Tapas
Thus began His transforming sadhana(5) of tapas(6), during which He continued in deep meditation for about 23 hours a day with only a brief daily break for light bodily sustenance and to bathe. He faced many difficulties in His endeavour, initially from some in the village who thought this was all a pretence and shame- some even took the opportunity to cause mischief, some beating His body when he was in meditation, while one person even draped a burning kerosene-soaked cloth over His leg. Sathyaraju was so absorbed in meditation that he was unaware of these things except when He emerged from His meditative state, but eventually after some months He decided to move to the village burial ground to avoid any of this unnecessary harassment, feeling that His tormentors might be reluctant to approach Him so readily in such a place.

While His troubles caused by the villagers was eliminated by this strategy, unfortunately here His body was attacked by insects and rodents, and even eventually bitten by a cobra, though divine intervention protected Him from the serpent's venom. The Jangama sage came to Him in visitations periodically to protect, guide, encourage and inspire Him in His endeavours. After a year, a dhyana mandir (meditation room) was constructed for Him and He continued His tapas, but He found He had lost the function in His limbs. He continued on thus for three more years, until the Jangama sage on one of His visits miraculously restored the use of His limbs, though the fingers of His hands remained bent and immobile for the rest of the body's life.

After four years of intense tapas spent in samadhi(7) for about 23 hours a day, Sathyaraju, now referred to as a Balayogi [boy Yogi(8)] was subsequently initiated into tapas facing each of the four cardinal directions. He had already during these initial four years been facing East, so His Guru then directed Him to turn towards the North then subsequently He was directed to face towards the West and finally South, thus completing the cycle of tapas facing all four directions over an eight year period. He then was directed to face towards the East again and continued that for a further 4 year period, during which time He was also instructed by His Guru to reduce His meditation period to 12 hours a day, to give darshan(9) to those who came, and also to offer initiation into the meditation He Himself had practiced during His tapas.

Realisation and Mission
In early June 1961, He passed into Nirvikalpa Samadhi and after two months in early August He was aroused from this samadhi by His Divine Guru. It was revealed to Him that His Guru had always been Lord Shiva, coming in the form of the Jangama Rishi to guide Him through his tapas. Lord Shiva, and Parvati, His consort who accompanied Him, then told the Balayogi that His tapas was now complete and that He was now free to roam about at will.

"You may now go wherever You like and do whatever You wish," They said.
Spontaneously He replied, "I had no desire of my own to do this tapas; it was under Your direction that I performed this. Now I have also no desire for anything and will do whatever You direct me to do."

Pleased with the answer, Lord Shiva then instructed Him to arouse the dormant spirituality of the people of this world through His darshan and initiation into the unique method of dhyana. He was also instructed to distribute blessed vibhuti (sacred ash) and guide sadhaks (spiritual aspirants) towards bhakti marga to help them in their struggles on the spiritual path. Shankara Bhagwan then told Him that henceforth He should use the name "Shiva Bala Yogeshwara ". Later He adapted this title to "Shiva Bala Yogi" as He felt the title "Yogeshwara" might be misconstrued by people to imply that He was equated with "Ishwara" (Supreme Lord).

Finally on 7th August 1961, after twelve years of austere tapas, Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj melodiously chanted the holy "Om" and emerged from the dhyana mandir to bless with His darshan, the crowd of more than three hundred thousand who had gathered for this miraculous event.

He initially stayed in Adivarapupeta and an ashram, called Adi Ashram, was established there; but as His name spread, He began touring first south India where an ashram which formed the administrative centre of His Mission was established in Bangalore and then later established a further ashram at Ananthapur. Touring north India, ashrams were established there in Dehra Dun and Sambhar Lake. He also toured overseas carrying on the Mission assigned to Him, giving darshan, blessings and dhyana diksha (initiation into dhyana meditation) to those who sort His spiritual guidance.

He attained Mahasamadhi on 28th March 1994 but continues to inspire and guide His sincere devotees throughout the world. Physically He is gone, but His Presence remains undiminished.