Pictures of Lord Ganesha - Swami Satya Sai & Shirdi Baba

On Tuesday, August 27, 2014, a friend called in the evening at around 5:30PM and said to that he was going to a book store located in Edison, New Jersey (kitab book store) which was owned and operated by Jayantbhai Patel for over 25 years. The Edison Sai Center was started in the back of his store.

 

Weekly satsang, bhajans and meetings were held in the store room. He was an extraordinary man and did a lot of selfless service regardless of a financial situation. When Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, he made hundreds and hundreds of sandwiches and delivered them to the worst place hit; Staten Island. People would be waiting for him, and in no time it would be empty and people will ask “when are you returning?”

Jayantbhai was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and in a matter of months his health had deteriorated. Jayantbhai finally merged with Swami in June of 2014. His family now had to liquidate the business, sell the stock, and vacate the premise by Saturday August 30, 2014. We wanted to help the family's loss by buying whatever we could a drop in the ocean. My friend, as he had known Jayantbhai for almost 25 years, wanted to purchase 200-300 books and give them as gift in his annual bhajans along with various other gift items. I, on the other hand, bought only three pictures.

 

The first picture that caught my attention was Lord Ganesha who was seated very regally in the middle of the ocean with a serpent behind him. The next, an old picture of Swami (maybe when he was in his 30-40's) and a message hand-written by him and signed. It was a bit difficult to read as the ink had faded over the years. Finally, I purchased a portrait of Shirdi Sai. I purchased these pictures but knew my spouse will have something for sure to tell me. Nevertheless, I came home and installed Ganesha in the puja room altar. It seemed like a perfect fit for the place. I cleaned the puja room and for the first time in 20 years I don't know why I set up a grand chair decorated for Swami. I placed cushions on the chair as well as one for his feet and two handkerchiefs on either side.

 

 

 

 

 

I slowly stepped back and began admiring how beautiful he would look. And finally the picture of Shirdi Baba was placed in the entrance as you walk down towards the basement. When my wife came from work she went ballistic and started calling me all kinds of words and talked about how I have gone mad with these pictures. “It is not a temple, it is a home! If you want, go and surround yourself with all these in a temple. I don't want hundreds of people parading thru this home.” I was shocked and hurt at the same time. I was speechless and kept quiet until she finished bombarding me. She put all the items I had placed on the chair back. It was bare now and not the same anymore. She said “you cannot take any furnishing from the house. If you want, go and buy extra for your decorations.” I went and slept in another room and prayed to Swami to melt her heart and change her mind and show her the correct path.

 

Every Thursday I volunteer to cook at the Shirdi temple and start at 5:30am but that day I just could not wake up and had a severe pain in my left leg. At 7:00am, when I came down, my wife had gone to work and she had placed the chair, cushions, and the handkerchief back in the puja room. When I saw that, tears rolled down my face, as my prayers were answered. Swami must have come in her dreams and made something change in her. Along with that she wrote an apology letter. I guess I had to purchase these pictures for her transformation.

 

Sai Ram.

 

Divine Child in Action August 29, 2014

In the early morning, I saw Bala Tripurasudari playing with a kumkum box. I tell her not to play with it as it might spill all over and is a mess to clean up. She props herself up and opens the container and starts to distribute a pinch with her small fingers to everyone present in the room. I also extend my hand and get a pinch of kumkum. As an elderly lady was unable to get kumkum from the child, I reached over to extend and transfer the kumkum to her. She says I just wanted to see if you would part, so take it back and transfer it to my palm again. Inside that, some spills on the ground and Bala Tripurasundari says “as you lost some, let me give you more.”  You can see the divine child in action again.

 It is Ganesh Chaturthi today.

Goddess Devi Seated in Our Puja Room

In the very early morning I had a vision that I was driving with some people in my car. As we drove past a temple, being that it was rather late, it struck me as odd that when usually temples close by 10:00PM, all of the lights were on and wondered why. I stopped the car and told the occupants that we should go inside and find out what was going on. The people in the car didn’t want to go in and bother with it and said let us go but my conscience would not allow me to go. I went inside the building and all of the rooms and doors were wide open. All the lights were on but there was nobody in sight. I wondered if the place was robbed. I was not comfortable in leaving but my friends said “let’s go everything’s okay”.  I told them for some reason that “we have already walked inside, let’s check all the windows and doors to make sure they are properly secured before leaving”.  I walked over to a window and the latch was loose. It was turning but not locking. Now I was definitely not comfortable in leaving without informing someone in charge. Because it was so late I could not find anyone around and told my friends that they could leave and I will stay until the morning when they reopen and management is present. When I return to my home in the morning I see Devi Goddess Sri Lalitha Tripurasundari is seated in our puja room with a foot deep in red roses. We have no roses in our backyard. Where have the flowers come from?  She was so beautiful and I was both spellbound and speechless. What a wonderful vision of our divine Sai Ma. Thank you Swami for showering your love on this beautiful soul. The day I had the vision, July 15^th, also happened to be our anniversary. We are having annual bhajans this year on August 10, 2014 which focuses solely on our Devi Bala.

 

 

The Garland That Caught My Attention

I had a dream in December 2013 that Swami showed a man who was well built, fair complexion, and in his early to late 40’s.

I had never seen or met him before and wondered what my connection with Him will be. Needless to say, everything in Swami's fold is his master plan that we cannot fathom with the intelligence that we so called posses. I was invited to a New Year's bhajan at a friend’s house on January 1, 2014. The singers and instrument players were sitting right in front and the house was jam packed. The bhajan's were heart rendering and soul-touching. I came early and got a seat all the way to the back. It was attended by nearly 500 people with every room in the house occupied. Flat screen monitors were everywhere so that no one missed the bhajans. The cars were parked for as far as the eyes could see for miles and over-took the neighborhood. The prasadam was endless as to how anyone can even fathom that many people would show up for a bhajan in a residence. After the bhajan’s were over, I walked over to the host Kutumba and Rani Lanka, and asked who the tabla player was. He asked "you don't know him?" I said he was shown to me in my dream. Who is He? His name is Gopal; he has practically grown up in Swami's house and has many miracles to share. I walked over to Mr. Gopal and mentioned he is an excellent tabla player and you were in my dream.Wonder why?

I had the privilege of seeing and hearing his performance many times after that initial meeting, but never had a chance to talk with him in depth. On April 28, 2014, Mr. Lanka's daughter was to get married and had the chance of, once again, meeting Gopal, and it just so happened that I was sitting next to him as he was sharing some of the experiences with a few. I had a chance to interact with him and found out that his wife was the manager of the Shirdi Sai Mandir in Iselin, New Jersey. As I was free and was looking for various volunteer opportunities, I told them they indeed needed help especially on Thursday for cooking and mixing prasadam.

I started the last week of May 2014 and I had to be in the temple from 5:30 to 6:00AM, and many volunteers come but only for a few hours as they have to go to work. I enjoy working in the kitchen and easily fit in with the rest of the group instantly.  Most of them work in the I.T field and are predominantly from Andhra Pradesh, while I was the only one from Chennai speaking Tamil. This had no bearing or held any weight because we were all there for one sole purpose - doing Swami's work. We prepared almost 2000 packets of Puliyodharai rice as prasadam on Thursday.  The next week was the same routine. After the completion of preparing, packing, and cleaning we came upstairs for the afternoon aarathi. Some people came with offerings to Sai; some offered garlands. I was sitting down as I was tired from working in the kitchen and talking to a friend. Many garlands were exchanged, repeatedly, from the devotee who brought them for Swami and I would glance over in between my conversation.

I saw a yellow rose mala with a red contrast in the center. It instantaneously caught my attention that I had to get up and go closer to the altar to see the beauty myself and meet the person who had made it. It was the most beautiful garland I had ever seen. Amongst the crown I had inquired who had made the stunning mala which was around the altar. I finally heard a voice "it was me!" I was in tears looking at this woman as her whole face was disfigured yet I could see the pure love coming from her to me and vice versa.

She had poured all her love and devotion into making the garland and indeed it showed.  I guess this was Swami's plan, many months ago, that I had to meet Gopal, volunteer in his temple, and meet such divine beings who have gone beyond their physical appearance and can connect with love.

Beauty is only skin deep. Love touches the soul and is ever-lasting.

Thank you Swami for giving me the chance to meet such beings!!!!

Love All Serve All

Longing To See A Friend (A Lost Connection)

I had gone for a marriage reception and for entertainment they had a family friend who danced a Kuch Pudi-style dance. It was performed by a male dancer. Usually I do not enjoy classical dance as such but this caught and retained my attention because it was excellent and spell bounding. The costume and the music complimented the very tastefully choreographed performance. People were approaching and congratulating him on the excellent performance, as he was the star performer of the night.

I had received a phone call and as I was leaving the room to take the call, the dancer got a hold of me and wanted to talk. As I was in middle of a conversation I said I would come back to him. Meanwhile, he went back to his dressing room to change and returned in his evening attire. I came back to the hall and met up with the gentleman.

He had his one and a half year old son in his arms and he asked “do you remember me? I met you at my uncle’s place ten years ago. There was a padukka puja being conducted and you were not pleased with something I had done.” I answered “I do not remember you let alone the incident.” He says, “I am married now and have a six year old daughter and a one and half year old son. My wife and I are passionate about the arts and teach dance to keep our guru’s name alive. I have a full time job and reside in Canada.  From the moment we received the invitation I could only think of seeing you, finally meeting you, and talking with you spiritually. I know you have many spiritual experiences and go into trances. Is that true? I came looking for you and instantly recognized you amongst a crowd of 650 people even though your physical appearance has changed now that you have a beard that isn’t trimmed.”

 “Yes, what you are saying is all true but I don't know why you wanted to see me (this physical body). He automatically replied with, “I only thought of you day and night that I would have the privilege of seeing you. During those ten years things could have changed and we could have moved elsewhere. I was hoping you were going to attend this event.” He was in awe with everything that we talked about and felt content that he finally met up with this physical body called Koushik.

It was an atma connection; not a physical one.  As time moves forward we will know of the divine play and why there was this deep longing and connection of the heart. I also felt very comfortable talking with him. He wrote a letter "I was very content with seeing you but don't know why I feel this way”

Blessings to the family on their spiritual quest.

Love All. Serve All.

Blessings

For many years Amma Karunamayi has been coming to the New Jersey area which is very close to our home. It's hardly two miles away and never inquired to find out who she was or get blessings. I had a chance to see her for twelve days while volunteering for the Ati Rudram in Forsyth, Georgia. Even then I was not drawn to her as I already had a guru; "Shri Sathya Sai Baba". After a two week gap, again, she came near our home and this time it was hardly even 10 miles away. I finished my morning chores and something inside me was pulling to go and see her. 

I have no idea what I was going to go there for but the universe had wanted me there. When I arrived, I saw some familiar faces and they too recognized mine. We were members of the most important part of the function: the cooking club. Food! The first person approached me and said, "you are glowing and have a radiance on your face. Can I have a hug?" Afterwards, we took a pose of Nataraja followed by several more and again I thought to myself, I do not know why I was supposed to come here today. But I now know it was to hug and embrace all of you once more. As I was already there I wanted to see what this function was going to be about. Beautiful dia's were decorated with tasteful colors of fabric and flowers. Trays full of energized lingams adorned the hall. Ganesha statues in a rich blue color, much like the lapis lazuli stood out and Meeru was jade in color as well as a plethora of rudraksha mala's. 

Amma was greeted by her devotees at the entrance, escorted to the hall, and was well-received. Those who were present were given a number and a piece of paper to write down whatever they wanted to ask Amma. It could be personal, materialistic, worldly, or spiritual. I was accompanied by a volunteer who was working in the book store and said for me to write something and take the blessings because he was going to do the same. I had no clue what I would ask no matter where I go whether it's a temple or I am to meet a spiritual master. 

Now coming back to Amma, after a brief introduction she performed abhishekam for all of the lingams and murthi's. She was then getting ready for the Saraswati Dikisha for children ages 4 to 24. Amma would write on their tongue with a tulasi stick and bless each child individually that they study well and become an asset to society. They then called all those present who wanted one-on-one blessings from Amma. After several hours, I was finally called. These are the words which came out in one single thought, uninterrupted, and with no alteration. 

1) Blessings for the universe & peaceful living amongst all of us 

2) For all the children around the world who should be disease and ailment free

3) Well-being for all family and friends

4) Your grace for a spiritual life of which I can spread to everyone with love 

5) Whatever you choose to give me will be my prasadam

I stood in front of her and she had her right hand on top of my head with blessings. I had no thought except for Sai Ram on my tongue, chanting continuously and after a minute or two she said good luck in your sadhana. There were quite a bit of people who had material wants, marital issues, job conflicts, automobile requests, business requests, etc. These are all quite alright to ask your mother. Only when these matters are addressed can you move spiritually. Many were emotional and tears would well up in their eyes both in joy and sadness. 

A sumptuous lunch was provided with dessert to complete and fulfill the appetite. Finally, I bid farewell to all my fellow peers. Till we meet again. I was asked to come and be a part of the cooking club once again on May 25, 2014 for a one day Yagñam celebration at the Shree Dwarkadhish Temple in Parlin, NJ. 

We are put in various places for reasons we may never come to know but it is all part of a master plan. 

With love. Love All. Serve All. 

Ati Rudram Maha Yagnam, Forsyth, GA - May 1st to 11th 2014

"I have not come to you as a Guru --- I have come to you as your own mother." - Amma

Why do we perform Ati Rudram Maha Yagñam?

Ati Rudra Maha Yagñam is being performed for the physical and mental welfare of all the beings in all the worlds and for universal peace and prosperity.

What is Rudram?

Sri Rudram is the center of the entire Vedas. Sri Rudram conducts of 11 chapters (anuvakams) each of Namakam and Chamakam. Namakam extols the divine light of the creator reflected in creation. Chamakam invokes the grace of the divine for various material and spiritual benefits, which are in turn offered for universal peace and well-being. The vibrations of this supreme hymn, Sri Rudram, purify the individual at all levels including body, mind, and intellect. Purification of the self leads to realizing the divinity within, as unity of creation and creator.

What is Ati Rudram?

It is the most potent and highest offering that involves chanting Namakam for 14,641 times along with Chamakam for 1,331 times by 12 priests and 121 ritwiks (those well versed with chanting) over a period of 11 days.

What is Ati Rudra Maha Yagñam?

It is chanting Ati Rudram in combination with yajña (sacred fire) and Abhishekam (worship using holy waters, milk, honey, etc.) Performing these rituals, while chanting, amplifies the power of the mantras several thousand times.

2014 Program Schedule

Wednesday : April 30, 2014

*Prayer & Invocation with Veda Chanting

*Inauguration of Ati Rudram Maha Yagñam

*Lighting of the Lamp

*Worship of Ganesha (Sri Mahaganapathi Pooja)

*Purification Of The Location & Sacred Fire Ceremony (Punyaha, Raksha Bandhana, Ankurarpana, Poorvanga Godana, Vastu-Rakshoghna Pooja, & Homa)

*Installation Of The Lingam (Bimba Shuddhi, Jalaadhivaasa, Ksheeradhivaasa, Dhanyadivasa, Pushpa-Phaladhivasa, Shaydhivasa)

Thursday : May 1, 2014

6:00am- Aruna parayana, mahanyasa parayana, kala pooja, and kala homa

Nadeesandhana, pranaprasthistha

8:00am- Panchamritha Abhishekam

8:30am- Rudra parayana & Rudrabhishekam

11:00am- Agniprasthistha & Agnivibhajana

Rudra homam

12:15pm- Mahamangalaharati

4:00pm- Panchamritha Abhishekam

Rudrabhishekam

Rudra kramarchana, Nitya homam

5:30pm- Sri Chakrarchana (lalitha sahasranamavali)

6:30pm-Music or dance offering (swarnanjali or natyanjali)

7:30pm- Aarathi

Friday: May 2-10, 2014

6:00am- Aruna & Mahanyasa Parayana

8:00am- Panchamritha Abhishekam

8:30am- Rudra Parayana & Rudrabhishekam

11:00am- Rudra Homam

12:15pm- Mahamangalaharati

4:00pm- Panchamritha Abhishekam, Rudrabhishekam

Rudra Kramarchana, Nitya Homam

5:30pm- Sri Chakrarchana (Lalitha Sahasranamavali)

6:30pm- Music or Dance Offering (Swarnanjali Or Natyananjali)

7:30pm- Aarathi

Sunday : May 11, 2014

6:00am- Aruna & Mahanyasa Parayana

8:00am- Panchamritha Abhishekam

8:30am- Rudra Parayana & Rudrabhishekam

11:00am- Rudra Homam

12:15pm- Agni Samyojana, Jayadi Homam

1:00pm- Poornahuti, Uttaranga Godanam, Dasadanam

1:15pm- Aarathi

5:00pm- Veda Chanting

Dedication of Yagña (Yajñaphalasamarpanam)

Honoring Priests and Ritwiks

The lords had planned this event even before people had thought as to who is going to be the recipient of his grace. I had gone to visit a friend (daughter) in California. While she was studying In New jersey and attending the sai center on occasion would stay with our family and over time became one of the family members. After completing her studies moved to California for a job Opportunity and higher studies, where she met her life partner Gurumani Krishnan. She had invited us for the wedding in India, but due to my health constraints I could not attend I told her I will surely make up for that and will make a personal visit and stay with them.

Which we were able to fulfill this February 7th-9th stayed in their quaint and cozy abode. They were gracious enough in offering their comforts to us and they slept on the floor. On Saturday, February 8th they were going for their sadhana, as they were planning on going to the Ati Rudram being held in Atlanta for the very first time in the United States of America. The sadhana consisted of giving up a few things: celibacy for 121 days, alcohol, meat, as well as television. We are to do weekly satsang, singing the glory of the lords, while practicing silence daily and reciting the Rudram, namakam, chamakam, and devi stotrams.

As they were going to the center we joined them, and it was heart rendering to hear them sing with so much dedication and love. When we returned Vishaka said "Koushik, you must join us on this trip!!" With no hesitation I booked my ticket and room accommodations well in advance so that I would definitely be there. Due to my health conditions I did not do or practice sadhana. I only joined our group from the tri-state area towards the end; hardly two weeks and I was going to be a volunteer, not a ritwik.

On April 26, 2014 there was a final homam in Pennsylvania to start our trip to Atlanta. The coordinator asked "will you able to participate in this homam as you have not come for any?" I told him that I will definitely be there to be a part of the event.  He did not know how to go about the event and someone in California suggested you invite a senior

citizen and honor him with vastram and that would be the proper way. This was shared only in the end after the homam was completed.

Sethu was our coordinator for the tri-state region, he did not know where is he going to find this older person, and only a few days ago his father had come from India. He asked him to join and came with him but did not bring any dhoti due to the weather, as the homam was being performed outside. The vibrations in this family's home were very high. They first started with Ganesha prayer followed by Abhishekam to shiva. I was asked to perform the Abhishekam but I refused as I get into a trance and did not want to disturb any one. I asked the uncle to perform as he was much older and said I do not have the dhoti, I said what is the problem? The host will be happy to give you a new dhoti. Everyone was convincing of him not performing due to the weather and I was telling him to come forward. The family gave him a new outfit and a shawl, and he was able to participate in this homam.

On April 28th, early in the morning, I just began writing Om Sri Sai Ram and a message came from Swami to all ritwiks  "even though all of you are selected for performing in this auspicious occasion, please do not let this get to your head, you are not the doer. If you disconnect from this you can receive all the positive vibrations at any time. Do not let your ego get in. Enjoy the scenery, embrace all the people, and spread my love with each and every one you meet. I am always with you, in you, above, behind and around you. Witness my grace on all of you. You are all my children....., love love, love and only love."

I was to leave on the 29th to Atlanta in the afternoon and in the morning at 5:30am I got something in the mail mentioning that the flight had been cancelled due to the weather. In the Atlanta region, a tornado was expected and in the New Jersey area heavy rain and flooding. It was a test how badly did we want this and how intensely. We all scrambled for an airline that would allow us to travel for this auspicious occasion. The compassionate lord opened his arms and made way for me.

The airlines went out of their way in getting a direct flight available to get me there on time and without the lords it would have not be possible. One by one we were arriving at the airport  Michigan, California, upstate New York, New Jersey, Seattle and our shuttle run by only volunteer/ritwik took us to the center were the function was going to be held and dropped us off as they needed all the help to get the event off the ground. The night before with heavy rains had damaged all the effort put into so we had to start all over. More trials and tribulations. Nevertheless, all the participants pooled together and pulled it off.

On April 30^th, we were scheduled to have invocation with Veda chanting and inauguration of Ati Rudram Maha Yagñam. The weather was not cooperating and we did not know how this function was going to happen. Still more flights were being cancelled due to the weather. Tornado warnings all throughout Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.

We did not let our spirits down and chanted Om Nama Shivaya continuously and vigorously. We thoroughly enjoyed heart rendering bhajans sung by devotees from overseas. The compassionate lord heard our sincere prayers and cleared the path with good weather to go ahead with the program. Professor Nanjunda Dixit, the head priest, tied the sacred thread for me even though I was not a ritwik. He said "the work that you are doing is higher than what I am doing. Continue the seva and make sure you will be here for all the days." I am sure the sacred thread is what saved my life several times during the 12 days.

The power of all mantras. Thursday, May 1st, is the official start of the program. All ritwiks had received their Dikisha vastram and were ready to start. I volunteered to give water to all the men. After completing that I went to the other side to help fill all of the plates with homam items and I was short of 6 plates. When I went to get a plate a lady, in front of everyone, began shouting at me and said "you have to ask for my permission to take things!!" She then went on and told another ritwik "do not involve him. Do it yourself!"  I could have said something but chose to just walk away. I came in front of her time and time again when I would volunteer to clean the hall after each evening program. I would stay until 1:30am cleaning and someone or the other would be dropped off at the hotel.

After several days again I saw the shuttle bus stop and pick up at a resident. It happened to be the same woman from the other day. This time she was silent and did not say anything with her head kept down. A man came up to me and asked me "are you a ritwik?" I clearly answered "no i am not." He then asked me if I was a chanter and again I answered "no". He finally asked me if I was a volunteer and I replied with "yes I am." He shortly follow up with "can you help out in the kitchen?". Now originally I had signed up for cleaning bathrooms, keeping shoes in an organized manner, followed by kitchen seva.  Keeping the bathrooms in order was already being taken care of. The shoes/slippers were placed outside. I was now left with kitchen duty. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the men and women, joking around, and sampling all the varieties of food as we had full reins of the provisions. After completing our duties, on occasion, we would peek into the yajna shala and hear the thunderous chanting of the Vedas.

I felt like going and sitting in front of the energized lingam, so after my duties I went and sat and slipped into a very deep meditative state. I had tears rolling down my cheeks  with no control and fell on top of the homa kundam. People who were not aware of my situation thought it was a medical problem and began running frantically to find a physician. They even went and told Karunanamayi and she said hold onto his feet. When Sekhar heard it was Koushik he told everyone "stay away and do not disturb him. He is with Swami!!" I did not want anyone touching me, especially when I am in a trance, as it disturbs the energy. My presence was now known to all as to who I am and had full rein to move about without anyone questioning or stopping me.

The next day an American woman stopped by the kitchen and said I do not who you are but you came in my dream with a clear box and inside there were a lot of snakes. Who are you? I casually replied “SHIVA”.

On Tuesday, May 6^th, at 5:30AM, I get a text from a friend saying that his friend’s wife was going to be in surgery, she needed help, and to pray that she will be just fine. I could have replied O.K. but instead replied "do not worry. I will be there in the surgical room with her holding her hand." I told him to BELIEVE IN ME. The very next day I call him to follow up. He says she's doing fine and that as she was laying in the surgical room, just as he was told the day before, she felt someone holding her hand.  

I was waiting in the hotel lobby for the shuttle and arrived very early and volunteered to make sure we could accommodate as many as possible. I kept the front seat open in case someone handicapped needed to sit there, but then a man opened the door and took the seat. I told it was for someone else and he replied I am as important as the next. I did not want to go head to head first thing in the morning. I got everyone seated only to find out I was the only one left. I asked the person in the front "sir could you move up a little bit so I can get in as I have to go to work?" He said "I am going to get down and you can get in." I replied with "Sir, I am much taller than you and my legs will not fit in that cramped space." He remarked "I am smarter than you that you cannot trick me." Again, I did not want to start the day in that negative manner. Later in the day, in full public view, catching everyone's attention in plain sight, he suddenly felt the need to prostrate!! With this kind of ego, where does he plan on going?

As I came out of my hotel room, there were two ladies standing on either side of the pillars and immediately started chanting Sai Suprabatham. What did they see that made them chant so spontaneously?  When they were singing, it made me very dizzy and had asked them to stop although it was sung very melodiously.

I went to work in the kitchen and the energy in the ashram yajnam was very high in the morning. As I was working, I was carrying a large pot of hot boiling water when someone called out to me. I completely forgot I had something in my hands. The whole vat of scalding hot water fell on arm and hand. I was burned very badly.  I applied what was available as an aid to alleviate the constant annoying pain. 

To help me forget the pain I went to the yajna shala to meditate. I usually go for meditation only after I have completed the work in the kitchen but that day it was completed in the very beginning itself. I walked on the runway. I had no care of who was watching or observing me. What better way to properly enter as I saw only Swami sitting on the altar with both hands up blessing everyone.

I was in the first row under swami's feet, followed by the priest, and then the ritwik. With a nod to the priest I sat and closed my eyes for hours. I have no idea as to what was going on around me. I had tears rolling down my face uncontrollably as I was in the deep meditative state of mind. The public was stunned that someone who had been burnt so badly throughout his entire arm has no feeling whatsoever. He must be so blessed that without even planning anything he can be with the Lord just like that. People wanted to touch me and get blessings. At some point even fruits and flowers were offered at my feet by Sekhar; the organizer of the event. People, still in amazement, kept saying "how blessed you are! Just with the thought of The Lord you melt in his arms." Many wanted to hear the experience but it was only for a few to hear as there was a message for them. 

Arun, along with Sekhar, were also participants from California. Arun's mother and a friend came after lunch to meet near the kitchen to hear some divine experiences. The following day when they were coming her friend slipped and sprained her knee. She remained in great spirit and did not panic. The ambulance was called for Arun’s mother. "Koushik we came to see you so you have to heal her with your energy!!" I gave her my word that she will be O.K. and return back by 8pm. When I saw Arun, I inquired the well-being of Sita aunty and he replied that she did in fact return by 8pm as mentioned to him earlier. 

The word spread so fast that the ladies came to the kitchen to drink coffee to Karunamayi. In the evening an announcement came that "no one, other than the kitchen staff, is allowed to be back there!" In an interview with the California group with karunamayi she asked “why did you go near the kitchen when everything is available in the dining hall?" The lady answered "we went to see Koushik as he has many divine experiences." The next morning Sekhar came to the kitchen and asked "Koushik, do you mind if I hug you and kiss you?" I said no and he did just that. Gurumani would hug me everyday and say I love you. I met him only a few months ago but there was such a connection of the heart. That day, when I went to the yagna shala to sit, Amma Karunamayi was giving a speech: "shiva is here amongst us, he does not want to see me but I have seen him and today he is in pant and shirt" Hearing that, I hit the floor with full force, fell on a harmonium, a mic stand, and had lacerated the body. Blood was coming out and yet again I felt nothing. Doctors wanted to treat the wound immediately but I did not want anyone to touch me. Eventually I came out of the trance. Arun pleaded "Koushik, for my sake, please see a physician who is here and is willing to help in covering the wound."

On Sunday, the last day, they were honoring all the priests’, ritwiks, and all of the volunteers. I came and sat at my usual spot and drifted off into deep meditation. I saw swami standing in front of me and then on the altar. The garland started to fall from his picture, the lingam, das avatar, and flowers falling from all. I was in Kailasam and could see the snow-capped mountains with the light hitting it just shimmering and glistening. What a beautiful sight! To be in the presence of the beloved lord; thank you for showering your abundant grace on this soul. Swami graced the occasion. I Am There For All My Devotees.

I heard people giving me the title of a "LIVING SAINT, a SIDDHAR, and SIDDHA PURUSHA to this physical body calling Koushik.

Swami, am I even capable of receiving all these titles as I am merely your servant? Professor Nanjunda Dixit tied the raksha for me even though I was just volunteering. He said, “your work is more important than chanting. Working tirelessly in the kitchen and feeding so many people.”  A friend said, "Koushik they are honoring all the kitchen staff. Go and get your award!” I told him the energy is too high I can hardly stand, but listening to his words I stumbled and fell on the divine mother’s feet in a deep meditative state. All the water from the abhishekam and a handful of akshata (rice) on top of my head. The words "nana get up...nana get up brought the function to the end."
Jai Sai Ram, Jai Karunamayi.

Thank you for everyone's unconditional love.
Sai Ram. Love All Serve All.