GURUJI

Nandini glanced through her album of photographs. She likes to capture precious moments in life. Every picture has a story to tell. Those pictures are little moments but nostalgic memories. 

The Blue City Jodhpur is a beautiful place with many forts and palaces. She has a special attachment to that city because, there she met Shri Ramchandra Goyalji, her guru in the music field. She remembered how she met him and later became his favourite disciple and adopted daughter. 

‘This photograph clicked with Goyalji and his family is very close to my heart. I miss him and his family. Today is Guru Purnima. So I should write a letter to my respected guruji and send it to him as email’-Nandini thought. 

“Dear Papaji, 

Namaskar! Saadar Charan Sparsh! 

I remember meeting you in a hospital. You were admitted with a heart attack. Bohraji introduced you to us. “Shri Ramchandra Goyalji, the famous bhajan singer of Jodhpur”- I touched your feet and paid obeisance. I was introduced as a singer, writer and Army Doctor. You told me to meet you after discharge from the hospital. When we visited you I humbly touched your feet and expressed my wish to learn Meera Bhajans from you. 

“I stopped teaching students since my son’s death in a tragic accident.” Seeing my sad face, you continued: “But don’t worry. Sing a bhajan for me.” After hearing my bhajan, you smiled with tearful eyes and told me. “OK Beti, come after a week. I will teach you 3 or 4 bhajans.” I was astounded and couldn’t believe my ears. I knew that it was God’s blessing. 

That was a memorable day for me when you took me to your Puja room and performing the rituals, accepted me as your disciple. I touched your feet and you blessed me. Seeing my power of grasping the nuances of music, devotion to God, humble personality and dedication, you were impressed and taught me more bhajans. 

“Beti, when you sing Meera bhajans, close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you are Meera Bai. Try to visualize and feel the pain, devotion and surrender to God in her bhajans. Think that you are Meeraji singing for Lord Krishna”- I am still following your inspiring words in my music career in AIR recordings and Bhajan programmes. Your melodious compositions had the power to touch the hearts of listeners taking them to a world of devotion and divine music. By God’s grace, I learnt the correct pronunciation of Rajasthani words in Meera bhajans. I decided to make an audio cassette. 

Touching your feet, I gifted you my first music album ‘Araj Meera ri sun re’ and expressed my gratitude to you. 

“No beti, no need to thank me. It is the Guru who selects his disciples. You have passed my test with flying colors touching my heart with your melodious voice and soulful singing. I consider you as my daughter. You should call me Papaji. My blessings are always with you.” 

You refused to take money saying “You are my daughter. How can I accept money from you? If you want to express gratitude, try to make Meera bhajans reach the maximum audience.” I was overwhelmed. When we left Jodhpur, I gifted you an idol of Goddess Saraswati as my Guru Dakshina. 

 Whenever I talked to you I could feel a father’s love in your affectionate words. Today, on Guru Purnima, I pray to God for your good health and long life. You are my Guru who introduced me to myself. I feel that the soul of my late father is still alive through a loving and pious person like you. And I am your humble daughter seeking your blessings, Papaji…... 

Your daughter, 

Nandini”. 

Nandini remembered the Meera bhajans taught by her Guru. They are very melodious and well appreciated both by the audience during music festivals and devotees in temples. She missed her guru and those bhajans. She sighed and wiped her tears. ‘I can visualize the smile on Papaji’s face when he reads this. I know that his blessings are always with me’-She smiled. 

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