God's Touch

GODS TOUCH

Ever since I was a child I had a fascination to feel God. I wanted to know what God would think; what God would talk'; what God would like to tell me; how God would be if I touched Him; and so on. Born in an orthodox brahmin family, we were not allowed to touch the God idols in the Puja Room (a room where the idols and photos of gods were kept). My grand father did the puja (worship) rituals while I was allowed to watch him from a distance. I looked at the small gods with fascination and friendship from those days. I was not ritualistic, but had a good friendship with all gods in all forms. When my grand parents were away from the Puja Room, I sometimes secretly touched the deities to know their feel! Soon, I was given a statue of Lord Krishna to play with. That Krishna was my best friend. I always talked to Him, as I walked home from school, sharing all my school, teenage and peer problems with this Krishna. I did puja (copying my grand parents) by making different kinds of garlands for him. We had a lot of flowers from our garden and I was good in making garlands. Soon I grew up, fell in love with my husband and married, like many.

It was January 18th, 2001. About 250 devotees from Gujarat had to gone to see Sri Bhagavan personally on that day. In the morning, Acharya Akshayamatiji taught us a new prayer, which Bhagavan called as the 'AK-47' prayer, a prayer of visualizing clearly what you want and asking it with a strong bond with Bhagavan. After that prayer while sitting in a group, we all went by queue to see Sri Bhagavan for the first time personally. As our family reached Bhagavan, as Acharyaji and our Guide Tapasyaji began to introduce us to Bhagavan, Bhagavan simply said, "Oh, I know this family very well" and I was shocked to hear Him ask "How are you Anuji?"

I was FLAT indeed! Sri Bhagavan had never seen me personally before. The first time I heard His voice and saw HIm speaking was when He addressed us as a group in June 2000 after the first North Indian Mukti Yagna, 5 years after He entered my heart as Antaryamin Bhagavan. I purposely asked Him a questiion at that time so that He would look at me for a few seconds. After that it was that day when I went near Him personally. I was wondering how He knew me personally.

The same evening, as a gift for our seva for so many years, our guide took our family before the great Lord, to be with Him for more than an hour! The whole afternoon, we both were busy arranging buses for the entire 250 devotees, some going to Chennai, some going to Bangalore, etc. When the time to meet Bhagavan personally came, we suddenly realised we did not have anything to offer Bhagavan, no flowers, no fruits, no sweets, etc. Even Sudhama (Kuchelar) went with a packet of patched rice! Oh, we went with empty hands; with just our hearts to offer!

As I and my husband together prostrated before Bhagavan. my heart was asking, 'Oh, Anu, do you realize before whom you are prostrating? Before the great God of all Gods who ever took an Avatar on this Earth!'. And my heart stopped beating and my body stopped breathing, I should say. I then knew what it was to prostrate before the REAL GOD!

Sri Bhagavan spoke to us for almost an hour and when it was over, I was very reluctant to leave Him. While others left the room, and Bhagavan was talking something to the Guides, I went very near Bhagavan, kneeling like Sri Hanumanji, and quietly rested my head on His Great Lap! All in the room were stunned, I think, as there was just SILENCE!

Truly speaking, I could only feel Bhagavan, MY GOD, and knew nothing else. My husband and daughter told me later that Bhagavan placed both His hands on my head and blessed me. I did not feel like moving out of that sacred bond and touch and lay there ..... till Acharyaji, very very softly called my name. I knew I had to leave Him, as I and He were both bound by Space and Time, as beings on this Earth! I slowly and reluctantly left Him there and walked backwards till the room end, while He continued to look at me with all LOVE, Surprise, Understanding, KNOWING and what Not? I too continued to look AT HIM with tears flowing like a river from my eyes, in all surrender, love and gratitude and the KNOWLEDGE OF KNOWING HIM AS GOD! I can never forget the way Bhagavan looked at me then or what went between us or explain it!

Normally, the guides would never let us near Sri Bhagavan. But on that day, everyone seemed blinded and pre-occupied and never saw me moving near Sri Bhagavan. Do you know why? Because, that was my AK-47 prayer that morning! I never thought it would reach Sri Bhagavan so fast! Ever since I discovered Bhagavan as God in my Antaryamin, that was what I wanted to do. To Surrender and LIE ON HIS LAP! For me, Sri Bhagavan was not just a man; not just a great spiritual leader; not even just an Avatar; BUT GOD HIMSELF.

That was my discovery then and THAT IS MY EXPERIENCE & DISCOVERY TILL DATE!

My Guide later on hugged me and told me, "Anuji, Sri Bhagavan will never forget you; HE CAN NEVER FORGET YOU!".

As I write this, as always, i am only able to cry, cry, cry and cry in gratitude. That is all. There are no words to express what I feel.


I SINCERELY WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY VERY HAPPY, PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY, ENLIGHTENED, NEW YEAR, walking and talking with and listening to your favourite God!

AMMA BHAGAVAN SHARANAM

This week's Webcast Teaching of Sri Bhagavan to contemplate:

"The AWAKENED one allows destiny to be created. The Unawakened one tries to create destiny ." - Sri Bhagavan

Warm Regards,

Anuradha Chandrashekar, Ahmedabad
http://lifeinoneness.blogspot.com
093759 48988

A family in ONENESS, of ONENESS, by ONENESS and Committed to world ONENESS