After doing many beautiful Art of Living programs, I first heard about Shakti Kriya. I didn’t know much about it, but the word Kriya itself stirred something within me. My first Sudarshan Kriya during the basic course had been life-changing, so I longed to experience this too. Different devotees gave different explanations—some said it was about kundalini, others something else—but I only knew one thing: I wanted to do this course, no matter what. Yet, for years, the opportunity never came.
At the same time, another story was unfolding in my life. My wife and I had been trying for years to conceive a child. We went to countless doctors and underwent every treatment, but nothing worked. Her reports were always normal; the problem was with me. My medical tests consistently showed MSC at 0%. After several failed attempts, the doctors suggested test tube baby as our only hope. But both of us refused. I told my wife, “Let’s stop craving. We did all we could. Let’s surrender now.” The treatments had drained me physically and emotionally, and I could not go on.
Adding to our sorrow, my uncle was battling cancer. Just when doctors said he was improving, his condition worsened due to the side effects of treatments, and soon, we lost him. The atmosphere at home was heavy and painful. To breathe again, we decided to go to the Bangalore Ashram.
One evening during satsang with Gurudev, there was an announcement: Shakti Kriya course begins tomorrow. My heart leapt. I registered at once. Finally, my chance had come!
The next day, however, I was torn. We were sitting in line for Gurudev’s darshan, but the Shakti kriya session was scheduled at the same time. My heart was restless. It felt as though I was Arjuna, forced to choose between Lord Krishna and the Narayani Sena.
Four times, I got up to leave, and four times the same volunteer stopped me, saying, “Meeting Gurudev is more important. Gurudev se mill liye ho gaya Shakti Kriya. But the choice is yours.” Each time, I returned, still conflicted.
Finally, Gurudev came. We were in first row but he started from the last row. When our turn came, he blessed us and gave us stoles for our upcoming anniversary. My wife, meeting him for the first time, was radiant with joy. My heart too overflowed, but my mind still thought of the Shakti kriya. I decided to try once more. Running to the venue, I found it locked. Disappointed, I sat outside. Many were waiting outside to enter but a volunteer came and said sorry the course is already half over. So almost everyone went away except me and one more guy. After few minutes Suddenly, a volunteer rushed out: “Come in fast, the teacher is calling you!” I couldn’t believe it. The teacher scolded me gently in Kannada, which I couldn’t understood. I felt like the luckiest person alive—I had met Gurudev and was now doing the Shakti kriya too. What happened inside the course I barely remember, except tears—tears of deep gratitude.
A week later, back home, I went for one last medical test. I had left all medicines except 1-2 ayurvedic pills. To my shock, the result that had always been 0% now read 70%. It was unbelievable. Everyone was shocked. We knew whose grace it was. Soon after, the impossible happened—we conceived a child naturally.
Nine months later, our son was born. We named him Sohum. Every day he filled our lives with joy and peace.
Years later, while packing for a program with Gurudev, I stumbled upon the receipt of that Shakti Kriya. I froze. The date printed on it was the very date of Sohum’s birth. A miracle within a miracle. Just after one year of shakti kriya at same date Sohum was born.
Holding that receipt in my hands, I felt my eyes well up. Gurudev had written his grace into every detail of our lives.
– Abhishek Mishra
