RE: your encounter with Lord Shiva...

[Guest guest]

Dear Seshadri:

 

Hari Om!

 

I am writing this ONLY BECAUSE it might reinforce the faith in my fellow

devotees. I wouldn't consider myself as anyone other than the dust particle

at the lotus feet of Lord Siva. I am one of those thousands of servants to

that master. I am sure he will understand my feelings, for he is the only

one knows --- who I am...

 

I never told my spiritual experiences to anyone except to my teacher and to

a few known people. My teacher advised me that "Spiritual experiences do

come and go. They are like milestones in your path. They show that you are

on the right path. Do not stop there, march forward and reach the goal".

But when I saw your writings on spiritual encounters, some thing with in me

has compelled me to write my experience. Perhaps, "SivAjna".

 

Also I am surprised to see your subject --- "your encounter with Lord Siva".

>From my heart I wanted to ask "How did you know!" Actually, I wrote about a

snake. I did not say that I saw Lord Siva! (but I should accept that in a

way I did...) Perhaps, that is why you subjected it in such a way! Again,

it is "SivAjna" (Ordered to be revealed by Lord Shiva)

 

All my serious spiritual experiences started, when I started writing my

commentary book on "Satarudriyam". (namakam of Srikrishna Yajurveda). My

experiences could become a big book if I started telling all of them!

Living in the ashram was the beginning of it. The place is called as

"kOTappakonDa" which is in Guntur District of Andhrapradesh. There is a

great Siva Temple on the mountain. Every year, during Sivaratri, one

million people assemble and offer their prayers to Lord Siva.

 

Since most of you are interested, I would like to tell about another

incident:

 

I used to contemplate on each mantra and write. Some of the mantras (hymns)

are too esoteric to write commentary upon. At one place, the veda rishi

(seer) addresses Lord Shiva as "giricarAya kuluMcAnAM patayE namaH". Means

"I bow to him, who is the lord of thieves dwell in the mountains, who

personified as a land grabber (who steals others land property)". I was

troubled to understand that My beloved Lord Shiva is the leader of thieves?

How is it possible! "What has my Siva got to do with thieves!", This has

troubled me very much. I stopped writing the commentary because I can't

understand WHY!

 

In the ashram, I had a duty to bring milk to the ashram from a village,

which is 2KM near by. One day in the evening, at 6PM I was walking on my

way to that village in order to fetch milk. Since it is a mountainous path,

you often find the road deserted, especially at 6PM you hardly find anybody.

I was walking thinking of the meaning "giricarAya", wondering again

"WHY?"...

 

All of a sudden, I saw somebody, from no where, appeared in front of me. He

introduced himself to me and told me that he is coming from a nearby town.

He was walking on a very fast pace. I like walking slowly, because it gives

me time to think as well as enjoy the evening nature. So I let him go. I

could see him in the vicinity walking on the road. Suddenly, a few thieves

armed with knives, jumped on to him from the nearby bushes, beaten him blue,

took all his money and belongings. All this was happening in front of my

eyes. I was stunned by this incident happening in front of my eyes. They

also saw me on the road, but didn't even come near to me... They just looked

at me and went off... But before going, a person who looks like a leader of

that thieves group, came near to me, looked at me, winked and smiled and

went away!! A great surprise engulfed me, why this fellow winked at me!

 

I approached that person who had just been robbed by thieves. I gave him a

hand. This fellow started crying out loud and started confessing! He was

addressing Lord Siva, who is called as Kotayya by the locals, who resides on

the mountain saying that "Kotayya! you taught me a great lesson... I sure

deserve this.... I sure deserve... Siva! forgive me for my sins. I know I

am a sinner". I am surprised. This fellow, in stead of crying for loosing

his money, confessing to Lord Siva that he deserved it!

 

I helped him in getting up and helped him walking to the nearby village.

During the walk, I came to know that this fellow, by wrongful means, stole

the land belong to his neighbor. He sold that stolen land to somebody else

in the nearby town. Got the money and walking back to the village. That

stolen money is again stolen by the mountain thieves. He was telling me

about what he understood from this incident. He said that "what ever you

deserve you get it. If you try to grab something that you don't deserve,

you will be punished. You can never enjoy anything that does not rightfully

belong to you. Your conscious pricks you and the society punishes you. For

committing one sin, you get punished by two things!!!"

I was awestruck to listen to this story. Some thing has started flashing in

me. I started realizing the meaning of "giricarAya kuluMcAnAM patayE

namaH".

 

We were about to approach the village, this person asked me that he has to

drink some water. I made him sit side by, on the road, and went to fetch

some water from a near by well. I came back with water, but this person has

disappeared. I looked for him but couldn't find him. He told me his name as

"Rudrayya". I went in to the village. Since I am a vedanta student from

the ashram, villagers know me. I told the village chief about the incident.

He immediately sent a lot of people to find out and catch the robbers. And

he also told me that NO BODY named Rudrayya, who matches my description, who

is involved in land dealing, is living in that village. Perhaps, he may be

from the next village. Since I am concerned about that fellow's health,

because he is beaten badly, the chief promised me that he will find out

about this fellow.

 

Anyway, the villagers escorted me back to the ashram. Next day morning, I

came to know that there are neither the thieves sighted, nor there was any

road robbery incident took place for the last 3 years. Also, there is

nobody named "Rudrayya" who is involved in land grabbing in any nearby

villages. All was a divine drama, played in front of my eyes.

 

I finished my commentary on "giricarAya kuluMcAnAM patayE". Hari Om! Tat

sat!

 

Regards,

Madhava

>

> JAIRAM SESHADRI [sMTP:seshadri]

> Wednesday, October 27, 1999 5:18 AM

> madhava

> your encounter with Lord Shiva...

>

>

> Dear Madhavaji...

>

> gosh Madhavaji...this has to be best encounter that i have ever heard

> from a person alive..i have read of such encounters with sages and

> rishis...

>

> i too am a bhakta of Lord Shiva and i have often dreamed of having an

> experience like this...you are indeed blessed to have had such a

> wonderful encounter... It stayed with you for 6 months...Lord Shiva

> must have been with you or in you...or else why should the snake live

> so close to you...with you?

>

> may i ask who your guru is and which ashrama you were part of ?

>

> thank you so much for sharing this experience with us..i am blessed to

> have heard it ..it inspires me to meditate more...

>

> utomost pranaams and namaskaar to you Madhavaji

>

> jairam

>

> > Message: 5

> > Mon, 25 Oct 1999 13:42:51 +0300

> > "Madhava K. Turumella" <madhava

> > RE: Of Vahanas and Two Sisters

> > In deed, that is a wonderful experience. I also had similar

> > encounters. In the year 1990 I spent my days in an Ashram learning

> > vedanta at the lotus feet of my guru. Since the ashram is in a

> > remote area, we often find deadly snakes around there.

> >

> > I adore Lord Siva. Eveyday morning 3:30AM I used to get up and

> > meditate / offer my prayers to Lord Siva, then go for the satsang

> > which is at 5AM in the morning. One day, after the meditation I

> > opened my eyes to see a very big snake, with its full vigor, looking

> > at me. Some how, I did not feel the fear of it. I was meditating

> > on Lord Siva and after all this is his ornament! It has stared at

> > me for a few minutes and crawled near to my pillow and settled

> > there. I went on to my satsang and returned at 7AM and found that

> > the snake was sleeping over there! At first I could not comprehend

> > the fact that the snake is settling down there. Then I slowly sat

> > there on the bed. It has moved a bit and looked at me and again got

> > back into its relaxed posture, as if I am not a harmful creature :-)

> > as if it didn't care about my presence there :-) I also felt a

> > friendly feeling towards that snake! Any way, it has lived with me

> > in the same kutia, near my sleeping pillow, for almost 6 months!

> > Those days people used to talk about the snake and me in the ashram

> > :-) I often used to watch a lot of snakes around my kutia, I guess

> > they were the visiting friends of my room mate :-) (kutia = a small

> > hut made of mud walls with a thatched roof).

> >

> > Our teacher never allow anybody to kill snakes or harm any beings

> > that are living/visiting the ashram. She says "All these creatures

> > have been here even before us. By constructing the ashram we have

> > invaded their privacy. They, in a way, allowed us to live here. So

> > let us not humiliate them by misunderstanding their hospitality."

> > By the way, in spite of all these wild creatures living around in

> > the ashram, there has never been a case of snake bite or any such

> > thing happened in the ashram!

> >

> > Regards,

> > Madhava

> >

[Guest guest]

As I told before, I am writing this ONLY BECAUSE it might reinforce the

faith in my fellow seekers. Many of my fellow seekers sent me mails saying

that my mails are helping them in reinforcing their faith. I thank the lord

for that. Since they are asking for more, here I am again...

 

The almighty is present in many forms, casting off the doubting minds. Only

thing is that we have to have the right intellect to understand, right mind

for devotion, right eyes to see. If we could do that, It is an assurance in

Gita, then the rest will be taken care:

 

"mayyEva mana aadhatsva mayi buddhiM nivESaya

nivasiShysi mayyEva ata oorthvaM na SaMSayaH" -- Ch.12-8

 

In the year 1991 I was in Hyderabad. Staying with my friend Prakash. At

Kukatpally Housing Board Colony (Known as KPHB Colony). There is a Hanuman

Temple in the KPHB colony. I am going to write about an incident took place

there.

 

Every day night I used to go to the hanuman temple, spend time there, come

home just before midnight. Some times Prakash used to join me. When ever

he joins me, we used to discuss various points of vedanta. Other wise, I

prefer to sit alone and contemplate, mostly thinking of life, the higher

self, and the way you get dragged into things... Visiting temple was my

regular ritual. Devotees leave by the time 9:30. You don't find anybody

after 10PM in the temple. By the way, It was a very small temple then!

 

Though, the sanctum sanctorum's gates get closed by 9:30PM, you could see

Lord's idol through the see-through gates made up of iron rods. One day

night, as usual I was sitting alone near a pillar, facing Lord Hanuma's

idol. I saw an old man sitting near another pillar, with a big white

mustache with beard, milky white hair, looked like he is at his ripe age. I

happen to know almost all the visitors to the temple, I knew that I never

saw him before... Only we both were around there. He was having a japamala

in his hand. He was doing japa, closing his eyes. His face was glowing as

if he is in ecstasy. Unusual to my behavior, I got curious! I wanted to

know who that man is and what is he doing at that night there. I went near

to him, touched his feet with great respect. He blessed me saying

"aayushmAn bhava". I sat next to him. I asked him, "Swamy, what is your

name, what are you doing here at this night?"

 

"Don't you know! I stay here only. And don't you worry about naming me..."

he replied.

"But, I never saw you here before", I questioned again.

"Hah! as if you knew everyone in the world"... His reply jolted me. I

didn't have any other words to say. So I just smiled and kept quite.

 

Then he spoke with a bit of compassion saying: "I wouldn't prefer to be seen

by people. That is why you never saw me before. I have been watching you

since quite long. I have some thing to tell you. But I shall tell you when

the need arises. Till then, though you see me in the temple, do not raise

questions about me. I will call you when I want to talk to you". It was an

order. I understood...

 

Then onwards I used to see him regularly. Though no words spoken, I touch

his feet, he blesses me and there ends our reciprocation. He used to sit at

the same place and does his japa.

 

One day, I was about to leave the temple. He waved his hand and called me

"Madhava! come here". I went and stood near to him.

 

"Madhava! I want to hear Bhagawatam. Can you perform a saptaham (talk for

7 days) here?" he asked.

 

"But Swamy, I can't speak just thus. The temple organizers should invite

me. Then only I could do it. And also I never gave lectures on Bhagawata,

though I gave lectures on Bhagawatgita." I replied.

 

"Don't worry! everything will be arranged. You are about to move from this

place. Before you leave I want to hear Bhagawatam." (I thought, he was

speaking of me leaving that temple that night. I should have known that I am

about to move from Hyderabad to Bombay on a new employment)

 

"But Swamy! the temple is very small. And never there were any lectures

arranged here. I don't think the temple committee would oblige." I was

skeptical.

 

He smiled and told "Madhava! You are born with a doubting mind. I told you

just do it. Things will take care". I didn't question any further. I

decided and thought "If it has to happen, it will happen". I went home and

slept.

 

Next day, I got a call to my office. Prakash told me that the temple

committee is asking for me, they requested to see me at 6:30 in the evening

(that is too early to me). Any way, I went and met them. They told me that

they are thinking of conducting a Bhagawata Saptaham. They asked me to

perform it. I am surprised at the way things are taking place. I asked

them out of curiosity on why they thought of it all of a sudden. Their

reply was a bit unsatisfactory.

 

But then the temple pujari (he is still working there) told me that "Madhava

Swamy! (they used to call me swamy :-)) it is me who asked them. Today

morning, I got this thought of a Saptaham." I agreed to a date to perform

the Saptaham. The temple committee president asked my help on designing a

pamphlet, because they never did any such thing before. I helped them.

 

That day night, I couldn't see that old man. Though I eagerly searched for

him every where, my search turned futile. I couldn't see him till I finish

my seven days talks on Bhagawatam.

 

I started saptaham (giving lectures on Bhagawatam) in the temple. First day

there were 20 people. Next day there was 200 and the number of listeners

increased too much, the temple premises could not cope.

 

Prakash's mother (she is no more) used to come regularly to listen.

Prakash, those days being a big clog in a Medical company, due to the busy

schedules, could not attend that regularly.

 

Every day, a monkey used to come and sit near the dhvajastambaham and stay

there till the end. Though humans fail to attend on a regular basis, the

monkey was a regular attendee :-)

 

Every day, I used to look for that old man in the crowd. He never turned

up. I finished the saptaham. It went very well. People started visiting

Prakash's place, because I stay there. That has become a disturbance to

home!

 

Three days after finishing the saptaham, I was as usual sitting there in the

temple. I saw the old man again. I went and touched his feet.

 

I asked him "Swamy! where have you been? You told me that you wanted to

listen to Bhagawatam, once I started you disappeared!"

 

He smiled and told me that he visited regularly, though I could not

recognize him. He also told me that some of the people who have attended my

lectures are going to do some renovations to the temple. They will

construct a Siva temple next to this small temple. The temple is going to

grow very big! My lectures are aimed at casting off some doubting minds"...

His wordings were quite confusing. Though I am a questioner, in his

presence I never got a doubt, as if I were under his spell.

 

He told me that he got to go. I asked him when could I see him again. He

told me that he will visit me again when I am far off to an unknown land. I

am still waiting to see that old man again. Though I know now whom I have

met those days, I would leave it to your imagination.

 

The temple where I gave my first ever lectures on Bhagawatam, as told by the

old man, has grown quite big. Any city bus that goes to KPHB colony,

Hyderabad stops right in front of the temple. The temple pujari and the

committee are still there, though I haven't met them since I left that

place. No point, my mission accomplished :-) There is a big Siva temple

constructed next to the Hanuman temple. I moved away from the disturbance

to again to an unknown land where I could find some peace for contemplation,

I lived in Bombay for 4 years, undisturbed.

 

(Those who want to know: Prakash, one of the very few true friends I ever

have, has renounced and now known by the name Brahmacari Govinda Chaitanya.

He is now at Chinmaya Mission, Vizag. At present he is serving as Executive

Secretary General, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra, Youth wing of Chinmaya Mission.)

[Guest guest]

Hari Om Madhavji:

 

we agree that personal experiences such as yous do reinforce faith and this list

encourages others to write their mystic experiences. We also want to

congratulate you for the excellent presentation and the list is very fortunate

to have Madhavji as a member.

 

regards,

 

Ram Chandran

Gummuluru Murthy

List Comoderators

[Guest guest]

Dear Madhav Ji,

Namaskar. Many thanks for sharing your experience & also fortunate to have

you on this list. I whole heartledly agree with Sri Ram Chandra ji.

Yours

Raju Chhatry.

> "Ram Chandran" <chandran

>

> Hari Om Madhavji:

>

> we agree that personal experiences such as yous do reinforce faith and

this

> list encourages others to write their mystic experiences. We also want to

> congratulate you for the excellent presentation and the list is very

> fortunate to have Madhavji as a member.

>

> regards,

>

> Ram Chandran

> Gummuluru Murthy

> List Comoderators

>

[pradeepfriend2000]

Hi,

 

I am staying at KPHB, kukatpally, hyderabad only. Can you please let me know the address of this temple?

 

Please send me the address of this temple. Here is my id:

Thanks much,

Pradeep Daram

[Nabanita]

namoskar to everybody....i was wondering if anybody could tell me that...lord shiva in human form...which we mostly see in pictures...can be exists....or these are just assumption...created by devotee...to make the devotion in a easy way...then parvati shiva story also a myth...

[Varun Shrivastava]

Namaste:

 

well if someday you see this.. then i would like to tell everyone that GOD SHIVA IS REAL AND HE DOES COME FRONT OF your EYES..

in my life i have seen SOLID SHADOWS at MADHYA PRADESH Shajapur jungle...this 2 shadows were in Shape of SADHU yes...both were near 7feets in hight and 2 feets above earth floating .. it was a solid shadow that i saw very close....and in MADHYA PRADESH..near JABALPUR i clicked a photo of a BARGAD TREE (baniyan-tree) from a normal digital camera on of the photo automatically got converted into full formated SHIVALINGA in shadow... it is green shade in photo and black shade of shivalinga in middle white circle shadow on top and blue shadow near it....it is actual shiva linga that got appeared in my camera.. the shadow that appeared it looks like some one is meditating (sitting) in PADMASAN position.. 100% real photo ... and next day i again clicked photo from same place and again i saw in one photo a diamond like chain in mid air.. again above 2 feets from earth...and smoke coming out of it.. i have this 2 photos with me.. and once i also got actual perfect OM shape in normal 5 face rudrakshya.. this rudrakhshya i still have.. its real om on it.. i have all this photo on facebook search::: prove me wrong and i will donate my life

Thank-you

-varun

[Guest Jigar Patel]

Hi everyone,

                   I was brought up in small village in gujarat. I was probably 2-3 years old. One evening when my mom takes me out where all the ladies chat on regular basis and i was playing on the side. This is probably year 1989 or 1990. I looked up and there was Lord shiva coming out from the clouds, a breathtaking moment for any adult. But for 3 year old it was not so magical. I told my mom, look the god (pointing in the sky). Busy talking to other ladies, she told me to bow the deity, not even paid attention to where am i pointing. After that 3 years went by and it strikes again. 1993, This time it wasn't in the sky. It was keeping a distance from me on the land but just above the land and it was a flat image. I went to chase it but since it was keeping the same distance, there is no way i am going to catch it. It disappear in 3-5 minutes. Few years passed, its busy growing up. When i started high school, i started to think about this and till this day it comes to me as why are we here, what is the purpose and what can we do about it?

 

I think i am blessed that i do not need answer for one question is that, Do God exist?

 

It is hard to believe when you lack the experience. Light has a very broad spectrum and we can only see the visible light which is only fraction of range. If we lay out all the frequencies of light from east coast to west coast of the US, we will only see 100 nanometer of it in comparison. So, if the almighty decides to show itself in different light spectrum other than visible light that only you can see and no one else, then you will be the only viewer and everyone else be looking at you like you are freaking crazy. Our eye receptors can only catch energy in the spectrum of visible light, but what if there is more to that. We can only figure out something that we know and experiment with. The rest remains a mystery.

 

On basis of what i know. I do not want to force or go after non-believers. I just want to make this world a better place and help others to achieve the good status. May be that's my ultimate goal.

 

For all who read this, i am an average person, an engineer by profession, living in the United States.

[Guest Apurva]

All these experiences might be real and exciting. But its only a starting phase in sprituality. In advanced level we get the knowledge from your current age living guru and we know the secrets of your existance. Their is a lot of powers and whole Universe recides in our existance

[Guest San]

Hi,

You are really blessed.

I would like to know that the image of lord shiva ,which you saw in the sky and on land is exactly similar which we see in photo.With snake around HIS neck ,moon on His head and with trishul? .

Regards

San