Devendra Ghia
Devendra Ghia | |
|---|---|
| File:DevendraGhia.jpg | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 6 November 1927 |
| Died | October 26, 2006 (aged 78) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Philosophy | Sahaj Kriya Yoga |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Mahavataar Babaji Siddhnath Baba, Girnar |
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Devendra Ghia (1927–2006) was a 20th-century mystic and devotee of the divine mother in the form of Siddhambika Mataji. Though a householder, he is a saint of the highest order. His devotees affectionately called him KAKA. [1] He composed approximately 10,000 hymns (bhajans) which are a treasure trove of knowledge, devotion, introspection, and can guide a true seeker towards self-realization. These bhajans are published in a book called Bhaav Samadhi Vichaar Samadhi (Perfect balance of emotions and thoughts).[1][2] Kaka passed away on 26 October 2006.
Life and Self-Realization
Devendra Ghia was born in Mumbai on 6 November 1927. He initially was an atheist and did not believe in God. His mother was a devout woman who followed all rituals and regularly visited temples. Devendra was an obedient child and accompanied his mother to temples. However, he would stand outside the temple with his hands behind his back and never bow down to the deity. He would wait for his mother to finish her worship and then silently return home without expressing his views. This continued for several years. One day, Devendra and his mother went to the local Laxminarayan temple in Mumbai. As usual, Devendra stood outside the temple with his hands behind his back, when he had an unusual experience. He suddenly saw the temple enlarging and engulfing him. He also saw the idol of Laxminarayan smiling at him and perceived the presence of Laxminarayan everywhere. In every direction he looked, he saw Laxminarayan and nothing else. He was so engrossed and moved by the experience that his hands automatically unfolded and came to the front of his body. Devendra bowed down to the divine presence and folded his hands, saying, “Yes, I acknowledge you. I realize you exist, and you are present in the smallest and largest things in this world. This world exists because of you, and you are the creator of everything in this universe. You are present in everyone and everything.” With this experience, Devendra took his first step on the path of spirituality. He then began to worship God religiously. Initially, he worshipped God in the form of Krishna, then Ram, and eventually as Siddhambika Mataji (the divine mother).[3]
Divine Mother
Devendra Ghia (Kaka) worshipped God in the form of the universal divine mother.[4] The image of Siddhambika Mataji is deeply moving. Kaka conversed with Mataji every day. The divine mother advised him to sit every Tuesday and help people overcome their problems. Kaka would sit before the divine mother, praying for divine intervention for people, and the divine mother would grant his prayers. These miraculous healings brought him much recognition, and people would line up in front of his house from early morning to receive her blessings. Further, the divine mother asked him to compose hymns. He composed various hymns in English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi.[1] These hymns flowed through divine grace, and sometimes he would stay awake all night writing them (bhajans). Thus, these bhajans are the direct divine voice.[5][6] Spiritual practices are never complete without the grace of a divine master (guru). The divine mother would tell him that he had two gurus. She would show him visions of his gurus but would not reveal their names. Kaka constantly searched for his gurus and visited many places, but could not find them. His meetings with his spiritual gurus – Siddhanath Baba of Girnar, Gujarat, India, and the immortal guru Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj are stories of miraculous events from bygone eras. The divine plays (leelas) of God with his devotee are full of joy and happiness. Kaka and the divine mother's conversations are filled with divine leelas. Sometimes the Divine Mother would gently encourage him, sometimes command him, but always love him. One day, the divine mother asked him to start reading the Chandi Path (a Hindu religious scripture extolling the virtues of the divine mother and victory over demons). Kaka initially refused, saying he did not know Sanskrit. However, the divine mother persisted, and finally, Kaka agreed to read it with the condition that she would explain it to him. The divine mother readily agreed, and he read the Chandi Path with divine grace. Kaka recited the Chandi Path many times to alleviate the bad karma of those suffering because of it. The Chandi Path not only depicts the victory of good over evil, but its inner meaning is to overcome bad habits, samskaras, vikaars (perversions), and ego within us. The demons in the Chandi Path represent aspects within us (mahisasura – ego, Madhu – liking for flattery, kaitab – aversion to hearing the bitter truth, Chand- ignorance, mund – rigidity, dhumralochan – anger, shumbh – likes, nishumbh -dislikes, raktabeej -endless desires).
Satgurus
One day, the divine mother showed him the book called Autobiography of a Yogi. As soon as he saw the photograph of Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj, he rejoiced, realizing that the satguru he had been searching for was Mahavatar Mahavatar Babaji. Subsequently, Babaji Maharaj visited him and blessed him.
His meeting with his satguru Siddhnath Baba is miraculous. No one knows the age of Siddhanath Baba. It is said that he lives in a cave in the Girnar jungles for hundreds of years. It is impossible to reach his cave without his permission. One night, Kaka was sleeping in his Mumbai home. Suddenly, a light appeared, and two monks materialized from thin air. They asked Kaka to accompany them. They took Kaka to a cave on a mountain, flying through the sky. Kaka saw a saint sitting on a seat. He had a long beard and long white hair. Lions were seated on either side of him. Kaka soon realized he was his guru. He was overjoyed to meet Siddhnath Baba. Siddhnath Baba showed Kaka his Kamandal, Kaka's Asana (mat), and mala. Siddhnath Baba told him, "I have kept these safely with me. These are yours from a previous birth." He then made Kaka sit in meditation and gave him a vision of his previous birth as a sadhu in Girnar, called AVNINATH Baba. Kaka saw his own past life as Avninath Baba. Siddhnath Baba reminded him that all his karmas were complete, and he had been sent in this life to uplift a few people. He needed to return and work for the upliftment of those people. He also told Kaka that all the powers (siddhis) Kaka had accumulated had been taken away. Those would be given back when needed. After spending a few hours with Siddhnath Baba, Kaka was returned home the same night in the same way. Subsequently, Kaka dedicated his life to the spiritual upliftment of others.
Philosophy
Kaka had many followers. While Kaka did not promote any specific form of worship, devotion, or ritual, he guided people towards spiritual progress. He often said, "I am an engine going up. Whoever connects with me will rise with me." Kaka taught that he was leading everyone through a process called "SAHAJ KRIYA YOGA." He said that Sahaj (meaning simple and natural) was the method of his satguru Siddhnath Baba, and Kriya Yoga was the method of his satguru Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj. Simply surrendering to him ensured that any karma or action (kriya) a devotee performed was Sahaj and natural, with divine grace. Thus, there were no breathing exercises, no yogic postures, and no rituals. Only surrender, faith, and everything would happen naturally. This was the philosophy of Satguru Kaka.[7]
Hymns (Bhajans)
Kaka composed approximately 10,000 hymns, published in a book called BHAAV SAMADHI VICHAAR SAMADHI. This book has 20 volumes, each containing 500 hymns. Many of these hymns have been sung by his devotees and are available on the Kaka Bhajans YouTube channel.[2] The meaning of Bhaav Samadhi and Vichaar Samadhi is a complete balance of thoughts and emotions. Once you achieve balance over your thoughts and emotions, desires cease. With no desires, no new karmas are created, and the cycles of life and death end. Kaka lived his life in this state. Though moved by his followers' struggles, showering blessings constantly, and facing hardships, he remained in eternal joy and peace. The hymns reflect this. The majority of the hymns are in Gujarati, but there are also hymns in English, Hindi, and Marathi.[1]
The first hymn is full of inner reflection, clarity, and purity. હું અને તું મટયું ત્યાં સૃષ્ટિ રહેતી નથી જ્ઞાન આ લાધ્યું, પણ એ ટકતું નથી તારી માયામાં અટવાઈને ભટકતો રહ્યો છું તારી કૃપા વિના, બહાર નીકળાતું નથી - હું અને ... કર્મો કીધા કંઈક એવા, આગળ પાછળ ના જોયું હવે એ સતાવે મુજને, સહન થાતું નથી - હું અને ... સુખમાં અભિમાનથી ભાન મુજને ના રહ્યું દુઃખમાં સ્મરણ કરી હવે વિનવી રહું - હું અને ... દેજે તું બુદ્ધિ મુજને એવી, સ્મરણ તારું નિત્ય કરું આ વિનંતી સ્વીકારજે `મા' તું દિલમાં ધરી - હું અને ... [8]
Simply put, the bhajan means: Where the difference between you and I disappears, this world ceases to exist, This knowledge I gain, but it does not last, I wander lost in the illusions of this world, Without your grace, I cannot escape. Actions I performed, without looking ahead or behind, Now these actions torment me; I cannot bear the pain. In happiness, pride clouded my awareness of you, Now in sorrow, I remember you and pray. Grant me wisdom, so I may constantly remember you, Accept this prayer, Oh Mother, in your heart.
These hymns are about devotion, righteous action, knowledge, understanding, and self-realization. They flow with divine grace and divinity. These hymns are a timeless scripture, relevant in today's world, transcending religious boundaries and rigidity.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bhaav Samadhi Vichaar Samadhi". KakaBhajans.org.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kaka Bhajans Youtube Channel".
- ↑ "Speaking Tree".
- ↑ "Siddhambika Dishawal Sangh, Juna Deesa, Banaskantha, Gujarat".
- ↑ "Satguru Shri Devendra Ghia and the Divine Mother".
- ↑ "We all have more than one Mothers".
- ↑ "Speaking Tree - Shower of Miracles".
- ↑ "Bhajan No. 1 by Satguru Shri Devendra Ghia (Kaka) – હું અને તું મટયું ત્યાં સૃષ્ટિ રહેતી નથી".
