Panditji said, “Babaji, I have been serving here for 47 years!
Many years ago, my Guruji gifted me this Shaligram. I have been worshipping it here in this temple ever since. But when he gave it to me, he said one thing — ‘This Shaligram will one day go to a true devotee of the Divine Mother.’
Over the years, many saints and gurus have come here and asked me for it. But I never felt like giving it away, because my Guruji had told me — ‘When the time comes for the Shaligram to go, your heart will tell you.’
Babaji, till this day, that feeling never came. But this morning, when you entered the temple, my eyes went straight to the sacred mark (tilak) on your forehead. In that very moment, my heart said — ‘This Shaligram belongs to him!’ You are that devotee my Guruji spoke about. So, this Shaligram isn’t being given by me — it is the will of the Lord Himself. Now your bond with Lord Badrinath has been formed. You will have to keep coming here again and again.”
I just listened quietly. I wasn’t in a state to say or even think anything.
Panditji then took me around the temple to have darshan of all the deities. When we reached near the main gate, he showed me a very beautiful idol of Hanumanji. He said, “This is a highly powerful Hanumanji. And just like this idol, there is another one exactly like it near a sacred lake called Dev Tal in the Himalayas, about 64 kilometers from Badrinath. It was established there by Adi Shankaracharya himself! Babaji, next time I will take you there. But remember, one can go there only with special permission — it lies deep in the Himalayas, near a divine lake where ordinary people cannot easily go. You need permission from the army to reach that place.”
After sharing so much love and conversation, we bid farewell to each other. He said he would wait for me every year from now on. That moment was deeply emotional. What he gave me was beyond any words of gratitude. I left overflowing with joy!
I never even told him that I wanted a Shaligram — I had forgotten it so many times! But the Lord Himself performed this wondrous miracle. And what a wonder — the silver throne (simhasan) I had brought was exactly the same size as the Shaligram, as if it had been measured for it. Truly, it was the divine play (Leela) of the Lord. We were all blessed beyond measure.
The Lord listens to everyone. This journey began with the story at Rishikesh — then my mind wandered in Haridwar — and again I returned to Rishikesh, where that divine embrace planted the desire in my heart to have a Shaligram. Then, as I walked on foot, chanting His mantra, He prepared me to receive this responsibility. Then again, I forgot about it — yet on every step of the path, at every temple, I was reminded of it. Who else could be behind all this except the Lord Himself, weaving His divine play?
And in the end, He gave so much love — so much love that everything else faded away. I hadn’t told anyone about my wish for the Shaligram — yet see how it happened!
So it is clear: when God weaves His divine play, we are only actors performing our parts. What is to happen has already been written by the Creator. God is always there — listening, watching, guiding from within.
When, after praying, God makes your path harder — understand that you are close to your destination. Never lose faith or sight of your goal.
Trust yourself — and trust your Lord completely.
*Om Namah Shivaya*
*Jai Vishva! Bhole Babaji!*