I met
Swami for the first time in
SWAMI KNOWS IT
When I
was in the second or third standard I vaguely remember, I had gone to attend
one of Swamiji’s puja with my family. While taking blessings, He very casually
asked whether my exams were over. I told him that my exams were going on and
that I had an exam the very next day. It was my English exam. He enquired
whether I had studied the poem that was there in the English text book. I
replied in the negative. He smiled and didn’t say anything beyond that. My
mother understood what he had meant and made me learn the poem and guess what,
my English paper contained maximum questions from the poem alone which I wouldn’t have been able to attend if I hadn’t learnt
the poem. This shows Swami’s divine presence even while I am studying. At
times, instead of studying I would waste my time on futile things and many
times it has so happened that on the very same day we would have a puja and He
would enquire as to what I had done that day. I would then very sheepishly
smile, because I would know that he has caught me this time. Such things even our
parents wouldn’t be aware of, but nothing, no matter how small it is, can be
hidden from our dear Swami.
Once, while
taking blessings from Swami, during one of the puja, Swami was distributing
sweets to all the devotees. When my turn was approaching, I mentally made note
of the sweets he was distributing. There were two boxes lying open next to him,
out of which he was distributing sweets only from one of the box, containing
sweets that I disliked. I mentally made a silent prayer asking for sweets from
the second box. When my turn came, to my utter amazement, His hand went towards
the second box, though there were many sweets remaining in the first box, and
he grabbed not one but 2-3 sweets from the box and handed it over to me. He
smiled and said, “You like these sweets a lot!!!” I couldn’t help grinning to
myself in sheer amazement. Matters of little significance also concern him
greatly and He always makes sure that we obtain what we desire.
SWAMI’S PROPHECIES
Right
from childhood I suffered from math phobia. I would be terrified of all my math
teachers and would equally give a bad performance in all my math exams not
because I was incapable but because I had an unexplainable inner fear towards
the subject. When I was in the 9th standard I began to kind of get
rid of my fear and score well, but not up to my expectations. Since my 10th
was approaching I had to really buck up but didn’t know how. That was when
Swamiji came to my aid. During one of the puja he enquired about my math. I
just smiled and didn’t reply because I knew He knew it all. He said that I
would improve and that was all I needed. I very surprisingly began to perform
much better than before and attained the highest marks in the class when I was
studying in the 10th standard. Those were my most cherished memories
and I owe it all Swami. Now mathematics is one of my
most favorite subjects and I cherish the very subject deeply in my heart.
SWAMI- THE HEALER
In 2003 my family and I had planned to attend the Hanuman Jayanthi
Celebrations that was being conducted in Chennai, before which we decided to
visit Tirupati. In Tirupati,
unfortunately, I tripped and fell down just outside the temple leading to a
sprain in my ankle. I did feel a little pain but I could manage myself around
the temple. We got a beautiful Darshan and were
completely mesmerized by the divine presence of Lord Tirupati.
It was much after having the Darshan that I felt a
sprinting pull in my ankle which was preventing me from walking any further. I
started yelping in pain because my right feet hurt a lot. My parents somehow
managed 2 bring me to the car, which was taking us to Chennai, with great
difficulty, because after taking 2-3 steps I would stop, unable to bear the
pain in my right leg. My trip to Chennai was awful. I was unable to keep my
feet down, which by then had become quite swollen and red. We reached Chennai
at night. It was Thursday and a huge crowd had collected in the ashram all
awaiting Swami’s arrival. I was made to sit on a chair in the ashram. In
sometime Swamiji entered the ashram and the bhajan session began in full swing.
It was a totally different experience. I was at a total loss of words on
listening to the melodious and sweet bhajans sung by our Swami. After the
bhajan session got over, all the devotees stood up and went and surrounded
Swami. I was feeling a little uncomfortable sitting (as I was unable to stand)
when everyone else was standing in the ashram, so I somehow tried to get up and
stand. On seeing this, Swami, who was by then engaged in a conversation with a
devotee, started walking towards me. Swami was now standing in front of me and instructed
me to sit down. I did as I was told. He then asked me what happened. After I
had explained he asked me to lift my right leg. By then all the devotees in the
ashram had surrounded the both of us. To by utter amazement, Swami took my feet
in his own hands and massaged it. I cried out in pain when He gave it a slight
pull. After doing this he asked me to apply vibhuti
on my feet and take rest and assured me that I would be able to walk the next
day itself. I did as I was instructed and waited for a miracle to happen. The
next morning, I got up and could feel as if the sprain in my feet had vanished.
I immediately stood up and voila I was able to walk without any strain. It was like
as if Swami’s magical touch had removed all my pain. He is my Doctor. I feel at loss of words to explain as to how
I felt then. It didn’t stop with that. Whenever Swami would see me anywhere he
would stop, however busy he would be, and would enquire about my leg. I was
afraid that I would be unable to attend the Oorvalum(the procession held
during Hanuman Jayanti), but Swami had other things
in store for me. My sprained ankle was cured just in time to attend the Oorvallum, during which I experienced no pain in my ankle.
This shows his gratefulness and divine power. Thank you, Swami for everything.
ARRANGEMENT OF MY HOSTEL ROOM:
It was
the mid of July 2006 and within a month I was to join college in
SWAMI -MY STRENGTH AND POWER
Once I
had nearly fainted after my workshop class (that requires physical work) since
I hadn’t been taking meals properly. I was feeling extremely giddy and weak.
That very evening, my father called me up and told me that Swami had enquired
about me and assured him that I would start feeling better immediately. As soon
as I heard this I started feeling better and began doing all my chores for the
day which I had thought I would have been unable to do.
SWAMI-MY MOTIVATOR AND COUNSELOR
At
times I would get very moody, due to unknown reasons and show my temper on
everything possible. I had totally lost total faith in myself and thought very
low of myself. I wish I was like others, and wanted to always be as victorious
as they were, but alas all my hard work was going unseen and I never used to
get the fruits of my sincerity and hard work. This would depress me further and
de-escalate my confidence. It was at this point when Swami came to my rescue. During
our visit to Chennai, he boosted my confidence to such a level that nothing
will put me down anymore. He spoke to me caringly and gently and assured me
that all my bad days have ended. He elated my mood and removed all the fear
that I had towards life. He has induced
into me the determination and will to live this life which is full of ups and
downs and to face every obstacle with belief in myself and complete trust in
Him. He steeped up my confidence and advised not to believe anybody (apart from
your loved ones) other then my inner voice. Thank you, dearest and most lovable
Swami.
Selection
of stream:
We
chose my stream after consulting Swamiji, He told that for now I should study
engineering drawing in the 11th and 12th standard and IT
can follow later. True to His words, I chose IT as my engineering program in
college. Engineering drawing, being a compulsory course for all first years, proved
very helpful to me since I had learnt the very same subject in school not for
one but for two years. Due to inefficient lectures in the subject many of my
friends would turn to me for help. Besides, I topped the class in engineering
drawing. What more did I need. There is
always a hidden meaning and significance in whatever He says; He knows it all
and is always and always there just by our side to help us, guide us and
motivate us. My prayer to Swamiji and Amma is to give
me enough strength and energy to serve them and spread His glory all over the
world and wherever I go.
Jai Shri Ram
Vinita Kanakaraj, Dubai