Pujya Shree Bhagat Hansraj ji Maharaj
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Clad in spotless white Kurta-and-Pyjama, a waistcoat and a cream shawl on shoulders, thin and lean in body, smart in gait, soft-yet-firm in speech, straight in walk and talk, Pujya Bade Pitaji(Revered Father) was the cynosure of all eyes.
People in general and devotees in particular, loved him, adored him, nay spread their eyes at his holy feet. Men, women and children thronged him wherever he went. An agriculturist by profession, Bade Pitaji led a very simple life. He advocated that one should lead a life of simplicity, dignity and self-respect.
Pujya Bade Pitaji often said, ‘He is extremely grateful to Pujya Prem Ji Maharaj and Pujya Shakuntala Maa Ji for the love and respect given to him by them in their lifetime.’
He further says, ‘It is the power of ‘Raam Naam’ and ‘Guru-Kripa'(Glory of the Master) which attracts thousands of people to him. Whatever benefits they receive and whatever they see in him is the Glory of ‘Ram Naam’ and of Swami Ji Maharaj.
Early Life
The true disciple of Shree Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaji, the beloved Pujya Bade Pitaji(Revered Father) of the masses, Bhagat Hansraj Ji was born on October 2, 1916 in an affluent family at Chinyot in district Jhang (now in Pakistan).
His father, Sh. Gopal Dass Vij and mother Smt.Lakshmi Devi were of religious bent of mind. He had three brothers and three sisters. It was a prosperous family. He was just eight years old when he lost his father. His mother was deeply devoted to the Divine and she started living in Haridwar in total dedication to God.
In this way, he was brought up by his grandfather, Lala Barkatshah who led a very princely and opulent life, he had an extensive business and the young Hans learnt the basics of business from his grandfather.
Guru Kripa on Young Hans
The young Hans had a very simple and pious mind. He yearned for the divine and the spiritual journey ahead. He had a deep impact of Gurbani (teachings of the Sikh Gurus). Pitaji came in contact with Shree Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj through his close relative Sh. Ramkrishan who was a disciple of Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj. Bade Pitaji had heard a lot about Swami Ji’s magnetic personality and was very keen on meeting him.
In the year 1934, when Pitaji was 18 years old, Swami Ji Maharaj chanced to visit Chakk-Jhumra. As soon as Bade Pita ji heard about his arrival he rushed to the Arya Samaj Mandir where Swami Ji was holding Satsang. The Great Master Shree Swami Ji Maharaj, spotted him (Young Hans) during the satsang. After the satsang, Swami Ji Maharaj asked his disciple Sh. Ramkrishan to bring young Hans to him the next morning. The next morning Swami Ji Maharaj gave him Naam Deeksha and he surrendered himself to the will of his Master. Swamiji further told him to make selfless service an integral part of his life and asked him to remember that service rendered with humility leads to spiritual exaltation.
Bade Pujya Pitaji received the love of a Master and that of a Father from Swami Ji Maharaj. Within a short span of time, he became a very near and dear disciple. Swami Ji Maharaj had full faith & trust in him and showered abundantly his love and guidance on Bade Pitaji. The young Hans made spiritual achievements by leaps and bounds. He never looked back. Swami Ji Maharaj groomed him for Ram Daan and bestowed upon him his choicest blessings.
Family Life
The young Hans became a great fan of Swami Ji Maharaj. He gave his days and nights to Simran. He wanted to run away from home and wanted to become an ascetic (Sanyasi). He together with his friend planned to run away from home and become a monk. Swami Ji Maharaj came to know about this plan. He told about the plan to Sh. Kundan Lal, the young Hans’s elder brother. He chided the young Hans. He told him that renunciation is no gateway to God.
In the meantime, relatives had started pouring in for young Hans’s wedding. Swami Ji Maharaj told that the householder’s life was good enough to realize God through Truth, Service and Ram Naam. The young Hans was married to Kaushalya Devi of Katyal family. Both became ardent spiritual partners. Maa Kaushalya came to be called “Beeji” by the devotees. They were blessed with a promising son named Krishan in 1946.
Ram Sewak Sangh
Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj held the first Sadhana Satsang at Haridwar in December 1936. During the period Swami Ji Maharaj handpicked five disciples to form Ram Sewak Sangh in order to spread faith in Ram. They took an undertaking to spread the holy name “Ram”. This brief but solemn ceremony was held on the banks of the holy river Ganga, above Bhim Goda at a place known as Sapt Sarover.
Pujya Bade Pitaji (Shree Bhagat Hansraj ji Maharaj) was one of these five beloved disciples while the other four were Sh. Vaishnav Dass, Sh. Ram Krishan, Swami Ramanand and Swami Raja Ram. Pujya Bade Pitaji took this life vow very seriously and vigorously. Swami Ji Maharaj admired this fact in his letter dated 04/09/1957 to Bhagat Hans Raj Ji. Swami Ji Maharaj was both a Guru and a father. He (Swami Ji Maharaj) was highly pleased and in his letter dated 27/08/1959 from Dehradun, the Maharaj lovingly addressed him as : “Shree Bhagat Ji Maharaj”.
Life in Gohana
In 1947, when Bade Pitaji was 31, the partition of India took place, his family were compelled to reluctantly move away from the ancestral village to Amritsar, Nawanshahar, Panipat, and finally settle in Gohana in 1950.
Partition years were very difficult for the family. The family braved the challenges and hardships with a stoical mind. Bade Pitaji often advised his disciples “Even if one is living on limited means, one must put up a bold and happy face.”
His zeal for Ram Simram and the faith in his Guru never flagged. He used to go to attend Swami Ji Maharaj discourses to far-flung places and he enthusiastically participated in “Sewa”. His consort fully cooperated through thick and thin.
Trials and tribulations are the tools by which the great men are tested. The struggle in his life actually acted as a catalyst.
Nirvan
Pujya Bade Pitaji on September 4th, 2014, left his mortal frame, while chanting Ram Ram, at Shree Ram Sharnam Gohana. Pujya Krishanji and Pujya Rekhaji were by his side during his last moments.
Spiritual Heritage
Shree Swami Satyanandji Maharaj, in his lifetime delegated the responsibility of spreading Ram Naam and authority of bestowing Deeksha to Pujya Hansraj Ji Maharaj (Pujya Bade Pitaji).
Following the footsteps of his Master, Pujya Bade Pitaji, on the auspicious occasion of Vyas Purnima, in the year 2000, passed on the responsibility and duty of the spread of Ram-Naam to Pujya Krishanji and Pujya Rekhaji.