A Tribute to Bhasa
Memories of a Saintly Grandfather
Though my heart brims with emotion, words often feel inadequate to capture the depth of Bhasa’s presence in my life. By the divine grace of Shri Guru Maharaj and through Bhasa’s blessings, I attempt this humble reflection on a life that was both saintly and deeply personal to me.
From my earliest years of childhood, I knew him simply as my grandfather as very affectionate, guiding, and steadfast. It was only later that I began to understand his true spiritual stature that he was not merely my guardian but also a saint whose life embodied discipline, devotion, and detachment. For me, he was at once a mentor, a companion, and a source of strength.
A Life of Discipline and Devotion
Bhasa’s spiritual journey began in 1956–57 when, as a student of Philosophy, he came under the holy guidance and care of a well known name in the philosophical world and a saint Shri Vinayak Hari Date Maharaj. From that day onward, he devoted his entire life to the service of his Guru only. Every action, every word, and every gesture reflected the discipline and purity he had absorbed from Shri Date Mahraraj.
Out of his own free will, he taught many students mainly English subject and Philosophy charging only nominal fees or no fee at all until he eventually devoted himself entirely to namasmaran and spiritual
practice. Many of those students are well established today, and they continued to visit him not only to study but also to seek his guidance in their lives.”
His daily routine was an embodiment of order and devotion. His mornings began at 5:30 a.m. with the Kakad Aarti, followed by a contemplative walk and simple breakfast at 7:00 am. He observed the discipline of having only one meal a day i.e lunch and forgoing dinner altogether as an act of simplicity and restraint.” His whole day revolved around meditation, bhajans, and pothi vachan i.e the reading of sacred texts written and instructed to be read by him from his Guru. He devoted himself each day to the study of the Jñānēshwarī, the namasmaran Bhakti from the Dāsbodh and R.D Ranade and his spiritual lineage without fail. His meditation, bhajans, and pothi vachan were as indispensable to him as food and water are to life.”
“Though his day is has been described as beginning at 5:30 a.m. I had the rare privilege of seeing him immersed in meditation even through the night, as I slept beside Bhasa and my grandmother, Jiji. Over time he reduced sleep to only two or three hours only approx., he had indeed mastered and conquered sleep.”
He quietly maintained a diary in which he recorded his inner feelings, the hours he devoted to meditation, and the depth of his spiritual experiences insights that came to light only after his nirvaan. Never
once did he display or boast of the priceless treasure of spiritual realization that he carried within, his humility kept it veiled, even from those closest to him.”
“By the divine grace of his Sadguru, he offered himself into the sanctifying fire of bhakti, and in that surrender his serene presence acquired a rare and irresistible magnetism.” He had attained the pinnacle of spiritual realization, as revealed in his diary, whose final entry carried the luminous words: ‘Mhane parini gayo Gopal’a testament to his ultimate union with the Divine.”
“Through the immense fire of bhakti, he was refined into a luminous presence, endowed with such magnetism that none who sat with him ever wished to part from his company.”
All who came into his presence to seek guidance, found direction and guidance, yet he never claimed it as his own. With utmost humility, he would say, ‘This is what Maharaj has spoken,’ thus turning every honor towards his Sadguru and never towards himself.”
He bowed before his Guru each time he stepped out of the house and upon returning, acknowledging divine protection and grace. Before partaking of food or drink, he always placed the sacred angara within it. “Thus, in every small act of his daily life, he acknowledged the grace of his Guru as indispensible, shaping his entire existence under the shelter of that divine guidance.”
He never raised his voice in conversation with others, speaking with such quiet gentleness that only the one he addressed could hear him. In this way, he preserved both the sanctity of his words and the
confidentiality of others, never allowing a trust to be betrayed or a confidence to be broken.”
I had the rare privilege of hearing him render two-three abhangs. When these sacred verses flowed from his pure being and blessed voice, the atmosphere would be filled with the fragrance of bhakti. He used to sing ‘जब जानकीनाथ सहाय करे, तब कौन बबगाड़ करेनर तेरो’ when he sang— ‘अमोबिक जन्म, जानेदो न व्यथथ’—his eyes and voice carried the depth of feeling, पवित्र वो देह, वाणी पुण्यवत्—, the abhangs he sang reflected the seriousness of his sadhana and the unfathomable depth of his devotion.”
Simplicity and Purity
Bhasa’s heart was utterly pure, free from greed, untouched by material desires, and unbound by worldly attachments.” I recall one incident when a visitor presented him with a gift. My grandmother Jiji, accepted it out of courtesy, but later, in his gentle manner, he remarked, “Had I accepted such offerings, by now I would have been wealthy. But you know well that I do not take gifts.” The gift was quietly and humbly
returned, reflecting his purity and detachment from material possessions.
An incident that shines vividly in memory reflects his deep reverence for the sanctity of the Guru’s word. Shri Date Saheb once offered him a gift that had been presented by a devotee. Out of self-respect, he declined it at first, but later, when life brought certain hardships, he humbly requested it from Shri Maharaj. From this, he drew and shared with us a timeless truth: ‘The Guru’s word is none other than the word of God; the highest duty of a disciple is to embrace it with unwavering faith.”
It must be understood that Bhasa purpose was not to decline the gift of Shri Maharaj, nor was it ever Shri Maharaj’s wish that he should endure hardship. Instead, the episode itself became a means of divine
instruction, revealing that every word and offering of the Guru is sacred, and that the true disciple finds his strength in accepting it with absolute surrender.”
Throughout his life, Bhasa encountered many testing circumstances, yet he endured them with unshaken strength and quiet dignity, moving forward without despair or fatigue. Whenever he recounted those experiences, it was never in self-praise, but solely to inspire us, to uplift our spirits, and to fortify our courage.”
Truly, all who had the privilege of learning from him found their lives enriched, and each went on to accomplish something worthy and significant.”
His Role in My Life
The place Bhasa holds in my life cannot be contained in words. Yet I know this much that the days I spent with him remain the finest and most treasured moments of my life. Often I have wished that I might have shared even more of life in his blessed company. His presence still surrounds me, though its depth lies beyond expression. To me, he was everything, a guide and motivator, a source of unfailing love and care,
a friend and confidant before whom I could bare my heart completely.
And though words can scarcely do justice to what he was, I shall still make an humble effort to speak of him.”
“I count it among the greatest blessings of my life that I was allowed to spend so much time in the holy company of Bhasa Ji. He gave me the rare privilege of sitting with him, observing him closely, and learning from every aspect of his daily life. In truth, he offered me the fullest opportunity to gain knowledge of his way of living.
He himself was a senior teacher, deeply devoted to learning, and his reverence for study left a profound impression on me. He constantly motivated me in my own studies, often telling me, ‘One must be intoxicated with learning, if even a single day passes without study, one should feel as though something vital has been missed.’
His inclination toward spirituality inspired me to sit for bhajans, his discipline in every activity taught me the true value of order in life, and his unfailing practice of reading sacred texts nurtured in me a love for spiritual study. When I got the opportunity (which he would not give usually to anybody) to read such scriptures aloud to him, I considered it not just a duty but a privilege as a direct blessing from him.
To be in his presence was to be guided, uplifted, and transformed. Every moment with him was a lesson, every gesture a silent teaching, and every word an inspiration. His influence was not only immense but enduring, shaping my character, my devotion, and my love for both knowledge and spirituality.”
Whenever I felt demotivated or discouraged, it was always Bhasa who found countless ways to uplift me. He would praise even my smallest achievements with affection, often saying, ‘Chori Bai, I am glad,’ andin those simple words he filled me with renewed confidence. Before I left for school, he would lovingly give me prasad, teaching me the value of beginning each day with grace. His own punctuality and orderliness became a living lesson, silently instilling in me the importance of discipline.
And when my mind was weighed down with sadness or self-doubt, he would gently recite the inspiring verses of Maithili Sharan Gupt, urging me never to give in to despair:
‘Nar ho, na nirash karo man koKuch kām karo, kuch kām karo, Jag mein rah kar kuch nām karo,Yah janm hua kis arth kaho, Samjho jis se yah vyarth na ho,Kuch to upyukt karo tan ko…’
Through such words, he awakened in me courage, purpose, and the determination to live meaningfully. His encouragement was not momentary it shaped the very way I look at challenges, teaching me
that even in difficulty one must rise, act, and persevere. Truly, he was not only my motivator, but the very source of strength that carried me forward.”
Such was his compassion that during evening bhajans, when he took his coffee, he would always set aside a half or even a quarter of it for me. At the time, in my ignorance, I did not fully realize the depth of this gesture, only later did I come to understand that it was his grace, his blessing that coffee was no ordinary coffee, but truly prasad. Today, I feel blessed and grateful that he chose to bestow even such small yet profound tokens of his love upon me.”
It was by Bhasa’s grace that I was allowed to study in the very room where he meditated. For one who valued silence so deeply and disliked any disturbance during meditation, granting me that permission was itself a rare blessing and a profound sign of his compassion. To sit and study in his sacred presence was an opportunity beyond measure. It is only through his unmatched guidance, and by the boundless grace of both Bhasa and Shri Guru Maharaj, that I was able to pursue my studies with dedication and ultimately earn a respected professional degree. Whatever I have achieved in life is, in truth, the fruit of their blessings.”
The blessings of Bhasa’s presence extended far beyond me, touching every member of our family with his rare and incomparable grace. I feel privileged to be part of such a family, where, through his benevolence, love, care, and affection bind us all together. This unity itself stands as his living legacy. Truly, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the spiritual wealth Bhasa invested in his lifetime continues to yield rich dividends, nurturing us as a family across generations.”
In the final days before his nirvaan, his final words to me were, ‘Chori Bai, I am back by your good wishes.’ In those words, he gave me the eternal assurance that he would always remain by my side. His blessings are still with me guiding, protecting, and uplifting me. Though his physical form has departed, his presence has never left he has never truly gone.
Amita (Madhavi) Joshi