THE THOUGHT THAT MATERIALISED (July 1983)

[Guest guest]

THE THOUGHT THAT MATERIALISED (July 1983)

 

Although, all of us in the family are with religious bent of mind, we did

not have the tasteful devotion to Shri Sai Baba, till recent times. First,

my father, suddenly with an impulse, became an ardent devotee of Sai Baba

and began to perform the SAPTHAHAM (reading of the life history of Sai Baba,

in a disciplined manner in seven days). He purchased a Telugu book by Shri

Ekkirala Bharadwaja for the purpose, I don’t know why, but I too got tilted

towards the graceful ocean of Sai Baba’s devotion and have done the

sapthaham once. On reading the detailed account of Sai Baba’s grace, very

well sketched by Shri Bharadwaja I became an ardent devotee of Shri Sai

Baba. Very recently my father visited Shirdi. This was so sudden and he

divulged his intention to none of us. I was away at Tirupati, when he left.

On returning from Tirupati, I cursed my ill-luck for not having accompanied

him, but I realized and consoled myself that one cannot visit Shirdi if Sai

Baba wishes otherwise. I must wait for the fortunate day. With this

background, I feel myself fortunate to narrate an event that occurred very

recently and wish to share the blissful experience with all the fellow

devotees.

 

I completed the second sapthaham (as explained above) on 1-3-84 which was a

Thursday. Before going to my office, I gave Rs.28 to my father requesting

him to send the amount to Shirdi. This includes apart from three rupees

dakshina Rs.25/- being the 25% from proceeds of the cheque given to me by

the local All India Radio Station for my talk, which I wished to send.

While returning from office, I was thinking bout the sapthaham just

completed in the morning. My father, when I gave him money for sending to

Shirdi, told me that he would send it on the next day. I was thinking

about that and felt that the dakshina should be sent on the concluding day

of the sapthaham itself and I felt very late, even if it was sent on the

next day. The sub-conscious mind that was continuously filled with the

chain of thoughts on Sai, felt that Sai should show something special today;

but I do not know what exactly I wanted Him to show.

Soon after returning home in the evening, two of my friends came to my home

and I was speaking to them in our visitors room. The room is just two feet

away from the main. With medium height, Kashayavasthra and long curled hair

man appeared. I did not remember to have seen him anywhere in the past.

I asked him “who?” He spoke nothing, but entered into the room and handed

over a book, containing receipts. On looking at it I found a book of

receipts for the donations being collected for the construction of Shri

Dattatreya Ashramam. My eyes fell at the word “Dattatreya” and felt

immensely happy to give some money on this special Thursday. Immediately I

called my wife and sought money from my pocket. She heard it as two rupees

and I nodded, feeling that it would do. But, even before calling her, I

thought of giving Rs.5/-. My heart began to long for giving five rupees.

Hence, I called my wife again and sought rupees five and handed over the

book and money to the standing saint, who left immediately. Later, when I

was narrating the incident to my parents, we felt it quite wonderful. The

Omnipresent Sainath has collected His dakshina very promptly on the

concluding day of my sapthaham itself and fulfilled my wish. Alas I could

neither offer the saint a seat nor respects. The one-minute incident, on

reverie, thrilled all of us with perfect devotion. May Sainath bless all of

us.

 

K. Rama Prasad (Manager)

Cuddapah District (A.P)

 

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

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