In the morning, he delivered the message in a bold convincing manner and that evening he left for Nagpur

Once a great yogi arrived at the Founder's, in Hubli, as a distinguished rare guest. He was a master of English and Sanskrit in his young days. He had relinquished the world and was moving from place to place. He lived on milk, fruit and wet gram pulse uncooked.

The Founder remained all the while in high humility with his two hands folded and attended him as a waiter. Like Totapuri in Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's life, he was talking to the Founder, almost spurningly or atleast belittlingly about Founder's devotional madness and absence of regularity, looseness in daily routine trivial matters, over-kindness to undeserving, mind weakness, etc. It was in the manner of a Gyani or a Yogi with an extreme superiority complex, talking from the terrace to a foot-path man. All this took place during the day time, on the first-arrival-day.

They slept that night at 2 A.M.Founder is a late riser. He usually sleeps after 3 A.M. and gets up between 8 and 9 in morn. As soon as Founder woke up, the Yogi made a long prostration, and began to speak in humblest words,' Forgive me. Forgive my impudence, my folly, my swollen-headedness. For the first time in my life, I have a cause to repent. Even a house holder can be a highest religious man. Thou art the Divine Mother, in human form".

The Founder was shocked at such a change in few night hours.The Yogi told him, he had a dream. "With his Yogic powers, he was soaring high along a big mountain and was standing near the edge of the plateau. Somehow his foot slipped and he rolled most hurtfully along the slope.He was being crushed with ice-blocks falling on him. He came rolling at the foot of the mount.He had got senseless. When he got consciousness, he saw that one most beautiful Mother was nursing him. She lifted him and carried him to a long deep cave and placed him lying just at the cave-mouth. The Mother shouted hard to someone in the cave, 'Come out quick, a great Yogi has slipped from the mount and is most seriously hurt.' Out came a simple dressed quite an ordinary-looking man, with childlike lustrous face."

The Yogi at this point began to ask the Founder" Who do you think or guess this Saviour man might be?" The Founder gave some two or three names, Kali Kamaliwala, Lord Anand, etc. The Yogi impatiently said, "No. No", and then with an outburst of lamentation frantically prostrated to the Founder and catching his feet said," Who else can he be??? It was you, you, you with merciful heart for anyone, even the worst sinners. You, human Merciful Mother." And he wept profusely.

There was one interesting instance of a lady. She was supposed to be the Maataaji. We have so many of them amongst Hindus, ladies in whose body some Devi would appear periodically. All will worship her, ask questions, advice and blessings, this was in a much earlier period. Whereas the Yogi incident was in 1944, this one was in 1936 in Poona (Pune). Somehow Founder was introduced to the lady, and she began to take him"right and left". She attacked him ruthlessly," Do you think mere knowledge is God's Grace?? Does any Maataaji favour you with Her Grace by making you yourself the Maataaji? Can you tell me now what is going on at a certain place and a certain hour? Show me what you are capable of." The Founder was more than "ground-dusted". He prostrated to her saying “I am simply a worthless nothing ". This took place at about 3 p.m. on a Sunday, at some common friend's house. The next day, she was found in her motor at the very door of the Founder's office. Founder was surprised. He took her in. There was no prostration, but full humility in her eyes. She asked pardon in the honorable manner that a lady, and one who was herself worshipped as Maataaji, can do.

She explained herself. She had a dream in the night in which she saw her own living Guru in Mount Abu. He was "red and hot" and telling her," What a foolish thing have you done!!! You have insulted and humiliated a great devotee whom I myself would consider a great privilege to meet. Find him out and immediately run to demand pardon ".She said she had no sleep for the rest of night. She knew only the office address and she had been there to ask his pardon at the first available moment.

On 15-9-1950, the Ganapati Installation day, a distinguished Swamiji of Madras (Chennai) city, who had seen the Founder only twice at Madras (Chennai) when he went for the first time to Madras for Sister's gathering on Dusserah day (1-10-1949), had a dream at 4.30 A.M.; he wrote it out to the Founder. It was nearly ten months since they had any correspondence whatsoever. The substance was: " I was sitting on a sea-shore. Something took place and I was hurled down into the sea - life itself being in danger and practically lost. I began to struggle hard with hands and feet and to repeat with the highest intense devotion, the most effectious hymns and mantras of Shri Tripura Sundari, Ambika and Ganapati. All hope lost, but finally Mother was pleased to save me. There was an upward push which brought me near up to the surface. I was over joyful on being practically saved. I saw Mother Herself on the shore, with "one". That "one" jumped into the sea and clasped my hand and pulled me out on the shore ".

The Swamiji further wrote, "Who do you think that "one" was?? I am myself so joyfully surprised to find who that "one" was. It was Mai-Swarup Mai Markand, Founder and President of Mother's Lodge. You are the most Beloved Soul of Mother. You are the replica, you are Her embodiment ", etc. etc.

The Founder has an inward satisfaction when he knows Mother's full Grace continuously showering on him. Mother gives dreams visions and messages to others and directly or indirectly informs others, as if to say Mai and Mai-Swarupa are nearest, if not Mother and son. But then comes an extremely sorrowful wave of a lamentation and yet turbulent mood. He goes to Mother and talks to Her," What have I to do with my recognition? Is that my goal or happiness? No. I want the world to come forth with whatever sacrifice each one can make, to work with me, to spread Thy simple and straight religion. There I find a great cipher. Raise the minimum smoothness and peacefulness of average life of mankind. Let the happiness and misery, at the two extremities be much more heightened if that is necessary and inevitable, for exceptional few. But let the neutral man live a much better life, with Thy Grace of the raising the minimum. Let at least Thy devotees not suffer, for no fault of theirs, and for the only reason that they happen to be in the midst of the world's self invited destruction and misery all round them. If segregation or isolation is the only salvation remedy, if things can be made more smooth be a re-classification, do that. Do anything, but let the world be much happier than now.

Some few more things before we turn from Poona (Pune) to Ahmedabad to which the Founder was transferred. He was invited in June 1933 to speak on "God as Mother" by All-Faiths' Conference at Nasik and in 1934 by the ninth Indian Philosophical Congress on " Modern World and Mother-hood of God ". Founder had become so popularly known that he was addressed as Mother or dear Mother, or Mai or Maiji; even some college professors (like Suryanarayan Shastri of Madras-Chennai) who took part in the congress and conference addressed him as Mother. In a printed address in a casket given to him on transfer, the Founder was addressed as "Dearest most Merciful Mother ". The practice of addressing him as " Mother " has continued till now.

The Founder's Mother- absorption is most interesting. If there be any letter which did not start with Jay Mai from a man who had religious relation with him, he would tear it out and write to him, "your letter did not begin with ' Jay Mai ', so it has been torn out. Please write again. "If anyone, of course initiated, finished his letter without a reference to Mai, he will be out of his mood. " You want your son to recover, etc., you ungrateful mortals? You have not even the courtesy to enquire about Mother? "and suffering son will not recover soon. If on the other hand anyone wrote," Please tell Mother, the boy is suffering much "he will dance and immediately reply, or even wire," Mother will cure your son before next Friday " and that would surely happen. Founder says," I have seen so much bankruptcy that with full knowledge about insincerity, I want Mother's remembrance and name repetition. At least let the courtesy be there. Let it be even lip-stated one. It is better than ungratefulness and absence of consciousness itself."

One day, one girl, 24 years, entered his place saying," Is Mother here? " Founder ran to to her with every devotional out-flow," Yes, She is here, come in ". He took her to the picture, performed a quick Arti and gave her prasad. The fact was something else. The girl was given an address of the building and her own mother had come to the adjoining block. The girl was wise enough not to give shock to Founder by telling the truth as she saw him over-joyful with supreme devotion. The girl went to the next block where her mother was seated and mother with her daughter came to the Founder for Founder's Darshan. Founder was so much ashamed when he knew the facts. With tears he said," Excuse me, please excuse me, I am mad after my Mother and feel as if the whole world has no business to do except to be occupied with Mother and Mother's work. Let my Mother however make amends for my folly. Have you any misery? "Their eyes were wet. The mother said," She my daughter herself is unhappy. Her husband had gone to Africa, does not send a single pie, not even a letter. " The Founder danced, blessed the girl by putting his hand over her head. " What a wise girl you are. You did not spurn and laugh at me an old devotional fool. Within nine Fridays you come here with your husband's letter and the money-payment information. " This actually happened.

When he went to Nasik in 1933, he was carrying Mother's picture in his hands. On the way from station to the college quarters, there was heavy rain which made it impossible for the motor to go further. Volunteers took away the bags. one of them said," Please give that picture to me. I will carry it safe. Said the Founder," That picture is my Mother. She is the most obstinate mother and most naughty child. She won't go in any hands. She will harass me to carry Her myself all the long way off under rains.; just take Her. " The weight was so very heavy, a young man of twenty himself half-bent down in water as if overloaded. None else dared trying, although Founder said," Do you wish to try any one of you? "

Most important event which led to the broadcasting of Mai-ism in Gujerat and Sowrashtra was the initiation of Rev. Bro Keshavlal B. Pandya alias Kanishta Keshav. The spread of Mai-ism in poorer classes in Gujerat and Kathiawar was mainly due to his untiring work. His work can be imagined from the fact that there are not less than a hundred Mai Mandals and over fifty crores of Mai names have been written by different people by different places and there are two Mai Temples, one at Nadiad and the other at Rajkot in charge of brother Keshavlal and Markand Ray Vasavda alias Mai Kalapi respectively.

Keshavlal, a devotee of the Hindu Mataji was an assisting clerk to the editor of 'Jyoti ', a paper of Nadiad. He took an appointment with the Founder residing at Toddiwala road in Poona (Pune). He was sorely disappointed on a homely talk; he had expected a devotee's talk in which praises of Mataji and greatness of Geeta would be overflowing. He was surprised that there was nothing like a deity-grandeur and bathing-sanctity. The Founder talked in universal strain and especially on God as Mother without reference to Amba, Kali, Bhavani etc. He did not eulogise pilgrimage places. He talked of service, love, devotion and surrender. Both returned home from the Bund Garden where they had been. Keshavlal was dejected. Said the Founder pointing out to a simple Mother's picture," Shall we pray and worship " the question was confusing as if praying was playing, with nothing done in readiness. Keshavlal said dejectedly," Yes, I don't mind. What is to be done?" Founder replied," Do whatever you like. Sing, dance, meditate, kneel, pray, prostrate. Do whatever you love best. Three is no particular method with Mai. You know what will make you most absorbed in Mai. "

Keshavlal said he would perform Arti. Arti was prepared. While he waved the light, before he finished the first line of ' Namo Devyai ' he had Mother's full vision, the Arti dish fell on the ground and he fell like a tree under a storm, repeating," Oh Mother, I did not know Thee and recognise Thy devotee ". He rolled on the ground and placed his head in the lap of the Founder crying to him," Mother, excuse me, I did not recognise Thee ". When he came to normality, Founder took meals with him. The Founder asked him," Now let me know your religious difficulties, if any ". Keshavlal said with great joy," What do I want more? When you have showered on me the Grace of eye-to-eye vision of Mother? "The Founder told him," That is because in a particular matter viz., "Visualisation" you needed only a Guru to give the final stroke ". Keshavlal said he would do Mai's work. The Founder blessed him with the most brilliant success in Mai's work. Keshavlal was given a sanctified picture of Mai. In 1937, Keshavlal printed in the preface of his Chandi path the week-life -extension incident above described. He also printed the Mai Mantra "Jai Mai ", with all necessary instructions by the Founder. He also wrote " I also many others have many miraculous experiences about the efficacy of this wonderful Mother's Mantra ".

In about 1938 Keshavlal got a wave of renouncing the world. The Founder gave him the right understanding, emphasised the point that Mai-ism believed more in service of others that are suffering for want of understanding and guidance and solid assistance in religion than in striving for own's own progress, leaving the whole world to its own fate. Keshavlal finally gave a promise to continue Mai's work. Mai Mandals nearing hundred, each having nearly 100 to 125 members were organised by him in different places.

Outside India, Mai-ism has followers and Mother's Lodges in Singapore, Malaya, Nairobi, Mombasa, Daresalem,Aden etc.

The basic work of changing the " Power-aspect " to the " Mother and child aspect " has been admirably done; and practically by now, the old conception of Mataji which had made it an ignominy for anyone to be known as devotee of Mataji (Devi Bhakta was a taunting word, for a drunkard, one with no morals and full of secret powers of subjugating or ruining others) has been refined and reformed to be that of Mai. Regarding this healthy improvement, the following observation by a college-professor in Bombay (Mumbai) on 28 July 1950 is recorded here:

" The direct result of Kali age is atheism. It was largely arguemented by the so-called reformers of the society, who pulled the mass towards materialistic happiness and planted seeds of irreligion. The centuries-old current of national religiosity survived all destructive efforts but has surely got extremely weakened. In such times of embarrassment on all sides and from all quarters, as the saviour of mankind, Mai Swarup Mai Markand has raised his finger to show us the most merciful Mother parent and has renewed Mother-worship under Mai-ism with an altogether new conception, new form and new belief. He has facilitated and made anew the old path, long forgotten, misunderstood and misinterpreted. In the past, villains have cheated the blind-faith-ed mass. Mai Swarupa has torn asunder the black veils that intervened between the Merciful Mother and Her children through his teachings; he has shown the ways of Mother-worship that can well be followed conveniently in the changed circumstances of the modern world. The sacred teachings of Divine knowledge, kept concealed from the general public to strike fears, establish superiority, extract money and get benefits have been laid open by Mai-Swarupa to all without distinction of caste, creed and colour. The stagnant waters of religiosity have been made to flow smoothly. Evil things such as superstitious black magic and religious sanction to immorality have have been all swept out and annihilated. Let people once decide to give a trial to this religious remedy of removing their miseries. all ye that have their faith in the assurance given by the writer of these words, do believe that, just as writer has experienced himself, they too will have a miraculous peace and bliss on commencing the repetition of Mother's most efficacious Mantra " Jaya Mai Jaya Markand Mai, Jay Markand Rupa Mai, Jaya Markand Rupa Markand Mai ".

Jay Mai Jay Mai Jay Mai.

ABRIDGED MAI-ISM

CHAPTER III

MAI WORSHIP POPULARISATION

JAY MAI JAY MAI JAY MAI

The next shift goes to Ahmedabad where the Founder was transferred. The news about Sisters' social and Mother's Lodge had already preceded him, through papers etc. The Theosophical Lodge came forth with its co-operation for the sister institute of Mother's Lodge and a large gathering was held in the Theosophical Hall in Manek Chowk as also in the Hansraj Pragji Hall. Mai-ism was well explained to the citizens of Ahmedabad.

Here the Founder was dangerously ill and had to be operated upon and to remain as indoor patient of the Government Hospital. He had wonderful experiences of Mother's Grace in the Hospital. Mother Herself attended by two female deity-assistants appeared before the Founder every night [This was 13, 14 and 15 September 1934] for three consecutive nights, untied the bandage, cast a benedictory glance which removed all the pains and tied up the bandage and disappeared with a fortitude-pouring look. This incident got a great popularity as another patient (one Thakore, the previous inmate of the same room) on the night the Founder was taken there, actually saw Mother alone entering the door and immediately leaving after seeing the Founder in unconsciousness. He broadcast-ed the wonderful experience the next day to the vast number of his own visitors.

The Founder was burning with rage against Mother because She discontinued Her attendance after three nights, for the simple reason that while She was removing the bandage to heal, he had the human weakness of no confidence and had moved his hand over his open parts to make sure he was not in a delusion. As soon as it became possible for him to crawl without any outside help, his first work was to drag himself slowly in sitting posture to the Mother's picture in his solitary room.

Right from 10.30 p.m. to 5.30 a.m. he was profusely weeping and giving most provocative accusations to his dearest Mother, in the highest spirit of love indicated by the torrents of tears and yet in the bitterest quarreling mood. He pierced arrows," YOU can not excuse a single human weakness? Why did you come at all to heal me if you are so very touchy and take no time to make any the smallest thing to mean a grave offence? Who had called you? You are not Mother but demoness of Maya that creates and swallows up her own children. Were it not for Thee there would have nothing like a Universe and nothing like millions rolling in miseries. They are the happiest who know nothing of Thee, or if by chance they happen to know, who spurn Thee. You get only the weakest and most docile men in your clutches. Has anyone in Thy clutches been made happy by Thee? If Thou art so very spiteful, mind, I will also take revenge. When Thou art full of love-surge for me, I too will evade Thee and run away etc."

His blaming, accusing, quarreling all along weeping profusely and bowing to the Lotus Feet again and again continued right up to the morn when cocks began to crow and birds to chirp and milkmen began to run on their bikes on the public roads.

Just then, Mother Herself in living and moving from sprang forth and stood before him and spoke most wrathfully thus, " Blame, scold, accuse, abuse; but from this second without a single drop of tear. If one drop anymore now falls, I am never never never Thine and thou art never never mine ". And with these words She disappeared.

The most inconceivable ultimatum gave him a heart stop. A wonderful compulsory change.A change indescribable. He feared he may just die of heart-failure and die to be born a permanently abandoned and discarded soul, expelled from Her. The very first speediest precautionary thing that his soul so very speedily decided, climbed and sprang to, was the humblest and highest apologetic praise line:

" Oh Mother, Hasne Hasane Wali, Oh my ever smiling and ever making to smile Mother! " He prostrated with a determination never to get up till Mother raised him or permitted to rise."

"Thou art always smiling and always keeping Thy devotees smiling ". First thing he laughed an artificial loud laughter that thundered throughout the room. From the mind and moment of the deepest lamentation and sorrow, to that of the highest laughter, though artificial. Raising a spiritual 'Maginot Line' of self-surrender against Mother's permanently leaving, catching the Lotus Feet preventing them to go away, with the most piteous invocation for pity and pardon.From the scorching heat to the freezing cold. Mother be thanked, the heart-glass did not break due to extremes, as one doctor said.

He continued his songs: " How can I imagine that with me Thou art also weeping? I was all along under the belief that Thou art busy with washing off my sins by making me weep. I am wrong, blunderful. Please excuse, I assure Thee. Not a single drop shall now fall. Why should I, the dearest child of Thee, weep when the whole world has begun smiling (at dawn)? Oh Mother, Thou smile, make me smile.Forget and forgive my having made Thee to weep. All have been smiling now in Thy Universe. Oh, dearest Most Merciful Mother, Thou art the embodiment of smile. I am laughing now. Thou too laugh."

The Founder's teachings were entirely different and contradictory to Hinduism. " No prohibitions to Harijans in Mai-worship ", was something which was surely to upset any Sanaatanist and ordinary average Hindu (in 1935). Once large meeting was to be held for which Bhadra Kali Hall on River Sabarmati was sought to be employed.The answer given by the authority was," We know Markand Bhai (Founder) as a great devotee who has personal relationship with Mataji, but his views are entirely eccentric. He would allowed even Harijans to attend Mai-worship. If he undertakes to put a poster " Harijans are not allowed " we would be extremely glad to give our hall free for not only once but every week for Mai-worship ". The universality of Mai-ism was a contradiction to the " Nothing so great and sublime as Hinduism " of an average Hindu. People of Ahmedabad loved pampering. " Is there any Harishchandra in any other religion? Show us." There will be thunderstorm of claps and cheers. Their own blood-sucking black-marketing of the present day should not be in sight or referred to."What has that to do with religion?", an average black-market man astonishingly asks.

He tried to get sympathies of some Parsees and Mohammedans and some Jains to try to form a cosmopolitan institute of the Poona type. He tried to bring about the different sons and daughters of different religions together and to concentrate their attention to the need of creating oneness as the children of the same Universal Mother. He had the sympathies of two Muslim brothers, Mr. Hakim and a Sufi gentleman Mr. A.G. Usman who had travelled over the continent and who had written books, a Zoroastrian brother, Mr. Meherjibhai Ratoora and a Sanatanist brother Mr. A.S. Iyengar, a learned follower of Shri Ramanujacharya, who had a universal outlook with every tolerance, and was an officer in Labour Department. The Founder started with a desire to caret a collection of people who were universal-minded; he wanted a congregation of various souls who would be believing in securing their welfare by fostering the spirit of sisterhood, brotherhood and performing staunch devotion and living a life of love, service, devotion and surrender, He had not had the success in collecting together such souls, mostly for the reason that there were few and those few also not in favour of an institutional activity. they wanted only personal relations with the Founder.

When practical, intellectual and ordinary worldly working fails, spirit has to work, it is here that the miraculousness acts its wonderful part, as it has often done in the case of all religious movements and religious Founders. When work, labour, money, logic, philosophy, intellectual exposition or contractual or natural sympathy fails, such superior qualities as Faith, Sincerity, Honesty of purpose, Spirit of service, God's Grace, Intensity, Ardour and Zest, all are put to severe test. When what a man explains, does or has done, fails to appeal, the subtler issue of what he actually is, inwardly a sa soul rises up in the minds of people demanding the satisfaction of a personal practical indisputable test. It is a test of inner qualities and supernatural powers and God's Grace. There the Founder was strong by Mai's Grace.

In 1935 the Founder came in contact with late brother Kantilal Desai, a truely religious gentleman. Bro. Kantilal Desai introduced the Founder to Rev. Kaushikram Mehta. The latter was a man of highly scriptural lore, a Sanskrit scholar and writer and a highly religious man of the old Sanatan school with a sense of moderation and tolerance superior to that of usual Sanatanists. The latter often tested the Founder like this: " In my Dhyana of Hindu Mother the Founder's figure must appear ". " He must come just now to see me." " When I return from Surat, I must meet him at Bhadrakali temple square during office hours, when he can not be away from office." Tests became stronger and entered the realms of financial, social and physical reliefs as they were satisfied, till Kaushikram and others came by experience to at least one conclusion viz., that whether his views and philosophies be agreed to or not, one thing was certain that the Founder had great influence with Mai and had most wonderful powers, of helping people in distress. Powers much greater than the highest and most effective worldly powers, with their possibilities. The popularity of Mai-ism in Ahmedabad was full indebted to the sincere efforts and simple sermons of Rev. Kaushikram whom the Founder had respected all along and who enjoyed pleasure in prostrating to the Founder even in congregations as Praytyaksha Mai. The Rev. K. began to take most lively interest in Founder's next burning desire to bring into existence a small institute for the propitiation of Mai. It did not take a long time for a man of his religious repute to make the Mother's Lodge a very popular institute with success and its admirably working till today. The Founder declared him to be president of Mother's Lodge, Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad and Poona [Pune] showed their own individualities and point of excellence. In Poona Mai showed the intellectual beauty of Her tenets. Mother shouted jumped and ran.In Ahmedabad Mother showed the practical utility of Mother's Grace, sang lullaby to various suffering children and worshiped Herself in vast functions. Poona was theory; Ahmedabad was practice. Poona brought fame and popularity, Ahmedabad brought Mai-Mataji proximity and practical relief to people.

In the words of Rev. Kaushikram, it will require a big volume to recount all the wonderful experiences that people attained as a result of Mai devotion.

The Founder saw now the clear necessity of dealing at much larger length with the subject matter of Mai-ism and that of practical instructions for persons wishing to pursue the religious path on the lines of Mai-ism.He began to write and print several leaflets and booklets: " God as Mother ", and " Theory and Principles of Mother's Lodge " in English; " Salient features of Mai Dharma (Mai Dharma Mukhya Tarka Bindu) in Gujerati; Further things were " Mai Tattwa Pujaan and Mai Kumari Kavach " in Gujerati " Heaven and Hell " (Swarga and Naraka) and " Mai- Shakti " both in Gujerati printed in pieces in " Shakti " of Nadiad.

A word of Mai Kumari Kavach.If we wanted to raise up the spirituality, morality, religiosity, sociability and nobility of a nation or a community, the female world would have to play the most glorious part in that nation lifting work.Home discipline and home education under the watchful superintendence of mothers and parents is the very foundation of national character formation. The idea set forth in Kumar Kavach was that of the most disciplined Mai-worship, as if Mai temples were regular schools, on Tuesdays by Kumaris (unmarried girls of different ages) in presence of their parents, teachers and conductors of worship. The Mai-worship itself would take a small. almost negligible time, but the actual training imparted as in a school would be the main most purpose. The untaxing easy playful free and frolicsome way of teaching would be that in the shape of readings of useful practical instructions and lessons for virtuous religious and moral living, by each one of the Kumaris present, turn by turn and under the blessings and sanctity of the parents and Mai. Today such practice may look ridiculous. Once it is started and brought into full swing, it would be appreciated as an indispensable moral necessity and the institute will have the reputation of a training ground. Imagine before you a vast meeting of girls from eight to eighteen reading prayers, teaching highest practical life truths and being blessed by a huge congregation of all mothers and fathers in the presence of the most Merciful Divine Mother Mai. What a tremendous lifting work that institute would be doing can not be imagined. All new things are first ridiculed and then considered indispensable by virtue of their benefits.

The most important and exhaustive work of the Founder was " Mother and Mother's Thousand Names " covering over 750 pages.

http://maiism.blogspot.in/2014/04/mai-lalita-sahasranam-mothers-thousand.html

That mostly includes all that is of importance in " God as Mother " and " Theory and Principles of Mother's Lodge ". Next came Mai Sahasranama with Mai prayers and " Mai Guru Ananya Bhakti " in Hindi.Then came forth English " Mother's Message ", Gujerati " Mai Sandesh " and also Tamil translation of the same (Thai Myi Vazhi).

The Mai Sahasranama volumes are believed to be have been dictated to the Founder by Mother Herself as stated by Rev. Ananta Krishna Shastri, commentator of and writer of many religious books. These volumes have the wonderfulness of giving correct guidance to persons who repeat Mai-Sahasranama. On 17-3-1950 a devotee asked Mother to relieve him of his financial difficulties and on opening the book after nine repetitions of Jay Mai Jay Markand Mai, had the funny answer: " People living on much higher standards than their legitimate earnings and means permit, at the cost of others, by deception, borrowing, stealing etc., need a rod. " [ Page 56, Volume 2 Part 3 ]. Once the Founder, in a depressed mood, was pressing Mother to give him proof whether at least She was pleased. He concentrated and opened the book. It was page 114, part 4, Mai's name Adrisya: " Repeating Mother, Mother, Mother he himself became Mother ". The Founder's depression turned into laughter; he said," who will praise a deformed and deficient son except his own Mother? "

The next shift was to Bombay [ Mumbai ]. Bro. Parixit Raiji, son in law of Rev. Kaushikram Mehta, had come to receive the Founder and take him from the station to his home on his way to Poona [ Pune ]. Raiji spoke to the Founder about the instability of his service in Bombay and a chance of a bit better pay in Ahmedabad; the Founder asked him, did he like Bombay or Ahmedabad life? " If you like Bombay life, Mother will see that you prosper and have not to leave Bombay, on one condition viz., that you will start Mother's Lodge at your place and conduct Friday worship as at Ahmedabad." Brother Raiji agreed and the Founder installed Mai in his bungalow at Santa Cruz on Tagore Road. Brother Raiji was quite well off in a very short time. This was in 1936.

Bombay was the first place where the Founder saw what royal hospitality on the grounds of the high religiosity for an unlabeled man, not in robs with tonsured head, meant. Bombay people were the first who had the idea of a duty to make some return towards the relief of the Founder's financial strain for Mai work., in view of their religious and material benefits received from the Founder. He was given the religious status he had ere long deserved. His arrival in Bombay would be announced at the previous Friday meeting, on receiving Founder's telegram from Poona. The worship was conducted on a grand and magnanimous scale. The function took more than three hours from 9 p.m. onwards. During other hours daily, the Founder would be helping the visitors with patient hearing and administrating righteous advice, solving difficulties, removing religious misunderstandings and initiating desirous and deserved persons into the methods of Mai devotion and Mai Sadhana.

Once [ This was in October 1939 ] the Founder was invited at Navaratra big celebration in Vile Parle. It rained heavily and continuously. The celebrator [ The celebrator was Mohanlal of Dawn Mills ] had great devotional respect for the Founder whom he took to the place on the last day. The sacrificial altar worship was interrupted and had to be left uncompleted due to rains. The celebrator was very sorry.Said the Founder," Don't be sorry at all. In these days who is devotional enough to even utter the name of God? Mother must remain satisfied with whatever possible being done while exerting one's best. If She does not, even that much will be done by none and the final remnants of God and religion will also disappear and will be obliterated." The celebrator modestly said," These are only conventional sweet words. They do not give any assurance or satisfaction.". The Founder stared at him," Do you want really an assurance? Are you so sorrowfully wounded? "The celebrator said with great humility," I am really sorrowful and thinking nothing for the last three days, except that I could not complete this sacrifice due to profuse rains. I am doing this every year and I am afraid, I have lost all Mai's Grace.". The Founder was in high spirits and said," No! No! No! No! Don't judge the Mercifulness of Mother by our mortal standards; and were you at fault that there was profuse raining?" The celebrator sweetly smiled," No. But is Mother so very merciful? " Said the Founder," Yes. Only thing is our sincerity and intensity is almost nil. If that is genuine are there not instances of Mother Herself appearing from the Sacrificial altar? " He stopped abruptly, got up and bent near the altar and prayed in loud words," Mother, who will be Thy devotee if Thou dost not give encouragement and proof of Thy Mercy in this Kali yug at every step of Thy devotees? See, here is Thy devotee, he is out and out depressed. The world smashes us and Thou also dost not take any heed.Does it befit Thee? Does it befit the Divine Mother, the Most merciful Mai? "

No sooner were these word addressed, than there was a blaze of fire as high as seven feet above the altar and that remained there for about 10 to 12 minutes till the Arti was finished. All were stunned and assured of Mother's existence and Mercy and of the Founder's relations of a " Son-to-Mother " whose request She would not fail to grant. This miracle incident spread all over Bombay as there were about 50 persons present.

The above instance was a more developed variety of a similar experience at Ahmedabad. After the usual Friday Mother's lodge worship was over, there had remained about 30 persons of the inner circle. Some of them strongly requested the Founder to show them some miraculous happening which would increase their faith regarding the existence of Mother and Her readiness to carry out the wishes of Her devotees. It was at that most sacred place that, a year before [ This was in April 1938 ] the Founder was discoursing on Mother's names " Suvaasinyarchanpreethaa ", and there was a powerful breeze of the most fragrant smell. It was so very pleasant that every one began to ask others," Do you feel the most pleasant fragrance? This is how Mai wants to assure us about Her love to Her son ". This former experience being talked over again gave a strength to the desire of all present there to make the request more pressing. The Founder asked," What do you want to see? " Someone said," We wish to see that Mother gives Her garland to you." The Founder prayed for few minutes standing before Mother at a respectful distance. The garland gradually untied itself, flew in the air and fell [ This happened in April 1939 ] on the neck of the Founder.

The Founder does not give great importance to miracles, but there is surely a stage when miracles do the eye-opening work for many people who are really of an atheistic mentality. Saints do not count upon miracles to enlarge their influence, but these are casual happenings managed by the deities themselves to enhance the value of their devotees, so that be heard with love, faith, respect and obedience. The Founder says humorously," how do miracles help you and me, if you do not make a point of being the deserving plane in the matter of devotion, love, service and surrender? I would show you actual Mai Herself, but you are the same person that you were before the Vision. You would be telling Mother," Mother, we, I and my wife are going to the cinema. Please rock the cradle of the child and keep meals ready when we return. " " You would be exploiting Mother, " Mother do this and do that ", yourself doing nothing for Mother except babbling some few words of praise, a little trouble of twisting your tongue to cheat the world, yourself and the Guru. The height of ungratefulness is that you do not even talk about your gratitude or even of the experience to your husband, wife, children or neighbors. You bury your gratitude than and there. She prefers being neglected and ignored rather than be exploited and expelled after your need is served."

At Poona after re transfer in 1938, the Founder had at that time much greater contact with Madrasees, especially, of Military Arsenal at Kirkee. Madrasees were not so much for singing and Bhajans but were more fond of intelligent religious discourses with a unique respectfulness and attitude of humble disciple before his Guru and grandeurful worships and Mantra repetitions and rendering humble prostration and service to the Founder. The Founder has in his memory one glorious instance of Mother-worship in Kirkee when not less than 20 thousand rose flowers and jasmines were dedicated to Mai and there was a congregation of 500 persons.

It was these Madrasees who had been very helpful in writing down to his dictation, transcribing and rewriting and typing and correcting etc., the manuscript of his Mai Sahasranama.

For the latter half of the year 1942, the Founder was serving in Bombay. This gave him a great opportunity to spread Mai-ism and to give convincing proofs of different people what miraculous benefits Mai's devotion and worship is capable of offering to the suffering world.

Some people began to think that the Founder had no higher ideal than relieving the worldly miseries of persons and they hence censured him as on a lower level than the average worldly man.

It has been the centuries old mentality, to consider worldly-distress-relieving work to be much inferior variety of religious work. The highest seat would be given to one who bombastically talks Geeta, Vedas, and Darshans; the next place would be given to the poor and humble Bhakta; the man who advises on practical life matters or helps people in distress is only Mr. So and So.

Once a city was flooded; lives were in danger. A circus proprietor engaged his whole self; all worked day and night, it was a tiring work. The proprietor saved so many lives; he could keep his sustaining power only with alcohol. He was standing hours together in sun. What about the religious response and recognition? The Founder heard of his frequent drinking and his being condemned drunkard twenty times more than his bravery, service and sacrifice. To have both the spirit of service and sacrifice and its observance of religious requirements is surely most commendable. But if both don't go together, Service and Sacrifice should not be unrecognized. Mai-ism wants service to humanity being recognized as not simply a praiseworthy act of humanity but a fully religious act. Mai-ism most emphatically says that selfless service with nothing -sparing sacrifice and without expectation of recognition is as religious and Mother-propitiating as Mother worship, Prasad distribution, Mantra repetition etc., if not more.

People lose their head when they think about religion. There are wrong judgments in religious matters. Beliefs, tendencies, like and dislikes play a predominating part in the matter of religion. Unfamiliarity, unapproachability and mystic aloofness become an enchantment to some and a matter of dis-like to others. Grandeur, impressive talks and congenial circumstances to forget the worries of worldliness create an imaginary heaven for some. For some others a certain unhappy mentality spoils the whole picture. All these factors plays an important part in all religious judgments. These factors crates certain once-for-all impressions and prejudices which form the basis of all subsequent outlook. So many inherited and acquired factors and beliefs rush in and gave their color to the whole vision. After all, what counts is one's own individuality and stage of development and spiritual attainment. The very same religious person appears to some as Avatar, to some other as maniac and to still some others as even a cheat.