Love and Grace
The year was 1986 and the Pope was visiting India. It was the first time a pontiff was gracing the soil of India. Madras was in his itinerary. There was excitement and flurry all round and the office of the Archbishop at Mylapore was buzzing with activity. I instinctively felt that it was going to be one of the rarest of occasions in the history of Madras and the visiting pontiff should not only be seen but also met. His programme included a public mass at the Marina, (too difficult to go near), a lunch with the Archbishop of Mylapore, (too exclusive for people like me), and a meeting with a selected 200 people of other religions and religious leaders at the Rajaji Hall. I thought that this was the place to really go and have a meaningful experience. We had to apply well in advance to the Archbishop's office, for a photo-identity pass pre-cleared by the police; which was not a problem due to the goodwill of the Archbishop's office and fellow police officers.
I arrived at the Rajaji Hall, well in advance, along with two other lady officers, Mrs. O. P. Sosamma and Mrs. Jayanthi and occupied my place. Suddenly, I realised that one of the leading Bharatanatyam dancers of our times, Chitra Visveshwaran was waiting outside the hall to perform a traditional Bharatnatyam composition, in Sanskrit, to welcome the Pope, accompanied with melodious South Indian Classical (Carnatic) musical instruments. I felt it would be a memorable sight to see Chitra perform and the pontiff watch her, as he enters the portals of Rajaji Hall. It would also mean a lot to the humanity and to the people of all religions, as the Pontiff receives a traditional Vedic welcome, reserved for kings and spiritual leaders which he richly deserves being the spiritual leader of a vast number of people in the world.
I quietly slipped out of my seat and joined a group of children, come to welcome the distinguished guest, and stood with them, by the doorway, with sandalwood paste, rose water and flowers, the auspicious offerings for a guest in South India. As soon as the Pope arrived, he was received with 'Poorna Kumbam' (full temple honours) on the last steps of Rajaji Hall. In the ceremony the chief priest, a holy man, hands over a pot full of water and grains of rice, adorned with auspicious mango leaves and topped with a coconut to the guest of honour. The pot known as Purna Kumba is symbolic of the total universe or entire creation. As soon as the Poorna Kumba was given, Chitra started a welcome dance to the chants from the Vedas. I was so enthralled with the whole scene that I did not realise when I bent forward, folded my hands in benediction and closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt my whole being electrified with some divine softness.
I opened my eyes and saw that the Pontiff had kindly put one of his hands on my folded hands. Seeing this, I instinctively clasped his hand tightly and was not at all inclined to let go. I feel, I stood there holding his hand, for an eternity until I was bribed by one of his cardinals, by slipping a small gift under my palm, which contained a rosary. Another Rosary was slipped into the hand of Chitra. I think we felt so blessed that we were almost walking on the air.
The meeting which followed was most exquisite. The verses were read from the Koran and Gita and poetry of Guru Nana was recited. The Pope spoke for the common good of mankind and of the rich spiritual tradition of India. After the meeting he mingled with everybody. People were hugging him, kissing his hands and his ring, touching his garment. He was one with all. The whole auditorium was surcharged with divine grace. Some were falling at his feet, others were crying with unexpected grace and love. As we kissed his hand and the ring, our throats were choked, with emotional upsurge, due to such an close encounter. I think those present at that meeting would always cherish what happened inside Rajaji Hall. We also received souvenir medallions from cardinals from the Vatican. I have gifted my medallion to Tamil Nadu Archives for safe keeping for posterity.
The Rosary remained in my handbag for many years. Till my son took it away and wore it around his neck, to avail the blessings, while he was writing his tenth standard examination. He did not part with it till it broke into pieces. However, I have preserved all the pieces. Whenever, I look at these pieces from the Rosary, I am transported back to the near ethereal meeting we had with Pope John Pau,l the benign Pope, and the blessings and spiritual love which many of us experienced.
