Vijay Singh
1987 Prasanthi Nilayam

Life has been a learning experience for me at the Lotus Feet of our beloved Bhagawan. I would like to share with you how seemingly obvious and natural courses of my life are being actually handled by Swami. Swami, through His immense love, made me realize that He knew me better than I knew myself, and that He and was nowhere else, but inside me. Though my Karma had kept me away from Parthi for a long period since I had passed out from the haloed portals of the school, Swami showed His immense love by personally inviting me to have His Darshan during the last few years of His physical sojourn. Here are my experiences.

It was in 1985. I visited Parthi along with my parents and my elder brother after finishing my 10th standard. My younger brother had already been admitted in the Higher Secondary School in 6th Standard a year or two earlier. My father who was in the Army had been transferred to a post in Assam and I had to go to a new school. At that time admissions were open for the 11th standard at Parthi. I wrote the entrance exams along with many others. I was selected and I found myself admitted in the school. However, I had made up my mind to join the armed forces even before joining the school. I thus completed my 11th standard and during class 12, I wrote exams for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and got selected from the Services Selection Board at Bangalore.

During my short stay of a period of less than two years at Parthi, Swami never spoke to me directly as He used to do so with so many other boys, except during the two interviews which I had. These two interviews have however, left an everlasting impression on my mind. The first interview with Swami was just before leaving for the Academy. During this interview Swami spoke to me with so much love that I was in a state of bliss for a long time afterwards. He materialised a locket for me and some oil which He rubbed on my eyes. I was a bit surprised as I had recently passed my Medicals for the Indian Navy, which had a seemingly good standard of eye check up and which I had cleared with flying colours. It was only some 25 years later that I realised that I had Glaucoma, which is an eye affliction that can lead to considerable loss of eyesight. However, since Swami knew my past and future, he cured me more than 25 years before the onset of the affliction and considerably reduced the effect on me. My vision had remained excellent throughout and it is only since last year that I have started wearing reading glasses. Without any doubt in my mind I know that Swami blessed me so as not to have any serious eye impairment. Swami also materialised some oil and applied it on my stomach, which I am sure cured some other disease in advance.

A few years after my first interview, I was blessed with a second one. During this interview, Swami materialised a ring for me. It was a special moment. However, more than the materialization of the ring, it was an event that occurred a couple of days afterwards that left touched me. I was fully aware of Swami’s omnipresence and omniscience and the fact that such a divine power was showering grace on me is a very humbling experience. One day, I was near the South Indian Canteen with my father and was wearing the diamond ring with the stone facing my palm, so as to avoid damaging it inadvertently and also to avoid flashing it around. There was no way any mortal could have sighted the ring worn so discretely. Suddenly, Swami appeared in His car and turned towards Poornachandra auditorium right at the corner I was standing. And then it happened in a fraction of a second. As Swami passed, I instinctively folded my hands. Swami looked at me and indicated about the ring. I was stunned and stood rooted to the ground as if struck by lightning because amongst the many devotees there He saw me and indicated about the ring! He gave me a glimpse of His omniscience in such a potent manner that I was left speechless for long and had be shaken out of my trance by my father. It was a transforming moment – He had so effortlessly drawn me closer to Him.

Though my Karma had kept me away from Him for long, He was never far away. On more than one occasion, Swami has saved my life. Once while diving, my lifeline got entangled with the boats propeller. Twice I have had near fatal accidents on my motorcycle. There may have been many more such incidences, but by His care I never knew any of them. Swami had mentioned to me to keep coming to Parthi, knowing that I would not be a regular visitor. Though my faith in Bhagawan never diminished, I took Swami for granted, thinking that He would be in his physical for many more years to come. Swami knew my incorrigible nature and thus came to Mumbai to personally invite me to Parthi in the year 2009. Swami’s visit to Brabourne stadium was not planned and happened at the very last moment. I had just returned from a temporary duty and my presence in Mumbai was due to Swami’s grace. After Darshan, I was thoroughly convinced that Bhagawan had personally come to Mumbai to call me to Parthi. I was convinced. I was blessed to have His Darshan at Parthi during the last few years of His Avatarhood. I am totally indebted to dearest Swami for continuously shaping my life and for making me a better person.