The sudden halt of Vrindavan saint Premanand ‘s night padayatraMaharaj’s night padayatra has disappointed millions of devotees. But amid this disappointment, a 90-year-old Brijvasi Amma, Sheela, has revealed a secret of Maharaj’s life that hardly anyone would know.
The journey from Banaras to Vrindavan
Sheela Amma says that she first saw Premanand Maharaj in Banaras. At that time, Maharaj lived like an Akkad; his dreadlocks were massive. Sheela Amma used to go to Banaras with her husband, Shri Ram Sharma, where her husband used to perform Ras. Premanand Maharaj also used to come to see his performance.
One day, Premanand Maharaj met Shri Ram Sharma and asked him to take him to Vrindavan. Shri Ram Sharma said, “Whoever’s hand Banke Bihari Ji holds, he comes to Vrindavan. Banke Bihari Ji will hold your hand and bring you to Vrindavan.”
Propagation of Radha’s name in Vrindavan
Sheela Amma says that after coming to Vrindavan, Premanand Maharaj propagated the name of Radha. Despite his illness, he came out at night to give darshan to the devotees. Sheela Amma says, “His kidneys are bad, even though he comes out at night. Even in such a bad condition, he thinks his devotees will be standing in the way, so he comes out on foot to give darshan.”