1] Birth, Childhood and Education BIRTH OF SHREE RANG

There is a temple of Lord Vitthal on the bank of 'Ramsagar', a sprawling tank in Godhra (Gujarat). Shree Sakharani Sarpotdar! The owner of the temple, who was a friend of Vitthalpant, the father of Shree Rang, implored him to come down to Godhra and look after the management of the temple. Shree Vitthalpant acceded to the request of his friend, Sakharam Sarpotdar and left his native place Devle (District Sangameshvar, Maharashtra) for Godhra.

Born and brought up as a Brahman, Vitthalpant was educated in the traditional system of education prevalent in those days. He was well versed in the classical language Sanskrit and had studied Vedas and Upanishadas. Besides being a scholar he was indifferent towards mundane matters and was leading a religious life.

Rukmini, the mother of Shree Rang was the second wife of his father, Vitthalpant. She was the most faithful follower of her husband. She never craved for worldly riches and was rather intent upon advocating moral behavioral trends to the new generation.

Shree Rang, divinity in corporeal form was born of this pious couple - Vitthalpant and Rukmini on Monday, the 21 st November 1898.

It is said that before giving birth to Shree Rang, in the period of gestation, Rukmini had completed a course of one-lac circumambulations of the holy plant Tulasi.

Later on, as suggested by Sakharam Sarpotdar, the parents of Shree Rang christened their copper complexioned babe, Pandurang. And as such the full name of Shree Rang before leaving his home for the austere ascetic life was Pandurang Vitthal Valame.

 2] CAUSE OF IMMORTALITY

Once, a funeral procession was passing by the street in front of the house of Shree Rang. The pallbearers were repeatedly and loudly saying ' Ram Bolo, Bhai Ram' (Brothers, take the name of the Lord Rama i.e. form habit of repeating the holy name-Rama, constantly). Some elderly women bitterly weeping were also going along the procession as its hinter-part.

The funeral procession was noticed by Shree Rang, who was yet a child. He was deeply shocked by the funereal scene and ran into the house. Curious to know about the procession, he caught hold of his father. Nay, he dragged his father to the front door of the house and pointing to the procession asked, " Daddy, what's," it?"

Father - Some one is dead.

Shree Rang - Who?

Father - The person, who is being carried by the four men on their shoulders.

Shree Rang - Where will they take him to '?

Father - To the crematorium.

Shree Rang - What's that place?

Father -All dead persons are burnt there.

Shree Rang-Why ---- but ---

Father - That's the only final disposal of the dead-bodies.

Vitthalpant, the father of Shree Rang thought a while about the prying nature of his son. He was sure that inquisitive Shree Rang would ' not stop asking questions, unless, the matter concerned, reached the end expected by him. So to avoid further volley of questions from him, Vitthalpant asked Shree Rang to go into the house.

Though Shree Rang obeyed his father; his mind was not free from the dismal incidence and had some queries lurking in his mind.

On the very next day another funeral procession was passing by the street and accidentally Shree Rang happened to see it. Restless and unsatisfied as he was to know something more about the cremation, he scurried into the house and said to his father, "Dad, today also --- someone is dead."

Father - Hum !

Shree Rang-Dad, how does a person die ?

Father - I don't know exactly. But it's certain----

Shree Rang ---- what ?

Father - Sooner or later everybody dies.

Shree Rang - will my mother ---- die ?

Father - Yes.

Shree Rang-Will she be burnt?

Father - No. Doubt.

Shree Rang - you - to -one day ---

Father - Surely. I 'II also be cremated after my death.

Shree Rang - Are you sure, Daddy, all --- all are destined to die one day or the other? Can't one avert death?

Thereupon, Vitthalpant, for sometime, looked passionately towards Shree Rang and caressing him said in a low voice, " My lad, one can conquer death."

"How " Bounced Shree Rang upon his father, and asked further, "How to conquer death ? Dad, be quick. Tell me. How, how to .......

"By reciting the name ------- Rama --- Constantly ". Interjected his father and said further, " By recitation of the holy name Rama, by heart, one attains immortality."

"Should I start to recite the name of the Lord Rama? "

"So far so good."

"Just from this moment I'll start to chant the holy name of Rama. "

Shree Rang, thence started to chant the name of the Lord Ram unfailingly.

3] DEATH OF VITTHALPANT

In the month of February of the year 1903, plague was rampant in Godhra. Funerals, wailing and weeping of young and old, beating of chests by women, search for the affected persons, etc.was the dismal scene seen daily everywhere. The citizens were urged to leave the urban area for the far off places, especially to villages and farmlands. So in response to the promulgation from the authorities and to save itself from the-dreary disease, the family of Shree Vitthalpant Valame left Godhra for a village, named Govindi. Shree Rang was of five years old and Narayan, his younger brother was of three then.

Worship of Lord Shiv was going on in the family of Valame for years together. Therefore, Vitthalpant, the father of Shree Rang was glad to see a temple of Lord Shiv in Govindi. The temple was named as Khadgeshvar. The. temples of Lord Shiv are generally named after one of the epithets of the Lord i.e. Shiv. Before his mid-day meals, Vitthalpant started going to the temple to worship Lord Shiv daily.

One day Vitthalpant felt sickness. However, as per daily routine he went to the temple and began worshipping the Lord, as far as possible with composed mind. When he adored the Lord with a flower, it instantly slipped down from the Linga. (Lord Shiv is generally worshipped in the form of an oval-shaped stone. The consecrated stone is called Linga in Sanskrit and also in all other Indian languages.) Again he adjusted the flower on it; but it did not set there and fell down. The falling down of the flower from the Linga was taken as a bad omen by him.

On coming home, Vitthalpant narrated the whole incident to his wife, Rukmini. she too worried about it. But soon she gathered courage and told her husband to shed the thoughts of unthinkable disasters. And let loose the reins in the hands of Lord Vithoba.

Whenever, he was in trouble, Vitthalpant immediately used to contemplate on Lord Vithoba and was by then consoled and inspired by HIM to go ahead in proper directions. So at, that time also he fixed his mind upon Lord Vithoba and within few minutes he realised the presence of Lord Vithoba in front of his eyes. He was overjoyed to have a glimpse of the Lord. But at the next moment his joy turned into melancholy. Because Lord Vithoba did not appear facing him. It was the back of the Lord, which was seen by him. Such a rare and unexpected glimpse of the Lord shocked Vitthalpant. He felt sure that the unusual glimpse of the Lord certainly suggested his death.

Vitthalpant told Rukmini about the appearance of the Lord Vithoba and the meaning derived from it by him. And alas!, Leaving Shree Rang and Narayan to the care of Rukmini, Vitthalpant left the world on 11 -2 -1904.

4] GRACE OF THE GURU

The Thread-Ceremonies of Shree Rang and his younger brother Narayana were celebrated at Devle. Thereafter while returning to Godhra Rukmamba (Rukmini, the mother of Shree Rang was also known as Rukmamba), followed by her sister led the two lads to some of the sacred places in Maharashtra. In the course of the journey they visited

Narasobavadi. It is one of the noted places where he graces the devotees of Lord Dattatreya.

Late H.H. Vasudevanandasarasvati (1854 to 1914 A.D.) was at Narasobavadi, when this group visited the place. Therefore, Rukmamba took her two sons to pay their respects to Vasudevanandasarasvati. As soon as Shree Rang saw the great saint he could not hold back himself and started running towards the pious personality. Rukmaniba checked him as he was all dressed up. But he pushed on. Anyhow he was stopped by his mother and was asked to lie prostrate before H. H. Vasudevanandasarasvati without touching him. Shree Rang obeyed his mother.

"He is mine." Instantly said H.H Vasudevananda looking to Shree Rang.

All the people, present there, were astonished to hear the unexpected words from H.H. Vasudevanandasarasvati, a high dignitary in the field of spiritualism.

"To whom do you belong my lad? " Asked H.H. Vasudevananaasarasvati to Shree Rang.

To you only". Came the prompt reply from Shree Rang. He then bowed down in reverence to H.H. Vasudevanandasarasvati.

Thenceforth a series of thoughts emerged in the mind of Shree Rang. Do I really belong to H.H. Vasudevanandasarasvati? ------ Who is he? ------ What is my relation with H.H. Vasudevananda? Who am I? ----- Would he be my guide and guard in future? ----- What have I to owe him? ------ Etc.

Years passed by. Shree Rang was a schoolteacher then and had gone on a trip to the places on the bank of the Narmada, along with some of his friends. When these trippers were at Indravarna, a place opposite to that of Garudeshvar, lie had a dream in which H.H.Vasudevanandasarasvati appeared before hint and bade him to read ' Datta-Puran' for 108 times and thus he was blessed by his guru.

5] ROTTEN BRINJALS

Once, Shree Rang, then a schoolboy was asked by his schoolteacher to purchase 500 grams of brinjals and carry them to his house.

The teacher, though sincere in his profession was habituated to send his students on errands and for petty purchases. This annoyed the students. But nobody could raise a voice against it. Shree Rang was also not spared by the teacher.

For some days Shree Rang tolerated the errands and sincerely obeyed the teacher. But soon he was provoked and planned to teach a lesson to the unscrupulous teacher.

When the said teacher told Shree Rang to purchase brinjals and gave him a rupee for the purpose; he did not exhibit any sign of disobedience and meekly left the school for the work entrusted to him. While on the way to the market Shree Rang thought that it was a good chance to do something in order to stop the recurrence.

On going to the market Shree Rang asked the greengrocer to give him brinjals, those were rotten and totally unworthy of cooking. A purchase was made for fifteen annas as Shree Rang was required to make provisions of one anna for the labour.

After the purchase the greengrocer mounted a sack full of the brinjals upon the head of a labourer. Shree Rang, further took the brinjals to the house of the teacher and said to the wife of the teacher, " Madam, your husband, my teacher has sent these brinjals. Please empty the sack as it is to be returned to the greengrocer "

The brinjals were poured out of the sack. The wife of the teacher was extremely astonished to see the rotten lot. Before she could pass any adverse remark about the brinjals, Shree Rang told her to keep quiet and left for the school.

Next day the teacher having learnt about the fact called Shree Rang and said, " What a nasty purchase! Valame, whence have you turned mischievous? "

" Believe me, sir, " said Shree Rang politely; I have high regards for you. But to get rid of your habit of sending students out of the school in school-hours for small works, deliberately I had purchased stinking brinjals. Forgive me, sir, I alone am responsible for this raw-deal."

The sober behavior of Shree Rang replaced the resultant odd feelings with large on the face of the teacher into a crease of smile.