SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM [43-44]

[Guest guest]

"Reserve your joy for something grander! My Name and Form will soon be found

getting established everywhere. They will occupy every inch of the world." -

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Om Sri Sai Ram

Ganesha Mantra: AUM Gung Ganapathaye Namah

Ganesh Gayatri

Tat purushaaya vidmahe

Vakratundaaya dheemahi

Tanno dhanti prachodayaat

 

SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM

The Life Stories of the Two Avatars of the Age – [43-44]

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

CHAPTER XLII

BABA'S PASSING AWAY

Previous Indication - Averting Death of Ramachandra Dada Patil and Tatya Kote

Patil - Charity to Laxmibai Shinde - Last Moment

This chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.

PRELIMINARY

The stories given in the previous chapter have shown that the light of Guru's

grace removes out fear of the mundane existence, opens the path of salvation

and turns our misery into happiness. If we always remember the feet of the

Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death loses its sting and the misery of

this mundane existence is obliterated. Therefore those who care for their

welfare should carefully listen to these stories of Sai Samarth, which will

purify their minds.

In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr. Pandit's worship and his marking

Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e., three horizontal lines; but as this has

been already described in chapter XI, this has been omitted here.

PREVIOUS INDICATION

The readers up till now heard the stories of Baba's life. Let them now hear

attentively Baba's passing away. Baba got a slight attack of fever on 28th

September, 1918. The fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up

his food and thereby He grew weaker and weaker.

ON THE 17TH DAY, TUESDAY, THE 15TH OCTOBER 1918, BABA LEFT HIS MORTAL COIL AT ABOUT 2-30 P.M.

(Vide Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 5th November 1918, to Dadasaheb

Khaparde, published in “Sai Leela" magazine, Page 78, first year). Two years

before this, i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His passing away, but

nobody understood it then. It was as follows:- On the Vijayadasami (Dasara) day

Baba at once got into wild rage in the evening when people were returning from

'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or limits of the village). Taking off His

head-dress, Kafni and langota etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni

before Him. Fed by this offering, the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter

and Baba shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with His burning

red eyes shouted – “You fellows, now have a look and decide finally whether I

am a Moslem or a

Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba. After

some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near Him and

succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist and said – “Baba,

what is all this? To-day is the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara Holiday." Baba

striking the ground with His satka said – “This is my Seemollanghan (crossing

the border)." Baba did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people doubted

whether the Chavadi procession would ever take place that night. After an hour

Baba resumed His normal condition and dressing Himself as usual attended the

Chavadi procession as described before. By this incident Baba gave a suggestion

that Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life, but none

understood its meaning. Baba gave also another indication as follows:-

AVERTING DEATH OF RAMACHANDRA AND TATYA PATIL

Some time after this, Ramachandra Patil became seriously ill. He suffered a lot.

He tried all remedies, but finding no relief, despaired of his life and was

waiting for the last moment. The one midnight Baba suddenly stood near his

pillow. Patil held His Feet and said – “I have lost all hopes of life; please

tell me definitely when I shall die." Merciful Baba said – “Don't be anxious,

your hundi (death-warrant) has been withdrawn and you will soon recover, but I

am afraid of Tatya Patil. He will pass away on Vijayadasami of Shaka 1840 (1918

A.D.). Do not divulge

this to anybody, nor to him, for he will be terribly frightened." Ramachandra

Dada got well, but he felt nervous about Tatya's life, for he knew that Baba's

word was unalterable, and that Tatya would breathe his last within two years.

He kept this hint secret, told it to none but one Bala Shimpi (a tailor). Only

these two persons - Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were in fear and suspense

regarding Tatya's life.

Ramachandra Dada soon left his bed and was on his legs. Time passed quickly. The

month of Bhadrapad of Shaka 1840 (1918 A.D.) was ending and Ashwin was in sight.

True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden; and so he could not

come for Baba's darshana. Baba was also down with fever. Tatya had full faith

in Baba and Baba in Lord Hari, who was His Protector. Tatya's illness began to

grow from bad to worse and he could not move at all but always remembered Baba.

The predicament of Baba began to grow equally worse. The day predicted, i.e.,

Vijayadashami was impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were

terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies trembling and perspiring

with fear, thought that as predicted by Baba, Tatya's end was nigh.

Vijayadashami dawned

and Tatya's pulse began to beat very slowly and he was expected to pass away

shortly. But a curious thing happened. Tatya remained, his death was averted

and Baba passed away in his stead. It seemed as if there was an exchange.

People said that Baba gave up His life for Tatya; why He did so? He alone knows

as His ways are inscrutable. It seems, however, that in this incident, Baba gave

a hint of His passing away, substituting Tatya's name for His.

Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in his dream

and said to him – “The Masjid collapsed; all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi

teased me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform you here,

please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the

information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples

and started Bhajan and Kirtan and sang the Lord's name, all through the day

before Baba's Samadhi. Himself weaving a beautiful garland of flowers studded

with Lord Hari's name he placed it on Baba's Samadhi and gave a mass-feeding in

Baba's name.

CHARITY TO LAXMIBAI

Dasara or Vijayadasami is regarded by all the Hindus as the most auspicious time

and it is befitting that Baba should choose this time for His crossing the

borderline. He was ailing some days before this, but He was ever conscious

internally. Just before the last movement He sat up erect without anybody's

aid, and looked better. People thought that the danger had passed off and He

was getting well. He knew that He was to pass away soon and therefore, He

wanted to give some money as charity to Laxmibai Shinde.

BABA PERVADING ALL CREATURES

This Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman. She was working in the

Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat Mhalaspathi, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was

allowed to step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was sitting in the

Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted Baba. The latter

said to her – “Oh Laxmi, I am very hungry." Off she went saying – “Baba, wait a

bit, I return immediately with bread." She did return with bread and vegetables

and placed the same before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog. Laxmibai

then asked – “What is this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared bread with my own

hands for You and You threw it to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You gave

me trouble unnecessarily." Baba replied – “Why do you grieve for nothing? The

appeasement of the

dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the creatures may be

different, but the hunger of all is the same, though some speak and others are

dumb. Know for certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with

food. Regard this as an axiomatic Truth." This is a ordinary incident but Baba

thereby propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical application

in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this time onward Laxmibai

began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted

and ate it appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the remainder with

Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant

prasad. This bread-story should not be considered as a digression; it shows how

Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them. He is omnipresent,

birthless, deathless and immortal.

Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He forget her? Just before leaving

the body, He put His hand in His pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again

Rs.4/-, in all Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine types of

devotion described in chapter 21 or it may be the Dakshina offered at the time

of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and so she was not in want of

any money. So Baba might have suggested to her and brought prominently to her

notice the nine characteristics of a good disciple mentioned in the 6th verse

of chapter ten, skandha eleven of the Bhagwat, wherein first five and then four

characteristics are mentioned in the first and second couplets.* Baba followed

the order, first paid Rs.5/- and then Rs.4/- in all Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but

many times nine

rupees passed through Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's this gift of Nine, she will ever remember.

Being so watchful and conscious, Baba also took other precautions in His last

moment. In order that He should not be embroiled or entangled with love and

affection for His devotees, He ordered them all to clear off. Kakasaheb Dixit,

Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the Masjid anxiously waiting upon Baba, but

He asked them to go to the Wada and return after meals. They could not leave

Baba's presence, nor could they disobey Him. So with heavy hearts and heavy

feet they went to the Wada. They knew that Baba's case was very serious and

that they could not forget Him. They sat for meals, but their mind was

elsewhere, it was with Baba. Before they finished, news came to them of Baba's

leaving the mortal coil. Leaving their dishes, they ran to the Masjid and found

that Baba rested finally on

Bayaji's lap. He did not fall down on the ground nor did He lie on His bed, but

sitting quietly on His seat and doing charity with His own hand threw off the

mortal coil. Saints embody themselves and come into this world with a definite

mission and after that is fulfilled they pass away as quietly and easily as

they came.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

CHAPTERS XLIII & XLIV

BABA'S PASSING AWAY (CONTINUED)

Preparation - Samadhi-Mandir - Breaking of the Brick - 72 Hours' Samadhi - Jog's

Sanyas - Baba's Nectar-like Words

Chapters 43 and 44 continue the story of Baba's passing away, and therefore they

are taken together.

PREVIOUS PREPARATION

It is the general practice amongst the Hindus that when a man is about to die,

some good religious scripture is read out to him with the object that his mind

should be withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters spiritual, so that

his future progress should be natural and easy. Everybody knows that when king

Parikshiti was cursed by the son of a Brahmin Rishi and was about to die after

a week, the great sage Shuka expounded to him the famous Bhagawat Puran in that

week. This practice is followed even now and Gita, Bhagawat and other sacred

books are read out to dying persons. Baba being an incarnation of God needed no

such help, but just to set an example to the people, He followed this practice.

When He knew that He was to pass away soon, He ordered one Mr. Vaze to read

Rama

Vijaya to Him. Mr. Vaze read the book once in the week. Then Baba asked him to

read the same again day and night and he finished the second reading in three

days. Thus eleven days passed. Then again he read for three days and was

exhausted. So Baba let him go and kept Himself quiet. He abided on His Self and

was waiting for the last moment.

Two or three days previous, Baba had stopped His morning peregrinations and

begging rounds and sat in the Masjid. He was conscious to the last and was

advising the devotees not to lose heart. He let nobody know the exact time of

His departure. Kakasaheb Dixit and Shriman Booty were dining daily with Him in

the Masjid. That day (15th October) after Arti, He asked them to go to their

residence for dining. Still a few, viz., Laxmibai Shinde, Bhagoji Shinde,

Bayaji, Laxman Bala Shimpi and Nanasaheb Nimonkar remained there. Shama was

sitting down on the steps. After giving Rs. 9/- to Laxmibai Shinde, Baba said

that He did not feel well there (in the Masjid) and that He should be taken to

the Dagadi (stone) Wada of Booty, where He would be all right. Saying these

last words, He leaned on

Bayaji's body and breathed His last. Bhagoji noticed that His breathing had

stopped and he immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting

below. Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth. It came out.

Then he cried out loudly 'Oh Deva.' Baba seemed just to open His eyes and say

'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon becomes evident that Baba had left His body for

good.

The news of Baba's passing away spread like a wild fire in the village of Shirdi

and all people, men, women and children ran to the Masjid and began to mourn

this loss in various ways. Some cried out loudly, some wallowed on in the

streets and some fell down senseless. Tears ran down from the eyes of all and

every one was smitten with sorrow.

Then the question arose - How to dispose off Baba's body? Some (Mohammedans)

said that the body should be interred in an open space and a tomb built over

it. Even Khushalchand and Amir Shakkar shared this opinion. But Ramachandra

Patil, the village officer said to the villagers with a firm and determined

voice, “Your thought is not acceptable to us. Baba's body should be nowhere

placed except in the Wada." Thus people were divided on this point and

discussion regarding this point went on for 36 hours.

On Wednesday morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama Joshi in his dream and drawing

him by His hand said – “Get up soon; Bapusaheb thinks that I am dead and so he

won't come; you do the worship and the Kakad (morning) arati." Laxman Mama was

the village astrologer and was the maternal uncle of Shama. He was an orthodox

Brahmin and daily first worshipped Baba in the morning and then all the village

deities. He had full faith in Baba. After the vision he came with all the Pooja

materials and not minding the protests of the moulvis, did the Pooja and the

Kakad arati with all due formalities and went away. Then at noon

normal"> Bapusaheb Jog came with all others and went through the noon-arati ceremony as usual.

Paying due respect to Baba's words the people decided to place His body in the

Wada and started digging the central portion there. In the evening of Tuesday

the Sub-Inspector came from Rahata and others from other places turned up and

they all agreed to the proposal. Next morning Amirbhai came from Bombay and the

Mamlatdar from Kopargaon. The people seemed divided in their opinion. Some

insisted on interring His body in the open field. The Mamlatdar therefore took

a general plebiscite and found that the proposal to use the Wada secured double

the number of

votes. He, however, wanted to refer the matter to the Collector and Kakasaheb

Dixit got himself ready to go to Ahmednagar. In the meanwhile, by Baba's

inspiration there was a change in the opinion of the other people and all the

people unanimously voted for the proposal. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was

taken in procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due

formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for Muralidhar.

In fact Baba became the Muralidhar and the Wada became a temple and a holy

shrine, where so many devotees went and are going now to find rest and peace.

All the obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a

great devotee of Baba.

BREAKING OF THE BRICK

Some days before Baba's departure, there occurred an ominous sign foreboding the

event. There was, in the Masjid an old brick on which Baba rested His hand and

sat. At night time He leaned against it and had His asan. This went on for many

years. One day, during Baba's absence, a boy who was sweeping the floor took it

up in his hand, and unfortunately it slipped from thence fell down broken into

two pieces. When Baba came to know about this, He bemoaned its loss, crying –

“It is not the brick but My fate that has been broken into pieces. It was My

life-long companion, with it I always meditated on the Self, it was as dear to

Me as My life, it has left Me to-day." Some may raise here a question – “Why

should Baba express this sorrow for such an inanimate thing as a brick?" To

this

Hemadpant replies that saints incarnate in this world with the express mission

of saving the poor helpless people, and when they embody themselves and mix and

act with the people, they act like them, i.e., outwardly laugh, play and cry

like all other people, but inwardly they are wide awake to their duties and

mission.

72 HOURS' SAMADHI

Thirty two years before this, i.e., in 1886 A.D., Baba made an attempt to cross

the border line. On a Margashirsha Poornima (Full moon) day, Baba suffered from

a severe attack of asthma. To get rid of it Baba decided to take His prana high

up and go into Samadhi. He said to Bhagat Mhalaspathi – “Protect My body for

three days. If I return, it will be alright; if I do not, bury My body in that

open land (pointing to it) and fix two flags there as a mark." Saying this,

Baba fell down at about 10 P.M. His breathing stopped, as well as His pulse. It

seemed as if His

prana left the body. All the people including the villagers came there and

wanted to hold an inquest and bury the body in the place pointed by Baba. But

Mhalaspathi prevented this. With Baba's body on his lap he sat full three days

guarding it. After three days passed, Baba showed signs of life at 3 A.M. His

breathing commenced, the abdomen began to move. His eyes opened and stretching

His limbs, Baba returned to consciousness (life) again.

>From this and other accounts, let the readers consider whether Sai Baba was the

three and a half cubits' body that He occupied for some years and that He left

thereafter or He was the Self inside. The body, composed of the five elements

is perishable and transient, but the Self within is the thing - Absolute

Reality which is immortal and intransient. The pure Being, Consciousness or

Brahma, the Ruler and Controller of the senses and mind is the thing Sai. This

pervades all things in the universe and there is no space without it. For

fulfilling His mission He assumed the body and after it was fulfilled, He threw

away the body (the finite aspect), and assumed His infinite aspect. Sai ever

lives, as also the previous Incarnation of God Datta, Shri Narsimha Saraswati

of Ganagapur. His passing

away is only an outward aspect, but really He pervades all animate and inanimate

things and is their Inner Controller and Ruler. This can be, and is even now

experienced by many who surrender themselves completely to Him and worship Him

with whole-hearted devotion.

Though it is not possible for us to see Baba's form now, still if we go to

Shirdi, we shall find His beautiful life-like portrait adorning the Masjid.

This has been drawn by Shamrao Jaykar, a famous artist and well-known devotee

of Baba. To an imaginative and devout spectator this portrait can give even

to-day the satisfaction of taking Baba's Darshan. Though Baba has no body now,

He lives there and everywhere, and will effect the welfare of the devotees even

now as He was doing before when He was embodied. Saints like Baba never die,

though they look like men, they are in reality God Himself.

BAPUSAHEB JOG'S SANNYAS

Hemadpant closes this chapter with the account of Jog's Sanyas. Sakharam Hari

alias Bapusaheb Jog was the uncle of the famous Varkari Vishnubuva Jog of

Poona. After his retirement from Govt. Service (He was a Supervisor in the P.W.

Department) in 1909 A.D., he came and lived in Shirdi with his wife. He had no

issue. Both husband and wife loved Baba and spent all their time in worshipping

and serving Baba. After Megha's death, Bapusaheb daily did the Aarathi ceremony

in the Masjid and Chavadi till Baba's

Maha Samadhi. He was also entrusted with the work of reading and explaining

Jnaneshwari and Ekanathi Bhagawat in Sathe's Wada to the audience. After

serving for many years, Jog asked Baba - &quotI have served you so long, my

mind is not yet calm and composed, how is it that my contact with Saints has

not improved me? When will You bless me?" - Hearing the Bhakta's prayer Baba

replied – “In due time your bad actions (their fruit or result) will be

destroyed, your merits and demerits will be reduced to ashes, and I shall

consider you blessed, when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and

palate, and getting rid of all impediments, serve God whole-heartedly and

resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas)."After some time, Baba's words came

true. His wife predeceased him and as

he had no other attachment, he became free and accepted Sanyas before his death

and realized the goal of his life.

BABA'S NECTAR-LIKE WORDS

The kind and merciful Sai Baba said many a time the following sweet words in the

Masjid – “He who loves Me most, always sees Me. The whole world is desolate to

him without Me, he tells no stories but Mine. He ceaselessly meditates upon Me

and always chants My name. I feel indebted to him who surrenders himself

completely to Me and ever remembers Me. I shall repay his debt by giving him

salvation (self-realization). I am dependent on him who thinks and hungers

after Me and who does not eat anything without first offering it to Me. He who

thus comes to Me, becomes one with Me, just as a river gets to the sea and

becomes merged (one) with it. So leaving out pride and egoism and with no trace

of them, you should surrender yourself to Me Who am seated in your heart."

WHO IS THIS ME?

Sai Baba expounded many a time Who this ME (or I) is. He said, “You need not go

far or anywhere in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in

you, as well as in all beings, a sense of Being or Consciousness of Existence.

That is Myself. Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself, as well as in all

beings. If you practise this, you will realize all-pervasiveness, and thus

attain oneness with Me."

Hemadpant, therefore, makes a bow to the readers and requests them humbly and

lovingly that they should love and respect all Gods, saints and devotees. Has

not Baba often said “He who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart

and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most." Baba thus

pervades all beings and creatures and besets them on all sides. He likes

nothing but love to all beings. Such nectar, pure auspicious ambrosia always

flowed from Baba's lips. He therefore, concludes – Those who lovingly sing

Baba's fame and those who hear the same with devotion, both become one with

Sai.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - PART III [8]

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - [1969-1972]

N. Kasturi M.A., B.L.

DELTA OF DELIGHT

Lucky are the seekers of love and light, who get the privilege of seeing Baba,

the perfect embodiment of being, awareness, bliss, Atma; witnessing His

divinity, hearing His teachings of universal love and on pursuit of absolute

truth. Luckier still amongst them are those who implement His advice and ever

remain in the consciousness of the divinity pervading the entire manifestation.

They consider His advent as a chance for their own adventure into heaven. They

celebrate His Birthday as their own. Charles Penn exclaimed, "Our Lord's

Birthday! 1965 was the year of my birth, for I came to know Baba that year. Now

I am only three years of age," he wrote in 1968.

The 43rd Birthday (1969) was celebrated all over by groups of devotees in

rejoicing and in thankfulness, with a variety of programmes dear to Baba. In

Kakinada they had Bhajans for 42 days prior to the auspicious day. In other

places, the celebrations included Bhajans in hospitals, jails, homes for

disabled and defectives, mass feeding and giving of clothes, plays and

entertainment items for children, discourses, musical recitals, special

worship, processions, Gîtâ recitation contests and a number of other spiritual

items. Vedic schools, Sanskrit classes, Telugu lessons,

libraries, service homes, eye treatment camps, Seva Dals, and study circles were

inaugurated that day. Baba blessed them in their own places, by various signs of

His Presence and sometimes, by appearing in His Own Form for all to see!

At Prashanthi Nilayam, the Conference of the Office Bearers of the Sathya Sai

Organization of Andhra Pradesh met on 21st and 22nd November, and so, the

atmosphere was full of consecrated faith.

"Every one," He told the delegates, "has three sources of power: as an

individual, as a shrine where God is installed, and as the Atma which is God

Himself. Hanuman once told his Master, Rama, 'When I feel I am this body you

are my Lord; when I feel I am a Jiva among many, impelled by the Grace of God,

I am the reflection and You are the Original; when I know I am the Atma, I am

You and You are I.' God walks along the road of truth; Man, His shadow, if he

holds on to His Feet, can safely traverse fire and water, dirt, hollow and

hill, and reach Truth."

He told them that the Organization was intended as an arena where they learn the

value of cleansing the mind.

"Whether it is meditation that you are encouraging, Bhajan you are organizing, a

discourse you are announcing or clothes you are offering, or worship that you

are conducting, the object to the achieved is cleansing the mind of the tarnish

of egoism, greed, hatred, malice, lust and envy. In place of all these, fill the

mind with Love. That is the sign of the Sai Devotee."

During the discourse that Baba gave, prior to hoisting the flag on His birthday,

Baba spoke about devotees who develop and demonstrate fanaticism when speaking

about Him or adoring Him.

"I have no wish to draw people towards Me, away from the worship of My other

Names and Forms. Perhaps you guess from what you call the 'Miracles,' that I am

attracting and trying to attach you to Me and Me alone. They are not designed to

demonstrate or publicize; they are spontaneous and confirmatory proofs of the

Divine, which can change the sky to earth and earth to sky.

I am yours whether you like Me or not; you are Mine, even if you hate Me and

keep away from Me. Therefore, what need is there for impressing and attracting,

exhibiting My Love or compassion to win your adoration? I am in You, You are in

Me. There is no distance or distinction." He declared, "You have come to your

own home. This is your home, not Mine! My home is your heart!"

The Birthday Celebrations, which began virtually with the Conference on the

21st, continued until the 27th.

Dr. Vinayak Krishna Gokak said, "If we want to see truth with a capital T, where

can we see it and realize it, except in Him? If we want to experience and

realize beauty with a capital B, where else can we have it except in Him and

through Him? He is goodness incarnate, showering succor on humanity and healing

it in distress. He is Love incarnate, Love that fosters and protects even those

who have not visualized His Divinity and Power! He has come to transform the

rampant disorder of the Present into a New World Order. For our guidance and

benefaction, He has put on the robes of mortality.

He bears on His Atlantean shoulders the burden of Humanity."

A dramatic instance of the succor and healing that Baba showers was noticed by

over 20.000 people on the 23rd, at the huge Auditorium, during the morning

session.

Baba was taken in procession from the Nilayam to the Auditorium by devotees;

there were students of the Vedic School reciting the invocatory hymns; there

were Bhajan parties; there was the beautifully caparisoned elephant, Sai Gita,

intelligent, sensitive and even, one can venture to say, 'devoted'. Above all,

there was the Mother of Baba, revered Easwaramma, by His side, for this was a

Day to commemorate the Day of His Incarnation.

At the Auditorium, on the dais, Baba seated Himself on the silver chair, amidst

the acclamation of the immense gathering. Then, Baba graciously allowed some

devotees to place a few drops of consecrated oil on His Head: they touched His

Feet and placed flowers on them. The mother, who has won the gratitude of the

world for ages, placed the oil, first. Then, a few others followed: Begum

Tahira Sayeed, a Persian and Urdu poetess; M.S. Dixit, a revered old devotee

who had served Baba even in His previous body, while He was at Shirdi; the

Rajamatha of Jamnagar; the Rajamatha of Sirohi, Dr. Gokak and Indra Devi.

While Indra Devi was placing a few drops of oil on His Hair with a flower dipped

in the cup I was holding, Baba saw a certain Mrs. Anderson who had come from the

United States. She was a chronic invalid, unable to walk or use her lower limbs,

being helped around by her husband in a wheeled chair. As soon as she came to

Prashanthi Nilayam, she was admitted to the Hospital so that she could be

nursed there by professional hands. Baba presented her, and all other ladies

from beyond the seas, saris on the 22nd, so that they could wear them on His

Birthday;

He deputed some ladies to help this one to wrap it around her. On the 23rd, she

was brought down from the Hospital hill and allowed to watch the function from

the far end of the dais, where she sat on her inevitable wheel chair, which had

become more or less a part of her anatomy!

Baba turned to me and said, "That lady in the wheelchair will be happy if you

take the cup to her, and get a flower dipped by her in the oil, which can later

be placed on My Head." I was thrilled by His compassion but there was more to

follow.

Before I could turn to the left and proceed towards her (the distance from the

silver chair of Baba to her wheelchair was over 40 feet), Baba stopped me and

said, "Wait! I shall Myself go to her!" People were astonished when they saw

Baba descend from the chair and proceed towards the invalid lady, with me

holding the oil cup. Baba bent His Head before her, so that she could place a

few drops of oil on His halo of glorious hair! The gathering was overwhelmed

with grateful joy, when they saw this spontaneous flood of Divine Mercy and the

happy glow of ecstasy on the pale face of a foreign invalid! She applied the

flower three times. The third time Baba held her hand, saying, "Stand Up" ...

and she stood!

The gathering was amazed with delight! "Come with me!" Baba said. And she walked

the forty feet, towards the silver chair, keeping pace with Baba! I was so

overcome with joy that I ran towards the mike and announced to the entranced

gathering that Mrs. Anderson, who had not walked for years, was cured of her

illness, and that she has risen from her wheeled chair at the bidding of Baba

and got her limbs back in perfect condition. Every one was thrilled by this

miracle of healing. "Normal feet" was the Birthday Gift she received from Baba.

 

Speaking on His Birthday, Baba said that children are born for five ordinary

unnoticed reasons. There are Nyasaputhras, born in order to realize the value

of some deposit that they had made with you in the previous life, which you had

misappropriated and misused. There are Runaputhras, those born in order to

recover undischarged loans given by them to the man who has now come as the

father. There are Suputhras, those born as a consequence of the blessings of

God, and there are Upekhaputhras; these are the Avatars, with no sense of

attachment towards the parents, kith or kin, with no sense of obligation of

them, with love and compassion for all. This was a revelation of Baba's

attitude towards the parents, which has puzzled many, as different from the

attitude of even

Rama and Krishna.

On December 4th, Baba left Prashanthi Nilayam for Bangalore where He spent about

a month, with devotees from America and other places, helping them in their

spiritual exercises. He was in contact personally with the arrangements to open

a Boys' College in the premises of Brindavan, where He stayed.

On Christmas Day, He blessed the Christian devotees with gifts and on Vaikunda

Ekadasi, which came, five days later; He created Amrita (Ambrosia) which He

Himself distributed to about 4.000 people who had gathered for Bhajan. On New

Year Day, he gave a discourse on "The Spiritual Resolutions" one must make for

the New Year, and the practices and attitudes one has to ring out with the old!

January 13 saw Him back at Prashanthi Nilayam, for Makara Sankranti, the day of

the tropic of Capricorn, when the divine half of the year begins, with the

northward movement of the sun in the northern hemisphere. Baba said

"The Sun journeys north from today. But, be concerned more with your own journey

from birth to death and then again to birth from death, until you set yourselves

free working out your sentence, through good behavior."

On the 16th January 1969, Baba was at Rajahmundry, on the Godavari River, a

river dear to Him since Shirdi days, on the first lap of a whirlwind tour of

the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari flows near Shirdi; and it

has saturated itself with the glory of the Previous Body of Baba and learnt to

love the Name. Every one who went to be blessed by Baba while in His previous

abode at Dwarakamayi in Shirdi used to take a bath in the Godavari. Now, too,

by some trick of divine dispensation, the east and west Godavari districts are

studded thick with Bhajan Mandalis and Seva Samithis heralding the new Sai era

of devotion and dedication. Some one from the east Godavari district wrote to

Baba that, "there is no house here without Your picture in the altar; there is

no house that does not resound to the chanting of songs on Your glory!" and

Baba replied to him:

"Reserve your joy for something grander! My Name and Form will soon be found

getting established everywhere. They will occupy every inch of the world."

On the 17th and the 18th, mammoth gatherings assembled at Rajahmundry to hear

the discourses of Baba, Sri V.K. Rao, I.C.S. and Swami Karunyananda of the

Gouthami Jeevakarunya Sangham, spoke on the great good fortune of the present

generation in being contemporaries of Baba. Baba spoke on the conquest of the

Mind as necessary for liberation from the world of change.

"Know the One; attention must be concentrated on the One. Alternations of

acceptance and rejection, affirmation and negation, are but appearances on the

One. Let nothing move you; be still, be detached, be but a witness. The world

is but a play enacted and directed by Him. Let your love and longing, desire

and search be directed towards God."

He asked them to give up inflammatory assertions, malicious talk and angry negations.

"With the twenty six letters of the English alphabet, all English books in

existence are written, composed and printed. The letters themselves are without

attributes, they are neither good nor evil, but out of their combinations in

various ways, are made either dull, insipid, trashy books or books with cosmic

revelations of the highest order. So too the operations of the same mind can

make or mar the career of man here or hereafter."

On the 18th, Baba visited the Andhra Paper Mills and gave a discourse to the

staff and labour, in which He emphasized the sacred partnership and the mutual

love and respect that must govern all dealings between them. That evening, Baba

inaugurated a school named after Him and run as per His message and teachings.

Baba felt great pity, such as God feels at rare intervals, when He sat facing

the children. He said,

"The spacious mansion called Sanathana Dharma erected with great toil and

travail by the sages of the past of enable succeeding generations to live in

peace and prosperity is, alas, being condemned today as uninhabitable and fit

only to be given up as dilapidated! The peace, which those sages had envisaged,

is noticeable in the faces of these children, having no envy, no greed, and no

hatred in their hearts. When they grow up, the joy is turned into grief and the

peace peters out into anxiety and fear. The elders have lost the art of

regaining, retaining or transmitting peace and joy."

"Children must grow up in the atmosphere or reverence, devotion, mutual service

and cooperation. Now they learn only copybook maxims, devoid of any sincere

urge to put them into practice. Parents drink, gamble, scandalize others and

utter blatant lies in full hearing of these tender flowers! Do not sow hatred

or contempt of any caste or class, faith or cult in the virgin minds of these

fresh blossoms. Parents first, teachers next, playmates and companions later

and the leaders who command the allegiance of community or region last, have to

be on the alert, constantly examining themselves whether they are fit examples

for the children of the land. This school bears My name; so, it has a high

responsibility; it should inspire all schools in this region, to treat little

children with love and care and fill the atmosphere with the fragrance of Divinity."

Words that announced the advent of the new era of Truth, Virtue, Peace and Love!

For five days from the 20th, Baba moved on a merciful mission of Love along the

road of the delta and a few beyond, showering grace on nearly a million souls

gasping anxiously to secure it; the visit to more than a hundred villages and a

score of towns has transformed the viewpoints of everyone whom He rewarded with

a smile or a glance, a pat or a word, a gift of holy ash or a precious memento.

Like the many canals that emanate from the Dhowaliswaram Anicut and take the

waters of the Godavari into a million fields to confer life and vigor to the

crops, Baba went along the roads on the banks of these same canals, taking with

Him the infinitely more sustaining waters from Heaven itself to grant

immortality and infinite Bliss.

The Godavari of Grace consisting of a caravan of over twenty cars moved out of

Rajahmundry very early in the day; tidings carried delight and exaltation

throughout the Delta; for, the Darshan of Baba, listening to His enthralling

discourse and perhaps getting the rare chance of touching His Feet are

benedictions for which even the remotest villagers were pining. Every yard of

road was lined on both sides with men, women and children in their best

clothes; the roads were swept clean; miles ahead of every village designs were

drawn with rice flour by devoted women; inside the village, decorated sheds

were put up, so that Baba may ascend the dais underneath them and give Darshan

to the vast concourses that sat there, doing Bhajan for hours, in expectation

of the golden moment.

Festoons, flags, lines of green leaves were hung across the main roads; hearts

were beating faster this day in the hope of Divine Darshan. Sometimes,

elaborate and even costly arches of welcome were erected on the roads that lay

through the towns or that led into them, the townsmen spending hours on end to

make the arch a picture of exquisite charm.

Baba's car led the way. At Kesavaram, Baba directed the other cars to stay on

the main road itself, while He drove into the hamlet, for, as He said, there

was not enough parking space there. The deltaic region utilizes every square

foot of land for cultivation and so, open spaces are hard to find. Baba was

received by most of the villages with the piping of primitive instruments, the

blowing of long brass horns and the vigorous beat of drums, expressing folk

delight!

Baba moved slowly up the passage between the men and women, and ascending the

dais, spoke a few words on Namasmarana, the efficacy of Bhajan and the

necessity of continuing it sincerely, with deeper faith. Then, the cars moved

on to Palathodu, a bigger place where all the cars could find space to drive in

and halt. Here too Baba emphasized in a short speech the need for Bhakti and

Shraddha, the two wings of the bird Jnana, which flies towards Realization of

the Reality.

On the 21st the caravan took another road and every human habitation accessible

by that road and its tributaries throbbed with delight, for He had chosen to

bless them that day! The entire population of the countryside seemed to be

ranged as a never-ending guard of honour for Baba; they shouted 'Jai' when they

espied the cars; Baba slowed down His car, so that they may have Darshan. His

Hand could be seen waving to them, long after He had passed the place where

they were standing. Halts were made often and Baba condescended to open the

door and stand on the footboard, so that the surging masses could have better

Darshan, for, only then they could imprint that portrait on their hearts for

worship in the silence of their altars.

The Delta is acclaimed as the granary of Andhra Pradesh. And it is full to the

brim with populous villages, barely a mile or two apart. Baba alighted at most

of these on the way, and even a little afar - Gummileru, Pinapalle, Gangavaram,

Pamarru, Narasapur, Rapurpeta, Rajupalem, Anaparthi, Kuthukulur, Someswaram and

finally Sampara tobacco barns, rice mills, locks and pump houses were the

landmarks that raised their heads over the level green. At Sampara, the entire

village was in the mood of Gokulam welcoming Gopala back home! As a matter of

fact, this village has lived on the Bhagavatha many years, since a great

exponent of that ancient text on Bhakti, Sri Kadiyala Seetharama Sastry kept

the village conscious of its teachings and message for years, through his

heart-touching expositions. Baba stayed

there for some hours and discoursed on the practice of the constant presence of

God. He also sang a few Bhajans, to arouse in them the ardour to glorify God.

Then the party returned to Rajahmundry itself.

On the 22nd, the road led towards Thamrada, and Peddapuram. At Peddapuram, Baba

went to Challa Appa Rao, a devotee since many years, and there happened a

miracle restoring him to health. He was bedridden since three years; his

condition had worsened eight months back, "but," says, Dr. G. Kesava Rao, "he

relied solely on Baba and refused to take any medicine. He had acute anaemia,

due to bleeding piles. His body was swollen. The haemoglobin percentage had

gone down to as low as 30; urination was affected. Many doctors and I advised

blood transfusion, and warned that his chances of survival without it were one

hundred percent nil! When some anxious friends approached Bhagawan to persuade

him to resort to medicine, Bhagawan retorted, "Why? Do they not die the people

who take

medicine?"

When He visited Peddapuram, Baba went to his house and sat by his bedside. Baba

created a Linga while seated there. He directed that it be bathed in water

ceremonially, with appropriate rites. The Thirtha or consecrated water was to

be given internally to the patient daily. "Wonder of Wonders!" writes Dr. G.

Kesava Rao, "the patient was transformed the very next moment into health. The

swelling oedema completely disappeared. Evacuation and urination became normal.

Bleeding stopped dramatically. Exhaustion was overcome. Within a month, he was

quite refreshed, shining with new youthfulness." Appa Rao described the

blessing thus: "Before the visit of Baba, I was a corpse; after the visit, I

was the victor over death."

After addressing a public gathering, Baba laid the foundation for a Center for

the Sathya Sai Seva Samithi at the village. He then moved on to Kotapadu, and

Medapadu, where He inaugurated a Sathya Sai Mandir. Reaching Vadlamuru He laid

the foundation for a Sathya Sai Mandir, and proceeded to Kothpeta where a

mammoth gathering engaged in Bhajan was waiting since hours for Darshan. The

college campus was full of people who had trekked miles on foot or by cart or

cycle or omnibus or country boat. Baba turned aside a mile and a half from the

highway to bless devotees at Palivela. He reached Ambajipeta, where too, a big

gathering brightened when He gave Darshan and spoke a few words of advice and

exhortation.

Emerging into the main road, the flood of Divine Compassion moved on towards

Bandaralanka, a famous center of weaving as a cottage industry. Here, the

community of weavers, with great enthusiasm, heralded the arrival of Baba. They

had put an imposing reception structure with arches and greeneries and flowers,

adjacent to the road itself. Baba alighted from the car to bless them and spoke

a few words of encouragement so that they may earn peace, and understand the

purpose of life.

Then, Baba motored to Amalapuram, where nearly fifty thousand people had

gathered to hear Him and fill their eyes with His Charm. Baba chided the person

who made the welcome speech! Really, this conventional item on the Programme of

public meetings has no bearing, for, how can Baba who is present everywhere at

all times be either welcomed or taken leave of? And, the welcome speech was in

the English language! Baba said that the region with Amalapuram as the focal

point was known geographically as Konasima (Delta), but, lovers of Bharathiya

Culture knew it as Vedasima, the region which was the nursery of Vedic scholars

and the Academy where Vedic Science and Vedic Research were pursued with avidity

by generations of scholars. "Why thrust down the ears of these simple people

and the pundits learned in ancient lore, a language they do not know?" He queried.

On the 24th, Baba left Amalapuram very early for Manepalli. After visiting an

aged devotee on his sickbed at Tatipaka, He moved on to Razole, where elaborate

arrangements were made for a public address, and a sizeable gathering had

assembled. After satisfying their thirst, Baba proceeded along the main road

towards the next destination. While driving fast, Baba noticed an insignificant

token of adoration hung across the road, near a village, which is barely

mentioned in maps, Poathumatla. It was a thin festoon of a dozen mango leaves,

strung from one coconut tree to another with a piece of paper pinned in the

centre waving in the wind, with the word 'Welcome' inscribed on it by a

hesitant hand. The car had gone on about fifty yards when He wanted it to stop,

and turn back to where that paper 'Welcome'

called Him. There were two old women standing there with garlands in their

wrinkled hands. Baba opened the door, so that they could touch His Feet, leaned

forward so that they could put the garlands round His neck. He invited them to

do so without fear. "Here is your Swami! Quite near you! Come on, garland Me!"

That was the happiest moment of their lives, and Baba too appeared equally

happy! One lady extended her hand and asked, "Prasadam, Swami?" She wanted

something to treasure from the Divine Hands. Baba plucked some petals from the

flowers of the garlands they had offered and placed them in the hands of both

and moved on.

While driving on, Baba noticed two very old women tottering forward with the

help of sticks held in their shaky hands. His Divine Pity flowed towards them.

He asked the car to stop near them. When the car pulled up, He inquired, where

they were going to. They said in quaking voices, "to see Sai Baba". Baba

laughed and said, "I am Sai Baba, don't you know!" They thought some one was

ridiculing them and they walked forward. The others in the car got down and

persuaded them to retrace the few steps they had taken, and have a good look.

Baba created Vibhuthi for them, filled their hands with fruits, and told them

to return home.

Lakkavaram was reached soon, and after a mile or two, Baba turned into a sandy

fair-weather road, a road that was rambling wildly across the fallow wastes

into what appeared to be no man's land; the party wondered where Baba was

leading them, but Baba told the nervous interrogators that there was a devotee

in the village Kaththi Manda that lay a mile ahead. His wife had died and he

had married again. She lost a number of children when they were quite little

babies, a tragedy which superstitious villagers ascribed to the machinations of

the deceased wife's ghost! Baba allowed the next child to be born in the seventh

month of pregnancy at the Sathya Sai Hospital, Puttaparthi, so that she may be

rid of the fear that was haunting her... and the son had grown now into a

chubby boy of three! Baba was going to that place in order to bless that boy

and his parents!

Returning to the main road, Baba proceeded to Kadali, a small village set in the

midst of coconut trees. They had erected a dais and decorated it with sincere

artistry. Baba addressed the peasants who had come in large numbers. He visited

the house of the Principal of the Veda Sastra Patasala, Prashanthi Nilayam, an

unrivalled reciter of the Vedic hymns, a master of the complicated styles of

rendering the Vedic syllables in the orthodox complex of permutations and

combinations, who recognized the Divinity of Baba, the day he first officiated

at a Yajna he was asked to supervise at Prashanthi Nilayam.

Baba sent all the cars that were trailing behind Him to move on and wait at the

canal bank, a few miles off and He went to Sakhinetipalli, to the home of Sri

Ramalingaraju, Minister for Religious Endowments, in the Government of Andhra

Pradesh. The cars waited for full four hours, exiled from His presence, with

ears attuned to the horn of Baba's car so that they may catch the signs of His

arrival to restore joy in their hearts! At midnight, Baba's car was spotted

proceeding towards them. The caravan then returned to Rajahmundry on the

Godavari.

The 25th day of January, was a Day of Delight for the devotees of Rajahmundry.

Towards evening, about three hundred of them boarded three motor launches, and

went over the Godavari with Baba to the sand dunes on one of the islands formed

by the Godavari when its waters subsided after the monsoon floods, which make

the river one vast roar of raging waters. Baba sat on the sands surrounded by

Bhaktas. Bhajan was sung; stars listened intently from above. Then, Baba

answered a few questions on Sadhana put by some Sadhakas, and while elaborating

the directions He gave while

quoting from the Bhagavatha; He drew forth from the heap of sand before Him a

golden idol of Krishna, crawling as a child, with a ball of butter in his Hand.

 

Baba was at that time speaking of the inner meaning of butter; the purity of

intention attained after the churning of Sadhana and of the theft of such

butter committed by Krishna.

The questions then turned towards Siva and the Linga symbol, with ramifications

of conversation into the various types of Lingas, the Earth Principle Linga,

the Water Principle Linga, the Fire Principle Linga, the Wind Principle Linga

and the Sky Principle Linga.

Then He spoke of the places sanctified by the installation of these Lingams and

referring to the Akasa Linga in a temple, He explained that the Linga there

hangs in mid-air with no support! Devotees stared in awe for they could not

understand how this could happen, and continue to happen. Baba explained that

the Linga is of some ferrous material and that two magnets, one on top, on the

underside of the roof and another fixed on the floor, exercise equal and

opposite pulls on the Linga, so that it remains in the center, in mid-air,

without support. Then, He asked, "O! Do you desire to see it? I can dislodge it

from the pulls and bring it here!" Saying so, He waved His Hand and Lo! The

egg-shaped ferrous ball was in the Hand. It was passed from one person to

another until all had the feel of it and the

thrill. Then Baba wrapped it in a kerchief and gave it to a young man to be kept

with him. The entire group of three hundred sat for dinner on the sands, with

Baba in their midst, joking and keeping every one in the best of spirits. It

was about eleven at night when the launches returned to Rajahmundry. The young

man was shocked to find the ferrous Lingam gone!

On the 26th, Baba addressed the Lions Club.

"You are members of a Club that bears a great name, the Lion. The Lion and the

Elephant are natural enemies according to poetic convention. There is a great

lesson latent in this fact. The elephant wanders free and furious in the thick

entanglements of the jungle; it is the symbol of the mind which rambles, goaded

by whim and appetite. But, it surrenders before the superior skill and sinew of

the lion. The lion is the intellect; the elephant is the mind; the intellect

distinguishes between the real and the unreal, the transient and the eternal.

When this winnowing is neglected, man moves from one illusion to another. If

the intellect is sharpened and sublimated, peace and harmony will reveal the

one basic reality, behind all the apparent contradictions and confusions. So

mere compassion and the passion to do service are not enough; they may even be

dangerous, if no enquiry is made into the causes of suffering, and into the

safest and surest means of alleviating the suffering," Baba advised. "It must

be understood that the root cause of suffering is due to the lack of wisdom

which enables you to realize the indwelling unity amongst apparent diversity,

and the safest and surest means of uprooting this sufferance is by removing

ignorance, resulting in the Realization of the Real."

Baba then left the Godavari, and began His return journey, with a halt at Eluru,

where the office bearers of the various units of the Sathya Sai Seva

Organizations met Him and received His guidance and blessings. Leaving Eluru,

He reached Gudivada and addressed a gathering there. Resuming, He went to

Vijayawada, into which city trains and buses, cars, scooters and

cycles had brought thousands of people. On the 27th, He went on a short visit to

Aukiripalle, near Vijayawada, and from there, He left for Madras, after a hectic

week of beneficence and benediction.

Howard Murphet, an Australian Sadhak and writer exults in this strain: "How

inexplicable fortunate are we - the few - who have found here in physical form

one who can say as Christ said long ago, 'I am the Way.' This statement soon

becomes a self-evident truth for those who can accept it. We see in Him

qualities we have always associated with the idea of Divinity. Love and

compassion flow from the heart, which hitherto had been no more than a dream.

When in His company, we are elevated to a golden world where the atmosphere

vibrates with inner joy and all mundane things are forgotten, or, at least take

their correct place well down the scale of values."

"Only India through ages past has been able to provide a suitable land for the

birth of Avatars, such as Rama, Krishna and Sathya Sai Baba. It is only in

10pt">India that Buddha can be born, to attain Nirvana. The spiritual heart of

India is the heart of the world. It is my spiritual heart, as an American, for

were it not there, surely life would be a living death, of ashes and despair,"

writes John Hislop.

One fact is interesting and may be mentioned here, since it has provoked many

into a very profitable line of thought. I shall quote the letter written by one

such inquirer, R. Ganapathi of the 'Kalki'. "Sri Aurobindo, who by the power of

his integral Yoga delved into the Cosmic Mind was suddenly absorbed in an

intense awareness of the Supramental Light's descent into the

earth-consciousness. On page 208, of the book, 'Sri Aurobindo on Himself and

the Mother' (1953 Edition), it is said, '24th November, 1926, was the descent

of Krishna into the physical.' 'A power infallible shall lead the thought, in

earthly hearts kindle the Immortal's Fire, even the Multitude shall hear the

Voice!' It is almost certain that the Descent noted by Sri Aurobindo was the

Incarnation the previous day, November 23, 1926, of Sri Sathya Sai Baba."

John Hislop, on Shivarathri Day prior to the hoisting of the Prashanthi Flag by

Baba, said, "What an amazing thing has come to happen! This slender body

walking so gracefully amongst us, the charming personality exhibiting all the

qualities of God, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, with boundless power

to create, maintain and destroy." Hislop's words meant more than he anticipated!

For, that evening, the unique Lingodbhava acquired a still more unique

importance; it was beyond the power of words to describe!

Shivarathri, as Baba expounded that morning, means that man must transform by

Sadhana the 'Rathri' into 'Sivam', the night of darkness and fear, doubt and

delusion, into the day of wisdom, courage, the certainty of faith and

realization. Rathri means night; Sivam means auspiciousness, victory, triumph.

The vigil that is prescribed for the festival and the fast, relate not to the

eye or the stomach, but to the senses which have to be starved and the

intelligence that has to be alerted against complaisance and the tactics of

casuists (experts)

The atmosphere of Prashanthi Nilayam becomes vibrant with the flag carrying the

symbol of the ascendant Sadhak who has overcome lust, anger and hatred, who has

broadened his love and universalized it, who has established himself in Yoga and

ascended through the various stages of Sadhana, resulting in the blossoming of

the Lotus in his heart, and thereby attained Pra-kanthi, higher illumination,

Prashanthi, highest tranquility and Param-jyothi, the higher splendor of

realization, merging his 'imagined self' into the Universal Self; conquering

sleep, sloth, Tamas, and the clamorous demands of the senses, Rajas, winning

the unshakeable equipoise of the wise, Sathva.

The Vedic recital, the procession from the Mandir to the Auditorium, the

astonishing emanation of Vibhuthi from an empty pot to consecrate the silver

idol of Shirdi Baba and fill the area with fragrance and ecstasy and the

evening gathering of 25.000 people facing the Shanthi Vedika where Baba sat on

the Dais, while Bhajan was sung by devoted souls - these incredible experiences

injected the atmosphere with vibrations of supreme purity.

The Lingam that had been growing in Baba's stomach since some days was to emerge

in a few minutes. 'Lingam' means that in which all things merge and out of which

all things emerge. The Absolute, the Ultimate Reality, Brahman or God has no

opposites, no polarities, no contradictions, so, it is represented by the most

perfect mathematical symbol, the sphere. When the basic desire, Ekoham

Bahusyam, 'I am One, let me become many,' disturbs the perfect balance of the

One, the sphere divides itself into two, we get the ellipsoid. The Lingam is

ellipsoid. The One Brahman has become Siva-Shakti, the primary polarity

principle of the positive and negative.

Cars and buses were speeding up from Bangalore, Madras, Bombay, Hyderabad and

other places to reach Prashanthi Nilayam in time for witnessing the emergence

of the Lingam from the Brahman. And, Baba was with each of them, for, it was

due to His Grace that they were present in that sanctified atmosphere. "We

yearned long to witness the Shivarathri Festival," says Dr. A. Ranga Rao, the

renowned ophthalmic physician and surgeon of Madras, he came in a car that gave

continuous trouble! The engine got too hot every ten miles! When the flag

hoisting took place, they were at Ranipet, 250 miles off;

when Vibhuthi Abhishekam took place he was at the border of Mysore, 180 miles

off! 60 miles away from Puttaparthi, the car came to a dead halt! While the

chauffeur was tinkering with its entrails, says Dr. Ranga Rao, "To our utter

consternation, petrol got ignited! Big tongues of flames shot up. The poor

fellow jumped off in the nick of time and saved himself. His clothes were on

fire; he managed to scotch the flames. I threw some handfuls of sand from the

road on the fire, calling out Sai Ram, Sai Ram! And the miracle happened! The

fire became extinct, the car was saved, though the tank was three quarters full

and it was petrol! I went back to Chikballapur, by bus, (12 miles) and got a

mechanic from that town. At 3.30 p.m. we were still at the place of the

mysterious fire. Cars coming from Bangalore stopped and sympathized and some

even offered lifts. But, I said, "No, we will be there to witness the

Lingodhbhavam, you can move on; Baba will bring us to Him." At 5.30 p.m. we

were 50 miles off, with that rickety car! I

sat at the wheel; the mechanic sat in the 'dickie', shaking the pump whenever it

struck work! We raced and rushed. When we stood gasping at the Lotus Circle in

front of the Prashanthi Nilayam, Baba was slowly proceeding from the Nilayam to

the Shanthi Vedika!

While passing, Baba, smiled at us and said, "O, you have come! Santhosham!

Santhosham (happy, very happy)." With tears of gratitude welling from my eyes,

I said within myself, "Lord! While thousands of devotees were adoring you here,

you heard our anguish! You quenched the fire and drove the car safe, to bring us

in time to witness your Glory. Here is my heart; my life, my hopes, my

everything, at your Feet!"

Dr. S. Bhagavantham and Dr. K. Bhaskaran Nair, both Doctors of Science, one in

Physics and the other in Zoology, one the Vice-chancellor of two Universities

and the other the Director of Collegiate Education of a State studded with

colleges (Kerala) spoke of the gathering on the Avatar of the Age. Dr.

Bhagavantham spoke on the implications of Baba's statement "My Life is My

Message". "It has astounded me to see that, though He has no wants, nor is He

ever in need, He is so busy at Prashanthi Nilayam or elsewhere, at all times

with a multitude of problems concerning the devotees! Not only does He expound

Nishkama Karma, but He also practices it Himself, setting the best example,"

Dr. Bhaskaran Nair confessed, "My life has acquired a richness and a validity

as a result of my

surrendering to Baba's Lotus Feet. I still continue to be a student of science.

I know where science has to walk warily and where it can walk in confidence. I

cherish the culture of this land, which bowed to the spirit and honored sages

and saints, more than men of might. Sivaji placed his Empire at the feet of his

guru Ramadas; the Kerala Monarch, Marthanda Varma dedicated the entire kingdom

at the altar of the God installed at Trivandrum, (Thiru-ananthapuram). Asoka

renounced war when his conscience was torn into shreds as he witnessed the

blood, the fury, the falsehood and the agony that war caused! And, he ruled

more than twenty years over a peaceful prosperous empire, even after publishing

the fact of his having renounced the use of the army, publishing it on pillar

and rock, all over the land, from the Himalayas to the Kaveri, from Kandahar to

Kamarup! Today when values are being lowered, and the infection of wild

excitement and depressing drugs is attacking youth in all

countries, the traditional values of Sanathana Dharma have to be asserted, for

they have perennial value. The advent of Bhagawan is positively significant in

the history of the world."

Baba spoke for about forty minutes on the mind and its manifold tactics to

confuse and confound, and how man has to discover the strategy by which it can

be controlled and made subservient to the intellect, thereby leading to the

realization of the Atmic reality. Suddenly the gushing stream of superb

eloquence and supreme guidance was interrupted by gasps and gutterings -

premonitions of the emergence of the Lingam - which Baba endeavored to put

down, a little while; then, He signaled for Bhajan to start and Himself sat on

the chair, behind the table. No one heard the Bhajan, though they were

mechanically uttering the words in the tune allotted to them. For, the crucial

moment was fast approaching and no one in the gathering wanted to miss it. All

senses were now concentrating their

efficiency on the eye, so as not to miss the Divine Event!

Baba was under the flood lights, squirming, turning, twisting, sitting forward

and leaning backward, sipping water and showing signs of exhaustion, all parts

of the amazing Drama that He was now allowing these thousands to witness, so

that they may stand witness in their own lives to the glory of being

contemporaneous with the Avatar! Fifty thousand eyes were focused on that

serene Mouth - for over fifteen long laborious minutes! "Ah! It has emerged, in

one leap; a blue shaft of light was it? No it was the blue Lingam oval shaped,

oval sized gem, celebrated in the Sasthras as specially sacred, on account of

the color and the size." It has fallen from His mouth into the cupped palm of

Baba. He held the Wonder in his Hand, high in the light, to be seen better by

the vast gathering, now in the height of

Bliss.

Baba continued sitting in the chair. He would, usually, descend from the Dais on

the Shanthi Vedika and move into the Nilayam; but He sat in the chair and

remained motionless. We thought that another Lingam might emerge after a little

while. But, no! He was getting stiffer, and motionless. The right hand was lying

flat on the table. The left was erect, the elbow fixed on the table, fingers

near the eye, the head was slightly inclined to the left, the thumb held apart,

the ring finger and the little finger folded, and the other two straight up -

the breathing was slow; it became slower.

Who dare touch Him? Who had the courage to draw His attention away from the

place or mission on which He had gone? I was sitting on the left of the chair

and Dr. Bhagavantham and Dr. Bhaskaran Nair on the right. Five minutes sped by

- I expected Him to return from wherever He had gone. For, this is special

occasion, where anxious souls were getting alarmed. At no time previous had He

left His Body on a transcorporeal journey when so many were looking on!

But, his Compassion knows no limitations of festival or gatherings. When the

devotee calls out in agony He rushes to his side, whoever may be with Him or

whatever the work he is engaged in, at that time. On other occasions, He has

fallen on to the floor, but this unusual posture amazed everyone; anxiety was

imprinted upon each face.

After twenty minutes, I could restrain myself no more. I leaned towards Him on

my knees and, in a subdued voice called 'Swami! Swami!', as if He would come

back when we call, from where He had gone in response to the sincere yearning

of some one in pain. His mission of Bhaktharakshana knows no bounds of class,

creed or nationality. He blesses, whatever be the name by which He is called.

Thirty minutes ... all eyes were now watching the face for the slightest sign of

any movement; they prayed as never before ... The fortitude of the devotees was

being transformed into nervousness ... the hand was stiff, upright, the finger

did not jerk or come together... the angle of the head was the same since the

past fifty minutes.

One or two from the Bhajan party came on to the dais ... a few began to weep,

here and there ... courage faltered before the onslaught of concern!

Fifty-five ... Ah ... a slight movement of the fingers ... of the left hand! The

hand came down ... I broke into tears ... His eyes opened ... He saw! He smiled!

 

Fear and doubt vanished shamefacedly from the gathering. Baba rose ... the

fateful minutes were over!

Baba went into the Nilayam, and when some of us, including Dr. Bhagavantham

followed Him, He said that He had gone on a Manasa-sanchara, round the World!

He went in order to give signs in every home or hall where Shivaratri was

celebrated that hour, that the Lord is here, that His Grace is available in

plenty for all who need it, and pray for it, with pure and sincere faith. He

showers mercy; and they become humble, wise, and victorious.

What we were privileged to see that night was the sight of Baba journeying far

and wide to confer peace, to foster the erring brood of willful, peevish,

half-blind children, into ways of justice, peace, love and righteousness. He

was converting the Rathri of Rajas and Tamas that was darkening the horizon of

man into the Sivam, the splendor of love and joy. We saw two Udbhavas

(oncomings) that day - the Lingodhbhavam and the Premodbhava (Bhava: being,

becoming).

'Brightness in the face, splendor in the eye, a determined look,a noble gaze,

pleasant voice, open-hearted charity,unwavering goodness: these are the signs

of a progressing will to attain the vision of God.'

Can this be true, the skeptics may ask! I can only give the answer, which Baba

gave to another such question put to Him by a celebrated skeptic, hailed by

many as a redoubtable doubter. Baba told him, "How can you understand Me? Can a

fish know the sky? It may see the reflection in the water of the lightning

flash; it may hear the echo of the rumbling thunder - but what can it know of

the mysteries of the ethereal region, being sunk in an element from which it

cannot escape and survive". We are bound by Maya; how can we gauge the

glory of One, who controls Maya?

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

/