FINALLY, I SAW HIM

After waiting at the hospital entrance for some time I saw the main door opening. Then 4-5 devotees came out, all wearing white kurta and dhoti. Then I saw a person wearing saffron garments, tilak decorated on his forehead, a long and beautiful flower garland on his neck walking out slowly holding a support stick in his hand. When he glanced at his surroundings, I became astonished to see the way he was looking. A sense of bliss and peace was emanating from him. Then suddenly Swastik-uncle said, “Here comes Gurudev. let’s go near him.”

I followed my uncle. There were 3-4 stairs at the entrance of that hospital. Gurudev stood near the edge of the topmost stair. My uncle went and bowed down in front of him. I also did the same. My uncle introduced me by saying, “Gurudev! He is my nephew.” Then Gurudev looked at me with so much care and affection that was beyond my imagination. He caressed his hand on my head and asked, “What is your name? What are you studying now?”. I replied to him with a smile on my face, “My name is Chirag. I am in my intermediates studying science.” Then he nodded his head with a smile and started coming downstairs. My uncle held his right arm and helped him to come down and one of his disciples held his left arm. That one interaction with Gurudev was an inexpressible experience for me. I had never experienced such care and affection in my existing relationships till now.

HE BESTOWED HIS MERCY UPON ME

Then Gurudev went inside my uncle’s car and sat in the front seat. I sat in the back and could not take my eyes off Gurudev, I kept on observing him. He was talking to my uncle about an event to be organized. But I was looking at Gurudev only. Then my uncle drove his car to Gurudev’s house. We went inside his home, and we sat on the floor. I had no clue why we had gone to his house. Gurudev sat before us on the bed. My uncle took out a garland made of fresh flowers from a bag and offered it to Gurudev. Then I made out that it was Gurudev’s appearance day (The birthday of Vaishnava Saints are called appearance days). I and my uncle again offered our respects unto him. Then Gurudev took out his garland and gave it to my uncle as a gift. My uncle wore it and sat beside me. Then Gurudev looked at me and asked my uncle to bring another garland that was hanging on the door in his room. Then I went near Gurudev, and he gave that garland to me. After that, Gurudev’s wife gave us some sweets to eat.

Gurudev and my uncle had a brief conversation for about 10 minutes and we took permission from him to go. After sitting in the car my uncle drove to Sumay-uncle’s house. He had invited us to join them in the celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s (Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa) appearance day. On our way, Swastik-uncle said, “In the first meet, he remembered your name and bestowed his mercy upon you. You are very fortunate.”

“Yes. I am feeling very happy now after meeting him. What is his name?” I asked.

“His name is Srila Sachinandan Goswami.” replied my uncle.

After taking a pause he said, “He is a disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami, a world-renowned spiritual master, and disciple of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada”.

I was glad to meet such an exalted personality but at that time, I didn’t realize the importance of that meeting until the day it was revealed to me by one of my well-wishers. I will narrate this in the coming chapters.

After thirty minutes we reached Sumay-uncle’s place. When I entered the house, Sumay-uncle and his friends were performing kirtan. The ladies were engaged in preparing delicious foodstuffs to offer to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna. They seemed to be doing everything with enthusiasm and jubilation.

GIVING EXCUSES DIDN’T HELP ME

After some time, Sumay-uncle did Arotik and offered food to the deities. 3-4 ladies were bringing the freshly cooked food to the temple room. Another friend of Sumay-uncle named, Sarthak was inside the temple room and fanning the food to keep the flies away. After all the dishes were brought and kept in front of the deities, everyone bowed down and prayed to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna to accept the food offered. Then we chanted for about 10 minutes and again the ladies took the offered food from the temple back to the kitchen. After the food offering and kirtan was over, we sat at the dining table to eat Prasadam (offered food).

Sumay-uncle made me sit beside him.

“So, how’s life going mate?” He asked with a smile.

“Yeah, everything is good,” I replied.

“Really! I don’t think so. I think you are lost in your own world of college, study, and so-called girl-friends.” He said with a sidelong glance.

“No, I don’t have any girlfriend. But yes, I am busy with my studies.” I said.

“Hmm… okay let’s enjoy the feast first, then we will have our chit-chat in my room.” He replied.

Then my aunt and grandma served us delicious food. There was fried rice prepared in ghee (clarified butter), Samosa, Puri, Dal-makhni, Paneer curry (cottage-cheese), Kheer (Sweet Rice), and so on. I enjoyed them to the fullest. After having our meal, I and Sumay-uncle went to his room to take rest.

“So, are you hearing the chants regularly that I had sent?” asked Sumay-uncle.

“No, I don’t have enough time for that since I remain very busy with my studies. I sometimes hear them to relax” I replied.

“Really! How many hours are you giving to your studies? Don’t fool me. You are a lazy guy and not serious about your spiritual life. You just want enjoyment like so-called relationships and other time pass”, he said.

His words were a bit harsh at that moment, and I could not handle them. But I tried to keep calm and said, “Hmm… You are right”.

“Alright for how many days you are here now?”, he asked.

“I will stay for 3 days and then return”, I replied.

“You should stay longer, but anyways I will spend some time with you”, he said.

After that in the evening, Sumay-uncle and his friends did kirtan for two hours. I also joined them, but I was not that much interested in that. I just wanted to gossip with others. But I had to sit with them for two hours. I stayed there for three days. Things went pretty well and before leaving his place Sumay-uncle gave some audio wisdom messages of Srila Prabhupada. I promised him that I would hear them.

“I know you won’t do. You will again start doing all the nonsense like before. You will waste your time with your so-called girlfriends and studies. But anyways I am giving you the most precious thing. It is up to you how you utilize it” said Sumay-uncle.

I thanked him and left for my hometown.

I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF

I found his words bitter at that moment, because I used to be the perfect person in my view. What he said was true, but I did not like to be criticized. I returned home and said to myself, “This time I will hear the chants and lectures. I will devote more time to hearing the chants and lectures.” But things went completely differently than I had thought. My life became more complicated and a new hurdle was waiting for me.

Stay tuned to know what happened…