The Grace of A Guru
VAISHNAVA JANA TO...
India's music maestro, M.S. Subbalaksmi had arrived in London for her greatest concert of all time.
On settling down in her London residence, she found the aggressive local weather had suddenly given her a sore throat which, by evening, had become worse.
At bedtime, the pain had become so severe that she realised she would not be able sing at her concert the next day. This would have been not ony a great disappointment for her but also for the elite sponsors and the international audience which would be waiting for her the nest day.
She had became extremely dejected and desperate when, suddenly, the rememberance of her Parama Guru, the then Pramaacharya of Kamakoti Sri Shankaracharya Mutt of Kanchi, known affectionately as "Periayavaal" among His devotees, arose in her suffering heart.
She sent silent prayers to Him, almost in tears, as Bhaktha Meera had once sung to her Lord Krishna... " Laaj raakho ji".
Soon sleep overpowered her.
Getting up early in the morning to complete her ablutions and practice for the concert, she found to her amazement that the painful sore throat had completely vanished !
Her enchanting silvery voice had returned in its full bloom !
The only medicine Subbalaksmi had asked for was her beloved Guru's blessings which she had received immediately, in ample measure, from thousands of miles away.
On the nest day, the concert was a tremendous success !
Subbhalakshmi had realised a great dream. She had sung to a highly respected elite international audience that had been anxiously waiting for her debut.
She was applauded all the way during the concert.
The song that brought out the greatest applause was the one composed by Naarsi Mehta... a song that was always the favourite of Mahaathma Gandhi.
__________________________________________