Niranjan Charitra: A Chronicle of Purity
Born in Mumbai, a complex and many-layered city.
You reside there in your wise, profound simplicity.
A commercial hub and city of glamour.
You find, and are, the serenity amidst the clamour.
Drawn to the vastness of the Arabian Sea,
You see, and are, the peace in the busy city.
Enjoying time in Ghatkopar's nearby hills,
Beyond and above the run of the mill.
A quiet child, sincere and frank,
Enjoying the occasional April Fool's prank.
Bhaishree with his siblings. Bhaishree is second from the left side.
Immensely grateful for your parents' sacrifice,
You live with joyful acceptance: Whatever there is will suffice.
Bhaishree with his mother Kumudben
Bhaishree’s father - Mr Anantrai
You appreciate the character of Mamtaben, your devoted wife.
While detached, you remain dutiful in your family life.
In business you were dutiful and industrious,
Calm and collected, if challenges did surface.
Bhaishree during puja in his factory
From within this family, would arise another impact:
The enthusiasm of your father-in-law, in fact.
Bhaishree’s father-in-law, Satpurush Shodhak Shantidada is seated in the middle
He successfully encountered the great Bapuji,
Who eventually succumbed to Shantibhai’s entreaty.
Bapuji is on the left and Shantidada is beside him.
Through Shantibhai’s great energy, and sincere persuasion,
Came the transformative, momentous introduction.
A father-in-law, by convention, is what the world might see;
Yet, out of this world, his spiritual role, bringing you to Bapuji.
Left to right: Bhaishree - Bapuji - Shantidada
Having kept your distance from traditional religion,
Meeting Bapuji brought to you a different vision.
Your life changed forever, after this magical communion,
As you realised that this great soul was no ordinary human.
Your encounter with Bapuji, was what inspired.
With his attractive loving joyful way, magic transpired.
You were drawn to his distinguished character,
Vast wisdom, compassion and noble spiritual stature.
Your courage, when a fire set the factory ablaze
And perseverance, to this day, truly do amaze.
While your faith could have been tested by such an incident,
Your faith remained steadfast, you did not relent.
You dedicated yourself with devotion resolute,
And in his guidance, you realised soul absolute.
Despite your state of great inner elevation,
You humbly served the master without reservation.
He anointed as successors both you and another:
The tranquil, and serenely wise Gurumaa.
When you humbly took on the great responsibility,
You did so with determination and sensibility.
With your firm resolve, the Ashram has been transformed,
And many systems and structures have been formed.
You have taken Bapuji's dreams and developed
The great work of the Ashram, a beacon of hope.
For those who are thirsty you quench their thirst,
For potential seekers, you inspire this very thirst.
For those who suffer for lack of basic needs,
You inspire alleviation of poverty, selfless good deeds.
You have had a vision and resolve, as a deep humanitarian
To inspire services, uplifting society, making it more egalitarian.
You empower the professionals who lead the projects,
And they strive so hard out of love for you and respect.
With partner institutions you humbly collaborate.
Thus, locally, a great trust develops and percolates.
Donors know you to be accountable and transparent.
Their trust and faith is abundantly apparent.
You thank beneficiaries for the opportunity
To serve, expressing loving respect, and not arrogant pity.
You inspire donors to introspect on their sentiment,
And seekers to experience a great deal of inner detachment.
Knowing the soul and its infinitely vast potential,
You strive to bring about realisation in each individual.
You established a pattern of frequent retreats,
Shibirs, where seekers can focus on what they seek.
Your structured system of reporting and guidance,
In Raj Marg, has markedly helped many to advance.
You have a vision that many more will come in search
To the ashram in curiosity or to quench their thirst.
Many have now heard of the immortal nectar of your Word
A rare few will enjoy the joy of hubris surrendered.
In your guidance and shelter, there is much to gain.
The worthy earn the path, and do not leave in vain.
While your compassion is universal, for all without condition,
To uplift with quality, not quantity, is your mission.
Through worthiness, stillness, contemplation, and realisation, they progress.
In person, individually, seekers have all concerns and obstacles addressed.
Your pilgrimages have taken us to wondrous sites,
And in each of them you have provided unique insight.
You introduce us to local saints of whom we have never heard,
Sharing with us their amazing lives and their sacred words.
When respectfully visiting shrines of various faiths and paths,
You seek out the common truths which resonate in our hearts.
Visiting many Tirthas, you celebrate the lives of the Jinas,
You ignite in us a love for the divinity within us.
With so much achieved with quiet resolution,
Within each of us you have sparked a revolution.
To the extent we have heard and heeded your wisdom,
We have come closer to knowing the soul's kingdom.
Your love and compassion
Still our minds, quell our passions.
Your living presence, a gift,
Which truly uplifts.
On the anniversary of your arrival,
We celebrate our own spiritual revival.
Your birth has graced us,
As you have embraced us
In giving us all of this,
You seek nothing but our own bliss.
What can we truly ever offer to thee,
When all we have is from you, Bhaishree?
