Grace

[Guest guest]

Your Glance of Grace

I Thank you so very much for giving me the opportunity to share my

wonderful experience with you all.

Last Christmas, my sister-in-law arrived from California to visit us

after a period of six years. When she came, she brought the glory of

Bhagavan’s light into our house as well as into our hearts. She

presented me with a beautifully framed photo of Bhagavan as a token

of her love and affection. When she placed the photo in my hand and

explained to me briefly the divine significance of the Maharshi, I

was supremely delighted to have it and thanked her for this eternal

gift.

The next morning I placed Bhagavan’s photo in my pooja room beside the

Shiva Lingam that I have been sincerely worshipping since my

childhood. When my sister-in-law observed that, she was thrilled and

exclaimed saying, “Oh! You found a perfect place for Bhagavan in your

pooja room”.

Two days later we went to attend the Jayanti program of Bhagavan

organized by the Arunachala Ashrama at the New York City Ganesh

Temple. This was the first time in my life that I have attended such

a program. My sister-in-law came from California specifically to

attend this function while my husband and I accompanied her. I never

knew anything about Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi until that day, despite

the fact that I was born and raised in Southern India. When I walked

into the program hall, my eyes immediately fell on the large portrait

of the Maharshi placed centrally on the dais. His powerful eyes

instantly drew my mind, body and soul towards Him. I just could not

divert my eyes from his for even a moment, I felt that my entire

individual existence was dissolving into that of Bhagavan’s. My heart

was filled with ineffable joy and enlightened with his gracious

welcome. I was floating with inexplicable

peace and happiness within me. That entire day was filled with

Bhagavan’s power, presence and grace. It was an unforgettable

experience. I have seen many photos of enlightened beings, but none

of them had ever radiated such peace and joy into my heart.

Six months later my cousin invited me to one of her weekly Satsang

sessions. When I went to her house to attend the prayer program, I

saw their Guru’s portrait placed in her prayer hall. When the prayer

was about to commence I bowed my head to pay my respects to their

Guru and sat down with the fellow devotees. When I raised my head, I

was astonished to see Bhagavan Ramana instead of their Guru in the

portrait. I closed my eyes for a moment and when I looked again I

still saw the Maharshi. It was an astonishing experience that I could

not understand. At the request of the satsangis, I offered to the

Maharshi (in my vision) a Gitamala, a garland of devotional songs.

At the conclusion of the prayer session, during the arati, my cousin

requested me to offer holy milk at their Guru’s shrine and distribute

the prasad to the gathering. I started to distribute the milk prasad

to everyone during which, again to my astonishment, I had the vision

of Bhagavan Ramana in each and everyone’s face in the gathering. It

was an overpowering experience. Uncontrollable tears of joy poured

forth from my eyes. This whole experience of having the repeated

darshan of Bhagavan Ramana’s effulgent face immersed me completely

into the divine ocean of His grace and bliss. I was transported to

His cosmic regime that was flooded with the nectar of His radiance

and splendor. He was omnipresent and all the spatial elements

consistently echoed in unison, vibrating, “Om Namo Bhagavate Sri

Ramanaya”. In a state of beatitude, it took me a while to descend

from His galaxy, achieve my normalcy, and

resume my worldly activities. Being filled with such ecstasy I was

barely able to serve the prasad, but by Bhagavan’s grace I somehow

managed to serve all the devotees. For about two weeks after this

event I remained immersed in this bliss, which I find difficult to

describe.

Through this inexplicable experience, Bhagavan conveyed the message to

me that He is in the whole universe and resides in every jiva

(individual). I am so fortunate to have had this divine experience.

I believe Bhagavan’s blessings are with all of us and His grace and

blessings will be with all of us forever.

Padma Ranganatha RajagopalNew Jersey

 

THE MAHARSHI

September/October 2004Vol. 14 - No. 5

44.25pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="">

Produced & Edited byDennis HartelDr. Anil K. Sharma

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