Barha Babaji Manifests Through Jema Devi

 

Sri Barha Babaji

Barha Babaji Manifests Himself Through His Disciple, Jema Devi

It was about 2p.m.  Babaji Maharaj had just sat down for ahnik when his younger godsister Jema Devi came in, her anklebells jingling.  She bowed to Babaji Maharaj and said, “Dada, the night before Ratha Yatra we had a great kirtan and danced till two in the morning.  Won’t you come to Kendraparha just once?”

Babaji Maharaj said, “How can I go, sister?  After the return Ratha Yatra I am going to Cuttack, then Calcutta.  And I’ll go to Nabadwip for Gurupurnima.  Gurudev is no longer with us (aprakat ho gaye).

Hearing the word “aprakat” (unmanifest), Jema Devi roared — “What’s that you say, Ram Das?  Am I aprakat?  Just look at who is standing here before you.  This year you will have to go to Kendraparha for Govindaji’s Chandan Yatra.”

It was not Jema Devi roaring, but Barha Baba Mahashay himself.  From time to time, he manifested himself through Jema Devi in this way.  This supremely fortunate lady was the younger sister of the king of Kendraparha (Orissa), Raja Shyamsundar Narendra.  Once in Puri, Jema Devi went to bathe in the sea and was overcome by the waves.  Hearing the onlookers’ screams, Barha Baba came and immediately jumped into the ocean.  He pulled Jema Devi’s dead body to the shore and brought her back to life.  Barha Baba used to spend much time at Puri.

Babaji Maharaj understood what was happening and bowed his head to the ground in obeisance.  Just then Jema Devi got up and walked out, her anklets tinkling all the way. (Mere Dadu, 154-155)

Chandanyatra in Kendraparha

After some time Babaji Maharaj came to Kendraparha (to the house of Jema Devi)… All the brothers and sisters of the family were Barha Baba’s disciples and vessels of his mercy.  The family worshiped Govindaji… a flute in his hand… on his right, Sri Lalitaji… on his left, Sri Radharani.  Babaji Maharaj bowed before Thakurji, sat down and started to sing padavali kirtan.

In the purdah (women’s enclave), the young kshatriya girl Jema Devi would dance without anyone’s noticing it.  Today she did the same.  But this time she was possessed by the spirit of Sri Barha Baba.  Her dance was Barha Baba’s dance!  In ‘Charitmadhuri’ it is mentioned that Barha Baba had two main styles of dancing.  For padavali kirtan, he would put both hands behind his head, and tossing his head forward bit by bit he would dance to the rhythm of the mrdangas and kartals.  The other style he used for Nam-kirtan.  Lifting his right hand high in the air, and with his left arm pointing downwards, he danced placing one foot over the other.  Jema Devi was expert at both of Barha Baba’s peculiar dance styles.  The sound of her anklebells, and the sweetness of her dancing increased the bliss of the kirtan.

Babaji Maharaj celebrated a 24-hour kirtan and Govindaji’s chandan yatra festival in Kendraparha.  From there he went to Cuttack and Calcutta before proceeding to Nabadwip. (Mere Dadu, 179)

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