Hail Storm lashes Mysore Ashrama

8th May 2002

The day was extremely hot. Sri Swamiji felt it soon after Sri Chakra Puja in the morning and was saying a rain was due.
At 5 PM gusty winds whipped the area and soon dark clouds converged as if answering the morning prayer. Torrential rain commenced and along with it fell big hail storms (ice crystals). This phenomena is quite rare in Mysore. Hails just fell like pellets from the sky. The green Ashrama lawn was enveloped with ice crystals. Sri Swamiji came out of Guru Nilaya and standing on the balcony He enjoyed the hail storm. Then as if remembering something, Sri Swamiji raced to the ground floor and stood in the rain... the ice pebbles falling all over Sri Swamiji. It was indeed a great sight. Seeing Sri Swamiji some workers came and enjoyed the rain dance. Sri Swamiji frantically collected hails and put them in a jar and instructed that it should be safely kept inside. Then Sri Swamiji like a child rode cycle in the rain and ran all over the place. By then Ashrama inmates learnt about about this unbelievable event started to come even though it was a heavy down pour. Workers from prayer hall also joined Sri Swamiji. Then Sri Swamiji wanted the Dharma Stupa show to be switched on. As the sky belted heavy rain from the above, the water jets from the Dharma Stupa pond leapt skywards as if it was the answer from mother earth. Swamiji went and stood around the Stupa and enjoyed a solo show. Then Sri Swamiji wanted hot tea to be prepared and given to all around. In five minutes hot tea came from the Ashrama kitchen and to make the evening even more memorable Sri Swamiji himself poured tea to everyone.

Seniors in the Ashrama were heard remarking that it was a evening never like before.

Enjoy the photos