Purana Purusha- Yogiraj Sri Shamachurn Lahiree (A Complete Biography)

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Late Gopinath Kaviraj, the most eminent and great scholar, and many other illustrious persons expressed their desire that I should write a full length biography of my Departed grandfather, Yogiraj Shama Churn Lahiree Mahasaya. The reason why they were so eager to get me to write such a biography lies in the fact that I possess twenty-six diaries of my grandfather, which were written by Him and that I constantly remained with my father and was his affectionate son, thereby having access to relevant information regarding my grandfather.

Most of the saints and sages who adorned the mythological period were all family men. In the midst of their family preoccupations, they practised sadhana and the direct realisations which they attained cannot be noticed in thousands of years. But though the great Lahiree Mahasaya passed His whole life as a family man serving the government, drawing pension and eventually engaging Himself as a private tutor, He practised sadhana and through the medium of self-realisation, introspection and divine sound made a quest for the spiritual world, which it is doubtful, has been ever achieved by anyone else in this age. It is doubtless that in the path of yoga, after the Great Soul Kabirdas, the only Sadhaka with direct self- realization is none other than the Great Lahiree Mahasaya. Many, specially the devotees of the Great Lahiree Mahasaya were under the notion that the Great Kabirdas himself was born again in this world in a noble Brahmin family in the name of Shama Churn Lahiree. Though there has not been any direct proof of this Re- Advent, yet a comparison of the sayings of the Great Kabirdas with that of the Sublime Lahiree Mahasaya obtained from His direct realisations in His own diaries justify the strength and fairness of such a belief. The Great Kabirdas was a householder till he breathed his last, and the Great Lahiree Mahasaya also was the same. Kabirdas used to chant - Rimi jhimi rimi jhimi cadariya bini re (let me weave my sheets in harmony with the melodious rhythmical sound of a weaving shuttle). Having been reared up in the family of a weaver, he took up weaving as his profession but always would remain in sadhana's parabastha (i.e. a state of being totally merged in the Absolute a state which is achieved only by a yogi through his constant yoga practice). Lahiree Mahasaya also remained in the same state. By perpetually abiding in this state, He too used to perform His daily tasks at ease. This was a remarkably wonderful state. Keeping that state in view, Bhagavan Krishna says - Tasmad sarveshu kaleshu yogayukta bhavarjuna. Yukta asit madparah etc. (for that reason and for all times, oh! Arjuna, be at one with yoga; be united with Me accordingly). From amongst those who were fortunate to be associated with Shama Churn and find shelter at His Holy Feet, I have heard that He achieved the similar state. Though I am His grandson, being born direct in His sacred family lineage, I was unfortunate not to see Him, because I was born nine years after His Sublime Departure. It is not known to me whether there was any relationship with Him in any of my previous births, but I do presume that a spiritual relationship did exist. Whom I have not seen, or ever enjoyed the company of, or had any direct acquaintance with, why I felt such intense love, reverence and devotion towards Him is known to the Omniscient only.

The hallowed womb of Mother India is the producer of many gems. Innumerable exalted yogis by being born on the soil of India have sanctified the motherland and gratified countless men by showing them the path of righteousness The life-notes of those great souls resonate till today. Their immensely precious biographies have enriched the literature and storehouse of knowledge of the motherland. Great souls existed in the past, exist in the present and will exist in the future. As and when society proceeds, the great souls show the path of light to mankind. In this manner, to introduce the right path for the right age, Yogiraj Shama Churn Lahiree Mahasaya descended. In spite of the biographies of many great saints having been written, is it necessary to compose a biography of this Sublime Soul? This Soul like any common man by maintaining an unostentatious family life or by maintaining an existence befitting a complete householder, by meticulously performing all the responsibilities worthy of a householder and by mounting the highest pinnacle of spiritual life, has set an illustrious example to mankind for which humanity is ever grateful and indebted to Him. It is true that before, many have composed short biographies of this Sublime Yogi, but none have till date composed His complete biography. Therefore in accordance with the command of revered Satya Charan Lahiri Mahasaya, the youngest grandson of this Sublime Household-Yogi, I have been encouraged to write the biography of this Apogean Esse. But he has repeatedly cautioned me to sequentially arrange true facts and essences, never to include any wrong facts or essences, or imaginary, baseless tales produced by the writer, which have been noticed in previous biographies.

Many erudites and Kriyabans have for a long time been requesting the revered Satya Charan Lahiri Mahasaya to compose a complete and factual biography of Yogiraj Shama Churn during his lifetime, because in his absence the correct facts may become extinct. But due to old age and lack of time he could not accomplish this. Therefore he advised me, who was like a son to him, to compose this biography. I humbly appealed to him as to how it would be possible for me to compose the biography of this Sublime yogi? It was a high hope indeed! Just as a small blade of grass cannot assess the gigantic banyan tree, similarly I felt that while writing the biography of this Noble Yogi, I might lose its exactness and authenticity.

The venerable Sri Satya Charan Lahiri Mahasaya assuring me made a remarkable statement. He said, "Why do you worry, commence the task, for then He Himself Whose biography it is will compose it. Forsake the attitude 'I am doing' for then you will notice that He Himself will complete the task."

Thus I derived mental strength by remembering his message of assurance and engaged myself with the task of writing, my only hope being the Lotus Feet of the Sublime Yogi. Just as a cripple by the grace of srī Madhava is capable of climbing a high mountain, similarly by the grace of this Great Yogi, I have been able to venture discussing His biography. Many a time I sat with pen in hand, words failing me, but cogitating on Him through Kriya the pen started writing. In this manner day after day, month after month elapsed amounting to fourteen months.