Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj- Biography and Life Story - Part 3

The First Encounter

Maruti’s introduction to Siddharameshwar Maharaj wasn’t dramatic. There were no lightning bolts, no flashes of insight. It was, in a way, an ordinary meeting. But the power of Siddharameshwar’s presence and the simplicity of his teachings immediately struck a chord.

Siddharameshwar Maharaj wasn’t a traditional Guru who surrounded himself with rituals or long-winded lectures. His style was clear and direct. He belonged to the Navnath Sampradaya, a lineage rooted in Advaita Vedanta, and his teachings cut straight to the essence of non-duality. He didn’t waste time on philosophical debates or esoteric ideas. Instead, he focused on the core truth: the realisation of the Self as the ultimate reality.

When Maruti sat before Siddharameshwar, it wasn’t the external trappings of the Guru that caught his attention. It was the way Siddharameshwar spoke—with authority, clarity, and a kind of effortless simplicity. There was no sense of superiority or mystique, just a direct pointing to the truth.

Receiving the Mantra

During one of their early meetings, Siddharameshwar gave Maruti a mantra and a set of instructions that would change the course of his life. The mantra wasn’t a complicated chant or a long-winded prayer—it was a tool to focus the mind. Siddharameshwar instructed Maruti to meditate on the sense of “I am.”

This wasn’t “I am this” or “I am that.” It wasn’t tied to his identity as a man, a shopkeeper, a husband, or a father. It was simply the raw feeling of existence itself—”I am” without any labels, roles, or concepts attached to it.

Siddharameshwar explained that this “I am” was the doorway to self-realisation. By focusing on it, Maruti could peel away the layers of illusion—the body, the mind, and all the ideas he’d accumulated about himself—and discover the truth of his existence.

A Seed Takes Root

For Maruti, this teaching wasn’t just another piece of spiritual advice. It felt like a missing puzzle piece sliding into place. The simplicity of the practice resonated deeply with him, perhaps because it matched the no-nonsense approach he’d always had toward life. He wasn’t someone who cared for unnecessary complexity or empty rituals, and Siddharameshwar’s directness appealed to that part of him.

He didn’t need convincing. There was no hesitation, no questioning. Maruti took the mantra and the instructions as though they were precious seeds, and he planted them in the soil of his being. Little did he know that those seeds would grow into a tree so strong that it would not only transform his life but touch the lives of countless others.

The Death of Siddharameshwar Maharaj

In 1936, just three years after Maruti began studying under Siddharameshwar Maharaj, the Guru passed away. For many disciples, the loss of a teacher is a devastating blow. But for Maruti, it was a turning point. Siddharameshwar had always emphasised that the truth wasn’t in the Guru but in the Self. The Guru was just a guide, pointing the way.

After Siddharameshwar’s death, Maruti didn’t collapse into grief or feel lost. Instead, he took his Guru’s teachings even more seriously. He turned inward with renewed focus and commitment, determined to honour Siddharameshwar’s guidance by fully realising the truth he had been shown.

Intense Spiritual Practice

Maruti’s life after meeting Siddharameshwar wasn’t just a continuation of his previous existence. It was a transformation. He still ran his shop and cared for his family, but his inner world was undergoing a profound shift.

The mantra and meditation practice Siddharameshwar had given him became the centre of his life. He approached it with the same practicality and discipline that he had always applied to his work. But this wasn’t just another task—it was a journey into the depths of his own being.

The Discipline of Meditation

Every moment Maruti could spare, he dedicated to meditating on the sense of “I am.” This wasn’t a casual or occasional practice—it was intense and all-encompassing. He meditated in the morning before starting his day, during breaks at his shop, and late into the night after his family had gone to bed.

The practice wasn’t easy. Sitting with the “I am” meant confronting everything he had ever thought himself to be. Memories, fears, desires, and attachments all came rushing to the surface. But Maruti wasn’t deterred. He faced these mental storms with the same resilience that had carried him through life’s challenges.

Peeling Away the Layers

As Maruti delved deeper into his meditation, something extraordinary began to happen. The identity he had always taken for granted—the idea that he was a man, a businessman, a husband—started to loosen its grip.

He began to see that these identities were temporary, like masks he had worn for different roles. Beneath them was something constant, something unchanging. It was the sense of pure awareness, the silent observer of all experiences.

This wasn’t just an intellectual understanding—it was a lived experience. Maruti felt the boundaries between himself and the world dissolve. The “I” he had always identified with wasn’t the body or the mind but the formless, timeless awareness that underlay everything.

The Transformation into Nisargadatta

Over time, this realisation deepened, and Maruti’s sense of self underwent a complete transformation. The ego—the sense of being a separate individual—fell away, leaving only the awareness of the Self.

It was around this time that he began to refer to himself as Nisargadatta, a name that reflected his newfound understanding. “Nisarga” means “natural” or “spontaneous,” and “datta” refers to “the given.” Together, the name symbolised his state of being: natural, effortless, and rooted in the truth of existence.

But this wasn’t a grand or dramatic transformation in an outward sense. Nisargadatta didn’t retreat to a cave or adopt the robes of a monk. He continued to live his life as a householder, running his shop and caring for his family. His realisation didn’t separate him from the world—it integrated him into it more deeply.

Living the Realisation

By the time Sri Nisargadatta’s realisation matured, his sense of self was entirely different from what it had been before. He no longer identified with the body or the mind. He saw them as tools, temporary vehicles through which the Self operated.

This wasn’t a detached or aloof state—it was deeply connected and alive. Nisargadatta didn’t withdraw from life; he embraced it with a profound sense of freedom and spontaneity. He continued to live as an ordinary man, but his inner reality was anything but ordinary.

The Beginning of Teaching

As Nisargadatta’s understanding deepened, he felt a natural desire to share what he had discovered. This wasn’t a decision he made consciously—it arose spontaneously, as a natural extension of his realisation.

He began speaking to people who came to him with questions, offering them the same direct and simple guidance that Siddharameshwar had given him. His teaching wasn’t about creating followers or building an organisation. It was about pointing people to the truth that was already within them.

The foundation had been laid. Nisargadatta Maharaj was ready to step into the role of teacher—not as someone with a title or authority, but as a living example of the truth he had realised.

Maruti’s journey from an ordinary man in Bombay to the realised teacher Nisargadatta Maharaj is a story of profound transformation. It wasn’t marked by dramatic events or supernatural occurrences. Instead, it was a deeply personal and internal process, rooted in the simplicity of focusing on “I am.”

This transformation didn’t separate him from the world—it brought him closer to its essence. And as he began to teach, his life became a beacon for others, a reminder that the path to truth is available to anyone, no matter where they begin.

Becoming a Teacher: Sharing the Truth

Nisargadatta Maharaj never set out to become a teacher. In fact, he didn’t see himself as a teacher at all. For him, there was no “Nisargadatta” left to claim that role—only the pure awareness that had been realised as the true Self. Yet, as word of his wisdom began to spread, seekers naturally gravitated toward him. It wasn’t something he sought or orchestrated; it was as if the teachings themselves found their way to him, pulling people from all walks of life into his orbit.

A Guru in an Ordinary Setting

What struck many who came to Nisargadatta was how utterly ordinary his life appeared. Unlike traditional Gurus who often sat in ashrams surrounded by disciples, Maharaj lived in a tiny, crowded apartment in a busy lane of Mumbai. This apartment wasn’t some serene, tranquil retreat—it was noisy, bustling, and filled with the everyday chaos of urban life.

The room where he held his satsangs (spiritual gatherings) was modest, to say the least. It had bare walls and minimal furniture. Visitors sat on the floor, crowded together, while Maharaj sat on a simple elevated platform. There was no pomp, no elaborate rituals, no incense wafting through the air.

For many, this lack of pretension was refreshing. Maharaj’s setting reflected his teachings: raw, simple, and direct. He didn’t believe in wrapping the truth in unnecessary mystique. If anything, the ordinary surroundings seemed to emphasise the extraordinary power of his words.

The Style of His Teachings

Nisargadatta’s teaching style was, in a word, blunt. He wasn’t one to coddle his visitors or sugar-coat the truth. His words often cut through the illusions people carried about themselves, leaving them startled but deeply awakened.

If someone approached him with spiritual jargon or intellectual questions, he would dismantle their assumptions with sharp, almost confrontational responses. For Maharaj, spirituality wasn’t about memorising concepts or indulging in philosophical debates. It was about realising the truth here and now.

He had a way of turning questions back on the asker. If someone asked, “What is the meaning of life?” Maharaj might reply, “Who is asking this question? Find out who you are, and the meaning of life will reveal itself.”

This approach wasn’t always easy to digest, especially for those who expected a more traditional, comforting experience. But for those willing to look beyond their egos, his words carried an undeniable clarity and force.

Welcoming All Seekers

Maharaj’s apartment became a melting pot of spiritual inquiry. His visitors came from all walks of life—Indian housewives, Western travellers, scholars, businessmen, and even sceptics. Some came with burning questions, while others came simply out of curiosity.

Despite his sharp teaching style, Maharaj was warm and welcoming. He didn’t judge his visitors based on their background or level of understanding. Everyone was treated as an equal, for in his eyes, all were manifestations of the same Self.

His humility was palpable. He didn’t set himself apart as a Guru or claim any special status. If anything, he seemed indifferent to the idea of being a teacher. For him, the truth wasn’t about him—it was about the Self, which he saw as universal and impersonal.

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