At the crack of dawn I started off from Palam for the Satsang of Guru
Maharaj. I had received only vague directions from Shankar when I had witnessed
the divine light on the Grand Trunk Express. I only remembered Mehrauli being mentioned.
In the 80s Mehrauli was a sleepy village. I rode along on the dusty and
pot holed track on my scooter. It was almost
9 AM and I was fast losing hope of finding the Satsang.
I turned a corner and the atmosphere changed dramatically. There were
crowds on the road and the decorations hinted at a festival. Hundreds of buses, trucks,
cars and scooters were parked every where. Volunteers at each gate formed welcome
committees. I was questioned deeply. Are you an Abhyasi? Have you been initiated by the Guru. Oh! This
is your first visit. I clarified that I was just a visitor. A small metal badge
was pinned to my shirt. There were arrangements for thousands of devotees to
stay. Vast tents and hangar like structures had been erected on large grounds.
Free literature, coloured photos similar to the one that I had seen on the
train were freely handed over to all. I looked at each photo and tried to see if any divine glow emanated from them. Alas they appeared just ordinary photos.
I was directed to the giant dining hall where breakfast was being served.
Nothing had prepared me for the vast crowds. I had imagined that I would walk
directly in to the divine presence of the Guru and have his darshan. I was
disappointed to learn that darshan was only in the evening. Breakfast consisted
of unlimited hot puris and allu subji. Hundreds of volunteers helped in
preparation and serving the thronging devotees. I wandered about the grounds. The
large crowds of village folk with their loud talk and shabby appearance was a
total put off for me. I had imagined something totally different. I found a
hall that had a garish exhibition describing the spiritual activities and and
the growth of the organisation. I asked if there was any meditation hall. I was
overjoyed to note that a giant hall had been set aside just for the purpose. I
had noticed that most devotees had some sort of identity card pinned to their
shirt. Mine was just for visitors.
I walked around the grounds trying to find the meditation centre. I
asked the volunteers about the meditation hall. But got no positive response. They
just took one look at me and my badge and didn't reply. My frustration was deepening,
no darshan and no meditation. Just at that moment I noticed a longish queue in
front of a massive tent. A sudden thrill ran down my body to learn that it was
for meditation. I silently joined the line. Entrance was being controlled by a swami who
was checking the card of each person. I just prayed that I may be allowed
inside. Many were being refused entry. The questions were standard are you an
Abhyasi. Have you been initiated by the master. Where is your ID card? I knew I
would never tell a lie to enter. My turn arrived, the swami asked me “where is
your ID card?” I replied honestly I don't have one. Have you been initiated by
the master? No. Surprise of surprise he
didn't shoo me away as he had done the others without the credentials. He told
me to stand aside. Other devotees continued on to the meditation hall. I was
lost in prayer. Mixed emotions fleetingly passed my mind. A wasted day. My
foolishness in standing in the queue when I knew admission was limited to the
initiated. A silence enveloped me and a sudden energy touched me. At that very
instant I looked towards the swami. I knew that same divine energy had nudged
him. His face brightened and he gestured to me to step forward. I was a bit
confused but he held my arm and said you may enter. I felt I was being mistaken
for some one else. So I said in Hindi I have not been initiated. He just said
again you may enter.
The meditation tent could easily accommodate ten thousand meditators.
Many swamis in white or saffron robes were moving around instructing the
meditators to sit down keeping sufficient space between each person. There was a chief swami who was giving
instruction on a mike and the whole group was taking up various asanas I was a
bit lost as I didn't follow any instruction. A sudden fear gripped my heart.
Would I be hauled up as an imposter and expelled from the hall. Should I
imitate my neighbours? A silent voice told my heart just sit and meditate as
you do every day. I just closed my eyes and went into my own heart. Meditation
continued for more than three quarters of an hour. Though I did my own stuff. I
gained an insight into what my companions were being guided. They were
attempting to hear the inner sound of the universal heart. In the Deep calm that my meditation had
settled was a hint and flashes of images that were memories beyond the present.
I got an insight into why I had been
permitted to attend. When the session ended I opened my eyes and looked calmly
around and noticed that many swamis had been moving around and correcting and
helping my companions but no one had ever told me anything.
The meditation boosted my energy
and my resolve to stay till the evening Satang and have a darshan of the Guru Maharaj.
It was now almost lunch time and all were being directed towards the large
dining tents. I too joined in and was treated to a tasty meal made with love
and served by the volunteers. It was like a carnival. The simple village folk
mixed with the elite city dwellers in their devotion to the Guru Maharaj. The curse
of caste and class that divides India vanished temporarily. Both body and soul
refreshed I decided to do some voluntary work. I enquired and moved to the site
of the evening Satsang. I joined the large groups helping to decorate the stage
and the grounds. I forgot my self and worked for hours on end. Every thirty minutes volunteers brought water
and tea or biscuits for us and lovingly coaxed us to take the Prasad.
Slowly my companions started to
leave to rejoin family members and freshen up for the evening Satsang. I
noticed that the grounds had been closed out and devotees wanting to enter
early were not being allowed. The gates would be opened only at seven in the
evening. I enquired with a middle aged swami where I should sit for darshan. He lead me straight on to the sofas kept on
the very first row and said take rest you will surely get the best darshan
here. The day had been long and I had done hours of physical labour so the
suggestion was welcome but the very first row!! I couldn't believe it. I felt a
bit uncomfortable and moved to the sofa on the second row. The minute I sat down a
cool breeze relaxed me. I was in a deep restful sleep. I was woken up by the
loud blast of devotional music that announced the entry of devotees. The ground
had been barricaded I looked back and saw the mass of devotees thronging the grounds. Thousands were vying to get in. I looked at my own position and was more than
shocked. I seemed to be in the VIP enclosure. What was my merit that had led me
to this privilege? Or what was my connection that had led me on?
The evening programme started with bhajans and devotional songs. The
simple village folk seemed out of key but deep devotion and love swayed the
mass of devotees. The Great Guru Maharaj stepped onstage to a thunderous
applause. He was dressed in his signature blue suit. The master started leading
the bhajan in a simple and quite voice. He had a hypnotic presence. Many
children, young boys and girls started dancing. Then very old women joined in.
The atmosphere was enchanting. The whole satsung was vibrating at a higher
spiritual level. Many participants were swooning unable to handle this sudden
downpour of energy. My own body was shivering trying to adjust to this new
energy. The Master stepped off the stage and moved swiftly inside the VIP area
Blessing all those present. I stepped out and did a sastang namaskar. The
master dropped a flower. I was overwhelmed. Tears of joy were freely flowing
down my cheeks. As I got back to my seat
I noticed the time it was already passed 10 PM.
I never met Shankar that evening. Two months later on a visit to
Bangalore I saw Shankar again and narrated my experiences of the Mehrauli Satsang. Shankar refused to believe that
I could have participated in the meditation. He asked me repeatedly. What did
you tell the Swami? Non Abyasis are never allowed. It's not possible. I just repeated my narrative. “You sat in the VIP enclosure and The Guru
Maharaj gave you a flower!” Shankar was astounded by my tale. He bowed his head
and was touching my feet in deep reverence. You must be divinely connected to
the great Guru. I couldn’t comprehend his behaviour and just hugged him as a
brother devotee.
This visit to Mehrauli showed me the deep and selfless love of the simple
village folk of rural India and its spiritual possibilities. Thank You Guru
Maharaj for blessing a wanderer.
