Mai – Page 2

Gratitude Gone, Divine Grace Withdrawn

We meet with some cases of people where, after nine successes, the tenth result, a failure , makes the whole undertaking a failure. The reason is that people think as if Mother’s Grace were simply the wages of certain mechanical exercises. They don’t bring in into calculations , their general behavior to others, their sanctity and purity. Mother wants to make your way easier, only if you are turning your steps towards Her and true religiosity. On the other hand the response of the Grace-seekers is not sincere and honest; they are waiting for the last item of a certain undertaking to be successful, for turning truant to God and Guru.

One would be surprised and shocked to find a marvelous change in them before and after, the success, in their dealings with all .The real underline fact in such cases is that the approach which seemed to be so very full of humility and sincerity and goodness was only a played part, with great artificiality and cleverness. They become temporarily religious as long as they are in the clutches of a calamity. Calamity gone , religiosity gone and remembrance and gratitude gone. In such cases, the Divine Grace and Help is later withdrawn. People trifle with God and God’s help, and fail miserably. Their outlook may also be called extremely poor because they do not realize that they will be needing God’s Grace , all their life throughout .

Please note the subtle most difference. You may demand and get much more than any other man, but your approach counts, how you look upon Almighty and what relations you have . Demanding and donating , is the most trivial part of the whole relationship.

The Founder is not explaining some intricate point. Intellectually knowing a certain truth is only a preliminary step. First you have to create faith in the truthfulness of the truth. The truthfulness must be constantly before your eyes. Whenever the corresponding allied situations of action arise, you have to exert, you have to pass through a continued practice of rising, falling, re-rising, ad infinitum, till you achieve mastery.

People hate things because they are new, as they disturb them from their inertia of their deep stupor. People refuse to stir up, because their is nothing new to break the centuries old monotony already known to them. People forget the highest truth namely, that there can be nothing new in it’s absolute fundamental nature in the realm of Religiosity under the Sun, because true religiosity was born with the Universe.

There is no hopelessness for even over fondled children. Where is , in all realty , love to God and Guru , as of a child to its mother ? A child finds itself uneasy without the mother. Do you feel that ? You disown your God and Guru in no time. Some one asks you ,” I learn you believe in God as Mother.” You immediately get funky and said,” All deities are same . They are only different names of One Final – most Thing. ” You shrink. You disown Mother. You have not even the ordinary moral courage which a seven years child has , that says, ” There, that standing in the green garment is my mother.” The same thing regarding your Guru. Have you ever thought deeply ? You want your God and Guru to come in when you want and to disappear when you don’t want them. Where is even the most elementary fitness ? The natural fitness of even a child to its mother ?

Millions of things have been stated and will be stated in the name of religion. If you like you may strike out the Guru . The only path of salvation is Love, Service , Devotion and Surrender to your God and that teaching is Mai-ism.

To return to the working, the process is the single minded prayer, meditation and appeal. The brain and the body must be doing only irreducible minimum things mechanically. Every thing must evaporate from the mind. The mind must become one with the all – comprehensive conception you have about Mother. The prayer has to reach a certain intensity. Your mind must reach the melting point and your heart, the boiling point. Grace – demanding is an actual work to be done to reach the boiling and melting points . It is only one syllable of your prayer or only one name repetition that secures the whole Grace-showering work. The main – most point is , that name or syllable should be from the mind that has already melted and the heart that has already been boiled.

The Founder is for sweating and earning the bread with hard labor with patience and perseverance. There is no ‘ Choo-Mantar ‘ . For hammering this truth on persons who believe ceremonious performance to be complete thing for worldly success, it is necessary to state here , that many Mantra Shastris have endearingly told the Founder that there is no greater power than God ‘s or Mother’s Love , which the Founder is preaching all his life.

Guru-Shishya relationship is the very basic body and the soul of religious progress. At a higher stage , it also happens that your Ideal and Deity becomes your Guru , but anyway, you do need a Guru. There are stages in life and moments of weakness when only the Guru can help you.

You ask someone,” Is not serving God’s children a great act of religion ? ” No devil will deny. But in front of your house, a man falls from the scaffolding of a building under construction. Some one asks your motor to carry him to the hospital. You have to choose between sparring the motor to carry the man, on one hand, and for your wife to go for her daily routine of prostration to the deity , on the other hand. There the difference comes. The Founder says, ” You do not know serving God’s children is also religion. “ . People would say, ” Do we not know such a simple thing ? What new thing are you telling us ? ”

That service to God’s children, has not been recognized as religious in actual living is a truth. In one of the Navaratra holidays, a relative of the Founder went out with a small daughter ( 8 years ) and lost her in the Bhadrakali Temple . The girl did not know the address of her house. She was sitting on the otta weeping hard and people in hundreds were doing their ” Jay Jay Bhadrakali Mata ki Jay ” in loudest shouts. Not a single man took pity on her. One however proved to be an exception. There was the greatest sorrow in the house due to the girl being lost. The philanthropic man brought her home. He was greatly thanked by the Founder’s sister who explained to him the ideal of Mai-ism. The man, excusing himself while leaving , said, ” I have lost the camel while going to save the goat. On this last ninth day, I have broken my vow of having the daily Bhadrakali Darshan. ” Just then , the Founder returned after searching for the girl. Founder’s sister told the whole story , as also man’s regret. The Founder said, ” You have absolutely no idea of Mother’s Mercy. If you could not go to Mother, because you were engaged in serving a helpless child of Mother, Mother will come to you to give Darshan in the dream. ” The next day the man ran down on the Founder to express his bliss as he had the dream in which Bhadrakali blessed him.

The first requirement for the attainment of Grace , is ” SERVICE WITH LOVE ” . The service may be physical, mental or financial. Service by a disciple means a physical or mental activity, labor, exertion and worry with the mentality and humility of a house hold servant to his life – long master. Physical serving of the disciple is that action , which he would not have done in the usual walk of life , neither for any other person nor even for himself , and which few others would do. Your service must be solid, unique and emergent . It must have ‘thrusts’ to your Guru and like the head thrust of the calf must make the cow to milk. Your Guru must be pained to watch the degree of your humility, selflessness and painstakingness. Your Guru should feel indebted and should be waiting , how he should make the return when you make the demand.

The Founder says, ” I assure you , the very idea of the service rendered to any suffering person having a direct bearing with the pleasing of God is not there. Service does not stand religionised .Mother’s ideal is religionisation of service. ”

Returning to the matter of achieving religious progress, without the actual exertion of passing through an achievement , without not only devoting certain time money and energy but also temporarily considering the achievement to be only your only goal for the time being , and without a determination and discrimination, you can’t progress even an inch.

Your relations with the world should be those of love , service, devotion and surrender , of course to the extent possible for you. Anyway the consciousness about the powerful influences of these factors must be there. Your desires should not be much beyond your worth , nor immoral, irreligious and harmful.

Your relations with your Guru should be that of love and service. devotion and surrender. As a matter of fact , you have to practice on a miniature scale the very same thing as you are later require to do with God. With full knowledge about your insincerity and exaggeration , the Guru loves you for all that, as you are on the line and are sure to reach your destination.

We are talking about Mother’s religion. Tolerable insincerity even a little falsehood free from wickedness won’t be useful in the Fatherly disciplinary school unless Father acts as Mother. Father in few cases does act as Mother, Mother has sometimes to act as Father. God as Father or God as Mother, means God that deals with us in a fatherly manner or a motherly manner.

Coming to Mother Herself , She wants Love, Service , Devotion and Surrender of a much higher order. Service as stated, is bodily, mental and monetary. Mother expect you to be worshipping Her and helping Her cause by money dedications in proportionate to your status or what benefits you derive through Her Grace.

EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM, WRITTEN BY SAINT SHRI MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND MAI, EDITIONS : 1952 AND 2007; PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSAL MAIISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ [ WEST ], MUMBAI 400054, INDIA.

Mother, Guru & disciple – Parts played

The Founder’s first residence in Bombay (Mumbai) was that of Parixit M. Rai in Santa Cruz, the second of P.D. Dalal in Malad and the third of Pramodshankar M. Dixit in Matunga. This P.M.D., a pucca scientist and atheist had wonderful experiences of Mother’s Grace. He was suffering from an incurable disease. Someone told him,” When you are fully assured the disease can not be cured by any doctor, tell me, I will bring you a religious doctor who will surely cure you.”

The Founder was taken to P.M.D. He could not pass stools without a painful crying for an hour and half. The host began thus,” I do not believe in God and religion and all the humbugs going in the name of religion. In as much however as my wife and children have a claim over me , I do not object to following your any instructions. ” His wife and daughter begged the Founder’s pardon and entreated the Founder not to mind the impudence. The Founder said,” You have no idea of Mother’s Mercy. I will be here next Friday.”

The next Friday, the Founder prayed to the Mother that was installed and performed his Mantras etc. and gave him water; ” Just have a drink and go to your lavatory.” Wonder of wonders. No pain at all. Atheism which was there for over forty nine years evaporated in two hours. P.M.D. asked, ” What is the whole process working ? ” Founder said, ” MOTHER’S PURE AND SIMPLE GRACE.”

A change can not be complete in a day. P.M.D. began to think in a way, that there may be certain effects of previous treatments, which accidently synchronized with his drinking the ” Sanctified water “. He very respectfully and apologetically expressed his doubts. Founder said,” Do you think you are cured ? Well then, report to me the results of tomorrow.” The same old crying. P.M.D. was convinced that the medicine lay latent in the magnetized Lotus Feet waters.

P.M.D. argued there must be something like a phonetic effect. A certain sound may be attracting from the ether which might have the curing property. Founder said,” What is the meaning of this obstinacy ? If you find a wonderful drug administered to you by a doctor of medicine , would you not believe in the story as to how and where it was prepared ? What is the meaning of your fabricating some argument based on imagination and dismissing the theory explained by the successful experimenter himself ?” P.M.D. decided to perform the very same things which the Founder did. The water did give a partial effect. There were repetitions of experiences. Founder’s water had a full effect. P’s water had a partial effect ,. No water sipping , the same old crying. P had already after a few days , turn to be a believer ; but still up till now, he believes there is something in the Founder himself and he does not go beyond the Founder, although he now admits the existence of God in an abstract conception. He would insist on holding,” You yourself are Mai, you can do what you will; I have no proof for believing there is some higher power outside you and other than you working through you. I simply accept because you say so.”

A combination of a scientific brain and a devotional heart is a rarity. Science and religion although seemingly diagonally opposite are right and left hands of, or the horizontal or vertical wheels of a compact a machinery, which serve humanity , and are both subservient to the Mother’s Divine Will. The one deals with the grossest element of matter and the with the subtlest element of mind.

Founder had to stay at Malad and could not go to P.M.D. as often as required. P.M.D. suggested ,” You depute your powers to my daughter.” Founder deputed his powers to her for the period P.M.D. was ill. She was made to sit before Mother and the needful initiation and delegation ceremony was done. The disease was entirely cured within nine weeks – the usual time which Founder states to all.

There are certain peculiarities about the Founder, which are interesting. One thing is, he is extremely fond of mango pickles or pungent things. If there is a case of high fever, he would ask for hot pickles or for pungent chutney. As he would go on eating, at intervals, the temperature would go down. Once in Poona [Pune], Founder was called for by a sister who attended Mother’s worship on Fridays; the lady said her husband had fever , their nephew was to be married at Surat and their programme was to start the next evening and they were to perform the ceremony. What will happen ? Said the Founder laughingly,” Do you require to be yet taught the remedy, after personal experience ? Whole thing depends on the quantity of pickles you can spare for Mai “. The Founder returned home. In the morning he was informed a big pickle jar was received from G-sahib . Founder laughed outright and send a note to the lady that he would see that there is no fever at least till they return from Surat. There was no fever.

At Hubli, a high fever was reported to Founder by the mother of an officer. Founder replied,” Prepare the nicest pungent chutney and send it immediately. ” This was at 10 A.M. At 5 p.m. the mother came ; she said the fever was increasing. Founder said in a low tone ,” What else can it be , if you can not send even two annas’ worth of chutney to Mai ? ” Mother said,” What do you talk ? I had immediately sent it “. It was not received. The officer’s peon had gone home intending to hand it over to Founder before night meals. Said the Founder,” Well, you can’t go now.” He asked his cook to prepare chutney and began to eat it. He said to her,” You are not to go till news comes from your home that he is normal.” Very soon the peon came with the said news.

The Founder has funny ways. Whenever there is a serious case of disease , Founder asks for a beautiful note book with best paper and best wrapper. He would then retire in a room and go on writing what pleases him. The note book is not to be returned. His absorption in Mother while singing Her praises and writing them in the note book would be working miraculous there. Nine Fridays would be the maximum time .

Founder explains the whole working as under : – First of all , let it be clear that there is nothing in me. Mother has me only an instrument for Her own work. She wants that the world should be the world of Mai-ists believing in the six tenets, with all the secondary matters of religion only a secondary importance and considered almost dispensable.

Re: The working process : The installation of Mother is great thing in itself. Once the Mother is installed. although She may be ignored as soon as the calamity is gone , yet someone in the house would be taking a liking and a devotional relish and though in a broken and discontinuous way, the worship will have a more or less permanent footing in the family on Mother giving proofs after proofs of Her Grace. The Universal simple teaching of Mai-ism will spread gradually and the world will be better.

The Founder says,” The highest human blunder is , people do not realize . Every smallest thing you yourself have to achieve by your own exertion. Nothing will automatically happen by itself.” Founder also says,” Do not expect higher things to come up without Mother’s Mercy and Guru’s Grace. On the spiritual path you need a Guru , whoever he be , who is deeply interested in your welfare , and in whom you have full faith. Let him only one step ahead of you. That is enough. The test of a solid Guru – Shishya relationship is how far Guru loves you and how far you love , confine in him and serve him. Guru does serve you but on a higher plane.

The process starts with the disciple moving the heart of the Guru to get a certain thing from Mother. The Guru does not know the disciple’s innermost intensions or his worthiness and his place and part in the cosmic arrangement. The Guru knows everything past, present and future is a faith and not always a fact. It therefor may happen that Mother may refuse to give because neither the Guru nor the disciple knows what is good or bad for the disciple.

There are instances which show that while Mother is refusing a certain demand , She has been actually saving a man from a long sightedly seen calamity. The difficulty comes in because most of us are habitual shameless beggars . There is no end to asking and begging.

Here the Mai-istic outlook is different. Mai-ism does understand that Nishkama Bhakti is superior to Sakama Bhakti. The difference is here. Mai-ism does not call him a shameless beggar whose begging has no end. Mai-ism does not drive him out, does not spurn him . Mai-ism has the heart of a Mother. Mai-ism does not call such a person a shameless beggar, but a senseless immature child. It is easy for a college principle to select only first class boys for admission and show brilliant results. That is not for them, who want to see the whole world enjoys the benefit of being educated. Mai-ism believes in lifting the person at whichever stage that person is.

At the All Faiths-Conference in 1933, the Founder said,” To the true Mother’s son, murderers are brothers and wayward women are sisters .”

The Founder says, people as also preachers totally forget how practically impossible it is for anyone to leave off his desires simply because some preachers tell him,” Don’t desire. Curb your desires. Be desire less.” Mai-ism takes an extremely patient view. It says,” Children are bound to be so. Let them grow in wisdom. A time will surely come when without telling them you should not ask, they themselves will not ask.”

Moving Mother to shower Her Mercy for a simple legitimate desire is often done by the Guru. Both Guru and disciple , sitting at the same precise hour , where they may be , repeat the same Mantra and meditate on Mother’s picture. In synchronism with the disciple , the Guru performs the first part, but the second part of the Guru involves much harder work. He has to be annexing his mind with that of the disciple at one end, and the Mother at the other. He has to be the connecting link , with single pointedness and devotional meditation. The Mother acceptable efficiency of the second part, would depend on the true relationship between Guru and disciple . Mother’s Mercy, Guru’s Grace , disciple’s exertion all three together bring forth a certain desired result. As to the remedies of pleasing God and Guru , the same universal Mai-istic formula holds good : ” Love, Service , Devotion and Self Surrender.”

Nishkama superiority and Sakama inferiority is a wasteful debate . None can raise above what he actually is by the stroke of a sound on the ear tympanum. We have every right to demand help and consolation from Mai , commensurate with our capacities and circumstances. Our requirement is to be true to Guru and God, with a determined living of ” We shall develop in ourselves the Love Service Devotion and Surrender to our God and Guru and Mother’s children , as far as we can.” Have the cleanest notion, you have to go on reducing your desires and developing your higher joys.” The Guru has to catch your hand and take you gradually over a mountain without minding your going astray on seeing tempting things. The Guru must just laugh at your weakness, but not spurn or scold. The Guru may fret but he has not to forsake , unless the disciple leaves him.

If the Guru becomes Mother to you in mutual relationship, and if you have every love for your Guru, it does not matter, you may be cunning, wicked, impure, degenerate and of perverted reasoning ; everything will be made straight in due course, provided you stick up, love, serve devote and surrender.

The day you have decided, you will love and serve your Guru and God,, the day you have decided , you will put all your cards before your Guru, the day you have decided, you will try your best, as far as you can to carry out his instructions and wishes , the day you make resolution ,” Come what may, I shall not leave my God and Guru “, your name stands embossed in gold as in the winner of the race, some day.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK MAI-ISM , AUTHOR : MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND [ EDITIONS : 1952 AND 2007 ] , PUBLISHED BY : UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ [ WEST ] , MUMBAI 400054, INDIA.

Humility, gratefulness etc. are foundations of true Religiosity.

The next day, the Founder informed all concerned about his having gone to stay at Mai – Niwas, stating especially to his outside Mai-ists that a great facility was now made for them in as much as , so long as he was not out of Bombay [ Mumbai ] he would be found all the twenty-four hours in Mai-Niwas and that none would have to go back at any hour for the reason that he was not at the certain place . He never stirred out from 4 March 1949 to 12 September 1949 when the taxi took him to the V.T. station for going to Madras [ Chennai ]. At Madras too , where he went fulfilling Mother’s Command , he was for over a month in one house only, without having a single look at anything of Madras, except some four places where Mai Worship was conducted on grand scale. The Founder began to say to others ,” If you want real peace of mind, true understanding and overflows of devotion, confine your body in a particular place , your tongue in the mouth and your eye-pupils within their eye – lids, as far as you can. Then alone you can have introspection, self-control and true understanding of Divine wisdom and super-natural powers to afford relief to others, as curing illness etc.”

The first lesson which Mai Swarupa [ the Founder himself ] gives is : First create amplest leisure of time by withdrawing yourself from so many useless physical and mental activities. Humility, gratefulness, forgiving, pleasure of giving , truthfulness, mercifulness etc. these are the very first foundations of true religiosity. Next preserve your sexual energy. Third thing, you establish a saintly contact. Contact with God and Guru. If nothing can be done, see that you are for the maximum hours in a day, in presence of one superior to you in any realm, religious, social or even professional.

The Founder was for making the walls of Mai-Niwas speak for what principals it stood. In a poor man’s way , he cut out important pieces from all his writings and graced the wall pasting these printed extracts on cardboards and nailing them on the walls . He further purchased a cupboard in which he placed all the copies he had and with bold letters put up a slip on the cup-board , ” FREE FOR ALL : DEMAND ANY COPY “.

Just near the main entrance , he affixed typed copies of the following :- Rules and regulations regarding Place , Persons and Programmes :- 1] Don’t pollute the purity of this place of Mother-worship and Mother’s residence , by worldly talk, idle gossiping or business. 2] Your coming here must be for some specific purpose of dealing with Mother as , for Prayer, worship, Mantra, solving difficulties, true religious understanding etc. 3] Observe as much as silence as possible. Your talks about even the casual things with your friends should be in a tone of whisper and only when inevitable. 4] Don’t seek forming acquaintances here or ask questions of self-interest or curiosity. 5] The only talk permissible here is that of God, Mother and Religion. Politics is strictly forbidden here. 6] Leave the place as soon as your specific work or programme is finished Don’t waste precious time of yours and of others. 7] None is permitted to sleep here except servants and outside visitors coming for Mother’s worship from Mofusil places and persons that are specially permitted for specific reasons. 8] No outsider who is not a known Mai-ist is permitted to halt here and the latter for three nights only and with his own arrangements for everything. 9] Everyone standing, sitting or stopping under this roof has to pass his time with best behavior and practically in devotional mood with strict observance of this Mai-istic tenets : – a) Spirit of practical sisterhood and brotherhood b) No distinction of cast, creed, colour, community, parentage , sex, literacy, position, status, means etc. c) Love in the form of reverence, helping co-operation, kindness etc. d) Activity of selfless service. e) Devotional approach and attitude. f) Unconditional cheerful self-surrender to Mother’s Divine Will.

Re : Attainment of Mother’s Grace : – [1] Everyone needs Mother’s Grace at every step, in this tempestuous time. [2] God approached as Mother, is more suited for Grace as ‘Mother ‘ is Mercy , while Father is Justice. [3] Speaking about worldly benefits alone ( not to speak of spiritual benefits ), Mother has wonderfully fulfilled desires of Her devotees. Mother is at their beck and call as She wants to teach Her sons and daughters the simplest, straight and speedy Royal Road to health, wealth, peace , prosperity and happiness, through the observance of the fundamental principles preached under Mai-ism. [4] The poor have become prosperous, patients of incurable disease have become healthy, lunatics have become wise , the homeless have built bungalows, the unemployed have become officers , unmarried have got suitable matches, marital disunions have been reconciled, connubial relations have been relishing, hearts breaks have been healed up, worries of impending calamities have been tided over, barren women have delivered sons, downfalls from great heights have been hurtless, business have flourished, litigations have succeeded, relief of solid help and entire removal of miseries have happened and many other miracles have happened on staunch devotion to Mother. [5] Persons desirous of attaining Mother’s Grace should approach Founder for along chat by previous appointment. [6] Detailed study of ‘ Mother’s Message ‘ and serious reading of ‘ Mother’s Thousand Names ‘ will enable the aspirants to decide if the path and philosophy of Mai-ism will suit them. Truly religious persons will find Mai-ism to be most suited. People with unprejudiced open universal and straight mentality with modernized way of living, judging and believing will immediately accept Mai-ism as it does not in any way interfere with one’s own ancestral religion and worship. [7] Once the aspirant feels to be in natural waters under Mai-ism, he has simply to climb up by leaps and bounds. [8] He has to make up his mind to set aside certain hours for daily spiritual work of devotion. [9] The Sadhak will be himself wondering at the most favorable happenings and at his spiritual progress. He will feel indescribable joy and beatitude-ful breeze of Mother’s Grace. He will see he has some super-natural powers , is helped by unseen in every detail. He will be sure he is not the same person as before , that he has sublimated his soul. In a word, he will have a conviction that mother has showered Her Grace on him. [10] What is true for one man is true for another, and equally or much more true for a woman, under Mai-ism, as a woman has a softer heart , more suited for devotion and Mother’s pity-invocation.

Regarding Prayers and Meditations Etc. : – {1} Persons desirous of offering prayer or practicing meditation should be pre-arrange details on consultation with the Founder. {2} Prayers intensely offered have been mercifully answered. {3} Prayers are to be for :- a) Legitimate gains only. b)Removing miseries only. c) Removal of sins. d) General smooth running of worldly life of oneself and family. e) Seeing and relishing and living the higher life , above money making and sense living. f) Enlisting oneself in Mother’s service . g) Desire of evolution and emancipation, success in striving and struggling to go higher for introspective powers , knowledge, vision, devotion, meditation, renunciation, progress, peace , relief and happiness. h) Intensifying the spirit of service to all children of Mother and to Mother. I) Being prepared for unconditional self-surrender to the Divine Will of Mother. {4} Black-magic about harming or exploiting others results in Mother’s Wrathfulness. {5} Prayers offered here for enslaving others or subjugating them to one’s own will , have been treated most mercilessly by Mother. {6} No purely personal aggressive , illegitimate gains here. No exemption from sexual sin here.{7} Please don’t forget that Mother is the Final-most-Mother ; God as Universal Mother ; Mother to every one of any religion or to any one who approaches Her as child with Love and Service to all her children, Devotion and Surrender to Her Will. {8} Noblest prayers are : – a) Let all be happy. b) Let none suffer from pain and misery c) make use of me , my humble service for Thee and Thy children d) Depute Thy devotees to successfully serve as saviors of this world of ignorance and sin. {9} Prayer for oneself is not most efficacious. Best prayer is for others or for Universal Welfare , as then, others will pray for you and in case of that failing , Mother will not wait for your prayers and will run down to you , for your relief and to help you, even before you pray.

Meditation : – This can be subjective, objective or through geometrical figures. Consult the Founder.

The following two descriptions , one by an interviewer when the Founder was in silent serious hours with his associates , and the other when he was in easy-going mood , may be read with interest. The silent meeting interviewer saw him at his temporary residence on Tagore Road, Santa Cruz , at about 8 p.m. on a Tuesday in 1940. He describes his interview as under :-

” The Master’s programme on Friday nights is quite different from that of silent meetings on Tuesdays , when only the nearest people gathered round him. The Master was simultaneously dealing with about twelve persons when I entered the place , sisters and brothers. Here was a silent sitting , without a single person knowing or trying to know what was passing in other’s minds , or between the Master and each of them, in the powerful authoritative language of silence. In the midst of a big hall, there was a swing on which Master was lying with pillows under his head and sides , with a hanging leg with which at long intervals , he was giving a slight motion to the swing. He ware a loosely tied dhoti and a malmal shirt which was never buttoned up. Each one that came in , entered with a pin drop silence prostrated and on receiving blessings took suitable seat wherefrom the face of Master could be seen.

“The blessings differed with every person. Some prostrators, he would at once raise up with a jerk, some gradually and slowly, some he will allow to continue prostrating for over five minutes. Regarding some , he would smoothly moves his hand over the prostrating back, some he would raise up with the catching and lifting up the chin, some by patting strokes, some by contacting their heads with pointed and forcefully placed pressing fingers . Some he would raise up by snip of fingers , some by slowly moving the hand over the forehead. No two persons were blessed in the same manner , which made it clear to anyone that the blessing method indicated person stood with reference to God Guru and one’s self.

The raising by sudden jerk conveyed the idea to the prostrator ” You have come too early.” Gradually and slowly raised prostrators were conveyed that Mother’s Grace on them was slow but steady and that they should continue with faith and patience. Continued prostration without the touch meant, the prostrator must severely repent for his wrong acts or behavior before he can be entitled to Mother’s Grace as before. The hand contact by inverted finger nail strokes after a long bending , meant he was forgiven , but was warned not to repeat the wrong. Smooth moving of the hand on the back meant , full sympathy in the bereavement for which the prostrator was not responsible. The lifting by the chin meant Mother loved the prostrator like a child , although there was enough of folly. Contact on head means sympathy in efforts to understand analyse and set right the mental disquietude. The snip of the fingers meant cautioning against the very likely slip. Touching the forehead meant substitution of sublime thoughts for routine and rotten thoughts.

” Between the arrival and departure , and the prostrations and blessings , there was nothing but a silent pause and exchange of eyes and the respectful obedient demeanor. The spirit imbibing process began for each disciple with an earnest profound staring at the figure of the Master and keeping the eyes closed with meditation , except at long intervals , when the eyes opened for a few seconds again to close.

” New visitors coming for the first time were looked upon by the Master by a visible turnoff his deep-reading eyes, from the toe to the top.If the new visitor were proud of their wealth, knowledge or devotion, the Master would pamper to their vanity and dispose them off quickly. To the wealth proud he would say,’ It is nice to talk about religion and to boast about Jnana and Bhakti, but the wealth possessor is the real Vishnu on earth. ‘ To the Jnana proud , the Master would say ,’ Mere devotion is blind. Real thing is Jnana which you have acquired.’ To the devotion proud he would say ,” You have your Istha-devata in your fist. What a small creature am I, for you to have come down all the way ? ”

” After one hour meeting silently dispersed. ”

In the other case the visitor went to see him at Mai – Niwas in one of the evenings of 1949. He soon recognized the building, but to his surprise it had neither the augustness nor the silence of an Ashram. What does one find ? Out and out rowdism of more then a dozen boys and girls below fourteen , simply a noise, an indiscipline crowd of them.

The stranger had the courtesy of not going in straight. He could infer from all that shouting, running, quarreling , mutual chasing etc. was going on with the presence of some elderly person of that place who was simply seated on his cot as if he were deaf and dumb and lame. In the open spaces around the building , cows and bulls and dogs and goats and crows were in their full mischievous playfulness.

The visitor had a feeling of disgust. He said to himself , ” What sort of Ashram is this and what sort of saint he is ? ” The disgust abated after climax and turned to a scoffing curiosity of seeming things. Some boys were running up on the terraces. Some boys were simply switching on and off all the lights. The visitor was sick of the scene. His modern living mental set up of , ” Who are you to touch my things ? With whose permission did you enter this place ? Don’t disturb me . Get out . “, was overpowering him.

Just then, some cows and bulls climbed up the steps , made their way to the kitchen door . All were disturbed, the gangs were broken and every one of them, boys and girls ran away.

The visitor said to himself ,” All are gone. I loose nothing in seeing the man.” Suddenly he heard a musical voice singing. It looked the man was coming out. Out he came. He welcomed the visitor, ” Come in , please “. The visitor stepped in. But where does the former inquire his name , place or purpose ? He turns to the image and sings. [ The Founder was Honorary Examiner in Music for Bombay Government. ]

” Bazuza Khairata Kucha Apna Nahi Hai .” ( Except charity absolutely nothing is ours. )

The visitor has evaporated from his eyes and mind. The man sings the same line over and over , with different modulations; his feet are with great difficulty prevented from dancing, by his own body heaviness.

Tears flow. He wipes them with the end of his dhoti. Feet loose all shyness. They joins the hands to make the music more beautiful. There is a choking in the heart. He weeps. He sits down. Gets up, applies his head to the feet of the image , lifts up the image , puts it back. The zazba ( spiritual effervescence ) is slowly coming down with the repetition of the line.

It took about 15 to 20 minutes. He ran into he bathroom, not minding the visitor , washed his face and came to welcome the visitor. ” Come in , Sir ,Come in. I am sorry I had to keep you waiting. But I was helpless. ” He effort fully composed himself , to be on the normal plane.

The visitor was lost in the ocean of spiritual emotions. He did not think of any formality. He could not raise his tongue to create a jarring noise to disturb himself and to pull his mind to the mental plane from the ocean of undreamt sweetness and wonder ; the wonder was gradually transforming itself to reverential worshippingness.

Said the Founder , ” One Friday night, the last devotee getting up to go, found a thief concealing himself, caught him and brought him to me asking me if he should hand him over the police. I said No, and told the thief, ‘ to take away whatever you like from here. ‘ The thief was put to shame and was let loose. Except what Mother permits and enables me to enjoy, nothings belongs to me ; not even my own body, mind , heart and soul is mine. ”

Pointing his finger to the Mother and unable to utter even a single syllable , the Founder could not hold himself erect and standing. He dropped himself down simply sat on the ground and began starring at visitor , speechlessly, as if busy with the work of sublimating and reconstituting the visitor’s soul.

Jay Mai . Jay Mai. Jay Mai.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM , WRITTEN BY THE FOUNDER ( OF UNIVERSAL RELIGION MAI-ISM ) MARKAND R. DHOLKIA, [ EDITIONS 1952 AND 2007 ] , PUBLISHED AND PRINTED BY UNIVERSAL MAIISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARAWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ [ WEST ] , MUMBAI 400054, INDIA

Saints know Divine Law and Eternal Truths

The Founder retired from Hubli in August 1945. The wonderful speed with which things were progressing was giving him greater and greater assurance about Mother’s Will. His heart was dancing with joy. He said to himself ,” if such people as poor Madrasis were ready to spare one- third of their pay, he was sure to have the personal assistance of thousands from Bombay [ Mumbai ] , Ahmedabad and Gujarat so very easily. ” The rich and religious and charity-minded Gujarat had known and tasted Mai-ism for over ten years.

The Founder had helped so many from so many hardships , such as none would like to be mentioned in public, most wonderfully and miraculously.

The Founder gets sickened when he reviews this question after his disillusionment about what the world in its natural constituency is. The less said the better. The Founder saw in one year what he had not dreamt of in over fifty-five years. The whole world changed as soon as he gave an utterance to his intension of expecting some financial help for doing Mother’s work, which he had been doing for so many years in the past and which the world had enjoyed at the Founder’s expense. People who had wept before him and whose tears he had wiped , began to talk to him as a house-master would speak to a door-beggar.

People began to talk about a trust and a committee. The Founder was agreeable to the proposal. Both proposals were placed before persons interested , but there was not a single man coming forth with any interest whatsoever, either to touch his purse or to move his hands and feet to go to another. Ahmedabad went one step further. Some-one with responsible life-status and education abroad argued , ” Where is the need of a building for doing Mother’s work ? Can it not be done on a Verandah ? ” Some one would say to him, ” If you had an idea of getting money from us to do the work , why did you not begin from very commencement to sell Mother’s Grace ? ” Some one would ask , ” Since what date Mother has taken to begging ? Is Mother for giving or receiving ? ” Some would say ,” Your powers you have lost. They are all consumed ; if not , why does not Mother Herself give you a lottery ? ” Some one will say ,” Come on , cheer up. I am helping you. I will give ten per cent of my gains for Mother’s work, on my getting money through your lips “. The master stroke was this , ” If you have no money to continue your fads, why don’t you be wise and sit silent in an un-known corner ? ” Some would say ,” Your egoism has not died. Who are you to say improve the world ? ” Some had heartlessness of questioning ,” What will happen when you die ? That is the most important question. ” Some one illumined him by suggesting to him to give an undertaking to the effect that none of his family members would ever step into the place .

The climax was there when one of the Founder’s relatives , on a Friday while going out for work, in his motor said in a threatening manner with the rights of an elderly relative to another,” There is nothing more to think about or to do regarding him. He has already turned mad. Confine him in a room and give him two meals a day and keep all necessary arrangements for his bodily requirement . ” This was said in the presence of the Founder and indirectly to him and both started out towards the city for their work. The Founder wept with an out burst of tears shouting to Mother, ” My own nearest relatives do not understand me and have not even an iota of love or respect for my work of Thine “.

The motor which carried the relatives had a severe accident, although they were saved. The motor had to be sent for immediate repairs. In the evening, while returning in the repaired motor , they had a second accident. The motor was sent back for repairs and they had to return in some friend’s car. On arriving home the younger relative informed the family of the accident details and with tears in his eyes , embraced the Founder and asked his apology, for the cruel words the eldest relative had addressed to the Founder. The elder relative indirectly joined the younger in his apology maintaining his status , but with every affectionate love.

The Founder would sit for nights , in the terrace of the place at Malad and would be gazing at the moon and praying to Mother. One night, he burst into such a loud laughter, that some of the family members come running to enquire why he was laughing. Founder said, ” This world, Mother has made funniest enough to nullify the highest serenity . I was temporarily unhappy because I left the Mother’s lap and too much trusted in the world and expected its sympathetic co-operation for my Mai’s work. I have seen now the world in its true colors. But now I laugh outright “.

” Yes Mother has promised me . My desire of constructing ‘ Mai Niwas ‘ shall not remain unfulfilled. I am given a tip. I will do nothing from now by way of troubling Mother for Mother’s Grace to remove the miseries of persons that approach me , without their promise to do something for Mother in return ; that something may be what they themselves decide. But nothing free from now except for the really poor. Mother has promised me . She will try best to give me prompt happy results in response to my prayers for the relief of people of individual cases.”

The fact that he did not get money from the public was now taken by him to mean no disqualification. In the matter of charities, he had a vivid picture . Most charities were out of fear of God, or for fame , or for some whitewashing some black spot or for catching opportunity to widen business or for removing burden of conscience-sting.

The world has to be tackled most diplomatically. To spread one’s religion , you should study other religions . Both these views look strange at first , as many saints have neither studied various philosophies nor been under the smallest shadow of wickedness.

When any saint is described as illiterate, that means , one : that he did not go through the regular schooling course; second : that those saints knew little about two penny matters .

The fact is this : if you believe in past lives , the saint has acquired those acquisitions through experiences in past lives. If you don’t, he is actually born with certain perfections , or say supremely high faculties. Either way , the thing which people think as absent , being invisible, is invisibly there.

Saints have known the Divine Law and the eternal truths. They have accepted them once for all. Every detail of their living is guided with that wisdom of those truths. So to say, every action of theirs originates from the conviction of those eternal truths. Saints have evolved all their wisdom into their instinctive or super-conscious faculties.

The Founder for years together did not know what ‘ L.B.W. ‘ in cricket means. Once the Founder was invited , in a club, to be a partner in bridge. He was so much pressed that he had to say it out, he did not know the A.B.C. of the game . Some mildly smiled, some loudly laughed. One of them, a distinguished officer, saved his humiliation by saying, ” He is not a bridge player, but a bridge builder for all of us to go to our God.”

One night he was in communion with Mother , when Mother cooled him down ,” Is it not what every religious man has stated that the world is full of wickedness ?” One educated man in Ahmedabad told the Founder in soothing manner,” Did you know it for the first time today, that the world is wicked ? ” Said the Founder ,” No, but the extent had remained unknown. And that I have realized only now at the fag end of my life “.

The Founder came to the conclusion that Mother wanted him to work single-handed and single pursed. The only change was that when the world had turned the deaf ear to his request, Founder became more practical and, now in a way, opened his religious – relief – hospital. The Founder with his powers went on relieving different varieties of miseries working hard day and night for the success of persons that came to him, with clear understanding about their having some-thing to do ( whatever they liked ) to help him to be in financial position to do Mother’s Work.

Founder experienced Mother’s Grace from stage to stage while Mai Niwas construction was undertaken and Founder entered Mai Niwas at the mid-night hour of 4 MARCH 1949, all alone , himself and his Mother.

The midnight hour of the Friday night of 4 MARCH 1949 was a memorable moment. The Founder had not informed a single soul about his desire to enter Mai Niwas on that particular night. He had a strong desire to enter it alone , because he did not know how he would pass that night. He was sure something would take place. At about 11 at night , some Mai-ist [ This was Bro. Himmat Bhai Mehta ] came to see him came off on the Grant Road Station. He insisted on accompanying him ; said he would leave him in Mai Niwas and return. The Founder declined his company courteously, but the other purchased two tickets and got into the train. On reaching Santa Cruz Station, the Founder had to make it clear,” You may go back. I want to enter Mai Niwas alone .” The man could not understand the mystic force behind the request and purely out of goodness beckoned a taxi-walla, saying he would leave the Founder and return in the same taxi. Before however the taxi came up , he had such an intense stomach-ache that he fell down. The taxi-walla seeing the miserable plight , turned and went away. The Founder most entreatingly said,” You speak out you are not going to accompany me ; Mother will remove your pain immediately.” The man said ,” Yes, if Mother and you are insistent on that point , I am surely returning.” Just at that moment the pain disappeared ; without any further words he ran to the station. The Founder was trembling within himself. This incident made him sure , something unusual was in store for him. It was two minutes to twelve when he reached the Mai Niwas door. He opened it. It was ground floor building with vast open lands on all sides , with the nearest building far away. It was a dark night. No street- lamp nearby. There was none to save if he was attacked. He reached for a candle packet and match-box packet at the spot where he had placed them when he last visited. They were not there. This made him his heart throb with fear. ” What ? Has Mother intended he be labored that night ? ” He stood on the Otta for nearly twenty minutes and then laughed outright at the idea how Mother extracts hymns and prayers from devotees. He made bold to get in the black dark near the Mother’s picture , allowing the outside faintest light to relieve his fear.

The first experience of his life . The Mother picture was Kali like. He began to sweat. For the first time he began to get a different picture of his beliefs, ” Was he all along under delusion ? Was the Mother Ideal only a making of his own brains ? In reality was Mother Kali ? Which was true , Mother appeared as Kali or Kali had allowed Herself to be worshipped and preached as Mother ? ” He prostrated. He mustered up enough courage. He decided to pray as Mother and then reconcile both conceptions. sang he to himself :

Karuna Sen Abataka Badha , Karunasen Mili Mai

Karunasen Dukh Marana Ho , Karoona Chooti Na Jai,

Jo kucha Kiya So Tune Kiya , Men Kachu Janata Nai

Teri Tuni Samla le, men Japa Rahahun Mai.

” I have grown old , fairing with Thy Mercy alone. With Thy Mercy alone , I have gained Thee Mother. It is out of pity for the suffering world that I have preached Thee even inviting misery and death. Now I only pray that my pity may not get relaxed and Your Mercy on me may not be at all be diminished. Whatever has been done is done by Thee. I know not a bit of it. Your matters you take charge . I am only for sitting in a corner at Thy Lotus Feet all the while repeating Jay Mai “.

As he went on repeating these couplets , his fear was getting vanished ; his conviction was coming up : ” Mother’s one aspect was Kali ” . More strange than both was the phosphorescent light Mother’s image was getting. The image was gaining in light by his alternative repetitions of ” Jay Mai Jay Markand Mai ” and couplets , spreading brightness of 5, 10, 15, 20, and higher watts electric bulbs. He had tears of joy and relief. Said he,” If you like , you be Kali to the wicked world . To me you remain Mother “.

Said he laughingly,” You won’t remain this phosphorescent light all the night. So I take you out. We shall be together on Otta.” He spread the carpet on the Otta and went to lift the image . As he thrust his hands behind the image , his hands felt some packets ; he pulled them out and the match box packet. The Founder’s suspicious nature did not leave him; he fell in the thought world of recollection to decide if it was not he who had by mistake put the packets behind the image . ” Might it be that some one who accompanied him the previous night , wisely thought , some one would take them away from the window , so better place them behind the image ? ”

As soon as that idea came , the last idea’s coming synchronized with the Mother’s light disappearing. He was sorry. He condemned himself for his suspicious nature. His brains began to recollect two previous experiences. Once there was light at one of the Bombay suburbs in a kitchen when he prayed ( referred to latter ). The other when in Vile Parle a blaze appeared from the altar. There were some more , as when he runningly passed through dark nights after mid-night , but there were lights which did not last longer than two to three minutes. This was in Ahmedabad , when one night he grew very desperate and left his house with, ” This is Thy world and its response to Thy work. Thou and Thy world, do whatever Thy likest. I have nothing to do with Thy world today.” As he went out in the streets , one after another, every fourth or fifth bungalow, right from Pritamnagar to Bhadra Kali, showed switching on off lights. His vexation turned to an outright laughter saying, ” Thy highest pleasure it seems , is vexing me. Instead of switching on electric lights why not switch on the true illumination lights of every one that can help Thy cause ? ” He got consoled and returned home. He also remembered and laughed at his folly, when he got wrathful in Ahmedabad hospital on Mother ceasing to attend on him, because he had suspicion.”

He accepted this time Mother’s decision. If after so much experience , I am nothing better than a street man, Mother is more than justified in withdrawing Her presence , or Her light’s presence.” He yielded biting his lips. Just as a child that has committed something wrong keeps complete silence and engages itself in some harmless occupation , wishing Mother also may forget or at least forgive , the Founder unmurmuringly lighted the candle and placed the candle on the nearest window and began to repeat ” Jay Mai Jay Markand Mai “.

The terribleness was not yet over. A wind blew out the candle ; he saw a black figure looking through the window. Was it an apparition, a ghost or some thief ? The figure was moving. The Founder with tremulous voice shouted ,’ Kon ‘ ; ‘ Who ‘ ? The reply was ‘ Kholo ‘ , ‘ Open ‘ The founder lighted another candle and opened the door.

The way which the stranger got in, gave the Founder reason to be sure , there was nothing like danger. The man got in, stood in front of him, salaamed him in a quick alert manner. When he salaamed , not only all the fear disappeared , but the Founder had a joy, he had perhaps a companion for the whole night.

The following conversation followed : ” Who are you, Sir ? ” Are you the owner ? ” ” No , The Owner is this Mother ( pointing to the image ). I am only Her worshipper and preacher. What is your name ? What have you been doing ? ” ” I am Gurkha. My name is Devasing. This open plot that adjoins your land is being built over. The Sheith has engaged me this evening , from next Monday. At about ten o’clock I decided, ” I can go to the place I can call mine with a right as a Gurkha of the place .” So I did not wait and I came over. Sir, were you with some man at Santa Cruz Station ? ” ” Yes, Did you see me ? ” ” Yes Sir, The man returned by the next train; he had some giddiness. So you called and dismissed a taxi. I came by the same train “.

The Founder was full of wonderfulness and gratitude. Mother has arranged for his guard , just on duty and immediately after him. ” Did you spend your time somewhere ? ” ” No , Sir, I was only following you. I was just lying in a corner of my own land. I saw first It was all dark. Then came a strong light. I thought there was electric light but some time after there was only candle light So I came to inquire “. ” Yes. Were are you sleeping ? You can sleep here “. The man preferred to sleep on Otta.

The Gurkha turned out to be religious. He was paid a small pay by the Founder. He served the Founder treating him as master and Guru, practically till May 1950 when the adjoining plot to the east was constructed and occupied.

A palace and a rose garden kept ready by Mother, for you. This book is for swans. Mother likes to be surrounded with swans whose hearts will overflow with love, cheerfulness and gratitude , on Her showing such playful proofs of acceptance by Her.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI – ISM, WRITTEN BY MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND [ THE FOUNDER OF UNIVERSAL RELIGION MAI-ISM.

PUBLISHED BY : UNIVERSAL MAIISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ [ WEST ] , MUMBAI – 400054 INDIA.

Mother accepts laid down standards

To return to our narration, all his friends and admires and Mai-ists hailed the idea of selecting a place where he would be staying alone with visitors , off and on. In actuality, he had leaved separate from his family since he began the movement in 1932. With his devotional activity, it was impossible for him to be living with his family. Some visitors may be honest, some cheats. Any one in distress would come to him at any odd hour.

Once at the one a.m. in the night in 1932, the Founder’s door was knocked by a man of reputation . He explained his calamity. Someone was dragging him into court with a nasty woman-entangled accusation. He had to come for a loan of Rs. 500 at that odd hour. The Founder was never rich. He said, ” I have no money, but I can move Mother to change your enemy’s mind to be merciful.” He agreed. He was made to lie on a carpet, repeating certain Mantras at the Lotus Feet of Mother, that night. He was made to fast for three continuous days and subjected to confinement in the owner’s place. One of the man’s friends kept a watch over developments and informed the Founder and the man. Soon a well known pleader was engage, as the next day a suit was to be filed. First day gone. The friend brought the news that the filing of the suit was detained as the antagonist had a high fever. Founder made himself bold to send word to the antagonist,” Your accused has surrendered himself to Mother and is in my charge. You will not get free from the fever , unless you change your mind to be merciful.” The man laughed away. Three days passed. The fourth day happened to be the day when the Founder was ordered by the head of his department to proceed to Dharwar for things to be kept ready for him for a meeting. He had promised the man in distress that he would do his best to take him out of the calamity.

The reader can imagine the double difficulty, the Founder wept Mother, ” Why do you bring such a distressed souls if you can do nothing ? ”

It was a dilemma. At 8 p.m. ( the train leaving at 9 p.m.) the Founder’s door was knocked. In came a young man with fever just down, his beautiful wife and his wickedness incarnate mother. Founder adopted the sweet tone , welcomed them and with the speech of Mother , asked them all to be wise. The distressed was keeping his head low. The wife said,” I have to say something.” Founder told her ,” I have no time.I have to catch the mail. I am already late.Is it anything more than a little evil eye , some joke or some little external departure from strict morality ? But should that have brought him to a stage of such a suffering by your retaliation ? “He mad a summary trial; said he to the distressed ,” Prostrate to Thy mother here , and you mother , forgive him. Now he is your son. ” He was obeyed and the bitterness was buried. Founder took Rs. 25 from his purse and gave that sum to the lady as Mother’s Prasad; he did everything so hurriedly and flew away to the station.

He was late but the train too was late. Seeing the Founder coming up with Mother’s picture reverentially held up in his hands , the mail guard opened an unoccupied second class compartment . He traveled all alone to Dharwar, talking with his Mother in the night breeze, till at Belgaum the worship previously referred to was conducted.

The Founder was a house-holder. He had neither advantage of a Hindu saint nor of a Sanyasin in the matter of public approbation. On the other hand all the disadvantages of being a house-holder were there. His religion was to serve the public and not to be worshipped and served . He was not rich. He had spent a good deal for Mother. to him the expenses of a son’s marriage were nothing of greater importance than a Mother’s function, if not of less importance. His pension has been decided to be Rs. 114 p.m.. hardly enough for himself and family.

The problem was a taxing one. But the more unhopeful the problem presented itself to be, the more determined he became to have his ” Mai – Niwas “, for himself and his Mother.

With tears in his eyes, the Founder would thus talk to Mother, ” Mother, Shalt Thou not condescend to live longer than myself , for world’s welfare ? Well, if that be Thy cruel wish, we shall die together simultaneously and be burnt together , but we shall live alone together for a few years of my life .” His feelings described in his rambling language ( from his green diary 20-07-1945) :- From the worldly point of view , my wife and children are most unfortunate . Their husband and parent has left very little for them, as he was Mother-mad in matter of spending for Mother. He has neither the public support of the religious world , nor is public opinion in India so developed with free thinking and independence of action, as to make people come forward with money to help the religious cause which they actually hold dear. People are swinging between the old and the new religious ideals and I too am swinging between a recluse and a house-holders life.People cherish new ideals but support the old ones. For relief of distress , people come to Mai and for thanks giving and charity, they go to their old deities and ashrams.Mai will give a prosperous lift or avert some danger through a daily programme of Mantras and the wholesale responsibility of the Founder, but the donation will go some Mataji or ashram.The idea itself of meeting expenses by a system of donation or an institutional fee is quite foreign to me. My children are in no way responsible for whatever I have received or will receive for Mother’s work.The property which I possess at the time of death is my personal one. All monies that I have received or will receive , is by way of Mother’s Grace to me while praying hard to remove miseries of different types.”

Any saint is after all a living man; he naturally has a soft corner for all that have suffered for him. He is however booked for different type of work.In course of time so many moths crowd round the light. A hillock is formed round the saint. The hillock is made all types of people.The saint himself does not wish a hillock be formed. The hillock is made of warring elements ; the strongest man has the chance of usurping the master-ship., not only of the hillock but the saint himself. The saint sees all the currents round him.Says he, ” Oh, Mother, I never craved for a hillock. At least save me now. “It is a matter of repeated occurrence that the world never cares to know how a saint fares , but as soon as he brings forth something worth the name the world comes forth like a swarm of locusts to give him directions and to have the hand in the management of all affairs.

He had to decide his future line of working and living. He did not seek other official service.As a matter of fact he refused offers of appointment. He became full time Mother’s servant from August 1945.

There were several experiences which made him to think that it was Mother’s desire that a Mai Niwas of independent ownership by the Founder should be there .

Unbelievably, events took place as if Mother was arranging for the finance. One rich lady of Bombay [The lady was Mrs. kale – her husband was engineer] who attended Mother’s Lodge meetings and came to Bombay (Mumbai) whenever he used to go to Bombay from Poona or Hubli, had her husband on death-bed.The Founder was called for. He went from Hubli to Bombay, prayed and gave every instruction and a daily programme of mental repetition, worship, devotion, spiritualised waters etc. He was told by a most responsible reliable nearest relative that if the husband survived , Rs. 5000 were to be spent in charity for the recovery. The Founder worked day and night, devoting two to three hours every night between 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. and the least hoped for the result was there by Mother’s special Grace. What can be the greater reason than the lady’s letter that by Mother’s Grace the husband was alright and that she would not forget to make a handsome charity to Mother’s cause, for the Founder to be presume that he was sure to get Rs. 5000 on the husband’s full recovery ?

The Founder was extremely enthusiastic on getting her letter. He purchased a plot of 12 Gunthas immediately in Hubli for Rs. 2000. Founder believes that for every moment lapsing between a good -luck and thanksgiving, a man is an extremely heavy loser. He is without the protection of Mother.

[ Founder’s experience s are very interesting. He was once travelling from Belgaum to Nipani in a bus. Bus would have several halts on the way.Just after the bus started from a halt, the Founder saw someone selling jasmine flowers. He asked the driver to stop for few minutes as he wanted to purchase the flowers for his Mother. The driver said he won’t stop. Founder explained ,” I am no ordinary routine worshipper. If you don’t you will find your bus can’t go after sometime.You shall have to bring the bus back.” The chauffeur scornfully laughed. After some furlongs machine went wrong and could not proceed. The passengers all got exasperated due to delay. Said the Founder,” I can make it run. You promise you will take me back to those jasmine flowers “. The chauffeur with grim faced agreed. Said Founder ,” Well than, be all on your seats “. All passengers got in. Founder was in the front seat. Said he in a child -like way, : Mother see see the chauffeur has agreed to go back . Don’t you want to be worshipped with beautiful jasmine flowers ? I will purchase the whole basket. I will worship Thee as soon as I reach. It is getting late. Now don’t make delay. ” Said he to the chauffeur, ” Start “. The motor immediately, to the joyful surprise of all, worked up. Founder purchased the whole basket and reached the travellers’ bungalow in time and worshipped his Mother with every endearment. He satisfied his principle of promptitude.

Once you have established relationship with Mother, it is your choice to set up the standard for give and take or postponement. Mother’s speed to your call will depend on the intensity and impatience with which you offer your thanksgiving. Mother accepts and adopts standard which you yourself lay down.

It is serving one’s own interest to see that the connection once given is not cut off.Every wise man must have before his mind , while dealing with religious matters and Divine aid , this fact viz., that such relations are quite delicate and therefor extremely tender as a flower , fragile like glass and quickly falling from invaluableness to valuelessness as a pearl. Further , we remain in the dark as to when Mother’s Grace is withdrawn. ]

In a less than a week, since he had the information from the lady, he got every thing ready. The deed was registered . The land was demarcated. However the charity did not came forth. On the other hand reports were heard that handsome charities were made at several quarters. One day, the Founder had the money order of Rupees Twenty five with an endorsement in the coupon to the purport that he amount was sent by the way of the recognition of Mother’s Grace for the husband’s recovery. The Founder had paid Rs. 1000 from his own purse to the vendor and Rs. 1000 more had to be paid. The Founder’s sorrowfulness and awkward position may be better imagined than described.

Just then, an extremely liberal minded , practically a relative , though of another caste, was staying with the Founder as his wife was suffering from tuberculosis. The gentleman of an extremely liberal heart had some experience of the Founder’s powers. He had appeared for an examination; he had no hope. The first thing he did was to inform the Founder about it and to pray. To his greater astonishment he passed. He was now a big man. His wife was suffering from T.B.. He inquired by telegram ,” S.S.L. suffering from T.B.What do you advice Meeraj or Devlali ?” Founder replied, ” If you have faith in Mother, neither Meeraj nor Deolali , but Hubli. “The devotee took the Founder at his word and went straight to Hubli.”

The devotee [ Pranjivan D. Dalal-Executor of Universal Mai-ism Trust ] with his wife [ Mrs. Sushila Dalal ] and a daughter were present when the Money Order of Rupees 25 was received. They could see the Founder’s eyes wept. On their repeated pressure , the facts had to be explained. The devotee went to his room and returned with his cheque-book, he wrote Rs 1000 in Founder’s name . Said he, ” Kakaji, Don’t be sorry. Here you are. Founder was more than liquefied . Said he, “Mother bless you my children”. He turned with a forcefulness to Mother and began to speak in loud words, ” Don’t you see difference between men and men ? Remove this T.B. forthwith immediately. Now and now. ” Founder closed his eyes and after a few moments told them ,” Mother has been pleased to take away your T.B. You now proceed to Bombay and get your re-examination . Just as you tore of my anxiety with the cheque, so has Mother too torn off your calamity of the fell disease. “. The couple started the next day with greatest joy. Got the lady examined. She had no T.B. T.B. was gone forever.

The couple returned to Hubli, they proposed that the Founder should stay permanently in Bombay (Mumbai).This devotee proposed that a plot of 1600 square yards be purchased in Santa Cruz which would be enough for two bungalows, the front one for the Founder and the rear one for the devotee. A plot on Saraswati Road was purchased. The Founder was in position to pay off an advance Rs. 1000 for the plot.

He was determined and for only a small hut of matting and bamboos, if nothing better can be managed. He had the unflinching resoluteness of having any abode where he can stay with Mother in solitude.

This incident of T.B. cure gave a lift to the Founder. He was accepted with every reverence that a saint can command in Bombay. Were it not that the Founder had an established home in Bombay, it would not have been possible for him to settle in Bombay and construct his Mai-Niwas.

MAI – NIWAS

One more thing that added to the glory of Mai-ism was the publication of a long article in ” Sunday Times ” of Madras on 2 – December – 1945, ” MAI-ISM A NEW FAITH ” written by ” a pilgrim” – a retired Goverment Officer. This is a summary of the article :-

” When we think of a saint, the picture of one in a saffron robes with a tonsured head come into our minds.Orthodoxy sets its face against any departure from rigid rules relating to even dress and behavior. But cropped heads , collars and ties, and pants and boots have come to stay in modern life and if religion can not be capable of existing with them, it is religion that has to depart.

Some time ago I had heard reports of a new saint in Hubli and his miraculous powers .On the night I reached Hubli, I saw a telegram which had just come saying,” Child safe. Mother’s Grace is unfathomable.” Evidently there was frantic appeal from the parents to this live – wire of infinite Love for help with the result the telegram indicated. My stay with him was a unique experience. There were no rituals.It was all simple , but what a world of difference in the atmosphere of sincerity love and devotion !

His theology is simple. He realizes Love as the Supreme force and God as Mother. Mother and child relationship is the speciality. Mai-ism according to him is the Universal religion , or Mai-ism can take under its wings the followers of any religion without submitting the charge of apostasy.

Let me warn the reader that if he expects to find a saint in saffron robes, he will be disappointed. Instead, he will meet a person wearing collar, tie and paints, familiar with every body and looking like challenge to orthodoxy. The vulgar crowd can not know a saint unless he is accompanied with external insignia and hence has not spotted him. Luckily this is an advantage to the honest seeker.”

The fact of the purchase of a plot was communicated to all. Madrasis were the first people that came forth each with a handsome donation.

Jay Mai Jay Mai Jay Mai

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK – ” MAI-ISM” WRITTEN BY THE FOUNDER OF MAI-ISM SAINT SHRI MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND , EDITION : 1952. ADDRESS : MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI -400054, INDIA.

Saints born for public good

There was gradual development of the Mother-Movement as a whole. The ideal of the outer form of the Founder’s activities had arisen from that of a society of the Mother’s Lodge. From a lecturing hall for the public with a private personal worship in his own home in Poona , arose the public worship on large scales.From the prayer-house of some few individuals came forth a Religious – Relief – Home, with worship, mantra repetitions etc.

Mai-ism says,” No man that is born is perfect as God; but that does not mean you should lose your reason in the matter of deifying and worshipping and serving the greatest God-like men, with usual argument,” He too is imperfect, just as we are ; he is a bit less, we are a bit more imperfect, that is all “. Great are great and small are small, even though great do small things and small do great things. Great men are to be followed in their great acts and no to be judged by their blunders.

The wise man who binds himself with ropes of devotion and self-surrender and prays to God and Guru to pull him upwards is never lost and sure to rise to the highest point in course of time and as speedily as it can be , so long as he does not with his own hands sever himself from the protective and pulling powerful ropes. Catch God and Guru , never to leave , come what may, that is the highest secret of success Mai-ism gives. Set no big values as to how you fare. The opposite pairs of pleasure and pain, success and failure , rise and fall etc., are sure to play their parts. Fix up your eyes ever constant on your relationship with God and Guru, and the rest will automatically follow.

Idealism and ideal living is no doubt the purest sublime-most condition , but there is the other force of practicality, which is co-existent and remains un-alienated. I refer to the constant struggle between matter and spirit. Matter so often weakens and subjugates the spirit. What is required to be done is therefore the gradually acquired proofness that is attainable only by being alternatively within and without the mud mire of worldliness for times without number.

As a parallel to the development of the outer form of the Founder’s activities , it is interesting to note the inner development of his mental changes as he passed through several stages. Without losing his own universal-mindedness, he had to stoop to the greater utilities of a defined religion for all practical training of the people and making them interested in true religiosity. The substance of a religion must be there to churn out religiosity. To make people interested in sweetness , any substance, say sugar, honey, grapes, jiggery or any such thing has to be most familiarly dealt with. What substance would in natural course be selected , would be the one that the people to be dealt with are most familiar with . Because on leaving Poona [ Pune], he could not get the outer universal skeleton , he had to choose the most easily available and utilizable Hinduism. Not that his universal-mindedness was any less. And he turned to Hinduism. The universal-minded man took up Hinduism because he had to deal with Hindus. If he were in the midst of Christians the selected substance for increasing the popular craving for true religiosity would have been Christianity. Even now the doors of Mai-ism are open to all varied types of religionists. The spirit of the Founder’s universality would take , say, the Christian or Mohammedan colour even now, if the followers in large wieldable and countable groups belonged to Christianity or Mohammedanism . To understand more clearly, Mai-ism is the sweetness itself or the true religiosity itself and not a certain substance or a certain religion. The abstract conception required a concrete substance. The substance however brought its lights as well as shadows. Mai-ism in its outer form became Hinduistic, although no opportunity was allowed to pass without awakening and maintaining the public consciousness of the requirement of ” Universal mindedness “as Mai-ism’s true understanding . The abstract conception brought in the substance .The substance brought in the shadow , the shadow brought the Founder face to face with people’s darkness and blackness of head and heart , ignorance, utilization for selfish ends and exploitation. The Founder was gradually pulled by people to tolerate their actual ‘below-mark’ stage and was dragged to descend from abstract supreme devotion to the practical work of relieving the distress of the people , from advising Nishkama Bhakti to admitting the Sakama Bhakti , from a general Mai Sadhana to the same for one’s own purpose, from people’s grateful humility to their worldly business tendency and finally, from their fair and honest business attitude, to the worldly natural plane of easy cheating and exploitation even in the realm of religion.

The Founder had to descend , step by step, to meet people on their own plane , which was found to be lower and lower as the Founder went deeper and deeper into the bottom layers of people’s natural plane. He however persisted because in any case , he was not for abandoning hopes or his life long avowed Mai-Mission work.

The more he came into contact with people , the more disillusioned he became about the real value of the so much tom-tombed religiosity of the Religion. He saw very little of a practical nature beyond passing liking or a taste and nothing like love for religion with sacrifice. Religious living did not mean a different mode of actual living . He saw hat even the so-called universal-mindedness of many was, on analysis, nothing more than a courteousness, a little tolerance , a little broad vision , a little goodness and a royal talk. That by itself could not stir up the inner soul.

In practical life universal-mindedness was only a negative virtue. It had its value because with many others the infatuation about their own religion and in some cases fanaticism were there as a contrast. By itself the universal-mindedness as he saw , did not mean much constructively , in the actual progress in religion and Religiosity. The Founder here does not refer to the highest meaning of universality , viz., seeing and treating every soul as one’s own self. That is entirely out of the question in this world , at least the modern one , except for few exceptions who are in the world and not out of the world. The first descent from abstract devotion was towards the Nishkama Bhakti. The Founder went on being faced with bankruptcies after bankruptcies from one surpriseful unhopefulness to another. Going down he could not meet Sadhaks, who would be for increasing their supernatural accumulated powers for public welfare through Mantras , meditations, worships etc.; the average plane was still lower . Religion was found to have some faintest signs of being welcomed , on the Sakama Bhakti plane.The Founder went down and down and welcomed even the out and out Sakama Bhaktas resorting to religion , mantras etc., for a particular specific object . There too the Founder’s hopes were frustrated. Few took up the devotional or religious permanent colour. People licked away honey and left the dry bread . Founder said to himself,” Well I am more than satisfied if people remain contacted with religion even though that be for clear-cut openly declared purpose and only periodically.” However the world was found to be shameless even therein in the lowest requirement , and even feeling grateful to God or Guru was found to be not only absent but out of question and question-barred. God or religion were found to carry no higher value than a stop – cock of a water-pipe to be turned whenever one wanted water.

The Founder would have considered himself blessed , if he had found the world at least at that stage of periodical devotion for a specific object. The world however showed still more wonderful varieties of lower planes. Discontentment underlying demands , and further, even wrathfulness on non-fulfilment of demands , so to say, dictated to Mother. The Founder permitted himself to be down dragged because in any case , he wanted the unwilling horse of the world to drink the celestial waters. He tolerated Religion being made even a matter of business and there too the world most hopelessly failed to be true to its words of recognition even after fulfilment of their specific desires. The introduction of business element murdered the last remnant of gratefulness. The world was found hopelessly poor in the matter of the very first requirement of true religiosity, viz., humility and gratefulness. If he had known the true value in 1932 , and if it were a matter of his own choice , he would not have dedicated his life to this fool’s and mad man’s work. The rub is there – ” If it were a matter of his own choice. “

The Founder would be sitting in the Mai Prayer Hall ( 28 feet by 16 feet ) on an Asan ( Seat ) on the floor in front of his dearest Mother on a pedestal , exactly in square line with the image . The place has breeze from south and west and powerful lights are making the place bright enough for the humble devotee to be viewing Mother most minutely at intervals. The Founder would shed tears and pray to Mother to do any of the two things She pleased,”At least show me some faint phantom of success in my undertaking of Thy work or sweep out the last remnant of desire to raise the religiosity of the religion following world through Thy Mai-ism.” Mother however would do neither.

The paradoxical position, in the matter of God’s attitude, is simply a torture, although a spiritual one.What is the deepest hidden working underneath ? It is a play of God or Mother with His or Her dearmost devotees. They live their most intense life with Almighty, but the world as a whole remains practically unchanged, though with a temporary spiritual flood.

When the Founder would be tired to the last point, Mother would explain the paradox thus : –

Do you think it is the laying down and explaining certain best recipes of a religion, that can make the world happy? No.

Do you think it is ceaseless effort of understanding of truths, that entitles men to be happy ? No.

Do you think the world is unhappy and miserable, without its own evils and sins ? No.

All is delusion.

And yet know this, the secret of secrets. Enjoyment and Happiness proceeds from Relinquishment,to the extent you throw away things of the world. “Love alone is the Teacher of Relinquishment.Service concretises Love. They become happy who love and serve Me and whom I love.The claim to be happy finally rests on Love and Service to me and Mine, with devotion and self-surrender. Neither people can change matters nor you. What is people’s highest self-control before Nature’s urge within ? And what can our highest effort do unless I move the keys of people’s hearts ?

“And yet the paradoxical position that you are weeping about saves the world and is the keynote of the secret working.”
“It was true of every one that was, is and will be dearest to Me.There is no human working that permanently helps. It is only My will. The usefulness of all working of people, or God’s dearest devotees proceeds from quite a distant irrelevant invisible thing.”

To repeat, it is this : “Those who love and serve Me, My dearest and My children, will be saved.”World as a whole will be run on the basis of its collective merit, but individuals will be saved.” The rest is all Maya’s befooling of mankind, through delusions of authorship, ownership, actorship etc., and misunderstandings through networks of causes and effects, distinctions and differences, mine and thine, etc.

” Millions have preached religion. Where is the happiness ? Millions have mechanically obeyed Divine Laws laid down in scriptures. Where is happiness ? The bestower of happiness is I Myself. There is nothing like any person’s claim thereto in virtue of any well earned dues or any deservedness.”

“The Lover, The Server and The Surrenderer to Me or Mine alone wins the highest victory of happiness.” The rest is only a temporary mirage-like satisfaction and a passing talk, a word-froth, a speedy revolving of a motor wheel raised above ground; the meter would read miles but the motor stands where it has stood.

The Founder would jump up from his seat of meditation and lift Mother’s picture and holding Her over his head , would say in highest jubilance ,” Then what else have I been doing and preaching? ” His brains would cool down with an overpowering sleep. He would again have the passion to continue Mother’s work in spite of failures. He would say to himself ,” Failures are no failures except in worldly eyes. Every effort itself by virtue of its being with the purpose of serving Mother and Mother’s work is a victory by itself.”

Catching Mother in Her highest joyful mood , he would gradually creep in with his prayer,” Let my desire of seeing Thy name and the specified name of JAYA MAI repeated by thousands be fulfilled , for that alone can make he world happier, if not now, just before I return to Thee ; if not then, when I am disembodied and am more able to do Thy work; if not then, even after several centuries, through Thy selects.”

The founder would be surprised and annoyed at the inverted arrangement of ” First Mother and Motherliness, and thereafter the world and worldliness “. He would ask,” Why should I be dipped in the worldly rottenness after having known the source of nectar and having partly sipped the nectar ? ” When this questing was causing agitation, the Founder had the Mother’s Grace of having the Life of Paramahamsa , made an offering to him by a Mai devotee in November 1949 at Madras ( Chennai), and there he found the corroboration . ” First God attainment and then the world – entering “.

The ancient Hinduism has also accepted or rather taught the very same truth.What else in the meaning of Brahmacharya Ashram ? Does that not mean, ” First God and then the world “? Did not that mean you enter the world after God-initiation and Divine Knowledge ?

Illumination is one thing.Conviction is the next higher thing; realisation is still a higher thing. And corroboration after realisation is yet a still higher thing. No realisation gives you the perfect joy without corroboration. You may dispense with a Guru upto the last end , if you are vehemently against having a Guru, but at that last stage of corroboration, the Guru is indispensable.

The Founder explains ” conviction ” thus. We talk of God as the Saviour of the most wicked. A stranger comes and threatens you with ,” Is that true ? ” You shiver ; you tremble ; you say, ” We only hear so, so many have said so in the past.” You seek out a way from his clutches , you walk out with a weak platitude , you yourself are overpowered with doubts. In the end it may well be said that you have a consciousness of having accepted a certain statement as truth with usual heard mentality. On the other hand , the realised man stands firm as rock. He has the courage , the conviction of any mother that would boldly say out , with respect to an altogether face-changed son of hers after years , ” Yes. he is my son.” That conviction is there because the son is a piece and parcel of hers . A certain truth must have similarly formed a piece and parcel of the realisation of the realised.

Corroboration. With greatest exertions you have reached Mother’s Mansion. You have been sitting on the very steps of the Mansion. You say ” This must be the place “. But yet it is ” must be “. You require some one ahead of you to say ” Yes, you are right. This is Mother’s Mansion. “. Till then the realisation is not perfect.

In addition to the routine way. Mai- Swarup and Mai-ism declare and reveal the existence of the under-ground passage. There are no qualifications which are indispensable for an aspirant provided he has an unfathomable love for Mother. You love Her ; you serve her; you surrender yourself to Her, every thing including salvation is yours. That is Mai-ism.

The Founder suggests a special attitude towards religious questions , to derive highest illumination. We should not have attitude of summing up everything with ‘ Everything is the same ‘ mentality, nor should we have the mentality of ” Everything is already with us “. Then alone you you will squeeze out the maximum joy of understanding religion.

Help Mother to make the world better and more happy. Not to retire from the world , but to help Mother in the task of ameliorating the world . Not leaving the world to it’s own lot. There, there, is one of the permanent distinctions of Mai-ism.

There is quite an independent path of love . Love between God and devotees.It is as good as a mechanical law of magnet and iron, the iron piece may be rusted or brilliant , it may be anything , of any colour and any shape . It is we who mix up things. We jumble up the up the ideal of God as Mother or Love with God who runs the Universe, who can adjust matters to our advantage. How you fare in life and the world , should be entirely a foreign inadmissible matter in the said independent path of Love. The return of Love is love and not prosperity, power, removal of miseries, subjugation of opponents etc. ; Love means absolutely nothing else. The jumbling is there; don’t jumble up Mother as Mother to Her child and Mother as Creatrix and disposer of Universe. You love Mother but in return you want the whole pleasure and wealth of the world. If you are satisfied of love of Mother towards you, your love and readiness to die for Her in itself is sufficient and is independent of all requirements . There only the plain and scientific law holds. You weep out of separation from Mother, Mother runs to you. She heals you up and your wounds in hospital; She bandages you. But , mind, She runs not necessarily to give you what you want and to help you out of your pitfalls. She runs to you to remove the pangs of separation. She too runs because She can’t remain without running. ” Loving Mother becoming Mother ” That is the second unfailing divine law. Mother’s mandate to Her highest devotees is : ” Be Mother to all as I have been to You.” Do you want Mother for Mother’s sake ? Well , there your way is clear. There is an an dependent path of divine love , which does not make any other achievements indispensable. That is the innermost teaching of Mai-ism.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM WRITTEN BY SAINT SHRI MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND , PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ [ WEST ] MUMBAI 400054, INDIA

Please also see : LINK AND LINK

Catch God and Guru, never to leave

The Founder was re-employed in Hubli in continuation of his service in Bombay from 1942. People came forth from Bombay [Mumbai] to have Darshan and blessings. The Founder had some new types of experiences here which he wishes to be recorded.

The Founder is of opinion that every saintly or spiritual aspirant should record his experiences with the preciseness of all laboratorial experiments results. There must be standing public institutes for the said work. In India, no saint ever leaves after him a guidance for the younger generation in the shape of his own personal experiences. The disciples or devotees of the said saint are always anxious to show to the world that the saint was perfect from the day he was born. He was never even a quarter step out of the straight path or away from the consciousness of perfection or needing any illumination. People want their saints to be only a perfect image, perfect from the day they came to existence. They are not interested in the life of a saint as a man in the making , whereas in reality it is the deep study of those details alone which can help the future generation in the line towards a solid progress.

Mere worshipping our saints, Gurus and great men without trying to follow in their foot steps won’t help us. No Guru will give us the nectar unless we love and serve him, unless we are devoted to him and unless we try our best to be what he is with unconditional and cheerful self-surrender. It is not that the saints are less merciful, but there are limitations beyond which the eternal Divine Law does not permit the result to accrue. One unit can be multiply to be 100 units, but zero remains a zero however great the multiplier may be.

To return to the experiences , the Founder was given a bungalow as a guest to temporarily reside. On the first day in Hubli a big gathering was held there and rich Prasad and sweets were distributed . Just then, a bitch got in and she was driven out without giving a bit and with a stick. At 2 a.m. after departure of all, Founder prayed to Mother, for the success of the first gathering in Hubli. He had not taken his meals. He had the joy of success but an overwhelming sorrow at the idea of the bitch being beaten out without a bit of bread. He was disgusted with man’s non-consideration for other men, what to speak of animals. In a great disgust he decided not take his meals and laid himself down on his cot. At half past two the very same bitch which was turned out with beating came out from below the cot, began to lick the Founder and pulled his garments towards the kitchen ! The Founder was happy like anything. He went to the Puja room , worshiped the bitch and began to eat with the bitch, his own meals , partaking with bitch half to half. He caressed the bitch,” Are you now satisfied ? ” ” Mother ! Hast Thou sent a bitch to see that I do not sleep hungry ? ” He wept with his face against the bed out of gratitude. When he opened his eyes after composure, he was surprised to see that the bitch was no where there in the whole bungalow of which all the doors had been locked before going to bed.

The Founder had once been in a condition for twelve days. This is the actual description : Any thought ( people have experience , how many thoughts they have in a second ), any one of them which did not mean a feeling of love, service, devotion or surrender to Mother, as soon as it rose in the brain , gave him a fire burning which gave an unbearable shooting pain and was nothing sort of a physical burning. The only difference was , unlike physical burning, here it was an unbearable burning which disappeared as soon as the thought subsided. Suppose you are traveling in a second class through an extremely hot country. You have closed all windows and have kept ice around you. Immediately something goes wrong and all the windows fall open . A burning blast of extremely hot air attacks you from all sides. You immediately run and close all windows and the burningness disappears.

To start with, he would have hot-fire-blasts at any other thought. Here I am afraid the reader can’t imagine. Any thought means absolutely any. Even such a thought as ” My name is so and so ‘”. Any means any, absolutely. People can not imagine certain states of blankness without having the actual experience . Their nothing is much above the real nothing and they suspect exaggeration. It is interesting to have an idea of Founder’s habitual ordinary blankness. He would have often to ascertain whether he took meals or not , by seeing if there are any used dishes or whether the food kept for him has remained in the vessel or not. He could not recognize his own daily used things and would show the poorest memory about his possessions . Even after sixty, he can’t distinguish between similar fruits daily used in his home or the most common grains or cereals. He believes that one of the secret of his devotional success is his strictest observance of ‘ No vacancy ‘ for admission in his brains to anything except those that are indispensable. With this knowledge the reader will be able to conceive what the Founder’s ‘ nothing ‘ in the blankness referred to in the said experience can mean.

But later it came to a climax when even a thought like ‘ Mother is Merciful ‘ gave a burning blast. Even the idea of ‘ Mercifulness ‘ was inadmissible. Beyond ‘ Mother ‘ absolutely nothing was permitted. ‘ Mother’ alone , not even the predict and the verb. A thought even like this , ” Mother Thou art alone true, the rest is all unreal ” was not admissible.

It was a period when he had alternate seconds of hot blasts and normal rests. Just as a victim even when there is over powering force would assert himself before losing his life , he would not mind the painfulness of the hot blasts and say ‘ ” Mother, not even Thy mercifulness ? Not even Thy greatness ? Not even Thy oneness ? Not even my saying ‘ I do not exist outside Thee ? ‘ ” He would dash his head against the pedestal where Mother was installed and weep with the frightful notion of incoming insanity. He knew this was a process of reforming every atom of his brain and mind. But who can guaranty a happy end ? He had previous experiences of the type and he had passed through them with Mother’s highest Grace , but who can say what will be the end ? The mutilation of the mind itself ?

The stage automatically disappeared after twelve days , by Mother’s Grace , not gradually but all at once , just as he were pulled out by a crane from deep drowning waters to the shore.

How foolish it is to ask a devotee, how often he had dealing with his deity and worshipped. There is no end of it. What the world knows of true devotee is only a sample and a drop.

One more experience which the Founder repeats with pleasure is this. Opposite to his bungalow was the bungalow of a well-known songstress. Once at 2 a.m. he was in meditation in a room with none except V.L. B. ( Bro. V.L.Baddi) , his constant companion in Hubli. The Founder began to hear most pleasing celestial music. Said he to his companion ,” Is the songstress singing so wonderfully at 2 a.m. ?” The companion said ,” No. No. I don’t hear anything. ” The Founder said,” What not ? Just sit on this wooden seat and hear. ” The companion sat on the wooden seat . He was surprised,” Yes. Yes. What a wonder is this. ” So very beautiful music. She has never sung like this. ” To be more sure the Founder asked his companion what was the tune. He said, ” It is Lalit Pancham.” Founder danced with joy. Both ran outside to see if the songstress was in her spirits singing her best. What is there ? Pitch dark. No door or window open , none awake, all asleep.

The Founder and companion returned . Founder said,” Let me see if I still hear. He sat on the seat. The music was going on. He got up and asked the companion to sit. The latter spoke with joy. ,” The very same Lalit Pancham but now its further higher note. “. Founder again ran, though this time the companion did not accompany . It was all dark in the songstress place. After some devotional talks they both slept. The light was extinguished. A few minutes after, they heard a burst of laughter. That was second wonder during the night.

The Founder wrote details of both experiences viz., twelve days ‘ confinement and celestial music , to his friend in these mystic experiences and was happiest when he had a reply : ” Mother is fondlingly playing with you. The second experience is only making amends for the first. You were burnt with scorches for twelve days as that was considered necessary by Mother. She has given you the sweetest music one can ever hear as the divine medicine to restore your mental normality. Nothing is impossible for Mother. She laughs with a burst, on seeing that still, even after so many experiences you do not credit Her with powers which you yourself have described in your books.”

These two experiences kindled a desire in the Founder’s heart to arrange for a personal contact with Mother in the fullest solitude. He wanted a place where none , not even a sparrow would be between him and Mother whether he was in communion with Mother . None should be able to see or know what he is doing , whether he is beating his forehead or slapping himself or weeping or rolling on the ground or dancing or playing or most endearingly talking before and with Mother.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK MAI-ISM WRITTEN BY THE FOUNDER OF MAI-ISM SAINT SHRI MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND & PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ. [ WEST] , MUMBAI 400054 INDIA.

Service with sacrifice as religious as worship

It has been a centuries-old mentality, to consider worldly-distress-relieving work to be a much inferior variety of religious work. The highest seat would be given to one who talks Geeta, Vedas, and Darshans; the next place would be given to the poor and humble Bhakta; the man who advises on practical life matters or helps people in distress is only Mr. So and So.

Once a city was flooded; lives were in danger. A circus proprietor engaged his whole self; all worked day and night, it was tiring work. The proprietor saved so many lives; he could keep his sustaining power only with alcohol. He was standing hours together in sun. What about the religious response and recognition? The Founder heard of his frequent drinking and his being condemned drunkard twenty times more than his bravery, service, and sacrifice. To have both the spirit of service and sacrifice and its observance of religious requirements is surely most commendable. But if both don’t go together, Service and Sacrifice should not be unrecognized. Mai-ism wants service to humanity being recognized as not simply a praiseworthy act of humanity but a fully religious act. Mai-ism most emphatically says that selfless service with nothing -sparing sacrifice and without expectation of recognition is as religious and Mother-propitiating as Mother worship, Prasad distribution, Mantra repetition etc., if not more.

People lose their head when they think about religion. There are wrong judgments in religious matters. Beliefs, tendencies, likes, and dislikes play a predominating part in the matter of religion. Unfamiliarity, unapproachability and mystic aloofness become an enchantment to some and a matter of dislike to others. Grandeur, impressive talks and congenial circumstances to forget the worries of worldliness create imaginary heaven for some. For some others, a certain unhappy mentality spoils the whole picture. All these factors play an important part in all religious judgments. These factors create certain once-for-all impressions and prejudices which form the basis of all subsequent outlook. So many inherited and acquired factors and beliefs rush in and gave their color to the whole vision. After all, what counts is one’s own individuality and stage of development and spiritual attainment. The very same religious person appears to some as Avatar, to some other as a maniac and to still some others as even a cheat.

People believe there can be no saintliness without certain externals and settled routine ways of living and stern unapproachability. Commonsense gets occluded and confused.

Whom to approach and with what mentality for one’s spiritual progress is a perplexing problem. There must be the initiation, the giving of Mantra and instructions and a particular programme and a continued personal contact through visits, letters, dreams, visions etc.

The Founder’s mentality is this. God, Guru, and Religion are going down and down day-to-day. People want relief from all their miseries and greater happiness of the type they conceive. Scripture’s teachings, rules, and regulations have almost miserably failed. Let us then meet people on their own ground. The Founder has very funny experiences how people can be brought round to recognition of religious living on being shown that their miseries can be and are removed by undertaking a certain religious process for removal of certain misery. When people get sickened about religion because it is too old and shut their doors, its external color should be changed and it should be poured from the sky-roof holes. That is what a Mother and Mother’s religion alone would do, just as doctors do artificial feeding through injections.

Once the Founder was in the house of atheist as a guest. The landlord who was hospitable and courteous in every way, defiantly said he did not believe in religious thongs. Two days later, the pet son of the man fell dangerously ill. The boy surprise-fully said to his parents, ” I won’t be cured unless you worship Mai that has come to us and repeat Mantras which Baba dictates “. The man explained the situation to the Founder. Said the Founder,” It does not matter you have no faith. Your son has his full faith and that is more than enough. Do this thing for the sake of recovery of your son. We shall see at the end how long you are retaining your atheism.” The boy began to be speedily cured and the whole family becomes changed in the matter of their outlook on religion. Religion is now required to exhibited from home to home and man to man.

It is not that Nishkama Bhakti is not preached or held in higher reverence than Sakama Bhakti by the Founder. The fact of facts is the Founder has accepted ‘ Stooping to Conquer ‘, as a mother, as She is really the mother that has no hesitation to descend to the plane of Her children, when the latter is disabled to climb up the plane by plane to meet Her. This is what the Founder explains ‘ practical spiritual diplomacy ‘.

The Founder says,” Let there be any amount of Atheism, so long man has a body, he is sure to have physical sufferings, so long he has a heart, he is sure to have disquietude; so long he has desires he is sure to be in some pressing need. Where can the poor creature escape? How long can he run away? Truly capacious religious teachers have to develop their giving power and the world will remain in their fist with folded hands. Few are disbelievers about the existence of God, in their heart of hearts. Fewer are the believers of God that are not his beggars, and our talks about dealing with God are entirely dependent on how he keeps us. Except for few blessed, none wants God and religion but for their own self-interest. They do not love God. They love what God gives, money, wife, children, happiness, heaven, peace, bliss etc.; they are in fact not loving these things, in the absolute sense. They are loving only themselves. We can’t expect the world to be consisting of one and all on the highest plane of disinterested love. Let the animal-deity mixture with each one be only very gradually increased by truly religious persons to the greater and greater strength of the Godliness element.

To be the master, one has first to serve as a servant. People have to be served in their own way. Create the feeling of gratitude and confidence in you by numerous precedents of your having helped them. Mai-ism admits all legitimate moral and harmless desires and their satisfaction through Mai propitiation.

Secure the contact with a saint. That requires no particular rare fitness. Serve him. Remain with him as much as you can. He will introduce you to the Divine Power. That Power will give you Vision. Thereafter start the machinery of ‘ One’s self, One’s Guru, One’s God, One’s Guru, One’s self ‘ ad infinitum.

Carry the relief to the world and the world is yours. It will join you in the praises of Almighty. God is not hungry for your praises. Praising is a part of the remedies to help yourself for your own good. Study the situation most minutely, meditate deeply and you will come to no other conclusion than the present world needs the MOST MERCIFUL MOTHER that does not weigh the world’s action, but forbears, forgives and forgets and relieves the world’s miseries out of a magnanimity of Her Own self without even a word of recognition. And that is Mai-ism, the propitiation of God as Mother, with love, service, devotion and unconditional cheerful self-surrender.

The Founder’s views on this matter can be seen from the following. He was once a famine supervisor in Baroda State [ This was in 1913 ]. There was a laid down standard of the quantity of excavation and daily wage in proportion to the work. The maximum rate was three annas a day which would help to just keep the body and soul together. After his appointment, he soon saw in about a week that more than 80 % could not be entitled to the minimum meal wages. By starvation, the coolies became weaker and weaker and doing still less work. The vicious circle started. He was moved to pity. He became extremely liberal in his measurements and saw that every one got the minimum so as not to starve. The shortage of work of 3000 persons was gradually increasing. He hoped it will be made up, but that day never came. A complaint had already reached the head office that he was too liberal and it was ordered that a sub-engineer should give a surprise visit and check measurements and the total amount paid. The Founder had handed over his fate in the hands of his dearest Mother after profound sorrow on hearing the report.

During this period of suspense, His Highness visited the place. The technicalities of the work were inspected ( not the finance ). His Highness was quite pleased, but the Founder was trembling within his heart; ‘ all this satisfaction will disappear on the sub-engineers report .’ But there was his Mother at his beck and call, ever protecting him. Three days later, Her Highness came over. She expressed great satisfaction at the healthy glow joyfulness and the minimum number of deaths and illness in the Founder’s camp. She called him at her royal tents. This was the conversation. Her Highness said,” I find your famine work arrangement has shown the best condition of preservation in the whole state. What do you wish me to do for you? I propose distributing clothes to all your work people .” The Founder said,” They will be praying God’s blessings on your Highness more and more for the bounty. they are already more than grateful for their very lives being saved.” The queen saw there was some deep meaning. She said,” Be plain.” The founder said,” I have been very liberal, too liberal in measurements.” ” That ought to be, is it not ?” The object in view is to see that poor people survive .” Her Highness guessed more than half things, on looking deeply into the Founder’s face.”

The chief engineer came with the executive engineer to pay his respects. The queen said,” I was just talking to your supervisor; he told me he was very liberal in measurements. I said to him he ought to be, for the object in view for which famine works have been started. ” The executive engineer picked up his opportunity,” Your Highness, I have been constantly visiting the work and I have found him working best and I have already strongly reported recommending him to our chief engineer here “. The chief engineer took not a second to shake his head as if to convey he has received the report and issued orders which had promoted him. Needless to say, the executive engineer sent a memo to the sub-engineer to cancel the inspection.

His Highness would be seeing efficiency. Her Highness would be seeing the preservation and well feeding of the subjects. that is the difference between God as Father and God as Mother.

If saints leave their mountain caves, river banks and sea-coasts, if they condescend to just be in the midst of people, try t find out a solution for their burning questions; and guide them and make people stronger in religiosity, the task will be more successfully and happily done. Take up yourself a major part of ignorant, unhappy children’s responsibility. Mix freely and be one of them. Familiarity will, I admit, bring contempt or at least a devaluation. None would be awe-inspired of you. None will give you big names. You may be considered even below the average and even mad. But you will be doing much more solid work and make a handsome return of what the world has done for you. Don’t forget. Your physical needs are supplied by the world itself. What does it matter if a saint’s salvation is delayed by some few lives because he has engaged in the noblest and loftiest work of discharging his debt to the world ?

The latter half of 1942 which the Founder passed in Bombay ( Mumbai ) was greatly useful in the matter of the spread of Mai-ism. Shri. Swami Asimanand having heard about it came over there and gave a thrilling discourse on the greatness of Mother and principles of Mai-ism. Here the spiritual powers of the Founder were getting more exhibited. Some innocent girl turned away by the husband was received honorably in the house. A radio songstress that was ill of typhoid with all hopes lost, was most speedily cured. One of the devotees got a miraculous lift from the post of Rs. 250/- to be an officer with trebled pay. A lady who had lost her husband who was on the verge of turning lunatic or committing suicide was gradually brought to the normal quietude. An officer who had been degraded for over two years was restored to his former post. So many things gave a convincing proof about the highest efficiency of Mother’s Mercy on devotion and straight living and gave a complete idea about what the Founder Mai Markand was to Mai.

Mai-ism led many young people who had a contempt for religion to realize its importance. They were brought in direct connection with Religion as Mai-ism is religion mainly of service and Sadhana. Some people did remain selfish and soon forgetful after the calamity disappeared, but then they were raised from the state of total blankness to the stage of periodical devotion under calamities. Some few did rise to permanent devotion and even to Nishkama Bhakti.

The Founder is anxious to see that not only the world but the religious teachers and even saints set a high religious value to service and sacrifice. Infuse the spirit amongst people to serve and sacrifice for one another in the very commonest daily routine life. Pull them up in devotion even though they are approaching you for some desired objects. Don’t bring the sheltering pretext of the Prarabdha Theory and the sophistry of not dabbling with the Divine Law of human suffering.

For heaven’s sake don’t evade the issue by saying,” We have never said service and sacrifice are bad things .” What is wanted is positive teaching with every emphasis, temporarily throwing all other better things of religion. Begin yourself giving and creating high values to persons that render service and sacrifice for the public even in small worldly matters. You yourself set up precedents by coming down to the common man’s plane for teaching people to serve others. The world will begin to walk in your footsteps. Teach your religion with service and sacrifice as its very alpha and bets.

Mai-ism says there can be no religiosity without selflessness and there can be no selflessness without love. There can be no love unless you begin and have constantly before your mind that you please God as Mother by loving and serving and sacrificing for Mother’s children. The said truth can never be permanently set up in your heart as long as truth is not replenished with the strength of a religious commandment.

The Founder is not looking for any immediate success and result. He is passionately fond of recording religious experiences and conclusions. He is working not only for some few in this age but for ages to come. There is a time for everything. If there is none, nothing is lost. What could even otherwise have been a better use of his life? At least he is pleasing Mother. The world fails to profit by its saints during their lifetime. How difficult has it been to establish the Shishya -Parampara, continued lineage – the relationship of Master and disciples?

” The world leaves the living and decorates the dead. ” as was stated in a composition composed and sung by Mai-ist devotee in one of the meetings.

JAY MAI JAY MAI JAY MAI

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK ” MAI-ISM ” WRITTEN BY T HE FOUNDER MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND , MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ ( WEST) , MUMBAI – 400054 , INDIA

MAI WORSHIP POPULARISATION

The next shift goes to Ahmedabad where the Founder was transferred. The news about Sisters’ social and Mother’s Lodge had already preceded him, through papers etc. The Theosophical Lodge came forth with its co-operation for the sister institute of Mother’s Lodge and a large gathering was held in the Theosophical Hall in Manek Chowk as also in the Hansraj Pragji Hall. Mai-ism was well explained to the citizens of Ahmedabad.

Here the Founder was dangerously ill and had to be operated upon and to remain as indoor patient of the Government Hospital. He had wonderful experiences of Mother’s Grace in the Hospital. Mother Herself attended by two female deity-assistants appeared before the Founder every night [This was 13, 14 and 15 September 1934] for three consecutive nights , untied the bandage , cast a benedictory glance which removed all the pains and tied up the bandage and disappeared with a fortitude-pouring look. This incident got a great popularity as another patient (one Thakore, the previous inmate of the same room) on the night the Founder was taken there, actually saw Mother alone entering the door and immediately leaving after seeing the Founder in unconsciousness. He broadcast-ed the wonderful experience the next day to the vast number of his own visitors.

The Founder was burning with rage against Mother because She discontinued Her attendance after three nights, for the simple reason that while She was removing the bandage to heal, he had the human weakness of no confidence and had moved his hand over his open parts to make sure he was not in a delusion. As soon as it became possible for him to crawl without any outside help, his first work was to drag himself slowly in sitting posture to the Mother’s picture in his solitary room.

Right from 10.30 p.m. to 5.30 a.m. he was profusely weeping and giving most provocative accusations to his dearest Mother, in the highest spirit of love indicated by the torrents of tears and yet in the bitterest quarreling mood. He pierced arrows,” YOU can not excuse a single human weakness ? Why did you come at all to heal me if you are so very touchy and take no time to make any the smallest thing to mean a grave offence ? Who had called you ? You are not Mother but demoness of Maya that creates and swallows up her own children. Were it not for Thee there would have nothing like a Universe and nothing like millions rolling in miseries. They are the happiest who know nothing of Thee, or if by chance they happen to know , who spurn Thee. You get only the weakest and most docile men in your clutches. Has anyone in Thy clutches been made happy by Thee ? If Thou art so very spiteful, mind , I will also take revenge . When Thou art full of love-surge for me , I too will evade Thee and run away etc.”

His blaming, accusing, quarreling all along weeping profusely and bowing to the Lotus Feet again and again continued right up to the morn when cocks began to crow and birds to chirp and milkmen began to run on their bikes on the public roads.

Just then, Mother Herself in living and moving from sprang forth and stood before him and spoke most wrathfully thus, ” Blame, scold, accuse, abuse; but from this second without a single drop of tear. If one drop anymore now falls, I am never never never Thine and thou art never never mine “. And with these words She disappeared.

The most inconceivable ultimatum gave him a heart stop. A wonderful compulsory change.A change indescribable. He feared he may just die of heart-failure and die to be born a permanently abandoned and discarded soul, expelled from Her. The very first speediest precautionary thing that his soul so very speedily decided, climbed and sprang to , was the humblest and highest apologetic praise line :

” Oh Mother, Hasne Hasane Wali , Oh my ever smiling and ever making to smile Mother ! ” He prostrated with a determination never to get up till Mother raised him or permitted to rise.”

“Thou art always smiling and always keeping Thy devotees smiling “. First thing he laughed an artificial loud laughter that thundered throughout the room. From the mind and moment of the deepest lamentation and sorrow, to that of the highest laughter, though artificial. Raising a spiritual ‘Maginot Line’ of self-surrender against Mother’s permanently leaving, catching the Lotus Feet preventing them to go away, with the most piteous invocation for pity and pardon.From the scorching heat to the freezing cold. Mother be thanked, the heart-glass did not break due to extremes, as one doctor said.

He continued his songs : ” How can I imagine that with me Thou art also weeping ? I was all along under the belief that Thou art busy with washing off my sins by making me weep. I am wrong, blunderful. Please excuse , I assure Thee. Not a single drop shall now fall. Why should I, the dearest child of Thee, weep when the whole world has begun smiling (at dawn) ? Oh Mother, Thou smile, make me smile.Forget and forgive my having made Thee to weep. All have been smiling now in Thy Universe. Oh, dearest Most Merciful Mother, Thou art the embodiment of smile. I am laughing now. Thou too laugh.”

The Founder’s teachings were entirely different and contradictory to Hinduism. ” No prohibitions to Harijans in Mai-worship “, was something which was surely to upset any Sanaatanist and ordinary average Hindu ( in 1935 ). Once large meeting was to be held for which Bhadra Kali Hall on River Sabarmati was sought to be employed.The answer given by the authority was,” We know Markand Bhai ( Founder ) as a great devotee who has a personal relationship with Mataji, but his views are entirely eccentric. He would allow even Harijans to attend Mai-worship. If he undertakes to put a poster ” Harijans are not allowed ” we would be extremely glad to give our hall free for not only once but every week for Mai-worship “. The universality of Mai-ism was a contradiction to the ” Nothing so great and sublime as Hinduism ” of an average Hindu . People of Ahmedabad loved pampering. ” Is there any Harishchandra in any other religion ? Show us.” There will be thunderstorm of claps and cheers. Their own blood-sucking black-marketing of the present day should not be in sight or referred to.”What has that to do with religion ?” , an average black-market man astonishingly asks.

He tried to get sympathies of some Parsees and Mohammedans and some Jains to try to form a cosmopolitan institute of the Poona type. He tried to bring about the different sons and daughters of different religions together and to concentrate their attention to the need of creating oneness as the children of the same Universal Mother. He had the sympathies of two Muslim brothers, Mr. Hakim and a Sufi gentleman Mr. A.G. Usman who had travelled over the continent and who had written books , a Zoroastrian brother, Mr. Meherjibhai Ratoora and a Sanatanist brother Mr. A.S. Iyengar, a learned follower of Shri Ramanujacharya , who had a universal outlook with every tolerance, and was an officer in Labour Department . The Founder started with a desire to caret a collection of people who were universal-minded ; he wanted a congregation of various souls who would be believing in securing their welfare by fostering the spirit of sisterhood, brotherhood and performing staunch devotion and living a life of love, service, devotion and surrender, He had not had the success in collecting together such souls , mostly for the reason that there were few and those few also not in favour of an institutional activity . they wanted only personal relations with the Founder.

When practical, intellectual and ordinary worldly working fails , spirit has to work, it is here that the miraculousness acts its wonderful part, as it ha soften done in the case of all religious movements and religious Founders. When work, labour, money, logic, philosophy, intellectual exposition or contractual or natural sympathy fails, such superior qualities as Faith, Sincerity, Honesty of purpose, Spirit of service , God’s Grace, Intensity, Ardour and Zest, all are put to severe test. When what a man explains , does or has done, fails to appeal, the subtler issue of what he actually is, inwardly a sa soul rises up in the minds of people demanding the satisfaction of a personal practical indisputable test. It is a test of inner qualities and supernatural powers and God’s Grace. There the Founder was strong by Mai’s Grace.

In 1935 the Founder came in contact with late brother Kantilal Desai, a truely religious gentleman. Bro. Kantilal Desai introduced the Founder to Rev. Kaushikram Mehta. The latter was a man of highly scriptural lore, a Sanskrit scholar and writer and a highly religious man of the old Sanatan school with a sense of moderation and tolerance superior to that of usual Sanatanists. The latter often tested the Founder like this : ” In my Dhyana of Hindu Mother the Founder’s figure must appear “. ” He must come just now to see me .” ” When I return from Surat, I must meet him at Bhadrakali temple square during office hours, when he can not be away from office.” Tests became stronger and entered the realms of financial, social and physical reliefs as they were satisfied, till Kaushikram and others came by experience to at least one conclusion viz., that whether his views and philosophies be agreed to or not, one thing was certain that the Founder had great influence with Mai and had most wonderful powers , of helping people in distress. Powers much greater than the highest and most effective worldly powers , with their possibilities. The popularity of Mai-ism in Ahmedabad was full indebted to the sincere efforts and simple sermons of Rev. Kaushikram whom the Founder had respected all along and who enjoyed pleasure in prostrating to the Founder even in congregations as Praytyaksha Mai. The Rev. K. began to take most lively interest in Founder’s next burning desire to bring into existence a small institute for the propitiation of Mai. It did not take a long time for a man of his religious repute to make the Mother’s Lodge a very popular institute with success and its admirably working till today. The Founder declared him to be president of Mother’s Lodge, Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad and Poona [Pune] showed their own individualities and point of excellence. In Poona Mai showed the intellectual beauty of Her tenets. Mother shouted jumped and ran.In Ahmedabad Mother showed the practical utility of Mother’s Grace , sang lullaby to various suffering children and worshiped Herself in vast functions. Poona was theory; Ahmedabad was practice. Poona brought fame and popularity, Ahmedabad brought Mai-Mataji proximity and practical relief to people.

In the words of Rev. Kaushikram, it will require a big volume to recount all the wonderful experiences that people attained as a result of Mai devotion.

The Founder saw now the clear necessity of dealing at much larger length with the subject matter of Mai-ism and that of practical instructions for persons wishing to pursue the religious path on the lines of Mai-ism.He began to write and print several leaflets and booklets : ” God as Mother “, and ” Theory and Principles of Mother’s Lodge ” in English ; ” Salient features of Mai Dharma ( Mai Dharma Mukhya Tarka Bindu ) in Gujerati ; Further things were ” Mai Tattwa Pujaan and Mai Kumari Kavach ” in Gujerati ” Heaven and Hell ” ( Swarga and Naraka ) and ” Mai- Shakti ” both in Gujerati printed in pieces in ” Shakti ” of Nadiad.

A word of Mai Kumari Kavach.If we wanted to raise up the spirituality, morality, religiosity, sociability and nobility of a nation or a community, the female world would have to play the most glorious part in that nation lifting work.Home discipline and home education under the watchful superintendence of mothers and parents is the very foundation of national character formation. The idea set forth in Kumar Kavach was that of the most disciplined Mai-worship, as if Mai temples were regular schools , on Tuesdays by Kumaris ( unmarried girls of different ages ) in presence of their parents , teachers and conductors of worship. The Mai-worship itself would take a small. almost negligible time, but the actual training imparted as in a school would be the main most purpose. The untaxing easy playful free and frolicsome way of teaching would be that in the shape of readings of useful practical instructions and lessons for virtuous religious and moral living , by each one of the Kumaris present, turn by turn and under the blessings and sanctity of the parents and Mai. Today such practice may look ridiculous. Once it is started and brought into full swing, it would be appreciated as an indispensable moral necessity and the institute will have the reputation of a training ground . Imagine before you a vast meeting of girls from eight to eighteen reading prayers , teaching highest practical life truths and being blessed by a huge congregation of all mothers and fathers in the presence of the most Merciful Divine Mother Mai. What a tremendous lifting work that institute would be doing can not be imagined. All new things are first ridiculed and then considered indispensable by virtue of their benefits.

The most important and exhaustive work of the Founder was ” Mother and Mother’s Thousand Names ” covering over 750 pages.

http://maiism.blogspot.in/2014/04/mai-lalita-sahasranam-mothers-thousand.html

That mostly includes all that is of importance in ” God as Mother ” and ” Theory and Principles of Mother’s Lodge “. Next came Mai Sahasranama with Mai prayers and ” Mai Guru Ananya Bhakti ” in Hindi.Then came forth English ” Mother’s Message “, Gujerati ” Mai Sandesh ” and also Tamil translation of the same ( Thai Myi Vazhi ).

The Mai Sahasranama volumes are believed to be have been dictated to the Founder by Mother Herself as stated by Rev. Ananta Krishna Shastri, commentator of and writer of many religious books . These volumes have the wonderfulness of giving correct guidance to persons who repeat Mai-Sahasranama. On 17-3-1950 a devotee asked Mother to relieve him of his financial difficulties and on opening the book after nine repetitions of Jay Mai Jay Markand Mai, had the funny answer : ” People living on much higher standards than their legitimate earnings and means permit , at the cost of others, by deception, borrowing, stealing etc., need a rod. ” [ Page 56, Volume 2 Part 3 ]. Once the Founder, in a depressed mood, was pressing Mother to give him proof whether at least She was pleased. He concentrated and opened the book. It was page 114, part 4, Mai’s name Adrisya : ” Repeating Mother, Mother , Mother he himself became Mother “. The Founder’s depression turned into laughter; he said,” who will praise a deformed and deficient son except his own Mother ? ”

The next shift was to Bombay [ Mumbai ]. Bro. Parixit Raiji, son in law of Rev. Kaushikram Mehta , had come to receive the Founder and take him from the station to his home on his way to Poona [ Pune ]. Raiji spoke to the Founder about the instability of his service in Bombay and a chance of a bit better pay in Ahmedabad; the Founder asked him, did he like Bombay or Ahmedabad life ? ” If you like Bombay life , Mother will see that you prosper and have not to leave Bombay, on one condition viz., that you will start Mother’s Lodge at your place and conduct Friday worship as at Ahmedabad.” Brother Raiji agreed and the Founder installed Mai in his bungalow at Santa Cruz on Tagore Road. Brother Raiji was quite well off in a very short time. This was in 1936.

Bombay was the first place where the Founder saw what royal hospitality on the grounds of the high religiosity for an unlabeled man, not in robs with tonsured head, meant. Bombay people were the first who had the idea of a duty to make some return towards the relief of the Founder’s financial strain for Mai work., in view of their religious and material benefits received from the Founder. He was given the religious status he had ere long deserved. His arrival in Bombay would be announced at the previous Friday meeting, on receiving Founder’s telegram from Poona. The worship was conducted on a grand and magnanimous scale. The function took more than three hours from 9 p.m. onwards. During other hours daily, the Founder would be helping the visitors with patient hearing and administrating righteous advice , solving difficulties, removing religious misunderstandings and initiating desirous and deserved persons into the methods of Mai devotion and Mai Sadhana.

Once [ This was in October 1939 ] the Founder was invited at Navaratra big celebration in Vile Parle. It rained heavily and continuously. The celebrator [ The celebrator was Mohanlal of Dawn Mills ] had great devotional respect for the Founder whom he took to the place on the last day. The sacrificial altar worship was interrupted and had to be left uncompleted due to rains. The celebrator was very sorry.Said the Founder,” Don’t be sorry at all. In these days who is devotional enough to even utter the name of God ? Mother must remain satisfied with whatever possible being done while exerting one’s best. If She does not, even that much will be done by none and the final remnants of God and religion will also disappear and will be obliterated.” The celebrator modestly said,” These are only conventional sweet words. They do not give any assurance or satisfaction.”. The Founder stared at him,” Do you want really an assurance? Are you so sorrowfully wounded? “The celebrator said with great humility,” I am really sorrowful and thinking nothing for the last three days , except that I could not complete this sacrifice due to profuse rains. I am doing this every year and I am afraid , I have lost all Mai’s Grace.”. The Founder was in high spirits and said,” No ! No ! No ! No ! Don’t judge the Mercifulness of Mother by our mortal standards ; and were you at fault that there was profuse raining ?” The celebrator sweetly smiled ,” No. But is Mother so very merciful ? ” Said the Founder,” Yes. Only thing is our sincerity and intensity is almost nil. If that is genuine are there not instances of Mother Herself appearing from the Sacrificial altar ? ” He stopped abruptly, got up and bent near the altar and prayed in loud words ,” Mother, who will be Thy devotee if Thou dost not give encouragement and proof of Thy Mercy in this Kali yug at every step of Thy devotees ? See, here is Thy devotee , he is out and out depressed . The world smashes us and Thou also dost not take any heed.Does it befit Thee ? Does it befit the Divine Mother, the Most merciful Mai ? ”

No sooner were these word addressed, than there was a blaze of fire as high as seven feet above the altar and that remained there for about 10 to 12 minutes till the Arti was finished. All were stunned and assured of Mother’s existence and Mercy and of the Founder’s relations of a ” Son-to-Mother ” whose request She would not fail to grant. This miracle incident spread all over Bombay as there were about 50 persons present.

The above instance was a more developed variety of a similar experience at Ahmedabad. After the usual Friday Mother’s lodge worship was over, there had remained about 30 persons of the inner circle. Some of them strongly requested the Founder to show them some miraculous happening which would increase their faith regarding the existence of Mother and Her readiness to carry out the wishes of Her devotees. It was at that most sacred place that , a year before [ This was in April 1938 ] the Founder was discoursing on Mother’s names ” Suvaasinyarchanpreethaa “, and there was a powerful breeze of the most fragrant smell. It was so very pleasant that every one began to ask others ,” Do you feel the most pleasant fragrance ? This is how Mai wants to assure us about Her love to Her son “. This former experience being talked over again gave a strength to the desire of all present there to make the request more pressing. The Founder asked,” What do you want to see ? ” Someone said,” We wish to see that Mother gives Her garland to you.” The Founder prayed for few minutes standing before Mother at a respectful distance. The garland gradually untied itself, flew in the air and fell [ This happened in April 1939 ] on the neck of the Founder.

The Founder does not give great importance to miracles , but there is surely a stage when miracles do the eye-opening work for many people who are really of an atheistic mentality. Saints do not count upon miracles to enlarge their influence , but these are casual happenings managed by the deities themselves to enhance the value of their devotees, so that be heard with love, faith, respect and obedience. The Founder says humorously,” how do miracles help you and me , if you do not make a point of being the deserving plane in the matter of devotion, love, service and surrender ? I would show you actual Mai Herself, but you are the same person that you were before the Vision. You would be telling Mother,” Mother, we, I and my wife are going to the cinema. Please rock the cradle of the child and keep meals ready when we return. ” ” You would be exploiting Mother, ” Mother do this and do that “, yourself doing nothing for Mother except babbling some few words of praise, a little trouble of twisting your tongue to cheat the world, yourself and the Guru. The height of ungratefulness is that you do not even talk about your gratitude or even of the experience to your husband, wife, children or neighbors. You bury your gratitude than and there. She prefers being neglected and ignored rather than be exploited and expelled after your need is served.”

At Poona after re-transfer in 1938, the Founder had at that time much greater contact with Madrasees, especially, of Military Arsenal at Kirkee. Madrasees were not so much for singing and Bhajans but were more fond of intelligent religious discourses with unique respectfulness and attitude of a humble disciple before his Guru and grandeurful worships and Mantra repetitions and rendering humble prostration and service to the Founder. The Founder has in his memory one glorious instance of Mother-worship in Kirkee when not less than 20 thousand rose flowers and jasmines were dedicated to Mai and there was a congregation of 500 persons.

It was these Madrasees who had been very helpful in writing down to his dictation, transcribing and rewriting and typing and correcting etc., the manuscript of his Mai Sahasranama.

For the latter half of the year 1942, the Founder was serving in Bombay. This gave him a great opportunity to spread Mai-ism and to give convincing proofs of different people what miraculous benefits Mai’s devotion and worship is capable of offering to the suffering world.

Some people began to think that the Founder had no higher ideal than relieving the worldly miseries of persons and they hence censured him as on a lower level than the average worldly man.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK OF MAI-ISM, AUTHOR : MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND, ABRIDGED EDITION BY U.R.M. U.G. MENON , ABRIDGED EDITION : 1979 , PUBLISHED BY : MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST ), MUMBAI 400054 INDIA.

http://universalreligionmaiism.blogspot.in/2014/03/message-dictated-by-divine-mother-mai.html

http://maiism.blogspot.in/2014/04/mai-lalita-sahasranam-mothers-thousand.html

http://maiism.weebly.com/blog/mai-ism-what-it-stands-for

http://mohankharkar.wix.com/mai-ism?fb_ref=Default

Mother won’t displease Mother’s child

The Founder has an inward satisfaction when he knows Mother’s full Grace continuously showering on him. Mother gives dreams visions and messages to others and directly or indirectly informs others, as if to say Mai and Mai-Swarupa are nearest, if not Mother and son. But then comes an extremely sorrowful wave of a lamentation and yet turbulent mood. He goes to Mother and talks to Her,” What have I to do with my recognition ? Is that my goal or happiness ? No. I want the world to come forth with whatever sacrifice each one can make, to work with me , to spread Thy simple and straight religion. There I find a great cipher. Raise the minimum smoothness and peacefulness of average life of mankind. Let the happiness and misery, at the two extremities be much more heightened if that is necessary and inevitable , for exceptional few. But let the neutral man live a much better life, with Thy Grace of the raising the minimum. Let at least Thy devotees not suffer, for no fault of theirs, and for the only reason that they happen to be in the midst of the world’s self invited destruction and misery all round them. If segregation or isolation is the only salvation remedy, if things can be made more smooth be a re-classification, do that. Do anything, but let the world be much happier than now.

Some few more things before we turn from Poona (Pune) to Ahmedabad to which the Founder was transferred. He was invited in June 1933 to speak on “God as Mother” by All-Faiths’ Conference at Nasik and in 1934 by the ninth Indian Philosophical Congress on ” Modern World and Mother-hood of God “. Founder had become so popularly known that he was addressed as Mother or dear Mother, or Mai or Maiji; even some college professors (like Suryanarayan Shastri of Madras-Chennai) who took part in the congress and conference addressed him as Mother. In a printed address in a casket given to him on transfer, the Founder was addressed as ” Dearest most Merciful Mother “. The practice of addressing him as ” Mother ” has continued till now.

The Founder’s Mother- absorption is most interesting. If there be any letter which did not start with Jay Mai from a man who had religious relation with him, he would tear it out and write to him, ” your letter did not begin with ‘ Jay Mai ‘, so it has been torn out. Please write again. ” If anyone, of course initiated, finished his letter without a reference to Mai, he will be out of his mood. ” You want your son to recover, etc., you ungrateful mortals ? You have not even the courtesy to enquire about Mother ? ” and suffering son will not recover soon. If on the other hand anyone wrote,” Please tell Mother, the boy is suffering much ” he will dance and immediately reply, or even wire,” Mother will cure your son before next Friday ” and that would surely happen. Founder says ,” I have seen so much bankruptcy that with full knowledge about insincerity, I want Mother’s remembrance and name repetition. At least let the courtesy be there. Let it be even lip-stated one. It is better than ungratefulness and absence of consciousness itself.”

One day, one girl, 24 years, entered his place saying,” Is Mother here ? ” Founder ran to to her with every devotional out-flow,” Yes, She is here, come in “. He took her to the picture , performed a quick Arti and gave her prasad. The fact was something else. The girl was given an address of the building and her own mother had come to the adjoining block. The girl was wise enough not to give shock to Founder by telling the truth as she saw him over-joyful with supreme devotion. The girl went to the next block where her mother was seated and mother with her daughter came to the Founder for Founder’s Darshan. Founder was so much ashamed when he knew the facts. With tears he said,” Excuse me , please excuse me, I am mad after my Mother and feel as if the whole world has no business to do except to be occupied with Mother and Mother’s work. Let my Mother however make amends for my folly. Have you any misery ? ” Their eyes were wet. The mother said,” She my daughter herself is unhappy. Her husband had gone to Africa, does not send a single pie, not even a letter. ” The Founder danced, blessed the girl by putting his hand over her head. ” What a wise girl you are. You did not spurn and laugh at me an old devotional fool. Within nine Fridays you come here with your husband’s letter and the money-payment information. ” This actually happened.

When he went to Nasik in 1933, he was carrying Mother’s picture in his hands. On the way from station to the college quarters, there was heavy rain which made it impossible for the motor to go further. Volunteers took away the bags. one of them said,” Please give that picture to me. I will carry it safe. Said the Founder,”That picture is my Mother. She is the most obstinate mother and most naughty child. She won’t go in any hands. She will harass me to carry Her myself all the long way off under rains.; just take Her.” The weight was so very heavy, a young man of twenty himself half-bent down in water as if overloaded.None else dared trying, although Founder said,” Do you wish to try any one of you ? ”

Most important event which led to the broadcasting of Mai-ism in Gujerat and Sowrashtra was the initiation of Rev. Bro Keshavlal B. Pandya alias Kanishta Keshav. The spread of Mai-ism in poorer classes in Gujerat and Kathiawar was mainly due to his untiring work. His work can be imagined from the fact that there are not less than a hundred Mai Mandals and over fifty crores of Mai names have been written by different people by different places and there are two Mai Temples, one at Nadiad and the other at Rajkot in charge of brother Keshavlal and Markand Ray Vasavda alias Mai Kalapi respectively.

Keshavlal, a devotee of the Hindu Mataji was an assisting clerk to the editor of ‘Jyoti ‘, a paper of Nadiad. He took an appointment with the Founder residing at Toddiwala road in Poona (Pune). He was sorely disappointed on a homely talk; he had expected a devotee’s talk in which praises of Mataji and greatness of Geeta would be overflowing. He was surprised that there was nothing like a deity-grandeur and bathing-sanctity. The Founder talked in universal strain and especially on God as Mother without reference to Amba, Kali, Bhavani etc. He did not eulogise pilgrimage places. He talked of service, love, devotion and surrender. Both returned home from the Bund Garden where they had been. Keshavlal was dejected. Said the Founder pointing out to a simple Mother’s picture,” Shall we pray and worship ” the question was confusing as if praying was playing, with nothing done in readiness. Keshavlal said dejectedly,” Yes, I don’t mind. What is to be done?” Founder replied,” Do whatever you like . Sing, dance, meditate, kneel, pray, prostrate. Do whatever you love best.Three is no particular method with Mai. You know what will make you most absorbed in Mai. ”

Keshavlal said he would perform Arti. Arti was prepared. While he waved the light, before he finished the first line of ‘ Namo Devyai ‘ he had Mother’s full vision, the Arti dish fell on the ground and he fell like a tree under a storm, repeating,” Oh Mother, I did not know Thee and recognise Thy devotee “. He rolled on the ground and placed his head in the lap of the Founder crying to him,” Mother, excuse me, I did not recognise Thee “. When he came to normality, Founder took meals with him. The Founder asked him,” Now let me know your religious difficulties, if any “. Keshavlal said with great joy,” What do I want more ? When you have showered on me the Grace of eye-to-eye vision of Mother? ” The Founder told him,” That is because in a particular matter viz., “Visualisation” you needed only a Guru to give the final stroke “. Keshavlal said he would do Mai’s work. The Founder blessed him with the most brilliant success in Mai’s work. Keshavlal was given a sanctified picture of Mai. In 1937, Keshavlal printed in the preface of his Chandi path the week-life -extension incident above described. He also printed the Mai Mantra “Jai Mai “, with all necessary instructions by the Founder. He also wrote ” I also many others have many miraculous experiences about the efficacy of this wonderful Mother’s Mantra “.

In about 1938 Keshavlal got a wave of renouncing the world. The Founder gave him the right understanding, emphasised the point that Mai-ism believed more in service of others that are suffering for want of understanding and guidance and solid assistance in religion than in striving for own’s own progress, leaving the whole world to its own fate. Keshavlal finally gave a promise to continue Mai’s work. Mai Mandals nearing hundred, each having nearly 100 to 125 members were organised by him in different places.

Outside India, Mai-ism has followers and Mother’s Lodges in Singapore, Malaya, Nairobi, Mombasa, Daresalem,Aden etc.

The basic work of changing the ” Power-aspect ” to the ” Mother and child aspect ” has been admirably done; and practically by now, the old conception of Mataji which had made it an ignominy for any one to be known as devotee of Mataji (Devi Bhakta was a taunting word, for a drunkard, one with no morals and full of secret powers of subjugating or ruining others) has been refined and reformed to be that of Mai. Regarding this healthy improvement, the following observation by a college-professor in Bombay (Mumbai) on 28 July 1950 are recorded here :

” The direct result of Kali age is atheism. It was largely arguemented by the so-called reformers of the society, who pulled the mass towards materialistic happiness and planted seeds of irreligion. The centuries-old current of national religiosity survived all destructive efforts but has surely got extremely weakened. In such times of embarrassment on all sides and from all quarters , as the saviour of mankind, Mai Swarup Mai Markand has raised his finger to show us the most merciful Mother parent and has renewed Mother-worship under Mai-ism with an altogether new conception, new form and new belief. He has facilitated and made anew the old path, long forgotten, misunderstood and misinterpreted. In the past, villains have cheated the blind-faith-ed mass . Mai Swarupa has torn asunder the black veils that intervened between the Merciful Mother and Her children through his teachings; he has shown the ways of Mother-worship that can well be followed conveniently in the changed circumstances of the modern world. The sacred teachings of Divine knowledge, kept concealed from the general public to strike fears, establish superiority, extract money and get benefits have been laid open by Mai-Swarupa to all without distinction of caste, creed and colour. The stagnant waters of religiosity have been made to flow smoothly. Evil things such as superstitious black magic and religious sanction to immorality have have been all swept out and annihilated. Let people once decide to give a trial to this religious remedy of removing their miseries. all ye that have their faith in the assurance given by the writer of these words, do believe that, just as writer has experienced himself, they too will have a miraculous peace and bliss on commencing the repetition of Mother’s most efficacious Mantra ” Jaya Mai Jaya Markand Mai, Jay Markand Rupa Mai, Jaya Markand Rupa Markand Mai “.

Jay Mai Jay Mai Jay Mai.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM (1952) BY MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND & IT’S ABRIDGED EDITION (1981) BY U.R.M. U.G. MENON

PUBLISHED BY MAI NIWAS , SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI 400054 INDIA

http://universalreligionmaiism.blogspot.in/2014/03/message-dictated-by-divine-mother-mai.html

http://maiism.blogspot.in/2014/04/mai-lalita-sahasranam-mothers-thousand.html

http://maiism.weebly.com/blog/mai-ism-what-it-stands-for

http://mohankharkar.wix.com/mai-ism?fb_ref=Default

Mother’s Lodge [ Mai Mandal ] started on 27 March 1933

Soon after, the Founder ( Saint Shri Mai Swarupa Mai Markand ) was deputed to go Belgaum, Dharwar etc., for official duties.In the very train, Mother was worshipped at Belgaum by a large number of ladies, with garlands, sweet offerings and Arati. ” Prasad ” was carried away by people right up to Madras ( Chennai ). The Founder was entirely joyful. One has never heard of an instance of a Divine worship on a railway station in the train by the varied ( unknown-to-each-other ) train travelers, including especially ladies.

At Belgaum the Founder was taken to a Ganpathi-devotee-Sanyasin whose predictions were reported to be wonderfully correct. The Founder had his turn and the Sanyasin told him , ” Believe my words if you start within one month from now, a religious institution “.

On return to Poona ( Pune ), he was pressed by all that had seen Mother’s miracle of the sisters’ social, to start an institution for universal prayers and lectures on different religions and spreading Mother’s conception. In less than a month from the meeting with the Mahatma of Belgaum, a Mother’s Lodge was started on 27-3-1933. Meetings were held every Sunday with printed handbills distributed and mention in the local papers. Lectures were mainly about Devotion, Love, Service and Surrender as emphasised in different religions. The Founder dealt with Harijans by various lectures and Mother’s worship in the mission.

A few experiences may be narrated to show Mother does help Her devotees-in-distress most miraculously.

A Parsi Lady (Rev. Sister Mithibhai) who served as a chairwoman in sisters’ social had one night a trouble. Her brother (Rev. Brother Jahangir) asked her for Rs. 500/ as he was in difficulty. It was Friday night. She said she would paid off his bills but would not give cash because he was sure to loose that in the race-course. The brother got wrathful and ran shouting she may read in the papers the next day the result of her refusal. The lady was terrified. How could she run after him ? In her despair she shouted for the Founder, ” Oh my brother, Oh my Mother, who can save me ? Who would bring my brother back ?” She decided to go the Founder, when, in the bungalow itself, she saw Mother who told her , “ My son is just now having a nap after a long exhaustion. Don’t trouble him. I will bring your brother back in an hour and a half. ” The brother who had gone to Bund Garden with a determination not to return home, returned. All of them motored to the Founder and joined in Friday prayers. They narrated experience to their friends and that added a lot of popularity of Mai-ism.

One of the Mother’s devotee’s ( Rev. Bro. L.S. Prasad ) brother (Rev. Brother Sankarlal) was in some great prosecution difficulty though he was innocent. He was praying as initiated. Once he was so much unnerved that he decided to run down to Poona (Pune) to be blessed. He had a dream in which there was a room in which the Founder(whom he had not seen) was sleeping and Mother was patrolling and guarding the Founder. He entered the room. She asked him, ” why are you here ?” He said,” I want the Founder as I am in great difficulty “. Said She,” Don’t disturb my son,. He is fast asleep after a bitter weeping for me. You want acquittal, is it not ? Well, I promise you; you now walk off. Let him sleep.”

The man wrote about the dream to the Founder and asked his meaning and whether he should come down to Poona for blessings . The Founder asked him details of the room, direction, things lying, the posture of the Founder etc. as he saw in the dream. Details came forth. The Founder had three pillows, he had a blanket which was brown with black squares. He was sleeping with Mai’s picture by his side. These and other details equally tallied. The Founder said,” You need not come down to Poona, but pray, pray and pray “. He was later acquitted.

There was plague in Poona. People left the city. The Founder lived on Toddiwala road. One day a lady came and told and told him that Mother had appeared in the dream and said ,” Those who want to save their families should attend my Friday Prayers.” The Founder told her,” I have very small space here . Your own desire has materialised in the dream.” With all reverence, she was a bit wrathful. She spoke words which showed she was severely distressed. ” Do you think, Mai, that we are not fit and Mother will not talk to us in the dream and that you are alone have all the monopoly ? However small we may be for Her Grace, there is no question of worthiness; I tell you Mother is actually living in your house. If you like you may see test. She is going out at 5 a.m. and moves in the garden and returns within few minutes. “

The Founder gave the substance of this talk to his cook and his servant and asked them to keep watch and shout for him if they saw Mother. At about five next morning both of them heard a sound near the door as if some one was unloosening the chain and they saw the door opened and closed quite speedily and the chain swinging and hanging vertically. They ran out , looked all round but could see none. They reported to the Founder. The Founder used a lock, kept the key with him. The next night, the cook and the servant shouted. The lock was opened and there was the sound of the doors striking freely as if they were broken open most angrily. The Founder ran up, saw the doors wide open and the lock opened, hanging loose one side and the chain on the other. He ran in the garden and saw Her just before disappearing. He danced like a mad man with joy and composed a poem which is sometimes sung in Mother’s Lodge meetings. ” Bagan me fool chunan jaye meri Maiya : in the garden, flowers to pluck, goes my Mother.” Orders were issued not to close the doors by night or to open them at 4 a.m.. The predicting woman was obeyed. Friday prayers began in a spacious terrace and there was no case of a plague attack in the vast number of families that attended.

However the most wonderful and interesting experience of the Founder was this. One young man who had lost his equilibrium due to his wife’s death was in the spiritual service of the Founder, after he was restored to normality. One night he made a very strange statement. He said,” Mother just passed in front our door in a royal splendid car and She told me, You come over with your Kakaji (Founder) to the Globe Cinema Theater (in Poona-Pune). I am going there. Bring him without fail. He thinks a religious preacher loses all his austerity and Punya by seeing the Cinema. He needs a relief now. Don’t fail.” The Founder thought the young man’s head had again turned. He thought all his labours of recovery on him were lost. He tried to make that man forget but the latter would not leave him.Both went to Globe Cinema. The picture was ‘Maya Machendra”. The other man had absolutely no peace of mind. He would go out of the theater and come in every five minutes till finally he came shouting : ” Mother came in just now in the very same car. Few minutes later, the man shouted,” See, See , See there, She is sitting just in that balcony all alone.” The Founder was more than stupefied as he saw Mother there all alone in gem-becked easy chair. Both were steadily gazing at Her. After 4 to 5 minutes, they saw Mother getting up most hurriedly. Said the other man, “Kakaji, Mother is going away ” and rushed out. The Founder also ran after him. They saw Mother getting into the car with a lightning speed and the flew off.

There will be no end to narration of all the Founder’s experiences.

To those that have some mystic knowledge of occult religious nature, it is known fact that visions and dreams are powerful avenues of divine communications.Deities and dead or distant Guru carry their work through dreams, regarding the interpretations of which the wisest are often at their wits’ end.

Dreams themselves are often untrue, but sometime true, sometimes a picture of own desires, imaginations and ambitions, and sometimes actually by way of a command, message or guidance, or even initiation by the higher souls. There is no seal of certainty about its source, and every dream has to be dealt with most cautiously, neither with blind faith, nor with nothing-caring-indifference. The best thing is to consult and take decision from one in whom you believe and who is more advanced religious soul, higher than yourself.

In the case of the Founder ( Shri Markand Dholkia – the author of this book & the Founder of Universal Religion Mai-ism, popularly known as Mai Swarup Mai Markand or Maiji), dreams and visions have played an extremely important part, as would be seen from so many instances narrated already and to be narrated hereafter.

The very belief in the existence of a Finalmost element beyond this visible world, was the rich first fruit of the Divine dream given by Bhadrakali at Ahmadabad. His acceptance as a son by Bahucharaji Mother was through the dream in the temple.

His being permanently established as a devotee of Mother was the most invaluable Grace through the Direct Vision of Mother Herself,at the moment of his suicide leading despair.

In the very installation of Mai, it was the dreams of Her two devotees, one from Calcutta and the other from Shemoga (Mysore) that had played the important part of convincing the Founder about Mother’s determined Will.

Further, he convened the Sisters’ Social at Poona (Pune), simply because he took the dream-command as realistically as a General’s command to his humble servant. The Madras (Chennai) Sisters’ Gathering on 1-10-1949 (Dusserah day) was also the result of a later command in dream.

The activities in respect of the latter were enthusiastically taken up by leading Madras (Chennai) sister, (a resident of Mambalam) because she had a dream.

In Poona (Pune) Sisters’ Social, one rich Parsi lady, eighty one years of age , was actually carried by her grand-daughters to the meeting because she had a dream ( as narrated by her grand-daughter during the meeting) to the purport attendance in that meeting was the highest expiation of all sins , for anyone belonging to any religion.

Seeing dreams in which Mother and Founder would be seen sitting together and sometimes playing some indoor or outdoor game and sometimes “hide and seek”, was one variety. Mother teasing the Founder and the latter getting wrathful and running to catch Her and hit Her and Mother eluding the grip and laughing at his inability to cope with Her lighting speed – another variety.

In 1942 a lady from Karachi, and in 1944 a gent from Surat, came right down to Bombay (Mumbai) and Hubli respectively, simply because in their dreams they saw Mother sitting with an old devotee, who on description to someone knowing the the Founder, was believed to be he . On seeing the Founder in person, they expressed their happiest wonder and joyfully narrated their details of identification, while talking about the “dream-devotee” and the devotee-before-their-eyes.

Some one, with open eyes while meditating on Mother saw Her in life-size behind the Mother’s worship picture. Her heart opened slowly as a thin mist of cloud scatters away to show the moon behind, and in Her heart’s cavity, that one saw a small size bust of the Founder. Few seconds after, the heart closed up, setting a seal, as it were, over the heart protecting its beloved treasure.

Some one from Belgaum, who had been the Founder’s guest, once heard words like this in his ears “Bachchako Jagaav. Bolo Do Niwaalaa Khaake So”. -“My son, awaken; tell him two morsels having eaten, sleep”. This was in his wonderful hearing on one of the Navaraatra nights, when the Founder had not taken his regular meal by day and being tired with work and worry about the success of the Poona Sisters’ Social (9-10-1932), he lay on his cot half-hungry but half-sleepy and tired.

Someone would see the most graceful living slim figure of Mother as in the Maai picture, with the face of Founder. The Founder’s face in that case would be quite young and beautiful ,without wrinkles and grey hairs.

Someone would see the beautiful Mother’s face and body up to the waist from below in green sari and the upper body would be covered under the Founder’s usual thin white shirt. Some would see half-Mother half-Founder. A layman in this matter may, for a time, argue, such dreams as are narrated above, may be the creation of their own mental thoughts, but we can’t explained away like that, when the Founder actually experienced a vast, striking change in the attitude of the persons before and after their experience.

I am referring to the dream experience of Mysore (Shimoga) devotee, who carried the Mother -Installing message, referred to before . This young man happened to come to the hotel as a casual visitor, like one of so many passers-by where the Founder was residing. The Founder also , by chance, just went to the dinning -floor, at the time that man was dinning.

As soon as that man saw the the Founder quickly returning to his place, he suddenly left his half-meal and ran after the Founder. Most abruptly, he talked to Founder,” Are you a devotee of a Devi?” Founder also made no delay, ” Yes, not only a devotee, but a passionate, most uneasy devotee”. Still more abruptly the man said, ” I come from Mysore. I have a message to hand over to you from your Mother”. The Founder got dumb-founded. “Yes, please come up to my room”. The man followed. The message was communicated.

Said the man,” I have come down so far. Would you not favour me with the spark of Love for Mother? I have enough of divine knowledge (Jnana) and Ritualistic Bhakti, just for my purposes ( this was only his modesty ). Said Founder,” Are you prepared ? Would you sit with me on the bench of the Sheikh Sulla bridge (in Poona – Pune) during night hours?” He agreed. The Founder was sitting with him in exposure from 11 P.M. to 4 A.M. on a wooden bench.

The man went to his place. He was at the highest pitch of his desire that he may have a vision of Mother, at least in the dream. He had a dream, on sleeping. Mother appeared before him and said,” You are now longing for my Darshan ( vision). Who was talking to you for hours on the bridge ? That was myself. You have not only seen me, but talked with me for hours.” The man full of devotion and with tears in his eyes, narrated the event forthwith to the Founder, at the early dawn.

The reader may feel inclined to know similarly about the Calcutta message-bearer. With the command to carry the message in a dream, he came over to Poona (Pune). Finding no place in any other hotel, he had come over to the hotel where Founder resided.

With greater despondency as to how to find the man in such a large unknown city, he fell into sleep at 10 P.M. He had a dream.”Don’t be afraid and losing heart. I have brought you to the man.” Just at 12 mid-night, you see things through the slits of the common door between your room and the front room. You have to hand over the message to the man there in the morning. Make a bold statement of what you see and the message.”

The man saw the Founder at the said hour in communion, full of solicitations to Mother”to find some other man to install etc.”and in lamentation and in his part of unconsciousness and ground-falling in swoon.

In the morning, he delivered the message in a bold convincing manner and that evening he left for Nagpur.

Once a great yogi arrived at the Founder’s, in Hubli, as a distinguished rare guest. He was a master of English and Sanskrit in his young days. He had relinquished the world and was moving from place to place. He lived on milk, fruit and wet gram pulse uncooked.

The Founder remained all the while in high humility with his two hands folded and attended him as a waiter. Like Totapuri in Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s life, he was talking to the Founder, almost spurningly or atleast belittlingly about Founder’s devotional madness and absence of regularity, looseness in daily routine trivial matters, over-kindness to undeserving, mind weakness, etc. It was in the manner of a Gyani or a Yogi with an extreme superiority complex, talking from the terrace to a foot-path man. All this took place during the day time, on the first-arrival-day.

They slept that night at 2 A.M.Founder is a late riser. He usually sleeps after 3 A.M. and gets up between 8 and 9 in morn. As soon as Founder woke up, the Yogi made a long prostration, and began to speak in humblest words ,’ Forgive me. Forgive my impudence, my folly, my swollen-headedness . For the first time in my life, I have a cause to repent. Even a house holder can be a highest religious man. Thou art the Divine Mother, in human form”.

The Founder was shocked at such a change in few night hours.The Yogi told him, he had a dream. “With his Yogic powers, he was soaring high along a big mountain and was standing near the edge of the plateau. Somehow his foot slipped and he rolled most hurtfully along the slope.He was being crushed with ice-blocks falling on him. He came rolling at the foot of the mount.He had got senseless. When he got consciousness, he saw that one most beautiful Mother was nursing him. She lifted him and carried him to a long deep cave and placed him lying just at the cave-mouth. The Mother shouted hard to someone in the cave, ‘Come out quick, a great Yogi has slipped from the mount and is most seriously hurt.’ Out came a simple dressed quite an ordinary-looking man, with childlike lustrous face.”

The Yogi at this point began to ask the Founder” Who do you think or guess this Saviour man might be ?” The Founder gave some two or three names, Kali Kamaliwala, Lord Anand, etc. The Yogi impatiently said, ” No. No” , and then with an outburst of lamentation frantically prostrated to the Founder and catching his feet said,” Who else can he be ??? It was you, you, you with merciful heart for anyone , even the worst sinners. You, human Merciful Mother.” And he wept profusely.

There was one interesting instance of a lady. She was supposed to be the Maataaji. We have so many of them amongst Hindus, ladies in whose body some Devi would appear periodically. All will worship her, ask questions, advice and blessings, this was in a much earlier period. Whereas the Yogi incident was in 1944, this one was in 1936 in Poona (Pune). Somehow Founder was introduced to the lady, and she began to take him”right and left”. She attacked him ruthlessly,” Do you think mere knowledge is God’s Grace ?? Does any Maataaji favour you with Her Grace by making you yourself the Maataaji ? Can you tell me now what is going on at a certain place and a certain hour ? Show me what you are capable of .” The Founder was more than “ground-dusted”. He prostrated to her saying ” I am simply a worthless nothing “. This took place at about 3 p.m. on a Sunday, at some common friend’s house. The next day, she was found in her motor at the very door of the Founder’s office. Founder was surprised. He took her in. There was no prostration, but full humility in her eyes. She asked pardon in the honorable manner that a lady, and one who was herself worshipped as Maataaji, can do.

She explained herself. She had a dream in the night in which she saw her own living Guru in Mount Abu. He was “red and hot” and telling her,” What a foolish thing have you done !!! You have insulted and humiliated a great devotee whom I myself would consider a great privilege to meet. Find him out and immediately run to demand pardon “.She said she had no sleep for the rest of night. She knew only the office address and she had been there to ask his pardon at the first available moment.

On 15-9-1950, the Ganapati Installation day, a distinguished Swamiji of Madras (Chennai) city, who had seen the Founder only twice at Madras (Chennai) when he went for the first time to Madras for Sister’s gathering on Dusserah day (1-10-1949), had a dream at 4.30 A.M. ; he wrote it out to the Founder. It was nearly ten months since they had any correspondence whatsoever. The substance was: ” I was sitting on a sea-shore. Something took place and I was hurled down into the sea – life itself being in danger and practically lost. I began to struggle hard with hands and feet and to repeat with the highest intense devotion, the most effectious hymns and mantras of Shri Tripura Sundari, Ambika and Ganapati. All hope lost, but finally Mother was pleased to save me. There was an upward push which brought me near up to the surface. I was over joyful on being practically saved. I saw Mother Herself on the shore, with “one”. That “one” jumped into the sea and clasped my hand and pulled me out on the shore “.

The Swamiji further wrote,”Who do you think that “one” was ?? I am myself so joyfully surprised to find who that “one” was. It was Mai-Swarup Mai Markand, Founder and President of Mother’s Lodge. You are the most Beloved Soul of Mother. You are the replica , you are Her embodiment “, etc. etc.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM

AUTHOR: MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND ; FIRST EDITION : 1952 / SECOND EDITION : 2007 PUBLISHED BY MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI – 400054 INDIA.

Divine Mother’s command to install Her as Mai

The most important incident wherefrom the history of Mai movement starts, took place in the latter months of 1931 ( September and October ) in Poona (India).

The wife of Founder’s college friend and boss (Late Revered Sister Taraben Soparkar) was on death-bed suffering from Septicemia. The friend got the Founder(Markand Dholakia) transferred from Ahmedabad to Poona to help in the calamity. The wife was lying upstairs. She said to her husband, I am hearing the Mantra repetitions from some Matajee’s devotee. I am on death-bed so please find him out round about our bungalow streets and let me have his Darshan”. The friend took the Founder and went round in search and assured her that there was none:”Not only I but even ‘Dholkia Kaka’ accompanied me for the search”. She exclaimed,”What has he come? It must be then he. Please call him up”.She repeated the same shloka of Sapta Shati fourth Adhyaya which the Founder was then repeating mentally unheard by anyone. This shloka was repeated by her to assure the Founder that he was a recognised devotee and that she was a worthy recipient of his Darshan and blessings.

A drawing professor was coaching the friend’s daughter. He inquired of the future of the lady from a Pandharpur saint. The saint foretold, that her days were finished but added, “There is, however, a saint in his house. out of courtesy to whom She is not being taken away. The day he leaves the bungalow. she would expire.” The friend enlightened by the first experience suspected that the saint in his bungalow was none other than the Founder and as he was the head of the department, kept him all hours confined to his bungalow by way of precaution. asking him to do his official work at that place.

On 3-October-1931, the case was entirely serious. Three eminent doctors declared she would die within an hour or so. The worst news was broken by the husband of his friend who tried to strengthen his courage to meet the calamity. The husband vociferated,”What a coward talk? I am sure, if you heartily pray, she will at least live longer and give me sufficient time to prepare for the worst.” The Founder had very little of confidence in the efficacy of his prayers for the most impossible change, but he had to follow him upstairs. He prayed with his whole heart and devotion standing near the pillow of the lady in midst of nearly twenty weeping relatives. The pulse, speech and vision had left the body. In prayer, the Founder’s tears fell in her mouth, the pulse speedily went up, vision and speech returned and the eyes opened. Her words were,”How can I like to leave this world leaving behind me the un-cared-for children? I see Mataji standing before me. She says if you fast for a day she will give me a week’s extension. Will you not promise doing that for me?” The promise was given hand in hand and the improvement began with almost unimaginable speed. Just half an hour after, she asked for milk, fruit-juice etc. It was an unprecedented family joy.

Some believed, and some did not, in God’s hand in all these. But almost everyone including husband thought she was saved permanently. On the 7th day, the temperature, however, rose up from the morning. The husband was too shrewd to remain any longer under a delusion. The whole story looked true. She was to go that day. He had a hysteric fit from he was made to recover to composure after consolation by his friend. At 3 p.m., there was a phone from the Secretariat asking the husband to send certain confidential office files under lock and key. He could not possibly leave her. The Founder was given keys and the motor driver was ordered to drive fast and the Founder was given strict orders not to waste a single minute in the office. On reaching the office, the head clerk informed him that the lady expired as soon as he has placed his feet outside the bungalow.

Here was a continued episode which baffled all human solutions. She was a great devotee of Matajee. She actually heard the Mantra which the Founder was simply mentally chanting. The prophecy of the Pandharpur saint and its fulfilment were wonders. She saw Mother and heard Her words. A fast of a particular devotee earned the Mother’s Grace of the boon of a week’s life extension. All these happenings began revolving in Founder’s mind, finally resulting in an overpowering sense of his ingratitude to Mother.

Said he,”Should I be simply living pleasure-dipped and fully ungrateful to my Mother? She has so often protected me all along and shown Herself to me and I have not breathed a single syllable into the world about Her mercifulness and Her dying for Her devotees. This one idea drove off all other ideas, even those required to sustain himself in daily routine. He became semi-lunatic, weeping day and night and beat his forehead, sometimes against walls rolling on the ground and saying only one thing, I am a wretch, most ungrateful creature, Even such a simple thing glorification of Thyself, I have not done.”

He had to go on a long leave. Doctors consulted diagnosed that he had no disease whatever. He had divine madness. The best medicine was constant talk about Mother and Mother’s occupation within his hearing and seeing. This was a furnace period, during which there was a wholesale drastic change, in the Founder’s religious outlook. All the pride of Hindu-ism, Vedas, Brahmins (he himself being a Nagar the highest Brahmin in Gujerat) and the belittling of other religions evaporated. Strangely and wonderfully. Mother finally commanded him to install Her as Mai The Universal Divine Mother.

“God as Mother, Mother of all, propitiable with universal love, service, devotion and unconditional cheerful self-surrender”. These six words and expressions he would often hear in the air and would read written on walls and on the ceiling between joist-gaps and on closed doors and windows. He pleaded his full unworthiness to such an innovation. The more he tried to evade, the more did Mother sit on his heart and head till the sweet talk became artificially embittered and wrathful. “What do you prefer? Installing me as Mai with the dictated six tenets or life-long present semi-lunacy?

The Founder finally gave the promise to Mother and so to say escaped, on giving a promise, in order to avert semi-lunacy. His recovery was marvellously quick after promise and he returned to Poona (Pune) and rejoined his service. He had a world of reminders from Mother almost every week. But he was too conscious of the crushing responsibility, to so easily yield. He went on procrastinating.
Two persons one in Calcutta and the other in Mysore (Shimoga) were given the command in dreams to go over to the city of Poona (Pune) and deliver Her Message of Installing Mother.

The Calcutta message-bearer came over to Poona (Pune). Finding no place in any other hotel, he had come over to the hotel where Founder resided. With great despondency as how to find the man in such a large unknown city, he fell into sleep at 10 p.m. He had a dream; “Don’t be the afraid and losing heart. I have brought you to the man. Just at twelve midnight, you see things through the slit of a common door between your room and the front room. You have to hand over the message to the man there in the morning. Make a bold statement”. The man saw the Founder at the said hour in communion, full of solicitations to Mother,” To find some other man to install etc.” In the morning he delivered the message and left.

The Mysore devotee who carried the message happened to come to the hotel as a casual visitor. The Founder by chance went to the dining floor at the time the man was dining. As soon as that man saw the Founder returning to his place, he suddenly left his half-meal and ran after the Founder. Most abruptly he talked,”Are you a devotee of Devi ?” Founder also made no delay: “Yes, not only a devotee but a passionate, most uneasy devotee”. Still, most abruptly the man said,” I come from Mysore. I have a message to hand over to you from Mother.” The Founder got dumb-founded. “Yes please come to my room. The man followed: the message was communicated. Said the man,” I have come so far. Would you not favour me with the spark of Love for Mother? I have enough of divine knowledge for my purpose (this was only his modesty). Said the Founder,” Are you prepared? Would you sit with me on the bench of the Sheikh Sulla bridge during night hours ?” He agreed.

The Founder was sitting with him from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on a wooden bench. The man went to his place. He was at the highest pitch of desire that he may have a vision of Mother at least in a dream. He had a dream in the sleeping. Mother appeared and said,”You are now longing for my Darshan. Who was talking to you for hours on the bridge? That was me. You have not only seen me but talked to me”. The man narrated the event to the Founder at early dawn.

Two persons coming down for only the purpose of delivering the message was something too great to be taken lightly. That put the Founder to an indescribable shame about his obstinacy and suspiciousness. Said he with a sigh,” I am sure a man without faith. I have a faith in reality what I have seen and heard, but I have no faith in Mother making me fully fitted for the uphill unique task”. He was extremely nervous and terribly afraid of how people would consider his actions and of their defaming him by attributing highest impudence, hypocrisy and blasphemy.

He decided to be tricky with Mother and to get to Her agree to let her fad go once for all, but he could not succeed. On the hand Mother directly repeated Her treat, “Tell me in one word once for all, what do you prefer – Installation or lunacy ?”

The Founder had no go and with a sorrowful laughter he set down to stipulate terms with Mother, as he had done before when he had begun a hundred repetitions of Saptashati. He made a Sankalpa ( a resolution ) pouring sacred water offering to the Mother, ” If there is an entirely new building of which the first in-dweller is myself, if I enter it on a Friday, if by evening there is a dazzling light, if there is a basket of ‘mithai’ and fruits received that day,if three girls and two men knock my door at 9.30 p.m., if they press me to install Thee, if at 10 p.m., I find Mother’s picture in any shop, if at 11 p.m., I find some shop open wherefrom I can purchase worshipping materials and lastly if at 11.30 p.m.. some ‘Mali’ (garland hawker) brings me a most beautiful garland befitting Thee and the occasion, then I shall not hesitate and I shall not fail to Install Thee and declare Thee and Thy Religion.

Each and every condition was so very wonderfully and admirably fulfilled. He was getting surer and surer as one condition after another came up attaining fulfilment and when finally a hawker shouted out “Har Har’ (Garland, Garland), he burst into tears on hearing that shout. He began to beat his breast and forehead. “Mother, Thou hast finally caught me. Could you not find any other man, who is more worthy than me?”The five persons consoled him with the sweetest words, “She would do Her own work. Who is more blessed than yourself? Why should you lose heart and courage? Where is the question of your worthiness or unworthiness, at all sir, when She Herself has chosen you ?”

Mother was installed at 12 midnight on 2-9-1932. Said he to all that had gathered, ” From today, I am a Mai-ist, from today my religion is ‘ God as Mother, Mother of all, propitiable on living the life of universal love and service, with devotion and unconditional cheerful self-surrender’. Krishna, Mohammad, Christ, Jarthost, Buddha and every Founder of any religion is my Mother’s (Mai’s) illustrious son. From now, Bible, or Koran is as venerable and worshippable to me as Geeta. A Mohammedan lady will find the same shelter in my home as a Hindu lady under communal riot (This actually happened).

I will continue to pray God as I have prayed till now, whether in a Hindu Mandir, or a Mohammedan Masjid or a Christian Church or a Zoroastrian Agiari or an Israelite Synagogue. No more religious differences; the devotion of Mother is necessarily the devotion of Mother’s Children. I am a changed religious man from this moment.” Said the Founder,” I install Mai today. I declare Mai-ism today. Let it be to known to one and all of my friends. Let the world if so minded now commence the work of ridiculing, defaming, censuring, suppressing, harassing and crushing me and the Mai movement.”

News spread around. The nearest people were Theosophists and Harijans. Some educated Harijans had the most reverential regard for the Founder, the man who was Love and Mercy himself with an innocent childlikeness and who was happily blessed with the most intense devotion. People began calling him “Second Ramakrishna”, ‘Mother’s child’, ‘Mother’, or ‘Mataji’.

The Founder had a terrible exhaustion after the installation night which lasted for three days. On the third night, he had a pleasant dream, in which he saw a vast open lawn in which there were innumerable ladies of all religions. He interpreted this to mean the Mother desired a congregation of ladies in strict purdah (with no gents and or boys) of all religions, in commemoration of Her installation. In spite of so many difficulties, a sisters’ social of over 300 sisters of all religions presided by Mrs Choudhary of Bengal on Dashera day (9-10-1932) became a fait accompli. By one and all that attended, it was called “Mother’s Miracle”.

IMAGES OF THE FOUNDER SAINT SHRI MAI SWARUP & UNIVERSAL DIVINE MOTHER MAI

The Founder attaches great religious importance to this novelistic idea of a congregation of all ladies without distinction of caste, creed and colour, in strict purdah without any gents or boys, meeting together in the spirit of religious sisters to have religious discourses and thought exchanges, prayers, worships, refreshments, prasads etc, on a Dashera day. The requirement of a purda has a deep significance to provide safety against any unusual custom or belief. If that provision is not there, Muslim sisters stand precluded; so also Hindu ladies of royal orthodoxies as also ladies whose husbands and relations are strictly against their womenfolk freely with men.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK: MAI-ISM

AUTHOR: MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND / ABRIDGED BY U.R.M. U.G.MENON
Publisher: UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM Trust, MAI NIWAS, Saraswati ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), Mumbai -400054 INDIA.

Universal Divine Mother MAI from MATAJI

The Founder of Mai-ism and President of Mother’s Lodge ( Mai Mandal ), MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND ( Rao Saheb M.R. Dholkia, L.C.F. ) began his devotion of Hindu Mother since his tender age of twelve. He began his sadhana साधना from the very first rung of the ladder, with shouting in solitude, ” Mother. Tell me, dost Thou exist or not ? ” at that young age in Petlad, his native place in Gujerat, near Cambay.

He had proof of Mother’s existence by being saved from the attack of two robbers on his way home from that place of solitude to that of his home, one night, through the intervention of a tall, fearful woman. She walked over between the boy and the two robbers for a few furlongs till the boy was safe near the outskirts of his village. Most wonderfully, the same terrible black woman disappeared in the air immediately after the boy’s safety.

The incident did not go beyond creating a suspicion and a wonder, but at least the idea of the possibility of the existence of God, deities, angels, spirits, other worlds etc., took its roots. It took three years of strong devotion of Jagadamba जगदम्बा Kali काली and Chamuda चामुण्डा one after another to make the boy ripened enough to have a doubtful belief about the existence through the second incident mentioned below.

The boy in a busy crowd in Ahmadabad अहमदाबाद was shoutingly warned by a dog-cart driving European pair, to set aside. The boy failing, the European took off his long whip determined to beat the boy out. The merciless man, however, lost the grip of the whip, the whip encircled the foot of the horse and the dog-cart fell to the ground. The boy terribly afraid ran away from the crowd and tremblingly concealed himself in Bhadra Kali भद्रकाली temple corner, the nearest safe place.

With his whole frame shattered, the boy had the very night, a dream in which the whole scene of accident repeated itself and ended with the daily repeated question, ” Mother, does Thou exist or not ?” The Mother ( The Bhadra Kali Image ), in the dream, answered,” I DO NOT EXIST “. The boy asked,” Who is then speaking ? ” Mother then smilingly asked,” Whom then are you asking this question tiring me and yourself for the last over the three years. ? “

The boy got confidence about the existence of God at the age of 15. He began to believe it was the intervention of Kali that had saved him from robbers. The boy was busy trying to secure God’s grace and recognition as devotee through devotion to any of the usually worshipped Hindu deities, viz., Rama, Shiva, Krishna and others. He was however, as it were, passed on by one deity to another without retention till, he concluded MATAJI alone would accept him.

The conception of Hindu Devi or Mataji is that of sternness, terror and destructivity though united with benignity and mercifulness and everything-asked-givingness and all-desire-fulfillingness. Mataji is restricted to Hindus alone and She is personification of Power. Mai or Maijee is Universal and a Personification of Mother, God himself as Mother and not God’s Power. Mataji is mostly a Goddess of fear and power, where as Maiji is the Goddess of parental love and permanent welfare. Except the common element of the feminine-sex, the conceptions of Mataji and Maiji are entirely different and dissimilar, if not contradictory.

The mention of this distinction becomes indispensable here as otherwise it would not be realised how much terror-stricken the boy was at the idea that the none of the Sattvik deities as Shiva, Rama or Krishna had accepted him and that on the other hand he was so much favoured and cared for by Matajee, the most prominent feature of whole traditional mythology was the destruction of demons and terrible fighting in the battle-fields. The boy had none of the requirements of a fearful sadhana.

The boy, then eighteen, was shuddering at the idea of being a devotee of a terrible deity. Said he,” Let me cast the gambler’s throw. I will perform a hundred repetitions of Saptashati. If Mataji accepts me as Her son with no displeasure, no freaks, no terrible wrathfulness and no vengeance for consciously or unconsciously done offences, I become Hers. Otherwise, I live my life as an atheist or an agnostic, with all goodness, morality, broad-mindedness, fellow-feeling etc. “

At eighteen he began the experiment. On thirty repetitions, he had a telegram, at Poona (Pune), where he was studying in the Engineering College, from his maternal uncle who was the Revenue Collector of the Baroda State of Mehesena मेहेसाणा near Ahmedabad. It was about his mother’s illness and asking him to start immediately. On the way railway station, where his uncle had come to receive him, the former received the telegram from the Baroda Government to immediately proceed to Bahucharaji Mataji बहुचराजी माताजी ( the second most popular Goddess worshipped in Gujerat) as the Revenue Collector of the district and to do certain arrangements. The young lad was taken directly to the place, as his mother become fairly all right, as soon as he has started from Poona (Pune) by Mother’s Grace. The illness was a pretext utilised by Mother to force him to come down as he had determined not to leave Poona (Pune), although all students had left in their vacation. He had refused going home, as he was determined to finish the experiment at the same place, without any break or interruption. There, in the temple, the boy was given an assurance by Matajee in a dream that She would be to him purely and unadulteratedly a loving and living mother. He returned to Poona full of hair-erect bristling joys.

Since that day, supernatural and occult powers of prediction and blessing which were inherent in him from the very childhood became more effective, intense and acute. He could bring two persons at daggers drawn going to a criminal court for cross suits to be friends in a two hours talk. Once he wanted 63 rupees ( his Money Order, not arriving at proper time from parents before the last date of college fee payments ). He prayed at 9 p.m. and at 11 p.m. he had a heap of about Rs. 800 because the Bengali and Gujarati quarters took a fright at 10 p.m. (there were some robbers preparing to loot the quarters from behind,seen gathered on desolate railway lines). Though a big cipher in drawing ( the most essential subject in Engineering ), his drawing to be finally examined with marks-giving at the annual University examination would be prepared by the best students with the full permission and cognition of the very supervisors and even the principal. Once Mataji dictated to him the whole of the chemistry paper the previous night.

He was a voracious reader but he was more of a mathematician, a poet, a thinker, a philosopher and a songster than an engineer by his very birth. What did he care after he had Mother’s protection? His repeated failures in spite of his hardest work trained him to realise nothingness of himself and life and left no drop of cheerfulness about life with all its varied pleasures. He ceased to be a responsible actor of the world and became a superficial spectator of his own life, allowing it to be drifted as Mother desired according to his past Karmas, with nothing as the goal of life, at such a tender age, – usually full of follies and passions, spirits and storms.

At twenty-two, he had the most calamitous , and yet the final hardest hammer under which he would have succumbed, but for Mother’s Grace. He happened to read Yoga-Vasistha योग वसिष्ठ and Vedantism वेदान्त, the terrible teaching of ” AHAM BRAHMA ASMI ‘ अहं ब्रह्मास्मी and his head turned. His intellect got clouded with controversy of the new teaching. He thought he was all along under a delusion and pitiable victim of a huge cheat by Mataji, the Maya deity. He threw away his deity picture, scriptural Saptshati सप्तशती, wooden seat, worshipping materials and vessels in the river Mula-Mutha Sangam मुळामुठा संगम behind his living place. He changed his course from devotion to Divine Knowledge. He began repeating “AHAM BRAHMA ASMI ” day and night and interviewed so many religious teachers on the subject.

Some decades ago divine Knowledge and Devotion were at daggers drawn. It is now,things have now changed and religious teachers have accepted the policy of harmonising both. The Advaitists have seen that unless they equally appreciate and preach devotion, their popularity and maintenance of Ashrams would be an impossibility. That deprecating manner of saying,” Devotion is only just a stepping stone, which has now disappeared, was it then at its shouting pitch. It is now only very recently that Sanyasees and Yogis and Karma Margis all have gradually pitched their tents in the open airy yellow lawn of devotion. That preaching of one-ness of Atma and Paramatma, that idea of inferiority of devotion and deities, that sophistry about the fruitlessness or unreality or the delusion of the Universe and all allied teachings, so very forceful than, were more than overpowering for the young boy of twenty-two who had seen nothing of the world in its true natural colours.

The young boy had never had to pass through a more terrible time. He experienced that, as a result of his faithless desertion of Mother, the whole world has changed to be worse for him. Even his best friends and relations disliked, displeased and deserted him; no miraculous powers, no happy meditations, no devotional effusions, no good-lucks. His morality, goodness, character, religiosity all stood before him threatening him with leaving him a as a corpse. The contrast of his faculties before and after, all led him to the highest desperation. One day, in Petlad, he tore of his garments and sacred thread, threw of his shirt and dhoti and cap in the street and ran away from the house as one determined to mend or end his life, to be Sanyasin or or to commit suicide. What might have been the climax of his sorrow , disappointment and disgust of life and world, at twenty-two, can be better imagined than described. He was however caught by his most revered father who ran after him with all the force he can command in the street, weeping and shouting out on losing his son and by his mother, weeping and madly running after his father. He was brought home and confined in a room for a week and greatly smoothened and solaced by his parents. After a promise not to be a Sannyasin, he was permitted to return to Poona for studies. His mother with tears in her eyes said ,” You have never been telling a lie. You never break your promise. If you are determined to be a Sannyasin, first stab me and then go. If you wish I may live, promise me, you will never leave home.” This promise did not leave him undisturbed whenever he got the idea of taking Sanyasa.

One idea alone, about his greatest ungratefulness to the Mother who had been protecting him all along, and without whose protection what the world would be to him, he had experienced and realised, that one mania seized him. This one idea acted like the most violent attack of an unbearable shock. He decided to drown in the very same river unless Mother reaccepted him. In the midst of the excruciating pains he got an imaginary idea like lightening in the darkest cloudy night. “Will not Mother save me ? Will She not tell me She has re-accepted me ?” All this was a matter of few hours, before determination and preparation for action. He went to commit suicide in the river. He ran in towards the river water depth with a speed which had never before used. Just then, he was caught in the sweetest trans-heavenly Embrace of Mother – The Visible, The infatuatingly Beautiful Mother. She admonished him strongly never to be so reckless and senseless in future and assured him he was never disowned by Her, although his head had turned. Not only that,but She told him, She was carrying him through certain experiences which were indispensable. Mother knew his fickle mindedness and did the preventive needful. Retracing to his room, he expressed to himself, though most stealthily, wishing none to know it, not even his own mind to hear him, his inmost suspicion which proved his greatest ungratefulness even after Mother had been merciful enough by saving him from committing suicide. He asked himself,” What did I see ? What did I hear ? Is this not all a mental derangement ? Is this all not a false vision because of a mental despair ?” Mother had anticipated this and had kept the answer ready to convince him of Her Embrace and Her Word and Her Promise.

Most surprisingly, on opening the room he saw the very same deity picture, the very same scriptural book of Saptashati, the very same wooden-seat, the very same worshipping articles at the very same place as they were and where they were before, the very same things which he had thrown away in the river with contempt about six weeks before.

From this moments onwards, he linked himself with and riveted himself to Mother. His conception then was a Hinduistic one, viz., that of power, although with the additional personally secured concessional advantage of Mother’s protection to him as Her son. That was however just as a lioness has her love to her cub though not with a devouring ferocity. “Mother” was however to him an honorific name for a feminine sex deity with no conception of a mother-and-child relationship for one and all.

The period from this event in 1907 up to 1932 was that of a common man’s living with a gradual progressive development in religiosity. Hindu Mataji (Power) was gradually transforming Herself with him to be the Universal Mother Mai. Universalization of one’s ideal is not merely a matter of tongue-twist. Universality means a complete absence of the idea of one man being different from another exactly similar man on the mere ground of such two man’s belonging to two different religions. Universality to be effective must be the supreme quality of one’s whole vision and entire intellectual outlook with a belief and a conviction about it’s highest value. Universality should not be outcome of a policy, a temporary acceptance , or a delusion creativeness, for some specific object in a view. It should be an impossibility to assume a different colour after some attainment or after a lapse of some long time.

The difference, the superiority and inferiority complexes, prejudices and prepossessions, likes and dislikes, as a result of different persons following different religions, require to be uprooted, wiped out and forgotten as if they were never in existence. The Founder brought about a reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims over a mosque question at Nasik in a few hours, which was a standing cause of unrest for 12 to 15 years. That was possible only because the Founder was Universal-minded, in every moment of his living, after 1932 and because he was a Mai-ist, the Founder and follower of a religion which has Universal-mindedness as its main-most commandment.

The subtle difference is to be noted here. It is not that some few Hindus or Muslims are not there that are universal-minded, but the presumption holding sway in the minds of both the communities in terms of millions of hearts is that Hindu is a Hindu and a Muslim is a Muslim, during butchering riots. When the knife is raised is to be plunged, it is not possible for one to know or to inform that he is not an enemy, at the moment of life and death. Mai-ism emphasises the need of a solid working through organisations during peace periods.

There the whole difference comes in. To be the known follower of a religion ( or even a society ) which makes no distinction of that nature, on the one hand, and on the other, to be an exception to the usual beliefs about a religion or a society by the co-religionists or members are poles asunder. That you are above such animosities must have been a proved fact known to the world at large, much before an incident.

That supreme stage of Universal outlook, once attained, along with other sterling virtues, carries with it, its own wonderful silent supernatural power over the hearts of average men. The man appealing to brotherhood must have actually lived in that spirit and with that belief as the maxim of his life. Reconciliation between two antagonistic forces become possible only when a much superior force makes each of them to be reminded of its comparative nothingness.

The spiritual force of a Religious Universal-minded man is of a much stronger powerful-ness than that of the Life force or the Will-force or Soul-force. It derives its strength from the divinity itself.

During the college sub-period ( from 1908 to 1912 ) there were many convincing proofs of Mataji’s Grace.

During his second-year examination, one day he was in devotional mood, which made him entirely uncomposed to be able to attend the examination hall, in Bombay [Mumbai] at the appointed hour. When he could compose himself in his home, the examination hour had passed. He washed his face dressed himself in his home and took a tram. In hot haste, his T-square which was shoved in the drawing board the wrong way, fell off on the ground. Some Seth picked it up and ran in a victoria after the tram and caught it at the next halt. The boy was overwhelmed with gratefulness. The Seth said,” Mataji, bless me with a son “. Said the Founder,” Mother Grace shower Welfare “. The devotee ran to the hall and found that he was 40 minutes late. Soon after him came the Registrar with the question paper packets. He was admitted to the hall. The printing machinery unprecedentedly had gone wrong to give the boy sufficient time to recover his normal plane.

The second instance was in respect of the special train carrying the students on a geographical tour in the final year. The students had encamped in Agra and were awaiting the arrival of a special train expected to arrive within an hour or so. The boy got a flying news that Mathura was near. Said he ,” I must go for Darshan of my beloved Lord Krishna.” The train time that day to Mathura had passed away. Like a mad man he said,” I will go to the station.”Two friend accompanied him. First station, the station staff laughed at their ignorance of the scheduled timings. Second station people called them mad. Third station , the engine was lying “sick”. On purchase of tickets and hurried sitting in a coal wagon, the engine came to order and whistled. The despondency that has arisen on the booking-clerk advising not to purchase tickets as the engine had gone useless, turned to a cheerfulness with joyful hurrah. However the cause of standing suspense and anxiety, did not altogether cease. They would be detected on the arrival of a special train as absconders and be even punished. They had not enough money to return Bombay [ Mumbai ] from Agra with fresh tickets. From 4 P.M. to 9 P.M. of the next day, the special train could not be ready in spite of the repeated telegrams by the influential professor-in-charge of the tourists, till they returned. The in-charge was hot with the boy for having bolted away but his popularity came to his aid.

His reputation as a devotee of Mataji had become widespread and established. In the direction of Divine Knowledge, he took a very active part in all religious matters. He was in close touch with Theosophy both in Ahmadabad and Poona and wrote several thought-provoking and instructive articles in “Meher Message मेहेर मेसेज ” such as ” Ignorant Adverse Criticism”, ” Misfortunes of the modern mumukshus मुमुक्षु “, ” Facts for the fatigued “, “Divine Love”, “Happiness ” etc. and ” God and God attainment Remedies ” in “Kalyan” कल्याण of Gorakhpur गोरखपुर and “Dharma Darshan” धर्मदर्शन in Sharada Peetha शारदा पीठ etc.

He had several occasions to have a personal eye-to-eye vision of the Divine Mother, in waking state, oftentimes in the most painful mood and moments. One of them may be narrated as a specimen.

His service as a municipal engineer in Surat were to be discharged as a result of a new fad of Government to lend engineers along with the Municipal Commissioners. He resigned before a notice be served.He was anxious that he had an appointment somewhere, before his leaving; but nothing would come forth in reply to his applications . It was Navaratra 9th day. Brahmins were on the wooden seats for dinner after all the ceremony. He sent word to his wife and relations that he could not join the brahmins. “Serve them with all heart and liberality,” He told Mother,” What more do you want ? Should I break my head at Thy feet ? “. Just then the door was knocked. A telegram of appointment was there. The whole scene was changed. He ran up to weep out his gratitude to Mother. And what did he see and hear ? “Will you not at least now come with me down for the dinner ?” The form and the sound both disappeared in less than a second, leaving him again lost in labyrinth, Divine meditation and ecstasy.

The year 1932 was a turning point in his religious life. The period 1912 to 1932 was that of preparation with lots of troubles and sufferings to be fitted up religiously and spiritually for the work he was to be charged with. His belief till then consisted of increasing proportions of “Mother-element” in the Power Mother-basic mixture from time to time. It was reaching the culmination point of the full Mother-hood of God to which Universality became automatically a corollary. Said he to himself,” If your God is Father or Mother of the whole Universe and if whosoever resides and is worshipped in Hindu temples is not a mere Hindu God , but a Universal God of one and all, there can be absolutely no justification for ” entry-refusal ” to any one ( Harijans or Mohammedans etc.) What Hindus alone can worship can only be a Hindu God and not a Universal God.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : – MAI-ISM / AUTHOR : – MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND / ABRIDGED BY U.R.M. U.G. MENON

PUBLISHED BY : UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ [WEST], MUMBAI-400054 INDIA.

UNORTHODOX HEALING AND PSYCHIC PHENOMENA

Ernest Kirk, author of ” World’s need and Mai-ism ” had an accident in 1954. With his fractured arm in a sling he went to Calicut to meet the Founder Saint Mai Swarup Mai Markand ( Maiji ) who had gone there for the Sisters’ Social.

That night the Saint Mai Swarup bade the injured Englishman to sleep on a bare mat in the prayer room in front of Mother’s picture.

Next morning Bro Dalal who took tea and toast to the visitor was amazed to find there was no sling. Not only that.Mr Kirk joyfully shouted ,” I am cured “and moved the arm effortlessly all over the body. Please remember the fracture was only a few days old.

Thereafter Ernest Kirk had written a book ” THE WORLD’S NEED AND MAI-ISM “.

In his book ” THE WORLD’S NEED AND MAI-ISM ” [1957], the author ERNEST KIRK ( Editor, “LIFE”, Coimbatore, India ) had said :-

I have written the above as a sort of introduction to these very remarkable cases of healing and equally remarkable super normal happenings that have taken place and that are constantly taking place in connection with the rise and progress of the Mai-ist movement in India, and of which I now propose to give samples. But, before doing so, I venture to suggest that much the same kind of thing is taking place in various parts of the world just now and for much the same purpose, namely, that of pointing the way to some Inner Reality, or, of constituting the vestibule to that “Living Temple of Reality.” It is this that is giving a jolt to orthodoxy in all its various aspects, religious and secular.

There are, for instance,the thousands of well-attested cases of healing that have taken place at Lourdes in France by the simple process of prayer and bathing in the healing waters of the Grotto there , made famous by the visions of the Maid Bernadette nearly one hundred years ago. Take one of them, given some prominence by the British newspaper ” The People”. (See also details in a article in “Readers’ Digest” January 1956).

It concerns Mrs.Sarah Slevin, a farmer’s wife living at Clough Jordon, Tipperary, Ireland, who was suffering from an advanced development of rheumatic fever which attacks the heart. Medical Science said that there was only one remedy – not a very hopeful one. That was an operation on the heart. The doctor’s opinion was that she was ” too weak for the operation.” Her condition was so bad that a priest was sent for to perform the last rites. As the result of a talk with a relative who had been to Lourdes and who had witnessed many wonderful cures, it was arranged that Mrs. Slevin should also go there. She did; she bathed in the waters and was healed.That was a year ago.Today, Mrs. Slevin does her share of the domestic and agricultural work connected with the farm. Her doctor, Dr. Franci Quigley says : ” She needs no more injections. It was a remarkable recovery.”

Here again, is an extract from a report of a very wonderful demonstration of healing that took place in the Royal Albert Hall, London, in the presence of about 6,000 people, and which demonstration was witnessed by 17 members of the Commission on Divine Healing set up by the Archbishops of Canterbury and of York, and also by special committee of four members set up by the British Medical Association, to gather evidence.The extract, taken from a report of the proceedings appearing in “News of the World” runs :

On the platform, stood 61-years-old silver haired Harry Edwards, a homely, short-sleeved figure.

One after another , men, women and children climbed painfully, or were carried on the stage. And the man who says that his mysterious power comes from Divine source placed in his hands on their stiff, swollen joints, their twisted limbs, their useless ears and eyes ….

As Harry Edward stepped forward on the platform, his hand was in his pocket.He slipped of his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, closed and laid his hands gently on the first subject – a man said to be crippled by the spinal curvature. After a time, the man stood upright, and when he climbed down, from the stage, he left behind his two walking sticks.

Then, an elderly New-Zealander who said he had not touched his toes for three years, bent down and touched them.

A man whose hands were twisted by arthritis, from which he said he had suffered for 30 years , clasped and unclasped his fingers.

As so, it went on throughout the evening until the vast crowd dispersed to the strains of the Albert Hall’s mighty organ.

Two well-established facts relative to super-normal happenings and the so-called “miraculous” healings , might be usefully noted here. The first is , that they will be found to take place fairly frequently at a time of great expectation or change of direction in human history, such for instance, as that which took place round about the birth of Christianity 2000 years ago,and such as is taking place now in the expectation of a NEW MESSIAH or NEW ERA.

The second is, and that is a fairly well established fact concerning them, the extraordinary diversity of opinion with regard to the modus operandi of these happenings and who or what is that is responsible for them.Some of those closely associated with these usual phenomena rather vaguely and perhaps blindly, or at least trustfully, credit them either to the direct intervention of some Supreme Being or it may be to some particular aspect of that Deity to which they are most devoted – and perhaps also, in answer to some prayer, offering, rites and ceremonies performed, or, it may be, the uttering of some “mantra” or other. There is little or no understanding of the real modus operandi of what happens. Sometimes their prayers get answered , and sometimes they do not. When their prayers are not answered , they either conclude that this is due to some fault of their own or that in their case, ” God’s Will” is something different for them, and call for strength to carry their “Cross”. That is the attitude of millions who know not who or what they worship.

There are others who are inclined to take the credit to themselves for anything that happens of a super-normal kind. They will even make charges for the use of “occult” or clairvoyant gifts in this connection. Some spiritualists and mediums are to be found in this category. Others, a little less materialistic and egoistic, will give the credit to what happens to their particular “control” or “spirit guide” or “Master”, without having the slightest knowledge of the rationale of the phenomena or the laws governing the same.

In case of the Founder of MAI-ISM , super-normal happenings during his life divide themselves into two categories. The first has to do with his own inner preparation, as he passed from one stage and state of thought to another. Some of these have already been mentioned. They relate to critical and often very trying and painful periods in his evolution and development. They are worth a careful study and might usefully be put in book form themselves in this connection. The second category has more to do with the actual launching and building up of the Mai-istic movement itself, as an immensely important connecting link between an age that has been noted for the clashing ideologies and theologies of different systems of organised religion and an age that is earnestly seeking an underlying reality and a way of life that is absolutely universal and rational.

And although there most certainly is a very clear and rational explanation for various remarkable psychic or occult phenomena that are taking place in the world , and in MAI-ISM, the Founder of MAI-ISM would appear not to bother his head unduly on this score.Having accepted the Infinite One Life Power as MOTHER, Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent and having put this to the test in numerous ways, he would appear to think not only that nothing is impossible to Mother, but that supernormal happenings that may bring relief and certain amount of happiness in certain conditions, may be permissible and helpful. On page 102 [ Note No. 142 ] of “MAI-ISM” , the Founder cites the following incident which in substantiation of this : –

Once the Founder was the guest of an atheist in South India . He was given a spacious room where he was conducting worship in a corner. Two days later, the pet son of the man fell dangerously ill ……
To the surprise of his parents , the boy said, ” I won’t be cured unless you worship MAI(MOTHER) that has come to us and repeat hymns and mantras which Baba dictates”. Strange and ridiculous. The man who had vehemently argued only just before, explained the situation to the Founder. Said the Founder : “It does not matter that you have no faith…. Your son has full faith, with the divine innocence of a child, and that is more than enough…..”. The boy began to be speedily cured, and the whole family became changed in the matter of their outlook about religion.

But, at the same time, while the Founder may be said to lay more stress on service, devotion and self-surrender to MAI as a means of accomplishing things than he does on the “miraculous” or “spectacular”, and while he does not concern himself much, if at all, with the modus operandi of the same, confident as he is that nothing is impossible to that one Universal and Almighty Power which he regards as MOTHER, he is nevertheless driven by experience to recognise not only that these unusual things do happen fairly regularly in the ambit of his influence and activities, but they also serve a useful purpose in the scheme of things.Certainly all sorts of unusual phenomena to all sorts of affairs of life, quite apart from what is sometimes called “unorthodox healing”, do happen – things that can not be accounted for by any known methods of orthodox science.

Take the following, as a means, let us say, of dispersing doubts and raising the spirits of a devotee, and recorded on pages 88-89 [ Notes 114 to 121 ] of the book ” MAI-ISM “. The Founder had been invited by a devotee to a big Navaratra celebration in Vile Parle, Bombay (Mumbai), which had been prepared on an elaborate scale, at great pains and cost, in the expectation of huge gathering. Owing, however, to an unusually heavy downpour of rain, just prior to the celebration, every thing was spoiled and the arrangements upset. Instead of the expected crowd of 500 or more , here were only 50 people. In consequence, the devotee concerned became much depressed and even thought it meant the Divine Mother’s displeasure in some way. ” I am afraid “, he said to the Founder, ” this means I have lost all Mai’s Grace.” He determined however to carry on and make the best of it. In this, he was encouraged by the Founder, who, going near to the water-drenched altar in the presence of 50 people prayed in a loud voice so the all could hear :

MOTHER !! Who will be Thy devotee if Thou dost not give encouragement and proof of Thy mercy in Kaliyuga, at every step of Thy devotees ? See, here is Thy devotee; he is out and out depressed. The world smashes us and Thou also dost not take heed … Does it befit the Divine Mother, the Most Merciful Mai ?

No sooner were these words addressed, than there was a blaze of fire as high as about seven feet above the altar, and that remained there for about ten or twelve minutes, until, in fact, the Arati was finished with Stotras, hymns etc.
All present went to the highest point of humility with saturation of their nothingness. Where from came this blaze from the altar which was entirely wet, watery and empty ?

Something like this also took place at Ahmadabad, at the usual Friday Mother’s Lodge meeting, when doubts had been expressed with regard to the genuineness of the presence on that occasion of some exquisite and powerful fragrance that suddenly pervaded the whole atmosphere during the Service, – itself a phenomenon of no mean kind . Turning his attention to this expressed doubt, the Founder asked : ” What evidence would you like ? What do you want to see ?” Someone responding to a thought, suggested : ” We would like to see MOTHER give her garland to you.”
It is then recorded that, after the Founder had prayed for a few minutes, standing as he did so at respectful distance from the altar, the garland, which was resting around the symbolic picture of the DIVINE MOTHER on the altar, ” gradually untied itself, flew into the air, and fell on the neck of the Founder.” Referring to this, the Founder writes :” All were thunderstruck, because a mere belief is after all an imaginary thing; what people actually see with their own eyes is most convincing.”

The following quotations from “MAI-ISM” relative to “miraculous” or unusual happenings of various kinds at Mai-istic meetings , will be found illuminating and instructive : (page 91 , note no. 124) –
The Founder does not give great importance to miracles, but there is surely a stage when the miracles do the ” eye-opening ” work for many people who are really of an atheistic mentality , but who courteously and not honestly assent to beliefs about the existence of the other world , or, life after death, or invisible spirits, deities and GOD. Their assent is mostly out of fear of being thrown out from society of God believers and for so many other reasons.

Saints do not count upon miracles to enlarge their influence , but these are casual happenings manage by the deities themselves to enhance the value of their devotees , so that they be heard with love, faith, sanctity and respect… How do miracles help you and me , if we do not make it a point of being of the deserving plane in the matter of our devotion, love , service and surrender ?
And , on page 94 of the same book, there is another useful reminder along the same lines thus :

It has been centuries old wrong notion and mentality to consider worldly-distress-relieving work to be a much inferior variety of religious work. The highest seat would be given to one who bombastically talks Gyana, Vedas, Geeta, discourses and explains different schools of various beliefs, “Darshanas” and philosophies and makes astounding professional exhibition. The next place would be given to the poor and humble Bhakta (devotee) who tries to serve opium of devotion to create forgetfulness.
The man who advises on practical-life-matters or helps or serves people in distress or helplessness, is only Mr. So and So….. nothing more than good and kind man.
There are innumerable instances in the Puranas where Rishis and Munis have helped and served the world and people in their most mundane matters and have been all the more been revered for their service and sacrifice …….. (and then follows various illustrations)….

Service and sacrifice have lost all religious recognition. Divine knowledge and devotion-talks and ceremonious functions and ritualistic performances , temple-going, pilgrimage-running, river-bathing, saints’-crowding etc.. have altogether ousted both public and private service and sacrifice …… Bankruptcy of inner richness is tried to be made up by creating inflated values for external, easily manageable actions. Stuff-less people are always extremely particular about handsome and costly dresses.Man-to-man relationship, conduct, character and behaviors, etc., have been thrown into the background,whereas talks of Man-to-God relationship, Divine knowledge and Devotion…. have become practically, items of highest importance in the matter of the definition and summation of Religion.

Who is dearer to you, if you are hungry – the one who prepares toilingly a dish for you and hold it before you, or, the one who sits in front of you reciting your praise to the skies ?

And it is on this background and in this spirit that the Founder would appear to regard all supernormal happenings – more in the light of little service rendered both to the individual MAI-ji and to the cause of MAI-ISM generally. In one place, he seems to think of these usual happenings, more especially perhaps when mantras are resorted to in connection with prayers offered, in terms of ” practical spiritual diplomacy.”

However that may be, it is certain that these supernormal happenings do take place in connection with rise and development of the Mai-ist movement. And not infrequently, they take place at a distance. Indeed, in this matters neither time nor space would seem to count very much, if at all. There are numerous cases on record of enquirers or devotees receiving very definite instructions and help in a dream or in a vision, or in some other occult way, – people living hundreds and perhaps over a thousand miles away from Bombay (Mumbai)- the headquarters of the movement.

The photograph of Earnest Kirk and Saint shri Mai Swarupa :

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : THE WORLD’S NEED AND MAI-ISM

AUTHOR : ERNEST KIRK ( EDITOR, “LIFE”, COIMBATORE, INDIA ) FIRST PUBLISHED ON 2 SEPTEMBER 1957
PUBLISHER :MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND , MAI NIWAS, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), BOMBAY (MUMBAI-400054), INDIA.

FOR A PDF FILE OF MAI-ISM BOOK EDITION 1952, PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK

Dreams and visions : Powerful avenues of divine communication.

His being permanently established as a devotee of Mother was the most invaluable Grace through the Direct Vision of Mother Herself,at the moment of his suicide leading despair.

The activities in respect of the latter were enthusiastically taken up by leading Madras (Chennai) sister, (a resident of Mambalam) because she had a dream.

61. Seeing dreams in which Mother and Founder would be seen sitting together and sometimes playing some indoor or outdoor game and sometimes “hide and seek”, was one variety. Mother teasing the Founder and the latter getting wrathful and running to catch Her and hit Her and Mother eluding the grip and laughing at his inability to cope with Her lighting speed – another variety.

62. A layman in this matter may, for a time, argue, such dreams as are narrated above, may be the creation of their own mental thoughts, but we can’t explained away like that, when the Founder actually experienced a vast, striking change in the attitude of the persons before and after their experience.

In the morning, he delivered the message in a bold convincing manner and that evening he left for Nagpur.

63. Once a great yogi arrived at the Founder’s, in Hubli, as a distinguished rare guest. He was a master of English and Sanskrit in his young days. He had relinquished the world and was moving from place to place. He lived on milk, fruit and wet gram pulse uncooked.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM

FIRST EDITION : 1952 / SECOND EDITION : 2007

AUTHOR: MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND

PUBLISHED BY MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI – 400054 INDIA.

The elementary idea of the working of the world and life

The elementary idea of the working of the world and life of which the above is an extract is as under :

Peace and happiness lies in reducing Bhedas, differences and distinctions, reducing conflictful many to as few as possible and creating a nature of loving others and a determined effort to love in reconciliation with others . It also lies in forgetting oneself and surrendering to the Divine Will. The best method of forgetting oneself is devotion and meditation. These truths are capable of proof by experience and need no scriptures to prove them.

Be satisfied therefore with the direct practice of Love, Service, Devotion and Self-Surrender.

The simplest method of worship is by prayer. It may be for spiritual grace or some particular moral and legitimate benefit or relief. Prayer shall be sincere and with full humility which is physically seen in prostration. The prayer shall be with nobility which is seen in sacrifice or whatever is dear to us to assure Mother of sacrificed things being much less dear than Herself.

The whole universe is not non-existent, although it is not independent of Mother’s Will and is of Mother’s Will’s making. The ideal of changelessness is supreme but the ever- experienced changefulness cannot be denied. Mere assertion of changelessness is unconvincing and explain nothing.

At the stage where there are differences between soul and soul, soul and universe, soul and Mother, Mother and universe, they must be well understood.

Finalmost Mother has two aspects- animateness and inanimateness or consciousness and unconsciousness, spirit and matter. The interplay between these two is the work of the Active Mother.

The quality of matter is non-consciousness, non-intelligence, manyness, separateness, changefulness, outwardness and objectivity. The greater the consciousness that is put in the material things , the greater is the feeling of its reality and consequent pain and pleasure.

Matter is uncreatable and indestructible. Increase in one place necessarily means decrease in another place.

The quality of spirit is just the reverse of that of matter. Matter is generally characterised by substance, property, action, equilibrium, motion and inertia. Dravya, Guna, Karma, Satwa, Rajas and Tamas. Spirit is characterised by assertableness, consciousness, blissfulness, desire, knowledge and action. Sat Chit Anand Ichcha Jnana and Kriya.

A Jiva or a soul is spirit enshrouded in matter, say a combination of spirit and matter in immeasurable proportions. The Jiva identifies itself with the body and the several changes of the universe, tries to possess material; things and happiness and finally casts all away. The Jiva passes through immeasurable experiences of creating desires, running after them and finally realizes that happiness lies in no other thing or mental condition except in the Lotus Feet of Mother.

The outward tendency to seek happiness from matter and exclusiveness and self-assertion is misdirected learning of Avidyaa. The opposite inward tendency is Vidyaa of rightly directed learning.

The interplay of spirit and matter goes on in space and time Disha and Kala, under the laws of cause and effect which is niyamana. Jiva is free to the extent of spirit and bound to be extent of matter.

Matter is undergoing three stages of becoming, growing, extinction. Shrishti, sthiti, laya : creation, continuation and destruction. The soul is bound, part bound and part free, and free. The soul is free in the smaller field and bound in the larger field and is neither fully free nor fully bound. The boundness is due to relationship and identification with matter. The soul has further the qualities of attraction, repulsion and neutrality If materialism increases, spirituality decreases and vice versa.

The spirit is liberal, narrow or tolerant and Jiva pursues, renounces and remains equanimous and experiences pleasure, pain or peace. In the descending half of the full evolution part of a Jiva . Jiva creates desires, gets knowledge to unable it to fulfill them, and acts. In the ascending half the same action takes place , but in the former case there is desirefulness and in the latter desirelessness.

Further the Jiva has the tendency of trying to get maximum of real existence, knowledge and bliss. According to the stage of development the notions about these three changes , Jiva wishes to absorb others and offer resistance against being absorbed by others.

The Jiva has three bodies, physical, astro-mental and causal, passes through three conditions of waking, dreaming and sleeping and in the waking state acts through five motor organs and gathers knowledge through five sensory organs. The Jiva has its inner working through Buddhi, Manas, Chitta and Ahankara, discrimination, deliberation, oscillation and egoism and is handicapped by six internal enemies of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Mada, Moha and Matsara – desire, wrathfulness, greed, pride, infatuation and jealousy.

In a word the whole world process is a struggling of Jiva against Jiva, spirit against matter, Vidyaa against Avidyaa, life against death, desirelessness against desirefulness and so on.

The soul struggling hard roams through endless experiences on endless planes. He knows many things but he has no strength, gets giddy and fatigued and having done all that the Jiva can, finally comes to the conclusion that there is no peace, no bliss, no rest, no changelessness except by self-surrender to Mother in the Lotus Feet and renounces everything to Her, with the unflinching determination of “Thy will be done”. Then alone the Grace showers.

It is then the miraculous transformation begins. The outlook gets larger, the control becomes greater, the illumination becomes brighter, the proofness to the influences of matter becomes stronger, turning misery to happiness becomes easier, life becomes livelier, joy is felt deeper, peacefulness lasts longer, wandering period becomes shorter and so on and so forth.

Making a sweeping summary – All the working is controlled by one beneficent power, call it Father or Mother.

The interest of every being is closely interwoven with that all other beings.

So long as human beings suffer, they need consolation from the invisible and incomprehensible, from religion, be it of any shape.

By wishing, knowing and acting rightly alone we can be happy. God is not foreign element to man who is in some meaning, somehow in essence , one with God. Smallest good or bad sown bears its corresponding fruit, virtue and merit never remain unrewarded and vice versa vice and sin never unpunished.

The whole universe is governed by the law under which the microcosm is analogous with macrocosm.

There are higher powers who help the righteous most wonderfully in their miseries and difficulties here below.

Everyone is after happiness which is unattainable because of the sense of separateness, ignorance, egoism,selfishness and harmfulness.

Every man is made to go through experiences which make one better and better and go nearer and nearer to the origin in the long run, through he practice of Righteous Action, Desire and Knowledge.

The last remedy for such ones as are incapable to steadily progress along the prescribed course is unconditional self-surrender through devotion. “Thy will be done.“

EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOK : MOTHER AND MOTHER’S THOUSAND NAMES MAI AND MAI SAHASRANAMA

AUTHOR : MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND

PUBLISHER : MAI ADHERENTS’ INSTITUTE, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTACRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI 400054 INDIA

GOD EXPLAINED PARADOX

The paradoxical position, in the matter of God’s attitude, is simply a torture, although a spiritual one.What is the deepest hidden working underneath ? It is a play of God or Mother with His or Her dearmost devotees. They live their most intense life with Almighty, but the world as a whole remains practically unchanged, though with a temporary spiritual flood.When the Founder would be tired to the last point,God or Mother would explain the paradox thus : –

Do you think it is the laying down and explaining certain best recipes of a religion, that can make the world happy? NO.

Do you think it is ceaseless effort of understanding of truths, that entitles men to be happy ? NO.

Do you think the world is unhappy and miserable, without its own evils and sins ? NO.

All is delusion.

And yet know this, the secret of secrets. Enjoyment and Happiness proceeds from Relinquishment,to the extent you throw away things of the world.

“Love alone is the Teacher of Relinquishment.Service concretises Love. They become happy who love and serve Me and whom I love.The claim to be happy finally rests on Love and Service to me and Mine, with devotion and self-surrender. Neither people can change matters nor you. What is people’s highest self-control before Nature’s urge within ? And what can your highest effort do unless I move the keys of people’s hearts ?

The rest is all Maya’s befooling of mankind, through delusions of authorship, ownership, actorship etc., and misunderstandings through networks of causes and effects, distinctions and differences, mine and thine, etc.

“The Lover, The Server and The Surrenderer to Me or Mine alone wins the highest victory of happiness.”

The rest is only a temporary mirage-like satisfaction and a passing talk, a word-froth, a speedy revolving of a motor wheel raised above ground; the meter would read miles but the motor stands where it has stood.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK MAI-ISM [ PAGES 142-144 ]

AUTHOR MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND
PUBLISHER : MAI (MANDIR) NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTACRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI 400054, INDIA.

DIVINE MOTHER PRAYER

PRAYER

1. Oh Mother, I am entirely ignorant of Thy Mantras or Yantras neither do I possess any treasure of meritorious actions nor any bearing power against misery;nor are my devotional and spiritual knowledge so great as to enable me to absorb myself in meditation of Thee; nor can I even most elementarily please Thee by singing Thy hymns or repeating Thy prayers. I have similarly no capacity to sit in Yoga postures or at least cry or weep in Thy name or shed piteous divine love tears. Although thus in every way I am a big cipher, yet on my merely remembering , Thou hast been running to me and removing all my distresses, in a moment.

2. I, who am unconnected with God and Guru, I, who an exceedingly great miser in money and charity, I who have been unable to throw off all kinds of indolence, I who have been possessed by youthful reckless swollen-head-ness; such one. I have never served Thy Lotus Feet, Yet I do beg Thy apologies. Oh, Mother Creator of the whole universe, I proclaim my humblest wishes of VICTORY TO THEE, and that is because I am overpowered with the eternal truth and conviction, that “There have been innumerable wicked sons who have been led astray and have forgotten Thee, but none has ever heard of a single bad merciless Mother”.

3. I See in this world, many of Thy sons being straight-forward and virtuous, but in their midst, I am only Thy wicked son. with no stamina to exert and perform meritorious actions yet with all these defects of mine , I am confident that my welfare proceeds from Thy Lotus Feet, since I have the full faith and conviction viz., that ” many wicked sons have lost their paths, but I have never heard of a single wicked merciless Mother”.

4. Oh Mother ! I have known you to be the Mother of innumerable Universes, yet I have not rendered service to any brother or sister ( among Thy children ) or made any sacrifice of a public, social or Universal nature, neither have I given any help to anyone , nor have I seen a single dawn for prayer hour. Indeed however Thou hast been holding Thy mercy and pity for me which is immeasurable , unparalleled and second to none. ” I have known of many wicked sons that have lost their path, but have never heard of a single wicked merciless Mother that has come into being “.

5. Oh Mother, Other Gods and Deities having given me up and having been given up by me as well, I have cherished affection for Thy Lotus Feet, after facing many worries and miseries. Fifty years I have thus gone through and subsequent years are to be yet more to anxiety and restlessness. Now atleast, Oh Mother ! if I do not see Thy-Lotus Eye-Nectar sprays, where am I to go ? with entirely none to save , support or protect or patronize, help or back me up ? To whom else can I go ? or in whom seek shelter or approach or refuse ? There is none of others (Gods or Goddesses, Deities or Angels) who can be at all, to any the smallest extent, comparable with Thee, nor sought with Thy Mercy and Pity, for myself to surrender.

6. Oh dear Mother ! You have fulfilled all hopes and desires of so many legitimate or illegitimate, deserved or undeserved and you have given the fruit of service to Thy devotees in the form of immense wealth and successes and victories. So many, even those who were and are miserly and indolent, have also got all, simply because they nominally said to Thee “We have become Thine “. Oh Mother ! how miraculous is the mere hearing of the word “jay Mai” ? and what a wonderful result is achieved when spoken, even through unconsciously ? If then, on the other hand , Thy name is repeated with true love and devotion ( intensity and sincerity ), what would be the exalted mortal unimaginable elevated and blessed situation of Thy devotees’ ASCENSION ?

7. Oh my dearest Mother ! I am full of desires and anxiousness for the finalmost liberation, and have innumerable desires of royal enjoyments and also hopes quite exceeding all normal standards. I have also innumerable strange and unfulfillable eccentric desires, including that of divine knowledge as well. New and new, more and more happiness desires (of mine) are also going on fast increasing and multiplying AD INFINITUM. Ever therefore, I am begging for Thy refuge and shelter, on my having surrendered myself to Thee, placing my heart in Thy Lotus feet.

Please fill me up ( my emptiness ) with service devotion. love and self-surrender to Thee and take me away to Thy Mai Mansion, where Thou hast been eternally residing.

8. Oh Mother MAI-MARKANDMAI Dear ! whenever I am drowned in any adversity, I make up from now my most resolute determination viz. that I will not fail there and then to concentratedly remembering Thee and run unto Thee. Oh most merciful Mother Mai-Markand Mai ! don’t fail to run down to me, to my succour, to help me out and save me and to overflow Thy heart then, with the greatest pity on me , Oh Mai-Markand Mai ! Is not the most common every home experienced truth, that all children begin to shout piercingly to invoke their Mother, only when hungry and unhappy or while in pain distress or calamity ?

9. Oh my dearest Mother mine ! Mother ! Thou art most merciful. The only hope of being saved, with all expectations from all Thy devotees , during calamities get centred in Thee alone as their Saviour. Oh Mother! Oh dear Mai Markand Mai Mother ! both united as one (God and Guru) ! don’t fail to run and save all Thy devotees and destroy their all miseries and calamities and distresses whenever invoked.

10. We all prostrastingly pray to Thee and demand this universal never-failing boon from Thee, viz, that Thou shalt make and keep all happy, that all triple varieties of human burnings and sufferings of all, Thou shalt remove. Thou shalt also bless the world , that all shall attain all types of welfare successes and victories and finally, that Universal Peace and Bliss and full contentment shall be spread everywhere in the whole universe.

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI SAHASRANAM PATHANAM

PUBLISHER : MAI ADHERENTS’ INSTITUTE, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTACRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI 400054, INDIA.

Universal Divine Mother Mai

Glory to the Finalmost Mother, Mother of Knowledge, Prosperity and Conquest, Glory to Mother of Love,Light, Desire and Action.

AIM HREEM SHREEM KLEEM JAYA MAI

Mother Bless All.

Mother’s meditation – couplet repeated during Mother’s worship is as under :-

Vaatsalyaamrit Varshinim, Rasamayim, Kaarunya Kallolinilm. || Bhaktaanandakarim, Cha Vishvajanaim, Paapaat Kalau Taarinim, || Maayaa Shakti Paraam, Prapatti Sulabhaam, Prityaa Rataam Sarvatah, || Maarkandeya-Nutaam Smitaam Varayuktam, Maaeem Vayam Samshritaah.||

Mother’s Lodge is indebted for this Mantra to Mother’s ardent, Sacred lore-learned and ritual-proficient devotee Shreeyut Kaushikaraambhaai V. Mehtaa, (President, Mother’s Lodge, Ahmedabad) who was dictated this couplet, during meditation, by Mother. The meaning is as under.

“She that showers nectar of motherly love, She that is full of joy-creating-treasures and pleasures of all varieties, She that is full of compassion and gaiety, She that causes the devotees to become ever joyful and jolly, by removing all their calamities of all kinds, She that is the best Saviour from sins during the Kali age, She that is beyond Maayaa and Power and yet She that is quite easily approachable by Self-Surrender, She that is pleased by love (and service) to all, She that has been rejuvenated by Maarkandeya, She who is ever smiling and ever ready with boons to grant, to such Mai, we all unitedly surrender.

Some devotees interpret the last two lines as under : –

She that is raised above the popular conception, by being conceived and preached as beyond Maayaa and Shakti, and She that is described by Maarkand, as easily attainable by surrender and devotion on being pleased by “Loving All” (and serving all), and She that smiles on Her devotees with boons to be readily granted, on being praised (Nutaa), through Maarkandeya, or as preached by Maarkandeya, to such Mai we all unitedly surrender ourselves.

I bow down to the Sportive Mother, the supporter of the universe, the ruler of creation, preservation and reconstruction. I prostrate myself to Mother (Mai) as bright and cool, as illuminating and buoyancy creating, as millions of rising suns and moons. I kneel to Mother armed with Lotus, Boon, Goad and Banner.

The distinguishing feature of Mother Mai is that She has harmless holdings in Her hand. The significance of the said things in hands is this :-

(1) The beginning aspirant commences with Lotus which symbolizes Love or Devotion, (2) Mother on being satisfied with however little the devotee is able to do, uplifts Her second hand to pleasingly say :Enough” and grants boons;(3) On receiving boons, after a time when the devotee becomes an over fondled child, Mother gives him the power in the shape of goad to set his mad elephant of mind in order, and (4) finally he has the banner of success.

Looked from another angle of vision, the Lotus in first hand means love to humanity and devotion to Mother; second hand is a hand which is emblematic of service and charity; the elephant-hook in the third hand is the self-controlled Devotion and the strict observance of the universal code of morality and religion; and the flag in the fourth hand is the universal banner under which the Mai-ists highest ambition is to serve Mother and Her children with unconditional cheerful surrender to Her Divine Will.

The Shloka that explains these significances and interpretations, which has been dictated by Mother and is repeated during Mai worship is as under : –

Baalaprema Samullasachcha hridayam. Yaagena Padmashriyaa || Nishkaamam cha Varena Vishvajanataa, Shushrushanam Yatnatah.|| Bhaktim Samyama Mankrushena Sharanam, Svaaham Parityaagatah. || Dhyaayaamo Dishatim Dhvajena Paramaam, Mayeem Jagat-Paavanim ||

Mother, whose heart overflowing with joy and maternal love, on being worshipped with lotus (loving others, and loving Her);

Mother who being so worshiped with what little one can, gets so over satisfied that She raises Her hand to say “enough”, and grants all that is desired on striving to render service disinterestedly to the whole humanity of the universe ;

Mother that perfects the devotion by handling over the elephant-goad to control the mad elephant of one’s mind.

Mother that invites Her devotees to be under Her Banner by complete Unconditional Self-Surrender and by abandoning one’s self;

We meditate on such Mother, who shows and enlightens the way thus – The Mother, The Highest, The Supreme-most, The Mother, The Purifier and The Saviour of universes.

The worship of universal Mother is the only method of attaining all human desires; the repetition of Her secret and sacred names is the best way to approach Her.

“I praise Mother who is the treasure house of love and energy to human beings, who is of rosy complexion, whose limbs resemble those of Cupid, who is ever praised by all deities, whose salvation ways are most mysterious, who dwells in the Atom and who manifests the Universe.”

Mother body is formed of pure and concentrated Satva without any admixture of Rajas and Tamas; whereas the other deities merely have a preponderance of the Sattva quality over the other two (Rajas and Tamas) and are not of pure Satva. Hence She is the highest, the proto-type of Parabrahman of the Vedantits. The very Parabrahman in the Active State after awakening of “Who am I ?” “How shall I find pleasure?” and ” What shall I do?” i.e. after the modifications arising from Knowledge, Desire and Action.

Sattvik quality means fearlessness, purity of heart, settlement in religious understanding, charity, self-restraint, sacred study, penance , uprightness, harmlessness, veracity, wrathlessness, renunciation, slanderlelessness, sympathy for life, relishlessness, gentleness, modesty, ficklelessness, lustre, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, non-interference and absence of self-esteem.

Rajas is the originator of activity mostly for self which often times makes Sattva to yield to Tamas and sometimes Tamas to yield to Sattva. Tamas is nescience, ignorance, indolence, perversion or worldwormness.

Mother’s conception differs from the popular Hindu conception in the following (1) It is centred round the idea of Love and Mercy and not Power, (2) Universal approachability, (3) No belief of a chosen race (4) No Vaama Maarga,(5) Not Father’s wife, (6) Preponderance of devotion over rituals, (7)Religiosity to reflect in living and not in superficially observing certain customs, (8) No pride or hallucination of one’s own religion being a big ocean and other religions being mere pits (9) More of practicability and activity than academic exhibitions and self-confinement under the self deception of having attained Sattvik Nivritti, etc. (10) Spiritual equality of man and woman and (11) Helpfulness and not obstructivity of woman to man, etc.

Mother is called “Mai”. She has no other name by way of delimitation, and the name “Mai”, is appropriate not only as the Hindi word for mother but because repetition of Her sacred name gives the most efficacious mystic word “AIM.” On repetition “Mai, Mai, Mai,” becomes “Aim, Aim, Aim,” and vice versa “AIM”Mantra (sanctified sound)is as sacred as Aum. That the efficacy of even “Aum” is ultimately connected with the meditation of Mother, and can be seen from the word itself.Re-writing infinitely without a break “Aum, Aum, Aum,” becomes “Umaa, Umaa, Umaa,” which is the well-known Hindu name of one of he manifestations of Mother (Desire, Energy and Creative Power).

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MOTHER AND MOTHER’S THOUSAND NAMES MAI AND MAI SAHASRANAMA
AUTHOR : MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND ; FIRST EDITION :1939 & SECOND EDITION : 1962
PUBLISHER : MAI ADHERENTS’ INSTITUTE, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTACRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI 400054, INDIA.

MAI INSTALLATION / [MAI-ISM]

The most important incident wherefrom the history of Mai movement starts took place in the latter months of 1931 ( September and October ) in Poona (India).
The wife of Founder’s college friend and boss (Late Revered Sister Taraben Soparkar) was on death-bed suffering from Septicemia. The friend got the Founder(Markand Dholakia) transferred from Ahmedabad to Poona to help in the calamity. The wife was lying upstairs. She said to her husband, I am hearing the Mantra repetitions from some Matajee’s devotee. I am on death-bed so please find him out round about our bungalow streets and let me have his Darshan”. The friend took the Founder and went round in search and assured her that there was none:”Not only I but even ‘Dholkia Kaka’ accompanied me for the search”. She exclaimed,”What has he come? It must be then he. Please call him up”.She repeated the same shloka of Sapta Shati fourth Adhyaya which the Founder was then repeating mentally unheard by anyone. This shloka was repeated by her to assure the Founder that he was a recognised devotee and that she was a worthy recipient of his Darshan and blessings.

On 3-October-1931, the case was entirely serious. Three eminent doctors declared she would die within an hour or so. The worst news was broken by the husband of his friend who tried to strengthen his courage to meet the calamity. The husband vociferated,”What a coward talk? I am sure, if you heartily pray, she will at least live longer and give me sufficient time to prepare for the worst.” The Founder had a very little confidence in the efficacy of his prayers for the most impossible change, but he had to follow him upstairs. He prayed with his whole heart and devotion standing near the pillow of the lady in midst of nearly twenty weeping relatives. The pulse, speech and vision had left the body. In prayer, the Founder’s tears fell in her mouth, the pulse speedily went up, vision and speech returned and the eyes opened. Her words were,”How can I like to leave this world leaving behind me the un-cared-for children? I see Mataji standing before me. She says if you fast for a day she will give me a week’s extension. Will you not promise to do that for me?” The promise was given hand in hand and the improvement began with almost unimaginable speed. Just half an hour after, she asked for milk, fruit-juice etc. It was an unprecedented family joy.

Some believed, and some did not, in God’s hand in all these. But almost everyone including husband thought she was saved permanently. On the 7th day, the temperature, however, rose up from the morning. The husband was too shrewd to remain any longer under the delusion. The whole story looked true. She was to go that day. He had a hysteric fit from he was made to recover to composure after consolation by his friend. At 3 p.m., there was a phone from the Secretariat asking the husband to send certain confidential office files under lock and key. He could not possibly leave her. The Founder was given keys and the motor driver was ordered to drive fast and the Founder was given strict orders not to waste a single minute in the office. On reaching the office, the head clerk informed him that the lady expired as soon as he has placed his feet outside the bungalow.

Here was a continued episode which baffled all human solutions. She was a great devotee of Matajee. She actually heard the Mantra which the Founder was simply mentally chanting. The prophecy of the Pandharpur saint and its fulfilment were wonders. She saw Mother and heard Her words. A fast of a particular devotee earned the Mother’s Grace of the boon of a week’s life extension. All these happenings began revolving in Founder’s mind, finally resulting from an overpowering sense of his ingratitude to Mother.

Said he,”Should I be simply living pleasure-dipped and fully ungrateful to my Mother? She has so often protected me all along and shown Herself to me and I have not breathed a single syllable into the world about Her mercifulness and Her dying for Her devotees. This one idea drove off all other ideas, even those required to sustain himself in daily routine. He became semi-lunatic, weeping day and night and beating his forehead, sometimes against walls rolling on the ground and saying only one thing, I am a wretch, most ungrateful creature, Even such a simple thing glorification of Thyself, I have not done.”

The Calcutta message-bearer came over to Poona (Pune). Finding no place in any other hotel, he had come over to the hotel where Founder resided. With great despondency as how to find the man in such a largely unknown city, he fell into sleep at 10 p.m. He had a dream; “Don’t be afraid and losing heart. I have brought you to the man. Just at twelve midnight, you see things through the slit of the common door between your room and the front room. You have to hand over the message to the man there in the morning. Make a bold statement”. The man saw the Founder at the said hour in communion, full of solicitations to Mother,” To find some other man to install etc.” In the morning he delivered the message and left.

The Founder was sitting with him from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on the wooden bench. The man went to his place. He was at the highest pitch of desire that he may have a vision of Mother at least in a dream. He had a dream in the sleeping. Mother appeared and said,”You are now longing for my Darshan. Who was talking to you for hours on the bridge? That was Me. You have not only seen me but talked to me”. The man narrated the event to the Founder at early dawn.

Two persons coming down for only the purpose of delivering the message was something too great to be taken lightly. That put the Founder to an indescribable shame about his obstinacy and suspiciousness. Said he with a sigh,” I am surely a man without faith. I have a faith in reality what I have seen and heard, but I have no faith in Mother making me fully fitted for the uphill unique task”. He was extremely nervous and terribly afraid of how people would consider his actions and of their defaming him by attributing highest impudence, hypocrisy and blasphemy.

Each and every condition was so very wonderfully and admirably fulfilled. He was getting surer and surer as one condition after another came up attaining fulfilment and when finally a hawker shouted out “Har Har’ (Garland, Garland), he burst into tears on hearing that shout. He began to beat his breast and forehead. “Mother, Thou hast finally caught me. Could you not find any other man, who is more worthy than myself ?”The five persons consoled him with the sweetest words, “She would do Her own work. Who is more blessed than yourself? Why should you loose heart and courage? Where is the question of your worthiness or unworthiness, at all sir, when She Herself has chosen you ?”

EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK : MAI-ISM

AUTHOR : MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND
FIRST EDITION : 1952 SECOND EDITION : 2007
PUBLISHER : UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM TRUST, MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI -400054 INDIA.

Mai-ism : Some of the specific distinguishing features

Mai is the Hindi word for ‘Mother’. Mai-ism is the Universal psychological rational religion round the conception of the Motherhood of God as well, along with the Fatherhood of God mostly prevalent till now all over the world and even preferably for them that appreciate more. Mai is the Universal Mother of all human beings without any distinctions of religions, nations or communities etc., “Mai” under the preciseness of Mai-ism, further carries the notion that Mai is the Universal Mother of all, who is most pleased on living the life of Universal Love and Service with Devotion and unconditional cheerful Self Surrender to the Divine Will.
Some of the specific distinguishing features of Mai-ism are :-
1. It seeks the reconciliation and unification of all different individual religions.
2. It raises the status of Motherhood, Sisterhood, Daughterhood and Womanhood to be co-equal with the Fatherhood, Brotherhood, Sonhood and Manhood. Mai-ism believes that in as much as the whole world is pervaded with and works with the masculine and feminine elements, forming component parts as proved even by science , no religion and no progressive evolutionary process can be perfect without the acceptance of the co-equal status of man and woman.
3. Requirement, theology and philosophy of a Universal Religion should be simple and uncomplicated as can be selected by way of the truely conscientious practitioners. Simplicity is stated to be the “Charm” of Mai-ism.
4. For them that have a special aptitude , Mother and Child relationship between God and man is extremely efficient for all reliefs, and spiritual or religious progress.
5. Everyone has one’s own right in the matter of selecting one’s own path of for evolution or religious progress.
6. In all other matters , except universality, love, service, devotion and unconditional cheerful self-surrender, every one has one’s own full freedom
of choice of action, provided the action is harmless, moral, just, legitimate and religiously permissible.
The all -appealing attractivity of Mai-ism arises itself from its broad based spontaneous simplicity.The reconciliatory readjusting power of Mai-ism proceeds itself from its religious recognition of all beings’ divine right of demand and choice, in respect of freedom, peace and happiness.The subterranean spring of Mai-ism for the perennial supply of surviving stamina and security sprays itself from the sublime supreme MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP.
There should be no misunderstanding about Mai-ism being something separate from any of the existing established religions.Mai-ism is only a synthetic essence of all religions. Mai-ism is Hinduism or Christianity or say any religion, BUT NOT THAT ALONE. A Mother is the mother of each one of her children but yet not any child alone. Mai-ism is a larger circle which includes all smaller circles without tackling or touching or disturbing the integrity of any smaller circles. It is a parental religion of the most merciful parent. THE MOTHER which keeps reconciliation of all individual religions.

Mai-ism reveres all established religions, their founders, their specific deities, religious practices, modes of worship, scriptures etc. Mother is the same being as Father. Mother is mother of all Founders, Religions, Incarnations and Immortal Preachers and Teachers of all religions. Any Mai-adherent or Mai-ist in the sacred service of Mai is ten times the servant of Mai’s any illustrious son.
The condition of the world has so entirely changed that it is impossible for any individual religion to stand separated, single and quite aloof from all other religions. Mai-ism aspires to be the new Universal Religion that world under distress has been searching for.Mai-ism to say the least is a miniature and a basic model or a skeleton of the Universal Religion so much needed.

With a view to consolidating the whole world religiously, Mai-ism concedes that it is not indispensable requirement for Mai-ists, that they must have a belief in the existence of God., provided they truely love and serve all to the best of their possibility and practicability; That is because in the estimation of mai-ism selfishness and living a life of violating Divine Laws is a much worse variety of atheism than the open honest denial of God.
Mai-ism is as much attentive to the life of now and herewith all its miseries and happiness, as the life of hereafter and above. Maiji writes in Mother’s message , ” Be we first man, then brothers and thereafter alone, religious men. By religion Maiji means first, the surest foundation of love and service, unselfishness, self-sacrifice, self-control, self-denial, justice, wisdom, mercy, truth. morality, virtue, character, foregoingness, forgiveness, forgetfulness etc. The six “Gs” of Mai-ism are Gratefulness, Greatness, Goodness, Givingness, Godliness and Goingness. Four “Gs” must precede Godliness.
EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOKLET “MOTHER’S MESSAGE” BY SAINT SHRI. MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND (MAIJI) & PUBLISHED BY MAI ADHERENTS’ INSTITUTE [UNIVERSAL MAI-ISM TRUST],MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, SANTA CRUZ (WEST), MUMBAI 400054, INDIA.

DAILY PRAYERS OF DIVINE MOTHER

The entire absence of joy or the continuous feeling of being miserable , for them they do not Thee or the imitative or delusive joy arising from the worldwormness and sense living of them that are in dark regarding Thee respectively. These two as also the joy of truely wise and followers of truth, all proceed from Thee and are making of Thine and are aspects of Thine alone.

DAILY PRAYER

If Love is Mother and Mother is Love, I am Mother’s and Mother is mine. Mother ! Bless the readers, Bless Thy followers. Bless Thy surrender seeking. Be Thou pleased with any one that repeats Thy sacred name. On Thyself being propitiated and pleased, let the little universe of every devotee of Thine be most pleased, satisfied, comfortable and happy.
Let it be Thy Grace, that the rulers lead the ruled into the righteous path.

Let good befall to the lot of all. Let the universe be happy with rains, crops, contentment and prosperity.
Make Thy devotees live in peace and bliss without fear. Make all beings to relish pleasure in attending to their duties, and on attaining their spiritual welfare.
Make the wicked virtuous, make the virtuous successful in attaining their peace of mind. Make tranquillised souls free from bondages. Inspire and help the freed, to be taking up as their life mission, the work of helping, loving and serving others , to free themselves through Thy Mercy and Guru’s Grace.
May all be freed from dangers. May all understand and attain good. May all be living nobly. May all be rejoicing in the universal spiritual good of all.
Mother! Make all happy, free from all worries and diseases and all calamities. Make each one and all of us, enabled to enjoy the Best, what is Divine, Sublime and Good.
JAY MAI JAY MARKAND MAI, JAY MARKAND RUP MAI, JAYA MARKAND RUP MARKAND MAI. ~ MAI-ISM BOOK NOTE 777

~ SAINT SHRI MAI SWARUP MAI MARKAND ( MAIJI )

MAI NIWAS, SARASWATI ROAD END, MUMBAI 400054 INDIA

FEW HYMNS AND PSALMS OF HINDU GODS AND GODDESSES : –

श्रीराधा-अष्टोत्तरशतनामस्तोत्रम्

ध्यान
हेमाभां द्विभुजां वराभयकरां नीलांबरेणवृतां श्यामक्रोडविलासिनीं भगवतीं सिन्दुरपुंजोज्वलाम् ।
लोलाक्षीं नवयौवनां स्मितमुखीं बिंबाधरां राधिकां नित्यानंदमयीं विलासनिलयां दिव्यांगभुषां भजे ।।

स्तोत्र
अथास्या संप्रवक्ष्यामि नाम्नाष्टोत्तरं शतम् । यस्य संकीर्तनादेव श्रीकृष्णं वशयेद ध्रुवम् । 1 ।

राधिका सुंदरी गोपी कृष्णसंगमकारिणी । चंचलाक्षी कुरंगाक्षी गांधर्वी वृषभानुजा । 2 ।

वीणापाणिः स्मितमुखी रक्तशोकलतालया । गोवर्धनचरी गोपी गोपवेषमनोहरा । 3 ।

चंद्रावलीसपत्नी च दर्पणास्या कलावती । कृपावती सुप्रतिका तरूणी ह्रदयंगमा । 4 ।

कृष्णप्रिया कृष्णसखी विपरीतरतिप्रिया । प्रवीणा सुरतप्रिता चंद्रास्या चारूविग्रहा । 5 ।

केकराक्षी हरःकांता महालक्ष्मी सुकेलिनी । संकेतवटसंस्थाना कमनीया च कामिनी । 6 ।

वृषभानुसुता राधा किशोरी ललिता लता । विद्युतवल्ली कांचानभा कुमारी मुग्धवेशिनी । 7 ।

केशिनी केशवसखी नवनीतैकविक्रया । षोडशाब्दा कलातपुर्णा जारिणी जारसंगिनी । 8 ।

हर्षिणी वर्षिणी वीरा धीरा धारा धरा धृतिः । यौवनस्था वनस्था च मधुरा मधुराकृतिः । 9 ।

वृषभानुपुरावासा मानलीलाविशारदा । दानलीला दानदात्री दण्डहस्ता भ्रुवोन्नता । 10 ।

सुस्तनी मधुरास्या च बिंबोष्ठी पंचमस्वरा । संगीतकुशला सेव्या कृष्णवश्यत्वकारिणी । 11 ।

तारिणी हारिणी ह्रींला शीला लीला ललामिका । गोपाली दधिविक्रेत्री प्रौढा मुग्धा च मध्यगा । 12 ।

स्वाधीनपतिका चोक्ता ख्णडिता याभिसारिका ।रसिका रसिना रस्या रसशास्त्रैकशेवधिः ।13 ।

पालिका लालिका लज्जा लालसा ललनामणिः । बुरूपा सुरूपा च सुप्रसन्ना महामतिः । 14 ।

इति श्री राधका अष्टोत्तर शतनाम स्तोत्रं समाप्तम् ।

श्री महालक्ष्मीची आरती

जय देवी जय देवी जय महालक्ष्मी ।
वससी व्यापकरुपे तु स्थुलसुक्ष्मी ।
करवीरपुरवासिनी सुरवर मुनि माता ।
पुरहरवरदायिनी मुरहरप्रियकांता ।
कमलाकारे जठरी जन्मवीला धाता ।
सहस्रवदनी भुधर पुरे न गुणगाथा ।
मातुलिंग गदा खेटक रवि किरणी ।
झळके हाटकवाटी पियुष रसपाणी ।
माणिक रसना सुरंग वसना मृगनयनी ।
शशिरवदना राजस मदनाची जननी ।
ताराशक्ती अगम्य शिवभजका गौरी ।
सांख्य म्हणती प्रकृती निर्गण निर्धारी ।
गायत्री निजबीज निगमागमसारी ।
प्रकटे पद्मावती निजधर्माचारी।
अमृतसरितेभरिते अघदुरिते वारी ।
मारी दुर्घट असुरा भवदुस्तर तारी ।
वारी मायापटल प्रणत परिवारी ।
हे रुप चिद्रुप तद्रुप दावी निर्धारी ।
चतुरासने कृत कर्माच्या ओळी ।
लिहील्या असतील माते माझ्या निजभाळी ।
पुसोनी चरणातळी पदसुमने क्षाळी ।
मुक्तेश्वर नागर क्षीरसागर बाळी ।
जय देवी जय देवी जय महालक्ष्मी ।
वससी व्यापकरुपे तु स्थुलसुक्ष्मी ।

श्री महालक्ष्मीचा पाठ
। श्री गणेशाय नमः। श्री सरस्वत्यै नमः। श्री गुरूभ्यो नमः। जय माई मार्कण्ड माई । श्री कुलदेवतायै नमः।
अविघ्नमस्तु
नमन तुला श्री गजानना । विघ्नहर्ता तु गजवदना । पुर्ण करूनी सर्व कामना । यश दे मला गौरीनंदना । 1 । शरण तुला श्री गणपती । कवनास देवा द्यावी मती । करितो श्रध्देने तव भक्ती । हे थेउरवासी चिंतामणी । 2 । जय जय श्री गौरीतनया । वक्रतुण्ड हे महाकाया । जय तुझा सिध्दीविनायका । पालक तु आमचा चिन्मया । 3 । रक्षी प्रभो मज लंबोदरा । शरण तुला मी विघ्नेश्वरा । प्रणिपात हे बल्लाळेश्वरा । दे यश धन मयुरेश्वरा । 4 । कृपा असावी गिरीजात्मका । गाती स्तवन विघ्नहारका । तारावे या तुझीया सेवका । नमन श्री वरदविनायका । 5। दे अभय, अभय वरदा । लोटांगणे माझी सहस्रदा । तव पावन पदा, भालचन्द्रा । प्रसन्नवदना यश दे सदा । 6 । अष्टभुजेचा पाठ हा रचिला । आशीर्वाद त्रिनेत्रा द्यावा मला । सौख्य द्यावे गणेशा सकला । वाहतो या शब्दमाला तुला । 7 । नमन तुला श्री सरस्वती । विद्यादेवी महा भगवती । सकल कलांची तु स्फुर्ती । वीणाधारी दिव्य वागीश्वरी । 8 । ऐका ऐका श्रोते जन । निर्मळ करा आपले मन । पूर्ण पावलो समाधान । ऐका दृष्टांताचे कवन । 9 । मग दृष्टांताची कथा सुन्दर । सांगतो आता मी सविस्तर । चित्त ठेउनी अति स्थीर । श्रोत्यांनो एेकावी निरंतर । 10 । अंबाबाई तुवा देउनी दृष्टान्त । मज रूप दाविले स्वप्नात । सेविले तुझ्या रूपाचे अमृत । ते वर्णी आता येथ । 11 । आज वर्षे दोन पुरी झाली । कथा ही खरी घडली । अष्टभुजा मज प्रसन्न झाली ।कृष्णा तीरी त्या राउळी । 12 । अश्विन शुध्द अष्टमीला । रात्री दृष्टांत हो हा घडला । सांगतो देवी भक्तांना सकळा । जो पाहिला मी सुखसोहळा । 13 । आपत्ती घोर आल्या मजवर । एकामागुनी एक भयंकर । क्रुर दैवगती करी प्रहार । मी विटलो संसारास अपार । 14 । गेली तीन मुले सुंदर ती । जन्मताच हो गोजिरवाणी । करूनी काळजाचे पाणी पाणी । मम कांतेचे तरूणपणी । 15 । स्मशान कळा आली घरास । जाती मुले येता जन्मास । एक जन्मला पुत्र करूनी नवस । जन्मांधच तो आला जन्मास । 16 । जडला रोग असाध्य कांतेस । पडली खिळून अंथरूणास । उत ये त्यातच दारिद्र्यास । विटलो मी संसारास । 17 । भ्रमिष्ट झाली माझी मती । दुःख्ख भोगी भार्या सती । कुणास सांगावी स्थिती । संसाराची झाली माती । 18 । चिडून जगावर निघालो भटकत । पायी यात्रा एकटा करीत । वेड्यासम चाललो नादात । तगमग मनीची शांतवीत । 19 । लागले कृष्णातीरी एक ग्राम । भवानीनगर त्याचे नाम । सृष्टी सौर्न्दयाचे जणु धाम । वाटला घ्यावा मनी विश्राम । 20 । पवित्र वाहे कृष्णा माउली । मांगल्य मूर्तिमंत त्या जली । भूमी ती सारी पावन झाली । पुण्य जले युगे युगे न्हाली । 21 । तीरी मंदिर विशाल एक । श्री अष्टभुजेचे सुरेख । नक्षी स्तंभास्तंभावर प्रत्येक । कोरिली चित्रे अंबेची कित्येक । 22 । बाग समोर आलेली बहरा । सोनचाफा निशीगंध मोगरा । दरवळे आसमन्त सारा । सुगंधाने भरलेला वारा । 23 । भव्य सभामंडप निवांत ।मंद दीप जळे एक शांत । गूढ भासे तो एकान्त । विसरलो क्षणभर मी खंत । 24 । अंबेचे ते जागृत स्थान । कृष्णा तीरी एक महान । लवते श्रध्देने ही मान । हरपते सार अन भान । 25 । राहिलो रात्री मी मंदिरी । अश्विन शुध्द अष्टमीला कृष्णा तीरी । दुःख्खाने पोळलो होतो अंतरी । श्रध्दने टेकला माथा अंबेच्या पदावरी । 26 । उच्च वेदीवरी अधिष्ठीत । उभी देवी गाभार्यात । ठसले ते रूप ह्रदयात । आले नीर अन् लोचनात । 27 । झळाळे मुकुट दिव्य । हिरवी साडी चोळी रूप भव्य गळ्यात सुवर्णहार असंख्य । पाषाणातुनी उमलले काव्य । 28 । करी कंकणे लखलखती । पायी जोडवी चमचमती । बाहुभूषणे झगझगती । मंगलरूप ते वर्णावे किती । 29 । सकल श्रृंगार देवीला । धूपाने धुंद गाभारा भरला । घमघमती ताज्या फुलामला । दीप मिणमिणता एकला । 30 । हाती गदा खड्ग बलशाली । मळवट भरलेला भाळी । उभी समोर अंबा माउली । परम भक्ताची साउली । 31 । घेतली रानफुले करात । प्रखर भक्ती पेटली ह्रदयात । गेलो समोर आवेगात । घातला साष्टांग प्रणिपात । 32 । धुतली आसवांनी पाउले । असीम श्रध्देने शीर टेकले । भान पुरते हरपुनी गेले । ह्रदयी कल्लोळ प्रेमाचे उसळले । 33 । अंबेचे ते पाहुनी रूप। सरलि नेत्राची उघडझाप । सरले सारे मनीचे व्याप । 34 । विसरलो दुःख्ख विसरलो सुख । विसरलो अमृत विसरलो वीख । केवळ दिसे अंबेचे रूप सुरेख । नाठवे गरदार काही एक । 35 । पुसले कळवळुनी अंबेला । संकटात का टाकले मला । माते काय गुन्हा घडला । दुःख्खाने का जाळतेस मला । 36 । माझ्यावरी का आणल्यास आपत्ती । हिरावूनी नेलीस संतती । आरोग्य शांती अन संपत्ती । 37 । कर मुक्तता माझी यातुनी । ना जाईन तोवरी येथुनी । आता चरण तुझे सोडुनी । माते सांगतो तुला निक्षुनी । 38 । भक्त तुझा पडता संकटी । दुःख्खे तु त्याची निवटी । त्यावरी करोनी कृपादृष्टी । धरितेस आपुल्या पोटी । 39 । असे म्हणुनी अष्टभुजा मातेस । मिठी मारली तिच्या चरणास । शरण अंबिकेचा मी दास । तळमळूनी केला अट्टाहास । 40 । राहिलो तसाच रात्रभरी । माथा टेकुनि त्या पायांवरी । श्रध्देने बेहोष मी अंतरी । भाव ठेविला अष्ट भुजेवरी । 41 । तदा अदभुत गोष्ट घडली । मध्यरात्रीच्या गुढ वेळी । अंतर्धान मूर्ति ती पावली । मूर्तीतुन प्रकटली अंबा माउली । 42 । मी थरथरलो रूप पाहुनी । लोटांगण घातले हात जोडुनी । वाहू लागले नीर लोचनातुनी । देखूनी ती भगवती योगिनी । 43 । हिरवे पातळ भरजरी । हिरवी चोळी त्यावरी । हिरव्या बांगड्या करी । मळवट अन भाळावरी । 44 । गळ्यात हार सुवर्णांचे । चमचमत्या असंख्य रत्नांचे । शरीर भासे तप्त कांचनाचे । देदीप्यमान रूप ते अंबेचे । 45 । हाती खड्ग चक्र गदा कमल । झळझळे रूप ते विमल । प्रभा फाकली सर्वत्र धवल । कोटी चन्द्रांचे उगवले मंडल । 46 । किती प्राशावे रूप ते मनोहर । डोळे हवेत सर्वांगावर । तरी आत्मा ना तृप्त होणार । समोर अंबा पहाता साकार । 47 । निःशब्द पडलो मी खाली । अचानक तो अमृतवाणी झाली । क्षणी तनु माझी रोमांचली । एेकुन अमर ती शब्दावली । 48 । भिउ नकोस माझ्या बाळा । रक्षिते मी तुजसम भक्ताला । श्रध्देने जो शरण आला । आशीर्वाद उठ लडिवाळा । 49 । माझ्या स्वरूपाची महती । वर्णावया तुझ देते शक्ती । श्रध्दा ठेउनी करावी भक्ती । होईल सकल सुखाची प्राप्ती । 50 । सांगते व्रत तुला एकपण । निष्ठेने कर त्याचे आचरण । सुखदायी होईल सारे जीवन । मनीच्या इच्छा सफल संपूर्ण । 51 । गहन रानात , नदी पल्याड । आहे औदुंबराचे एक झाड । सभोवती त्याच्या भव्य पहाड । भयाणता नांदते तेथे गाढ । 52 । त्या औदुंबरा खालती निवान्त । महातपस्वी एक महंत । दत्तात्रेयाचा अवतार मूर्तिमंत । करी तपश्चर्या वर्षे गेली सात । 53 । सेवा महन्ताची तू त्या कर । भयाण अरण्यी राहुनी खडतर । तो प्रसन्न होईल जेव्हा तुजवर । सांगेल माझ्या रूपाचे स्तवन सुंदर । 54 । बोलुनी अदभुत अशी वाणी । अदृश्य झाली जगदंबा झणी । नयनांत आनन्दे आले पाणी ।। प्रसन्न मजवर जगदंबा योगिनी । 55 । काळी गहन रात्र मृत होउन । जन्मली पहाट बाहेर नवीन । पूर्वा माता प्रसूत होउन । जन्मा आले सुर्य नारायण । 56 । क्षितिज वेलीला सुमंगल । आले विशाल सूर्यफूल । लागली पक्ष्यांस चाहुल । झाली सुरू गोड किलबील । 57 । विशाल क्षितीज वेलीवरी सारा । की गहरला उषेचा फुलोरा । उजळला कृष्णेचा किनारा । विरला एक एक तारा । 58 । माझ्या मनी आनन्द कोंदला । सुरूवात झाली नव जीवनाला । लोटांगणे घालुनी देवीला । निघालो महन्ताच्या सेवेला । 59 । प्रवाहात कृष्णेच्या पहाट वेळी । खुशाल उडी मी झोकली । ध्यानी मनी अंबा माउली । तारणारी तीच संकट काळी । 60। पार करूनी क्षणात । आलो मी गहन रानात । अंधार रानी दिवसाही आत । जाती सर्प काळे समोर फुत्कारित ।61 । धडधडे भीतीने अंतःकरण । निघालो करीत अंबेचे स्मरण । तीच करणारी सर्वांचे रक्षण । वंदितो जगदंबे तुझे चरण । 62 । तो दिसले औदुंबराचे झाड समोर । बसलेला त्याखाली महंत धोर । केला भक्तीने त्यास नमस्कार । सांगितला घडलेला प्रकार । 63 । अभय दिले महंताने मला । श्रध्देने लागलो मी सेवेला । कंदमुळे होती खाण्याला । जमीन अन झोपण्याला । 64 । पहाटे आणावे मी पाणी । काढावा आश्रम झाडूनी । सांगीतलेले काम करूनी । वाहिलो महंताच्या सेवेत । 65 । निष्ठा राखुनी राहिलो मी रानी । खंगले शरीर उपवासानी । प्रसन्न झाला महंत एकेदिनी । म्हणाला आशीर्वाद देउनी । 66 । सांगतो अष्टभुजेचे स्तवन । स्वरूपाच्या तिच्या मंगलगान । कर अता त्याचे श्रवण । अति निर्मळ ठेउनी मन । 67 । जो करील देवीचे स्तवन । गाढ श्रध्देने अनुदिन । दुःख्ख जाईल त्याचे निघुन । संकटाचे होईल दहन । 68 । होईल पुत्र त्यास,जो निःसंतान । मिळेल विपुल यश धन । गाजेल त्याची कीर्ती महान । होतील कामना सफल संपूर्ण । 69 । असे म्हणूनी महन्त तो महान । करी सुरू अष्टभुजेचे स्तवन । केले सर्वांगाचे मी कान । श्रवण करण्यास ते कवन । 70 । जय जय अष्टभुजे सबले । जगन्माते महामंगले । तु विश्व सारे निर्मीले । वंदितो तुझी चरण कमले । 71 । जय जय श्री भवानी माते । तुळजापूरच्या महादेवते । अभय दे वर दे शक्ती दाते । शरण शरण आम्ही तुला माते । 72 । जय देवी जय श्री जोगेश्वरी । निवास तुझा गे पुण्यपुरी । सुखशांती दे या संसारी । कर मनीची कामना पुरी । 73 । जय अंबे करवीरवासिनी । विश्वतारिणी पाप हारिणी । सकल कला कामिनी । चण्डमुण्ड विनाशिनी । 74 । जय जय देवी एकवीरे । प्रणाम करितो आदरे । विश्व उभे तुझ्या आधारे । तु निर्मिलेस सुर्यतारे । 75 । जय सप्तश्रृंगी माउली । भक्तांची तु गे साउली । तु जयंती भद्रकाली । माथा ठेवितो तुझ्या चरणाखाली । 76 । जय जय ग्रामवासी पद्मावती । भक्तीने करितो आरती । कर सकल कामना पूर्ति । ह्रदयात वसे तुझीच मूर्ती । 77 । जय जय महषासुर मर्दिनी । यश दे वरदायिनी । देवी पाप विनाशिनी । सकल खल निर्दालिनी । 78 । जय जय चण्डिके भैरवी । तेज झळाळे जणु कोटी रवी । किती वर्णावी तुझी थोरवी । कृपा भक्तावरी असावी । 79 । जय जय देवी दुर्गा । नष्ट कर शत्रुच्या गर्वा । सौख्य दे जगती सर्वा । लखलखते तुझ्यामुळे पुर्वा । 80 । रूप दे जय दे भगवती । कर नष्ट शत्रु जगती । यश दे देवी तु महाशक्ती । नमन तुला महामती । 81 । सुख दे सौभाग्य शांती दे योगिनी । पुत्र दे धन दे वरदायिनी । कीर्ती दे विद्या दे जननी । आरोग्य दे तपस्विनी । 82 । तु शैलपुत्री ब्रह्मचारिणी । तु स्कंदमाता कात्यायिनी । दुर्गा महिषासुरमर्दिनी । शुंभ निशुंभ विनाशिनी । 83 । तु चंद्रघंटा कुष्माण्डा । व्यापिलेस सकल ब्रहृ्मांण्डा । तुझा गावा महिमा केवढा । मी शरण तुला बापुडा । 84 । तु महागौरी सिध्दीदात्री । भव्य भैरवी कालरात्री । तु निर्मीली धरित्री । प्राण ओतीलास या गात्री । 85 । तेजाने तुझ्या गे उज्ज्वल । उमलले हे विश्व कमल । वाहुनी मम मन कमकल । पूजितो तव पद विमल । 86 । तु जयंती भद्रकाली स्वाहा । कपालिनी मंगला क्षमा महा । दीन भक्त शरण तुला हा । रक्षी आम्हा देवते महा । 87 । नमन तुला विश्वस्वामिनी । हे मधुकैटभनाशिनी । अभय दे कल्याण दायिनी । सुखशांती दे वरदायिनी । 88 । तेज तुझे झळाळे देवी । कोटी कोटी जणु रवी । तव इच्छेने चाले पृथ्वी । भद्राकली हे भैरवी । 89 । तु सकल विश्वाची स्वामिनी । जगत निर्माती जननी । संहार करिशी तु प्रलयिनी । महामंगला सर्वव्यापिनी । 90 । तु स्वाहा तु स्वधा अमृतरूपी । तु वषटकार प्रणवातील मात्रा तिन्ही । सकळ स्वरांचे मुळ तत्वरूपी । विश्वाचे आदितत्व तवरूपी । 91 । तु महामाया महाविद्या आई । महाबुध्दी महास्मृती देवी । महा मोहा महेश्वरी महादेवी । अंबे रूपे तुझी नवी नवी । 92 । नमन तुला महाकाली सती । तु महालक्ष्मी सरस्वती । तव भक्तीने संकटे नासती । शरण शरण तुझ्या प्रती । 93 । सेवा तुझी घडो सुरेश्वरी । भक्ताकडुनी जन्मभरी । कर दया तुझिया सेवकावरी । हे महामंगले भुवनेश्वरी । 94 । तु खड्ग शुल कमल धारिणी । शुंभ निशुंभास मारलेस रणी । मुक्त केलीस दैत्यापासुनी धरणी । अभय मिळते तुझ्या चिंतनी । 95 । जगदंबे तु वेदांचा आधार । विष्णुला ना लागला तुझा पार । सकल शास्त्रांचे तु सार । कर भव सागारतुनी नौका पार । 96 । गाती सकल देव तव कीर्ती । दैवी तेजाने घडविली तुझी मूर्ती । सकल विश्वाची तु स्फूर्ती । कर भक्ताची कामना पूर्ती । 97 । लक्ष्मी तु वससी विष्णु ह्रदयी । गौरी तु शंकराची महायोगी । कांती तुझी दिव्य कांचनमयी । कर सर्व कार्यास यशदायी । 98 । रूप दे जय दे योगेश्वरी । सुख सौभाग्य शांती दे जोगेश्वरी । आरोग्य धन दे परमेश्वरी । पुत्रपौत्र दे भुवनेश्वरी । 99 । तु सुंदर सत्य सनातन । तव चैतन्याने भरले जीवन । भक्तीने दाटले मम मन । नमन नमन वाहतो सुमन। 100 ।अंबे तु सुख सौभाग्यदायिनी । तु सकल कला कामिनी । योगिनी महाविलासिनी । नमन नमन तुला जननी । 101 । असे आहे अष्टभुजेचे हे स्तवन । कर श्रध्देने याचे तु पठण । मुक्त होशील सर्व दुःख्खातुन । म्हणे तो महंत महान । 102 । घेउनी आशिर्वाद तदा महन्ताचा । परतलो स्वगृही तसाच रात्रीचा । वरदहस्त मजवर जगदंबेचा । आनन्द वर्णू किती ह्रदयीचा । 103 । पाठ केला श्रध्देने शुक्रवारी । दिवसा राहिलो निराहारी । उपवास संध्याकाळी सोडला तदनंतरी । भाव ठेविला अंबेवरी । 104 । आचरिले व्रत असे स्तवनाचे । तो गेले असाध्य दुखणे कांतेचे । आश्चर्य अंधत्व सरले पुत्राचे । चमत्कार सारे हे जगदंबेचे । 105 । बोल सांगतो हे प्रचितीचे । स्तवन करा अष्टभुजेचे । वितळतील पर्वत संकटांचे । आटतील सागर दुःख्खांचे । 106 । अगाध मायेची हो करणी । सामर्थ्य आहे स्तवनी । वेल बहरेल अहो पाषाणी । प्रसन्न होता दुर्गा भवानी । 107 । जय जगदंबे माझे आई । कृपा करी हो अंबाबाई । चित्त लागु दे तुझे पायी । मी स्तवन तुझे गाई । 108 । श्रध्दा ठेउनी अंतरी । पठण जो पाठाचे करी । स्वप्नी येउनी जोगेश्वरी । करील कामना सफल पुरी । 109 । होईल पुत्र ज्यास नसे संतान । जगतील मुले जी जाती जन्मून । बरे होतील रोग कठीण । असाध्य जे महा भयाण । 110 । जो करील पाठ हा श्रवण । दारिद्य्र त्याचे जाउन दारूण । मिळेल त्यास अपार धन । होईल जगी त्याचा मान । 111 । यश मिळेल अपूर्व विद्येत । आनन्द नांदेल सदा घरात । बुध्दी वाढेल सकल ज्ञानात । श्रध्दा ज्याची अंतरात । 112 । सुख सौभाग्य शांती लाभेल सदा । दूर पळतील आपदा । मिळेल अचानक अशा धन संपदा । जगदंबा आहे अभय वरदा । 113 । या पाठाचे जो करील पुजन । आणीक करील श्रवण पठण । त्यास गावेल सुखाची खाण । अंबेचे ठेवावे सदा स्मरण । 114 । करोनी जगदंबेस नमस्कार । श्रध्देने करावा शुक्रवार । पाठ म्हणावा तदनंतर । अति शुध्द ठेउनी अंतर । 115 । भावे भजा अंबा चरण । आणि करा पाठ श्रवण । नउ मास भरता पुर्ण । अंबा स्वप्नी तोईल अवतीर्ण । 116 । भुकेल्यास द्यावे अन्न । तेणे होय जगदंबा प्रसन्न । आत्म्याला होईल समाधान । मिळेल विपुल यश धन । 117 । जैसी जैसी कराल भक्ती । तैसी वाढेल यशकीर्ती । फल पडेल पदरी निश्चीती । संशय आणू नये चित्ती । 118 । नमन तुला जगदंबा आई । ह्रदयात तु सदा वसावी ।तव कीर्ती मी गावी । कृपा माते माझ्यावरी असावी । 119 । जगदंबेची कृपा होता । स्वर्ग लाभे आपुले हाता । इतरांची मग काय कथा । लववितो अंबे चरणी माथा । 120 । कथिला हा माझा अनुभव । भक्तास संकटी तारितो देव । गाढ असु द्यावा भाव । मुखी अन जगदंबेचे नाव । 121 ।
। भगवती ॐ श्री अष्टभुजा जगदम्बा माउली चरणार्पणमस्तु ।
1968 साली छापलेल्या एका पोथी मध्ये हा अष्टभुजा महालक्ष्मीचा पाठ मला मिळाला व त्याची मला तत्काल प्रचिती मिळाली म्हणुन देवी भक्तांसाठी तो पाठ मी येथे दिला आहे. त्याची साधना करून लाभ घ्यावा ही देवीभक्तांकडुन अपेक्षा !! खाली कॉमेंट बॉक्समध्ये आपले विचार जरूर कळवावेत हि विनंती !!! धन्यवाद .

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: