Learning with the Mother

PRAYER FOR THE SUN

Each year for the birthday of Pranab Da, Director of the Ashram Physical Education Department, we the captains and group members secretly prepared an informal demonstration of physical culture which would be put up before the Mother on the 18th of October every year. The Mother took a keen interest in this particular programme.

In 1958, we had very early monsoon rains which poured down heavily and unexpectedly for several days before the 18th of October, soaking the Playground completely. On the morning of the 17th October, two of us captains, Mona and I, went to the Mother and informed Her that unless the sun came out on the 18th of October, the ground would be too wet to hold the demonstration.

The Mother went into a trance for a while, then taking a paper and pen She wrote down a prayer for the Sun:

The prayer for the Sun written by the Mother

*O Sun! Our friend.

Dispel the clouds

Absorb the rain

We want Thy rays

We want Thy light

O Sun! Our friend.*

The Mother then asked us, the captains and other interested Group members, to be at the Playground at 5 o’clock next morning, stand facing the east and repeat the prayer 36 times.

According to the Mother’s instructions, we assembled at the Playground at the appointed hour. We stood facing the east and shivering in the heavy rain, recited the prayer 36 times; the rain, however, continued to pour.

Miraculously an hour later, the rain stopped and the sky began to clear up and the Sun shone bright for the rest of the day. That evening our Physical Demonstration went off brilliantly but the rain returned with a vengeance within minutes of our demonstration being completed.

***

To Tara,

These star—like flowers, so that her life may be governed by a true greatness of soul to enable her to face her responsibilities with a noble and generous heart.

In peace and joy, light and love.

5 July 1961