FIRST MEETING WITH BELOVED

After reading the intimate note to the sincere seeker ,one of those pages was about the navarathri celebrations in the ashram.

It said, lot of saints visit the ashram during the navarathri celebrations, and they are visibly moved by the grandeur and electrifying atmosphere of love and celebration.

I got a desire to visit the Bangalore Ashram to witness the Navarathri celebrations, and i just wanted to feel, why even saints are moved by the celebrations.

But, it was friday last working day of the office, i dint apply for leave ,though navarathri celebrations started the coming monday, neither did i buy any ticket to go to bangalore.

Since only me and another officer were in the section, i wasnt sure if i would get leave, as we were dealing with one of the important contracts between the russian and indian governments. And only two were present in the section. So i dint apply for leave as a responsible government servant.

But, i had a deep regret that i am unable to go to the ashram, i dint even buy a ticket as i know i cant go without applying leave.

No one knew that i wanted to go to bangalore, it was just my desire.

It was sunday morning around 2 pm,when my brother gopal called me up from ambattur about 5 km from Avadi, where i reside in the government quarters, he said satishan is going to bangalore he had two tickets but his wife is not returning with him, so he has an extra ticket which is going waste, and if i knew someone who would need the ticket. I just kept the phone telling my brother that i would tell you after sometime.

I was in a shock , what was happening, i dint apply leave, i dint buy a ticket, but someone is going to bangalore with an extra ticket, and my brother is conveying it to me( he doesnt know that i want to visit ashram during navarathri).

Around 3 pm i called my brother back after deciding to go to bangalore that i want the ticket, and sateeshan waited for me in the busstop with the ticket, we travelled together. It was my first trip alone to bangalore(sateeshan was not a known person to me, he was just a friend's friend).

I got down from the bus in the morning and travelled all the way to ashram after enquiring here and there about the location of the ashram, it was my first visit to the ashram.

There i was waiting to see the celebrations, but guruji dint come out of silence, he came out during the evening, it was my first time live when i was seeing this guy.

He came around the stage where the poojas are performed with a big welcome smile and namashkar posture bowing his head down by 30 degrees. As if we were all divine and he was the one doing pooja to us.

I felt a zoom of atmospheric change around my body, it was just a zoom, i dint understand that feeling, suddenly tears started rolling down my left eye, and the right eye was watching in wonder, i just touched my left cheeks to see what was happening to me. I couldnt believe they were tears. I dint know what was happening.

I was such a strong person, that i never cried for anything, not at all centemental in nature.

I am still wonder struck, how i reached the ashram, the way i met guruji , the tears that flowed out. The ticket i got.

Immediately after my return i was transferred to a different section, where i could get leave easily.

Every moment since then is creating a wonder in me. Cant explain, its beyond my small intellect to perceive or express.