Samparka

Guru Bhakta Bheṭ!

By Padmā Chikarmane

The year was 1978. Parama Pūjya Parijñānāshram Swāmījī wanted to spend His time in ekānta. Shrī Nalkūr Shrīpād mām wished that someone would go and see if Swāmījī required anything, so he asked my father Shrī Rāmdās Haṭṭiaṅgaḍī to go and meet Swāmījī. My father was a simple, sincere person and had been actively involved in Mat͟h activities such as Vantigā collection, and was an ardent devotee of our Guru. He immediately agreed to go to Gaṇeshpurī, where Swāmījī was staying. 

The very next day, Rāmdās left early in the morning carrying food (breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner) lovingly prepared by my mother Ahilyā Haṭṭiaṅgaḍī, for Swāmījī and the caretaker at the kuṭīr. He dutifully continued to do this every morning for several days. He would hand over the food to the caretaker from the rear of the kuṭīr. Then he would travel by train to Churchgate for his job at Grindlays Bank.

A few days passed and Swāmījī enquired about the food that was being dropped off daily. He wanted to meet the person who was responsible for this. The next day, Swāmījī opened the door when the food was being dropped off and asked Rāmdās to come in.

Rāmdās was thrilled…

“I clasped and hugged Thy Feet and looted boundless bliss!”

Tukārām said “Now I am in raptures, Let me sing the Divine Name wholeheartedly!”

क्षेम आलिंगन दिली पायी मिठी। 

घेतलीसे लूटी अमूप हो॥ 

तुका म्हणे आता आनंदी आनंद। 

गाऊ परमानंद मना संगे॥

Swāmījī was also very happy to see his bhakta. Thus the Guru and Bhakta came into contact. He showered his grace and love on Rāmdās. Rāmdās was very happy to spend a day there and have lunch with Swāmījī. In the evening, Swāmījī asked Rāmdās to come and stay at Gaṇeshpurī. 

गुरु उपदेश होताचि, अंतर दृष्टि उघडली| 

What a divine Guru Kṛpā!

My father spoke with my mother and they decided to go to Gaṇeshpurī the very next day and immerse themselves in Guru Sevā. Across from Swāmījī’s kuṭīr was a two room self-contained house. When they opened the door, a swarm of honeybees rushed out, but in no time they disappeared. Next morning, they were blessed with HH Swāmījī’s darshana. Bhakta and Guru became one. Their daily Sevā began, and my mother cooked food for everyone.

Thus began my parents’ divine journey. The Guru always acts with a divine purpose to uplift his devotees, which we do not understand.

Episode 2: “Dhāv gheti bhaktā sāt͟hī!

Often, due to our ignorance, we do not understand the Power of our Guru….

Once Swāmījī seemed seriously ill and was admitted to Nānāvaṭī Hospital in Mumbaī. On doctors’ advice, bottles of blood were arranged for. However, the next day, all of Swāmījī’s blood tests and reports were clear. He was absolutely fine!

In an adjacent ward, one āmchī maam was admitted and needed a few bottles of blood. Somehow his wife got the news about Swāmījī and she came to have darshana. Swāmījī blessed her and mām, and told her not to worry. As the blood group was the same, Swāmījī asked for all those blood bottles to be given to that mām. Soon the mām received proper treatment and recovered quickly.

This shows Guru’s love towards his devotees.

Episode 3: “Santāchi Phalati Namostute Mhaṇatā!

In Murḍeshwar, near Shirālī, there lived a Sāraswat Brāhmaṇa. He was a great devotee of H.H. Shrīmat Keshavāshram Swāmījī. Unfortunately, his son lacked the ability to speak. He planned to perform his son’s upanayanam at Shirālī, where he could also seek Swāmījī’s darshan. Swāmījī blessed the child. A few days after returning home, the boy started to utter a few words and eventually was able to speak normally.

A similar incident occurred at H.H. Parijñānāshram Swāmījī’s camp at Loṇāval̄ā. A family arrived for Swāmījī’s darshana. Swāmījī lifted their son on to His lap and asked his name. To the parents’ surprise, the boy told Swāmījī his name. Until that time, the boy had not been able to talk.

Thus was our Guru. Kind and affectionate.
 

Episode 4: Ārati on the special occasion

H.H. Parijñānāshram Swāmījī’s janmotsava was celebrated every year at Jñānānand in Kārlā, and after morning pūjā, prasāda bhojana was served to everyone. An evening musical programme, cake cutting and Ārati were scheduled. Swāmījī asked Rāmdās and Ahilyā to perform Ārati. What a divine moment! Ārati is considered the most divine act, expressing a bhakta-s love towards

The Guru. “मंगला आरति करिन भावे सद्गुरु रायांसि” Guru showers His Kṛpā dṛs͟hṭi on His loving devotee.

Samādhi Chaitanya