Yes, I felt Krishn!
It may sound bizarre for many, unfathomable for a few and exaggeration for scores who read this piece. But, yes. I felt Krishn. It was my first encounter with the God of millions. In later years, He planted in me the seed of creativity from where words flowed spontaneously about Him, inciting me to type them, which turned into a saga of the God in print. And The Eighth Avatar was born.
It happened 12 years ago. It was four years past my attainment of my post graduation degree from Pune.
When I became a postgraduate, I planned to settle in Pune. I had been in Pune for only two years then. (Sometimes, emotional bonding at home binds you. And sometimes your place stops you.) From my birth till my graduation, I was always with my parents, my siblings, and with the warmth of my hometown Rupai Siding. This was the place that nurtured me, fostered me, cheered me, and made me trek through the thick and thin of life. And my decision was Rupai Siding. I taught in school. I taught in college. Two years passed by.
Fate had something else in store for me. My weak financial background compelled me to pursue my career in a happening city. Delhi conjured up with Rupai Siding, facilitating my relocation. And I ended up searching for a job in the capital city of India. I got recruited at a publishing house as a Trainee Editor.
I belong to the Bishnupriya Manipuri community, who are devotees of Krishn. Located around 25 kilometers from Rupai Siding is the district town of Tinsukia. More than 20 Bishnupriya Manipuri families have settled at a village called Lohari Kachari in Tinsukia. Community members from several regions in the district of Tinsukia donated for the construction of a temple dedicated to Lord Krishn and Lord Shiv at Lohari Kachari.
My visit to Rupai Siding was limited to twice a year for 15 days each. Every time I visited home, I visited the Lohari Kachari temple.
One and half year passed by. I visited home again after five months. And I visited the temple. The Bishnupriya Manipuri Pujari, who resided in the temple premises, told me that the dresses of Krishn and Radha should be changed. The dresses hadn’t been changed for over five years. He solicited me to be the sponsor, citing I worked in the city. I immediately replied in the affirmative. He advised me to get the dresses from Manipur.
My parents entrusted the task to a distant relative of ours. The total cost of the dresses and accessories of Krishn and Radha were estimated at Rs. 10,000. I was yet to get my remuneration. I told my parents that I would send the money as soon as I would get my salary. And I came to Delhi.
Though I was promoted to an Editor after a year after my joining, the amount I received every month was only enough to sustain myself with very little savings. I hadn’t changed my employer yet. If I would give Rs. 10,000, I would have to cut on my expenditures for the month. But happy that I would be donating for the Krishn I revere, thoughts about possible inconveniences vanished.
I visited the ATM the day I got my salary. I withdrew an amount of Rs. 10,000. The next morning, I went to the post office and sent the amount at my home address by ‘money order’.
The next day, I went to the ATM again to withdraw money to pay my house-rent and for daily expenditures. The balance amount showed Rs. 700. It was only the beginning of the month. I decided to borrow money from a friend if I needed it during the month.
After five days, my father called me up to tell that he had received the amount of Rs. 10,000 and that the person entrusted with the task had arrived with the dresses. I got another call from my father after two days that Krishn and Radha at the Lohari Kachari temple were decked up brightly in the dresses and accessories that I had sponsored. I felt elated.
A week later, I went to the ATM to withdraw some money. When I opened my bank account I was told that there should be a minimum balance of Rs. 500. I remembered I had merely Rs. 700 in my account. Hence, I could withdraw only Rs. 200. To my surprise, the balance after the withdrawal of Rs. 200 showed Rs. 10,500! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I checked it again. Rs. 10,500 was the balance amount! I immediately called up my father and asked him if he had really received Rs. 10,000 from me by money order. And he replied in the affirmative. I checked the balance amount of my account once again. And it showed Rs. 10,500.
The next day, I inquired my office accountant if he had deposited Rs. 10,000 in my bank account. The accountant nodded in the negative. I asked him to check to confirm. He did. And he affirmed that no transactions took place between me and my employer after the deposit of my salary for the month.
No one, not even my parents, except my office had my bank account details.
I went to the ATM to recheck. And it again showed Rs. 10,500. I walked home, covering the distance of 1 km from the ATM in slow steps, contemplating on how the miracle happened. Suddenly, I got goose bumps. My soul interacted with the infinity. A blanket of darkness enveloped me for a second. I got the answer. I felt Krishn.
