Meghajit in confrontation with Shri Hari.
Meghajit in confrontation with Shri Hari.
There lived a man named Meghajit Vanik, in Mangrol. Formerly, he was a co-disciple of Sri Shri Hari, but was self- assertive and over-confident. 1
While meditating, he was able to leave his body, visit the abode of Vishnu and return to the earth (body) at his free will. 2.
When Uddhava passed away, Meghajit began to think that now he surpassed everyone, and looked down upon Mukunda and others,
and even the great master Narayan also. 3
Once, he was found insulting the devotees of Krishna and the other ascetics, and also indulged himself in dispute with some gentlemen in a meeting. Once Swaminarayan noticed this and said this to him. 4
“How dare you insult those good people who are respected even by the gods? I am aware of your power, but I will put an end to it in no time. 5
“If you wish to be happy, then obey my orders. Otherwise your power of freewill in meditation will vanish in a moment.” 6
Then Meghajit said “O celibate, you have become the follower of the preceptor just recently. What harm you dare do me, for I am the disciple of Guru Ramananda for a long time. I have no fear. 7.
“I am senior to you. Hence you should obey my orders in all aspects. Are you not ashamed of expecting me to obey your order? 8
“I will show you my superiority right now.” Saying thus he put his hands in a pan full of boiling oil. 9.
His hands burnt and became swollen. Still he did not feel any pain. He was so vehemently engaged in that hot discussion, that he was oblivious of bodily pain. 10.
Seeing this wondrous act, all the men thought that he must be in possession of some supernatural powers. Then he told them as they were listening to him. “On the fourth day from now, at the fourth hour of the day, I will definitely abandon my body.” 11-12.
Swaminarayan told him, “If you can do it successfully, we will all follow you and accept you as our preceptor. Else you should become my disciple.
“Take it from me that I will hold you in the middle of the abode of Shri Hari’s Vaikunta, and your gross body like Trisanku. You may try according to your capacity. 13 - 14.
Then Meghajit replied – ‘All the eight supernatural powers including Anima are under my control. Your powers will not have any effect on me.’ 15.
Meghaji defeated, accepts Shri Hari’s supremacy.
Then he went home, wishing to abandon his body. Before that he began donating huge amount of money, rich food and sweets to the thousands of Brahmins and ascetics. 16 -17.
He gave food even to people of low caste and people of other castes and creeds. But due to jealousy, he did not offer any food to the devotees and ascetics who were under the shelter of Nilakantha. 18.
Doing thus for three days, he in the early morning on the fourth day also gave food to the sages and Brahmins, hurriedly. 19.
In the fourth hour of that day, he sat in a lotus-like posture and went into deep meditation. At that time the native people gathered to observe his feat. 20.
Having withdrawn his vital breath from all the parts of the body into the chamber of his heart, he stilled the web of the nerves with his steady eyes. 21.
Then he tried to take his vital breath (Prana) from his heart upwards to the top of the head, so that the Prana could escape from the body by breaking through the skull (Brahmarandhra). But despite trying hard, he was not able to succeed. 22.
He tried to lift up his vital breath several times, for long, but could not make it move, either upwards or downwards. Thus his life-breath was held in the middle of the body, immovable in spite of repeated efforts. 23.
O king! Although he had conquered the eight yogic powers like Anima etc. he was not able to move his vital breath. 24.
He was lying down in a place, lifeless like Trishanku, who was hanging in the sky with his head downwards. 25.
As he could not keep his word, he experienced severe mortification and suffering. Seeing him thus on the next day the Brahmin and merchant natives said to him: 26.
‘You have insulted the noble celibate and the virtuous people. Your vow did not come true and hence you are in this distress. It would be better that you should immediately surrender to Him. He will do whatever is good for you. Either He will free you from the body or give you life.’ 27-28.
His pride was not yet humbled. Despite suffering in such a miserable condition, having lost his discrimination, he did not honor the advice of the natives though it was in his own interest. 29.
He stayed for five days in the same place and was unable to move at all. Then his ego melted and he was ready to surrender wholeheartedly to Shri Hari. 30.
Somehow he tried to speak with movements and indistinct words to the people near him ‘Please call the great celibate here, without delay.’ 31.
As He was requested by the people, the merciful Nilakantha came there with the sages and devotees. He looked into his eyes.
The moment his vital breath-Pranas moved to their respective places - to the organs and entire body through the nerves. Meghajit became normal in a moment and rose up. He realized that Shri Hari is Krishna Himself. He got up and saluted Him. 32 - 33.
Meghajit said to Him – ‘Today onwards, you are my Lord; I am your servant. Be merciful and excuse me for my offences. Now you order me, and I will obey you’. 34.
Swaminarayan said:-
O, devoted Meghajit, do not leave the body now. You live happily on this earth reflecting on Lord Krishna and spreading devotion unto Him. 35.
After saying thus, the Lord came to His abode with Meghajit. All the people of the town were much astonished to see Him. 36.
When all the people of the town heard about this miraculous and divine event, they wondered whether the same Shri Hari is the Lord of the world. Some of them became eager to surrender to him, and others thought that ‘He must be the Supreme Lord’due to His tested wonderful power. 37.
Thus ends the fourth chapter entitled ‘Victory over Meghajit who was proud of his own freewill meditation’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan,, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 4