My Grandmother’s Lap….

Childhood memories are so much about vacations. The days when we rush to our native village and hug our grandparents. The pure love from their eyes heals us from the bruises of a city life and the boundary of a nuclear family.

My grandmother passed away a few months ago at 94 years…She was an integral part of my growing up years and somehow I am more like her than like my mother. 

My memories about her are endless. The most vivid one is of her daily routine. She woke up at around 2.30 am in the morning. With a lamp in her hand she would go to the courtyard to light the wood under the small water tank built in the bathroom- (traditional water heater ). After completing her morning tasks, she would be ready for her morning puja by around 3.30 am. And for the next two hours drown in her routine of chanting her stotras – including Hanuman Chalisa and Anjaneya Dandakam…Her Ishta devta. She would clean all her copper and brass god’s daily and apply tilak and adorn them with flowers gathered from the courtyard. In the peace of the morning it would be as if all the Gods and Goddesses have silently gathered around Her to listen to Her devotion filled chanting and her sincere selfless prayers.

At around 6 am she would be repeatedly calling out our names requesting us to wake up as the sun is up. Holiday time and the warmth of the household, like a lullaby gifted the most peaceful sleep. We would finally give in to her calls and wake up.

Many things followed in this routine, but what is etched in my heart is how I could atleast once sit near her and place my head on her lap. Such a magical emotion maybe I have never experienced. I would be teary eyed without knowing and just stay that way for a long time. 

Fast forward to the grown up years and today. When she was not with me and when she is no longer with me now, what do I remember her the most for. That soothing warmth of her lap is a part of my existence now.  When in sorrow or when tormented by life, I would close my eyes and imagine lying down on her lap and those tears would wipe away a part of the grief. How when facing hatred for no reason, I just cuddle in the cushion of her lap and feel loved and become love forgiving everyone. How when feeling lonely, I get back to her lap to feel her presence around. How her unconditional acceptance of me, in those moments, with her hand placed on my forehead, accompanied by her gentle smile has become the source of my eternal solace.

This relationship taught me that every gift that God gives us is invaluable. They are for a lifetime. Yet the ones who shower compassion and love on us can walk us through the darkest times. Love recieved is not a part of our life it becomes a part of our existence.

He is eternal. His gifts reflecting His love are eternal. May we all treasure such selfless love gifted to us, hold it in our hearts and reflect that back to the Universe multifold.

❤️

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( My grandfather lives in our village with my aunt and his child like innocence lights up everything around. They both are a signal to my heart that once we become love, we can unknowingly add magic to everyone whom we come across and also heal from anything and everything)

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💞🙏