The Guru's Beckon

Discovering the eternal dance of Love and Compassion

It is said that the true dawn of one's life arrives not on the day of birth but on the day they find their Guru. Blessed are those who recognize when the Guru walks the earth, and most fortunate are those who are blessed to behold the Guru's Living Form.

A wave of nostalgia washes over me today, for it marks 17 years since a transformative spiritual experience forever changed the course of my life. On this very day, a young Ashwin, brimming with scepticism and adolescent angst, beheld for the first time, his Spiritual Master, Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Form.

How it all began

What has always captivated me is the unique tapestry woven in each one's encounter with the Guru. The Master, in His own inimitable way, plucks the strings of each soul with a distinct melody, and it's just such a melody I wish to share with you — a tale of one string swayed in His divine orchestration.

Born a Brahmin in Chennai (the familiar moniker "TamBrahm"), I grew up with the scent of agarbattis and the murmur of Vishnu Sahasranamam, and hence religious rituals weren't unfamiliar to me. In fact, I remember having a deep connection with Lord Hanuman as a five-year-old. Under my mother's tutelage, a Carnatic musician and teacher, the rhythm of tradition ran like a steady pulse through my childhood. Yet, as adolescence took over, the vibrant hues of my earlier years faded. While it wasn't a rebellion against religion, it seemed like a disconnect between my evolving self and the religious path.

School days were filled with the joys of friendship, mischievous adventures, and the thrill of pushing boundaries. Compared to that, these Bhagavad Gita recitals and music competitions seemed less exciting, even though a musical spark always flickered within me. Fearful of judgment from my peers, I hid this passion, convinced Carnatic music wouldn't resonate with my cool-kid peers!

Turn of events

It was September 2006. In the midst of our "9 D" classroom, my classmate Sai Krishna, a devoted follower of Sathya Sai Baba, stood out. His pocket always held a picture of the afro-haired godman, and we, his friends, would tease him mercilessly, not out of any animosity towards Baba, but a childish desire to provoke and see him squirm. One day, as our ridicule reached its crescendo, another classmate, unable to bear Sai Krishna's discomfort, blurted out, "Keep it up! Keep piling on those sinful words. Every word reaches Baba's ears as you speak." Laughter erupted, except from me. A chilling thought snaked through my mind, "What if it's true?" The next few days were consumed by this unsettling possibility. I cautiously approached Sai Krishna, curiosity overriding my fear. I wanted to know more about Baba, who he was, and where he lived. A week later, Sai Krishna, with his characteristic kindness, took me to Sundaram, Baba's divine abode in Chennai. Fear gripped me - would I be burnt into ashes for my sinful acts? But as I entered the ashram, serenity disarmed me. The air hummed with an indescribable peace and a deep sense of sanctity enveloped me completely. Within no time, I found myself drawn to the weekly bhajans, their melodies weaving a magic that kept me returning.

Sundaram, the Divine Residence of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

“Take a step towards Me and I shall take a hundred towards you”

Within a few days, I had consumed everything I could find about Baba, His miracles, His photographs, and His identity as the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. Probably a month later, my yearning to see Him in person had me pestering my parents incessantly to take me to Puttaparthi. They mistook my fervor for mere infatuation and didn't take it seriously. As I wrestled with how to make this dream a reality, the heavens smiled upon me! The newspapers roared with the glorious announcement of Baba's visit to Chennai in a few weeks' time. He was coming to perform the grand "Atirudra Maha Yajna", and also formally hand over the "Sri Sathya Sai Ganga Canal" to the Tamil Nadu Government, fulfilling His promise to bring drinking water back to the people of Chennai. My joy knew no bounds! Excitement crackled through me, the very thought of seeing Him sending shivers down my spine. Sai Krishna confirmed that Baba would be staying in Sundaram, and my mind spun with possibilities. Would He speak to me? Would the crowds be overwhelming? Would He confront me with the weight of my misdeeds? Butterflies danced in my stomach, a tangible manifestation of my anticipation.

The Long-Awaited Union

Though I knew Baba would grace Chennai sometime in January, details remained elusive. Then, came Friday, January 19th, 2007. School over, I pedaled towards physics tuition, probably around 4:30 PM. Interestingly, my route crossed "Sundaram" near my teacher's house. Passing it, I saw huge crowds, banners, and hoardings. "Is Baba already here?" I thought. Taking a chance, I skipped tuition and steered my bicycle towards the Ashram. The lane was packed, the Ashram locked due to the dense crowd. Somehow, I managed to squeeze into the front rows outside. People buzzed that Baba just arrived from the airport and was giving Darshan in the bhajan hall. The whole place vibrated with anticipation. In a few minutes, someone exclaimed, "Sairam! Sairam!"

I can never describe that moment. Butterflies danced in my stomach. I tried to see, but hundreds of people stood tall in front of me, hands up and folded in reverence. What could I do? With unadulterated innocence, I climbed the Ashram parapet wall, and there, I saw the most enchanting, beautiful form I'd ever beheld. Bhagwan, radiant and Divine, gazing upon the crowd with such beauty. And there I stood, in shorts and a schoolbag, staring at Him!

January 19, 2007: Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba showering His Love and Blessings upon a sea of devotees from the 'Lotus' balcony

Baba's stay was fleeting, lasting less than a minute before He returned inside. The crowd dissipated, and I, swept away by euphoria, returned home. My excitement knew no bounds. While I had encountered numerous sannyasis and gurus, the radiance I witnessed in Him was unparalleled. He was no ordinary mortal; of that, I was certain. In retrospect, I find it amusing that I described Baba's appearance to my parents as "morphed," for I lacked the vocabulary to express the effulgence emanating from His form. I was captivated, consumed by fervent love for Him, yearning for even more Darshans. Over the next ten days of His stay, I was blessed with His darshan at least half a dozen times, accompanied by my mother, sister, and even my grandparents. The funniest part was spotting my physics tuition teacher one day among the crowd, beaming at me. It turned out she too had been captivated by my enthusiastic accounts of the Darshan experience! The pull was undeniable and magical. From the moment I laid eyes upon Him, my life, I knew with unshakeable certainty, would never be the same again. The unfolding of this magical transformation is a tale for a future article!