True strength lies not in knowledge, but in devotion and discipline to a higher purpose.
True strength lies not in knowledge, but in devotion and discipline to a higher purpose.
A retired Telephone Operator In-charge from Maharana Bhopal Hospital, Udaipur, Sanjay Upadhyay has been a devoted worshipper of Goddess Maa Pitambara since the year 2000. Currently, after his retirement, he dedicates most of his time to spiritual service, wholeheartedly engaging in the worship and service of Maa Pitambara.
Apart from his worship, Sanjay Upadhyay does his utmost to address the concerns of those who approach him, ensuring they return with a sense of relief and satisfaction. He remains especially mindful of protecting devotees from deceit, making sure they are not misled by individuals who exploit faith for personal gain. His commitment lies not only in spiritual service but also in safeguarding the trust and well-being of those who come in search of hope and guidance from him.
Upadhyay shares that people approach him with a wide range of concerns—ranging from personal life struggles and legal troubles to adversities caused by enemies or even experiences of paranormal disturbances. Each case, he explains, carries its own depth and intensity, and he listens with empathy before guiding them toward a path of resolution through faith and sincere effort.
He explains that Maa Baglamukhi is revered as the Shrikul Devi. He describes that Maa’s divine energy is known as Stambhana—the power to subdue enemies and negative forces, which is a common need among those who seek her blessings. However, he emphasizes that many people carry a misconception, believing Maa to be solely a deity of Tantra. In truth, her worship is rooted in deep devotion and spiritual discipline, not limited to esoteric practices alone.
Sanjay Upadhyay highlights that in regions like Rajasthan, many people are still unaware of Maa Baglamukhi’s true strength and divine grace. He reiterates that Maa is not merely a deity associated with Tantra, as commonly misunderstood. Rather, she responds to the devotion and intention of her devotees. He explains that “If someone approaches her seeking wealth, she blesses them with prosperity,”. He adds that Maa Baglamukhi manifests herself according to the devotee’s desires—whether it's relief from legal battles, protection from enemies, healing from illness, or restoring harmony in family life. Her power, he believes, lies in her ability to answer the call of sincere faith.
Moving ahead, Sanjay Upadhyay shares that he was born and raised in the historic Arvind ji Ka Khuda area now known as Ghanta Ghar in the old city area of Udaipur, a place that still stands today, preserving its rich legacy. He was born in the Baisurgadh Ki Haveli. Reflecting on the city's past, he shares that, during his early years, the General Hospital used to be situated where the current Ayurvedic Hospital now stands in Udaipur.
Regarding his education, Sanjay Upadhyay shares that he completed his primary schooling at St. Paul’s Senior Secondary School in Udaipur. He recalls being quite a notorious child, which eventually led to his expulsion from the school. Following this, he attended Saraswati Shishu Niketan Public School in Udaipur under the guidance of his teacher Ramchandra Ji Kabra for some time. Later, his father arranged for his admission to Government Model School, where he continued his studies until the 10th grade. He then pursued his senior secondary education at Guru Gobind Singh Sr. Sec. School in Udaipur. Upadhyay further mentions that he began his first year of college at Bhupal Nobles College but, after completing his first year, he opted for non-collegiate studies in his second year. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his graduation.
Sanjay Upadhyay openly confesses that during his early years, he fell into bad company, something he never feels embarrassed to acknowledge in public. He believes that in order to speak about his future, he must first acknowledge his past. At that time, his social circle led him astray, and despite coming from a Brahmin family, he indulged in various activities that were inappropriate. This caused concern in his family, and his actions eventually led to his mother becoming tense and stressed. In an attempt to help him change, she arranged for his early marriage, but that also did not lead to the desired transformation.
Upadhyay discloses that his life has always been filled with distractions and diversions, beginning in childhood. He admits that although Maa Pitambara gave him strength, he did not have a proper guru to guide him. This lack of guidance led him to spend countless hours at the crematorium, where he would eat bread and namkeen while chanting Lord Shiva’s name. Despite the challenging path, he believes there has always been a powerful force with him. He recounts how one of the people who accompanied him to the crematorium eventually turned towards Aghor Panth practices, but the power he felt within himself prevented him from following that same path.
At that time, Sanjay's mother heard from someone about a saint who had come to the Ujjain Kumbh who may be able to help him, and she decided to take him there. Sanjay recalls that when they met Guru Ji, he openly shared his weaknesses and the negative aspects of his life. After that conversation, he left all those issues behind and began his life of spiritual healing. It was during that time that he started worshipping Maa Baglamukhi, a practice that marked the beginning of his transformation.
After the Ujjain Kumbh in 2000, Sanjay’s Guru, Acharya Shri Krishanand Ji, gave him a spiritual commandment to dedicate his life to the service of Maa Baglamukhi. Following that, he faithfully carried out the worship of the Mata with deep devotion. Initially, the rituals were performed in a conventional manner, much like other traditional Poojas. However, over time, a profound spiritual awakening began to take place inside him. Upadhaya, along with his fellow volunteers and young devotees, began to feel an undeniable divine pull toward the Maa. He recalls a turning point—while sitting near a lake, he met a modest sculptor. Inspired by a divine inner calling and the guidance of his Guru, Sanjay spoke to the sculptor about creating an idol (Murti) of Maa Baglamukhi. This Murti, born out of his Guru's vision, was consecrated in his home by his late Guru Acharya Shri Krishanand and Guru Radhe Shyam Ji, marking a major milestone in his spiritual life.
Sanjay Upadhyay shares that he perceives every God in Maa Baglamukhi, seeing different forms of divine presence, whether as Lord Ram, Rahim, or Krishna. He explains that during his younger years, while he worshipped various gods, his Guru advised him to focus on one deity for true success. His Guru emphasized that without this focus, he would spend his life wandering from one deity to another without finding true fulfillment.
Spiritual Worshipper Sanjay cites today’s generation as an example, noting how the habit of seeking immediate answers via the internet has led many to expect instant solutions. However, he stresses that spiritual growth requires Sadhana (meditation) and some Tyag (sacrifices), and only then will the divine respond. He believes that God always gives and provides, though many people mistakenly feel that they receive nothing.
Tantra Specialist Sanjay further shares a personal experience—he has slept on laps of Maa Baglamukhi but was unable to get darshan (see her), as he sees Maa as his mother. In his view, Maa Baglamukhi came to him not just as a deity but as a loving, maternal figure.
Sanjay Upadhyay emphasizes the importance of truly dedicating oneself to spiritual practices for a genuine connection with God. He points out that in today’s generation, many people read a few lines on the internet and believe they’ve become scholars, which he believes is misleading. He highlights that this superficial approach not only lacks depth but also leads to negative consequences, such as mental stress and depression. Additionally, it affects families, who often experience negative influences and other unfavorable reactions as a result of these misguided spiritual pursuits.
Reflecting on his inspirations, Upadhyay shares that his first role model was his mother, followed by his father. He explains that his father was also an astrologer and had a deep desire to worship Maa Baglamukhi. However, despite his father’s spiritual aspirations, he never received a commandment from a guru, which prevented him from truly dedicating himself to the worship of Maa Baglamukhi.
He further shares that he never expected to enter this field, but once he did, he received ordination and began chanting mantras at home, which has continually supported and guided him. Before his ordination, he took a vow of Brahmacharya in 2000, a commitment he has upheld to this day. He also mentions that he has three children from before his Brahmacharya.
Upadhyay expresses deep gratitude for the unwavering support of his wife, who has been by his side through every phase, especially during his meditation and ‘sadhana’. He highlights that whenever he stays awake through the night for his spiritual practices, his wife stays awake to support him. Additionally, she only eats when he does, showing her commitment to his spiritual life. Sanjay also emphasizes that his wife understands his devotion to the worship of Maa Baglamukhi and always stands by him, offering her full support. He further underscores that the support from his family has been essential, and he considers them his role models in this path.
Sanjay Upadhyay further shares that the lines he closely follows are:
“हे माँ जगजननी राधे राधे श्याम पीतांबरा मेरी रक्षा करना, आपके दरबार में आए हुए लोगों का भला करना”
He mentions that apart from this line, he has not read any other lines. These words hold great significance for him in his spiritual life, serving as a constant reminder of his devotion and service to Maa Baglamukhi.
Describing the challenges he has had to face, Sanjay Upadhyay shares that while he did not face any major obstacles in this field, there have been significant spiritual challenges. He explains that there are around 1.25 lakh mantras of Maa Baglamukhi, and he has completed their recital twice, with plans to complete the third round in the near future. Reflecting on his first experience with this extensive mantra ritual, he recalls committing himself to complete the 1.25 lakh mantras in just 9 days. During that period, he decided to eat only one fruit per day and dedicated his full focus to chanting the mantras.
Upadhyay highlights that during such rituals, Maa Baglamukhi creates disturbances to test the devotee's resolve. He recounts that during the ritual, Maa would demotivate him, trying to make him feel that he should abandon the practice. He experienced unsettling visions when closing his eyes, forcing him to chant with his eyes open. He performed the ritual during the night for peace and silence, but he could hear strange voices and even the sound of utensils dropping. Despite those challenges, he did not give up.
On the 8th night, as he was nearing the completion of the ritual, Upadhyay recalls a particular moment. It was almost 2:30 AM, and as he looked at the clock, he felt as if his mother had entered the room, urging him to sleep, saying that he was tired. He told her that there were still some mantras left from the 8th day, and the ritual for the 9th day was pending, and he needed to finish it by 3 PM. However, his mother insisted he sleep on her lap. After resting for just half an hour, Sanjay felt refreshed and completed the remaining mantras in just 20 minutes, a task that he believed would have taken over an hour. He states that around that time, an interview he had given was also published in Dainik Bhaskar.
After completing all his rituals, Sanjay Upadhyay recalls asking his mother why she had created a distraction during his ritual. To his surprise, his mother replied that she never came into the room. This moment made him realize that it was actually Maa Baglamukhi who had come to him in the form of his mother to give him rest. This realization marked a significant turning point in his spiritual path. From then on, Upadhyay never actively sought Maa’s presence, as he felt truly blessed by her divine grace.
He shares a powerful personal experience to illustrate the impact of Maa Baglamukhi’s blessings. Upadhyay reveals that he had suffered from a severe medical condition that left him bedridden for three years. Many people even told him that he would not survive. However, with the blessings of Maa Baglamukhi, he miraculously recovered and is still alive and well today. Although he still deals with some physical defects, particularly in his leg and stomach, he continues to meditate and recite mantras with the same vigor and energy as he did before. This resilience, according to Sanjay, is a direct result of the immense blessings he has received from Maa.
Sanjay Upadhyay offers a heartfelt message for the younger generation, urging them to move away from atheism and embrace theism. He emphasizes the importance of understanding Dharm (religion), noting its immense power and transformative potential. According to him, religion provides a deeper connection to life and guides individuals toward spiritual growth.
Upadhyay also shares advice for those interested in following a spiritual path. He stresses the importance of finding a competent Guru who can guide them properly. He encourages individuals to take directions from their Guru and to follow the teachings without deviation. He cautions against putting stock in miracles, as he believes that true spiritual progress comes through disciplined practice and commitment.
Furthermore, Sanjay highlights the limitations of knowledge found in books and online platforms. He explains that such sources only offer a transcript of information and are not complete. True knowledge, he asserts, can only be imparted by a Guru, who provides not only the wisdom but also the proper direction for an individual’s life. This, he believes, is not only true in the field of worship but applies to every area of life.
Sanjay Upadyay strongly believes that without a Guru, navigating life and its challenges becomes difficult. He encourages people to keep their faith in their Guru and in their religion, as this faith will provide the strength, guidance, and clarity needed for personal growth and fulfillment.