As a child, I loved to read books and this passion has only become more profound today! And to tell you, researching about different topics I read is the most interesting part. I always loved science and astrophysics and any person who would give me the key to initiate a conversation based on space or technology, I would readily discourse upon it forever!
People would urge me to stop at some point of time during our conversation, as they found it rather challenging that it always contained scientific terms which they could not understand!
What could I do? I must confess, I have always been a thinker!
I would always search for scientific truths and the reasons why these truths were so important as they helped to complete my quest for my search for truth.
Now coming to Hinduism, I was always intrigued by the different kinds of rituals being performed at home during various festivals and auspicious ocassions. When I questioned people why it was done so in a particular manner, they would answer me in a cliche saying “Well, we have been told to perform them that way. You shouldn’t ask why it is done so.”
This statement would usually put me off as people were not ready to understand the purely scientific reasons behind these rituals. That is when I had decided that I need to seek answers all by myself! Answers not just related to rituals or practices, but the whole of existence and this wonderful creation.
During summer holidays, I would go to Dharwad, my grandparent’s place (situated in North Karnataka). I used to wait for that very moment so that I could meet my ever-loving uncle, aunt and grandparents. My uncle is a Siddha, Yogacharya and Vaidya by profession. Since I already had interest in that field, I was profoundly curious and would watch with rapt attention when he would perform or practice his daily austerities.
When I was as young as 10 years old, I observed two very unique photos which were kept on his work table. The people in the photos looked very content and were in a state of eternal bliss. Out of curiosity, I asked him, “Who are these two saintly people?” He smiled at me and gently said, “This is my Gurudeva Sri Lahiri Mahasya and this is Mahavatar Babaji, his guru! They are the most powerful people I’ve ever known”.
They surely felt different and I could feel it within me because they resonated within every cell of my being!
In the month of December 2021, I visited Dharwad to celebrate Diwali at my grandparents’. It was then I explained to my uncle that I was serious about spirituality and wanted to practice it in depth. He affirmatively said that he would definitely help me with it.
One morning, I was just casually sitting on the couch in the hall sipping a nice cup of hot coffee when I suddenly felt a surge of charge go through the left side of my body. I realised that I was getting goosebumps! Some kind of divine energy, very powerful, guided me to look in the direction it came from. I realised my eyes locked onto the photo that was stuck on the wall beside my uncle. It was of Paramagurudeva, Lahiri Mahasya!
My eyes were locked onto him. I did not move an inch and nothing moved around me. It was as though time was stuck in suspended animation. And I suddenly realised that I was scared of what had just happened.
After a brief moment, my uncle walked into the hall to continue with his work. I couldn’t contain this information with myself!
I told him what had happened. As usual, with a compassionate smile, he told me that I had connected with his Gurudeva. Since that day, I have seen a welcome change for the better in my daily life!
A few days hence, my uncle told me that I have to be initiated into spirituality as his Shishya (Disciple)!
I was completely overwhelmed by what he had just told and I couldn’t believe my own ears!
Since that very day, my uncle has become my ever-loving Guru!