His Story - 10

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other. On a particular Monday, Pedda Venkama Raju went to Bukkapatnam to

purchase some provisions in the weekly fair. He received Seshama Raju’s letter

there and straight from the fair, he came to Uravakonda by a bus. Poor man! His

pockets were empty, by then. He took some money from Seshamaraju towards bus

fare for both of us and started from Uravakonda. The Bus Service was upto

Bukkapatnam only. From there, we had to reach Puttaparthi by walk. Pedda

Venkama Raju held My hand and brought Me to Puttaparthi by walk, with great

difficulty. By the time we reached home, Kondama Raju, the grandfather of

this body was eagerly awaiting our arrival. He had great faith in gods and

goddesses. He told Venkama Raju “Venkappa! Don’t take this boy to task. His

strange behaviour

appears to have a link with Divinity. I will keep this boy with me for

sometime.” So saying, he kept Me along with him and looked after Me very

carefully. Only Venkamma (the elder sister of this body) out of all the family

members was allowed to visit Me daily in the morning and evening. She used to

enquire “Sathya! Do you get any dreams? Do you see anyone in your dreams?” But,

I used to divert the conversation to some other topic. I was not revealing

anything to anybody. Some people commented “Sathyam is possessed by a ghost.

That is why his madness has increased very much. It is not possible for anyone

to cure his disease.” Yet another person suggested “There is a sorcerer in

Kadiri, who can cure such diseases. You please take Sathya to him.” Then Myself

and Venkamma

were seated in a bullock cart and taken to Kadiri. Venkamma was not used to

leave Me alone, ever for a minute. That sorcerer was a big drunkard. He told

four people “A ghost has taken over this body. I will drive it away.” So

saying, he beat Me severly with a stick, causing injuries to My whole body, I

did not give vent to My suffering. I bore it silently. Thereafter, he brought

some Kalikam (an eye salve that causes sever pain) and put it in My eye.

Immediately My eyes became red and greatly swollen. He thought I would submit

to him, unable to bear the severe burning and pain in the eyes. But, it did not

happen so. That day, in the evening, I told Venkamma to mix some cow-dung in the

water and pour the mixture in My eyes. She did accordingly. The next day My eyes

became normal and white. The sorcerer was frustrated that his efforts were

failing. He wanted to make a last ditch effort to drive away the ghost from Me.

He got my hair shaved off completely and made two deep cuts on the

scalp, with a barber’s knife. The blood started oozing out from the cuts,

profusely. Then he arranged to pour pots and pots of water on the blood-soaked

cuts on the scalp, from a height of about ten feet. Thereafter, he cut some

lemons and started massaging those pieces on My head. I did not yield to this

torture. Venkamma, who was observing all this process could not, however,

contain her emotions. She arranged a bullock cart on that very night and

brought Me over to Puttaparthi. Subsequently, Seshama Raju took Me again to

Uravakonda and admitted Me in the school, as usual. --- From the book “His

Story: As told by

Himself” (A Compilation from the divine discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai

Baba) To be continued...

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