Swami Vishuddhanand Paramahansa was a liberated, realized Yogi of ideal character, pure and pious in his day-to-day living, an ideal in the practice and application of the principles of Karma-yoga, Gyan-yoga and Bhakti-yoga, an extraordinaary combination of grandeur and sweetness. He attained salvation, the highest state beyond all sense-perception, after achieving knowledge and mastery over all the principles and philosophy of the world within and the world without through strenuous and austere spiritual practices and extraordinary grace of God. He had completely annihilated his ego and established stable and perpetual communion (yoga) with Maha-Shakti. There was not the slightest trace of self-ego left in him, it was all pure perception only.
In the year 1911 Baba shifted to Burdwan. Many extraordinary incidents took place furing his stay there. In Burdwan people respected Baba with great devotion. But one wily person got obsessed by the wicked desire to find out the method and rituals of Baba’s Puja, even though he was fully aware that Baba performed his Puja in a closed room and nobody was permitted to see how and what he did then. So one day this gentleman got an opportunity and surreptitiously slipped into Baba’s prayer room and hid himself inside before ahnik time.
At the appropriate time, Baba entered the Puja-room to perform his Puja-kriya and bolted the door from inside. He first started with the Paranayam-kriya as usual. As he inhaled air from the atmosphere and retained it within himself, all the air in the room got transfixed and it became impossible for the hidden person to breathe. When his throat got almost suffocated due to lack of air, he shouted, ”Baba He!”. Hearing the yell Baba looked in that direction and on spotting the fellow, understood what the matter was. He immediately released the air and established the equilibrium and by so doing saved the life of that individual.
Thereafter Baba scolded that person and said, ”Look, never again should you dare to test a Yogi or try to see his Kriya stealthily. If I had not noticed you instantly, your body would have been chaired to ashes in a jiffy.” That man felt very ashamed, humbly begged pardon and got out of the room.
Establishment of Ashrams, to mention only three out of six of them
1. Vishuddhashram at Burdwan
Baba’s rice fields at beautiful Bondul
As per direction of Shri Bhriguram Paramahansa, the first Ashram was established by Baba in Burdwan. It was named after Baba as ‘Vishuddhashram’. Bhriguram Swami had framed and sent a set of rules to regulate the proper working of this Ashram, which apply equally to the other Ashrams established by Baba. Out of that set of rules, two are particularly important: – Whenever any subject regarding Yoga or scriptures or of a confidential nature be under discussion with a particular disciple, nobody else should be there, not even another co-disciple. It should be clearly understood and kept in mind that the exposure of a secret subject can result in harm to the whole congregation. – Permission for entry and stay in the Ashram must not be granted to anybody who comes on worldly business, or mundane matter or for pleasure and recreation.
2. The Ashram at Bondul (distt. Burdwan)
Ashram at Bondul
Shri Baba established the second Ashram in 1911 at his native village Bondul. After the construction of the Bondul Ashram was completed, one day Baba received a letter from Shri Bhriguram Paramahansa which contained the following directions regarding the Ashrams: ”These Ashrams do not belong to you. They are the property of your disciples. This rule applies not only to Bondul Ashram but to the Vishuddhashram at Burdwan and to all other Ashram.’ Baba merely acted as custodian, with no self-interest or attachment to these Ashrams. During his life-time alone he formed a trust and set of rules for their proper working ad management after his death.
3. Vishuddhanand-Kanan-Ashram at Kashi (Varanasi)
Baba desired that at this Ashram also, there should be adequate provision for training and research in Yoga and natural Sciences, on the same pattern as in Gyanganj Yogashram. But due to some unknown reason (maybe witholding of sanction from Gyanganj) Baba had to finally shelve this scheme.
The Nav-mundi Asan
The Nav-Mundi Asan at Kashi Harihar Banlinga Banduleshwar at Bandul
When Shri Baba failed to get the approval of his proposal to set up ‘Centre for training in Yoga and sciences’ at Kashi from his superior authorities of Gyanganj, then he dedicated the fruits of over forty years of his arduous penance and austerities for the well-being and upliftment of his disciples and devotees by establishing ‘Navmundi Asan’ on 14th February 1935 at Kashi Ashram. But unless one is endowed with purity of body, good samskaras (vasanas carried over from earlier births) and the special grace of the Guru, it is not possible to sit on this Siddhasan and perform Kriya.
Gyanganj Yogashram in Tibet
The ancient name of this Yogashram was ‘Indra Bhawan’. This ancient Ashram was renovated and restored to its pristine glory again by Swami Gyananand Paramahans, a disciple of Maharshi Mahatapa. Under his able administration and responsible management it started functioning properly once again under the new name Gyanganj.
Gyanganj is an extraordinary spiritual training centre. The Brahmacharis, Brahmacharinis and Paramahansas of this centre, after getting established in the state Aham-Brahmasmi, roam about in the universe as, when and where they like.
The above information is taken from the book – “Yogirajadhiraj Swami VISHUDDHANAND PARAMAHANSADEVA, Life & Philosophy” by Nand Lal Gupta, an ardent disciple of Shri Babaji for the benefit of Babaji’s devotees across the world..