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Miracles at Badrinath, 1958 17th June
[1958] was a Day
of Days, a Day that will be enshrined in the memory of everyone in
the party, for years and years. In pursuance of His Mission of
re-infusing spiritual efficacy in all Holy Places where men
congregate for acquiring peace and joy, a Mission which took Him
recently to Ayodhya, Kasi and Prayag, Baba that day re–invigorated Narayana worship at Badrinath, by means of a unique
cermony, whose significance is beyond our tiny understanding!
During the morning
Abhishekam to the idol of Badrinarayana, while Baba was inside the
temple facing the shrine, about 8.15AM, Baba mysteriously
materialised a four armed Narayana icon with Sankha, Chakra, Gada
and Padma, about 12 inches, perhaps sublimating in that form the
Divine Essence of the Narayana Tejas before Him. He also created a
charming thousand petalled ‘gold’ Lotus, and before the wonder of
the people around Him could express itself in an awe striken gasp,
He waved His hand before the Shrine and, lo, there was a
Jyothirlinga in His palm, which He placed on the shining Lotus.
Baba came away to the Dharmasala with the devotees and the large
number of officers and citizens of Badrinath. Their Excellencies
also soon joined the gathering.
The Badri idol, the nethra
lingam and the thousand petalled Lotus
Materialising a
‘silver’ Abhisheka Vessel full of holy water from Gangothri itself
(as He announced), Baba Himself performed Abhisheka to that
translucent Nethra Lingam. He had graciously taken the Linga round
to everyone and made all to wonder at its quit effulgence and at a
clearly visible Eye that was somehow incorporated in it. Devotees
recited Sri Rudram, Purushasuktham and Narayana Suktham, while
Baba was pouring the sacred water on the Lingam. Then, Baba
created 108 miniature Bilva leaves or rather replicas of that holy
leaf, in ‘gold’; they fell in a lightning shower from His Palm on
to a silver plate.
The golden bilva leaf manifested by
Baba
He again waved His
Hand and this time, O Blessed moment, 108 actual ‘thumme’ flowers
fresh with even the touch of the morning dew, fell from that
Divine Palm! With these, Baba directed Dr.B.Ramakrishna Rao,
presumably on behalf of all assembled to do Puja to the Linga, the
Ashtottara Puja, as mentioned in the Sastras. After Puja, Baba
collected the Abhisheka Ganga and gave a share of it to each one,
Himself pouring it into the mouth with His own merciful Hand.
Displaying the Lingams that
He created at Badri
Needless to say, the
Lingam, one of the Five, which according to Baba, Sankaracharya
brought from Kailasa, and which he installed in a sacred spot in
the shrine to vivify the Badarikasram returned to the place from
which Baba had drawn it for this epoch making ritual of re
invigoration. The Lotus and the Icon, He granted to the devotees;
the Bilva leaves of ‘gold’ He gave to members of the party, as
mementoes of the Momentous Day, for being duly worshipped by them.
About 12.30PM, the
same day, Baba condescended to come to Brahmakapal, where the
devotees had arrived to offer oblations to the pitris
(forefathers). He advised everyone to pray for their ancestors and
departed relations, in a spirit of faith and sincerity. Every
member of the party had a rare good fortune of paying off the debt
to the departed in the immediate presence of the Lord Himself!
Then Baba went down
to the Alakananda and took from the surging torrent a glass of
water, but, lo! The glass held also a lump of Vibhuthi with the
mark of Pranava on it and the til essential for ancestral rites!
He poured the water on to the palms of the devotees who were
handicapped by disqualifications form partaking in the Pinda
Pradan, asking them to offer that water instead! Surely, the manes
of all who shared in that day’s Brahmakapal ceremony are thrice
blessed!
Extracted from:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine March 1, 2004
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/05March01/02_Cover_Story/baba_to_badarinath.htm
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