Different Strokes
(Talks in Bengaluru)
Mythili Muralidharan
Bengaluru
Hari Aum!
Pranaams to H H Maa Purnananda ji.
I was very happy and blessed to receive a message from Manish ji that Maaji was finally coming for South visit after a long time (almost after 5 years)! With the given dates, I began checking and scheduling for Maaji’s visit. It was like making a Mala for Bhagwaan. Astonishingly every single event was beautifully placed and finally it became a perfect offering to Lord Sree Ishwara.
Friday 26th April, was a dramatic day for me. With so much excitement, I got ready to go to the airport to receive Maaji, when I felt a slight nick in my health. I realised, my eagerness to see Maa ji at the earliest was not going to be abated by anything. Only after seeing Maaji, I regained full confidence that I will be able to pull through very nicely despite little weak health.
With so much love Maaji accepted the invitation to visit Smt. Kanak ji’s residence and had lunch bhiksha at their house. I had a good rest too in their house and then we reached our house in Whitefield. In the evening, Lakshmi & Vijay ji, along with their daughter Vishaka, came to pay their respects to Maa ji and invite Her to their house next day for lunch bhiksha. Saturday afternoon, Maaji accepted and blessed Vishaka, (bride to be) with a beautiful Murti of Lord Sree Nataraj. In the evening, Maaji and myself chanted Sree Vishnu Sahastranamam Stotram.
Sunday morning, with Maaji’s blessings, I arranged for Sree Satya Narayan ji Puja at our house in the presence of a sastrigal. With lighting of lamps by Maaji, the Puja started around 10:30 am. My son Chaithanya took the sankalpa on behalf of everyone. As sastrigal chanted the Mantras, Chaithanya and I offered Puja to Lord Sree Ganesh ji, Lords of Navagrahas, Lord Sree Satya Narayana ji and Sree Mahalakshmi ji. After the puja, sastrigal narrated the five Satya Narayana Kathas. The Puja ended with Maha-naivedyam and Maha-arati around 1:30 pm. A few friends and family attended the puja and took Maaji’s blessings.
On 29th, Monday morning around 7.00 am, Maaji and I started towards Coimbatore by car. On the way, in hot weather, Maaji was determined to finish several tasks only for the benefit of the devotees of SISS. I closely observed Maaji’s selfless continuous hard work behind all the great things that are happening at SISS. We reached Smt. Usha ji’s and Sree Ramachandran ji’s home by evening 6.00 pm.
In my close contact with Maa for these few days, I realised the difference in the quality of work and the end result, when performed selflessly – the much instructed message in Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta. I got the blessed opportunity to see Maa ji demonstrate the great advice.
I just experienced the power of Guru-Kripa one of the days. A task that I was unable to accomplish in the last few months, was smoothly and effortlessly accomplished by Maa ji the very same day, as though it was waiting only for Maaji’s divine touch. Maa ji so humbly attributed it to Gurudev’s blessings. That day, Maaji lovingly accepted to come to my brother’s house as well. My brother Ramesh and his wife Chitra welcomed Maaji with Purna-kumbh. My 93-year old mother became very emotional after seeing Maaji. It was an honour for all of us. I saw the Kalyan-Guna of Maaji, taking care of everyone in the nook and corner of the world.
On May 1st Wednesday morning, I had the experience of Akarshan-Shakti. Thay day, on my humble request, Maaji lovingly agreed to visit Utsavprashanthi Senior Citizen Society, where an enlivening Talk on “Doctrine of Sanaatan Dharm” by Maa ji lifted the spirits of the citizens to a different enthusiasm. It was organised at Shakti Vallabha Ganapati temple in Utsavprashanthi premises from 10.00 am to 11.00 am. We reached the premises before time, and found that the people at Utsavprashanthi were already waiting eagerly to welcome Maaji with Purna-Kumbh.
Everyone was dressed so beautifully and with so much happiness welcomed Maaji at the entrance. From there, they sang and danced all the way and took Maaji to Sree Ganapati temple. Maaji worshipped at the temple. While Shrikala ji thanked Maaji for Her blessings to Utsavprashanthi members, Sri Ramachandran ji and myself gave a small introduction about Maaji and SISS respectively.
Maaji then began Her Talk, and everyone was soon absorbed into the topic trying to understand Maaji’s explanation about the basic principles of Sanaatan Dharm:- Practice of Brahmacharya at physical level, Ahinsa at mental level and Satyam at intellectual level. I was so surprised that even though, everyone there was meeting Maaji for the first time, but it seemed like they were connected for years and with so much ease and comfort, they freely interacted with Maaji. After the talk, they took permission from Maaji, sang and danced on Sree Krishna bhajan. Maaji then blessed them all with Prasad.
I feel very blessed to have Maa ji’s Foot prints engraved permanently in to my new flat as She walked around. I couldn’t have asked for more! Shrikala ji, other neighbours and each and every one present there invited Maaji to their home and to stay in Utsavprashanthi for a longer period. They were so happy and became like children seeing their Mother after a long time. With Maaji’s permission they sang few more bhajans. Maaji listened to them with Motherly Love.
The evening sessions at Ramachandran ji’s residence were very inspiring. On 30th evening, Maaji explained the Manu Smriti’s ten aspects of Dharm, through which, the seekers understood - “The Righteous” are the “The Mightiest”. On 1st May evening, Maaji’s fascinating explanation about “The Divine Charioteer” was spellbound. Maaji explained how the Divine Charioteer will guide from within, when we practice the nine principles to conquer our individual inner tendencies. Smt. Usha and Sree Ramachandran ji took care of Maaji and myself with great respect and love.
On 2 May Thursday afternoon Maaji returned back to Delhi and I returned back to Bengaluru. I am truly grateful to Manish ji for all the arrangements, anytime answering my calls and in making invites. I sincerely thank Sri. Suresh VP and his family from Chennai and Sri Ramachandran ji from Coimbatore for coordinating with me for Maaji’s South visit.
Every time after Maaji’s visit, Chaithanya and I feel truly blessed and we always look forward for the opportunity to serve Maaji.
Hari Aum!