WITH SAI MIRCHANDANI
In those days I had to travel to the big cities of India to gather advertisements for the ashram journal, The Mountain path. On one of those tours, I was in Mumbai. Influential devotees of Bhagavan would introduce me to industrialists who, on their part, used to fulfill my requirements. This was a routine that I had to follow as the journal’s managing editor.
One day, I had to meet the head of one of India’s biggest industrial houses. He was the most imposing and impressive business personality I had ever met. Nervously, I broached my subject. He was very blunt, “Don’t bother about the advertisement. It is done. Now, please tell me about Ramana Maharshi.” My five–minute appointment got extended to an hour! He was so moved listening to the direct teaching of Bhagavan’s Self–enquiry that he wanted to go deeper into it. Instantly, we became close friends. He invited me to take a ride with him in the evening to visit his guru, a Sufi saint.
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The saint’s name was Sai Mirchandani. When we reached his residence, it being time for supper, the saint invited us to join him. Noticing a sense of hesitation, he said, “All pure vegetarian dishes only!” I felt very close to him, as if I knew him for decades. From his plate he gave me a portion of what he was eating. For me it was prasad, consecrated food. The moment I ate it, I had an experience of tremendous ecstasy. The saint smiled at me and said,” “It is Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi’s prasad, not this fakir’s!”
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After dinner, we had a wonderful sat sang. What a great mahatma he was! One of the many important, spiritual revelations he made that day is of such significance, that all earnest seekers can still follow it and be benefited.
Sai said, “The Maha Kumbhamela which takes place once in twelve years, starts within a month from now at Allahabad. I would like you to go and participate in it. Very great mahatmas will come for that sacred occasion. It is my keen wish that you should receive all their blessings. Many who roam about naked on the snowy peaks of the Himalayas will be there. The blessings of these siddha purushas are very effective. You should receive them all!”
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I wondered, “How am I to know who is a mahatma, who is a siddha purusha, and who is a jnani? Millions of people will be coming to participate in this mammoth celebration. I might go to a saintly–looking person who might turn out to be charlatan. I might ignore an uncouth beggar and he might be a siddha purusha. I do not have the capacity to identify them. So then, where is the question of my seeking and obtaining their blessings?”
He laughed aloud and replied, “You are putting the cart before the horse my dear brother! Did I ask you to seek them, identify them, and then get their blessings? No, no! Just move through the huge, thickly packed crowds. All the mahatmas, siddha purushas and jnanis present there will bless you profusely. We sages and saints have only one work to perform –to bless the earnest seeker. You may not know them, but every one of them will know you. They cannot but bless you! So, go to all these spiritual and religious congregations. The blessings of the mahatmas will fill you up and equip you with the spiritual energy you need to pursue your sadhana and effortlessly reach its successful culmination. Mahatmas can’t but bless the earnest seeker!”
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