Odyssey of the Enlightened – 74
T
he deal for the purchase of land for Gayatri Tapobhumi was finalized at rupees six thousand. Shriram had no ready capital or resource for this purchase. Taiji offered to sell some of the property and bonds of Zamindaari they owned in Anwalkheda. But Shriram had already denied this offer. He did not want to take more than rupees eleven hundred that she had already vowed for. The magazines and books written and published by him were already kept at a minimal price, so the sales were just sufficient to manage the wheel moving. The interest on deposits of annual subscriptions of Akhand Jyoti was used in the publication of the books. And income from books was consumed in the paper, ink and printing charges for Akhand Jyoti. Just about a month ago, he had planned to publish a series of specialized books on Gayatri Mahavidya. His books titled “Gayatri Yoga,” “Gayatri Tantra,” “Yagya Vigyan,” and “Gayatri ki Uchchastariya Sadhana” were already published. Now he wanted to write a comprehensive volume on “Gayatri Mahavigyan.” His objective was that this should
Sadhana and Sanjeevani (Elixir of Sadhana) -1
be an authentic treatise containing the knowledge of Gayatri extracted from the Shastras (ancient Indian texts), the evidential experiences and views of the siddhas, accomplished sadhakas, scholars and great personalities with the Gayatri Mantra, and thorough analysis of this Mantra and effects of its japa-sadhana in a scientific light. He wanted that the volume should be complete so that no seeker of any knowledge or information on Gayatri would have to search for any other texts. Navratri’s time was still ahead by more than a month. Shriram had to arrange for money before this. But the major problem was from where to collect it. He used to wear handloom Kurta and Dhoti. While going for some meeting or formal program, he would put on a handloom jacket – that is all. He only had two or three kurtas and dhotis. Mataji’s living was also austere like him. As such, there was no shortage of money, but they never felt the need for any more clothes or other facilities. That way, they both hailed from well-off families. An exceptionally brilliant, sagacious scholar like Shriram could have been among the who’s who of the world, but he and Mataji had opted for austere lifestyle by choice. This is what suited their saintly attitude. Whatever income he used to get from the literature or whatever amount or support was received as donations were used for propagation of Gayatri Mahavidya. Books and magazines about this precious knowledge were the primary means of its further dissemination. He had also written some books to eliminate the prevalent misconceptions about spirituality and Indian Culture.
The ingredients of health and long life are great temperance, open-air, easy labor, and little care. - Philip Sidney Akhand Jyoti
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JULY-AUG. 2020
