A
Brief History of Shree Kalyanraiji Prabhu : ' SHASHTHPEETH'
Introduction :-
Shree Kalyanraiji Prabhu, presently “resides” in Vadodara,
in the family of Shree Yadunathji the sixth son of Shree Gusainji.
Shree Kalyanraji is an image of Treasure-Nidhi Swarup. He is also
known as Mohini Swaroop. It is important that the Vaishnav community
understands and appreciates the circumstances in which Shree Kalyanraji
appeared and the reason why he made Vadodara his “Home”.
Shree Kalyanraiji’s Message and Shree Kalyani Devi’s
Worship :-
There was a Saraswat Brahmin named Babavenu, his friends, Krushnadas
Ghaghri and Yadav Indradas Khavas, were all Devi-worshippers. Prabhushree
looked upon all the three with favor and three estranged souls were
accepted back into the fold. Shri Thakorji appeared in Babavenu’s
dream and said, “ I am Kalyani Devi, and I am under the waters
of the lake in this village. Take me out and worship me.”
Babavenu talked about his dream to Krushnadas. Both descended into
the lake and Shri Thakorji appeared as Kalyani Devi. With whatever
material resources he had, Babavenu built a small temple on the
lake banks and established the image of Kalyani Devi in the temple.
The villagers slowly began to be attracted towards Kalyani Devi
and began to worship her. They prayed to her to solve their problems,
seek her blessings, believed in her, had faith in her divine power.
She fulfilled their wishes and her devotees grew. From the offerings
of her devotees, Babavenu and his two friends earned their living.
In this way five years passed.
The Deliverer of the Godly Beings: In the form
of Shree Kalyanraji
Once Shree Vallabhacharya was travelling from Kashi to Adel. On
the way, he stopped to rest under Mango tree here near a temple
of Shree Kalyani Devi. Babavenu and his two friends had gone to
a near village. Shree Kalyanraiji in the form of Shree Kalyani Devi
appeared to Shree Vallabhacharyaji and told him why are you sitting
so far away? Come and sit inside the temple. “When he did
as he was commanded by Shree Thakorji, he was amazed to find Thakorji
wearing feminine clothes like the saree. He asked Shree Thakorji,
“ Why are you in the form of a Devi? “ Thakorji replied,
“What can I do? In this village, nobody acknowledges Shree
Thakorji. Babavenu and others worship me since they are all Devi-worshippers.
Now you must return me back to original form. Shree Acharyacharan
removed the saree and other feminine clothes, and tearing the saree
made a Dhoti from it. Then he dressed Shree Thakorji and he went
and sat under the mango tree.
The Release of the Divine Souls
No sooner had he done this, the three divine souls came to the
temple and were surprised to see Shree Kalyanraiji Devi in male
garments, Babavenu understood that somebody must have definitely
come here to change the Devi’s clothing. At this moment, Shree
Thakorji appeared to Babavenu and commended, “ Do not touch
me. I am Shree Kalyanraiji Thakorji”. Babavenu replied, “
In this village nobody worships Shree Thakorji. What fault have
I committed that you command me not to touch you ?” Shree
Kalyanraiji said, “ Under the nearby mango tree, there sits
Acharyacharan Mahaprabhuji, go and serve him even if the rest of
the villagers do not believe in Shree Thakorji, do not bother with
them. In the store in your home Rs. 700 are buried. Bring them out
and with that money, serve me. Now go forth and serve the Acharyashree”.
The Bliss Of Divine Favor
The three divine souls came to shree Acharyacharanji. & said,
“Maharajshri, Please accept us as your servant-devotees, “with
full sanders of repentance in their hearts which ached with separation
from the Lord. Shree Acharyaji asked them to bathe & take the
Brahamasabhandh Diksha. He said, “ Take Shree Kalyanraiji
to your homes and quietly, worship him, establish a devi image in
the temple. Appoint a Brahmin to do the pooja rituals in the temple.
Do not accept anything from the Devi Pooja. Only accept the “Prasad”
of the offerings you make to Shree Thakorji.
Babavenu requested Shree Acharyaji to please visit his residence,
stay there for a while and explain the “Seva” rituals.
Shree Acharyaji And Shree Kalyanraiji went to Babavenu’s home,
Babavenu offered Rs. 700 from his store to Shree Acharyaji. Shree
Acharayaji told him, “From this money manage the “Seva”
rituals. Keep complete faith in Shree Thakorji,” After staying
at Babavenu’s house for five days, Shree Acharyaji bathed
Shree Kalyanraiji in Panchamrita leaving Shree Kalyanraiji in the
care of Babavenu and Krushnadas, and explaining the rituals of the
pushtimarg, Shri Acharyaji left for Adel. The parting blessing was,
“Do as Shree Thakorji Commands you to.”
The Acceptance of the Divine Souls
One day shree Kalyaraiji commanded the three of them to go and
seek the “Darshan” of Shree Govardhanraiji. Babavenu
then asked him, “ Where will you reside, if all of us go away
? “Shree Kalyanraiji answered that I will reside with the
2 brothers of Krushnadas. Babavenu called these brothers who accepted
Brahma Sambandh from Shri Acharyacharan at Adel, became Vaishnavas
and explained to them extreme good fortune. He advised them to serve
the Lord in their care with faith and sincerity. This house now
belongs to you, he said to them, since all of us are going to Vraj
and we will never return since that appears to be Will of the Lord.
Saying this, all three of them left.
They reached Mathura and went for “Darshan” to Shree
Keshvraiji’s temple. As he was praying, Krushnadas had a divine
vision of Shree Goverdhandhar. As the Vision before him, he went
into a trance and began singing “Kirtans” and whilst
he was saying, the extreme joy caused him to give up his body as
his souls became one with the Lord. Babavenu and Yadevendradas cremated
his mortal remains.
From Mathura, Babavenu and Yadevendradas climbed to Shree Girirajji,
for a “Darshan” of Shrinathji, Babavenu sang kirtans
at the feet of Shrinathji. A Flower garland around Shrinathji’s
neck gently fell down which Babavenu accepted as divine “Prasad”
along with the pan “Bida”. Babavenu fell at the Lord’s
feet and at the foot of Shree Girirajji, he gave up his soul. Yadevendradas
cremated his mortal body and continued his journey for Shree Gosainji’s
“Darshan”. Yadevendradas in happiness offered his “Seva”
but slowly sadness crept into his mind. He began to think why should
I stay here? Will it not be better if I go where Babavenu has gone?
But then who will cremate me? If any vaishnav does it, then it is
am impediment in his “Seva”, so I cannot allow that.
Then he made up his mind. After taking “Darshan” of
Shrinathji, he went to the forest where he began collecting dry
retags and wooden branches. After a few days of doing this, he had
collected enough for his own cremation. So one day after taking
“Darshan” of Shrinathji doing “Dandavat Pranam”
of Shree Gosainji, and repeating the Vaishnav Bhagvad to himself,
he lit his own cremation pyre and, after doing “Dandavat Pranam”
to ShreeNathji’s flag, he climbed the pyre and sat down. Thus
repeating Shri Gosainiji’s Charanarvind, he left for his heavenly
abode. When he heard this Shree Gosainji also sang his praises.
In this way, whenever Shree Thakorji is pleased with his devotees.
He himself frees them from life’s dark and material bindings
and blesses them with spiritual knowledge, and the treasures of
his “Pushti”.
In the meanwhile Krushnadas brother continued the “Seva”
of Shree Thakorji & then left for the residence of Shree Gosainji,
Shree Gosainji’s children undertook the “Seva”
of Shree Kalyanraiji with fill Samvat 1636, Shree Gosainji decided,
for the first time, to distribute his godly responsibilities. He
offered Shree Balkrishnalalji to Shree Yadunathji (Samvat 1612).
But Shree Yadunathji did not want to accept this minor Swaroop (In
terms of the Rasamandala- Since he belongs to the second Rasamandala).
Shree Gosainji’s third son also called Shree Blakrishnaji
requested Shree Balkrishnaji from Shri Gosainji.
After this in Samvat 1640, there was distribution for the second
time. Shree Kalyanraiji Swaroop was offered to and accepted by Shree
Yadunathji as per Shree Madhusudanji’s wishes.
Shree Yadunathji (Samvat 1612) did sincere “Seva” of
Shree Kalyanraiji. He spent some time at Gokul and Jatipura after
that his son Shree Madhusundanji took him to Mathura (Samvat 1634)
and built a temple there. Today Shree Madanmohanji is installed
in this temple. Shree Madhusudanji’s son Shree Pradhumanji
(Samvat 1680) and his son Shree Dwarkanathji (Samvat 1708) did the
“Seva” in Mathura. Since Shree Dwarkanthji did not have
a son. His younger brother Shree Vitthalnathji (Samvat 1717) took
the responsibility of “Seva”.
Shree Vithalnathji had taken Shree Kalyanraiji for some time to
Hydrabad. Thereafter his elder son Shree Pradhumanji (Samvat 1762)
did the “Seva” this elder son Shree Yadunathji (Samvat
1783) shifted Shree Kalyanraiji from Hydrabad to Nathdwara for a
short while and from there to Shergadh. In Shergadh the “Seva”
was offered by Shree Gokulnathji (Samvat 1817), Shree Pradhumanji
(Samvat 1836), ShreeYadunathji (Samvat 1869) and Shree Gokulnathji
(Samvat 1902) since Shree Gokulnathji did not have a son, his younger
brother Shree Vallabhji took the responsibility for “Seva”
Shree Vallabhji also did not have a son too, so Shree Gorvardharan
(samvat 1923) undertook the “Seva”. Until this time
Shree Kalyanraiji was at Shergadh only. The area of Shergadh was
heavily concentrated with the Dacoits and a threat to security of
the temple and deity arose. The same temple was also robbed a couple
of times. After feeling that this is causing trouble in the seva
Shree Thakurji ,Shree Girdharji (Samvat 1967, Vaishak vad 2) brought
him to Vadodara. Shree Vallabhlalji did the “Seva” since
Samvat 1961.
Like his Father, Shree Vallabhlalji was also very knowledge, devoted,
intelligent and even temperament. It was with his enthusiasm, and
under his leadership that such a vast and beautiful Haveli of Shree
Kalyanraiji was built here. After him His Vahuji, Pu. Pa. Shree
Krushnavati Vahuji offered “Seva” according to the sampraday’s
to Shree Kalyanraiji Prabhu.
She later adoped Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree (Present Tilakayatshree)
and since then he is performing the seva of Shree Kalyanraiji prabhu.
Today Shashthpeeth is not only a place of divine worship but is
also a hub of many social and welfare activities, the account of
which can be found in the Institution section of this website.
The “SHASHTHPEETH” Shree Kalyanraiji Mandir offers the
following religious rituals:
The PushtiMarg, established by Shreemad Vallabhacharyaji Mahaprabhuji
is also known as Shuddhadvait Brahmavad, in which chronologically
the eldest son is enthroned & takes over the responsibility
of the propagation as well as progress of the sect by giving Brahmasambandh
Diksha to the followers & organizing various welfare activities
for the upliftment of the social, moral and religious values of
the society.
In the same manner, continuously for the past 500 years, worshipping
HIS lord with the same dignity & prosperity, the Goswamy Family
has embarked a unique tradition amongst Vedic Hindu Sanatan Dharma.
The Shree Kalyanraiji Mandir offers the following religious
rituals:
(1) At the Shree Kalyanraiji Mandir, there are the Mathurawala
Goswami Shree Prushottamlalji Maharajshree and Shree Girdharlalji’s
adopter Shree Vallabhji’s Gaadiji.
Char Padukaji : (a) One belongs to Shree Mahaprabhuji,
(b) Two belong to Shree Yadunathji and
(c) One to Shree Gokulnathji.
Hastakshar (have Acharyaji) (a) Shree Mahaprabhuji (b) Shree Gosainji
(c) Shree Yadunathji (d) Shree Gokulnathji.
There are also (a) Shrinathji’s Angarav (b) Shrinathji’s
Bahvnaji (c) Shree Swamiji’s Bhavnaji (d) Shree Mahaprabhuji’s
Zaariji (e) The Upskaar of Sandhyavandan (the Zaariji and the Upskaar
“Appeared” at the Naroda Baithak).
Copper Mandirs & Baithaks.
Shree Kalyanraiji Temple, Ahmedabad, Dhal Ni Pole (b) Shree Mahaprabhuji
and Shree Gosainji Bethak Naroda, Ahmedabad (c) Shree Goverdhannathji’s
two temples, one at Amritsar, Punjab and another at Dholaji, Saurastra.
Thus in the wonderful story of Shree Kalyanraiji who himself “resides”
amongst us giving Vaishnav the sublime opportunity and happiness
of his, “Darshan” and “Seva” Shree Kalyanraiji’s
blessing and resultant good fortune is showeredon numerous devotees
even today.
We bow down before such a wondrous image of Shreve Kalyanraiji
on the occasion of this Chappan Bhog Mahotsava and Pray that Shreve
Kalyanraiji will always bless his devotees with happiness. Health
and Wealth.
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