The Golden Guest Poem by Padmanabhan Ananth

The Golden Guest

Rating: 5.0


He came home with me carefully wrapped in my suitcase

All the way from Delhi

Nine years back, golden-alloy statuette, one of summer days



When I met my paternal aunt in Paschim Vihar

She lovingly gifted me

Saying 'have Him home, not as guest, but family member.'



He occupies my puja, seated on dainty plated throne

In His now-famed posture

Tiny garland of rudraksh*-n-flowers around to adorn



This is the image of that simple but extraordinary Saint

Whose birth, childhood unknown

But He was and is revered and idolised without restraint



One rare Indian Sadhu** in the days of pre-freedom

Who was respected equally

By brethren of both faiths: Hindoo and Moslem



He healed, He helped, He guided those who needed

Was loved by simple folk

From many villages, towns in and around where He lived



He had complete control over the forces of universe

Not understood by mere mortals

So his deeds seemed to them like miracle, mystique, surprise



But when He attained His Samadhi^ when was ripe old

He had with him not a rupee

No wealth, no trusts, no successors in His fold



He has brought wondrous peace to all in my family

For the little that we do for Him

He continues guiding, lighting, leading all our lives verily



In multitude of His temples built across globe in veneration

To reverentially invoke and pray,

'Om Sai, Sri Sai', the faithful chant of Him with utmost devotion.

- -
*Rosary beads worn as necklace for by religous Hindus.
**Saint in Hindi
^Highest level of conciousness attained when the soul departs the body.

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Written on Dec.1,2013. This poem is about Shirdi Sai Baba, a pious saint who breathed his last sometime in 1918 AD when he was in his eighties. He is considered God or Saint by many in India irrespective of their religious affiliations. Shirdi is a town near Pune in Western India.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM

The Great Saint Sai Baba of Shirdi, did never preach himself as a God-man. He lived as a true sadhu, died penniless as a true Sadhu.. Fitting ode to the Great Soul

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Padmanabhan Ananth 14 January 2014

Thanks Mike. A colleague said I've missed my 'true calling'. I cannot more agree with him. I'm doing some catching up - in a rather ameturish but very satisfying manner. I read the 'Words From A Master', Reads very well. I'll read the next soonest.

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Mike Barrett 12 January 2014

Interesting. Descriptive. Spiritual. Fine write. I'm please that you express yourself poetically. Given the demands of your profession, Law, this, in my experience, is a rare gift. If interested, check out a few of my poems, I would suggest Words From A Master, and In-Sight. Cheers!

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