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Winter in Ganeshpuri
Difficult to know whether it is night or early morning, the Brahma Murtha! For a young boy, it was a good time to enjoy sleep under the warm rug. But my dad had different ideas. It was to spend as much time with Him and make most of the day. He picked me up and moved towards the hot spring not caring for my little wish to simply Be. The chill out side was so much that body shivered and teeth chattered relentlessly. As if a vibrator was attached to my jaw.
Lord Krishna
We passed by the Lord Krishna temple. There he stood with a flute to his lips and his large eyes looking out of the door grill. I wandered what made him play his flute so early in the cold morning. It would be so nice to sleep in the warmth of mother Yashodha. But no. He stood there smiling watching me.
Nandi
Then came the large bull sitting in front of Bhimeshwar. What made him to get up so early and sit there patiently simply looking at his Master! I wondered. But he sat there day in and day out, be it hot, cold or raining. He appeared unmindful of all that was happening.
My father put me into the warm water of the Kund. I looked up and saw the three-faced Dattatreya with a cow and four dogs. He held the trident, conch, and flower and raised his hand in benediction. The warmth of the Kunda water and his smile made it worth Being There. Simply Be like that, Nandi!
Winter in Ganeshpuri
During our childhood (1954-1960), we found winters in Ganeshpuri extremely cold. The routine demanded that we get up early and go to Kunda for a bath. While we walked to the Kunda, our teeth chattered and our bones shook!!! It was a great relief to jump into the hot Kunda. But coming out was worse than what it was before jumping in. Then, the cold was unbearable.
Bhagavan, however, was very comfortable in his regular attire. The cold winter and the hot summer made no difference to Him. He was always comfortable. He sat there with no clothes on, nor did He use a blanket to cover himself.
Here is the picture of Bhagvan’s statue all covered with a warm cap covering His head and ears. My eldest sister, who is now in her 80s, finds it difficult to look at the Moorti. All her early life, she saw Him, and today, seeing Him in a cap, blankets, wearing a golden crown or turban with a golden necklace and bracelets, etc., does not go with her. For her, He was and is the way she saw Him then.
Yes, it’s all Bhavana. Each one sees the One differently, knowing well that it is the One who takes different forms and shapes. Yet, my He is only mine way He was!!!
The One:
In 2012 I took my friends, who were mainly devotees of Shree Swami Samartha of Akkalkot, to Ganeshpuri. It was winter. We, about 12 of us, reached Ganeshpuri in the evening. After taking bath in the Kunda, we attended the 8pm aarthi. Although there was a mood of reverence and devotion, there was a sense of alienation. We had dinner and went again to Samadhi shrine where Shej Aarti was going on. My friend, Prasad Pense, a staunch devotee of Shree Akkalkot Maharaj, prayed to him “Show me who is Swami Nityananda”. Just then the priest put the woolen cap (we call it here as monkey cap) on the Bhagvan’s head. Just as he did this, the entire group prostrated to Bhagvan Nityananda saying ” Shree Swami Samartha “.
Swami Samartha used to often wear a cap. When they found Bhagvan Nityananda wearing the cap, they immediately got connected!
One in All, One Guru Tattva, One Awareness, One Brahman!
