In 2020, I started on-the-job training at a private sector bank. A colleague had a ringtone which played the refrain, "
Shukar Karan Guruji Twada Shukar Karaan," which I liked. Learning that it was a hymn of thankfulness towards Guruji, I wondered if he'd share the ringtone and wanted to know more about Him. I got on the net where one site proclaimed Guruji was "Lord Shiva in human form." I also set the refrain as my ringtone.
A few days later my colleague invited me to a join him for a
satsang, telling me that I needed to follow what devotees did at the gathering, have
prasad, and relax. The satsang turned out to be a unique experience, which gave me peace such as I had never felt before. My satsang experience earlier had been full of singing and commotion. At this satsang everyone was self-disciplined, listening quietly to
shabads and partaking of
jal, chai, and langar prasad. I naturally began attending satsangs. Once I was asked to volunteer for
sewa, but passed it by because of lack of time.
In March 2021, I moved to another city—just before Covid 19 hit out again. I had hardly spent a few days in the city when my father contracted coronavirus. This meant my mother was on her own. A cancer survivor and battling Parkinson's, she couldn't walk, speak, or eat by herself. My father used to take care of her. We hired a nurse to look after my mother. As the only child, I had to take care of my parents, so I quit my job. That upset me. I wondered why Guruji had allowed such a turn of events to take place. I stopped going to satsangs and stayed at home.
For the next ten months or so, whatever I ventured upon did not work out. I was entangled in worldly worries: I kept thinking about earning money, wanting a car, wanting a house, and investing in the stock market. But on Mahashivratri day of 2022, I went to attend a satsang again and also enlisted for sewa. Hoping things would work out, I kept going to satsangs. Meanwhile, my father recovered at home. He did not have to go to hospital, and my mother too stayed safe from Covid. In thanksgiving, we held a satsang in our house in May. Though my mother was confined to a wheelchair, she still performed His
aarti. In hindsight I realized that Guruji had foreseen the storm that was coming and had sent me back to my parents. And that my parents had stabilized due to His grace.
Getting us out of a tantrik's clutches
But I hadn't found a job and became despondent. I began to think that Guruji wasn't meant for me. I still couldn't fully trust my Guru. We were introduced to a tantrik-cum-astrologer. He gave me a ring to wear. Though I knew Guruji strongly discouraged such practices, I was suffering from lack of faith. I began eating non-veg, smoking, and drinking. I put my trust in another person, and my life went downhill. Money began flowing away like water. The happiness of our home was taken away.
Soon after I had come under the tantrik's influence, my father suffered a seizure. He also developed third-stage dengue and had respiratory failure, which put him in the ICU. The doctor asked us to pray to the Almighty. I couldn't understand what was happening.
While my father was in hospital, I went to a satsang. At the venue, I met the same person who had first taken me to these devotional gatherings. He asked me why I had left my father unattended in the hospital. Guruji had called me, I told him. In the satsang, I heard a devotee's account that was similar to my father's. After the satsang, the hospital called to say my father's condition had improved. Proof if it ever was needed that satsangs are immensely potent, being a conduit for divine grace to those who hear them as well as to those who narrate them.
Soon, on Diwali, October 22, Guruji brought my father safely home. From that moment I began to trust Guruji. Yet one day when my mother was severely ill the tantrik again came to our house. A day later, on November 15, my mother passed away. I was stunned. Before her passing, my colleague had helped her gain
darshan of Bade Mandir over the phone. This was no small consolation. A few days after my mother passed away, I had the occasion to hear Shri Jethra's satsang. Therein, I got Guruji's message loud and clear: Don't worry, your mother is with me.
Protecting my family and me always
In July 2023, Guruji again saved our lives. My sister, brother-in-law, father, and I had taken our new car to Bade Mandir for His blessings. We were driving on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway, when the car ran out of petrol. And the rear tyre burst, right on the side my father sat. We came to a stop, thankfully near a signpost that had the emergency phone number. Within minutes a police van arrived and changed the tyre. Upon reaching Lucknow we took the tyre to a mechanic, who asked how we had managed to come so far: One nut on the wheel was loose, and we had driven about 200 kilometres. Guruji had saved us! I could only thank Him.
In December 2023, my sister began to act strangely. Someone had cast black magic on her. I again turned to the tantrik for help. He trapped us in his deceit and illusion. Guruji saved my sister from black magic and gave her a new life. Guruji showed us in a divine vision (in a dream) how the tantrik had tried to destroy our home and how He had saved us. Thereafter, my father and I went to Bade Mandir to receive His blessings.
Guruji blessed me with a job in another city. From there we had planned to go to the Bade Mandir on June 27, but couldn't. The following day we learnt that the roof of the airport from which we were supposed to fly out had collapsed. Guruji had saved us again! Our travails were not over though. My father had kidney and respiratory failure and was again admitted in ICU. I was alone in an unfamiliar city; only Guruji was with me, and He reminded me that He had been with me since October 2022, when my father had first been taken to hospital.
I had lost my way and Guruji brought me back on to the right path. Guruji made me get rid of smoking and drinking—habits I had picked up after coming under the tantrik's influence. One day I drank
thandai mixed with
bhang (cannabis). It tasted bitter so I added half a glass of sugar syrup. A dangerous combination. After that incident I gave up non-veg food and drinking. I haven't touched a cigarette since 2022 and don't even look at bhang now.
Don't ever think that taking intoxicants is permissible because you are a devotee of Lord Shiva.
Here are the lessons I learnt:
• Never trust astrologers, tantriks, or priests—many are hypocrites who deceitfully destroy homes and steal family happiness. If you want joy in your family, stay away from such people and keep close to Guruji.
• Never wear any precious stones. If you do wear them, don't blame Guruji afterwards for not supporting you.
• Always follow Guruji's words.
Don't ask Guruji for anything. Aspire for Guruji's divine hand, from Guruji. Never doubt His timing. For example, I was studying law while looking out for jobs. The day after the exam results came out my appointment letter arrived—thanks to Guruji. I now realize that If I had gotten a job earlier, I wouldn't have been able to finish my degree.
Troubles did come, but by the grace of my father, my Guruji, they were swept away. Guruji also bestowed sewa upon me, making me His sewadar. He gave me a place at His feet. Infinite thanks to my Guruji Maharaj. Even if seven lifetimes pass, I will keep giving thanks. I want nothing from you, Guruji. I only want you. Keep me close to your feet like this, Guruji.
Ankur Sinha, a devotee
October 2024