The Sacred Call: How Vaishno Mata Awakened My Soul

 

There are some relationships in life that defy logical explanation. They unfold quietly over decades—through delays, crises, fierce protection, and an eventual inner transformation. Our relationship with Mata Vaishno Devi has been precisely such a journey.

The Lessons of the First Call (1984)

Our first attempt to visit her sacred abode was in 1984. As our car approached Katra, we made what seemed like a highly practical, human decision: *let us first complete our sightseeing in Srinagar and visit Mata on the return journey.*

But divine plans rarely bow to human convenience. 

Near Udhampur, our vehicle broke down completely. After losing an entire day to grueling repairs, we somehow pushed through to Srinagar. On the way back, however, the universe intervened again—our driver suddenly developed a severe, debilitating fever. Panic-stricken and sweating, he insisted on driving nonstop back to Chandigarh without a single halt.

And just like that, our first planned *darshan* slipped through our fingers. 

Looking back, it feels as though Mata was gently but firmly teaching us our very first spiritual lesson: 

**Divine grace cannot be treated as a secondary pitstop.**

From Fear to Lived Faith

Years later, we entered one of the darkest, most terrifying phases of our lives—a highly complicated twin pregnancy. The medical consensus was bleak. Doctors strongly advised against proceeding, and even a close family member, a renowned gynecologist herself, cautioned us about the fatal risks involved.

Yet, my wife’s faith in Mata Vaishno Devi remained unshakeable. Faced with stark medical warnings, we chose to anchor ourselves in prayer and move forward with absolute surrender. 

Then came the grace. **The twins were born perfectly healthy and safe.**

In that miraculous moment, our faith shifted from an abstract belief into a lived reality. We felt wrapped in the unseen, compassionate embrace of Mata. From that day on, our pilgrimages to Vaishno Devi were never about asking for material favors; they became journeys of pure thanksgiving. Over the years, we have undertaken the *yatra* more than fourteen times—almost always on foot, joyfully climbing the arduous trails as a humble offering of gratitude.

The Circles of Grace

We soon realized that Mata's grace is never confined to just one family; it ripples and flows outward to those we love.

During one of our pilgrimages, my phone rang. It was a close friend, Ramesh, his voice heavy with emotion. *“While you stand before Mata Vaishno Devi, please remember my family,”* he pleaded. *“We have been searching for a suitable alliance for my sister for a very long time, with no success.”*

We carried his heartfelt prayer into the sanctum sanctorum. 

Within a few months of our return, his sister’s marriage was beautifully finalized. Today, she is happily settled. Years later, in a beautiful gesture of gratitude, she named her child **"Shyama"**—a name deeply connected to Lord Krishna.

A Shield at One Millimeter

In 2001, we experienced the terrifying extent of Mata’s protective shield.

While driving from Delhi to Haridwar, we met with a catastrophic accident. The car was mangled beyond recognition—a heap of destroyed metal. Yet, miraculously, all five of us walked out alive. I sustained a deep laceration near my left eye. The attending surgeons later told me that if the impact had been **even one millimeter higher**, I would have been permanently blinded.

As we processed the shock of survival, our first thought flew back to the Vaishno Devi *yatra* we had completed just days prior. We weren't just lucky; we were being watched over.

 The Divine Redirection: Finding Krishna

Over time, however, a more profound realization began to dawn on us. The greatest blessing Mata gave us was not merely preserving our physical lives. **It was guiding our spiritual direction.**

I was born into a Smartha Brahmin family with a traditional Shaivite upbringing. By all conventions of our lineage, my name should have echoed Lord Shiva. Yet, by what now feels like a deliberate divine blueprint, I was named **"Shyam Sunder"**—one of the most beautiful names of Krishna.

Decades later, through a spontaneous, magnetic pull toward the *Bhagavad Gita*, I found myself naturally drawn into Vaishnava dharma and a deep devotion to Krishna. Then, one day, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place: 

**Mata Vaishno Devi is revered as the spiritual sister of Lord Krishna.**

Suddenly, the invisible thread connecting every major event of my life became blindingly clear. 

As *Bhagavad Gita* beautifully teaches, sincere worship—even when it begins with worldly anxieties or seeking protection—gradually purifies the heart, elevating the soul toward selfless devotion and higher spiritual truths. 

In our own lives, what began as a desperate plea for protection slowly transformed into an irresistible attraction toward Krishna, the wisdom of the Gita, and the path of *bhakti*. Mata Vaishno Devi did not just save our lives; she gently, lovingly redirected them:

* From worldly gratitude**, she led us toward spiritual seeking.

* From fear**, toward absolute faith.

* From ritual**, toward pure devotion.

* And ultimately**, straight to the lotus feet of Krishna.