| Index Chapter I
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI |
Chapter II
- The Wonder Saint of Kashmir
- by
- Prem Nath Razdan
(Mahnoori)
The
Chit Episodes
In one of his resting places in Karan nagar, Srinagar, a lady offered him, and all others
present there, tea. He, as was his wont, gave her an open chit with the following words
written on it: "Hamare Baad Kashmir Main Sheikh Sahib".
She handed over the chit to her father-in-law who immediately interpreted it to imply that
Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah might come back to Kashmir politics. Soon after that, though none
expected such a welcome return at the time, hot rumors began to trickle in to this effect
which ultimately came true in 1975, with the signing of the Centre- State accord, better
known as Indira-Sheikh Accord, and popularly known as Kashmir accord when Sheikh Mohammed
Abdullah took over the reins of the J&K State Administration into his hands as
its Chief Minister.
Swami Ji left for his heavenly home in 1973 and Sheri-Kashmir went personally to the
Karan Nagar cremation ground to lay wreath on his mortal remains there. Soon after he
became the Chief Minister of the State in 1975. Such an honour was found to enhance his
presence and restore his popularity and dignity. On the Horns of Dilemma Between the
Devil and the Deep Sea
One Pandit Qazi, an Executive Engineer and Swami Ji's devotee, on going to his normal
visit to Swami Ji, while leaving his home, had promised his father that he would not take
meat on that day, an auspicious holy day. There he took his seat near Swami Ji. Soon
'Teher-te-charven' (turmeric coloured cooked salty rice and the liver of sheep), an usual
offering by Kashmiris on some auspicious functions, was brought by one of the devotees for
distribution. The above mentioned engineer found himself embarrassed. He felt to be on the
horns of a dilemma. On one hand he had promised his father that he would not take meat
that day and on the other hand he dare not decline the offer of such a "prasad"
and "navied". He was deeply brooding over the issue; a storm in his mind created
a tempest like situation in him.
Surprisingly, unlike the usual and normal practice of starting districting the
"prasad" from the end where Pt. Qazi was sitting near the Swami Ji, the donor
started from the other end. When he reached the engineer, he by-passed him and went on
distributing the "Navied" from a man sitting next to him, to his great relief.
How amusing !
Transmission of Energy
One young Mr. Qusba in U.S.A. got his pancreas damaged in an accident in his own car. At
one stage, in the hospital he was declared very serious. His parents who were in Srinagar
were informed telephonically about the accident and his condition. His uncle got
restless and could not get a wink of sleep during whole night. Early next morning he
went to Swami Ji, staying at that time across the street. Sensing Qasba Sahib's agony, he
said, " How will one live on empty stomach" implying that the victim was not
given any food to eat. After a few days at another place nearby, he said " Bring some
tea for us to drink." Qasba Sahib asked the victim's mother to comply. A third time
"Kheer" (rice cooked in milk and sugar) was demanded. This too was complied
which was followed by solid food. Dates of all these events had been recorded by the
concerned. Direct telephone calls were exchanged between Srinagar and the U.S.A. On his
return for a short sojourn to the Valley after his full recovery the victims confirmed the
dates when he was administered glucose, given tea to drink, semi-solid and solid food to
eat and so on.
Surprising: Marriage Fixed
One of the well educated, saintly daughter of a family
with whom Swami Ji stayed for more than a decade was quite averse to marriage. She
would not agree to get married. This was a very serious problem for the family. Once when
the family had gone out with Swami Ji, on way back Swami Ji touched the door of a new
building saying, "This house is for (giving the name of the girl) to look
after". Nobody among the party understood what he meant; even the girl herself did
not understand what he meant by it. The mystery got revealed quite after some time when
the girl was married to a boy from the family living in that house.
Endurance
Once while Swami Ji was dictating something to someone as usual, he was holding a hot cup
of tea in his hand. Suddenly some one (perhaps a child, I cannot recall who), knocked his
arm throwing down the hot tea on his arm. Immediately blisters became visible on the arm.
It was a very painful situation, but Swami Ji still held the cup of tea in his hand and
continued dictating unmindful of the excruciating pain in the arm he must have been
obviously experiencing.
Absurdity of logic: Ego humbled
and logic mellowed down
One day I happened to drop in one Mr. K. N. Kaul's house where Swami Ji lay on a cot with
a prominent Muslim devotee sitting on the floor just near the shoulder-leg of the cot
surrounded by an august gathering of other people of equally high status in the society. I
quietly took seat near the feet-side of the cot looking towards Swami Ji.
Some of those dignified gentlemen were found busy in drawing and painting maps either of
India or Asia or world. (I do not recollect exact details). A few of these maps were
pasted on the walls. A flash of evil thought overtook my mind; why should such
intellectuals of high standing undertake to do such a petty job of little utility? I felt
uneasy and was feeling as if I was sitting on a bed of thorns there. And lo! Instantly a
gentle glow of serene light shown over the Indian Ocean on the South West of Sri Lanka
which attracted my eyes and absorbed any attention. My ego was humbled down and all my
logic mellowed and rendered absurd. I turned my fallen face towards Swami Ji with humble
feeling simmering in my mind as if to seek Swami Ji's permission to leave.
To my great relief, Swami Ji very affectionately moved his right arm to permit me off.
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