During my undergraduate days, I was introduced to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttarpathi. I attend the bhajans and the service conducted by the centre in Brown Gardens, Penang, which is near USM, the university I studied. Besides this, my wife and I regularly visit the Shridi Sai centre in Jalan Sekerat Sungai Petani. Whenever I am in the Shridi Sai centre, I feel very peaceful and happy. Occasionally without me realising, tears use to flow from my eyes. I am also an ardent devotee of Santha Durga and also a follower of Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as He too is an ardent devotee of Ambal.
On the 26th of December, a mutual friend of mine, whom I consider as my mentor both in Cricket and my teaching career, came calling to my house. Actually, he came to a restaurant near my house with his friends. While waiting for some more friends to turn up, he dropped in to my house with another friend of his. He, then told me that before coming to my house, he went to see one of our friends and was introduced to Swamiji by him. He said that he was blessed by Swamiji. Upon hearing this and also knowing that Paramahamsa himself would make it a point to go and see saints and holy men if He comes to know that they are in town from His disciples, I being a follower of Him, hence was curious to meet this Swamiji.
Another driving factor that wanted me to meet the Swamiji very badly is that, lately, a year ago, I have been asking to my Durga Amma for a living and personal Guru. Thus, I strongly believe, my meeting with Swamiji, is destined and guided by my Durga Amman and Baba.
I met Swamiji with my wife on the 27th of December 2015 at about 6.00pm in our close friend’s house just three days before Swamiji left to India after being in Malaysia for about 2 months.
We greeted Swamiji and we were surprised to see that His face showed some resemblance to Jesus photo which was hanging on the wall.
We sat further away from Him as there were other devotees. After finishing with them, Swamiji told us to wait as He wanted to have His bath. After taking His bath, Swamiji saw both of us and told us to sit nearer to Him.
He told us to close our eyes and meditate. After sometime, I was told to open my eyes and relate my experience. I told him that I had a vision of Mahavishnu’s Viswaroopam. He then told me that I was one of two persons who were fortunate enough to have this vision. Later I prostrated and held both Swamiji’s feet, Paduka. I felt like holding on to Shridi Sai Baba’s feet. There are no words to explain the feeling except that it is one full of happiness.
Swamiji is fond of asking, “Are you Happy?” whenever I met Him, and, yes, the feeling is indeed one of happiness whenever I am with Him or thinking of Him. We left our friend’s house about 11.30pm. I remembered telling my wife before leaving to meet Swamiji that we will be there for only a short while but my first meeting with Swamiji lasted for more than 3 hours. When you are with Swamiji, time just flies or just stops still. Time becomes not important as you are engulfed in the feeling of Happiness or Blissfulness.
After this meeting, I regularly visited Swamiji whenever He stays in Kedah and have had numerous experiences. One of them which I would like to share, took place on 15 June 2016 (Thursday). Swamiji, sang Vishnu Shahasaranamam. After that we meditated, I had a vision of a Sadhu and was told by Swamiji that the vision I had was Him about 700 years back in time. I felt very blessed and gifted to be given the privilege to have that vision of Him.
Swamiji always encourages us to give and to perform charities. Many a times, I have witnessed Swamiji putting His hand in His jubah’ pocket and taking out whatever amount that comes out and giving it to the one who needs irrespective of whether they asked or not. Sometimes, Fe would ask me to do the same when there is a poor Sadhu whom we meet along the journey. Swamiji holds charity very near to his heart.
Since I meet Swamiji I have felt my anxiety reduced and my burden lessen. Swamiji’s Om Sarva Shanti Kriya method of meditation which I practice daily has been useful in the pursuit of my spiritual goal. Besides this, I have found Swamiji’s method of healing to be an effective way to reduce pain and in healing my abdomen bloatness and backache.
Whenever I have certain doubts and challenges which I face in my daily life, I find them somewhat reduced after having a talk with Swamiji. At times, His words can even change a mood of despair to one of hope. Swamiji has become a guiding light not only for me but also for my other family members as well. Swamiji always encourages and inspires my children to excel in whatever things they do and also helps them in their spiritual path.
There is always laughter, joy, happiness and abundance of love whenever Swamiji is with us.
OM NAMO BHAGAWATHE SRI GURU SAI NATHAYA
OM SRIGURU SAI PREETH SWAMIJI NAMO NAMAHA
OM SRIGURU SAI PARABRAHMA PARAMATMANE NAMO NAMAH
