Today is the 145th
birth anniversary of my Grandfather, who was born on 1867 and who left for his
eternal immortal abode in December 1949. His name was Devi Das Mehta and he was
born in the Punjab in Northern India. He came to be described as HH Shri Babaji
Maharaj in later days, even as the effulgence of his divine light spread to
those around him.
He was an enlightened
soul who came into the world to spread love and peace and to alleviate the ills
and sorrows of mankind. Indeed such are the enlightened souls who come into the
world and are described as prophets, seers and sages, carrying the light of God
within them. People who come into contact with them instinctively feel this.
Born as the only son
to a millionaire family, he could have chosen to become a rich young man after
the death of his father. But instead he chose the spiritual path and gave away
all his wealth to the poor and those in need. He rejoiced in this renunciation.
Wealth had no meaning for him save that it could be used to help others. Wealth
had become a means of spiritual attainment.
He was one of the
wisest men of his time, and, when in school, he was often dubbed
'Aristotle" and would resolve many a dispute amongst people.
He loved everyone.
There were no strangers for him. What could induce a man to love total
strangers just as much as he loved his own self? Herein lies the hallmark of
the Enlightened Soul.
Multitudes thronged
to him to obtain peace and beatitude and to listen to his words of Love and
Compassion that were a soothing balm to the heart. He was filled with Love and
Compassion for humanity. The sufferings of the world were his own. He could not
bear to see anyone in pain or sorrow.
Here are some of his
quotations of the time:
"I cannot be
content with my own salvation for as long as even one person is in
bondage."
"I am convinced
there is no condition higher than that silence which comes of the abandonment
of all latent desires."
"There is no
state which is higher than mine,
And there is no state
which is lower than mine.
And there is no state
which is like mine."
"I am content
with what God has given me as my share,
And I commit to my
Creator my every care,
To do good in the
past has been indeed His Will,
He will do good as
well in what is to come still"
UNIVERSAL PRAYER
WRITTEN BY HIM
"I adore Thee as
my first beginning,
I aspire after Thee
as my last end,
I give Thee thanks as
my constant Benefactor,
I call upon Thee as
my sovereign Protector,
Vouchsafe, O my God,
To conduct me by Thy
wisdom,
Restrain me by Thy
Justice,
Comfort me by Thy
Mercy,
Defend me by Thy
power.
To Thee I desire to
consecrate
All my thoughts,
words, actions and sufferings,
That henceforth I may
think of Thee,
Speak of Thee,
Willingly refer all
my actions to
Thy Greater Glory,
And suffer willingly
Whatever Thou shalt
appoint.
Lord, I desire that
in all things Thy will may be done,
Because it is Thy
Will,
And in the manner
Thou willest"
For him Life and
Death did not exist. He would say:
"Life is an
order of God that brings man into the world and Death another order of God that
takes man away from the world."
On the 13th of
December 1940, he closed his eyes to the mortal world and mingled into the
infinity of his immortal self, but his Spirit lives on in the hearts of the
good folk of the world. Wherever there is Goodness, Righteousness, Love,
Compassion and Peace, Shri Babaji lives on.
His greatest gift to
the world was his son, HH Shri Bhola Nathji, who was later the Founder of the
World Prayer Day for Peace.
