Mahaprabhu Pinakadrika

The form of formless and eternal Mahaprabhu Pinakadrika is of a child who performs the cosmic dance for the process of Srishti (creation), Sthiti (preservation), Samhara (destruction), Tirodhana (veiling) and Anugraha (blessing). Each form relates to physical, emotional-sexual, intellectual, spiritual (tools for realization – yoga, subjective realization) aspects and the form of Tat-Tvam Asi. In this form, he manifests as the cosmic being of prosperity. Mahaprabhu Pinakadrika has fair skin with slightly blue throat that is covered with Rudraksha mala. He possesses one strong staff and in the other hand, he holds a bowl. His companion tools are Damaru and Aghora Yantra. Like a true Mahayogi, he took the form of child and meditated at the confluence of Rudraprayag and Devprayag for many years before moving to the gufa (cave) near Koteshwara temple. Finally, he is in the divine beautiful place of Muktinath.

“Maitreya’s Journey to meeting Mahaprabhu Pinakadrika” – click here to read

Brahmarishi Matang Baba Ji
Mystical saint who eternally lives with Mahaprabhu  Pinakadrika
Brahmarishi Matang Baba ji is known by many names such as Jaigishavya, Yaigishavya, Siddheshwar Muni, Matang Baba, Shiva Baba, Siddheswar Nath Baba among others. He is a living saint thus age cannot be ascertained. A timeless saint he moved with great sages like Sage Angira.

During the Treta Yuga, Matang Muni, to be able to continue his immortal penance and devotion to Lord Shiva and Maa Jagdamba (Shakti), sought a boon that Mother Shakti be born as daughter to him as Maa Matangi and Lord Shiva as son Matang. Thus Matang Baba was born to them as the Ansharupa of Lord Shiva Himself and learned as a Shishya from Matang Muni. When Matang Muni left his body, Matang Baba also left the ashram leaving it in the care of Mata Shabari.

In another form, Matang Baba ji was known as Sadhu Jaigishavya ji. He always worshipped a Swayambhu Shivlinga known as Lord Mahoday. His worship was in the form of being with Lord Mahoday every moment of his life. Sadhu Jaigishavya ji’s love for Lord Shiva was so much that he used to smear his whole body with ashes and also would sleep on a bed of ashes. Every prahar (3 hours approximately) he would perform abhisekham (holy bath) and decorate the lord with ashes. His life of extreme austerity and love for Lord Shiva pleased the Lord who appeared in the form of Lord Mahoday and decided to fulfill his desire. Sadhu ji, in return, sought a life in service and devotion of the Lord himself. The Lord blessed him by saying that eternally he shall be a companion to his form of Mahaprabhu Pinakadrika and shall be immortal. Praying to Mahaprabhu  Pinakadrika shall absolve him of all the sins and also he was blessed to take any form he wished. The divine Mahoday lingam came to be known as Siddheshwara lingam and the whole place was known as Prabhas-Kshetra (land of eternal sun).

Click to read the mysterious circumstances how Maitreya met Matang Baba

Gurudev Swami Sri Chidananda Bharati Ji

Swami Chidananda ji was born in 1909 at Chandoli village near Gujarat as Shivaharidas. The name was given for his father was devotee of Lord Shiva and mother devotee of Lord Vishnu. His parents were great followers of Maa Anandamoyee so they took their young boy of 11 years to receive her blessings in the crucial time of 1920. This blessing turned the child to look inwards and his desire to gain knowledge about divine became very strong.

He left his home at the tender age of 12 years in search of knowledge and self-realisation. Traveling throughout India by foot the young brahmachari spent the early years of his life in the study of Sanskrit and mastering the scriptural lore.

He then followed the path of the ancient Rishis of the Himalayas and practiced the most difficult of tapasyas and yogic sadhanas while continuing the search of a real guru who could lead him to the final goal. He came across a number of ascetics about who one reads only in the scriptures. He felt his search came to an end when he met Swami Abhyananda Bharati ji who had just returned from Tibet. Swami Abhyananda Bharati ji who was from the Adi Shankaracharya lineage and who also had received his initiation from Swami Sri Nrisimha Bharati VIII said that while meditating he felt that he was being called to Baijnath for a purpose to a divine mission.

At the age of 21, Shivaharidas was transformed for life through the Sanyasa Diksha and the name Swami Chidananda Bharati was given. He stayed with Swami Abhyananda ji for three years whereupon he studied Veda, Upanishads, Puranas and did extensive tapasya at Chamoli, Gopeshwar, Rudraprayag, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamonutri.

Even after intense tapas and advaita philosophy his quest remained. At Gangotri, Swami Abhyananda Bharati ji took Jala Samadhi after saying that Swami Chidananda Bharati has to search for a Guru as he was only permitted to pass knowledge of the texts to the divine swami and told him to go to Varanasi where he would be getting the answer.

For Swami Chidananda Bharati, who by the age of 24 had mastered the Upanishads, Vedas, Puranas, the path shown by Swami Abhyananda ji came as a solace. It was year 1943. He walked all the way from Gangotri to Varanasi and reached during Navaratra (Holy Nine Nights that are celebrated in worshiping Shakti for having killed a demon…) festival.

From day one, he traveled all over the city meeting various ascetics and sadhus but nothing could fill his heart with tranquility and peace he was seeking. After doing darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple on the night of navami (the night of the ninth day) he went to Manikarnika Ghat. The whole place was burning with funeral pyres lit everywhere and his mind was still questioning. His inner voice told him to reach Girnar where he would find his Guru. On the same night, he started walking the distance from Varanasi to Girnar near Junagarh (Saurastra) the distance being more than 1400 km.

On the divine Shivaratri festival, he started climbing the mystical mountain of Girnar. A tedious task, for one must climb more than 8000 steps from the base to the highest temple peak. In the early hours of the morning, the mountain of Girnar rises as a silhouette against the bright orange sky as if Gods descend upon Earth.

Being Shivaratri festival, the mountain was electric with many sadhus gathered there. Shiva represents the Male consciousness and is named as Mahadeva (Lord of Lords) who likes his body covered with ash, which represents the destruction and also re-generation. Swami Chidananda ji said,

Shiv baba ka din tha, Us Ashutosh ka, Natyaraj, jata dharaya Ganga vahini Swaroop ka the din aur mein Girnar ke pass tha. haazaroo Sadhu-o ka caravan tha, nazrein jahan dekhe wahan sadhus. Vatavarn mein ek divya shakti ka anubhav kar raha tha. Us parampita parameshwar ki shakti  ka avataran ka mein anubhav kar raha tha. Shraddha se sadhu jano ko naman karte hue meri ankhein us devata ke darshan ke liye lalayat ho rahi thi jinko milna ka awsar aaj hai

‘It was the day of Lord Shiva, The Ashutosh, the Natyaraja, Jata dharaya, Ganga vahini swaroopa when at the holy place of Girnar thousands of Sadhus gather to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva I was called to meet the Divya Guru Baba. So many Sadhus around so much energy flow was there, I could feel the divinity descending all around. Bowing my head to many saints and sadhus I walked through, my joy was limitless and my mind was searching for the divine whom I would be meeting here today.’

“Near the top of the Girnar mountain, I sensed powerful vibrations and powerful sounds of Damaru. There in front of me, I saw the divine I came looking for – he was holding two damrus of different sizes in his hands and was rattling them simultaneously, each at different speed, creating a mystical rhythm. I touched his feet and said ‘Aum Namah Shivaye’. Silently smiling, he gestured for me to sit next to him, and silently he continued with his ritual act, he sprinkled fresh marigolds around the fire, reciting magical formula.”

The divine one in the sadhu swaroopa, Swami ji found  the Eternal Guru – Mahaprabhu  Pinakadrika. Finally, the seeker had found His Master. Since then, Swami ji has always been with HIM. In 2002, he took Jala Samadhi in Mandakini river near Kedarnath.

Click here to read how Maitreya’s met Swami Chidananda Bharati and His learning from Swami ji