A glimpse at Isha's 2nd B'day party

It started wtih a hasty return from work to take care of the arrangements at home for a small celebration. I was worried about Isha's health; on the eve of her b'day, she showed up 101 degree Fahrenheit, and we took her to emergency at 3 AM in the night. She was prescribed crocin and another medicine for setting bowel movements right. So with all this in mind, I went out of my mind all through the day at office and during my return home, until I saw Raj. [He's always been my morale booster... He's always convinces me things are ok.] When I anxiously asked him, how the kid was doing. He said, she's sleeping and just doing fine. Finally, a moment of relief! Happy to know that her illness had not progressed. We set out in full swing to prepare the house for a small party, if I can call that so... Balloons, decoration papers, hangings on the wall, paper cone caps written 'happy b'day', cake, snacks etc etc set the celebration mood at home :) We decorated the hall to whatever extent possible with the little ones (Isha and Anush) around... They went on and on in extending my patience level :)) As I blow a balloon, these tiny ones will be in the queue to take it from me. Finally managed to stick a few in the walls and moved to the next phase... Dressing up the party princess... All of us almost failed in this one single event! We succeeded just to make her wear the panty! not the party dress from aunt, the one from mom & dad couldn't stand longer than the photo sessions... so the cake cutting ceremony happened with isha on her real b'day suit with just the old trunk around! Lets look at the highlights! Highlights of the event: 1) Decoration truned out to be simple and beautiful 2) Bonus balloons for the kids 3) Isha cried her tonsils out for wearing the b'day dress, liked just her shorts 4) Grandpa got another big cake for all of us (so totally we had about 3 boxes of cake) 5) Cutting cake was another big mess 6) Cake was made into a cake crums at the end 7) Photo session was absolutely random (Poor dad was missed out in the mess that happened) 8) Girls liked their toys (Teddy and Tigky) and accepted them as their doubles partners. 9) Heavy thunderstorm and rain, followed by cool night (A much wanted break from the zapping heat) 10) And a dinner for all of us bought from some ABC hotel :) which Prasad managed to get it in the heavy rains! (Special thanks to him :) )

Electrifying presence!

Electrifying presence - Anantha Sangamam

June 22, 2008.
We were waiting for this significant day for about a month. It was Sadhguru's sathsang for Chennai Isha meditators. When I was in US, I had seen Sadhguru more frequently than what I see him here. In about 2 years of time since we reached India, I have seen him just a couple of times, during Isha Fest and MahaShivarathiri.

June 22nd - it was a Sunday morning. I woke up, got ready with little bit of difficulty as periods pain troubled me a lot that morning. But there was just excitement all over me.

We reached Valluvar Kottam, found a parking space between two cars, parked our vehicle along side another two-wheeler. I would have rushed into the building, if it was a usual gathering. But it was Isha and Sadhguru, some gentleness embraced me. We went close to the hall looking for a place to leave our footwears and helmet. Then I saw rows and rows of neatly arranged footwears. Did someone come and arrange it?! It was left by meditators with such care and neatness. We did the same and entered into the hall. I could feel every step taken by me, so gentle so that I don't hurt the carpet spread across the vast hall. We sat at about 100 feet from the Sadhguru's dais. Sounds of Isha was being played by those eminent Isha ashram mates (mostly Brahmacharis) with rhythmic beats from the audience clapping their hands. The hall was roaring.

Suddenly the people seated in the front started getting up, more and more stood up, like a wave. It was not difficult to figure out, it was my Master's arrival. I stood up along with others to get a glimpse of his face! My eyes started watering overwhelming with joy, bliss and happiness; my hands went up together, welcoming him. My life was made, I felt. He went up to the dais, looked at all of us gently spreading his wave of bliss over us.

After Sadhguru took his seat, we seated ourselves on the floor. The Sathsang started with 'Brahmananda Swaroopa' chanting from Him. His electrifying presence and voice sent an indescribable feeling through my spine. My mind couldn't comprehend nor react to this. My eyes were watering more and more. It was like every nerve, every cell felt His presence.

What a state it was! I wish every human being experience what I experienced just for one moment in their life. Their lives will be made! My Pranam to Sadhguru...