[We were discussing about the then ‘Falgun Sankranti festival’]
However, we will come back to the previous context again. Then Basu, Ananda, Sadhan, Bhajan and others brought many Baul artists inviting them for singing Baul songs on Trishan Maharaj’s advice. (Later, Sadhan Das Baul set up an ashram near Hatgobindapur and married a Japanese girl named Maki Kazumi. Guruji listened to the songs of Maki Kazumi at “Jaydeb’s Mela” ( Mela i.e fair) in Birbhum.
That day a large crowd of people took prasad (prasad i.e leftovers) at Banagram Ashram the whole day and till the night- approx ten to twelve thousand people or more. Then, it was a matter of hard toil to make arrangement for the so many devotees. That day I was astonished seeing that the few women of the village Banagram did hard physical work during the whole day. Very very thin 4/5 women did hard toil continuously keeping smile in their faces from 11 a.m to evening. I saw in the evening also that the said women were hurrying taking in their hands the bucket of rice and curry with the same zeal. I was sure that it was the grace of Guru Maharaj !!
Then electricity did not appear at ashram. So, using generator, it was made arrangement for litting in the stage and pandel and as well as for announcing by microphone. That day I did not notice Guruji go out of His room. Only once He went out of His room in the morning. Later, I knew that specially that day ‘pranam’ ( pranam i.e to bow down heads for showing respect to some one) is continued on the whole day. The people of Banagram and the adjacent villages were unable to come at the Ashram all the days of a year. But on the special day they used to come at the Ashram to bow down their heads to Guruji. Guru Maharaj looked pale taking ‘pranam’ of so many devotees ! He got caught in fever. But He looked fresh after a while. I knew these facts on that said day from Madan Maharaj. [Madan Maharaj i.e Swami Chitbilasananda Maharaj who was in-charge of the orphan boys’ hostel. The boys of the orphan hostel called him “Boro Maharaj” ( Boro i.e the senior) and Nanu Maharaj “Chhoto Maharaj” ( Chhoto i.e the junior). Boro Maharaj was very much affable and he was funny man also. He knew the name of the outsider devotees. He attracted the devotees near him by shouting. Almost all the devotees loved Madan Maharaj very much and they thought Madan Maharaj his near and dear one.
That evening I was astonished when I saw that Guru Maharaj took a seat at one side of the stage coming in the bold stride. (Perhaps, someone arranged a seat for Him). The many Baul artists started to sing Baul songs bowing down their heads to Guru Maharaj.
Though I belonged to a village, I was not so much interested in the Baul songs. Listening to the Baul songs, a few years, during the ‘Falgun Sankranti Festival’ at Banagram (that time a small fair was also set up) and making familiar with many Baul artists, I was interested in the Baul songs. one of my these favourite songs was- “Hrid majhare rakhbo, chhere debo na.(It means -I will capture in the midst of heart. I will not quit.) I listened to this song from Haradhan Das. Perhaps the said song was composed by the father of Haradhan Das. The other song which was one of my favourite songs sung by a “Khyapa Baul” was- “Lal paharer deshe ja. Ranga matir deshe ja. Eikhane toke manaichhe na re.” (It means- Go to the country or land of red hill.Go to the country or land of red ochre. You are not looking suitable here.”)
Listening to this song, I seemed that whether that very Baul was singing this song pointing at Guru Maharaj !!
But Paban Das Baul won the hearts of the devotees, present at the sitting. Playing dubki, a musical instrument, he sang a song surrendering him completely to god- “Nadi bhara dheu, bojhe nato keu. Keno michhe tari bao, bao re?” (It means- river filled with waves. None of you understand it. Why do you row your boat in vein? Why do you row?) He sang more songs- “Noukai pal tule de. Arosete Allah chhilo. Madinay Mohommad holo. Murshed amay bole dilo_ Kadam chume ne. Noukai pal tule de.”) He mesmerized the devotees, present there. After every song, Guru Maharaj encouraged the Baul artists by clapping !
[Translated by Ramprasad, a former student of Banagram Ashram.]
However, we will come back to the previous context again. Then Basu, Ananda, Sadhan, Bhajan and others brought many Baul artists inviting them for singing Baul songs on Trishan Maharaj’s advice. (Later, Sadhan Das Baul set up an ashram near Hatgobindapur and married a Japanese girl named Maki Kazumi. Guruji listened to the songs of Maki Kazumi at “Jaydeb’s Mela” ( Mela i.e fair) in Birbhum.
That day a large crowd of people took prasad (prasad i.e leftovers) at Banagram Ashram the whole day and till the night- approx ten to twelve thousand people or more. Then, it was a matter of hard toil to make arrangement for the so many devotees. That day I was astonished seeing that the few women of the village Banagram did hard physical work during the whole day. Very very thin 4/5 women did hard toil continuously keeping smile in their faces from 11 a.m to evening. I saw in the evening also that the said women were hurrying taking in their hands the bucket of rice and curry with the same zeal. I was sure that it was the grace of Guru Maharaj !!
Then electricity did not appear at ashram. So, using generator, it was made arrangement for litting in the stage and pandel and as well as for announcing by microphone. That day I did not notice Guruji go out of His room. Only once He went out of His room in the morning. Later, I knew that specially that day ‘pranam’ ( pranam i.e to bow down heads for showing respect to some one) is continued on the whole day. The people of Banagram and the adjacent villages were unable to come at the Ashram all the days of a year. But on the special day they used to come at the Ashram to bow down their heads to Guruji. Guru Maharaj looked pale taking ‘pranam’ of so many devotees ! He got caught in fever. But He looked fresh after a while. I knew these facts on that said day from Madan Maharaj. [Madan Maharaj i.e Swami Chitbilasananda Maharaj who was in-charge of the orphan boys’ hostel. The boys of the orphan hostel called him “Boro Maharaj” ( Boro i.e the senior) and Nanu Maharaj “Chhoto Maharaj” ( Chhoto i.e the junior). Boro Maharaj was very much affable and he was funny man also. He knew the name of the outsider devotees. He attracted the devotees near him by shouting. Almost all the devotees loved Madan Maharaj very much and they thought Madan Maharaj his near and dear one.
That evening I was astonished when I saw that Guru Maharaj took a seat at one side of the stage coming in the bold stride. (Perhaps, someone arranged a seat for Him). The many Baul artists started to sing Baul songs bowing down their heads to Guru Maharaj.
Though I belonged to a village, I was not so much interested in the Baul songs. Listening to the Baul songs, a few years, during the ‘Falgun Sankranti Festival’ at Banagram (that time a small fair was also set up) and making familiar with many Baul artists, I was interested in the Baul songs. one of my these favourite songs was- “Hrid majhare rakhbo, chhere debo na.(It means -I will capture in the midst of heart. I will not quit.) I listened to this song from Haradhan Das. Perhaps the said song was composed by the father of Haradhan Das. The other song which was one of my favourite songs sung by a “Khyapa Baul” was- “Lal paharer deshe ja. Ranga matir deshe ja. Eikhane toke manaichhe na re.” (It means- Go to the country or land of red hill.Go to the country or land of red ochre. You are not looking suitable here.”)
Listening to this song, I seemed that whether that very Baul was singing this song pointing at Guru Maharaj !!
But Paban Das Baul won the hearts of the devotees, present at the sitting. Playing dubki, a musical instrument, he sang a song surrendering him completely to god- “Nadi bhara dheu, bojhe nato keu. Keno michhe tari bao, bao re?” (It means- river filled with waves. None of you understand it. Why do you row your boat in vein? Why do you row?) He sang more songs- “Noukai pal tule de. Arosete Allah chhilo. Madinay Mohommad holo. Murshed amay bole dilo_ Kadam chume ne. Noukai pal tule de.”) He mesmerized the devotees, present there. After every song, Guru Maharaj encouraged the Baul artists by clapping !
[Translated by Ramprasad, a former student of Banagram Ashram.]