Golden Moments With Swami Satchidananda

Anecdotes

oi-Staff

By Super

Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 14:37

Love is the language of the heart. It is unconditional love that pops up in my mind when my thoughts devour the tall, adequately built frame with an effulgent face with two oceans with infinite love and intelligence put together for eyes!.

This is a humble recollection of the moments spent with a great Master who stooped down with love for an ordinary devotee. Each and every encounter with Him was packed with love. To unwrap those cherished moments would mean to relive them.

Few were the chances did I get to savour the moments in the company of indian saints,personal experiences,priya devi r,swami satchidananda during His visits to India every alternate year. It was in my sister's wedding that I met Him first. The tall figure empowered the wedding scene as He presented His commentaries and interpretation of the Bhagavadgita to the newly wedded . My desire to have one for myself was fructified soon as it was made known to Swamiji. The book bore His signature along with the expression of love in a few words.

Swamiji was asked home by the elders. I was blessed with the privilege to wash His feet and perform the rites customary of the traditional practice when a Master visited one's home. Singing for Him at His feet became a custom whenever we met. After a few words of concerned enquiries with my parents He would say "Let your service begin". I would always account the growing out of my coyness in me to sing, to His persistence .

Down to earth would be a lesser expression of describing Him. His love was open to all. He was dynamic and could speak on any subject put across by a visitor. I have heard him discuss cars, politics and music etc. Spirituality was not thrust and he would mildly introduce it where ever applicable. But needless to say I have caught Him with readiness and enthusiasm to explain a spiritual query. His explanations were very simple even for a amateur in spirituality to understand. Once on the completion of a song 'Am I a doll to play with', I recall Him saying "What is the doubt about it? We are all characters in the divine drama"

It was effortless for Gurudev to exercise a natural balance between His infinite spiritual potent and His simplicity in relating to the mundane issues of His devotees' life.

Swamiji would many a times ask me to go with Him to the US where He resided. It was customary of me to elude the subject smilingly on the pretext of being with my parents as my sister was settled abroad. There were jocular statements to persuade me as well as sweet briberies.

During one of my visits to Him when He was amidst a small gathering seated around Him, I stood at the end waiting to meet Him. Mataji Divyananda reported my presence to Swamiji mentioning my sister's name and my relation to her. Swamiji lovingly smiled and asked, "Do I know you?", causing the crowd to smile. That was a moment that revealed to me the depth of the love and the special ways with which He touched the lives of the people who were associated with Him.

Once a group of devotees from Gibraltar had visited Him. His exuberance and love was infectious and a devotee lovingly hugged Him. Soon there was a long queue for the hug as I sat under His feet speculating whether to join the queue. I was used to the Indian way of offering respects. When the last person had experienced the divine love, I asked, "Swamiji me?" Soon I was in those long outstretched arms as cameras flashed to capture the endearing moment. The picture is now a treasured relic.

Read more instances of divine love on the Next Page.