Knowing the suffering Baba was undergoing due to the poisoning and feeling powerless to save his Baba from torture he took the extreme step on April 8th of issuing a document denouncing the government persecution of Baba and stating that he was going to set fire to himself to protest the victimization of Dharma Guru Anandamurti. He explained how he had come to take such a drastic decision.
Acarya Shantatmananda met with Divyanandaji before his self-immolation and asked him not to do this. Divyanandaji replied that now he only wanted to merge with Baba. As he said this his face was shinning so much, that Shantatmanandaji could only remain silent with tears in his eyes.
Sometime before, Divyanandaji had stopped taking water and when asked why, he replied that it was sinful. When asked why it was sinful, he replied that it was sinful to take water on the planet where Baba was poisoned. Early the next morning just inside the gate of the (old) Bihar Vidhan Sabha near Shahid Park, he ran inside the gates and poured kerosene on himself and set himself on fire. When he ran Shantatmanandaji and another witness stated that Divyanandaji was so light that it seemed like he was floating on air. Baba later said that he died in pure devotion and felt no pain. Baba said that when the fire began, He took Divyanandaji onto His lap.
Acarya Ramananda Avadhuta stated in the May 1973 issue of Crimson Dawn,
“The night after Acarya Divyananda Avadhuta self-immolated there was a cremation ceremony attended by about 5000 margis. The cremation was performed and Guru Puja was sung and the vibrations were unbelievably high. When [Acaryaji] went to see Baba in His cell, he related the beautiful experience of our brother’s cremation. Baba said, “Yes I know, I was physically there for fifteen minutes.”
Later as reported in August 1977 issue of Crimson Dawn, Baba spoke about Acarya Divyananda Avadhuta and Acarya Dineshvarananda Avadhuta saying,
“You see a human being is not immortal. Human being is to die. Actually, the work of these two sons is really excellent and remarkable.
Though I feel pain when I think of them, I cannot tell you – because they were young and have died – and when I think they have died for Me I feel so much pain and I want to weep. I cannot weep in front of you, but alone I can weep.
And it is the government who is at fault. They are to blame. It is something remarkable in the history of India. It is not like suicide. For the ideology they have died – they are bound to get moksa. So don’t think they have done something wrong. Only one having great courage could have done such a thing.
It is a fact that everyone will have to die someday, but they have died by not accepting death. Rather, it is death that has made them immortal. There is greatness in life and success and there is meaning in life. Everybody is to leave this life. Do something great in this life. By their deeds, they have become immortal.”
“Let (His) tale of torture be known by every person of the world, on every continent, in every country and in every house.” – BABA (17/2/1975, Crimson Dawn April 1975)
When Baba began fasting, He became severely sick. Once Acarya Raghunath visited Him in the cell. He found that the toilet in Baba’s cell was full of blood. Then he said to Baba that if on top of fasting, Baba was having so much bleeding, it was truly life-threatening.
Acaryaji then asked Baba if he was able to convince the government authorities to order a judicial inquiry into Baba’s poisoning, would Baba stop fasting.
Baba agreed to this. Then Raghunath dada went to see a senior minister in Delhi and narrated Baba’s suffering. The minister bluntly said that “the government want Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar dead.” Then dada began begging the minister. Finally the minister said that the inspector general of prisons could initiate an enquiry.
When he went and told this to Baba, Baba exploded with anger. Baba said that it was the inspector general of prisons who planned His poisoning and now, he was supposed to investigate his own crime! Baba asked him exactly what he was thinking in agreeing to such a proposal.
Raghunath dada became flustered and replied that he did not know what he was thinking.
Baba replied that then he should have done proper sadhana before meeting the minister.
Then Baba said, “I am the One writing letter, I am the One shouting for justice. I am doing everything. And you people – you are all doing nothing!”
Acarya remained silent. Later he related this story to a group of monks (dadas). The dadas heard this in silence. Then one dada stepped forward. He said that he could not live like this where Baba was suffering so much and he was doing nothing. He was Divyanandaji.
Here is a real story of Divyanandaji
DIVYANANDAJI DIVAS
Acarya Divyanandaji was unique in the history of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. He was the first Dadhici (martyr) to die voluntarily for the beloved Guru. In this sense, He and the other self-immolators protesting the persecution of their Baba in jail, have been called Mahadadhicis.
Divyanandaji was initiated in the now re-named village of Divyanandanagar (Bola) in Mayurbhanj, Orissa. He was famous for his dedication to Baba and His mission. He used to recite Supreme Command loudly with his fist raised in the air. He also was a great sadhaka. Once a margi from Chennai was visiting Patna where Dada was staying. Before lunch everyone sat down for a quick meditation session as they were all hungry. Divyanandaji in that short session went into samadhi and remained like that for over an hour.
Acarya Divyananda Avadhuta right from the time of Baba’s imprisonment had been working to free Baba by meeting government officials, organizing protests and other activities. When Baba began His fast, Divyanandaji began fasting at the same time. However, he could not continue fasting and began taking water once again.