Amazing Transformation and Divine Miracle

[Guest guest]

Birthday. They could not have realised that it was the Divine Hand that had

pointed out this village, since a Leela was to be played out there. A

Paralysed Lady Blighted and Uncared For … In was in January 2003, at the

inauguration of the Seva activities in the village, that the members of the

Ooty Samithi conducted a Nagarsangeerthan one early morning. After the

Nagarsangeerthan they visited each

and every house and gave out Swami’s picture, a laddu and vibhuthi as prasad. At

the end of a lane they entered an ancient, dilapidated house for handing out

prasad. What they saw shook them to the very core of their being. On the damp

floor was lying a lady well past her prime on a sacking cloth. Wherever they

turned, their eyes met only signs of abject poverty and neglect. Some villagers

who had come along with them explained the pitiful condition of that lady.

She was extremely poor and had been orphaned at a very early age. The little

plot of land that she inherited was the source of a meager income that kept her

body and soul together. Having no near and dear relatives to arrange her

marriage, she remained a spinster. When she was 30, suddenly, she lost the use

of both arms and legs. The Divine Sai Seva Begins…. The District President

and other members of the Organisation, who heard these pathetic details, were

deeply touched. That second itself they resolved to adopt her and take care of

her. Immediately, a cot, a mattress and blankets were bought and she was

transferred from the cold sacking cloth on the floor. They planned that

every day one member would bring food and stay with her the entire day and take

care of her. That was how the Divine Seva began. The Villagers’ Hearts Awaken…

As months rolled by, the collective conscience of the village woke up. They

felt ashamed that in the name of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, volunteers were coming

from distant Ooty to take care of the elderly, paralysed lady who had always

lived in their midst, totally neglected by them. They felt that it was their

bounden duty to take care of the lady. Slowly, their minds and hearts changed

and kindness and compassion crept into their hearts. As a result, the village

panchayat (head committee) was convened. Each one commented appreciating the

continuous Seva that had been going on, rain or shine. The Ooty Samithi members

had never failed in the Sai Seva they had taken up even though they had to

travel 20 kms to and fro from Ooty. The villagers resolved that henceforth they

would take over the care of their neighbour whom they had forsaken till then.

Thirty people came forward to care for her. All the days of the month were thus

covered and the specific date for each

family was written on a paper and kept near Bhagavan’s picture in their Pooja

room as an offering at the Feet of the Lord Sai. The service continued and

the Samithi members continued to associate themselves and assist when need

arose. The eagerness to serve spread and soon everyone in the village wanted to

do something! The Seva Ideal Spreads… They began to renovate her house,

cementing the floor, painting the walls and repairing the roof. It gained a new

look and shone because of the love and service gushing from generous hearts.

They began cooking her food in the renovated kitchen and thus

she was able to eat hot food, a very welcome change for her in Ooty’s cold

climate. A healthy competition began between the villagers so that each

month lots had to be drawn to assign 30 families for performing Seva to the

paralysed lady. All the important activities of the village began to be held in

her house only. It had become a symbol of their unity and purity of hearts and

the readiness to serve that sprang from that purity. The dark, dismal house

had become transformed into a shining center for all activities in Melakavatti.

The village that was earlier divided by selfishness, clashes of ego and

disinterestedness, came together bound by love of service to the long-neglected

lady.

Thus, started the link that bound them together into Unity, which spread Purity

among them. Can Divinity be far behind? The Lady’s House…the Centre of the

Village In September 2004, the Samithis in the Nilgiris District planned to

hold bhajans in 80 villages. The turn of Melakavatti came along and all the

people in one voice opined that the bhajan should take place in that lady’s

house, which had become the focal point of all their activities. Accordingly, a

well decorated shamiana (temporary shed) was erected in front of the house and

bhajans started in the evening. All the villagers participated with great

enthusiasm and devotional fervour. The bhajan singers from Ooty were

totally immersed in singing the praise of the Lord who had brought the village

together. The Unexpected Divine Miracle! At that golden moment something

momentous, something miraculous, something totally unexpected, began to happen.

That 50 year old lady who had no sensation in her hands and legs and had been

confined to her bed for the past 20 years, suddenly, without the help of

anybody or without anyone being conscious of it, raised herself up to sit on

the bed. Slowly, she put her feet down and stood up! She moved her hands as

well. She moved towards the

place where bhajans were being sung in front of Bhagavan’s picture. The whole

village was immersed in the bhajans and did not know of the miracle that was

taking place inside the house. All at once, they saw her coming to the front of

the house unaided and raising her hands in homage to the visible Lord and

beginning to dance in ecstasy. The bhajan singers, Samithi members and the

villagers were all struck with wonder seeing that lady dancing before their

eyes and this must have flashed on their minds “Sai Bhagavan! How is it

possible for this lady who had remained paralysed for 20 years to dance to the

rhythm of the bhajans except by Your Grace? You are indeed present here and

have taken over the entire village and working miracles. The total

transformation of this village has been due to Your boundless Grace, mercy and

compassion.” The lady explained to the amazed gathering that Swami had

appeared in her dream the previous night and had massaged her hands and legs

thus removing her paralysis. The Amazing Transformation in the Village

Today, the 300 families are closely knit into one Sai family. Unity led to

Purity that has expanded into Divinity.The

village chief who was shocked by what he saw resolved then and there that he

would never touch another bottle of liquor in that pure village where God was

present. He had been a confirmed alcoholic throughout his entire life! Lo

and behold! The paralysed walks! The addict renounces liquor at a moment’s

notice! Unity prevails in a divided village and their pure hearts are

temples where Bhagavan is enthroned! What other proof does one need to

recognize the presence of the All

Compassionate Lord? A little footnote to the above is that the name of the

lady is Subbi short for Subbamma! A look at that shining lady’s face and

visit to her is enough for her neighbours to come back lit with joy and peace.

Where the Lord has taken residence is surely a place filled with Ananda and

peace everlasting. Courtesy: Sai Samarpan Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine,

January

2006http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_04/01JAN06/Amazing-Transformation-And-Divine-Miracle.htm