Stopping a train -HH Abhinava vidya teertha

Please read this episode and narrate it to your kids and children.

This incident had happened in the year 1963. A devotee's maternal side family comprising of 32 members which included Senior citizens and kids in the age group of 6-60 went to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi to perform a long pending Pithru Karma and seek the Blessings of their ancestors for an off spring to the eldest son in the family. 

After finishing the rites the entire family had to travel from Dhanushkodi to Rameshwaram by Tongas to board the Train for Kalladaikuruchi where Jyesta Mahasannidanam had camped for Navarathri. 

One can imagine the plight, a large contingent of 32 members and the kind of transportation in those years, it was clear that they would all be arriving late at Rameshwaram and therefore would miss the train to Kalladaikuruchi. 

It is impossible to conceive alternate or backup plans in those days, especially with such a large contingent and members getting stuck at Rameshwaram is the last thing they can wish for and the group size had kids at one end and very elderly at the other end. Therefore there was utter commotion and everyone was talking about missing the train without any further clues. 

One of the Senior most member of the family spoke and said, 'Let us all catch hold of the Divine Padukas of our Gurunathar. If anybody can stop the train for us, it is only our Gurunathar'. The commotion subsided and everybody attempted to meditate on the Divine Padukas. The man now raised his voice and said let us all chant the following verse 

'Chandrashekara Chandrashekara Chandrashekara Pahimam

Chandrashekara Chandrashekara Chandrashekara Rakshaman'

And made the entire 32 members including the kids to chant it in Chorus and continuously till they reached the station. 

They were indeed late but the train had still not departed. They loaded the luggage settled themselves comfortably and enquired why had the train not left the station on time. 

Here comes the answer. To their surprise they came to know that a bull had sat on the railway track half a mile ahead of the engine and refused to move. It was only after the family got settled in the train, the bull moved out of the track and the train commenced its journey. 

Interestingly this episode had been narrated by a lady who should be 56 plus now, but was then a little kid and part of this chorus group. 

With a sense of deep devotion she said, its the faith instilled by her Chittapa which brought  all of them into this Chorus chanting and had also  formed the foundation for her Guru Bhakthi.

Offering at the Lotus Feet of Acharyals.