I decided to write about yoga in my life on the occasion of Pooja Swamiji Satyananda birth centenary.
One day in 1978, I had a dream and in that dream a swami appeared and said, ‘You have my blessings.’ I never imagined that this dream would be a turning point in my life. I lived in Coimbatore at the time.
On 18 January, I went to my sister’s place in Bangalore. I saw in the newspaper that on that day one Swami Muktananda was addressing the Rotary Club of Bangalore North. I was the Rotary President in 1978–79 and I went to attend the meeting. I was so impressed by the talk of Swami Muktananda on the topic ‘enfoldment of a genius’, I invited her to address our club in Coimbatore.
No sooner did I reach Coimbatore that I wrote her an invitation letter. She accepted and said she could also give classes. She asked where she could stay. I told her she could stay in our home. After a few correspondences, she agreed to visit Coimbatore on 9 April 1979. She addressed a few clubs and other institutions and conducted the class at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan until 21 April.
My wife, my daughter and I attended the yoga classes for the first time. I was so impressed by the way Swami Muktananada took the classes and it changed my life. Another swami, Swami Buddhananda, came in September for a week. Many people started coming to these yoga classes.
This was going on and in June 1981, Swami Muktananda said that this year’s Guru Poornima would be held in Jabalpur and whether I was interested to participate. I reached Jabalpur on 15 July. When I saw Poojya Swami Satyananda Saraswati, I immediately prostrated and touched his feet. When I looked up I was amazed that the swamiji who came in my dream and blessed me was the same Swamiji in front of me, smiling at me. I felt an electrifying feeling when Swamiji looked at me and I was blessed.
After attending the whole Guru Poornima function, I requested Swamiji to send a permanent teacher. On my return, with a few friends and industrialists we started the Coimbatore Yoga Centre and I was asked to be its Managing Trustee.
Swamiji sent the best teacher, Swami Muktananda as Acharya from Bangalore. The regular classes were going on and we heard that Swamiji was visiting South India and would be coming to Coimbatore from 29 January to 2 February. Swami Nishchalananda came from Munger, stayed at our home and made the necessary arrangements.
Swamiji stayed in an industrialist’s guesthouse and said he would not visit any home. Swamiji addressed people in several places. The main speech was in a big hall, at 6pm. By 5.30pm there was not much of a crowd. We were worried that we would cut a sorry figure as we had told Swamiji there would be a big crowd. To our surprise, by 6pm, the hall was overflowing and people were standing outside.
After Swamiji’s spellbound speech there were some dance programs. Swamiji asked whether I had STD phone connection in my house as he wanted to make a call to Bombay. When I said yes, he said, ‘Chalo, we will go to your house.’ I was really astounded and at the same time blessed. So Swamiji and Swami Nishchalananda came. Swamiji made a call to Bombay and stayed over an hour. We requested him to eat something and he took fruits and milk and asked Swami Nishchalananda, ‘Tum be khao.’ It is an elixir feeling and blessing which words cannot explain. We went with Swamiji and Swami Nishchalananda to Palghat and Chennai.
In 1994, I went to Rikhia and was fortunate to touch the feet of Swamiji. After my touching his feet, he told everyone that no one should touch his feet. I had his blessings and no sooner I came back I was promoted as Director of Marketing of my company Sical. I was very busy and could not meet Swamiji. In 2000, I retired on superannuation. A few months later, Swami Satyananda came in my dreams and said, ‘Bhul gaya kya? – Have you forgotten?’ Immediately I went to Rikhia for Satchandi Mahayajna and had the golden opportunity to speak to Swamiji and he blessed me.
Soon I got a call from Swatik Popes Ltd to join as Director Marketing. Then I was President of Vijaya Group of companies, Bangalore, and from 2008 as President of Unicon Scaffolding Pvt Ltd and its group.
In 2019, I once again had a dream when I touched Swami Niranjan’s feet. Immediately I went to Rikhia for Satchandi Mahayajna where I had the blessings of Swami Satsangi.
From 2019 I am the Independent Director of Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals Ltd. From 2010 I pursue my education and got six Masters in various subjects including English, Philosophy, Vaishnavism, Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, MPhil, and Sanskrit in 2022. I practise yoga daily as taught by Swamis Muktananda and Buddhananda (Australia), Kriyananda from Bangalore, and Nishchalananda of Wales, UK.
I am now 85 years old and have been blessed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati who came in my dream in 1979. I continue to have the blessings of Swami Niranjan and Swami Satsangi. Whatever I achieved is all due to their blessings.