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Sri Shivabalayogi
5.
Twelve Year Tapas
by Prof. S. K. Ramachandra Rao
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Sri Shivabalayogi (1968)
The performance of tapas without interruption for twelve years is known as “YOGA-TAPAS”. According to the Yoga Shastras, a period of twelve years is known as YUGA or PARVA. This measure has been established taking into account the physical formation, the movement of life current, and the results of yogic practices. Doing tapas facing the four directions respectively, is included in the period of this Yugatapas, if tapas is successfully completed in each direction it is DIKSIDDHI (victory of that direction); while doing tapas in each direction one should chant the mantra suited for that direction in a prescribed way and at a prescribed time. One who attains DIKSIDDHI and completes the yugatapas, will be known as a “RISHI” (sage); as he attains mastery over the mantras in a direction he will also be called as MANTRADRASHTA. Such a sage is deemed to be endowed with spiritual wealth and also material power.
Balayogi who commenced his penance on the day of the divine experience happened at that time to be facing East. This continued for four years up to Wednesday the 28th October 1953 (Asvajuja Bahula Shasti of Vijaya Samvatsara). On that day he changed over to the Northern direction at the instance of the Divine Being (Dhyanamurthy).
From that day he observed strict silence. One midnight during this period, a snake bit him on the leg and stuck to it, when he was on his way to the canal for his bath. Undaunted, he pulled out the snake with his hands and threw it away. Nothing now happened to the yogi, in spite of the snake bite. The second stage of the penance lasted till Monday the 1st of August 1955 (Shravana Bahula Thrayodashi of Marmasha Samvatsara). During this period continued uninterrupted for two years.
On the last day of this period, the Dyanamurthy appeared before him and directed him to continue the penance facing North for a further period of six days.
On the 7th of August, 1955, the yogi commenced tapas facing West. It is the opinion of the sages that doing tapas facing West is beset with difficulties. It is said that even sage Vishwamitra experienced untold difficulties doing his penance facing West. Balayogi also experienced great difficulties. As he came across obstacles at the beginning of his penance, the yogi informed those attending on him to lock him up in the mandir. Devotees were permitted to have his darshan on only one day in a month. Notwithstanding this, the yogi lost his peace of mind off and on, several thoughts crowded his mind and tormented him. He felt as though he would go mad. He felt miserable due to a strange burning sensation that enveloped his body. The cow which was supplying him milk, died all of a sudden. Another cow that was then bought also fell ill and became useless. Thus the yogi was deprived of the little food that he was having.
During this period another obstacle cropped up. On the 12th of October, 1955, when the yogi came out of the mandir at night to go for his bath, he found a serpent lying coiled across the doorway. To turn back on seeing it was not desirable; this smacked of a desire to live and the feeling of duality unbecoming of a person engaged in yogic practices. When the yogi tried to cross over the coiled serpent, his leg came into contact with it. Instantly, the reptile raised its hood with an angry hiss and bit him on the leg. Disregarding this, the yogi went to the canal, took his bath as usual and returned. While entering the mandir, the cobra which was lying there still, bit his leg again. The yogi now fell unconscious because of the deadly effect of the poison and for three days he remained in this state. On the fourth day however, the deity of his penance (Dhyanamurthy) came and woke him up. He was awakened, but now he was alive to the excruciating pain. It happened to be the very same day Tapaswiji Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi at Jhansi.
In May 1956, that is, in the ninth month after the commencement of penance for mastery over the Western direction, the yogi was immersed in Samadhi for seven continuous days. On emerging from this state, he spent a month peacefully and quietly; his health also improved.
The penance facing West concluded on the 25th day of June, 1956. The same day he turned to the South, and began his penance again. After this, his mind was in fine mettle and the yoga practices became easy. The condition of the body improved; he began to feel happy. He did penance facing South for a total period of one year and three months.
The penance facing South ended on May 1957 (that is a period of one year). As he had not as yet completed the stipulated period of twelve years of his tapas, he continued it facing East, and completed the remaining period on Monday the 7th of August 1961 (Ashadha Bahula Ekadashi of Plava Samvatsara) and attained YOGASIDDHI. He was now a sage and emerged as SRI SHIVABALA YOGI.
The troubles and turmoils of these twelve years were bitter and terrible. The intensity of the penance brought in its wake many an obstacle, apart from the frequent snake bites. To maintain the yogic posture for doing tapas he had to clasp both the palms; the nails grew and pierced through the flesh; the fingers could not be separated as they had become stiff and wooden; the flesh of his fingers grew into each other. During this period, for two days blood oozed out of his body, like drops of sweat, through his hair follicles. The eruption of about 200 boils all over his body caused him unprecedented pain. Taking the appearance of boils as an indication to abstain from food; the yogi started fasting from that day.
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