“The journey of a kid mesmerized by Shiva to finding his Guru”.
Part 3 – The Grand Finale
“Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life;
Love gives us a fairytale.” – Unknown
Life after meeting Mahima, indeed seemed like a fairytale with candlelit dinners, exotic travels and cinematic photoshoots straight out of a Bollywood ‘Karan Johar’ Movie. My Facebook and Instagram were flooded with likes, comments, and curious DMs pouring in. It really did seem as if Salman Khan of Adelaide had finally settled down.
Friends and family cheered us on with warm wishes and humorous one-liners like, “Shiv Ji Ne Der Se Diya, Lekin Durust Diya” meaning “Shiv (God) may have taken His time, but He blessed you just right!”
And true to the classic “Chat mangni, pat byaah” style, a popular Hindi phrase meaning “Engaged in a flash, married even faster” – we celebrated our beautiful Hindu ceremony on the 21st and a heart-warming Catholic wedding on the 23rd of February 2019.
*My favourite photo of our Hindu Wedding adorned with my Rudraksha
*Catholic wedding @ the Laxshmi Villas Palace in Baroda.
Meeting & marrying Mahima, felt like a divine orchestration,
a leela (play) of Destiny & Shiva’s / Swamiji’s blessings because:
1…After years of searching and navigating a string of unsuccessful relationships, emotional rollercoasters to travelling across 16 countries in pursuit of love – who knew “The One” was living just down the road in Adelaide? Talk about a cosmic plot twist!. 😂
Here’s the twist: Mahima, the woman I would go on to marry, was originally born and raised in none other than Varanasi (Banaras/Kashi) — the sacred Holy city of Lord Shiva.
(Note – As someone who had adored Shiva since childhood, this felt anything but random. My bodybuilding journey was deeply inspired by Mahadev (more on that in Part 2 of this blog series), and I had even inked a Trishul (trident) tattoo over my heart on my 33rd Birthday as a tribute to Shiva. Winning titles like INBA Mr Universe, with Mahima cheering me on from the front row, felt like subtle affirmations from the cosmos — that perhaps, all of this had always been part of Shiva’s grand plan)
2…Mahima’s medical career took her from Melbourne to Darwin, before fate serendipitously brought her to rural Adelaide for her FRACGP (Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) training.
And it was here, amidst the quiet rhythm of Adelaide life, that we met for what was meant to be a simple coffee. That “coffee” date, however, stretched into a soul-baring, laughter-filled, 8-hour conversation discussing childhood mischief, cultural displacement, leaving home too young, and surviving the Australian baptism of fire.
Our minds synced effortlessly, finishing each other’s thoughts, unravelling old stories, and discovering uncanny parallels. It didn’t feel like a first meeting – more like a long-overdue reunion.
And the rest, as they say, is history… or perhaps, destiny!
(Note – I had slotted our coffee catch up between my morning gym session and attending the birthday lunch of my bestie Deepti and bestie Tyson – a couple I proudly played Cupid for (but that’s a story for another day). Mahima showed up 1.5 hours late, and I’d firmly decided to wrap it up in 30 minutes. But those 30 minutes turned into an all-day conversation until dinner. Needless to say, I missed the birthday lunch… and had quite the story to tell. My besties were more than curious to meet the woman who made “Willbur’s Wonder Woman” a reality.)
3…And the story didn’t stop there. Soon after our wedding in India, we visited one of my most cherished sacred sites – Pavagadh, a revered Shakti Peeth near Baroda, Gujarat. Through sheer grace, we received VVIP darshan and blessings.
Little did we know, amidst ancient chants, resonating temple bells, and the sacred mountain air of Pavagadh, another divine surprise gently revealed itself to us. Mahima shared that our journey as two was about to become a journey as three ❤️.
(Note – Mentioned in Part 2, as a teenager on my bicycle and later, in college with my beloved “Wings of Freedom” aka Splendor motorbike, I often escaped to Pavagadh to soak in the mountain serenity and trek its sacred paths to bribe and whisper my wishes to Maa Shakti with innocent offerings, hoping she’d convince Shiva to grant them, just like a child asking their mother to speak to Dad. And now, from boyhood to manhood, standing there with Mahima, receiving blessings as husband and wife, and discovering we were to welcome a child – Pavagadh became the fulcrum point, where everything had come beautifully and silently full circle. It felt like Destiny had quietly, lovingly, brought it all together.)
The Moment Destiny Bowed: Meeting Swamiji Finally
Returning to Adelaide, amidst a season of unfolding joy – marriage, pregnancy etc, I randomly stumbled upon an online announcement for Swamiji’s in-person event on 24th–25th August 2019 in at the Sri Hari Temple, in Towrang, NSW, Australia.
Something stirred within. Without hesitation, I reached out to the team, eager to know how we could attend and, most importantly, if we could meet Swamiji.
Call it grace or divine orchestration, but everything fell into place effortlessly.
We flew business class between Adelaide and Canberra, enjoying elegant Virgin Airways hospitality. From there, we hired an SUV and began the road trip to Goulburn, where Mahima slept peacefully on the road trip reclining her car seat, whilst her baby bump was being caressed by the warm winter Sun (It felt as if Mother Nature was welcoming our little one to this event with such immaculate weather and arrangements).
We stayed in a beautiful 3-bedroom Airbnb house in Goulburn, and the next day, drove to Towrang at the ‘Sri Hari Temple’ for the event. Of course, we arrived late (thanks to Mahima’s unhurried grace 😄), but her pregnancy turned out to be a blessing – Mahima was given special seating near Swamiji – a front-row spiritual upgrade! She also enjoyed a few VIP perks throughout the day, including bypassing the lunch queue and being ushered to a reserved table like royalty.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but joke about the “Spiritual Discrimination” I was witnessing 😄 on the day. But amidst all the laughter and light moments, everyone kept saying something that stayed with us:
“Your baby is so lucky to receive Swamiji’s blessings even before being born.”
At the time, we smiled and nodded politely… not fully grasping the profound truth behind those words – until we sat in Swamiji’s presence!
To see, hear and simply be near Him, was like butter melting before a blazing fire. The experience was surreal – Our minds quieted, our hearts bowed, and our bodies at ease! It felt as though Time itself had paused, holding its breath in silent reverence. 🙏🏽
Yet amidst that peace, a quiet question stirred within me:
Why now? After all these years of knowing about Om Swami, why was it only in 2019, with our baby on the way, that we finally met Him?
Perhaps… it was this little soul, yet to be born, who was the true catalyst – A divine gift from Maa Shakti and Shiva at Pavagadh and the one who made this sacred meeting possible. Who knows?
What made it even more surreal was that we were blessed to see Swamiji not once, but twice – once on Saturday, and again on Sunday.
But more on that soon…
However, I managed to capture a few treasured photographs of Swamiji up close including the now-iconic ‘Umbrella Shot’, which remains etched in many devotees’ hearts.
1st Personal Meeting with Swamiji (Sat – 24/8/2019 @ 3:30 p.m.)
After patiently queuing for over an hour, under the beautiful shady trees at the Sri Hari Temple Centre, we finally stepped in the small cottage where Swamiji was seated on his asana, radiant like a Lotus of Light.
Swamiji greeted us with his signature heart-warming smile and compassionate gaze, immediately turning to Mahima with kindness and asking, “Are you okay? Would you prefer to sit on a chair?”
Mahima smiled and responded softly, “I’m okay on the ground.”
So, we both sat cross-legged on the floor, mesmerised just gazing at Swamiji. All the questions I had prepared dissolved instantly. No thoughts. No desires. No words.
I was frozen in time wanting nothing but to remain in His divine peaceful presence.
Swamiji gently smiled and lovingly said to Mahima (something along the lines of)
“You are glowing… She (your baby) is a gift from Sri Hari. Get Vaikund ready”.
(Note – I can’t remember the exact sentence word for word as I was too enchanted, ecstatic, and euphoric in Swamiji’s presence, but what I do remember with absolute clarity is that Swamiji referred to our unborn child as “she.” plus only Mahima & Me knew about the block of a north-east facing gau-mukhi (cow face) land we had purchased with our savings to built our dream home and I wanted to name is ‘Vaikund’)
At that moment, we were shocked, stunned, and surprised!
How could Swamiji possibly know it is a baby girl?
How could Swamiji possibly know about ‘Vaikund’ – our land & future name for the home?
We hadn’t told a single soul not even family about the land purchase and sex of the child. Only Mahima and I knew we were expecting a girl, after a genetic test at 13 weeks to ensure the child’s health was okay. There was no way anyone else could have known about both these things together!
(Note – To a logical mind this may seem to be a probability guess of 50/50 in regards to the sex of the baby. But what happened next, and the day after, would shatter Logic completely. Be ready!!)
We humbly thanked Swamiji, and Mahima gently asked if she could take a few petals from the flowers placed at His feet. Without hesitation, Swamiji picked the petals Himself and lovingly placed them in her hands.
Those sacred petals not only remained miraculously fresh for over two weeks after we returned home, but even after two months – when little Mairaa was born… they continued to emit a subtle, divine fragrance of sandalwood, jasmine, and something indescribably celestial. The medical staff in the delivery room can vouch for that!
Can logic ever explain such Grace?
I then told Swamiji that I pray to Shiva and I knew of Him via Neeta Singhal ji etc. Swamiji was nodding ever so compassionately as if He knew everything and could read each and every thought on my mind! (Note – He actually does! Those who know, know!)
Like a little kid, I curiously asked Swamiji about the sound ‘Shreem’ (Beeja Mantra of Wealth) and its correct pronunciation and application so that I become Super Wealthy! 😂 Lol. Swamiji laughed lovingly and Mahima too was giggling. Swamiji answered it all so graciously like a loving Father would teach his/her child. As we prepared to leave; I offered our Rudraksha malas for blessing.
Swamiji, ever so gentle, smiled again and said,
“First wash, clean and bathe them in milk. Offer them to Sri Hari at the temple tomorrow morning… and then come back to see me.”
His words were clear. His instruction, gentle yet powerful. We followed it with childlike excitement, performing the ritual exactly as advised eager to return the next day.
What made this even more special was that most people at the event only got one opportunity to meet Swamiji due to time constraints. Yet somehow, we were blessed with a rare second darshan – a grace beyond expectation.
That evening, Mahima turned to me and said,
“Thank you for organising everything so beautifully.”
But deep within, I knew the truth.
It wasn’t me. This was far beyond planning or coincidence.
It was a Divine Arrangement (perhaps orchestrated by our unborn daughter, Mairaa, herself); A sacred invitation to simply show up, play our part, and witness His Leela (play) unfolding gently before our eyes.
A small incident before our 2nd meeting
On the second day of the retreat, we arrived early (thanks to me) eagerly looking forward to Swamiji’s discourse, meditation, and the warmth of sharing lunch with the beautiful BLPFA family. The weekend had already felt like a sacred flow of grace.
I remember I was busy feeding my lunch left overs to the many scattered ants, who were running around in the pathway between the hall and temple. As my back was faced towards the temple, little did I know that everybody was standing up, paying obeisance to Swamiji who was coming to the hall for his lunch before/after personal meetings.
As Swamiji walked past, He briefly glanced at the ants and then at me with an affectionate, knowing smile, and blitz away walking super fast in his unique gait and style.
I had no time to turn around, think, act or pay obeisance to Swamiji in that short span of time (plus I was busy feeding those many ants). Few moments later, Mahima walked up to me and whispered “Swamiji was watching you for a while, as He was approaching the hall. Didn’t you see Him?”.
With a half-smile I replied “Nope, I just hope Swamiji doesn’t think that I was wasting the lovely food prepared by the BLPFA team”. 🙂
But deep down, I felt as if, even that small, unconscious act of feeding the tiniest beings had not gone unnoticed by Him. Every intention, every gesture, is silently seen and gently sanctified by Him.
2nd Personal Meeting with Swamiji (Sun – 25/8/2019 @ 2:00 p.m.)
Before meeting Swamiji for the second time, I had prepared a list of questions on my I-pad about Siddhi’s, Beej Mantra’s etc and especially about how He knew about Vaikund and our unborn child was a girl?
But once again, the moment we stepped into the small simple cottage, seeing Swamiji seated in serene stillness again like a Lotus of Light. His radiant smile and loving presence melted every thought in my mind. Just like the first time – no questions, no desires, no words. I was simply frozen in time, content to just be in His presence.
Swamiji welcomed us with deep compassion and gently asked for our Rudraksha malas – one by one – placing them upon His folded knees. With His eyes softly closed, He performed a few subtle tantric mudras and softly chanted a mantra onto each malas before returning them to us.
What happened next was nothing short of mind boggling astonishment. 😳
After Swamiji’s incantation, both of our Rudraksha malas were “Super-Hot”.
It felt as if we were holding hot coals on Fire!
I couldn’t hold or wear it directly on my skin. In disbelief, I asked Mahima to take and touch it. A doctor by profession and rooted in science, even she was awestruck and said that she has never ever experienced such a miracle before.
Our Rudraksha malas were warm for days, defying logic and reaffirming
our belief that this is no ordinary monk nor an ordinary event.
I now wear that Rudraksha mala…a sacred blend of rare beads symbolising Shiva and serving as a constant reminder of my profound encounter with a divine Guru.
(*The Mala consists of Super Collector Nepal beads of 3, 7, 9, 11 Mukhi on the Left; 4, 6, 8, 10 Mukhi on the Right & 13 Mukhi Rudraksha in the middle, all strung in a 5 mukhi mala.
Note – All my sceptical, non-religious and/or religious fanatic readers, should know that Rudraksha is not about ‘Religion’. It is a pure spiritual science. Just as we don’t worship Alexander Graham Bell, but use his invention (telephone/mobile) daily, Rudraksha too is a divine tool—ancient, precise, and deeply transformative. Having studied the science of Rudraksha over the years, I now guide others who are genuinely seeking to find the right beads for their path.)
Mahima & me, were left utterly speechless by the miracle we had just witnessed—an experience beyond words and logic. With hearts brimming with devotion, we simply bowed our heads in silent gratitude, offering thanks to Swamiji for this sacred meeting and the divine blessings showered upon our little family.
SHIVA TO OM SWAMI – CONCLUSION
Returning home to Adelaide after those miraculous moments in the presence of Swamiji, something within me had undeniably shifted forever. I found myself changed, not in appearance, not in lifestyle, but in essence. It wasn’t dramatic or loud, but it was profound.
A sacred thread of love, faith, and devotion began weaving itself around my heart, not as emotions, but as a way of being.
And the strangest part?…It wasn’t driven by any expectations, need, desire, conditions or attachments. I didn’t want anything from Swamiji.
It was just there—solid, real, and deeply comforting.
It’s hard to explain to someone who thinks purely logically. But let me try by citing a personal example. i.e. When I uplift my daughter ‘Mairaa’ (Little Soul already born) into the air during playtime (while my wife watches nervously), she bursts into laughter and squeals with joy saying, “Again, Pappa! Higher!”
She doesn’t flinch. She doesn’t hesitate. She isn’t afraid. Why? Not because I’ve intellectually or logically taught her to trust me, nor because I’ve asked her to believe in me – But because Mairaa simply knows that Pappa will catch her.
That is the subtle difference between “Believing” you have faith, love and devotion…Versus actually Having (knowing) it.
When you really pause to reflect, you’ll notice that most of what we know, read, or are told is simply information passed down from one generation to another, from one person to the next. It’s second-hand by nature. We may call it knowledge or even wisdom, but in truth, it is not…at least, not yet.
Only when we consciously absorb that information, deeply understand it, and test it through our own first-hand experience, does it begin to transform.
That’s when it becomes true knowledge.
That’s when it matures into wisdom.
And that is the starting point of discovering one’s own truth.
It is in that moment that a once-orthodox or ritualistic tradition turns into a living, breathing expression of your own faith, love, and devotion…untainted by attachment, desire, or expectation.
And it is in that faith, love, and devotion that I can humbly proclaim.
I know – by Shiva’s grace, I found my true Guru.
I know – I am sheltered beneath His Umbrella (read Grace).
I know – I have arrived Home.
I hope we have, through these 3 x blog series, met each other with an open mind, an open heart and open arms, embracing the love we all share for Shiva and Om Swamiji.
For it has been my privilege and honour to share my perspective, my experience, my truth with you.
Thank you for giving me your time, which is more valuable than anything.
If you smiled, nodded or felt warm while reading these blogs,
I shall consider my effort worthwhile. I shall consider it worth your time.
Once upon a time, as the reverent Rumi said, “Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”
This has been my myth, my story, my journey. Go embark on yours.
Till we meet again, until next time.
With immense love, respect and gratitude,
Mairaa, Mahima & Willbur.
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