Mythological Games in Switzerland

The Chudamani

Switzerland, July 2004-

Being the only assistant in the small crew, I was overwhelmed with work of different departments on this outdoor shoot. On this day we had wrapped early. When I entered the dining area of the hotel where everyone gathered to relax after the days shoot, I found a group in the right corner engaged in some board game and playing it with a great enthusiasm. On one side was Shahrukh and on the other side was Farah Khan. There was Pam Aunty, Payal, Vaibhavi Merchant, Anil Mehta sir and some other top names of the industry playing the game. They were playing in a fun spirit and yet by their comments one could sense the competition between them. 

The questions being asked covered various fields of science, entertainment, sports, religion and mythology. At one point Farah asked a mythological question which seemed like a complete bouncer and no one was expected to know the answer. So to get things going she asked "Kisi ko aata hai jawab ya points le lein?" before she could discard the question, I called out - "Daksha". IAll eyes turned on me. After a few seconds Farah said in her usual dry tone - "Achha guess kiya ,... sahi jawab hai!".  I moved on and sat on another table to make the call sheets.

After that round of game was over, they began making new teams. As I was working against time to finish my work, I heard my name called out. Shahrukh had chosen me in his team. I wanted to opt out there was much to do. Srk saw my reluctance and said "Arre call sheet jaane de, ek din nahi diya to chalega.." Farah said dryly "Waise bhi tu kaunsa time pe aata hai.." To which Yashji sitting on another side began laughing.

Giving one answer was fine.. but I wasn't sure I knew all the answers to questions on mythology or religion despite my deep interest in it. 

The game began. I sensed the competition and will to win despite outer niceties. Srk is very intelligent in quiz games and the team went along well until Farah asked the question "Which avatar of Vishnu existed during both the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods?" Unlike other questions this one was met with a muted response. I quickly scanned my memory and said "Parashuram," to which Srk immediately repeated 'Parashuram' as if he knew it too. Farah's look, which was one of - 'this ones in the bag', changed, and she said - "Correct!"

The game progressed further with a lot of tiffs and arguments till things became a bit tense. At another critical point she asked another mythological question - "What did Sita give to Hanuman to show Lord Rama as proof of meeting her.?" Immediately Shahrukh said - "Her ring," which the rest of the team agreed to. Farah was about to give the verdict, when I said to Srk that this may be incorrect. Lord Rama gave the ring but Sitaji is said to have given an ornament she wore on her hair. I do not know what that ornament is called, but on it was studded the gem famously called - the Chudamani. 

Srk wasn't sure about this, he felt it was the ring. The team agreed with him. I was feeling pressured as Farah wanted us to answer quickly with a time limit decided in our last argument. Srk said - "Pakka maloom hai tujhe.." Some other person confidently emphasised that "it was her ring,.. just answer that!" But I looked at Srk and repeated what what I knew.  Srk changed his answer to Chudamani! To which Farah said - "Wrong answer!" I wanted to bury myself. Srk asked for the right answer to which she said - "Shikhamani!" 

Srk said that this is what he said that its the ornament of the hair! I  explained that Shikhamani maybe an assumed name, but it was called the Chudamani and began to describe it -"It is about this big in size, a bit oval and honey coloured, not exactly honey coloured but a bit like...."

They were all curiously looking at me and Farah put their look into words saying "Tu aise bol raha hai jaise tune khud dekha hai?"  I withdrew my point, as the game came to an end.

I cannot recall who won but that night as I tried finishing my work my mind kept going to the summer just a few months back that I had spent in Brindavan.

Swami had come to Brindavan as He usually does and I had the opportunity of serving at His residence - Trayee. One evening after the bhajans at the Trayee sessions, I was alone sitting guarding the interview door which was open, while all other boys were sitting at the main door attending the Trayee session. I could hear the laughs, claps and occasional sounds of awe from within the house. At one point the energy changed.. I sensed a great deal of excitement almost flooding out from the house. When I looked up at the sevadal boys, they had all gone on their knees trying to see something in great excitement. 

I wanted to rush over, but couldn't leave my place out of a sense of duty. Then I looked at my leader Harish, who in excitement motioned me to come over. In a nano second I was there. Swami was walking amongst the boys, the staff and VIPs showing something.. and such was my good fortune that I reached there just at the time Swami was closest to us. I saw with my own eyes a glittering jewel, smooth, almost emanating a glow from within. To my eyes it seemed honey coloured, but it could also be because I saw Swami's palm through it. Having seen the created I switched my attention to the creator who was still moving around showing the jewel to the other boys looking at it curiously.

When Swami sat back on the jhoola, the gentleman who was speaking said in awe and with folded hands that "We all have been privileged to see the Chudamani which Ma Sita had given to Hanuman to show to Lord Ramachandra as proof of having met her!"

The Chudamani

Of Dreams and Divine visions

May 27th, 2017

This morning while having a conversation with my sister, she shared a dream that she had a couple of days after Navratri.

“I saw a dream of Divine Mother. It was a majestic vision of Her sitting on a rock with one leg folded and the other down. Behind her sat an enormous lion. 

I approached and sat at Her feet, taking it in my hands and pressing them as I looked at Her beautiful presence. In my mind a thought occurred that I should ask Her about my daughter T. But before I could ask, She read my mind and said “She is my daughter.. I always look after her.”

I replied “Mother have I brought her up well?” 

She smiled and gestured with Her hand and nod of Her head that I have done well.

I then asked “Mother what should we teach children to make them good human beings?”

Mother replied in chaste Hindi-

“Do not lie.

Without faith, worship and prayers are meaningless.

Avoid bad company.

Do not rejoice at others sufferings, be happy at others happiness.

Do not complain always. Believe that whatever I do for you will be for your good.

Take care of your elders; to give them peace is your duty.

Whatever you do today, do with the awareness that you will reap the fruits of your action soon. Keep an eye on your own karmas.

You will always receive fruits of your earnest efforts.

Patience makes life easier. Patience during sorrows keeps the mind peaceful. Patience during good times will prevent rise of ego/arrogance. Patience is great strength. 

Always remember that I keep an eye on My children at all times. Listen carefully always to your inner voice emanating from your conscience.”

As a parting note She said “No matter what, I will surely give T the fruits of her labour. Have faith in my words.”

As the dream ended I woke up feeling very clear. It was 5:45 am in the morning.

Curious to know more, I asked my sister to describe the appearance of Divine Mother.

“Her presence was absolutely radiant, indescribable. No artist, no poet, could ever capture Her beauty. It transcends all imagination.” She continued, “She wore rich red robes, and Her jewelry gleamed with a divine brilliance. Her tejas (radiance) was as bright as the sun, yet soothing and gentle. When She raised Her hands in blessing, I noticed how small and delicate they were. Her words, spoken in shuddh (pure) Hindi.”

Intrigued, I asked for an example. My sister shared one of Mother's statements: “Bina vishwas ke prarthna, pooja nirarthak hai” (Without faith, prayers and worship are meaningless). 

She further shared that what truly captured her attention was the majestic lion seated behind the Divine Mother. “He was a striking figure—regal, fierce, yet utterly tranquil, as if guarding Her with quiet devotion. His eyes..” she said, “glowed with an almost otherworldly brilliance.”

The purpose of sharing this story isn't simply to recount a dream; rather, it is to highlight a mystical interaction between the Divine and an ordinary person. We often think of God as distant, elusive, but through my studies of spiritual phenomena, I've encountered many accounts where the Divine reaches out to humans in deeply personal ways.

Naturally, I wondered why such a vision had come to her.

When I asked my sister if she had done anything to invoke this blessing, she admitted that for many years now, she experiences a special darshan (divine vision) after Navratri. Usually, it is Swami who appears, but this time it was the Divine Mother. Interestingly, she confessed that she doesn't follow the traditional Navratri rituals as closely as others in our family. She once prayed to Swami, asking not to observe rituals just for the sake of it but only when she felt truly inspired. As a result, she was uncertain why this grace was bestowed upon her.

She went on to mention that her daughter, T (my niece), while not particularly religious or spiritual, yet has a profound and personal connection with Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati. Every Monday, without prompting from anyone in the family, she makes it a point to visit a nearby Shiva temple to offer her prayers.

She shared another incident. 

When T was little, she fell gravely ill, suffering from a jaundice-related ailment that left her weak and unable to keep any food or water down. Her stomach was in constant pain, and sleep was nearly impossible. The doctors were concerned and advised my sister to take great care. One night, as my sister was tending to her, my niece asked her mother to rest, promising to wake her if she needed anything. Reluctantly, my sister fell asleep.

Late at night, my niece awakened needing to go to the restroom, but she didn’t want to disturb her mother. As she turned to get up, she was astonished to see a regal woman, whom she instantly recognized as Mata (Divine Mother), sitting by her bedside in a red saree, gently massaging her stomach. Thinking her illness was playing tricks on her mind, she made her way to the restroom, drank some water, and returned to the room, still leaning against the walls for support due to her weakness. To her astonishment, the Mother was still there, sitting in the same place. Too tired to process what she was seeing, she thought of lying down first and then gazing at Mothers form. Remarkably,  the moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep; for the first time in days.

It is natural to question the authenticity of such experiences— but the test of such an event lies in its effect. My sister’s dream wasn’t just about seeing the Divine Mother; it was about the wisdom imparted. What was shared with her resonates deeply with the teachings of our scriptures. My sister, ever self-reflective, admits that the insights she received were not something she had previously considered or meditated on herself, and she experienced the deep wisdom of those words even as Mother spoke them.

A sevadal friend, Santosh, once shared an intriguing experience with me. He had been asked to escort a sadhu for darshan at Ramesh Hall in Brindavan. After the darshan, Santosh found the Sadhu looking perplexed. Sensing something was amiss, Santosh inquired if all was well? The sadhu, with a tone of awe, replied that he could not see the Her clearly during the darshan. Curious, Santosh inquired further, and the sadhu explained that the Divine Mother’s jewelry shone with such overwhelming brilliance that it obscured Her form from him.

Now thoroughly confused, Santosh asked, “But did you see Swami?” The sadhu pointed to a nearby photograph of Swami and asked, “Is this the form you see when you have darshan?”

“Of course,” Santosh replied, “What did you see?”

The sadhu, with quiet reverence, responded, “I saw Ma Bhagwati walking among us. Her presence - beyond majestic, Her aabhushans (ornaments) gleaming with such intensity, as if each one held the light of many suns.” 

This statement compliments the narrative of the above dream.

Another similar case is from my own childhood. I was studying in a boarding school in Panchgani, when one night I had the most memorable dream. 

I found myself in a mystical environment what seemed like a time beyond night and day. Before me lay Lord Vishnu in His reclining form, resting on the Ksheer Sagar (the Ocean of Milk). His feet were close to me and His head away from me. His body was beautiful blue and He appeared to be in a state of deep repose, His eyes closed and a soft smile playing on His lips. 

What distracted me from gazing at His appealing form was Adishesha. As I was at the feet of Lord Vishnu, Adishesha's hood was nearly over me as well. It was a beautiful yet frightening spectacle. Its hood of many faces was bejeweled and shone with many colors. Though not menacing, the sheer size and presence of the serpent filled me with awe and a touch of fear. I remember covering my eyes from it and trying to see Lord Vishnu though my fingers. A radiant light emanated from His chest, and while I didn’t know why at the time, I somehow knew it was coming from a jewel He wore. The scene felt otherworldly, as if I was no longer on Earth but in a divine realm beyond the grasp of ordinary reality. 

As the dream got over it caused me to wake up spontaneously. I found all the other children sleeping in my dorm and I realised it is still very early morning.

One might dismiss this as a child’s imagination, but here’s the intriguing part: I was only in the first grade at the time. I knew of Lord Vishnu, but not Adishesha, or the Ksheer Sagar or Vaikuntha. It was not within my understanding to conjure such vivid imagery, yet as I grew older, I realized that the details I had seen matched the descriptions of Lord Vishnu reclining on the serpent in the cosmic ocean. Even the radiant jewel on His chest, which I later learned was the Kaustubha, was exactly as I had seen it in the dream—so bright it almost obscured His face.

Dreams are a strange phenomenon. Often we have dreams which just reflect back to us our everyday life events. But every now and then we somehow access deeper realms and experience something uncommon. While our physical body rests, our astral bodies can take our dim awareness to various subtle regions, sometimes even penetrating the causal worlds where Divine realms exist. 

My Guru often said that whenever we sincerely think of God, it elicits a response from Him in some way. Swami once taught that the amount of time we spend in sincere connection with God during our waking hours is the same amount of time God spends with us in our deep, subconscious moments, whether or not we are fully aware of it when we awaken. 

It makes one wonder: Is God truly distant from us, or is this distance merely an illusion of our own making? The divine realm may be much closer to us than we think. Nor is it exclusive to the saintly class . The everyday people are after all God’s children too.