The Threefold Path of the rigorous Swastikshem Tapascharya
Bapu's Tapascharya unfolded in three stages:
- Bapu performed the Upasana of Adimata Chandika in Her form as Brahma Tripurasundari.
- Bapu performed the Bala–Atibala Upasana.
- After performing the Upasana of Savitri Vidya, Bapu then undertook the Shreevidya Upasana.
For this purpose, Bapu had a three-dimensional Shree Yantra created and duly consecrated.
The Sarvang-Brahmastra
The mind, life-force (Prana), and body together form the Triveni of human existence, which can exist in one of two states:
1) Yukta Triveni
where the mind and life-force remain bound to the body, leading to attachment, spiritual weakness, and a tendency towards sin.
2) Mukta Triveni
where the mind and life-force are united with Prajna (higher wisdom) and, through it, with Mahaprajna and Adimata, enabling true spiritual growth.
Sarvang-Karunashraya
The universe contains two kinds of forces—life-diminishing and life-nurturing. The purpose of the Sarvanga Karunashraya is to protect a person from life-diminishing forces while nurturing and strengthening the life-nurturing ones. Since people often fail to distinguish between these two, they can easily be misled. However, one who takes refuge in the Sarvanga Karunashraya remains protected from harmful influences while the forces that foster life and spiritual growth continue to flourish.
Invoking the Eternal Fire (Vaishvanar)
अश्वो न क्रन्दञ्जनिभिः समिध्यते वैश्वानरः कुशिकेभिर्युगे युगे ।
स नो अग्निः सुवीर्यं स्वश्व्यं दधातु रत्नममृतेषु जागृविः ।।Ashvo na krandaj janibhih samidhyate Vaishvanarah Kushikebhir yuge yuge |
Sa no Agnih suviryam svashvyam dadhatu ratnam amriteshu jagrivih ||— Rigved ३-२६-३
Just as the fire of life (Pranagni) is kindled by the primordial life-force (Moola Pranashakti), so too, through the great luminaries of the Kushika lineage, the sacrificial fire, Vaishvanara—the sacred fire that destroys impurity—is rekindled again and again through the ages.
The Kushika lineage is the lineage of Sage Vishwamitra. Whoever becomes a practitioner of the sacred Vidyas imparted by Vishwamitra naturally becomes a part of the Kushika lineage. One of the mantras in Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu's Yajna is, in fact, the very Diksha Mantra that Sage Vishwamitra bestowed upon Shree Rama. Sadguru Bapu is an ardent worshipper of Gayatri, and during this Tapascharya He performed the Bala–Atibala Upasana. Thus, Sadguru Bapu naturally stands as a great luminary of Sage Vishwamitra's Kushika lineage.
Throughout the duration of his profound penance, the Swastikshem Tapascharya, Sadguru Bapu's heart remained in constant, unbroken communion with the Divine Mother. This internal vibration was supported by various Anushthanas, sacred recitations, deep meditation, and other practices, creating a powerful spiritual atmosphere.
The Kundapayya Yadnya
The Yajna that Sadguru Bapu performed during His Tapascharya was known as the Kundapayya Yajna. Its distinguishing features are as follows:
- The Kundapayya Yajna is performed in a special sacrificial altar known as the Vishama-Ashtastram Kund.
- The very essence of the Kundapayya Yajna lies in offering one's ego (“Aham”) and individual self (“Swa”) into the sacrificial fire.
- In this Yajna, the roles of the Adhvaryu, Ritvik, Hota, Udgata, Yajamana, and all the other officiating priests are fulfilled by one and the same person.
- This Yajna is performed for the welfare of both the individual (Vyashti) and the collective (Samashti).
- The performer of the Yajna represents the entire universe.
यस्ते शृङ्गवृषो नपात् प्रणपात् कुण्डपाय्यः ।
न्यस्मिन् दन आ मनः ।।Yaste shringavrisho napat pranapat kundapayyah |
Nyasmin dana a manah ||— ऋग्वेद ८-१७-१३
The word Shringa signifies both the Rishis and the rays of the Sun. O Lord, who sustains the Sun—the showerer of life-giving rays—steadfast in the heavens without allowing it to fall, and who likewise upholds the Rishis, the bestowers of divine wisdom, firmly in the exalted seat of the Acharya without allowing them to falter, this Yajna known as the Kundapayya Yajna is dedicated to You alone. Through this Yajna, we resolve never to let You down; in other words, we shall never act in a manner that would bring dishonour to Your Name.
This beautiful prayer is the very resolve (Sankalpa) of the Kundapayya Yajna.
During the Kundapayya Yajna, Sadguru Bapu Himself offered oblations into the sacred fire while chanting the Vedic mantras prescribed in the scriptures.
How much our Bapu strives for us
Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu undertook this arduous Tapascharya solely for the welfare of His Shraddhavan friends. Deeply aware of the helplessness of human beings and the countless struggles they face in this world, He conceived this sacred Tapascharya as a divine means to strengthen, protect, and uplift them.
The Swastikshem Tapascharya commenced during the sacred days of Ashwin Navratri—the festival that celebrates the triumph of the Divine Mother over all evil and inauspiciousness. Its purpose was to destroy the Rakshas-chamu—the demonic forces and negative tendencies that obstruct human life—and to ensure that the radiant Sun of Ramnavami, symbolising righteousness, victory, and pure happiness, continues to shine upon the lives of the Shraddhavans.
When we pause to contemplate the depth of Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu's Tapascharya, the intensity of His efforts, and His boundless concern for the welfare of every Shraddhavan, our hearts are left with only one profound realisation:
