Swamiji Welcomes Us

[Guest guest]

Swamiji Welcomes Us

By Hemendra Nath Bannerjee

I live in Calcutta and have been a devotee of Sai Baba for almost two

decades. Every Sai Bandhu I have come across has narrated the greatness of

H.H. Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji. Unfortunately I could never have his

'darshan' when he was amidst us in flesh and blood. But the ever -living

Swamiji made me feel his presence the moment we entered the Sai Spiritual

Centre on February 26th, 1989.

 

As we steped into the 'Dwarakamayi' of the Mandir, the life size portrait of

Swamiji greeted us. Then the 'Abhisheka' started and we had the rare

privilege of performing Abhisheka to Baba's murthy as well as Swamiji.

Swamiji took me and my wife Lathika into his fold and blessed us with his

ever glowing eyes.

 

There was a good crowd and I was introduced to several of the devotees

present there. They all talked to me of the greatness of Sai Baba and as to

how Swamiji blessed all by asking them to chant 'Vishnu Sahasranama'.

Instantly I had an urge to perform 'Vishnu Sahasranamarchana' worshipping

Sai Baba with 1000 flowers by chanting Vishnu's thousand names.

 

I prayed to Swamiji and requested him to fulfill my wish. But I was shy to

ask the priest to help me as this was my maiden visit. But where is the end

to Swamiji's compassion? The priest beckoned one of the devotees to come

forward and perform 'Archana'. That devotee told him that he has to attend a

meeting. So immediately the priest beckoned me and my wife and asked us as

to whether we could do this 'Archana'. My heart was thrilled to the core.

 

As soon as we finished the 'archana', I sought for a book of 'Vishnu

Sahasranamam' in Devnagari script, Lo, even this was forthcoming. The office

Manager very kindly gifted me a copy of this book in Devnagari script. I

read this daily as an affectionate gift from Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. There

was a meeting going on to discuss about holding 'Akhanda Sai Nama Japam' for

one week. They invited me to participate in it and offer my views. I only

wished I could participate in this Saptaha. My visit to Sai Mandir at

Bangalore is memorable.

 

(Source Saipadananda Magazine April 1989)