"Nothing is impossible to Sadguru" - (By Greeshma)

My respect and devotion towards Nannagaru has increased tri fold after my visit to India. I concentrated on my studies later on. The more I remembered him, the more I used to get dreams about him. Some were bitter, some were sweet but the thing to be happy about is I had his darshan some way or the other, though being thousands of miles away from him.

After few months, things were not going well, my graduation kept getting delayed , as my professor was not happy with my work. It was almost a year that it got delayed. I lost my patience and was very upset and depressed about this. This went on for an year and ye no result. With my parents consent I decided to visit India to get relieved for few days. This was my second visit to India after a year gap of last visit.



Nanna was coming to Hyderabad on the event of Guru Powrnami, I decided to book my ticket before his visit. The day I landed in India it was my birthday, the next day Nanna was to come to Hyderabad. I decided to celebrate with him, I brought all kinds of sweets, nuts, chocolates and garland, clothes. I prepared myself for the next day in a perfect way,

Next day ,early in the morning, at 5 am I rushed to SR Nagar Colony . I offered all the condiments one after the other to him, Nanna blessed me heart fully, and asked whether the bowls(in which I offered condiments) I brought were from my house or did i borrow them from here. I said I brought them from home, he gave an ecstatic smile. He told to pack everything carefully, all the bowls :) .Such is Nanna.My heart was filled with mirth and joy as I was waiting for this day since long time.


I discussed about my education with him, he said" Definitely, You will complete your Masters."

The next day was Guru Powrnami day, all rituals were performed, and we were in line to have glance of SadGuru. As his eyes fell on me, he continued to look into my eyes for a minute, and I made prostrations. He himself selected two apples from bag and closed his eyes, touching fruits to his heart he gave them to me. He said you will complete your masters. In no time all three days were over, and Nannagaru left to Jinnuru.



As a month passed by, time has come for me to depart to US, I visited Nanna this time before I left. We went around 3:00 AM, I sat somewhere behind, he noticed and blessed me, later he came forward and sat on a chair which was in front of me. As he looked into my eyes, I cried bitterly, couldn't control my tears. He consoled me more than a father, and I almost felt like he wiped my tears with his hands. He assured me that I would complete my masters, but I ,still couldnt stop my tears. He spoke about Abdul Kalam, how he struggled in his early days of career, how he failed in bagging an opportunity to become a pilot. But I still felt very sad in my heart, as this was the first time in my life I was facing such a hardship. Somewhere in my heart I had a feeling that I study well, and I never faced any failures at least in my studies, this was little hard for me to face the reality. He said you are an intelligent student, but destiny is such that you decided to research under such professor. But still seeing my sad heart, he bent forward and uttered these words - "I promise you, you will 100% get your Masters in your hand". Everyone around were amazed and surprised as we never heard a word promise from his mouth, so was I. I felt ashamed of myself, having no faith in him. But my tears have been double folded now, but not because of my concern for my Masters, but because I couldn't leave him, and told him that it was hard to be away from him. He smiled, and said, do call me now and then, then you will feel much better.


I made pranams to him, and left slowly. This time it was hard for me to leave India, but with a very heavy heart I flew to US.



As days passed, my professor was still so stubborn, things haven't changed, but I had faith in Nanna's words. At last I decided to apply for graduation so that he might change and sign my research. But still my professor said, I am expecting a bit more work from you. I was depressed and decided to discontinue my Masters, I consulted my parents, they said do whatever your heart says as you are in a better situation to decide. I called Nanna , told him about the present situation, he said - "Just try once, if not fruitful discontinue". I agreed and obeyed his words.


I did some work, and started documenting on my research. After a week, I visited my professor, after few minutes of discussion, he said - "lets prepare for your graduation" I was awe struck at his words, I literally felt Nanna has done some magic and changed my professors mind. Within three months I graduated and bagged a job as well. Later on my parents informed Nannagaru about this, and he conveyed his happiness. I also gave him a call, he said I am very happy for you amma, you have told such a good news. I didn't know what to say, I told him that's his grace. I had tears out of his grace once I hung up.

This is all Guru's work, there is nothing impossible for a Guru, and this was a perfect example of the same in my life. The more I loved him from then, just not because he fulfilled my desire, but making me understand that he is always there for us and with us in all walks of our life.

"Taste of God" - (By Greeshma)

I was left with his pure love. At last the time has arrived; I had to depart from India. Few days back, I had a wish, that I could have a glance of my guru before I leave. I think he listened to my prayers. Four days before my travel, I got the news that he would be visiting my city on an occasion of a wedding.

There was no limit to my happiness. It was just a day before I had to leave, that he arrived. I went to the place where Nannagaru resides. As it wasn’t a planned occasion there weren't many devotees for his darshan. To my surprise that day, it happened to be Krishnashtami (Lord Krishna's bday). I felt what a sheer coincidence! I felt how fortunate am I to have a darshan of Lord Krishna on his birthday.

I felt happy that I could spend few minutes at his feet. Meanwhile I was doing chanting of Shree Ram as I do it often for my japa, and to behold!! There my Guru comes; he slowly walked into the hall.

He saw me, and felt happy, and asked “when are you leaving?” I said “tomorrow.”

He said “Very Good.”

Later his attendant came to massage his legs; meanwhile he closed his eyes and was in silence.

After the attendant left Nannagaru opened his eyes and immediately looked at me.

Nannagaru then said "you not only have good intelligence but also a good heart. People often miss one or the other but you have both. A balanced person should have both good heart and good intelligence”



Below are the few words that I wrote in my diary that he addressed on that day -

“More Remember Krishna, remember more and more.” then with a smile he extended saying then people will not address by your name but they will call you as Hare Krishna.

“American people faces have smiling faces, we always have weeping faces. The difference is they do duty towards family, but we get attached. For whom you are shedding tears, 90% of them will not look after you.”

“As you understand Krishna, all the sorrow in your cart will transform to happiness.”

“Ramakrishna on the day before he left his body he said to Naren - Whatever I gained with all efforts during the course I gave it to you, by doing so I became poor man. ”

Ramakrishna says to Naren - “You should teach the world”

Then Naren says - “If I realize that’s enough, I don’t have any intentions to preach the world.”

Ramakrishna replies - “I never thought you were very small minded. Even if you don’t have interest in teaching, your bones will teach the world”

“Don’t have anger on any person. When you realize you and the other person are one, then you will not get anger. This is the state of ONENESS”

Someone offered fruits to Nannagaru, then Nannagaru said - “I am the giver, I am the taker.”



Then he spoke few words on Krishna, -

“Krishna is beauty. If he scolds it is beauty. Krishna is truth. Truth is beauty. Krishna is decorated good.OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA, is the Krishna’s mantra. Vasudeva means spreaded God. Everything is Vasudeva. ”

“You might think in your mind, there is no second thing than this. It might take thousands of thousands births to get it into experience. This depends on maturity in your mind. It might take thousands of births to get experience in heart on whatever we are saying.”

“This is Kaliyuga Mantra - Hare Rama Hare Krishna.”

“You will become purified by chanting this name. By chanting this all impurities in you will be washed away.”

“If you prostrate once to Krishna, it means you are prostrating to all Gods and Goddesses in Universe.”

At last he said - “We have discussed and talked almost for one hour, what is the use for all these sermons”

He looked into my eyes and with a smile he said - “For you to get the taste of God. If you have not tasted this, your mind will not get introverted. ”

I cried bitterly. He extended saying -

“There is no Nanna, no Subamma, to get this realized it takes hundreds of births. By only purity you will get this realized. He is the God for all five elements, not only for us, he is the God of Gods.”




I felt so much bliss; he addressed all these gems looking into my eyes. Tears did not stop. I felt Nannagaru was drowning in bliss or ecstasy and I clearly could see that ONENESS through him.

Later it was surprise that we all celebrated gopala’s birthday with nannagaru along with cake celebrations.

Nannagaru smiled and did cut the cake, and we all sang, as "OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA". Our hearts filled with joy happiness and ecstasy around... clapped hands...

He took very small piece and fed into my mouth. I was about to take it with hand, he refused to do so...my mind for a moment became no mind, it was joy,peace, ecstasy ,bliss whatever you call .It was not just a piece of cake, but a taste of God. I felt this is enough for my life. All I had was tears of joy...happiness...

Having experienced those moments, I dint feel like leaving nannagaru. So I planned to stay back for few more hours. Since I couldn’t bring anything for my guru, I thought to get some sweets. I bought some sweets, meanwhile he had his lunch. So I offered him sweets. He gave me one, and gave the rest as Prasad to others.

There were some other devotees who came to celebrate aksharabhyasam (To choose an auspicious day to start the education of a child). Nannagaru wrote OM on the slate in Telugu. He made to write the same with the child. Later someone bought butter since it was krishnashtami, Nannagaru on seeing this butter said "Krishna would swallow you when your heart becomes like butter". He blessed the children with akshintalu (Sacred and holy turmeric rice grains). He then called me and blessed me.

He then asked “Did you pack your luggage?” I said “No.” He said “You will be getting late, weigh the bags and pack them.” I felt I am unable to leave you my lord, but where there is meeting there is parting. I felt I now have loads of peace and joyous moments that I can cherish throughout my life. I left happy.

When I first left to US I cried a lot, but after having these joyous moments, I dint shed a tear though my parents felt little bad. I got an assurance from him that I am with you, so I dint had any piece of sorrow.

After a day, Nannagaru said to my mother - "This is an unplanned meeting amma, we haven't planned for this occasion it just happened within 2 days. We didn’t know we were to come to Hyderabad also, unplanned meetings are more sweeter than planned meetings.”

He also extended saying – “It is good that Greeshma moved to United States”

Guru’s grace is unseen. I am not sure why he made that statement at that point, but, I now realize the depth and will reveal in upcoming notes

"You are my spiritual child" - (By Greeshma)

My real spiritual journey and devotion intensified from here.

I was homesick; felt there was nothing here but just a mechanical life. I felt I was all alone and I cried many days for being apart from my parents and dear ones. There was a situation where I felt I should leave USA and go to India, but some force just stopped me from doing so.

I also felt I was far away from Nanna and I cried a lot for him too. But the grace I received was unseen and unheard, that cannot be expressed through words, though I didn’t notice it then.

I slowly started listening to his speeches from his website. Though I was amongst many people I still felt alone and something was amiss. The more I listened to his speeches, the more love and respect intensified for him. I felt some unknown bond is slowly strengthening between us, as his work is unseen and unheard. It is the silent work of GURU.

Though I was physically away from him, often I used to get short dreams where Nanna used to embrace me and shower his love. In one such dream I remember where Nannagaru said, “Please, give way to her. she is the closest devotee to my heart.” Whenever I felt longing for him, he used to come immediately in a dream and bless me.



As a year passed I paid a visit to India, which told me how much did I actually miss it.
It was in 2008, July-August. It was my first visit to India after completion of one year at USA. Everything was coincidental and was fortunate that I had an opportunity to visit Nannagaru on Guru Pournami (On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.). I felt it was such a blessing to visit Guru Nanna on this auspicious day, after so long time and everything was perfect on that day.

At last we reached to the place where Guru Pournami celebrations were taking place. The moment of joy in my heart after having a glance of Guru can't be expressed or narrated. Formalities, rituals were being performed; it was the time where Guru is giving darshan to his devotees. I was in a big queue waiting for a glimpse of my guru. As I had to wait for long, I was chanting his name and was in satsang with my mother and my respected aunt talking about guru's grace, the discussion was endless because such is the grace of the guru - Infinite. Within no time we were few foot steps away to get glance of Guru.

The moment arrived, Nannagaru just looked into my eyes for few seconds, asked when did I come from USA? He asked how was I doing. I said all is well with your grace my father. I could see through his questions he was showering blessings and grace. I offered him chocolates as dakshina (offerings given with respect), he said did you get it from abroad? I said yes Nannagaru. He said very good.

He gave me some fruits and had to leave since there was big queue behind waiting for his darshan. Later on he gave a spiritual discourse.

At last we dispersed.



Fortunately Nannagaru had plans to stay for 4 days in my city. I felt happy that I had some time to spend with Nannagaru, it was again his grace and will. Everyday morning, at 6:00 AM I used to go to the place where Nannagaru resides. Everyday he used to stay in silence or address few words of wisdom. As it has been long time since it happened, I couldn’t remember the words that he spoke , more than his words his silence was as pure as gold, which I can experience till date and I am sure I would cherish that peace & bliss for life long. The four days passed within no time.

It was the day that Nannagaru had to leave to his native place. He said where there is a meeting there will be parting. I felt this parting time is hard to experience. He usually comes to the railway station 1 hour before so that he could settle down and look at the devotees. He arrived, we all walked along with him to the platform where the train departs from. I felt I was walking with god. Undoubtedly walking with Guru is walking with god.

He slowly looked at everyone and it was my turn, he smiled and blessed. With a benevolent smile he said to an aunt nearby, "She is my spiritual daughter, amma". I didn’t had any words..I was just in silence and so was everyone... I conveyed my reply internally (this might not be completely what I thought at that moment, but summarizing the thoughts I've had and to the best of what I remember)

"Nannagaru, though we all are not well-deserved, in some way or the other you are showering your grace on us. This might not be only on me but all of us this is your grace. Though our minds are egoistic in nature, you elevate us to the level where we deserve your grace and then you shower it on us with eternal love. I apologize for my fickle mindedness, when it tries to understand, because it is beyond our understanding"

He might have said those words that I am his spiritual daughter, addressing to me, but Friends truly we all are his spiritual daughters and sons, he has just chosen me to convey the message, everyone is considered as a child in front of Guru. We all are in his jaws, let him chew our mind and swallow the saliva until we reach to the mind-less state. He has been travelling all the places across South India , some parts of North India, and as well as abroad. If we could dig deep into these actions and inquire the intention of these long sermons, we then know that these are desire less actions, "out of compassion and out of grace", his speeches and efforts are to make us to reach to the ultimate state of bliss. The only way to pay off the debt to our Guru is by understanding and following his words.

"My first visits with Nannagaru" - (By Greeshma)

AUM NAMO BHAGAWATE SRI RAMANAYA
AUM NAMO BHAGAWATE SRI NANNA GURAVE NAMAHA

I wish to share my experiences, my life that has been and how it changed and transformed just by Guru’s grace and nothing else.

My mother is used to do lot of pujas and used to worship all Gods and Goddesses. Her prayers have influenced me a lot. I used to believe God as a supreme person who rules and exists everywhere, that was the conception I had with respect to God. Apparently I was joined in a missionary school where they give lots of importance to prayers etc. I used to love to sing songs, and cry sometimes when people talk of devotion, God, or let it be just goodness. That provoked me many times God is not bound to a religion he is a supreme being.

It was in my 5th standard that one of my close relative introduced Nannagaru to my mother and family. After few years it happened that my aunt moved to our nearby house which intensified the belief in my parents. She started attending satsang’s. I remember I used to attend the satsang’s, though not understanding a bit. My mother later made a visit to Arunachalam, wherein she met an ardent devotee of Nannagaru Lakshmi aunty. She happened to be staying nearby my house which we dint know until they met in Arunachalam.

That was a turning point to my mother and to me as well. She was the one who explained the details of the purpose of the life and Nannagaru’s teachings. One day it happened that my mom just played a cassette and Nannagaru was explaining the purpose of our life, and what is our goal etc. I curiously asked question about Nannagaru to mom what is he trying to explain, though I dint get full answer, I was conveyed that there is something that is truth that needs to be realized and that is our purpose.



As days passed, my aunt satsangs, and the way she lead her life, influenced our family very much. Few months later I convinced myself that Nannagaru is my life and he is my path. From then every time when he visited Hyderabad we used to go to station to receive him. He used to pamper my father and said he is a Karma Yogi. There were days that I cried for him just for him to devote towards him. I don’t remember but he used to bless me at least now and then.

I remember one of such days, one day we went to station to give him a sendoff to his native place. He was surrounded by huge number of devotees and devotees sat down on the floor. He was looking at one after the other devotees, and suddenly his eyes fell on me, he called me and I was asked to sit beside him. Everyone was surprised, so was I! I felt it is your grace Nanna.

Later my parents have invited Nannagaru to visit my home. I had school that day so I asked permission in the school without telling to my parents, and this was the first time I ever came back from the school half way. As I reached, in few minutes Nanna came, we warmly welcomed him, did pada puja offered prostrations. He asked how well I study; my father said she is an average student. He blessed me.



I finished my school studies successfully, as I was into my college; I was told I have to concentrate on my studies now. My parents felt that I would neglect my studies because I was so much into his bhakti and spirituality. I concentrated on my studies for a while, though I visited him every time when he came to Hyderabad.

One day as I went to the station to give him a sendoff, I just stood near the door of the train, and I stared into his eyes; he said you are good at your heart. As years passed my aunt left from Hyderabad and I was busy with my studies.

Later I joined my bachelor studies; the root of my devotion has strengthened much more. I felt all the enjoyments my friends were experiencing are just for a second, so I dint put my mind into those enjoyments. I concentrated on my studies, and I passed with flying colors. So there I had a question of what’s next. Every step in my life was driven by nanna’s hands, and let this shall be I thought. Later we approached him and had a proposal to do Masters in USA, or join in a job that I bagged during my bachelors. I had a dream to be abroad for a while to be independent some time, without everyone. He said you will go to USA, so I did. It was my visit to Arunachalam, indeed my second visit I think, the first visit was just with my mom and aunty but this was one with my parents along with Nannagaru and aunt.

I went to the Embassy got Visa and took a bus to Arunachalam. I told him that I got visa, he said everything good will happen to you. We four friends went for Visa, but I alone got I said. He said there is a destiny that drives people. I took rest that day, and immediate morning I rushed upstairs to bag a seat near him, and I did. I also heard that I got my results of final year, and I bagged very good marks, so I said the same to him. All good news for you he said smilingly, as I smiled.

The four days with him just flew away. On last day when I visited him, he said when I think of your name I remember Bheshma, because Greeshma goes with Bhishma. I smiled and left respectfully.



I started preparing for the journey to abroad, and in no time I left India. My actual spiritual journey started from here, (to be cont…)