Accumulation of worldly possessions and riches is automatically reflected in a person’s nature attitude and conduct. A healthy person looks strong and beautiful. Affluent persons are full of pomp and show. Intelligence of a man is reflected in his speech, conduct and behaviour. In the same way, when spiritual treasure is amassed, its impact becomes apparent. S³dhan³ is bound to result in siddhi which means extraordinary achievements. Even ordinary persons attain success by dint of their industriousness and resources but the success attained in the spiritual field is exemplary and unique and it cannot be attained by solitary efforts of an ego-centred person.

It is a matter of deep lament that spirituality has been degenerated to the level of jugglery by quacks and people mistake mere conjurer’s tricks as proofs of spiritual attainments. An acrobat displays his acrobatic feats so that people may be dazzled, amazed and surprised. He thus gets tumultuous applause and earns money. But none of these feats fulfil the purpose of doing any public good. It is simply a means to earn a livelihood. There are several persons amongst the so-called saints who by showing such magical stunts, strut about as persons of great spiritual attainment. Simple people are often heard having been cheated by some persons by raising a hand in the air and producing cardamom, sweetmeats etc., or professing to possess the power of doubling the currency notes. It is foolish on the part of the common people that they are unable to distinguish siddhis of the spiritual plane from mere jugglery and miraculous stunts. It is essential to understand the fundamental difference between the life style, morality and daily routine of a siddha puruÌa (saint) and those who are mere jugglers or acrobats.

S³dhan³ which leads to siddhi, means undertaking specific tasks which are related to the overall welfare of mankind and which are so great and extensive that a person cannot accomplish them single-handed through his own strength and efforts. Still, there are people who have enough courage, who go ahead and ultimately accomplish aims which initially appeared to be unattainable. In due course they get people’s participation also. Spiritually awakened souls move ahead even in the absence of resources and cooperation and believe in rowing alone their boat across the river with the help of self-confidence and faith in God. Ordinary people have a different mentality. They undertake a work only after they are convinced of getting resources and others’ cooperation.

Siddha (spiritually evolved) persons engaged in s³dhan³ have been accomplishing great tasks. This is the miracle of their siddhi. To initiate the movement for Independence, Samarth Guru Ramdas inspired a Maratha boy and placed him at the forefront. Buddha launched a worldwide ethical awakening movement to eradicate corruption and spread it throughout Asia. Saty³graha movement started by Gandhi with the help of a handful of persons, by preparing salt at Dhurasana, spread throughout the country. Everybody knows how extensive and successful was the Bh¿d³n movement which was started all alone by Vinoba. Scouting, Red Cross and similar other movements were initially started on small scales and steadily spread worldwide. Vanasthali Balika Vidyapeeth of Rajasthan, Baba Amte’s Seva Sadan for persons suffering from leprosy are shining examples of such works. There have been several instances where availability of expertise, resources and cooperation were almost negligible in the beginning but, by the sheer strength of will of the pioneer, the momentum of the movement was kept up and the work continued moving forward with whatever resources and cooperation were available. Thus, behind the fulfilment of righteous purposes one can have a glimpse of the process of attainment of siddhi by s³dhan³.

One will not be disappointed if he wants to find out siddhis attained by me as a result of s³dhan³. In the beginning people termed it as foolhardiness and warned me that I would be laughed at and ridiculed but I had unflinching faith in God who had inspired me to take up that work in hand. Determination to do work for public good and firm faith that it would be backed by divine help will provide strength of perseverance to a person who is free from greed and allurements.

When the energy of s³dhan³ matured in the form of siddhi it was decided to channelize it in fulfilling timely needs. The work was started. It appeared as if everything was pre-planned. Several persons in the beginning termed it as sheer madness and misadventure but when all these efforts started bearing fruit they conceded that it was the siddhi of s³dhan³. All these acts of madness are summed up below:

1. Taking a pledge at the age of 15 to perform twenty-four G³yatrº Mah³puraïcarañas along with several self-imposed restraints for twenty-four years and fulfilling it without faltering.

2. By way of p¿rñ³huti, a Sahastra-kunú yagya was performed at Mathura in 1958 in which four lakh G³yatrº s³dhaks were invited and all of them attended. Arrangements were made for their stay, food etc. for five days free of charge. A huge yagyaï³l³ stage and pandal were erected and seven temporary townships, within a radius of seven miles, were set up. Lakhs of rupees were spent without begging a single paisa and the whole function was celebrated smoothly without any interruption or disorder.

3. Ancestral property was sold and a grand building of Gayatri Tapobhumi was built at Mathura. Later, it developed into a huge centre of ethical, moral and spiritual education of the masses through the help voluntarily given by the people, for which no appeal was made.

4. Akhañà Jyoti magazine is being published regularly since 1937 without accepting any advertisements. The weekly Harijan published by Gandhiji had to be discontinued when it became nonviable. At present one and half lakh copies of Akhañà Jyoti are being published and each issue is being read by several persons. Its readers are not less than a million.

5. Ancient spiritual and religious literature has been translated into Hindi and absolutely low-priced books incorporating spiritual principles applicable in practical life have been published in large numbers. Some of them have also been translated into other Indian languages. These books have enlightened millions of people who have read them.

6. G³yatrº pariv³r has been established which is spearheading (a) Pragy³ abhiy³n (movement for refining public mind and) (b) Yug Nirm³ñ Yojn³ for the growth of righteous tendencies and attitudes in the society.

7. Regular training is being imparted according to prescribed curriculum to Yug-ïilpº pragy³-putras in regular camps in self-development and development of the society. S³dhan³ camps of ten days each are being held for G³yatrº s³dhaks, free of cost.

8. Brahmavarc has Research Institute has been established to conduct research for integration of science and spirituality. High level research on Yagyopathy and the great power of G³yatrº mantra are being conducted here. The work of conducting new research on the ancient science of medicinal herbs initiated by Charak RiÌi has also been taken up. The broken links of the ancient astronomical science are also being discovered anew.

9. 2,400 Pragy³pºÚhas and 12000 Pragy³ sansth³ns have been established for moral, intellectual and social rejuvenation and revitalisation. Efforts are being made to spread yug³ntarºya cetn³ amongst migrants of Indian origin in seventy-five foreign countries.

10. A new centre has been established for the in-depth study of various languages and cultures of the world so that the message of the advent of the New Golden Era could be brought home to the people of the world at large. For the present, publicity squads are being deputed in jeeps to Hindi, Gujarati, Oriya, and Marathi speaking regions, but they will soon be sent to all parts of the country to strengthen the roots of righteousness, enlightenment and unity.

11. Publicity is being done through the medium of tape recorders and slide projectors. It will now be done by video films also.

12. The message of Pragy³ abhiy³n is being spread through folders in many languages for creating an awareness of the emerging new higher consciousness in humanity.

13. Four volumes of Pragy³ Pur³ña have been published. Efforts are afoot to publish them in other languages; and its tapes are also being prepared. Through the medium of stories and tales in Pragy³ Pur³ña an effort has been made to provide guidance to the common masses for meeting the day-to-day challenges and problems of present day life righteously, boldly and wisely.

14. Not less than 1000 guests, pilgrims and trainees are in residence at Shantikunj at one time. They are provided free board and lodging. They return after taking pras³d with a deepened faith in and respect for the mission’s activities.

15. Many persons come to G³yatrº Tºrtha, Shantikunj and perform anuÌÚh³n s³dhan³. This has helped them in their inner self-growth, in getting rid of evil tendencies and moulding their lives in accordance with perennial principles of truth. These positive orientations in their personalities have been scientifically verified at the Brahmavarchas Research Institute.

It can be well imagined how much labour, concentration, manpower and resources must have been needed to accomplish so huge a task. The fact is that the invisible power of only one individual has been in operation for accomplishment of all these stupendous tasks. The method of begging money or raising funds through contributions was never adopted. Everybody knows what pressures and persuasions are required to be used in collecting money these days. But here, everything has been done voluntarily on the basis of cooperation. This is the only mission which functions on the basis of individual contribution of ten paisa in gy³n-ghat and a handful of foodgrains in dharma-ghat per day by the devotees. Everybody who contributes this insignificant amount feels a sense of belonging to the institution, which is functioning by his help and cooperation. The organisers are also ever cautious to spend every paisa after careful consideration. Thus, an intimate relationship of cordiality and of close affinity is established between the members and the organisation. This is the secret behind the success of this mission.

No other organisation has as many selfless, trusted and contented workers of great calibre as are found here. Everyone associated with this organisation has tested it and firmly believes that the soul of a br³hmaña is luminously at work here. Millions of people had abandoned their homes and had become the disciples, parivr³jaks of Buddha. Those who participated in Gandhi’s saty³grah did not ask for any remuneration. Similarly Pragy³ abhiy³n is the rare example of an organisation in which thousands of highly qualified full-time workers are working for the mission merely on food and clothes.

It is indeed a unique miracle wrought by the divine energy of siddhi, through which so much money, manpower, resources and spontaneous cooperation of people at large are flowing to the mission.

I had to go to the Himalay³s a number of times in the past on the direction of my Gurudev for performing s³dhan³ in solitude. People link these journeys with something miraculous. They believe that the Himalay³s are the abode of miracle-performing beings and realised souls. In fact, I had to go to the Himalay³s to become more introvert. The exterior life of a person is dominated by outer events but his inner life is influenced by feelings and sentiments. An illumined mind and a loving heart constitute spirituality. The rat-race for gratification of desires and amassing of material objects is materialism. Since I have dedicated my whole life to demonstrate life-affirming spirituality, while outwardly leading a normal worldly life, it became essential for me to occasionally retire into solitude with a view to nullify any influence of materialism on the exterior life. An effort was made during my agy³tv³s (living in solitude in an unknown place) in the Himalay³s to bring the soul as close to God as possible. The most important aim was the cultivation of elevated, sublime feelings and sentiments which do not need the support of persons, resources and favourable circumstances. In whatever circumstances one may be placed, the mental make-up has to be so moulded that it may be possible to visualise the deeper reality beneath the facade of superficial phenomenon. It is then that one feels immense joy and bliss and is able to see and visualise the presence of God everywhere.

Those who have an occasion to read my book ‘Colleagues in Solitude’ (Suns³n-ke-Sahacar) must have understood how one can have the experience of Sat, Cit and Ânanda by living a divinely inspired life. This is also a siddhi. I always remain deeply absorbed in happiness and bliss like God living in Heaven, although apparently I am leading an ordinary life of the world.

1: THE NEED FOR IN-DEPTH SURVEY OF MY PRESENT LIFE SOJOURN
2: THE SUNRISE OF MY LIFE’S FORTUNE
3: GUIDELINES BY GURUDEV ABOUT MY FUTURE LINE OF ACTION
4: FIRST CALL OF GURUDEV – TESTS AT EVERY STEP
5: PILGRIMAGE AND PROJECTION OF THE FIELD OF WORK
6: SOWING SEEDS FOR SUBLIMATION OF ATTITUDES AND THOUGHTS
7: REVELATION - TECHNIQUE OF THE SUBLIME TRANSFORMATION
8: SOWING THE SEEDS OF RIßI TRADITIONS
9: MIND OF A BRÂHMANA – ACTIONS OF A RIßI
10: VISIBLE ATTAINMENTS OF SÂDHANÂ (SIDDHI)
11: FOURTH AND FINAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE HIMÂLAYAS
12: TRANSFORMATION OF THE PHYSICAL INTO ASTRAL