GOPINATH KAVIRAJ MET MEHER BABA IN 1960
On 5 June 1960, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and philosopher, Dr. Gopinath Kaviraj, 73, sent his friend Amiya Hazra to Guruprasad to ascertain whether Baba would give him darshan, as he happened to be in Poona. Baba informed Hazra that he would see Kaviraj the next day at 8:00 A.M. Hazra explained that as Kaviraj was observing silence two days a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, it would be better if he could be allowed to see Baba on Tuesday. But Baba replied, “I am also continuously silent.”
Therefore, Gopinath Kaviraj came to see Baba on Monday, 6 June, and since Kaviraj was keeping silence, Baba permitted him to come again the following day also. Kaviraj came again the next day and was embraced by Baba, and Baba kissed him on the forehead. Baba took him into the side room and had the door closed. Only one of the mandali was present to interpret. Baba spoke with Kaviraj at length about the future of the world, life’s ultimate purpose and an individual’s duties, all of which convinced Kaviraj of Baba’s omniscience.
Kaviraj asked about himself, and Baba replied, “I have nothing to say except that you should continue to do whatever sadhana you are doing every day at midnight.”
Hearing this, Kaviraj was wonderstruck, because no one knew what spiritual practice he did at midnight, and there had been no mention of it. Thus, he was further convinced of Baba’s omniscience. While leaving, Baba gave him a copy of God Speaks and told him, “I have an inner connection and association with you, which will dawn upon you by and by.”
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Gopinath Kaviraj (7 September 1887 – 12 June 1976) was an Indian Sanskrit scholar, Indologist and philosopher. First appointed in 1914 a librarian, he was the Principal of Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi from 1923 to 1937. He was also the editor of the Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala (Sarasvati Bhavana Texts) during that period.
In 1964 he received the Sahitya Akademi Award, given by the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, for his research treatise on Tantra, Tantrik Vangmaya Men Shaktadrishti. In the same year he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour given by Government of India. In 1971 he was conferred the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest literary honour awarded by the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters.
Awards
Mahamahopadhyaya (1934)
Padma Vibhushan (1964) [4]
D.Litt. (1947), by Allahabad University
Sahitya Vachaspati (1965), by the Uttar Pradesh Government
Deshikottam (1976), by Visva-Bharati
D.Litt. (21 December 1956) Banaras Hindu University
D.Litt. (19 January 1965) Calcutta University, Calcutta
Sahitya Akademi Award (on Tantrik vangmay mein shakt drishti), 1965
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (1971)[5]
Govt. of India issued a commemorative stamp in honour of Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj.
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