Sacred Remembrance of Shri Guruji Golwalkar

In sacred remembrance of the most revered Shri Guruji, Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar, who is remembered affectionately as Madhav. His parents perhaps named him ‘Madhav’ because he was their ninth and only surviving child, much like Madhav (Shri Krishna) himself; but who could have foreseen that this very child would go on, like Vasudeva Shri Krishna—the hero of the Mahabharata and speaker of the Gita—to awaken the Sanatana nation ceaselessly day and night. Swami Akhandananda ji, the spiritual brother of Swami Vivekananda ji, conferred diksha (spiritual initiation) upon the mumukshu (seeker of liberation) Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar, and also bestowed upon him his entire tejas (spiritual potency), which was to be needed in the times ahead. Shri Guruji, steadfast in his sadhana (spiritual discipline), subsequently made the destiny-ordained work for the nation shown by Dr. Hedgewar ji his life’s path.

And across these 33 years, undertaking a parikrama (circumambulation) of Bharat twice every year, he proclaimed the Hindu Rashtra to be “पृथिव्यैसमुद्रपर्यन्ताया एकराट्” (“the sole sovereign ruler of the earth extending unto the seas”). He reminded crores of Hindus of the solemn resolve to restore the national power—sunken in the quagmire of poverty and aimlessness—once again to the pinnacle of supreme glory. Seeing that so many in the nation could not secure two square meals a day, that embodiment of tapasya (ascetic austerity) took a vow to eat only once a day. Hardly anyone could have travelled across Bharat as extensively as he did, or written as many letters with their own hand; in his 67 years of life, Shri Guruji wrote more than 60 thousand letters. For the most revered Shri Guruji, who nurtured the sapling of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh into a mighty banyan tree, every single moment of life was the living essence of “महामङ्गले पुण्यभूमेत्वदर्थे पतत्वेष कायो नमस्ते नमस्ते” (“O supremely auspicious, holy land, may this body fall in your cause; salutations to you, salutations!”).

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has dedicated over 40 pages to Shri Guruji Golwalkar in his book Jyotipunj, a short excerpt of which is worth recalling today to understand Guruji’s personality. Narendra Modi ji writes:--

“To travel ceaselessly for thirty-three years was no ordinary matter. What illness could he have been spared? Did his vehicle never break down on the road? Were his resting hours never delayed? Fevers, chills, scorching sun and shade, sudden changes in weather—did none of these stand in his way? Who knows how many hardships he had to confront. Yet Pujya Guruji had resolved to live out an ethos of complete self-surrender without harboring expectations of any kind; thus, for thirty-three years, with every particle of his body, every drop of his blood, every moment of his life dedicated to the welfare of this motherland, to the supreme glory of this Bharat Mata, driven by the unquenchable desire that her millions of children march forward on the global stage, Madhavrao continued his arduous labor all his life as the second Sarsanghchalak (supreme head) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Once, someone asked Pujya Guruji, ‘Where is your residence?’ To this, he answered effortlessly, ‘A train compartment.’ For thirty-three years, his unbroken, unceasing journey went on. Even when gripped by a grave illness like cancer, he did not halt, and his nationwide travels continued unabated.

Karyakartas (volunteers), overwhelmed with deep affection, would urge him to take rest. He replied, ‘Rest? What rest now? Rest will be possible only when the task undertaken is accomplished, or else upon the funeral pyre.’

Every particle of his body, every breath of his life, Guruji had consecrated to the service of the sacred motherland. Nor did he ever pray much before Ishvara for this mortal frame. Ceaseless, round-the-clock worship and service of the motherland was the guiding mantra of his life. An example illustrates the sublime height of his conduct: it was during his final days, when Guruji had gone to Kottakkal in Kerala for treatment. The tailadhara (continuous pouring of medicated oil) treatment was underway. One day, the Vaidya (practitioner of Ayurveda) arrived, lit incense and the lamp, and offered prayers. He then said to Guruji, ‘Pray to Bhagavan that you may recover quickly.’ Guruji refused to pray. He declined outright, saying, ‘Do whatever you must for my health, I will not stand in the way; but what is the need to pray to Bhagavan for this mortal frame? He will extract as much work from this body as He desires. When He feels my work is done, He will call me back to Himself. I will not pray to Him merely for the sake of my body.’

Everyone who bore devotion toward Pujya Golwalkar Guruji went to see him, wishing to share in his suffering. Some had havans performed, some organized puja and recitations, some chanted mantras, while others had formal anushthanas (rituals) conducted. Each possessed their own faith, but the underlying sentiment was one: that Guruji might recover swiftly and his pain be alleviated.

On one such day, Shri Bhauraoji Deoras and Shri Rajju Bhaiya went to Allahabad, wishing to arrange an anushthana through an eminent pandit there. No sooner had they reached the doorstep than the pandit said before they could speak, ‘I know the purpose of your visit, noble sirs. You have come to arrange an anushthana for an accomplished scholar, a dedicated, selfless great soul; but beyond 7 June, I do not see his life continuing. He is a Mahatma. There is no rebirth for him. He is entitled to moksha (liberation). He has attained the Paramahansa state.’

---Download Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s book ‘Setubandh’

Shri Guruji was not merely a physical body; he was an embodiment of karma, detached from the illusions of physical existence. Even in the midst of his illness, he radiated joy all around him. Until the final moments of his life, his conversations with visitors remained centered entirely on the nation, society, and the Sangh.

Eminent figures from across the country paid homage to this great soul. Hyderabad’s The Deccan Chronicle wrote: ‘Like Swami Vivekananda, he was the embodiment of the soul of Bharat.’

Navbharat Times wrote: ‘Even those who differ with his ideas and ideals warmly acknowledge the selflessness, radiance, renunciation, and tapasya of the late Guru Golwalkar ji’s life. These qualities are disappearing from our national life. The individual pursuit of ideals is being made an object of ridicule by hundreds of contemporary thinkers; yet it is an undisputed historical truth that no nation can transform into a powerful nation until it assimilates those virtues that were visible in the life of Shri Golwalkar ji. Before these noble qualities, the luster of secularism and democratic life-philosophies pales into insignificance.’

Hindustan wrote: ‘Guru Golwalkar ji’s life is a radiant example of supreme dedication. The restraint, willpower, and capacity to endure hardship required to live daily for an ideal were innate to Guruji’s character. Like the ancient rishis and munis of Bharat, he distilled the essence of his existence and employed it like a master alchemist. Between sadhana and siddhi (attainment), he chose sadhana alone, for his conclusion was that sadhana is the steadfast power. Guru Golwalkar’s life and his service to the nation represent purushartha (purposeful effort) of the purest gold. Noble character was his tapasya, and devotion to the nation was his creed. There is no room whatsoever for any doubt regarding his character.’

---- Shri Narendra Modi, in the book Jyotipunj

Unshakable like Mount Meru was the mind you possessed, O Mahatma! How sublime your sacrifice, your brilliance, courage, and sacred virtue! A mere glimpse of you would reduce the ferocious shadripu (six internal enemies) to ashes in an instant. A hundred prostrations at the feet of Madhav!

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