Swami Kral Bub: The mystic Kashmiri Saint

Introduction: 

Kashmir has given birth to a number of Sages, seers, Rish’s and Sufi’s in both the forms of male and females. It has seen lean periods of economics, social and spiritual downfalls but nature has not failed to throw up at times one great personality of Godhead to take the fallen humanity back from the abyss of degradation and misery. His Holiness Swami Kral Babji Maharaj was born in 1928 on Phagun Purnima in a very humble agriculture family at Kralgund village in tehsil Handwara J&K. The name Kralbub was assigned to him by his Guru Maharaj Nand lal ji (Kaul). His parental name was Sh Bhagwan Dass ji. The name of his parents was Sh. Samsar Chand and Kudmali.From his childhood days he had a penchant for Godhead. While others of his age used to play with toys, he would make toys with ashes,cow dung and smear such dirt on his body. 

Early Childhood Days:

From his childhood it was seen that he was not interested in materialistic things. As a child he was always inclined to have the company of his Kul Purohit to narrate religious stories and preferred solitude to recite religious hymes, which he had memorized during his childhood. After his father’s demise, he could not escape from the worldly chores. His brothers sent him to serve in the house of a sub judge at Sopore. The judge had two wives. One day the sub judge invited a saint for meals. The left over food of the saint was offered as prasad by the judge’s wives to Sh Kralbab for his meals. It was a great boost to Sh Kralbab’s spiritual journey and an eye opener for the sub judge and his wives. One day, while finding him in a meditative state after finishing his household duties, the family of the Sub Judge one day found a mysterious glow emanating from his forehead. The next day, Sh Kralbab was feted and reverenced and he was persuaded to leave his domestic service. Sh. Kralbab’s association with his Guru Chatanaiya Bramchari Yogi Raj Swami Nan lal ji Maharaj commenced. It was a case of Guru-Shisia from the very first meeting and the Guru was all eagerness to accept Sh. Kralbab as his disciple. But the words coming out of the Submissive disciple’s mouth was “not till my mother was alive".

Siddhi Suroopa:

Sh Kralbab had a strange avoidance to get publicity through press or through photography, as he did not want his image to be used for commercial purposes. He was neither arrogant nor had he a materialistic tainted soul. He was for total Kashmiriyat and was willing to bow before transcendental friendship. Once a Muslim lady came crying and in a bold manner stated that inspite of having five years of marriage, she had no child. Bab Maharaj was deeply moved and consoled her saying " Valie Kehna chona gam" (Come on don’t worry) have this almond and God will bless you with a son in your lap”. The lady had a feeling that she had been blessed by a Sat Guru, who never failed his devotees. After nine months she was blessed with a son.

Before the announcement of the air crash and the death of Pakistan’s General Zia on radio and TV and the world came to know about his death, it was Sh Kralbab Maharajji, who after coming out of Samadhi, cried saying “Peeva Peeva”(Fallen Fallen).Great panic was created as to what had happened. He explained that Mahashesura had fallen. It was in the evening that we came to know the reality of his words. It was a case of Siddhi Syurapa, perfection of his own constitutional position.

Ghari Ashram a Transit Camp during Migration:

In connection with our exodus and turmoil from the valley, our Guru Sh. Kralbab had already predicted the future scenario. To mitigate our sufferings due to migration, he had constructed an Ashram at Ghari udhampur long before 1989, the year of our exodus. We used to wonder why there was a need for Ghari Ashram, when there were already a number of Ashrams constructed by Sh. Kralbab in the valley at places like venkura (Baramulla), NamtHal (Budgam) etc. He used to say that Ghari Ashram would play a great role in future. His prophecy materialized and it was a timely help to deal with the situation created by the non-secular religious zealots. People flocked to the Ashram, stayed there for some time and then left. It was really a transit camp for those people during the days of our migration.

His Holiness Kralbab was very liberal and honest even after his Nirvana. There is a blessed window at Ghari Asharam Udhampur and if any devotee desire something for the removal of his suffering, he goes and offers prayers before that window. His prayers are answered and his desires fulfilled. This fact itself explains how devotion can make one reach the ultimate position of power and control even at the level of God. The miracles performed by Bab Maharaj are in the order and style of infinity, testified by nature at places like AmarNath Cave, Khir Bhawani , Sharda Shrine (POK) etc. The Kashmir was also known as the Siddha Peth ,the land of achievements. Here it was the grace of God which made the lives of millions of innocent unlettered people, reach the position where they could talk about the Para-Vidiya and comment about the relative values of reality.

Guru Shishya Parampra:

Guru Shishya Parampara of Swami Nad lalji Maharaj and Swami Kral Babji Maharaj was from the first sight. Swami Nand lalji was born in Feb 1903 at Srinagar in the respected Kaul family of Kashmiri Pandits community. As a young boy he used to spend some time with wandering monks. He was very free spirited and used to meet any saint coming from outside the country or from Nepal. During his wandering he used to spend nights in the jungles of Kashmir. Even wild animals used to forget their ferocious nature and not attack him. He wandered from place to place and finally joined his Guru Maharaj Swami Lalji at Hardwar and other places. His Guru was a very strict and rigid person and he made the life of his disciples miserable there. However, Swami Nand Lalji got mastery over Yoga, Sanskrit , Scriptures and great scerets-stages of Yoga and Prana abayasa. He later on visited Hardawar, Shardaji(POK),Gilgit, Ladak,Skardu, Tibet and finally reached Mansarovar lake. He laid foundations of a number of Ashrams at Tikker and Hushru. Some of his prominent disciples were Sh Kral Babji, Sh MastBabji, Sh Biatothji, Sh Vebeshanji etc.People of all communities had great faith in him. He attained Maha Samadi on Ist of February 1968 (Magh Shukla triya).

Sh. Kralbab as a shrewd and sincere disciple followed the foot steps of his Guru and took care of the eternal flame till his Nirvana in the year 1990 on Asoj Krishna Paksha Chuturdasi leaving behind his vast devotees and disciples. His most prominent disciple is Swami Kumarji . He is following the same tradition of his Guru Maharaj. Sh Kumarji’s Nam is Kumarji because Sh Kralbab bestowed this name on him. His parental name was Shiben Krishen and hails from Rawoosa Baramulla. He has developed a great respect and love for the traditional hindi religion ie “SANANTAN DHARMA”. Besides doing various social services, many havans are being performed by him on annual basis at Ghari Udhampur Ashram. Many devotees visit the Ashram to get the blessings of the SAT-GURU’S.

(Vivek Koul, owner of this blogger site)