[Jonquil's Journey] Last night in Shirdi

[Jonquil]

I met Vaidya for my morning tea and sat in his office for a while.  He was busy with some files, whilst talking to colleagues.  There was a buzz going on and I waited to find out what it was. 

"There was a miracle last night in Dwarkamai!" Explains Vaidya. "We were there when it happened."
In the evening after aarati, Simone, Vaidya and myself walked across to Dwarkamai.  There was a group of people stuck together like a hub, staring at the far wall, where Baba used to sit. Walking past I could feel Baba there but thought it was normal. 

We walked out and in our separate ways went home.

 I continued to ask Vaidya, "What happened?"

He picked up the Maharashtra Times and although I couldn't read Marathi, there was an article with a picture of Baba.  "Baba appeared on the wall.  It's the first miracle, in the history of the Temple, since Baba's Maha Samadhi."(Baba's passing)  Vaidya turned and pointed to a calendar behind him.  "Look" he says, "Yesterday was Thursday  (Guru day in India) and it's the first Thursday of 2012."   

That evening Simone and I left aarati and waited outside for Vaidya.  A few minutes passed and I realised he probably had already left for Dwarkamai.  When we arrived, several thousands of other people had also. Word had spread like wild fire.  "Maybe, Baba has 'appeared' again?" 

Simone and I stood back from the majority of people.  To be honest, it looked like a disaster zone waiting to happen.  About two thousand people were trying to squeeze themselves into the Dwarkamai. Testosterone fuelled, passionate beyond frenzy, the focus of energy to see the manifestation of Baba was intense.  Some people were climbing on the shoulders of others to get in.  Young children carried overheads.  It was an unbelievable sight but accidents did not happen.  People were happy, ecstatic even.  

We stood for a couple of hours, watching the scene unfold.  

Police arrived.  One jeep, four policemen and their batons. 

People were hit, smacked on the back but it made little difference.  People moved from the police but carried on trying to squeeze inside the Dwarkamai.  Meanhwhile, people inside were trapped and couldn't get out.  

We waited, the air was still warm.  It was past midnight.  A pile of shoes were still abandoned.  Who knew to whom they belonged.  They were a part of the ground now.  I watched a lady gather her shawl around her shoulders, looking at a photograph from her friend's phone.  I asked, "Did you manage to go inside?"

"No, my husband did."
"What did you see?"  I asked

"Baba.  His face has appeared on the wall, where he used to sit."

"Can I see the picture?"  I asked.

Others began to emerge from the crowd, showing pictures on their mobile phones.  Each one captured the same picture, the same story repeated with the same descriptions.  

If anything, I felt it was a miracle being there.  Especially with Simone.  No one would believe me otherwise!  We witnessed it together.   It was amazing to come all the way, even if I didn't personally see the vision.  I felt a part of it.   

I was leaving the next day for my UK return, bed called.  I had seen all what I needed to see.    

Om Sai Ram. 

  

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Posted By Jonquil to Jonquil's Journey on 3/07/2012 02:27:00 AM