God's grace
As advised by the professor, I appeared for the Pre-University examinations and to the surprise of all my friends and family members, I passed the examinations.In fact during the examinations days I had no energy even to sit and used to study at home lying down in the bed.It is still a mystery to me how I passed the exams.The first thing I did after hearing the news of passing the exam. was to meet my professor and thanked him profusely for the advice he had given at the right time.
During the pre-university days in the college, I had attended a Gandhian study course, recommended by a professor of the college who himself was a true Gandhian in word and deed..That course opened my eyes on many aspects of life and I started adoring the ideas of Gandhiji, particulary the theory that violence by individuals does not solve any problem permanently, rather it fuels further violence and hatread and make life on earth for all unhappy .I did not much appreciate the Gandhian economics at that time.But the most important thing happened during the study circle meetings was my meeting with RD..a true independent thinker and a true spiritual seeker.
My constant interaction with RD during the years1957--1961 changed my attitude towards life and philosophy of life.I started again going to temples, particularly Vadakkumnathan and Guruvayur along with RD.During those days Swamy Chinmayananda used to come to Thrissur every year for delivering lectures on Bhagavat Geeta and those lectures had inspired me to read our spiritual treasures hitherto ignored because I did not know Sanskrit.Through his talks in English, Swamiji could bring back many youth of kerala at that time to respect our religion and religious books, a himalayan task which probably people do not fully understand even now..Every year I used to eagerly wait for theGeeta Gyana Yagya days arranged before Vadakkumnathan temple in the evenings and read the books written by Swamiji on various aspects of Hindu way of life.
Earlier I had no faith in prayers, but due to the changes brought about in the life, I started slowly praying for fulfilment of small wishes.I remember the final year B.A examination day when I was late in leaving home for the college.It took more time to revise important topics and .I reached the bus stop and found none of my co-students waiting for the bus, indicating that the9.30 bus had already left.I did not know when was the next bus to come. and in those days buses were few and far between.I waited for some time, no bus turned up, time was running fast and I was very much worried.It takes about 45minutes to 1 hour to reach the college by walking and there was no meaning in reaching the exam hall after 30 minutes past the start time .I thought of running to the college but then after running about 5 kilometers it would be difficult to sit and write the examination due to exhaustion..If I do not appear for the last exam, I will loose an year. and face all problems of disgrace, studying all subjects again and the like.At that moment of helplessness my thoughts went toGod and I started praying to Vadakkumnathan, Shiva the lord of himalayas, the Adi Guru and the Lord who is pleased even by little prayer and sacrifices..Those days buses and cars were few and there were no autorickshaws or cycle rickshaws. Manual rickshaws never came from the town to such far of places like our village..One or two trucks passed by but they did not stop though I waived my hand to stop them.Time was fleeing fast and my tension also increased. Suddenly a car stopped infront of me and the driver asked where did I want to go.I said to the college and it was the last exam .day and that I was late.The driver felt pity on me and told' Ok you get in and I will drop you at the college."I did not ask him from where he was coming from and where he was going to.There was no one else in the car.I was thinking all the time whether I could reach the college in time or not.When we reached the college it was just 10 am and the students had already entered the exam .hall .I gave the driver one rupee( I think) the only money I had in my pocket, but the gentleman refused and drove away quickly ,smiling.I thanked him and thanked vadakkumnathan for the timely help.
When I narrated the incident, my atheist friends told that It was only by luck that I got the car in time and there was no supernatural intervention in the matter. But I was convinced that it was due to my intense prayer that I could get a car in time and reach the exam hall in time, let whatever people may think about it.
There were many more incidents where my small prayers were fulfilled but to describe all of them require considerable time and space.
During the pre-university days in the college, I had attended a Gandhian study course, recommended by a professor of the college who himself was a true Gandhian in word and deed..That course opened my eyes on many aspects of life and I started adoring the ideas of Gandhiji, particulary the theory that violence by individuals does not solve any problem permanently, rather it fuels further violence and hatread and make life on earth for all unhappy .I did not much appreciate the Gandhian economics at that time.But the most important thing happened during the study circle meetings was my meeting with RD..a true independent thinker and a true spiritual seeker.
My constant interaction with RD during the years1957--1961 changed my attitude towards life and philosophy of life.I started again going to temples, particularly Vadakkumnathan and Guruvayur along with RD.During those days Swamy Chinmayananda used to come to Thrissur every year for delivering lectures on Bhagavat Geeta and those lectures had inspired me to read our spiritual treasures hitherto ignored because I did not know Sanskrit.Through his talks in English, Swamiji could bring back many youth of kerala at that time to respect our religion and religious books, a himalayan task which probably people do not fully understand even now..Every year I used to eagerly wait for theGeeta Gyana Yagya days arranged before Vadakkumnathan temple in the evenings and read the books written by Swamiji on various aspects of Hindu way of life.
Earlier I had no faith in prayers, but due to the changes brought about in the life, I started slowly praying for fulfilment of small wishes.I remember the final year B.A examination day when I was late in leaving home for the college.It took more time to revise important topics and .I reached the bus stop and found none of my co-students waiting for the bus, indicating that the9.30 bus had already left.I did not know when was the next bus to come. and in those days buses were few and far between.I waited for some time, no bus turned up, time was running fast and I was very much worried.It takes about 45minutes to 1 hour to reach the college by walking and there was no meaning in reaching the exam hall after 30 minutes past the start time .I thought of running to the college but then after running about 5 kilometers it would be difficult to sit and write the examination due to exhaustion..If I do not appear for the last exam, I will loose an year. and face all problems of disgrace, studying all subjects again and the like.At that moment of helplessness my thoughts went toGod and I started praying to Vadakkumnathan, Shiva the lord of himalayas, the Adi Guru and the Lord who is pleased even by little prayer and sacrifices..Those days buses and cars were few and there were no autorickshaws or cycle rickshaws. Manual rickshaws never came from the town to such far of places like our village..One or two trucks passed by but they did not stop though I waived my hand to stop them.Time was fleeing fast and my tension also increased. Suddenly a car stopped infront of me and the driver asked where did I want to go.I said to the college and it was the last exam .day and that I was late.The driver felt pity on me and told' Ok you get in and I will drop you at the college."I did not ask him from where he was coming from and where he was going to.There was no one else in the car.I was thinking all the time whether I could reach the college in time or not.When we reached the college it was just 10 am and the students had already entered the exam .hall .I gave the driver one rupee( I think) the only money I had in my pocket, but the gentleman refused and drove away quickly ,smiling.I thanked him and thanked vadakkumnathan for the timely help.
When I narrated the incident, my atheist friends told that It was only by luck that I got the car in time and there was no supernatural intervention in the matter. But I was convinced that it was due to my intense prayer that I could get a car in time and reach the exam hall in time, let whatever people may think about it.
There were many more incidents where my small prayers were fulfilled but to describe all of them require considerable time and space.
posted by Bharat at 2:46 AM
3 Comments:
please keep writing snippets from ur life papa.. this way we can read ur memories and u will be with us always through these memories.. it was so nice to read it..
It was very nice reading this papa..Please keep writing. This is meera not medhu
hi appupa,
this is medhu I read all the blogs just now and it was very interesting to read and learn what your life was like before I was born and even before amma was born. I especially liked the blog that is titled "what amma said this Sunday". i liked it because of the story that it contained.
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