|
On August 15th, 1921 in 'Saroda'
- a small village of Gujarat near Ahmedabad, Jadavben Bhatt was blessed
with a baby boy 'Bhailal'. The addition of a boy brought cheer into this
poor Brahmin family who used to earn their livelihood by farming.
Misfortune struck her as she
lost her husband Manilal Bhatt, Yogeshwarji's father in prime of her youth.
She was barely 28 and became a widow! Her ray of hope was Bhailal - her only
son. Her brother, who used to work as a cook in Mumbai, proposed to take
Bhailal with him for further studies. She pull together all the courage she
had and consented her brother to take her beloved son for admission into a
Hindu Orphanage.
During school days,
Yogeshwarji used to regularly write letter to his Mother and during
vacations, he used to visit Saroda. In those days, to pass matriculate (SSC)
exam was considered a big thing and Yogeshwarji, being brilliant in studies,
passed it. So all known and unknown people of Saroda started looking
forward to Yogeshwarji's marriage.
Here, during his stay at
Mumbai Yogeshwarji's fascination increased manifold towards spirituality and
he determined to be a self-realized yogi. Marriage was nowhere in his mind.
In addition, Yogeshwarji decided to go to Himalayas in the prime of his
life. It must be the most difficult moment for a widow mother to see her
only son departing for Himalayas at the age of 20. Still, she did not stop
or deter him from going there. She had unshakable faith in the grace of the
Almighty.
Few years passed and
Yogeshwarji made Himalayas his abode for penance. The first thing he did was
to call Mataji to stay with him. Those were the days when Yogeshwarji used
to meditate for most part of day in a lonely forest hut of Shantashram near
Dev Prayag. He used to observe verbal silence and fast for days together. It
was very difficult for Mataji to stay and accompany there, but She proved
her mettle. Not only did she stayed with Mahatmaji for years together but
gave inspiration and hope with full of her understanding. She also tried to
perform strenuous spiritual practices along with her son during those days
Thus, from an ordinary mother,
Mataji became an illumined soul. She not only encouraged her illustrious son
on the path of spirituality, but also became a witness of Yogeshwarji’s
penance. Mataji stayed together with Shri Yogeshwarji for more than thirty
years and offered her wholehearted support during the strenuous days of
Yogeshwarji's Himalayan stay. Shri Yogeshwarji believed Mataji as a form of
Mother Jagadamba and later named her as Mataji Jyotirmayi.
Mataji accompanied Yogeshwarji
on numerous yatras including a spiritual tour of USA and UK in 1979. In
India and abroad, this mother-son duo was a common figure for many years.
During lectures, Mataji used to sit next to Yogeshwarji and received the
same respect that her son commend.
Mahatma Shri Yogeshwarji put
an example before mankind on how to serve one’s mother. Shri Yogeshwarji
glorified the ancient Sanskrit saying “Matru Devo Bhav” ('Mother is a form
of God'). Shri Yogeshwarji also became known as “Matru bhakta Mahatma”
(worshipping and serving his mother) among saints and sages of his time. It
was Yogeshwarji who put forth an ideal before people that being saint
does not mean relegating worldly duties towards one's mother.
After a brief illness and
receiving exemplary service from the hands of Maa Sarveshwari and Shri
Yogeshwarji at Bhavnagar, Mataji breathed her last on 4th October 1980.
Being an excellent poet, Shri Yogeshwarji wrote a book containing 78 poems
(signifying her 78 years) entitled "TARPAN"
in loving memory of his mother.
It is interesting to note that
Mahatma Shri Yogeshwarji resolved to build a Vishram Gruh for the pilgrims
at the famous pilgrim place of Ambaji in Gujarat in the loving memory of
Mataji Jyotirmayi. Maa Sarveshwari fulfilled that dream by building an
extraordinary monument at the place selected by Shri Yogeshwarji.
SWARGAROHAN is dedicated in the memory of Mataji and is truly named as
“Mataji Jyotirmayi Vishram Gruh”. |
