Chinmaya Mission Hyderabad was a blessed Centre for the only reason that Pujya Gurudev would come every year for conducting a Yagna. Interestingly, in some years, our Centre’s yagna may not be reflected in Pujya Gurudev’s itinerary. We all would pray that Gurudev would come that year too. Without any break, Gurudev used to come to Hyderabad, year after year, to conduct Yagnas. Wherever there was a cancellation, Gurudev would either send a telegram or speak to the Secretary of Chinmaya Mission, Hyderabad, and offer that slot to us. Of course, without any second thought, we would grab that opportunity. We were always greedy. Which Centre will not be greedy to have Pujya Gurudev? 

Gurudev would say, “Only twenty days are left. Can you all do it?”. As soon as any Centre cancelled their program, we were offered that slot first. Hyderabad also got the name ‘Cancellation Centre’. But we used to love to organise yagna in a short time. Often it used to be a challenge for us but in the end the yagna used to be a great success. 

It was in the year 1991, Pujya Gurudev came to Hyderabad for a yagna and stayed in the house of Justice Shri Ranga Reddy ji. Their family have been the devotees of Pujya Gurudev. Son of Shri Ranga Reddy ji is Dr. Ramesh. It was in the month of October, if I remember correctly. 

CHYK Hyderabad (CHYK – Chinmaya Yuva Kendra, the Youth Wing of Chinmaya Mission) was very active. We even got All India Runners-up Award for the Most Active CHYK Centre in the year 1988, and All India Best CHYK Centre Award in the year 1989. Obviously, our Chyk strength was very good and we used to have 40 to 50 regular and most active Chyks, like a firebrigade. We had many Chyk study groups in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the twin cities. 

Dr. Ramesh and our youth coordinator Late Shri Gopal Bhayya and myself had a small discussion and felt that all the 40 to 50 most active Chyks must be presented a memento each, recognising their seva to Chinmaya Mission and CHYK Hyderabad. Since Gurudev’s yagna was going on, we felt that we could request Pujya Gurudev to honour all the Chyks by presenting them a memento on the stage during the Yagna. We thought Gurudev would give mementos to all the Chyks and all the thousands attending the yagna would see it, and maybe inspire the youth in their families to attend Chyk classes. We also felt that it would be a great blessing to receive a memento from the divine hands of Pujya Gurudev. 

Dr. Ramesh went into the Gurudev’s room to ask about our proposal and request Him to give the mementos to all Chyks for all their extra-ordinary service to CHYK and Chinmaya Mission Hyderabad. 

I was standing outside the room. Dr. Ramesh came out after four or five minutes shaking his head, indicating that Gurudev did not agree. I felt disappointed and asked him what Gurudev said. Here is the reply from Gurudev…

“They are working for themselves, not for me.” As soon as I heard these words, there was a sudden blast in my mind with a new insight. My mind soared high into the depths of Gurudev’s words. It became extremely vivid to me that ‘yes, we are all working for our own evolution. Who are we to serve Gurudev or Chinmaya Mission or CHYK Hyderabad? We must be grateful to Pujya Gurudev for providing us all a great platform to learn, serve and grow. How foolish are we to understand that we are serving Gurudev etc. 

Whatever egos we were carrying at that time that we are serving and so on, were burst at once. 

Gurudev was never attached to anything. He would always say, “I am a pointer and not the pointed.” 

Please note one more point here. It is not that Gurudev did not give mementos or encourage all the Mission workers and devotees. Perhaps, we were highly blessed to receive such a subtle message. Maybe we have done some extra punya or merit to get such a splendid life transforming message from Pujya Gurudev. What else can I say?

From that day onwards, I have been only expressing gratitude to Pujya Gurudev with tears in my eyes that it is His kripa that is making us all work. He has been polishing us to the extent we are available to Him. Even as I am typing these words now, my eyes are wet. 

So, the mantra which I tell myself always is, ‘Be available to Gurudev’, rest He will do it. It is HE who will decide how to use us. We may be capable of doing many things, but it doesn’t mean that we will be given the work that  we love. Sometimes, we get work which we may not like or in which we may not be efficient. However, since the work came from Gurudev Himself, we should set aside our likes and dislikes, to the extent possible (as it is not easy for me, always) and execute the work. At times, Gurudev will make us fit for a particular work before that is given to us. Mysterious are the ways of the spiritual Masters. 

Surrender is the only option that we have. This will ensure our blossoming. 

Om Shri Chinmaya Sadgurave Namaha.

– Swami Chidrupananda
Chinmaya Mission Noida