Prologue
Ayaansh was born in New-Mumbai and stayed with his mother and grand parents for the first few months after his birth. Since that time, we had planned to visit Kuldevata from both our sides. We got an opportunity to visit Gupte family's side of Kuldevta in 2019 on Aakanksha's birthday. However, our visit to Kuldevta from Chitnis family's side has been pending. Kuldevata of Chitnis family is located at Nagaon, a place near Alibaug which is known to most of the people as beach tourist destination near Mumbai. We have been struggling to match all our schedules since then, so that we could plan a visit to Nagaon. Aakanksha moved to Bangalore with Ayaansh around June 2019 and my father-in-law also was also occupied with his work. Later, because of the Covid-19 restrictions, travel became risky and by the time travel restrictions started relaxing, my father-in-law was transferred to Dehradun for his work. Amey, my brother-in-law continued staying at my in law's residence in Panvel because of his work.
Disturbing Fragrance
Days are passing by and all of us who are scattered across different locations in India keep catching up with our family over video calls. Aakanksha and my spiritual journey started since November 2019, and from then on we have been sharing our unique spiritual experiences with our families.
During one of such video calls my father-in-law mentioned to Aakanksha that sometimes he wakes up in the middle of night or early morning with a burning smell/fragrance. There were few times when he woke my mother-in-law up and asked her if she could smell the same too and also checked if they could find anything burning. But they could never figure out what it was!
Meanwhile, my in-laws were planning to visit their residence in Mumbai to meet Amey and take care of few other things but every time they planned, it kept getting postponed for some or other reasons.
Coincidences ?
Finally one day my in-laws informed us that they have booked tickets to Mumbai and they were planning to stay there for a couple of days. During the same time, Aakanksha and my in-laws came across few connections and topics related to their ancestors, family history and with that, the topic of visiting Kuldevta of Chitnis family popped up. We kept wondering how this topic came out of nowhere exactly at the time when my in-laws planned their pending visit to Mumbai.
Meanwhile, on one fine morning when I was starting my day by reading Srimad Bhagwatam, I had a vision of seeing a photo frame of Shri Krishna. The frame looked very old to me. Its colours were faded. I could see 2 idols of goddesses draped in pink and purple sarees and thats it!
Later on a same day discussion regarding the topics associated with ancestors, family history and connection with Kuldevta proceeded ahead based on more information came into light. Aakanksha and my in-laws spoke to few more relatives and finally one of the discussions came to an understanding that for some reason Goddesses at Nagaon needed to be appeased. All of a sudden I had a thought, that none of these have been a coincidence. I have mentioned this in few of my previous blogs as well that there is no such thing as coincidence!
My in-laws' travel dates to Mumbai getting postponed, topic of ancestors coming into picture, new discoveries about family history, discussions over them with certain family members, visit to Kuldevta getting delayed invariably, visions of Shri Krishna and Goddesses I saw, Goddesses being unhappy and perfect availability of time to visit the temple for my in-laws - all the dots connected in my head and immediately I discussed the same with Aakanksha and she discussed further with my in-laws. They were also convinced that all of this wasn't a coincidence and on the very next day, 13th March, 2021 they visited Nagaon. My father-in-law's elder cousin Prashant Kaka and his wife Madhvi Kaki also decided to join them on this visit.
Shopping
Preparation for the visit to Nagaon began with shopping for usual items required for puja and rituals at the temple. My in-laws decided to get a frame of Shri Krishna just like I saw in my visions. They got into a shop and described kind of picture they were looking for. The shop keeper was able to find all other frames of Shri Krishna in different poses and ages but not the one I had seen in my visions, that was described to the shop keeper. My father-in-law called Aakanksha saying that they couldn't find the frame they were looking for and he was wondering if he could look for Shri Krishna's frame in any other pose. I suggested to go ahead with any frame of Shri Krishna or Narayana. Moments later, my father-in-law sent pictures on WhatsApp, of the exact frame what we were looking for. It appeared to me as if like Shri Krishna had kept this frame hidden, so that it couldn't fall into anybody else's hands. It's not us who decide where He goes, it's Him who decides where He wants to go!
Blessings!
Next day around 12:30 pm my father-in-law rang us up on a group call while he was at the Temple. He handed over the phone to Amey and we sought blessings. I couldn't fail to notice the colours of sarees draped on Goddesses - Pink and Purple. I mentioned that on the call to Amey and Aakanksha exclaimed that she had not shared this part of the details of my visions with anyone. Not deliberately but it was just a miss! Amey was awestruck and all he had to say was - "I don't know what is up with you guys!"
Later during the video call, I noticed that the frame of Shri Krishna was placed right next to the frame of Kalavati Devi. I had referred her life story few months ago when one of my friends Sneha and I were talking about my spiritual journey. One of the key part of her story that I remembered was -
The idol of Sri Krishna she got, stole her heart away. Most of her daytime, she would spend around Him. She would be self-absorbed for hours in His worship.
That brought smile on my face. In Srimad Bhagavatam there are multiple references when Goddess Laxmi says Shri Krishna has more affection towards His devotees than Her. It appeared to me like Shri Krishna chose His place next to His devotee.
When Amey was showing us Shri Krishna's frame and Goddesses, this is what came to my mind -
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु। मा कश्चित् दुःख भाग्भवेत्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Mystery Of Sandalwood Fragrance
While Shri Krishna's frame was being worshiped by the Acharya in the temple before placing it at the "right" place, Prashant Kaka lightened the scented sticks he had brought with him for rituals in the temple. The very next moment, my father-in-law started looking around for that fragrance. The burning smell of scented sticks was exactly the smell he had experienced in the middle of the night multiple times. It was extremely surprising for him and for us as well how the missing dot in this whole story got connected towards the end when the pending visit was accomplished!
Conclusion
The way I could interpret some of these dots as Shri Krishna is worshiped by everyone, including Gods and Demigods. He is the super soul (parmatma) of everyone and Godhead! Goddesses represent His physical energy!
Shri Krishna says in Bhagvad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 66 -
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच: ॥ ६६ ॥
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
Translation :
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
Another important point I'm trying to make here is, the right way of pleasing God / Goddesses is not by some man made rituals or Yajnas mentioned in Vedas (कर्मकांड) but the path of devotion is! To follow path of devotion one must surrender himself to Shri Krishna.
Rituals like sacrifices of animals or humans are strictly prohibited in Kaliyuga for various reasons!
In this above incidence or in this life span, none of us are driving any of the part of the story. We are merely pieces on the chess board. We just follow the message being conveyed and all of us take steps accordingly. The important question is, do we keep all our senses open for reception of these messages ? Shri Krishna residing in our heart keeps guiding us when we surrender ourselves to Him. I always keep mentioning the verse from Bhagvad Gita where Shri Krishna says in Chapter 15, Verse 15 -
सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्त: स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च । वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम् ॥ १५ ॥
sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham
Translation :
I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.
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