VICTORY OF DHARMA: HONOURING 48 YEARS SINCE BÁBÁ’S RELEASE – 2nd August, 1978
SHRII PRABHÁT RAIṊJAN SARKÁR A.K.A. SHRII SHRII ÁNANDAMÚRTI
SUPREME GURU OF ÁNANDA MÁRGA
Compiled by Ácárya Gatimayánanda Avadhúta, CTS, Sweden
A Historical Record of Persecution, Sacrifice, and the Crucible of Itihása
The Paradox of Eternal Glorification is this: those whom Itihása — benevolent history — places on the pinnacle of eternal glorification are invariably subjected to the ultimate ordeal of endurance in their lifetime.
Defying physical law, the Supreme Guru’s fast lasted 1,946 to 1,950 days, while His incarceration, as per official records, was 2,407 days. Considering His physical condition, BÁBÁ was bedridden from 11th December 1974. His condition was extremely grave, with no one to attend to Him. The jail authorities, actively provoked by a violently hostile C.B.I., created an environment where anything could have happened to BÁBÁ at any moment.
SPIRITUAL RESOLVE TO ESTABLISH “YATO DHARMAH TATO IŚT́AH, YATO IŚT́AH TATO JAYAH” WAS ESSENTIAL FOR SURVIVING IN SUCH A HOSTILE JAIL ENVIRONMENT.
Those at the highest positions in the country showed the least respect for constitutional human rights and made public statements designed to influence the court.
All charges against the Mahásádvipra were concocted. He was kept in jail for 3 years without trial. Letters from the ailing Mahásádvipra regarding the torture meted out to Him remained unanswered.
The Government of India required no facts to issue false statements against a moralist propagating an ideology like ÁNANDA MÁRGA.
The facts are in black and white; at this stage, they cannot be erased.
During this captivity of our Mahásádvipra, innumerable mysterious and wondrous incidents relating to BÁBÁ took place while HE was in jail.
One such amazing incident is recorded here so that readers may draw their own valuable lessons.
Persecution in Jail:
Throughout His long incarceration, BÁBÁ was continuously subjected to horrid atrocities perpetrated by crude and beastly government officers.
BÁBÁ’s personality inspired dread and fear among the jail staff, and it became increasingly difficult for the government to implement its wicked schemes.
In fact, BÁBÁ became an eyesore for the rulers. They tried every cunning trick to get rid of Him. Finally, under the pretext of medical treatment, BÁBÁ was poisoned.
“Niilakantha” BÁBÁ transformed this gruesome incident into a historical milestone in His life. Bábá accepted the poison and willingly underwent the dire suffering that followed.
When the government refused BÁBÁ’s demand for a proper judicial inquiry into the incident, HE began an indefinite fast and remained without food for as long as HE was in jail. HE was able to maintain His physical body through His knowledge of the special yogic practice of Kayakalpa.
However, to maintain an appearance of worldliness and normalcy, Bábá adopted the illusory garb of illness. As a result, BÁBÁ’s deteriorating health required special attention and medical care, and HE became critically ill.
The jail doctor was instructed to monitor BÁBÁ’s medical condition on a daily basis. For most jail officers, BÁBÁ remained an enigma — an entity regarded with fear and suspicion.
A Singular Demand for Truth
The Mahásádvipra’s singular demand was for a judicial inquiry into the poisoning incident of 12th February, 1973.
Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti accepted the poison and survived. It was an auspicious day, yet a most foul crime was attempted on that day.
This crime did not originate in Patna, but in Delhi. Instructions to carry out the assassination attempt had come down a long chain of command from the highest political seat in the land.
The fate of the originator of this evil conspiracy — her horrific doom — is also a matter of historical record.
Despite BÁBÁ’s fast of five years, four months, and two days in support of this demand, a judicial inquest into His poisoning was never granted.
Quite obviously, those in power were convinced that any impartial inquiry would inevitably reveal their involvement.
There can be no other explanation, for under normal circumstances judicial inquests are generally granted without hesitation.
Many devotees feel that the long-term deleterious effects of this poisoning ultimately destroyed BÁBÁ’s health.
While the immediate effects were most harmful — indeed BÁBÁ entered a deep coma from which an ordinary person could not have regained consciousness — it is opinion that BÁBÁ compensated for the damage through the Tantric sádhaná performed in conjunction with His prolonged fast.
Mahásádvipra Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti was poisoned on a scale that should have taken His life. Perhaps this was part of the reason for undertaking such a fast.
In popular opinion, for all intents and purposes, Beloved Bábá had recovered fully by the time, HE left prison.
Poison administered in any quantity from outside could never kill Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti.
The Anatomy of State Persecution
The State’s actions demonstrated zero respect for law, courts, and basic constitutional human rights. Nasty public statements were made to influence the court.
Naked lies were fabricated to pacify the people and retain slipping power.
Government servants were banned from ÁNANDA MÁRGA activities without any material evidence.
As per the facts, the Supreme Court intervened to protect Márgiis by staying the Government’s baseless ban order.
ÁNANDA MÁRGA was used as a scapegoat to deflect public anger over government misdeeds. The awakening of moralists created fear among the immoral who wielded power.
An Untold Incident:
The Jail Doctor
This account concerns one such fortunate person — the jail doctor who attended to BÁBÁ’s medical needs. Toward those prisoners and a few officers who cared for Him with sincerity and devotion, His love and grace flowed like the swiftly flowing Ganges through its Himalayan gorge.
The doctor was very diligent in his duties. He would regularly visit BÁBÁ, examine Him carefully, and personally supervise His medical condition.
The doctor had a very pleasant disposition and was well-mannered, courteous, and refined in his conduct.
In his own words: “On the one hand, I have the determination and resolve not to drink anymore; on the other hand, I helplessly give in. This continuous battle of conflicting emotions rages day and night within me. I am now tired of this beastly state.
Tossed between these two mental states — one of lofty desires, the other of low and abject feelings — I have grown weary.
My condition is like the proverbial washerman’s donkey, shuttling between home and the loading dock, belonging nowhere. It is as though I am caught in a grindstone. Please save me, BÁBÁ! Grace this weak and helpless mind of mine.
“WHAT IS KÁYAKALPA YOGA?
There is a particular system of yoga called Káyakalpa Yoga in which the practitioner can suspend the activities of different parts of the body from within, and yet survive for five to ten years by drawing vital energy from the air.
Of course, in that state one cannot perform physical work, because the motor organs of the body remain temporarily inactive — their activities remain suspended.
Previously, this system of Káyakalpa Yoga was a recognized form of medical treatment within the scope of Hatha Yoga.
BÁBÁ’S RELEASE PROCESSION: A GLIMPSE
The Indian Nation – 3rd August 1978, Patna, India
A tumultuous welcome was accorded by enthusiastic devotees to the ANANDA MARGA SUPREME GURU when BÁBÁ was released from Bankipur Central Jail on 2nd August, after remaining inside for 2406 days.
The Hindustan Times – Wednesday, 5th July 1978, New Delhi
Court Frees
ANANDA MARGA Supreme President Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár
Patna, July 4 (UNI)
The Patna High Court today acquitted Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár, head of ÁNANDA MÁRGA, and four of his followers. All were honourably acquitted of the charges against them.
Mr. Justice Siveshwar Prasad Sinha and Mr. Justice Choudhary Sen Saran Sinha, while allowing the criminal appeals against the orders of the Sessions Court convicting Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár and four others — Ácárya Sarveshvaránanda Avadhúta, Ácárya Satyánanda Avadhúta, Barun Kumar, and Pavitra Kumar — ordered that: “the appellants be set at liberty forthwith, unless they are required to be detained in any other case.”
In separate judgments, the Court observed that the prosecution had failed to substantiate the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr. Justice Choudhary held that the appellants were entitled to the “benefit of the doubt”.
The judgment was delivered by Mr. Justice Siveshwar Sinha.
Several MÁRGIIs, including foreigners, were present in the packed courtroom when the judgment was delivered.
Shortly afterward, the MÁRGIIs took out a procession hailing the verdict.
The Court noted that the approver had admitted to speaking falsely and to practising deception and hypocrisy, and that he had done so on the instructions of Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár.
The judges stated that the approver was a totally unreliable witness, and therefore it was unsafe to accept the story narrated by him in his evidence.
The Court further observed that the investigating authorities appeared to have taken great pains to solve the mystery. They travelled from place to place, collecting photographs and documents in an effort to bring the culprits to book. “If only it could be known with reasonable certainty who the real culprits were, one would not hesitate to award the maximum punishment provided under the law,” the Court remarked.
It felt that the investigating authorities must have been guided by the same sentiment.
However, their only mistake was that they became satisfied after securing an approver.
The Court pointed out that the approver had, in fact, outwitted the investigating officers.
The approver was granted pardon, but the mystery remained unresolved.
Fundamental Observations:
All cases decided in courts of law so far have gone in favor of ÁNANDA MÁRGA.
All attempts by vested interests to undermine ÁNANDA MÁRGA have been successfully countered.
The vilifications against ÁNANDA MÁRGA have been proven to be motivated and false.
The philanthropic and missionary activities of ÁNANDA MÁRGA have had such a great impact that the enemies’ endeavour to isolate ÁNANDA MÁRGA from the people has ended in fiasco.
The cohesive force of seemingly redoubtable enemies has failed to check the lightning pace of ÁNANDA MÁRGA in its onward march to conquer the hearts of all.
A close observation of events to date leads to the following conclusions:
The charges against ÁNANDA MÁRGA have been varied and serious.
They have ranged from child abduction, land-grabbing, and illegal possession of weapons, to conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister of India, and involvement in political activities, among others. Yet, not a single charge has been substantiated.
What is most striking is that the followers of ÁNANDA MÁRGA have never been disheartened in the face of fierce antagonism.
Blessed with the love of Lord Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti and inspired and armoured with the unique ideology, ÁNANDA MÁRGA has moved forward with determination to establish itself on the ruins of the immoral forces of society.
The instructions emphasized by Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti have kept, and will continue to keep, the morale of Ánanda Márgiis high. It is therefore quite obvious that to live an ideal-based life filled with imputations and threats is not an easy task.
There are few who can withstand a long life of struggle and sacrifice without any prospect of enjoying creature comforts. The followers, especially the whole-time workers of ÁNANDA MÁRGA, are trained to live for others and not for themselves. They do not concern themselves with physical needs, let alone comforts, and they would prefer death to entering into any understanding, alliance, or truce with vested interests.
The highest ideal of human life is to march toward Cosmic Consciousness, and the workers of ÁNANDA MÁRGA will not rest until this ideal is inculcated in one and all, and human society — worthy of the name, and not a mere conglomeration of divergent and bellicose sects, communities, and races — is consolidated.
The extent and magnitude of the mission of ÁNANDA MÁRGA call for strict discipline and strong morality, which are regarded as the sine qua non of a worker.
Defectors’ Psychology
Generally speaking, a person does not want to focus on his weaknesses, especially when he is afraid of losing his status and prestige.
The defectors know that they will be pitied if they cannot justify their defection.
Thus, they concoct numerous charges which they later use as arguments to justify leaving the organization.
They are ready to do whatever is required to keep their images resplendent — not with the brightness of glorious deeds, but with the sparks of verbalism.
They make a show of what they do not have, and the more they practice this, the more they debase themselves.
Scenes from the Release can be sighted below.
The frail and weakened Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti was carried by his PA from the jail entrance and placed in a decorated car. ÁNANDA MÁRGIIs had begun pouring into Patna from the previous day. They thronged the jail gate from early morning and lined up along one side of Fraser Road, awaiting the emergence of the Beloved Supreme Guru.
Several trucks and private vehicles were requisitioned by the MÁRGIIs to travel to the jail.
Trucks and vehicles carrying men, women, and children followed the procession.
Later, ÁNANDA MÁRGIIs held a congregation at the Patliputra headquarters to celebrate the Victory of Dharma.
On Supreme President release from jail, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti received a grand ovation.
Eight welcome arches had been erected, each named after the ÁCÁRYAs/AVADHÚTAs who had self-immolated to press the demand for the unconditional release of their Guru.
In an official statement, the followers of Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti Ji described the victory of ÁNANDA MÁRGA as the Victory of Dharma.
The bail order was brought here today by special courier on a plane from Ranchi.
Amidst unprecedented scenes of jubilation, and with joyful cries of “BÁBÁ Nám Kevalam”, the founding father and Supreme President of the 23-year-old socio-spiritual organization ÁNANDA MÁRGA, Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár, also known as Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, became a free man today after being released from seven years of detention in the local Bankipur Central Jail — UNI Report.
Cries of “ÁNANDA MÁRGA Amar Rahe” and “BÁBÁ Amar Rahe” rent the sky as many thousands of saffron-clad ÁVADHÚTAS AND FOLLOWERS became euphoric when the flower-bedecked vehicle carrying Mahásadvipra Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár emerged from the jail compound onto Fraser Road in central Patna.
In a rare gesture, the jail authorities allowed the flower-bedecked car to be driven right up to the cell to bring out Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti.
Rays of a gentle smile spread across the radiant face of Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti as Ávadhutas, accompanied by jail authorities, approached His cell with garlands.
After being garlanded profusely by five Ávadhutas, Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan Sarkár was carried to the car in the arms of his Personal Assistant, Ácárya Ramánanda Avadhúta, who gently placed Beloved BÁBÁ on the car seat. He was then given a flag salute by a contingent of 58 volunteers dressed in para-VSS uniform.
I heard this account from Italian Margii devotee Sukhadeva. He was present at the event and witnessed it live while seated on an elephant. When he had come to India, he was imprisoned along with a few Dadas for some reason. He was also placed in the same cell and mentioned their names. Interestingly, after they were released, he got the opportunity to go to Patna, to Bankipur Jail for BÁBÁ’s release.
He said that Ácárya Ramánanda Avadhúta, BÁBÁ’s PA, carried Beloved BÁBÁ in his two arms, walked to the car, and gently placed BÁBÁ in His seat. As the car started to move, all the devotees witnessing the incident were overwhelmed, yearning for just one glimpse of the Beloved as He was escorted by His volunteers. There was an elephant in the procession, and thousands of devotees had come from all over the globe.
“Two elephants were ridden by overseas Margiis and other foreign devotees. One camel and a number of horses followed, moving to the tune of a band as the procession passed through seven decorated welcome arches.”As the car moved out, the main gate was opened by the security staff, and BÁBÁ travelled through what seemed like a virtual sea of saffron-clad, placard-bearing, ecstatic followers, all vying with each other for a glimpse of their “SUPREME GURU”.As the royal caravan proceeded towards the Pataliputra headquarters, thousands of ANANDA MÁRGIIs — men and women who had gathered from far-off places — ran behind the car, showering rose petals along the five-kilometre-long route.
They burst crackers as a mark of their joy.The caravan was led by pilot escorts on motorbikes, followed by BÁBÁ’s car.
