..श्रीजी: “देखो मैंने तुम दोनों को बुला लिया ना मुझे मालूम पड़ गया वैलेंटाइन डे किया होता है ..
मुझे तुम दोनों के साथ रहना था और होली भी खेलनी थी.
13th, 14th, 15th February, 2008. Magh Sud Ashtmi, VS 2064
(I am speech less after this writing; no words will ever be able to describe the magnitude of Shreeji’s love for his bhakts).
... On 13th morning, around 11.30 am, Gurushree Sudhir bhai calls up, “Do you want to go to Nathdwara? We will leave today evening, do all darshans tomorrow and come back on the 15th evening”.
As the program is so sudden, I reply that I need some time to think it over and will call him back in a short while. Sudhir bhai realising that I am a little hesitant says it is okay, we will go some other time.
As for me, I was hesitant because there are some important work and appointments lined up for the next day. I am in a confused state of mind at having said no to going for darshans.
In an hour I receive another call from Gurushree, “I have booked my ticket on the 5.40 pm Kingfisher flight and I am leaving for Nathdwara”.
I have never ever declined an offer to visit Dear ShreeNathji, so I am upset, as how could Gurushree decide to go without me.
(At this moment I am not aware that it is Shreeji’s hukum for us to reach Nathdwara).
As I whined on the phone, my two daughters who were watching this, asked me, “Who are you speaking to and what is happening”?
I explained how I had hesitated to go for darshans to Nathdwara earlier and now Sudhir bhai is going by himself.
“So why are you so upset? Why don’t you also go”? I explained that I could not as this was so sudden and there were some very important appointments and work lined up for the next day.
My daughters laughed, “You are so stupid, mummy, please go we will manage all of this, no worries. We can also help you pack. Let’s book your ticket too. Don’t worry about us. How does it matter if its last minute? We will complete everything for you. Just go, we know how much you love going to Nathdwara”.
So they made my bookings in the same Kingfisher flight and I was lucky enough to get the ticket too.
While packing, I can already feel a sudden bliss which overcomes me. It felt sooo good, going to Nathdwara. All goes smooth, and my dear daughters packed me off to go visit my beloved ShreeNathji.
The amazing events and happening felt incredible. I felt so light, so joyous, just kept on laughing, nothing else mattered. Suddenly I feel transformed. All worries disappeared. All I could think of was to reach Nathdwara soon and go for ShreeNathji darshans.
This transformation happens in many of my yatras as usual, when I feel like a different person. Sudhir bhai says that it is my soul which takes over me in the outer world.
From now till the next morning it never struck me that it is 14th and Valentine’s Day.
Next morning, as we waited in the Haveli parisar for Mangla darshan to open, Gurushree, Sudhir bhai finally told me something very astounding, as to the real reason why we had to come so suddenly.
“Shreeji learnt the meaning of Valentine’s day from me. He sees the excitement happening all around so asked me what it actually means. I explained simply, saying that it is a day when people celebrate with their loved ones. Shreeji was very excited and then gave me hukum that he wanted you and me to be in Nathdwara for the 14th February.
“He, ShreeNathji”, wished to spend the Valentine’s Day with both of us, because we were the two bhakts that He loved deeply, in our world; Abha Shahra and Sudhir Shah. Also it is Falgun month and Holi is played in His mandir, so Shreeji invited both of us to be present on Valentine’s Day at His Haveli to play Holi with us.
That is why I called up and made a sudden program. Shreeji did not let me tell you at that time, why we had to make a sudden decision. His order was that I could only tell you once we reach the Haveli”.
What a super surprise!
अगली सुबह हम मंदिर के बाहर मंगला के लिए खड़े हैं। गुरुश्री ने तब मुझे यहाँ भाग कर आने का सही कारण बताया; “श्रीजी ने कल मुझसे पता करा की सब लोग इतने उत्साहित क्यों हो रहे हैं। मैं ने ठाकुरजी को वैलेंटायन डे के बारे में समझाया। यह साल का एक दिन होता है जब इस दुनिया में लोग उनके प्यारे और चहेते लोगों के साथ उत्सव मनाते हैं; किंतु इसकी कोई ख़ास वजह नहीं है। यह सुन श्रीजी भी उत्साहित हो गए, और मुझे हुकुम दिया की तुम और आभा कल नाथद्वारा पहुँचो, मेरे साथ मंदिर में होली का आनंद लो। इसलिए अचानक प्रोग्राम बनाया। श्रीजी नटखट तो हैं ही, उन्होंने तुमको नाथद्वार जाने का सही कारण बताने से मुझे रोक दिया। श्रीनाथजी ने हुकुम करा की जब मंगला के लिए मेरे द्वार पर हो, तब आभा को ये बताना।”
श्रीनाथजी प्रभु, वैलेंटायन डे हम दोनों के साथ बिताना चाहते हैं; उनके दो प्यारे भक्त जो इस दुनिया में हैं। फाल्गुन महीना होने से मंदिर में रोज़ होली उत्सव होता है, इस कारण से श्रीनाथजी प्रभु ने हमें नाथद्वार आने का हुकुम दिया।
Shreeji made Sudhir bhai plan this yatra, so that He, ShreeNathji, Thakurjee, wanted to be with both of us at His Param Dham, Nathdwara, for Valentine’s and He wished to play Holi with us at His mandir.
I am speech less after this writing. What do I say? I am at a loss of words here; no words will ever be able to describe the magnitude of Shreeji’s love for his bhakts.
Later at the mandir before Rajbhog Darshans, as we sat at the Dhajaji, we heard Shreeji,
Shreeji, “See, I called both of you’ll here. I understood what Valentine’s Day means.
I told Sudhir that I wished to spend this day with both of you at My mandir and also play Holi with you’ll. I am glad that you agreed to come with Sudhir. Both of you are my loved bhakts”.
“It was Me who ordered Sudhir to come to Nathdwara, and play Holi with Me at My mandir on this day”.
श्रीजी, “देख मैंने तुम दोनों को बुला लिया ना मुझे मालूम पड़ गया 'वैलेंटाइन-डे' किया होता है।
मुझे तुम दोनों के साथ रहना था और होली भी खेलनी थी। बहुत अच्छा किया की तुमने सुधीर की बात मान ली। तुम दोनों मेरे बहुत प्यारे हो”।
“मैंने ही सुधीर से कहा था की तुम लोग नाथद्वार आओ और मेरे साथ होली खेल कर मेरे साथ 'वैलेंटाइन-डे' मनाओ”।
The ten minutes as we stood sanmukh (before) Thakurjee in the Rajbhog darshans, it felt as if time stood still. I stood transfixed watching Shreeji being covered with Holi colours. It was like entering into a trance.
I received the best of darshans and just stood there in His Sanmukh; feeling Shreeji’s Love as I was drenched with His vibrations; it is a very pure and sublime moment, nothing else is remembered;
Though there is tremendous crowd and noise, I am not distracted. It is me and Shreeji playing Holi and the rest of the world disappears for those few moments.
Gurushree and I stood before Shreeji, on Valentine’s Day, 14th February 2008, playing Holi with Him, drenched in His love for us.
The divyata of this moment has no verbal expression. It is only to be felt and be very very grateful for the kripa.
This entire darshan takes nearly 30 minutes. We do not shake off the sacred colours; it is collected in a packet to be distributed as Shreeji’s Blessings to close family.
This drenching with colours in Shreeji’s mandir, within His Purest vibrations is one of the easiest ways to enter higher purity. Shreeji Himself plays colours for an entire month, so that all bhakts can avail of His purifying Blessings.
After this is the ‘Aarti’.
As I bow, my forehead which touches the ground is also covered with the pure, divine colours. I do not wipe it off and accept this as a parting gift from my beloved Shreeji.
When Shreeji wishes some happening to take place, nothing can come in between. All plans work perfectly for Him.
How it happens, Sudhir bhai tells me often I should not think, only keep faith and accept gratefully what Shreeji gives us, in small matters as well as big happenings.
We complete all the eight darshans that day and visit Shreeji’s Gaushala. I had also booked thuli for all my kids.
श्रीजी जब कुछ लीला खेलना चाहते हैं तो सभी कार्य सिद्ध हो जाते हैं। यह कैसे होता है, नहीं सोचना चाहिये; अनुग्रह, कृपा मान कर प्रतिग्रहित करना चाहिए।
आज हम आठों समा के दर्शन करते हैं, और शाम गौशला में श्रीजी के साथ बिताते हैं। सभी बच्चों के नाम से आज हमारी थूली भी है।
I am speech less after this writing. What do I say? I am at a loss of words here; no words will ever be able to describe the magnitude of Shreeji’s love for his bhakts.
किन शब्दों में इस विशाल कृपा का बयान करूँ, समझ नहीं है। इसलिए सरल भाषा में लिखा है। वैसे तो कोई शब्द है ही नहीं जो लीला के आनंद का वर्णन कर सके।
My entire love and devotions are there for Him thanking Him for this Kripa and Grace. How lucky could I be!
Jai Ho Prabhu, Jai Shreeji!
Few photos from this divine day at Nathdwara