21 Jan 2023
[By Dr J.S.R. Prasad]
My immunity level goes down in winter season and sometimes, it effects my health also. That is why I try to keep myself warm and take utmost care by not exposing to severe cold.
On 10th of January, 2023, I got a phone call from the Controller of Examinations of Central Sanskrit University, Delhi. He requested me to visit their institution on a confidential work for two days between 14-16 January. I told him that I am frightened to come to Delhi due to the extreme cold weather as being reported in the news. But he said that the low temperatures are not constant and are varying day by day, so I should not worry about that. I was in a dilemma whether to accept this invitation or not. Being in academics, sometimes some obligations become inevitable for people like us.
Believing his words, I prayed to Swami and confirmed my visit to them. Initially, I thought to go there on 16th but, the CoE insisted me to come there by 14th. Accordingly, the tickets were booked. Now, all airlines made it compulsory to make a web-check in before boarding the flight. I had to wake up at 4 am on 14th morning in order to catch the flight. On the day before departure, before going to sleep around 11:00 pm, the day before the departure on 14th, I realized that I did not do the web-check in. Then I tried to check in online and the system did not allow me to do it showing some error messages.
I got a little tensive and prayed to Swamiji to help me since it was an important assignment accepted. I tried again by going to ‘itinerary details’ page by giving the PNR number. In no time, the system showed that web-check in is done already and the boarding pass is generated! I am relieved from tension and thanked Swamiji for His wonderful grace (āścaryavat paśyati kaścidenam) and I left to Delhi on 14th morning.
As soon as I exited from the Delhi airport at 9:30am, I felt as if an extreme cold wave is hitting me continuously. The taxi driver is on the way and it would take some half an hour for him to reach the airport. Shivering in cold, immediately I wore my winter jacket. Luckily, I found newly installed heaters nearby for comforting myself at the visitor’s longue. Same time, I got a phone call from Sri Phani ji to inquire if everything is fine with me!
After sometime, the driver has arrived and dropped me at a hotel room near the Sanskrit University. The mercury levels drastically dipped down in Delhi between 14 to 16 January and I am supposed to work late in the evenings to complete the work. The cold wave is severe in North India and about 7 and 2 degree Celsius temperatures were recorded during day and nights on 14th and 15th of January, respectively.
The news media reported that the prevailing cold is the lowest in the past 23 years which I never knew. You can imagine, it is impossible for an asthmatic person like me with weak immunity to survive in such an extreme cold condition. I realized that no thermals and woollen material can protect me from the impending strike of the cold tiger.
Once again, I prayed to Swamiji unhesitatingly. Surprisingly, change in the weather and food did not affect me at all in spite of any of these adversaries. His Holiness Swamiji, the ocean of compassion, showered His infinite grace again by protecting me from that freezing winter of Delhi. I Safely left Delhi on 16th morning by 10:00 am.
Indeed, on 16th January the Safdarjung observatory in Delhi recorded 1.4 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature. Also, I realized later that all schools in Delhi were closed for a week until 16th January due to the extreme weather situation. No doubt, my body would have been brought back in a state of coma, had not Swamiji protected me all along my trip!
This proves again that Swamiji’s compassion knows no bounds and it never discriminates even an inferior soul like me.
My Lord, how can I thank You except that prostrating again and again at Your holy lotus feet!
Jaya Guru Datta.
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