Sri Sadguru Mahime

Author: Charana Dasa

Translator:Shri.Ganesh Prasad

Chapter 8:  Sadguru Mandira

Sometimes Gurunatha used to ask people who sought his help in solving their problems, if your problem gets resolved what would you give me in return? He also asked...”Can you give me whatever I ask for?”

For people who readily agreed to give whatever he asked... “What would I want? Just give me your pure heart that would suffice” was the answer that followed with a characteristic smile. These visuals still come to eyes while recounting those days. Sometimes the way those people got blessed were also unusual and unique.

Once a devotee residing in Bangalore, though he was the founder of a prestigious institution he did not have a house of his own. This must have been a year away from the date Gurunatha left this world. This devotee had to change about 20 odd houses within a very short span of time. Though elite in the society he led a simple virtuous life. Gurunatha personally saw to it that he bought a site and constructed a house. He has now settled down in that house.

Once this devotee collected padukas of 22 sadhus belonging to the avadhuta parampara (lineage) and made arrangements so that the interested devotees could pay their respects. Gurunatha, his wife and myself went to pay our respects to these padukas. Suddenly in front of that big gathering Gurunatha started scolding this devotee with harsh words. He said... “Guru is not a commodity to be displayed and sold in public”. Though everyone else around were stunned to silence this devotee’s expressions did not change a bit. He stood there unperturbed with the same devotion. All this while I was standing a little distance away, in the same tone, I was called in by Gurunatha to pay my respects to the padukas by offering flowers and bowing to them, reminding me that my life was all about Guruseva, thrusting a few flowers into my open hands. I quickly rushed and carried out his instructions.

After that Gurunatha declined to take any food there and left for another devotee’s house. Later that night, he returned to the venue and asked the caretakers there to give him something leftover to eat. Personnel there informed him, they were already cleaning utensils and there was nothing they could offer. Gurunatha took a few grains of boiled rice stuck to one utensil, visited the devotee who had collected padukas at his house and greeted him. He was all praise for his work and told him he has achieved what his Guru had dreamt of. He also asked him to continue his good work and also that should go on to build a ‘paduka Mandira’, thrusting a few coins/notes into devotee’s pocket. Today, as per Guru’s words paduka Mandira has been completed.

Gurunatha had later clarified on that day.. As the devotee was being closely watched by many eyes that day he had to scold him otherwise, the devotee would have attracted a lot of jealousy and negative energy from the crowd that had gathered. We were mesmerized by his unique way of grace.

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