Mataji Krishna Priya

Krishna Priya (18 November 1923 – 5 December 1987) was a devotee of Lord Krishna

Early and domestic life

Krishna Priya was born on Sunday, 18 November 1923, at Parlakimidi to Arardhi Jogubai and Arardhi Hanumantha Rao, a Telugu Madhwa Brahmin couple. Krishna had education at Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh) and was considered a child prodigy as she excelled in studies, music, paintings and sports. She was married to Koduganti Sheshagiri Rao at Gondia, Maharashtra in May 1936. Koduganti Sheshagiri Rao's family hailed from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh and he was then working in Post and Telegraphs Department at Nagpur, Mahrashtra. She was sent to her in-laws' house at Nagpur in February 1938. They had four children: two sons Radhakrishna and Vijayanand, and two daughters Sundari and Meera. She renounced married life after handing over the responsibilities of her household and children to her younger sister Rukmini in March 1953.

Visions and miracles

Krishna's celestial vision was revealed in 1925, when she was 2 years old. Her younger brother Dattatreya was suffering from high fever and at midnight, her parents were awakened by her shrill calls of "buchi" (meaning a frightful person), crying and pointing to her younger brother, who had died.

She had first vision on her Guru Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in 1931, at the age of eight. Sai Baba of Shirdi appeared and reminded her that she had been his disciple since several births and assured her of his continuing instruction and protection. There after, she had many visions of Sai Baba of Shirdi and deities including Lakshmi Narayan, Gopal (Krishna) and Lord Krishna. Many of which left a telltale mark on those present during such occasions.

Her life has been characterised by many miracles experienced by those who were close to her. In 1950, she miraculously recovered from an illness, which left her with near death experience. During her recovery, she had frequent visions of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Raghavendra Swami of Mantralayam, who left her with three lines of Vibhuti on her forehead, Theertham and askhinta sprinkled around her cot after each vision. Her husband Sheshagiri Rao and her household servants experienced many miracles like her being present in two places at the same time and chores being done in her absence. Also many of her associates like Dr. Pillay, Viswanathan Chetty, M.K.N. Pillay, Yerramilli Ramachandra Rao (Chanchala) and others experienced miracles which they attribute to her. In 1963, during Rama Navami celebrations at Ramachandrapuram, Andhra Pradesh, she revealed "Aatma Jyothi" to her devotees. In 1971, at the request of her devotee Pushadapu Veera Swamy during Gurupournima celebrations at Ramachandrapuram, she made Ganges flow from her right toe.

Ashrams and activities

In 1953, Jyosula Ramachandra Rao (Jnani) established Sai Samaj at Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh in the name of Sri Krishna Bai and a temple was constructed by Shyamabhakta which was complete by Rama Navami in 1954. On 11 April 1954, the deities Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi Sai Baba of Shirdi along with Radha and Lord Krishna were installed in this temple. Sriramanavami (Rama Navami) (also the day of Sai Baba's birth) and Gurupournima are celebrate here by the devotees.

In 1958, Mathaji Krishnapriya decided to build an ashram at a lonely and scenic place. She entrusted the task of finding the location to her disciple Chandrasekhar Rao (Bandhita) and Kala Venkata Rao then Minister in Andhra Pradesh Government. Kala Venkata Rao discussed this with Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the then Governor of Madhya Pradesh, who suggested Pachmarhi, a hill station in Madhya Pradesh. Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Kala Venkata Rao, Chandrasekhar Rao (Bandhita) and other devotees bought a spacious bungalow set in a four-acre compound called "Fern Vale" from an English couple named "Hogshaws". In Telugu New Year's Day of 1959, the same was registered and "Fern Vale" was renamed as "Shyam Vihar". The bungalow was converted into an ashram and in May 1961, the deities were installed as per Vedic rites. The ashram in Pachmarhi remained her abode till 1973, whence the ashram was moved to Nagpur, at the request of devotees, where it is currently situated. In May 1974, the deities were re-installed in the newly constructed "Shyam Vihar" at Nagpur and Mathaji Krishnapriya, made it her permanent residence till her last days.

Mathaji Krishnapriya wrote a concise version of Sri Sai Satcharitra for the purpose of Paaraayana (daily recitation as a form of prayer), which she dedicated to her guru "Jagatguru Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi" on 20 July 1978. This book is popular among devotees as a wish-fulfilling and peace giving holy book.

On 7 November 1981, the "Sai Krishna Seva Samiti", a society of devotees, was registered with registration number 451 at Visakhapatnam by Chandrasekhar Rao (Bandhita) with the blessings of Mathaji Krishnapriya with the purpose of renovating and maintaining the temple at Ramachandrapuram, to create facilities for devotees and to propagate the divine message of Mathaji and publish religious literature.

Death

Krishnapriya died on 5 December 1987 at M.V. Hospital for Diabetes at Chennai.

Books on Mathaji Krishnapriya

• SriKrishna Sadguru Bodhamritam in Telugu (spiritual teachings of Mathaji)
• Shri Sadguru Mathaji Divya Charitamu (biography of Mathaji) by 'Mallika'
• Divine life story of Mathaji (English translation of 11 above) by Dr. M. Srinivas Rao.
• Amma sannidhiye Anandam (bliss at the Feet of Mathaji) by Dr. M. Srinivasa rao
• Katha Shrikrishnapriya Ki (Sadguru Mathaji Krishnapriya ki Divya Jeevni) Translated in Hindi by Rakesh Mohan Kaushik (Available on Amazon)

Books by Mathaji Krishnapriya and her disciples

• Shri Sai Satcharitra by Mathaji Krishnapriya in Telugu (original)
• Shri Sai Satcharitra in English (translation by Dr. P.V. Narasimha Rao)
• Shri Sai Satcharitra in Kannada (translation by S. Krishna Murty) [3]
• Shri Sai Satcharitra in Marathi (translation by Prof. Paithankar)
• Shri Sai Satcharitra in Oriya (translation by Dr. M. Srinivasa Rao)
• Shri Satcharitamritam in Telugu by Mathaji Krishnapriya
• Bhaktimala—Bhajans by Mathaji & disciples – Part 1
• Bhaktimala—Bhajans by Mathaji 7 disciples – Part2
• Shri Gajaanan Maharaj Charitra by 'Mallika'
• Shri Sainatha Sadguru Sagunopasana
• Shri Sai Shasra Namaavali
• Sri Suukta, Purusha Suukta Sahita Puja Vidhanam.

Audio CDs by Mathaji Krishnapriya's disciples

• "Sri Sai Satcharitra" for daily recitation read by Surampudi Venkateswara Rao and Dr. S. Sudha

• Divine Life Story of Sri Sadguru Mataji Krishnapriya, Published by Sai Krishna Seva Samithi, Visakhapatnam.
• Mathaji Krishnapriya's Website run by Sai Krishna Seva Samithi [4]
• A blog on Mathaji Krishnapriya by Krishna [5]
• Is Sai Baba Living and Helping Now by Sri Narasimhaswamiji describes some of the miracles and near death experiences of Mathaji Krishnapriya and of her husband Sri K. Sheshagiri Rao along with experiences of some of her associates [6]
• List of publications [7]
• Smt. Bharam Mani Umamaheshwara Rao makes a mention of her experience in meeting Mathaji Krishna Priya in Ramachandrapuram in 1985 in her book My Live with Sri Sai Baba [8]