The Pilgrimage of Lalon Shaiji

In the Bengali year 1287, corresponding to 1880 AD, on the Dol Purnima of Falgun, at Fakir Lalon Shai's akhra at Cheuria, his disciples, devotees and the sadhu-guru fakir darveshes gathered for the annual sadhu-service and commemoration festival. When the event ended, some disciples and devotees stayed behind. The next day they met Fakir Lalon Shai and told him the wish of their hearts — "Shaiji, we want to go on pilgrimage with you." Hearing this proposal he told the disciple devotees, "I shall try to fulfil the wish of your hearts."

Fakir Lalon Shai's disciples and devotees were both Hindus and Muslims. So, among those eager to go on this pilgrimage, the disciples whose homes were at Maheshganj, Tiorkhali and Amghata in the Krishnanagar region advised making this pilgrimage with the Shaiji. The purpose of the devotees of the Krishnanagar region was that when the Shaiji went on pilgrimage, the first foot-dust would be theirs. Since their homes were in the Krishnanagar region, the Shaiji would go by that very route. For that reason these disciple devotees discussed among themselves and came to a decision: if in this matter they took refuge with Shital Shah, the long-cherished wish of their hearts could be fulfilled. For Shital Shah was the senior among the devotees. His manner was courteous, refined and humble; besides, he was known as a person of great discernment. So on any important matter Lalon Shaiji would consult Shital Shah for an exchange of views. All this the disciple devotees knew. So for the pilgrimage the disciple devotees told Fakir Shital Shah, "We want to go on pilgrimage with the Shaiji. Having finished the annual sadhu conference at Nabadwip, we are applying to you to go to the dham of Jagannath Mahaprabhu at Puri in Orissa. If you will discuss with the Shaiji on our behalf and let us know, we shall be glad."

Hearing the matter, Fakir Shital Shah asked with a smile, "Has the Shaiji given you any assurance?" Then the disciple devotees said with smiling faces — hearing our proposal the Shaiji said, "Well then, I shall try to fulfil the wish of your hearts." Fakir Shital Shah understood that the Shaiji's word would never come to nothing. So he told the devotees, "On this matter you may rest assured. When the time comes, the Shaiji will let you know." Hearing this the disciple devotees were glad, yet the puzzle of their minds was not resolved.

Fakir Shital Shah told the disciple devotees, "Then tomorrow, after speaking with the Shaiji and learning everything, I shall inform you." The next day the Shaiji came out of his sadhana chamber and gave the devotees the message of a new truth:

Hearing these words everyone was struck with wonder. Then Fakir Shital Shah asked the Shaiji about the pilgrimage — the request the disciple devotees had placed before you; on this matter all are waiting. Then Lalon Shai said laughing, "Well, my child, must one truly go on pilgrimage to all the holy places?" The disciples said, yes, Shaiji, and pleaded with folded hands. The Shaiji gave his word, "Yes, the pilgrimage will be made. Shital Shah, Bholai Shah, Manik Shah and Moniruddin Shah — you need only consult together and fix the day." At last all together discussed and fixed the day and informed the Shaiji. The Shaiji asked the disciples — "Are you satisfied now?" Yes, Shaiji! A wave of joy swept through everyone's mind.

First, through Krishnanagar to Nabadwip, the dham of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, finishing the sadhu conference, we shall travel to Puri in Orissa, the dham of Jagannath Mahaprabhu, and this pilgrimage will last one month.

Therefore, two days before the appointed day you will arrive at the akhra at Cheuria. And you disciples and devotees of this akhra too will be ready for the pilgrimage. Offering devotion and respect to the Shaiji, the disciple devotees took their leave.

Journey to Krishnanagar for Lalon Shaiji's Pilgrimage

On the appointed day the Shaiji, entrusting the akhra to Bhadra Chhamir, Fakir Gopal Shah, Fakir Chutir Shah and Fakir Ahad Ali Shah, set out with his disciple devotees, forty in all (?), from the Cheuria Akhra and reached Kushtia's main station. After a while the train drew up at the platform. Everyone boarded the rail car and sat down. Then the train began to run at speed. When the train reached the Ranaghat junction station, everyone got down and boarded the train bound for Krishnanagar. In time the train arrived at Krishnanagar station and the devotees of Krishnanagar welcomed the Shaiji. Many bullock carts had been arranged beforehand. All boarded the carts and appeared at Maheshganj, midway between Krishnanagar and Nabadwip, at the akhra of Fakir Iman Ali Shah. Then Fakir Lalon Shai was helped down from the cart and seated on the appointed seat. The local disciples and devotees offered the Shaiji devotion and respect, and everyone set about attending on the Shaiji each after his own measure.

At Fakir Iman Ali Shah's akhra the songs composed by Fakir Lalon Shai himself began with great fanfare. To hear these songs and to catch one glimpse of the Shaiji, a great crowd of people gathered. The event ran for three days.

Lalon Shaiji's Journey to Nabadwip

At last, on the appointed day, a party of fifty in all, with ten more devotees from Fakir Iman Ali Shah's akhra, set out for Nabadwip by bullock cart. Alighting at Swarupganj ghat, they crossed the Ganges by boat and, with the devotees, reached Nabadwip, the dham of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Observing that all fifty men were dressed alike, the men of the temple committee asked after their identity, and Fakir Shital Shah said — "We have come from Kushtia." The committee man asked again, "Sadhaks of what doctrine are you?" Fakir Lalon Shaiji said, "We are sadhaks of the darvesh-fakir doctrine." Though the conference had a place set for the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas to sit, calling them Muslim-creed fakirs, the committee set apart for the Shaiji and his devotees a place at one side of the courtyard under a great neem tree. Fakir Lalon Shai and his devotees took their seats there. At the time of the adhibas service it was seen — after the service of the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas had been done, service was rendered to these men. The whole night the event went on. In the morning, before the balya service, a party of young men entered the courtyard carrying a brass platter with three-quarters of a seer of lime and said, "For the sadhus we have brought Mahaprabhu's prasad. Hold out your hands, all of you, and accept the prasad." But the revered sadhus, fearing their mouths would be burned by the lime, none held out a hand. With folded hands they begged pardon. Then the party of young men said, "What sort of sadhus are you? None of you holds out a hand for fear his mouth will burn. But the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas' mouths are not supposed to burn."

Fakir Lalon Shai, stationed at one side of the courtyard, seeing the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas begging pardon with folded hands, asked the young men, "What is the wish of your hearts?" When the young men disclosed their wish, the Shaiji said, "Very well, bring a large chari, and bring with it a piece of banana leaf." The young men brought the chari and the banana leaf as the Shaiji said. Then the Shaiji said, "Fill this chari with water." Seeing this performance, all the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas stood astounded, watching the strange event. The Shaiji put a little of the lime on the banana leaf and dissolved the rest in the water of that huge earthen chari. From the dissolved lime there rose such a fragrance that the sadhus were entranced by it. Then the Shaiji told the young men, "Now bring glasses, and serve one glass each of this dissolved-lime sherbet to all the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas." The sadhus' fear had not yet lifted. Besides, how can lime dissolved in water be served as sherbet? But before them all the Shaiji partook of all the lime set on the banana leaf, and told the sadhus, "Now drink the sherbet in your glasses." Following the Shaiji's word they drank and found that the dissolved-lime sherbet in the glasses had truly turned to sherbet, brimming with the taste of nectar. After this event everyone understood that this man was no man but a maha-sadhak. Therefore, for the balya-seva portion to be given to the Shaiji, all the sadhu-guru Vaishnavas made their request to the committee. Needless to say, the committee gave the Shaiji both the balya-seva and the purna-seva portions.