Biography of Shri Hita Bhori Sakhi Ji (Bholanath)

Bhori Sakhi whose earlier name was Bholanathji was born in Bhelsa (Madhya Pradesh) in the year 1890. This city is located near Bhopal. He was a born devotee and poet.

His father's name was Chhedilal who was a Saxena Kayastha.

There is a very inspiring incident related to the life of Bholanathji. Bholanathji had the urge to attain God since childhood. For this, he left the house in search of a suitable spiritual master. After two weeks of continuous search, he was found in a forest in Narsinghpur district. At that time his elder brother Baijnathji was a Nazir (warden) in Kolaras, Shivpuri. Baijnathji brought Bholanath Ji home.

There was a temple of Shri Krishna in Kolaras itself. Bholanath Ji's brother Baijnathji got Bholanathji initiated into the Radhavallabh sect from the priest of the temple, Pt. Gopalji.

Shri Bholanath Ji had no interest in household life, but after being initiated into the Radhavallabh sect, Bholanathji accepted the orders of his spiritual master to worship the Lord while living in household life and left His stubbornness of not getting married.

When Bholanathji was a student of B.A. he participated in All India Ramayana-competition and he wrote an article on Lord Ram and got the first prize in it.

Thus his reputation as a talented householder grew day by day.

King of Chhatarpur Vishwanath Singh was very pleased by the religious knowledge of Shri Bholanath, therefore, He appointed him as his religious counselor. By that time, King Vishwanath Singh had collected the Vani literature of the Radhavallabh sect. Bholanathji's work here at Chhatarpur was only to have religious discussions with the king. Here he used to get a lot of time for self-study. While making good use of the state library, along with the Vanis [writings] of the devotees, he also deeply studied Indian philosophy. After some time, He left the job of Chhatarpur state and went to Bhelsa.

He started advocacy while staying in Bhelsa. After a few days, he went to Kolaras from Bhelsa with his brother to do some practice, but even there he got disinterested in it. Then on the invitation of King, he again went to Chhatarpur. 

But his mind was totally attached for the abode of Vrindavan, to continuously chant Shri Radha Krishn's name by sitting in the shade of the Kadamba trees, to eat the leftover food remnants by the Brajwasi people, to drink the Yamuna water, to get the benefits of the association of the Rasik devotees and he became very eager to listen to the melodious ancient verses of the Rasiks sung by the devotees, to swing in the bowers and Nikunjas and to do service there in the morning by cleaning it, and to get the darshan of Shri Priya-Lalju, etc. which he has mentioned in a verse as follows -

During these days, his son and wife died. After some time, His father also passed away. After which, He went to Vrindavan because somehow He was freed from his household duties and then he continued to do exclusive devotion there for the rest of his life.

After coming to Vrindavan, Shri Bholanathji received the initiation of the Nij Mantra which is primarily focused on the Lotus Feet Of Shri Radha, and is the life-breath of the Nectar of Nitya-Vihara from the Rasavanshi priest of Shri Radhavallabhji's temple, Shrihit Govardhanlalji Maharaj, and engaged in the spirit of worship of the nectar of Vrindavan with exclusiveness. Shrihit Kishorisharan 'Ali' has mentioned this fact in the following way in 'Shrihit Ananya Rasikavali'

Shri Bholanathji had a special attachment to Sewa Kunj. He has clarified the hidden sentiments in the photo seated in the Sewakunj temple and said that Shri Radha, full of caress towards Rasik Pritam Shri Krishn, has engraved her eyes at her feet because of the shyness of the first meeting and with the longing to massage the Lotus Feet, the eyes of Sri Krishn are also fixed at her Lotus Feet full of greed. As soon as the sight of both of them meets each other, only then, after receiving the silent approval of Shri Radha, Sri Krishn starts the service of massaging her feet in a lavish manner and starts sacrificing Himself on the Lotus Feet of Shri Radha by kissing them. As mentioned in His pad:

Shri Bholanathji used to do the service of sweeping the streets of Sewakunj and Vrindavan every morning with great love. He has mentioned this in a couplet as follows -

He considers the dust of Vrindavan to be very special which is the life of Lord Krishn as mentioned in this verse:

O broom, don't consider this dust (of Vrindavan) to be an ordinary one, which is touched by the lotus feet of Shri Radha, and in every particle of which Lord Krishn's life resides.

Bholanathji's state of mind was such that He could neither do anything to earn his living, nor could he ask anything from anyone, he thought that what is the need to ask anything from anyone because I am under the shelter of Shri Radha. He figured out a way to maintain His body, the travelers used to put grams to the monkeys in Sewa Kunj, and the monkeys used to eat good gram and leave the chin, Bholanathji used to eat that same chin that monkeys have left. But how could Shri Radha tolerate that her beloved devotee keeps eating that left-out chin? She ordered the priest of Radhavallabh temple in a dream that: 

"Bhorisakhi is living in Sewakunj eating chin of gram, you should take my prasad daily and give it to Him."

By the grace of Shri Radha, arrangements were being made of delicious food for Bhorisakhi. He started getting the prasad food regularly, but Bhorisakhi was not going to be misled by Radharani's such grace. He used to offer the entire prasad to Yamuna Ji by keeping only 2 Rotis from the plate of prasad. And on the contrary, He started complaining to Shri Radharani that what will happen to me with this petty grace of yours, have you ever asked me what I want [i.e He was craving for the darshan of Shri Radha]? 

Shri Bholanath Ji's love for the holy name :
Shri Bholanathji had deep faith in remembering the name of Harivansh. It was his belief that unless the name Harivansh is not uttered with each bead of the garland of breaths, it is impossible to get the vision of Shri Radha Krishn.

Naam-Svaans Dou Vilag Chalat Hain, Inakau Bhed Na Mokaun Bhaavai. 
Svaansahi Naam Naam Hi Svaansa, Naam Svaans Kau Bhed Mitaavai. 
Baahir Kachhu Na Kachhu Tab Bheetar, Jiy Aur Naam Ek Hvai Jaavai.
Tab Nij Roop Naam Kau Pragatai, Tan Mein Shri Van Sahaj Dikhaavai.

Bhori Sakhi regularly prays to Shri Shyama Shyam for their darshan -

Bhori Sakhi's love for Shri Radha was natural. Sometimes He requests Shri Radha, sometimes He complains, some of His verses are given below -

"When will I get the abode of Shri Vrindavan? Where Shri Shyamashyam resides regularly."

There are a total of 600 verses composed by Shri Bholanath Ji, which are compiled in the book "Prem ki Peer", in which most of the verses written are of Vinay (request).

Shri Bholanathji used to compose verses and padas even before coming to Vrindavan. He has used the imprints 'Bhori', 'Hit Bhori' and 'Bhori Hit' in his compositions. From this, it appears that he had taken his name Shrihit Bhorisakhi Ji after being influenced by the mood of the servant of Shri Radha even before he started composing the verses.

In most of the verses written before coming to Vrindavan, where he described himself as useless, very evil, fallen, sensual, crooked and cheater, etc., in front of Shri Radha to save him from the clutches of Maya and to join the real family of Sakhi. The verses are written in the manner and style of his advocacy but one gets to see the anxiety of the heart of a true devotee and the pain of love; At the same time after coming to Vrindavan, he wrote various verses of Hitotsav, Holi, etc., and considered 'Hit' to be the supreme entity. He declared Shri Hit Harivanshchandra Ji as the incarnation of 'Hit', these verses are more mature, calm-nature, and have kept the seriousness of the mood, yet there is an expression of the natural pain of love in them.

While living in Vrindavan, Shri Bholanathji has written commentaries on Brahmasutra in Hindi and many texts of Radhaballabhiya ancient Rasiks. His commentaries on Shri Hit Harivansh Chandra's 'Radha (Rasa)-Sudha-Nidhi', Goswami Krishnachandra's 'Radha Upa Sudha Nidhi', Goswami Vrindavandas Ji's 'Adhvavi Nirnay', Goswami Brajlal's 'Sewa Vichar', Goswami Priyalal Ji's 'Utsav Nirnay' and Shri Ladilidas Ji's 'Sudharma Bodhini' are archived in Ras Bharati Sansthan, Vrindavan.

"I have seen the divine pastimes of Shri Radha Krishn with my own eyes, now my life is successful."

According to this, although Shri Bholanathji adopted the ritualistic worship method of love, living a life full of devotion, and attained the divine pastimes of Shri Radha Krishn, However, he not only remained eager to serve Shri Radha by getting his Sakhi form in Nikunj with the heart filled with love but also kept requesting Shri Radha with persuasion and humility. Seeing his humble prayers and his heartfelt longing, Shri Radha called him at the very young age of 42, on the 6th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashadh (June-July) of 1932, and included him in the eternal family of Sakhi who lives forever under her shelter. A poet, Hriday Rasik, wrote about Shri Bhori Sakhi's pain of love, and has praised his beautiful character in these words -