Sathyam Sivam Sundaram - Part I

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The period of probation which Sai Baba had allotted to the people around Him was

over. He saw that the moment had come to renounce the family name and declare

Himself to be always Sai Baba. On the twentieth day of October,

1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by a special bus, Sathya

started for school as usual. The Excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu,

who was very much attached to the young Baba, accompanied Him as far as the

school gate and reluctantly went home. He seemed to see a superb halo around

the face of Baba that day, and he could not take his eyes away from that

enchantment. Within a few minutes Baba also turned back to the house. Standing

on the outer doorstep, He cast aside the books He was carrying and called out,

"I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai." The sister-in-law came from the kitchen

and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendor of the halo which she saw

around Sai Baba's Head! She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, "I

am going. I don't belong to you; Maya (illusion) has gone; My devotees are

calling Me; I have My Work. I cannot stay any longer." So saying, He turned and

left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing of this, but

Sai Baba only told him, "Give up all your efforts to 'cure' Me. I am Sai. I do

not consider Myself related to you." Neighbor Sri Narayana Sastri heard the

noise; he listened and realized that it was something serious. He ran in.

Seeing the splendor of the halo, he fell at Sai Baba's Feet. He too heard the

historic declaration: "Maya has left; I am

going; My Work is waiting." Seshama Raju was non-plussed. He could

hardly collect his wits to meet the new situation. A boy, just fourteen,

talking of devotees, work, illusion, and the philosophy of "belonging!" He

could think of only one plan. Sathya was entrusted to him by his parents, and

it was therefore his task to inform them and keep Sathya in the house until

they came to Uravakonda for Him.

0in 0pt"> But Sathya would not step into the house again. He moved out

into the garden of Sri Anjaneyulu's bungalow and sat on a rock in the midst of

the trees. People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers and

fruits. The grove resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the

lines that Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them

that day was, as many still remember: "Meditate in thy mind on the

Feet of the Guru. This can take you across the difficult sea of existence in

birth after birth." His classmates wept when they heard that Sathya

would no longer attend school, that He was much beyond their reach, that His

company was hereafter only for those upon whom He showered His Grace. Many came

to the garden with incense and camphor to worship Him. Some came to sympathize

with the family, some to congratulate them. Some came to learn, and some, alas,

even to laugh! Three days passed thus in that garden, three days of

worship. A photographer came who wanted Sai Baba to remove a crude stone that

was right in

front of Him, but Baba did not pay heed to that prayer. The photographer took

the picture nevertheless, and lo, the stone had become an image of Sai Baba of

Shirdi! But only in the photograph, not for all the people who had assembled

there. One evening while chanting, Baba suddenly said, "0 Maya has

come!" ("The illusion is presenting itself.") He pointed out Easwaramma, the

mother, who had just arrived in hot haste from Puttaparthi. When the parents

pleaded with Him to come home, He retorted, "Who belongs to whom?" The mother

wept and prayed but she could not shake the resolve of the boy. He was

constantly repeating the statement, "It is all illusion-untrue." At

last He asked the mother to serve Him food. When she served some dishes, He

mixed them all up and made the whole lot into a few balls. She handed Him three

of these. Swallowing them, He said, "Yes, now False Appearance has failed. There

is no need to worry," and He re-entered the garden.

FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'"> A few days later Sai Baba left

Uravakonda. The parents were able to persuade Him to make His way to

Puttaparthi by assuring Him that they would henceforth abstain from ridiculing

Him or disturbing His task of meeting devotees. Sri Anjaneyulu worshipped His

Feet. The townsmen arranged a procession to the very boundary. Lamps were waved

in reverence, and music was sung at many places enroute. Sai Baba

was first welcomed at Puttaparthi into the village accountant's house by

Subbamma, the accountant's wife. Then Baba stayed for some time at the house of

the aged Pedda Venkapa Raju and later moved to the residence of Subbaraju, the

brother of Easwaramma. But soon He moved to the house of Subbamma, who tended

Him with love and affection and welcomed all the devotees into her spacious

home. She spared no effort to make their stay happy and comfortable. (Next :

Sai Baba Again)

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