Kothali-Thakura (God of Spiritual Pocket)

(GOD OF SPIRITUAL POCKET)

Based on Spiritual Life of

PROFESSOR KESHAB CHANDRA DASH

G S POD OF PIRITUAL OCKET

Our "desire to know" ultimately prompts us towards a divine wakefulness. This is our

spiritual awareness. For this reason, we used to see the Godly element in each item of
the world. "KOTHALI-THALURA – “The God of Spiritual Pocket" is a spiritual symbol of
emotional tying. This represents the secrecy of spirituality as a tradition of worship in
rural Odisha. The spiritual journey of Prof. Keshab Chandra Dash stands on such a line.
In spite of his recognition as a man of eminence in the field of Sanskrit literature why
he became a spiritual seeker and what he obtained ultimately - is the story of such
KOTHALI-THAKURA - "The God of Spiritual Pocket"

HELPLESSNESS

“H ”elplessness is the basic element of sorrow. Because of this, a man appears as

if a dried tree. After sad demise of his father the boy Keshab became destitute. There
was nobody to catch the hand of this ignorant and helpless lad lending a support.

Whatever remained with him was a situation of nothingness – pointing to

“No.......No…… There is nothing”.

M &WEANS ORSHIP

While walking on the dart path of adversity he met a helpless Guru- a teacher who

was suffering from leprosy. he promised him to teach. He also taught something. Shri
Keshab was more attracted towards his affectionate words than his teaching. He felt
that there is something loving and also lovable somehwere. the teacher presented
him a book and a pen. Since that day, the book became his means of search and the
pen remained as the Pocket-God for Worship.

S BEPARATED IRDS

Time rolled on. While studying he was attracted towards an episode of Upanishad-

Dva-suparna: the story of two separated birds- one is searching something for daily
needs and the other is watching continuously. He was excited to know more about it.
Thus he realized the deep feeling of two birds. This was the basic lovable seed in him
which he calls the "Updanishadic Love".

E B TXCITEMENT OF EING OGETHER

Everybody feels that there is an excitement for getting together in

young times. There is also a subtle desire which remains united with
someone or something. "Seeking union" for greater thing can eliminate
"helplessness".

T U A W KHE NIOUN S E NOW

The key of this union is not only unites the man with work but also

nurtures the life with love to proceed ahead. Shri Keshab got married
and started a journey of reciprocation. This is a combined journey of
coupled life as we know.

E U T SFFORT OF NITING HE ELF

In this journey we acclimatize ourselves with every situation. But

what is remarkable here is the relation of a mother with a child. We
must observe how they nurture the love with care to carry forward the
life.

C T C JONTINUING HE OUPLE OURNEY

But what is a successful life? Where is the limitation of progress?

There are diseases. There is old age. There is also an inevitable time
which pulls a man down to the earth. In spite of the fact, there is a hope
of joining together for the way forward. Shri Keshab felt that this
emaciating love needs to be elevated to overcome such material illness.
Therefore, he directed his attention Godward.

Y S T Y UOGA- ANGAMA HE OGIC NION

But Is there God? Yes…… or No...- both the answers are right. Because

this is a play of mind. This mind which is very small in a human body has
no scope to oversee beyond its scope. We know that the gross body gets
mingled with gross material things when it ceases to function. But the
mind in spite of its limits scope always seeks union with the greater mind-
Vruhat-Man which may be equal to Bramhan. Shri Keshab, therefore,
started his spiritual practice of Yoga-Sangama-the yogic union.

M P T NINGLING ROCESS OF HE ATURE

In such a practice, he experienced the mingling process of nature. He

observed the water-cycle and the cycle of time with their function of
transformation within his body. Thus he combined the yogic practice
with BHAKTI-the devotion. He earnestly desired to meet the ultimate.

S W GPIRITUAL
AKEFULNESS FOR ETTING

U F SNITED ROM EPARATION

He recalled the story of separated birds and realised the essence of

separation. He devised his own way of Dhyana-"Meditation" and
Pranayama ‘the art of breathing’ with deep love. In course of time he
experienced the pleasure of wakefulness.

T FRANSFORMATION ROM
C BATERPILLAR TO UTTERFLY

In the advancement of time he marked a change in his body. He also

experienced the elevation of inner self. This elevation was possible due
to ignited KUNDALINI which can make a man able to unite himself with
the ultimate. To him, KUNDALINI is a blend of sense particles.

L MIBERATED IND

L A BIKE UTTERFLY

When Shri Keshab united himself with the ultimate he felt as if he was

getting a rebirth like a butterfly coming out of a caterpillar. He became
free. His mind was transparent. He was enlightened. He became a
realised soul.

U LNITED IFE

The small mind always remained connected with the greater

mind. Shri Keshab led a united life with spiritual wisdom.

T S WAKING HELTER ITH
T U DHE NITING ESTINATION

Finally, Shri Keshab took shelter with the uniting destination where

there was no fear of separation. This non-separable union is
SHARAN-SANGATI - the shelterly union.

His story of realisation becomes the spirit of Milana Philosophy. His
teachings and practice of Yoga-Sangama are the undertone of
Yoga-Mishra-Bhakti yogic practice combined with the devotion.

A H WAND ITH
F FULL OF LOWERS

With his Sharana-Sangati (Shelterly Union) Shri Keshab became a

secret Yogi... a Sadguru. With some flowers and their petals he

remained adorable as if a God of Spiritual Pocket - knowingly

unknown.

A mind always seeks union with a

greater mind.

- Shri Keshab

Brought to You By

'SHASHIREKHA', Bhudan Nagar
Sanskrit University Road, Puri-752003, Odisha, India

Presented By

NABOTPAL DASH DR. ASWINI MOHANTY

Executive Director Secretary

+1 224 801 9312 +91 92385 79419