AHAITUKI BHAKTI OF THE MAHARAJ JI

The word ahaitukī means “without reason.” A pure devotee does not render loving service to the Personality of Godhead for any cause or for any benefit, material or spiritual. This is the first symptom of unalloyed devotion. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam: (CC Madhya 19.167) he has no desire to fulfil by rendering devotional service. Such devotional service is meant for the puruṣottama, the Supreme Personality, and not for anyone else.

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This role model of how a Bhakta’s bhava must be is duly demonstrated in this translation from the Shree Bhagwatam. There is no match to the Bhakti of a true devotee. One day when Krishna had a bad headache, he requested Sudama to get the dust from a devotee’s feet which would cure his headache by application on his head. Sudama asked many devotees but they fearfully refused because they thought it was sinful to offer their feet’s dust to the Godhead. But the Gopis very lovingly and surely offered the dust as their devotion only was directed at Krishna’s service without any mind of sin.

However, the Guru himself embodies the concept of AHAITUKI BHAKTI to his disciples. He never abandones his true devotee and exemplifies this by his own leading example. No matter we forget the Guru, we forget to pay gratitude for all that we have received, we are unkempt in our attitude of devotion, and fail to trust in the windfalls of his grace, The Guru never forgets to shield us and protect us. he constantly reminds us subtly from within and without that he can never go away even when he leaves the physical form. he laughs at our identification of him being a body and this is the reason why even after many Siddhas drop their bodies, their living presence can be felt and even corroborated by many incidences from real lives of devotees. Maharaj Ji fondly called so, Neem Karoli Baba was one such saint.

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With no grand teaching to offer of any sort, he is the notorious one who still becomes present to anyone and everyone who beckons him with pure love. In my own life, after he graciously touched me a few years back, he ensured that even in the windows of my forgetfulness, he came rushing to guide, help and most of all unconditionally love me when I became desolate and lonely. The Shaktipat transmissions of his love have enabled the wellsprings of love and compassion to erupt from the frozen glaciers in my own heart. The name of “RAM” has filled the depths of my own being and the most important thing to report here is that he has never asked for me to love him or remember him. It is sahej and natural and there is no technique or formality here. One knows it clearly when the heart and eyes both brim without any reason at the remembrance. Maharaj Ji’s pathless path is the way of love, service, truthfulness alone. He saw God in everything!

May we all rely on THE AHAITUKI BHAKTI of our Guru and never doubt that. That itself will be enough devotion!

JAI SIYA RAM!

JAI HANUMAN!

OM GURU!