by Subhasree Thottungal
Happy New Year!
December 2025 -I had such a blessed time meeting Mohanji—first briefly at the Ganeshpuri ashram as soon as we arrived in India, and then for four deeply blessed days in Shirdi while attending the weekend retreat and the Global Mai-Tri Meet.
After Shirdi, when Mohanji left, I did not know when I would meet him again. Meeting a Master cannot be planned or taken for granted. So every time I meet Mohanji, I take it as my last meeting and remain fully in that moment. If another meeting happens, it is pure grace.
Though there was the usual sadness when Mohanji left, I was content with the divine moments spent with him in Shirdi and moved on to our family holiday in the Maldives for a few days.
On the 29th of December, we returned from the Maldives and travelled to Palakkad, Kerala, for the final part of our vacation before returning to London. While travelling to Palakkad, I remembered that the last time I was there (in February 2025), I had unexpectedly met Mohanji, who happened to be there for an event I was unaware of at the time. Remembering that, a thought arose in me—I wish Mohanji were in Palakkad.
That was when I heard from someone that Mohanji was, in fact, coming to Guruvayur the next morning. I felt a little sad, knowing I wouldn’t be able to go, as we had returned late the previous night and also had family functions scheduled that day. I accepted that even though Mohanji was so close by, I wouldn’t be able to meet him.
The next morning, when I woke up, I saw Mohanji’s response to an earlier message I had sent him. He wrote that he would actually be coming to the Dharma Sastha (his Kuladevata) temple near Palakkad that afternoon for a couple of hours. We had planned to visit the Dharma Sastha temple a few days later anyway. But when I read his message, I suddenly felt, Ah, Mohanji heard my wish—and he is coming to Palakkad!
How could I miss this opportunity? I asked his permission to visit the temple that afternoon, somehow managed to attend the family functions as well, and then Harish and I set off for the Dharma Sastha temple. I kept praying that we wouldn’t be too late and that Mohanji would still be there when we arrived.
On our way, I received a message asking us to go straight to Anujan Uncle’s house (where Mohanji was staying) before proceeding to the temple. What joy! We were definitely going to meet Mohanji.
When we arrived, Mohanji’s voice—“Welcome, Subhasree. Welcome, Harish,”—felt like the most divine sound. Even though I had been with him just five days earlier, I felt overwhelming joy on seeing him again. It was the most pleasant surprise. Only then did I realise—he had actually fulfilled my wish and come all the way from Guruvayur to Palakkad! It had been a long day for him, and it was a very special day too—Vaikuntha Ekadasi, the day that opens the door to Moksha.
Mohanji had received a special invitation to visit the Guruvayurappan Temple and was escorted by the temple trustees right up to the Lord for a very close darshan. Straight from there, he had come to Anujan Uncle’s home before visiting the Dharma Sastha temple.
And here I was, standing right in front of him. I was so overwhelmed, almost pinching myself to make sure it was real. Mohanji was right in front of my eyes. I couldn’t go to Guruvayur—but he was here.
And that wasn’t all.
Mohanji asked me to go and visit his grandfather’s old house—the room where he was born. Harish and I went there along with Anujan Mama and Devdas.
As we entered the house, it felt like entering a temple. As Anujan Mama explained every detail of each room, the photographs, and shared stories from the past, I reached the room where Mohanji was born. I could smell the fragrance of tulsi and chandan (sandalwood). The room felt like the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Shree Mandir at Lord Jagannatha’s temple.
I wasn’t imagining this—I was feeling it in my flesh. I wanted to sit there for some time. As I sat down on the floor, even the tiled floor felt like the sandstone floor of the Jagannatha temple. How could I imagine such a tangible sensation on my skin?
I closed my eyes and felt as though I was inside the Garbha Griha of the Jagannatha temple. This was not ordinary. I had to force my eyes open because I felt I could easily drift away into that state—and I didn’t want to miss being with my Jagannatha, my Krishna, in physical form, sitting outside in the veranda.
When I returned to Mohanji, he asked, “How was it?”
I was speechless. Somehow, I conveyed what I felt. I told him, “Mohanji, this is the best place to meditate. I could sit there forever.”
Immediately, he said, “You can come and stay there for a few days,” and reiterated this to Anujan Mama.
What a blessing—to even be allowed into that room! I said I would plan it next time.
We still had some time before leaving for the Dharma Sastha temple. While everyone was sitting and Mohanji was speaking, I slowly asked—still struggling to speak—for his permission to press his feet. With so much love, Mohanji extended his feet. As I held his left foot, it felt like the foot of a little child—so soft.
I was feeling Krishna in every sense—his energy, the divine glow on his face, his smile, his aura, his fragrance, his humour, and now even his physical form. I was sitting at the feet of Krishna, my Jagannatha.
Mohanji was explaining the significance of Vaikuntha Ekadasi. I was floating in that moment, being with my Bhagawan. Time had stopped for me. Those few minutes felt like being in the Dwapara Yuga. What more contentment could one ask for?
Once again, Mohanji asked me, before leaving for London, to come and stay one night in the room where he was born.
After some time, we left for the temple. This was my first visit to the Dharma Sastha temple, which was consecrated earlier this year in May. I hadn’t been able to attend the consecration then. Now, my first visit became even more significant—I was going there along with Mohanji.
As soon as we entered the temple, it felt so familiar—like I had been there before.
At the first glimpse of the deity, as Mohanji offered his pranam, I witnessed a silent communion. This deity was not just a stone. Without any defined form or face, the Swayambhu stone was so alive, so powerful, radiating immense energy.
As I stood behind, witnessing the communion between Mohanji and Dharma Sastha, everything stopped—the world, the air, the sounds. The ground beneath my feet disappeared. There was no sense of touch, sound, or smell. It was almost like a vacuum, where the only reality was the communion between Mohanji and Dharma Sastha.
In the gross, worldly sense, it was Mohanji meeting his Kuladevata. In another dimension, it was the communion of Ayyappa (Dharma Sastha) and his creator, Maha Vishnu. What a blessing—to witness even a glimpse of this divine union. It felt grounding, yet lifting me beyond the skies.
After some time, Mohanji spoke with people and walked around. I was still in a state beyond my senses. When we came out, Mohanji was speaking to a few people. I looked up at the sky—the moon was smiling.
On one of the tree branches, I noticed the figure of a Naga Devata looking towards Mohanji. I observed it carefully, and once I was sure, I showed it to Mohanji and said, “Naga Devata is looking at you.”
Mohanji replied, “I haven’t visited the Naga Devata in the temple yet, so he is calling me.”
He then walked towards the Naga Devata shrine within the temple premises.
I even took a photograph of the Naga Devata form on the tree. Every inch of this temple vibrates with divine energy. The appearance and communion of divine beings, sages, and rishis is not unusual here. We simply need eyes to see and hearts to feel.
Before Mohanji got into his car, I told him about my new job starting the following week. Mohanji said this meeting was not a coincidence—my coming to the temple with him was also not a coincidence. I knew he had taken a detour for many reasons—one of them to fulfil my wish to meet him, and, more importantly, to empower and bless me for the next phase of my life. The blessing of allowing me to stay and meditate in his birthplace was no ordinary blessing.
After speaking to everyone, Mohanji left for Kochi. Everyone present stood in silent awe.
I too was floating in awe. Soon, we left as well. As I reflected on the day, my heart overflowed with gratitude for this extraordinary meeting. In just a few hours, Mohanji had brought such deep realisation, fulfilment, and clarity for the days ahead.
Every cell of my being was filled with gratitude—for once again, Mohanji had fulfilled his ordinary bhakta’s wishes, and so much more. I am just an ordinary stone, but my Bhagawan is the extraordinary of the extraordinary.
Koti pranams at the feet of my Guru, my Bhagawan, my beloved Krishna, my Lord Shree Jagannatha.
I love you, Mohanji—beyond what my words, my breath, or my prana can ever convey.
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|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||
Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 1st January 2026
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