Tuesday, December 1, 2015

CHARCHANI

Charchani
(Description of the Paramdham)

During his spiritual compaign, when Mahamati Shri Prannathji reached Panna (in M.P.), at that time the Sundarsath living close to him and serving him, used to describe among themselves each and every object of Paramdham, which was termed as 'Contemplation of the Dham', or 'Chitavani'. This subject-Charchani is written according to these private musings of the Sundarsath. (the relevant reference books are Chhoti and Badi Vrittis of Shri Laldasji).

As it is, Sadguru Shri Devchandraji also used to impart the knowledge of the actual objects of Paramdham to the Brahmamuni Sundarsath. It is during such descriptions, that the Shri Yamunaji was manifested at Shri 5 Navtanpuri Dham. This has been mentioned by Mahamati Shri Prannathji, as indicated by Sadguru, and out of his own experience, in the Parikrama book. Reading this book, the Sundarath taste, the actual experience of these incidents'.

The Sacchidanand form beyond Akshar Brahma, is Parabrahma Paramatma. The Divine-beauty-filled, completely Self-evident, Light-form Parabrahma Dham, is the secret behind the Real form of Poornabrahma Paramatma. This is indicated by the names 'Divya Brahmapur', 'Param Dham', etc. in the Scriptures (e.g. Chand Upan., Maheshwar Tantra, Kaivalya Upan., etc.) The above book acquaints us about the Paramdham. (i.e. Chhoti Vritti, etc.)

Although the description of Paramdham will be made through worldly language only, yet, in order to actually experience Its Bliss, one has to absorb It in one's heart like a machine. Unless and until one can mentally transport oneself to that arena of consciousness and absorb It, one can not gain the Real experience ! Mahamati Shri Prannathji himself has said, that it is not possible to capture the beauty of Pramdham in worldly language; yet, he has endeavoured to describe Its undescribable Splendour, exclusively for the benefit of his beloved Brahmatmas.This only goes to reveal the depth of his compassion !!

There are totally seven Perambulation Arenas (Parikramas) in Paramdham, which cover the twenty five wings of Paramdham. Since it is not practical to cover all the Seven Parikramas in this treatise, we shall try and briefly cover 'One-Perambulation;, for the benefit of our Internet viewers. We request them to try and raise their level of receiptivity to a Higher plane of Consciousness, so that they may derive maximum benefit out of this short treatise.

With this short introduction, we take you through the various Divine arenas in the first perambulation.

The First Parikrama (Circumambulation):
In the middle of the Infinitely circular 32-facetted Paramdham, is the colorful Mansion, the Supreme Abode of Aksharatit Poorna Brahma Shri Rajji. This Colorful Mansion (Rang Mahal) and the Abode (Dham) of Akshar Brahma stand facing each other with great splendour. At a distance of 4.5 lakh koshas from both, in the middle Shri Yamunaji is flowing.

Shri Aksharatit's Paramdham is situated in the West facing Eastward; and Akshar Brahma's Dham is situated in the East facing Westward.

On both banks of Shri Yamunaji, towards both the Dhams, there are Seven groves each, of Kel (Plantains), Limbu (Lemons), Anaar (pomagranates), Amrit (Mango), Jambun (Rose-apples), Narangi (Oranges) and Vat Vriksha (Banyan trees) respectively. Towards the right and left there are two bridge-cum-palaces (Pul-Mahal). The centre bathing-wharf is famous by the name Paat-Ghat. From Paat Ghat a pathway leads us straight to the steps, which takes us up to the main-entrance door of Rang Mahal.

This Rang Mahal or Paramdham is One Bhom above the ground level (1 Bhom=400 Koshas; 1 Kosha = approx. 2 Kms.). This is a 201 facetted extensive round Mansion. It has ten storeys. In front of the Rang Mahal at the ground level there is a beautiful courtyard open to the Sky (or, Chandni Chwok), in which, towards the North and Sourth, stand two raised palforms (Chabutara) beautified by Red and Green trees over them. Climbing one hundred steps from this courtyard, one reaches the main entrance of the Rang Mahal. As one enters, there is a 28-pillared courtyard in front. Standing there if one looks around, one can see 2 circular rows of six-thousand Mandirs (rooms) each. Between these 2 rows of Mandirs, there are two circular rows of pillars forming three concentric lanes between the Mandirs. Ahead of the 28 pillared courtyard, there are 32 concentric circular rows of square and round Havelis (open spaces), placed in groups of four alternately. After the first set of square Havelis ahead of the 28-pillared courtyard, the 5th round Haveli has two concentric circular rows of 64-pillars, each made of jewels and precious stones. Further down in the middle of this round Haveli, there is a raised-platform waist-high, with 64 pillars mounted over its edge. In the middle of this raised patform (Chabutara) there is a golden throne studded with gems, on which Shri Raj Shyamaji (Yugal Swaroop) are seated; and surrounding Them 12,000 Brahmatmas are seated divided into three concentric circulars rows. This is called 'Mool-Milava'.

Ahead of the 32 concentric circular rows of Havelis, there are different kinds of palatial rooms, gardens, fountains, etc. In order to comprehend all this fully, one should read the 'Vritta Grantha' of Paramdham, and see the Charts depicting the same pictorially.

The Second Storey:
Every thing else remaining the same as in the ground or first storey, only on the right side there is an extremely mind boggling deceptive maze of mirror-like walls, floors, ceilings, etc.housed in a mansion consisting 12,000 rooms, which occupies the space covered by 16 square Havelis. Every day Shri Raj Shyamaji and the 12,000 Brahmatmas play games. It is called the 'Bhulavani.

The Third Storey:
There is a large open balcony (Chhajja) from where Shri Rajji gives darshan to the animals and birds, and also Akshar Brahma. Shri Raj Shyamaji perform many Lilas here for 9 hours (06 A.M. to 3 P.M.) along with 12,000 Brahmatmas. The famous 'Love-dailogue' between Shri Rajji and the 12,000 Brahmatmas takes place here, everyday.

The Fourth Storey:
Here, in one of the square Havelis, Navrangbai and her troupe present dance-programs till 9 P.M.

The Fifth Storey:
Here the resting Lila (Shayan Lila) takes place. It is called the Blissful Arena, Love-Arena, Resting-Arena, etc. The Lila takes place between 9 P.M. and 6 A.M.

The Sixth Storey:
Here, in place of the outer circular row of 6000 rooms, there are open verandahs, where many kinds of Aerial vehicles are parked (Aero planes, etc.) in which Shri Raj Shyamaji and 12,000 Sakhis go for sportful wandering between 3 P.M. and 5 P.M.

The Seventh Storey:
There are many multi-designed Swings here, one facing the other, and they appear as if clapping of hands, while swinging. It is called the Swing-Arena.

Eighth Storey:
Similar to the Seventh Storey, here also there are Swings, except that pairs of Swings criss-cross each other while swinging, giving the appearance of 4 hands clapping simultaneously. This is also called the Swing-Arena.

Ninth Storey:
Here, all around, there are wide balconies, in which beautiful thrones with chairs surrounding the throne are provided. From here Shri Raj Shyamaji and 12,000 Sakhis see the beautiful Scenery all around.

Tenth Storey:
This is the Terrace. This contains different kinds of parks with beautiful flowers in them. Each park contains fountains, small canals, and small flower-gardens. In the middle there is a high raised platform, on which Shri Raj Shyamaji's Throne is there, with chairs all around for the Sakhis. On every full-moon day (Poornima), they come here, and enjoy the Bliss of the moonlit night. From here also scenes all around can be seen. On the outside edge of the Terrace (Chandni) there are 201 facet-corners, domes, red flags, small tingling bells, etc., all around. It is called the 'Picture-gallery'. All the 25 wings of Paramdham can be seen from here. Now coming down from the Terrace, and climbing down the steps to the ground level, if one starts walking along the pathway (Raus) meant for perambulation (Parikrama), then, coming towards the South-East corner, one comes across a 16-facetted fountain (Chehebaccha). Going down South, we can see the Vat-Peepal Ki Chowki. This Chowki (Rectangular open space) is 1500 Mandirs long x 500 Mandirs broad. (1 Mandir = 100 Koshas). It contains 75 Banyan trees (Vat Vriksha) and Holy-fig trees (Peepal Vriksha) alternately placed. There are a total of 100 fountains in and around this Chowki.

Noor Baag:
Walking towards the West and passing the 16-facetted fountain in the South-West corner, one comes across the Noor-Baag in the west (there are 16-facetted fountains in all four corners of the Rang-Mahal). This garden is 1500 Mandirs long x 1500 Mandirs broad. There are totally 100 Small gardens within the Noor Baag; and 1017 fountains all around. The Noor Baag has a total of 66,000 iron pillars in it, supporting the Phool Baag above it at the level of the Rang Mahal.

Phool Baag:
Above the Noor Baag, is the Phool Baag supported by 66,000 pillars. Its dimensions are the same as the Noor Baag below - i.e. 1500 Mandirs long x 1500 Mandirs brood). Like the Noor Baag, it has totally 100 small gardens in it; and a total of 4012 fountains all around.

Lal Chabootara - (The Red Balcony):
Coming towards the North, we can see the Lal Chabutara at the level of the Rang Mahal. This balcony is 1200 Mandirs long x 30 Mandirs broad. This balcony is situated alongside 40 facets of the Rang Mahal. Each facet-space is fully carpetted, has a Throne and Chairs around it. From this balcony one can see 41 rows of 41 trees each, which form 1600 wrestling-arenas within themselves. Shri Raj Shyama and 12,000 Sakhis see the wresting-bouts between the various animals, and other acrobatic feats performed by the animals and birds. From the wall on the Northern-side, the trees of the Bade-Van begin.

Taad-Van:
Walking down further towards the East along the Northern pathway - one can see the Taad-Van (Palm trees). This grove is 300 Mandirs wide x 510 Manidrs long. There are totally 170 gardens in this grove. Along the edge there are Palm-trees and in the middle there are other trees. These trees extend upto the 10th storey of Rang Mahal. There are thousands of swings hanging from these trees. Towards the Rang Mahal, there is a swimming-pool (khadokali) in the Taad-Van.

Walking along the Taad-Van one arrives at the Eastern face of the Rang Mahal. Coming to the middle of the Chandni-Chowk's entrance, if one faces the East, one can see the seven groves (Saath Ghat) mentioned in the beginning of our description. We have now completed One Parikrama of the Rang Mahal. There are six more such Parikramas covering the Rang-Mahal, becoming proportionally more extensive sequentially. The 25 wings of Paramdham are situated within these 7 Parikramas.


VIRAT

Viratpat Darshan


Viratpat Darshan is one of the four subjects (Viz. Tartam Sagar, Vitak, Viratpat Darshan and Charchani) which constitute the course of study of the Pranami Dharma. It can be considered as the Jewel of Spiritual knowledge. It will not be an exaggeration to call it the Essence of the Spiritual Strength of great spiritual giants, the gift of Tartamya knowledge, and the splendour of inspiration-filled thoughts of Para Brahma. Although it is not the inherited-property of any particular Sampraday and is the secret-milking of the essence of Self-experience, and the knowledge of the Vedas-Upanishads-Puranas, Para Vidya and Brahma Vidya; yet, its complete enquiry has been done through Tartamya knowledge,. Hence, it finds its place among the books presented by Shriman Nijanand Acharya to reveal the manifestation of Tartam in front of society in general.

Background:

The circular form shown uppermost in the chart, is that of Poornabrahma Parmatma's Eternal, Undivided Paramdham. In the scriptures this has been called as Brahmadham, Divine Brahmapur Dham, Aksharatit Dham, etc.

Poorna Brahma Paramatma Shri Rajji, is the Sacchidanand Divine non-dual Chidghan-form. HE performs His Blissful Eternal Lila along with His Brahmatmas in the Divine Paramdham. Shri Shyamaji, the Brahmatmas and 25-winged Paramdham manifest out of HIS Bliss-portion. Akshar Brahma is out of His Sat-portion which is His child-nature, i.e. is considered as His child-form. Shri Shyamaji, the Brahmatmas, Dham-Paramdham, Akshar Brahma, are all the limb-forms of Poorna Brahma Himself. Although depicted as separate in the field of Lila, they are not separate from Poorna Brahma. That is why, Poorna Brahma Paramatma has been called 'SvaLila Advait' along with His Eternal Lila.

Through his playful-surata the child-form Akshar Brahma creates numerous Universes within a fraction of a second; and in the same way dissolves those Universes also. This entire Universe has emerged out of Akshar only.

'Tathaaùksharat Sambhavateeha Vishvam',
'Nainake Paav Palmen Isarat, Kai Koti Brahmanda upajat Khapat'.

Poorna Brahma Paramatma sent His Brahmatmas into the Akshar-created creation (perishable drama) in a Surata-form, in order to make them realise the original Bliss of the Divine Paramdham's Eternal Glory and subsequently to make them more Bliss-intoxicated ! HE had to also make Aksharbrahma personally experience the Brahmanandamayi Lilas.

In the Chart, Yamunaji, the location of Poorna Brahma Paramatma's Blissful sport arena, has been shown in front of Rang Mahal (Colorful Mansion). In front towards the East there is Akshardham.

When Aksharbrahma (playfully) visualises to create the Universes, - in order to picturise his inner state, Aksharbrahma has been shown in the Virat-form below the circle in the chart. His mind, intellect, chitta and Ego have an immortal form. He is considerd as a four-fold power. His mind is 'Satswaroop'; intellect is 'Keval Brahma' (in which Paramdham's Blissful Lila is reflected); chitta is 'Sabalik Brahma' and Ego is 'Avyakrit Brahma'. Avyakrit is also called the 4th quarter. It is through this Avyakrit that the universes are created; just as the mind visualises, intellect resolves, chitta contemplates and Ego transforms into action. Aksharbrahma's four-fold powers are described in the forth coming pages.

As soon as Aksharbrahma imagines of creating Universes, his mind gleams forth with pleasure; the pervasiveness of his chitta knows no bounds ! The amplification of his imagination is called as 'Delusory-waters' (Mohajal) by the Scriptures. It is in this Mohajal that Aksharbrahma's imagination floated in the form of a golden-egg for thousands of years. During the course of time, when it hatched, a Divine personage manifested from it. There was water and nothing but water all around him. By virtue of his abode being in water itself, he got baptised as 'Narayan', (Nar=water, Ayan=abode). He found himself to be alone, and fantasied that, "I am one' May I become many !" - with this fantasia, he manifests in the forms of Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar seperately.

In the chart, the bottom porton is shown in an Oval (egg) shape. This is called as 'Universe' (Brahmanda). This is the Gross-body of Bhagavan Narayan. there are 14 worlds within it. Covering these 14 worlds there are Eight Sheaths. In the 'Gita' these coverings (sheaths) are called as 'Bhinna Prakriti' also. At the bottom most portion of the 14 worlds, there is the 'ocean of womb-water' (garbhodak ocean). Sheshasai Narayan, who is bearing the entire burden of the Universe, reclines here. The expanse of even this one Universe, is unmeasurable. Aksharbrahma creates and dissolves countless such Universes in a fraction of a second !

VITAK

                                             VITAK

A tradition of writing the life-history of Mahamati Shri Prannathji can be specially seen in the Nijanand Sampraday. Thus, in the Nijanand Sampraday, all compositions throwing light upon Shri Prannathji's life are called 'Vitak' or 'Vrittant', e.g. 'Vitak' composed by Shri Laldasji, 'Vrittant Muktavali' by Shri Brijbhushanji, 'Vitak' by Shri Navrang Swami, etc. As such Vitak-literature forms a part of the Biographical-literature only. Vitak literature presents much useful information regarding the Bhaktas of the medieval age. As a matter of fact, the word 'Vitak' is of Gujarati origin, which means a 'tale of one's own experiences'.

About 7 Vitaks are acknowledged by the Pranami Sampraday. However among all these, the Vitak written by Swami Laldasji is the oldest, most revered, and widely used. Just as, in the Pranami Sampraday, after Shri Prannathji, the place of honour is given to Swami Laldasji - so also, in the Pranami literature, after the holy Scripture 'Kuljam Swaroop' (Tartam Sagar), the place of honour is given to Swami Laldasji's 'Vitak'.

Among the many titles of Shri Prannathji, 'Mahamati' is one. Before departing for Paramdham, Shri Prannathji gave his title to Swami Laldasji and asked him to write the complete history of the Pranami Dharma, on his behalf. It is said, that after the departure of Shri Prannathji to Paramdham, Swami Laldasji began to write the Vitak (on the 4th day of Shravan Badi in V.S 1751) and completed the same on Bhaadan Badi Ashtami (Krishnashtami) Even today, wherever Pranami temples are there, in U.P., Bihar, Punjab, Gujarat, Mumbai, Assam, Tibet, Nepal etc., the study of Vitak is undertaken every year from the 5th day of Shravan Badi to Bhaadan Badi Ashtami (or Krishnashtami), so that one's spiritual battery gets recharged, and remains charged till the next year.

There is an account of thousands of persons, hundreds of places and many historical events in the Vitak. Many of the important events are verifiable in History. Vitak deals with the Pranami Dharma founded and spread by Shri Prannathji, and is related with Pranami literature. Not only did Shri Prannathji give the message to both Hindus and Muslims to bury their mutual religious malice, and co-exist peacefully; but also made efforts to search out the underlying basic Unity among all religions, through the study of the respective scriptures of the Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, and those of the followers of prophet Dawood. The writers of the History of India, and Hindi literature, are strangely silent about the life-history of Mahamati Shri Prannathji - the composer of the 18,758 verses of the Holy Book 'Kuljam Swaroop; of the Pranamis, the visionary who dreamt about the 'Unification of all Religions', and the Symbol of inspiration of Emperor Chhatrasal.

The Vitak deals with Shri Krishna's Vraja-Raas lilas, and the life-histories of Sadguru Shri Devchandraji and Shri Prannathji. It deals at length with the different stages through which Shri Prannathji had to pass, before deciding to wage a Religious war with Aurangzeb, during his campaign to awaken Aurangzeb to the truth of Hindu-Muslim oneness. It also reveals the various ideals and values preached and practised by Shri Prannathji during his lifespan of 76 years. It highlights his effort at establishing a Universal Religion and Universal Brotherhood; his efforts to emancipate women, to uplift the poor and the downtrodden, to promote the use of Hindustani, etc.

The last chapters describing the Seva done to Shri Prannathji and Baiju Maharani by Sundar Sath, serves as a guide to the followers of the Pranami Dharma in the matter of doing Seva to the Lord (in the form of the Yugal-Swaroop). It also becomes the basis for contemplation on Paramdham (or Chitavani). Vitak also presents the Doctrines and Philosophy of the Pranami Dharma. Thus the Vitak is a Unique presentation of the various aspects of a Religion, its founders, its history and its doctrine and beliefs - all rolled into one book.

In order to understand Shri Prannathji's Vani, it is essential to have a basic knowledge of Vitak. Tartam Vani is the revelation of Brahman - while Vitak is the path of Sadhana to be undertaken to attain the Goal of Brahman. There is a unique synthesis of History and spirituality in the Vitak. Its Historical-aspect acts as a mirror to the contemporary age, and its spiritual-aspect is the Revelation of Brahma-Lila. The primary aim of the Vitak Katha is to make the common man taste the presence of Paramatma, along with human welfare and all round prosperity. The practical solutions to man's problems in life, are self-evident throughout. As such, this is not the monopoly of any individual or group, but is a priceless Universal Treasure. Vitak teaches us the following -

* Paramdham - and its lilas.
* Shri Rajji, Shyamaji, the Brahmatmas and their Advait Lila, etc.
* Brahman Sat
* Akshar Brahma
* The world
* The jivas
* Maya
* liberation etc., and last but nor the least, teaches human values - such as, compassion, tolerance, co-operation, equal mindedness, feeling of brotherhood, non-violence, duty-awareness, self-restraint, self-confidence and Love towards all.