MY BELOVED SAHEB
By
Vrunda Parmar
Hi,
My name is Vrunda, I am 14 years old, I am writing to tell you about how I met beloved Saheb.
In December 1994, I met Mahant Shree Jagdish Dasji Shastri Saheb for the first time when I went with my sister, Anitaben and brother Vimeshbai to Jamnagar, India. I then was 10 years old.
We arrived in Jamnagar in the late afternoon. After having a wash, the three of us went to see Param Pujya Saheb and to bow at his lotus feet. I had not met him before and therefore didn't know what to expect.
We approached the temple, which is situated in the corner facing the main gate. He sat there on a white cushion wearing his long white robe.
As we entered the temple, we bowed at his feet. I remember him gently putting his hand on my head. All of a sudden I felt warm and happy inside. From his face I could tell that he was delighted to see us. It felt as if he loved me more than anyone else in the world. He asked how we were and then to my surprise started to speak to us in English. His English was perfect with an Indian accent.
From that day, I spent every moment I could with him. I used to sit in the temple next to him. He used to talk to me sometimes like a father, very stern and authoritative. While at other times he joked and laughed with me like my friend. Whenever, I sat beside him I felt happy and did not miss my parents or my home in Zambia. One word that I used to use a lot was "hate", since, Pujya Saheb told me I have stopped using the word and instead use "I am sorry".
The days I spent there began at 6.00 O'clock in the morning. Then I just sat with Param Pujya Saheb or helped the women in the Ashram who were preparing prashad for the 7 day festival due to be held from 29th December to 4th January 1995. However, whenever I got the chance I would escape from the women, as I didn't like cleaning lentils. It was very boring.
In the evenings we would go for the sandhy prayers led by Pujya Saheb's. This was followed by Aarti. Saheb gave his discourses on a number of different topics each evening.
In September 1998, His Holiness Pujya Saheb came to Zambia (Africa). He gave many discourses (talks) at homes of devotees that he visited. While he was in Kitwe he usually stayed at our home. This was our opportunity to do his seva. We used to rub his Holiness's feet with oil before he retired for the evening. In the morning, all members of my family had the opportunity to do aarti and offer our love and devotion at his lotus feet. Quite often we accompanied Param Pujya Saheb on long walks in the morning. This was followed by breakfast where he left prasad for all of us.
With his blessings, both my little sister Dhriti and I had the wonderful opportunity to fly with him from Lusaka, Zambia to Nairobi, Kenya on route to England. I now go to school in Northampton and with His Holiness's blessings I am going to work hard and pass my GCSEs in 2 years time.