Who saved my Life?

One of the most beautiful adventures of the present life was yesterday’s accident. More happening than my trek to Tapovanam. I didn’t have a near death experience of sorts mentioned in Many Lives Many Masters. But I definitely had a wonderful spiritual experience which I will detail after I finish the reporting part.

Brahmacharini Shubha Amma was one of around ten brahmacharis around the globe who were given Swami/Swamini Diksha at the Hyderabad Chinmaya Mission Centre on the auspicious day of this Shiva Ratri.  Chinmaya Mission was founded by devotees of Swami Chinmayananda(Gurudev), the most dynamic disciple of Tapovanji Maharaj who was the most revered of the Spiritual Generals this land has been producing time and again. Gurudev traditionally comes from the Saraswati Order(there are several orders established by Jagadguru Shankaracharyaji). Chinmaya Mission conducts a 2 years resident, Gurukul sytle, Vedanta Course whose graduates get to choose to continue to work for the mission. The course aims to teach most of the Prastana Tria and also helps build up the true VISION for life. To give you a magnitude of the depth covered here, the upanishadic dictates and the various theories of creation studied are subtler than even the frontline researches in String Theory. The white robed brahmacharis(doesn’t necessarily mean unmarried) who choose to continue working for the mission are christened to new names like our dear Sattvika Chaitanya, Shubha Chaitanya and so on. They are then posted to centres across the world to work through the Mission to deliver the VISION of pujya Gurudev. The Mission work gives an opportunity for what can be vaguely termed as Self-Less Service. Primarily I feel all activities falling in line with HIS VISION are stepping stones which not only help you with a fulfilling life but also take you to the GOAL of LIFE in the shortest possible manner. I vaguely understand that these Brahmacharis dressed in YELLOW continue to do service till a point when their Guru Rin or the payback for the learnings is almost complete. Brahmacharini Shubha Amma was one among others of the order of Br. Govind Chaitanya, Br. Gagan Chaitanya who delivered to such an extent through their service, that they were set free from being duty bound. They were given Sanyasa Diksha (Highest Monk Order). So our dear Brahmacharini Shubha Amma is now known as Swamini Ananghananda Saraswati. The beautiful Mahalaxmi Temple at Kharghar is run under her guidance.

Note that Gurudev’s disciple names end with a post-fix ‘Ananda’ and the family order ‘Sarasawati’ explains the lineage till Shankaracharyaji.

I wished to attend the welcome ceremony of the newly graduated Swamini. The process includes, what we call as the ‘Purna Kumbha’ with the chanting of ‘Rajadhi Rajaya Prasayya Sahini….’ (chanted as daily prayers at Tapovanji Maharaj’s Kutia, Uttarkasi). The eyes which were used to the Yellow Sari clad Amma were very enthusiastic to view the Ochre robes. The color is very vibrant and the new look gave a larger aura to Amma. She became more reverable. She narated her experience at Hyderabad centre. One of the procedures that she could disclose to those gathered at the Mahalaxmi Temple (CM, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai) was to do Pinda Dana to your own self i.e. do the exact procedure that one does for a person who died. This signifies that the person ‘I’ is now dead, the final leg of THE Journey has Begun.

Scooting on my second-sale Kinetic Honda I halted in between to check Google Maps to see if the Service Road I was taking was indeed correct. Unfortunately Google Maps failed OnTime to show me the ‘Show my location’ option. I struggled in-front of the gates of NCST (now CDAC), India’s Centre of excellence in Advanced Computing. Closed the app. Zoomed in calmly to reach the temple gates JIT. Chanted the Poorna Kumbha rituals along with all elders gathered. Took her blessings and sat down to listen to the whole process. She hoped each one of us either in this life or the immediate next would choose to the holy path of Sanyas(Plz note that Sanyas is not wearing the Ochre robes, but is very much Mind/Intellect attitude towards attaractions and aversions. There are many true Sanyasis around in the material world in plain cloths too). The word ‘Anagha’ in Sanskrit language means ‘Sinless’. One has to be Anagha to follow the Path. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandji, the current head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide and a direct disciple of Gurudev directed the disksha ceremony which coincided with the Shanka – Aaradhana.

Taking the prasad (Gurudev’s photo and a sweet) and the dust of her feet, I started my journey back to my work-place. The Aunty had over-heard my conversation with my wife in my native Telugu. She picked up the mother tongue connection and we chatted from how we landed in Chinmaya Mission to how her ISKON follower son is placed decently in the US to how me and my bro were trying to procure home loan from SBI where her hubby is retiring this year. I enjoyed the conversation since speaking to people and getting to know their likes, dislikes and desires is one of my ardent passions. As I said to the CEO of my company the other day, that I enjoy working with people and missing them in my current assignment so far. Aunty asked me for this fateful lift till Belapur. Incidentally she resided in the same apartments where one of my close Namboodaripad friends used to stay for long.  I unconsciously wore my Helmet as is my habit by now. There is an interesting story about what made me build the Helmet habit (but that talks a lot Good about my dear friends Sups & Vinil Menon, about how they forced me to buy an Helmet. Let me avoid boosting them for now :-). The ISI mark saved my life. The scratches on the helmet are evident to this fact. My dhanno got a severe crush. I haven’t even cared to treat her till now.

I was driving at sub-20 km/hr, since I recently learned that beyond 30 km/hr the scooter may get tired. More over I was concerned for a safe lift for my aunty. After about 4-5 mins of smooth ride, it was time to take a right-turn at Belapur. I signalled, saw another mini-auto-type-tempo(the one used by LPG cylinder vendors)  moving on the right too. Saw that the road behind was all clear, turned to my right to enter Belapur and drop Aunty to her building campus. Suddenly a Indica sort of tourist car dashes us at a very high speed.  We were exactly perpendicular to the speeding car. The road just a few meters behind is elevated and one cannot see straight behind 20-30 meters of distance. I don’t remember the impact.  But I remember till the point I started turning and after I gained conciousness and saw myself on the side of the bike. Aunty lying a few meters away and a Indica sort of car whose front glass is impacted badly. The number plate of the car is hanging low towards the ground.

The first thought after regaining consciousness was that my Guru saved my life and the second thought was the well being of my aunty. I tried to get up. Couldn’t do it on my own. Lied down for a few mins and then woke up to see a large crowd and traffic haulted. Some one helped me get up. One of my shoes was missing. I pushed the cars to move out and release the traffic first. A few by-standers initiated a rescue operation. They lifted aunty carefully and placed her on the back seat of a car whose driver intended to help. She was rushed to the MGM hospital of Belapur which was stone-throw away from the incident. On Mr. Ravi gave me a lift on his bike to the hospital. We rushed to the casualty ward. I saw her breathing, I could breath calmly only then. GOD BLESS. I asked the resident doctor treating her, if she is OK. He said a CT Scan is required to access if there is not internal injury. I went ahead and asked her health. She couldn’t remember me. I got a HUGE JOLT on my HEART. She asked me how did she land up there? I said she met with a small accident, can she help me with her Husband’s contact no. (I remembered my conversation, that he worked in the nearby branch of SBI in the IT dept and was a few months away from retirement). The previous social conversation helped ease a load of things for me. She spelled his name very clearly and also the mobile no. THANK GOD. Probably the immediate experience stored in a sort of volatile RAM like memory might have wiped out due to impact. I tried calling that no. but couldn’t get through.

Next, I called up one of the senior working member of CM, Navi Mumbai, Mr. Mallyaji who owes the distinct honor of conducting the famous Ratha Yatra of Goddess Mahalaxmi before her consecration at the desired space in the current Temple. All had left the temple premises just a few mins back. He was along with other members. He greeted me with delightedly and I explained him in a very brief and calm manner the state of affairs. He asked me to hold on and within mins about 4-5 elder uncles including Mr. Mallyaji who are stalwarts in their own field and are know for their efforts to vitalize the strength of the CM at Navi mumbai arrived. They included the flamboyant trustee Mr. Parindra Kadakia, recruiter Krishnanji and Mr. Bhat. They took stock of the situation. Asked me for my well-being. Assured me that everything will be ok(I was assured not by their saying, but by their mere presence by my side when I needed them utmost). By now I was already given first-aid on my bruises. Two injections, one was Tetanus for sure, the other was probably to relieve me of my pain. I hardly had much pain but still have a habit of obeying in matters where my education falls short. I saw bruises all over my right hand. I couldn’t walk properly since my right side hip joint had a hit. It may take some time before I can regain my swiftness. I reverently thanked to Gurudev for saving my life. His young photo was still in my pocket which was given in the form of prasad to everybody. I prayed for aunty’s well being. She lost her front two teeth and I could see a lump on her fore-head clearly. No one cared in the ward to treat me, probably because I was talking in a comfortable tone, till I barged in to be given treatment.

Next, I prayed that Sagar, my youngest bro, should be in Vashi. He indeed was in Vashi after his Rajasthan tour while attending a friend’s wedding. Sagar was still as-sleep. He greeted me vaguely and as soon as I learned that he was in Vashi I unfolded the story line by line. He stopped me on the second line and rushed out. I called him again to avoid him from visiting the MGM at Vashi, I was in the MGM at Belapur. He thanked for the info and rushed again. As was written for him, there was no Bus for a long time. He hopped on to an auto-rikshaw and reached after the Police had just arrived to note my verdict. Someone had placed the broken name-plate of the car which dashed us into my bag before I got on to the bike to the hospital. I gave my version of the whole episode and signed. Sagar has worked closely with Politicians and so with the Police dept too. He knew how to speak to them. He relaxed me which I already was with his arrival.

I saw the situation under control, the uncles calmed my anxiety completely to such an extent that I was delighted to see the power of Gurudev, how he created such helpful communities and support systems around his devotees. Next, I called my bro, Viki, who is an Italian chef with a 5-star deluxe hotel in the metro which was about 2.5 hrs away on road. He didn’t show any shock or alarm in his tone, instead listened to me very carefully and asked me details of the health conditions. This is the kind of presence of mind that is expected. He asked me how much money needs to be arranged for both our treatment. I said that’s unknown and not an issue currently. Hearing about Sagar being in the scene, he was relaxed. The hospital authorities took my details and I told them that her husband was on the way. One of the 4 elderlys who arrived rushed to the SBI branch to bring him personally.

To show myself that I am a Karma Yogi, I then called up my Boss, and explained him why I won’t be able to make it to the workplace. I planned to rest at home for a few days. Had asked my colleagues to gather my laptop and essentials to my place.

One of the foremost austologers of Saurashtra once took a cursory look at my stars. He could do so just by knowing my name, date and time of birth. Without even a need for a personal visit, he mentioned that my toughest journey ends somewhere in Feb-2010. The impact probably signaled the end of the effect of the stars and beginning of a new era in life. Sort of moving from the downward part of the SINE WAVE of LIFE to the upward side.

I am very unhappy that I couldn’t remember the 30 seconds of impact & post-impact duration. What happened to me? Why did I regain consciousness?

Who saved my life? My stars, or the ISI mark on my Helmet (so it was Sups & Vinil Menon)?

Wasn’t it my Guru HIMSELF. I am now desperate to search for the purpose for the rest of my life. Thank you Lord for your courtesy which you showered without I having earned it.

Om Shri Chinmaya Sadguruve Namah!!!

After rest, I first asked my wife and parents to visit the aunty still at the hospital, then listened to a few bhajans from the Swaranjali group which is closely looked over by Guruji himself. Family members returned with good news. She has bruises all over the body. CT Scan report was good and Aunty was enquiring about me. She said to my parents that she didn’t even know if their son was married or not. My mom immediately got her daughter-in-law in the angle of her sight. She was glad to see her. Also she commented that she could ride the Kinetic better than me :) The physician has recommended another day’s stay, so she becomes our in-patient and I was a classic example of an out-patient :)

I hunted for Ishwar Darshan to read atleast the first chapter which starts with the line - “Man proposes and God disposes”. It was missing from my library. Settled with the Wanderings In Himalayas by Tapovanji Maharaj.