Desraj Sapra, Haridwara

Sri Swamiji looked after my children as if they were His own. Whenever He visited Delhi, He would see them, He saw to their education and marriages.

I am from Delhi, but I moved to Haridwara in 2003. In March, 1972 I had my first darshan of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. In Delhi, I worked as an Administrative/Accounts Officer. One day, while I was on duty in the hospital, a colleague of mine, Mrs. Bala Sriram invited me to come and meet her Guru, Sri Swamiji at her house. I went there and Mrs. Bala introduced me to Him. He patted me on the shoulder and said, “I select this fellow.” I did not know what He meant, but I liked being with Him. My family was vegetarian, but I was not. When I met Sri Swamiji, I became a vegetarian without knowing why.

Sri Swamiji again visited Delhi in May, 1972 and I accompanied Him on His trip to Hrishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath. On the way, He saw a man in the crowd who looked very gloom, He told me to find out what the man wanted. I went to him and he told me his wife was very ill due to heavy bleeding. I told Sri Swamiji this and He gave me some vibuthi and told me to give it to the man and tell him how to apply it. I did that and we continued on the journey.

On the way, back from Kedarnath, Sri Swamiji called me and asked me to go and call two couples for Him. I went and got them and then He told me to ask them what was wrong. When I asked them, one man said that on their journey to Kedarnath they stopped at a place and his wife and sister went to the bathroom and forgot their purses at that place, and they had all their money in the purses. Now they have no money. Sri Swamiji asked them if they needed help. The man said yes, he wanted only two hundred rupees to get back home and they will mail back the money. Sri Swamiji told me to go and ask Professor Krishan Kumar for the money, but do not give them a return address. I asked Professor Kumar and he gave them the money; they asked for his address, he gave it and they left. After this trip, Sri Swamiji called me and said, “You are my Hanuman.”

In August, 1973 Sri Swamiji again visited Delhi. The night before meeting Him, an illness associated with my nose and smelling came on very strong. My wife and I went to Sri Swamiji and related the problem to Him. He gave me something to apply, and I never had that problem again. In the beginning my wife was a little hesitant to go to Sri Swamiji, even for His bhajans, so I used to go by myself. Then one day she said she wants to accompany me and so she did and later she began developing faith in Him.

In 1975, my family and I made our first visit to Mysore Ashrama. In those days the Ashrama was very small, there was a Chopuram where Sri Swamiji would sit for programs, and a hall where half of it was for visitors and half was for dining. At night, we slept wherever we found space. The present Prayer Hall was built in June, 1984 over the old Chopuram. This was the first journey of many more we made in the following years. Every visit there was like visiting heaven.

In October, 1996, Sri Swamiji was scheduled to visit Delhi, but fifteen days before He cancelled the visit and instead He visited Himachal Pradesh. Ten days later my wife got very ill and within twenty-four hours, she passed away. I felt that Sri Swamiji knew about this that is why He cancelled His trip. On His way back from Himachal, He stopped in Delhi Airport. I took my children and went for His darshan. I told Him because my wife passed away I could not attend to functions at the Delhi Ashrama as I had to look after my children. So I stayed away from the ashram for a while dealing with my wife’s death. Many people began speculating that Sri Swamiji did not save my wife from dying so I have left the organization because of this.

The following year, I visited Mysore Ashrama with my children and when He saw me, He said, “So you have come, I am very happy.” I told Him, “Swamiji, I have gone nowhere, don’t listen to what others and telling you.” Sri Swamiji looked after my children as if they were His own. Whenever He visited Delhi, He would see them, He saw to their education and marriages. They are very close to Him.

In 1985, the Hrishikesh Ashrama was handed over to us.. We did some work and prepared the Ashrama for Sri Swamiji. He came to Hrishikesh in September of 1989 and inaugurated the Temple. Similarly Bhadra Kaali Peetham Ashram at Haridwara, owned by Sri Kalayanand Teertha Swamiji was handed over to Sri Swamiji in 1991. Sri Kalayanand Teertha Swamiji passed away in 1998.

In 2001, the Shivaratri Celebrations was celebrated at the Haridwara Ashram. Professor Krishan Kumar and I organized the function. He looked after the accommodations and I made the food arrangements. Mr. Murali from Mysore Ashrama and other devotees came and helped. During this function, Sri Swamiji gave me a chain, which I still wear to this day.  Prior to my coming to Haridwara Sri Prem Kissan Kapoor was looking after the Ashram, but he wanted to go to Hyderabad and he made request to Sri Swamiji for the same.

In 2003, I went to Sri Swamiji’s program in Vijayawada. There I made a request to Sri Swamiji that I am ready to go to Haridwara Ashram. He blessed me and I went to manage the Ashrama there. When I informed my children about moving to Haridwara there was no hesitation on their part for they believed in Sri Swamiji’s guidance. I requested Sri Swamiji that if I ever fail in my duties in the Haridwara Ashrama replace me with someone more capable, but do not let me leave Haridwara. He has blessed my wish for I am still here today.

My spiritual journey for me is, serving my Guru, Sri Swamiji. I have full faith in Him. I do not think about anything else.        Jaya Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji Says:

Let us recollect the famous saying “God’s ways are mysterious”. Only the Guru – the visible form of God, can reveal His real, noble intention, provided the disciple has patience and receptivity. “No change is sudden”. This would be good for spiritual development also.

 Human birth is essentially meant for singing the name of the Lord. Once you realize this truth, the sacred name of the Lord opens the door to the province of Bhakti.