It was at a prayer meeting in 2006, in Cochin that I met Dhanesh, then a youngster just above twenty years of age. He looked so meek and spoke in a gentle voice, with deep thoughtful yet gleaming eyes reaching the soul of those listening to him! He told his story to the gathering with such authority that needed an extra amount of honesty and candour for a youth of that age.

It happened about four years ago, an amazing real life story of miraculous transformation. The only child of his parents, Dhanesh grew up with little responsibility and got addicted to undesirable habits usually connected with pampered youth. Such habits combined with an unusual amount of boldness made him the hero of many similar youngsters and before he himself realized, he had become the leader of a gang. His friends enjoyed his company and celebrated life in their own way almost every day. His mere presence was enough to inspire any of them. Dhanesh soon had an enormous list of brawls appended to his name and fame as a gang leader. Decent youngsters would avoid him without giving him any inkling that they were avoiding him purposefully.

In the meantime, he was also working in an automobile workshop as a mechanic. The owner of the workshop, Mr. Das, a very pious gentleman was a devotee of beloved Sri Amma Bhagavan. He and his wife used to try their level best to reform Dhanesh but in vain. Mrs. Das gave him the “Srimurti” (sacred picture of Sri Amma Bhagavan) two or three times, and asked him to pray to Sri Amma Bhagavan. With a modest smile Dhanesh remembers how he had given away all those Srimurtis to the proprietors of toddy shops while leaving after consuming local liquor. He adds that all those who received the sacred pictures have prospered in their life.

The ominous day arrived without any warning and Dhanesh had an unexpected encounter with the notorious leader of a senior gang. The hefty man was too much for poor Dhanesh but somehow, during the fight, he happened to grab the heavy steel rod from his opponent’s hands and dealt quick blows in succession. There was little time for Dhanesh to celebrate his victory as danger loomed large and he had to flee from the place with what all he could gather. For a couple of months he wandered in some distant cities without giving anyone any hint of his whereabouts. But when all the money was spent, he had to return to his home with much hope. But there he found all his close friends asking him to leave again for their safety. Even his own parents insisted that he should better go away. Dhanesh was literally in deep dilemma. He was not rich or educated enough to run away and yet lead a comfortable life. He wanted to continue in his style for which he had to stay at home. But he had become the most undesirable person for his own family and friends. The threat to life also made him restless. Somehow, he spent a couple of days in hiding. His mind wandered and wandered in search of a suitable solution. At last in utter disillusionment, he decided to commit suicide by jumping in front of a moving train.

At this time, Mr. Das called him and his friends and asked all of them to go for a picnic so that for a few days they can be away from the place and the seniors could think of some solution to the issue by the time they would come back. Dozens of packets of cigarettes, pouches of strong chewable tobacco and other such materials were immediately collected as they were all thrilled at the prospect of going on a picnic. The van left in the evening with the eleven or twelve youngsters and a senior to guide them.

The next morning the group found themselves in a remote village far away from Kerala where they were asked to stay for a couple of days. Initially they didn’t like the idea but somehow they acceded to the urge of the senior companion.

They had actually reached Oneness UniverCity and a three day process began there. By no means could anyone call the protests little. In every possible way they expressed their resentment and openly said that they didn’t want any sessions of the Oneness Guides for them. By the evening of the first day, the protest became intolerable for the saintly guides who finally agreed to the demand that the youngsters could be freed to go back.

Soon came the word that beloved Bhagavan was giving a “darsan” (sacred appearance) before the inmates in less than an hour. With great difficulty, the guides managed to get their nod to leave only after having beloved Bhagavan’s darsan.

Behind a crowd of a few hundreds, the youngsters grouped restlessly waiting for the “unknown so-called holy man” to come. Slowly appeared beloved Bhagavan’s imposing figure and Dhanesh remarked sarcastically to his friends, “What has he fixed on his head, as if in films, to give a sort of light around his head?” Before their laughter ended Bhagavan reached the spot and got seated showering boundless grace on the waiting devotees. But Dhanesh had another remark up his sleeve to ridicule Bhagavan, comparing Him with some popular Hindi film star.

Let us listen to Dhanesh himself speaking of his experience. “I had hardly opened my mouth to speak when a bright effulgent golden light from beloved Bhagavan’s face struck me down! And I was out! (A loud laughter from the depth of the heart) When I regained consciousness, it was about two am and we all were seated in the dormitory chanting the moola mantra aloud. One of the Dasajis was at the door requesting us to stop the chanting and to sleep as there were many devotees in nearby dormitories. None was able to sleep because of our loud chant. While lying down to sleep, there was only one thought in mind – of the numerous deekshas that I would be receiving the next day onwards from the blessed saints of the Oneness University!...”

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Today Dhanesh is a wonderful angelic darling devoutly involved in spiritual pursuit and invaluable service of mankind.