Connected to Gurudwara and Baba (Bhawna)
Today I took Baba’s permission during Aarti to pen down my first life changing experience.
It goes back to the summer of 2009 when we moved to Fremont from San Jose. My mind was full of confusion and anxiety about our move, whether it was the right one for my family etc. In the middle of this chaos, I thought of Baba. I had visited the Sai Mandir in San Jose just once and attended arati there. All those years we lived there, I had attended just once. Now, after this move, I feel a deep need to visit Him again!
I go there only to find that Baba’s murti has moved back to India and that they are selling that building which had housed the temple. I was completely shattered, heartbroken and didn’t know what to do.
A few days later, to my great surprise, I heard on the radio that Baba’s Praan Prathishta - consecration - is completed at the Fremont Hindu Temple. By this time, we were settled in our new home and the kids had started their school. I decided to go as soon as possible. I started visiting Fremont Temple frequently and attending Madhyan Aarti there.
Until this time, other than wanting to attend arati, I had not felt any strong pull. I used to listen, clap in time to the bhajans, grasping a few words here and there - but definitely enjoyed the experience.
One day I felt like talking to Baba. I was looking straight at Him and talking to him in my mind, “I have been going to Gurudwara all my life in Delhi, in Union City, in San Jose, and have done lot of Seva there. But I don’t know how to to do Your Seva or how to Pray to You. I want to open my heart to You. Please help me!”.
An older gentleman came to me, stood beside me and said quietly, “He is the same Guru as you see in the Gurudwara”. I was stunned, and moved! I had tears rolling down my face! I had not spoken out loud, but got my answer right away!
A month passed by, I kept attending Aarti. The Pundit ji in Fremont would offer Naivedya to Baba. I wanted to bring Naivedya and offer it myself, but did not have the courage to ask Pundit ji.
One day, out of the blue, Pundit ji asked me if I can do Madhyan Aarti by playing the bhajans on the CD player and offer Naivedya to Baba as he is leaving for India due to some emergency!
My joy had no bounds! I experienced the utmost peace and joy by serving Baba. My happiest moments of the day were around Baba.
Since then Baba has been my guiding force. He has taken me and my family under His wings. Shraddha and Saburi have become our Mool Mantra!
All He wants is love, devotion and surrender.