By Sri Skanda's Warrior of Light

August 6, 2002

Today was Adi-Chevvai (in Tamil). "Adi" means July and "Chevvai" means Tuesday. For the month of July, all the Tuesdays are very auspicious for Goddess Sakthi and Lord Murugan. So, I went to the temple, as I normally do. In spite of being tired from waking up every morning at 4am to do my daily sadhana consisting of pranayama, meditation, kungkumam archanai to the Sri Chakra (that Sri Narayani Amman graciously bestowed to me), sthothram recitation, and dravida vedam singing of the pancha puraanam and Thiruppugal hymns. I have been doing this by God's unlimiting Grace for the past six months and I have had the fortune of having wonderful and divine experiences with God as a consequence. In spite of engaging myself in selfless service every day, the constant wear and tear does take its toll on my body. Nevertheless, something still told me to go to the Murugan temple today, though I was so tired.

When I arrived I saw someone I have never seen before in the temple. It was an old lady and she approached me and asked, "Do you pray to Sri Narayani Amman?"

Surprised I paused for a while and then said, "Yes. I do. How do you know?"

She smiled and replied, "She is going to visit Canada soon."

"Really?" I inquired.

"Yes. She is coming." the old lady replied.

Sri Narayani Amma is a saint from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India whom I have had many divine experiences with. I have accepted Her has my Guru and to this day, I continue to receive countless blessings from God Skanda through Her. In fact, I see, pray, experience, and accept Narayani Amma and Murugan as One.

I was very happy to hear this from the old lady, whose name I later found out was Kamala-Ambikayae Amma [another name for Divine Mother]. Ever since I got into medical school with Sri Skanda's unconditional blessings, I had an urge to prostrate at my Guru's feet (Sri Narayani Amma) and receive Murugan's blessings through Her before I depart to pursue a seven-year intensive study of medicine. And when I heard of this good news from Kamala-Ambikayae Amma, I was absolutely delighted. I wondered if Sri Narayani Amma herself was speaking through this old lady.

Kamala-Ambikayae Amma again spoke, "Do you wake up very early before everyone else and do meditation?"

Again I was shocked and nodded, "Yes, but how did you know?"

She smiled and nodded Her radiating face. "I know. I've been watching you."

A divine feeling was felt when I was standing and talking with Kamala-Ambikayae Amma. I immediately touched Her feet in respect and awe for She knew things about me that noone else could possibly know, except for maybe God! Moreover, I kept wondering why I have never seen this lady before in my life.

After the puja was over, I went to hand out prasadam to the devotees when suddenly Kamala-Ambikayae Amma went into a trance-like state and commenced singing in a very melodic and beautiful voice a long sanskrit sthothram to Lord Muruga. Her eyes were closed and she kept making gestures (mudras) that resembled the way Lord Murugan appears in various vigrahas postures. I was amazed as I stood watching Her. After approximately six minutes, Kamala-Ambikayae Amma finished Her wonderful recitation and spoke [in sweet Tamil] the following words, as a Mother to Her Divine Child, "Appanettu poha vidaama ingai varapanittiya, Muruha!"

"[English translation:] Instead of allowing me to go and see your Father [Siva], you have brought me here, Muruga!"

She (Divine Mother?) then smiled at Lord Skanda, who was situated at centre of the temple and raised Her hand to Lord Murugan in blessings.

I immediately fell to the ground and prostrated at Her feet again. She said a sthothram and raised Her hand in blessing to me and to everyone else who prostrated to Her feet.

She then went to a male devotee and said [in Tamil], "Your heart is worrying too much about something. You leave it to Lord Murugan and He'll take care of it okay?" Upon hearing these words, the devotee, too, fell at Her feet.

I felt Divine Mother (Narayani Amma) was speaking to us today (even though my earthly mother didn't fully believe so)! To confirm my heart felt intuition, I had a wonderful dream of Sri Narayani Amma when I went to sleep that night... read on!

August 7, 2002

In the dream, I found myself with devotees who come to visit Sri Narayani Amma. These include my uncle (periyamama), my cousin (abiramy), etc. I saw Sri Narayani Amma doing pradakshina to Sinnamma (the small vigraha of Narayani Amman that She does puja to) and I immediately raised my hand in obesience. When She glanced at me, a big white flower appeared from thin air and landed on my head. It felt wet and a little heavy as drops of rose water ran down the side of my face. I, however, kept my gaze focussed on Narayani Amma. As She glanced again at me, in my hands suddenly appeared a handful of flowers. She smiled and went to a room. I followed but did not enter. She turned to look at me, raised Her hand in blessings and then silently closed the room door. As I bowed my head in reverence, I said, "Muruha, Muruha, Muruha." I then awoke.

Having had this dream, my intuition was correct about yesterday's incident. It was Divine Mother who came and blessed Her children yesterday! Thank you so much. I don't know what I did to deserve your Grace but I am humbled and continue to work everyday towards attaining your holy feet. I have always accepted and thought of one family — that of Sri Ganesha, Siva, Sakthi (Parvathi) and Murugan. This is the family I aspire to belong to after the fulfilment of my life's purpose. Thank you Amma for your infinite blessings. You have shown that you fully and whole-heartedly accept the prayers that I always send to Lord Murugan, for you and Murugan are One.

Sri Narayani Ammanukku Jai. Sri Murugan Perumanukku Jai.