Shri Dev Shankar guru maharaj's life story - Part I - Early life

Early Life

Born on November 15th, 1886 (Sankasht Chathurthi of the month of Kartak of the Vikram Savat Calendar),  Devshankar Gurumaharaj was born to Haragovind Bhatt and Mahalakshmi Bhatt in Sidhpur, Gujarat.  From his early days, Devshankar dada had a spiritual inclination. Immediately after his sacred thread ceremony (Yagnopavit Sanskar), while he was only a child of eight years,  Devshankar Bapa, insisted that he wanted to go to Varanasi ('Kashi'), to search for his guruji. He was accompanied by his grandfather Purshottam dada on a train from Sidhpur to Varanasi. 

The Audichya Sahastra Brahmin community to which Devshankar Gurumaharaj belongs has its origins in Kashi (present-day Varanasi). One thousand brahman families were brought by the Chalukya king Siddhraj Jaisinh, in the 12th century AD from Kashi to establish the town of Sidhpur. Sidhpur is mentioned as Sristhal in the scriptures as the location of the ashram of Rishi Kardam Prajapati, the father of Kapil rishi ('sage'). The brahmins were brought to reestablish Srishtal as a location of spiritual knowledge. This was capped with the construction of the famous eleven stories Rudra Mahalay Shiva Temple in Siddhpur

After searching in Kashi, he found his guru, Sri Vasuprada Tripathi. His guru-mother was Smt. Bhadra Tripathi. Sri Vasuprada Tripathi was an expert in scriptures and Jyotish-shastra (astrology) and he lived at the Satyanarayan Temple on the banks of the Ganga. The temple also had a Shiva Mandir.  Devshankar Bapa studied in Kashi for a little over a year and came back to Siddhpur when his beloved grandfather fell ill and subsequently expired. After completing his grandfather's last rites, Devshankar Bapa went back to Kashi to stay with his guruji. On return, he also took admission to the Sanatana Sanskrit Pathshala in Kashi, where he studied daily from 9 to 11 in the morning and evening from 4.30 to 6.30. The rest of the time he learned Jyotishastra, Bhagavad Purana, and other scriptures from his Guru. It is to be noted that Indian astrology depends on extensive and accurate calculations of planetary movements and requires a high level of mathematics.

Sri. Devshankar Bapa studied in the gurukul for another 6 years, till the age of 15 years in Kashi. He then came back to meet his mother Mahalakshmi ba, as she had not seen him for a very long time. His mother wanted Devshankar Bapa to get married, however, he still had not quenched his thirst for knowledge. He returned to Kashi, to continue his studies for another 3 years.

Marital Life

At the age of 19 years, with his mother's guidance and blessings, Devshankar Bapa, returned to Sidhpur and married Anandi Ba, The marriage lasted all of 2 years and 3 months and tragically Anandi ba died during childbirth while giving birth to a daughter, Bhagirathi. Because of the difficult childbirth, Bhagirathi was born with a disability of the eye. 

Sri. Devshankar Bapa, at this point, wanted to pursue the spiritual path and believed that his fate did not have more familial happiness in the future. However, given his young age, his parents insisted on him marrying again.  His mother was not keeping well and Bapa found it difficult to refuse her wishes. He, however, warned, that the prospective bride and her parents be informed that he was very strict and will not be able to give her any happiness.

Still in his early 20's, upon his family's insistence, he married Chanchal ba. Soon after his marriage, he got a job as a teacher in a Sanskrit Pathshala in Calcutta (Present-day Kolkata) to teach Srimad Bhagavad to the students. He had only spent a few months in Kolkatta when Chanchal ba gave birth to their first son Hariprasad. When Hariprasad was born, Devshankar Bappa was still in Kolkatta. He was able to return only 7 months to catch a glimpse of his young child. Post coming back, as both his parents were old and as he had a young family, he settled again in Sidhpur. The young family lived in 'Dhola Bhatt no madh' in Sidhpur town where his original family home exists to date. Devshankar Bapa's father Haragovind was well known in Sidhpur for his knowledge of Sanskrit and the scriptures and presided over religious ceremonies. Post returning, Devshankar Bapa, began working as a pandit, presiding over religious ceremonies and teaching Srimad Bhagavad.  He was spiritually inclined and spent a significant proportion of his daily time in spiritual pursuits.

After 2 years, his third child Labhshankar was born. When Labhshankar, was only 11 months old, Smt. Chanchal Ba died of ill health.  A fair of great religious importance is held in Siddhpur on the banks of the Saraswati in the month of Kartak of the Vikram Samvat calendar, every few years. At the age of 25 years, in a Kartak fair, Devshankar dada met an owner of a printing press from Mumbai. Impressed by his knowledge, the owner offered him a job along with a stay in Mumbai as a proofreader for Sanskrit scriptures. Upon this Guru-Maharaj shifted to Mumbai and stayed in Mumbai reading and correcting Sanskrit scriptures. His stay lasted all of 7 months and 19 days. Post a disagreement with the owner of the printing press, he quit his job and returned back to Sidhpur. After this for the next nine years, he stayed in 'grihastha' (family) life working as a pandit in Siddhpur. This continued till both his kids were given the Yagnopavit Sanskar.  Meanwhile, tragically his oldest child, Bhagirathi succumbed to illness at the young age of 12 years.

Vairagya (Renunciation)

After this incident, guru-maharaj fully immersed himself in his spiritual pursuits and sadhana. At the age of 35 years, he left his two small sons, in the care of his wife's family in Unjha, Gujarat. At this young age, he finally took a step towards his destiny by way of Vairagya (renunciation). He left all his belongings, to cross the banks of the Saraswati.  His only possessions were a Rudraksha necklace, a bronze vessel, and a towel. His chosen location for penance was in a forest of (Kevda) thorns near the Arvadeshwar Mahadev Shiva Temple on the banks of the Saraswati river.

He preferred solitude and completely immersed himself in Sadhana. The thorns protected him from the outside world. A peepul tree gave him shelter. His only clothes were a small 'langot' and neither heat, nor cold, nor rain had any impact on his strict daily spiritual regimen.  His daily spiritual ritual started at 4.00 a.m. in the morning with Sandhya puja and lasted till 4.00 p.m. in the evening.

He rarely left his Tapo-Bhoomi (spiritual abode) but had knowledge of happenings of both the world outside and the hearts and minds of people. There are a number of incidents, now a part of folklore in Gujarat, which provides a glimpse of his spiritual prowess and knowledge.

Family

However, given his preference for solitude, few beyond family knew of his penance in his early years. 

Gurumahraj two sons had settled outside Sidhpur, the older Sri. Hariprasad was a renowned pandit in the city of Nadiad in Gujarat and the younger son Sri. Labhshankar Bhatt settled in the city of Mumbai with his family. The family visited the Guru-Maharaj regularly and his guidance was the final word in all matters from naming the kids to matters of marriage. His guidance and blessings have protected through difficult times in many instances as we will see later in the following posts.

First, let us look at his family tree, to familiarise ourselves with the people in his family

Note:  Please click on the picture to zoom and read the names

From his life story so far, it is clear that from an early age Guru-Maharaj was drawn towards spirituality and pursuit of knowledge. Several times in his early life tragedies struck his family. However, despite this, his passion for Sanskrit, the Vedas, scriptures, and his sadhana continued unabated. 

As guru Maharaj's great-grandson, I am part of this family tree and I hope to present to you a factual picture of his life story. There are several books written over the years in Gujarati which have certain inaccurate information. I will attempt to capture, the complete story, and make it easier for the English reader to know his story and teachings.

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