All chapters26 of 42

How You Saved Me

O ALL-LOVING Papa! When I was going alone to the Kasaragod Anandashram along the pathway on the hill, some people, who were you in those forms, used to await my coming for molesting me. When I saw them from a distance, taking them as yourself, I mentally prayed to them, with the consequence that you dispelled their thoughts of giving me any trouble. They could not even come near me.

O Papa, the lover of devotees! With the object of uprooting my attachment to the world, you were assuming various forms to persecute me. You were also, in those forms, slandering me and looking upon me with contempt.

O Papa, the ocean of compassion! When you were away to North India on tour, one day in the morning, as it was usual for me to visit the homes nearby, I started earlier than before and directly went towards those homes. But that day no one in your form talked to me lovingly. As they treated me with indifference I marched on and on along the road and at 11a.m. reached a house at a distance of three miles. The people of the home had gone to attend to their work in schools, so there was only an old woman in it. She welcomed me with all love and gave me some water and a piece of jaggery. I accepted the water with joy as I had been walking about since morning and was tired and had had no food. So I sat quietly. Meanwhile, the old woman, who was your form, spreading a mat on the floor in a room, asked me to take rest for relief from the fatigue. Immediately I did as bid by her and slept soundly in complete forgetfulness of the external world.

O love-incarnate Papa! Some time later, the residents of the house came. They heated some water for bath, cooked food and woke me up from sleep. As I had had some rest I got up refreshed and, finishing my bath, took meals served by them. I talked with them for some time about you. Having been away from Sundari’s house from the morning, I returned to it in the evening when the lamps were lit. The moment Sundari saw me she asked, “Did you not go to the Ashram where continuous Bhajan was being held today? About four or five persons came in search of you.”

But I did not know of the continuous Bhajan, so I told her, “I went on a visit to some homes and I am just returning.”

O compassionate Papa! Through some friends I came to know later that the Akhanda Bhajan was arranged by some persons solely with the idea of disgracing me, as they knew that I would attend any Bhajan held in the Ashram when you were there. One of them, who was of course your form, had taken a vow to bring dishonour to me. But since I had dedicated my mind and body to you and had become your small child it behoved you to protect me in every way.