The divine rescue

Divine intervention in Afghanistan

Everyone knows that gods are hungry for devotion; those who call out with a true heart will have their divine attention. Every living being on this earth is created by the same supreme deity. In the eyes of this supreme creator, animals, birds, and humans are all equal; even human caste, religion, or location holds no significance in the divine gaze.

This extraordinary event is a living proof of how Lord Shiva arrived in Afghanistan to protect his devotee. Though this event is astonishing, it is absolutely true. This tale dates back to when our country was under British rule. During that period, an English officer, Lieutenant Colonel C. Martin, was stationed in the Malwa region of central India (now Madhya Pradesh).

The call of duty and divine intervention

In 1879, a war broke out among the Afghans in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel C. Martin was sent to lead the troops in an effort to defeat the Afghans under his skilled command. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Martin’s wife, residing in India, became deeply worried. She feared for her husband's life, now that he was on the battlefield in Afghanistan.

Colonel Martin’s wife was greatly influenced by Indian culture. She would occasionally leave her grand residence to sit among the village women, chatting with them for hours and even sampling local dishes made by the villagers. Due to her simple nature, she had become quite popular among the villagers. During the monsoon season, she would swing on swings with the village women and sometimes even dress in traditional Indian attire.

However, due to her anxiety over her husband’s safety, the Colonel's wife had stopped going outside for some days. Concerned villagers noticed her absence and wondered if she was ill. They visited her home to inquire about her well-being, but the security personnel initially barred their entry.

Eventually, the Indian women introduced themselves and requested that their visit be communicated to the Colonel's wife. The guards relayed the message, and upon hearing that some village women wished to meet her, the Colonel’s wife rushed out to welcome them inside her residence.

The divine solution

The Colonel’s wife explained to the visiting women her worries about her husband in Afghanistan, and the women suggested she worship Lord Shiva. They assured her that Lord Shiva would protect her husband. They also provided her with the location of a Shiva temple where she could pray for her husband’s safety.

The Colonel's wife was pleased with this advice. That same day, she acquired a Rudraksha mala and began performing the "Om Namah Shivaya" mantra regularly, both morning and evening. She also started visiting the Shiva temple every Monday to conduct the Mahamrityunjaya mantra for her husband’s life.

Gradually, her anxiety eased as she began to believe that her husband would safely return to India. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel C. Martin found himself encircled by Afghan soldiers on the battlefield, convinced that his end was near. Suddenly, he started hearing his wife's voice chanting "Om Namah Shivaya." Driven by this sound, he too began chanting the mantra.

As soon as the Colonel uttered "Om Namah Shivaya," a miraculous event occurred. A fierce storm arose, and the sky turned a deep red. The Afghan soldiers were stunned when a colossal figure appeared on the battlefield, acting as a shield in front of the Colonel. The Afghan soldiers fled in terror, leaving the Colonel bewildered by the turn of events.

When Colonel Martin returned home to India, he found his wife was not there. Inquiring about her whereabouts, he was told she was at the Shiva temple. Not familiar with Shiva, he wondered who this deity was.

Accompanied by a security guard, Colonel Martin went to the temple where his wife was. Upon seeing the Shiva statue in the temple, he was astonished to recognize it as the same colossal figure that had saved his life on the battlefield. The Colonel bowed in reverence before the deity.