Various difficulties occurred throughout this austere practice. Firstly the physical body was subject to a rigorous routine of forced immobility which lead to enormous pain in the body. Also the mind was being cleansed of its acquired impressions, but this combined with the increased concentration power of the mind meant that the mind's power of illusion multiplied, leading to experiencing powerful visions and manifestations. Some were very tempting and some terrifically frightening, and all appeared as real as the world around us. With such visions appearing as real as the world around us, the strength of the tapasvin's (one performing tapas) determination and detachment was tested to the maximum. His beloved Swamiji appeared in a manifested form each month to guide, inspire and encourage Him throughout the grueling sadhana. During one such sacred occasion in the fourth year of his tapas, His Divine Guru  blessed Him with a new name - 'Shivarudra Balayogi' - 'Shiva' signifying the state of complete stand-stillness of the mind, 'Bala' being one of mother Parvati's names, and 'Yogi' denoting one who has attained Yoga - the permanent union of the mind with the Supreme Peace of Infinite Pure Consciousness - the Self.

Finally after nearly five years of confinement in the ashram room, with His mind now cleansed of its acquired impressions and resting effortlessly in the immortal Self, He faced one final test.

On the day of Kartik Shuklapaksham in the Indian calendar, 16th November 1999 He was summoned from Samadhi by the wondrous manifestation of the deity Ardhanarishwara(5) - Lord Shiva and mother Parvati in one form. As He prostrated in rapture, They blessed Him,

"Now that We have come due to your tapas,you do not require your Guru and can go ahead to get many followers."

But this was the crucial final test to see if any remnant ego remained in any form - whether the total surrender of the mind into the immortal Self had occurred.

As no such worldly desire remained, the words sprang spontaneously from His heart,

" I want only the Lotus feet of my Guru. I offer my life at the Lotus feet of the Divine Guru who helped and guided me to this. So Please, if You want to bless me, bless me that I can always remain at the Lotus Feet of my Guru and serve Him and work according to my Guru's guidance.

It is the Guru's Grace which is needed and nothing else. Whatever the Guru, my beloved Swamiji, wants I will do and there is no other desire."

The Divine form smiled at this reply and with a blessing that the Guru's Grace would descend, disappeared. As the form vanished, Shivarudra Balayogi witnessed His beloved divine Guru Sri Shivabalayogi materializing in the same place where Ardhanarishwara had stood. Blessing His dear disciple, he instructed Him,

"After you come out of tapas, inspire the people of this world to practice dhyana and know their true Self. Through this practice they can achieve Total Peace."

Thus with the mind completely settled in the Supreme Peace of the Infinite Self  and permanently resting there effortlessly, His tapas had reached its successful completion and the goal of all human existence.

The Mission Continues
On 23rd November 1999, after five years in tapas, Sri Shivarudra Balayogistepped forth to carry on his Guru's mission. He now travels the world spreading the message and name of his beloved guru Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi. He describes the aim of all spiritual pursuits simply, but completely.
           
'The mind has come out of the Divine Self.

It  is only ever searching for happiness and peace, but cannot permanently find these in the creation, as nothing in this creation is permanent.

Only by returning to its true nature can the mind find permanent peace - in the Pure Consciousness of the Self.
This can be achieved through meditation, devotion and selfless service.'

'You have forgotten your real Self.
You are that abode of Supreme Peace which you are seeking.'