We meet people every day. But they are known to us over time. However, we tend to see or come across newer faces in common places. The common places may include a cinema hall, a temple, a restaurant, an airplane, a bus, a train, or a street. We are sometimes drawn to a person or want to know a so & so. Breaking the ice within ourselves is the key to first meeting. All these places have one thing in common. Each person in the vicinity is there for the same purpose as us. This common denominator must be thought about before mentally or physically moving towards the person. Trying to meet a new person will bring in our lives.

King Shantanu of Hastinapura was near the river Ganga one day and he happened to see a handsome lad blocking the river with his arrows. The astonished king went over to the lad and used polite words in order to know more about him. The lad was none other than Gangeya, his own son with Ganga. This approach united the father and son. The etiquette of King Shantanu played a seminal role in this reunion.

Once upon a time, the courtesan daughter of King Romapada of Anga – Vaishali was sent to Rishyashringa Giri (‘Shringa Giri’ which became ‘Shringeri’) for the purpose of enticing the young sage, Rishyashringa. He was to be brought to Anga in order to ensure that the parched kingdom was blessed with copious rainfall. The pretty Vaishali entered the dense forest and got to see Rishyashringa for the first time. She had to approach him and entice him in the interest of the people of Anga. Vaishali used all her skills and subdued the mood and feelings of the young Rishyashringa. He got besotted by her and she led him to the parched kingdom. Rishyashringa performed rituals and rains were brought in due to the same. The coming out of misery was possible due to the body language and communication skills of Vaishali.

Maharaja Chhatrasal (1649 – 1731) of Bundelkhand was a fierce nationalist. He had boldly defied the tyrannical Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb in his court and got away with it due to his excellent swordsmanship. The great warrior, Chhatrasal was traveling all around to seek wealth and also blessings of a great soul. It was a dark night in 1683 and the Bundela Warrior got an opportunity to meet Mahamati Prananath (1618 – 1694). This great soul had traveled all over India and the Middle east. The Pranami sect as propounded by Prananath had several followers including Putli Bhai, the mother of Gandhi. This chance meeting of Swami Prananath and Chhtrasal was due to the desire of the latter and the receptiveness of the former.

The ruler was drawn to the great master and his humble approach ensured that he got what was required. Swami Prananath gave him his own sword and covered his head with a scarf. He told Chhtrasal that he will always be victorious and the diamond mines to be discovered in his land will make an emperor. The prophesy came true and even today - Panna is famous for its diamonds. Swami Prananath was not only a religious guru of Chhtrasal but he guided him in political, social and economic matters. A chance meeting and appropriate etiquette as prescribed in our scriptures made Maharaja Chhtrasal powerful and prosperous.

The intense yearning of Chhtrapathi Sivaji blessed him with a vision of the radiant form of Samarth Ramdas. The great Swamiji was wearing wooden Padukas, a saffron robe and was holding onto a Japa mala in his hand. Shivaji bowed down to the great saint and was blessed by him in his dream. On waking up the next day, the emperor saw that he had a Coconut in his hand as a sacrament. The lifelong devotion of Shivaji was to begin from then on. Eventually, Samarth Ramdas met Shivaji and blessed him by giving a fistful of mud, horse-dung, and pebbles. This meant that Shivaji would capture territory, take over hill forts and move around with an army of horses. The Coconut meant that the emperor will never face shortages. Samarth Ramdas took him Shivaji as his proteisch and advised him how to behave with caution during the troubles’ times. These words are found in the holy text, ‘Dasbodh’.

The great Samarth Ramdas cautioned that one must be careful while using his judgement to distinguish between a friend and an enemy. He advised that plans must be formulated after undergoing the process of deep thinking in solitude. He advised Shivaji to be on the move without getting bored and without losing hope. Samarth Ramdas suggested that it was important to build a lot of friendly contacts. Thus, the meeting between Chhtrapathi Shivaji and Yugapurush Samarth Ramdas laid a foundation for the creation of a vast Hindu Rashtra. The blessings of the great saint continued, the Marathas came to be known for their valor and a huge cavalry owned by them. The next hundred years witnessed them reaching their zenith by ruling an empire which measured 28 million sq. kms.

Our scriptures advise to make proper contact through the eyes and ensure that the body language is humble but backed by self-respect. Discipline, devotion, love for the motherland and its culture was to be the focus during a quest. This kind of an approach while meeting strangers brought in prosperity and power to the practitioners of the same. Our scriptures are full of such meetings and continue to guide us in our pursuits.