NO. 20 MAY, 1975
THE GOLDEN AGE
THREE

Prem Rawat then calling himself Guru Maharaj Ji in Bihar in 1975 INTERNATIONAL
DOUBLE WEDDING

The following is an extract from a letter by premie Ron Coletta, who is accompanying Guru Maharaj Ji in India.

Prem and Raja Rawat marry their Western Trophy Brides in India 1975 It was a little like a battle was really happening there were so many completely blissed out premies surrounding the "elephant". It made everything that much more intense. As we started to leave the front steps of the ashram, the van kept stalling and smoking. It finally got rolling for about twenty yards, just enough to make it out of the gate. Then it died, and would no longer run on its own. The crowd of premies surrounding the jeep just started pushing it. We were Just outside the gate on one side, getting ready to go back through the gate on the other side of the driveway, when I felt totally lost. With all the people surrounding us, it was hard to see from which direction we came and where we had to go back to. We were supposed to reenter the gate and go back to the ashram - this was to represent Guru Maharaj Ji and Raja Ji leaving their kingdom and going to the kingdom of their princesses. It was really like being in the middle of some kind of battlefield. By the time we got back to the ashram, it seemed like four hours had passed - sometimes, it seemed that if Guru Maharaj Ji dismounted the elephant, only God knows what would happen, but by His Grace, he dismounted safely and went into the palace of the princesses.

We went upstairs where Durga Ji and Claudia were getting dressed. When Durga Ji came out of her room and met Guru Maharaj Ji, it was like an Indian movie scene. Guru Maharaj Ji asked her if she was ready, and Durga Ji, supercomposed, nodded her head. We all left again and went to the stage outside where the ceremony was to take place. This time, we walked - which was a lot quicker than the elephant, I would say. They were all four, decorated so beautifully. Bob Mishler and I were the fathers of the brides, so we sat next to the two couples, flanking their either side. So, we also participated in the ceremony on stage. There was rice given to all six of us and then thrown into the pile, signifying bargaining for the princesses. This went on for about an hour or two, with mantras being shouted by premies and the whole show. It was really a beautiful ceremony. Princesses attached, we went back to the ashram, or the palace, where we tried to get back to earth - every step of the way was like a divine movie being filmed and every frame of the film seemed like it lasted for ages. About five thousand premies were at the wedding.

That was three days ago and we're still high. The day before the wedding Maharaj Ji gave a beautiful sock-it-to-them satsang in Hindi about how every devotee was now being given the chance to see who is true and who is not. Every day, premies come and have Darshan and satsang by Maharaj Ji and Durga Ji and then leave. There's a continuous flow which is really nice. This way, the ashram doesn't get overloaded and Darshan lines go quickly. We'll be leaving here in a day or two. There's a program in Katmandu, Nepal on the 26th and 27th, so we're getting visas for that - should be far out. I hope it's cooler there, but it doesn't matter except for the comfort of Durga Ji and Maharaj Ji and Premlata. Guru Maharaj Ji is reorganising the offices of the Mission and rewriting the Mission's chapters so we'll probably come back to India after the Katmandu program.

Premlata is really doing well. She's truly the Lord's child. She hardly cries and adjusts instantly wherever she is. For most babies, when they're her age, they stay home all the time, but to Premlata, the whole world is her home. She's really grown, even since the first time I saw her in Miami. To say she's the most beautiful baby in the world is an understatement. Durga Ji is doing fine; she's really happy here and of course, Guru Maharaj Ji is too. When the premies see Durga Ji they just get completely spellbound. It's so beautiful to see how much love they have for her.