Swāmījī is coming to USA and Canada!
By Anila Maskeri
What excitement! The anticipation, expectations of the Bhānap laity were immense. The news spread quickly, and preparations commenced immediately. Meetings were called and we hurried to make arrangements for our dear Swāmījī to be amongst us for eight weeks in the summer of 1979. What a BOON!
Excitement yes, enthusiasm galore. It was a small community then, of some 60-odd people.
Pūjya Swāmījī arrived in the morning from USA at our home and was received with Kuṅkuma water, garlanded and then presented with the ”Māna Patra”. Much happines prevailed over all who were present. For days prior to HH’s arrival, being inexperienced, I was quite anxious about how to receive, converse, and interact with spiritual dignitaries; so I prayed to Him to guide me at all times and that this visit be a successful and memorable one.
Swāmījī Himself put me in a comfortable frame of mind. He adjusted to the environment effortlessly and put everyone at ease, so life flowed very smoothly thereafter. All had a prayerful and enjoyable time. His kindness, serenity, silence and jovial touch, all helped to make all of us feel very comfortable and blessed indeed. It was Swāmījī’s wish that He should not be treated differently, but just like another member of the group. When all the members got used to His appealing manner, the outcome was all the more enjoyable.
When Lord Bhavānīshaṅkar comes into one’s home, every activity centers around timely daily pūjā-s, naivedya and offerings by various people. There were also the daily meals, rest periods, local sightseeing and educational trips with related activities, invitations by local communities and individuals.
Some the highlights
• A day trip to see one of the grandest of all God’s Creations – The Niagara Falls – from all three levels
• Some fruit farms along the way with free fruit to pick and eat, and fruit to buy; apple varieties and strawberries – the King of Canadian fruit.
• Landscaped Gardens
• The ocean-like Lake Ontario, with all its attractions.
• Dairy farming and milk production and distribution.
• Week-long visits to Ottawa and Montreal, Manitoba, and Mississauga – where a thread ceremony was celebrated.
• Last but not least – A trip to Toronto’s Ward Island.
All the members and guests helped to add joy, fun and hard work in one way or another to every event. No write up would be complete without due acknowledgment to all those who are still fresh in my memory, though it is failing due to age.
Shrī. Sadānand Maṅkikar was appointed the President and he coordinated the entire visit with great thought to detail. Late Shrī. Māsur Bhālchandramām volunteered as an additional Paṇḍitjī and attended to all the morning duties of cleaning etc. for Lord Bhavānīshaṅkar along with the Mat͟h appointed Bhaṭṭu-s and performed pūjā-s daily as his personal contribution. He also kept a vigilant eye on the safety of the Lord and our Gurudeva. Various members offered to escort Gurudeva to places that HH Swāmījī wanted to see plus, the regular local sights of interest. Shrī. Ashok Kuchināḍ from London, Ontario designed and made two āsana-s for the Paṇḍitjī-s to use during pūjā-s.
Finally, my dear mother Smt. Indīrābaī Shrīpād Maṅkikar who was the Queen of the kitchen. She was a Senior Citizen in her 80’s and planned all the daily menus doing the bulk of the delicious daily cooking punctually. For Ananta Chaturdashī she had planned and prepared for 800 “Pūraṇapol̄ī-s” to be made. It was only in the final stages that she was assisted by two women folk and Shrī. Vaknal̄l̄ī Bhaṭmām to roll and roast the pol̄ī-s. He also helped her in the kitchen occasionally. When one thinks and does cooking for the Lord, all food turns out delicious. From childhood stories I’ve heard there used to be an elderly cook at Shirālī Mat͟h in olden times. He used to add a basket of salt to the curries during any utsava, when people/ attendees are in plenty, saying “ Bhavānīshaṅkarā Tūn Pāva”, and it all turned out very tasty!
The end of the visit was upon us before we realized it. We all went to Credit river for the last of the pūjā-s, and thank lord Bhavānīshaṅkar and pay one’s obeisance to Him for a glorious Chāturmāsa celebration in Toronto.
The Lord planned the final event so well. Late Shrī. Muḍbidrī Somshekarmām came for the last Darshana of our Gurudeva with a sack full of lovely apples! His Holiness blessed each one present with a “Smiling Red Apple” while doing their final Namaskāra. All the “children” were so happy and it was wonderful to see all the joyful faces, including His, as He leaned against an oak to observe the Lord’s bliss!
Finally, what does one remember? What does one take home, apart from a lot of buzzing activity for 8 weeks? Is that ALL?
Gurudeva’s presence: IT was there before He arrived in Toronto; IT stayed with us when HE was with us, and IT will stay with each one of us forever and ever and ever…
GOD BLESS.
