Radhabai Madame Blavatsky
(The following is an edited translation from the book Siddha, Sant aur Yogi by Pandit Shambhu Ratna Tripathi)
Contribution of Madame Helena P Blavatsky is unmatched in unveiling the ancient Indian spiritual philosophy and Yoga vidya. Madame Blavatsky possessed divine powers. Her knowledge of Santana Brahma Vidya was unfathomable and she was adept at the highest of yogic practices. She had direct contact with great souls of ancient rishis and they used to direct her course of action. She faced many difficulties due to her unfazed dedication for India and Yoga vidya but there was no dearth of enthusiasm and determination in her till her last breath. She was able to see past incidents like a movie, could read old and unavailable books with closed eyes and had ability to make contact with ancient rishis. So many western scientists and authors tested and validated her abilities and became her devotees. She must be counted among the great saints of Santana tradition.
Early life
She was born in a highly ranked and prosperous family in Russia on august 11, 1831. Her grandfather was provincial governor, father a high ranked officer in army and her mother was a good writer. The divine aspect of her personality manifested since her childhood. At the age of 4 she used to play and talk with unseen entities. She was very daring and was often protected from dangers by unseen forces. Her mother died very early and father was often away due to his army job. Her grandparents took care of her. Her grandma was strict about discipline but could not control young Helena.
Meeting her Guru
She was not much interested in school education. She left school after primary level but indulged in self-study. During this her interest area was spiritual knowledge. At age of 17 she already has read many books and manuscripts of yoga and tantra. Now she wanted to achieve practical knowledge of these. In the meantime, in 1849 she was married to the governor of a province. All the possible material and worldly means of pleasure were available to her but nothing could satisfy her quest for the unknown. Apart from ritual her marriage was never materialized. After few days she ran back to her grandparents’ house.
From there, she set out on a voyage and reached Constantinople, Turkey. Unseen forces saved her from dangers during journey. When involved in an accident during horse ride in Turkey, someone in Indian attire appeared to help her. Afterwards that person appeared many times in different places at moments of crisis. From Turkey she reached England visiting Greece, Egypt and France on the way. In England, once again she saw her mystery helper on the road, dressed as an Indian prince but no conversation took place then. Next day Helena was sitting on a bench in Hyde Park when that prince came to her and said – “The knowledge for which you are wandering may be achieved but you would have to face many dangers in that process. Think over it. I may help if you are ready.” Great devotion emerged in her heart for him. She was convinced that he was her Guru. After a while, they met again and he assured her of achieving her goal and told that her destiny is attached with India. He professed that she will start her mission after thirty years in India and instructed that she should keep in touch with India and should know about Indian people and culture.
Coming to India & Establishment of Theosophical Society
Madame Blavatsky reached India in 1855. She had a strong desire to see the siddha yogis of Himalayas. She reached Tibet, defying many restrictions, and had many divine experiences there. Afterwards she visited many places in India. She spent two years like this. During this period, she used to get certain amount through money orders from unknown source. At that time, she had to leave India after getting a letter of warning from her guru about the coming war of Indian independence against British. She returned to India in 1868 with the help of her mystical helper with whom she was in regular contact. During this visit she stayed with her guru in a mystical place in Tibet for two years, where she learnt and practiced the most complicated yoga processes. She left for Russia in 1870. After staying there for one year she left home for world tour. She was now well adept for propagating Indian wisdom and techniques of yoga. She was attracting the attention of Europe and America through her articles. On 17 November, 1875 with the help of her American followers the ‘Theosophical Society’ was established in New York. Colonel H S Olcott was its first president. After a while the office of society was transferred to India in Mumbai and finally got shifted to Adyar in 1882.
In Adyar center, there was a small meditation room on the second floor of the building. There was a small cabinet, in which letters addressed to unseen saints were put and those would disappear after few moments. Reply written on Tibetan paper appeared in the same cabinet after a while. Various other things also used to appear in that cabinet. Her guru also manifested in front of Colonel Olcott. Radhabai (the name given to Madame by her Guru) showed Olcott many miracles to remove his deep-rooted doubts on the power of yoga. To prove rebirth and life after death, once she made many dead people to appear in front of him and also made possible to talk with them. She left her body on 11 May, 1891.
Madame Blavatsky had deep knowledge of Vedas, Upanishads and yoga philosophy. Her books ‘Isis Unveiled’ and ‘Secrete Doctrine’ produced revolutionary impact on western minds. Apart from these she wrote thousands of pages. Her ‘Theosophical Society’ published a vast body of literature on Geeta, Upanishads and yoga darshan. No other organization could do this task so effectively. One of her disciples gifted a copy of Geeta to Gandhi that changed his mind forever. Afterwards he kept in contact with the centers of Theosophy in Africa and England. Sir A O Hume, who established the Congress (the oldest political party of India) was greatly influenced by Madame. Annie Beasant was her favorite student.
(Translation by Baba Pagaldas)
