Bhagavan
The eternal ground of all that is — the one from whom all teachings flow
Bhagavan
Early Life of Bhagavan :
Bhagavan, whom we worship as the Adhyastha of the International Vedanta Society
(IVS) and revere as the guiding light for spiritual seekers across the world,
was born on 3 January 1942 into a family of landlords in the village of
Rahamatpur, in the Barishal District of present-day Bangladesh. Before India's
independence, during the partition of the Indian subcontinent into East and
West Pakistan, Bhagavan's family was among the thousands of Hindu families who
were compelled to leave behind their ancestral home, lands, and possessions and
migrate to India. Bhagavan's father, Sri Kanailal Chakroborty, later secured
employment as a school teacher in Talcher, Odisha.
Although widely respected for his honesty, integrity, and noble character, he
struggled tirelessly to provide for his family under difficult circumstances.
Unlike the lives of many great spiritual personalities, where miraculous events
or extraordinary incidents in childhood are often regarded as signs of future
spiritual greatness, Bhagavan's early life was remarkably simple and humble.
Yet, within that simplicity lay the subtle indications of His extraordinary
nature. Bhagavan possessed an exceptional intellect from an early age. Whatever
He heard even once remained permanently etched in His memory. Every task He
undertook, whether great or small, received His complete attention and
wholehearted dedication. Despite the hardships faced by His own family, His
heart was always filled with compassion for those who suffered.
The defining qualities of Bhagavan's character became evident from His early
adolescence—an intense thirst for truth and an unconditional love for humanity.
One memorable example occurred when Bhagavan was only ten years old. During the
scorching summer months, He voluntarily served drinking water to weary and
thirsty passengers at the local railway station, finding joy in selfless
service. Bhagavan was never known as a ritualistic worshipper of any particular
deity, nor did He display a special attachment to religious ceremonies or
formal practices. To Him, humanity itself was the highest manifestation of the
Divine. He believed that serving mankind was the noblest form of worship, and
nothing stood above the dignity and sanctity of human life. In 1971, Bhagavan
entered into holy matrimony with His revered consort, Guruma, who is now
lovingly revered as the Sangha Janani of the International Vedanta Society. A
few years later, their daughter, Debjani, was born. She would eventually become
one of the principal torchbearers of the spiritual movement founded by her
father. Alongside His spiritual journey, Bhagavan served as an employee of the
Indian Railways. Gifted with remarkable artistic talent, He also distinguished
Himself as a theatre actor, director, and cultural leader. In time, He
established His own theatre group, which earned widespread recognition and
appreciation from audiences, cultural circles, and the media. Even during these
formative years, Bhagavan's life reflected the ideals that would later inspire
thousands of spiritual seekers. His unwavering commitment to truth, profound
compassion for humanity, and selfless spirit of service laid the foundation for
the establishment of the International Vedanta Society, through which His
teachings continue to guide and uplift people around the world.
Bhagavan's
Awakening to the Spiritual Quest:
During this period, Bhagavan found Himself deeply affected by the deception and
betrayal He witnessed in society. The striking contrast between what people
professed and how they actually lived stirred profound questions within Him.
While many might have chosen to compromise with the world and move on, Bhagavan
took a different path. This painful experience became a defining turning point
in His life, leading Him inward into deep contemplation and spiritual
introspection.
When truth and honesty themselves seemed to have lost their place in human
life, Bhagavan began to question the very purpose of existence. He felt that a
life deprived of truth was not worth living, for an existence built upon
falsehood and betrayal could never bring lasting peace or fulfilment. Rather
than accepting such a hollow way of life, He sought a deeper and eternal Truth.
It was during this time, while visiting the local library, that Bhagavan came
across Swami Vivekananda's inspiring poem, "To an Early Violet".
Those verses touched the depths of His heart and awakened a profound spiritual
longing within Him. That seemingly ordinary moment became the beginning of
Bhagavan's spiritual quest—a sacred journey of self-discovery, truth, and
God-realization that transformed His life forever.
Bhagavan's
Initiation and Guru :
Inspired by Swami Vivekananda's poem "To an Early Violet" and, above
all, by the divine life and teachings of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Dev, it was not
long before Bhagavan met His revered Guru, Swami Pabitrananda Maharaj, at Shri
Ramakrishna Tapovan in Janai, near Kolkata.
Swami Pabitrananda Maharaj was a direct disciple of Swami Krishnananda Maharaj,
who had received initiation from the Holy Mother, Sri ma, Sarada Devi, the
sacred spiritual consort of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Dev. During the Sannyasa Diksha
of Swami Krishnananda Maharaj, the sacred Viraja Homa—an essential and highly
significant rite of the monastic initiation—was performed in an important part
by Swami Brahmananda Maharaj, the beloved spiritual son and one of the foremost
direct disciples of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha Dev.
At that time, Bhagavan was serving in the Indian Railways in Guwahati, Assam.
Owing to His professional responsibilities, Bhagavan was not blessed with the
opportunity to remain constantly at the holy feet of His Guru and receive His
teachings in person. Recognizing the extraordinary sharpness, sincerity, and
spiritual receptivity of Bhagavan, Swami Pabitrananda Maharaj began imparting
profound discourses on Advaita Vedanta through a series of personal letters.
Bhagavan immersed Himself deeply in these sacred letters, contemplating and
assimilating their profound spiritual wisdom. These letters contained the very
essence of Advaita Vedanta—the highest philosophy of Non-Dualism—and became a
guiding light on the path of Self-realization.
In later years, following Bhagavan's order this invaluable spiritual
correspondence was compiled and published by the International Vedanta Society
under the title "Vedanta Sadhana". It was subsequently translated
into English and published as Path to Realization , enabling sincere spiritual
seekers across the world to benefit from the timeless Vedantic teachings that
Bhagavan received from His revered Guru.
Bhagavan's
Attainment of Nirvikalpa Samadhi :
Apart from His professional responsibilities, Bhagavan dedicated every
available moment to the contemplation and assimilation of the sacred letters
His revered Master wrote to Him. Such was Bhagavan's intense yearning for
spiritual wisdom that He would visit the local post office almost every day to
enquire whether a letter from His Guru had arrived. More often than not, this
puzzled—and at times even irritated—the postmaster, who could not understand
why someone would travel personally to the post office when every letter would,
in due course, be delivered to its intended address. Such was the depth of
Bhagavan's devotion to His Guru and His eagerness to receive every word of
spiritual instruction.
The earnestness of Bhagavan's discipleship was equally reflected in His
complete spirit of renunciation. It took only a single suggestive letter from
His Master, in which He had indirectly indicated that name and fame could
become obstacles to the realization of the Supreme Truth, for Bhagavan to
renounce His reputation as a celebrated theatre personality forever. At that
time, *Bhagavan* was a highly respected theatre director and actor whose
acclaimed productions attracted audiences numbering in the thousands. Yet, in
unwavering obedience to His Guru's spiritual guidance, He relinquished worldly
recognition without hesitation.
Bhagavan would awaken every day at two o'clock in the morning to immerse
Himself in meditation. His method of meditation consisted of arresting every
thought at the very source of its arising through the aid of a second thought.
This subtle and profound method unfolded naturally within Bhagavan and is
traditionally regarded as a discipline suited only to highly advanced
practitioners of meditation.
In time, Bhagavan resolved to take seven days of casual leave from His office
solely for the purpose of uninterrupted Sadhana. Such was the extraordinary
strength of Bhagavan's determination that He allowed Himself only those seven
days to realize the Ultimate Truth of existence. By the power of His pure
intellect, unwavering spiritual discipline, and boundless devotion to His
revered Guru, Bhagavan attained the highest state of consciousness—Nirvikalpa
Samadhi—on the third day of His seven-day spiritual retreat.
The date was the 15th of December, 1984, which, that year, also coincided with
the sacred birth anniversary of the Holy Mother, Sri Ma, Sarada Devi.
Describing this supreme spiritual experience in His personal diary, Bhagavan
wrote:
"As I was gazing at the mind, suddenly both my mind and body vanished.
What remained was pure realization—the Witness, Consciousness. There was a
feeling of pure Bliss. After a while, coming back to my earthly plane, I
realized the significance of Sri Thakur's words: 'Once a tadpole sheds its tail
and becomes a frog, it can live either on land or in water.'"
In the year 1988, the descent of Mahabhava manifested in Bhagavan, transforming
Him into a powerful spiritual dynamo and bestowing upon Him the extraordinary
ability to liberate sincere spiritual aspirants through His mere wish or
compassionate touch. Soon thereafter, Bhagavan established the International
Vedanta Society to disseminate the eternal wisdom of Advaita Vedanta and to
guide earnest seekers on the path of Self-realization.
Bhagavan – the embodiment of love :
Inspired by His boundless love for humanity, born out of His realization of oneness with all existence, Bhagavan established the International Vedanta Society on 19 November 1989, with the foremost aim of spreading the message of Vedanta among the masses. According to Bhagavan, the realization of oneness is the only hope for humanity to build a better future. His unconditional love has transformed the hearts of countless men and women, transcending every boundary of language, caste, religion, and age. Bhagavan once declared, “I will crush the God made of stone and mix it with people.” Through His life and teachings, He is now giving expression to this very vision by revealing the Supreme in every individual and bringing the Divine closer to humanity.
Bhagavan: The Source of Inspiration
Through His efforts to awaken the spirit of the Upanishads in the hearts of men and women, Bhagavan has continually highlighted the importance of putting the teachings of Vedanta into practice in everyday life. The realization of the eternal nature of the Self frees a person from fear and enables one to face the joys and sorrows of the world with a smile. Understanding that the soul is beyond birth and death brings a deeper joy to life, as one who realizes this Truth comes to understand that life’s difficulties and challenges are transient in nature. This realization fills the individual with renewed hope and immense inner strength, empowering one to overcome the obstacles that life presents and emerge victorious.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the movement initiated by Bhagavan is the enthusiastic participation of young people. Inspired by the ideals of Vedanta and blessed by His divine grace, the younger generation has become an integral part of the International Vedanta Society (IVS). Drawn by His indescribable love, they gather around Him just as bees are drawn to blossoming flowers. Through spiritual discussions, reflection, and contemplation, their lives have gradually undergone a transformation. With renewed conviction and enthusiasm, they now aspire to carry the timeless wisdom of Vedanta beyond their immediate surroundings and share it with the wider world.
Bhagavan: as a Spiritual Guru :
Revered as the Avatar of this age, Bhagavan belongs to the highest order of Spiritual Gurus who descend upon the earth. Endowed with the spiritual power to grant liberation at His will, Bhagavan’s extraordinary spiritual potency has guided thousands of His disciples into experiences of spiritual realization at varying levels of depth. Within the International Vedanta Society (IVS), Bhagavan has not introduced the formal practice of Mantra Diksha (initiation through a sacred mantra), for He believes that the transformative power of His divine love is itself sufficient to bring about profound spiritual changes in anyone who comes into close contact with Him, whether mentally or physically.
=====================================================================
“He alone is the Player, and He alone makes the play unfold. He is our companion, too. He is everything. Come, let us continue to play. We have spread the stage for this divine play across the world. Invite everyone to come, invite them to join the play. And then, as we continue to play, may this journey culminate in fulfilment, fulfilment, and nothing but fulfilment. That is the final word.
But does this play ever truly come to an end? I do not know.
With love.”
-Bhagavan