Category: Devotee Experiences (Bhakta Mala) ~ A Collection

Lifetime experiences of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji's devotees, collected and published by Avadhoota Datta Peetham (two 'devotee experiences' added per week).

Rohan Hanumanta Siew. Trinidad: “Allright, I bless you; from today onwards you will do my work in helping people. Always remember to do well and help them.”

Rohan Hanumanta Siew. Trinidad

“Allright, I bless you; from today onwards you will do my work in helping people. Always remember to do well and help them.” With humility I said “okay, Swamiji I’ll do that.” After that His Holiness started addressing me as ‘Trinidad Hanuman’.

 

I was introduced to Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji in 1976 by Dr Dianan Chandool, the first President of the Datta Yoga Center, Trinidad. He had given me a small picture of His Holiness which I used to watch and question myself “who is this person?” Before receiving this picture I was very ill and both medical and spiritual help did not abate my illness. However, after receiving the photograph I bowed down and pray to it and the illness vanished. Since then I continued to pray to the picture and I started getting closer and closer to Him. I would get up early in the mornings, and make offerings to all the deities including Sri Swamiji.

After this I became very interested in meeting this person. As my luck would have it Sri Swamiji was visiting the island and was having a program in Arima to which I was invited. I was told that He was God in human form and just by having His darsan you life will be changed. When I first saw Him, but what I really saw, was a human being. He told me that I must pray and do not worry. I was questioning myself, how could He be God? But then eventually I realized that He is God Himself, and with this realization everytime I sat to pray I would start crying.

In 1986 he visited my house and as he was walking he told me “you don’t worry.” He also advised my two children that they shouldn’t worry as everything will be allright. After about a year, good things started to happen and again I realized that He to whom I was praying to is God himself.

Later, as my relationship with Him was growing, suddenly one day he asked “Do you see Hanuman?” I said “Yes Swamiji.” Then He said “Do you see Me?” I said “Yes Swamiji.” He told me to close my eye and tell Him who was around, so I closed my eye and related to Him as to whom I was seeing around Him. After my explanation, with compassion He said to me, “Allright, I bless you; from today onwards you will do my work in helping people. Always remember to do well and help them.” With humility I said “Okay, Swamiji I’ll do that.” After that His Holiness started addressing me as ‘Trinidad Hanuman’.

One day Sri Swamiji said to me “Hanumanta, tell me what you want?” I said “Swamiji all I want is health, strength and energy to do your work.” He said “you don’t worry you will have that and never do bad, never hurt no one.” I said “no Swamiji.” I promise him that and I keep that oath to do good for people. Another time He said “do you want a house, do you want a new car?” I said “no Swamiji, I want health and strength, and I want your knowledge.” He laughed and said “you will get that.” and He keeps blessing me.

Because of my devotion to Him, I believe that I was given a unique gift to help people. Normally people will seek me out for cures to their maladies. With His grace only I am able to give some remedies for their ailments and miraculously they are cured. I started His work slowly; one day at a time. I don’t want anything from anybody except that they are healed and cured by Sri Swamiji’s grace. I would ask them to pray to the Guru and I will tell them Guru is God. Initially they wouldn’t have any belief in Him, because they see Him as a human being, but when the miracles, in their lives, starts happening they realized that Sri Swamiji is God Himself. He is not man; He maybe a human being, but He is walking on earth as God.

Every time, He was leaving to go back to India, a sorrow would come into my heart. I would start crying and He would walk towards me and advise me to hold onto His two feet. Timidly I’ll touch His Feet and bow and he would bless me saying “you don’t worry, everything will be alright.”

During His early visits to Trinidad, Sri Swamiji identified the Aripo River as a highly spiritual place for Datta Devotees. He said that in the past and till now, those ageless holy saints would come there, have their bath and perform pujas and rituals. Dr Chandool and I would go to the spot identified by His Holiness, a very large stone over which the water will flow before falling into the lower pool, and we too will perform some pujas and rituals. On this stone, the Holy Padukas of Sri Swamiji is carved and He would sit there and perform His pujas.

Once while meditating there late at night I closed my eyes and I saw a very old lady coming up the river chanting; Jai Hanuman. She had a bundle of wood on her head and a pot in her hand, and Sri Hanuman was following her. I told Dr Chandool what was happening.” He said, “alright, tell me when they getting closer.” He asked “do you know who that is?” I say “Yes, that is Mother Durga coming up in the water.” He advised that I should make my offering. I lit my deepa and made my offering of prasad. He said “okay, let’s go from here.”

I went back alone, very early the next morning, to the river. I sat on the rock I saw a lotus flower floating on the water and the Mother was coming up in that lotus flower. I got up and kept watching in amazement. I close my eyes and then I heard the Mother asking me, “would you light a deepa for me?” I lit a deepa, offered aarti and placed it on the stone. She then asked for flowers. I offer the flowers to her feet. I remain there for a little while, left, and then came back on the riverbank trying to imagine what was really happening in this river, what is going on in this water?

Another night when Dr Chandool and I went back there, something totally different was taking place. A big light, bright like the daylight, can be seen between the two mountains, showing as reflections as you would see from the sun’s rays. I asked Dr Chandool “how has this place become so bright all of a sudden?” He say “don’t worry, it’ll soon go away.” We remained there for a long while, made our offerings, and the place remain bright but the water very cold. When we came out the river the light just disappear. We didn’t see any light again. He say “let’s leave here now, she’s satisfied and she has gone her way.” I asked “who was it?” and he said “don’t worry.” However I assumed that it was the Mother and Lord Vishnu who were in the water, and I realize what was happening.

Many miracles have taken place in Aripo River. Once I went to the area where Sri Swamiji would normally sits. Other people came after me and were offering prayers. Somehow I just got up, started crying and shouted “look the Mother is standing on that big lotus flower floating in the water is, and she is coming towards us.” I offered her aarti and she asks for a mala; the mala was manasa pooja. I make the mala offering to her with my hand and the people were watching and asking “what was happening there?” I said “nothing was wrong, the Mother is here with us and everyone is safe, please don’t worry.” I offered flowers and lit camphor on a broad leaf in the water and it floated and went to her feet, it went where she was and remained lighting for a while.

When I speak of the Mother or Lord Vishnu, I am speaking of none other that my Sadgurudeva Sri Swamiji. Some devotees will come to the river and make offerings to Sri Swamiji, in the water, and they leave convinced that their offerings were accepted by Him. So many miracles have happened with Swamiji grace.

To meet Sri Swamiji, to get close to Sri Swamiji take years of devotion, and penance. It don’t happen in two days, he put you through all kinds of test. The more closer you get to him, the more work you will get, more pressure will be on you, you will get more problems in your life. He will see if you will run from Him or stand up with Him; that is the faith that I went through, and today I should say, I’m happy by the grace of my Lord, I am happy. I live in a world, where God is, and I am happy with Him. I will never forget Him in this life. He is always good to all his devotees and everybody. He doesn’t choose religion; everybody is God’s children in Swamiji,

We must understand that the more you pray to him, the better it is for us. He is not a mere human being, He is God Himself. He is the sixty four thousand deities all in a single form. When we bow to Surya in the morning, we are bowing to Him. When we bow and beg, we must ask for a spiritual and a peaceful day and you will get that blessing from Him. The first person that I offer my jhala to is my Guru to clear the way for me if there is any negative forces around, please remove it.

I consider Guru as mother, father, God, and everything else in the world. Everyday I would first sit and pray to my Guru. I was given the opportunity to bathe my Sadgurudeva with milk. With His grace I have washed His Holy Feet in the Aripo River. I have totally surrendered myself to Him. I have met God. I am pleased and I’m satisfied that I have a great Guru. I’m at peace, all my children are happy. Jaya Guru Datta.

 

 

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Siew Govinda Mugalsingh, Trinidad: ‘During this period Sri Swamiji appeared to me and asked what I wanted. I couldn’t answer then, but that encounter led me to believe that Sri Swamiji is Lord Shiva Himself’.

Siew Govinda Mugalsingh, Trinidad

I asked Sri Swamiji what my karma was and many years later I can say that everything that Sri Swamiji said then came to pass; that I would go from guru to guru, that I would meet many gurus.

 

I first saw Sri Swamiji in 1977 at the residence of Mala Balroop in Santa Cruz. I tried to prostrate and meet him but was unable to. I left dejectedly and went to where I was staying; a small area measuring about four feet by six feet, that was attached to a tire repair shop, owned by some relatives. Later that night, as I was preparing to go to bed Sri Swamiji appeared standing right next to me; this place was very dirty and as I was a heavy smoker, as usual I was smoking. I was very surprised that he had come to such a dirty place. No words were spoken, but just a sense of high energy pervading the surrounding.

Within a span of five days after this meeting, I was given a job at the Catholics Seminary in Mt St. Benedict and a decent place to stay. I credit this only to the grace of Sri Swamiji. I started fasting and praying a lot; I would sit in a lotus position and chant the name of Lord Shiva one thousand and eight times, five times a day. During this period Sri Swamiji appeared to me and asked what I wanted. I couldn’t answer then, but that encounter led me to believe that Sri Swamiji is Lord Shiva Himself.

Even though I was praying to Lord Shiva, I never had any experiences with Him but had a special love for Him. I knew spiritually that I was related to Him. When I saw Swamiji, the relationship started to change as I thought He was someone who would change my life forever, and Swamiji has changed my life.

From 1977-1990 I was involved with the Satya Sai Baba organization going to satsanghas and maintaining a very close relationship to Baba. I did not think that my relationship would change with Baba as I thought Baba was the person to whom the whole world would have to go to. During my first interview with Sri Swamiji I told Him that I was a devotee of Satya Sai Baba, but I came to have His blessings. Even though I had the darsan of Sri Swamiji while praying to Lord Shiva I still said that I was a devotee of Baba. I asked Sri Swamiji what my karma was and many years later I can say that everything that Sri Swamiji said then came to pass; that I would go from guru to guru, that I would meet many gurus and I have met over twenty people who were very influential to me and still is, but I know that Sri Swamiji is my guru.

Through the years Sri Swamiji has been able to sort me out and bring me closer to Him. I would have His dream darsan quite frequently. In 1990 I stopped smoking, drinking, gambling and eating meat. There are so many experiences. Every time Sri Swamiji comes to Trinidad something new happens. The relationship gets better and better, I can feel Sri Swamiji inside of me. I know that He is in my heart. I do not see Sri Swamiji lesser than God.

A couple of weeks ago I had dream darsan of Sri Swamiji where He told that I should do meditation and He gave me His meditation mat, but I did not accept it. Swamiji left and came back and again offered me the mat, and this time I took it. When I woke up I was wondering how Sri Swamiji could give me the mat as this was not acceptable for me. In my mind I had not accepted the mat. I do not think that I deserve it even though I feel so close to Swamiji. My devotion to Swamiji is strengthened when I observe the devotion of the young devotees that accompanies’ Sri Swamiji. To me those devotees are out of this world and that gives me the incentive to serve.

In 1984, miraculously I joined the Kriya yoga camp held in Arima. Another devotee who was scheduled to take the course suddenly cancelled and I was allowed in. Swamiji told us that we should not to let anyone touch us and that we had to stay with Him for seven days and nights. After four days I left and went home because I wanted to smoke a cigarette. I later regretted that decision even though I went back the next morning. When I took the first pull of the cigarette I saw Sri Swamiji standing inside of me and I thought, Oh my God, I give Swamiji a cigarette to smoke. I felt saddened as I thought that I had done something really wrong. At that moment I knew Swamiji was in charge and that He had taken over everyone’s minds; they were not the same people during that course. He taught us many things during those seven days, which were the most powerful days of my life, as God was directly working through Him. I also received initiation in Kriya Yoga from Swamiji during that period.

Jesus said “those that are pure at heart will see God” and I see God all the time. I am very lucky and I have the great fortune to be with God. I am one of the riches persons in the world because of my relationship with Sri Swamiji, and my relationship with God, which is out of the world. You need to know things about yourself to become a better devotee. Swamiji has fed me slowly and brought me a long way. Some things I wanted I had to wait for, like my house.

When the Hanuman murti was being inaugurated, devotees were told they can take coconuts, perform a special puja and make a personal wish at the Feet of Hanuman. My family and I did as told and within three weeks a friend called and said he had something for me. It was a house. Swamiji has given me my home as a blessing from Hanuman. I got it as a 50th birthday gift. Since the age of three, my family has always rented and now I do not have to pay a rent for the first time.

At the age of twenty-three I met Sri Swamiji for the first time. I learned about Him from satsanghas that were held at Dr Chandool’s and Dr Lalla’s homes. We were told that Sri Swamiji is in every square inch of the earth; that He has many bodies and is very present and powerful and that is God. There are no longer any questions as to who He is, it’s his presence. I cannot describe how I see Sri Swamiji, but some people are not ready for these experiences.

There was a devotee who gave up his business to serve Sri Swamiji, and Sri Swamiji left him at the Hanuman murti. One day when I was doing pradakshina to Hanuman, I said that I was seeing the Feet of Hanuman instead of mine; I said that he was seeing the anklets and this made him anxious and excited. He shared the experience with a man who did not belief and he became very disenchanted with me for that.

One day I was at the Hanuman doing mediation when I saw several swamis. When I stopped meditating I saw a girl on my right, and maybe one on the left, so I started meditating again. However this time I saw a really big Swami but I could not see his head. When I was finished meditating, I told the girl that I saw all those Swamis, it was like a whole family of them right at the Hanuman but she dismissed me.

Are these people far from divinity? There she was sitting at the temple, knocking on the door for God but looking for the priest. She was not able to appreciate this experience. How can one appreciate Sri Swamiji if you cannot appreciate the lesser things? I have reached a point where I do not want anything from anyone except love. I also do not want anything from this world as this world has nothing to give except time. I want what Hanuman does; to serve. No liberation or Moksha, I just wants to serve, from my heart and with love. With someone like Swamiji it is possible.

In 2011, while walking around the Hanuman; there was a picture of Sri Swamiji, on the side, that did not look like Him. Before Sri Swamiji came the picture was changed but I did not know. Because the previous one did not look like Him, He never used to watch it, but then He noticed that it was changed. That was like a blessing to see someone respond to how I was feeling. Swamiji himself must have corrected that.

When I did pradakshina, at the Hanuman, I would walk for about an hour on the outside perimeter and repeat my mantras while other people would walk on the inside perimeter. When Sri Swamiji came, He too walked on the outside perimeter as well. Experiences like these would last me beyond my life time. Although I do not think that Sri Swamiji walked on the outside to make me happy, but it was just coincidental. However the experience with the picture was divine.

Recently, on a visit to Trinidad, Sri Swamiji came and stood next to me and as soon as I noticed Him He walked away. This was not a dream but an actual event. Sometimes He just wants the acknowledgement that you know that He is there. It is amazing how He can be there for all His devotees. If all gurus can do that then the world of gurus is immaculate, it’s special. Swamiji and Satya Sai Baba have been chosen to walk as God, and I am not going to separate them. I know Swamiji is my guru.

Sri Swamiji is special to me because He is the one I see all the time. I see myself walking with Him. On one occasion my family had arranged for me to see a psychic, but he was not able to tell me much. When the interview was over I saw Sri Swamiji getting up from the seat instead of me protecting me from that man. Coincidently that man died soon after. Swamiji was protecting me by not showing anything about me; so I know that Sri Swamiji has to be God. How can He be at some many places at the same time? I do not know how many other people see Swamiji all the time but He is there and very present no matter where I am.

I do not have to go to Swamiji physically as He is always here. I have seen Sri Swamiji as Lord Rama, with horses and everything. When Swamiji was talking about Rama, I knew that Rama was there as I felt him moving in the crowd. I saw Hanuman too. I have never seen Sita or Krishna. I have had good experiences with all the other Godheads. First was Lord Ganesha. Someone had asked me to do puja and I did it even when I did not want to and when I went home I saw the energy of the Divine Mother. These experiences make me very happy and they are quite common to me. When Sri Swamiji is there you really don’t want to meet anyone else.

It is difficult to understand how all these things would happen to me. I have also seen Jesus a few times; the first time He was protecting him from my father whom I loved. But my father became a different person when he was drunk. After the passing of my father, the family suffered for seven years. As I was the eldest I had to look after the family. I learned responsibility from a very young age but had a few bad habits like smoking and drinking. Swamiji took away those habits by the time I was thirty-seven.

I think that God is very comfortable to walk in and out of your life, whether it is Swamiji or anybody else. If you prepare your body and mind for God it becomes easy for you to communicate with Him. I think Sri Swamiji is happy with me now though there are probably a few changes. I always asked who my guru was.

On one occasion I played Pahi Pahi on a harmonica for Sri Swamiji and He asked me to get one for Him. I found one and presented it to Him. Sri Swamiji took it and put it in the museum in India. If I had known that I would have given my personal one. Jaitra says that it is still in the museum.

Sri Swamiji has a way of doing things. There are no negatives. Like when He enters into the fire He shows you who He is; that nothing can harm him. He will destroy all the negatives. He is very positive. When you think you know Him He will carry you a step further. His being is beautiful and it gets better and better.

During one of Sri Swamiji’s visit to Trinidad I couldn’t go to the center as I had to work. However, the radio announcer said that he had recorded the entire program and was going to play it back later that evening. There was a delay but when it started I was listening to it, at the end I was very happy when I heard the Dancing tune. That song means much to me as He took nothing and made that tune.

When I fasted I burned all my karma and had no ego but had to create a leela as all I wanted to do was serve God. I was impatient to find out why all these experiences happened and who was my guru? When I found out it was Ramakrishna Paramahamsa I cried for an entire day as I had a good experience while reading his book. I used to cry while reading the book so I would only read one page a day but no one knew I used to cry. One day I was at the center and Swamiji was near to me and something came over me and I just wanted to shout Krishna but I could not say anything. Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji is Lord Krishna, He is all the saints. He does all their Karma. He is neither woman nor man; Indian, Negro, nor white, He is not a Hindu, a Christian, or a Muslim; for He is all of that and more. There is no one like Sri Swamiji in the world. He is absolute. Jaya Guru Datta

 

 

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M S & Lalitha Rajagopal, Chennai: ‘In Mekedatu I had vision of Him taking a bath in the Sangama. Next, I observed Him coming from inside the garbagrah of the Datta temple with wet cloths.’

M S and Lalitha Rajagopal, Chennai

“Swamiji, I have now seen you, what else is there for me. Please permit me to go on pilgrimage to holy places.”  Thereafter he lived for five more years visiting many pilgrimage centers.

 

Sometime in 1970 I had the first darshan of the Divinity that represents Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. I owe it to my late cousin, Sri Sivan, of Vijayawada. He was older than me by many years and had a paternal affection for me, so we always felt close to each other. Due to professional compulsion, he developed club habits and in due course became an incurable alcoholic. It was a great miracle that he had a chance meeting of Sri Swamiji in Vijayawada and was saved from the very brink, by a mere touch and blessings of Sri Swamiji.  I was very happy to receive this report, but when he suggested that I accompany him to Mysore I did not immediately respond.  A few months later he came to me again and asked me to come along with him to Kutchery Road, Mylapore, where Sri Swamiji was visiting. I was delighted and readily took the chance of meeting Sri Swamiji at the house of Sri Venkatachallam of Kutchery Road.

The program was in an open terrace under a make-shift tent. Listening to the bhajans sung by Sri Swamiji was very enchanting.  Later, we were permitted to go Sri Swamiji individually. As I went near to Him, I felt drawn light a magnet and a strange energy was forcing itself through me. Sri Swamiji merely said, “Have faith in Sri Swamiji;” that been the beginning.  Since then I felt a strong urge to go to Mysore to have His darshan. A few months later, my cousin came and took me to Mysore.

My first visit was for the Shivaratri celebrations in 1971 and since then I had not missed a single function, all due to the blessings of Sri Swamiji. When we got there, the Ashram had a charming and sublime atmosphere. The prayer hall and even Sri Swamiji’s room had thatched roof.  The prayer hall had only bamboo matting for wall.  There were two good rooms, by the side, where I was invited to stay by three elderly people; Mr. Chandra Rao of Chennai, Dr. Krishnamurthy of Vijayawada and Sri Raja Rao of Machilipatnam.  Since then I have made regular visits to attend every function.

However, I would always wait and take interviews with Sri Swamiji, but I would mostly be silent as I had no specific problems.  Then, as the years went by my problems began. First, it was my wife’s health.  She was diagnosed with chronic ulcer and was advised to go for immediate surgery. I went and met with Sri Swamiji at Mr. Chandra Rao house and He advised me to see Him after three days. I was wondering how I could get another chance to meet Him. Exactly three days later, Sri Swamijis was coming to the Kutchery Road Ashram. At that time, I happen to be there waiting outside for the program.  Even before He went inside He called me and asked me to go ahead with the surgery saying, “I am with you.”

A few years later, she was found to have a full grown fibroid in the uterus, which was to be removed urgently by surgery.  The surgeon asked me to choose four dates for the surgery. My wife and I rushed to Vijayawada where Sri Swamiji was camping. On May 3rd, as we reached the gate of the Ashram, we saw Sri Swamiji heading to the hall from the Guru Nilayam.  Surprisingly He turned towards us and gestured for me to come. I related the problem and He told me that she should have the surgery on May 8th.

The next day, I came back to Madras and met with the doctor on May 5th. Since I could not dictate to the doctor about the date of the surgery, I simply presented a slip with four random dates, including May 8th.  To my surprise the doctor opened the diary and said that he has fixed May 8th, the date mentioned by Sri Swamiji. A greater surprise was awaiting me at the hospital as authorities there told me that the entry has already been made for that date. A very complicated surgery involving three organs was operated on without major complications.

On the third occasion, my wife had a serious problem with her gums. Her checks were swollen like a ball. At that time, I was in Bangalore on office work and had to rush back for the surgery. It began around 8.00 p.m. and lasted for exactly one hour. The local anesthesia has little effect and she had to bear the pain, all the time thinking of Sri Swamiji, while shedding tears. After the surgery, I had to go back to Bangalore to resume my work, but in the meantime Sri Swamiji was visiting a devotee’s house in Chennai so she and our daughter went to have His darshan there.  When the prasadam was offered, she could not take it and this was noticed by Mrs. Ramanjaneyulu, the wife of PRO of the Ashram.

When she asked her what the problem was, my daughter told her everything. She wanted to know all the details, even the date and time the surgery happened. My daughter thought, why she wants all these details? However, she told her the date and time. Then the lady said that that was the exact time that Sri Swamiji came into the hall in Vijayawada for the evening Bhajan session. After the usual invocation of Sri Ganeshaya Namaha….., He announced that He could not sing as He felt chocked because of the distress of some devotee. He asked the devotees to sing for one hour during which He sat silently. During that period, that lady thought, who could that devotee be?

During those days, Delhi devotees’ enroute to Mysore used to break their journey at Chennai and come to my house. On one occasion, Mr. Panth, the then President of the Delhi Sabha came to me on his way back from Mysore. He was in a hurry to leave for Delhi the next day. When I asked him if he could postpone his leave by another day, he told me he had to go back to look after the arrangements for Sri Swamiji’s visit to Badrinath and Kedarnath. I told him that I had no information on the program as it was news to me, so I asked him if there was a chance for me to join the party. He said that it was a small party fixed by Sri Swamiji, but I could request permission from Krishan Kumar who was making all the arrangement.

My request to Krishan Kumar had immediate effect. Within a few of days I got a letter from him saying he would be happy to accommodate my wife and me. He asked me send the remittance about five thousand rupees immediately. The next day I got the money and I sent it. Soon afterwards, Sri Swamiji’s Birthday was being celebrated, but I could not attend. Thereafter, we had to leave for Delhi to join the group of pilgrims.  I simply assumed that Sri Swamiji’s permission was given.  The next day, Sri Swamiji came to Delhi and was given reception at the Delhi University Hall and we were permitted to go to Him in a queue. When I prostrated and lifted my head Sri Swamiji said “You did not come for the Birthday functions, but you are meeting me here”.  I was dump-founded and could not say anything.  Sri Swamiji gave me a big smile and said everything was arranged for me mentally and we had His permission, although it was only a few months after my wife’s last surgery.

Later, our party set out for Himalayas in a bus with Sri Swamiji leading in a car. After crossing many Prayags we reached Gourikund.  From there the climb for Kedarnath began for a distance of about eighteen kilometers. Sri Swamiji permitted people to go in group by riding on a pony or on dandy (a chair carried four Sherpa). My wife took a dandy and Sri Swamiji asked me to follow her closely. I was a trekker and kept pace with the Sherpa. As I was reaching higher altitude it was getting colder and colder and the region was snow bound. At that point Mr. Dwarka, Sri Swamiji’s boyhood friend, asked me casually to give him my shawl. After some more distance I realized that it was becoming colder. I turned around to look for Mr. Dwarka, but found Sri Swamiji coming on horseback.  He was sitting on the shawl wrapped on the back of the horse and He gave me a big smile.  From then, I did not feel the chilliness anymore and proceeded comfortably to Kedarnath. The next morning Sri Swamiji asked everybody if they were ready to go to temple.

At the temple, Sri Swamiji sat at the one side of Lingam at the garbagrah to perform pooja and performed the pooja as directed by the Panda.  We were all standing on the other side, and then suddenly He asked me to come and stand by His side.  While coming out of the garbagrah, He put His arm around my shoulder and after going out sat outside in a chair He called my wife and me to sit at His feet to have a photo taken. In Rudraprayag, Sri Swamiji was dangling His Feet while sitting on a rock in the river; there He permitted us to touch His feet.  We were thrilled the experience and the effects of the touch of His Feet in the holy river cannot be described in words.

On the way to Badrinath, we stayed for the night at the last point, Joshi Math. There my wife monthly period started. We were devastated and did not know what to do. I decided to go to Sri Swamiji and I virtually crashed into His room. When I told Him what has happened He calmly said, “Never mind about it, she can come anywhere, just don’t tell a soul.  However, you can go to Sri Shankarcharya Mutt, but do not take Amma.”  After I had left the Shankara Mutt, she came down to look around.  Suddenly, she found some dry fruits dropping on her head. When she looked up she found Sri Swamiji standing on the balcony; it was He who dropped the fruits on her head and told her that she had done a pradakshina. What a Blessing?

In Badrinath Sri Swamiji announced that arrangements have been made for people to do Shraadha at Brahmakabalam saying that this place is bigger than Gaya and then He went back into His room. I again rushed to His room and said, “Swamiji, it is just six months since my father passed away and although I am not the eldest son, please tell me what I should do?” He said, “Go and do this Shraadha, it is best opportunity for you”. I went to the temple where there are three hot springs and took bath in preparation for the Shraadha.

During those early years, Sri Swamiji was having ‘Lord Shiva Hamsa’ and He was not easily approachable. We would be nervous when meeting with Him, but then He would give a big smile and with that all our problems will vanished.

Navaratri is an ethereal experience; we just cannot describe it.  During one Navaratri we were in the Rama-Shankara-Kutira and we were asked to assemble in the Prayer Hall around 11.00 p.m.  There was a very special pooja with strange rangoli designs on the floor and big baskets filled with coconuts.  During the pooja Sri Swamiji took the coconuts, one by one, and broke every single one from waist height, as though He is bouncing a ball. He said that it was Gandharva Lokha Pooja and those who saw it were very blessed, as this pooja is not known to anybody on earth.

On another occasion, He called us to see the constructions which were taking place in the new Prayer Hall. We were excited and thrilled.  Sri Swamiji took us inside and climbs the staircase.  When we reached the top landing He took off His Padukas and gave them to me. He took us to every corner of the building and also explained what each room was intended for. Then He asked me if I had seen His old abode on the ground floor. When I said no, He called the engineer and asked him to open the ground floor door. He let us to the ground floor and again showed the place, explaining everything in detail.

He said “See this place” He was pointing a square opening in the floor which only had a wooden frame as its cover. He said that that was the underground cellar, which is now the abode of Arka Ganapathy.  Earlier, this was Sri Swamiji’s Dhyana Room where He used to frequently go into Samadhi.   He said that there is only a wooden stair case leading to the room and that the room has no ventilation; even insects would die there.

However, during Navaratri, Mother Ganga would come every day and would disappear on Dasami day, leaving no trace of dampness anywhere. One day, jokingly He asked the engineer to pump out the water, but even after twenty-four hours, the water level remained the same.  During the next Navaratri I had the blessing of receiving this teertham from Sri Swamiji.

There was another room where the door way was only five feet in height.  Sri Swamiji said, “This door frame was donated by a very good devotee who was born blind”. This blind man believed that he would get vision if Sri Swamiji accepted and installed that door frame.  After the installation of the frame the man got his vision. Sri Swamiji asked him what he wanted, but he said “Swamiji, I have now seen you, what else is there for me. Please permit me to go on pilgrimage to holy places.”  Thereafter he lived for five more years visiting many pilgrimage centers.

Sri Swamiji then took us to the Ram-Shankara-Kutira which hosts the Kriya Yoga hall. There were stacks of rare offerings and collectables made to Sri Swamiji by devotees; some of which are in present museum.  Sri Swamiji said, “Swamiji does not need them, but all these items were offered by devotees for fulfillment of their wishes and one day these will be exhibited in a museum in the Ashram”.

When I took my children for the first time to the Ashram, I had plans to stay there for few days.  However, the next day Sri Swamiji asked me to leave the Ashram. I was very surprised and asked Him why should I have to go back home?  With a divine smile, He said, “Take the children and stay comfortably in a lodge; do some sightseeing with them and come back to the Ashram before we leave.

We used assume that Sri Swamiji was Lord Shiva, Goddess Devi or both. Then, just one year before He planned to build a Datta temple He mentioned about Dattatreya. He undertook certain strange observances before the construction was started.  He observed Mauna Vratam for some months and had a hut built for Him next to the Ram-Shankara-Kutira, on the way to bathrooms. Overlooking the hut was huge Avadumbara tree. One day, we saw marks like foot prints, here and there, on the trunk of the tree rising upwards. We recognized then as Sri Swamiji’s footprints. Later He explained to some devotees that one night He thought of going up the tree and so those footprints were the result of that.

Once, for a Purnima day, our family and the family of Mr. Krishna Pillai were camping in Mekedatu for one week. Sri Ram Babu, the priest there, was our host and looked after us very well. I asked Ram Babu how the purnami pooja was being performed at the temple. He said they collected funds from nearby villages and manage somehow. We asked whether we could bear the cost this time and he agreed. The next day Mr. Pillai and I proceeded to Kanakapur to buy the pooja items and provisions. Around mid-day we were returning, to the ashrama, by car with Mr. Pillai driving.  As we slowed down I saw Sri Swamiji coming across the field with some foreigners. As He neared the car He peered through the window and gave me a big smile.

Then I saw Him taking a bath in the Sangama. Next, I observed Him coming from inside the garbagrah of the Datta temple with wet cloths. He held out His Lotus Feet saying, “Take it quickly.”  At that point, I was sobbing loudly. Krishna Pillai shook me; I opened my eyes and told him what I had gone through. Later, I related this incident to Sri Ram Babu. He said that it was no dream; to him I have had the darshan of Sri Swamiji. He said that things like this happen in Mekedatu and only last week a stranger who had taken a bath at the Sangama came here out of curiosity, along the river path. When he saw Sri Swamiji’s photo, he said this was the person whom he saw bathing in the Sangama while he was there.

During one of my visits to Mekedatu I saw a Shiva Lingam which was about eight inches tall protruding out from the ground. Earlier there was a signboard nearby from the Karnataka State Government declaring their intention to develop the site as a picnic resort. This area happened to be holy spot where Sri Swamiji had intended to put up the Datta temple. It seems that protests from the Ashram were taken lightly and dismissed.  However, when the work started the Lingam appeared at that spot and they gave up the work. I visited Mekedatu again after sometime with Sri Swamiji and I found that Lingam has grown to more than two feet tall. Even while in the ground, Sri Swamiji performed Pooja to the Lingam. When the Datta Pratishta took place, Sri Swamiji had the Lingam taken out and installed before Datta. He also declared, from the Gopura Vimanam, that the Lingam had the power to rid people of the sins of non-observance of samaras if they took a bath in Sangama and perform abhishekam to the Lingam.  This is being observed to date by all.

For Kumbha Abhishekam, I went there and as I got down from the bus somebody told me that Sri Swamiji was on the other bank of the river. Without a thought I waded through the water and reached the other side.  I saw Sri Swamiji standing with a group of people, radiant like a sun. I realized that I had not taken a bath and stood a little aloof. I was carrying a rose garland, but the petals dropped off inside the cover. Sri Swamiji gestured to me to come to Him. I rushed over and poured the rose petals on His Feet. After coming back, I realized that I dropped the flowers on the rough ground and did not know what to do. Even as the thought crossed my mind, Sri Swamiji asked the people to scoop the earth with the petals and place them in the water.

In my house I have a rare photo of Sri Swamiji standing with a staff in His hand on a hilly and forested area, looking like Lord Shiva.  From His outstretched hand, rays of light like a car beam could be seen. The light is so powerful and the beams are very clear in the photo, even in broad daylight.  This incident happened one day when He was coming down from the Chamundi Hills along the rugged path.  Some devotees where with Him and they were very thirsty, but there was no water around. Sri Swamiji held out His right hand and the beam of light; more powerful than sunlight appeared and struck a rock.  The rock split and water gushed out; the devotees thirst was quenched and such a wonder they were able to see.

One person in the party clicked his camera and the camera instantly became ashes. Then they fell at Sri Swamiji’s feet and begged for permission to take the picture of such a miracle. Sri Swamiji permitted them and told them to take not more than one or two copies. One copy is with me.  The story of this incident was revealed to us by Sri Swamiji Himself when He visited our house for Pada Pooja and Bhiksha. Among the people who attended was a lady from Vijayawada called Ms. Pani.  She took liberty and asked Sri Swamiji to direct me to make a copy of the photo for her.  Sri Swamiji gave a enigmatic smile and did not say anything.

Months passed and I did not oblige since I would not let anybody touch the photo. Thereafter, one day, Mr. Nageswara Rao, an auditor and a close devotee from Vijayawada came to my house on his way back from Mysore after auditing the Mysore Ashram.  When he saw the photo he asked me if he could take a copy as he had a camera with him. I let him do it by putting the photo on TV stand and then he left.  Sometime afterwards he met me at the Mysore Ashrama and looked nervous and agitated.

He asked me whether I had received a letter from him.  I said no!  He also said that he tried to get to me by phone, but he could not do so.  I asked him what the matter was. Then he said, “I was about to develop the film and when I opened the camera I found to my consternation that the entire role was missing.  I panicked and telephoned Mysore, but even before I could explain I got the reply that I should not have tried to take a copy of the photo, however, since I was a close devotee, my camera was spared.

In 1991, my daughter’s marriage took place in Mysore Ashram. It was arranged by a new devotee who professed to know the party well.  The bridegroom turned out to be an incurable alcoholic. After a trying period, I took my daughter back home and refused to send her back to her in-laws. With Sri Swamiji’s infinite grace, He visited us one day and told me that He supported us and asked us to file for a divorce.  Years went by and just before the Mekedatu Kumbha Abhishekam; I got a call from the Ashram to come for the Datta Jayanti celebrations, well in advance. With Sri Swamiji’s blessings my daughter was married to an Indo-American, Sri Shekar from New Jersey. The marriage was unique as Sri Swamiji Himself instantly presented the Mangala Sutra to perform the marriage.

The prayer hall was packed and Sri Swamiji recounted everything and said that all these years the family never made a complaint about their problems, even in front of my photo. Within two days there was the Kumbha Abhishekam at Mekedatu and I was very keen on attending it. In fact, Sri Swamiji announced that there was no arrangement to stay in Mekedatu, but people can come in buses in the morning and return to Mysore by night. He also said that we should be contented with our participation during Datta Jayanti and if possible, do not try to go to Mekedatu.

I assumed that the message was not for me and took a bus. My family was in another bus. On the way, my bus met with an accident close to Mekedatu as it tumbled and rolled down a slope not far from the Ashram.  There were about thirty-five passengers in that bus and almost all escaped without any injury, except two of us, Mr. Yadeshwari and me. We had similar injuries with fracture in the right arm with some bruises.

I was the last one to be pulled out of the mangled remains of the bus. I was taken to the Ashram and put on a bed with others. After sometime, Sri Swamiji came, gave teertham, touched me and told me everything will be alright after the treatment. I was taken by ambulance to Bangalore for immediate treatment under the charge of the Ashram Doctors. The next morning, we were taken to Mysore and made to sit on chairs in the prayer hall.  Sri Swamiji told us, me in particular, that He had given Purna Janmas.  He then permitted me to go back to Madras and continue my treatment. I soon came to my normal self and resumed all my activity including Yoga.

We were blessed that in any crises Sri Swamiji protects us for He is omnipresent. There is no greater blessing than having Sri Swamiji in our lives, which was accumulated by punya of many births. He is the soul in our body.  Our entire family goes by His protection and guidance in every matter. Jaya Guru Datta.

 

Sri Swamiji Says:

 

The aim and purpose of the human life is to unfold the Spirit in man. The aim is considered to be the highest and the most important goal of human existence. This goal is called ‘Liberation’ (Moksha) in the scriptures.

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Vishnu and Renuka Deonarine, Trinidad: ‘ I immediately realized that this is God in human form. I saw the immortal eyes of Lord Rama’.

Vishnu and Renuka Deonarine, Trinidad

Vishnu: I felt a sense of comfort, a sense of being wanted, a sense of absolute belonging. I wanted to know Him.

 

Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji entered into my relatively hectic life in 1993, when He was visiting Trinidad for His fifty-first birthday celebrations. I had gone to the Ashrama, at Orange Field Road, Carapichaima on an invitation from an associate, Mr. Sherwin Seenath, a fellow attorney, where lots of preparations were taking place.

During this time, consciously or unconsciously, I was searching for inner peace. However, all my searches were running at dead ends without any results. For instance, I was involved in; drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, attending ad-hoc social activities, had membership at different clubs, and golfing. As a matter of fact, my wife will claim that she was a golf widow. Try as I may, I could not find that which I was looking for. Generally, lots of conflicts were being formed in my mind.

When I entered the ashrama on that fateful day and was in His divine presence, I felt an immediate peace and all the conflicts that had inhibited my mind were being unraveled. I understood there and then that all these conflicts were being resolved and also the thought process in the resolution of them. I knew that this was the being to which I should gravitate to and wanted to know more about Him. I felt a sense of comfort, a sense of being wanted, a sense of absolute belonging. I wanted to know Him.

During the period of His stay at the ashrama, I attended most of the programs and enjoyed immense bliss in His presence.  As fate would have it, during the functions, He gave me a life size photograph of Himself and a Shiva Lingam which He materialized. Then after His departure, in the weeks and months that were to follow, my life and thought process became very turbulent. In hindsight, I felt that my karma was being accelerated. Things became very troubling with a lot of difficulties. In this state of dilemma I was directed to read the voluminous works of Swami Vivekananda, a task which I completed within a six week period.

At the completion of the reading, I got a glimpse of what Vedanta was, and ultimately what Sri Swamiji was about. An intense desire welled up in my mind, a desire to become a realized soul. This desire haunted me, because I felt that this was the path to getting to the peace for which I was seeking. Subsequently, Sri Swamiji said that I should stop reading so aggressively. Being a voracious reader, I read everything that I thought would help me get that knowledge or the peace I was searching for. I realize that the knowledge which I was seeking and pursuing was secular and not spiritual.

This turmoil in my mind was pushing me to have the darsan of Sri Swamiji. As a man possessed I could not wait to see Him, I wanted to go to Mysore. Intensely I made all the preparations and at the first opportunity I traveled to Mysore in 1994 for Shivaratri.

Arriving in Bangalore in the early morning hours, I waited till daylight and took the bus to Mysore. I am always in awe when I remembered that first trip to Mysore. On the bus I was mentally chanting the mantra, “Om Gam Ganapatya Namaha” thinking that Sri Swamiji had traveled all this way to come to Trinidad to be with us, along this route. The majestic tamarind trees along the way seemed to be bowing into each other forming a canopy over the roadway. The four hour bus trip was indeed one of the most spectacular trips of my lifetime. Before this trip, I wrote a letter to Sri Swamiji telling Him unashamedly that I wanted to become a realized soul and that I wanted to visit Him in Mysore. I received a response from the ashrama manager informing me that Sri Swamiji was very happy to have received my letter. That was it.

Somewhere I had read that when you go to your Guru you must make a sacrifice by asking for a favor or giving up something, and place that sacrifice at His feet. On my way to Mysore, I had that burning desire to give up something to Sri Swamiji. Instinctively, at the first opportunity I got to have an interview with Him I ask Sri Swamiji to help me live a celibate life. Having a strong sexual drive, I felt at that moment that I must live a celibate life and Pujya Sri Swamiji would be able to help me. In hindsight, this process formed the platform for my spiritual growth.

To help in this growth, Sri Swamiji entrusted some physical seva for me. Simple things like; the coordination for the construction of the shala and managing the stay and accommodation for the priests for the 1995 Maha Shanti Yagna, chairing the ashrama pre-school, and chairing the finance and construction committees for the re-building of the temple facilities and construction of the 85 feet Karya Siddhi Hanuman. These sevas helped tremendously in cleansing and purifying my mind and thoughts, which continues as an ongoing process. Because of this process I am pleased to state that I think I am on the right path; whatever that path may be.

By profession, I am a lawyer so I am trained to think and act along those lines. Since finding my Sadgurudeva, I have been gradually transformed to think more like a devotee of God than that of a lawyer. A query that plagued my life though was; why should I be good, ethical, or honest? Boldly, one day I emailed Sri Swamiji asking, why I should be doing all the good and positive things, when I see people who are doing the opposite advancing in life.

Almost instantaneously, I received a reply from His Holiness requesting that I read the Bhagavat Gita, the edition by Sarvapali Radhakrishna. On obtaining a copy of the book, to my amazement, the answers to my queries were embedded in a part of a sentence in the preface; “ethical actions are derived from a metaphysical realization”. Churning those words, I can candidly say that subsequently they led me the four major articles in various publications of Bhakti Mala that changed the whole concept of my thought process.

These articles; Vedanta and Modern Science, Sublime Devotion, Noble Deeds, and Captivation are distinctively tied to the phrase “ethical actions are derived from a metaphysical realization”. This cast a net encircling “dharma”. Finally, I realized that it is this dharma that brings everything together and sustains the universe. The principles of; attraction, harmony, and existence definitely lies in dharma. With the guidance of my reverential Sadgurudeva, and in His infinite Grace I was able to use these principles so that I can persevere on the path of good conduct, good behavior, and all the qualities accredited to dharma.

I have been very fortunate to have some very intimate and close experiences with Sri Swamiji; including; upadesham at Mekedatu, saktipat in Nylon Pool in Tobago, detailed sadhana to my wife and me, private experiences in Kashi and Bommeparti and several others. On different occasions Sri Swamiji informed me; that He is Shiva, that He is Bhola Shankar and that I should ask for a boon there and then, that He would give me darsan every morning during my meditation, and that He would stay at my home for two nights during my 60th birthday. During the last Shivaratri at the Mysore Ashrama when His Holiness entered into the fire, Sri Swamiji gave to me the Lingam that was retrieved from the Homa pit.

Sri Swamiji also informed me that He had saved my life on several occasions. He does this for His devotees because of His infinite grace and bountiful love. What Sri Swamiji is doing for me, He is doing for all His devotees. His grace, love and purpose have no geographic or racial boundaries. It cannot be exhausted because it is limitless. There must not be any jealously or hatred.

Sri Swamiji is always counseling me, guiding me, and through these little experiences and pointers He is training my mind to get rid of all the conflicts; bringing me closer to Godhead, bringing me to that goal of realization slowly, a process which I understand will take many births. Remembering the tamarind trees from the first trip, Sri Swamiji hinted that in relation to a yogi’s development, it will take as many years as there are leaves on those tamarind trees.

The journey with Sri Swamiji, is the path, it is the progress. This journey changes the mindset and the thought-train. It eradicates the negative tendencies and brings us closer to godliness. The progress and rate of transformation depends on the purification process, your sadhana, your meditation, and most of all, His grace. My experience is a slow, sometimes painful, and sometimes happy process, a process where my mind is being cleansed and purified through the practice of; yoga, meditation and maturation.

What is this end result? Intellectually, from a theoretical point of view, through Sri Swamiji’s grace; reading holy texts, and listening to His discourses, and reflecting one can obtain the perception that everything around you is filled with godliness. When you can intuit and perceive the universe and all that is in it as mere vibrations of love, and regulated by dharma, then you will evolve to the stage that Pujya Sri Swamiji is and has always been, that state of self-realization. This is my view.

In the final analysis, the repetition of Guru’s mantra and all other mantras will have the same meaning. All sadhana, rituals and paths must lead to that realization. I cannot tell you how much change has taken place in me, but I know that there are a lot of changes. If there are changes to my life, I invite you to talk with my wife. If there are changes to my conduct and behavior, before and after meeting my Sadgurudeva, speak with my children. These are the ones who can tell you from their practical experiences.

What I can tell you is that my mind is comparatively peaceful and I am comparatively happier. My journey has just started. Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji is the cause of everything. He is the cause of my present and future states, including future births.

I bow before that Great Spirit, nay; I humbly bow before this Reverential Saint. To this Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, I bow again and again.      Sree Guru Datta

 

Renuka:                         I immediately realized that this is God in human form. I saw the immortal eyes of Lord Rama.

 

In 1991 my husband, Vishnu Deonarine, and I attended the wedding of Vishnu Ramdatt in Hindustan, Princess Town. There I saw Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji for the first time. I did not know who He was or for what He stood; I was just an attendee at the function. However, He sang some bhajans, and I thought that He had a beautiful voice and the songs were very soothing. At the end of the program, my husband brought some coin mala and asks me to offer them to Him. I was hesitant, but Sherwin Seenath, Vishnu’s friend convinced me that I should. When I offered the mala, it seemed like Sri Swamiji intently grabbed them from my hands. I felt that for a holy person, He was so rough and crude. No words were spoken.

In 1993 Sri Swamiji came to Trinidad to celebrate His fifty-first birthday. Vishnu was invited to see Him, by his friend Sherwin, who was a devotee. When he came home in the night he would tell me about this Guru and how He manifested things before his eyes and distribute them the devotees. He informed me that Sri Swamiji was giving discourses from the Vedas and other holy scriptures. One night when His Holiness manifested a crystal and gave it to him, he brought it home and showed if to me. I had no interest in his lamentations because I was fighting my own demons.

Vishnu and I have demanding professions; he is an attorney and I am a doctor and both are in private practice. To compound the situation, we had two young boys to look after. Vishnu was an avid golfer and he played golf everyday, even on Sundays; I was literally a golf widow. I used to thing that first it was golf and now it is God, so to listen to him was not an interest for me.

One day Vishnu told me that this Guru was going to give him Mantra Deeksha and he would like if I can get some fruits and flowers for the occasion, but I bluntly refused. Many times he asked me to accompany him to the ashrama in Orange Field and see the activities there. I used to cry about my state and wondered what will become of me. Finally, one day he told me, “why don’t you come, you have nothing to lose”, I reconsidered and decided to go.

It was two years and I had forgotten about the previous incident. I arrived at the temple and sat with Dr Dhanragee Dial and started to talk. Then I heard a commotion and when I looked out I saw Sri Swamiji coming into the hall. The audience was chanting the Siveti Sauriti and I thought, my god, how holy this place is. All the pujas were performed and I enjoyed them immensely, but there was no connection with Sri Swamiji. I did not feel a sense of belonging.

We were then informed that Sri Swamiji was giving interviews, and Vishnu said the he will try to get a sitting for me. Arrangements were made and I accepted to go to Him. My intention though, was to go to Him and tell Him off for encouraging my husband to be away from home. I also wanted to see Him close-up to understand who he really was. On entering the room, I could not believe my eyes as I saw the most holy individual sitting on that chair that I was lost for words. I introduced myself and said that I had come to speak with god.

He said, “First you must have a Guru”. I asked, “How will I know my Guru?” and He said, “Don’t worry, you will know” and He handed me packets of Kumkum and vibhuti. That was the interview. I was about to leave when I noticed a small table on which people had placed money and other things. I did not give any, although I had money on my person. I thought that this was not about money; it was spirituality.

Something was churning in me and I went back a second time to the ashrama. This time, my mind was overtaken, I was very depressed and I was crying. A man, Krishna Maharaj, saw my predicament and came over to comfort me. Fearlessly I started to discuss my problems with him and he asks that we move to the back of the hall. He advised me that Sri Swamiji is here and there is no problem that He cannot solve, all I had to do was to go to Him. I told him that because I was crying I was too embarrassed to be in front of Him, and anyway I had to report for work almost immediately.

The rain started falling lightly and we made an attempt to leave. However, Guru’s (God) plan supersedes all others. When we were walking across the grass, as if by magic, the curtain on Sri Swamiji’s door blew open and His Holiness saw us leaving. He immediately sent His assistant to stop us from leaving as He wanted to see us. We sat in the hall and waited for Him to come out. When He came out He entered the hall and I saw the most radiant smile that I have ever seen. His form and gait was so resplendent that I became mesmerized.

I immediately realized that this is God in human form. I saw the immortal eyes of Lord Rama. I believed that, then and there, whatsoever He wanted me to do I would unhesitatingly do. I knew He was my Guru and at long last I was in His abode, where I will forever be. We were advised that the next day He was giving Mantra Deeksha to those who wanted to accept. I went home and told the two children that today I have seen God and tomorrow I will take them there.

The next day was a school day, but in my enthusiasm, I had them stay away from school and took them with me. We prepared, got there early and when our turn came we entered to room. Sri Swamiji said that He was happy that I came and He gave us Datta Deeksha. Now I had that person on whom I can depend, without the thought of shedding a tear. No longer was I a widow; I had all the physical roles of existence tied into one bundle. How fortunate I was.

I have had many wonderful experiences with Him, both physical and spiritual. Someone recently told me that with all the miracles He performs and the miracles we experience, the greatest miracle is to know Him. When I look at the multitude of people in the world, I feel special that I came to know Him. We are very lucky to be with Him, for this opportunity is a well deserving one. Out of so many billions that inhabit the earth, He is one. And each one of us is fortunate to be with Him now.

Before meeting Sri Swamiji, I was a very worldly person; I indulged in partying and hanging out with friends. I thought that I was comfortable and therefore I lived the good life. However, when I came in contact with this bastion of pure consciousness and goodness I realized that my journey has not even started. He made saw myself from within and allowed me to grow slowly and stealthily. Most people will recount these as changes to their lives, but for me they are His dormant directives being awakened.

In 1994 for His fifty second birthday celebration, I was invited to visit the Mysore Ashrama for the first time. Being a little apprehensive I took a room outside the ashrama compound. I enjoyed the festivities and was having a wonderful time just being in His presence. One night when I retired, I had a vision of a place that was surreal and eerie, but I was not afraid. I was walking through a low-lit tunnel and towards the end I saw a very dark skinned man without a shirt sitting in a lotus position. There was a wonderful brilliance around Him and He was motioning me to come towards Him. Unhesitatingly I bowed before Him and then I was awake.

In excitement, the next day I related the experience to Sri Swamiji and He informed me that Sri Guru Dattatreya had given darsan then. I was astounded and became very confused. I questioned myself as to why I was that deserving.  I know that He is everything to me; I understand that He will take care of all His devotees, and I feel justified to shout that He is my God within and without.

In 2006, during the Datta Jayanti celebrations, my family was invited to have an interview with His Holiness. During that interview I noticed a Halo around Sri Swamiji. Many times I distracted myself, thinking it was an illusion; however when I look again towards Him the Halo was still seen. I attribute this to the divinity present in my Sadgurudeva Parama Pujya,  Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. I love Sri Swamiji and I am greatly comforted to know that I met Him. He is my rock. Jaya Guru Datta.

 

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Swami Dattananda Datta Pada Renu, Mysore: ‘The Guru transforms the disciple into a divine personality and we have to serve the Guru with child-like faith’

Swami Dattananda Datta Pada Renu, Mysore

Physical body is inherited from parents but a Guru gives a divine birth. The Guru transforms the disciple into a divine personality and he have to serve the Guru with child-like faith.”

 

Today, I can say thanks to Sri Srinivas Bhatt, my old friend from Cochin, who took so much pain in trying to introduce me to His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji. I had known Sri Bhatt, when he was a priest at the Gopalakrishna Temple in Cochin. I was not a spiritual person, but there was some religiousness in me, so off and on I would visit the Temple. During the late 1960s Sri Bhatt would talk about his Guru, Sri Swamiji, but for me there was no interest whatsoever. Whenever we meet, he would insist that I should come and have His darsan and blessing. I kept insisting that he should leave me alone, but he was more insistent.

I was employed as a bank-clerk and enjoying the fruits of my labor. My pastime then was taken up in singing film songs, a passion I loved. Any talks about God or God-men will immediately change my psyche. Why should I sacrifice a lucrative job and career for the sake of following these teachings?  After getting the job, I developed a small ulcer in my stomach, which was later diagnosed as being cancerous. Because of this, I had no interest in being married, so I remained a bachelor. The pains from this problem, at times was so great, that I thought I would die. Sri Srinivas Bhatt was sure that if I went to Sri Swamiji, this situation would go away. Finally in 1976, I acceded to his clarion call and visited Sri Swamiji in Guruvayoor, at a Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Before having the darsan of Sri Swamiji, as I was approaching the venue for His program, I heard the sweet melodious sound of a celestial singer, which was like nothing that I heard before. The sound kept pulling me closer and closer to the source and hence to my Sadguru. That first darsan was very piercing for me, so I immediately left the scene but I couldn’t leave the area. I took a room in a nearby guesthouse and decided to rest for awhile without anticipating my next move. My fate was fixed and that was that. Suddenly, through an open window a crow flew into the room and sat on a chair. I tried shooing it away to no avail, then the crow disappeared and in its place Sri Swamiji appeared sitting in the chair. I immediately prostrated at His feet and seek His blessing, a few words were spoken then the crow reappeared and flew away. My fate was fixed and that was that.

The vision of Sri Swamiji and the crow not only wiped away all my skepticisms and doubts, but also made me realize that there was God and Sri Swamiji was that God manifest in human form. When I returned home my mind started revolving in the thoughts of the vision and slowly there ensued a metamorphosis in my inner life. An intense love and faith in Sri Swamiji welled up in my heart. I felt I got a rebirth in the same body.

The following year, intuitively, I visited the Mysore Ashrama for the first time, accompanied by Sri Srinivas Bhatt who excitedly introduced me to Sri Swamiji. He inquired about my name to which I replied; my name is Bhavani Shankar, Swamiji. Thereupon His Holiness started calling me Shankar and remarked; “Shankar, I have already taken charge of your affairs and your problems. You have to finish some more karma. Finally you will come to me only. Time is fast approaching for that”. Thereafter Sri Swamiji took a flower and gave it to me, with the instructions that I worship it daily. As the flower fell into my hands it turned into a small idol of Goddess Durga. Immediately He took another flower and gave me and this turned into a small article made of Gold. I felt very happy and thought to myself, “Oh my God! Sri Swamiji is blessing me with articles made of gold and panchaloha. What a love He has for me!”

As these thoughts flashed into my mind Sri Swamiji again looked at me and said: “Don’t worry about your stomach problems. Diseases and suffering are not meaningless. They have a great purpose in our lives. With the help of doctors and medicines you could not cure your ailment, but you thought whether Swamiji could help. You thought of giving a chance to Sri Swamiji and that thought brought you here. So diseases must be welcomed. They are God sent agents to cure man’s real sickness, which is his faithlessness. God is, have faith, and have faith”. I was taken by His words and I realized that I have found my Guru.

My love for cinemas and cinema songs abated and instead I started singing Bhajans and attending Satsangha. My reading of cinema magazines gave place to the study of Bhagavad Gita and other scriptural texts. Over and above this I also got tremendous relief to my long standing stomach problems. I realized that Sri Swamiji’s unseen hands were working behind all these changes in my life.

During my next visit to the Ashrama Sri Swamiji asked me to sit and said, ‘Shankar, the last time you came I gave you articles made of gold and panchaloha. This time I will give you Jnana and Bhakti. Physical body is inherited from parents but a Guru gives a divine birth. The Guru transforms the disciple into a divine personality and you have to serve the Guru with child-like faith.” With these words Sri Swamiji materialized two small packets of vibhuti and gave them to me.

Sometime later, during another visit to Mysore, Sri Swamiji chastised me by angrily shouting “Why are you coming to the Ashram so frequently? I don’t want to see your face. Go away soon.” I became nervous as I did not understand why Sri Swamiji was so harsh on me. However, after three years of intense sadhana, during which time I listened to discourses on Gita, Ramayana and Bhagavat Purana by eminent scholars, I also had a desire to give discourses on Gita. I also got involved in attending Satsangha and singing Bhajans.

Sometime in 1982, as per my invitation, Swamiji visited my house and seemed to act in an angry peculiar manner. I was put to an awkward situation as my relations were chastising me saying “Your Swamiji does not like you at all, otherwise why He should behave like that.” I could not reply to them. However, during His next visit I was skeptical, thinking that He will exhibit the same behavior as before, but in His infinite Grace He was the most friendly and jovial guest. I begged Sri Swamiji to explain to my relatives why He had kept silent during his first visit and He explained, “Shankar, I test the intensity of my devotees’ Bhakti in different ways. I wanted to know how you would react when your relatives bullied you. Instead of being disheartened you clung to my feet with firmer grip, so you won the test.”

Then Sri Swamiji calmly said,” Shankar,  I have a small problem; the devotees coming to Mysore Ashrama have some difficulties in getting conveyance to the railway station or bus stand. I would like to purchase a car as a means of transport to them, but I don’t have the money for it.” I replied, “I shall be getting nearly a lakh of rupees as my retirement benefits from the bank. I shall place the entire amount at your Holy Feet. Sri Swamiji may purchase the car or do whatever He likes. That this money should be offered at the Feet of Sri Swamiji was my life’s ambition. “However, Sri Swamiji immediately said, “wait, and don’t make any hasty decisions.”

After receiving the gratuity, I immediately took it to Sri Swamiji and placed at his holy feet. Sri Swamiji said, “Shankar, you don’t have a job now. How will you live if you give me your life’s earnings? Please take it back; I just wanted to test you. I wanted to know whether you will feel the pinch or hesitate to give me your life’s earnings, which is now your only source of income. The testing is over and you may take back the amount.” I was very adamant that Sri Swamiji should accept the amount and I didn’t budge an inch from my stand. Finally Swamiji accepted and asked me to put it in fixed deposit in a bank in joint names of Sri Swamiji and I. In His infinite grace, He asked me to utilize the interest accruing on that deposit for my livelihood. He asked me to consider the monthly interest as ‘Bhiksha’ given by Sri Swamiji. Thus I started living on Swamiji’s Bhiksha thereafter.

I am sure a worldly man would not care for his children so much as Swamiji does for his devotees. When I offered my life’s earnings to Him, He was worried about my welfare. How great is the love of Sri Swamiji for his devotees! I am sure there has never come on earth another Avatar of God who is such an ocean of compassion. Only those who have His grace can know Him. Our duty is only to pray to Him for His grace and the rest He does.

In 1984 as I came to the Ashram to witness Navaratri celebrations, I saw Sri Swamiji standing in the prayer hall talking to a few devotees that had gathered there. All the devotees were patiently listening to Swamiji, I went near and prostrated before Him. I politely enquired what the matter was, Sri Swamiji looked at me and said; “From tomorrow there won’t be anybody to clean the general toilets, the scavenger woman who has been doing that work said that she is resigning the job as she has to go urgently to her native place. To get another scavenger, that too in a short time, is very difficult, especially in this place. From tomorrow onwards more and more devotees would be coming to witness the Navaratri festival, I don’t know what to do, I am very worried.” I told Swamiji, “Please don’t worry on this account. I will clean the toilets and bathrooms; you may leave that matter to me.” “Then you take care of the toilets” so saying He returned to His room. With a smiling face, I cleaned the entire general toilets. Meanwhile, the management appointed a new scavenger to whom I handed over my charge.

Then He said,” by cleaning the Ashram toilets you have cleaned your mind, so shortly I will give you Sanyasi Deeksha.” I felt very happy. Thanking Sri Swamiji and prostrating before him I took leave and returned to Cochin. I don’t know whether this was also a test for me. But I take it as such. Because as St Paul letter to the Corinthians says, “How deep are the depths of God and how rich are His wisdom and knowledge? How impossible to penetrate His motives, and how difficult to understand His methods.”

In 1985 I visited Kashi and proceeded to the temple to have darshan of Kasi Vishvanath. I spent a few days there and early one morning, some unseen person woke me up from my sleep. As I opened my eyes I saw a light in the room and in the middle of the light there was the same Siva Linga that I saw in the Temple earlier. Within seconds Sri Swamiji’s regal effulgent personality emerged from the Lingam in the garb of Lord Mahadeva and in a tender, affectionate voice told me, ‘I will give you Sanyaasa Deeksha on Vijaya Dasami day. So saying the vision disappeared.

Later when I visited the Ashrama for Sri Swamiji’s birthday celebrations, His Holiness called me to His side, along with all other members of the Kerala unit and announced that I would be given Sanyaasa Deeksha on the forthcoming Vijaya Dasami day. I told Swamiji about the earlier vision and how it was coming true. As decided by Sri Swamiji, my initiation into Sanyaasa took place on October 24, 1985, on Vijaya Dasami day.

In the beginning of 1986 some devotees and I were privileged to accompany Sri Swamiji to Srisailam, a holy mountain peak where one of the twelve Jyothir Lingas of Lord Siva’s is situated. Sri Swamiji entered the Sanctum Santorum and did Abhishekam, Puja and Aarthi to the Lord. Next morning Sri Swamiji and a few devotees went for a bath in the Krishna River, below the mountain peak where the river is called Patala Ganga.

Many rowing boats were engaged for the trip. Swami Manasa Datta and I accompanied Sri Swamiji while the other devotees followed. All of a sudden, when our boat reached a particular spot in the river, Sri Swamiji had a jerk and instantly went into a trance. We were all watching with eagerness and anxiety to know was the cause for the sudden jerk and trance. We started chanted Datta Stavam and within a few minutes Sri Swamiji came back to normal consciousness. We requested to Sri Swamiji to let us know the reason for this sudden jerk and trance and He said, “It is in this particular place that I had given up my body in one of my previous incarnations.”

We recalled that Sri Pada Vallabha, a great incarnation of Lord Datta, had given up his body in the holy Krishna River near Srisailam. Hearing this, the Veda pundit, Sri Somasundara Sharma, who had taught Vedas to Sri Swamiji and who later became Sri Swamiji’s ardent devotee, became very emotional and excited. He stood up in his boat and declared at the pitch of his voice that the Lord Datta had manifested now as Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, after having manifested as Sri Pada Vallabha and Narasimha Saraswathi.

After the journey, Sri Swamiji took a dip in the river and while coming out I saw that His dress was floating in the river coming towards us. I was astonished to see the appearance of Sri Swamiji’s dress in the river. I was informed that Sri Swamiji had a similar experience in 1978 when His saffron robe appeared in the same river, in the same place and in the same manner. It was a long single piece of cloth, an Eka Vastram. Thereafter Sri Swamiji started using only Eka Vastram robe in saffron colour. Who sent the dress to Sri Swamiji in the river? This is a mystery. But, the way the dress came floating in the river as if dancing in the waters captivated the hearts of all devotees and filled them with delight.

Later, Sri Swamiji released His own production of ‘Datta Darshanam’, the movie, to cinemas in Vijayawada. His idea was to attract the masses, especially the illiterate and the rustics, to the life and message of Lord Datta through screening the film Datta Darshanam. Sri Swamiji, along with thousands of devotees would go in the early hours of morning, even in slum areas distributing free tickets to the people. Hundreds of cars and motor-bikes would join in the procession but Sri Swamiji would walk and distribute the tickets. Everybody was chanting the Maha Mantra ‘Sri Guru Datta – Jai Guru Datta.’ Thus the Lord’s name was reverberating throughout Vijayawada.

It was at this time that Sri Swamiji took the Anagha Vrata Pooja from the Bramhanda Purana and introduced it to the public. It was His sankalpa that Anagha Vrata Pooja should be made popular, as this pooja confers lot of benefits on the devotees and grants their wishes. Today, Anagha Vrata Pooja is very popular among Datta devotees, especially the devotees of Sri Swamiji. Another important point is that some ignorant people don’t worship Lord Datta for the simple reason that He is a Brahmachari and so He may not bless them to lead a householder’s life. To put an end to this misconception Sri Swamiji consecrated many temples where the idols of Lord Datta along with Anagha Devi are installed. Thus Sri Swamiji is not only a reviver who contributed much to the worship of Lord Datta by introducing Anagha Vrata Pooja, but also His Holiness is a daring revolutionary who promoted the worship of Lord Datta along with His divine consort Sri Anagha Devi.

Sri Swamiji knows even the smallest thoughts and actions of His devotees. Once after a bout of a virus attack, my health became very weak and I lacked resistance to cold. During the winter I would bathe only on alternate days which continued and became a habit with me. During a meeting with the Trustees and Sri Swamiji, He spoke as follows: “Some people think only mental purity is needed for spiritual Sadhana. It is not so. Bodily purity is also needed. One should not ignore the body, thinking it as of no significance in spiritual life. Body is the dwelling place of the divinity in man so it has to be kept clean. The only thing is that while a man takes care of his body he should not forget his spiritual dimension.” I immediately realized that Sri Swamiji is indirectly giving a hint to me and not to others. I restored to my old habit of having my bath daily and in summer even twice a day.

In 1999 I had a severe heart-attack on the premises of Lord Venkateshwara Temple as I was doing pradakshina to the Lord. I felt like a heavy stone falling upon my chest and I fell down with severe pain. At that time Sri Swamiji was present there and Mr. Jaggu, the Manager of the Temple, took me to Him. Sri Swamiji did not say anything to me. He simply called me to His side and moved His hand on my chest. With His benign touch the pain in the heart area instantly disappeared. Next day I went to the Ashram Hospital for a check up. Looking at my E.C.G and X-ray, the doctors said that I must have already had a severe heart-attack. I said, “Yes, by Sri Swamiji’s grace I am saved.”

I got another attack in January 2010. It was early morning, I was in deep sleep. I woke up with severe pain in the heart. I was calling, “Swamiji, Swamiji, the pain is severe and I am alone in my room, please help me.” After a few minutes the pain was gone and I slipped into a stupor. Then I had a vision where Sri Swamiji appeared and touching my chest He said, “You are not alone in your room, I am also here with you.” I felt very courageous. I got up and felt as if nothing had happened. I had my bath and went to attend Sri Chakra pooja. As Sri Swamiji was on tour, Sri Bala Swamiji was doing the pooja.

When Sri Swamiji returned to Mysore after His tour I informed His Holiness about my heart-attack and the dream vision. Sri Swamiji said, “Lead a silent life. One who has received Guru’s grace will be silent. Talkativeness is also a sort of disease. Along with the tongue the restless mind needs to be controlled. Then it gains power and clarity. Practicing long silence is ascetic life. The Guru is pleased by silent ascetic life.”

In the Bhagavat Gita, Sri Krishna says, “Among things profound, I am Silence.

Sri Swamiji Says:

 

A man may say that he is a disciple of such and such a great Master, but unless the Master also accepts him as His disciple, the awakening of his spiritual consciousness will not take place. As it is the all powerful king alone who appoints his ministers and other officials, even so, it is the Guru alone who selects His disciples and accepts them as such.

 

Do not implicate God with your problems. Our sufferings are due to our past karmas (actions). We have to learn to accept happiness and sorrow as fruits of our past actions and exhaust them by experiencing them with dignity and composure.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/devotee-experiences-swami-dattananda-datta-pada-renu-mysore/

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