Glorious Fifty Years of Wisdom and Service

A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 50th Birthday

Spiritual Wizard

by Dr. Shivananda Adhvaryoo

"That man is the wisest who like Socrates realises that his wisdom is worthless." These words of Plato would be the nearest description of Sri Krishnanandaji Maharaj. People have been seeing him since last three decades and those who have the well-developed power of observation will realise, how rapid changes have been occurring in him.

If I were asked to write a few words about him about 15 years back, it would have been easier, because I knew so little of him and I was just like a novice. At that time I would have described him thus.... "A Swami of very few words, so poor health that you can even count his ribs. Hardly would he be seen outside his Kutir. Almost everyone was little afraid to enter his Kutir. He was always with his books in his Kutir.

Time has its effects and those who have seen him now during last fifteen years cannot even think of the earlier days.

Just as a plant grows into tree and tree gives fruits to travellers, this is exactly Sri Krishnanandaji Maharaj. Now we are seeing and enjoying fruits... fruits of his spiritual wisdom.

As innocent as a child, it will elevate you to see him laughing—you can see a crystal clear heart. Next minute you will see him quite deeply drowned in himself. At that time you can try to imagine his depth.

"I live a silent life unknown to the world"—what would these words tell us. He really does not hanker after name and fame. He wants to tread the path by himself. Is this not the grandest thing to learn from him? "I am careful not to be carried away by the winds of praise and censure, at least to the best of my possibilities and capacities." with this measuring rod, you can measure his inner self.

"I hope that no obstruction is placed before my simple wish to live alone, I want nothing else." He is never alone, nor he is in company of others. He is always fixed in Him.

His life is the life for a Sadhak. One need not know anything, but observe him for all the time. This will give us as much as we are capable of imbibing.

To make an effort to try and describe Sri Krishnanandaji Maharaj is really to try and find out clear definition of God. Just as human intellect stops with utterances—Neti Neti—Not this, Not this, I would refrain from making any effort to describe Swamiji, which is equally difficult, and hence, I would bow down to him, prostrations before him in silence and reverence, and Pray to Lord that he may live upto Upanishadic age—as is the Upanishad-Personified and keep on giving us fruits therefrom.