XXII
District Collector Becomes Mai-ist Overnight
In or about the year 1933, Sri A.S. Mundkur, Collector of Belgaum was camping in the travelers’ bungalow at Nipani. Maiji as land acquisition officer happened to be occupying another block in the same building. The two officers got acquainted and became friends.
One Friday evening Maiji was sitting in his room. He had to go to Belgaum in an hour to conduct Mai Worship that night. As there was enough time, he was sitting before Mai's Picture praying. Just then, the Collector entered the room without observing any formality and saw his friend praying. Now, Sri Mundkur was an agnostic. Practice of religion was his bete noire. Being by nature an outspoken man, he said without mincing words: “What do I see? Do you believe in religion, after all your education and contact with science?". Maiji was taken aback by the violent though sincere outburst of Sri Mundkur. He nodded affirmatively, but before he could say anything, the other continued; "I hate religion, it is a great humbug; it has created so much havoc in the world". He went on in the same strain for the time and when he stopped, Maiji gently joined the issue by saying, “You may have your reasons for what you have been saying. Now, is there a God?"." There may be", the other answered. “But not the way you...“ Maiji interrupted his remark saving. “Do you agree that there must be some law for the smooth running of the world?”“Surely", countered the other, “But not such foolish”. Again the saint interposed; "If you were the legislator, what would you lay down?”,“Nothing, nothing at all”, the Collector thundered, “Only, live without hurting others; help others as much you can”. Maiji suavely asked, "If religion means this...” It was Mundkur's turn to interrupt; he did it in a heated manner and vociferate: “Don't pull my leg. I was not born yesterday. I have studied all religions; I have had discussions with Swamijis, Moulvis and Reverends. I know there is none”.
It was about time for Maiji to leave for Belgaum. So he suggested the discussion might be continued later as he had to catch a bus in a few minutes. Sri Mundkur politely offered his car, adding a trifle triumphantly: “That is my religion, to put my car at your service". The saint thanked him and before entering the car gave him a copy of Mother's Message' (which contained, in short compass, the essential features of Mai-ism) and requested him to glance through it.
On his return from Belgaum the next morning, Maiji was agreeably surprised to find the District Collector running down to open the door of the car repeating “Jai Mai”. Anticipating the Saint's question, Sri Mundkur said “Conversion in a night! Universal. No bitterness of individual religions!!! Religion itself means Love and Service. Even an atheist is religious if he lives the life of Love and Service. Wonderful!"
They became life-long friends. Sri Mundkur used to approach Maiji in all difficult situations, whether temporal or spiritual. When some Christian Missionaries of Ratnagiri took charge of two Hindu orphans, there was great uproar among the people and in the Press. Sri Mundkur in whose jurisdiction the event had taken place came in for much adverse criticism. He sought and got Maiji's advice. As suggested by Maiji, the Collector announced that any Hindu was free to take charge of the children within ninety days, after which time, if nobody came to do it in the meanwhile, the Missionaries would adopt them. That gave the quietus to the agitation. Needless to say, none came forward.
XXIII
Mai-ism Makes Headway
Jyoti' a local newspaper of Nadiad had on its editorial staff, a pious man by name Keshavlal B. Pandya. Having heard and read glowing reports about Maiji and Mai-ism, Keshavlal went to Poona to meet the Founder. However, the orthodox Sanatanist was very much disappointed with the discussion he had with the saint. There was no reference to Adwaita, no talk about Atma-Paramatma, Vyashti Samashti, Microcosm-Macrocosm interconnections, no mention of the Vedas, no quotations from the Upanishads or the Geetha, Maiji talked in plain language about Universality, Love, Service, Devotion and Surrender to the Divine Will. Even Amba, Kali or Bhavani were not mentioned. Reference was only to Universal Mother Mai.
At the end of the talk Maiji suggested they might worship Mother. The dejected visitor said he did not mind. But the usual paraphernalia of orthodox Hindu worship was not found there and he was at a loss how to worship. When he expressed his difficulty, Maiji simply said," Do whatever you like, Sing, dance, meditate, prostrate, do what you like best. There is no stereotyped method in Mother-Worship".
Keshavlal offered to do Arathi. Camphor was put on a plate and lighted. Repeating the hymn that is usually repeated on.
On such occasions, the visitor began to wave the light in front of Mother's Picture. Before he could complete the first line of the second verse, Keshavlal had full Vision of Mother. The plate crashed to the floor as he fell unconscious. When he came to, the man began to roll on the ground, sobbing, shedding profuse tears and saying “Oh, Mother, I did not know Thee! I did not recognise Thy Devotee".
It took quite a long time for Keshavlal to return to normal. When at last he did, Maiji asked him if he had any difficulty in making spiritual progress. “What more do I want?” Was the grateful rejoinder; "You have showered on me the Actual Vision of Mother. You have introduced me to Mother. What more do I need?".
Before taking leave, Keshavlal volunteered to do Mai's work, much to the gratification of the Saint who gave him a sanctified Picture of Mother with his blessings.
Keshavlal put his best foot foremost and worked diligently for the propagation of Mai-ism. Jyoti' had been renamed 'Shakti'. Maiji regularly contributed articles to the paper. Public opinion gradually began to appreciate and accept the principles of Maiism; the untiring zeal of Keshavlal (who came to be known as Kanishta Keshav) and his brother Markandray Vasavda (Mai Kalapi) helped the movement considerably. Nama yajna was organized by the brothers. Several crores of times the Mantra Jal Mai' was written by thousands of devotees from several cities, towns and villages. More than a hundred Mai Mandals were organized at different places each with a membership of 100 to 125.
A few years later, Keshavlal felt like renouncing the world.
After a long talk, Maiji convinced him that he could work out his salvation even without taking Sannyasa.
The mistake that earned a dividend
A woman living with her daughter in the suburbs of Poona, decided one day to pay a visit to a friend living in the city. She went alone asking her daughter to follow after finishing the household chores. The girl after completing her work went to the building her mother had gone to. She knew the building but not the number of the flat her mother was visiting. So, she knocked at random at a door which was opened by a middle-aged man of gentle and noble aspect, with a smile of welcome on his face. "Is mother here?” Asked the girl with the innocence and directness characteristic of adolescence. "Yes yes, She is here. Come in”, replied the gentle host. Together they entered a room and Maiji-for it was he who had opened the door-took the young visitor to Mother's picture, did Arathi and gave her Prasad. The girl was well-bred; she did not show her surprise and disappointment, but took the prasad, thanked her self-appointed host and left.
The girl located her mother in another flat and related her adventure. Together they went to Maiji's room as the elder woman had heard about the saint. The latter realized the mistake he had made and felt a bit ashamed. He also felt grateful to the girl for having accepted his hospitality without showing any displeasure. He addressed the visitors: "I am Mother-mad. If anybody mentions mother, I immediately assume that Universal Mother is meant”. To the girl he said, " You are a wise girl. If you have any trouble, I will ask Mother to remove it". It was the older woman who replied: “We are unhappy Sir, her husband is in Africa ''. Between sobs she added: "No letters, no money". Maiji placed his hand over the girl's head and said consolingly, " Be of good cheer. In nine weeks you will get both a letter and money from your husband". The prophecy was fulfilled within the time mentioned.
Bulbs burn without electricity:
Vachan Siddhi Again
Young Mrs. Desai, member of a wealthy aristocratic family, was an ardent admirer of Maiji. She had very little religion, she never did any worship, never repeated any prayers, never made any offering to Mai. But she had absolute faith in the saint. She had hypnotized herself into thinking that Mai-Swarupa was Mai in human form and that whatever he promised must happen. There were many instances. She would approach the saint with the obstinacy of a spoiled daughter and wheedle him into promising that so and so would get a promotion in service, that such and such student would pass the examination, etc. as the occasion demanded. All those promises were redeemed by the Grace of Mai.
One evening she happened to accompany Maiji from Dadar to Sion. Due to stormy weather, the current had been cut off and the whole locality was in darkness. Maiji and the party had gone to a Mai-devotee's house. When food was served Mrs. Desai refused to eat and obstinately asked Maiji to order the lights to burn saying she would not touch food unless the lights came on. Just to please the devotee who was like a daughter to him, Maiji prayed for the lights to burn at least for the duration of their eating. And Lo! immediately lights in the room began to burn.
Mrs. Desai was once foolish enough to advise Maiji to practice Pranayam. The saint declined to do as desired by her. That evening, she had a strange experience. When she was sitting alone in her room, she suddenly began to see Mother's Forms everywhere, on the walls, on the Sofa, on the chairs; wherever
she looked, she saw Mother. She got frightened and rushed to Maiji and begged pardon for having given him officious advice. Maiji accompanied her to her room and all became normal.
XXIV
Mother Acts as Nurse;
Mother Sees a Picture
Maiji was transferred to Ahmedabad in 1934. The news of the Sisters' Social at Poona and the opening of the Mother's Lodge had preceded him. The local newspapers had given a good write-up about Mai-ism and Maiji. So it was easy for him to get the cooperation of the intelligentsia for spreading Mai-ism. The Theosophical lodge particularly extended full co-operation.
In September 1934 Maiji was taken ill and was admitted into the Government Hospital. On 13 September an operation was done.
God in many roles God always takes good care of the devotee and in so doing, often plays strange roles and does amazingly odd things. Lord Sri Rama ate with gusto the half-chewed fruits offered by Sabari. Lord Shiva felt happy to receive on his face the gargle of the hunter Kannappan. For twelve long years did Lord Krishna do menial work in the house of Eknath. When Sakhubai was tied to a pillar and locked up in a room by her husband and his parents to prevent her from going to have darshan of Lord Vithal of Pandharpur, the Lord Himself assumed the form of Sakhubai and allowed Himself to be tied up in place of the devotee enabling her to go. Kabir's wife, who had sold herself to a rich antinomian rake in exchange for food to feed her guests, was rescued by God arriving in the nick of time in the guise of a policeman. Narasimha Mehta, in dire need of money for his daughter's marriage was told in a dream to draw a hundi on Seth Samaldas and Lord Krishna himself appeared as Samaldas and accepted the hundi. To avert trouble to Guru Nanak, the Lord mercifully ed the granaries depleted by Nanak who had made free distribution of the grains among the hungry. Bhaktha Shikhamani Poonthanam, who was attacked by two robbers in a lonely place. be saved by Lord Krishna appearing as a soldier at the crucial moment.
It is not surprising, therefore, that when Maiji was in the hospital, Mai played the part of a nurse.
At 2 a.m. on the night of the operation, Maiji lay in bed swathed in bandages. He was restless and had severe pain. It was calm and quiet outside. The entire hospital seemed asleep except Maiji. In that stillness there was a gentle rustle of silk near the saint's bed. He saw with half-closed eyes the beautiful majestic form of Mai bending over him, gently untying the bandage and bestowing a benign glance on the wound. Immediately all physical pain stopped. Mother had two female attendants by Her side. Carefully and unhurriedly the self-appointed Nurse restored the bandage to its original position and left the room followed by Her assistants. Three successive nights (13th, 14th and 15th September 1934) Mother made Her appearance. The third night (15th), the patient moved his hand over the bandage to make sure he was not imagining the Presence of Mai. Mother smiled and left; She did not appear the following night. Doubts began to assault Maiji. Had he been dreaming? Had he actually seen Mother?
(Another patient, one Thakore had been a silent witness of the whole incident and he broadcast the affair after le was discharged from the hospital. But that was much later. Maiji did not know that someone else had also seen the Presence).
The result of entertaining doubts about the Divine Ministrations was that Mother did not appear the fourth night(16th).
Next morning (17th) the scavenger of the hospital, a pious old man stood before Maiji with folded hands and said: “Sir, Matai did not come last night”. Maiji was stunned. Here was proof if any were needed that Mother had come three nights. The small remnant of doubt that lingered in the saint's mind vanished. He felt like prostrating before the scavenger who not only had the good fortune to see Mother, but also had the capacity to accept what he saw without harboring doubts. Here was proof again, that riches, education, social position, good dress and bodily cleanliness were not indispensable for receiving Grace. Innate goodness and devotion were the essential requisites. After that Maiji made the man sit on a chair by his bed, whenever he entered the room.
Mother continued to be absent. Every night Maiji would wait for Mother, with hope, eagerness, expectation and a trace of anxiety. As night follows night without Mother making Her appearance, the saint became very sad. Five consecutive nights passed and no Mother. The next day was Friday the twenty-first of September. Maiji was in a state of unbearable mental agony. He almost reached breaking point. In a paroxysm of grief, he began to shed tears.
Can any mother look with unconcern on a dear child shedding tears, however neglectful or forgetful the child has been? To Mai Her beloved son's sorrow was unbearable. She manifested Herself and peremptorily asked Maiji to stop weeping. She even playfully threatened to disown him if he shed any more tears. What a change was there in the atmosphere of the room! The clouds lifted; the sun shone; the slough of sorrow and despair was replaced by the solid comfort of Mother's radiant Presence.
The Saint burst into song. "Hasane Hasaane Vali..." (Smiling and smile-evoking Mother...) was the song composed and sung
impromptu by Maiji in an extremely ecstatic emotional effluence of exulted devotion. The song has been published along with other compositions in Kirtan Mala.
As stated before, there were two witnesses who had seen her in the hospital, the patient Thakore and the scavenger. Quite naturally the whole neighborhood came to know about the incident. It might well be that Mother wanted it that way and had planned the incident as a mode of making Maiji and Maiism better known to the people. It also serves to show that Mai has chosen Maiji as her Apostle. The following incident will further support the statement.
Why Markand Mai?
Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai' is the most powerful basic Mantra in Mai-ism. One day a devotee named Gopal asked Maiji why the name Markand should be coupled with Mai's name. He was of the view that 'Jai Mai Jai Gopal Mai' would be equally effective in affairs concerning himself. Not being able to answer the point without unduly praising Himself, Maiji kept silent. Not long afterwards Gopal had a fever. He repeated 'Jai Mai Jai Gopal Mai', No result. He then tried simple 'Jai Mai'. No result yet. Suddenly he heard a voice saying "My son's name is dearer to me than my own”. Gopal realized his mistake, began to repeat Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai '' and soon got better.
Mother sees a Picture
A young man became mentally unbalanced due to the untimely death of his beloved wife. His relatives who were followers of Maiji entrusted the youth to the care of the saint. Maiji accepted him as an inmate of his house and slowly and steadily brought him almost to normality by sweet and spiritual discussions. But one day the ward startled his host and mentor by saying: “Mai-kaka, Mother had come a little while ago. She asked me to take you to the cinema”. Maiji stared at his protege in sorrow and disappointment. He tried to divert the other's attention by a change of topic but the young man was tenacious, Nothing could deflect him from his purpose. He continued. "Mother said” Mai-kaka is overworked. He needs some relaxation; perhaps, he thinks a religious worker would lose merit by seeing the cinema. Tell him I will be there. Bring him. Don't fail. The saint feared that all his labors were lost. Anyhow he thought it would be wise to humor the other and began to talk as if going to the theatre was a normal and usual matter. Suddenly, he shot a question; "What Cinema? Which theatre? “Without stopping even for a second for reflection, the other said, "Why, The Globe, didn't I tell you? Mother mentioned the Globe".
The show at the Globe that day was "Maya Machendra". Master and disciple took their seats and the show began. The young man was as restless as a cat on hot bricks. Every now and then he would leave his seat, go out and come back. Maiji also was restless-mentally. What could have gone wrong in his dealing with the young man? He seemed to be very much improved and now all of a sudden like a bolt from the blue the story of Mother wanting to see the cinema or Mother wanting him to see the cinema has been hurled at them. Or after all could it be... The lights came on for a short spell and the youngster began to shout “See there Mai kaka, there, there, there sits Mother on the balcony". Maiji also had seen Mother and was gazing at Her in amazement. In a flash Mother left Her seat and went out. Maiji and his companion also hurried out, only to see Mother entering a car and disappearing.
XXV
1935 - 1936
Mother lights the way
Maiji was in Ahmedabad in 1935. He was rather impatient at the slow progress of Mai-ism. One midnight, he left his residence in disgust and went out into the street saying: "This is Thy world. Thou and Thy world. Do whatever Thou likest. The response of the world is Thy doing. I have nothing to do with it”. The serried rows of bungalows facing the street were all in complete darkness, the inmates presumably having retired for the night. As Maiji walked along the street, a very curious thing happened; a light would open from every fourth bungalow; as each succeeding light opened the preceding one was closed. It looked as if the lights opened of their own accord to help Maiji see his way. This happened the whole way from Pritamnagar to Bhadra. Suddenly Maiji began to laugh realizing Mother's playfulness and retraced his steps with the same lights opening and closing as before. Not long thereafter he became acquainted with Kaushik Ram Mehta.
Kaushik Ram Mehta was an erudite scholar and writer, well versed in the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Shastras; he truly represented the ethos of the orthodox community to which he belonged. He was a staunch establishmentarian of the Hindu rituals, worship and prayer. However, he was blessed with a sense of moderation and tolerance and was willing to view new ideas with an unbiased mind. He had heard reports of Maiji's personal dealings with Mother and of his ability to intercede with Her for removing the miseries of others. But he would not take the reports for gospel. He would himself test Maiji before deviating
from established practices.
One such established practice was the exclusion of Harians from congregational worship conducted by orthodox Hindus. The famous Bhadrakali Hall on the bank of river Sabarmathi was once made available to Maiji for lecture and worship. But there was a string attached to the permission. The sacred precincts of the hall were not to be polluted by the presence of Harijans. Needless to say Maiji declined the offer.
It may be happily recorded here that eminent persons like Sri A.G.Usman, Sri Maherjibai Ratoora, and Sri A.S.Ayyangar (muslim, parsi and hindu respectively) gave unstinted support to Maiji because of the universality preached by him.
Kaushik Ram made several tests for about a year, to understand and assess the extent of Maiji's powers. One test was that Maiji's figure should appear to him during meditation. The subtle unspoken challenge was suitably and promptly answered. When at his usual time of meditation, he tried to concentrate his mind on his favorite Deity, he found, to his utter bewilderment and amazement, that the form of Mai Swarupa occupied his mental screen to the exclusion of everything else. Try he never did so hard, he could not banish Maiji's form from his mind. And Kaushik Ram was a meditator of not mean order.
One day the Sanatanist leader said to himself "Well, I want Mai Swarupa to come to me immediately." Within a minute the saint was found walking towards him.
One more test may be mentioned. Kaushik Ram was on way to his house in Surat. He said to himself. "I shall return in a few days and go straight to the Bhadrakali temple during office hours. If instead of being in his office I find the land acquisition officer in the temple I shall know that he is no ordinary man. That too happened.
Finally, Kaushik Ram Mehta and others of his way of thinking concluded that whether you accepted the teachings of Mai-ism or not, Mai Swarupa had great influence with Mother, Kaushik Ram openly prostrated before Maiji and addressed him as Pratyaksha Mai (Visible Mother). He actively began the work of propagating Mai-ism. It was a wonderful transformation from orthodox conservatism into altruistic cosmopolitanism. The transformation will be evident from the following sentences extracted from a letter sent by Mehta to Maiji: “You have been revising the deepest and subtlest truths known hitherto only to Gurus or Masters but hidden from the laity. As skepticism and rebellious spirit go hand in hand with the increasing intelligence of the age, it needs the higher type of spiritual exposition which Mai has entrusted you with”.
When Maiji was transferred to Poona, he made Kaushik Ram Mehta President of the Mother's Lodge at Ahmedabad.
Parixit Raiji: On his way to Poona Maiji was met at Bombay by Parixit Raiji, the son-in-law of Kaushik Ram. Raiji was employed in Bombay and liked the place. But he expected better salary at Ahmedabad and was wistfully considering whether he should leave Bombay or not. When he explained his position, Maiji assured him he would prosper in Bombay if he would conduct Mai Worship regularly on Fridays. Raiji agreed and Mai was installed in his house in Tagore Road, Santa Cruz. That was in 1936; in a very short time Raiji became very prosperous.
Mataji: Mention has been made in chapter XII about a saintly woman who was called Mataji by her followers. In 1936, Maiji happened to meet her at a friend's house. Mataji resented the respect people showed Maiji. She scoffed at Maiji by asking: "Do you think mere knowledge is God's Grace? Can you say what is happening now in Bombay or Ahmedabad? Show me what powers you have". Maiji meekly stated he was a mere nothing. That night the lady had a dream in which her Guru residing in Mount Abu appeared to her and sternly reprimanded her for having insulted an exalted personage, whom he himself held in high esteem. The next morning the lady went and apologized to Maiji for her words.
Mataji had a few hundreds of staunch followers including some persons of high social standing. Once there was great dissatisfaction among the inhabitants of Mount Abu against the imposition of a new tax. Mataji's followers looked upon her as their saviour. She had to do something. In a fit of bravado she said she would march at the head of her followers and smash the government. She must have fully realised the futility of the proposed action. So after marching for some distance she suddenly stopped and said she should consult her friend Mai Swarupa before going further. As she had foreseen. Maiji dissuaded her from doing anything rash. That was a face-saving piece of advice which enabled her to withdraw without loss of prestige.
XXVI
1937 - 1938
Elizabeth Sharpe
Miss Elizabeth Sharpe, F.R.G.S., F.R.E.S., M.R.A.S etc. had become famous as a social worker. She had done commendable work in stopping animal sacrifice in the name of Mother at Kathiawar. She had heard of Maiji and his work and wrote to Maiji giving her full support and encouragement to Mai-ism activities. Maiji has recorded that Rev. Sister Sharpe had an exalted and true notion of Mother as mother.
Anantakrishna Shastriji: His commentaries in English on the Lalitha SahasraNama are acknowledged on all hands to be
the most authoritative. But they were in accordance with the orthodox Hindu conceptions of God. Maiji wrote his own commentary harmonising the text with the principles of Maiism. He changed a few words, deleted a few names and added some new ones. He gave his own explanations and meanings to the various names. Before sending the matter to the press he desired to get Shastriji's views about his book. It has to be mentioned that Shastriji was a man of indomitable spirit who had once fearlessly dictated terms to a ruling Maharaja. He never bowed to anybody. Any applicant requiring his help had to go to him. But when he received Maiji's letter requesting him to peruse the manuscript he actually went to Maiji accompanied by his scholarly wife Smt. Parvati Ammal.
It was the morning of Friday 29 October 1937. Both Shastriji and his wife had perused the manuscript. Maiji wanted to know whether any changes were necessary. The visiting Savant replied. "You are specially chosen by Mother for this. How can I dare break the Sanctity by my human dabbling ? This is dictated by Mai Herself”. Just then Parvati Ammal intervened and said “I beg to differ from Shastriji”. Maiji was taken aback. He respectfully stated that her suggestions would be accepted. The lady thereupon laughed and said: "I have no suggestions, Shastriji said Mai has dictated the whole thing. I say Mai Herself has written the entire manuscript. That is the difference."
Divine Fragrance
In April 1938, Maiji was speaking to the devotees of Ahmedabad after Friday worship. The subject happened to be the names Suvasini and Suvasinyarchanapreetha (970 and 971 of Lalitha Sahasranama). When the meaning was being explained, there wafted into the hall, most unaccountably, a very delicious fragrance to the utter delight and amazement of all present.
Garland falls on devotee
It was June 3, 1938. Maiji was talking to a circle of devotees about the need for spreading the gospel of universal love and service amongst all, assuring them that Mother would help those who served others. Then Maiji looked at Mother's Picture and asked: “Mother, am I not right? Please tell me". As if in answer, flowers and garlands on the picture slowly slipped and fell into the lap of a devotee. It was not a sudden fall; first one garland slowly untwined itself from the nails and gradually fell; then the second and then the third.
Two other important incidents that happened in 1938 - the settlement of the Hindu-Muslim dispute at Nasik and the incident of the aggressive beggar, who broke Maiji's fingers have been narrated in chapters XV and X respectively.
XXVII
1939 - 1941
Mai garlands Maiji A year after the incident of the Divine Fragrance narrated in the previous chapter, Maiji was again in the prayer hall at Ahmedabad. Some devotees happened to refer to the mysterious perfume that had whiffed into the hall in April 1938, when the Saint was explaining the words, “Suvasini” and “Suvasinyarchana Preetha”. Thereupon some others requested Maiji to show some miraculous happening which would increase their faith in Mother and Her readiness to help Her devotees. "What do you want to see?”, asked the saint. One devotee said he would like to see Mother give Her garland to Maiji.
Maiji stood at a respectable distance and prayed. Nearly a third of the circumference of the garland had been pressed between the wall and the top edge of the picture-frame. There was no wind. Not a leaf stirred in the compound. As Maiji stood praying, the garland gradually got loose, flew in the air, fell over his head and settled on his shoulders. It was as if an unseen hand had slowly and deliberately removed the garland from the picture and put it on Maiji!
Fire blazes from the wet altar
At Ville Parle (Bombay), a devotee had made elaborate arrangements for the celebration of Navaratri in October 1939. Several people had been invited. Maiji was the chief guest. As ill-luck would have it, heavy rains fell and the whole place was drenched. The sacrificial altar was full of water. Everyone was disappointed. An atmosphere of gloom pervaded the scene. The host was stricken with sorrow. Maiji's kind words could not console him. He began to lament that he had somehow incurred Mother's displeasure, and She was meting out this punishment to him.
Maiji stood beside the altar and addressed Mother aloud in tones of deep devotion: "Mother, who will be Thy devotee if Thou dost not give encouragement and proof of Thy Mercy at every step? See, here is Thy devotee; he is depressed. The world lashes us and Thou dost not take any heed. Does it befit Thee? Does it be fit the Divine Mother, The Most Merciful Mai?"
No sooner were these words uttered than there was a blaze of fire as high as seven feet above the wet altar. The blaze remained for about ten minutes till Arti was finished.
“Mother and Mother's Thousand Names" (covering over 750 pages) was published in 1940-1941.
XXVIII
1942
The Uncanny Bitch
Maiji was in Hubli in 1942. The very first Friday after his arrival there, a very grand Mai-worship was held in his bungalow with plenty of rich sweets as prasad. During distribution of sweets a bitch happened to stray into the hall and was mercilessly driven out with sticks by the devotees, much to the disgust and displeasure of the saint.
It was past midnight when the last of the devotees left. All alone in the bungalow Maiji locked the doors and went and stood before Mai's Picture, with mixed feelings of pleasure and pain.. pleasure at the unexpectedly large attendance at the worship so soon after his arrival and pain at the merciless treatment of the poor animal. After communing with Mother for a short time, he laid himself down to sleep, foregoing food in poignant memory of the bitch chased out unfed. Then, the most amazing thing happened. The bitch he had seen running out of the hall to the accompaniment of vociferous shouts and waving of sticks slowly crawled out from beneath his bedstead. It licked his face and with its teeth gently clamped on his garment tried to drag him towards the kitchen. Maiji felt immeasurably happy. He led his canine guest to the kitchen, worshipped it, caressed it and shared food with it. With tears of joy he went to bed again, thinking of the ineffable playfulness of Mother. After a while he looked around to see how his self-invited guest was faring. It was nowhere to be seen. All the doors had been locked but the creature had disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared.
In the Witness Box
A large area of land had been acquired for the purpose of building a college in Poona. Maiji as Land Acquisition Officer had prepared his valuation. The owner of the land was dissatisfied with the compensation fixed by Maiji and took the matter to
court. He engaged an eminent lawyer from Bombay to conduct his case, Maiji was the most important witness for the State. The Counsel from Bombay found to his chagrin that he was not making any progress in his attempt to shake the evidence of the Land Acquisition officer and that he was unable to make any dent in Maiji's expertise on Land Acquisition. Suddenly he changed his method and going far afield began asking questions which were not quite proper. The saintly witness smiled and said the question was not germane to the point in issue. The court hall was crowded with litigants and others who had gathered to see a distinguished lawyer in action. The Counsel felt offended at the answer given by the witness and shouted that the witness should not arrogate to himself the powers of an opposing counsel or the court. The witness stood his ground and continued to smile. There was an atmosphere of tension which was relieved by the judge who said that he agreed with the witness that the question was irrelevant.
The Twelve Day's Blast
Poets have likened the human mind to a wild monkey, wandering, intractable, unpredictable. No doubt great men have power to control the mind to some extent-only to some extent. By harnessing their higher powers, they can manage to make their mind dwell on any specific object or idea for a given length of time. However, it would be an entirely different proposition if they are required to keep their mind continuously on a particular thing during all their waking hours for several days; that would be a trifle too difficult to accomplish.
Maiji had an extraordinary experience which lasted twelve days. It began by his getting a burning sensation if he thought of anything except Love, Service, Devotion and Surrender. He was not allowed to think of his office, his friends, his relations, his family, his food. If the mind strayed for a fraction of a second to anything - anything-whatever-other than Love, Service Devotion and Surrender, he felt a severe hot blast. Suppose a man sitting at noon in an airconditioned room in very hot weather suddenly finds that the air conditioner fails to function and the windows on opposite sides of the room burst open making hot air rush in enveloping him, what would be his feeling? That was how Maiji felt every time his mind dwelt on things other than the four themes permitted. After a few days the range of thought was further restricted. He could think only of MOTHER. No adjective or qualifying words were permitted. If he thought “Mother is mine” or “Mother is merciful” or “Mother is Universal '' the hot blast would assail him. Only one idea, MOTHER, was allowed. The suffering was often unbearable, because the restriction in thought had to be observed during all the waking hours for days on end. After twelve long interminable days the phenomenon disappeared suddenly. It was not a gradual slackening of the blast, but a sudden cessation. Maiji felt that every tissue and atom of his body had been re-formed.
Lalit Pancham
Before long there was adequate compensation for the nerve racking experience described in the preceding paragraph. In the small hours of a morning Maiji was sitting on a wooden seat in his prayer room. With him was his constant devotional friend and admirer Rev. V.L.Baddi. (Reference to this V.L.Baddi had already been made in chapter XVIII. He was the disciple of the great Rama-devotee Tammanna Sastri). Suddenly, Maiji began to hear sweet music of a most divine and soul-satisfying melody. Now, there was a radio artist living in the adjoining flat. Maiji wondered whether she would sing at 2 a.m. and whether even if she would, she or anyone else for that matter-could sing so well. When he asked his companion's opinion, the latter said he did not hear any music from anywhere and added there was no sign of any activity in the neighboring flats. Maiji thought for a moment, got up from the wooden seat and asked Baddiji to take the seat. Then the music was audible to Baddiji but inaudible to Maiji. They took turns on the seat and every time the occupant of the seat heard the music. The tune was Lalit Pancham. After some time they decided to go to sleep. Another mystery was awaiting them. The moment lights were extinguished there was a pleasant peal of thrilling laughter from a corner of the room as though somebody was happy at having played a joke.
Maiji wrote to a religious friend about the two weird experiences- the twelve day's blast and the celestial music. The reply was couched in these terms: "Mother is fondling playing with you. The second experience is only making amends for the first. You were burnt with scorches for twelve days, as that was considered necessary by Mother. She has given you then the sweetest music one can ever hear as the divine medicine to restore your mental normality".
Rao Saheb On 11.6.1942 Maiji was awarded the title of Rao Saheb in recognition of his good service. Thenceforward he was known as Rao Saheb M.R. Dholakia in official circles.
XXIX
1943-44
The moving chandeliers Brother Bagnur of Hubli was employed in the Railways on a small salary. He was a staunch Mai-devotee. He lived a happy and contented life, though he had many financial problems.
Once in 1943, when Maiji was camping at Hubli in his official capacity, he was invited to Bagnur's place. Many persons had
gathered there to have darshan of the Saint and to participate in the Mai - worship.
When the worship was over, Maiji asked: “Mother, art Thou satisfied?" Bagnur was overwhelmed on hearing these words and said in a most pleading and devotional tone: “Mother, tell us plainly how I have treated Thee. If not for my sake, speak for the sake of Thy Son here, who has been identified with Thee." Immediately the chandeliers hanging from the canopy over Mother's picture began to swing to and fro and strike against one another. There was no wind, not even the slightest breeze, Not a leaf stirred in the garden outside. It was clear to one and all that Mother was answering Her devotee.
Another note-worthy incident that took place in 1943 was the construction of a Mai Temple in Rajkot.
Atheism washed away by sanctified water
For a long time Brother Dixit had been suffering from an almost incurable disease: excruciating pain in the rectum during evacuation. Every time it was an agonizing ordeal for him while straining at stools. Treatments known to medical science having failed, he resigned himself to the continuance of a life-long misery.
One day, a friend suggested that Dixit might profitably try religion to get relief and mentioned Maiji as the most likely person to help him. Now, Dixit, like the District Collector Mundkur mentioned in Chapter XXII, was a confirmed and militantly outspoken atheist. To him all religion was anathema. However, his wife and children persuaded him to consult Maiji. When, willy-nilly, he came face to face with Saint, he blurted out impudently that he was submitting himself to the antediluvian superstitious methods only out of regard for his family. Maj being quite familiar with atheists and their attitude did not take serious notice of the outburst. He sanctified a small quantity of water by repeating a mantra and asked Dixit to drink it. With a tolerant smile and an attitude of humouring an imbecile, the man swallowed the water. The very next time when he went to the water closet, there was such total alleviation of pain that he could hardly believe in his experience.
Was it a miracle? Assuredly not, thought Dixit who was a scientist. He would have no truck with any unexplained mystery. To his way of thinking, every so-called miracle was susceptible of explanation if only one would set about it in the right manner. His mind searched hard for a cause for the amazing effect. Finally he came to the conclusion that the effect of the medicines he had been taking must have synchronized with his swallowing the water given by Maiji. It seemed absurd to think that simple ordinary water over which a few words had been muttered could be more effective than the medicines developed with the experience of centuries since Charaka and Hippocrates.
Soon however, the conclusion had to be abandoned, because the next time when he tried to relieve nature he had severe pain. Then began a series of experiments lasting a few days. With the sanctified water inside, there was no pain at all; without it there was agony.
Still the man would not acknowledge the efficacy of the magnetized sacred water. His mind was ever busy finding out a reason for the strange effect of the water. After a while he trotted out the theory that the words uttered by Maiji created some particular phonetic and sonic vibrations, capable of attracting rare curative principles from the atmosphere. Rather annoyed by the obstinacy of the man, Maiji gave him the mantra and asked him to produce the vibrations. Dixit did everything that Maiji had been doing. There was a slight diminution in the pain but no complete mitigation. The process was repeated. When Dixit chanted the mantra the water gave partial relief; when Main did it, the relief was complete. At long last the atheist was converted.
Maiji delegated his powers of sanctifying water to Dixit's daughter. The water she gave was fully effective. In the course of nine weeks the man was completely cured of his disease and also of his atheism.
The Scoffing Yogi Repents
A very learned and distinguished yogi of South India happened to be in Hubli in 1944 during his travels. He was a great scholar in English and Sanskrit. Having renounced the world, he was moving from place to place. He lived on milk and fruits.
The Mahatma came to hear of Saint Mai Swarupa, a person still in Government Service, but acclaimed by all as a man of divinity. The visiting saint was naturally interested in meeting the paragon and one day paid a visit to Maiji. The eminent visitor was received with great respect by Maiji, who spared no pains in ministering to the comforts of the guest.
It has to be borne in mind that Maiji had not taken Sannyasa. He never dressed in ochre robes. He led quite an ordinary life : no ostentation. no pretensions to saintliness, not one of the usual accessories of a resident Mahatma. There was hardly any routine in his day-to-day life. After returning from office he would be surrounded by devotees and admirers till late in the night; he would hold communion with Mother at midnight: thereafter he would attend to the work of writing-articles on Mai-ism, replies to letters from disciples, messages of comfort and advice to aspirants-and only thereafter would he go to sleep. The result was that he very often woke up only by about 8 or 9 in the morning.
The visitor talked a little contemptuously about his host's devotional madness, his lack of regularity in daily life, even but his extreme kindness to apparently undeserving people. Maili was the embodiment of Love. He practiced what he preached. During a religious discourse he once quoted a famous author and said "Sweetness costs nothing, but it purchases everything".) Here was a pure Jnani looking down with ridicule on a Bhakta. No doubt the visitor was a great man, unlike the arrogant ascetic (see chapter X) who threatened to turn Maiji into ashes and came to grief. But intellectual knowledge by itself does not take one far; it sometimes tends to make one egocentric.
That night the visitor had a strange dream. He was soaring over a mountain with his great yogic powers, when suddenly he lost his foot-hold and fell headlong into the ravine. Down, down he rolled. All his intellectual attainments, all his vast experience in the field of Yoga, were of no avail. By the time he reached the bottom his body was full of bruises but mercifully he was unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he found a beautiful lady was nursing him. She easily lifted him and carried him to the mouth of a cave. She then called out to her son to come and help her in her ministrations. The son who came out from the cave was none other than his host, Saint Mai-Swarupa. There the dream ended.
The yogi woke up with the realization that he had misjudged and belittled a great man. He showed his real greatness by prostrating before Maiji when the saint got up at his usual late hour.
XXX
(1945-1948)
Maiji's official life came to a close in 1945 during his term of
service in Hubli. He was granted a monthly pension of 114 Rupees.
Till that time, Mai-ism had a mobile center with its nucleus moving to different places-Poona, Hubli, Bombay, Ahmedabad and so on-where the saintly land acquisition officer was transferred by the government. Retirement from service made it necessary for him to find a permanent place to carry on Mother's work to which he had irrevocably committed himself.
Maiji had very little money to buy land and build a suitable house. He, however, thought in his simple way that the very large number of persons, many of whom were rich, who had been relieved of their misery through his intercession with Mai would volunteer to help him. But he was sorely disappointed.
Different people have different excuses. One man wondered why there had to be a separate building for religious propaganda which could very well be done from a verandah. Another suggested Maiji should ask Mother to give him first prize in a lottery. A third man offered substantial help if all Mai-ists would take policies in an Insurance Company of which he was an agent. Another man said, "Mother will do Her work if she wants. Why should you worry?". A few persons offered to sell their lands to Maiji at a low price. There were four such offers. The title was defective in three cases and the 'low price' demanded by the fourth was far above the market rate. One man wanted to know what would happen to the money when Maiji was no more. Words, words, empty words, no help.
The position appeared to improve after a time. The husband of a rich lady of Bombay was very seriously ill and was feared to be on his death-bed. The anxious woman made a pious offering of five thousand rupees as donation if the patient could be cured. She had attended a few Mother's Lodge meetings and had met Maiji.
So, she wrote to him for relief. Maiji went to Bombay, gave instructions about repetitions of Mantras and making spiritualized
water: he himself offered fervent prayers for three hours every
night. In a short time the patient got well and became normal. The saint naturally expected a generous donation.
There was a plot of land for sale in Hubli for Rs.2000/- Maiji took from his own purse Rs.1000/- and got the sale deed registered promising to pay the vendor the remainder in a short time. This was done in anticipation of the donation from Bombay.
Saint Mai-Swarupa has often emphasized the need for PROMPT payment of debts due to Mother. He has written an illuminating article on the subject. Each letter of the word PROMPT has been dealt with in detail, insofar as Mai-ists are concerned. Briefly, P stands for prayer, R for resoluteness, O for offering (donation), M for mantra repetition, P for personal relationship with God and Guru and T for thankfulness for the relief obtained. A rule of guidance has been laid down that the speed with which Mai comes to your rescue depends on the speed with which you give your thanks for favors already received
Instead of a few thousands he had expected from Bombay, what he actually received was a Money Order for Rs. 25/-.
Let us have a peep into Maiji's diary and see what he has recorded on 20-7-45. “People are swinging between the old and the new religious ideals. They cherish the new ideals but support the old ones. It is hard to throw off the old yoke and still harder to be fair and liberal to both in the matter of giving solid encouragement. For relief of distress people come to Mai and for thanksgiving they go to their old deities. Mai will give a prosperous lift or avert some danger or calamity through a practical daily programme of mantras, name-repetition, worship,
prayer, meditation, guidance, instruction, devotion and the
some other deity or Asram”. A sad commentary on the attitude of recipients of favors.
Pranjiwan Devidas Dalal and his wife Smt. Susheela Dalal was staying with Maiji when he received the Rs.25/- from Bombay. The lady was suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs and her husband had thought of taking her to Miraj or Deolali. Being staunch Mai-ists they had sought Maiji's advice on the choice of the health-resort and the saint had asked them to come down and stay with him in Hubli. They had not known about the Master's expectation from the rich lady of Bombay nor about his sad predicament on receipt of Rs.25/-. But from the expression on the saint's face they understood something was amiss. When they affectionately pressed for the reason, Maiji explained the whole position and mentioned his immediate requirement of Rs.1000/- to pay off the vendor of the land. Without a second's thought, Bro. Dalal gave him a cheque for Rs. 1000/ -. It was indeed a gesture of supreme devotion and personal affection. Maiji was overwhelmed. Quivering with emotion, he said "Mother Bless you my children '', then turning to Mother he said in a forceful manner: “Mother, don't you see the difference between men and men. Remove this T.B. forthwith, Now, Now". After a few minutes he turned to his guests and told them: " Mother has taken away Susheela's T. B. You go to Bombay and have her examined again. Even as you tore off my anxiety with the cheque. Mother has torn off your disease”. The couple gladly returned to Bombay and to their unbounded joy found on a second medical examination that all traces of T.B. had disappeared.
Smt. Susheela Dalal is the daughter of the Soparkars mentioned in chapter XII. In that chapter has been described the incident of the extension of life of Mrs. Soparkar by one week by Maiji's prayers in 1931, after eminent doctors had lost all hope. Fourteen years thereafter, it was the daughter's turn to be saved by Mai Grace. Speaking at the Sisters' Social held at Calicut on 8.10.1954. Smt. Susheela Dalal adverted to the two incidents in these terms: “There is an incident narrated in ‘Maiism' that three eminent doctors gave their final verdict that certain respectable lady, the wife of the head of a department, would shortly die and that by the ardent tearful prayers of Mai Swarupa she got extension of life for full one week. I am blessed enough to be the daughter of that lady. There is a narration of the instance of Mother's miraculous cure of a lady whose T.B. was annihilated all at once in a moment on the prayers and determined pressure on Mother by Mai Swarupa. This particular instance has been a Grace- Shower on this humble self-standing before you".
(Bro. Dalal has been nominated by the Saint to be the chairman of the Board of Mai-ism Trust. The Dalals are now in Mumbai).
At the pressing request of the Dalals, Maiji left Hubli and went to Bombay. There, two adjacent plots of land in Santa Cruz West were soon purchased, one by Maiji and the other by the Dalals.
Funds for the construction of a building had to be found. It was for that purpose that Maiji had gone to Ahmedabad, was locked up in a room as a madcap by his elder relatives and released with a suitable apology when the car carrying the offending relatives broke down twice (see chapter V).
At last Mother gave him a tip. He would do nothing to invoke Mother for the relief of others unless they promised to pay something. The sum to be paid was left to their discretion but nothing would be done free except for the really poor. Thereafter people requiring Maiji's intercession with Mai began to approach him with donations. In short, a religious-relief-hospital began to
function and money began to come in. The incident of the cure of Smt. Susheela Dalal's T. B. gave a fillip to the new venture. Jai Mai.
XXXI
1949 (Mai Niwas)
The construction of Mai Niwas was a slow but steady process. It was completed by the end of February 1949. The building was in a lonely place at the western end of Saraswathi Road about a mile from Santa Cruz Railway Station. The surrounding plots had not been built upon. The nearest building was furlongs away. There was no electric connection.
Maiji wanted to make a formal entry into Mai Niwas all alone at midnight on a Friday. Without telling anybody about his desire, he chose 4th March as the suitable date. He had to travel by train from the Grant Road Station to Santa Cruz and then proceed on foot or by taxi. When he reached the station in time to catch the 11p.m. train, it so happened that a Mai-ist was on the platform. The latter offered to accompany the saint to Mai Niwas. He would not understand Maiji's refusal to have company. In his well-meant but officious solicitude for Maiji's comforts, he bought two tickets and travelled with the saint. Outside the station at Santa Cruz,, the self-appointed companion beckoned to a taxiwalla. Before the taxi came, however, the man felt such an intense pain in the stomach that he could not stand. Clutching his abdomen, he fell down. Seeing the sudden debacle of his prospective fare the taxiwalla steered his vehicle away and left. The man on the ground was groaning. Maiji told him in a soothing voice: "Speak out that you are not going to accompany me and are returning home. Mother will remove your suffering". The man at once said, "Since Mother and you are so insistent on the porn I am returning. The pain left him at once; he ran to the platform and boarded a train that had just steamed in.
It was two minutes to midnight when Maiji reached Mai Niwas. It was a dark night. There was no street lamp nearby. The whole locality was dark and deserted. Not a living soul anywhere near. As he approached the door, Maiji trembled a little, out of fear and in anticipation of something unusual- he knew not what - that he felt was going to happen that night. Something started when he failed to find the packet of candles and box of matches on the window sill where he had placed them on his previous visit. For some time he stood on the verandah and then suddenly began to laugh at the playfulness of Mother.
He opened the door and entered the hall. There, a shock was awaiting him. The Mother's Picture he had kept there had inexplicably transformed itself into one of Bhadrakali, fierce and terror-inspiring, even in the starlight that came from outside through the open door. Maiji gazed at the phenomenon in utter dismay and disbelief; he shook with fright; he perspired; he felt helpless. He wondered whether the Mother Ideal' he had been preaching for nearly two decades was to end in a complete fiasco.
Prostrating before the Picture and concentrating his mind on the Infinite Love that was Mother, he began to sing:
“Karuna Sen Abtaka Badha Karuna Sen Mili Mai." ("I have grown old faring with Thy Mercy alone, With Thy Mercy alone! gained Thee...)
An amazing thing was happening as the singing continued. The Picture was getting phosphorescent, sending out rays of light in gradually increasing intensity. Slowly the Picture turned back into that of Mai... a gloriously luminous Mai.
In the bright light the missing candles and matches were located behind the picture far away from the window sill where they had been kept. Instead of ascribing the strange event to the playfulness of Mother, Maiji began to think whether anybody had played a trick on him. The moment such doubts assailed him the phosphorescence disappeared and the whole place became dark.
Rendered helpless by the burden of disappointment and sorrow, the saint casually looked out of the window. He received another jolt when he saw the silhouette of the head and shoulders of a man. Could it be a spook? Was it possible that he had been secretly followed from the Railway Station by a miscreant with the object of robbing him ? As a matter of fact it was Dev Sing, a Goorkah watchman employed by the owner of the adjoining vacant site. Though his duty was to commence only the following day, he had gone to the place immediately on being employed, as he had nowhere else to go. He had approached Mai Niwas out of curiosity to investigate the presence of the ‘electric light' which he thought he had seen distinctly. How was he to know of the phosphorescence created by the Playful Mother? Maiji was happy to have somebody to sleep on the verandah. He shared his food with Dev Sing.
All Mai-ists were soon informed about Maiji's occupation of Mai Niwas. There was a grand Mai-worship on 1-4-1949 attended by over 500 devotees.
XXXII
Mai-ism Recognized in India and Abroad
The seed sown by Mai Swarupa sprouted and grew into a tree reaching out its branches to the distant parts of the world. There are more than a hundred Mai Mandals in the world; some of them are in Africa.
In 1955, Maiji was invited to participate in the World Peace Round Table Conference in Japan. His talk on Universal Maiism was so much appreciated there, that within thirty days of the Conference, The International Religious Federation (I.R.F.) took shape under the joint leadership of himself and Yonosuke Nakano the famous Founder of Ananai Kyo. The same year a Mai Sisters' Social was held in Shimizu city with Rev. Sister Yoshiko Nakano as the president.
The Universal Humanist Cultural and Spiritual Alliance (briefly known as Universal Religious Alliance or U.R.A.) invited Maiji to attend their conference at Havana in 1959. Due to various reasons Maiji could not go; but he sent a thesis on Universal Religion. Rev. Duchesse Blanche Ledran, the Grand Chancellor of the U.R.A. explained the principles of Mai-ism to the General Assembly. 3800 persons from 96 countries attended the Conference which during its deliberations paid glowing tributes to Mai-ism couched in these terms: "We have received valuable literature from all quarters of the world. We particularly recommend Mai-ism and the Mai Institute of Santa Cruz West, Bombay”. In the General Elections that took place that year, Maiji was elected as one of the Vice-Presidents, his Portfolio being Peaceful Human Relations.
In 1960, Ernest Swift, Editor of “Steps Unto Him' (Wiltshire, England), wrote in the June issue : "Mai Swarupa Mai Markand concerning whose work we wrote in a recent number, has reminded us of the 'Raison d'Etre' of his movement, which he prefers to call Religion', not in the sense of a new form of hierarchy. It has its object to bring nearer all religions into one harmonious whole. The idea is to provide a centre in the shape of a religion where that which unites could be shared and developed. whilst each religion would retain its own forms and rituals. Mai-ism welcomes and respects all that is best in very religion and holds that there can be no such thing as 'The Last Word', if we have the wisest conception of the word. It stands for the Universality of God and keeps the door open for changes of approach as the world evolves".
Another religious bulletin, 'General Welfare' (Trow-bridge. England) carried the following: "Mai Swarupa Mai Markand, Santa Cruz Bombay, sponsors a movement recognizing the Motherhood of God, to bring balance in our ideas of the Deity, religions to retain their individuality, but to be united in the Universal worship of one God and Creator".
Joseph Headly an eminent thinker and religionist of England writing about Sharanagathi (Surrender to Divine Will) expounded by Maiji, says (Vide World Religion Congress Eighth Report): “Cheerful Self-Surrender to Mother's Divine Will mentioned by Mai Swarupa signifies the necessity for every human being to merge his personal self-hood within the Divine Will and manifest the same in that greater conscious field of Universality".
"The World's Need And Mai-ism" is a masterly book by Ernest Kirk. Therein the learned author points out : "Mai-ism cuts off the Gordian knot by bringing into existence a new idea. There is no conflict or contradiction in any one having his individual religion for individual purposes of religious progress and yet having a Universal Religion of Universal God for universal purposes and considerations".
Early in 1962 the Grand Patron of the U.R.A., H.H. Om Lind was arrested and imprisoned in Havana on suspicion of being involved in political activities. On 2-3-1962, Maiji received a letter from Colin Unwin of Australia (Founder of Unism Plan) requesting Maiji to do his part in getting the Grand Patron liberated. It was stated in the letter that as the general Assembly of the U.R.A. had elected Maiji as its Vice-President with the Portfolio of Peaceful Human Relations, it was his duty to take up the matter in all seriousness. A similarly worded letter was received from Germany also. Well, Maiji rose to the occasion. While chiding the U.R.A. for not living up to their promise of spreading Universality, he gave them specific directions as to the manner in which the appeal had to be drafted. He prayed to Mother for the release of Om Lind. The Grand Patron was released in a short time. This incident would at least show in what high esteem Mai Swarupa was held by eminent thinkers. It has to be borne in mind that a vast majority of them had not personally seen Maiji.
Nearer home, Sri. N.S. Lokur, retired judge of the High Court of Bombay stated in an appreciation : " His Mother-hood conception of the Almighty is capable of being adopted by everyone whatever be his creed, caste, nationality or birth religion.... Some there are who regard him as perhaps an incarnation of Divine Mother, next to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, and call him 'Mai Kaka''Maiji' 'Mai Swarupa And ‘Mai Markand'. They go to him for blessing and for his prayers to Mai in their personal troubles of various sorts, such as sickness, unemployment, marriages debts etc."
XXXIII
Maiji as Man and Guru
The title is perhaps misleading. It is neither feasible nor possible to place the various traits of an individual in different water-tight compartments and deal with them separately, except possibly, in the case of schizophrenic persons. Man is after all the conglomerate of all his thoughts, words and deeds.
The Tortoise Feet Once a fortune teller went to MAIJI, it was long before the declaration of Mai-ism. He looked long at the Land Acquisition Officer's face and studied his palm carefully and suddenly said "May I request you, Sir, to remove your shoes and socks I am sure you have the tortoise Feet. Your face and palm give certain indications of a great Devi Bhakta. Those indications must be accompanied by the Tortoise Feet". The officer smilingly complied with his request. Then the palmist exclaimed “Ah what did | say? See, you have the rare Tortoise Feet. Haven't you heard of the line "Koorma prishta Jayishnu Prapadanwita?'. The in-step of the officer was as convex as that of a tortoise, and his toes were not horizontal as usual but slightly tilted upwards.
Reference has been made in chapter XI to the absentminded dreamy nature of the boy Markand. Some other traits of Maiji have been described previously in appropriate contexts.
While His spiritual knowledge and experience increased by leaps and bounds. His understanding of temporal affairs remained static. The well-known expression in Cricket, L.B.W. was a mystery to Him. He was not interested in games and sports. Once in an Officer's Club Maiji was invited to be a fourth at bridge. The saint did not know even the rudiments of the game and had to confess ignorance, evoking the cynical smile of some and the derisive laughter of a few other members. The situation was saved when one member remarked: "He is not a bridge player but a bridge builder for all of us to go to our God”.
The marriage of Maiji's eldest son took place in 1943. While moving in the procession of the bride-groom's party leading to the bride's place, a friend wanted to know the bride's name. Maiji could not tell him. Feeling a little ashamed, the saint moved quietly to a relative, got the name in a whisper, went back and told his friend. The latter smiled and said: "I have watched you getting information”. Maiji's mind, this incident shows, was full of Mai and Mai-ism, everything else being trivia...
He was careless in his dress and would sometimes wear his shirt inside out. He had a collection of fountain pens; sometimes he would put a pen in his pocket without its cap.
He was a voracious reader of books, particularly books on religion, ethics and philosophy. He would underline important passages and add His comments in the margin. Any book that had passed through His hands would bear these unmistakable signs. He made a list of about thirty books which He wanted all Mai-ists to read- a list as selectively comprehensive in range as it was cosmopolitan in content, as evidenced by the following titles taken at random from the list : The Gita by Jnaneswar, The Essential Unity of all Religions by Bhagavandas, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, " How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegi, The Other World by Minocher Spencer, Human Nature by Herbert Casson, The Kybalion by Three Initiates.
He used snuff as an occasional stimulant and was partial to a particular brand of the powder.
Every bill presented to Him for work done was very promptly paid. He always paid something above the usual rate for anything done to His satisfaction. Payment was never put off. Once He was searching for a particular file. Even after a prolonged search by Himself and a disciple the file could not be traced. He called out to the servant and asked him about it. It so happened that the servant could pick out the elusive papers in a few minutes. As the man was leaving to do his chores, Maiji called him back and gave him a small present. That was not an isolated instance. Every time anything done well received some extra compensation immediately.
Maiji was a strict Vegetarian by birth and by choice... But He never insisted on all persons being Vegetarians. He once said an Eskimo who could not survive without eating meat was as much a child of Mai as the holiest Sanyasin living on fruits wrote in 1958 to a disciple, "How can a Universal Mai-ist expect all persons to be vegetarians?". Mr. Gabler, the Vice-President of The World Vegetarian Congress once visited Maiji and sought His opinion. The Saint expressed His view thus : "Vegetarianism is very necessary for those who want to invoke higher internal powers. Even Westerners who wished to develop hidden powers had become vegetarians during the course of their evolutionary growth. But it cannot be laid down as a rule of universal application."
Maiji's physical constitution was often a mystery even to His physicians. On one occasion the thermometer registered a temperature of 100 degrees but before anything was done it came down to normal in ten minutes. Another time the doctor found Maiji had a high blood pressure, but a re-examination after three hours revealed that the pressure was normal. There were several such instances.
Maiji was fond of pungent pickles and would sometimes ask devotees to supply pickles made at home. Once a devotee whose relative had high fever rushed to Maiji and prayed for relief. The visitor was asked to send a jar of pickles and, strange as it may seem, as Maiji was eating the pickles the fever subsided.
Several books have been written and published by Maiji. His Magnum Opus is ‘Mai-ism'. Other important publications are 'Mother and Mother's Thousand Names', 'Mother's Message', ‘Mother's Meditation', 'Mai Adherents' Oath' and 'The Clarion Call of Mai-ism. Mother's Name Repetition (Pathanam) has been published in six languages. Various articles on religion were published in ‘Kalyan', 'Meher Message', Jyoti', 'Sakthi' and also in ‘Ananai Kyo' of Japan. A play in Gujerati called 'Devangana' has been published in his official name, Mr. Dholakia.
These books were given away to anyone who asked for them. Important portions were cut out from the books, pasted on cardboards and hung on the walls of Mai Niwas.
Maiji was a good musician and was an honorary examiner in music for some time in Bombay.
Dr. Behari the famous writer had such great respect for Maiji that he addressed the saint as Sri 1008.
It was not an infrequent occurrence for Maiji to forget to eat His food at night when He was working on some book or article.
Maiji had a most salutary way of dealing with devotees; He seldom rebuked them. On 20-4-64; He awoke at 6.30 a.m. - an unusually early hour for Him-, took a file and asked a disciple staying at Mai Niwas to take it to Bro. Dalal lives close by. The disciple had not shaved or bathed; so, he promised to attend to the matter after 15 minutes. Maiji said nothing but quietly put on His shoes with the obvious intention of going to Bro. Dalal. There upon the disciple ran to the master, knelt at His Feet and requested Him to hand over the papers. With a gracious smile, the Guru compiled and the other rushed out unkempt and barefooted.
Another time- it was on 7-10-1960 - the Master happened to be staying in the house of a disciple. As soon as He woke up, He called the host to His side and said: “Come on, let us go to the Temple”. After a few seconds, reading the disciple's mind and answering an unspoken doubt, Maiji said : “Do you think I should wash my face before going to the Temple ? I am going to my Mother. A child can go to its mother in any state”. A better way of teaching Mother-and-child-relationship can hardly be conceived.
Rare is the master who would lend his wrist-watch to his servant when the latter goes to take driving lessons to improve his prospects in life. Rarer still is the employer who would alter his programme of tour to suit the needs of his menial employee. And rarest of all is one who would visit, in very inclement and stormy weather, his domestic servant's house situated a mile away from the nearest road, simply to gladden the heart of his employee. This writer has witnessed Maiji doing all this. It is doubtful if one could count on his finger a single other individual who would do as much.
All Mai-ists have to write 'Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai,' before commencing their letters. There have been instances where Maiji returned letters unread for the simple reason that the sacred words had been omitted.
Maiji gave strict injunctions against superstitious beliefs. A devotee of Nasik was very upset when the flame was extinguished during Arati. Maiji consoled him explaining: "Mother is the Ocean of Love. She is not as displeased as you think. If the camphor is exhausted or if there is a strong gust of wind the flame will naturally get extinguished. Don't attribute the incident to Mother's anger. She is never angry".
A subtle vein of humour always enriched Maiji's talk. Discussions of important subjects would invariably be interspersed with humorous stories and parables so that the listeners never got tired.
An excellent host, Maiji always treated His visitors with refreshments.
Two Scholars satisfied
Two strangers going for advice and instruction Maiji was in the habit of talking for hours together in a general way. On one occasion two great scholars who had made it their life-habit to regularly read Saptasathi and Lalita Sahasranam went to Maiji with the object of gaining more knowledge about Mother.
From 10p.m. to 2 a.m. the Master went on talking and asking questions. The visitors patiently and respectfully listened and replied to questions. Suddenly one of them stood up and prostrated before Maiji. Immediately the other one also did likewise. The Saint naturally asked "What has happened that you should interrupt the session?” They humbly and joyfully answered "We see MAI standing behind you sir, in Her sweetest smile and glorious radiance. Thank you Sir". And they left with great delight
XXXIV
OATH
WILL
Ever since the 77th Birthday on 23-12-1961, Maiji had been considering the introduction of a form of oath as a test of Allegiance to Mai-ism.
The system of formal Oath came into existence in September 1962. A certain procedure has been laid down for taking the Oath.
For the first time in the history of the religions of the world, an emphatic proclamation of Universality was brought into being. The full-fledged Mai-ists have the denomination. Universal Religionist : Mai-ism (U.R.M.). Those who continue their allegiance to their individual religion and take the Oath in appreciation of the principles of Mai-ism, have the denomination, U.R.H.M., U.R.C.M. etc. (H representing Hinduism, C represents Christianity etc.) At present, besides a large number full Maiists there are some Hindu, Christian, Zoroastrian and Sikh Maiists.
The proclamation that a person is URM is surely a commitment and a promise to all other religionists about his Universal Love and Service to one and all of any religion.
WILL
Maiji's first Will was made on 23-4-1955 before He went to Japan. That was enlarged and modified when He executed His second Will registered at Trichur on 15-10-62. Some more changes were found necessary and the last Will was executed and registered at Bombay on 26-4-1966. A few months thereafter a Codicil was executed and registered on 18-11-66 to supplement the Will.
A testamentary Trust has been created for the proper management and administration of Mai-Niwas and other assets. Jai Mai.
XXXV
Instances of Grace
The number of instances is Legion, of chronic insidious diseases being cured, of criminal prosecutions being averted, of accused persons being acquitted, of girls with little hope of wedlock getting married, of severed conjugal ties being reunited, of childless couple getting children, of inept pupils passing examinations, of promotion in service being secured, of bankruptcy in business being warded off etc. etc., by the Grace of Mai obtained through Mai-istic methods of prayer. Mention has been made in appropriate contexts in previous chapters of several examples. It would require volumes to recount them all. A few more recent events are narrated below.
Ernest Kirk, author of "The World's Need and Mai-sim", had an accident in 1954. With his fractured arm in a sling he went to Calicut to meet Maiji who had gone there for the Sisters' Social. That night the Saint bade the injured visitor to sleep in the prayer mom in front of Mai's Picture. Next morning Bro. P.D. Dalal who took tea and toast to the visiting Englishman was amazed to find there was no sling. Not only that. Mr. Kirk joyfully shouted “I am cured", and moved the arm effortlessly all over the body.
Sister Devaki Amma belonged to a lower middle-class family. Living in a tiny house, she found it hard to make both ends meet with the meagre salary of her husband, a last grade employee in the local High School. Her first son employed somewhere in Tamilnad used to send her small sums of money occasionally. After some time that source dried up unexpectedly. Neither money nor letters came from the son for two long years. Devaki Amma was desperately anxious, not so much for the money as for news of her son's well-being. Her house being close to a Mai Temple, she went and explained her grievances to Mai-Putri Thangam who was in charge of the Temple. Mai-Putri's advice. that the stricken mother should attend Mai Worship for nine consecutive Fridays was promptly accepted and followed.
The third day after the ninth Friday the hapless woman was, as usual, eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the Postman. It had been a long time since the postman had stepped into her compound. But Hope springs eternal in the human breast; and her devotion to Mai had given an edge to her hopeful expectation. Her expectant gaze fell on a young man who stepped over the stile and approached her. She could not discern the features of the visitor as her eyes were weak, but she eagerly stretched out a trembling hand for the expected letter which however was not forthcoming. Something unexpected happened. Her feeble hand was caught firmly, yet tenderly, by the loving hands of the newcomer who called her AMMA in the most endearing tone. Mai had brought her long lost son in answer to her prayer.
The incident happened in 1959. This chronicler has personal knowledge of the matter, being the husband of Mai Putri Thangam.
A boy suffering from Typhoid was in Harkisandas Hospital. The patient developed a large tumor on the head. Dr. Yodh who saw the boy every day said nothing could be done about the tumor so long as typhoid did not abate. The boy's father happened to be Maiji's friend; so the saint visited the Hospital one day, and just to console the patient, placed His hand on the boy's head. Before going to Poona the next day, Maiji went once more to the Hospital. The boy happened to see Him enter the premises and shouted “Come up Kakaji, my tumor is gone. I have no fever."
A man accused of criminal misappropriation of public funds was convicted by the District Magistrate of Calicut to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years and to pay a fine of two thousand rupees. The man was really innocent. But the evidence against him was very black, as he had been duped into signing certain damaging admissions. His explanations were not accepted by the Magistrate. His nephew advised him to approach Maiji. So he appealed to Maiji and the District Judge. Prayers were offered by Maiji. The Mantra given by Maiji was repeated constantly by the man and his family. The appeal was heard in October 1959. After the arguments were over, his advocate frankly said he did not have much hope. Long anxious days of suspense dragged on. Came the day of judgement, at long last, on 2-11-1959. The man was acquitted. The grateful and happy man sent a telegram to his nephew. This writer is that nephew.
In June 1963, a woman of Gondal (Saurashtra) happened to catch hold of the stay-wire of an electric post. As ill luck would have it, the line had sprung a leak and the current was flowing
through the stay wire. The woman receiving the shock could not leave hold of the wire and cried out in agony. Her daughter running to her rescue caught her hand and was trapped. Now there were two women crying out., Several people gathered round the writhing women, but could only look on helplessly. Then, a girl began to repeat Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai. All joined in the repetition. Most wonderfully the wire snapped and the women were saved.
An old woman of seventy-two had two circular white patches inside her cheeks, one on either side. They were an inch in diameter and an eighth of an inch in thickness, with a small depression in the middle. She could not eat food because of severe pain. Her son took her to three very good doctors. Each of them said it was probably a case of cancer and advised that she should immediately be taken to the Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay. The old woman however stoutly refused to go to Bombay. Instead, she sought Maiji's blessings and advice. She carefully and devotedly followed Maiji's instructions regarding repetition of Mantra. Maiji's prayerful Blessings were there. In a few weeks she was completely cured; without any medicines the patches disappeared. It was a great surprise to one of the doctors who had said half jestingly that if the patches disappeared without any medicine, he would willingly become a Mai-ist. This writer knows every detail of the incident which took place in 1963, because the woman was his own mother.
Some readers might perhaps think that all these incidents happened during the life-time of Saint Mai-Swarupa and that since the Master is no longer with us in flesh and blood the chances of such Grace Showers are slim now. To dispel such notions it has to be emphatically stated that time and time again Maiji has promised that in His Disembodied State He would guide, help and protect devotees in even greater measure. The following incident which took place more than five years after the Mahasamadhi would illustrate the point.
Sister Hema, a member of a family of staunch Mai-ists, was admitted into the Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay for an operation. She was taken to the Operation Theatre at 11.40 AM operation. She was taken to the operation on 3-6-1972. Naturally enough, she was a trifle nervous she was about to be anaesthetized and began to repeat Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai. Then a miracle happened which set her mind at peace. She distinctly saw Revered Mai Swarupa approaching her with His boon-conferring hand raised in the posture of Blessing. He said a few words of encouragement and touched her head. She actually felt His hand on her head.
After the operation the patient was removed to her room where she regained consciousness at 3 P.M. The attending doctor and nurse expected her to have severe pain after some time and had kept ready some medicines which when injected would alleviate pain. At intervals of ten minutes either the doctor or the nurse would enter the room to see if it was time to give the injection. During one such interval Mai Swarupa entered the room, sat on the bed beside the patient and said: "I have come to relieve you of all pain. Do not worry. You will be alright soon". The patient soon fell into a painless and peaceful sleep.
A few minutes later, the doctor entered the room and stood rooted to the floor looking at the patient with wonder and disbelief. The ampoule of tranquilizer, the sterilized hypodermic syringe, the swab of cotton, all were there on the table. He could give any explanation for the mysterious happening. He conceded that medical history had been made.
The patient's father Bro. N.K.P. Nair, a leading Bombay, referred to this incident in his speech on 10 the occasion of the Mai Convocation held at Secunderabad.
XXXVI
The Mergence
Once an astrologer opined that Maiji had the gift of Ichcha Maran (death at will).
Ever since 1962 Maiji had been slowly preparing to go. In August of that year, when arrangements were proceeding apace for the Mai Convocation at Ernakulam, He wrote to a disciple, "We have to assume this is the last function.” The words were indeed prophetic. Maiji did not participate in any major Mai Function after He left Ernakulam in October 1962.
Perhaps the Master was getting tired physically. Perhaps He felt that the disciples trained by Him could and would continue His work. Anyway, step by step, He was withdrawing. On 7-10-1965, by a written order He appointed Mai-Shishu C.R. Nair as His spiritual successor. The appointment was reiterated in the Will registered at Bombay on 24-6-1966.
In spite of general weakness, He found time and energy to write to disciples. This humble person received a letter in the Master's own Hand written on 29-11-1966 twenty-three days before the Mahasamadhi.
On 17-12-66, Maiji gave orders that his children and a few others should be informed about his weak condition.
Arrangements for the celebration of the 82nd Maiji Jayanti on 23-12-66 had been made by the leading Mai-ists of Bombay. Invitations had been printed and posted to the moffusil centres. On the 20th, Maiji asked the organizers to stop sending invitations.
The Fateful Day - 21-12-1966 - dawned as usual without any particular foreboding. Maij washed His face without any assistance, and took tea. At 12-30 He read through a typescript that had to be sent to the Press. Then began a slight difficulty in breathing. Oxygen was given at 2 P.M. Mai Putri Mrs. C.R. Nair asked whether the ceiling fan should be switched off. Maiji said. "No, open the fan fully". At 2.05 He said "No more medicines". At 2-30 He gently patted Mai Shishu C.R. Nair and said "Pray" Thereupon all who were in the hall began to repeat Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai in a subdued voice. At 2-33 Maiji opened His eyes fully and gazed steadily for a few seconds. (Was Mother Mai Beckoning to Her Son?) This was repeated twice more. After the third time the eyes remained closed. Saint Mai Swarupa was no more. The time was 2-35 P.M.
The Religious Reformer who considered the whole world as His family-the Mahatma who thought, who spoke, who lived Universal Love - the Apostle of piety who maintained that Service to others was the best form of Devotion - the Paragon of dedicated Self-Surrender to God who had actual Vision of Maithe simple unassuming Preceptor, who would gently guide Godward the most presumptuous of atheists - the profound Votary of Theism who nevertheless proclaimed that man should first be a human being and thereafter only a religionist - the genial and generous Guru whose sublime discourses were ever blended with sparkling humour - the Son who successfully interceded with Mother Mai to relieve the misery of those who sought His help- the Motherly Saint who was a real Mother, nay, who was Mai in Human From to the disciples- discarded His physical impediments.MAIJI MERGED IN MAL.JAI MAI SWARUPA.
The poor orphaned Mai-ist can but lisp what the Saintly Mother used to say: Tera Kam Tu Ker Premaroopini Mai (Thy work Thou Do, Oh Love-Embodied Mother!)
Maiji had said that even after leaving the physical body He would appear in Mai Niwas and to His disciples whenever necessary. Proof of that was given when about four months later, Mai Swarupa appeared for a very brief time in Mai Niwas at night on 18-4-67 and was recognized.
With the end of the Saint's life on earth this brief hagiography also ends. Only a very small part of the all too eventful Life has been described in the foregoing chapters. The idea was to give the reader a glimpse of a wonderful whole, and thereby try to arouse his interest in Mai-ism and Mai-Swarupa. Readers from Bangalore, Delhi, Gwalior, Kodungallur, Pondicherry etc. have expressed appreciation.
Sources: Apart from the writer's personal experiences, a few of which have been narrated in the right contexts, the facts and figures were taken from (1) Books published by the Saint, (2) His letters, (3) Letters received by Him from abroad, (4) Copies of 'Steps Unto Him And 'General Welfare' published in England, (5) Reports of World Religion Congress published in Japan and (6) Replies from Mai-ists to the writer's enquiry.
The progress of Mai-ism after the Mergence will be briefly dealt with in the epilogue to be published shortly.
Revered Mai-Swarupa's Epitaph composed by Himself is perhaps the fittest finale of this biography. It is as follows
Nahi Phoola hai, Na Bulboola hai Saba Dhoola hai, Saba Bhoola hai Nahi Kama hai, Nahi Nama hai Nahi Rama hai, Swavirama hai
(Substance: Good things, like beautiful flowers and Nightingale's songs do not last. In course of time they turn to dust or are forgotten; similarly, fulfilment of ambitious desires, fruits of work, fame, also are not permanent. Even devotion to God does not endure. What is eternal is only complete mergence in God (Mai).
Mai Maiji Bless all. Jai Mai Jai Markand Mai, Jai Markand Rup Mai, Jai Markand Rup Markand Mai, Jai Markand Rup Mai. Jai Markand Mai, Jai Mai.
EPILOGUE
TO “SAINT MAI-SWARUPA”
Saint Mai Swarupa must have been thinking of a successor at least three years before actually appointing one. That is evident from His letter to a disciple dated 16.8.1962, wherein He observed : “My successor and his successor and so on will be named U.R. Mai-ism Mai's Mercy Mai Markand and will be addressed by Mai devotees as Maiji". The facsimile of the relevant part of the letter has already been published. The designation Mai Swarupa, however, would apply only to the Founder.
The choice of a successor rested solely on merit as the Saint loved all the disciples equally. Once He outlined the analogy of a mother having four sons, one of whom was a doctor, another a lawyer, the third a banker and the fourth an engineer. She loved them all alike, but during illness she would call only the son who was a doctor, and while buying or selling property she would rely only on the lawyer and so on. Maiji Himself had occasion to send two lawyer devotees, one to Bagalkot and another to Madras to report about lands that had been offered for Mai-ism work. That did not mean that He loved other disciples any less.
When the necessity arose for the appointment of a spiritualSuccessor, Mai Swarupa found that Mai Shishu C. RamankuttyNair was the fittest person. It was Mai Shishu Nair who had successfully organized five out of seven major Mai functions that took place in India during the Saint's life. To quote the Master's words "Mai Shishu C.R. Nair is most enthusiastic, intelligent, active, honest and conscientious". A more glowing tribute, no Sishya can ever expect from his Guru.
The formal appointment was made on 7-10-1965 and the order took effect from 21-12-1966, the Day Mai Swarupa merged in Mai. Needless to say that any true Mai-ist, worth his salt should respectfully submit to the Master's Command and look upon Mai Shishu Nair as Maiji II.
Can anybody fill the void created by Mai Swarup's departure ? The answer is YES, at least in regard to the two most important aspects of Mai-ism, namely, propagation of the Universal Religion of Mai-ism and relief of suffering humanity. When the great Benjamin Franklin's tenure as America's ambassador to France expired, he was called back, and a new man was sent. During an informal get-together convened by the officials and non-officials of Paris, the man sitting next to the new ambassador asked him casually as a conversational gambit: "So you have come to replace Mr. Franklin ?" Pat came the memorable reply, the reply that made headlines in News Papers: "No, Not to replace him. Nobody can replace Ben Franklin. I have come to try my best to do what Ben has been doing". Much in the same way it might be stated that nobody can replace Mai Swarupa. But there is a difference. Unlike Franklin's successor, the succeeding Maiji gets help and guidance from Swarupa in His Discarnate State. During one of His instructive discourses the Master said explaining the sacred words Markand Rup Mai and Markand Rup Markand Mai, : Mai identifies Herself with Her true devotee if that devotee has a disciple who love upon and treats his guru as Mai, then Mai will identify Hercole with that disciple; if the disciple has his own disciple, say a suh disciple, who in his turn looks upon and treats his guru as Mai then Mai will identify Herself with the sub-disciple; and so on Thus it is easy to see that Mai has become one with Mail because he looked upon Maiji las Mai in human form.
Maiji II was born on 16-6-1905 as the third son of Sri Ittunni Rama Panikker and Smt. Kalyani Amma. He had five brothers and four sisters, of whom three brothers and two sisters are now living. He is happily married to Smt. Mai Puthri Kunhukutty Amma whom Mai Swarupa used to call Kunjan. They have two sons Ramakrishnan and Unnikrishnan, both M.Sc. (1 class) and well employed. Maiji || served as Engineering Supervisor of Telephones and retired in 1961.
Some interesting points of similarity between the two Maijis may be mentioned. Mai Swarupa's father Shri Ratanlal was a Tahsildar (styled Mamlatdar in North India). Sri Panikker, father of Maiji II was also a Tahsildar. Smt. Prabhalakshmi Devi mother of Maiji I was a pious lady; so was Smt. Kalyani Amma, mother of Maiji II. Both Maijis studied engineering; Maiji I held the diploma L.C.E. while Maiji II holds the diploma L.E.E. Maiji I was a devotee of Mataji from boyhood. So was Maiji II, whose father inculcated in him Devi bhakti by initiating him into Bala Mantra. Later he was initiated into Sree Vidya by Dr. Padmanabhayya, an eminent mystic seer of Ernakulam.
In 1950, Dr. Padmanabhayya advised his spiritual protege to gain contact with Mai Swarupa. That was how Sri C.R. Nair became a Mai-ist.
Sri Nair was taken ill seriously at Calicut in 1954 and was confined to bed. Doctors could not diagnose the disease and he was removed to hospital for observation and treatment. At that critical time, somehow Sri Nair visualized Mai Swarupa and immediately sent Him a telegram about his condition. The Saint while promptly sending a reply gave a direction that daily reports should be posted to Him. Each letter was answered by return of post. There were thus two regular streams of letters between Government Hospital Calicut and Mai Niwas SantaCruz West, Bombay for three weeks, Then a strange thing happened. The letter received by the patient on Tuesday contained an assurance that he would be discharged the following Friday. It looked like an extravagant boon, because even that morning the District Medical Officers had opined that Sri Nair would have to be in the hospital for at least two weeks more. Two days passed. Thursday evening the D.M.O. felt that the improvement in the patient's condition would justify his discharge the following morning, And Sri Nair left the hospital as foretold in the letter. This event naturally strengthened the bond between Master and disciple.
The rank of Mai Shishu was conferred on Sri C.R. Nair on the Installation of Mai in the Mai Vidyut Temple at Trichur in 1958.
Towards the end of March 1964, Mai Shishu C. R. Nair was having a high fever which rose to 104 degrees. He was then staying at Mai Vidyut, Trichur, with his wife. One night at 10 p.m. he dreamt that the Mai Temple was on fire. With a hoarse shout he rushed to the Temple followed by his anxious wife. In the Temple he saw Mai and Mai Swarupa sitting on the stool whereon he used to sit while conducting Friday worship. He placed his head in the stool; immediately the Vision disappeared, and so did the fever,he was cured. About a fortnight thereafter this writer narrated an incident to Mai Swarupa at Mai Niwas. The Master said it was a good omen which showed that Mai Shishu Nair had increased his spiritual powers to such an extent that he could invoke Maiji's astral body during illness.
Maiji II did not rest on his laurels after assuming charge. To be the helm's man of Mai-ism is no bed of roses. It entails onerous work at all times. The New Maiji rose to the occasion, threw himself heart and soul into the work and began to strive indefatigably for the cause entrusted to his care, hitching his waggon to his star, (Mai Swarupa). His prayers for the relief of others have been answered. His unremitting efforts to propagate Mai-ism have been effective as will be seen from the following outstanding events.
A bronze Bust of Mai Swarupa was installed, just outside the prayer hall in Mai Niwas at the Master's favorite corner of the verandah. That was on 10-5-68.
Two Mai Temples were opened in 1969, one in Polpully in Palghat on 27-3-69 and the other in Durgapur on 23-12-69.
The World Fellowship of Religions held their Fourth World Conference of Religions in Delhi in February 1970. Due to ill-health, Maiji II could not attend in person. However, he sent a thesis on Universal Mai-ism which was very well appreciated by the Conference as is evident from the following sentences extracted from a letter sent to Maiji II on 23-6-70 by H.E. Baron F. Von Blomberg (U.S.A.) Co-president of the Conference: 'The material you so kindly sent me was read and well used at our Fourth World Conference of Religions in Delhi last February. We had 100,000 presents - some 100 countries represented."
When the World Parliament of Religions held their session at Sasthamcotta near Quilon in March-April 1971, Maiji Il deputed a Mai-ist to read a paper on Mai-ism before the Parliament.
Mai was Installed and Mai Temple inaugurated at Avadi near Madras by Maiji Il on 2-9-1971.
Mai Convocation was held at Secunderabad from 15th to 17th of October 1972 under the benign guidance and in the immediate presence of the present Maiji.
Mai Maiji Bless all. Jai Mai.
