– SMT.JANI BAI S.KAMATH
(1961)
A great boon which I received from the all-merciful was the rare privilege of association with the devotees of Mother. The chief acquisition from such an association for me was a mind inclined to piety which ultimately led me to the sacred feet of lord himself.
My pilgrimage to the abode of Mother in Tellicherry, along with a group of devotees in Mangalore which took place in my 16th year is still vivid in my memory. It was the most auspicious day which opened the gates of the spiritual realm for me.
Exactly at 12 o’clock, in the scorching heat of the midday sun we alighted at Tellicherry railway station. With a heart full of expectation and curiosity, indulging in a variety of imaginations about the Mother, based on the report of numerous experiences of devotees, I reached a house which was a heaven of peace and blessedness. On the doorway, awaiting our arrival was standing Mother of magnetic attraction and divinity. The hospitality which she extended to each one of us, the immeasurable love and meticulous care which she bestowed on us, the never-fading smile of her lovely face, all indicated that she was the very goddess of auspiciousness. Her gracious glances generated eddying currents of devotion.
The bhajan conducted in her house was over by 7 P.M. and many of the devotees who had gathered from neighbouring houses dispersed. She came to me and after making loving enquiries, directed me to spend some time in meditation in the room where she did her sadhana. As I stepped into the room I found myself enveloped by spiritual vibrations. So vivid was the experience of divine presence in that room that I felt exaltation. In my meditation there appeared a column of blue light in which I saw the form of Mother.
Absorbed in that delightful state, I was sitting quiet in that room, with closed eyes, when Mother came to me and placed her hand on my head. A prayerful mood came over me but I did not know what to pray. I simply prostrated at her lotus feet. Whispering into my ears comforting words Mother helped me get up and said: “Do not fear my beloved child; Mother is here to protect you and to strengthen you”. After two days’ stay in the holy abode I returned to Mangalore carrying sacred memories.
The remarkable incident which convinced me about Mother’s grace was the sudden change in the attitude of my husband. Formerly he was not inclined to accept her as guru in spiritual life. However, he did not object to my following her. During the religious convention in Trichur he did not accompany me, in spite of my repeated requests. On my reaching Trichur, Mother enquired after my husband and when I expressed my grief at his indifferent attitude, she consoled me and advised to remain peaceful. That night I had a vision in which I saw my husband prostrating before her. To my great surprise, my husband turned up the very next day and later became an ardent devotee of Mother.
Innumerable are the instances when she came to our rescue in response to sincere prayers. While we were leading a peaceful life at Udipi, my husband was suddenly transferred to Mysore and it was with heavy hearts that we left for Mysore, leaving all our happy associations with the local devotees. The nature of the work and the environments in the new place did not suit the temperament of my husband who, out of frustration, finally decided to resign his job and return home. Greatly worried, I spent my days in prayer. One morning, when I was offering prayers, Mother appeared before me in vision and blessed me. I intuitionally felt that she had commanded me to attend the Sadhana Mandir session at Mangalore. Both of us left for Mangalore the next day. On reaching Mangalore my husband got the news that he had been recalled by his officer, to his former office in Udipi. Thus not only she saved us from miserable situation, but also, fulfilled a great desire of mine to take part in the periodical session at the sadhana mandir. Her unseen power continues to guide and protect.