Undoubtedly the brightest and the most colorful part of any of our lives were the times we spent in the divine presence of our Bhagawan. Every moment glows like threads of gold strewn into the tapestry of our stories. It is the unique blessing conferred upon students to yearn for His proximity above all else, at least during our stay at the hostel.
From photographs to be signed to letters to be accepted, we have prayed and sought His touch of love upon many little facets of our lives. Be it dashing to make it at the head of the lines for darshan or squashing and piling over one another under the scorching sun to be better able to smile at Him, we have felt it to be our right.
But if there is one thing that more boys have yearned for more than anything, it would be the crowning glory of being a part of the Kodai trips. Many of our brothers have been fortunate to be chosen by Swami Himself to accompany Him on a holiday in the hills. There has never been an account of a Kodai trip that has failed to thrill listeners. It has everything of a haloed dream come true.
In this series of articles we strive to recount some of the most remarkable times that students have had on the many Kodai trips with our dear Lord. Here is one such heart-warming walk down the memory lane.
Vacation with the lord
The most striking and charming aspect of the Kodai experience is undoubtedly the intimacy with Swami. Students on the trip enjoy such close proximity so as to feel that they are Swami’s own family members or close guests staying in His house. From daybreak to night, Swami and boys live under one roof, spending the entire day together, including every meal, until the time Swami goes out for darshan or retires to His room. The first session in the morning is right after breakfast and would only include Swami and students. Boys used to ask Swami questions on any topic and these sessions would be very engaging. After this, when Swami used to go for darshan, boys would go out for a walk. Right after darshan some of the elders would be invited in to another session and Bhagawan would have boys address the gathering. On other occasions He would bless the group with a discourse.
The whole schedule in Kodai revolves around Swami’s routine. Boys would accordingly plan their activities. However, the sweet Lord of uncertainty that He is, He often springs pleasant surprises by making unannounced appearances, catching boys off guard. On one afternoon, well before the normal time, Bhagawan got ready and came down from his room. One of the boys in the group, feeling much at home, was resting on the sofa in crumpled casual clothes. The moment he noticed Swami coming down, he panicked and quickly made a dash to an adjacent room, hoping to quietly escape via an adjoining anteroom. But as his luck would have it, Swami made a mischievous detour and came to stand right in front of him. He stood and stared deep into the eyes of the sheepish boy. After a long time the boy who was by then transfixed in palpable horror, took courage and slowly turned to leave quietly. Putting on more appropriate clothes the boy returned to join the group who had now gathered for a session with Swami. Bhagawan, in all His mercy, not wanting to put the boy through any further discomfort, simply smiled at him laying his concerns to ease, as if to acknowledge the boy’s repentance for being unprepared. Swami would often reveal that He is privy to every thought we had.
It is on these trips that boys get a unique opportunity to see a very different facet of Swami, one that makes evident the power of His love, the divine magnetism that draws one and all ever closer to Him. Bhagawan plays to full the role of a mother, father and a comrade. Showering more love than the boys can reckon with, He gently corrects them when they fail to be disciplined. In the few short days in Kodai, the boys learn that above and beyond revering Him as the Lord almighty, it is of much greater importance to love Him. For it is this love that helps lessen the distance that we perceive between Swami and ourselves.
While on the trip every boy is treated as a cherished child. Bhagawan meticulously looked into every minute details to the best of the boys’ comforts.
One night, as everyone went to sleep, one boy remained reading a book, late into the night. When he finally, made his way to find some place to sleep in, he realized that almost every available space had been occupied. Not willing to disturb anyone, he went down to the ground floor and found that the only free space was beneath a table. So he quietly rolled up to fall asleep. The next morning, at the gathering with Swami, Bhagawan, the all knowing, looked at the boy and asked – “How was it under the table last night?” The boy had completely forgotten about the night and was thrilled that Swami knew of it.
During the 1994 Kodai trip, Swami was very delighted over plans to surprise the boys with a picnic. He had asked Sri Srinivasan and Sri Satchidanandam to make the necessary arrangements. A place in the outskirts of Kodai, next to a rivulet and about a few yards into the woods, was identified. Sevadal were deployed to cut the hill into steps to make it comfortable for Swami to walk down. And when the day arrived, Swami announced that everyone would be going on a picnic. Boys went in about half a dozen small vehicles after the darshan. It was three full hours of fun and love. The boys had planned for a special event called – ‘Passing the parcel’. A box of chits, is passed around a circle of boys and elders, to the tune of music that is played through short intervals. And when the music stops, the person who held the box of chits is to perform a task, as described by a chit he is to pick from the box. Boys had cunningly planned on the most appropriate tasks for each person in the group. Swami became so involved that He would Himself read out the task mentioned on the chit and have a hearty laugh when the person performed the it.
Amidst all the fun and laughter, Bhagawan also revealed His divinity though numerous glorious miracles that often left everyone in the group spellbound. On one occasion while on a picnic in Kodai, Swami materialized a piece of jewelry that He explained was worn by Lord Krishna on his forehead. He even demonstrated how Krishna used to wear it. He then gave the jewel to Sri V K Narasimhan, former editor of Sanathana Sarathi, telling him – ‘Keep it carefully and give it back to Me when we are at Sai Shruti’. And all through the way back Swami kept urging him to be careful. Sri Narasimhan kept the jewel in his handkerchief and held to it for dear life. Once everyone reached Sai Shruti, Swami called to Sri Narasimham and asked him to return what He had given him. But when he opened his kerchief he found to his utter shock that there was nothing there. Seeing his pale face, Swami had a hearty laugh and told everyone that He had taken it back.
Teachings during vacation that get etched in the heart…
There are many a lessons the Lord teaches everyone on the Kodai trip. Once during the Narayana Seva in Kodai, Swami walked into the room where the food and blankets were kept. He enquired with an elder whether everyone one was served and given a blanket. The elder at the behest of Bhagawan went out to where the seva was being carried out, to check as to the progress of the event. Not waiting for long Swami sent another boy to enquire as well. When both the elder and the boy returned to report that everyone was served, Swami with a rather dismissive and distracted look went in to the gathering that was waiting for Him. Sitting down He said – “Naku dahamga undi. (I am feeling thirsty)”. Immediately, the nearest boy offered Swami a glass of water. Swami, brushing it aside said, “Idi kadu. (Not this.)” After a minute or two Swami got up to walk back into the kitchen and out. Finding Sri Padhmanaban, He gave him instructions to get the car ready. When the car was prepared for Him, He asked two other elders to join Him and they then drove off. The mood was very grave. None in the gathering knew what to make of it.
After an hour, Swami’s car returned. Normally, all the boys would rush to open the door of the car for Bhagawan. But the gravity of the occasion, kept everyone strapped to their places. However, one of the boys sensing the need went ahead to hold the door open for Bhagawan. As He got down the car, to the boy’s surprise and relief, Swami flashed a beaming smile. Looking more at ease, Swami said, “Ippude na daham teerindi. (Only now is my thirst quenched.)” Later the boys learnt that Swami had the remaining blankets loaded into the car. He then went driving through every street looking for people in need and who could not make it to where the narayana seva was being conducted and gave them His blessings and a blanket. This is the Lord Who would come looking for you!
We close this special feature with a poignant moment from 2006 Kodai trip shared by one of the Bhajan singers. Let the brother who experienced it narrate it himself…
Swami apparently had stopped talking to me. He would come to Bhajan hall & seeing that the mike is passed to me, He would close His eyes and open them only when that Bhajan finishes. Swami was scheduled to leave for Kodai on April 9th and I knew for sure that this year I would not figure anywhere in that fortunate list. As I was thinking this way, Swami suddenly came into the Bhajan hall and called for me. I got up and sat in the front but Swami just looked “through” me. I was informed by the teachers that I was to accompany Swami to Kodai. We reached Kodai and Swami was asking all the music boys to sing, except me. My sorrow knew no bounds. Every single day I would cry my way to sleep.
Then one morning I was singing a Bhajan and Swami came and said something giving a very stern expression, I was barely able to complete the Bhajan.
In the session that followed, Swami said, “when I don’t talk to boys, they think that I am punishing them. But it’s not punishing, it’s a test. When the river wants to merge with the sea, it does not pave the way at the first instance. The river keeps pushing relentlessly, then after sometime, the sea rises up and lets the river merge in it. That part of the river which was not able to push enough to merge with the sea becomes backwaters. In the same way, Lord too tests. Test is His taste.”
That evening after all other boys had sung Swami asked, who else will sing? I took all the courage I had throughout my life and blurted, Swami I want to sing a telugu song.
Swami said “nuvvu paadutaava”? (you will sing?) Swami gave His consent to sing.
I sang a beautiful telugu song composed with lot of pining and yearning. I had not pre – planned to sing this song, it was His will that this song came to my mind. The song is O nestama, priyamaina bandhama, premaku roopama, maa andari, praanama…… I managed to sing just 3 lines and broke down. That was the first communication I was having with Swami after months of pining.
I looked at Him and Swami also responded with equal amount of emotion and love. Finally He made me pass the test.
Yes, every time the river merges with the sea, it is the magnanimity of the sea that it allows the river to merge in it and attain the vastness, the depth it represents. In the same way, when we pass the test, it is Swami’s limitless compassion to make us feel the oneness with Him.
For years, the hills played host to the remarkable unfolding of a rather fun filled part of the divine mission. Every moment of those vacations in the proverbial playground of the lord, is waiting to be re-lived through stories and recounting waiting to be shared.
Hope you have enjoyed this feature which we wish to pick up again some time in future issues.
