Two days ago, I visited the JIVA campus to pay respects to HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. Fortunately, I was standing nearby a family who came with a wedding card to seek His blessings. I witnessed a beautiful conversation between Swamiji and a woman aged nearly 80 years. I want to share this with everyone…

As soon as Swamiji saw the family and noticed the old woman, I saw ‘happiness’ in His face and He immediately initiated a conversation with the woman.

Swamiji – “Jai Srimannarayana! How are you? It’s been so long since we saw you…” (smiles compassionately)

The Woman– (No response, but was looking into the eyes of Swamiji)
Swamiji – “Are you able to stand? You can sit if you are not okay to stand for long” (a volunteer arranges a chair so she can sit)

The Woman– (No response, but takes the offered chair and sits)
Swamiji – “We came to Maredpally long ago, and that’s when we saw you. Is everything okay?”

The Woman– (No response, but her daughter tells Swamiji that she gets her strength only when she hears of Swamiji)
Swamiji – (smiles) “Did you have Lord’s darshan in Divya Saketham temple?”

The Woman– (No response from her, but her daughter says that they had the darsan)
Swamiji – (offers well-wishes to the to-be-bride in words and by signing the wedding card)

The family was getting ready to take leave from Swamiji. I believe they spent around 10 minutes. In the whole 10 minutes, it was only Swamiji who was speaking to the woman but there was no response from her. I was wondering why she isn’t responding. I thought she may have developed speech issues.

The Woman– (gets up from the chair with assistance, folds her hands, bows her head and says two words)

రెండో శ్రీ రాముడే
Second Sri Rama!

I remembered from reading about Sri Ramachandra that He is a pu:rva bha:shi, one who initiates conversations…

It was dumb of me to think she had speech issues. The entire episode was an eye-opener to me. As she was walking out, I looked at her with awe. There are so many believers silently experiencing tremendous joy in devotion. I guess it outflows in such situations… like a child who would come running to her mother after being separated for a while, like a student who meets his favorite teacher in reunions. A true devotee experiences bliss in seeing her Lord after missing Him for countless lives – the ultimate reunion!

– An experience of a devotee
– 09th September 2021, JIVA a:shram