Faith in the Final Hour

 

It was around 4:00 a.m. when I was jolted awake by a sharp severe pain in my chest, back and shoulder, an experience I never had before, like lightning striking within me. For a moment, I thought: Its an heart attack?

My first instinct was to wake my wife, but then later thought not to disturb her as she will get panicked. If this was the moment destined for me, then perhaps its better to face it quietly. Life & death, name, fame, wealth and practically everything happens the way he has decided Why should i be worried and resist something which is destined?

Lying in my bed, I folded my hands & whispered: God, I am ready. I chose not to fear and go along with him. You can call it as recognition of a truth that every soul has to walk alone in its last journey. No companion, no wealth, no bond can accompany one beyond a stage. 

Strangely, sleep wrapping me & I don’t remember what happened after that probably I went to his world and came back. 

I didn't consulted any doctor and neither thought of my family while i was in pain, as HE was only in my thoughts. Some may call it reckless, some may call selfishness , others may call it faith but for me, it was simply surrender to almighty. 

A Dream of Darshan: Seeking the Infinite Shiva

Dreams often arrive like whispers from the subconscious, carrying symbols that feel more real than waking life. One such morning vision unfolded as a journey—through water, stone, and mystery—toward the divine. Someshwar Jyotilinga on banks of River Ganga.

I found myself walking through the shallow waters of the Ganga, its cool touch flowing around my feet. The river was calm, yet eternal, carrying centuries of devotion within its currents. Beneath me lay rocky terrain, uneven and raw, reminding me that every spiritual path is marked by challenges. Each step felt like a cleansing, a preparation for something greater.

Emerging from the river, my path led to a temple. The name that echoed in my dream was Someshwar Mahadev, one of the Jyotilinga, The temple gates stood tall, I asked priest the way to the garbh graha, the sanctum where the divine essence resides. 

But just as I was about to step inside, the dream dissolved. The Jyotirlinga remained unseen. Was it Someshwar? Was it another form of Shiva? The Almighty had played a gentle trick, concealing the identity of the Shivalingam.

This concealment was not a denial—it was a lesson. The divine cannot always be grasped by the senses or confined to a single name. Sometimes, the mystery itself is the message. The unseen Jyotirlinga reminded me that truth is beyond form, beyond expectation, beyond certainty.

The dream was not about reaching the destination—it was about the yearning, the journey, and the reminder that enlightenment is not always immediate. The Almighty invites us to walk, to seek, to question, but also to accept that truth reveals itself only when we are ready.

Garbh Grah of Mahakaleshwar

Today morning, around 3:30 AM, I had a dream that left a lasting impression on my heart and spirit. I found myself standing in the Garbh Grah (sanctum sanctorum) of Shree Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the most powerful and sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. 

In the dream, I stood close to the divine Shiva Linga, the symbol of formless energy and eternal time. Mahakaleshwar — the Lord of Time (Kaal) — is not just a deity but a cosmic force that governs the cycle of creation and destruction. Mahakaleshwar is Time beyond time — Kaal who dissolves the illusions of ego, time, and form. To be present in his Garbh Grah, even in a dream, felt deeply symbolic. It was Brahma Muhurat, the most auspicious time of day when the mind is quiet, and spiritual insight flows more freely.

What struck me most was a vessel placed near the Shiva Linga, filled with water. Within it, I saw three creatures:

• A Fish

• A Snake

• A Crab

Their presence puzzled me, Waking from the dream, I carried a sense of peace — and a feeling that I had witnessed something sacred. The Garbh Grah of Mahakaleshwar is not just a place — it is a state of surrender, a space where time dissolves and truth reveals itself in silence.

May this dream remind us all: The divine is always near — sometimes, closer than our breath, and often, just a dream away.

The Serene Whisper of Ganpati

I didn’t know how I’d got there. One moment I was asleep, A wide, slow-moving river snaked through the scene and I was sitting at the bank. In the heart of the river, waist-deep, stood a lone figure.

I couldn't make out the face, but he was doing something in the water, hands moving with a deliberate, rhythmic grace. He wasn't fishing, nor washing clothes. There was a different purpose in his actions, a connection to the river itself.

Then, without conscious thought, the words began to form on my lips. They resonated from deep within me, a rhythm older than I, older than the trees, perhaps even older than the river itself.

"Oṃ namaste gaṇapataye. Tvam eva pratyakṣaṃ tattvamasi..."

I finished the Atharvashirsha, the final notes lingering in the air. A profound peace settled over me, a sense of completion I had never experienced before. The river was still again, its dark surface reflecting the dappled sunlight.

The feeling of peace stayed with me throughout the day. The challenges I faced seemed less daunting, the obstacles less challenging. The anxieties that had clouded my mind had cleared, replaced by a quiet confidence.

 

He visited me as I missed

 

I’ve been always grateful and obsessed with the Divine power and never forgot to remember and prayers to the creator of universe.

During my morning walks me and my wife always use to visit Hanuman temple seeking his blessings for our family. The daily walk to the temple was a ritual, a silent conversation with the divine.

One Tuesday, I slept longer than usual &   I had a vivid dream. A magnificent statue of Lord Hanuman, completely covered in vibrant red sindoor. The temple floor mirrored this vibrancy, dusted with the same red Sindoor.

Around the statue, an array of flowers, garlands, and puja materials created a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The dream felt exceptionally real, filled with a tangible sense of calm and warmth.

When I woke up, I felt remarkably calm and refreshed. I interpreted the dream as a sign of Lord Hanuman's blessings. The abundance of sindoor symbolized good fortune and protection. The peaceful environment reinforced the sense of calm I felt. The dream solidified my faith, leaving me with a feeling of renewed spiritual strength. The missed morning walk to the temple had been unexpectedly replaced by a deeply personal and reassuring divine communication

Divine or Mortal

With me residing in a metro city, having small 2 BHK house to stay is the maximum I could afford, its not that I don't have money to buy a luxurious residence but the money which I've has no materialistic value in this materialistic world as that money belongs to some other world.  

Small 2 BHK has its own challenges in terms of space, facilities and comfort but the one good thing is that everyone stays closer because there is no space  😆😆😆😆

My family being also small, me, my better-half and 2 kids and my mom also use to stay with us during those days, we reserved one room for her looking at her old age and comfort and Kids use to occupy another room as they also should have comfort of sleeping, Studying and relaxing. Me and my better-half were occupant of drawing room and use to work, dine, sleep and spent our entire days and nights in drawing room only. 

Along with us our Gods are also stationed in drawing room in a small temple....... Thank God I have a small reserved space for God 😊

We have a ritual to have a Akhand Diya in front of Goddess for the entire 9 days of Navratri,  During Year 2023 Navratri days,  one night while we were sleeping in drawing room with only light emerging from the Diya, I felt some noise coming from kitchen sink as if someone has placed a plate in the sink. I was in deep sleep and ignored the sound initially, but later a though struck to my mind that its Goddess Annapurna who had eaten something and kept the plate in sink thereafter. I was in deep sleep and thought that if noise comes again, I will ask Goddess whether she need anything else. 

In mean time my better-half who was also in deep sleep changed her side, I shook her and asked whether she heard any noise from Kitchen. She was terrifically frightened and thought I'm sensing some paranormal activity. 

I pulled on the lights and pacified her and narrated the incidence. After a while she went to sleep but I kept wondering  about the different lenses through which we perceive the world around us. Connecting the sound to the presence of Goddess Annapurna, reflects a deep thought of devotion and faith. The peaceful and sacred atmosphere of Navratri & Akhand Diya also contributed to this spiritual interpretation

I can understand wife's immediate fear and thought of paranormal activity, unexpected noises in the middle of the night can easily trigger a sense of unease, especially when the environment is dimly lit and quiet, her reaction underscores the common human response to the unknown and unexpected.

But I'm confident that it was Maa Annapurna who visited me during Navrati, but unfortunately because of me in deep sleep and ignorance I missed the changes to see her.

Jai Maa Annapurna

Yogeshwari Aai Darshanam

Dreams are mirror,  reflecting our innermost selves and surroundings, invariably capturing our desires, ambitions, fears, and the sentiments of our subconscious mind.

Dreams been a subject of fascination and interpretation and I consider them messages from God or a window into the future.

I dream quite frequently, including day dreaming, but I also strive to lay a solid foundation beneath my air castles. Recently, I was observeing some fasting, holding on a belief that one who can control hunger can master all feelings and senses.

Before starting my fasting period, I was eager to visit Shree Koleshwar Mahadev, Shree Mahankaleshwar Mandir Ujjain, or Yogeshwari Devi Sthanam in Ambejogai. However, family priorities kept me from going. Though unfulfilled, I accepted this as the will of the divine, which no one can overrule.

Having lived in this city for many years, I had never visited Chaturshringi Tirth Sthanam, even though I often passed by during my mother’s hospitalization, each time promising myself a visit. Yet, priorities held me back.

Feeling a bit frustrated that I hadn’t visited any of the temples and was caught up in the materialistic world, one night I dreamt of Yogeshwari Devi and in my dream I felt like Chaturshringi Devi is Yogeshwari devi herself. It felt like a message from the goddess, indicating that she was never far from me; she was right here in my city, waiting for my visit.

Thrilled and excited, I visited Yogeshwari Devi (Chaturshringi Devi) the very next day. The sense of fulfillment, contentment, and joy I felt was unparalleled.

From that day onwards, I made it a point to visit Chaturshringi Devi frequently, seeing her as my beloved Yogeshwari Devi.  Every time I stood before the deity, I felt a wave of fulfillment wash over me, as if all my inner desires were being acknowledged and understood.

Yogeshwari Devi Prasanna!!