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).

Sushilaben Dave, London: “Sri Swamiji appeared as “Lord Dattatreya”. He had ‘Shankha’, ‘Gada’, ‘Padma (Lotus)’ and ‘Chakra’ in His hands. There was an Aura and a bright light surrounded His face.”

96.Devotee Experiences ~ Sushilaben Dave, London U.K.

Sushilaben Dave, London U.K.

Sri Swamiji appeared as “Lord Dattatreya”. He had ‘Shankha’, ‘Gada’, ‘Padma (Lotus)’ and ‘Chakra’ in His hands. There was an Aura and a bright light surrounded His face.

 We believe in the Datta Avataram of Sri Ranga Avadhoot Maharaj. Since the Datta Pariwara is following Sri Ranga Avadhoot Maharaj, we have joined the Datta Pariwara. We attend all the functions and celebrations of Datta Pariwara. We first met Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji at Mr. Ghanshyambhai Amin’s home in the U.K in 1978, when He came to London. In 1984 Sri Swamiji came to my son, Jitubhai’s home, but I was in America during that time. My son told me about Sri Swamiji and His wisdom. Since then I have become a devotee and I follow His teachings and guidance.

I like His bhajans, His music, His ragas and His pleasant voice. We have collections of His bhajans and chants and we listen to them regularly. It is very healing and gives us peace of mind. Sri Swamiji sits in our heart. All my children and family members are His followers. For any and all important events or celebrations we pray to Him seeking His blessings at the start of the ceremony.

In 1985, I first saw Sri Swamiji at the Heathrow airport in London. After that I met Him again in 1986 during “Janamashtami Celebration, Lord Krishna’s Birthday, in London. The celebration was in a big hall. Sri Swamiji came there dressed up as Lord Krishna. He was wearing a Crown and Peacock Feathers. He looked like an incarnation of ‘Lord Krishna’. It was very nice and pleasing to the heart. He also danced to the rhythms of ‘Raas Garba’ Lord Krishna’s favorite dance.

In 1987 we celebrated “Guru-Purnima” in London when He came there and we performed “Pada Pooja.” We also published Bhajan Collection of Sri Swamiji in Gujarati language and distributed to all devotees and attendees. At that time my grandson, Bansi, got sick. Sri Swamiji held him in His arms and played with him. He blessed him and he soon got better and his fever disappeared. It was our first miracle. We could not believe how fast he recovered.

Later, my husband passed away 1987, so we went to Mysore Ashram 1988 after to perform some Pooja. We were very sad and grieving. Sri Swamiji told us not to be sad and said everything will be fine. He touched our heads shoulders and consoled us all. It was a very peaceful experience and gave us lots of strength. He personally took care of our sorrows and helped us in time of need, which was very heartfelt. We followed His advice and made donations in name of my late husband, by donating cow, food, land, clothes and funds for education for unfortunate people.

In 1989 we went to Vijayawada with all the family members to celebrate Navaratri and the Dassera festival. All my daughters from America, my sons and everyone from their family came. At that time Sri Swamiji personally gave the “Paduka” that He was wearing during that time, to us as “Prasadam.” We accepted that as His blessings, put it on our heads and when we went back to London we took them with us. They are in our temple and we bow to them daily. This way we feel like we are seeing Him daily in our home.

In 1992 I went to Mysore on occasion of Sri Swamiji’s birthday. When I landed at the Bombay Airport, the customs officer stopped me and told me to take off the pair of gold bangles that I was wearing. I argued that “How come some people in line have so much jewelry on them and why are you just stopping me?” I was very scared and my heart was racing. Suddenly a young man, about twenty-four years of age appeared next to me. He was wearing ‘Bhagava (Orange)’ clothes and had a turban on his head. He looked like young coolie (porter).

He asked me if I was having problems at customs clearing area. I said, “Yes!” He told me to follow him. I was very apprehensive and worried that where this guy was taking me. Eventually he took me out of the customs area and I came out of the airport without any trouble, even though I was scared. My bangles were still with me. I tried to give him some dakshina, but he did not accept any money from me.

When I reached Mysore, Sri Swamiji asked me, “Amma, How are you? Did you have any difficulty at the airport?” Suddenly I realized that it was Sri Swamiji, who came to rescue me at the airport. What a miracle! I was still in shock and my heart was still racing. He just smiled and calmed me down. That was a true miracle.

At that time, I wanted to donate a few thing made of gold. The local goldsmith said that I did not bring enough gold and asked me for little more, so I took off my bangles and gave it to him. He made a spoon, a cup and a necklace with 108 beads and gold paduka. I offered all these at the Lotus Feet of Sri Swamiji in memory of my late husband. He then asked us if He could donate each bead of the necklace to a poor and unfortunate parent of a daughter, who cannot afford to give gold at the time of wedding. We said that it was fine. He then donated each bead to a worthy parent and we felt very honored and happy in our hearts.

At midnight on that day, we attended a prayer at the temple and offered flowers. There were lots of devotees there. Sri Swamiji appeared as “Lord Dattatreya”. He had ‘Shankha’, ‘Gada’, ‘Padma (Lotus)’ and ‘Chakra’ in His hands. There was an Aura and a bright light surrounded His face. We felt like we actually saw “Lord Dattatreya”. We were overcome with happiness and joy. Our hearts were in heaven. We felt very fortunate to witness such a miracle. It was one of the big experiences in our life.

One day Shakti, my grandson, was ill. He was very young at that time. There was no one at home except him and me. He was crying and told me that he was dying and he was not going to live because of this illness. He wanted to see his father. I assured him that he is not going to die and called his father (Jitu). I told him to chant Sri Swamiji’s name and pray to Him. He started chanting and praying. His eyes were closed and he soon fell asleep. Shortly after he woke up and felt better and his illness was gone. He told me that Sri Swamiji came and talked to him and played with him. Swamiji touched him and blessed him and his sickness disappeared.

We all believe that Sri Swamiji cured him that day and performed a miracle! Since then he is a staunch devotee. He starts all task or celebration by first praying to Sri Swamiji. When he was small, we used to play a cassette from Sri Swamiji, which had 108 names of ‘Lord Dattatreya’. He used to listen to that every night while going to bed. Over the time he remembered all these names and he chants these names daily before going to bed. He could recite these names whenever he was asked at very young age.

He likes to play soccer. One time, when Sri Swamiji was visiting, He told him that if he learns the “Gita” He will play with him as ‘Lord Krishna.’ He started learning ‘Gita’ and in a short time he could recite the 12thAdhyaya (Chapter) very fluently. So whenever he played soccer, he recited ‘Gita’. He told us then that Sri Swamiji always come and plays soccer with him as ‘Lord Krishna’. He is a true believer in Sri Swamiji.

Once, when we were at Mysore ashram, there was a ‘Gita Competition’ for youths. All the small children were there. Swamiji was talking and teaching all of them. Then He asked the children to chant “Shloka” from ‘Gita’. All the children could not remember most of the ‘Shloka’. They were all fumbling and trying to remember. We coaxed, Shakti-who was very young at the time, to chant Gita. He started and chanted the whole 12thAdhyaya (Chapter)’ of ‘Gita’ fluently. Everyone there was amazed that a child, born and raised in London, can do so well. Even local children, who were attending the ‘Veda’ school, could not chant. We were feeling very happy. Later that evening, when Sri Swamiji was giving His discourse, He called him on the stage, praised him for his achievement and gave “Gita” as his first gift. He was very excited and we all were very happy.  We all believe these are all His blessings and we all are very fortunate.

In 1987, Sri Swamiji was scheduled to visit the UK. Just a few days before His visit, I saw ‘Goddess Jayalakshmi Mata’ in my dreams. She came into my home and blessed me. I also saw Sri Swamiji sitting on “Sri Chakra”. I saw His head and shoulders on top of “Sri Chakra”. He blessed me and it was a very miraculous experience. During His visit, when I mentioned about my dream, He was very happy and pleasantly surprised. He told us that every house has ‘Goddess Lakshmi’. Every woman in every house is “Maha Lakshmi”. Then we presented a sari to ‘Jayalakshmi’ idol.

In our family, everyone is very well settled and prosperous. All our children, daughters and in-laws are doing very well. They are all happy and content. Everyone is a devotee of Sri Swamiji. We all follow His teachings and believe in His message.  We have performed Janoi, thread ceremony for all our children and grandchildren. During these ceremonies we have donated gold and silver coins to needy and poor, as per instructions of Sri Swamiji. Our lives are happy and prosperous. We believe that these are all His blessings.

We had a nanny (Manchchaben), who took care of our children. Later, she also became a devotee, when she met Sri Swamiji; she used to pray to Him daily. Once she fell sick and suffered a heart attack. She was admitted to the hospital and the doctors revived her. She told everyone in her family and all doctors at the hospital not to keep her alive on artificial life support. She told them that she has seen Sri Swamiji, so she already has seen God in the form of Sri Swamiji and she is very happy that she has lived a full life. She was very peaceful and had no regrets. In short time she passed away.

Before that, she once lost an idol of Lord Dattatreya, which she received as a gift. She was very upset about that. When she mentioned this to Sri Swamiji, He assured her that “Lord Dattatreya” is in her heart and soul, so she need not worry about a lost idol. Then to make her happy, He gave her a small idol of “Lord Dattatreya”. She became very happy and was overcome with emotions.  She left a will at the time of her death asking her family and everyone else to pray to Sri Swamiji and remember Him before starting any celebration or any important work in life. She wrote that she is at peace and happy that she saw “Lord Dattatreya” in form of Sri Swamiji while she was alive. We remember her every time we have any important occasion or celebration or pooja.

I believe that these all are blessings of Sri Swamiji. We bow to Him every day and He is in our hearts all the time.

Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

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Nagamma, Bommeparti: “One of the wonderful things about Her (Jayalakshmi mata) was, that she used to share whatever she got from those small amounts. She used to first feed us and then use what was remaining for Her family.”

95-Devotee Experiences ~ Naggamma, Bommeparthi

Naggamma, Bommeparthi

 

But, one of the wonderful things about Her was, that she used to share whatever she got from those small amounts. She used to first feed us and then use what was remaining for Her family.

 

My name is Nagamma. I am one of most blessed persons on this earth to be born in Jayalakshmipuran aka Bommeparthi, where Mata Jayalakshmi lived after her marriage to Gandluru Narasimha Shastry. I am ninety seven years old now, but my memories still are as fresh as the day when I met Mata Jayalakshmi, when she first moved into this small village. She was tall, very fair and had beautiful hair. She mostly talked in Kannada and it was tough for me to understand that language. She had a soft voice and used to tell stories in Kannada.

In the early days of marriage she had seen many hardships, as Narasimha Shastry, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji father, was not financially strong. He was the priest, to the many surrounding villages, and he used to perform poojas for the villagers and receive petty amounts from them for that work. But, one of the wonderful things about Her was, that she used to share whatever she got from those small amounts. She used to first feed us and then use what was remaining for Her family.

As a kid Sri Swamiji was very naughty but He was fun to be with. All the village kids used to swim in a pond nearby, and His friends would push Him into the water. He in turn used to stay in the water for few hours and scare them by not coming out. Mischievously, He used to turn sand into sugar and rocks into candy and every kid in the village got attracted to Him at that tender age. We are happy that, the little boy we knew as Satyam is Sri Swamiji now. I still remember the days when He was small kid and used to show miracles like materializing things.

This village falls in drought area of Anantapur District. Before Mata Jayalakshmi came to this village we had famines and crisis, but gradually the rains began falling in time. Sri Swamiji also contributed a lot for the development of this village. We have pipe borne water, electricity and even our own Post Office. Everyone in this village have a sense of gratitude for Mata Jayalakshmi and Sri Swamiji. This village had seen so much from Him; socially, educationally, spiritually and financially.

Today, Jayalakshmipuran is known the world over, and people come from different places to visit here. It is only with His grace and compassion that we are surviving and we are alive. When Sri Swamiji comes to this village everyone will go to see Him, for He is an integral part of us. He has installed a fascinating Ashrama for us and at times Mata Jayalakshmi would be heard walking in the temple.

At this age I do not have any major medical complaints and so too are the majority of the people here. We sincerely believe that because of Him and Mata Jayalakshmi we are benefiting tremendously. Sri Swamiji is the head of our village and even the children listen to His words and do what they are told. He had been here and will be here forever.

 

 

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Shaddarshanam Vijaya Lakshmi, Produttur: “Somasundara Sharma should have passed away a long time ago, but I kept him alive for a while longer, however, his time had come and he had to go.”

94-Devotee Experiences ~ Shaddarshanam Vijaya Lakshmi, Produttur

Shaddarshanam Vijaya Lakshmi, Produttur

 

Somasundara Sharma should have passed away a long time ago, but I kept him alive for a while longer, however, his time had come and he had to go.”

As a boy, in the early 1950s, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji lived amongst and with us in Produttur. My family had known the boy, Satyam, when He used to stay with His paternal aunt, Venkamma at the Shiva Temple. He attended the Anne Besant Municipal High School where my father, Shaddarshanam Somasundara Sharma, worked as a teacher and had a close relationship with Him. When He was young, Satyam was like an ordinary boy and nobody suspected that He would attain the pinnacle of spirituality. During those years my brother was privileged to be one of His classmates.

For a period while staying in Produttur, Satyam, a shorten form of Satyanarayana, His original name, did “Madhukara Vrata.” He went to five different houses, one each day, to receive Bhiksha as per His aunt’s instructions. He visited our house on Mondays as His aunt, Venkamma, instructed Him to visit our house for Bhiksha first, and then He was allowed to go to the other four houses that she selected. My mother was very fond of the boy and with excitement she used to offer Bhiksha to Him in those early days, in 1955.

I was not yet three years old, but when He came to our house I used to play with Him. As was customary, my mother would tell Satyam that He should take care of the baby while she prepared His Bhiksha. I don’t recall a whole lot of about those days, but I knew that the way He played and took care of me was no different that my mother.

After Satyam became Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, and was being worshipped by several devotees, He came to Produttur many times. Each time He came He would want to see my father, but my father never went to have His darshan, as he did not believe in Swamijis or living God in those days. He used to just strictly follow his spiritual practices and daily austerities at home.

In 1973 when He came to Produttur, Sri Swamiji sent a message asking my father to come and meet with Him. Instead, he asked me, a young woman, to go and meet Him, but he adamantly refused to come along. I went to see Sri Swamiji and that was my first darshan of Him as a Sadguru. He talked with me very lovingly and affectionately. He inquired about the welfare of all family members and especially my mother who prepare His Bhiksha in those early days. Unfortunately, she passed away in my childhood.

My father was a very peculiar and stubborn man. If he wanted to do something he will do it with the grace and time that was required. Once, when the boy, Satyam was in his school, the school bully was very abusive. Identification of class status was through the earrings worn by the individual. Satyam wore copper earrings only and so He was taunted by this bully.

One day this bully got hold of Satyam’s earring and tore it from His ear which caused it to bleed. With anxiety, the other boys ran to my father to complain on the situation. Very carefully and cautiously, he attended to the boy and stopped the bleeding. He then scolded the bully and reprimanded him for his behavior. Satyam, who had loved my father very much, was pleased with the attention and told him, “This incident you must remember.” Many years later, Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji came to Produttur and wanted to see my father, but he refused the many invitations.

In 1974 Sri Swamiji sent a money order to my father asking him to come to Mysore. My father then went to Mysore for the first time. He went there feeling more like it was an obligation but returned home very happily and sincerely said that he had seen divinity in Sri Swamiji and recognized that He is none other than that immutable Lord Dattatreya Himself.

He was reminded about the earlier incident and couldn’t believe that Sri Swamiji was the same boy, Satyam, whom he had loved so dearly. Since then we have been coming to Mysore ashrama very regularly. My father had written several books on Sri Swamiji and Vedas/Puranas/Upanishads etc. He had written the famous “Sri Guru Samitha” in Telugu language.

My father told all his children, that Sri Swamiji is Lord Dattatreya and our Sadguru. We should believe in Him as He is the imperishable Lord. His words were very strong and all the children listened to him and followed his direction. Now everyone in the family is an ardent devotee of His Holiness. The way he spoke and the manner he used when he was referring to Sri Swamiji made devotees of many who didn’t believe in Him. His manner in life changed and in his final years nothing was closer to him that the thoughts of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji.

In 1975, I came to the ashrama, with my father, for Sri Swamiji’s thirty-third birthday celebrations. The ashrama was not yet very developed. Sri Swamiji was sitting behind a small table with a bowl full of small chocolates. He asked all the youngsters there to form a line, to come and take one chocolate each. He asked us to close our eyes for a few minutes and then open the chocolates. There were about twenty of us that took the chocolates and about six got a ‘Rudraksha’ inside the wrapper. I was one of the fortunate ones that received a Rudraksha. I still have that in my puja room after all these years. That was the first miracle that I have witnessed.

Every Shivaratri I used to come to Mysore ashrama. One year I could not come but I watching the program live on Gemini TV. Sometime during the telecast, I started falling asleep and suddenly I felt a slap on my back and heard a voice saying, “Why are you sleeping.” I looked around to see who could have said that, but I realize that it was just my husband and I in the house, and he was asleep in another room. I believe that was Sri Swamiji Himself and confirming my thought, and I felt the strong sweet smell of sacred vibhuti.

Another time, I had a desire to go to Kashi (Varanasi) but at that time, that did not materialize. However within one week, Sri Swamiji announced that He was going to Kashi, and I was so excited. I told my husband that we should seek His permission to accompany Him. Miraculously, we were given permission to go at the time while He was in there. I feel very blessed.

Once, when I went to Mysore, Sri Swamiji asked if I would still want my father to live. I did not understand why Swamiji was asking like that, as my father was still alive, but I said, “Yes Swamiji! I would like very much for my father to live longer, but He just smiled. I returned to Proddutur wondering what was there behind the question. Later on, after two years, my father passed away. He had gone to Bommeparthi and got a sun-stroke and when he came back home to Proddutur, he passed away. I started crying before Sri Swamiji’s photo saying, “Why did you take my father away that early.” To comfort us Sri Swamiji personally telephoned my sister-in-law and told her, “Somasundara Sharma should have passed away a long time ago, but I kept him alive for a while longer, however, his time had come and he had to go.”

The first time I saw Sri Swamiji, after His Poorva Ashrama, I saw ‘Devi Goddess’ in Him. He exudes such austere luminance that I felt that He was so close to me. Since then I kept chanting His name at all times. I don’t have children but to me He is; my son, my father and my mother. Whatever problems come along in life I just think of Him and we will definitely find some resolution.

Spiritually, since coming into Swamiji’s fold I have gained more concentration. I feel my life is so much happier and peaceful because of Him as He takes care of everything, as long as you have complete faith. I definitely see a positive change in myself, and I am certainly growing spiritually.       Jaya Guru Datta

 

 

 

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Pingala Manfred Herden, Germany: “The heart to heart connection between Sri Swamiji and me was becoming stronger day by day.”

93-Devotee Experiences ~ Pingala Manfred Herden, Germany

Pingala Manfred Herden, Germany

The heart to heart connection between Sri Swamiji and me was becoming stronger day by day.

 

I am originally from Germany, now living in the Mysore Ashrama. While growing up, for seven years; from the age of eighteen, I attended many Hatha Yoga courses and practiced it, read many spiritual books and met a few German Yoga Masters. Later I lived enjoying the pleasures of life with no desire for the spiritual one.

In 1991, while I roaming in a park close to my city, I looked up into the sky and the thoughts of being a spiritual seeker started coming to me, ‘I had money, a girlfriend, a job and all the physical comforts in life. I can pursue this lifestyle, but do I want this? And then an answer came from within that I should go deeper within myself and find out about the Self?’ For this I wanted to do traveling for a long period, preferably in India.

Later, I went to an astrologer to have my horoscope read and among other things, he told me that if I would travel to India I could visit a small ashram in Mysore India, and I could meet a saint at His birthday festival. I had been to Mysore previously. So I thought I would go back there when being on a longer trip. At end of 1991, I began preparing for a trip to India. I called the boss of my job and asked if I could get some time off. My boss asked for how long I wanted to have time off from job.  I was surprised at this for they usually don’t offer the choice to select a period by you. I took a nine-month leave. I spent three months in Thailand and then went to the Himalayas in North India.

As I landed in India I felt like the earth was vibrating with spiritual vibrations and I felt like being guided. I visited a Buddhist Spiritual Center, which was close to the Dalai Lama place in the Dhauladar Mountain range, Himalayas. I attended classes in Self Inquiry and did Yoga and Meditation and began feeling an energy rising within me from the lower part of the body up towards my head. This experience was not familiar to me, and I became scared and tried to get out of it. It was a totally strange experience. I felt physically and energetically irritated after that, almost as being sick. I went to a doctor later in Delhi. He examined me and declared that everything was okay with my condition. He gave me some medicine for my stomach. After this one month of lonely spiritual practice I left for South India towards Mysore.

When I got into Bangalore, I took a bus to Mysore. The bus was old and the trip was rough. In spite of this, I felt comfortable as being rocked in a cradle rushing towards my later home and Master. When I reached the Mysore Ashrama, thinking of what the astrologer said, I expected to see an old saint, who would probably be visiting this small ashram, from the mountains. But as I entered, I was impressed at the large number of people gathering there. It was the last day of Sri Swamiji’s fiftieth. Birthday Celebrations, the Golden Jubilee, and still more than one thousand people were there.

I went to the Ashram office where the German astrologer, Janardana, who had given the hint of the Ashram festival, was called. He introduced me to Swami Manasa Datta who sat there as the Ashram representative. I saw a picture of a Sri Swami on the wall and thought that He was so young and not whom I expected. Swami Manasa Datta said that I could stay for four days only. I went and put my stuff away, went into the Prayer Hall, sat down and began meditating. After five minutes I saw a spiritual personality entering the Prayer Hall with a pink glow around Him. I recognized that He could be the Swamiji. I stood up and bowed before Him, and He went by, very close to me, and sat on the dais.

There were only four persons in the hall when He came in. As He sat, the hall became filled with people. The Swami seemed to have only a serious face, and He was scanning the audience, giving every person there a powerful glimpse within a split of a second: His eyes fell on me a couple of times. I saw a few Masters in Germany who taught Yoga but I thought this Master was obviously much more powerful.

That night I had a dream where I was a leader and guide for angels with wings flying high in the sky. I was teaching them how to fly and watched them unfolding this art. I saw a female angel flying too high in the sky, and then she began to fall. I caught her and took care of her. After waking up I thought that as it was a spiritual dream, it might mean something special and was amazed at it.

One day when I went up to the Swamiji for Darshan I asked, “Can I talk to you?” He turned His head away from me and said to me very sternly, “Later!” I felt a little bit like being turned away. The fourth day came, and I had to leave. I got permission to come and spend the day time in the ashram, but had to find a place to sleep outside. I did this for a few days and got tired of it. I thought that maybe I do not belong here; there is nothing here except people running and bowing before this man. I thought they should do Yoga and meditate and do not make all this fuss around the Swami.

I left the ashram and spent a few more days in Mysore City, then headed further South to Kerala. I spent some time on the beach and enjoyed the places. I kept practicing meditation and would often get spiritual dreams. I met many interesting persons and slowly I began to change my way of seeing the world.

One day on the beach, I felt this overwhelming sensation in my heart opening it up and with the feeling that an orchestra was playing within me. I kept feeling like this for days, months, and years and even up to this day. With this experience and feeling of intensive joy inside I immediately thought that I would have to go back to Mysore to see the Swami who I felt was the cause for this tremendous new inner feeling, and that He is my Master.

After travelling for twenty-four hours, I reached Mysore Ashrama. I went to the Ashram office where Swami Manasa Datta was again the one whom I met there. He told me that Sri Swamiji had changed his plans and was now in Europe, and I could not stay in the Ashram. I was not frustrated by that and accepted just what was offered as a possibility to me. I left the office to sit for a while in the Prayer Hall.

When I went to the foreigners’ bathroom I met Parvati there and on the way she started talking to me; I observed a white bright glow around her, and the whole atmosphere suddenly had changed and caused a intensive feeling in me. She talked to me very politely. When I told her a little bit about my new inner changes and the urge to meet Sri Swamiji now as His real devotee, she said beside other things that I would be one of the last devotees to come to Sri Swamiji.

Much later when being asked about our meeting at the bathroom place she strangely could not remember to have met me there. She offered the Angel Hall, the foreign devotees’ quarters, for me to take a shower and then we sat along with Shabari for breakfast upstairs.

There Parvati gave the hint to visit Vijayawada in one month’s time when Sri Swamiji will be there. I thought I would do that. I left the ashram and instead of visiting Rajasthan as intended before I went to some places in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu waiting for one month to pass. I had this feeling deep within myself that Sri Swamiji was my Master and I must meet Him.

I went to Vijayawada for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival and saw Sri Swamiji there. I attended all the functions and enjoyed everything. I dropped all the negative feelings I had about the devotees around Him and found myself being one of them. My meditation became very intense and I could feel the energy in me all the way up in my head, I felt like as if my skull bone was not there any more and the energy could pass easily above my head.

When I told Sri Swamiji’s assistants about my wish to meet Him, they later told me that Swamiji would give me an interview. I waited for the whole day, but He did not call me for this interview. This was okay for me. I was happy just to be with Him. On the main day of Ganesh Chaturthi, I sat in the huge crowd and He looked at me with the most compassionate look which I had not seen before on His face. It melted my heart.

I got permission to come to Mysore Ashram with the Ashram staff. I stayed at the ashram for five weeks, so that I can be there for the Navaratri Festival. I kept practicing my meditation. He gave me the name, Pingala, during this visit. When the day came I had to leave and return to Germany I had a heavy but also a joyous heart to leave my Master in physical form.

In Germany I got back to my life as a social worker, I meditatedly started and later learnt and practiced Homa rituals. I felt my inner being opening up to subtle realms of spirituality. Some Nadis and Chakras in the body opened up. Sometimes I would get the taste of Amrita in my mouth that seemed to be ten times sweeter than sugar. I attended the Satsangha in Germany regularly and would have dreams with Sri Swamiji every other night. Through these dreams, I received His Darshan, blessings and guidance. The heart to heart connection between Sri Swamiji and me was becoming stronger day by day. In 1993, I went with Sri Swamiji on His Nada Prasara Tour in Germany, Holland and Switzerland. I prepared the Homas and Pooja places for Sri Swamiji and helped in whatever way I could. In the following years 1994 to 1998, I visited Mysore once in a year.

In 1999 while being in Mysore Ashram for half a year, Sri Swamiji, after having completed the Sri Chakra Puja and passing by the sitting crowd, came suddenly close to me and sat down very near to talk to me for half an hour. He mostly scolded me for things I had not really done. But it was obviously a teaching also for all other devotees around us. Finally He assigned me to take care of the accommodation arrangements for the foreign devotees for the inauguration of the Datta Venkateswara Temple.

There were about three hundred and fifty devotees coming from abroad. This was my first official assigned duty in the Ashrama, and I was honored to serve. Before coming to the Ashrama in 1999, I had to find someone to take over my flat for the time of absence which turned out to be a little bit difficult. One day I got a call from Berlin, the young woman on the phone said that her actual name was “Blessing” (which has a different meaning in German than in English), and she would like to take over the flat, even if she had not seen it before. I felt that this was only the outcome of Sri Swamiji’s blessing.

That year, I accompanied Sri Swamiji everywhere as the only Western devotee on His tour in Andra Pradesh staying always with the staff members. It was challenging, but spiritually very beneficial. At the end of this trip, Sri Swamiji told me to come back to Mysore Ashram soon and stay here for more than one year. I had planned differently to concentrate on my new profession as a non-medical doctor in Germany. But with this special offer I changed my directions immediately and felt happy to get this golden chance.

On September 13th 2000, I came to Mysore with the intention of leaving after one year but I never left. I stayed with regular small breaks in between until this day in 2011, rendering as much Seva as possible to Sri Swamiji and the Ashrama. When I first came to India, I did not come with the intention of finding a Guru. I wanted to learn more about Yoga and Meditation. I did do that, and it led me to Sri Swamiji who became the object of my meditation. He has seated Himself in my heart and became my inner motivator and guide. He has stationed Himself within me where I do not need to see His physical form. I do not know what the future will bring He knows what and when to give and where it will finally lead to. For me He is Spirituality personified.                               Jaya Guru Datta

 

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/devotee-experiences-pingala-manfred-herden-germany/

Kiran Harilal and Mala Bodiwala, Surat: “Due to Swamiji’s grace he is alive today and free of cancer. All the doctors, his family Guru and even the astrologers who predicted that he will die were awestruck.”

92-KiranHarilal and MalaBodiwala

Kiran Harilal and Mala Bodiwala, Surat

You won’t believe this, but he is alive today and free of cancer. All the doctors, his family Guru and even the astrologers who predicted that he will die were awestruck.

 

Many men live their lives without meeting their Guru, a Guru. Many men exist on this earth without even a sip of the efficacy of seeing the Guru. I was that person before 1992. Since I was a child of about eight years old, I was searching for a Guru; whenever I meet people kept telling me that either this person or that person is not your Guru. So I was in search of a Guru until I met Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji and now I have found my Guru.

Before that time, I used to visit the temple of Tejanandbaba in Dindoli village near Kharvasa. Once I was coming back from that temple, a man stopped me and told me that he did not mind me going to this temple, but my real place was the Datta Temple in Surat. He requested that I should visit the Datta Temple, sing Bhajans and play a musical instrument called “Santoor’. So the next Sunday I went there and spoke with Mr. Balloo and since then I have been coming to this Datta Temple.

The next year, in 1993, I first met Swamiji when he came directly from Mysore at Magdalla Airport and He stayed here for two days. I just saw Him and did not even speak with Him. We only had some eye contacts. While giving His discourse He gave the name of an herb, turmeric, which He said was very effective for one’s health and it can even treat cancer. He spoke about the healing properties of the plant and afterwards He gave some to us as prasadam. Our minds couldn’t understand the potency of this herb so we placed it in our puja room.

Later, in 1994, my cousin was diagnosed with cancer and was admitted to Jaslok Hospital in Bombay. The doctors there told the family that this was a non-treatable type of cancer and that he may not live for long. They advised them that they should not waste money, and they should take the patient back home in Surat. With saddened hearts, they took him to the Mahavir Hospital in Surat, where another team of doctors said the same thing.

At this time, the cancer was in its last stage. I told my mother to try the herb, which Sri Swamiji had given us. I felt that there was nothing harmful in trying it since there is very little chance of his survival. I insisted that we should try the herb. My mother took that herb, mixed it in water and gave it to my cousin. You won’t believe this, but he is alive today and free of cancer. All the doctors, his family Guru and even the astrologers who predicted that he will die were awestruck. That is the miracle. After his recovery: his business prospered, his daughter got married, he became wealthy and he is living very well. He is still alive and he is one hundred percent cured.

People think that Sri Swamiji is only visiting wealthy people and is after money, but  for me it is not so. He is looking for people with true feelings and honesty. At the Surat Ashrama, all the trustees are somewhat wealthy, but I am a very ordinary man. I benefited a lot in my life by the blessings of Sri Swamiji. It is not to say that I am living a very happy and comfortable life, but He has given me enough so that I can effectively and efficiently do His work.

In 1995, when Sri Swamiji was visiting Surat, we were planning to build the hall at the Ashrama. He asked me to collect donations for the construction. In 1997, when He came back to Surat, He called and asked me to attend a meeting. At that meeting I was appointed as one of the Trustees. At that time I was very ordinary man. This event uplifted my spirits. The news of my appointment gave me a big boost in our circle and I gained lot of respect in society. My business prospered, my income grew and I am now living a very comfortable life.

In 1995-1996 I was going through very rough time. When I went to Ashram in 1997, Swamiji told me that from now on your fortune will change and you will Good times. He comes in my dreams and guides me and gives me directions. He knows all my family members by name, which is very big thing for us. He has so many devotees and yet He remembers our names, which amazes me and I feel very fortunate about that close relationship.

I visited Ashram for the first time in 1999, with Mr. Niranjankaka. I talked to Sri Swamiji at that time and told Him that I started the factory eleven years ago, but there is no progress. He told me, when you return home the progress will start. My business grew and in 2000 I installed four more looms. In 2001, Sri Swamiji came to Surat. I mentioned to Him that I have an empty plot behind my current factory and I want to expand. He blessed me and told me to go ahead with the plans. I had less than two lakh rupees and contractor estimated cost at four lakh rupees, but the actual cost was eight lakh rupees. Even today I do not know, where and how the funds came for expansion. It is all because of Swamiji’s blessings. I just believed in Swamiji with all my heart. My dream was fulfilled.

In 2001 my wifer suffered from paralysis. Afterwards when I went to Mysore, Sri Swamiji told me that He was aware of my wife’s illness and that He will take care. Today no one remembers that he had paralysis; he is completely cured. In 2002, Sri Swamiji was being weighed in gold and in order to do Paduka-Pooja they were asking one lakh rupees. I had taken some gifts to offer and when I was making the offerings I wanted to touch His Holy Lotus Feet. He permitted that even though there were thousands of people around and nobody was allowed to touch Him. My wife Mala and I were fortunate enough to touch His feet. We felt very blessed.

Sri Swamiji is our guide. He is the one who shows us the road to our progress. He is with us twenty-four hours a day. Whatever we do daily, we seek His blessings. We remember Him every time we wake up, eat, drink water, go to work, come home and go to bed. We take His name every step of the way. He is with us all the time. I was not that religious before I met Swamiji. He showed us what “Dharma” is. He gave us the knowledge of true “Dharma”. It is like when your vision changes when you wear correct eyeglass. He makes us do activities for the benefit of needy people and teaches us to help the less fortunate.

We had our own social circle before we met Him, but after meeting our family and friends has become “Datta Pariwara (family)”. I came to know lots of important people locally and nationally. I now know lots of people from Surat, Bombay, Mysore, and South India who are in “Datta Pariwara (Family)”. We have become one Family.                                                                                                Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/devotee-experiences-kiran-harilal-and-mala-bodiwala-surat/

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