Around three years ago, my brother-in-law told us about Guruji. We live near Los Angeles in California, and had no knowledge of any other devotees,
shabads or
satsangs. Our introduction to Guruji was through His website GurujiMaharaj.com. Initially, we were apprehensive and found it difficult to believe in divinity in the shape of a person. However, I have been doing Shivji's puja since my childhood and have always found peace in Shivji.
I was slightly depressed during those days, as my elder son was about to leave for a hostel. My husband and I were worried about him.
I was going out for a walk in the evening one day, feeling very lonely and depressed, with my husband having declined to accompany me. As I was stepping out, I thought that if Guruji existed then I should find a friend to walk with me.
As soon as I reached the main road, I saw a beautiful lady. Her hair was open and her eyes were expressive. She was carrying her sandals in one hand and lots of flowers in the other. She was wearing a long pretty floral dress. She said "There you are" and started walking with me. Her appearance was surprising; typically no one walks bare feet with flowers in their hand here.
The woman told me she had got the flowers from the mountains when I admired them. We walked together for about 15 minutes and then she needed to make a phone call. I showed her a Starbucks from a distance and she walked towards it. As I turned back to check if she had reached the coffee house, I could not see her.
By that time it was almost dark. Suddenly, two huge dogs came towards me. They were Coyotes, mountain foxes, and were looking me straight in the eye. I thought I am gone and in my fear began chanting "Jai Guruji" in my heart. Suddenly, the Coyotes turned away. I ran home.
I reached home and called my brother-in-law. He told me that Guruji's presence could still be felt by
sangat members and that He was very much there. I apologised to Guruji for unknowingly challenging Him as I had set out for the walk.
With Guruji's grace, I came to Delhi and visited Bade Mandir for the first time in August 2011. We prayed to Guruji to increase His devotees in Los Angeles and a week after returning found two Guru
parivaars. Since then we have regular satsangs in Orange County and LA and the sangat too is increasing.
We have been blessed by Guruji through various experiences. We have experienced His fragrance in our home many times. On Shivratri of 2013, Guruji's face formed on a
shivlinga in a temple.
A beautiful day with Guruji
With Guruji's blessings our family went on a tour of Europe in December 2013. We went from Florence to Pisa on a day trip via the train. Rain had been predicted for the day and we were worried it would play spoilsport. My husband told our son to not worry; Guruji would take care of everything.
Guruji's grace was with us. We sighted 'SHIVA' written as graffiti on the walls of many buildings. And when I turned on the shabads on my shuffle-I usually listen to shabads on my phone when we are travelling-the first shabad which came was "Guru Pure Meri Raakh Layee".
When we reached Pisa, it was as if the rain had just stopped. We saw the leaning tower of Pisa and the Cathedral. It was 25
th December and a beautiful service was going inside for Christmas. I felt Guruji had taken us there on that specific day. Seven candles were lit on the altar and since seven is a number associated with Guruji, I bowed to His Lotus Feet.
It did not rain as long as we were outside but just as we entered a restaurant, it began to. Guruji takes care of us like a mother. He has His protective umbrella over all of us. Guruji alone knows since how many births we have been associated with Him, but I thank Him every minute of this life.
[Following section added December 2020]
Shabads power heart into health
One day in May this year I found myself exhausted with a strange pain in the chest. I thought it was indigestion but when I checked my blood pressure at my husband's prompting, it was dangerously high. We decided to go to the doctor, who did an electrocardiogram. The results were not normal and I was sent to the emergency room (ER). We prayed to Guruji and chanted His holy name, and my husband got the fragrance of paan leaves in the parking lot. As it turned out, I was sent back without any medication.
The following morning, my BP was high again and a devotee suggested we talk to his cardiologist. That cardiologist suggested I could be having a heart attack even as we spoke and asked me to rush to ER. I was shocked. We prayed to Guruji Maharaj and left for the hospital.
As I entered the ER, my eyes turned to a sign posted there: It said, Safe Surrender. I let go and put my life in Guruji's hands. Inside, I had a small swaroop of Guruji put on my hospital gown and, amidst the turmoil of the emergency, I began listening to shabads on my phone. The tests showed a blockage in my arteries, and the cardiologist decided to do an angiogram and, if need be, an angioplasty.
An American medic asked me what I was listening to. I replied that it was divine music and requested that it be kept on during the procedure. He asked for the singer's name; I had no idea. He took my phone, searched for the artist and put the song on. I could hear the shabads as loudly as if I was at a satsang. My cardiologist came in and asked where the music was coming from. He said shabads had never been played in the OT before.
The first shabad that played was So satguru pyaara mere naal hei, which really calmed me down. The second shabad was Bin dekhe pritama and the third was Jisnu teri nadar naa lekha pucchiye. As soon as the third shabad got over, the cardiologists came to me and said, "You are a lucky woman. There is no blockage. When you came in you had a blockage. I am hundred percent sure of that. I don't know how it happened."
It was Guruji's blessings; He gave me another life. My BP was so high that anything could have happened to me. I humbly bow down before our Guruji's lotus feet. May His divine protection, unconditional love and blessings continue to be with all of us.
Alka Gupta, a devotee
December 2020