SAI – OUR DIVINE MOTHER, FATHER, GURU AND OMNIPRESENT GOD -Part II

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Om Sri Sai Ram

SAI – OUR DIVINE MOTHER, FATHER, GURU AND OMNIPRESENT GOD -Part II

MOST COMPASSIONATE ONE

An incident that happened in Brindavan gives a closer vision of the

Compassionate One in action. It was narrated by the Warden of Brindavan Hostel,

Sri Narasimha Murthy in the course of a revealing talk delivered in the presence

of Bhagawan on 14th October 1999. The second day of Vedapurusha Saptaha Yagna to

a huge audience in the Sai Kulwant Hall of Prashanthi Nilayam during Dasara

celebrations.

There was one Ramayya in Brindavan Hostel, working as a scavenger for more than

twenty years. His daughter's marriage was to take place shortly. So he sought

permission from Mr. Murthy to stand at a vantage position with a wedding card,

a few flowers, etc., to draw Swami's attention and Divine Blessings. It was a

Monday. Swami just touched the flowers and moved ahead on his usual Darshan

round at about 7.30am. and returned to the Ashram. Ramayya waited there only.

At 9.15 Swami came straight to him - only for him - and, handing over two

costly sarees to Ramayya, He said: "Ask your daughter to select one of them.

Don't feel hurt that I did not come and talk to you earlier. It was Rahukalam

(inauspicious time 7.30 to 9 am being Monday); not good to talk about

marriage.." When Prof. Murthy quietly submitted "Swami,

any one saree Swami could select and give," Swami replied, "You do not know the

nature of women." When Mr. Murthy again said in a hushed tone that it was too

costly a saree for them, Swami, in great compassion said: "It is only once in a

life time these poor people can have such a saree."

His compassion is unlimited. It flows to the rich and the poor alike. He treats

all with equal love and concern, for all are His children for whose welfare and

betterment He has come.

As predicted, the President of India commuted Kalpagiri’s death sentence, in

response to a mercy petition, to life imprisonment. This benedictory gesture of

Baba prompted the prisoners to write to Him opening their hearts. And prompt

came the response from Lord 'Sai', the redeemer. A prisoner wrote:

"We are sinners, certainly, but our lives have become full of hope, through some

stray acts of merit which we chanced to do, in some past birth For we have

rendered ourselves fit to receive Your Grace. Really, if there are any who can

be declared fortunate in the world, we are the ones. We are truly proud of

this. That the stream of Your Mercy has started flowing towards these mean men

who have injured society and who are suffering punishment, is no ordinary

event. We pray that You should grant us Your Darshan and Your Blessings. You

have written to us out of the vastness of Your Mercy, that You will elevate us

with Darshan, Sparshan and Sambashan at Puttaparthi! The Sage Narada blessed

Savitri on whose head the blow of widowhood had descended, with the statement,

'May, you have Being - with - husband status

long' and she was able to win her husband back from the dominion of Death. We

too have learned from Kalpagiri, whose death sentence was cancelled, that your

word will come true. It knows no defeat".

Daily prayers and Pooja before the portrait of Bhagawan Baba became a routine

with the prisoners changing their very life style. There was only one aim:

Darshan of Lord Sai to redeem themselves. And Sai's compassion knows no bounds.

A step in the right direction is always responded with hundred from Him.

'Baba often warns against the sin of thought, word and deed. Our minds entertain

sinful thoughts in association with common undesirable traits of lust anger,

greed, attachment, pride, jealousy, hatred and impatience. Our tongue is prone

to commit the sins of uttering falsehood, slander, backbiting and gossip. Our

body is to be weaned off from committing the sins of killing, stealing,

adultery, eating meat and drinking intoxicants. Baba assures us that such care

taken by us in this direction will certainly ensure purity, i.e., of thought,

word and deed which alone is the real Thapas securing human values of Truth,

Righteous conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence.

HUMORIST

As a humorist Sai is matchless. His subtle humour, which is often earthly in

texture, deludes us to believe that He is of the earth and is with us on the

same plane. It will not, all the same, hurt or offend anyone. He is at home

with the boys of His College with whom He cracks jokes to often convey a lesson

in spirituality, morals or ethics.

One day Swami on His way to the Hostel plucked a Tulsi leaf and placed it in the

palm of a student and said: 'Keep it safe. Don't show it to anybody'. He just

obeyed. But the warden insisted to see it. When the boy opened the handkerchief

in which it was tied he found a gold coin. So he said 'Keep it safe, don't show

it to anybody'. But his friends pestered and he had to yield. When they opened

the handkerchief it was only a Tulsi leaf. The boy was greatly disappointed.

Seeing his disappointment Swami called him and asked for the leaf. He blew at

it and lo! The gold coin appeared and Swami blessed him to keep the same with

him as His gift. Nothing is beyond His Power. His Sankalpa is enough. It can

change earth into sky and sky into earth. This incident, though humorous, was

but a glimpse of His omnipotence. The

students get such revelations often, which cement their faith in their protector and patron.

Once Baba was to reach Bangalore a few days after the Shivarathri festival at

Puttaparthi, as was His wont. But even after a week or ten days He did not

move. Students at Bangalore were disappointed at the delay and they started

imagining about possible reasons. But towards the end of March news reached

them that Swami was shortly expected there. Their joy had no bounds. The usual

preparations were carried out briskly for receiving the Lord. Baba came. The

students sang and did Aarati. He received it with no smile or talk. The

students were flabbergasted. Each one started a vigorous and thorough search of

his heart. None could find any reason. Swami gave Darshan to the devotees and

returned to His residence with head down as if to avoid the students standing

in a row on either side. Their prayer for reason was

unanswered. There was gloom in the campus. They apologized for any error

unknowingly committed. No effect. Prayer turned into sobs and tears. The next

day He gave Darshan and returned as usual. But this time the students were

determined and they encircled Him and cried for Pardon. Nothing happened. He

looked only downward. A few seconds passed in grave silence. Then He like a

great actor just mumbled "April Fool". There was a spurt of radiant laughter,

which was shared with love by Swami as well. What a drama! The Divine actor cum

director wanted to open the floodgates of joy to His ever loved dearest

children, His 'only property'.

Once, looking at the overgrown hair of a young man in the hippie style sitting

before Him in the interview room Baba asked, ' Why are you carrying this hair?

Why don't you crop them off? The young man replied: 'Yes Baba, You may kindly

cut one strand and the rest I shall do' Baba replied 'I am Baba, not Barber'.

A devotee once told Swami: 'Swami, there is one way to wipe off the poverty of

India'. 'What is that' Swami enquired. 'If you can by your divine power convert

the water of Indian Ocean into petrol, that is enough', said the devotee. Swami

said 'But….' The devotee enquired ' Why but, Swami?' Swami quipped: 'Then, if

someone throws a lighted matchstick into it?

Once with a mischievous smile Swami asked Allen Drucker: 'Drucker have I gone

fat?' 'No' Swami 'No' replied Drucker. But placing his hand on His abdomen Baba

repeated the question. 'See why this is so enlarged'. Drucker repeated his 'no'.

Then swami slowly whispered in the ear of Drucker 'I am carrying Prema Sai'.

Judy Warner was waiting for Darshan with the typed script of her book in hand

for Swami's blessings. Bhagawan came and stood before her. When she showed the

manuscript He touched the same and enquired 'What is the name of the book?'.

She replied 'Transformation of the heart'. 'Transformation of the spiritual

heart or physical heart?' Swami asked. 'Swami, Spiritual Heart' she said.

'Good. The only change for the other heart is Bypass surgery'.

An incident of 1959, which Kasturiji has narrated in his Loving God, is

interesting and revealing. Kasturiji was called to the Presence through a

messenger. Baba told him that He needed a photograph of Kasturiji to be passed

on to the editor of a newspaper having a circulation of 30,000. Kasturiji was

enticed by the prospect of high publicity and, as directed, he rushed to get

ready for the event that was to bring name and fame to him. He returned 'shaved

and starched' in minutes to be positioned and photographed by Baba Himself.

Looking at him through the lens Baba further inflated his ego by admiring

Kasturiji's 'photogenic face'. And with a 'Ready' He clicked, only to drive out

a cotton mouse tucked inside the camera which drew a shrill shriek from a

frightened Kasturiji who had already reached the corner of

the room thinking it was a real rat. Baba had a hearty laugh and Kasturiji

followed. Reprimanding for being so gullible Baba advised him to aspire for

lasting fame through dedicated service to God than through newspapers, which

became waste paper the next day.

Swami's humour is only a medium to convey a great lesson, a correction to weed

out a flaw, and a gentle push on the path of spiritual progress.

LIFE GIVER

Sai the Life giver is a shining facet of His personality. Sai can effortlessly,

by His mere will, raise anyone from the dead, avert an impending death or

prolong the life of anyone He chooses. He can do undo or change the course of

action at will, which proclaims His omnipotence.

Sai devotees are quite familiar with the name of Karanam Subbamma, the foster

mother of Baba. In his childhood days he spent most of his time in the spacious

house of Subbamma, almost next door to His house, under her loving care. Perhaps

this Yashodamayee of Swami had greater opportunity to shower her affection on

Bala Sai than mother Easwaramma. Baba had assured her that at the time of her

death He would be present to give her Tulsi water, a traditional action of

filial gratitude. The foster mother was extremely happy and contented on

bagging the coveted boon. It was when the construction of Prashanthi Nilayam

was nearing completion that Subbamma breathed her last. But Swami was away from

Puttaparthi. Her relatives and close neighbours wondered why Baba did not

fulfill His promise to her. Since Swami's coming

was of remote possibility they decided to cremate her without waiting any

further. But the all-knowing Lord had already started for Puttaparthi after

telling His devotees around Him about this incident. On reaching Puttaparthi

Swami straightaway went to Subbamma's house. He called her by name and Subbamma

opened her eyes and started shedding tears of joy on seeing Swami, her dearest.

Swami told her 'Look Subbamma I have come'. He immediately created Tulsi water

and poured slowly into her mouth. She took it with gratitude and held His hand

in great affection before closing her eyes forever.

Dr. Michael Goldstein is a living example of His Grace, for the Divine

intervened to avert a shooting to prolong his life. Dr. John Hislop, a long

time devotee of Baba narrates an incident in his 'Seeking Divinity". One day

when Dr. Goldstein was at Prashanthi Nilayam Baba took him for a round in His

car. When the slow moving car reached Gokulam and turned to return Baba with a

grim face told Goldstein that he was seeing Him for the last time. Upset by

this statement, that too from the Divine Master, Goldstein pleaded that, that

should not be and he must be blessed to attend the forthcoming birthday

celebrations. A seemingly thoughtful Baba, after a pause of a few seconds said,

'Yes, You may come'. The incident that followed confirmed that Goldstein was

brought back from the mouth of

Death.

Dr. Goldstein and his wife boarded a flight for their return journey. At Karachi

Airport a few hijackers armed with sophisticated weapons took all the passengers

as hostages. One of them put a gun on the airhostess at the entrance and another

aimed his gun at Mrs. Goldstein who was by her side. Mrs. Goldstein started

repeating 'Sai Ram' with folded hands as if in prayer almost loudly. The gunman

suddenly turned his attention to the other passengers inside. Goldstein who was

unhurt and was standing near the next exit door which opened abruptly, started

helping the panic stricken passengers one by one by pushing them out and thus

saving them from the flying bullets of the hijackers. In that commotion it was

not known how many have been killed or injured till the commandos brought the

situation under

control.

Goldstein returned to California and, after a few months reached Prashanthi

Nilayam, his heart still pulsating with gratitude to the Lord. And when Swami

came and stood before him Goldstein acknowledged the same with his overflowing

eyes. Baba told him that, that day when He told Goldstein that he was seeing

Swami for the last time He was actually seeing Goldstein being killed in that

terrorist attack. He saw Goldstein being murdered by them. Then he told

Goldstein 'I changed the picture'

God alone can change the course of an already destined action, as He alone is

the Master of creation, preservation and dissolution. And so He willed to

change the whole sequence of events.

The twentieth line of Ashtottara Shata Namavali of Bhagawan (108 appellations)

reads as Jodi Adipalli Somappaya Namah. There is an interesting story behind

this appellation. The story has undergone many cuttings and clippings and

additions as usual, as it happened elsewhere. But I had the privilege of

hearing it directly from Kasturiji, an excellent storyteller, with the warmth

it deserved.

After the Birthday Celebrations in Prashanthi Nilayam a group of devotees left

for Bangalore on 26th November 1958. The group had several ladies in it. But

while getting adjusted in two cars all the ladies with a two year old child got

into one and all gents in the other. Not only that; the car with the gents

started first and went ahead of the other. After a few miles of journey at an

isolated area the child suddenly developed fits and the breathlessness that

followed resulted in asphyxia and finally the child collapsed. The ladies began

to wail bitterly. The first car had gone much ahead. There was none on the

roadside. The child became blue and stiff. No speeding vehicles that passed at

intervals would stop. The women could only cry helplessly. In minutes there

came an elderly villager accompanied by a young

man and a woman. The villager enquired the reason for their wailing. When he was

shown the dead child the young man said that the elderly man with him was a

physician and had the experience of reviving such lost cases. The lady asked

other ladies to unhesitatingly hand over the child to the physician. The ladies

agreed and the physician laid the child on his lap. He asked if they had vibhuti

with them. A vibhuti packet was placed in his hand. He applied the vibhuti on

the child and, opening the clenched teeth, somehow inserted a pinch into the

mouth of the child. The child opened her eyes suddenly and began to cry aloud.

The ladies began to laugh happily. Meanwhile the men folk reached the spot as

they could not see the second car. The child's father gave one rupee to the

physician, which was politely declined. He was then offered a musambi (a citrus

fruit), which he waved around the child to ward off evil eye, and threw away as

soon as they left. It became rotten! But before

leaving they did ask the physician's name. He replied 'Jodi Adipalli Somappa'.

At Prashanthi Nilayam Baba was to come out of His room in the afternoon.

Kasturiji was waiting to receive routine instructions. As soon as Baba came out

He told Kasturiji with a drawn face 'Kasturi that child of ……… died on the way

to Bangalore'. Kasturiji was a bit shocked, as the child had on the previous

day attracted the attention of everyone as a sprightly little girl, running and

jumping and hopping happily. 'No Swami, that should not have happened' said

Kasturiji in glum. Swami said 'Do you think I would allow it to happen?.'

Kasturiji immediately pulled out his small handbook and pen and was in

readiness, as he knew he was getting some hot stuff for his pen. And Baba

narrated every detail. He had to assume three forms, one of the physicians,

another of a young man to introduce him and speak of his

capability and a woman to instill courage in the ladies and ask for the child,

as they were all women. He asked for vibhuti which He only had given them, for,

they would have recognised Him if He were to create Vibhuti then and there. And

to the child He appeared in His original form, which frightened the child to

cry much to the relief and joy of the women. Kasturiji noted down all the

points carefully and asked for the explanation of the name He had given to

Himself. Swami said, 'Jodi means pair, Adipalli means first village i.e.,

Kailas belonging to the pair and Somappa means with Uma (Sa+Uma) or Uma

Maheswara'. 'I asked them to offer an Aarati to their 'Ishtadevata' on reaching

home, they did it for Lord Venkateswara, ignoring My picture, little knowing

that I am Lord Venkateswara Himself'. On the third day Kasturiji got a letter

from the child's father wherein he ticked all the points correctly.

Even after seeing, experiencing and receiving several favors of Grace, most of

us have not realized that He is Sarvadevata Swarupa and that prayers offered to

any name or form will reach Him and Him alone.

Let us take the case of Kuppam Radhakrishnayya, head of a family all members of

which were highly devoted to Swami. Radhakrishnayya had a chronic stomach

ailment which medical care could not cure. All the same, the family, especially

the wife had pinned her faith to Baba and Baba alone.

Once on 5th August 1953 with unbearable pain, which lasted for two days, he

rushed to Swami's room and fell at His feet for merger in Swami's Lotus Feet.

But Swami consoled him and sent him back. The whole of the next day he could

not pass urine and his condition became miserable with a stomach that had

bloated to the bursting point. His pulse became very weak and breathing became

irregular. His condition became worse at 6 o' clock. His body became black and

the nails blue. All pleadings from his near and dear ones to immediately shift

him to a big hospital for a last attempt to save his life were rejected by his

wife who left everything to Swami's will and waited for his intercession. At 4

am close relatives around him began to wail. His daughter went upstairs to

Swami (the family was given a room close by in

the Nilayam by Swami for their stay) to report and bring Him to the patient

thrice. But Swami was preoccupied with some personal work. At last He came to

the room where all near-ones were virtually bidding farewell to

Radhakrishnayya. Entering the room Swami asked everyone to go out. Nobody knew

what had happened inside, but moments later Radhakrishnayya was found sitting

on his bed and smilingly enquiring from everyone as to what had happened to

him. Turning to his wife Swami reminded her of a past conversation in which

Swami had assured her to save the life of her husband. He said, 'you have

forgotten…. But I have not forgotten that conversation. Today I have given the

gift of Mangalyam to you by the gift of life to your husband'.

But Baba had already confided to Kasturiji about this saying that 'His children

are still young. He did not even write a will. He has yet to perform marriage

of his children. That is why I saw to it that he was brought back. The extra

years of life I have given him I shall deduct from his next birth'.

The Omnipotent Almighty that He is, life or death is a mere sport for Him. But

one must deserve such a grace.

The mind-boggling experience of Walter and Elsie Cowan immediately after the All

India Conference at Abbotsbury, Madras in December 1971 loudly proclaims that He

alone has the power to give life to anyone as the Supreme God. I had the chance

of seeing the couple at the conference as they were being guided to the dais to

be seated at a vantage position. After the conference was over the Cowans stayed

at Connemara Hotel at Madras. It was there that he became seriously ill with an

attack of pneumonia and died. On their return to America Elsie Cowan described

the event at a limited gathering thus: "We have come from India, my husband and

I, brimful of the most astounding news that can happen to anyone. It is so

fantastic that many of you may doubt it, because hardly any of us realise the

great importance and the

tremendous powers of this Great High God, who not only walks the earth but also

cares for all the planes from earth to eternity. Walter died at Madras. Sai

Baba resurrected him."

Kasturiji tells the story: "Cowan died and his body was kept in the mortuary"

"Mrs. Cowan came to Swami, who was in a conference. It was for that conference

that Mr. and Mrs. Cowan had come to Madras. I was there when Mrs. Cowan came to

Swami and told Him about Cowan's death. Swami said, 'Chey! Chey! Papam. It

should not have happened. Now this old lady will have to take that old man's

dead body to America. Coming all the way from America to take back his dead

body there! No, No. He told her 'I will come to Hospital at 11 O'clock. You may

go'. Instead of 11, He went at 10 am an hour early. He could not remain in his

place unless the injustice was corrected. That is the extent of His compassion.

He went and rised up Walter Cowan, the present Lazarus! Later Cowan came to

Bangalore when Swami was in Whitefield. I was there. They were received by

Swami and were brought to Swami's bungalow in a

procession with Sai Gita, the elephant in the lead and college students playing the band.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cowan were made bride and bridegroom once more and a second

marriage was celebrated. Dr. Bhagavatham was there, and Swami told him ' Ask

him what happened in Madras? Bhagavatham asked him 'Tell what happened at

Madras' and Cowan started telling "I died at 5 O' clock…. Never a man says, I

died!"

Dr. Hislop and his wife were the first to rush to the Hotel room where Cowans

were staying as soon as they got the news. Mrs. Cowan told them 'Yes, during

the night, Walter died. I went down the hall and got Mrs. Ratanlal to come and

help me'. They lifted Cowan to the bed, called for an ambulance and Walter was

taken to a Nursing Home…. Mrs. Ratanlal and Mrs. Cowan went to Swami's house to

tell what had happened. Then Swami said ' Do not worry, I will go to the Nursing

Home at 10 O'clock in the morning'. When Mrs. Cowan arrived in the nursing Home,

she found that Swami and Mrs. Ratanlal had been there an hour before and that

Cowan was alive".

Let us hear from Mrs. Ratanlal as to what had happened when Swami arrived in the

Hospital at 10 am. 'Swami and I arrived at the Nursing Home. We went into the

room where Walter's corpse was lying covered with a sheet - cold as a fish.

Dead as dead could be. Swami stood beside the body and raising His hand, He

struck Cowan across the abdomen saying, 'Rise up, Cowan'. Then He did it once

again 'Rise up Cowan'. Cowan did not rise. Then a third time 'Rise up, Cowan'

Cowan started to move, sat up and was alive once again.'Hislop adds "Now,

Walter Cowan's part of the story was that he died. In the ambulance on the way

to the Nursing Home, his body was bouncing around. He felt himself apart from

his body looking down at it. Then he said Swami came and took him away, way up

in the sky where there was a building. The

headman in this building was the accountant who is inside each of us, recording

every thing that happens, and he was reading Cowan's history. So by and large,

Swami said ' Release this man to me, I have use for him'. Then Walter was told,

Go down into your body Cowan'. Cowan did not want to go back to his body, but he

had to. After Swami had revived Walter, his wife transferred him to a Hospital.

"Now the same day all this was happening at the same exact time, Swami was in an

auditorium, on the stage, giving talk to a large group of Sevadal ladies. He was

presenting each of the ladies with a beautiful sari. An Indian chap and I were

on the stage with Swami, sitting up against the wall, and we were watching

Swami every second of that address. We can both testify that Swami never left

that stage, even for a moment.

But as soon as the talk was over, Swami said, “Come let us get into the car and

go". As we were getting in the car He said, "While I was talking, Mrs. Cowan

called to me. Cowan had died again, so I went to the hospital and took care of

matters."

"We were off to have lunch with a devotee. There was this other chap and myself

and Baba in the car, we went to the home of the devotee where we were to have

lunch. When we arrived Swami turned to me and said, ' Hislop I am afraid you

cannot join for lunch. I want you to take this vibhuti to the hospital, rub

some on Cowan's chest and put some in his mouth. I just gave him life again, he

needs this… If you just walk upto the corner, you will find Mrs. Hislop in a

taxi around the corner…' Together we went to the hospital and Mrs. Cowan said

'Walter died again. I called on Swami, He came and gave Walter life again'. I

gave Cowan the vibhuti and left."

Sent with Sai love

Sai brothers – ‘’

Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/home.htm

 

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