On Father’s Day, devotees gathered in excitement for Swamiji to arrive at the Devi Mandir, but we knew he would not arrive until the end of our Chandi Path recitation, which would be close to 12 noon.
Even Shree Maa was in joyous anticipation, as She occasionally glanced over at Swamiji’s asana during the last few chapters of the Chandi to see if he had come yet.
When we finished the 13th chapter of the Chandi, and there was no Swamiji, Shree Maa disappointedly said, “Where is Swamiji?”
A devotee who was sitting with a view to the outside exclaimed, “Here he comes Maa!! Here he comes!!”
Upon hearing this news, Shree Maa flashed a huge smile and quickly started the Chandi Arati so that we would be singing with devotion upon his arrival.
He walked into the temple, and true to form, the first thing Swamiji did was humbly bow to Shree Maa, and then he bowed to the congregation.
Enjoy this expression of gratitude for Swamiji, which includes loving quotations from devotees through the years and a few teachings from Swamiji himself, interwoven with pictures from our Father’s Day event at the Devi Mandir: