My journey from Visa rejection to daily kakad arti (Chaddha)

After my wife's death, in Aug 2006 when I came to the USA, the immigration agent refused to let me enter.  When I asked what my fault was, they didn't give me any answer. My passport got stamped as canceled. They charged my credit card for the return ticket to send me back to Delhi. They gave my passport to the flight captain with an instruction to return it to me when we land in Delhi.

The long journey was very tiring and stressful, I didn't know what exactly went wrong. My son appealed and asked an explanation for the situation.

In Delhi,  I normally go to the Sai Baba temple in Ludhi colony. One day when I was talking about my experience with another devotee, he said "You go to Shirdi and Baba will take care of you and your problems ". Two months passed, this person came back to me and asked me “Why don't you go to Shirdi?” I told him I can pay for the tickets and all the expenses but  was not sure how to arrange the whole trip. Then the kind person said “Give me the money and I will book your ticket” and he did. He also told me, “Many people go to Shirdi. When you reach Shirdi, take a taxi, they will take you to the right place”.

So I started my journey and when I reached there, I took a van.  The driver showed me a place to stay. After my bath, I headed to the temple .When I reached the temple, there was a person standing at the gate. When I asked him the way to go inside, he told me “whenever you come  this is the only way for you to go inside”. When I asked about the line, he said “the lines are not for you”. I felt very happy and blessed. 

I attended all 3 arathis while standing in front of Baba. The gentleman told me he has an inn inside the temple and next time I should stay there. Very kind of him. When I was returning back from Shirdi, I told Baba “Baba, now everything is in your hands”.

When I reached Delhi, I received a call from my son.  He told me that he received a letter from the immigration department mentioning that they sent me back by mistake. My son asked me to apply for a Green Card and I did. After 7 months, with Baba’s grace, I came to the USA. One day when I was at Swami Narayana temple in Milpitas, I was excited to find out that Baba's temple is opening close by. So both these temples happen to be close to where I live.

One day I saw a devotee standing near the Milpitas temple.  When I enquired, I got to know that they had just recently installed the Baba murti and the temple would be opening soon.  Then that devotee asked me whether I would like to come everyday and do arati.  I immediately said “Yes”.

Initially I used to bring milk to offer to Baba as naivedhayam for the early am Kakad arti. Then someone told me to get panchamrit (mix of milk, ghee,sugar, honey and fruit). Later they asked me to bring tea. Since that day I bring tea every single day.  Even though my son moved further away from Milpitas, I come to Baba temple  by bus with my bike every single day  with my flask full of tea for Baba and his devotees. This is how Baba’s grace draws me towards him like a magnet and takes care of me. I really enjoy coming to visit Baba and meet his devotees early morning at kakad arti every day. The devotees lovingly appreciate and look forward to the morning tea.    

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Here is a note from another devotee who comes daily to the temple.  

We all really have high respect and love for Chadda Uncle who visits the temple with tea every single day - rain or shine, cold winter or hot scorching day.