Dear Souls! The lifework of H.H. Dharma Vir Jagni Ratan Jagdish Chandra Ji has inspired thousands of devotee Sundersath all over the world. We feel strongly about sharing some of his life experiences with our readers. We wish that his life experiences might be helpful to you to move closer to your spiritual goals.
In his childhood, as he was being raised in the loving touch of his parents, he learned that the human life is the greatest gift to a spirit (Jiva) from God after it passes through approximately 8.4 million lives as different species. Because of having a temple of Supreme Lord Pran Nath in his parent’s house, many great souls and saints used to visit them. There, he came in contact with diverse spiritual personalities. As a result, his soul began the process of spiritual awakening. At the age of twelve, he came in touch with Param Hansa Maharaj Shri Mehar Das Ji. He used to explain him the secret divine wisdom so lovingly that it almost became the foundation of his spiritual life.
Pondering about the value of human life: Immediately after the death of H.H. Mehar Das Ji, his inner self began to struggle to find that the Lord Supreme had given him the gift of this life for a very special purpose. He realized that even the birds and other animals often do a better job of earning the bread, raising kids and building beautiful houses. He thought, "What then is special about my human life?" His thinking of this nature was the result of his good spiritual company or Satsung. As the scriptures have already said, "One cannot think about his or her spiritual (true) self without the touch of the holy souls or holy divine words." The time passed on. He completed his study.
In the middle, among the many other social connections and activities, he developed a lot of interest in the Epic Ramayana and toward the worship of Lord Rama and Hanuman. Again, his life took a major change in direction. The time came for him, along with many others, to quit the motherland due to the separation of India and Pakistan. His family moved to India empty-handed. They needed to get every imaginable basic living thing. His family was passing through a very rough time.
Experience of Hanuman Ji: Amidst all the worldly pain, his original inner storm was no way settled. On the contrary, it intensified to a great extent. As he explained once to us, "again and again, the waves of spiritual thinking kept hitting the boundaries of my mind from all around." In the city of Allahabad in Northern India, he began practicing systematic worship of Hanuman Ji. As a result, he had a direct experience of Hanuman Ji once. However, he was not satisfied with such an experience because his questions were not being answered. On the contrary, his search for the higher divine forces intensified.
In the lotus feet of Param Hansa Ram Ratan Das Ji: His desire to seek the ultimate truth intensified day-by-day. At such a time, he learned from one saint that this world is an ocean of illusion, called Bhav Sagar. A soul can cross it and enter the divine regions of eternity only through the grace of the Supreme Lord Aksharateet. Upon finding this out, more questions came to his mind. Who is that Supreme Lord? Where is his Supreme Abode? What is the difference between Him and the gods and goddesses known to the world? He started searching for the True Master who could satisfy his spiritual quarries.
He moved around to many places and finally found an opportunity to meet a very simple and plain personality, Param Hansa Ram Ratan Das Ji of Sher Pur, Jadauda Panda, Dist. Saharan Pur, U.P., India. In his own words, once he explained his first experience to us:
"It was the extremely hot month of May. The outside temperature was as high as 45 degree centigrade and highly humid. I had to walk a long distance of almost 16 kilometers on a dusty route to reach Sher Pur. As soon as I entered the gate of the Sher Pur Ashram, Maharaj Shri rushed to me with an abundant of love as if he was just waiting for me. He gave me an unforgettable big hug. Soon, I lost my independent existence and merged into his divine love. During this miraculous experience, my mind scanned through my entire life history. At this time, a voice came from the back of my heart saying, "Oh Jagdish! This is the heart that truly knows what spiritual love is all about." Looking at my clothes laden with dust and wet with my sweat, I thought back and asked myself, "Can any Acharya or Guru of today’s organized religions give such a loving hug to someone who is loaded with so much dirt and sweat?" The answer came from within from my own experience, No. It may be very difficult for you to believe if I mention that some of the so-called Acharyas and Gurus were less willing to just say ‘Pranam’ to me with true love."
Soon, he experienced the divine powers of a great soul seated within the loving personality of Maharaj Shri. He offered himself totally in his lotus feet. Having realized the form of true love, his clean mind had nothing to doubt. The very next day, Mararaj Shri offered him the ‘Tartam,’ and reinforced his spiritual relationship with the Lord Supreme.
To reinforce his spiritual marriage, and to be able to perform the Spiritual Awakening or Jagni services for many lost souls, he became curious to know all the aspects of the Divine Connection. He preferred not to ask too many direct and premature questions without really offering any services in the lotus feet of Maharaj Shri for the Divine Cause. At this time, Maharaj Shri used to read precisely what was going on through his mind, and he was fully aware of it. He decided internally to win the love of his True Master through the toughest path of Seva—selfless services-- by submitting himself fully in the services of Maharaj Shri. By this time, he had already learned that this was essential to embark upon the path of the Supreme Divine.
His Master could feel his deep commitment. Maharaj Shri fulfilled all his spiritual and worldly needs in many different ways. When he came out of this unforgettable, heart-touching, spiritual journey with his Master, his ideas about human life and its purpose had totally changed. His understanding about the Supreme Divine among the many known divine forms - gods, goddesses, angels and archangels became clear.
He realized that all world religions and human beings have the same goal. However, in absence of the spotless Divine Wisdom of the Buddha Nish-kalanka Avatar, each one of them had ended somewhere around the boundaries of the perishable world and its creator. He found out that they had mainly perceived these lower spiritual forces of Kshar Purusha as the Supreme Lord had in ignorance. He realized that the Lord had assigned him the responsibility of spreading this Wisdom throughout the world. He found out that he had to remind all the souls--the Lost Sheep--of their originality.
Dear souls! Once, citing an example of the milkmaids of Brij and Gokul, Jagni Ratan said,
"Do you know that no one else but the milkmaid of Brij and Gokul were able to cross the fathomless ocean of this illusory material world. They could do this only due to their divine relationship with the Supreme Lord. The same way, our Lord came again to this world. He rescued me, like a diver who brings out a pearl from the bottom of the ocean. He did this to me because of my eternal relationship with Him. For sure, you will also be rescued the same way through His divine grace. The entire world will also eventually qualify for eternity, of course, through His divine grace."
Charged with the power of Tartam, and with the pain of Spiritual Awakening, his life changed. Reaching out to different souls through riding on trains, buses, horses and bullock carts became a part of his everyday life. He was never tired in spite of this hardship. The Lord always pumped in all the energy that he needed into his heart. Once, this is what he said to us:
"Every moment, my heart told me, "Get up, reach out for the rescue of the lost souls. Visit different people door to door and tell them these heart-touching facts of human life!"
Dear souls, the fruits of Shri Jagni Ratan’s lifework can be tasted by visiting Shri Nijanand Ashram, Ratan Puri (U.P.), or by attending one of the camps or Shibirs organized by Shri Nijanand Jagni Abhiyaan. We invite you all regardless of your race, religion or ethnicity.
Pranam Ji.