Here's an assembly of words to expose a brief glimpse of the journey from the snapshot of BITS - Pilani - in front of Maa Saraswati temple - as a driven yet confused teenage boy - and then 16 years later in front of Linga Bhairavi idol at Isha - as a clearer yet excuse-making saadhak.
She took me in Her arms then,
Just one among the thousands of
young men.
Giving direction to the intense
upsurge of energy within,
Making the boundaries of one's
capabilities thin.
Dissolved utterly in Her loving
embrace was I,
There was nowhere else to go,
nothing low or high.
With unreasonable madness and the
passionate grit,
In front of Her shining white
stone form did I sit.
Words and judgements mattered
less and less,
Giving hard time to myself but
knowing that I was blessed.
I sit here today, yet again, in
front of Her another form, Bowing to my Mother while feeling
that I am being re-born.
Didn’t realize how these sixteen
years flew by,
A district collector was borne
out of our little boy.
Ridden with guilt, evasion and
all shades of emotions,
Ready to face the stormiest of
life's commotions.
Maa,
Hardly anything has changed since
we last met,
Posts and honours of this world
are not to be fret.
The boy is the same with shades
of emotions intact,
With his mad devotion and the
passionate grit to act.
Have been often fooled to believe
that I am on my own,
Don’t know how to thank You for
being there all along…
3 Years Later - 24th Feb, 2025
And today, You walk with me, blessing my home,
The haven where Niyati and your grandson roam.
Taking form in all that's tender and wise,
You swirl around me, a storm in the skies.
I tremble, uncertain, still lost in the fray,
Yet much must be done, the soil waits for the day.
I know not how the path will unfold,
For wisdom like this is too vast to hold.
Beneath the tamarind, with muscles worn,
You urge me to see as my mother had sworn—
Not in the greys, nor in the night,
But cherishing only the hues of white.
For even in caverns where shadows confide,
A flicker of light will always abide.
With my Guru’s blessing, this vow I make,
To kindle the flame, for all others’ sake.
I must burn my life energies bright,
Not just for kin, but for all in sight.
