The special nature of the Abhat Mudra photograph of Shri Mataji
Protocol photograph - Abhay Mudra
This is the original photo called as the ‘Protocol photograph’ (Abhay Mudra). Shri Mataji had it taken in one of the studios in Mumbai. This you may say in one way possesses 100% vibrations that can help a seeker to get his or her Self Realization instantly, while it can help another yogi give perfect ‘Self Realization’ to another seeker by the grace of Mother in Sahaja Yoga- if he or she desires to ‘receive and also give’ (the ‘two-way-desire’ to make it a perfect combination) – since it retains a perfect combination of all coefficients and proportions that an ideal image must possess to ‘carry forward’ the ‘desire of Mother’ in giving Self Realization (Shri Mataji says ‘an image’ carries the essence of the five elements, viz., earth,water,fire,air, and ether. Because the basic difference between an earthen statue and a photographs is that an image can be transmitted through the ether element (like we do it today on internet) while a statue on the other hand doesn’t possess that power. Further, the photo also ‘has the desire in it’, while the Statue does not reflect it, (Shri Mataji speaks about it saying if the statues could give Realization then Stonehenge could easily have done so, but a photograph has desire in it which makes it more powerful than a statue) (refer to 1985 speech of Brighton or somewhere in England I have quoted in Nirmal Fragrance also in the Swayambhu chapter and at this moment I am unable to recall). Anyway…
Rabi Ghosh
So using this photo for initiation of a Self Realization process is most helpful to a Sahaja Yogi and to a seeker vice verse. But, after coming to Sahaja, out of our love and insatiable thirst in order to collect more beautiful postures and moods of Mother’s photo we tend to ignore the very essence of this extraordinary ‘Black and White protocol photograph’ or the ‘Abhay Mudra’.(The importance of this photo has been recorded in one of the six volumes(I guess ‘First’ one) of the Eternally Inspiring Memories of our Holy Mother- compiled by Linda William). For a fuller read and understanding one may like to read that story too, regarding the photograph.
from Shankar Ramani: “After several months of receiving my Self-Realization from a member of Sahaja Yoga, I still had difficulty feeling the experience of vibrations or the energy flow through me. I was at a point where I almost stopped meditating for a while not knowing how Sahaja Yoga could help me. This particular photograph was given to me by a friend and when I sat down to meditate 9 months after I first got my Self-Realization, vibrations flowed through me continuously for hours and at that moment, I really understand what the experience of Sahaja Yoga and Self-Realization was. Indeed this is one of the most powerful photographs ever – my own experience confirms this in many ways. It is wonderful to know after so many years in retrospect the reason behind my life changing experience using this photograph. I guess all one needs is an open mind and some humility, the rest is done by the photograph.
Thank you for posting this article!
After several months of receiving my Self-Realization from a member of Sahaja Yoga, I still had difficulty feeling the experience of vibrations or the energy flow through me. I was at a point where I almost stopped meditating for a while not knowing how Sahaja Yoga could help me. This particular photograph was given to me by a friend and when I sat down to meditate 9 months after I first got my Self-Realization, vibrations flowed through me continuously for hours and at that moment, I really understand what the experience of Sahaja Yoga and Self-Realization was. Indeed this is one of the most powerful photographs ever – my own experience confirms this in many ways. It is wonderful to know after so many years in retrospect the reason behind my life changing experience using this photograph. I guess all one needs is an open mind and some humility, the rest is done by the photograph.
Thank you for posting this article!
The first time I received my realization was in 1988. The follow up program with a gorgeous arrangement of Mother’s picture, flowers, sanscrit mantras and the fire element, was too much to take in as a person with Catholic background. My ego reacted, but the desire to find myself kept me guru-shopping for seven years. At this point I was sure, that the right and left channels on their own had endless experiences to offer that seemed to be taking me farther away from a memory still vivid in my heart that had not yet been satisfied. I prayed with all my heart to be given the possibility to know the answer to this memory.
Then on February 1995 an answer came. “La Gran Madre de la India, H.H Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, visita Cartagena” (The Great Mother from India, H.H Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, visits Cartagena). Nobody could stay home knowing that a woman of this greatness was crossing the ocean to visit the city in Colombia that had been declared “Tesoro de la Humanidad” (Treasure of Humanity). One of our famous painters, a well known dentist, a doctor and a beautiful young Indian lady with a bindi and a silk sari, with a full auditorium left me with the Abhay Mudra in my hands. That was it. I knew that sometime in the past I had known the “Lady of the Picture”. But when and where? I was told to frame it and wipe off the Caribbean dust, twice a day, morning and evening, with rose water and the gentlest of cloths that could be found in the market. I followed the exact insructions and every time my morning and evening wiping sessions would increase in time and the desire to know who the “Lady of the Picture” was would be stronger. It took me a week: seven days. And the rubbing did its magic: Mary! The Mother of Christ! How on Earth could I have forgotten! The news had to be shared and spread like wild fire! Why had nobody told me from the beginning? She was back! The promise had been fulfilled! No wonder everybody was seeing her on apartment windows, in the sky, under bridges, at church, by the rivers, in meadows, by the ocean. You name it! Just everywhere! Why had it taken me so long to remember that the Comforter would be back? Why did I get lost? The only thing I knew was that I had to go see her. I called the painter to give him the news! He in turned asked me how did I found out. I told him that by rubbing the Abhay Mudra with the rose water and the gentlest of clothes I had found that out. He said. “Great, now you are one more that has found the Truth”. “You already knew and you hadn’t told anybody”? I replied in desbelief. He exploded in laughter, “This is one of the secrets, of this picture. What do you want to do now? He asked me. I want to go see her. I can’t wait to see her. “Great, that can only happen when we go to Ganapatipule in December and you have the rest of the year to prepare for what you have been waiting for,” was his heart felt answer.
The rest is our extraordinary-ordinary current history. One thing is for sure, I will reframe this photograph, keep rubbing and see what else I find.