An Astonishing Experience

April 20, 2007

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 Saipadananda Magazine Oct 1990)

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