Chapter II
Early Life and Sojourn at Various Places
Bhagawaan Ji was born at
his ancestral house at Bhana Mohalla, Srinagar, in a room on the ground floor.
Though over 75 years have elapsed since the building was constructed, it is in
good condition today, and a tower was added to it some years ago. His early
childhood was spent in this house. After his father, Pandit Naraayan Joo Bhan,
had given up his house and other possessions in favour of his stepmother and
when Bhagawan Ji was about ten, the family had to keep shifting to various
places. From the etails given by Shrimati Janaki Devi, the latter's younger
sister, it appears that the family had to live at the places in Srinagar for the
periods noted against each in the table given below:
| The house owner's
name |
The name of the
place in Srinagar |
The period of stay
at the house |
Bhagawaan Ji's age
at the end of each period |
The year (AD) |
| 1. Pt. Shiva Ji
Khyabri |
Bhaana Mohalla |
1 1/2 years |
11 1/2 yr. |
1909 |
| 2. Pt. Kesho Joo
Nagri |
Shaalayar |
3 years |
14 1/2 yr. |
1912 |
| 3. Pt. Kallash Joo
Bhan |
Razwerikadal |
1 1/2 years |
16 years |
1913 |
| 4. Pt. Prasaad Joo
Parimoo |
Sekidafar |
7 years |
23 years |
1920 |
| 5. Pt. Kesho Joo
Dhar |
Safa Kadal |
3 years |
26 years |
1923 |
| 6. Pt. Dina Nath
Botta |
Rang-teng |
6 years |
32 years |
1929 |
| 7. Pt. Tika Lal |
Rang-teng |
7 years |
39 years |
1936 |
| 8. Pt. Nila Koul
Saraf |
Dalhasanyaar |
10 years |
49 years |
1946 |
| 9. Pt. Madhava Joo
Sathu |
Rishi Mohalla |
10 years |
59 years |
1956 |
| 10. Pt. Shyam Lal
Malla |
Chondapora |
11 years |
70 years |
1968 |
Bhagawaan Ji lost his mother when the family lived at
place No. 2, and he was a boy of about twelve. He lost his father at place No.6
when he was between 26 and 32 years of age.
The earliest employment taken up by him was when he was
at place No.3. The employment lasted for about three years. While residing at
place Nos. 4 and 5, he ran a kiryaana shop first at Chaidob and then at
Sekidaafar, Srinagar.
Shri J.P. Paarimoo says, 'During this period, he used
to be the leader of the group he had formed around him. He would organise trips
to Kshirbhavaani, Mahaadev and Vichaarang, and play the role of the leader. He
was always brave and fearless and hated dishonesty. He was fond of going to
saints. One of his close associates says that he used to go to a saintly person
named Zanakaak, putting up in the attic of a small one-storeyed hut of one Sat
Lal Waangnoo, a bachelor devotee of Zanakaak, at Habba Kadal. This Zanakaak had
Krishnakaak as his guru, as mentioned in his Vaakyas. This goes back to the days
when Bhagawaan Ji was reading in the 7th or the 8th class. (Source Or
information: Pt Dina Nath Shaali, Karan Nagar) There, he used to go for many
years, even after the death Or this saint. While at Sekidaafar, he would press
the feet Or a 'Jataadhaari' saint, named Swaami Baalak Kaaw, popularly known as
Baal Ji. Baal Ji used to give him recognition and consideration. In 1923, the
Shaalis and the Paarimoos arranged a pilgrimage to Mattan on Vijaya Saptami.
They went by boat to Khanabal. At Khanabal, wherefrom they had to go on foot to
Mattan, Bhagawaan Ji, along with one or two associates, left the group, and went
to pay respects to the saint Jeewan Saheb living somewhere on that side Or the
Valley.
At place No.6, he was busy with his saadhanaa but,
occasionally, attended to family matters as well.
It was at place No. 7 that he renounced everything.
This was the period of his intense saadhanaa which continued to the time that he
gave up the gross body.
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