On 6th of May there was a unique celebration, jointly conducted by Sheela Chitnis' Thursday class and Shailza Jhunjhunwala’s Monday class, on the occasion of Gurudev's 105th Jayanti.
The session was attended by 57/58 member.
Mrs. Bharati Sukthankar ji and Swamini Aradhananda ji were invited as special guests. After the chanting of the Guru Stotram by Jayashri Dasani, and bhajans by Kumud Jhavar and Sheela Chitnis, Swamini Aradhananda ji introduced Bharati ji. Listening to Bharati ji was a sheer joy. Bharati ji, who has been very closely associated with Gurudev since about 1972, had so much to share!
Bharati ji was entrusted the task of writing Bal Ramayan, Bal Bhagawatam by Gurudev. She later edited Vivekachoodamani, many Upanishads, the Holy Geeta (from 4 separate books). Even today she is with Swamini Aradhananda ji helping her with Bal Vihar magazine.
- she told us how his two pencil written diaries that got published as the book ' My Trek to Uttarakhand', reached her through a devotee, and that it was first published as souvenir in Delhi yagna in 1982 with Gurudev’s permission. She in fact showed the gathering these cloth bound diaries, which were still intact.
- the diary page is signed as PBK Menon, Gurudev's pre-sannyas name!
- Bharati ji then narrated some personal incidents with Gurudev, how it had an impact on the whole family, how Gurudev brought about a shift in her attitude, how he touched their lives so beautifully and significantly.
- she narrated how as a teenager she used to write a letter to Gurudev daily, and that he replied every letter! She has 5-6 files of his letters!
Many members asked her questions which were answered to their delight.
Just to mention a couple of them :
1) Once in Allahabad he took many devotees to Sangam for a dip. He personally held every one and dipped their heads in waters. Someone asked him, we can see Ganga and Yamuna, but where is Saraswati? He said, "Ganga stands for karma, Yamuna for bhakti, and Saraswati for jnana. Karma, bhakti you can see, but jnana you cannot! The third river is hidden." And he added "I am Saraswati". He further added, " the flow of jnana that comes from sadhus (who come to bathe in the sangam during magh mela) is Saraswati".
2) someone asked him about his temper. He replied, how angry is the mother when she scolds her child?
3)Bharati ji asked him once, when you are lost in nature, the trees, the mountains the rivers, does your mind become still? And he said, " those are moments of open eyed meditation "
Afterwards, Ms. Mrudula Agrawal from Monday class read out her poetry which was a synopsis of her class' take on the book:
अनन्त की खोज में
चल रहा ,जाने कहाँ
हिमाचल की गहराइयों में,
या ,उसकी ऊँचाइयों में ?
सुन रहा था एक अन्तर्नाद ,
गूंज रहा था जो बार बार,
मेरे संकल्प की गति को
देता ,नव ऊर्जा का तार ।
कैसे किये पार ,इतने पड़ाव ?
नहीं था ,जिनका कोई पारावार।
सुध नहीं थी ,देह की वहाँ ।
निराकार था सजीव वहाँ ।
गर्व का था ,निर्मम अभाव ।
नदी पहाड़ झरने सब एकाकार,
प्रकृति पुरुष का ,भेद अभेद
ईश्वर का था रुप साकार ।
स्वयं को कर समन्वित ,प्रकृति में,
मैं निरन्तर आगे बढ़ा ।
ह्रदय के कितने पहाड़ ,
विस्मय विमुग्ध मैं लाँघे चला ।
अलौकिक अमृत ,यात्रा का
रोम रोम ,मेरे है बसा ।
केवल प्रार्थना ये है मेरी,
आऊँ ,बार-बार मैं वहाँ
तादात्म्य तुमसे कर पाऊँ जहां ।।।
Ms. Sunita Taparia read out impressions and take aways of all the members of Thursday class
The beautiful and unique satsang ended with Gurudevs arti, pledge and Shanti mantra.
It was a day to remember!!
