Swamiji and Sai Baba save my dog

Yesterday evening my dog became terribly sick. She was breathing heavily, her eyes were sunken and she was not able to move. She had been experiencing some leg pain in the last week and the veternary doctor had given some shots to help with recovery. However instead of recovering she became even more sick. From evening 7 p.m i observed the slow deterioration in her condition. By 10p.m she looked no better.

My dog is a german spitz and will be turning 7 in december. Interestingly she came to us from one of Swamiji's close relatives home to help my grandmother recover from the loss of my grandfather in 2003. She had always been healthy and is an extremely cheerful, fun loving individual. Although a dog, she behaves like a human and is an integral part of my family. She is extremely affectionate and has carved a place for herself in all my family members' hearts. She understands every word we speak.Normally she would climb up the flight of steps in the night by 10 p.m and stay with us through the night. She never skipped this routine ever. However, yesterday she could not even move. I managed to touch her body to check if she was okay. She howled in pain when my hand passed over her stomach. She had been quietly absorbing the pain until i made it worse. I was shocked to hear her. She was unable to turn her head and look at me. She lay on the floor with her head down and gritting her teeth to bear the pain with courage. I became extremely worried. I informed my parents and grandmother who were upstairs. At first they did not believe me, but on repeating my description of my dog's condition they joined me downstairs. We all sat around Sweety and i was in tears. My father began chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama recommended by Swamiji and Sai Baba. My mother joined him and so did i. We all prayed individually to Swamiji and Baba to help our dog recover. We finished the first round of Sahasranama and launched the second round. My father and grandmother brought Baba's udhi and applied it on Sweety's forehead. As we completed the second round of chanting, Sweety suddenly looked up. From a position of pain, she suddenly stretched herself straight. This was a huge change since earlier she had not moved at all.I had mentally dropped Sweety in Swamiji and Baba's laps asking them to take complete responsibility for her health. Everyone left the room but i continued to stay with my dog as she has never been alone. I brought a book to read and sat by her side. After fifteen minutes, she woke up and ate some biscuits. After another fifteen minutes or so, she managed to get up. She asked me to let her out into the front yard. She walked around calmly and returned inside after some time. It was unbelievable. A dog that did not even lift its head, 45 minutes ago had now managed to get up and walk around. She climbed up the flight of steps with difficulty but i was amazed to see she had suddenly gained a lot of strength and energy. She went to my father's room since she is extremely fond of him. I was relieved. By 12:30 p.m i decided to sleep since the worst was over. The recovery of Sweety within such a short span of time following the chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama was remarkable. My mother pointed out that this mantra works both ways- in alleviating the suffering of the dog in pain and simultaneously releasing us from our worry by calming us down. Indeed Sweety was saved by Swamiji and Baba and the powerful mantra- Vishnu Sahasranama.

When god appears in Human Form 3

My last day at work was relatively free in Delhi. Serving my role as a consultant for 6 months i had complete my work ahead of time and had cleaned up my work station as well. Having heard a lot of Jawaharlal Nehru from my grandfather, i decided to use the time to visit the Teen Murti Bhawan. I took an autorickshaw to get dropped outside Nehru's former residence. After an hour of exploration i decided to head back to my work place to make it in time to catch the car pool. As usual none of the autowalahs were willing to take me back to my destination that was less than 20 minutes away. I started walking back till i reached a traffic junction in the hope of finding more autos. However no auto stopped. Learning from experience, i sent my prayer to Baba and Swamiji immediately seeking an auto. Within the next two minutes an autowalah stopped right beside me. He asked if had been waiting for an auto for a while and i replied that it was not too long before i reached the circular traffic junction. I told him my destination and asked for his rates. He mentioned an exaggerated rate and i bargained. He readily accepted my rate and dropped me at my destination. While in the autorickshaw he asked with a smile what i would have done if his auto had not arrived? He informed me that the area around the parliament was rarely frequented by autorickshaws since there was a law that prevented entry of autorickshaws in the government occupied area. Autorickshaws were fined heavily if they strayed into these parts of the city and so none dared to drive through. It was instantly apalling to observed the priority of government officials need for security over the ordinary citizens' need to travel to any part of the city. A total lack of concern for needs of citizens was obvious. I was indeed greatful to Swamiji and Sai Baba for taking me back home safely.

When God Appears in Human Form 2

I was travelling to Newark Airport from Philadelphia. I was apprehensive since i had a flight to catch at 6 p.m to India and had two pieces of luggage with me. A huge red suitcase and a smaller hand bag. I had seen many persons using the Philadelphia metro railway.So i decided to try the three train exchange travel option namely from my house to Philly city, Philly city to Trenton, New Jersey and Trenton to Newark Airport.I was tensed. As usual i told the Lord, that he had to come along with me and help me out. As i got down at the Trenton railway station, i was not sure which direction to take to the Newark Airport since the signs where misleading. While this thought appeared in my mind, an American lady came to me and gave me directions to reach the Newark- Airport train Boarding point. She cautioned me that the elevator was not functioning and i might have to take the stairs. I saw twelve steps going down. I lifted the heavy suitcase and started walking down as fast as i could to reduce the time of carrying the luggage. I was immediately approached by an African American man in his early thirties and he offered to carry the luggage down. I was very thankful and touched by his concern, however i decided to carry it since it was my luggage and i had to take responsibility for moving it. I boarded the train from Trenton junction to the Newark airport. I reached the flight on time. The whole incident did not strike me as particularly unique. However much later, the two persons who offered assistance struck me as unique. How did the woman know i was looking for this particular station? How did the man read my thoughts and offer help with the luggage? I felt that god sent these people on the way to help me reach my destination. It almost seemed like he had posted these people along the way at different points to ensure i felt god's protection and support. God is indeed extremely compassionate and responds faster than the speed of light. Swamiji is verily god.

When God Appears in Human Form

I recently read the book written by Mr. Narayana Iyengar on Shri Radhakrishna Swamiji. Swamiji narrates several incidents where god appeared in a human form to help him. This incident immediately reminded me of an occasion when god appeared in human form. I was returning from work in New Delhi. The work hours ended by 6:00 p.m and i returned home to Gurgaon one hour away by a car pool. On that day i had to stay on a little later, missing the car pool. I was very confident of returning home by using the not-so-well connected bus system. The nearest bus station was half an hour away. Autorickshaws are a rarity in Delhi in the peak office hours, atleast near my work place. Most autodrivers chose their passengers according to their whims and fancies and no organized system was in place. After waiting for 15 minutes,two women from the adjacent office building suggested we take a taxi to get dropped off at out destinations. I asked to be dropped off at the INA market area from where buses where available as ascertained by one of my carpool colleagues. I had not tried this bus station and was willing to experiment. I got dropped off at the bus stop. After almost two hours of waiting there was no bus in sight. The one bus that did arrive stopped for no more than a split second and rolled away much to my anguish. It was almost 8:30 p.m and i began to panic. Gurgaon was another 1 hour away. Delhi was known for its anti-social elements. I thought of calling a cab but discovered i had not carried my cell phone that day. Cab companies refused to take my request without a cell number they could contact. I was not sure what to do. I thought of borrowing someone's cell phone and making a call, but none of the shop keepers where willing to help. At this point i turned to Swamiji and Baba and appealed to them for help. It was close to 9:00 p.m and i was stranded. I grew desperate with pictures of spending an entire night out looming large. As i sent the prayer, a boy walked by and hearing my desperate request for help to a shop keeper, offered to help. He gladly gave his cell phone and offered to stay till the cab arrived. I called the cab and it arrived only after 30 minutes. This boy however stayed near me, talking to his friends. He mentioned that he lived only five minutes away and was agreeable to wait until the cab arrived. I needed him to be there since the cab driver would call the cell phone to confirm his arrival. After a time that seemed forever, the cab arrived at 9:30 p.m. The boy not only waited, but reassured me and left only after i had got into the cab. I thanked him profusely for his timely help that made a big difference to me. I reached home by 10:30 p.m and breathed a sigh of relief. As i got into bed, it struck me that the boy must have been god himself. He arrived within minutes of sending my prayer to god for help and most of all spent close to 45 minutes waiting for the cab with me. He did mention he was 21, had just graduated from a commerce program and working in a company. He was human no doubt but his arrival in my hour of need was only an act of god. I thought over and over again about the incident and felt even more surely that god himself had come down in a human form to help. I also took a pledge to assist others in need of help whenever and wherever i could as thanksgiving.

The peda

During my student days, i happened to visit Mylapore in Chennai. This area has numerous temples and it was a habit to visit atleast three temples namely the Sai Baba temple, the Srinivasa temple and the Kapaleeshwarar temple. Mylapore was also home to the shopping strips around the Kapaleeshwarar temple. I had a habit of talking to god from childhood and wherever i went, i would silently chat with god to keep me company. I also tested god ever so often to understand if he/she truly existed or it was a figment of my imagination. On one such day when i was in a testing mood, i told Baba that he should give me a peda if he really was around and listening to me. I was accompanied by a friend and as we walked around, the friend suggested that we enter the sweet shop nearby. I accompanied her gladly. She bought several sweets and then finally handed over a peda to me. I was surprised. Did she hear my mental request to Baba? How did she know that i had asked for a peda? I thanked her and most importantly thanked Baba.He proved to me that he had heard me and responded as well.

The Visa Appointment

I had got admission to a US university in 2006 and all that was left was appearing for the visa interview. The visa interview i was told could be dicey. Many persons visa was denied for apparently no reason. I had no need to be apprehensive, as i had not even managed to get a date for the interview. By the time the official confirmation from the University reached me, the visa dates had already got blocked. The earliest available date was November 2006. However i had to reach USA by August. I was in a fix. I was not sure what had to be done. As i asked around, the US Visa Center informed me that they did have emergency visa dates available and i could apply for those. They also told me that the embassy planned to open some more dates to manage the excessive demand. I wanted an interview in June. The Visa office asked me to monitor their website regularly for the additional slots. I sincerely sat in front of the computer and was lucky enough to find a slot for June 4th. I tried booking online, but it failed as the date was no longer available. I rushed in my two wheeler to the US visa booking center that allows a manual booking process instead of using the internet option. In my excitement i speeded at break neck speed that i was almost thrown off my scooty pep. I somehow managed to reach the office in the next 20 minutes. I was afraid that all dates may get booked before i could get to the office. Chennai was one of the most crowded visa processing centers and the largest in southern . Numerous candidates competed for the few slots available. As i parked my vehicle i stopped for a second and prayed to Baba and Swamiji that they somehow help me secure the date for the interview. It seemed impossible but i prayed that Swamiji's grace can achieve everything. I sent this prayer calmly and then approached the visa officer inside. She asked me to fill out some forms delaying the process further. I mentioned to her that i had seen a date of June 4th being available that later became unavailable. She requested me to wait. After ten minutes she said a date was available and for June the 4th. I was thrilled beyond measure. I asked her to book it immediately. Within the next ten minutes my visa appointment was booked and i had a date ahead of friends who had booked three months in advance. The date that had seemed impossible to secure had become readily available with Swamiji's grace. I owe it to Swamiji for making my US education possible. May Swamiji be blessed for all his kindness and compassion.

Transports to peace

I was caught in the middle of the recession in 2008. After graduating in August i was unable to land a full time position in USA. I was depressed since i still had education loans to be paid and time was running out. Despite applying to over 500 companies there was absolutely no positive response. My day started with sending resume' and cover letters and ended with reject letters. Seeing the hundreds of reject letters come my way was a big blow. I had always topped in exams, had never waited for anything for too long and had had my way most of the time in my career so far. This unexpected response shattered me as an individual and as a professional and i started doubting my abilities and capabilities. Given the intense loneliness most people experience in USA, the absolute silence in the residential colony i stayed in and pressures due to US visa rules that gave me a tough time line of 3 months to land a job from the date of graduation i was totally at a loss. Unmindful of how i felt, i kept applying for jobs day and night. At times i felt extremely disheartened and my mind would go spinning into sadness and dejection. The loan amount to be repaid would keep flashing across my eyes. Atleast in India, life would be easier but in the United States it was so much more harder. I lost sleep, my schedule became erratic and i stopped communicating with friends since everyone seemed to have jobs and i had none and i felt like a loser. My mind was raging like an inferno- anger, sadness, frustration alternated every day for 6 months. God was not spared in my efforts. Everyday i wrote to god, prayed to him incessantly so much so that often prayer occupied half my day while the other half went into applications. I prayed to Swamiji a lot. When my mind became unmanageable i appealed to Swamiji to bring peace to me. I prayed a lot asking for peace. Nothing happened initially but as i continued to pray, the third time, a drastic transformation took place. My mind that had been like an angry elephant suddenly was thrown into peace following the appeal to Swamiji. For one whole week, my mind lost all anger and became calm like a lake. I was amazed. The calmness pervaded my whole being and i experienced infinite peace. With a peaceful mind i was able to achieve more and somehow Swamiji took away all my worries as well. I was drowned in peace. What a relief it was! Thank you, Swamiji.

The Doctor of Doctors

As a one year child, I was told that I experienced continuous ill health. The doctor, a well regarded pediatrician in Chennai, recommended performing a medical procedure which was felt as dangerous by the family members. At this point my grandmother, a staunch believer in Swamiji took me to Bangalore and placed me on Swamiji’s lap. She surrendered her grandchild to his fold and pleaded with him to restore health. Swamiji not only accepted the responsibility instantly but also administered a dosage of udhi/ashes to be consumed for a certain period of time. His instructions were followed religiously by my family members. After one month I was taken to the pediatricians’ clinic for consultation. He was hoping to perform the required procedure anticipating rapid deterioration in the child’s health. To his surprise, he found me perfectly healthy. A miracle had happened in the intervening period. The weak child had stopped displaying the previous symptoms, gained sufficient weight and was transformed into a normal healthy, happy child in a span of only 30 days. The doctor shook his head in disbelief and turned around to my grandmother and asked-“Who is your doctor?”-----She smiled and replied---“My guru, Shri Radhakrishna Swamiji”. Praise be to the doctor of doctors, Swamiji!

The flying mala

I was in class 10. I had written the board exams for the first time. I was extremely apprehensive of the results. I had done my best yet was unsure how the results would unfold.I was worried and repeatedly sent prayers to Swamiji. It was 4:30 p.m in the evening. My grandmother was standing outside the living room speaking with our neighbor. My grandfather had just finished his tiffin and returned upstairs. My mother was busy in the kitchen. As i finished my 10th round of prayer or more something unbeleivable happened. I had asked Swamiji for some sign that my prayer was heard and he had taken action. There was a huge photograph of Swamiji in the living room. There were three malas of sandalwood on the photograph. As i finished my prayer and stood looking at the photograph, one of the malas suddenly came alive. The static mala suddenly moved forward and with a terrific force was thrown away from the picture and fell down ten feet away. I was stunned for a moment. There was no external force in operation that caused the movement. I picked up the mala and placed it back on the picture. After ten minutes the phenomena repeated itself. I was dazed. No one else was around to witness this event.My heart told me that my prayer had been heard and Swamiji was communicating to me through the garland falling that action had already been taken. I got a score that matched my expectations. I was extremely pleased with my results.

I bow to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji for showering his grace and compassion!