Hari Priya

The Meet

The universe was filled with joy. The gentle winds moved through the trees, making the leaves rustle softly. Birds chirped happily, adding their sweet sounds to the air. The holy rivers flowed strongly, washing over the earth and making everything feel fresh and clean.

Devi Kalindi stood eagerly, waiting to see Bhagwati Lakshmi. She was filled with excitement and a little impatience. Her heart raced as she looked around, hoping for just a glimpse of the goddess who brought wealth and happiness.

Kalindi could feel the energy of nature around her, as if everything was alive and celebrating. She knew that seeing Lakshmi would bring blessings not just to her, but to everyone around her.

“Maa!” A small girl’s voice brought Devi Kalindi back from her thoughts. “Maa!” the girl called again, and a smile appeared on Kalindi's face.

As she stepped closer to the child, Kalindi couldn’t help but admire her. The girl looked like a flame, bright and full of life, as if she were a goddess walking on earth. She had red lips and sparkling eyes that caught the light beautifully.

Her face was as bright and smooth as the moon. Her nails were painted red, and she had perfectly shaped eyebrows. Her long, flowing hair added to her beauty, making her look enchanting and special.

“Who are you, child?” Kalindi asked softly, unable to contain her wonder. “You look like the very essence of divine energy, come alive before me. And look at you, so sweet and beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to gently touch the girl’s cheek.

The girl’s laughter bubbled up like a clear brook, her whole being radiating joy. “I was waiting for you too, Maa,” she said, giggling as she hugged Kalindi tightly. “I came all this way to meet you... and you will help me reach Gokul, won’t you?” A playful glint appeared in her eyes, filling Kalindi with both surprise and delight.

Kalindi, smiling through her own joy, lifted the girl onto her lap and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I know who you are,” she murmured, her voice filled with awe. “The divine light in your presence... it gave you away. The moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary child.”

As she spoke, tears filled her eyes, and her voice grew tender and unsteady. “Thank you, Vaikuntha Swamini, for fulfilling the deepest wish of my heart. Shri Hari blessed me by allowing me to witness his birth on this earth, and now, you bring me another blessing. You give me the chance to serve, to care for, and to touch divinity itself. It is more than I could ever ask for.”

But the little girl shook her head gently, her small hands reaching up to Kalindi’s face. Her voice was soft yet unwavering. “No, Devi,” she said. “I have called you mother... and from this moment on, you are my Maa, my mother in all ways. That is who you are to me.”

Kalindi felt a powerful emotion welling up inside her, a love so deep it felt like her heart might burst. She pulled the girl close, holding her as if afraid she might vanish. The warmth and purity that radiated from the child was unlike anything she had ever felt—a love so pure, so timeless, that it felt like the very essence of the divine.

You are a gift from the heavens,” Kalindi whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “And I promise, as your Maa, I will cherish you and protect you with all that I am.”

Devi Kalindi gently stepped aside, allowing Vaishnavi a clear path. As Vaishnavi walked forward, each step she took left glowing footprints on the earth, as though the ground itself rejoiced in her presence. Her feet, smeared with the red dye of alta, made soft, graceful marks that seemed to bring the forest to life.

Everywhere she went, nature responded. The trees swayed gently, their branches reaching out as if in greeting. The birds grew silent, watching her with curious eyes, captivated by the quiet, radiant beauty she carried. Her face glowed with a soft warmth, her eyes filled with a gentle wisdom, and her hair flowed freely down her shoulders. There was something enchanting about her, a calm energy that drew everything in her surroundings closer, as if nature itself was drawn to her.