Swami Satya Prakash Udaseen
– Swami Satya Prakash Udaseen. Murli Kale seen sitting behind. Jabalpur 1972 –
For Silence Day, the mandali at Guruprasad and Meherabad and Baba’s followers throughout the world were informed to observe complete silence from 8:00 P.M. on July 9 until 8:00 P.M. on Monday, 10 July 1961. That day also was the release of the first issue of an English and Telugu quarterly devoted to Baba called Divya Vani (Divine Voice), published in Andhra by Swami Satyaprakash Udaseen. Kutumba Sastri had introduced Swami Satyaprakash to Baba in May at Guruprasad.
LM Page 4766 Yr 1961
Swami Satya Prakash Udaseen, born Balantarapu Satyanarayana Rao, was a man of many roles – a freedom fighter, poet, social activist, and a devoted disciple of Meher Baba. For over four decades, he worked tirelessly to spread Meher Baba’s message of love, self-less service and brotherhood through his writings, and initiatives like Meher Vihar Trust, Hyderabad, and Meher Baba Mission, Kakinada. From participating in India’s freedom struggle to founding spiritual journals like Divya Vani, Swami’s life was a testament to selfless service and spiritual awakening.
Early Life
Learning the Three Rs in public life, Swami Satya Prakash began his journey as a freedom fighter in the Indian independence movement. He actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha and faced imprisonment. His early years were marked by a commitment to social justice and a deep yearning for higher purpose.
In 1951, he joined the Udaseen order, dedicating himself to a life of spiritual pursuit in the Himalayas. However, his path took a transformative turn a year later in 1952, when his close friend, Tadimeti Kutumba Sastry, encouraged him to serve Meher Baba, and spread His Message. This pivotal decision shaped the rest of his life, redirecting his energy towards Baba’s cause.
The Spiritual Awakening
Swami’s first darshan with Meher Baba in May 1960 at Guruprasad was a life-changing experience. He described the moment as one of unparalleled joy and transformation:
“His loving embrace and kiss gave me a thrill of my life and His Love-Blessings gave me a transformation. I felt overpowered with feelings of thankfulness and ecstasy of Love, the rarest experience of my life.”From that moment, Swami surrendered himself completely to Meher Baba, dedicating his life to spreading Baba’s teachings and living by His philosophy of love and selflessness. “It is a matter of gratification for me that the moment I was taken into His Divine care and ‘internal guidance’ required for my upliftment was assured wherever I may be, thereafter. I was completely overwhelmed with the Supreme Joy bestowed on me by the Divine Grace of the Perfect Master.”
“I deem it as an act of extreme benevolence on the part of the Living Avatar of the Age, to have given me this opportunity to come into His personal contact and allow me to serve as a humble servant of His cause, being inspired and guided by Him, thus living in Him now and ever with Life Divine as the only goal of mine”. (Source: Editorial, Divya Vani, June 1961).
The Messenger
One of Swami Satya Prakash’s most significant contributions was his role as a communicator of Meher Baba’s message. In the 1950s, he founded Divya Vani (“Divine Voice”), a spiritual journal in English and Telugu. The publication became a platform for budding and established writers alike to share their understanding of Meher Baba’s teachings.
Divya Vani went through several ‘avatars’ over the years, from a bi-lingual weekly to a quarterly, and finally to a monthly publication. It featured notable contributors like Rick Chapman and Bal Natu, and serialized significant works such as Glimpses of the God-Man. On the Silence Day in 1961, Divya Vani became a quarterly in English and Telugu. Meher Baba’s blessings for this initiative were conveyed through Adi K. Irani, who wrote:
“I am happy to inform you that your letter was read to Baba and its contents made Him very happy. Baba asked me to send His love blessings to you. Indeed, Baba has sent you love – blessings obviously for the new venture you want to go in for, that is, the English and Telugu quarterly journal, Divya Vani.
“I am sure in the fast-growing love of Baba in the heart of Andhra people, your periodical will be welcomed by readers and it will help them to come to know of Baba more and more through your learned translations and all the news you will get from our side.
“In your short contact with us you have evinced a deep and sincere interest in Baba’s writings. You have already been blessed by Him for your undertaking to study and express gems of Baba’s Teachings. May His Love-Blessings be your guide.”
Divya Vani Telugu became a tabloid for a few years in the eighties. In addition to Divya Vani, Swami launched a Telugu monthly, Meher Jyoti, from Hyderabad with Nitta Bhima Sankaram, a retired Income-Tax officer, as editor. The magazine had glorious run for a few years.
Devotion and Service
Swami Satya Prakash’s literary legacy extended beyond periodicals. He compiled 67 Life Circulars issued by Meher Baba between 1952 and 1968, providing invaluable insights into Baba’s teachings.
In his foreword to this compilation, Adi K Irani wrote:
“To love God is the aim of life. To love Meher Baba is the ‘end’ of life. Meher Baba’s work of awakening does not amount to dropping off the body or physically renouncing possessions. On the other hand, it is to live a life of greater zest and a sense of higher responsibility wherein the entire outlook of life is changed. Habits are changed. Selfishness gives way to a humane thinking on all matters and problems facing domestic and professional life. A thirst is created for something so high and sublime as to be everlasting. To the quenching of this thirst Meher Baba blesses. Swami Satya Prakash has done well to publish the volume of Life Circulars giving occasion for people to read so much about Meher Baba during the period Feb 1952 to Jan 1968.”
Another great contribution to Baba’s cause by Swami Udaseen was Meher Sudha Tarangini series of books in Telugu – both original works and translations. To him goes the credit of bringing out the multi-volume Baba’s life story in Telugu, long years before Bhau Kalchuri’s Magnum Opus – Lord Meher – appeared. His dedication to making Meher Baba’s teachings accessible to Telugu-speaking audience was unparalleled.
Legacy
Throughout his life, Swami Satya Prakash embodied the principles of love, surrender, and service. He described his relationship with Meher Baba as one of complete surrender, stating:
“I have instantaneously surrendered unto Him in all earnestness and without any reservations whatsoever, dedicating this humble soul at the Sacred Feet of the Silent Master, Sri Avatar Meher Baba.”
Swami Satya Prakash Udaseen’s second darshan with Meher Baba in 1968 further deepened his commitment, as he assisted in finalizing plans for Baba’s darshan program in 1969. Sometime in early eighties, he dropped ‘Udaseen’ and became ‘Meherananda’.His unwavering devotion continued until his passing on May 5, 1997, when he “merged” in his Divine Beloved.
M. Ramarao
Meherabad (India)
Sources:
1. Old issues of Divya Vani.
2. Telugu souvenir published to mark the 77th birthday of Swami Satyaprakash Meherananda
