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Swami Laxman Joo
The Sage of Ishaber
Pandit Jankinath Kaul 'Kamal'
Koshur Samachar
Introduction
Fathers of the Kashmir Monistic Saiva Thought, who flourished in the
valley
from ninth to thirteenth century A.D., were erudite scholars and eminent
saints.
They recorded what they practised and accomplished thereby. Later, there
were
interruptions in this line of thought. and it was mostly the ritualistic
faith that
kept the tradition alive. After Sivopadyaya, the eighteenth century
scholar-saint
who wrote commentaries and books of the kind, there appeared saints of
the
order during nineteenth century. But they, only taught the lore and made
no use
of pen. Early twentieth century saw the Kashmir of past glory blessed
with a son
who, not only practised and lived this wonderful philosophy-the Trika
Saiva of
Kashmir named Pratyabhijna Darsana-but also disseminated its postulates
by
teaching and writing among the seekers of Truth in the country and among
those
from foreign lands.
Swami Lakshman Joo
Birth and Initiation
A luminary of the first magnitude on the spiritual firmament of modern
times,
Lakshmana Raina was born at Namchibal in Srinagar (Kashmir) on May 9,
1907.
He showed signs of spiritual fertility from his very birth. Finding the
child far
too precocious, his noble, god-fearing and devout parents put him in the
tutorage
of Swami Rama, who had been their family priest, and saint of high order
in the
tradition of the refined Tantric Monism of Kashmir known as the Trika
system.
>From his early childhood Lala Saab cast a spell not only over his
parents and
relatives but also on Swami Rama. At sixteen, however, the boy was ripe
enough
for being initiated by Swami Mahtab Kak, who had been commissioned by
his
illustrious preceptor just betore entering mahasamadhi, when the
promising
Laksmana was only seven years old. The enterprising and well- to-do
parents
could not prevail upon the young boy, to enter the life of a householder
or even
to take up a job.
Renunciation and Learning
It was typical of young Lakshmana to take his own time to do things
rather than
act on the spur of moment and force the pace. He had requested his
loving parents
to make a place available for him in solitude. But it took them some
time to
execute the promised plan. Yet the spiritual urge compelled the earnest
aspirant to
leave home for practising yoga at the famous forest ashrama of
Sadha-malyun in
Handawara, Kashmir. He left no clue about himself at home except a line
on a
piece of paper requesting his brothers to give comfort to his parents.
Getting the
clue after a thorough and anxious search for the young Lakshmana, his
father
Pandit Narayan Das and his preceptor Swami Mahtab Kak went there to meet
him. They succeeded in persuading him to come to the city and accept to
live in a
newly built house in their factory premises as he had desired. Here the
earnest
scholar-saint devoted himself to the study of Kashmir Saiva literature
available at
the Research Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government started
early by
Sir Pratap Singh, the then Maharaja of the state. Highly learned Pandits
had
helped the department in editing and publishing a number of books on
Kashmir
Saivisim, excavated and discovered throughout the state. Lakshmana Joo
engaged
the most efficient Pandit, Rajanaka Maheshvara to teach him Saiva sastra
at home.
He also studied Sanskrit grammar and the allied schools of Indian
philosophy at
full length. He edited the Bhagavad Gita with its Sanskrit commentary by
Abhinavagupta and wrote important footnotes to it. This was published
when he
was about twenty-five years old.
Seclusion
During the year 1934-35 Brahmachari Lakshmana Joo chose a secluded place
at
the foot- hill above Ishaber village in the vicinity of the famous
Nishat garden. He
loved the spot because his ideal teacher Abhinavagupta, one of the most
prominent authors of Kashmir Saivism, had lived somewhere around the
place in
vineyards about nine centuries ago. A bungalow was constructed by his
parents at
the selected site. It had a spacious garden with multi-colour
flower-beds,
fruit-bearing trees and a vegetable garden. Adjacent to this spiritual
abode Sri Jia
Lal Sopori of Srinagar built a house for his daughter Sharika Devi, who,
after
taking a vow of leading a celibate life, had found her worthy preceptor
in
Brahmacari Lakshmana Joo. Deviji remained in utter penance for attaining
perfection in the monistic Saiva order by learning Agama Sastra from him
and
practising Saiva-yoga under his care. Devotees and seekers of Truth
began to
pour in now. It was about this time that the present writers was
introduced to this
holy man of divme charm by his own master and later recommended for the
study of Utpaladeva's masterpiece, Sivastotravali. This marked the
beginning of
the Sunday class at the ashrama that always remained increasing and
surcharged
with wonderful spiritual vibrations.
Meeting Ramana Maharshi
Suddendly the young saint made a silent trip to certain places of his
own choice in
India. He wanted to confer with saints of high order perhaps to
ascertain his
attainments. He spent some time at Bombay beach to establish his power
of
spiritual perception. Then spending a very short time with Mahatma
Gandhi at
Sevagram he rushed to have a glimpse of Sri Aurobindo at Pondicherry
where
the Mother evinced interest in him. Therefrom he found his way to
Tiruvanamalai to meet Ramana Maharshi at the Ramanachramam. Bhagavan
Ramana looked at the young attractive saint graciously. It must have
been the
moment of Drstidiksa-initiation by mere sight. Swami Lakshmana Joo spent
some
weeks in the presence of the Maharshi. He later expressed: "I felt those
golden
days were indeed divine". Thus Swamiji revived in 1938 A.D. the
spiritual link
that united Madras and Kashmir when a monk of Madhurai, named Madhuraja,
had travelled to Kashmir in the eleventh century to meet the great
Abhinavagupta.
Swamiji returned to Kashmir with greater spiritual charm. He then wrote
a Hindi
translation of the Sambapancasika, adding important hints as footnotes
to it. This
was published in 1943.
Aurobindvan Solitude
Swami Lakshmana Joo took to strict seclusion in his own ashrama premises
for
several months. During that period of 'Aurodbindvan solitude', he
concentrated
on the Kramastotra culled out from the Tantraloka. Giving a wonderful
exposition of the twelve forms of Saiva Yoga in lucid Hindi preceded by
the
original Sanskrit text, this small book of deep insight into the Reality
of
dvadasakali was published in 1958. Along with his progress in spiritual
attainments, Swamiji propagated the Saiva faith so efficiently and
effectively that
scholars and seekers after Truth got drawn towards him, not only from
his own
country but also from abroad.
The Ishwara Ashrama
After India was declared a free country, she has virtually remained in
shambles,
not tidy as before. A sense of insecurity increased day by day in
everyone's mind
and almost everywhere. In the suspicious circumstances, Swami ji
disposed off his
immovable property along with that of Sharika Devi ji, about the year
1957 and
started to live in a small house newly constructed at a stone's throw
from the
general road near Gupta Ganga Temple in Ishaber village. 'Ishwara
Ashrama'
was the name given to the ashrama and the disciples began to call Swami
ji
Ishwara Swarupa. (This ashrama is the headquarter of Ishwara Ashrama
Trust
now).
Ashrama Activities
The Ashrama activities gathered momentum. Swamiji held regular Sunday
class/satsanga. On Mondays he observed silence (maunam) and spent his
day in
'God's House', the tiny cottage for meditation, built in a beautiful
small garden
near the previous ashrama-place. A set programme was followed on other
weekdays A spacious lecture hall with cupboards on one side for library
and a
havana-shala for annual yagya were constructed in the premises of Shri
Ranvir
Siva Temple, Gupta Ganga by the Dharmarth Trust of lammu and Kashmir
under
the trusteeship of Dr. Karan Singh, former union minister and
ambassador. The
complex was named Kashmir Saiva Pathika. Sunday discourses on Tantraloka
by
Swamiji, lectures by eminent spiritualists and seminars were held there
with grace
and glory. Swami ji, at certain occasions gave series of lectures on
spiritual topics
for the elevation of common people, besides taking special classes and
guiding
scholars in their research work. Maiden translation with footnotes in
Hindi of his
favourite book Sivastotravali was published by the Chowkhamba Sanskrit
series
office, Varanasi in 1964. This Swamiji taught with a new exposition each
time.
Honours Conferred
Two saintly persons of Swami ji's calibre, contemporaneous with him,
were
Pandit Nilakantha Jyotishi (later Swami Nilakanthananda Saraswati,
D.L.S.,
Richikesh) and Pandit Satram Bhat of Ishaber. Although each had a
different
mode of thought yet the 'spiritual trio' was destined to meet and
corroborate on
the Yoga-bhumi of Ishaber. They met closely on Rrahma-sutra
Sankarabhasya
and Yogavasistha Maharamayana. Scholars and professors came to Swamiji
from
the universities of Torino (Italy), Paris, Oxford, and America for his
guidance in
Pratyabhijna and Tantraloka. To the scholars and his disciples from
foreign lands
he gave pithy and short lectures on abstruse topics in English. For
Kashmiri
disciples he explained the tenets of Saivism in a literary style full of
elegance and
wit. To general audiences he spoke in lucid Hindi. Swami Lakshmana Joo
read his
paper in Sanskrit on 'Kundalini Vijnana Rahasyam' at the All India
Tantra
Sammelanam held under the auspices of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University
at
Varanasi in the year 1965. His exposition of the subject was much
applauded by
the great luminary Mahamahopadhyaya Gopinath Kaviraj and other scholars
of
great repute. After some years the Varanaseya Sanskrit University
conferred
upon Swami Lakshmana Joo the degree of D. Lit.. honoris causa, in
recognition
of his splendid and valuable service to the cause of Sanskrit. When
Swami ji was
informed about this, he simply gave an innocent smile and said in an
expression
of humour "I have become a doctor now". The Jammu and Kashmir Akademi of
Art, Culture and Languages presented the robe of honour to Swamiji at a
special
function while Mir Qasim was Chief Minister of the state.
Contribution
Swamiji's contribution to the promotion of the studies in Kashmir
Saivism,
propagation of the Trika philosophy and growth of Kashmiri culture will
be
remembered for long. This considerably helped the revival of this
philosophy and
way of life which had otherwise been fading away due to political
changes in the
valley. Swamiji, however, became known nationally and internationally as
the
best exponent of Trika philosophy. The saint- scholar gained spiritual
ecstasy of
jivanamukta (liberated while living) and in his own country came to be
known as
'the sage of Ishaber' to whom all sorts of people - young and old, male
or female
- came to pay obeisance and receive blessings or a blissful touch. A
reproduction
of a few of his lectures in English was publsihed in 1982 under the
caption:
"Lectures on Practice and Discipline in Kashmir Saivism." "The Kashmir
Saivism
- supreme secret" was published in the year 1985. This contains lectures
on
important topics of Saiva philosophy based on the Pratyabhijna of
Utapaladeva
and the Tantraloka of Abhinavagupta given by Swamiji to his western
disciples.
The Pancastavi of Dharmacharya with comprehensive Hindi translation and
footnotes was published in the year 1987. Beside these works, some of
the texts
relating to Kashmir series (K.S.T.S.) were translated for the first time
by Thakur
Jaidev Singh after they were taught to him by the Master. Jaidev's
language
reflects in a luminous fashion the mystical experiences in the texts
namely
Pratyabhijna hrdaya, Siva sutra, Vijnanabhairava and Paratrisika which
also bear
his elaborate introductions. Swamiji's immense erudition stimulated some
more
disciples and admirers to expound these Saiva texts. Prof. Nilakanth
Gurtoo wrote
Hindi translations of Paratrisika and Spandakarika. The present writer,
wrote an
independent, pithy and uptodate Hindi commentary on Siva-sutras that was
highly
praised by the Master. Smt. Kamala Bawa translated the text and
commentary of
Pratyabhijna hrdayam into Hindi. Smt. Prabha Devi translated into Hindi
Para
Pravesika, Paramarhasara and Guru Stuti. All these have been published.
Dr.
Oscar Botto wrote on Abhinavagupta and Tantraloka in Italian and Dr.
Lillian
Silburn (France) translated some Saiva hymns and certain texts on
Saivism into
Italian and French respectively. Thus Swamiji taught as well as spread
with
effective measure this unique philosophy of Kashmir in the country and
abroad.
Birthday and Excursions
Swamiji's birthday was celebrated every year on such a grand scale that
it turned
to be a great fair for common people and an auspicious day for his
admirers and
devotees who flocked from all parts of the country to have a glimpse of
the sage
sitting in long samadhi. Indian as well as foreign disciples attended to
see this
godman 'living free' on this earth. Sri Dinanath Ganjoo, Smt. Kamla
Bhagati, Sri
Narayan Joo and Smt. Raj Dulari Kaul among many others sang Kashmiri
poems
of eulogy to their preceptor. This cheerful holyman of wisdom, wit and
peace
distributed prasada and day long. The next day Swamiji spent in giving
gifts to
devotees and disciples. Once Swamiji remarked "If I had to celebrate my
birthday
twice a year I would finish up all my extra property by distrubuting
it."
Excursions to places of sanctity and natural scenery in the valley were
occasionally arranged. Kirtans by disciples and discourses by Swamiji
were usual
features all along. Prominent places visited on large group excursions
were:
Verinag, Takshakanag, Karkutanang, Sadha-malyun, Uma Nagari, Hangalgund,
Tangamarag, Naran-nag (Sindh Valley), Dacchigam and Dara etc. by bus,
and
different places around and in Dal Lake by dunga (house-boat) during
summer
besides linger trips to Hardwar and Rishikesh during winter.
Moments of bliss were experienced when saints and men of learning came
to meet
the sage of Ishaber. Dr. Karan Singh often visited the ashrama to
receive
blessings. Smt. Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India sought
interview with the sages whenever she came on a visit to the state.
Swamiji had a
meeting with J. Krishnamurti at Kotarkhana in the Dal Lake. Maharshi
Mahesh
Yogi visited the Ishawara Ashrama and invited Swamiji to his house-boats
in the
Dal Lake. Swamiji gave an interesting exposition of the Vijnanabhairava
to his
devotees on request. Paul Reps, in his short introduction to the chapter
'Centering' says: "It presents 112 ways to open the invisible door of
consciousness. I see Lakshmana joo gives his life to its practice".
Swami Ramdas
(a jivanmukta) of Kanhangarh, Mangalore, Swami Satyananda Saraswati of
Munger, and Swami Muktananda of Ganeshpuri were pleased to meet the
Swami
when they visited Srinagar. Swami Lakshmana Joo himself attended and
presided
over spiritual meetings held occasionally in the valley and outside it.
In 1976 Sri
Ramakrishna Ashram, Srinagar (Kashmir) organized a spiritual
congregation
inthe Ashrama precincts. This was graced by the world famous cultural
ambassador of India, Swami Ranganathananda while the meeting was
presided
over by Swami Lakshmana Joo, who described Sri Ramakrishna as a sidha
yogi.
Another time Swami Ranganathananda was invited by Swamiji to address a
special
meeting of scholars and devotees and declared the chief guest as
'messanger of
peace'. Swamiji occasionally went to Hardwar and Rishikesh to meet
saints,
especially Swami Sivananda Saraswati of the Divine Life Society giving
expositions to parallelism of Kashmir Saiva Mysticism with the mysticism
of
Sankara Vedanta.
Ecstasy
During his years of maturity, Swami Lakshmana joo was writing a
comprehensive compendium of Kashmir Saiva Darsana in lucid Hindi. It
runs into
several chapters. Excerpts from the manuscript were at times read out by
him to
selected disciples among whom the present writer was fortunate to be
one. It is
understood that writing of the book remained incomplete but was
published later
in 1994 by Sri Prabha Deviji. Prof. P.N. Pushp, while writing his
foreward to
this book titled Trika Rahasya Prakriya has also observed the
incompleteness of
this work. During his latter days of ecstasy Swamiji only explained
selected pithy
verses from the Agama sastras and Yogavasistha and sang these alongwith
his
disciples in divine rapture. These continue to be sung by devotees at
Sunday
satsang meetings with the wonderful Gurustuti composed early by one of
Swamiji's illustrious disciple of Varanasi, Sri Rameshwar Jha, who
having studied
and practised Vedantic Mysticism had found great interest in the Kashmir
Saiva
Mysticism and had accepted Lakshmana joo as his preceptor of the Faith.
Occult Powers
Though Swamiji was a master of occult powers, he never made a display of
those
powers. Swamiji was against their being used as he was convinced that
the use of
occult powers was an impediment on the spiritual path. He was the master
of self-
control and care. However he appeared to have made use of his divine
power
sparingly and with great caution. Not only his close disciples but also
un-acquainted people of different beliefs, from far and near, some of
whom had
not even met the Swami in person, were convinced of his powers which he
might
have used un-assumingly for their upliftment. Certain comtemporary
saints of the
country have said that Swami Lakshmana Joo had been strictly guarding
his
earned treasure of powers and, if at all, he used those scarcely. His
awe- inspiring
sight and proverbial sympathy drew people of all walks of life near him
with
their problems to which he was often sharp in giving decisions. It was
also
observed that he gave a healing touch to those who needed it. Common
people
believed him to be a redeemer from evils. Some persons of pure heart
felt a
current of mysterious joy running through their body while receiving his
touch
on bowing at his lotus feet.
Picture of Personality
Swamiji had disciplined himself into such unwinking vigilance that he
was never
found saying or doing a thing that was not in consonance with the Truth
of his
way of life. Only eight months before Swamiji chose to merge in the
infinite, his
chief disciple Brahmavadini Sharika Devi entered the Divine on Feb. 1,
1991. He
did wonderfully well what was quite befitting to his nature and
practice. In fact
there was very high aiming in the core of Swamiji's very existence which
was
manifest in a happy combination of three lements:
(i) Simplicity, an expression of simplicity;
(ii) Enthusiasm, the vital push of the spirit within;
(iii) Wisdom, the light of the soul as the portion of the Divine
Himself.
Endowed with a magnetic personality, divine charm and wide scholarship
behind
his spiritual attainments Saivacarya Iswara Swarupa Sri Swami Lakshmana
Joo
was an inextricable combination of life and religion. By years of study
and
contemplation, his practice of yoga had ripened to such an extent that
his
teachings contain the best solution to the problems that face humanity
today. His
very presence was solace to the depressed, hope to the forlorn, joy to
the seeker,
inspiration to the scholar and satisfaction to the soul striving for
spiritual
upliftment. The best in him was all-lovingness that attracted towards
him people
of all faiths and of different creeds. An embodiment of magnificent
qualities, he
was a faithful friend, a benefactor brother, a fondling father, a true
teacher, a
noble neighbour, an instinctive instructor, an affirmed administrator, a
congenial
companion and above all the girdling guide of all who came near him. His
disciples and admirers sought to throng around his radiant personality
as
honey-bees hover about a fragrant lotus in bluum. Iswara Swarupa's
sagacity
made him into an exemplary sage. He looked simply divine, when he made a
short
tour to United States in June-July, 1991.
Homage
The playful ways of the Master - the sage of Ishaber-came to an end on
this earth
in Delhi in the early hours of the 27th September, 1991 in moments of
calmness
and tranquility. He had verily been a yogabhrasta (fallen from yoga in
previous
birth) for he was born is a house of pious as well as wealthy and
well-thought
parents-sucinam srimatam gehe yogabhratobijayate. The present life of
grace and
glory was only the means for this Divine being to merge into Supreme
Siva, the
final beatitude of life. The powers of Truth and Light may not be
visible to the
naked eye but they are there for the discerning. To pay homage to the
beloved
'Gurudeva' let us live fur the Divine and let Divine take control of our
life to
fulfil his purpose.
