Page 49 - My Father-Final Book

She also told me that when the Sai Padukas (symbolic sandals) were donated by Pandit Panshikar of Mumbai (This event shall be described later. cf:Miscellaneous) in the Tulsibaug Rama Temple, my father had raised his right hand and hot sacred ashes (Udi) were falling from his hand for a prolonged time until all the devotees completed their Darshan and took blessings. Around 10000 devotees attended this program. [Illustration 24: My father receiving Padukas in the Tulasibaug Ram Temple, 1953]
My parents celebrated the Gauri Ganapati festivals in the Indian month of Bhadrapada each year. Shree Ganesha was installed for 10 days and Gauri was installed for 5 days. During one such celebration, my mother was having her monthly menstrual period and that prevented her from making the Prasad food and Arati prayers for the Gauri. She told me that my father cooked the food that day and did the Arati prayers. Gauri consumed the food when my father prayed to her. My mother was not a person who always praised my father. She fought with him on many occasions even calling him by names. So, her telling this story to me carries a special significance. She told it without much ornamentation, but confidently. Also, Shashi Patwardhan witnessed this event.
This is not about my father, but about his guru Shree Krishnanatha Maharaj. My mother used to read the Scripture (Pothi) almost daily throughout her life. This reading had a profound impact my own practices and personality. She told me that several times Shree Krishnanatha Maharaj used to visit the home. He would ask my mother, “Do you want a goody?” When she said yes, he used to pray and a Pedha used to travel through air and land it on her Scripture (Pothi). This was so common that she felt it was nothing special. My father
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