By Aruna Chandrashekaran, Chennai

For a long time now, I have heard many people recount tales of the amazing powers of the Sadguru; how He can see into the future; how true His words come to be and so on. But it is only very recently, I saw for myself how potent Guru’s words can be. The Guru’s words always have an underlying meaning or a message and to a keen observing devotee it is revealed.

Very recently 59th birthday of my Guru Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji was celebrated in a grand manner at Mysore Datta Peetham. It was Friday, 1st June, and the time was about 7 p.m. Nearly 5000 to 6000 devotees had gathered in the Nada Mantapam to attend the meeting and receive the blessings of Sri Swamiji.

On the stage was former President of India and the chairman of the 60th Birthday Celebration Committee, Mr. R.Venkataraman, who was telling us in detail the greatness of the Guru. He was putting forth ideas to commemorate the 60th birthday of Sri Swamiji in the year 2002. He mentioned about establishing a research wing to the Veda Pathashala. He indicated that the Hon’ble Prime Minister and His Highness King Birendra of Nepal would be invited to grace the occasion.

All the while Sri Swamiji remained unruffled, with His calm, deep and penetrating eyes looking beyond the realm of human understanding. The true teacher always teaches by way of example, so they say! Here was my Guru sitting there absolutely in peace while all around Him the ordinary human minds were excitedly discussing about the birthday celebrations. He was there, yet he was not there. While I was keenly observing Him thus, Sri Swamiji suddenly looked up from His trance and addressed the President thus “RV my Prasad wants to invite even Indra from heaven. But Indra or Birendra or Urvashi or Menaka - can we send invitation and call them from heaven?” After saying this, Sri Swamiji went back to his old state and started playing with His neck chain.

For those who would have just heard it, in passing, it was nothing great. Just an ordinary jocular comment. Some ignorants even said Sri Swamiji was off the track! But I was struck by the simplicity of the statement yet the strange timing and the meaning not clear to me, and I am sure to the entire crowd. I was of course not sure what Sri Swamiji exactly meant. The next day morning it was out in the open for the whole world to know – that King Birendra was killed (4 hours after Sri Swamiji’s clairvoyance)

The Guru always gives a hint of what is to come. But only we fail to understand! If only we were more sharp to understand His words, things would be so much better for us.

Jaya Guru Datta.