About Mohan

Mohan was born in Lahore in 1928, before it was separated from India. His family were Rajputs and Hindus.  He was the eldest of 5 children (4 boys, 1 girl). ‘Mohan’ is one of the names of Lord Krishna and expresses the heart attraction of human kind to Lord Krishna.

Mohan’s mother, Jessibai

His early life

Mohan left home at the age of 8 to seek work. He wandered around India for several years until he arrived in Bangalore. There he worked in a laundry ironing clothes for sunrise to sunset, for 8 years. In his spare time, he took violin lessons from Vajinat, a master who lived nearby.

Mohan playing violin

Mohan’s violin master, Vajinat

Becoming a photographer

After some time, Mohan met Ayudhiy Nath,  a photographer who asked him to act as his assistant. This man became his master, teaching him the secrets of photography. They struck up a strong relationship and the master wanted Mohan to stay with him for the rest of his life. However, Mohan found that he had to look for something more spiritual.

Mohan’s photography master, Ayudhiy Nath

While searching for his spiritual place, Mohan built a small wooden box with the help of a carpenters. He bought a lens which he set in the box, to act as his camera. He then roamed around India taking photos.

See: Mohan’s cameras

Settling in Ganeshpuri

Mohan married and had a son. He continued roaming the country, doing photography to make a living. In the early 50s, he brought his family to Ganeshpuri. His wife was sick of travelling and convinced him that they should settle in the village and find a permanent home there.

He came to know a shopkeeper, Muttapa Shetty (originally from Mangalore), who suggested a business arrangement.  Mohan would take photos of villagers and visiting devotees and he would develop and sell them.  He also had a small apartment that Mohan could rent. Mohan agreed.

Mohan’s house

Their relationship developed over time and the shopkeeper came to love Mohan. He stopped charging rent for his accommodation, and eventually came to him with another proposition – he wanted to transfer ownership of the small lodging into Mohan’s name.  He said he had enough property.

Muttapa Shetty

Mohan was very surprised, and initially rejected this generous offer. But the shopkeeper was insistent.  He had transfer of ownership papers drawn up by a lawyer, and signed them.  Within 24 hours, the shopkeeper was dead. He had a fatal heart attack. Mohan said nothing would surprise him after this extraordinary event.

Mohan at the front of his house, with a makeshift veranda set up for monsoon season

Mohan’s loyal assistant, Balram

During the years Mohan worked as a photographer in Ganeshpuri, his assistant was Balram.  Mohan worked alone for some years, but his wife convinced him to take on Balram as his assistant. Balram was 14 at the time.

Mohan said that over the years, Balram never complained about or objected to doing anything. Mohan would ask, and Balram would do the work immediately.

He was so loyal that when Mohan died, Balram insisted that his body be washed with holy water from the hot spring kunda at Nityananda’s samadhi mandir. The river was much closer, but Balram made many trips back and forth carrying buckets of water.

Mohan’s relationship with Bhagawan Nityananda

Soon after Mohan arrived in Ganeshpuri, he met Bhagawan Nityananda. He remembered his first meeting –  seeing a huge fellow covered only on a loincloth.  They used to talk each day, which was unusual. Nityananda was mostly silent.

Mohan always attended the arati at the temple, even in his last years when he was not very mobile. He used to give the prasad from the temple to the dogs and crows. He said they were souls looking for salvation.

Mohan insisted that Ganeshpuri was the centre of the universe – as he wrote here on this piece of paper

Mohan’s relationships with visitors to Ganeshpuri

Mohan lived in Ganeshpuri for the last 50 years of his life. During this time many Nityananda devotees met him, especially those who came to buy photos. They left with much more. Mohan would tell them stories about Nityananda, and share his love for his guru. Pilgrims who had never met him would gather around to  hear first-hand stories of Bhagawan Nityananda.

People would often try to give Mohan things—clothes or money, usually—but he would always resist accepting them.  Occasionally he would take one or two things that he needed, but ask you to give the rest to someone else who needed them more.

One time I was with him, some pilgrims from Kerala approached him as we left the samadhi shrine. They asked ‘Baba can you tell us something about Bhagawan Nityananda. One shopkeeper pointed you out and said you know a lot from those days’.  Mohan told them many things, and they asked many questions. Then they tried to offer him Rs500. He refused, but they begged him to take the money. I told him he should accept the money, because he might otherwise hurt their feelings.  He accepted, and then we walked around the temple—about 150 metres. By the time we got around, he had only Rs20 in his hand. He’d given the rest to beggars. He laughed and said ‘Well my dear son Eldad, that should be enough for chai’.

Mohan’s passing

When Mohan left his body, his assistant Balram and friends Murli, Nilesh and Aka, along with his neighbours stayed with him and held his hands. After he passed, two generous women neighbours washed him and dressed him.  Balram helped by bring hot spring water from the temple kunda. That night he was cremated on the banks of the Tansa River.

When I go to Ganeshpuri now, I admit, I’m still looking for him. I turn from the main road down the small alley where his house stood. Always, I visit his neighbours. They all call me Mohan’s son.

Memorial for Mohan

After his passing, I arranged for this memorial plaque to be created. It now hangs in the shop once owned by Mohan. Today it is an Ayurvedic pharmacy that sells medicine for Sadanand Baba and is run by Mohan’s former assistant, Balram.

Mohan’s memorial plaque

Eldad Devendra Levy