Satsang An Astonishing Experience

Satsang An Astonishing Experience

An Astonishing Experience

By K. N. Narayan Swamy

"The Lord who dwells in the hearts of all, in Him seek refuge with all thy soul. By His grace then thou shall obtain supreme repose, the eternal seat." (Bhagavad-Gita)

Direct spiritual experience is a psychological state, inde­pendent of the metaphysical doctrine which may be derived from the experience. The reality of the experience in not affected by the metaphysical doctrine inferred from it. Yet the experience has a cognitive value. It involves a certain metaphy­sical conception of the nature of Sai Baba, Radhakrishna Swamiji, the human soul and the world and also a certain way of attaining union with the Absolute.

On the 8th August 1990, I was going through a Tamil magazine MANGAYAR MALAR-July, 90 and came across an article about a Venkateswara temple in Banashankari Second stage - Varaprada Venkateswara Temple of Devagiri. In the article it was stated that when the idols were getting ready, Sai Baba appeared in the form of an old man to His Holiness Radhakrishna Swamiji and told him: "I have come to Bangalore. Come and have my darshan."

Subsequently I learnt that this temple has very close connection with Shirdi Sai Baba and a divine aura is present there. Radhakrishna Swamiji laid the foundation stone for this temple and his portrait adorns the sanctum now. Swamiji's intimate devotees on every 'Sankranti' day visit this temple in a procession chanting Vishnu Sahasra Namam and perform 'archana' to Lord Venkatesha in the name of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji.

I can only conclude this experience with a quote from Garuda Purana:

"Lost is this world which, out of Thy Maya is mad with pride, deaf, blind and by acquisition of wealth, insensible ever towards the needy and the venerable.

Lord! Bestow not on me great wealth lest it prove an obstacle to Thy lotus feet. But grant me always the company of great souls who can explain to me Thy real attributes."

(Source Sai Padananda Oct 1990)