By Shobha Rao Smilemaker
Feb 3: As I stopped to take a photo at Hamirpur village in the Tamnar Tehsil of Raigarh district, I was thrilled to set foot on the border of the Indian states of Chattisgarh and Odisha. Soon my attention was diverted to a round Mantap like structure, without any idol inside. My local driver Janmajaya told me that it was the site of a famous spiritual local festival to be held three days later towards the end of January 2025
I proceeded to conduct my corporate training workshops at the Jindal power plant, about 20 kms away at Tamnar. However on the night of the Mela, I struggled to hire a car and was advised against going out alone on these desolute roads of interior India for safety concerns. A young participant of my workshop called Chaitanya, who happened to be around, gallantly offered to accompany me in the car that we somehow managed to hire from outside! When I make up my mind to visit a spiritual event, I feel that the higher power will take care of the safety concerns!
After driving through the jungle area and some sleepy villages, we finally reached Hamirpur where we witnessed a local troupe singing and dancing to the devotional songs in their colourful costumes. All the village women were seated on the floor, and I was the only woman who sat on a chair next to some men. They told me that their Virendra Babaji whom they consider as God had come to their village just for a night and if I could hurry, I might be able to meet him at his hut before he goes to sleep.
We hurried there and were lucky to be introduced specifically to him, probably one of his very rare visitors from the South of India. Even in the cold weather he was naked except for a piece of a bark of a tree on his loins and shoulder. I was told that since almost half a century, this Virendra Babaji would walk barefoot across India during the day and sleep at a different village every night, only for one night! He would eat only 1 meal a day, and not be touched by any person or materialistic item.
I asked him how he washed his long hair, that was tied up like a turban on top of his head. He suddenly surprised the whole crowd by stepping away and actually unfurling his long matted locks which seemed to be more than 20 feet long! His devotees told me that some years ago he had more than 40 feet long hair and that he was actually the son of a local king who had renounced everything in his pursuit of spirituality! I learnt that a lot of funds are raised by his devotees which are used for philanthropic purposes.
He told me that this Vishwa Shanti Brahma Yagna was conducted every year on the Inter State border road, to bring together 50 villages each from the Odisha side and the Chattisgarh side. For 3 years the havan would be conducted on the Odisha side and for next 3 years on the Chattisgarh side in rotation. All night keertan programs, countless stalls selling nic-nacs, exhibitions, amusement rides, all added to give a simple but a very lovely feel for the entertainment of the simple looking villagers!
The empty circular mandap that I saw a few days ago, was now filled with devotees praying around a large lamp installation on this Chattisgarh side. (This year the yagna was on the Odisha side).
A devotee selling local oils and medicinal potions made from herbs etc. actually opened the packed items in his shop and we purchased some of his oils too. We were asked to partake the free food, served as prasad for all the devotees at the Bhandar.
I enjoyed walking past the colourful shops selling a variety of food stuffs, clothes, toys, accessories, household items etc. at very competitive rates, which the villagers seemed to enjoy.
We walked past the Indian oil petrol pump and went across the border from the Chattisgarh side to the Odisha side where there was another pandal, this time with singing and dancing by a different troupe in their local language. I saw the signage banner in Hindi stating our location as Vaishnav Puram Mahima Nagar Hamirpur- Tapariya!
We walked still ahead in search of the holy sacrificial fire that would be kept burning for 3 whole days. The simple mud platform, with a circular canopy made of dried branches and decorated with colourful buntings had some amazing spiritual energy which I just had to soak in silence. There was a circular row of mud pots filled with holy water, covered with coconuts, and placed on wheat grains, - an expression of the intense devotion of the local people.
There were big posters of the Babaji that I had just met and I realised that his name was Poojyapad Brahma Avadhoot Virendra Kumar Baba Mahadev. This holy sacrificial fire ceremony was called Vishwa Shanti Brahma Yagna Mahima Balya Leela, done for world peace and glory.
I just shared with Chaitanya that after meeting Babaji, I felt very confident about resolving a personal issue I was dealing with. Miraculously, just nine hours later, I received the phone call that I had been waiting for!
I got goose pimples thinking about the power of blessings of the countless selfless unknown pure hearted Babajis that India is known for. They live in austerity, for the well being of the people of this world. I smiled as I felt truly blessed to experience the village Yagna and Mela demonstrating the true devotion of the villagers towards this simple unknown Virendra Babaji!
Shobha Rao Smilemaker has a vision of living in a world where people use their ability to find and make smiles in any situation. She is a lawyer by qualification, a soft skills trainer by passion, a motivational speaker, a freelance journalist, a bestselling author, an avid traveler and founder of 'Smilemakers Trainings'. She can be contacted at www.shobhasmilemaker.com.