This series chronicles interesting experiences recounted by the devotees of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. These articles are translations from the series, “Madhuramaana Mahaneeyar” that is published every month in Madhuramurali Tamil monthly magazine.
Solace Amid the Floods!
Recently, torrential rains had shaken up the whole state of Tamil Nadu. It is said that after 1918, i.e., after nearly 100 years, there has been this kind of downpour. On December 1st and 2nd, of 2015, there was 50 cm of rains on just a single day. Water began to stagnate everywhere.
Lakes that provide water for Chennai city began to fill up fast. Yet the rains did not stop. Out of fear of the dams breaking down they were opened up. That was it! Like a river in spate water began to run all over the Chennai city. As water from the dam began to flow in great gush inside the city and also stagnate, power supply was cut off. Telephone lines and cell phones stopped functioning. One cannot describe the grievous state of those in Chennai city. My Lord! How can one describe the state of those with infants, those that needed emergency medical care, those who needed assistance to move… Their sufferings beats all verbal description!
Electric trains did not run. All buses plying from Chennai to places outside were stopped. People were in deep distress. Those who had relatives and friends in Chennai were in deep distress as they could not contact them in anyway.
My own daughter lives in Salagramam area in Chennai city. Water had flowed into her house and they suffered for a week. There was no way of contacting her. I was deeply worried and became very restless. I did not know what to do.
At 8 pm one night I sat down and began to pray to Sri Swamiji. Until 1 am I continued to pray to Sri Swamiji while chanting Nama (the Divine Name).
It was then that suddenly Sri Swamiji appeared before me, just like I was seeing him in person. Sri Swamii said to me, “Do not worry! Your daughter is safe.” His words were very clear. My mind began to calm down and I felt greatly relieved.
The next day around 2 pm there was a call from my daughter. She informed me, through her cell phone, that she and her family were safe.
I felt deeply touched by Sri Swamiji’s grace and his reassuring words. I shared this experience of mine with all devotees in the next satsang in Thanjavur.
Original Tamil article by Guru Narayanan, Thanjavur.
Madhuramurali January 2016 issue
Translated by Nisha Giri Houston TX
