Liberation of Ghosts

“Higher! Higher! Aunty, push me higher!" asked our Lord as He played on the swing with His aunt.

Flying through the air as He went higher and higher, the world whizzed by only to come again as He went backward. Laughing His sweet laugh, Ghansyham Maharaj was at joy on the swing while His hair played in the wind. For His aunt, everything else had disappeared. Her focus was lost on Ghanshyam Maharaj. It had only been a short period, but the two had become best friends. Ghanshyam Maharaj had won over His aunt with His beautiful thrall and sweetness like a thousand flowers, forever radiating away with such heavenly beauty.

The family had recently come to a town by the name of Tinwa to their relatives' house, Prathit Pande and his wife Vachana bai. They had moved due to some trouble in Chhapaiya caused by a dacoit. In their short stay, Vachana bai came to adore Ghanshyam Maharaj. As a result, she and Bhaktimata naturally got along very well. The mixed family was happily occupied at work and play on one of these pleasant days. The water supply had run out without anyone noticing in all the commotion. It wasn't until dusk that Bhaktimata realized they needed water. So, at once, she set about to the town's well with a bucket in hand.

Red light occupied the skies by the time she arrived. A beautiful horizon was visible in the background. The owls were hooting away, and fireflies lit up the way as she walked closer to the well. For some odd reason, mist surrounded the place, sending an unnatural chill down her spine. Lost away in thoughts of her beloved Ghanshyam, she paid no heed. She lowered her bucket into the well. Splash!! The bucket hit the water. She pulled up, yet nothing happened. She tried again, but the bucket must have been stuck. She looked into the well, and to her shock, looking back were crimson-red eyes. It wasn't just one pair of devilish eyes but multiple looking back at her.

"AHHHH,” she shrieked.

Fearing for her life, she instantly ran back home. Nothing would bring her back to those unnatural creatures living in the well. Huffing and puffing, she made it back home, exhausted from sprinting.

"What happened, mother? What happened?" asked a worried Ghanshyam Maharaj.

"The well! There's something inside! They took my bucket," she replied, hugging Ghanshyam Maharaj in fear.

“Don't worry, Mother, I'll get it for you tomorrow,” replied our Lord.

Ghanshyam Maharaj set out the next morning to pay the creatures in the well a visit. He had but the clothes on His back and the bravery in His heart for company. The villagers had learned about Ghanshyam Maharaj's plans to enter the well, so they prayed and begged the young Lord to stop.

“Don't be absurd. We can't let a child enter the well,” said one of the villagers.

“Please, kid, stop right there. You can't go to the well,” pleaded another.

“Someone stop Him! Otherwise, the beasts will finish Him,” cried a villager.

Alas, who can stop Him once the Lord has made up His mind? God is the master of all, but who is the master of God? So, with heels of iron, our Lord proceeded. Behind Him, the villagers were in tow, begging for Him to stop.

It was yet the morning hour, and yesterday's mist had thickened, covering everything near the well. Ghanshyam Maharaj courageously stood on the edge of the well, peeking inside. Nothing. Maybe the creatures were fast asleep... You can never be sure with such unnatural beasts.

“Here I Come!” yelled the Lord as He prepared to jump. “Please, STOP!” begged the villagers.

“Sure, I'll stop the nasties inside the well,” innocently joked Ghanshyam Maharaj as he jumped into the well, landing with a big splash.

“WHOO GOOES THEERE?” yelled a beast from inside. "Oh, sorry, it's just me," played Ghanshyam Maharaj. "HOOOOWW DAREE YOUUU!" yelled the creature, closer than before.

From the fog inside the well, a ghostly creature came into view. It had red crimson eyes, a hideous face, a disfigured nose, scars on both cheeks and many missing teeth. With two long bawling hands, it signaled to others. One. Two. Four... Ten other ghostly beasts followed, but it didn't stop there, more kept coming. The lot, too many to count, surrounded Ghanshyam Maharaj. Things were looking dull for our young Lord, or so it seemed...

“GETTTT HIMMM!” yelled the beasts. With that, they charged, howling and yelling like wolves about to devour a deer. On the brink of time, Ghanshyam Maharaj let out His luster at the very last moment, illuminating the entire well and burning the ghosts.

“STOOOOP,” begged the ghosts.

“PLEASSE, ITT BURNNNS,” they cried.

“I'll stop if you promise not to hurt me?” offered our Lord.

“Promise! Buutt youur hurrrting usss,” pleaded the ghosts.

“Fine,” agreed Ghanshyam Maharaj.

With that, He hid His luster, returning to His human form. With this little encounter, the ghosts realized they weren't dealing with a normal man.

“OH God, please free us,” they prayed.

“We've been trapped here for ages,” they pleaded.

“We want a way out, help us. Please,” they begged for release. “How did you all end up here?” asked Ghanshyam Maharaj.

The ghosts took this rare chance to confess all their crimes in the hopes of obtaining redemption by the grace of God.

“Lord, we've committed many crimes and sins,” they admitted. 

“Stealing, looting, beating... you name it,” they confessed.

“But there's more, our natures were worse than our sins,” they said.

“It got us into a big fight with a king who slay us all here,” they cried.

Ghanshyam Maharaj thought for a moment, then made up His mind.

“Well, no matter. Want to come to my divine abode?” asked our Lord.

“We'd be grateful,” agreed the ghosts.

“That would be wonderful,” they claimed, for they wanted freedom since ages.

“Alright, come closer and apply this water over your heads,” guided the Lord.

The ghosts came closer and applied the water that Ghanshyam Maharaj had landed on to their heads. Whereas holy water would burn ghosts, here it helped them by freeing them of their bonds and sins. Their ghostly bodies melted away, and their souls took off into their final resting place.

The crowd of villagers saw the entire scene and cheered on the Lord, grateful for His courageous act and for a safe, clean well. 

It takes no time at all for the Lord to grant salvation to souls, regardless of the number of sins they've committed. The Lord can free all that come to His refuge, whether ghosts, animals, or birds. He may grant salvation in any way He wants, with sight, touch, holy water, or blessings.

Today, this path of effortless salvation is being continued through our Guruji, HDH Swamishri. Any soul, however sinful and malignant, may attain salvation if it takes refuge in the divine and holy feet of Guruji HDH Swamishri.