of June we installed it there exactly where the king was cremated more than 100 years back.

* * *

When I found the

lingam, I didn’t know how to do puja because I had never done puja in my life. I am a lazy man in that. I just gave the responsibility to Mahatmaji and I was going to the temple only once to do my ‘pranam’.

But he fell sick, having very high fever and everybody who was going inside the temple and touching it would get very high fever. They would start vomiting also.

Then after the two weeks I heard the same voice again: “I have come only for you; go to Pashupatinath and learn how to worship from the old priest there”.

I immediately went there and he told me how to do it. First thing he told me was to wear red. I was associating that color with tantra. I said: ‘Why?’, and he gave me a beautiful reason. He said: ‘When a Hindu girl is getting married according to the religion she is getting ‘parmeshwar’ in the form of the husband. She is considered fortunate and she has to wear red to show that. And you have found Shiva Ling, a natural stone. It is considered as if you have found ‘parmeshwar,’ you are fortunate – so wear red”. And he outlined the details of the puja. I came back and the old man died after two-three months. And so the king also. It was in ’98 and from the Diwali day I began to worship in the proper way.

The President of the Iskcon Temple was surprised – he could not believe that I have found a natural Shiva Lingam and I have installed it exactly on the cremation spot of the king. He told me that whoever will put a Shiva Lingam on the cremation spot will die within 24 hours.

One of my dogs died at the same time when we were installing the Shiva Lingam.

* * *

For the first time in the history of this area – the holy place of worship of Vishnu or Krishna – the natural Shiva Lingam has been found on this holy mountain. So it might be the beginning of a great change in future. I can see lot of change starting here.

* * *

There is a traditional story that some time a Shiva Ling will be found and will be installed on a Shmashan on a chitah – the exact spot where cremation takes place.

* * *

And also there is another rumor circulating around among the villagers. It gives me a big ego boost of course. It is connected with the Govardhan Hill : by the curse of one Rishi it was going down underground one millimeter a day. And it was believed that when a king would die and would be cremated in Govardhan in his next incarnation he will come as a yogi and he will find a natural Shiva Lingam, he will install that on his own cremation spot and will worship it. Then the going down will stop. So it has stopped.

But it gives my ego a very big boost that I may have been a king in my previous life.

There is a big oil painting of the King Jaswant Singh and they say that my looks somehow resemble him. But he had a beard and moustache.

* * *

Maybe Shiva has been looking at me from the very beginning. He is also our family deity. I mean he has been worshipped in our family for generations. Nobody did any ceremony in my family. My family belongs to the warrior type of family. Most of them were army officers and we were small time kings once. And we were defeated by the British, so our kingdom was lost. That is another story.

* * *

My family’s god is Shiva. There are many people whose family’s god is Bhairav, some has Shakti as their family goddess, some has Vishnu as their family god. So in India it is like that.

* * *

Q: Guruji, is it so that everyone after attaining Samadhi will have to do pujas or it is not required?

Sh: No, it is not required. But if some God starts communicating — then only he or she will have to go through them.

What is your monthly budget? >> [laughter] >> I said I have no income, so my budget is unlimited. Because according to your income, you will create a budget. I have no income. So, unlimited budget. Govardhan Maharaj and Babaji taking good care. So, whatever is due to you will come to you. You remember my story of the person who has only half a bag of rice. There was a guru and a disciple. And the disciple asked the guru a question, how much the destiny or the karma affects? And if there is destiny written, then how you can actually work with it or how to manipulate it. Guru told him, "Okay, when the right

Now there is a big party in Govardhan on Shivaratri: so many people are carrying Ganges water, hundreds anгd thousands of people there. And so many ladies, walking at least 200 kilometres- that is also big change. The year we installed Shiva first time plastic damarus appeared and processions started. Every child was insisting he must have it- and thousands damarus were singing, that was never happen before!

when You installed Shivalingam first time: no puja was conducted but the base was made?

Guruji: first we ordered the base and when it came we installed it first; then Shivalingam was put

and cemented?

Guruji: not exactly cemented- it’s something which holds it

but no puja started because You didn’t know how to conduct the ritual?

Guruji: no, we did something- some flowers and something

about the first puja which You conducted returning from Pashupatinath: what kind of emotions, what kind of feelings first time?

Guruji: first time everybody was there: my sister was holding the jar of the milk because I had no idea that I can hold it at my left hand; Mahatmaji was there, 4-5 other disciples were there; and I was a bit nervous that I must not forget the sequence. It took about 2-3 weeks to settle down.

was it two times a day?

Guruji: yes, evening and morning both- for many years continued.

so the first time was more nervous about the sequence than the magical effect of the puja?

Guruji: no, that was immediate: everyone felt extremely high. And till silver was not there- the temperature will rise every day, every time we touched it.

the stone itself became warm?

Guruji: it was very hot, so we put this water. Then it remain cool and the fever was not come again.

and You said the material of the base was different- not copper, what metal it was I don’t remember?Guruji: it is still there under the silver. Maybe because silver is connected to the Moon which He is carrying: the fever stopped after.

did Your mood change when the silver was applied?

Guruji: yes, I was too aggressive and violent before that; then sort of calm down.

how did the sadhana change?

Guruji: sadhana became more ferocious. And it continues that way. Then maybe after 2006 the physical changes started: I’ve begin to lose weight, then mantra received- then more severe changes started. I think still changes are there: let’s see, to what level they will continue.

interesting that during corona times every rituals were stopped and only Your puja continued?

Guruji: I think most of that places have lost their powers whatever it was. We have the same routine even in lockdown, no problem – because it’s absolutely personal program not for public. Now we complete 25 years of Shiva worshipping. And this is the best thing which happen. Finding the natural Shivalingam suppose to happen only one time: many different groups were trying that will come to them; I was not trying – so He came to me. Maybe it was some program from behind and I was not aware – so I was not nervous; I started to live in smashan already – and He has to appear there. Only then Nath yogis appeared here.

The author of “The common man” was asked: why not “ the common woman”? And he smiled and said: women can never be common. It is R.K. Laxman – a very great cartoonist, he created the series where the hero was the common man. But women was not common( smiling). It was a big movement – now he more or less settled in it.

FIRST DISCIPLE

how did people start to ask for initiation? The first people, who talked to You?

Guruji: It’s a very interesting incident; I had a friend – Shivanath Vyas and his younger brother – Upendra Vyas, that 107 kilo (235 lbs) man, whom I lifted with one hand. Their father was also practicing meditation, he was something. I was just visiting the market – we were living away from the city in those days, where I experienced my first Samadhi.

I was waiting for some vehicle to take me to that side – and Upendra Vyas came on his motorcycle. He said – hi, Sir! I’m also going there; just give me 5 minutes: I’ll visit my home and I’ll drop you off. Ok, I sat on his bicycle and he brought me home which was hardly 5 minutes away. There his father was waiting. He had a vision about 15 days that at this day, this time a young man will come and he will become your Guru. So he was waiting at this time – and I arrived. He simply got up and touched my feet: make me Your disciple!

You were surprised?

Guruji: Beyond my wildest imagination: your friend’s father gets up and touches your feet, asking you if you make him your disciple; “You have to accept me as Your disciple!” that way it started.

and his son?

Guruji: Shivanath, my friend, didn’t become a disciple – but he became very respectful after that. His younger brother, Upendra Vyas – he became my disciple. Shastri Ji was their friend – so he became my disciple. And the word spread then. They were very famous people in the villages also – the land owners said that if Vyas Ji made him his Guru – then there must be something! That made my reputation in that area. Many people began to come. The first disciple became my disciple before this incident.

How?

Guruji: He was visiting the neighboring house of one of my cousins in Gwalior, so I was there talking – and he also used to visit me; I’ve become the Guru and he just asked me: please, make me Your disciple. Somehow – he did not know Kriya yoga, nothing; but he was good. It was an interesting and entertaining time.

Did he achieve khechari – Your first disciple?

Guruji: No, but Vyas Ji achieved it.

How did his life change after that? If it changed?

Guruji: He was very sick at that time: he recovered within 2 months, absolutely. And with recovery became very devotional. He was that bold person from the story: he thought, that I’m making gold.

He wanted You to share?

Guruji: To learn!

MYSTICAL STORIES FROM THE LIFE OF GURUJI, GOPI KRISHNA

One of the char Dhams; Dwaraka is a main hindu prominent Dham – like Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameshwaram; so we went to unlock them. We went to Dwaraka and then took the thing that we were there to do; when I was told that Gopi Talab was nearby; where Radha Ji and all the gopis – they just went after they heard Krishna’s demise; – and they jumped inside it.

So I had a very strong urge to go there – even if it was not a part of the plan. I tell you: that was the saddest place I’ve ever visited in my entire life. As if the whole nature was weeping and crying – that cry was still there. We were very high in those days; when we’re with full concentration – if you’re here, please, come with us to Govardhan. Otherwise I will start to live here now, anyway. And if you’re coming with us – please, show us a sign. It was sparse land, in an absolutely very hot time – when we started from Dwaraka in a taxi with a small overcast and shower following us from Dwaraka to Jamnagar.

Then suddenly home began to appear and so many fig trees began to grow everywhere, all over; and we found the Shivalingam.

Which month was it?

Guruji: It was during a hot time – maybe May. May 1997.

Did you go to any particular place?

Guruji: To the main temple and inside the temple premise – there was a place: the seat of Shankaracharya. No big deal, it was easy. This was something.

Since then we’re assuming that all the gopis came back?

Guruji: I think they’ve come back – because as we believe from Maha Bhagavatam and it is my firm belief – that Shiva took the form of Radha Ji. And the Shivalingam was bound to happen here- and the OM started on my nails – we must have photographs of those days.

I think in 2008 You still have those photos – You shew…

Guruji: Yes; they kept coming until maybe 2010. And I stopped touching – much less nowadays, so there are less.

Stop touching what?

Guruji: OM in the time of initiation.

You think it's the connection with the initiation process?

Guruji: I think so.

what could You say about this program – Prem Darbar – how it come to You, what is it?

Guruji: I’ve begin to live in this very ancient smashan – cremation area- where Krishna’s 16000 wives were cremated and most of the Bharatpur king’s family and 6 kings were cremated here. We came here in 1993. No one could live here before – I was not aware of that. There was lot of histories and that place was supposed to be the most haunted place of the entire area.

Then in December, 1995 – Mehendipur Balaji, Hanuman Ji contacted me through a medium. He begin to talk, I also begin to talk and I couldn’t believe in the beginning that it is Him, who is talking with me. But over the period of some months some very extraordinary things happened - then I begin to believe that with whom I’m talking.

Then he asked – that medium – that you should put a photograph of Yogiraj – the name Yogiraj was first used by him. And then my involvement with ghost court begin. It is continuing since then – it is now more then 20 years of association. I will say, that he enlarged lot of my understanding of afterlife - how it happens, what people faced after death – he gave me a lot of wisdom in this. I’m thankful to him also. And also in 2013 november, when my sister died of cancer – he helped her a lot after she was dead. He took very-very good care of her and he guided her again back into incarnation. That is another story.

WATCH MOVIES

I remember once during puja the fire in dhuni was almost gone – but You remain totally calm without any worrying: this calmness is the result of Your Shambhavi or Unmani state?

Guruji: maybe – whatever I’ve done in my life to that moment, everything( smiling)

but it wasn’t just Your will power and the showing the poker face?

Guruji: let’s say – I’m used to that, so it’s normal thing. Maybe that day Dhumavati wants to show her presence: only smoke comes. It’s a mystical thing. There is a book “Gorakh Rahasya” – you must read that. In two pages you’ll think it’s my description you’re reading.

I will give you the simplest example – if it comes to that: see, this is knife: you can use it to cut potatoes and tomatoes- and in the evening you stand in the dark corner and you will get enough kitchen money also. Very useful tool!( smiling). I have big collection, big variety of knives. American marine knife, machete of officers from second world war.

It happens slowly- everything happens slowly; a garnet keeps irrigated with hundred pots: but the fruit will come when the plant is ready and season is there. It applies everywhere. But it doesn’t mean we should stop discussing( smiling). I’m discussing with Russians for more than 25 years: this fact is enough to make me paramahamsa.

we saw, that possessed people were communicate not with the man in front of them but with your photo: why it is so?

Guruji: I’m living in smashan, which supposed to be the home of Shiva, in the lap of Goverdhan Maharaj for last 23 years and something happened here. Somehow I became very important for the spirits. They want to communicate with me by some possession or something to receive help. I have to legit them and help them.

we saw that they are calling You – Lord, Master, Yogiraj, Malik – how You can explain it?

Guruji: I like to take my name simply, that my name is Shailendra Sharma. Yogiraj title – when we begin first to talk with Hanuman Ji – he addressed me like that. And when he begin to address me like this – many spirits begin to come to me. It happen like this. Malik – is a usual respectful term from musalman spirits – it’s like Lord or Master, they address for respect.

not only hindu spirits come?

Guruji: spirits are spirits- any spirits can come.

THE STORY OF GURUJI’S MEETING WITH A NAGA SADHU: HANUMAN JI TEMPLES

After selling gold and silver, then I went to see my Guru, where that Aghori episode happened. I came back; then I went to see them again; and they were working very fast: they were giving the time frame — no matter how many workers are there.

In the end of December or early January it was complete; and then they fed about 5 villages — maybe 2–3 thousand people; there was big yagya for Hanuman Ji — and that was that. They always left in the night — so nobody knew which direction they went.

You told Your Guru about this case?

Guruji: he became very thoughtful — but said nothing. Then he sent me to that Aghori friend of his. We had some discussions with those Nagas; they told me not to reveal the direction they were going and not to tell about selling of gold because society is full of greedy people. I was intelligent enough to understand. But I still have not revealed the place where Hanuman temple was built.

So many deep mysteries are floating on a grassroots level which highly educated philosophers keep missing. It is their loss!

In 1988 I went to Kumbh Mela and went through so many Naga babas: I never saw them.

were they immortals?

Guruji: very difficult to say: because then I was not interested in immortality. We were just thinking: Babaji is immortal — and that was the end of it. Maybe; but they were surely long-lived. Such wisdom cannot come so early that at early thirties you become a master of alchemy: that takes a long time. Jo range maya — so range kaya: that is the standard thing on the grassroots level. Any substance which can create gold will also make your body better.

Hanuman Ji is connected with vayu; they smoked chillum — and that smoke I’ve also inhaled.

THE STORY OF GURUJI’S MEETING WITH A NAGA SADHU: DETAILS

have You ever asked Yourself: why they shared this knowledge with You?

Guruji: to know — such things are possible; and it is still happening, it’s not an ancient thing — it’s still contemporary; but these things should be used only for good purpose. That is the hidden message there. They had nothing on them: one chimta and the bag. And they never begged: all villagers were bringing things to them there. And villagers were thinking I’m collecting money and bringing it to them (smiling).

In Kumbha Mela it’s a show thing: the Naga Babas are in front; but I never saw anyone like those two Nagas which I’ve met when I lived at my farm.

how can You define them if they are Nagas?

Guruji: the shape of the body. Those two had no match: very shapely and slim. Usually Nagas are with big bellies. There was one Naga, who pulled a truck full of wheat with his organ; he was very shapely but half of his hairs were gone — he was nearly bald. Otherwise, like them — no one.

as I understand, those two were talking grassroots level; but maybe You can recall the area of their origin, judging by language?

Guruji: no, it was absolutely normal, accentless. See, in Gwalior grassroots language is different than Braj: they were speaking in that. I can also understand the speaker — but it is different than Braj.

that is interesting: You said You never saw Nagas in Gwalior — but they spoke that dialect?

Guruji: we did a lot of inquiries in all those years — no, no Nagas.

GURUJI AND YAMUNA

I remember that story with the python – it’s really scary

Guruji: I’m sure the normal person will never survive that. I was bleeding so much – all limbs turn yellow and only blood was going. Then I thought: if the time has come – I can put my lotus, tell me. Immediate response: two more times and it will be over. Hanuman Ji appeared, Babaji’s signal came – and Shailendra Sharma survived. But the swelling remain for 2 months plus: that time I developed the great compassion for pregnant ladies. You have to walk very carefully when your stomach swelled up and so much pain is there. We have gone through many great adventures here. Big flood came – the water was over my shoulders; all the gates were broken, the force was so much. Two our bulls went missing; so we found one, brought him to this house; another was missing – so we were in the water up to the chin and the current was very great; then something hit me in the navel. Then the lightning came and I saw a python in the water, going away. There was one more disciple who was helping me there; I said – ok, I’m going. There was strong feeling of urination but only blood came. Every 3-4 minutes. It was blood coming – and blood coming out of my navel also. It must be very serious injury. When too much blood was going – all my hands were turning yellow, I was feeling dizzy; then I prayed to Babaji: if my time is come – let me put padmasan. If not – help. Immediate response came: two more times blood will go – then it will stop. Then again I felt for urination – much less blood came, second time – just few drops came and then it stops, nothing happened after. Then after, in 2nd October, the python came out: we had him caught: he was 39 kilos in weight. In goshala I have a photo with him – like a garland. In this place it was an adventure like Tarzan or something. Ok, I survived; I suffered – but I have the great story to tell, that’s the main point.

but You cured?

Guruji: automatically – I ‘ve never consult any doctor, nothing. It took more than 2 months to go down. That’s why I said: those days I’ve developed the great compassion for pregnant ladies. I was walking very carefully: every step was very careful.

but why this happened with You, for what?

Guruji: see, that is another point: we had no water. So when Hanuman Ji was talking: a person should never complain about his physical problems. I asked him: what will we do – we have no water? I was not so mature then. He said: very easily – You go to Yamuna river and invoke it: tell her – please, come- and she will come. It didn’t actually register. Next day Umashankar was here with his car – so we went to Vrindavan. My sister took some milk; feeling very foolish we invoke: Mother, please, come! We need water! We poured the milk – it simply went down. I think that like in a movie some spring of water will come; but you know what happen? Somehow a big canal of Yamuna river broke down and all water came to our campus. But the problem is: We were not knowing it before. It was tremendous force! Such force that the gates were simply thrown away; and we were draining the water of our kund: it was almost 40 steps empty: in 15 minutes it were all overflowing. I was standing in the middle – then the big python came. There is a big population of pythons here. But now we have a story to tell. What is the use of a life, living very simply? If you don’t have any story to tell? We must have some stories.

I even can’t imagine how did You feel when this flood started; You were afraid?

Guruji: no, no fear.

The current was very strong; in this room water was there. My two bulls were missing. The water was rising up to his neck; I caught him, pull him into the veranda – which is Shakti veranda now. Another was missing; we were searching for him. Then in the front of the kitchen – the kitchen was there; I told Mahatmaji to go inside and took something from there. He was inside – I was sitting in the middle of the current, very strong current – and then this thing happened. If the person afraid of water – he will never step into such current. And when we find out – the bull has already climbed the steps and was standing up there with the other cows. He was intelligent. In water your skin is more soft – so you hurt more. Next daysmany snakes were swimming everywhere, many birds were available – because it was raining also very heavily. That was a sight. We were upstairs for three months continuously.

and You heard the voice of Babaji?

Guruji: yes, his clear voice and is vision: two more times thenit will stop, don’t worry.

and You suffered for two months after?

Guruji: it was more than two months; swelling was there – then it started to subside. And you see, that is the beauty of this place: we were flooded; I didn’t even tell it to my sister – it would create the big panic: to see me bleeding. I didn’t say it because it was impossible to go to the hospital: hospital was in Mathura. No taxi, nothing – all flood. I keep quiet. When she saw blood in the bathroom – then she started to cry: what happened? I said: now it is behind us. No medicine, nothing. It took time – but it subsided. How many people you know in your life, who were hit by the python in their navel? When they are inside the water, big flood current is coming – so looking for their bull ( smiling).

It was a major accident; and to be hit on the navel is the very serious thing. It’s a grave injury. But then – compassion for pregnant ladies started. Maybe that was the lesson which I was to be taught( smiling)

but nabhi is very important: maybe it was the only way to activate it?

Guruji: we can think like this – but I talked with doctor: they say usually such wounds are fatal. Very difficult to survive and you deferent even went to the hospital. And it was not possible to go to hospital: 20 kms away, no taxi, water everywhere. It happened in June 1996 – 26th of June. We installed Shiva at 26th of June: some dates are repeating.

It was some very grave internal injury: some blood come out of the navel also. And it is good that it passed away. Thanks to Babaji: he made me survive! We have gone through big adventures here. There are so many: it will take one year to tell them all. I think it makes the life more interesting – if you survive to tell the story. And it helps to pass the time, you feel good: everybody who listens to it in amazement – it also gives a good feeling. And we caught that python finally at 2nd of October. That’s how I remember the date: because my bull’s birthday was at 2nd of October. My sister went to feed him some big amount of sweets; and when they coming back – the python came out of the water. They all come out running. Then we were just stay on the Babaji’s veranda; I went there, then we called the snake charmers, then he was caught. Then they brought him next day to demonstration. Very furious python: he was jumping more than 15 feet – this side, that side…very ferocious python. Then they brought him again – on maybe Shivaratri; he was very lazy and slow so the put him around my neck and the photo was made – it is still hanging inside goshala.

He was more than 100 kgs in weight. Snake charmers are professionals; when forest department came they said – we cannot catch him, he is too big. So we called our snake charmers friends. It was difficult to control him; so one old snake charmer recited some mantras and threw pebbles on that python; and he became drowsy after that. Then he was caught. They put him in a very big bag and 5 people carried him away. Professor was almost eaten by him. He went there to offer his pranam to Nag Shila and he was extremely aware that something is looking at him. He was afraid and come back quickly – and next day we caught him. I said: you would have disappeared. “and how You would have known what happened with me?” I said: whenever we will hear the python has started to give lectures – we will know: yes, professor is inside. We have so many stories. And we never go and ask for them: what you do like to have? They survive on their own: pythons are predators, they survive on small animals. Whenever some cow have some child or the dog giving birth – within a week the python will be caught trying to enter our wall. They smell and they come to eat. But we have learnt to live in harmony somehow.

"Now even local people (in Govardhan) have started taking notice of me. They have always been taking notice, but now finally it’s going in positive direction. Some news reporters had come, they gave us good coverage in local newspapers, about rudraksha and kalpa-vraksha trees in the campus. People are totally stunned reading about it. Last Monday they even published aboutShiva-linga."

"Aren’t people resistant to change?"

Guruji: "In the beginning everybody is resistant to change. If you tell them a new thing, the first response is always, 'No, how can that be possible?'. It's the same situation world over.

"That’s when I thought it was futile to explain. There were a lot of quarrels with the local people in the beginning, so I stopped talking to them. Now these days they are very anxious that I talk to them, let them inside the academy campus. I don’t pay any heed to them.

"All in all it has only benefited me. All these difficulties have developed one aspect of my personality which probably would never have developed. If somebody is coming to fight you, you could only do two things: come out to face them or bow down before them and run away. And if you bow down, you’d never be able to face yourself in a mirror again, if you have even a little bit of self-respect. I took a stand and challenged them to do whatever they could.

"Once about 60-70 people came to fight. I was by myself and with didi [Guruji's sister, Mataji]. We both faced them, and they all ran away ultimately. That boosted our confidence significantly."

"What did they want?"

Guruji: "One thing was that when I came here, they got jealous that I bought such a big place and they couldn’t. And then I stopped their ‘free for fall’ (using campus grounds for 'morning rituals'). So they picked a petty excuse and came to fight. My servants and the watchmen all ran away, only didi and I were left behind. And the furious face and anger that I must have developed – only they saw it, I can only imagine - all of them got scared and ran away."

"Did you get very angry?"

Guruji: "Very angry. I was ready to do anything. If someone keeps irritating you for no reason, then ultimately you can’t control the anger. Though one should have tremendous amount of self-control. If you have extraordinary physical strength, much more than average, that you can lift a man with one hand, and you lose control in the middle of a mob, only the mob will be on the losing end. The consequences may be serious. And here an average man is pretty pathetic, no more than 50-60kgs.

"These kinds of confrontations kept on going. Now we haven’t had one in a few years. Whoever came to openly fight me, they all died mysteriously. And this also created a different type of reputation. If our count is correct, so far 46 man have died in the last 9 years. It’s been very peaceful since then. I didn’t understand in the beginning what was happening. When I understood, I withdrew myself. Stayed inside and didn't engage in fight with them.

"The main point is if you have to do a big task, a proportionally strong opposition also comes. If you are able to face it, things get progressively smother."

"Does somebody keep testing whether you can take this opposition or not?"

Guruji: "Think of it this way: I was introduced as an antibiotic drug here. An infection was spreading on a certain portion of Mother Earth, and I was introduced as with anti-bacterial properties to eliminate the infection. Struggle was inevitable. And what are we in the eyes of Mother Earth, nothing more than virus or bacterias.

"We can see the difference in 9 years. The entire area has changed. Goverdhan Parikrama has gone beyond everybody's wildest dreams! This Guru Purnima, more than 10 million people crossed in 24 hours. Management was very good. After that, suddenly a very eerie silence has spread everywhere. No noise of quarrels, loud speakers, etc. Also, government is taking over management of temples so all the pandas [rowdy caretakers of Hindu temples] are in shock - their source of income is gone. Things are getting better.

"It has been a remarkable series of changes. Government's attention is now finally here. Electricity used to be out for 5 days, which is almost inconceivable in the western society. Now government has ordered 24-hour electric supply, especially in Goverdhan. Tourist department gave a proposal for 66 million rupees for facelift of our campus. They'll do the lighting, full repair, and water supply. We'll only have to pay the bill. Agreement is between myself – the owner of the property - and the governor of UP, that archeological department will look after this property. It is the first time ever in India an agreement like this has been made between a private property owner, archeological department, and the state government.

"It took a very long time and a lot of effort, but things are looking better. We had come in absolute opposition – no friendly person around at all! Nothing beyond thorny bushes and cactus.

"You have set a big example."

Guruji: "I haven’t set this example for anyone else. It's ultimately for my own development. The place started looking better, status increased. All my disciples got inspired, their confidence increased. Because what I have done I have taught everyone. No more, no less. Anybody can do anything. The basic thing is that the man should be prepared. There's an English saying: Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. You have to prepare yourself. And with proper preparation, the team that forms will be of specialists. And ultimately team only performs."

SHAKTI

In 1995 one of my gunman, Kesan Singh – he is no more now; brought a sort of shivalinga-type thing, reddish in color. Just about first of December – about 2 months before we found the breasts of the Shakti. You know me: we’re always discussing and seeing from different sides – he thought, that he found the Shivalingam. I was sitting in this veranda – in the evening he brought it. I took it in my hand and strong feeling came: break it! I just dropped it on the ground – it was in two parts and the small face appeared from inside: I said – oh my god, this is some statue. We begin to clean it somehow. Then my sister came, she recognized it was sindur and wax – it was like sealed inside. She simply boiled it in water and it all came out and Shakti appeared, riding on the tiger or maybe lion. We were continuously discussing and it was there upstairs in one room; then we found another Shakti’s body part.

Then in 2014 suddenly message came to my mind that you must have it build large; so we arranged, try to find the wright artist, who can create it. We found one. This is the best gun metal, high level, the whole statue is 350 kgs. When it arrived in 2016 some another artist came, very famous, he offer to gold plate it which we have done. She was just sitting there; we were planning to put it in the center room but when the statue arrived – it arrived in 2016, we put it there in gallery and then she said: now I will be here. We cancel all the previous arrangement, when her stone thing was created – and now she’s sitting there from 4 th of august. When the statue arrived in 2016 the whole water of the kund became white for 50 days continuously. Amazing thing! And I’m sure: feeling in front is very different now. We have doing enough research for the last 23 years – but we have found no description matching this, anywhere. She is looking very different. And when she arrived, she simply said: no man should touch, to change my clothes or to do thing. Only girls will be allowed to do this. So my niece comes or some disciples – they help her changing the clothes. I just do aarati and pranam – that’s it.

one thing in the right arm looks like kutastha?

Guruji: or let’s say she might be holding all the spirits in her hand. Kutastha means immortal spirit. There is conch shell – we can say it’s a symbol of Anahada naada. The sword – cutting the cord of your ignorance – and from that thing you can drink the nectar of immortality. Already so many things are beginning after she’s in her place. The whole Govardhan is going to be different; 4 billion rupees have been released for improvement of Govardhan – more then 7200 houses will be demolished, inside parikrama is declared that no construction zone. It will be very beautiful in 2-3 years time. The biggest miracle of all – high court ordered for all loud speakers to be off, silent. So after many-many years we’re finally enjoying silence. One thing I missing: when the speakers were on we were continuously cursing them, using every type of bad words – now we don’t know, how to pass the time. Many amazing programs are coming.

HOW I START TO WEAR DARK GLASSES

I was asked – how I start to wear dark glasses? When we got this property from king of Bharatpur – there is a famous temple in Vrindavan, Banke Bihari temple. I said when we will get a good place to live and pay respect, have darshan of Banke Bihari and offer my respect. We got this property in 1993 and 1994 I went to Vrindavan. Some disciple from Delhi came with the car so he was taking me to Vrindavan- it was about 10:30 or 11:00 in the morning.

We stopped at a railway crossing, it was closed. In front of us – I was not wearing glasses at that time – there was a tractor and the trolley, some villagers - they were done parikrama and now they were going back – and they were singing bhajans of Krishna and Radha. I was just looking at them - they were singing really good.

One old man, who was singing, looked at me: to my long hairs and I tying cloths very stylish way, like Rembo. He locked eyes with me – I was looking at him; and he begin to sing very loudly, he stood up – eyes were locked with mine – and he begin to dance in a very different way. All the time the eyes were locked with him. And he simply dropped dead. What happened? He was singing, he was dancing, all the time his eyes were locked with me; I thought maybe some problem with my eyes? Then I cut to avoid eye contact, next day I’ve bought glasses and started to put them on – you see, I got scared. It happened in 1994. But then I tried on some people to look – nothing happened; then I relaxed that was just an accident or coincident and my eyes are not responsible for that man. But then it became a habit – I like it time to time.

I was so shaken up after that. And also comic thing happen: you know me – I’m always telling the stories; whenever I was telling this story – everybody was looking down or aside.

COMING OR GOING

Very profound question came my way: why are You staying in one place? I told them – I was not aware, whether I’m coming or going: so I decided to remain in one place. It was so simple.

I think it’s time now to write a book about my monkey and call it The Adventures of Chunmun Bandaria. In Hindi, bandaria is a she-monkey and Chunmun is her actual name. Her story is the reverse case of Tarzan’s story. Tarzan’s parents died and he was brought up by monkeys. In Chunmun’s case, her mother died and she was brought up by humans. I have never heard of such an incident where a female monkey dies during delivery and the newborn baby falls down from the roof.

Chunmun was born by the fountain in the garden and fell on the ground when she was just two-three minutes old. My big dog caught her and my sister took her from the dog’s mouth thinking her to be a mouse. She was brought to the house and nobody knew how to take care of her, what kind of milk to give her. Cow’s milk did not work and she survived on goat’s milk (luckily, we had a goat at that time). And slowly she grew up… It’s interesting to analyze this story and its timing. There are no coincidences; every coincidence is a will of God. She might be a messenger from Hanuman who has come toprotect me or something like that. You never know. She is very intelligent and sometimes answers to us, reacts to what we say. We believe that she has many mystical powers, siddhis. I feel certain powers in her.

She arrived when I had started to come down with the sickness. One night I had a severe backache. I couldn’t sleep and was shifting in my bed, moaning. Chunmun was awake as well. My sister was present and she said to the monkey, “Why don’t you cure him?” And the monkey stretched her arms outside of the bars of her cage where she sleeps and moved her hands three times towards me and miraculously the pain disappeared within seconds. It has been many months since then and I don’t have to take the painkillers any more. The pain has simply disappeared. Her arrival was right on time. She is now seven years old.

She always sleeps on the bed sheets, covering herself witha part of a towel or a blanket, and always with her feet facing east, never facing any other direction. From time to time you can hear gunshots in the garden. They are fired to scare away the armies of monkeys who come to free the most beautiful princess, bandaria, kidnapped by the humans. At least we believe this to be the reason behind their constant attacks…🙂

THE STORY OG GOVARDHAN HILL

The story of Govardhan hill, Govardhan Giriraj is this: Pulastya rishi, one of the sons of Brahma, very powerful rishi was visiting the father of Giriraj. He saw Giriraj playing in the lap of his mother – wife of Drona Giri, mountain. Pulastya understand, that if he took Giriraj Ji to Benares and will continuously living on him and worship Shiva – some miraculous extraordinary outstanding thing will happen. He simply asked for his father – may I take him? I would like to live on him and do tapas. He said ok. But Giriraj said: he will taking me directly to wherever he taking me. If on the way he will put me somewhere – I will not go from that place. Pulastya rishi was taking him – but something happen, he became extremely heavy here – and he had to put him here. After that he couldn’t lift him and had to leave it here. And he gave him a curse: that everyday you will grow underground by one sesame seed. Till then Govardhan hill was slowly going underground.

When things happen – I came here, I was living in this royal cremation area, we were working very hard to make it live able; and in 1998 we found a natural Shivalingam. Then I call the king of Bharatpur – because it was his ancestor’s cremation spot; I told him what I’m planning to do – what do you think? Next morning he was here himself and said: yes, You install Shivalingam there – nothing can be best for my ancestors. So we went ahead, some money came my way, and we installed the natural Govardhan stone Shivalingam exactly where the king of Bharatpur was cremated in 1893. It was something: everybody was feeling very strange; the moment we putting the Shivalingam one of my dogs simply died – very weird atmosphere. And the man, who was observing Govardhan hill some time after that noticed, that he isn’t coming underground any more. It stopped then and there. We have measuring it and we’re still measuring it – but it remains still. Then after some years the story came to me: it was decreed by some rishi, that the curse of Pulastya rishi will be lifted when the king will die, will be cremated in Govardhan area in moksha bhumi, where 16000 Krishna’s wives were cremated – and he will come in the next incarnation as a yogi and will find somehow the natural Shivalingam in Govardhan Sheela and he will install the Shivalingam exactly on the spot where he was cremated last birth – the Govardhan will stop going underground. And it happened exactly this way. We’re still thinking on that – it was amazing discovery.

Another point is that Pulastya rishi was taking Giriraj Ji to Benares – so he will be able to worship Shiva, living on Govardhan; and I won the lottery: I’m living on Govardhan and I’m worshipping Shiva continuously in the cremation area – most ancient cremation area and most powerful one. I found the natural Shivalingam, which Giriraj providing me; so we still can’t even faith – what results will come or what will happen. Now I’m addicted to that kind of life and I feel good.

FIRST MAHASHIVARATRI

how it was – the first Mahashivartari after installing Shivalingam?

Guruji, what do You feel – what changed when Shakti appeared?

Guruji: In fact – the feeling of the house is very different; the whole area felt different;- I’m feeling different. More peaceful, more powerful – under current are more powerful now, much less disturbances. Govardhan is now much more peaceful. No cars on parikrama, no speakers – that was beyond wildest imagination.

Ashes to ashes; but where outside can you find ashes? That means – there were ashes outside before. Now only dust to dust.

We are living on the goddess – that is Mother Earth.

THERE IS ONLY ONE MAN IN CREATION THAT IS SHIVA

The weather was perfect but with his coming(Shibendu Lahiri) fog and cold came. He said sorry to me. He was holding my hand and inviting me to Benares. It was his fifth visit. All this was big surprise for me. He avoided direct questions.

SERVANT AND THE KING

now the ancient knowledge cannot be attached to the situation?

Guruji: some wisdom is always there; it is a history and we must learn out of it. But this is very deep subject we have touched.

I will tell you one incident: because I remain unemployed, I’m still unemployed; some of my cousins became the senior government officers. And as you have experienced or maybe have not experienced – unemployed person is always looked down upon by those so-called successful people with good job. But I was already Guru in yoga and I was already a yogi – so my confidence was 10 times more than them. One time I’ve got to meet one of my cousins, who has become a district magistrate. I was always ragging him but then he thought that I must pay him some respect because I’m still unemployed.

We started to talk and he asked: whom do you think you are? I said – what should I think who I am? I am what I am.

– why don’t you do something?

– why should I do something? You’re not giving me food, shelter, nothing – why are you worry?

– you think you’re a king?

I said: of course, you don’t know that? I am the king!

He said: how?

I said: this is democracy, where citizens are actually ruling; and I’m a pure citizen: because I’m unemployed – I’m not part of any system, no business, no job, nothing. That means – I’m real public, I’m real citizen, I’m ruling – you’re my servant. Who are you? – government servant. So serve me, I’m the king! That was too much for him. but you see – he was speechless, he never thought about it!

TWO TYPES OF UNEMPLOYED

but servants now live very good…

Guruji: because too many servants( smiling) and not many absolutely unemployed people – so kings are suffering.

to be unemployed is the big adventure…

Guruji: one of the most difficult. There are two sides of it: if you’re unemployed but you’re in some deep art or something – like I was in yoga, I was already Guru in the lineage, which is the very big thing – not many people actually understand it. I was not looking for a job. My unemployment was different than a person who is looking for a job and not finding it. My confidence are different and a job seeker’s confidence will be different. That is of course grace of Babaji.

and it’s different from the person living on government subsides…

Guruji: no, I’ve never taken any help from the government.

what was the reaction of your neighbors and relatives on your decision to be unemployed?

Guruji: they were very much surprised because many people were coming to see me, I always have many friends. Then I became a Guru and somehow people start to come to discuss these things also. Neighbors were surprised: he is doing nothing and he is so popular that so many people are coming.

they try to force You to get some job?

Guruji: initially – then they were tired. And it saved me from marriage also: a perspective bridegroom or a boy should have a good job or something like this. But again I think it is just destiny, it had to be like that. Everything is a miracle: unemployed man, living here – it’s impossible to imagine. Then I’m not only me – I’m representing my parampara. I’m as good as a prince.

it’s the first time such situation in parampara?

Guruji: I’m the first one who remain totally unemployed. Before everyone has some job or other means. The situation is unique.

it was never like that in any parampara?

Guruji: this parampara was started by Babaji himself, that is extraordinary: some immortal being started something – it has to be very mysterious. See the situation now: inside parikrama I’m the only one who is doing spiritual work. All the saint’s ashrams and so-called baba’s ashrams has been demolished by forest department and they are all out of parikrama now. We’re the only one now.

One great dialogue came to my mind, which I said many years before: somebody was asking me – what is your budget? I told him: because I’m unemployed with no income – so my budget is unlimited.

how the events of 9/11 is connected with starting Your dhuni?

Guruji: I don’t know –we just started it and I saw that news on TV; then more and more start coming. Maybe some supernatural phenomena is there. With the digital technologies more and more supernatural phenomenon are appearing on cameras. And after we started dhuni – Babaji begin to blinking eyes more open.

It is said in many our mythological books – puranas: Brahmavaivarta purana, Shrimad Bhagavatam purana – that Radha is the basic nature of Shri Krishna. And wherever her blessings are there or she’s looking with love – nature will be very-very rich here. Whatever we’ve seen, whatever plantation we have done, whatever green we have done – or maybe it is her very good with it. From this point of view and it’s my point of view also – it is direct grace from her. We’re privilege that she made us do that.

This heart belongs to my Gandhi, ghul. He was a great friend and a great companion and the biggest bull of Bogardhan. This is his gift to me. He was fighting with another bull and he broke his sword on exactly Abhor Chatturashi, which is supposed to be the most auspicious thing for Tattate and for Aghori and for Shiva and Samshan. So I found this horse as his gift on that very day. Then we prepared it for growing in Shukhuja and I started from growing. This is a gift from my great friend. His name was Gandhi because he was born on 2nd of October. Exactly on the date of birth of Madhika.

So here is to my friend. Thank you.

To stir? They are making it. They are laying down the pipelines and all things are being done. As soon as possible.

Webmaster's note:

Shri Shailendra has been living in a royal cremation ground in Govardhan, (Mathura district) which is a very important religious place in India famous for Krishna's playground, for last 10 years and rarely goes out.

Anna: Please share the story of how you found Shivalingam and placed it here. What kind of puja and mantra do you use in Shiva temple?

Guruji: Before 1998 we were celebrating Shivaratri for a very long time in the same way: many of my students will gather and we will just do something in the day time and go to sleep in the night time, but the name of this night is a Great Night of Shiva. So in 1998 this thought came to me: If Shivaratri is Shiva’s night - let’s celebrate it properly, the whole night and conduct puja.

I called 5 pandits, priests from my home town (Gwalior) and I’ve got maybe 2 hundred disciples altogether. Back then I had a small Shivalingam so I decided to worship it whole night in this central room. Everybody was supporting it and the milk was pouring on it and so on. So it was good thing.

Then exactly at the midnight I heard a surrounding voice, it was coming from everywhere. Go to the red Samadhi (wooden temple build on the cremation spot of maharaja), and do Bhoomi puja (puja for Earth/Land). Do some ritual to clean the land here. It was a big surprise for me so I took two priests there at the midnight; it was very dangerous looking place and it was very known cremation area, smashan. Everybody was afraid … Now this building looks like a temple, back then it was looking like a nightmare.

I told them do Bhoomi puja, they were shaking with fear but performed puja, the ritual continued till morning… It was done, the whole ritual. Then in the morning I heard the same voice again: “I`m waiting for you for a very long time, send someone to have me picked” and suddenly in my vision I saw a place and immediately declared in front of everybody: “Go and search in such site and you will find natural Shivalingam”. This vision simply came to me.

So on the next day of Shivaratri and on a first day of new moon, disciples began to search for it, but nothing was found. It was discovered the next day on the semi-cross road, where 3 roads are coming together near the Govardhan hill. In one day after Shivaratri, about 11 o`clock in the morning. There was one disciple, Ravi Diwwedi, he is a judge now, he was a student then. He and another man found in soil and brought Shivalingam here. We washed and cleaned it and I measured It’s weight; it was 39 kg. Then my sister took it up in my room and it was in my room for a few months.

Then I informed the King of Bharatpur: “I`m planning to install Shivalingam exactly on the cremation spot of your ancestor. Do you have any objection? “ - even though this property already belonged to me it was a necessary curtosy to ask for permission. It`s an emotional issue for the King’s family, because this land is a cremation spot of their grand grand fathers. Next morning Bharatpur King himself came here about 6 o`clock in the morning with his son. I was surprised: “What happened, what is the reason, why he is here?” He said: “Nothing can be better (for the installation of the Sivalingam) than this place. We are honoured if you do this”.

Then some money came to me and we started to repair this temple and on 26 of June 1998 Shivalingam was instlled on exact place of King’s samadhi. Some extraordinary events happened after installation. Traditional temple opening ceremony back then was supposed to be done on every corner, and on South-West corner there was a snake statue for the worship (because cobra is supposed to be very near Shiva). When the priest was doing that suddenly snake appeared, absolutely golden in colour. We never saw it coming: it was about 10-11 inches, amazingly beautiful, liquid gold-like in colour, with red eyes, red mouth, red tongue... The priest tried to run away so I caught him and told to finish puja.

Finally priest said “now Shiva is at place” (upon compleation of the installation). When we looked to another side and the snake disappeared in a second. We still don`t know whether it was cobra or something else, this beautiful liquid gold-like thing. That was another extraordinary event: the moment I put the Shivalingam on it’s place one of my biggest dog died. Later I was told belief that if somebody will install a Shivalingam exactly on the cremation spot - he will not survive during next 24 hours. I had not know this back then – and the dog had died, yes.

And then there I was: with absolutely no experience about these temple things…. Everybody was going inside of the temple to the Shivlingam; there was no discipline, and whoever touched the Shivalingam would come back with extraordinary high fever and vomiting…

Then I heard the voice again: “Only for you I have come, go and learn how to do the puja from the old priest of Pashupatinah temple” (old Shiva temple located in Katmandu). We set the rules not to enter the altar part of temple. I went to Nepal and contacted an old priest there, he was 90+ then. After listening the story carefully he tought me how to perform the ritual. He also suggested wearing red dhoti. That`s how it happened. Now we are conducting this puja for 20 years continuously.

Natural Shivalingam had never appeared in this area before, it was the first and only time in the history of Govardhan hill. And it is a very great and extraordinary event for us.

Anna: Guruji, and about the statue of Adi Shakti - you found it much later?

Guruji: No, she appeared before, small original statue was found on 27 of January 1994. And first Shakti “body part” was found in 1994 on 1 of December. Other “body parts” were found on 4 of January `96.

First Adi Shakti (small bronze statue was found in front of the gates in 1994) appeared; Shiva (Shivalingam, found and installed in 1996) came after that.

Anna: Can you recall about Shakti’s “body parts” you found?

Guruji: Let’s keep it quiet. These are the main female parts, breast and other parts. (Natural stones, formed in the shapes of breasts and yoni were found in various places of cremation grounds)

Anna: Guruji, why it took such a long time to install the big Murti of Adi Shakti here in altar?

Guruji: Only 2 years passed since I heard the voice: “Now it`s a right time to do it”. Small original statue had been in the house, installed upstairs for a long time. I think Devi’s presence completes the house now, the feeling in the house is different. We don’t know what is going to happen next… Let’s see…

Q: "For example, OM that appeared in Shivalinga?"

Guruji: "Now that the OM has appeared in the Shivalinga, it'd be interesting to see what happens next. It becomes visible when we offer milk to Shivalinga through the bull’s horn, and due to the accumulation of the milk the form gets revealed. It appears as if it is engraved on it. It's nice, but you can't stare at it for long as the eyes starts warming up and they turn blood red, and you also start feeling drowsy after a while. The entire mental activity kind of stops when staring at it."

Q: "Guruji, when does a person start understanding OM? Is it at the highest developed state of the mind?"

Guruji: "Definitely. It is the symbol/word of God, and I feel that this is how Shiva-ji appears in form himself. The Shivalinga is already considered His form, and now with OM appearing on it, it is as if Shiva-ji has put His stamp over His own form. Another amusing thing is that the OM looks quite similar to the one showing in the MRI scans of my brain."

"So how can we interpret this?"

"Well, I am not able to interpret it as of now. All I can quote here is a phrase in Hindi which describes it beautifully, “sab unki kripa hai yeh” (this is all His grace). I think I need more discussions with people so we can find an answer to it. You should also think more about it so we can discuss."

"May be it's date of appearance has some significance?"

"May be. We do see an onset of fighting happening all around, and since Shiva-ji does the dance of destruction (tandava), there might be a relation here. If the fights are happening with the will of God, it won't stop any time soon. Another important thing to note here is the fight with the third biggest oil producing country in the world precisely on the third day of the third week of the third month of the third year (17 march2003). It feels as if Bush consulted some magician to plan this. It all feels very strange."

Guruji- In 1994 when Saint Gaya Prasad ji died. He was cremated in the big parikrama marg and his Samadhi was made there.

So there is a very good artist here, ornament maker, folk singer and performer, his name is Shyam Bihari. Earlier he used come here a lot but now he is not well.

In 1994, i was having a lot of fights here, with pandits and many thugs used to come to obtain money to collect money forcefully so many fights were happening. I accepted to fight instead of giving money to them and decided lets see what will happen also since no money was there to give them and If once you give money to any thug then he just sticks around for more always.

Once we began to be aware of certain sound. It was a very different type of sound coming from the Kund – like a steam engine releasing steam. When the sun went down it began and lasted till sun rose. The whole area was echoing by it, every day – it was very horrible. All pigeons and crows simply dropped dead because of that.

The water turned black there. There was a big tree on top – it dried up. Actually everybody was afraid. Nobody was coming even by the road, nobody would pass at night because the sound was so loud. Many of my disciples heard it. Everybody who came to visit me those days heard it too. Then I decided: “Let us see what it is,” and I tried to contact it.

We were going in the evening there. Before that I had called many snake charmers also, because we realized that it was some huge snake who was making the sound. They all ran away and never came back after they had heard it. They told me: “Tomorrow we will come back,» but they never did.

Even its breath was killing birds just like that. We fetched some owls – may be more that eight ones – and hang their bodies to see because if someone is dying with snake poison, the body remains intact for a long time. For three-four months their bodies were just natural – nothing happened with them. No bad smell came, nothing. At last we buried them.

Sometimes he is seen and felt: when I smell that smell I am sure he is out breathing out or taking air. Some person also saw his eyes looking at him from under water like red torch light.

And he had red beard also – like a male goat. But it was red in color.

The pond is more than five thousand years old but the snake is here for four hundred years – before the steps were built by Kings. Naturally four hundred years back there were no steps, no buildings there – only jungle.

The room I do my practice in is built in a certain way. They created a crossroad inside the cremation area, and the center of the crossroad is in the center of this room. And that makes it mystically very powerful.

In India it is believed that in the crossroad many-many powerful forces live, Shakti is there.

Crossroad inside the cremation area is unheard of. We have it here. So the room seems very different. And I’ve been doing my practice for more than fifteen years now in that room.

Nobody exactly knows why this house was built inside the cremation area. I think it was deliberately made by kings. And I’d like to say that they built this house for me only because nobody lived in it before. One king tried – the last king – but he got seriously ill and had to leave the place.

That’s why we were able to purchase this property cheaply. I think it was a good decision – or maybe it was destined. I am feeling happy here. To find a better place than this in my opinion was not possible for me or to anyone. We got the place so big that I don’t feel like going out. If I was living in a smaller place without garden then I had to go out even to take a walk. Now I don’t have to go anywhere for anything. It looks like destiny to me.

There are one hundred and eight doors in this house. Usually doors are an expensive affair so they are trying to make minimum doors in India. But that house was built by a king so he could afford it. But I think they must be having a certain idea to build this – because this was the center of the cremation area, also in the center of parikrama. Maybe there is a mystery about it.

And the house is twenty-one meter by twenty-one meter. That is also a mystical number. Eighty-four meters. They say that eighty-four thousand births you have to go through before attaining liberation of becoming a human being. So this number – eighty-four – also represents that.

I had some big photos of Lahiri Mahasaya in the inside room and in this one also, and always something happened. The glass broke or it fell down. I tried it more than ten-fifteen times but every time something happened with it. Then I stopped doing it. You will not see any photograph of Lahiri Mahasaya in here – even though I have a great respect for him. Maybe because it is smashan and his photo cannot survive here. In smashan different energy is at work. Not everybody can live in smashan, not every photo can hang on the wall there.

Talking about the construction of the house I may tell that there is an entrance like a hole or something like that. The rooms and the entrance may be interconnected also. Because when we see the roof from inside, it looks like it was plastered from inside, not from outside. That means whoever built these rooms filled them with soil. There must be some connection inside. But it is good, I think to imagine that some of the yogis might be sitting in Samadhi there. Rooms are perfect for that. I am flattered if you think that way. And also this is such a different type of building. If you keep on moving around it you will really take notice that this structure is there. Actually this made me think on that. We were moving for quite some time and we were not aware about this building and we were seeing it every day. But even then it was not being registered inside the mind. That makes it more mysterious. And also there is a story here: some local people, local priest family, thought there might be some treasure inside and they tried to dig the room. And they all went mad and died within six months. Eight people. Now, not a single one of that family is alive here. All are gone. It was, I think two years before I came here. And they all died the same day. They vomited blood, suddenly without any sickness or something and they were asking pardon from somebody. Please, please, don’t, don’t, don’t, please leave me alone. Please I am sorry. And they all died. It’s a very famous incident locally. If my lawyer comes I will make him tell the story of them.

And it is another you can call it coincidence, that the ground plan of this building is the same as of my cottage in Gwalior. The central room, a three-side open veranda, a closed veranda on the back side with a bathroom and an underground cellar. That building was built 130 years back. I was never aware that such a building might exist with the same ground plan. It was a very big surprise for me to see.

I established my yoga academy in 1993 on Shiva Ratri day, officially we registered it and every Maha Shiva Ratri (The Great Night of Shiva) my disciples come from everywhere and we celebrate it (Maha Shiva Ratri or Siva Ratri is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha in the Hindu Calendar – that is, the night before and day of the new moon – editor’s note.). We fast and do puja and practice 1000 songs, do pranayam that day and we eat at night. I got to know that this holiday is called Shiva Ratri that means the night of Shiva so we should keep awake all night and do something to Shiva so I called five priests from my hometown and in this room I had a this big Shiva ling. So we did abhisek the whole night. Many disciples were gathered and continuous abhisek was going on. Abhisek is the pouring of the milk continuously uninterrupted and the priest were chanting mantras. Then exactly around midnight I heard a very deep sounding voice. So I took two priests with me. I went there and it was very horrible looking. It was so fearsome that nobody was going there even in the daytime. Pundits, priests were afraid but I forced them to do puja. Then in the morning, when we were doing the final thing, I again heard it the same voice and the voice said I am waiting for you, very long time for you. Now I want to live with you, send somebody and have me pick up and I will remain with you. So I immediately declared where they should search. I told them to similar place, and search for Shiva ling, you will find a Shiva ling, so they searched that day, next day to Shiva Ratri but they couldn’t find. But the next day it was about 10:30 in the morning it was found by two of my disciples. They brought it here. We weighed it, it was 39 kilos in weight and we cleaned it. My sister took it up in my bedroom. And then I had no money for repairs then suddenly some money came. I think on 26th of June we installed it there exactly where the king was cremated more than 100 years. Then a new system thing began. I learned after sometime that if somebody will put something on the cremation spot he will die within 24 hours and when I was installing the Shiva ling one of my dogs simply died without any apparent cause. Even then I didn’t know what to do, how to do puja. I never had done puja before I start practicing yoga. So whoever touched the Shiva ling had very high fever and vomited hundred times, more than to 100 times in one day. Then I again heard that word that you do puja and first go to Pashupathnath Temple and learn how to do puja from the high priest there. So I immediately went to Nepal, talked with the priest there. He was very old. He taught me to certain thing by doing the puja, the sequence of puja so I am just following it. And when I touch Shiva ling suddenly I feel very high as if I was intoxicated, very highly intoxicated at that time. And even in the middle of winter my clothes become wet. And now it will be 9 years complete one day after Shiva Ratri that means on 18th February we will complete 9 years.

And also it is a coincidence, you can call it a coincidence, Pashupanath Temple structure of is almost similar to our temple, and after my visit within a few months the king was killed. Everything changed, now there is democracy, the whole system is different. And this is also the first time in history of this area. They say they are the best, first time the natural Shiva ling has been found on this holy mountain so it might be the beginning of great change in future. It is a possibility and I can see lot of change starting here. First I found the symbols of Shakhty here – there are 36 of them. And I am happy that most of the Indian sadhus and gurus and saints are going to America but I am happy Russians are coming to here. Because all over, only two countries call their land as mother, Russians and Indians, mother India, mother Russia. I become the owner of this property it is miracle. A person without money and nothing and suddenly becomes owner of this and even governor accepted the ownership, that is a miracle. That means something event is going to happen or it has already started. I will just advise to use your breath and continue your practice, don’t depend on the mood. Mood should depend on you, not you on the mood. So you have to look what you eat.

You see the video with cobra on puja? We see many cobras here, but this time cobra was absolutely different. She was very high and was very-very slow moving. Her eyes were sparkling like diamonds. She was absolutely relaxed – she moved between Shivalingam and Nandi and then remain there – we did puja, all water was falling on her – no reaction. And when I started my damaru – alakh niranjan – she lifted and stay all the time like this. Even after puja she was there. We left the doors open for her to let her go.

Q: and when you go around Shivalingam…

Guruji: no problem.

It will surprise you but I’m not talking with the maids making lunch for last 22 years. My sister trained them so the things keep rotating on their own.

“Like a miracle! An unemployed and suddenly – an owner of a palace! That became possible only with the grace of my guru and Govardhan Maharaja. I am sure it was manipulated by Shiva himself and Babaji”

At present Yogiraj lives in the smashan, practices yoga, initiates disciples all over the world and converses with them on philosophical issues. “My house is open for all true seekers who come to me with sincere heart” — he says. His life being outwardly quiet and regular, you can find incredible events that happen in the life of Yogiraj and his disciples.