jyoti @ His Lotus Feet

Unassuming, delicate, exuberant, and yet exuding the finest love and devotion to Baba. These qualities express her great love of Baba by fulfilling her service to unending lines of patients in her hospital where her family resides, too. A loving mother, a willful wife, a compassionate doctor, and most of all an Acharya rolled into one; that’s Didi Karuna.
On the way to Ranchi, I happened to ask Didi Ananda Rupadhara (my “tour guide” in India) where we’re going to stay in Ranchi. Without any qualm, she simply replied, “in the hospital.” Did I hear it right, “hospital?” I’m not complaining, but is there anyplace better than the hospital? I’m just asking, well…
I like the room; it seems this room has been used by Didis or Dadas because of some paraphernalia left in the place. Umm, I liked the vibes.
The hospital is pretty big with lots of rooms. It’s owned and run by Didi Karuna. They reside upstairs and we stayed on the second level.
Didi Rupadhara introduced me to her the next morning in front of her numerous patients. I was so mesmerized by her persona. Why don’t I know this great lady? She’s definitely a well-kept secret saint of Ananda Marga. Baba must have a reason why He shielded her from this materialistic world. Ranchi and India needs her. She works tirelessly everyday till night, even on Sunday. The picture posted above was taken on Sunday morning while she’s surrounded by her patients. And on that night during the dharmacakra in Baba’s Quarter, she was there with her loving husband. I’m sure she was tired that night but she still had time to attend DC (anybody who’s on the fence about not attending DC, you better think twice). She’s beautiful in and out.
It’s so awkward to ask if I can have a short conversation with her because I knew she’s that busy, but I’m leaving the next day. Anyway, the next morning as soon as I finished my sadhana, their housekeeper came summoning us to go upstairs. Didi Karuna wants to talk to us. “Hurry up Didi, c’mon let’s go.” The housekeeper ushered us to their meditation room. It looks like she just finished her morning sadhana. She invited us to sit in the chair outside and she took another seat beside Didi. This was the first moment I can say I had a chance to see her face to face. She’s breathtakingly beautiful with a gorgeous aquiline nose. I can’t guess her age. Her parents are devotees of Baba. It was Baba who gave her name. She she even got a chance to take care of Baba when He was sick.
The most profound story she narrated was when she was called, together with another Margii doctor, to resuscitate Baba on that day in October 1990 when He was found motionless in His room. In spite of the fact of the gravity of the situation, she was able to control her composure. They tried everything they knew but still Baba wasn’t breathing. There was one thing that they hadn’t done, mouth to mouth resuscitation, which she did kindly and respectfully. But on that day, even doctors couldn’t help.
I asked her if she could give me a little bit of cut toe nails from Baba that she kept in her locket. Although she replied affirmatively, she was called right away by her duties and we had to hurry up to catch our train to Ananda Nagar. Well, it seems I have a reason to go back to Ranchi.