As a child I used to read 'Jai Guruji' or 'Blessings always Guruji' on vehicle stickers, which intrigued me. Years later in 2013 I met Bhavya, who became my friend when I changed my school in class 11
th . She shared her experiences about Guruji and I was awestruck as I have been Shivji's devotee since childhood. She offered to take me to Bade Mandir with her family, but I didn't go. Some years later, probably in 2016, my father had the blessing of having
langar prasad the first time he went to Bade Mandir. Then a year or so later, my mother went on a Monday with a friend and had
chai and
samosa prasad.
Around that year, 2017, I had what in retrospect was an inkling of Guruji's presence and plan for me. I was in college and working as a volunteer in the admissions process. An applicant's parents came but without their daughter. The college rules mandated that the applicant be present for admission. She was apparently misinformed and had gone out of station. Her parents approached me for help.
I took it as my responsibility. I ran around with the applicant's documents, requesting teachers to confirm her admission. When I reached home, the student's father sent me a voice note saying that the formalities were done with and the fees had been paid. He signed off with a 'Jai Guruji' at the end. This went unrecognized, but was hint that Guruji was around me and that He was blessing me.
Unconscious for a month, my Tauji survives Covid
The turning point came in 2020, when my
Tauji (father's elder brother) had to be rushed to the hospital on the morning of 18
th June, suffering acutely from Covid19. Doctors told my dad his chances of survival were only 10%, and Tauji, a diabetic who also suffers from blood pressure, was put on a ventilator. He was unconscious and his condition kept worsening as his heart, pancreas, and liver were compromised due to the viral infection. His lungs and kidneys bore the brunt of the impact; his creatinine levels went through the roof. His vitals alarmed me.
The doctors were doing their best, but nothing was helping. Eleven days into the hospital and they told us to look for a plasma donor. Finding one was a nightmare, but we managed it. All our bets were on this therapy, but it didn't help.
It was now July, Tauji was still unconscious, and the doctors suggested a tracheostomy to supply oxygen via a ventilator as only half his lungs were functional. A bronchoscopy result was scarier: Tauji's lungs were only 25%–35% functional. The family broke down; our friends and relatives prayed ceaselessly. One of them was a school friend, Nandini, to whom I'm always going to be thankful. She asked me to pray to Guruji, assuring me that the first blessing Guruji gives is of life, then of health, and subsequently the rest.
My family and I were tired of all the remedies and
upayas suggested. I told Nandini to pray for my Tauji to Guruji. I didn't want to add on something new and I certainly didn't want to disrespect anyone's faith. Nandini sent me a link to the
mantra jaap, and asked me to listen to it whenever I could. I heard it many times the next day. What happened next is magical: Tauji gained consciousness on July 11. And he was home on 24
th July. Our relief was inexpressible. But I didn't realize what Guruji had done for the longest time.
In November of 2020, I began reading Light of Divinity. But it still wasn't time my time to 'know' Guruji. I had a really bad skin issue at that time after I had taken steroids on a doctor's prescription. I had changed about six doctors and no treatment had helped. I went to the last doctor whose medicines finally started to help me at a time I was reading this book. Again, I didn't understand that the healing, as in Tauji's case, was Guruji's grace.
January 2021 shook me. I was offered a job via my college placement in a public sector undertaking. The post was out of town and I was very skeptical. I declined it because I let negativity get the better of me based on people's views. I wanted to make it big in life and make myself and my parents proud; now I was acutely unhappy. I kept applying for interviews and cleared many. I joined an amazing internship program that would have led to a full-time job. Less than a week into it, I let anxiety get the better of me and left it.
Soon I began looking for jobs again. I managed to get placed in one of the country's finest media houses. However, I ended up leaving it too. Looking back, I come across as foolish and confused, constantly jeopardizing her career, but I can't clearly rationalize what happened then.
Bade Mandir and first recognitions of His grace
One day in March I asked my mom if she'd go to Bade Mandir with me, and she instantly agreed. Our e-passes were approved the same day within a few hours—which was amazing—for 25
th March.
Come the day and we nearly put off the visit because one of us was menstrual. But Guruji's pull was stronger, so I took my friend's advice and went. Finally, I was at the place where my Bholenath lives on Earth. What a beautiful spot! Heaven literally. Everything felt peaceful and magical, and as we were heading out, one of my wishes came true.
I had randomly read comments on social media—something I never do—and one of these came with a photo of samosa prasad being distributed. We would not get it, I reasonably thought, because of Covid. As we were coming out of the Mandir entrance, the thought popped into my head again. I had barely taken five steps to find sevadaars distributing packed langar and
jal prasad. I was stunned. Guruji literally listens!
That was borne out when the media house I had left wanted me to return the office laptop. I didn't want to go because the second Covid wave was upon us. Neither did I want anyone from my family or our driver bhaiya to go out. I asked if the company could collect it, but they refused. I prayed to Guruji to do something. Soon I got a call from the media office: A driver was near my area and would collect the laptop. A half hour ago, I was making up my mind to go, but with just one honest prayer to Maharaj, He made a kind driver come up to the front of my house.
Some days later, Guruji came in my dream. I could not understand what Guruji's message was. I turned to a devotee for insight and was told that I should do mantra jaap or
paath during the golden pre-dawn hours of
amritvela.
As my connection grew, I decided to bake a cake for Guruji's birthday in 2021. But I felt a bit low that day, seeing that we did not have any
swaroops with us. A contributing factor was the feeling that I had missed going for a
satsang. Two days before His birthday, I had gone for a walk in my colony and overheard a few ladies talking about a satsang on the 7
th. The minute I heard them, I instantly said "Jai Guruji Aunty". One of them greeted me back, but went the other way. Then I got a random inbox invite on social media for a satsang, but since the venue was far and unknown, I couldn't go.
But my spirits were lifted when I went to a nearby park for a walk with my mom. We saw three peacocks. How beautiful they were. We were both delighted and began chatting about how miraculous and kind Guruji is. At that point, we again saw another peacock. It was such a big blessing on His birthday. We saw
Shiv Parivar that day.
A new car and new beginnings
My father wanted a luxury car and was looking at second-hand luxury car options. I had heard via satsangs that Guruji told the old
sangat to buy new cars, so I requested my dad to go for a new vehicle. We always had manual cars, but my brother wanted us to go for an automatic. I had misgivings, but we went for that type in September of 2021. My brother and I had to return by auto after making the booking. That was full of swaroops of Maharaj, and
shabads were playing. One of them proclaimed: "
Jo aaya Satguru de dware uska beda paar hua." The immediate indication was that I needn't worry about the automatic car not being a good option. And that His grace would be with me in my academic and professional life.
As it was, I was not getting a good job and the reason was I lacked experience. I was not getting selected in places where half my batchmates had been placed. My confidence was shaken to the core, and I began preparing for government exams.
In November 2021, a company took an interview and a month later I was selected. As a part of hiring formalities, I had to submit my recent salary slips. I did not have any. But my father used to take cheques from a client of his and deposit them into my bank account. I was pleasantly shocked when the company said it was okay if I sent them my bank statements. Why did my father think of depositing cheques in my bank account? Guruji prompted him. Only He can see for the long term. He got me a job that is good for me. The work is not a burden, and my co-workers are extremely polite and kind.
I wanted to start a small business, and I asked Guruji to send His confirmation. I got not one, but three messages via social media captions, one actually saying: "
Tujhe jo karna hai kar, tujhe jis cheez mei khushi milti hai woh kar, tera Guru tere saath hai." (Do what you like and what makes you happy: Your Guru is with you.) So in January 2022, I began my business too. In retrospect I am thankful I did not get the other jobs I was hoping to get. They would never have allowed me to get involved in my own business.
It all makes sense to me now. Satsangs made me realize how Guruji made me change my school, then choose an academic stream I was reluctant for, because I had to meet a friend there who would tell me all about Maharaj. He saved Tauji and shielded my family and He sent me to the right doctor I needed for my skin. If these problems had not troubled me in the last two years, I wouldn't have taken the path to find peace in spirituality. Everything is a part of His big plan. We have to completely trust and surrender.
The devotee who had guided me to decode my dream
darshan had asked me to share Tauji's satsang on 11
th April last year. Due to a sudden trip I had to decline. Guess who he contacted next? Bhavya, the friend who had told me about Guruji eight years ago in 2013. I won't call this a coincidence; it just shows how beautiful Guruji's each and every move is. I have always called Shivji Bhole Baba and Baba. Guruji and Baba have become the same for me.
Since March 2021 satsangs have become my saviour. If we really pray from our heart and want some indication from Guruji, He replies through His satsangs. Thank you for everything, Guruji!
Tanya Goel, a devotee
January 2022