I had been to Swamiji’s ashram on 26th
September, 2009 for the puja. When he
called me inside, He told me to sit closer to him so that I could hear
properly. Later when it was my turn to get the Blessings ,I told him we had gone to Palani by our
new car &also told Swamiji that we were planning to go to Mantralaya. He immediately told me with great excitement, Manthralaya
is a good place and MY presence will be felt. I told my sister about it and also
my daughter.
Then on 30th October 2009 we started off in
the Mumbai mail, and although there were rains enroute we spent our time
happily &reached the station an hour late. When we reached there we found
an overcrowded station. Then we came to know that there had been heavy rains
since morning and the river was full, so there was no road transport to cover
the 16km. distance.
Finally we boarded an auto &then a tractor
&managed to reach Mantralayam by going through waist deep water. After
having our bath we reached the temple around 5:30p.m. Since it was a Thursday
we had the chance to see 3 different chariots being drawn too. All the while I
WAS WONDERING WHEN I WILL FEEL SWAMIJI’S presence, as he had told me so.
We returned to
our room after a mini shopping too. We were off to sleep very soon. Around 4:00
am the next day began our ordeal. We could hear a lot of noise but there was no
current too.
Then we understood that the ground floor of our lodge was
flooded and people were moving over to the first and second floors. From then
on we were watching the water level rising. It had risen up to the level Of a bus by 10:00a.m. We saw so many structures falling and
being carried away by water, STD booths were flowing away, so also pigs, cows, dogs,
and cars too.
We watched everything as if we were watching a movie. We
were provided morning coffee and Mineral water by the people in the lodge. Towards afternoon
we got a few ladles of upma too. That Night we went
to bed by 8:00p.m as there was no current too. Once again I could hear noises
outside our room. It was around 4:00a.m.The caretakers of the Lodge were asking
all the inmates to vacate as the water level had come down. They said since the
water level had come down, it is better to evacuate. We looked outside and
found the road filled with people. They were moving away with whatever they
could hold on including their cattle. I felt it was like our T.Nagar road at that time.
We started walking at 5:00 a.m. After covering 4 -5 kms., we
boarded a tractor and travelled for 20 kms. Finally
boarded two buses and reached Bangalore at 7:00p.m. Once again boarded another
bus to Chennai and reached safely the next day. On the way we heard many people
narrating their tales of woe. We were just witness to the happenings and then I
realized why Swamiji had told me my presence will be felt. It was due to the
unseen hands of God that we were protected; otherwise even we would have had
lots of woes.
THANK YOU SWAMIJI, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PROTECT US AND
FORGIVE OUR SHORTCOMINGS.
JAYASREE.