SHIVA TO OM SWAMI… Part 2

“The journey of a kid mesmerized by Shiva to finding his Guru”.

Part 2 –

Imagine, what would you do?!

If one day, you were to pack your belongings, bid good-bye to everyone you love,

Leave everything you know and get on a plane,

Not knowing when you may return home?!

Some journeys begin not with footsteps, but with the courage to let go, isn’t it? Well, having completed my graduation in Baroda, India, on the 9th of August, 2004, I left behind the comfortable cocoon of home, the cherished chaos of family and friends, the iron-willed brotherhood of my beloved ‘desi akhada’ at ‘Yogniketan Gym’ as well as my sacred haven of Shiva/Shakti abode, Pavagadh (see Part 1)

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”                 William Faulkner (1897 – 1962)

At just 22 years young, with a suitcase full of dreams and a heart full of ambition, I set off for the Great Southern Land, the Land Down Under, Australia, to pursue my Master’s degree in Environmental Management at Flinders University, South Australia.

I vividly remember that magnificent, mesmerizing, and magical moment ,when I stepped outside that Boeing ‘Qantas’ plane, gazing into the crimson-red sunset sky (sunset is still my favourite colour) of Australia that appeared to be welcoming me into its uncharted, unmapped, infinite horizon.

A horizon marked with a new beginning, a new possibility and a new adventure awaiting to begin, whilst transiting between countries, schools, and life.

“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test.                                In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” – Tom Bodett 

This incredible journey from India to Australia, has been a living embodiment of various life lessons, experiences and worldly wisdom that has touched, nourished and enriched my soul.

A journey of various ups and downs, of hardships and majestic leisure’s, of friendships, faith & fatherhood. A journey from a rupee to a dollar, from a migrant to a citizen, from a boy to a man.

And it was amid this adventurous journey of relentless pursuit, fuelled by grit, sacrifice and dreams, that I finally crossed a monumental milestone etched in the heart of every immigrant: the elusive Australian Dream – Buying my 1st home in Australia on my 30th birthday in October 2012.

The joy of finally owning a piece of earth was profound… but heartbreakingly short-lived. Just weeks later, due to ‘Office Politics‘, I was made redundant from my role as an Environmental Scientist. The joy of ownership was eclipsed by a storm I never saw coming.

Life abroad is far from what is shown in Bollywood Movie – Forget the Karan Johar glamour, reality here comes with mortgages, taxes, rent, eternal bills (Water, Electricity, Gas, Phone, Internet, Rent, Car payments etc) levies, and pressure that doesn’t pause.

What hurt more than financial collapse, though, was the social exclusion and silence, quickly realising that so called ‘Friends’ and ‘Supporters’ that clap when you rise, quickly disappear when you fall. That living under your parent’s roof is a soft covered cushion compared to stepping out into the real world, where Life teaches you bitter truths of survival, resilience, and self-belief.

With zero income and to make ends meet, my brother and I volunteered at the Hare Krishna ISKCON temple, not for religion, but for free meals and a bit of hope.

Amidst temple bells and Hare-Krishna chants, I stumbled upon the Srimad Bhagavatam that bought back to life my childhood superhero Shiva, and the incredible Vedic science of how our Rishi-Munis were not just spiritual sages but spiritual scientists experimenting with consciousness and the Universe through their dhyana (deep meditation), sadhana (spiritual practice) and tapasya (penance).

What began as spiritual curiosity turned into deep research. The temple library became my university and all hardships became silent teachers, shaping my mind, heart and soul. It was nothing short of a rebirth.

And then, as if orchestrated by the Universe itself, I was unexpectedly connected with one of India’s most prominent spiritual entrepreneurs: Neeta Singhal, the CEO of Rudraksha Ratna and Chakra Yog, a global authority on Rudraksha science.

What followed felt like destiny in motion. I was invited to speak at Rudraksha Ratna’s main centre in Mumbai – not once, but twice – in October 2013 and again in May 2015. These sessions, focused on Rudraksha, Spirituality, and Personal Development, marking the true beginning of my journey as an International Speaker.

What started as a solitary path of exploration blossomed into a platform for sharing, inspiring, and empowering others across cultures and countries.

Some unforgettable memories from those milestones are captured in the photos below:

It was during one of those quiet, private lunches with Neetaji and her family, that she casually mentioned about another remarkable speaker – a Himalayan monk named Om Swami, also from Australia, who recently had come over to their centre for launching and promoting his memoir, “If Truth Be Told”.

Neetaji handed me a copy of Om Swami’s memoir!

She mentioned that Om Swami, was a successful Tech Entrepreneur and ran a multi-million dollar business empire in Australia, USA, Canada etc and earned a personal income of over a million dollars each month.

But soon, he renounced everything, to find His truth, ending up in the Himalayas, where he performed austere sadhana & intense meditation for thirteen months, ultimately experiencing the live physical darshan (vision) of the supreme Divine Mother Maa Lalita Mahatripura Sundari & Lord Krishna Himself.

Can You Spot the Divine Connection in the Background?

(HINT – Read the Title of this blog again!)

To be completely honest, my first reaction upon hearing that, was one of disbelief — “Another monk with a mystical story?” I thought. “Surely this is just another cleverly marketed narrative to mesmerise the gullible.” (Forgive me, Sri Hari and beloved Om Swamiji, for my ignorant assumption.)

But something nudged me to keep an open mind. That very night, I decided to read a few pages and scan the book before sleeping. But from the very first page, I was spellbound. Every chapter felt like a portal — as if I was being led through various stages of Om Swami’s life from the divine prediction of his birth, the journey to Australia, His first Porche, His Renunciation to leading a Dog’s life at his Guru Tantric Samrat Naga Baba’s ashram, to the Himalayas, to Divine Darshan, beyond and more.

Unable to stop, I devoured the entire book in one sitting. I didn’t just read the book; I lived it. It felt surreal. It felt dreamlike. From illusion to awakening. Something inside of me had shifted. Moved. Transformed!

By the end, I closed the cover with tear-filled eyes and trembling hands. This was not just the story of an ordinary Monk; it was the blueprint of a seeker’s ultimate journey! The journey from “Seeking to Self-realisation”.

It felt like the Universe or Shiva, had just opened a new chapter in my life — one I didn’t know I had been waiting for.

Quietly tucking away the entire experience into a private corner of my soul, I returned to Australia and resumed life – now donning a new avatar as an Environmental Health Officer for the Australian Local Government. By day, I was inspecting and enforcing public health safety; by night (and weekend), I was flexing muscles at the gym, penning chapters of my book, and continuing my global quest for find ‘The One’ (Life-Partner). I was the archetypal bachelor – admired, free, and elusive. Friends and family teased me and compared me often to the much notorious eligible bachelor, à la Salman Khan.

While my married friends navigated the tides of parenthood, sleep-deprivation and diapers. I, on the other hand, wandered the world, capturing sunsets, snapping selfies, speaking, emceeing,  buying properties, meeting millionaire mentors, flaunting six-pack abs on social media and soaking in all the attention that Life (and lovely ladies) had to offer.

Life was good. Or so it seemed.

Ah, Maya — the Grand Illusion!

Isn’t it amazing how Maya wraps us up in layers of glamour, desire, and comfort… all while making us believe we’re in control, but devastatingly distracted?

You get what I’m saying, dear reader?

Amidst all the chaos of parties, gym mirrors, career ladders and the seductive freedom that came with a decent pay check and property investments, there was always one grounding force: every morning, during my drive to work, I would listen to Swamiji’s YouTube videos (still do) and read his weekly blogs which were like nectar – sweet, practical yet profound, humorous yet humbling, ancient in wisdom yet modern in relevance.

His words – calm, piercing and profound, echoed the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच: || 66||

sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhuchaḥ

TRANSLATION

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.

I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.

Call it fate, destiny, or just one of those cosmic curveballs – but it was that tiny spark, lit by Swamiji’s words of wisdom, that completely flipped the script for me. Out of nowhere, I felt this innate urge to put aside the attention, the ego, the lust of my body and dedicate / surrender this physical transformation as a spiritual gift and offering for Shiva.

And just like that, a tsunami of childhood memories of Shiva came flooding back. The awe. The innocence. The love. The warrior archetype.

It wasn’t a nostalgia trip – it was a reawakening. It wasn’t about chasing validation or the mirror anymore – it was about the mirror within.

This bodybuilding journey became a Sadhana — forged through discipline, devotion, and deadlifts at the feet of the ultimate yogi, Shiva!

Every workout became a kind of meditation. Every drop of sweat, a mantra. The gym, my temple. The barbell, my prayer bead.

I imagined myself as Karna (yes, my all-time Mahabharata hero!) and/or at times even Arjuna – on a quest not for abs, but for Shiva’s divine weapon, the legendary Pashupatastra.

And guess what happened at the end of that unconditional devotional journey?

I became the only Indian-Australian to place in the top three positions, across South Australia’s prestigious INBA, ABN, and NABBA/WFF State Titles; As well as, had the honour of representing Australia on the global stage, proudly winning a bronze medal at the INBA Mr Universe Natural Bodybuilding Championships.

But perhaps, could you guess the most dramatic and divine twist in this story?

See Below! 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

While I was busy walking this path of discipline and devotion, ‘Lady Love’ entered my life – unannounced, undeniable, and absolutely meant to be. She saw through the muscle and the madness, and chose the man on the journey.

Just like Parvati won over the ascetic Lord with her love and persistence, my better half found her Shiva… in me.

Was this simply destiny?

Was this Shiva’s or Swamiji’s lela (Divine Play)?

Come, let’s find out finally in Part 3