It is only due to the extreme Grace of Almighty God that the soul acquires a human body. Its only
purpose is attaining God. But, after obtaining this body, human being tends to forget his original
purpose and gets firmly attached to the body and starts believing in bodily pleasures as being the
ultimate. By giving power and importance to the body, he starts relating to it and hence is so
attracted to it that its name too becomes dear to him. Of all the bodily pleasures, the most
menial is respect-seeking. To attain this, he also indulges in vices like falsehood, manipulation
and dishonesty. Due to the love for his body, he desires its praise and compliments from others.
He desires to seek self-aggrandizement throughout his life and wishes that after his death, his
name and fame remain eternal. He tends to forget that the name given to this body for worldly
convenience does not have any existence whatsoever after the body perishes.
All in all, this body worshipping, respect-seeking and eternity of name is of least importance.
But due to great inner desire for bodily respect and eternity of name and fame, humans behave in
such a manner, not only with themselves and their near and dear ones, but also with those who are
the knowledgeable and are following the righteous path shown by the esteemed scholars and
scriptures, trying to attain their ultimate goal of being one with the Almighty.
When the body of such an enlightened one dies, in order to continue their remembrance, their body
is captured in pictures. Adorned with all pomp and decorations (garlands etc.), the body is taken
to the cremation ground. In the interest of immortalizing the mortal name, they erect edifices
like structures in the form of memorials. In addition to this, they write exaggerated and
one-sided incidents of the deceased being and publish them in the form of biographies and
remembrances. On one side, they call themselves followers of that enlightened one and on the
other, they do exactly the thing that deterred the deceased when he was alive!
The essence of belief is immortal. Hence, the belief must be in the principle and words of such
enlightened ones and not in a mortal body or name. But such misdeeds happen only when desires take
the garb of beliefs. Hence, giving undue importance to mortal bodies and not worshipping and
praising that eternal, immortal, divine and pristine Almighty Being makes our life useless.
If seen in its true perspective, this body is only a machine producing urine and excretion. Given
the best of foods or even prasad of God, it shall leave the body through excretion. Given
the best of drinks or even water of holy Gangaji, the same will be passed out as urine. This body
is an excretion and urine producing machine till the time there is life and once the death
prevails, even touching it requires bathing. In fact, this body is dying every moment. The real
and authentic consciousness which is present in the body cannot be captured in pictures. Only the
body that is decaying every second can be pictured. That is why the body also does not remain the
same as it was, while the picture was taken. Hence, worship of photograph is worship of
asat (that which is not real, non-existent, transient, temporary). In the photograph, the
body remains lifeless, so the picture of this lifeless collection of bones and tissues is more
lifeless than the dead body itself!
Those whom we term as Mahatmas – the enlightened ones – are Mahatmas because of
their total renunciation of gratification and not because of their attachment to it. They consider
this body as excretory matter. Hence, showering respect over a Mahatma’s body is like
respecting excretory matter! Is this right? If someone says that just like we worship God’s
photograph, what is wrong in worshipping a Mahatma’s photograph? Then saying this is also
not apt because God’s body is Divine and immortal, while that of the Mahatama is made of
destructible and perishable matters which we call panch-tattva. God is Omnipresent, hence
He is present in the photographs also. But omnipresence (other than body) of Mahatma is
due to omnipresence of God Himself. God encompasses all the Mahatmas as well. Hence,
worship of God includes worshipping of all the Mahatmas. Hindrance shall be created in
the worship of God if the body and photographs of Mahatmas are worshiped and this is
strictly against the very principles of Mahatmas. A Mahatma has come to this
world to guide the people towards God and not towards himself. The one who guides the people to
himself (for worship) is anti-god. In fact, a Mahatma is never limited to a body.
An actual biography is the one which depicts factual matters, meaning which puts forth both the
good and bad facts (virtues and vices) of a life in an objective and truthful way. Only the person
himself can know the factual incidents of his life. Others shall only derive estimates about it as
per their own intellect and this is often not true. The biographies that are written nowadays,
more so conceal faults and vices, and depict only unwarranted virtues. As a result, they are
actually not the factual, complete and real depiction. In fact, where can we find a better
biographical character sketch other than Marayada Purshottam Sri Ram? His biography and
character sketch must be given ear to and read and our life must be moulded and lived in
accordance with it. We must try and live our life in accordance with the guidance and principles
of those whom we consider as Mahatmas.
After thinking over the points mentioned earlier, I would like to humbly make a request to all my
acquainted saints and good people. I have made the points on a personal level, meaning that I have
prohibited my photographs, pictures, memorials, biographies etc. The sole purpose of this article
is to clearly state as to what shall be your duties towards this body at the time when I have
become physically debilitated and my body has finally rested.
When this body becomes unfit to move around and in the opinion of doctors has no chance of
revival, then it is to be taken to the shores of holy Gangaji. Do not use any medications at such
times; make use of only water of holy Ganga and Tulsi. During such period, uninterruptedly chant
God’s name and praises and let the holy scriptures like The Bhagavad Gita, Shri Vishnu Shahastra
Naam, Sri Ramcharita Manas etc. be read and heard.
When the body is dead, use only Gopichandan and Tulsimala, not flowers, scents
or gulal, etc. The body that is dead should be carried in mere cloth as per the saintly traditions
and not on the Vaikunthi made of wood, etc.
The way that I have been prohibiting in my living days the feet touching, dandvat pranam,
parikrama, garlanding, chanting of my name etc., similarly, after my body dies, consider
feet touching, dandvat pranaam, parikrama, garlanding, chanting my name etc., as
prohibited.
I altogether condemn taking photographs of this body in its living, dead or last rites’ state.
In the event of its death in some other place or village, it is my hearty wish that the body be
kept on a vehicle and brought to the shores of Holy Gangaji and its last rites be done there. In
case due to some unavoidable reasons, it is not possible to do so, then, the last rites must be
completed in the presence of the Sun (during the daytime), towards the forest or a pathway that
leads out of the city, where cows rest etc., in the city or village where the body became
lifeless.
When this body becomes still, there should be no waiting for anyone. After the last rites, only
devotional songs and loud chanting of the Lord’s name, Divine Name repetition (Naam japa)
etc. alone should be done, and the last rites must be completed with absolute simplicity.
During the last rites, all the utilitarian goods (clothes, shoes etc.) should be burnt with this
body and the avashishth things (books, kamadalu etc.) should not be kept in
prayer room or in the form of remembrance at all. Rather these must be used.
The place where this body’s last rites are done, nothing should be created there in the form of a
memorial, to that extent that I even object to you placing stones etc. in that spot. As the place
was before the last rites, it should once again be the same after the last rites. After the last
rites, the ashes and all other avashishth things should be offered into Gangaji.
Neither should any goushaala (cow protection shed), school, etc., or any service
organization be formed in my memory. While the body was living, I have not encouraged and built
any structures, buildings etc. for me, and for this I have not inspired anyone either to do so. If
any individual, anywhere, shows a building as being created due to an inspiration from me, then
consider that to be entirely false.
After this body becomes still, let there be no festival or a celebration etc., and during those
days let there be no sweets etc. Just as the sages and ascetics have been bringing
bhikshaa (daily meals) in front of me so far, in the same way they should continue to do
so. If a good house-holder, out of their own will, bring bhikshaa, then that very same
bhikshaa should be accepted, in which there are no sweets. If some ascetic and good
families come from out-of-town, then in the arrangements and preparation of their food, let there
be no sweets, and their meals too, should be ordinary.
When this body becomes still, let there be no grief or a gathering for mourning etc., rather for
seventeen days let there be satsang, singing the glories of the Lord and chanting of His
Divine Name, and Divine Name repetition (Bhagwad Naam japa), recitation of the
Gita, recitation of Ramcharitra Manas, reading of saints’ divine speeches,
reading of Shrimad Bhagwad etc. Only spiritual undertakings must be carried on during
this period. In Sanatana Hindu Sankriti (Hindu culture), during these days, these above
krtya are main.
When this body becomes still, on the seventeenth day or any other occasion if some gentleman wants
to give money-clothes, etc., or anything as a gift, then it should not be taken, in other words,
there should be no gifts accepted from anyone, of any kind whatsoever. If someone says that we
donate a certain amount to the temple, then consider this sort of thing to be in vain, you must
object and oppose this person. If a person sends any gift from some other place, through anyone,
then it must not be accepted at all. Rather, refuse it entirely. Not only must no gifts be taken
from anyone, but there should also be that alertness, caution, to not give sheets, rent, money
etc., to anyone.
When there is objection to taking or doing anything for seventeen days, then what to speak of
annual events etc. These are all to be understood as something that I object to. When this body
becomes still, anything related to this body, any incidents, remembrance etc., must not be
revealed in any form.
Lastly, I humbly request all those saints and good family members that I have encountered, that
those things to which I have objected, they should not be done in any situation or circumstance.
When this body becomes still, the actions and conduct that is opposed to what I have shared, or by
participating in any form of arguments, opposition, differences of opinion, fights, frivolous
controversy, etc. he should not become a sinner, or a partner in the sins. Rather with total
steadfastness, love, simplicity, mutual trust, and without any deviousness, following the previous
instructions, reciting and chanting the holy name of God, the final rites must be completed. When
and wherever, there is an opportunity, the instructions provided with regards to this body should
be followed by all those associated that are present at that time.
During my lifetime, through my body, speech, mind, knowingly, unknowingly, if anyone experienced
any kind of difficulty, then I humbly from my heart and profusely beg your forgiveness. I
earnestly hope that you all will forgive me with much generosity.
Ram ……….. Ram ………. Ram …………
Prior to this, I have written my Humble Request (A Will) three times:
(1) Magh Shukla Panchami, V.S. 2036, dated 22 January 1980
(2) Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya, V.S. 2037 dated 17 April 1980
(3) Magh Shukla Panchami, V.S. 2046, dated 31 January 1990.
But I am not entirely satisfied with them, hence, after due research, this fourth Humble Request
(A Will) is being written down. So, the previous three Humble Requests (A Will) may be considered
as void. I have got this current Humble Request (A will) written by Rajendra Kumar Dhavan and I
have read and understood its contents.
Dated Margashirsh Shukla Ekadashi (Geeta Jayanti) V.S. 2054, dated 10 December 1997.
Ram …… Ram ………Ram
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