Over these past few days of beautiful celebration, I’ve heard so many memories people have shared with Swamiji. I believe I’m not the only person who wishes I had more time spent with Swamiji. I was envious of all the people who met Swamiji at a very early stage in their lives and share the memories with their grandchildren today. Oh what I would I do to be able to call such beautiful memories mine.

As I sit here trying to put my emotions into words, it dawns upon me that I am so much more fortunate than I realize. Swamiji got my parents married. And just as he arranged for them to be wed, he chose me to be their child and he named me – he chose me to be his child.

He has brought us all into a world full of love and joy. He built a home in his heart and shelters us with his love. In that beautiful home, he built an altar for us by teaching us various mantras. He then taught us to offer flowers at the altar through dance and music. The importance of self-grooming was strictly imposed as we had to carry a beautiful image of ourselves to adorn the divine within us. Finally, he taught us the importance of serving and giving, with love. Tryambakam, TFA, Laavanya and Annalakshmi are the 4 gems Swamiji has gifted us. He’s given us ways to feed our souls with love and taught us ways to share that love with others.

Swamiji hasn’t been physically around for 9 years.. but I’ve felt swamiji’s presence so much stronger than i did before.He has brought so many amazing people into my life and a huge family i can call mine. Through difficult times and beautiful ones, i can always feel his presence guiding me through it all. He resides in all our hearts, and that feeling that we get when we hear is voice, or sing his songs.. that knot that we feel in our chest.. is just his embrace of love.. reminding us he’s always here..