In Step with the Heavenly Beat
An Account of Gurumayi’s Birthday Celebration
Shree Muktananda Ashram
June 23 – 24, 2015
Part XIII

We were sitting in silence following the arati when we heard the joyful squeal of a young baby girl. Gurumayi laughed and invited the child’s father to share about “the sounds of children.”


Gurumayi thanked the father for sharing, and then said to all of us, “Bade Baba loved children. Does anybody know any stories about Bade Baba and children?” When Gurumayi said this, I looked at the children who were seated together near Gurumayi and in front of Bade Baba’s murti. I could feel their heart connection with Gurumayi and Bade Baba.

Another participant shared how Bade Baba would go with the local children to the river and swim with them. Often he would sit or lie in complete tranquility while the children played all around him.
I shared the following story: A few days ago I was walking near the Temple with a two-and-a-half-year-old girl who was visiting Shree Muktananda Ashram with her family. Something on the grass caught the child’s attention. She leaned down and picked up a little feather. She held it and gazed at it as if it were the most beautiful treasure in the world. Then she looked toward the Temple and said, “I want to give this to Bade Baba!” I happily accompanied the little girl to the Temple so that she could make her offering. This is something I see so often when children have darshan: they spontaneously want to make an offering to the Guru. They are completely in touch with the heart’s natural impulse to give.
The sharing session was punctuated by exclamations of delight as we relished the stories of Bade Baba’s unconditional love.
When it came to a sweet conclusion, Meera Laube-Szapiro, the event director, stood up and said, “Thank you, to all the children…” Gurumayi added, with a big smile, “All the children, young and old!” Meera laughed and thanked all of us, young and old, for our participation in this jubilant celebration of Gurumayi’s Birthday.
In response, it seemed that every heart overflowed with fresh bubbling joy—for as one, we all leapt to our feet, clapping and cheering. Together, we exclaimed, “Happy Birthday, Gurumayi!” Gurumayi laughed and clasped her hands together over her head. In that moment, we all felt a love connection, completely in step with the heavenly beat. There was only love, nothing but love—throughout the Temple, and between Gurumayi and her devotees everywhere.
In the ecstatic, vibrant moments after we had taken our seats, Meera announced that it was time to come forward for darshan of Bade Baba. Meera also shared that Gurumayi had requested that we each receive a gardenia to offer to Bade Baba during darshan! Meera invited the children and families to come forward for darshan first.



While Gurumayi was giving darshan to the children, she asked the musicians to play Nacho Re Mero Mana! whose refrain means “Dance, my heart, dance today in ecstasy!” This glorious bhajan by the poet-saint Kabir, with music composed by Gurumayi, is one of the most loved bhajans on the Siddha Yoga path. It is traditionally played in Siddha Yoga Ashrams and Siddha Yoga meditation centers throughout the world during satsangs held in celebration of Gurumayi’s Birthday.
Verse 1 says:


I looked at the children hugging their new stuffies, and at their parents; they were all so happy! My heart was moist with gratitude and love as I reflected on what it means for the world that children throughout the global sangham are growing up on the Siddha Yoga path. I see them carrying the manifold blessings and grace of this auspicious celebration and sharing the fruits with their families, communities, and the world they live in. I see them growing up, contributing their skills and knowledge to the Siddha Yoga path, and learning, as Gurumayi teaches us in her book Enthusiasm, that “seva creates a pond of nectar.” Through their offering of seva, through living dharmic lives, through their attainment, I see them enriching the Siddha Yoga legacy and helping protect and preserve this priceless legacy for their own children, and for future generations of Siddha Yogis and seekers everywhere.
Once the children had received Gurumayi’s darshan to their heart’s content, Gurumayi got up from her seat. Spontaneously, we all rose to our feet and sang “Happy Birthday” to our beloved Gurumayi, culminating in the joyous proclamation of our hearts: Sadgurunath Maharaj ki Jay!