That day’s experience was not an ordinary event in my life—it was something beyond that, as if an unseen force had called me closer.
Just then, the elderly monk held my hand. His touch was not ordinary; it carried a sense of warmth and familiarity, as if he had known me for a long time.
Without asking anything, he led me inside the temple. There was a strange चमक (radiance) in his eyes. As soon as we entered, he said,
“I have been waiting for you for so many years… and now you have finally come.”
I was stunned. There was no artificiality in his words. He kept looking around—sometimes picking up an object, sometimes focusing his attention somewhere—as if he was understanding some invisible signs. Then suddenly he said,
“What should I give you… what should I give you… I want to give you something.”
He reached behind a picture of God and took out some sindoor and black chickpeas (kale chane) as prasad, placing them in my palm.
As I received the prasad with reverence, I placed some money at the feet of God. Immediately, he said,
“What are you doing? Take this money back.”
I humbly replied,
“This is for the service of God.”
Without saying anything, he picked up the money and put it back into my pocket. Then, in a calm voice, he said,
“If you truly want to serve, then feed the animals around where you live. I do not need any of this. In fact, for that, I will give you something.”
He then picked up a copy of the Ramcharitmanas and said,
“I read this every day.”
He opened the book, flipped through its pages… and suddenly took out 700 rupees from between them and extended it toward me. His eyes were fixed directly into mine.
He said,
“Take this… you remember, don’t you, that I came in your dream? And you know what it meant. When will you start the work on the idol? I am giving you this money for that. I know you have nothing… but I will arrange everything.”
Hearing this, it felt as if time had stopped. This matter… this secret… was known only to me and God. In that moment, I felt—this is no ordinary man. It is some other power speaking through him.
My heart was overwhelmed. I could not say anything.
Then he held my hand tightly. Tears began to flow from his eyes. Crying, he said,
“Take me away from here… I will come with you. No one takes care of me here anymore. They don’t give me food… I feel hungry. Will you serve me? Will you feed me? I eat three times a day… There is a lot of money in this temple, but there is politics… no one looks after me.”
Every word of his was sinking deep into my heart. It felt as if not a saint, but God Himself was testing His devotee.
He then said again,
“You make the idol of Hanumanji… I will come to you.”
There was both a cry of compassion and a divine command in his words.
At that moment, tears began to flow from my eyes as well. I understood—this was not just a meeting. It was a sign, a calling… a way to show me the path.
(To be continued…)
Victory to the Divine! Glory to Bhole Baba