Posted on: 11 Sep 2022
[By: Dr. J.S.R. Prasad]
First experience
I was walking on the Uppal road in Hyderabad and wished a coming bus to stop by my side for a minute though there was no bus stop, in case, Swami has superpower. The bus stopped for a minute and went without any reason. This has astonished me and subsequently I realized the omnipotence of Swamiji.
Protecting my health
I am a person with moderate health since my childhood. As I am growing older, I started to increase psychological stress due to my svabhāva, concerned with my short and long-term goals related to my studies and career. With Swamiji’s infinite grace, I could be able to settle into a respectable profession. I strongly believe that Swamiji was there guiding me in every step of my life much before I got His darshan in 2019. In course of time, I have developed work-related stress that led to chronic Gastrointestinal Tract related problems such as Gastritis, etc. Indeed, my constitution is Vāta predominant which instigates all kinds of typhoons and Tsunamis inside the body, as per Ayurveda.
On the 23rd of August, 2022, one of Swamiji’s young devotees, Sri K. Karthik invited me also to attend his marriage reception in Hyderabad. The previous day (22.08.2022), our brother Sri Phani garu called me and said that he came to Hyderabad on a short visit. I inquired whether I can meet him sometime before he goes back to Vijayawada. He was unsure though and said that both of us can go together to Karthik’s reception the next day (23.08.2022) evening. I agreed to that not knowing the further developments later.
Sri PVNM Sarma garu phoned me on 24th August afternoon, to inquire whether I am joining the marriage reception. That day, I had a lot of work pressure at the office. I told him that I cannot come as I have work and I am also not feeling well. Sarma garu said that it is fine with him. Later, in the evening, Phani garu called me to know whether I could come to the reception. Since Swamiji was also attending the function, my mind was willing to go, but my body was not cooperating, subsequently, a reluctance came to my mind and I said that I cannot join them.
Sri Phani garu was a bit surprised at this response and friendly insisted me to come along with them, thinking that I may be left alone. Until then, I did not tell him that I have a stomach ache and not feeling well. By listening to all our conversation, Swamiji sitting next to Phani garu asked him not to insist me to join them and said that, that fellow might be suffering from stomach ache and let him take a rest. Later, Sri Nitin Bhosle informed me that Swamiji has consumed two Gelusil tablets immediately after the phone conversation. I never knew this until he informed me.
Though hesitatingly, I would have definitely attended the function had not Swamiji intervened to stop Phani garu from inquiring with me. That is how I didn’t go to the function, skipped my meal in evening and was taking rest at home.
The next day, on 24th of August, 2022, I need to reach Kalady, Kerala, to attend a seminar at Sri Shankaracharya University of Sanskrit. Certainly, this trip would have cancelled had I attended the reception function the previous day since it is a custom to accept the food offered in such auspicious functions. Subsequently, I could not have escaped from eating the food offered along with other guests.
If it were the case, it would have been not only an embarrassment for me to cancel the trip but also would have been very inconvenient for the organizers since they printed my name in the seminar brochure already. Omniscient Swamiji knows all these problems of chain reaction, hence, He protected me from the impending danger by avoiding me to go to the reception function. With Swamiji’s blessings, I attended the seminar and come back safely.
However, my gastric problems did not subside and were vitiated further after my Kerala trip. As we know well, Swamiji regularly visits the houses of devotees to conduct the satsangs and clarify spiritual doubts. On the 4th of September, Swamiji visited the house of Prof. C. Annapurna garu. I stay very close to her house.
Around 11:30 am, I went to their house and got the darshan of Swamiji. During lunchtime, Swamiji asked me whether I had eaten something. I replied to Swamiji that I just took some seeds of a pomegranate. Dr. Annapurna garu and Sri Sarma garu, inquired with me, whether I can take some food. I refused the kind offer politely but firmly saying that I am skipping my meal for that day. In fact, I did not have a proper meal for the past three days.
Actually, I have been disappointed, vexed with frequent health upsets, and become indifferent to all routine things. A sort of dejection has occupied my mind. Suddenly, I got a chance to speak to Swamiji in privacy before He goes for lunch that day. I earnestly pleaded with Swamiji to cut off my life ticket as I couldn’t manage my professional and personal life due to persistent health problems. Swamiji looked at me thoughtfully for a while with a smiling face. I do not know what it means. Little did I know that Swamiji is transferring my health problem to His body.
There is a Vedic saying referring to God as the divine doctor – ‘adhyavocadadhivaktā prathamo daivyo bhiṣak.’ Swamiji, the bhava roga Vaidya, prescribed me to use the Magnesium phos in 200 potency continuously till the severity comes down. Sarma garu kindly gave me the medicine twice that day, upon the advice of Swamiji. Swamiji was happily sharing spiritual knowledge with all of us there, of course, with His typical mark of excellent humor added in between. Gradually by evening, almost all of my stomach aches and gastric problems disappeared. But I did not realize that it was due to the compassion of Swamiji only my persistent health problem is removed.
That day evening, upon Swamiji’s advice, Annapurna garu offered me a trademark but addictive snack prepared by Sarma garu made of puffed rice, some savories, raw onion, coriander leaves with a pinch of salt and lemon known as ‘jhal-muri’ in Hindi. I just grabbed the bowl and ate it along with Swamiji. Normally, I cannot afford onion since it aggravates gas in the stomach. To my dismay, Swamiji asked Annapurna garu to bring a besan laddu if available at home. Indeed, Swamiji does not prefer to eat sweets due to acquired diabetes.
Laddu was available at home and Annapurna garu gave a laddu to Swamiji and asked me whether I can afford one. Unhesitatingly, I grabbed it too, saying happily that when Swamiji is there why should I fear! As much as I understand, it is impossible to eat such a type of food made with a mix of onion and laddu made with besan (gram flour). Onion and besan contribute more towards the vitiation of gas in the stomach. I was experiencing this stunning scene that was never imagined. Also, this reminds us of the similar kind of miracle exhibited to Sri CBK Murthy (taata garu) in the early 2000s by Swamiji. Very interestingly, Swamiji’s devotees Ms. Purnima and her sister Mrs. Swati came to visit Swamiji and brought two sets of Hyderabadi pan for Swamiji. I wish I had it, as betel leave being the main ingredient, it relieves from all digestive issues. Knowing my mind, Swamiji offered me to eat a pan to better my comfort levels!
By then, Swamiji had transferred all my gastric problems and silently underwent the pain with a compassionate and charismatic smile on His beautiful face.
The next day (05.09.2022), I am told that Swamiji’s stomach was bloated heavily and become huge, and had not eaten properly. I realized my mistake, sitting at the lotus feet of Swamiji, and pleaded with Him to forgive my blabbering, due to which, Swamiji underwent such a punishment on my behalf. Swamiji simply smiled and said that He happily enjoys the problems of the devotees on their behalf and it is more painful if He is prevented from doing so.
This is the same reply given by Lord Krishna to the Gopikas. This is astonishing for a low-level and unqualified soul like me. Swamiji never lets us know that He silently undergoes punishments on behalf of devotees which repeatedly establishes that He is our contemporary human incarnation and the ocean of compassion towards the souls.
Indeed, given a chance, none of our near and dear would be ready to take our diseases in such a way since the bonds are selfish between the souls and there is no place for sacrifice. But what the omniscient God is getting out of this? Nothing. He does not need any return favor from the souls since he is the creator of this universe and is devoid of any aspiration (Āptakāmasya kā spṛhā) in this world. It is His mere compassion to uplift the struggling souls in the spiritual path and nothing else.
That day (05.09.2022), I supposed to conduct an online interview for a university. With Swamiji’s infinite grace, I completed the task with great ease!
It is only due to Swamiji’s infinite compassion, that a devotee like me could be able to reach His lotus feet and His dearest devotees, to learn excellent spiritual knowledge directly from the mouth of none other than the Lord of this universe. The episode shared here is not even a drop of the ocean of miracles exhibited by Swamiji, that each devotee experiences daily, when one observes it keenly.
There is no phrase in any language to express my gratitude for protecting an inferior soul like me in every stage of my spiritual life and the professional life as well. I cannot pay back this huge debt but repeatedly recite the line – Kathamapi yogyo na'hamakāraṇa karuṇaiva tava hi kāraṇamekam (I certainly don’t deserve Your grace. The only cause for it is Your causeless kindness!) from the Saṅkaṭa mocana Hanumat Stotra. Jaya Guru Datta.
At His divine lotus feet,
servant – J.S.R. Prasad