Biography of Swami Shri Bhagwat Rasik Ji

In the tradition of Anany Rasikacharya Shri Swami Haridas Ji, there have been many exclusive devotees and seekers, and Shri Bhagwat Rasik Ji has his own special importance and place among them all. On observing his compositions, it comes to know that in his personality, the worship of the Sakhi (Shri Radha's servant) sect has become embodied with full brilliance. Climbing many steps of the path of spiritual practice, he had settled his seat by reaching those peaks of height which only a rare devotee can reach.

Pt. Shrimadhavadasji was a good scholar and a great poet. Hriday Shah (Hirdeshah), son of Maharaja Chhatrasal, declared Gadhakota as his capital in 1767. At that time, he had donated many hectares of land to Pandit Shrimadhavadasji as 'Padarakh'. That land is adjacent to 'Paterianala'. Pt. Madhavadasji had two sons. The elder son was named Ramdas and the younger was Bhagwatiprasad. Bhagwatiprasad was born on the Akshaytritiya festival on the 3rd day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaishak (April-May) in the afternoon in the year 1790.

It is said that Swami Lalitmohanidasji visited Gadhakota while visiting Bundelkhand in 1806. Pandit Madhavdasji was greatly impressed on hearing of his renunciation, devotion, and knowledge and dedicated his beloved son Bhagwatiprasad at his feet. Bhagwatiprasad was 14 years old at that time. It is not known what Gurudev Swami Lalitmohanidas Ji named him, but he has identified himself with the name "Bhagwatrasik" everywhere in his creations, so today everybody considers him as "Bhagwatrasik".

The seeds of devotion began to sprout in his heart by the grace of the spiritual master, his interest for the association of Vaishnavas increased and the desire for Vrindavan-darshan started moving in the conscience. Therefore, in 1812, one day he took the road of Vrindavan with his friend Pranapyare. Here Swami Lalit Mohanidas Ji's spiritual master Swami Lalit Kishoridas Ji Maharaj was seated at that time. Shri Bhagwat Rasik Ji and Pranapyare stayed under his custody.

The name of Swami Lalitkishoridas Ji was foregone in the then saints of Vrindavan. His reputation as a master lecturer of Swami Haridasji's pure love was paramount. His renunciation, tenderness, and his quietness were laudable. His association would create disinterest in the heart, the mind would easily become cool and calm. His association was a pure mirror to understand Swami Haridasji's pure routine. Bhagwat Rasik Ji also benefitted greatly from his association.

When Bhagwat Rasik Ji was returning home from Vrindavan, he took Shri Swami Haridasji's "Kelimal" with him.

- Vrindavandhamanuragavali, Bhagwatrasik Charit

But looking at the history of Gadhakota, it seems that the time when Bhagwat Rasik Ji returned to his home was very terrible for him. The five sons of King Prithvi Singh died in the battle. Prithvi Singh had also died and Gadhakota's throne was lying vacant.

In such an uneven situation, although the king of Panna, Maharaja Hindupat (1818-1833), took over the reins in his hands and appointed his brother Khet Singh as an administrator, it still seems that hearing the situation there, there was no hope left in Bhagwat Rasik Ji's mind to go to Gadhakota and he did not go there and stayed at Chhatarpur. He also had ancestral property and houses in Chhatarpur. The sign of Vrindavanadhamanuragavali that "Puni Chhatpurpurhi Sidhare" also confirms.

Nearly two miles near Chhatarpur is an extremely beautiful place of the Haridasi sect. It is called "Kunjan". Kunjan was founded by Maharaja Chhatrasal, to the delight of Shri Govindas Ji, the Mahant of the tradition of temple Shri Gorelalji. This lush green place with gardens and trees on the banks of the Singari river is indeed very beautiful. Seeing this, Vrindavan appears in mind. At the time of its founding, Shri Govindasji dispersed the dust of Nidhivan and filled it with the spirit of Vrindavan. Hence its name "Kunjan" seems very meaningful.

It is said that the then Maharaj of Chhatarpur, Hindupat had persuaded Bhagwat Rasik Ji to stay in Kunjan. As a result, he resided there for a few days. His hymns, renunciation, recluse, and association had a major impact on the people around him. Even today people call him by the name of Siddhasthali of Bhagwatrasik Ji and the desire of the people there is fulfilled just by uttering his name.

But even in "Kunjan", Bhagwat Rasik Ji's mind did not last long. He was disturbed by the distance from Vrindavan. In fact, the worship of Swami Haridas Ji's pure continual Nitya Vihara-Rasa is not possible by staying away from Vrindavan. Therefore, the honor received from the king and the public could not stop him there for long. After Swami Lalitkishoridas Ji's disappearance in 1823, he discarded his ancestral property of millions, the honor of the kings and emperors, and the status and prestige he received from the people there and came to Vrindavan. After coming there, Gurudev Swami Lalitmohinidas Ji initiated him in renounced order and he went down into the depths of meditation.

Author of Vrindavandhamanuragavali Shri Gopal Kaviraya also says that-

(Bhagwatrasik Charit)

There is a stepwell near Rajpur in Vrindavan. Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji stayed here and started performing his worship. Impressed by his quiet nature, renunciation and devotional hymns, his younger god brother Swami Chaturdasji also came there.

Shri Bihariballabhji, while presenting a picture of the personality of Shri Bhagwatrasik Ji, explains how he continuously enlivened by the worship of Nitya Kishor couple (Shri Radha Krishn) with renunciation-

The beautiful tilak is adorned on his grand forehead and the redness of inebriation is in the huge eyes. The beauty of his face is immense and his voice is very sweet. The Kanthi (basil rosary) around the neck and the dust smeared on the body are very pleasant. The image of his abdomen is indescribable due to the navel being somewhat advanced. When he used to walk with an earthen pot in his hand, the earth also considers its fortune. It seems as if renunciation has come on the earth as Bhagwat Rasik Ji assuming a body. His austere body is long enough and his arms are elongated to his knees, which gives freedom from fear to everyone. The Kopin at his waist and the cloth on the shoulder look so nice. He is so much unattached to this material world that he does not even keep the footwear at his feet, he takes pity on the living beings and walks while looking at the earth. The meditation of such Rasik saint exclusive removes all the mind's disturbances.

The life of Swami Bhagwat Rasik Ji was very remarkable. Almost all Rasik’s of Vrindavan wishes to live with such kindness. Indicating his unhappiness, Shri Bihariballabhji says that he keeps on chanting the name of Shyama-Kunjvihari. He used to do the Yamuna bathe daily and drink Yamuna water only. He always carries the Karua (earthen pot) which is a symbol of ultimate quietness and impartiality. His every action is expressing the love of Shyama Shyam. He has no rage against any person of Vrindavan. He lives in a meditative state. He has burnt all the disorders like sex-anger, greed-attachment, etc. He had tactically subdued the mind and the senses. His eyes are always filled with the love of Shyama Shyam. He always keeps on stirring up the supreme happiness.

In his time Swami Bhagavatarasik Ji was not only the best admirer and witness of Vrindavan's exclusive worship of the divine nectar, especially Haridasi Nityavihara, but also a skilled lecturer. The movement of seekers, worshipers, and inquisitors was always with him. Being an experienced saint, he understood the difficulties faced by the seekers in the practice and also told them how to overcome them. Therefore, his fame spread not only in Vrindavan but also in the Rasopasana (exclusive worship of the divine nectar) centers of Ayodhya, Janakpur, Chitrakoot, etc. Devotees from far and wide used to come to him to learn the practice of saint worship. Dr. Bhagwatiprasad Singh, the author of the research book titled Rasik Sampradaya in Rambhakti, has mentioned that saints of high quality like Mohanarasik and Siddharasik had come to Vrindavan from Ayodhya and learned the meditation of Raas from the experienced saint Swami Bhagwatrasik Dev Ji.

A Vaishya became Bhagwatrasik Ji’s disciple after hearing his fame. According to the Haridasi tradition, he started following the exclusive worship of Shyama Shyam with the mind, body, and words. But it must have been a few days that his only son fell ill. His condition continued to worsen. It has been seven days, he has not even opened his eyes to drink water. He was lying dead. People from the neighborhood and family started saying- "Brother, his father has left the worship of the goddess by preaching Haridasi tradition. That is why the goddess got angry."

Vaishya was in a lot of grief. He could not decide what to do in such a situation? Attachment of exclusivity of Shyama Shyam on one side and attachment of the only son on the other side. He was in serious trouble. This matter reached to Shri Bhagwat Rasik Ji. His mind was filled with pity. He brought the child to him and after washing the right toe, put Charanamrit in his mouth. The child sat up and recovered.

One day, Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji was seated in his meditation. At the same time, a black snake came in front of him, whispering. His eyes opened with the noise of hiss and started looking at him. His heart was filled with compassion. Due to the birth in a snake body, due to the deeds of his previous birth, Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji felt pity for the helplessness of that low-born creature.

Here that snake bothered to see him. His anger was gone. He stopped there with his head bowed. Bhagwatrasik Ji looked at him with kindness. All his oddity kept ongoing. Seeing the snake's quiet posture, he saw him as a refugee and also called other people and made him a disciple by tying a basil rosary in front of everyone.

It is indeed astonishing to hear that the basil rosary is tied around the snake's neck, but it cannot be doubted when Bihariballabhji, who has always been with him, has mentioned it in his book.

- Page 27, Verse 28

There was a householder devotee named Sriramgopal. He wanted to reside in Vrindavan by taking initiation in renounced order from Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji. But Bhagwatrasik Ji looked inside him and found that his good deeds are still residual from the rites of previous births, the seeds of lust are intact in the conscience. That is why he explained to Ram Gopalji with great affection that you stay at home now. Your good deeds are still residual as a result of the virtues of previous birth. Deplete them by enjoying them first, then come to me. This is my order at this time in your interest.

Shri Ram Gopalji returned home by obeying the Guru's command and by the grace of Guru, he continued to live a life of peace, using all the pleasures of the world. In the end, after Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji's disappearance, he also reached there.

Swami Bhagwatarsik Ji was a saint situated in a very high state of mind. He had risen above the body. He says “caste belongs to the body. There is no caste of Rasik Ananya (exclusive devotee of Shri Radha Krishn). The saint only sees his Lord and his spiritual master in all. All the discrimination inside them disappears. There is no difference between his words and actions. He has written describing the living of the true Rasik. When he feels hungry, then he should take the alms from the houses of Vrindavan.”

Bhagwatrasik Ji himself lived with this sweet attitude. It is said that once he brought Madhukari (alms) from the house of a washerman of Vrindavan. He was seen by a jealous monk. Seeing his stake, he went back to the Guru-place of Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji. Swami Lalitmohinidas Ji Maharaj was seated. He slandered and defamed Shri Bhagwat Rasik for His actions.
 Lalitmohinidas Ji explained that he will talk to Bhagwatrasik Ji, he calmed him down somehow. But later this becomes more and more noticeable.

At that time, the saints of all sects were served with an open heart in the Tatiya Sansthan. All types of saints used to come and live there. Therefore, as much as possible the common courtesy of the Vaishnavites was taken care of for everyone's happiness.

Then for an important person like Bhagwatrasik Ji, whose name has been written on the tongue of the people as his successor, this behavior became noticeable. There was also no shortage of people who were jealous of him without cause. These people saw a good opportunity to defame Him.

Here, it became a question of principle and ideal for Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji. Hence the opposition increased. Why will the opponents even go to give up? They were disturbed by revolutionary and majestic personalities like Bhagwatrasik for many days. Because of him only, the Haridasi sect was maintaining its independent existence in Vrindavan. Therefore, after this incident, they started making distinctions between master-disciple. Swami Lalitmohinidas ji had an urge to serve the Saints, so it did not seem appropriate for one to make everyone angry. He could not understand their conspiracy and ordered an exclusive saint-like Bhagwatrasik to leave Vrindavan.

Bhagwatrasik Ji was deeply saddened by this decision of Gurudev. It was also natural to feel sad, because the one who forbade others to go out of Vrindavan, was teaching him to leave Vrindavan today. Vrindavan was not just a place of residence for him, it was a favored form. Nevertheless, he adhered to Guru's command and saved the matter from becoming more perverted. Settling Vrindavan in his heart, he walked towards the banks of Yamuna towards Prayag.

It is worth remembering that many of his disciples also left him at the time of such a mess.

When Bhagwatrasik Ji left for Prayag, some saints also joined him, among whom the names of Rasrang, Bihariballabh, Mohandas, etc. are notable.

On the way came a dense forest. Mohandasji pleaded - "Lord, we have heard that there is a cannibal in the way. So no one goes on this path at night. We too shall rest here. We shall depart in the morning."

Listening to Mohandasji, Bhagwatrasik Ji laughed and said, "Do not be afraid. Throw out all the apprehensions from the heart. Look at the great glory of the hymn in front of which the cannibal will also bow down at the feet of Shri Hari. He remembered and proceeded.

The lion was sleeping in the forest. Suddenly he woke up to hear the rage of many people and being angry, the roar came in front of them. Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji showed him his amazing form and sprinkled on his head with the pot water in his hand. Don't know why the lion got scared and sat there. Bhagwatrasik Ji narrated the story of Prahlada and freed him from all his oddities. Sri Biharivallabh and all the saints got up to cheer and started saying that he has even defeated Pipaji Maharaj.

Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji reached Prayag and started doing meditation while residing in a hut situated on the banks of Yamuna near Adail. After seeing Shri Nidhivan in Prayag, he was wandering in happiness. He had made his heart Vrindavan. But whenever Vrindavan was remembered, the strings of his mind used to get clogged and the words used to sprout from his mouth -

It is popular that some veteran saint had gifted a handwritten copy of Bhagwatrasik Ji's Vani to Swami Lalitmohinidasji Maharaj by declaring it to be unique literature. When he read it, he was thrilled.

He repeatedly praised Bhagwatrasik Ji, but when his vision fell to the 70th verse of the Ananya Nishchayatmak Granth (purvardh),

Swami Lalitmohinidasji was somewhat hesitant and could not decide whether to promote it among his disciples. Eventually, he fell asleep in this turbulence. When he woke up in the morning while going to bathe in the Yamuna, he took the Vani along and he flowed it in the stream of Yamunaji while taking a bath, this lightened his mind, but he became restless as soon as he remembered its goodness. It was such a pain, such a prick that he could not even tell anyone.

Somehow the day has passed, the night has passed and the dawn has come. As usual, he again went to the Yamuna bath. Dipped but what is this, as soon as he took his head out, that copy of Bhagwatrasikji's Vani came in front of him as if someone had brought it with his hands and put it in front of him. He caught it and started thinking about what should I do? The dilemma was not disappearing. The disciple's affection for this book was increasing, but after propagating it, the danger of a bitter truth becoming everlasting was no less, finally, he made it flow again into Yamunaji.

On the third day also, when Swami Lalit Mohinidas Ji Maharaj took a head out by taking a dip in the Yamuna, that copy of Vani came again to him. The miracle was that even its bag was not even wet. He was also wondering why this book does not drown. He was in the same dilemma that Shri Yamuna Ji spoke - "It has the blaze of truth, which I cannot even digest. You take it away. There will be greater welfare of the Rasik devotees. Accepting the truth is the work of great men. Give your blessings and show your great heart. By doing this, your fame will also spread like fragrance in Nikunj-Palace."

By attaining the order of Yamunaji, he took it from his heart and ordered its propagation among the disciples.

It is said that after the attainment of Nikunj of Swami Lalitmohinidas Ji Maharaj in 1854, some saints were sent to Bhagwatrasik Ji to pray for the acceptance of the Acharya seat of Tatiya-Sansthan, but he refused to accept the throne in clear words. The throne was kept empty until the sage returned from there. Later, his colleague Saint Swami Shri Chaturdasji Maharaj ascended the throne.

The following four texts are compiled in Bhagwatrasik Ji ki Vani:

1. Ananya Nishchayatmak Granth (Purvardh & Uttarardh)

2. Nityavihari Jugal Dhyan,

3. Ananya Rasikhabaran Granth

4. Nirvirodh Manoranjan Granth

There have been many disciples of Swami Bhagwatrasik Dev, in which Rasrang, Biharivallabh, and Mohandas Ji are prominent.

Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji left his physical body and met him in the Nikunj Palace in 1872.

Shri Biharivallabh Ji says that when Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji is about to leave this world, Ganga Ji appeared and said - "You should go to Shiva's Abode and sanctify him!" Goddess Saraswati started saying - "Chaturanan (Lord Brahma) is waiting for you," Yamunaji said with a smile - "Let's go to Vrindavan. Stay in the service of Priya and Priyatam," Indra also came with many other gods and said while praising - "Lord! You should go to heaven. Accept the divine pleasures there and enjoy it."

Swami Bhagwatrasik Ji, listening to Devraj Indra, said - "The pleasures of heaven are perishable. Therefore, O Gods, I will go to Vrindavan near Shyama-Shyam. The pleasures there are unbroken and uninterrupted. Shri Haridasi Ji continues to serve Shyama-Shyam in divine Kunj. And is always immersed in observing their routine. My faith is at the feet of the same Haridasi Ji, so I am going there." Saying this, he left his physical body there and entered Nikunj palace in a Sakhi-form.

His samadhi remains in Marhi (Prayag), which is safe under the supervision of the Goswami's of the Vallabh Sect.