Lokenath Baba, A Great Saint: Survived up to 160 Years

 

Time to time in India many saints in different religions were born. They have enlightened human beings to survive in the best possible way with the feeling of humanity. I will present here the case of one famous saint known as Lokenath Baba who enlightened those days all human beings by saying "Whenever you are in danger, - whether in the middle of the ocean, or in the midst of the battlefield, or in the deepest jungle - think of me and I will deliver you to safety."  Still many Indians believe this saying. And in West Bengal many houses his photo may be seen as I visited the nook and corner of the State for academic works and observed the same. Even many cab drivers keep his photograph in the taxi. Loknath Baba survived 160 years as he was born in 1730 and left for heavenly abode on 3 June 1890 (aged 160). And many believe that those days even the British respected him for his spiritual activities. Baba did not marry and severely practised spiritual activities in different places including jungles so known as Lokenath Brahmachari. Lokenath Brahmachari was the fourth son of Ram Narayan Ghosal and Kamala Devi. Ram Narayan was an extremely religious person and had decided that his first son would be dedicated to the life of austerity. But Kamala Devi did not agree and she could give up neither her first born, nor the second born, not even the third born. While Lokenath Baba was born she observed his body was glowing with a divine glow so she let him follow the path of spiritualism as a saint. In the adjacent village Sri Bhagwan Ganguly, a saintly person but staying at home was living.  The father of Lokenath Baba approached him to become the Guru (Acharya) of Lokenath Baba and also requested him to perform the sacred thread ceremony. So, Ramnarayan (father of Lokenath Baba) handed over the responsibility of his son to a renowned Vedic scholar Bhagwan Ganguly, who, realizing the divine wisdom of Lokenath’s birth, initiated him and his playmate Benimadhav, who also insisted on becoming a sannyasi (Saint).  Guru ji (Bhagwan Ganguly) prepared the two boys for the hard life of austerity and renunciation and under his guidance, the disciples, in addition to practice meditation, also observed various fasting vows that lasted - from a single day - to two days, then for three, five, nine and twelve days and then a fortnight. Anyway it is believed that after enlightenment, Baba had travelled all over South Asia and Southeast Asia on foot. By leaving narrow boundaries of faith and religion, he visited many holy sites of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.  Baba travelled to Mecca, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Palestine, and other regions of western Asia and Middle East.  

He loved all irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Although he passed away on 3 June 1890 by leaving his mortal but Baba left a message to all of us,

 “I am eternal, I am deathless. After this body falls, do not think that everything will come to an end. I will live in the hearts of all living beings in my subtle astral form. Whosoever will seek my refuge, will always receive my Grace.” I extend my respectful Pronam to this great saint, a Brahmachari.

The following websites have been consulted while writing the article

1)      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokenath_Brahmachari

2)      http://www.loknathbaba.com/english/aboutus.htm

3)      https://babalokenath.org/about-baba-lokenath/#

Dr Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad