Page 48 - November Cover 2017.pmd

place was absolutely wind- staying with us. One day he told
swept. So Gurudev decided to them, “Tomorrow is Kavita’s
install Hanumanji – Pavana birthday. I know she will want
Putra (son of Vayu, the Wind to do a Paduka Puja. Get some
God) there. The artist first made nice flowers and make two gar-
a model of the image in cement, lands. I want Laju and Kavita
which is now placed in Guru- to garland each other.” After the
dev’s kutia in Sidhbari. Gurudev puja, Gurudev called both of us
wanted to see the exact colours to stand in front of him. He
that would be used. So the artist asked us to garland each other.
made another one in colour. We told him that the garlands
Gurudev liked it. After the main were for him. He said, “No. I
murti was ready, the people want you to garland each other
there asked Gurudev what was and reaffirm that you will
to be done with the coloured always be with me and
model. He told them to take it together!”
to Bombay. They assumed it He was leaving for the
was to be kept in his kutia in United States the next day and
Bombay. On his next visit, when we were going to Nigeria. While
he saw it there, he asked why leaving, he said something
the murti was in his kutia. He which we really didn’t under-
had meant it to be taken to ‘his stand at that time: “I am pass-
house’, our present residence. ing from here on my way back
We had not yet moved into that to India, but it is only for a
house. We entered the house at day.” I told him that I would
2 o’clock in the night, saw that come back then, but he insisted,
Hanumanji and wondered “No. it is okay. You don’t need
whose it was. The staff said it to come.” Somebody present
had come from the Powai there assured me that Gurudev
ashram. When I spoke to Guru- could stay with them. Gurudev
dev, he said: “Yes. It is a house- just smiled. In the U.S. he
warming present for you!” I was became ill and attained samadhi.
astounded at receiving such a His cortege, on the way to India,
present from him! was in London for three hours
I would like to share the in the customs area. Guruji
experience of his last visit to us came out and met the people
in London. Some of the devo- who had come to the airport.
tees from Mumbai were also Many months later, I recei-

Tapovan Prasad 48 November 2017