ja_mageia

Driving from Mother Pratyangira’s temple, our heads were reeling.  We were all in awe of how the Mother created a Lila (Divine play or illusion) and brought us to Her abode.  We continued our drive and passed many rice patty fields with busy workers, small roadside villages with smokey straw huts and dense green jungles.  Raghudas, sat in the back of the SUV and absorbed the passing sights. We passed several road signs and suddenly he saw a village name that he recognized. Impossible, he thought, he had never been here before.  Just then, Ashok commented to Swami and Amma and they had a short discussion in Tamil.  After a moment the car slowed and Amma informed us that we were going to Parangippetai, and that many years ago it was called Porto Novo.  Raghudas realized he had read about this village and immediately recalled it to be the birthplace of Sri Mahavatar Babaji.

Parangippetai was a planned visit for our group, however, this was to be in a few weeks time when we would pass the village on our way to Chennai.  Because of our "short-cut" detour and visit to Mother Pratyangira’s temple, we found ourselves being called to visit immediately.  Again the hand of Divine guidance was at work and we were set to visit Babaji at his birthplace.  This village also happens to be where Swami’s ancestry is from.

The sun had just set over the jungle horizon and darkness started to creep in.  The village was spread out and we noticed the simplicity of how the villagers here lived.  As the sky darkened, we realized that in the excitement of the day we had forgotten that it was a full moon day.  This recollection made the day's events seem all the more auspicious!  We asked some of the local villagers for directions to Babaji’s birthplace and found that most everyone was eager and happy to help guide us.  Several elderly men outside a small market nearly argued with each other over who would be the one to direct us to our destination.  This was a fine example of the pure and simple nature of the locals, that is inspired and cultivated by living in this very special place.

Shortly, we stopped our car, the sky was darkening and clouds moved in.  We feared more rain could be in store for us and prayed that it would not be so.  A stone wall lined the perimeter of an ashram and temple.  A small blue sign welcomed visitors to the birthplace of Babaji.  It is managed by an organization of Kriya Yoga that was founded by another direct disciple of Babaji.  This disciple is Yogi S.A.A. Ramiah and he is talked about very fondly by close disciples of his.  One of this Yogi’s disciples, who is also a resident in the village, greeted us and brought us to sit in the tiny ashram.  He spoke with Swami and Amma.  We were again struck by the purity and simplicity displayed by this man and could see and feel the clarity in his eyes.   Amma noted that this was a result of his intense yogic sadhanas.

There was a special Full-Moon Abishek planned for 6:30 PM, He invited us outside to the temple.  It is built just beyond a small Yagya pit, which looked to be a pond because of the day’s rainwater.  This fire pit, was the site of Baba’s birth on Dec. 2, 203 AD.  Just in front of that are stone replicas of Babaji’s feet.  These are worshipped daily with flowers.  He then spoke about how lucky we are to have been "brought" here tonight, for this very special ceremony.  There was then some timely thunder and lightening, accompanied with high winds, raising our fears of more rain.  "Maybe time for another shower!" Swami joked. We laughed, but really hoped it would not be so.

The man began the Abishek for a dark stone and ancient-looking statue of Babaji, assisted by two local village boys dressed in dhotis. He then asked Amma to lead the chanting of Babaji’s Mantra.  We all participated in reciting "Om Kriya Babaji Nama Om." To our surprise, the skies cleared and not a drop of rain fell on us.  The night’s sky revealed a great silvery-white full moon that lit up the ashram grounds.  The light revealed the far corner of the lawn, where a great banyan tree sat, much like the one in Baba’s own ashram in the Himalayas.  During the Abishek the man bathed Baba’s statue with 9 different sacred baths.  Ranging from holy water, to ghee, to yogurt and so on.  It was a truly magnificent moment-- with our group chanting Babaji’s mantra under the full moon during the special abishek.  Raghudas thought to himself about the magic throughout the day and reflected that this is the nature of the occurrences that follow those who surrender fully to the divine, as Swami and Amma have done.

After the Abishek, a woman who performs seva at the temple appeared from inside the kitchen, bringing a great pot of sweet rice Prasad.  Swami again made the group laugh saying, "Boy, are we really being treated today!"  We sat on the grass under the moonlight and happily ate the Prasad off of palm leaves.  We were then invited to stay awhile.   Beneath the images of Baba and some disciples, the man who conducted the Abishek was pulled to share with us a few items.  He began by saying, "These are not just given to everyone."  He opened a great wooden chest in the corner of the room and brought out a bundle of newspaper.  Inside this wrapping were a handful of pure silver medallions.  Each handmade medallion was of Babaji’s Yantra.  We each held one in our hands, noting the energy felt from these items.  He then continued, telling us the tremendous blessing that we were each holding.  Each locket has been blessed by Babaji from his hidden ashram, Gauri Shankar Peetam, near Badrinath in the Himalayas.  He also said that these lockets are very powerful and are only to be given to those dedicated to their sadhana and those doing service to Mahavatar Babaji.  He gave us the bundle of the yantras and said to share the blessings with others.  

The day proved to be full of tremendous blessings in disguise and we were all elated and quite overwhelmed with the experience the Divine had given us.  The experiences of the day are not easily put into words, as there are many subtler elements and events that took place to align everything.  We all shared our great feelings of devotion and gratitude and left into the night.