Bahenji once herself wrote her life history, on instruction from her revered Guru Shri Babuji Maharaj, and surrendered it at His holy feet. She humbly submitted that her real life started only after meeting Shri Babuji Maharaj and hence her life history has no relevance. Yet a humble effort is being made to provide a brief account of her life history based on her Diary and her communications with Shri Babuji Maharaj.
BRIEF LIFE HISTORY
Sister Kasturi was born in Maharajnagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, District Kheri of Uttar Pradesh, India. Her date of birth is 26th September, 1926 as per English Calendar (Saptami 7th day of Aswin month, Krishna Paksha). Her grand father, Pandit Jagannath Prasad served as Superintendent of Police. He had three sons and a daughter. The Elder son was Pandit Ram Das Chaturvedi, Second son was Pandit M.L. Chaturvedi and the third son was Pandit Dayanand Chaturvedi. Shri M.L. Chaturvedi was judge in Allahabad High Court and Shri Dayanand Chaturvedi was Advocate in Aligarh. Pandit Ram Das Chaturvedi was a lawyer and he had five daughters and two sons. sister Kasturi is his third child. Her mother’s name was Bhagavati Devi, who was a very virtuous lady and devoted housewife.
Sister Kasturi’s family stayed in Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) till 1960 and then the family shifted to Bareily to stay with her elder brother till 1965. Her father passed away on 22nd June 1965 at Bareilly. Thereafter, they stayed in Modinagar with her younger brother till 1975. Afterwards the family shifted to Lucknow. Her mother passed away in 1978 in Lucknow. In 1982, a house was purchased in Lucknow and sister Kasturi remained in this house with her younger sister, younger brother & family till 2012. She attained Maha Samadhi on 22nd February 2012, in Lucknow.
Bahenji’s father was a religious person. Infact, he entire family was devoted. Saints and Fakirs used to frequently visit their house. sister Kasturi’s father used to take part in Satsang with interest.He was a philonthropist and very helpful to people. He helped many students by donating dress, school fees, books etc. The entire family was blessed with talents in singing, writing and music and the family member would generally gather for musical session in bhajan, kirtan almost every evening.
She completed her high school education in 1945. sister Kasturi was kind and soft by nature from childhood with saintly qualities.
There was an interesting incident before she met Shri Babuji Maharaj, the Devine Personality. One evening in the month of January, 1948, she was looking upwords somewhat thoughtlessly. Suddenly she noticed spread of light in the sky and amidst the light appeared the form of Lord Rama. After some time, that form vanished and there appeared the form of Lord Krishna which vanished after some time and there was appearance of ‘Omkar'(Word Om in Hindi). As she was watching, that also vanished and she found a delicate but glowing personality with a beautiful beard, resplendent with radiation of Divine Effulgence. How long she was watching the scene, she had no idea and she was lost in it. But after sometime suddenly she found sky as usual. Then onwards, unknowingly sister Kasturi’s inner started searching and waiting to see that Divine Form again.
In the night she had a dream. She along with her family was standing in front of the main door of a Kali Temple. At the door step, a beautiful bearded divine personality was standing with serene calmness. That great personality handed over a sword to sister kasturi and asked her to cut her head with the sword and hand over to him, which was the pre-condition for getting entry into the temple. Without any second thought, she cut off her head and offer it in the hands of that personality and entered into the temple. But there was no idol inside. There was a benign atmosphere and her condition was also divine. The dream ended but, the scene kept her engaged even after waking up.
Next evening ie., January 3, 1948, there was a big surprise for her. Shri Babuji Maharaj visited their house. She was wonderstuck when she saw Babuji Maharaj – the same personality who appeared earlier; and her search for the perfect guide completed. “Oh Babuji, Is It you ! I have been searching for you so long” she exclaimed. And Babuji said, “Yes, my daughter, I too have been searching for you and got you now”- thus started the communication between sister Kasturi and Shri Babuji Maharaj when the later met her at her house for the first time. Generally, the desciple goes to the master but, there are instances where the Master himself goes to the doorstep of his special disciple. And thus the spiritual journey started. She used to note down her experiences and inform Shri Babuji Maharaj through letters and in the response, Shri Babuji used to guide further in her spiritual pursuit. The correspondence of Shri Babuji Maharaj with Bahenji took the shape of spiritual treasure for the mankind in the form of book ( Anant Yatra ) published in 5 volumes. She has written a number of other books also. All her works and writings are based on divine experiences bestowed by Shri Babuji Maharaj only.
From the time she came in contact with Babuji Maharaj, her spiritual journey started under his guidance. Soon she realized that he is the personality who came down for human evolution as demanded by the nature. On November 7th , 1953 , she was made a Perceptor by Shri Babuji Maharaj to guide other abhyasis and she has been performing this duty, surrendering everything to Babuji. She was involved in Nature’s work, and performed duties entrusted to her by Shri Babuji Maharaj.
On 27th October, 1953, Babuji Maharaj bestowed ‘Sant Gati’ ie., the spiritual condition of a Saint, to her and he referred to her as a saint while communicating with others.
On 29th August , 1955, Shri Babuji Maharaj wrote to Sister Kasturi, ” You are a Laya in me, you are no more the Kasturi as your parents gave birth to.”
On 15th September, 1964, Shri Babuji Maharaj wrote to Sister Kasturi, ” You have attained Godly condition.” On 15th September 1967, she entered the Central Region. On 28th June , 1968 she entered the condition of ‘Bliss’. In her letter dated 2nd May 1975 she wrote to Babuji “it seems some one has made me cross over the infinite ocean(Anant Sagar)”.
Babuji Maharaj carried spiritual research on Saint Kasturi. Once he asked her to write down her experiences and publish the same for the benefit of mankind. Since then her pen never stopped. Divine vibrations flows through her voice as evident in her songs which are full of spiritual transmission and conditions. Her songs have been published in the form of a book titled ” Sandhya Geet ” in two parts. Her articles have been compiled and published in the form of a book titled “Anubhav Sarita” . In addition to devoting her life in guiding abhyasis, she also prepared perceptors for giving practical training to willing aspirants ( Abhyasis ).
We could always feel reflection of Babuji in her often “Sitting Here but living There” which means – physically present in this world, but practically getting commands from above (Divine plane). Just as Babuji Maharaj is a living example of his Master Lalaji Maharaj, Bahenji is memorial of Babuji.
In one of her songs, she mentioned, “O Babuji, jo terey charanome aa gaye, adhyatma path me jaltee wo masaal paa gaye” meaning, “O Babuji, whoever has approached you, has got the guiding torch in the spiritual path”. In another song, bahenji has written that every leaf of the tree that comes out of soil of her body will bear the name of Shri Babuji Maharaj
“Tan ki mati se mere vrichh jab ugegi koi,
Pati pati men tera nam pad sakega koi,
Bhakti ke Ras se sabke man pulak se jayenge”
Such was her devotion and Layawastha in Shri Babuji Maharaj!