Dr. Hazarilal Maheshwari (known at the Sri Aurobindo ashram as Maheshwar, the name given to him by the Mother) was a versatile scholar of Indian Philosophy and of the teaching of Sri Aurobindo. He is well known to the community of truth-seekers for his works in English and Hindi on the Bhagavad Gita in the light of Sri Aurobindo. As a seeker, devotee and disciple of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, he served Them with integrity of knowledge, devotion and dynamic action throughout his life.
Dr. Hazarilal Maheshwari was born on March 20, 1921 in U.P. He had his postgraduation with first class first position in Philosophy from Banaras Hindu University in 1945. He obtained his Doctorate from Agra University in 1958. As a student he had the privilege of being taught by great scholars of international repute like Dr. S. K. Maitra, Dr. B. L. Atreya, Dr. T. R. V. Murti and Prof. Radhakrishanan in Banaras Hindu University.
From 1946 to 1971 he served as a professor of Philosophy and the Head of the Department in Degree Colleges. After having served as the Head of the Philosophy Department in Kishori Raman Degree College, Mathura, he joined the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, Vrindaban, as its first principal.
Maheshwar-ji came early under the influence of Sri Aurobindo, and in 1971, taking an early retirement, he joined the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry as a seeker, devotee and disciple of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and served them with the integrity of knowledge, devotion and dynamic action through his life.
At the ashram, he was a professor of philosophy at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. He was steeped in the atmosphere of the Mother and of the ashram and toured extensively all parts of India, giving many talks at the centres and branches of the Sri Aurobindo Society. He also organized education camps for teachers of Integral Schools and was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Research in Social Sciences. In the mid-90s, Maheshwar-ji was selected for the endowed chair for Sri Aurobindo studies at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University in Anand, Gujarat, and served there for a number of years. In 1992, Maheshwar-ji installed the relics of Sri Aurobindo at the Sri Aurobindo Center of Los Angeles on 15th August, Sri Aurobindo’s Birthday.
The areas of his studies and writings were: The Gita, Indian Culture and Indian Philosophy, Contemporary Saints and Thinkers of India, Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga and Philosophy Education and New Future of India in the light of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. He has written numerous articles and the following books: 1. Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Sri Aurobindo (Text & Translation) 2. The Gita’s Gospel in Sri Aurobindo’s Light (A Thematic Study) 3. Sri Aravinda ke Alok mein Gita ka Divya Sandesh (Hindi) 4. The Philosophy of Swami Rama Tirtha.
On May 19, 2002, he took his eternal abode in his Master’s Eternal Consciousness.
We take this opportunity to salute his poised yogic consciousness, sthita-prajna, and the sincerity, dedication and detailed perfection that was his life.