“JAY SRI GANESH AND JAY SRI GAJANAN MAHARAJ”
Due to the blessings of Lord Sri Ganesh , Sri Gajanan Maharaj and all of you I came here to “Japan” when the nature was at its very best and the Spring season had just started at that time and for a nature lover like me a plenty to enjoy. Different and fantastic Flora and Fauna and we just can’t imagine the creative power of the Almighty. Some trees are just looking like barren trees when I reached and after 10 days time small buds started and the tree was full of flowers (white / pinkish etc) without any leaves and the flowers lasted for about 10 days then started green leaves and after another 20 days or so small Cherries. This was a Cherry Blossom Tree (Sakura they call in Japan). One of the oldest and biggest Cherry Blossom Tree is in Tokyo and when it is season we can see the Tree fully white with only flowers and no leaves. Really mind boggling to see the nature’s beauty. Many verities of Hibiscus, Lilly, Rose (many colors), Kaner (White & Red) etc.
With out UNDERSTANDING THIS now a days we feel ourselves great for what ever we are doing as a great achievement with out really knowing that all these things have been made inbuilt by the Almighty in one specie or other and we are just been able to recognize His greatness only may be a fraction of 100000. I always tell Anand and also my juniors who join as trainees to just observe the surroundings around you and will get to know many things and treat fellow beings as living beings. I think I must have been little Philosophical isn’t it?
This time I was all the while worrying as how I can miss the Gnaesh Chaturdhi and “Sahasravartana.” And I was silently praying to both Ganeshji as well as Gajanan Maharaj that at least I must have Ganeshji’s darshan on Ganesh Chaturdhi day any where in Japan. I don’t know why but this year I decided that I will do the “Pothi - Parayana” on Ganesh Chaturdhi day instead of Rishi Panchami day. May be because the Great Gajanan Maharaj must have heard and understood my prayer and prompted me to take this decision. Now, just 3/4 days before Ganesh Chaturdhi, I received an e-mail from one of my colleagues that Tokyo Sri Satya Sai centre is celebrating the Ganesh Chaturdhi festival from 15th to 25th. There was name and telephone numbers of 2 of the main organizers in that mail. Now see what a great coincidence. The first name was Sri Gajanan Kakade working with Bank Of India in Tokyo and the second was Mr.Hira. I decided that I will talk to Sri Gajanan Kakade and enquire if at all I want to contribute how and where I can do that. But when I called up the mobile number, it was his wife who took the phone and when asked for Sri Gajanan she said that he will come in 1/2 hr time and enquired about my purpose of calling. I sincerely said about my desire of the contribution for the Ganesh Chaturdhi celebrations. She also enquired whether I was a maharastrian. I said now but can understand marathi well and can speak little bit as my wife is a maharastrian. I also told her that I am a great believer of Lord Sri Ganeshji and Sri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon, and also I said that I read one chapter daily from Maharaj’s pothi and ‘am planned to do the “Parayana” on Ganesh Chaturdhi day. The same I said will take minimum of 4 1/2 hr and even if I finish this by 11 am
along with my other rituals, I can reach Sri Satya Sai centre may be by 1 pm by which time the pooja would be over. Then she said I can have darshan in their house on Rishi Panchami day and they will be doing the “ Sahasra Avartana” on that day. Then I told her that we in baroda have been doing this on Rishi Panchami day for the last 4 years and it will be done this year also though am not there and my son will sit and do it. Then she said Sri Gajanan Kakade will call me once he comes back home. Believe me when Mr Kakade called me after 2 days and invited me to attend the “Sahasra Avartana” at his house due to the grace and blessings of Lord Sri Ganeshji and Sri Gajanan Maharaj. He had then sent me an e-mail with his residential address and the area map to reach his house. I once again thanked my beloved Gods Sri Ganeshji and Sri Gajanan Maharaj for their kind blessings and grace.
When all this was going on suddenly on 13th of Sept my project coordinator called me and requested that I should take an early home leave to start from Japan on 17th of Sept and come back to Japan on 8th of October. I said Ok and came back to my seat and prayed to Ganeshji and Gajanan maharaj that my journey should be either on 18th or 19th but not on 17th or before that as I never wanted to miss the “Sahasra Avartana”. See the miracle, there was no flight to India of Air India on 17th & 18th, then they tried for 16th
and the flight was over booked. Hence again my beloved Gods Sri Ganeshji and Gajanan Maharaj saved me.
With Gods blessings I could do 21 times “Avartana” , “Pothi Parayana” then Sri Ganeshji’s pooja on Ganesh Chaturdhi day i.e. 15th Sept and then after “Naivedyam” and taking the Prasad I went and had Maha Ganapati darshan at another place where some of our office Maharastrian’s celebrated the Ganesh Pooja and also had the “Modak” Prasad. In the evening on that again after doing Agarbatti I prepared Laddus with Ravva, desiccated coconut, sugar and milk and believe me exactly “21 Laddus could be made”. I took them next day to Sri Kakade’s house when I went there to attend the “Sahasra Avartana” as Prasad. There were about 45 – 50 people including ladies and children, mostly maharastrians, a few south Indians and 2 Japanese. 25 persons took part in the recitation of “Ganesh Avartana” and did it in chorus for 40 times. In the last the Japanese recited the “Atharvasirsh” with clear pronunciation. After that few Tamilians recited the “ Vishnu Sahasra Namam” followed by Arati and Maha Prasad. The Prasad of Laddu also every body liked and I said that “As it was meant for Prasad of Sri Ganeshji” that it became good otherwise I really ‘am not a great cook. All the time I was thanking my beloved Gods Sri Ganeshji and Sri Gajanan Maharaj for their kind grace. When I reached home and called up home in India “Ram Prakashkar” and his team of other Brahmins have already finished the “Avartana” at our home and were ready to take Maha Prasad, but when I said that I wanted to hear the recitation from “Ram” he immediately said “Abhi Sunadenge” and all of them recited the Atharvasirsh and I heard over the phone sitting in Japan due to the blessings of Great Sri Ganeshji and Sri Gajanan Maharaj. When I reached India Sri Ganeshji was still there and I could do the pooja for 2 days before we immersed the Idol of Sri Ganeshji on 7th day in the evening. This was the first time I ever went for the immersion of Sri Ganeshji.
The grace of Sri Ganeshji and Gajanan Maharaj is unending and unimaginable which Iam writing now. After reaching Japan for one month we are 3 Indians staying together in one apartment. They both take non-veg but I don’t take even egg. So when ever they make non-veg for them I have to prepare vegetarian food for me. After one month we got separate apartments and we shifted on 27th April. While coming to Japan I carried “The Gita” besides Sri Gajanan Maharaj’s Pothi, the shorter version of 21 chapters of Pothi in English and another book in Telugu having various “slokas” and “Prardhanas” on Shiva, Vishnu, Sri Ram, Venkateswar, Ganeshji, Datta, Sai and Hanumanji with me and in the evening after dinner I used to read them along with “Gita” also as I don’t want to waste time in any other TV etc. When me and Vimal visited Shegaon during March this year before I was to Start to Japan I infact tried for “Pothi” in English , Gujarati and Telugu. We went round the shops in Shegaon but we could not get the same. Not even in Sansthan’s book stores. But only after constantly praying to Sri Gajanan maharaj that from the same Sansthan stores I got a copy each in Gujarati and English but not Telugu. Telugu copy I wanted so that mother also can read and experience the Greatness of Maharaj as what all can realize if one surrenders and keeps full faith in Him. At that moment Gajanan maharaj did brought to my mind, whether I can do that. But since it is
a big volume and never had taken up such task I just avoided that idea coming to my mind.
After hesitating for quite some period whether to venture or not to venture to take up doing this “YAGNYA” OF TRANSLATION OF “GAJANA VIJAY GRANTH”. It was 21st May Monday night and 2 am that Sri Gajanan Maharaj woke me up and prompted me to start translating His English version of Pothi” to “Telugu”. I started doing that with all right earnest in a rough writing pad. First I wanted to do it this way as there will be many corrections etc and then make a Fair copy. I had only one small pad, so I thought I get required papers from office. But Maharaj cautioned me not to do that so I calculated and purchased 2 big pads of 60 pages each. I don’t know why but I purchased few pens while I was coming to Japan, in black and blue ink and also few refills of blue ink and I started writing with one blue ink pen. May be Maharaj must be having the idea that He will make me take up this job of translation work and prompted me to purchase the pens in advance. I informed this only to Vimal in the beginning and latter on to another devotee of Sri Maharaj, byname Sri Ganesh Sovani (A Mumbai High Court Advocate) who has become my friend via e-mail after he got my name from the devotee’s club where I registered my name. From may 21st onwards for 2 months He used to wake me up between 2 – 3 am without any alarm and made me sit for about 1 hr for doing this work and on Saturdays and Sundays for about 5 – 6 hr in a day in total. Thus making the rough script completed in about 2 months time, on July 22nd which was a Sunday. When I was worried for how I can get a Dictionary from English to Telugu to know the correct meaning for lot of English words to which I was not sure, He only guided me to find out from internet the much needed “Dictionary” “From English – Telugu”.. Chapter wise I used to note down the words in a small pad for which I would like to know the meaning and carry to the office and during lunch time I used to find out from the
dictionary the exact meaning and Iam admitting that it is only because of His grace that I could do it.
Then I prayed to Him that I will start the doing of Fairing of this after 3 days i.e. from “Ashadi Ekadashi” the 26th of July and also coinciding with Thursday. And also requested Him to allow me to write in the night may be up to 10.30 pm, but not to wake me up in the wee hours of 2 – 3. Also I was praying to Him that He should make me complete this Fairing before the Ganesh Chaturdhi day i.e. 15th September and I should keep this in Pooja on that day when I will be doing the 21 times “Avartana” , “Parayana” and Sri Ganesh Poojan. As is so great that He made me start on 26th and made me complete this in exactly one month’s time i.e. on 26th of August. This work in total including the Photos of each chapter of Pothi could be completed on 14th of September and thus He granted me to keep it in the pooja on Ganesh Chaturdhi day as desired.
The “Yagnya” is not yet over. I was also praying throughout this journey that since it was prompted by Him to do this for my mother He should allow me to bring this work to Shegaon along with my mother, Vimal, Aanad and Mrs & Mr Limkar, keep this at His feet and then give to mother for reading. I was praying Him to arrange the Shegaon visit some where after “Dipawali” festival (because I was supposed to get home leave after 8 months for 20 days) so that that Anand will not be disturbed from his studies (as he is in 10th Std) and Mrs & Mr Limkar will not be affected in their business as till “Dipavali” festival they will be busy with their business which fetches them bulk income for the whole of the year. And unbelievable He arranged my trip without disturbing any bodies work. When I called up Vimal on 13th and told her that Iam coming to India on 20th morning which would be Thursday and asked her to book tickets to go to Shegaon may be on Saturday (after Sri Ganeshji’s immersion on Friday) and return tickets on Monday so that Anand also will not loose much school. And also told her even if it is wait listed book the tickets and Sri Gajanan Maharaj will set the things right and the tickets will be confirmed. She accordingly booked the tickets and got confirmed tickets for going to Shegaon and wait listed tickets for return journey which also were confirmed when I enquired after we had the Darshan and Prasad of Sri Gajanan Maharaj. One may get a doubt that why Mrs & Mr Limkar with our family. Its because I was praying Sri Maharaj that we all six should have darshan together and also Sri Maharaj should accept my small humble offering (Rs.10000/-) towards “Annadana” and allow my mother, Anand and Mrs & Mr Limkar to serve to a few devotees the Sweet Dish generally being served at the time of Maha Prasad with their own hands and thereby getting the “Punya” of doing “Annadanam” at a Holy place like Shegaon. This was my strong desire and I was insisting by praying to Sri Maharaj to fulfill my this wish.
We started for Shegaon on Saturday and after we settled down in our seats we all started our regular rituals of reading pothi etc. I told Mrs Limkar that next day will be “Ekadashi” and you must take Maharaj’s Prasad in the morning without saying fast or any thing. Then Vimal got an idea that she would read the pothi fully in 3 days i.e.
Dasami, Ekadasi and Dwadasi. She started the pothi and Mrs. Limkar followed her and surprisingly Limkar’s husband too did the shorter version of “Marathi Pothi” like that. I and Anand have planned to do the “Parayana” on “Ekadashi” in the temple “Parayana” hall taking the darshan early in the morning. We reached Shegaon by 7.30 pm without any delay and straight went to the hotel checked in our baggage, washed ourselves and then went to the Mandir for Maharaj’s darshan. I took the important “Translated Pothi” carefully held it in my hands and some flowers with me and as there was no much rush we immediately entered the Mandir. Now the arrangement is very good as one can start having darshan of Maharaj right from a distance. Just by my side was a young girl eagerly looking at this book but was calm. When our turn came I gave that “Pothi” to the poojari got it placed near Maharaj thus got the blessings from Him we came out to take the darshan of Sri Ram and after that I stood with the “Pothi” in the space between Sri Ram Mandir and Hanumanji. The girl who was observing this finally asked about that book which I told her that it’s a Telugu Translation of Maharaj’s Pothi from English for my mother.
We all came out and after we got the money rendered for “Annadanam” & Abhishekas for the next day that I gave the Translated Pothi to mother saying that “This is the Gift I brought for You from Japan” which Sri Maharaj made me to do it for you and both me and Vimal touched her feet. Then blessing us she said “What more do I need?” When I was giving it to her one gentleman was standing behind us who happened to be from Andhra Pradesh but working in Nagpur enquired about the same and has asked whether I have any plans to get it printed. I said that at present no idea. I asked mother to Read the “21st Chapter” next day in the Mandir “Parayana” hall as it contains the essence of all the Chapters and then start reading one chapter daily from Friday so that she will also be in line with me, Vimal and Anand and can finish the 21st Chapter on Thursday.
We all had Sri Maharaj’s Darshan on Sunday morning at 5.45 am and then me and Anand sat down for doing “Pothi Parayana”, others for their respective readings. By about 10.15 we all finished with our “Parayana” then me, Vimal and Anand had Mandir Pradaikshna for 21 times and then listened to the afternoon Aarati. After that Mandir office person ( Swayam Sewak) took us to the “Maha Prasad Hall” where as per my wish first Amma, Anand, Mrs & Mr. Limkar served to some devotees the sweet dish ( Sweet Moria) as it was Ekadasi then even me & Vimal served the same to a few devotees. Then that Mandir person took us to the dinning hall where generally Mandir Swayam Sewaks take their meals and served us the Maha Prasad which was “Sabu dana Kichadi and Sweet Moria” as it was “Ekadasi” thus “THE GREAT GAJANAN MAHARAJ FULFILLED ALL MY WISHES AND I CAN ONLY SINCERELY BOW MY HEAD AT HIS FEET AND BEG FOR SUCH PERPETUAL BLESSINGS AND GRACE ALWAYS ON OUR ENTIRE FAMILY”.
