HisStory - 4

[Guest guest]

There used to be strict instructions that no one should visit or partake of

water in others’ houses. The atmosphere in the villages was surcharged with

mortal fear. These restrictions were bring observed by one and all in the

village including Griham Ammayi, Easwaramma. Kondama Raju was a very orthodox

person. He also did not use to take even water in anybody’s house. He confined

Me to the house and never used to allow anyone to come near Me, lest I might

contract those diseases. He used to be so strict that he did not allow even

Venkamma and Parvathamma (elder sisters of Swami) to come near Me. However, I

used to go out every now and then, without his knowledge. Later, when he came

to know about it, he used to plead with Me lovingly, “you should not go out

like that, Sathya!” The house in which we were living was located in a street

where Boyas (the huter community) were residing. Kondama Raju, therefore, put

some Boyas as My “bodyguards.” He used to tell them “Keep a watch on the

movements of this boy. If you find him anywhere in the village in the company

of others, bring him home immediately”. Thus, he made strict arrangements

restricting My movements. But, do I submit Myself to such restrictions? I used

to stealthily go out, without being noticed by anybody. Some boys, however, out

of love for Me used to come to our house without the knowledge of their parents,

They were al aged between 6 to 8 years. A group of ten to twelve boys used to

gather round Me. They used to move alongwith Me constantly, wherever I went.

One day, the children came running to me out of fear and pleaded with Me “Raju!

we understand cholera is rampant in our

village. We also understand that it is a deadly disease and a person infected

with this disease will die within a short time. We don’t know what will happen

to us. We are very much afraid.” Then, I assured them that nothing will happen.

I tried to instill courage and confidence in them saying, “you don’t be afraid.

The body is bound to perish, however much we try to protect it. Growth and

decline are bound to occur in the life of a human being, even if one were to

live in a forest. Hence, you don’t be afraid of death. However, you make

efforts to keep the disease away. For that purpose, engage yourself in the

constant contemplation on God.” The children then enquired from Me, “Which God?

Rama or Krishna?” They were very innocent boys. Puttaparthi was a small hamlet

in those days. It had a population of only 106 people, then. I suggested to the

boys that we would conduct Bhajan in the village at six o’ clock

in the evening by installing an oil lamp in a prominent place. They were in a

dilemma as to which bhajan was to be sung. Then I composed some devotional

songs. I told them “Dear children! We need not search for God outside. He is

very much immanent in us.” The children went round the entire village singing

bhajans, as instructed by Me. In those days, people in the village used to be

very much afraid of ghosts. Hence, they dare not go beyond the Sathyabhama

Temple after five o’ clock in the evening. They thought that that was the

boundary of the village. However, I tried to infuse courage and confidence in

the children, explaining that there are, infact, no ghosts or devils at all! I

could make the children bubbling with

enthusiasm to drive away the diseases of cholera and plague from the village,

with faith in God and constant contemplation on Him. I told them to tie jingle

bells to their ankles. I put castanets in their hands. With this paraphernalia,

we walked upto the river chitravathi singing bhajans all the way. By the time we

covered the entire village and its boundaries in three days singing bhajans

thus, the diseases of cholera and plague disappeared forever. Thereafter, the

parents of these children came to Me and requested “Raju! you instilled courage

and confidence in our children and made them very enthusiastic. You be a

Teacher to our children from tomorrow, you teach them whatever you

know. No other education is necessary for them.” From that day onwards, all the

children started coming to our house for tuition. I was being addressed as

“Tuition Master”. One day, the parents of the children came to Me and requested

me to receive Guru dakshina (some kind of remuneration as a token of gratitude

to the Teacher). How much of it? A quarter of an anna per month. The children

used to come for tuition in the evening after partaking some sankati (ragi

gruel) and stay with Me for the night. I used to teach them some spiritual and

moral topics also, alongwith the alphabets. I used to tell them “You should not

move in the company of the bad people. You should not lend your ears to what

they say. You should not speak bad words. You should not criticize others. You

must cultivate good qualities. You should respect your parents and elders. You

should not harm anybody. You should not hurt

others’ feelings. We must do our work properly. Besides, we must undertake

social service. Whatever good things we learn, we must teach them to others.”

In due course, a change for the better was achieved in the children by such

good words. In addition, I used to train some younger children in bhajan

singing and conduct Pandhari bhajans with their participation. These young boys

used to jingle bells to their ankles, hold castanets in their hands an go round

the village singing bhajans during early morning and wake up those who were

still sleeping. In those days, the villagers used to sleep till 7 o’ clock in

the morning. But, once I started Pandhari bhajans with the help of these young

children, they used to get up at 5 o’ clock itself, take bath and offer their

prayers to God in that serene and holy atmosphere.

In fact, it was only due to the efforts of Sri Sathya Sai Baba that

contemplation on God had started for the first time in Puttaparthi. Gradually,

it spread to other villages also. Due to such transformation brought about by

My teachings, all the villagers used to address Me as “Vedanthi” (the

philosopher). The children used to go round the village every day early in

the morning and exhort the villagers by singing such songs as: “Wearing the

ochre robs; Holding the cymbals in hands; Girding up the loins; Destroying

desire and anger and Treading the path to Divinity; Come! Come! Oh! Villagers!

Come quickly; Join us singing hail to Lord Panduranga!” That was, infact, the

Nagar Sankirthan we conducted in the village in those days. And, when was it

started? When this body was barely 7 years old! While we were thus singing and

dancing and going round the village early in the morning waking up the

villagers from slumber, Subbamma and Easwaramma used to experience bliss.

Subbamma too used to participate in that Pandhari bhajan clapping her hands

rhythmically. In those days, a bag of puffed rice was available for one anna.

She used to purchase one bag and distribute to the children some quantity as

prasadam. Thus, I used to spend My time in the propagation and teaching of

spiritual matters right from My childhood. People from nearby villages also

used to visit Puttaparthi to witness these Pandhari bhajans and get totally

immersed in them. The reason why I am relating all these stories is that

students should cultivate divine feelings right from their childhood. ---

>From the book “His Story: As told by Himself” (A Compilation from the divine

discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba) .