Sometimes, when the power gets cut while we are asleep, in summer days. We feel great discomfort. Each passing second feels like a minute. Many of us religiously inclined wish to be like the Guru's we follow. When such small discomfort is challenge, we wonder where we will really reach.
The Yearning..
Gulawani Maharaj decided to to take up a job in Mumbai. This was just for survival and he really wanted to focus on spirituality. He could get a job easily, given his high Art qualifications. He wanted a job that would not be an obstacle to his daily Sadhana routine. Unfortunately, this was not possible. He gave up the job search and went to Ganagapur and made resolution to do 7 Saptahs [7 week reading] of the Gurucharitra. It was Hot summer.
He finished the 6 Saptahs and met a Ramal [ a type of an astrologer]. He conveyed his wish of meeting his Guru to the Ramal. Ramal informed him that if the meeting did not happen in this six months, it will never happen. Gulawani Maharaj had made his life's sole aim to spend life with his Swami Mahraj. On hearing Ramal's words, he made reunion with his Guru as the top priority. He finished the last 7th Saptah in just a day. He submitted his sole possessions 2 umbrellas to the Pujari ad embarked on the journey to meet his Guru, without knowing his whereabouts, penniless and clueless.
Tembe Swami was on constant move based on the Chaturmas. Gulawani Maharaj had heard, that Swami Maharaj was doing Chaturmas in south. Gulawani Maharaj first went to Solapur, where he started walking besides the Railway tracks. He kept on walking barefoot in the scorching heat, in the arid region, with just 2 sets of clothes. During the hot afternoon , he would sit by a well to perform Daily rituals, quench is thirst. Once, he starved for 2 days, then found a Brahman household and got some food there. At night, he would find a shelter and rest. This journey went on for 2 months from 6th June,1910 to 3rd August,1910. 700 kms on foot, 700 kms were travelled on Train. Sometimes, he went starved, sometimes he ate in marriages, messes. Gulawani Maharaj embraced all the challenges with open arms. Finally, he was at the Charan Kamal of Paramhamsa Parivrajakacharya Vasudevanand Swami Maharaj, at Havnur.
Next blog will have the sweet fruits of this effort and his days spent with Tembe Swami Maharaj
Accounts taken from Shades of Divine grace (Thanks to Vasudev Niwas)
