ಸದಸ್ಯರ ಚರ್ಚೆಪುಟ:DR.C.RAMASWAMY/ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಯೋಗಪುಟ
(1) Investigation and Publication of Dr. C. Rama Swamy :
Dr. C. Rama Swamy M.B.B.S Ph.D. ( U.S.A )
Founder and Director :
Reincarnation Research Centre
Bangalore - 560 004
India
PUNARJANMA MONTHLY JOURNAL REINCARNATION CASES
A few typical case histories of Spontaneous recalling of rebirth memories in children that isinstances of recalling of previous births by person about himself as another identified person.
(1) CASE OF SHANTI DEVI
Surpassing all bounds of human comprehension, and yet so very credible, the amazingly verifiable case of Rebirth of Shanti Devi was reported exactly 80 years ago.
Though sensational in its outward appearance, it was grounded in hard-core facts when the veracity of experience was questioned. We are left with no doubt as to its authenticity, and Shanti Devi’s experiences of pre-existence and re-birth confirm well in their basic, and essential details. This was investigated in 1936 by the International Aryan League of Delhi which consisted of members known for their critical intelligence, competence and wide learning.
And in 1937, when this report first appeared, people at large were made to think seriously about instances of rebirth and their validity to the present existence. Not only did the leading Indian newspapers but also those abroad published this, as a spectacular event.
Shanti Devi was born on 12th October 1926 in a small village near Delhi. She belonged to the traditional Hindu family. Even as a child of 3, she started narrating certain major events of her previous birth, which astounded and puzzled her parents. It was in 1912 that her past life had begun, coming to a close prematurely young in 1925. Whatever occurrences, related to this span of life, came to her Memory vividly: and as though habituated to that kind of living she intensely busied herself in recollection. Her home town in her previous birth was Muttra. A town sixty miles from Delhi.
Since there was this revival of the past, she expressed her eagerness to go there. She looked sullen and rather disappointed even at the slightest symptom of indifference on the part of her parents about this Matter. Frankly, she wanted to meet all her kith and kin, friends and well-wishers at Muttra. she persisted in requesting her parents to take her there for a meeting. The details she described about the house and the members connected with the family seemed to have emerged out of the heart of an inmate who must have certainly lived together under that roof.
Not in a mood to disregard the child’s longing ultimately the parents agreed to take Shanti Devi to the city of Muttra. Before they started they made some correspondence.
A grand uncle of the girl was called. Shanti Devi gave him the address of her husband in the previews birth. She said that her former name was Lugdi and she was married to a cloth merchant Called Kedarnath Choubey. She also stated that she died ten days after giving birth to a male child. Now inquiries were afoot. A letter was posted to her 'husband'-Pundit Kedarnath. Surprisingly though, there was prompt response from Pundit Kedarnath of Muttra. In his letter he had suggested to the inquiring party to get in touch with his relation Pundit Kanjimal who was employed in Messrs. Bane Mal Guitar Mal, Delhi. Besides he wrote a. letter to this relation of his to interview the child, Shane Devi. Now the pursuit started in right earnest. At this point of time Kanji Mal was brought into her Presence. There was instantaneous recognition as far as Shanti Devi was concerned. Not only did she recognise and Place him as the younger cousin of her-husband but answered the minute and intricate questions put to her. Moreover, there was an absolute fidelity to the several details and these were the solid facts of an intimate nature Naturally this created a stir, and the inquiring committee was roused greatly to probe into all the facts, events and experiences of Shanti- Devi Past life. Now the committee, the parents and Kanji Mal called Pundit Kedarnath, to Delhi. At this request, Pundit Kedarnath made a trip from Muttra to Delhi, accompanied by his present(second) wife and the ten-year old son to meet Shanti Devi.
At the, very first sight of Pundit Kedarnath Shanti Devi recognised her husband most spontaneously. She was suddenly moved by the figure of her son, (of her previous birth) and began to shed tears because of separation. A long discussion went on. Shanti Devi's recollections were genuine. Her statements about marital life tallied in their essential nature. Pundit Kedarnath found it absolutely impossible to distrust anything she shared, that only a wife would. In the face of such accurate experiences, Pundit Kedarnath was not only overwhelmed but acknowledged that Shanti Devi was certainly his life partner and companion, in her previous existence. He was attached to his dear, wife of his; her death was a bolt from the blue. Later he reconciled himself to second wedding. That was how things had happened, as though inevitably.
Now a totally fascinating thing took place - as the outcome of the meeting and family conversation - Shanti Devi strongly expressed that she would like to go back to Muttra, along with her 'husband'. She mentioned the several particulars related to the location of her house, etc. About the surrounding regions, she was correct in her description: Vishrant Ghat, the temple of Dwarakadish where she offered flowers to the deity regularly, which only the former wife of Pundit Kedarnath alone could have known vowing herself to such a religious life.
There was another ‘disclosure of fact which startled everyone there, When She said that she had hidden one hundred rupees underground, Which amount was ear-marked for Dwarakadhish. Now the time was ripe for a real scrutiny of this statement, in its factual position. Often She longed for going to Muttra. The parents of Shanti Devi couldn't help noticing it in her ways of expression. Now they thought they could take her to Muttra. In addition, the inquiry committee of 15 members persuaded the parents to give the girl an opportunity to go there. Therefore all of them started off for Muttra. As the train reached the platform of Muttra Railway station, the child Shanti Devi shouted with joy : “My dear Muttra....My dear Muttra”. An elderly man by name Babu Ram Chaubey, dressed in typical Muttra style, had come there to receive the party.
The moment Shanti saw this person, she rushed to him, bent low and touched his feet - and she stated that the person was no other than her brother-in-law, elder brother to her husband. Of course, that was true. The eye-witnesses present there were pleasantly surprised as well as stunned. It seemed as though it was an act of instinct, everything so natural and homely. Further surprises were awaiting ! The place was a familiar one to Shanti. She directed the Tonga driver along the roads like the one who had been living there. No difficulty whatever in taking the roads, and the turns to reach the house.
During the course of this trip towards home, the members of the committee asked her many interesting questions associated with the city of Muttra. Answers were made satisfactorily. Shanti Devi went through every test successfully, and there was hardly any flaw about the description she provided. Now she was taken to the Dharmashala. In a twinkle of an eye she recognised her ‘brother’ of her previous birth. He was in his twenties now. She also saluted her uncle-in-law who happened to come there then. This was no babble of the child there was no fabrication of any kind. It was impossible to dismiss anything she said as mere jabbering’s or partings of a girl, over worked in her mind. Later when she was taken to her domestic set up she expressed her shock and dismay at the absence of the well in the courtyard. As facts would go, there was a well all right, but a stone slab had been put on it, covering the top completely. She felt happy when Kedarnath lifted the stone and showed her the well water. She was also able to identify Chaubey’s old father. After this Shanti Devi was taken upstairs; and there she ran to that spot where she had hidden one hundred rupees, underground. She dug up the hole in haste to take her money out. But she was disappointed since there was no money. Now confessed Pundit Kedaranath that he had removed that cash after his wife’s death, now reincarnated in the form of girl Shanti Devi.
The party then proceeded to the parental abode of Shanti. While the girl recognised the former parents among 50 other persons and kissed them giving details of her filial love, they sank into continued sobs. It was not a small job for the spectators to wean the girl away from her parents, of the previous birth. Shanti Devi's meticulous narration of the ‘parental love’, she received from her parents, testified to it wholly. No exaggeration at all. For that matter it was a scene reconstructed from the depths of the past. she used idioms of speech common in Muttra Vishrant Ghat was another place she frequented. Surprise after surprise made Shanti’s parents (of this birth), members of the officially constituted committee, her ‘husband’ and others watch and verify details only to get convinced of the truth.
The investigation into reincarnation as it is currently carried out in a scholarly responsible way, was for the first time brought to the attention of Western investigators by Dr. Ian Stevenson in 1960. In that year he wrote an article about the evidence for survival after death, based on claimed memories of previous lives. The case of Shanti Devi is an example of such a case. Stevenson's approach has earned much respect in the West. However, apart from Stevenson, an important part of reincarnation research is also being carried out by other Western investigators, such as H.G. Andrade, Erlendur Haraldsson, Peter and Mary Harrison, and by Asian researchers such as Jamuna Prasad, S. Pasricha, K.S. Rawat and Godwin Samararatne.