After attending an annual sales conference at Pune, I was returning home. The train reservation in Gitanjali Express was done by my company. And Pune-Mumbai distance, I was supposed to cover by share-taxi. I always use to visit my boss's residence on the way to Mumbai, and that night, after a dinner with my boss, I left for taxi-stand at mid-night. I was fully confident of covering the distance within 4 hours by taxi; the departure time of Gitanjali Express train (from Shatrapati Shivaji Station, Mumbai) was 6-AM in the morning and I was having six hours in hand.
We crossed Chinchwad at 1.30-AM, but we were stuck on the way due to heavy road traffic and massive jam at the Ghati road. I had no option left but to pray to my Lord and I actually started doing so in frustration. The other co-passengers in the taxi were sleeping without any worry or tension. I started cursing myself for this delay. In the head office, my senior's always used to advice me to leave early for Mumbai, so that I may not miss my train and this time, I knew for sure, I was going to miss my train.
But, thanks to my Lord, I reached the station just on time and I straight away entered AC-II compartment and went to sleep on my side-upper-birth. Around one o'clock in the afternoon, I woke-up and asked the service boy for a cup of tea. But the service boy told me, point blank that its lunch time and tea will not be served now; I better look for tea at the next station, which will come within half an hour.
Finally I stepped down from the upper-birth and I sat down at my side-seat and in the opposite seat one very healthy, fair, beautiful and very impressive Swami ji was sitting and he gave me a big smile and asked me "did you have a nice nap, Vatsa?" and I was not very keen to answer his question, but after seeing his saffron cloths, first I folded my hands offered respect by saying "Pranaam" and nod my head in approval. He replied with a long smile "Ayushman Bhava" (have a long life), and raised his right hand in the air for blessings.
Gradually, we started discussing various subjects, which includes Shrimat Bhagwat Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Guru Granth Sahib, Kuran Sharif and Bible. Besides, we also discussed about Guru's: Shri Arvindo, J. Krishna Murthy, Shri Ramkrishna, Acharaya Rajneesh, Shridhi Sai Baba and Swami Vivekananda. I was not only surprised but also amazed to see his vast knowledge, experience and clear conviction about his thought process and views on various subjects including Life, Death, Salvation and Sanyas. He answered all my questions with ease and explained to me with facts and figures, gave logical/rational answers, but the thirst to know every thing in one day was not ever-ending and I was afraid, his destination may arrive any moment now and his discourses will be stopped automatically.
Train was running towards it's destination with high speed and so was the time which was not running but was flying. As the time passed, I started liking this Swami ji and gradually the deep sense of respect developed within and he was no more a stranger and so called Swami ji, I was getting more and more impressed with this young Swami ji, who was very practical, well behaved, well mannered, knowledgeable, educated, well read and having positive attitude.
He was around 32 years of age, bachelor, post graduate in Sanskrit, became a disciple at the age of 18 and head of the Ashram at the age of 24 (when his guru expired). Since then, he is running the Ashram very successfully and having strength of ten lakh disciples spread all over the country and abroad.
The Ashram head quarter was at Haridwar, build on 15 acres of land, plus they were having 100 acres of agricultural land also where they grow crops, vegetables and housed 150+ cows, which is in the out-skirt of city limits, on the way to Rishikesh. Besides, Ashram was having 150+ disciples, Sanskrit School up to class ten and old age home. The land and building belongs to Ashram which was registered under the Hindu trust act.
I always wanted to know more about Indian Bhikshu, Guru, Naga, Ojha, Oghar, Swami, Sadhu, Sant, Sanyasi and Tantarik. Our conversation started in the afternoon which continued till late night, and it stopped only when the train reached it's destination at Bilaspur station. I got down at the station along with Swami ji to wish him good bye and I was surprised to see the big crowd of his disciples at the platform, and most of the people were carrying garlands, flowers, snacks and hot/cold beverages; and they immediately started serving food to all passengers of our coach.
Swami ji was literally surrounded by his disciples and the distance between us was getting longer and longer and I thought, I will not be able to meet him again but to my utmost surprised, all of a sudden, Swami ji came in-front of me and said, -"you have not asked any thing for your-self, not an issue, but one day, you will have to come to our side and I shall be waiting for you with my open heart, may God guide your path and always be with you." I bow down and touched his feet with respect and he hugged me and blessed me with his love and affection. The fragrance of his blessings are still alive, very much, which I will not forget, within this life span.
Many years have passed since, neither I could meet Swami ji nor I have visited his Ashram till date and I don't know how long will it take to reach his Ashram, may be the journey is very long and I am still not prepared for it or maybe I am not capable or qualified of being his true disciple in this lifetime. I pray to my Lord for his blessing to enable me to have enough strength, courage and confidence, so that I can put my right foot forward towards the final destination, wholeheartedly with my mind, body and soul, Tatha-asthu!
We crossed Chinchwad at 1.30-AM, but we were stuck on the way due to heavy road traffic and massive jam at the Ghati road. I had no option left but to pray to my Lord and I actually started doing so in frustration. The other co-passengers in the taxi were sleeping without any worry or tension. I started cursing myself for this delay. In the head office, my senior's always used to advice me to leave early for Mumbai, so that I may not miss my train and this time, I knew for sure, I was going to miss my train.
But, thanks to my Lord, I reached the station just on time and I straight away entered AC-II compartment and went to sleep on my side-upper-birth. Around one o'clock in the afternoon, I woke-up and asked the service boy for a cup of tea. But the service boy told me, point blank that its lunch time and tea will not be served now; I better look for tea at the next station, which will come within half an hour.
Finally I stepped down from the upper-birth and I sat down at my side-seat and in the opposite seat one very healthy, fair, beautiful and very impressive Swami ji was sitting and he gave me a big smile and asked me "did you have a nice nap, Vatsa?" and I was not very keen to answer his question, but after seeing his saffron cloths, first I folded my hands offered respect by saying "Pranaam" and nod my head in approval. He replied with a long smile "Ayushman Bhava" (have a long life), and raised his right hand in the air for blessings.
Gradually, we started discussing various subjects, which includes Shrimat Bhagwat Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Guru Granth Sahib, Kuran Sharif and Bible. Besides, we also discussed about Guru's: Shri Arvindo, J. Krishna Murthy, Shri Ramkrishna, Acharaya Rajneesh, Shridhi Sai Baba and Swami Vivekananda. I was not only surprised but also amazed to see his vast knowledge, experience and clear conviction about his thought process and views on various subjects including Life, Death, Salvation and Sanyas. He answered all my questions with ease and explained to me with facts and figures, gave logical/rational answers, but the thirst to know every thing in one day was not ever-ending and I was afraid, his destination may arrive any moment now and his discourses will be stopped automatically.
Train was running towards it's destination with high speed and so was the time which was not running but was flying. As the time passed, I started liking this Swami ji and gradually the deep sense of respect developed within and he was no more a stranger and so called Swami ji, I was getting more and more impressed with this young Swami ji, who was very practical, well behaved, well mannered, knowledgeable, educated, well read and having positive attitude.
He was around 32 years of age, bachelor, post graduate in Sanskrit, became a disciple at the age of 18 and head of the Ashram at the age of 24 (when his guru expired). Since then, he is running the Ashram very successfully and having strength of ten lakh disciples spread all over the country and abroad.
The Ashram head quarter was at Haridwar, build on 15 acres of land, plus they were having 100 acres of agricultural land also where they grow crops, vegetables and housed 150+ cows, which is in the out-skirt of city limits, on the way to Rishikesh. Besides, Ashram was having 150+ disciples, Sanskrit School up to class ten and old age home. The land and building belongs to Ashram which was registered under the Hindu trust act.
I always wanted to know more about Indian Bhikshu, Guru, Naga, Ojha, Oghar, Swami, Sadhu, Sant, Sanyasi and Tantarik. Our conversation started in the afternoon which continued till late night, and it stopped only when the train reached it's destination at Bilaspur station. I got down at the station along with Swami ji to wish him good bye and I was surprised to see the big crowd of his disciples at the platform, and most of the people were carrying garlands, flowers, snacks and hot/cold beverages; and they immediately started serving food to all passengers of our coach.
Swami ji was literally surrounded by his disciples and the distance between us was getting longer and longer and I thought, I will not be able to meet him again but to my utmost surprised, all of a sudden, Swami ji came in-front of me and said, -"you have not asked any thing for your-self, not an issue, but one day, you will have to come to our side and I shall be waiting for you with my open heart, may God guide your path and always be with you." I bow down and touched his feet with respect and he hugged me and blessed me with his love and affection. The fragrance of his blessings are still alive, very much, which I will not forget, within this life span.
Many years have passed since, neither I could meet Swami ji nor I have visited his Ashram till date and I don't know how long will it take to reach his Ashram, may be the journey is very long and I am still not prepared for it or maybe I am not capable or qualified of being his true disciple in this lifetime. I pray to my Lord for his blessing to enable me to have enough strength, courage and confidence, so that I can put my right foot forward towards the final destination, wholeheartedly with my mind, body and soul, Tatha-asthu!
With Prayers
Gurcharan
No comments:
Post a Comment