The masters beckoned
Ms Anjali, a 32-year-old native of Thiruvananthapuram, now settled in Ernakulam, Kerala, has been on a unique mission at an age when young women are immersed in pursuing a career. For the past several years (except during the COVID period), Anjali, along with her guru, Shri Jayakumar, and her mother, Dr Ajitha, have been incessantly travelling from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas (including Nepal), documenting the lives of Avadhutas (mystics), past and present, to include them in a book called Mahaavadhutam, to be published initially in Malayalam. Just before the commencement of the first journey at the instance of paramguru Sudheer Vaidyar of Agasthya Ashram, Trippunithura, Kerala, Anjali changed her name to Lakshmi Dhuta.
Travelling all over the Indian subcontinent, the trio visited several places sanctified by the presence of Avadhutas such as Shivapuri Baba, Bhagwan Nityananda, Neem Karoli Baba, and Shirdi Sai Baba.
Coming to know about the travels of the trio, I was eager to meet them. On the appointed day, Sri Jayakumar himself came to the Kalamassery metro rail station to receive my wife and me. While driving to their residence, he said about their spiritual guru, Sudheer Vaidyar, “Though several could not recognise his stature, Sudheer Vaidyar was not only an ayurvedic physician but also an Avadhuta as there were several instances of him curing incurable diseases. Though he attained samadhi (liberation) in 2003, he still guides me. We undertook the yatra (journey) by road, as guided by him.”
Sitting in the drawing room, along with her guru Sri Jayakumar, Lakshmi Dhuta talked to us for an hour about her unique life mission.
How did you come to the spiritual path? What was the turning point in your life?
Imagine you’re walking down a path and you suddenly make a turn. You’d think you just changed directions, but actually, you were already there in the first place. My turning point, or in this case, my signboard, would be my guru and my soul friend, Jayakumar Uncle.
How did you meet your guru, Sri Jayakumarji? When I met him, he was a well-sought-after dog breeder. When one of his dogs’ leg got fractured, he brought the bandaged dog to my mother, a homeopath, even though she was not a vet. They did not hit it off as Uncle was a very unkempt man with unruly hair, overgrown nails, and shirt buttons all mixed up. As my mother is quite particular about personal hygiene and grooming, their friendship was unlikely.
But in four years, they became close friends. Jayakumarji, knowing I have a postgraduate degree in journalism, requested me to write a book on Guru Sudheer Vaidyar. I believe it was all a drama that happened to set some things in motion; to be where we are now.
Unlike several young girls your age, instead of opting for a career-oriented life, you chose to follow a different path. What are your aims and objectives in life?
I began with a regular job, but then I decided to delve into the unknown. It was a huge step, and had it not been for my mother who supported me through my decision, I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing. Ambition? I’d happily take whatever life throws at me.
Can you share your experiences with your gurus, the late Sri Sudheer Vaidyarji and Sri Jayakumarji?
Our paramguru, the late Sudheer Vaidyar, an Avadhuta, though not widely recognised as such, was well-known for his unmatched treatment [in traditional medicine], often curing incurable cases with his divine touch. For me, he was a father figure. On the other hand, Jayakumar Uncle was chosen and mentored by Sri Sudheer Vaidyar during the last years of his life. Together, they directed me to look inwards, to know my Self.
What is unique about Avadhutas? What prompted you to travel in search of them? Avadhuta means ‘the one whose body has become one with the dust’ or a person beyond all notions of individual identity. They are not confined to the body they inhabit, and their notions break all existing human foundations. Although they prefer to keep to themselves, sometimes their eccentricities make them stand out. Diogenes from Greece; Hotei, or the Laughing Buddha, from China; and Milarepa
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from Tibet are all examples of Avadhutas. I would prefer not to use the word ‘searching’ to describe the journey made to these exceptional beings. It was a thought I had a long time ago that prompted me to meet them.
Why should modern man study the life of Avadhutas? What are the life lessons they teach?
This is a very difficult question to answer because each of us arrives at our inferences through unique personal experiences. Why do we eat or exercise? For the smooth functioning of our body. That’s a visible thing—the body. However, when we are awake, there’s something also that is invisible within us: the mind. The seamless functioning of the body can’t be achieved with just food and exercise;
it needs the help of the invisible mind from within and its balance. As I understand, Avadhutas demonstrate this with their lives in the simplest way by teaching us to cherish and enjoy every single moment in bliss.
These enlightened souls scattered throughout history are silent catalysts, orchestrating changes while maintaining an unassuming lifestyle. Not everyone could see through their veils, but some certainly felt they were no commoners. Once Alexander the Great famously said, “If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes!” History is filled with examples of great kings seeking the counsel of these wise men who guided simple lessons. From a spiritual point of view, we have King Janaka, Sita’s father, becoming an
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Avadhuta himself after long discourses by his teenage master, Sage Ahstavakra. Jesus Christ Himself speaks of St John the Baptist, the one who baptised the Son of God.
What about the book?
They say that as The book, Mahaavadhutam, [The Message of the Great Avadhutas] will cover the lives of 21 Avadhutas. The three of us, my guru, my mother, and I are working on it, but in reality, it’s a combined effort of a greater like-minded family that supports us. The book will be translated into eight Indian and three foreign languages, and will take a couple of years. It is a work that evolves by itself.
Can you please share your experiences of travelling all over India meeting Avadhutas?
I wish it were that simple! To start with, are extremely rare and nearly impossible to find. They normally avoid bringing attention to themselves, so we may not even recognise them, even if they’re right in front of you. With guidance, I have physically seen four of them so far and have also encountered this omnipresent energy without a visible source. It’s their grace that allows me to connect with them in both ways. Anyway, this is a very tricky thing; there are a lot of folks who pretend to be them. False ones come in plenty! One key difference is that real Avadhutas never claim to be one.
What are the impressions that you gathered through your travels?
You’ll see through all the differences and see no difference. As we did not follow an itinerary,
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there was always room for surprises. While we were passing through Odisha last January, we had a craving for authentic local cuisine. As all the shops we passed on our way had the usual North Indian food only, for absolutely no reason—call it a feeling—we decided to take a detour. Half an hour later, climbing up a hill, we reached a cave temple inside the forest, and noticing another car there, we thought we had company. It turned out that the cave temple belonged to a tribe and our arrival coincided with the day they worship the Sun God. The car belonged to the city priest gracing the occasion, and luckily for us, we got a translator for the next two hours.
We offered our prayers at the cave and returned to our hosts. Once a year, they prepare their best traditional food and offer it to their deity, which is distributed as prasad [sanctified food]. There it was! The most authentic Odia food we could ever ask for. They filled our hearts and bellies pouring dollops of dishes we had never seen on a plate. There was even a dessert that resembled our Kerala payasam a lot. After we warmed up to them, they looked at each other and nodded. So there was another prasad, which the locals specially offered to their God; it was weed. They wrapped up a handful for us, and we accepted this uncommon gift, which we gave to a wandering sadhu [ascetic] later. There are temples where deities are worshipped with flowers and sweets, and there are places where you see weed or alcohol, depending upon the culture. Isn’t it all the same? Aren’t they all experiencing the same grace despite how it appears on the outside?
Any specific experience that was very touching or remarkable that you would like to share?
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goodness of humanity. In the coastal town of Valapad, Kerala, at one of the places late Parappor Amma, an Avadhuta [who left the body in 1981], often visited, the people vowed to honour her lessons in everyday life. To this day, the entire townsfolk look after their old parents, never placing them in shelter homes.
Another example is the current CM of Pondicherry, Mr N Rangaswamy. His paramguru is Alukku Siddhar, an Avadhuta. When we went to his residence [he was an ex-minister at that time] it was early in the morning, right after daybreak. The crowds had just started filing in, and before our arrival, crows, squirrels, and sparrows had already taken their places. We didn’t think much of it then till the minister made his entrance at the balcony. Paying no attention to humans, he diligently proceeded to feed every creature waiting for him. Their cacophony or the mess they created did not matter to him. He looked very serene that cold morning, finding joy in his routine.
What are the messages that you want to convey through your book and journeys? This book is a transparent attempt to pass down everything we’ve learnt in this journey: the true nature of the gurus, what they teach us with their lives, and what we must aspire for. For us, it is not a book; it’s something that defines the three of us. For this purpose alone, we had travelled far and wide by car to places where Avadhutas live or have lived. It was indeed a very intensive process, collecting information, taking interviews, and finding references.
What are the objectives of your forthcoming trip to 11 countries?
One of the 21 chapters is about Shivapuri Baba, a great soul who kept a low profile, and as you might know, circumambulated the earth on
foot. On his walks, he met Einstein as a young man, Bernard Shaw, and Tolstoy, to name a few, till he reached England, where he stayed with Queen Victoria at her insistence, till her passing. He would eventually meet Theodore Roosevelt before returning to Nepal, and took samadhi at the age of 137 as he was bored!
To do justice to Shivapuri Baba’s chapter, we have decided to follow his footsteps to experience what he saw, a hundred years after, with all the modern comforts he didn’t have. Additionally, we will also uphold the ancient thought of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam [the world is one family], developed by rishis [sages] as the seed mantra for peace. The drive to 11 countries will cover the Himalayan nations and South Asian countries, spreading the message of peace and oneness. We hope to complete the three-month circuit by August 15, 2023, and be part of the nation cherishing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.’
How do you view the message of Guru Sri Sudheer Vaidyarji that sannyas [renunciation] is not to discard anything but to accept everything? I understand that a true sannyasi [renunciate] doesn’t choose one over the other; he accepts both. Perhaps I could explain this better with a real story:
There was once a baker who lived happily with two daughters and his wife, successfully running a small store. The girls spent a wonderful childhood at his countertops kneading dough and mixing ingredients with their father, making breads and buns. As time went by, this meticulous man slowly distanced himself from everything he loved, to
pursue a spiritual path. He met an Avadhuta in his life and wanted to be like him.
He walked out on his family, seeking a higher calling that never came. Disappointed with his lack of spiritual progress, he lived the life of a homeless man, hoping extreme sacrifices might help him get there. Towards the end, his anguished eldest daughter finds him and feeds him. “Father, did you get what you wanted? Was it worth everything?”
The baker, aged by time and experience, sobs, “I was wrong. It’s too late now.”
Later, the baker died, neither getting the samadhi he wished for nor being remembered by his clan. His family wanted nothing to do with him, except the eldest daughter, who cared for him till the end.
Is life a problem to be solved or a mystery to be lived?
I prefer to let it have its way. No Sherlock has ever cracked it. Thinking too much kills the joy of experience.
Any message?
As I do not have any original thoughts, I quote Baba Neem Karoli’s message, which is reassuring: “Truth is the greatest tapasya [penance]. Men will hate you for telling the truth; they will call you names; they may even kill you. But you must tell the truth. If you live in truth, God will always stand by you.”
I request those who would like to connect with us in any way to mail us at mahavadhutam@gmail. com. Thank you.
Pradeep Krishnan is a student of consciousness, based in Kerala. A seeker by nature, he is deeply attracted to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.