It was on March 10 that Master and other disciples buried Sri Yukteswarji, having attained mahasamadhi on March 9. The delay of one day (In India bodies are many times dealt with on the same day as their death) was due to Master steaming by locomotive from Calcutta to Puri. Sri Yukteswarji had cabled Master to come right away, but Master had some things to finish and delayed coming–he was not there for his guru’s mahasamadhi. This was something that Master had a very hard time forgiving himself for, and finally found resolution when Sri Yukteswarji resurrected himself to Master months later in distant Bombay.
In India, most corpses are publicly cremated as a rite of purification very soon following death. However, young children and swamis, considered already pure, are therefore either buried or swaddled in cloth and put into a holy river. Sri Yukteswarji was buried, seated in full lotus posture. When I was at Sri Yukteswarji’s seaside hermitage in Puri, there was a peculiar picture up on the wall of the Bhajan Hall. It was strange, and I stared at it not quite comprehending. I suddenly realized that the great master was seated in meditation posture, Master and another disciple each had a hand on either of his two shoulders holding him up. Sri Yukteswarji had already fled the body, no longer inhabiting that form, but he was sitting up in the midst of devotees—the juxtaposition of this picture took a bit for my mind to understand. It was shocking by our Western standards—but a powerful picture.
Master designed a Samadhi Temple to be constructed over the site where Sri Yukteswarji’s body was put to rest. Like traditions around the world, the bones of a saint are considered holy and to be revered. This has interestingly sometimes led to fights between disciples and communities as to where the remains would find a home. This “spiritual materialism” was sometimes driven by pride of ownership, also a community could become wealthy as a pilgrimage site. Despite these pedestrian motives that sometimes surround the body of a great saint, there is no doubt as to the uplifting power that comes from the remains of a realized master.
I have experienced the power of the remnants of divine personalities: Lahiri Mahasaya’s in Haridwar, Master’s at Forest Lawn, Mother Hamilton’s in The Rose Garden at Floral Hills, Papa’s bones in the Bhajan Hall, Anandamayi Ma’s in Kankhal, Meher Baba’s in Meherabad, Sai Baba’s in Shirdi, to name some—and, of course, Sri Yukteswarji’s in Puri.
My first darshan of the Puri Samadhi Temple came in 1998, when on pilgrimage there with Swami Vishwananda, Larry, Cate and Phyllisji (read a further description in My Spiritual India, pg. 25 @ www.crossandlotus.com ). It was thrilling to enter the grounds, walk in that ashram hallowed by both Sri Yukteswarji and Master. The doors to the Samadhi Temple were unlocked by the swami and we sat in meditation posture. Indeed, it was powerful, uplifting, even transforming. Swami Vishwananda was obviously moved, more deeply than I observed in any other pilgrimage spot to which we went. We all felt its uplifting power.
Since that darshan, I saw Sri Yukteswarji in a brand new light. Through Master’s descriptions, Sri Yukteswar often came across as stern, uncompromising in principle, and critical. Of course, Master was in training under Sri Yukteswarji and being prepared for a very difficult and powerful mission in the West; Sri Yukteswarji played a grounding role in Master’s life. Beforehand, I definitely had the feeling this great God-man, while possessing a tremendous sense of humor, would be difficult to be around. However, with my experience in his Samadhi Temple, I came to know his unalloyed joy and sweetness of spirit! This came as a revelation, and very unexpectedly.
After our meditation, we walked the grounds of the Karar Ashram, and then the doors of the master’s bedroom were unlocked and we were given the opportunity to have its darshan. Even though the room was not well kept, dusty and stacks of newspapers on the floor, still the power of that room, with its simple wooden bed and very few items—but my, what a powerful vibration fills that room. We never wanted to leave!
I reflected on my surprising discovery of Sri Yukteswarji’s unbounded joy on the spot he was buried. My mind was directed to Master’s description from the Autobiography of a Yogi, The Resurrection of Sri Yukteswar:
“I have now told you, Yogananda, the truths of my life, death, and resurrection. Grieve not for me; rather broadcast everywhere the story of my resurrection from the God-dreamed earth of men to another God-dreamed planet of astrally garbed souls! New hope will be infused into the hearts of misery-mad, death-fearing dreamers of the world.” “Yes, Master!” How willingly would I share with others my joy at his resurrection! “On earth my standards were uncomfortably high, unsuited to the natures of most men. Often I scolded you more than I should have. You passed my test; your love shone through the clouds of all reprimands.” He added tenderly, “I have also come today to tell you: Never again shall I wear the stern gaze of censure. I shall scold you no more.” How much I had missed the chastisements of my great guru! Each one had been a guardian angel of protection. “Dearest Master! Rebuke me a million million times—do scold me now!” “I shall chide you no more.” His divine voice was grave, yet with an undercurrent of laughter. “You and I shall smile together, so long as our two forms appear different in the maya-dream of God. Finally we shall merge as one in the Cosmic Beloved; our smiles shall be His smile, our unified song of joy vibrating throughout eternity to be broadcast to God-tuned souls!”
Something in the expressional nature of Sri Yukteswarji changed after his passing– “Never again shall I wear the stern gaze of censure…our smiles shall be His smile, our unified song of joy vibrating throughout eternity to be broadcast to God-tuned souls!” I now had firsthand experience of his joy—unexpectedly, surprisingly, and wonderfully real. And since that experience at his Samadhi Temple in Puri almost twenty years ago, Sri Yukteswarji now stands not only as a symbol and a reality of uncompromising clarity in regards to wisdom and truth, but as an effervescent bubbling up of pure and ever-new joy. On this day of remembrance, may his light of wisdom and divine joy be broadcast to God-tuned souls everywhere.
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