HOW BABA HELPS HIS DEVOTEES (June 1986)

[Guest guest]

HOW BABA HELPS HIS DEVOTEES (June 1986)

As usual, the twelfth annual gathering of Poets and Writers of Shri Sai

Leela Magazine was held at Shirdi on 2nd and 3rd February 986. I also

attended the Conference with my brother for the first time, though I was not

familiar with the place and its surroundings. Shri Sai Baba did not call me

to attend the Annual meet held on 27th and 28th January, 1985, though

qualified to participate, as I received Shri Sai Leela Magazine late in the

month of January 1985. The moment I saw the proforma in the November issue

of Shri Sai Leela, received by me on 16-12-85, Shri Sai Baba inspired me to

send the proforma duly filled in on 17-12-85 itself. Unmindful of my

professional work as Public Notary and family attachments, I got ready to

start for Shirdi, getting two tickets with berth reserved at Ongole Railway

station from Ongole to Manmad on 21-12-85, far in advance. Subsequently, I

was informed by Railway authorities at Ongole that our onward journey from

Secunderabad to Manmad was also confirmed on 14-1-86. Myself and my brother

Sri Cali Narayana started at Ongole on the night of 30-1-1986, which happend

to be Thursday, and reached Secunderabad on 31 -1 -86 at 9-30 a.m. We had a

comfortable journey from Ongole to Secunderabad, since we were alloted lower

berths in the 3-tier sleeper coach. We started at 6-30 p.m. from

Secunderabad to Manmad. In Ajantha Express also, I got lower berth, while my

brother was allotted middle berth in the sleeper coach. We reached Manmad

safe by about 9 a.m. and Shirdi at about 11-30 a.m. The Conference was to be

held on 2nd and 3rd Feb. 1986, After reaching Shirdi, I met the

Superintendent immediately, who was kind enough to allot a room in Bhakta

Nivas and gave us a plastic bucket, tumbler, badge, lock and key, tickets

for meals and tea for two days. We did not feel any difficulty in securing

accommodation, as Shirdi Samsthan authorities made elaborate and excellent

arrangements for our comfortable stay at Shirdi for two days.

 

My brother, Sri Gali Narayana did not attend the Conference throughout, as

he had left Shirdi on 2nd evening by bus, as he could not get reservation at

Shirdi Out-Agency Booking Office on 2-2-86. Later, he told me at Ongole that

he did not have a comfortable bus journey from Shirdi to Secunderabad.

 

But I stuck to my guns and never wanted to leave Shirdi at any cost, unless

Baba permitted me to do so. Being a novice in Sai service and as a new

participant, I attended all the four Sessions held on the two days and heard

the speeches with rapt attention. Especially the speeches by Shri P.R.

Behre, the chief guest and Sri V.B. Kher, Chairman, Shri Sai Leela

Publications and Library Sub-Committee and President of the Conference were

inspiring and instructive which were felt highly beneficial to the devotees.

Sri P.R. Behre spoke in Marathi eloquently which was full of devotion and in

the end, he appeled to one and all to treat Shirdi as a Holy place and not a

Tourist centre. Dr. Smt. Indira Kher, the learned Editor of Srhi Sai Leela

Magazine gave a resume of the Marathi speech in English. She impressed the

audience as an erudite scholar both in English and Marathi. The learned

Chairman of Shri Sai Leela Publications addressed the gathering both in

English and Marathi and his speech was received by the contributors present

with wide applause.

 

During my stay at Shirdi, I visited Chavadi, Dwarakamayi Masjid, Lendi Baug

and Martanda Maharaj, son of late Bhagat Mahalsapati. Since I was not fully

accustomed to the style of food served in Sai Prasad Bhojana Criha at

Shirdi, I felt a little bit nervous. Immediately the Omniscient and merciful

Sai Baba came to my rescue by arranging food at the residence of Shri D.L.

Kantha Rao Caru, a senior devotee from Andhra Pradesh, participating in the

Conference. To my surprise, this devotee is found to belong to my Gothra

(Bharadwaja). Really, I took him as Sai-sent and felt greatly honoured to be

the guest of such a sincere and staunch Sai devotee. I was really suprised

to see the entire family of Shri D.L Kantha Rao Garu, Sai-minded and

Sai-devoted. I enjoyed Sai-Satsang during the period of my stay at Shirdr

with his family.

 

(to be contd...)

 

V.C Subba Rao, Vidya Bhaskara

Advocate & Covt. Notary

ONGOLE 523 002 A. P.

 

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

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