Asaram Bapu

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Asaram Bapu
Born	17 April 1941 (1941-04-17) (age 68) Berani, Sindh, British India
Residence	Ahmedabad, India
Nationality	Indian
Religious beliefs	Hinduism
Spouse(s)	Lakshmi Devi
Children	Narayan Sai (Son) Bharti Devi (Daughter)
Parents	Mehangiba (Mother) Thaumal Sirumalani (Father)
Signature
Website www.ashram.org http://www.ashramnews.org www.ashramnews.org

Asaram ji Bapu (born April 17, 1941) is a highly revered Hindu spiritual guru from India. He is also known as "Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu" (Hindi: आसाराम बापू),(Sindhi: آسارام باپو).

Travelling extensively in India and abroad, he preaches the message of Vedanta, Yoga, divine love, Bhakti (devotion), and Mukti (salvation) through his teachings, actions and Satsangs. The organization is involved in charity and works of social service for past 42 years . The organization has more than 350 Ashrams ^[1] around the world with head quarters in Ahmedabad. Shri Yog vedant sewa samiti manages the ashram. It is supported by more than 1200 regional samities to carry out the holy work of bringing peace and relief to the downtrodden. The ashram runs a dedicated programme for all around personality development of kids in the age of 6 to 18 years. The centers are known as "BAL SANSKAR KENDRA",^[2] with currently more than 18000 centers operating in different cities, it has already benifitted millions of students.

Bapu ji says " Tumhara man prasan, tan svasth aur budhi me budhi data ka prakash rahe". Meaning his highness aims for the healthy body, peaceful heart and a mind devoted to the love of god, for every human being.

Biography

Birth

Asaram Bapu was born to father Thaumal Sirumalani and mother Menhgiba, as Aasumal Sirumalani. He was born in Berani village of the Nawabshah District in Sindh (Un-Partitioned India) on April 17, 1941 (Gregorian calendar), as Aasumal.^[3] His father was a wealthy businessman named Thaumal Sirumalani and his mother was Mehngeeba. He was named Asumal.^[4] Bapu was the fourth child in the family, the first brother to the three sisters.^[5]

Childhood

As a child, Asumal was quite inclined towards religious epics. Mother is always the very first teacher of a child. Asumal would listen to stories of Ramayana, Bhagwavata and other scriptures from his mother. The first seed of spiritual life was sown in his life during this period.

Young Asumal

Asumal started displaying glimpses of prodigious memory at the young age of three. Due to the unfortunate partition of India the whole family had to migrate from Sindh in Pakistan to Maninagar near Ahmedabad, in Gujarat. Asumal started going to school again in Maninagar. Six year old Asumal was brilliant in studies. During the recess time, when other childeren used to play, Asumal would sit under a tree for meditaion. The teachers used to praise Asumal for being cheerful, pure-hearted and intelligent. Teachers used to to call him Hansmukh bhai (the one who keeps smiling always). While leaving for school, Thaumal used to fill Asumal's pocket with cashews, pistachios and almonds. Asumal would share these nuts with all other students. At home, Asumal would serve his father by massaging his feet at night. Mother Mehgiba developed Asumal's interest in dhyaan-bhajan (meditation and prayers) right from his early childhood. Mehgiba would put makkhan-mishri (sweetened butter) in front of Asumal when he would be sitting for meditation with his eyes closed. She would tell Asumal to open his eyes and see what prasaad (blessed food) God had sent for him. Asumal would keep sitting in deep meditation for long hours in a small room. When the neighbours would come to meet Mehgiba, finding Asumal meditating so profoundly, they would attract Menhgiba's attention towards him. Inspired by the neighbours, Mehgiba would ask Asumal to do less of meditation, but nothing could move Asumal's determination. When Asumal saw that school education could be used merely for the purpose of winning bread and fulfilling worldly enjoyment, he became disenchanted to education. Nevertheless he continued going to school. Whenever there was any time to spare, he would go to a lonely place and meditate.

Youth and Spiritual Quest

At a very young age Asumal lost his father and the family business started dwindling. Asumal had to discontinue his education and shoulder on the family's responsibility along with his elder brother. Asumal's presence in the business improved the profits, but his mind was far away from the business. He always yearned for spiritual knowledge. After his father's demise Asumal's discrimination towards life intensified. He increased the time for mediation and realized that God alone is one reality & essence of life. His concentration increased greatly due to regular, pure meditation. No one could stop the fire of renunciation that was enveloping him completely. As Asumal grew into youth his meditation and search for Truth intensified. Asumal's growing detachment to the world worried his family and they decided to get him married. Asumal's family got him engaged.

Marriage

Aasumal kept postponing marriage for two and half years. Eventually, his family fixed a date of his marriage but he ran away from his home eight days before the day of marriage. His family started searching for him and found him in Ashok Ashram in Bharuch and took him back to home. After reaching home Aasumal was married to Lakshmi Devi. Aasumal told his wife that his ultimate goal is to self realise. He made her understand that he'll come back to home for a normal life after getting the state of self realisation. In order to understand the spiritual books properly he joined a Sanskrit school. Four days before the final exam he was influenced by a shloka which meant "The one who has disowned expectations & materialistic desires & has adopted the desireless state, the penances & worship of such a person has reached completion." His desire to attain God got intensified again. He made up his mind to break from family so as to realize God

Journey to Spirituality

After leaving his dominions, Asumal went from place to place and at nights slept on the grass, homeless and alone. He did spiritual practices in deep forests, on hills, in deep caves, in various great temples. At Kedarnath, the priest blessed Asumal to become a millionaire, but Asumal did not appreciate this. He told the priest to do prayers again and bless him to attain God. Asumal then went to Vrindavan, the land of Lord Krishna. Here he was inspired to goto the ashram of the Guru, Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. He had to wait for 40 days in the Ashram to get the glimpse of the Guru. There he stayed and served his Guru with devotion. He waged war with so many troubles. He used to take just boiled Mung as food, sleep in a small 4.5 feet room. Lilashahji made Asumal go through several hardships for another 30 days & then finally Asumal was blessed. Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj asked him to go back to home & continue his spiritual practices at home. While coming back to his home, he left the train and went to Moti Koral (A place in Gujarat). His mind was attuned to only self-realization. No one can stop a man who is on his way to Paramapada (Ultimate Realization). He started doing dyaan at the bank or river Narmada. A local saint Shri Lalji Maharaj got impressed by Asumal's intense spiritual practices. Lalji Maharaj made arrangements for Asumal to stay in Datt Kutir of Ram Niwas (Lalji Maharaj's Ashram). Asumal started the 40 day Anushthan here.^[5] When Asumal's wife and mother came to know that he was staying at Moti Koral they visited him. They requested him to come back. But Asumal told them without completing the Anushthan he cannot come. He successfully completed the Anushthan. The whole village & Lalji Maharaj himself came to the railway station to see them off to Ahmedabad. As soon as the train started moving from Miyagaun junction, Asumal jumped out and boarded a train towards Bombay to meet Guru Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj

Self Realisation

Asumal reached Bombay (Mumbai) and met Guru Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj was very happy to see his disciple's keen interest to attain the truth. Hence, on 2nd Day of Ashwin month in Samvat 2021 at 2.30pm in the afternoon Asumal was transformed into Asaram Bapu by the blessings of Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. After this Asaram Bapu went into samadhi for next two and a half days. ^[5] [3] Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj instructed Asaram to serve the humanity by staying as a householder. After Self-Realization Asaram Bapu stayed in solitude for seven years.^[3] Asaram Bapu used to give religious discourse to all those who came to meet & see Bapu. Bapu spent His solitude in various places like Disa, Naareshwar Dhaam, the Himalayas, Mount Abu & so on.

Foundations

Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram

There are 200 ashrams ^[1] working under the guidance of Asaramji Bapu. These ashrams organise spiritual and social activities on a regular basis. Some of these activities include Weekly Satsang, Distribution and sale of Rishi Prasad and other spiritual publications.

Bal-Sanskar Kendras

Bal Sanskar Kendra or BSK ^[2] for short are sessions and camps conducted for all-round and comprehensive development of children/students. BSK is inspired by Asaram Bapu and coordinated by Bal Sanskar Kendr] Dept., Shri Akhil Bhartiya Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti, Sant Shri Asarmaji Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India.

References

External links

• Asaram Bapu Biography