Maganlal L.Bhatt, citations

I am an individual from the common lot with not much of religious or spiritual background by way of environment or education. Brahmin by birth, brought up to an unrigid, flexible way of life, I developed a broad, even indifferent way of looking at things religious.

I was staying at Matunga (Mumbai). In the building known as Tejoo Kaya Park, the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Sri Ramana Maharshi (in 1947) were being celebrated with great eclat. A few of us went there and we humourously named the celebrated one “Madrasi God Ramana”.

I cannot describe how and why, but the word “Ramana” got planted in me somewhere there and then grew within me. Four years passed by. I visited a relation’s office in November, 1952 at Ahmedabad. He had put on exhibition many books of a famous Indian Ashram and invited me to have a look and purchase some books which were brought to his office by an inmate of the ashram. Books were lying on the long table. I went through the line of them and at the end of it saw six books published by Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai,

I forgot about the other books I had intended to get and instead picked out all the six and went with them to my brother’s house.

I was fully engrossed, you could say buried, in the currents flowing without knowing or understanding what electric charge was developing within me. On my return to Delhi, I requested a learned friend to help me understand the spirituality I was being pushed into by my new books. He invited me to his residence. At 4 p.m., I started to read and he to guide me, or cross-examine my understanding. We were going through the Gujarati book, Ramana Vani (Maharshi’s Gospel, in English) and Swami Madhavtirth’s 'Life & Teachings of Ramana Maharshi'. I must have lost all outward consciousness, as, when I finished the reading, I asked the time, saying my wife must be waiting for dinner. My friend, Sri Mohanbhai Shah, who must have been watching me with the utmost patience for the last few hours, told me very kindly that it was 11 pm. He added: “You have had your meal already at 9 p.m. with me, and, look, my wife and children are already asleep.” They were fast asleep on beds made up on the floor.

I was fully unaware when I took my meal or when the beds were made up. My friend added “Ramana Maharshi has possessed you.” My eyes became wet and I went home. Since that day, I have never for a day forgotten Ramana, the God. I have had living experience of HIM. I am narrating these episodes after GOD RAMANA has left his body at Tiruvannamalai. I had not the privilege to see him in his physical body.

Since then, I have visited the Ashram twice, It became my habit when travelling to recite “Ram” “Ram” “Ramana” “Ramana” with the running of the moving train. I felt the vibrations in my veins. Sometimes, I felt his presence and one day (to be exact at 7 p.m. on 18-12-1952), while travelling by train from Modinagar to Delhi, a poem came to me.

My narration will be incomplete if I do not give the vivid experiences I have had of HIS presence felt and my prayers miraculously answered.

1. I was serving a big textile group and suddenly resigned on a question of prestige in July, 1955. Mental depression followed : “who will give you employment, you fool, now at the age of 47?” I prayed and got the answer “Why worry” “Be STILL”. I cannot say why but I decided that I would not make any frantic efforts or seek influence but wait for the call from unknown quarters. I pledged myself to stay at home for 30 days and seek help only from prayer to the master. I do not do any puja or ritual of any sort – my puja is only mental remembrance of HIM, by rhythm of which life may come and go at HIS WILL.

   Twenty-nine days passed, my courage diminishing day by day, but not my faith. Exactly on the thirtieth day, a casual acquaintance came to my house, seeking me and bringing an offer of a better job. I thanked the Master.

2. I had another vivid experience in 1964. By now I had become a confirmed Prarabdhavadi according to my friends. Once again when I resigned at the age of 55 in similar circumstances another position came of its own accord ; my colleague, Sri Gulabchand Jain, exclaimed: “It is a miracle; Ramana Maharshi is protecting you.”

3. There have been more such happenings in my life, some are very personal and it is not my intention to narrate my own life.

In conclusion, most humbly, I say that my prayers to the Master, have been amply rewarded, that I have been a chosen one for such blessing, I am all submission to Him, trying to propagate his teachings in my humble way.