Pradosham Mama and Mami
On my wedding anniversary last week I was praying to Appa as always saying, "I want only
Your Padhuka. Nothing else like a saree or gold interests me any longer". And after I did
the Pooja I settled down for my afternoon siesta.And my Guru Pradhosham Mama came! I
am standing inside some temple. Mama comes to me (I have not seen him in my life) and
says, "Vaa, unakku sivanai kattaren, Come, I will show you Lord Shiva!", and walks inside
the Garbagraham, the innermost Sanctum Santorum.
I hesitate and ask him, "Can ladies come inside?"
He replies, "Nee vaa, naan kuttindu poren, You come, I will take you inside!"
And I cross the steps made of gold and enter the Garbagraham with him!
Inside I see an open space full of sand and Appa sitting with His Dhandam. I exclaim, "It is
so hot, why can't someone hold an umbrella for Appa?"
Mama starts exclaiming in a loud voice, "Annamalayane, Arunachala, Mahaprabho!" And
these are the same expressions Mama used to address Appa during their divine
interactions in real life! Now suddenly it dawns on me it is indeed Lord Shiva I am looking at!
At this point I woke me up from the middle of my sleep.
But I had Darshan of my Guru and Appa and was dazed for a few hours. I still can't believe
that my Guru has blessed me by coming in my dream along with our Mahaguru!
The following part happened on Sunday the March 15th. I had planned to go to Kanchi only
on Monday. Today around 1 pm I called Rajaji mama and told him that I am planning to go
to Kanchi on Monday March 16th. He requested me to pray for his daughter as he cannot
travel much. I told told him that I will surely do. Within 5 minutes Mama called me again and
said, "Shall we go to Kanchi around 2:30 pm today itself? My car and driver are free!"
I was shocked and said, "Yes I will come!"
My husband said, "If Appa is calling you now something must be in store!" I never imagined
I will get His Padhuka then.
We arrived at Kanchi Matam at around 4:45 pm. Mama prayed for his daughter and I
prayed for my nephew! While leaving, as always, I asked Hari mama (he is one at the
Adhishtanam) to whisper into Appa's ears that I should get His Padhuka soon! Hari Mama
told me, "Will you do it if I tell you to do something?"
I said Yes.
He said, "Go and meet HH Pudhu Periyava and tell Him you want Appa's Padhuka for
doing Pooja at home. He may or may not give, but if He gives it, bring them to me!"
Rajaji mama advised me thus: "You tell HH Pudhu Periyava that Appa has done kanya
pooja for you when you were a little girl. And that now, you want to keep His Padhuka at
home and pray. You must bless me!" When I entered Pudhu Periyava's darshan place and
saw Him words failed me! Slowly I collected myself asked Him the same. He looked at me
for a few minutes intently and then started giving Prasadam to other devotees. I was
standing there for a few minutes. Then He called His Kaingaryam person, showed His feet
in gesture and also a lock and key by hand gestures!
The Kaingaryam person went inside and got the Padhukas. Pudhu Periyava Swamigal kept
it in a plate put lot of kumkum and blessed me and asked me to keep it at the Adhishtanam
and then take it!
<Shankara. I am finding it impossible to type now!>
I started crying and by the time I came to Adhishtanam I was crying loudly! <Shankara>
Hari Mama asked, "Padhuka kedachudha? unakku kudukkama ungappa vera yarukku
kuduppa! Did you get the Padhuka? Will your Appa ignore you ever?"
He kept it at Appa's feet, got a vastram cloth of Appa from Adhishtanam and kept the
padhuka on it and did Ashtothram archana filling it completely with flowers! When he
finished the Ashtothram a big bunch of flowers fell from Appa's head on to the plate! The
devotees around exclaimed AAAAHHHH !!!!!
<Shankara. Is it possible for anyone not to cry now!>
My joy knew no bounds! Crying I carried Him around the Adhishtanam. I have never felt this
happy in life. Rajaji Mama and Mami are such genuine and pure souls and were elated to
witness this! I told mama that Appa has decided that He has to come to my home in a car.
That's why He has made us plan this trip suddenly!
<Shankara>
Went to Kamakshi temple and Pradhosham mama's place too yesterday. They were also
happy that I got Appa's Padhuka. What I had prayed there on last Anusham (last month)
has come true! And pradhosham mama my Guru had come in my dream on Monday and
indicated this to me !!!!! I only failed to realise this....
*****
The top picture shows His Padhukas that Chithra was blessed with, the one below shows
the Padhukas placed at His Lotus Feet at the Adhistanam.
Even devotees like Vikku Vinayakaram Mama and his brothers and other devotees like
violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh used to go to the feet of their Guru Pradosham Mama, if
they wanted something from Swamigal. They never used to approach Swamigal directly. If
Pradosham Mama blessed them, then Swamigal would surely grant their wishes. That is
how much Pradosham Mama was in sync with Swamigal. This is what has happened
to Chithra V Subramanian too!
I have been spellbound at His infinite grace for devotees like Pradosham Mama, Pollachi
Jayam Patti, her son Shri Chandrashekar, Thiruvannamalai Gowrishankar Mama, Rajaji
Mama, Mecheri Pattu Sastrigal, Ramadurai Mama, Ramanathan Chettiar Mama, Smt
Kamala Gourishankar Mami and her husband and many, many others, countless of them,
when He was in the Sthoola Shariram.
I was not there physically to witness His grace upon the devotees mentioned in the
previous paragraph, but now I am blessed to have a ringside front seat to witness His
magical grace upon His sweet child Chithra. I am more spellbound now, given that He is
not in His Sthoola Shariram now.
One of the most happiest days of my life. Shankara.