Bhagwan Gopinathji
A commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Centenary of Jivanmukta Bhagawan Gopinath Ji, a mystic saint of early 20th century Kashmir :
Issued by India
Issued on Jul 3, 1998
Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Bhagwan Gopinathji on the occasion of his birth centenary.
Credits :
Stamp : Sankha Samanta
FDC : Bhagwan Gopinathji Trust
Cancellation : Alka Sharma
Type : Stamp, Mint condition
Colour : Single Colour
Denomination : 300 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 Cms.
Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 Cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.
Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million
Number per issue sheet : 35
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printer : India Security Press, Nashik
Name : Gopinath Bhan
Born on Jul 3, 1898 at Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Died on May 28, 1968 at Chanda Pora, Budgam tehsil, Badgam district, Jammu & Kashmir, India
About :
- Jagadguru Bhagawan Gopinathji was one of the most eminent saints who have graced the sacred land of India. With his spiritual power, he did a lot of good to spiritual aspirants and house-holders. Though utterly detached he showed much concern for his country and its people.
- Gopinathji was born in a middle-class Kashmiri Pandit family at Banamohalla, Srinagar, Kashmir on 3rd July, 1898. He inherited spiritual fervour from his religious-minded father and mother, Gopinathji was educated only upto the middle standard but had absorbed well whatever he had been taught at school. Due to financial constraints Gopinath was asked to take up some work at the young age of about 15 or 16 and he started working at a local printing press. He however gave up that job after three years and ran a grocer’s shop where he seemed to be absent minded being absorbed in meditation.
- The noble feature of his youth was his longing to visit the great saints of that time. He regarded lust as the greatest obstacle to self-realization and it was noticed throughout his later life.
- Bhagwan Gopinathji started with a spiritual discipline known as Panchaanga-upaasanaa, i.e. meditating on the five deities – Ganesha, Surya, Naaraayana, Shiva, and Shakti. Gradually he shifted to nirgunaupaasanaa, i.e. meditating on the supreme reality without a form. Finally, in the early 30s, he took to intense saadhanaa (spiritual discipline), shutting himself in a room. His concentration was so intense and he grew so unaware of his body that a rat nibbled a hole in a heel of his. The saadhanaa cost his body to swell and made him vomit blood sometimes. During this seven year period of saadhanaa he would take no food for long period extending even to six months. Sometimes, however, he would take food in very large quantities. And he came out of this terrible ordeal with the full realization of the supreme reality. From that time onwards his life was devoted to spreading of his spiritual message all around.
- On May 28, 1968 Bhagwan Gopinathji left this mortal world for his heavenly abode. Kashmir has produced a galaxy of saints and sages from times immemorial and in recent past we have had a number of them. But few of them have left as indelible an impression on the minds of the people as Bhagwan Gopinathji. After his death, his disciples and devotees set up at Kharyar, Srinagar, an Ashram which was named after him. A sketch of the Ashram is depicted on the first day cover.
