POTENCY OF DIVINE PRESENCE (SEPTEMBER 1985)

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POTENCY OF DIVINE PRESENCE (SEPTEMBER 1985)

 

As a Sai-devotee, each one of us is a perfect, immortal soul. The

imperfections that we express through our habits and moods, through sickness

and failure, are not a part of our real nature. We have deeply identified

ourselves with mortal consciousness unthinkingly accepting its limitations.

 

I begin my day with a prayer, "Oh, Sainath, Help me to realise that I am

not this body, not my moods and habits. Make me feel that I am ever Thy

child made in Thy flawless image.'

Sai Satcharita is full of incidents describing manifestation of Lord Sainath

to many of His devotees, purely out of love for them. When we leave behind

all else and take the supreme plunge into infinite Sai-bliss, He will

manifest Himself in our lives too. Mhalsapathy had vision of Sai when he

went to Jejuri on a pilgrimage. Sai Baba appeared as Gholap Maharaj, the

Guru of Mule Sastri, to overcome the tatter's prejudice against Baba. We

also come across many instances of Baba appearing as or identifying Himself

with other saints to B.V. Dev, Mrs. Khaparde and others.

Therefore when we turn our thoughts and love within, we shall find the

eternal, loving, jovous Sainath, who is always with us. In every phase of

our life — in our work, prayer, struggles with difficulties, enjoyment of

simple pleasures — we must continually be anchored inwardly to the thought

of "Sairam; Sairam; Sairam".

 

In November 1983, due to some tribulations in my professional life, Lord

Sainath kindled in my heart a keen desire to realise His infinite love. He

prompted me to undertake a pilgrimage to several shrines and holy rivers.

Accordingly I joined a conducted trip of South India.

On the night of 16th November 1983, we reached Tirumalai Hills — the abode

of Lord Balaji, The intense cold and chilly weather did not allow me a wink

of sleep and in the early hours of 17th November, i.e. around 3 a.m., I left

the cottage and went straight to get my beard, moustache and head shaved

symbolising self-surrender. After a refreshing bath, I joined the queue for

Lord Balaji's darshan with incessant recitation of Vishnu-Sahasra-Namam. As

I finished the fifth recitation, I was ushered into the sanctum sanctorum —

the holy presence of Lord Balaji.

As I looked at the magnificient Lord Balaji, an immense flash of light at

once manifested to my gaze. Instead of Lord Balaji, I saw Lord Sainath

standing in front of me and blessing me. The celestial response is difficult

to describe; my heart was thrilled.

"Oh Sainath, Thou art all in all to thy slave. Thou art the sole protector

in the world. Men are deluded when they declare — 'I do this, I do that,

this is mine, that is mine.' All is thine Oh, Sai Ram, and all things are

done by thee alone. Thy slave's one prayer to thee is to take him under thy

complete guidance and remove his ‘I-ness."

 

(To be contd...)

Dr. C.R. Vijayakumar,

Karnataka.

 

(The experiences of Devotees as published in Shri Sai Leela Magazine, can be

read at www.saileelas.org/magazines/SAILEELA/exp.htm)