Two full buses took devotees from their lodging at Surat to Derod, where Maa's devotee Bharatbhai and his brothers has built a very modern - palace like house. Just recently completed , the house is beautiful with large corridors, rooms and marble floor. Today, the entire court yard is covered by beautifully decorated Mandap, the preparation of which was going on all night. The back drop behind the main stage is fully covered with real flowers.

 In villages there is always shortage of power. It's not uncommon to see power go off intermittently --sometimes for more than couple of hours. Incidentally, the power was out during the entire morning, but Bharatbhai was fully prepared. He had Generator to supply the power to the sound system, lights, and fans in the entire mandap. So really no one felt the absence of power.

Maa arrived at approx. 11 am.   Yogeshwar Lilamrut's First three chapters were sung followed by few chapters from Saral Gita. As Maa entered the Mandap the host's family greeted Maa.  Girls welcomed Maa with decorated vases & Flowers were showered on Maa's path. Dhoons were sung through out the program. Special artist were called to assist in singing and to render professional touch on the Tablas! As Maa took her seat on the nicely decorated Hinchako (Swing), the hosts Bharatbhai, his brother Madhusudhanbhai and their family - all offered Garlands and flowers to Maa.

Sri Kalyan was asked to say few words. I must say that Kalyan looks like an incarnation of devotion (Bhakti). His ways of explaining in Gujarati is very amazing. He holds his audience in awe. Among the few things that he mentioned threw a new light on Maa. He said, Maa & Prabhu takes the burden of devotees.

He gave an example that in Swargarohan, in one of the rooms where Maa was standing beside Prabhu's Swaroop, Doors shut so hard by the blowing wind that it caused the windows in front of Maa to break. The glass flew off, but somehow found its ways only to Prabhu's Swaroop! There were glasses all over and beside Prabhu. But not a single glass touched Maa! It's was proof that Prabhu always takes care of Maa.

Similarly, near Mogar town, when Maa's vehicle had met with an accident, it was worth noting that car's window were smashed up as well pretty much the vehicle. However, its occupants Sri Bhagwanji, his wife and the driver, did not get any cut from glass. However only Maa was covered with blood. In a nutshell, Maa protected her devotees and took the brunt of the accident upon her.

Sri Laxmeshbhai was also asked to speak. Being a Sanskrit scholar, he always connects many things to Sanskrit and to Purans. He said, from the name Derod he was reminded of three things God gave to Humans, Dev's and Demons. He gave D of Derod to all three. The D to man meant they should do Daan i.e. give charity. The D to Devas meant they should control their desires (Daman) and D to demigod instructed them to observe Daya - show mercy, pity.

Pundit Laxmeshbhai also connected Sri Madhusudan's name to Shakti Puran. In the Devi Bhagvat there is a story of Madhusudan. He is deep in sleep and only Ambika awakens him. In a way, Maa has come to Derod to awaken Sri Madhusudanbhai!

Sri Laxmeshbhai, though a very profound scholar, had high praise for dhoons and Gulabben's thoughts on Maa. He said he felt like Uddhav in Srimad Bhagvat. He was sent by Krishna to give knowledge to Gopis only to discover that the Gopis were so advanced that it was only proper that he learned from Gopis instead!

Residents of Derod village were extremely lucky to be blessed by Maa's Presence. Professional Singer sang very melodiously bhajans from Sant Eknath. Maa liked his singing. At the end of the program on her way to Bharatbhai's new house, she gave garlands as Prasad to the singer and the tabla player.

Sri Jaganibhai also said few words. He said we can go very deep in metaphysics and Adyatma, but we devotees want to be with Maa. We want Maa in all facets of our life. That will be our metaphysics and Adhyamta.

Sri Sureshbhai Shah of Toronto Dhyan kendra also spoke briefly. He talked about Yogeshwarji's visit to Toronto in 1978. Back then, Yogeshwarji wanted to mail some letter. Sureshbhai said he will post it himself. Yogeshwarji said the addressee to whom this letter is written is very important, more important than even the Prime Minister of India. Sureshbhai did not know who that person was that Prabhu extolled so high. He later found that letter was written to Maa Sarveshwari.

Sri Sureshbhai also described how Maa respects everyone. He gave one example of Ozona Shibir's incident.  A note was passed addressing MC Sureshbhai as 'Suresh Shah'. Apparently that note reached Maa. Maa saw that and she added 'Sri' and 'Bhai' in it to read as Sri Sureshbhai Shah.

Sri Madhusudanbhai, the host, also spoke. He felt blessed by everyone's presence. He said that due his parent's given sanskar they were blessed with the Darshan of Saints like Maa Sarveshwari. He sang Bhajan (Guru Kripa... ) to Maa. Finally Maa blessed Bharatbhai's residence. She asked Sri Laxmeshbhai to recite Mantra/shlokas in Sanskrit and also asked him to sprinkle Ganga jal in the house.

Maa said that Maa's father use to visit Bharatbhai's house in Derod. About Bharatbhai's father and mother, She said the fact that Bharatbhai and his brothers are so well off now is due to blessing of their parents. The children took good care of the parents and now they reap the fruits of their good Karmas. Maa asked everyone to take Mahaprasad.

Bharatbhai had hired special cooks to cook food for all the satsangis' and also everyone that was present. He took care that everyone was served with good food. Srikhand, Puri, Shaak, salad,Mithai, papad, rice, Kadhi. Some other items I had tasted for the first time!

From Derod Maa's Toyota Qualis took the lead followed by two packed buses. We were heading to Kapura. Everyone sang bavanis dhoons in the bus. Suddenly Maa's Jeep took a sharp turn near one village. The buses followed and stopped at one house. Everyone was wondering where we were. This did not look like Kapura. Apparently this was Orna Village.
Everyone, were enjoying this short break. Maa entered the house which is named "Samarpan" The elderly lady of the house was so happy to see Maa that Maa too was like a little child with her. Maa converted the short break into a Satsang.

She asked Sri Jagani to speak loudly so that not only the people inside but those sitting outside could also hear him. Sri Jaganibhai comes in this side of the state for the very first time. He finds people here very friendly. He said we hear in our Hindu literature that Lord Rama visited his devotees in forest, jungle, villages etc. He went to Sabri, Hanuman, etc. Today in the modern age, we get a glimpse of that kind of darshan as well. Ram may have walked to go to his devotees, but in this age we have vehicles, buses. Maa goes to her devotees in a new way! He said that with Maa's these visits, we feels as if she is visiting houses of Rushi-munis!

Maa asked one retired teacher/writer/author to say few words. She lives in Southern Gujarat-Valsad. Normally December is very busy month for her as she and her husband visits many Expos in literature through Gujarat and India. This year however, they determined to attend Maa's Shibir. She has won many awards in her literature. She writes books for children. Her last book 'Choochoodia' won big award. She feels very close to Maa and has also written on Maa. She read a prayer which she composed for Sharda Maa and Maa Sarveshwari. She considers them both to be the same.
Maa asked her if she was present at the award presentation yesterday in Surat. She answered she was. Maa, said had she known, she would have definitely asked her to speak.

Again Sri Laxmeshbhai was asked to speak. Maa laughingly said to him, 'Garjna Karo' Meaning, she asked him to Roar. Pundit Laxmeshbhai talks very powerfully, that's why Maa jokes with him this way! Maa asked him to speak on how he first met Maa. Sri Laxmeshbhai, said that it was due to his faith in Sri Ramkrishna Dev that he was brought to Maa. Earlier in this life he had a taken a Niyam to read daily at least one sentence uttered by Sri Ramkrishna Dev and he is still keeping this Niyam. Because of his attraction to this Godman of Calcutta, he says, he was asked by his acquaintances to visit Ambaji. It was in year 2001 that he came in touch with Maa and ever since then Maa's magnetism has pulled him to Her.

Maa told the people present that Pundit Laxmesh has vast knowledge in Sanskrit that he gives advises and directions to PhD students in Sanskrit!
After host and the host family offered pranam, and did Arti. Everyone was served ice-cream in different flavor. I got the never-tasted-before-flavor called 'Sitafal'! Then as everyone got on the buses, we went to Kapura.

Kapura drive was about 2 hours. As we entered Kapura, we saw, huge Mandaps erected up on open land beside Sushila ben's residence. I was told that the farmland was prepared for the Shibir. As everyone got off from the bus and headed to the registration desk, where each one of us was given a badge with a beautiful picture of Maa on it. As well we were given a name of the house we were to stay for the entire Shibir.  Our lodging is only two house far from Maa's original house!

The youths of the Kapura village were extremely helpful in finding our ways. They motor biked us and our luggage to designated quarters. After this, we were asked to assemble in the one large hall where dinner was being served. Everything here was on a Mega scale. Modern washrooms were erected for the benefit of foreign devotees. The dining hall was huge. Tables and chairs were provided for everyone. I expected paper plates would be served, but everyone was served on a Steel plate, bowl and spoons!  

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