Once I was sitting next to children from the Primary School awaiting Swami’s Darshan in the Mandir. Swami came and asked one of the boys near me what his name was and where he came from. He told his name and said he came “from Swami’s Lotus feet”. Swami was thrilled with his reply. “See this… A small boy and he is giving such a good answer!”, He proudly told the elders who were present there. 

Seeing this, I mentally told Swami, “All these were taught to them by their teachers. Please ask me the same question. I’ll give the same answer, and please tell  the elders that you are proud of me.” 

The Darshan got over, and I went back to the hostel very determined. I told myself that the day Swami asks me where I was from, I would give the same reply the small boy gave and then Swami would tell everyone that he was proud of me. 

A year passed. Finally, the day I was yearning for did arrive. My classmate and I were sitting with a card for Swami to bless our new batch. Swami beckoned us and started talking to us. Suddenly, in between the conversation, he asked my classmate what his name was. 

I was so thrilled. I knew He would ask me next. 

He looked at me and asked my name. 

I said, “Rishab”. 

He said, “Good”.  

My excitement was rising as I waited for Swami to ask the second question. Mentally, I was praying to Swami, “Please, ask me where I come from”. 

He then looked at me with a mischievous smile. Having seen this happen many times before, I knew this was not going the way I had been hoping for. He then asked, “From which Uru (village/town) do you come from?”

I looked at Swami confused. All my preparations were of no use. There’s no way I can say, “From Your Lotus Feet”. (For, He was so specific in His question, and I had to give the name of a town). I was silent. He repeated the question. In my confusion, I said Kerala, and then I said, Nagpur and then  Brindavan and Parthi. 

Swami gave a hearty laugh and said, “See! This boy does not know where he is from!”. 

And so the awaited heroic day ended being a hilarious one. But yet it was very very profound. There’s a message in His every action and word. For, then I realised that in reality I had no clue what it means to be “from His Lotus feet”. Swami’s words rang so true. I didn’t know where I came from.  

Bhagawan says there are three questions for which we always need to have the answer for. “Where do you come from? Where are you headed? Where are you right now?” I slowly came to understand that having a one word answer to these questions is irresponsible, nay, dangerous.  I decided I’ll never talk about things about which I had no knowledge just to impress Swami. Hopefully, by His grace, I will get to introspect deep enough to get an answer to these questions. 

Rishab Nair High school Grade 11 & 12, BCom (Hons) in Brindavan, MBA in Prasanthi Nilayam, 2008 – 2015. As a student, he composed many songs, was part of University Brass Band as well as Prasanthi Bhajan and Music group. Currently he is a freelance Music Composer, Arranger and Programmer based in Bengaluru.