BHAGAVAN NITYANANDA

It is believed that the child Baba was not born to any human beings i.e. parents, but the divine child was found by his foster parents. Foster mother Unniamma found the divine child near an embankment at night protected by a majestic cobra spreading its hood from raging rain, thunder and lightning. Foster father Chathu Nair and T.R. Ishwar Iyer (Iyer) who was also later acted as His foster father were present while picking up the divine child and entrusting to the care of Unniamma.

Foster father Chathu Nair was from Tuneri (district Kozikhode Kerala) and foster mother Uniamma was originally from Purmeri. After this marriage, this chosen couples settled in a village called Kothamangalm near Koilandi. With the help of a devoted lawyer Shri. T. R. Ishwar Iyer who had built a small hut for them and also employed them as domestic help in his home and family temples. Foster parents and Iyer who were present at the embankment and brought the divine child, believed the child to be an incarnation of god. This divine child was named as Raman in one of their temples.

Child Raman had fallen sick with a disease called rickets and was crying throughout days and nights. Uniamma, a doting mother prayed to god in the temple where she was serving, to cure Raman, which was granted. But, the skin colour of the child Raman became black like coal which probably remained with Baba till the end. Raman, a delightful child lost his foster father, Chathu Nair, at the tender age of 3 and foster mother, Uniamma at the age of 6. Raman custody was transferred to Iyer and he became his foster parent.

Child Baba did not show any inclination in attending school and was taught at home by Iyer which the intelligent child devoured eagerly. Probably Iyer was trying to put few drops of water into already full ocean i.e. Baba.

Iyer went on a pilgrimage to Kashi to bathe in the confluence of the sacred river Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswathi and had darsan of Kashi Vishwanatha.

In this divine atmosphere, playful Raman turned into deep meditator at the tender age of 8. This spiritual awakening prompted Raman to seek permission from Iyer for his journey to Himalayas. Persuasion and pleading of Iyer did not deter Raman in his earnest request to seek the divine grace at Himalayas. A reluctant Iyer, himself an elevated soul agreed and allowed Raman for his spiritual journey to Himalaya.

After returning from Kashi, Iyer was longing to see Raman and wished that Raman attend his daughters marriage. The connection between Iyer and Raman was so intense; Raman presented himself at Iyers home a day before the marriage. Divine Telepathy was at work.

Iyer knew his days were numbered and divided his properties between his 3 sons and Raman, which Raman politely declined. Why the Supreme Being should take a piece of the property as the entire world belongs to him. But Iyer wish to merge himself with his beloved god, Surynarayana was granted by Raman, who also took the ashes of Iyer for immersion in scared Ganga. As a foster child and performed last rites at Kashi.

Physical bondage of foster parents including Iyer snapped at the death of Iyer. Child Raman was ready to assume his charted role of divine saviour of his devotees. Child Raman now transformed Nityananda for the benefit of the world around.

There is no need for god to travel around or preach. But devotes who have this worldly ways can only be made to understand and by being near to them and making them understand by speaking in their own language. The Leelas or miracles are nothing but visiting card of Baba to announce his arrival into the world for the benefit of His devotees. You may remember a proverb that if Mohammad would not go to mountain, mountain will go to Mohammad. Here Baba first went to his devotees who did not His arrival but later it was other way, the devotees thronged Baba wherever he went. In this article only few miracles are narrated as it is not possible to bring out innumerable miracles performed by Baba.

Baba was at Manjeshwar where he punished a wicked witchcraft practitioner and cured terminally ill patients. While at Kumble, Baba cured a chronic stomach ache of a cook in a restaurant and also cured the Ganja smoking habit of a devotee called Veeranna. Baba solved water shortage problem of residents of Kumble railway station by digging a well. At Ramayyas farm Baba fell ill and was admitted to hospital in Mangalore. However, Baba, an in suppressible soul wandered away from the hospital and was once again persuaded to get admitted to the hospital for treatment. Baba once again came back to Mangalore and the details are given in the later part of this article.

At Udupi, Baba was sleeping at the Veranda of Ananteshwara temple (adjacent to Shri Krishna temple) was noticed by Dr. Kombrabil (medical officer) who took Baba to his home to give bath and to feed. Baba visited some of the coastal villages such as Katpadi, Kapu (known for lighthouse), Mangalpet (Muloor), Padubidri, Hejamadi, Mulky etc.

Few miracles at Udupi are highlighted here. One such miracle is that Baba prevailed on the police inspector to release the culprit who was hired by some people to kill Baba and Baba helped inspector to prove he was innocent of some perverse charges levelled against him. Another significant event was that Baba while staying and playing with the children of untouchable people( harijans) compelled Sitabai an upper caste lady devotee to drink water offered by the untouchable family to teach her a lesson that nobody id inferior or superior in this world as everyone is born equal as human beings.

At Hejamadi (Pejamadi) Baba pinched the tip of the breast of a fisherwomen to clean the poisonous substance which had already killed 3 of her children while breast feeding. At Padubidri Baba is said to conversation with Lord Hanuman witnessed by one Karianna Shetty.A similar incident which took place at Udupi in the presence of Sitabai, Baba was recognised by a sanyasi as Lord Shiva who could not get Shiva Darshan at Kailas.

Coastal Karnataka districts were favoured by Baba as virtually every place was sanctified by his visit and stay. Name a few, Baba travelled through Bramhwara, Barkur, Kundapura to reach Kollur Mukambika temple visiting Kodashadri hills, Chitramool, Agunbe(Someshwar temple) reached Gokarna where chief priest of Mahabaleshwara temple himself took care of Baba.

Baba once again stayed at Mangalore to bless his devotees, such as, Kati Girijamma, Krishnabai, Puttushet (Beedi Magnet) etc. At Mangalore Baba met Shivananda Paramahansha, a saint and their photograph is available. Baba at Puttur gently corrected a sanyasi who practised untouchability and ill treated people from lower caste making him realise the fact that all human beings are equal before God. At Bantwal, the traders without knowing the real status of Baba harassed him. To make them understand the reality, Baba asked river Netravathi to flood the Bantwal region. The people realised their mistake and prayed Babas mercy which was granted by him.

Kanhangad is an important place blessed by Baba. Here, Baba built forty caves by engaging labourers whom he fed and gave good wages. Police though Baba was printing fake currency. They took Baba into police station for questioning when Baba materialised wades of currency notes by rubbing his skin. Not only the Sub-Inspector, but also the District Superintendent of Police as well as District Collector were convinced that Baba was a divine being beyond their capacity to understand him. They allowed him to continue with his work.

Near the seashore of Kanhangad Baba used to narrate in detail the scenes of World War happening around the world like a running commentary which he could see through his vision. A fisherman named Pokalan and his son who were caught in a storm were rescued by Baba on their prayer and Baba was present at the seashore when they landed.

Baba built 40 caves with the help of labourers and working himself alongside completely the task in record time. Baba erected memorials in the name of Akkari Baba, Ikkeri Baba and Bitteri Baba as well as a temple for the village Goddess. The magnitude of this work can only be felt by physically seeing the same at Kanhangad.

Kushalnagar, a small town near Kanhangad Baba built a table out of a large stone which resembled the famous Round Table used by Mahatma Gandhi and the British at London for negotiating independence for India which is well known as round table conference. Baba sitting besides the table narrated to his devotees the discussions taking place at London Round Table conference which could not have been done by anybody at that time. Time and space has not been an impediment to a liberated soul.

Baba visited Neleshwar, Calicut, Chirvattur and villages around Kanhangad. Baba cured a Muslim known as Haji Sahib of his headache who joined him in finishing and painting the caves. Baba also built Guruvana, a mile away from Kanhangad on a hill top and named it as Papanashini Ganga (destroyer of sins). This property of the King of Neleshwar was gifted away to Baba for the benefit of devotees.

At Mumbai Baba used to stay at Gamdevi area. Sometime Baba slept near Wilson College at Chowpatty beach. Baba in his infinite kindness even helped in domestic work of his devotee, Muktabai who was not keeping good health and also took her to Nasik for change of weather on the advice of a doctor. At Nasik, Baba compelled the erring Tonga driver to behave properly and also wore khadi pant and shirt along with a khadi cap to attend a congress meeting. Varied are the ways of the saints.

Baba returned to Mumbai from Nashik and was staying at Gamdevi, Dongri etc. Babas returned to Kanhangad mainly to console and bless Krishnabai, an ardent devotee who had lost all her wealth and her husband had to migrate to Mumbai. At Kanhangad ashram Baba carried out extensive repairs and renovation. Baba once again went to Gokarna. Thereafter Baba materialised at Mumbai to stay at Kurla pipeline area.

Baba stayed at Kurla in a small hut near the pipeline and many devotees flocked for his Darshan. A Ghurkha watchman found out that Baba was drinking sea water and tasted the same to find out that the seawater was in fact sweet water. Here one Raghunath was cured of snake bite. A dumb and deaf orphan boy was carried by Baba on his back (as a horse) and the boy wanted to carry Baba on his back which was not possible because of his frail body. Baba blessed him with enough strength so that the orphan boy could act like a horse to carry Baba on his back. This orphaned boy had another wish i.e. to sit on an aeroplane. Baba fulfilled this wish by mysteriously grounding a single engine aeroplane at Kurla marshy land and allowing the boy to sit on it. With the blessings of Baba this orphaned boy started earning enough by acting as a messenger boy in his neighbourhood.

Baba and Devadas Swami visited Alandi near Pune and Baba prepared meal for Deodhar Swami had gone to visit Dhyaneshwar Samadhi. While returning to Mumbai Devadas Swami and Baba slept at Pune dharmashala. But Devdas Swami could not find Baba in the morning. Devdas Swami found Baba at Kurla (Mumbai) on his arrival. Baba stayed for 6 months at Kanheri caves at Borivali. In 1936, Baba appeared at Akoli a village 3 miles away from Ganeshpuri.

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