SRI SATHYA SAI HRUDAYA NIVASI [6] - By Bombay Srinivasan

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SRI SATHYA SAI HRUDAYA NIVASI [6]

(Indweller of Hearts)

By Bombay Srinivasan

 

CHAPTER 21

 

WIFE ALONE IS NOT LIFE

 

Our Lord, Bhagawan Baba had chosen a tiny remote backward village in

the State of Andhra Pradesh for his present Avatar. There are a

number of other Holy places in this State, attracting millions of

devotees from all over India, and other countries as well. To mention

a few, Tirupati (also known as Thirumala) and Sri Sailam, which are

two of the well known pilgrimage centers. Bhadrachalam is yet another

renowned place of pilgrimage, situated near Kothagudam in Khammam

district. There is a beautiful temple in this place and the deity is

Sri Rama. Bhadradeewasra Rama had once saved a devotee who came to be

famously known as Bhadrachala Ramdas, by refunding the money to the

king and rescued him from imprisonment. He had been sentenced for

siphoning of government funds for building this temple. More than

this devotee, the king (a Muslim Nawab) got Darshan of Ram & Lakshman

who visited the palace to pay back the money allegedly

misappropriated for the construction of a temple. It is a holy place

indeed and many devotees throng here for worship. Rama Navami

celebrations during the month of April are the most important

function here and millions assemble there during this period.

Sevadal volunteers from Sri Sathya Sai Seva organizations are

participating in various forms of service, on that occasion.

Incidentally Kothagudam is the headquarters of the coal mining

company, M/s Singareni Collieries Ltd. The Rama Temples is situated

near here. This place is a big Sai Center, and there are many

devotees living here. I had visited this place several times.

I was trying to secure orders for my products from Singareni

Collieries Ltd, and had participated in their annual tenders several

times. For follow up actions, I used to visit this place very often.

I was pleasantly surprised to know that the Chief Financial Officer,

of this company was a Sai Devotee and was also the head of the

Sevadal group in that area. Incidentally, his son had also graduated

from Swami's college. I spent happy moments with him, talking about

Swami. One day he took me to the Sai Baba temple. It was a small but

beautiful temple built by the local Samithi for our dear Lord. Weekly

Bhajans, Nagarsankeerthan and all other spiritual activities are

conducted in this temple.

 

During one of my visits, I chanced to come across another Sai devotee

in the office cabin of The Financial Manager. I was introduced to

him, and we became friendly, since our common interest was on Swami.

He was the Resident Sales Executive of Indian Explosives Ltd, which

was regularly supplying explosive materials to Singareni Collieries

Ltd.

 

Being a past resident of Madras, he was planning a visit to his home.

We arranged that we would travel together the next day. We shared a

taxi up to Vishakapatanam from where we boarded a night train to

Madras. We had so many things to converse and we did not have a wink

of sleep during that night. He had a very interesting experience to

narrate, and I was only too happy to hear from him.

 

He told me, that he was employed for long in the Coalmine area at

Dhanbad situated in the Eastern parts of India. He used to visit

Prashanthi Nilayam, whenever he came to Madras on annual leave. His

wife had conceived for the first time, and he brought her to Madras

to arrange for the delivery. From there he was proceeding to

Prashanthi Nilayam. The wife insisted that she would also accompany

him. According to his understanding, she had not shown much interest

in Swami and he was now surprised at her latest attitude. She was

already 7 months pregnant then and he told her that there were not

adequate medical facilities in Puttaparthi. Still she was keen to

accompany him since it was not likely that any problems would arise

during a short stay of one week. Ultimately the wife accompanied her

husband to Swami.

 

The construction of Poorna Chandra Auditorium was almost complete and

was undergoing final touches including painting. My friend happened

to be a good painter. One day, after the Darshan, he walked over to

the site and found many volunteers engaged in painting the imposing

pillars and other places. He spoke to a volunteer, and requested him

to allow his participation. He flatly refused the offer and told him

that he could join the team only if Swami personally allowed him. My

friend felt very sad, and yet he wished that he should do something

as a token of Seva at Parthi. He bent down and dipped one of his

fingers in the paint, and placed a dot on one pillar It probably

comforted him to feel that he was able to do a token job. Instantly,

he sensed somebody was tapping his back. He found to his surprise

that Swami was standing beside him with His Divine Benign Smile.

Merciful Swami, said, "Mr. Painter, do not worry, I shall give you

some other job."

 

There are 2 pathways in the Nilayam, one from the main Gopuram to

Mandir and another from this pathway to Poorna Chandra Auditorium. We

can find polished black granite slabs engraved with Swami's

messages on either side of the pathway. Previously these slabs were

of rough granites. Swami showed him the rough granites that had

already been positioned and instructed that he should paint these

slabs with Swami's messages with appropriate designs. "You can start

the work straight away. Finish the Job and then you can go to your

place."

 

He was pleased and happy to receive the Divine Command. He commenced

the work in right earnest and with utmost devotion. He had only 15

days leave at his disposal. Since he could not complete the job, he

sent a telegram to his office at Dhanbad requesting them to extend

his leave. For another 2 months he was engaged in this Divine

assignment and was sending telegraphic requests to his office

periodically in between, Swami spoke to him several times. Whenever,

he tried to mention to Swami about his wife But Swami cut him short

every time. At last, after about 60 days of devoted and dedicated

service, he completed his task. During this period his wife's

pregnancy was also advancing. She felt very weak and could not turn

up to Mandir daily for Darshan.

 

The time had come for my friend to leave for Madras, with his wife

the next day, having fulfilled Swami's command. He was sitting in the

Darshan line. Swami had finished His rounds, and had selected a few

people for interview. Immediately after the interview was over, some

Seva Dals came along the waiting devotees and announced that Swami

was calling for the painter. My friend knew that the call was for him

and proceeded towards the Mandir. Swami took him inside the Interview

Room. He fell at Swami's Lotus Feet When Swami was enquiring about

him, he told that his wife had also come with him, and but could not

come for Darshan because of advanced pregnancy. Swami again cut him

short: "Wife alone is not Life. Wife is wife, and life is life."

Swami further put him at ease telling that he need not worry about

her and that shortly she would give birth to a baby boy 'You can

bring both of them to me next year.' Swami spoke to him on various

matters. But finally he gave him a Divine message, equally applicable

to all of us.

 

"Wherever you are, whenever it is, whatever may be the problem, never

pray to Swami to save you. But you should close your eyes,

concentrate on Swami, and utter three times, 'Swami, I want you,

Swami I want you, and Swami I want you' Swami will be with you and

you will automatically be saved."

 

My friend confirmed later that when he had to traveling the hill

areas of Assam and other border states, he had to confront

innumerable tight situations; but had prayed as per Swami's

instructions and had been saved every time.

 

He completed his narration of the experience with a startling

disclosure. After along absence, when he reported for duty at

Dhanbad, he came to know that during his absence there was a major

disaster caused by floods inside the mines trapping hundreds of staff

and workers. There was utter confusion everywhere. None of his

telegrams had reached their hands, nor had anybody noticed his

absence for such a long time. Everything looked so normal as far as

his service was concerned. And the major grace he enjoyed was that

Swami had detained him under his protection since he used to enter

the mines several times, and who knows what would have happened to

him during those fateful days, if only he had been present on duty.

What a saving Grace of Swami! Bhagawan foresees everything and takes

advance steps to protect his devotees, who offer selfless service.

In the Spiritual path, the first step is 'Selfless Service' through

selfless service, man can realize the Divinity that is all this

creation O course, all beings and all things are Divine- but, through

intelligent analysis, you have to choose the beings and things that

will help you and to avoid the beings and things that will hinder

you. This is the way of Wisdom Take the electric current, or Fire,

or a sharp knife. They are dangerous if you do not know how to use

them; they are beneficial, if you know how to handle them discreetly.

They can be either friends or foes. So too. The senses if we allow

them to master us, they become our deadly enemies; if we master them.

They help us to realize our Goal. - Baba

 

CHAPTER 22

 

ANOTHER MIRACULOUS CURE

 

Swami often says that divinity is inherent in all His creation.

Service to mankind should be spontaneously offered realizing this

resident divinity principle. Such seva becomes the highest form of

worship "Hands that help are holier than the lips that Pray" is the

oft-repeated advice of Swami. He further provides confidence that

when we engage ourselves in seva activities as advised by Him, He

would look after all our· other cares, concerns and welfare. When

somebody feels served and happy by our devoted and loving seva, it

gladdens Swam. Being a Sai devotee, what else could be our ambition

than making Swami happy? When Swami is happy, all the creation is

happy, and the Grace automatically accrues to us. Selfless seva

pulls Swami to us in our own crisis needs, even without a call or

payers. This has been the experiences of many a devotee. By His

Grace, I have been very fortunate, having experienced or having come

to know the experience by others, many times in my life. In some of

the earlier chapters, attempts have been made to inform the readers

of few instances of flow of grace to the seva Dals for selfless

service. Yet another such an instance is described in the following

pages.

 

Mr. Balaji is a Seva dal volunteer in T'Nagar Samithi in Madras. His

father, mother, brother, wife is all very much devoted to Swami and

are active workers participating in service activities. They are

also the ardent worshippers of Lord Ayyappa: both father and son used

to undertake pilgrimage to Sabari Hills every year. One day I went

to their flat, purchased recently, to discuss something about Samithi

affairs. Only Balaji and his wife were there. I enquired the

whereabouts of his father and mother. I learnt that his mother had

been admitted into a hospital. She had been suffering from some

stomach ailment having frequent loose motions. In spite of the

doctor's attendance and consultation and medication, there was no

improvement and her health had been deteriorating day by day. As

such she had to be hospitalized. Before taking leave, I told him not

to worry and that Swami would look after his mother. During the next

two weeks I did not meet him and was hoping that the mother would

have recovered.

 

We missed them in Samithi Bhajans during the next two weeks I was

very happy to see them again later on, when the entire family

attended the weekly bhajans. After everybody had left, I casually

enquired Balaji as to how was his mother. He replied that due to

Swami's Grace she had turned around and for the next fifteen minutes,

he was explaining to me how Swami's Grace had restored life to his

mother.

 

After admitting her into the hospital, she was under the constant

care of the doctors, but she was not responding to any medication.

Being an acute diabetic, it complicated the matters. Day-by-day she

was sinking. A number of tests (including blood rests) revealed no

clue or any cause for her present condition of health disorder. By

the end of the week, her condition was still very bad and she was

lapsing into a coma stage. She was very weak and the pulse also

started dropping, causing anxiety to everybody. The condition became

so critical that ultimately one evening; the doctors pronounced that

she might not survive the night.

 

Meanwhile, the doctors were making all efforts to identify the

reasons for and diagnose her sickness. One day during the casual

enquiries and discussions with Shri Balaji, the doctors came to know

that there was a 'slum' opposite to their residential flat, On this

information, the doctors further enquired into the environmental

condition of the locality Pursuing further, the doctors found out

that pigs used to roam in the nearby places of the flat. On a doubt,

they took some more blood sample of the lady and the same was sent to

veterinary hospital for analysts. Their fears were confirmed. She

might have placed her feet on the excretion of the pigs and could

have contact the virus of the animal. Being a diabetic patient, the

matters had got complicated. Unfortunately, by the time, the

veterinary diagnosis became available, it became too late for any

further medication as she was sinking and the doctors gave up hope.

All the family members had gathered in the hospital and they could do

the only possible thing, of surrendering to HIM. Yes, they started

praying with intense devotion all the night. The next morning,

however, dawned to a new development. When the doctors came to the

ward on the routine round, they did not expect to see the lady

alive. But what they saw was simply unbelievable to them. The

patient was not only sitting on the bed but was also chatting with

her family members. There were joy and cheers all over. How could

this happen! The doctors found a small photograph of Bhagawan Baba on

the corner table of the room. They looked at the photograph and were

wondering.

 

Ultimately and helplessly they had to say this much. There was no

medical explanation as to how she could have recovered from her

helpless condition of the previous night. Might be, It was some

divine mercy of intervention which had made this possible. Or might

be, it was the Grace of the Sai Baba whose photograph was on the

table, which could have saved their mother. "We did not and could not

do anything to save the lady; the cure itself was a big miracle for

us to witness", the doctors concluded.

 

The devotees, who were listening to the narration with me very

attentively, were moved to hear of Swami's mercy intervention. We all

congratulated Mr. Balaji and their family members for being the

recipient of Sai's Grace. The Balaji family continues to be in Sai

Seva and participate in all activities assisting at times in our

resource mobilization for major programs.

 

Each one is saturated today from head to foot, with desires of one

kind or another – for wealth, for social status, for fame, for

luxurious life, etc. Sundry carvings assail man from all sides at all

times. They go on growing in number and force, incessantly. The

embankments of discipline and duty are swept away by the flood of

desires. - Baba

 

CHAPTER 23

 

HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST

 

"ONAM` is a festival celebrated all over the state of Kerala, like

Diwali in other parts of India. People belonging to this state, are

employed all over the world. And yet they neither do nor fail to

visit their native places and join their family during the Onam

festival. Though many consider it a harvest festival, it has a

spiritual significance.

 

Swami has mentioned several times, that Kerala state has been blessed

by Lord Vishnu in His three separate Incarnations. The Avatar hood of

Narasimha, Vamana and Parasurama had taken place in this state. So it

is not surprising to see the deepest form of devotion among the

Keralities. Taking bath twice everyday and offering Joint prayers in

their respective homes has been an age old tradition. Elders show the

way to their young children to sustain and develop the culture of

joint prayers.

 

King Mahabali, who belonged to the family of Prahlada, was a noble

king though he belonged to the Asura lineage. The king was revered

and loved by his subjects. His end came when Lord Vishnu assumed the

form of Vamana and placed his Lotus Feet on his head, pushing him

down into Pathala. Before leaving the earth the King Mahabali sought

a boon. He wished to come back to the earth once in a year and see

his loving subjects. It is believed that King Mahabali visits Kerala

every year on Onam day and the people wish to present themselves

before him in a happy frame of mind and spirit. They put on their

best on this day, even if they are poor and cannot afford good food

and dress. 'Kaanam vittrum Onam thinnuga ' is the proverb in Kerala.

Even by selling away their house, they should eat well on Onam day,

is the meaning. Kerala people are very particular in this matter.

Swami once appreciated, in a public discourse at Prashanthi Nilayam,

the devotees from Kerala for leaving everything back and reaching at

Prashanthi Nilayam, to celebrate the Onam every year in the immediate

presence of Swami. In the calendar of 365 days a year, Swami normally

allots 2 or 3 days exclusively for the devotees of Kerala during

Onam. They put up with the limited facilities available in the Ashram

and manage with the food offered at the Canteen, not the least

worried about the sumptuous special Kerala Onam Feast. For them it is

only the Darshan of Swami that matters. They organize special buses

from all over the state, bringing with them the decorative materials,

for decorating Prashanthi Nilayam. Prashanthi Nilayam virtually,

turns into Kerala, during Onam celebrations due to the meticulous

care and concern taken by devotees. Selected Bal Vikas Children, from

various Samithi centers, offer cultural programmes for two or three

consecutive days in the Divine Presence.

 

With the Divine Grace, Sri Sathya Sai Trust of Kerala had established

a Senior Secondary School inaugurated long back by Bhagawan Himself.

It is a residential school, affiliated to the Central Board of

Secondary Education, New Delhi (CBSE). My second son, Sri S. Ramesh

studied in this school and finished secondary education before

joining the degree course in Prashanthi Nilayam Campus.

 

This Sathya Sai Vidhya Vihar is situated atop a small hill near a

village called Nandi, on the main road, about 15 kilo meters north of

Calicut in northern Kerala It is said that the great Rabindranath

Tagore, while touring Kerala, was staying on this hill and he had

named it "Sri Sailam", as it is known even today.

 

When my son was studying in this school, I used to visit this place

very often with my wife. Once on top of the hill, the view of the

breath taking scenery draws you. The blue waters of the Arabian Sea

surround the three sides of the hill. Lush green coconut groves dot

the place all around. The hill itself is full of grown up cashew nut

trees. A beautiful and peaceful place where the institution nestle0s!

Whenever, we visited our son in the school, we used to stay in some

hotel in the nearby city of Calicut, now known as Kozhikode. We

became acquainted with one Mr.P. V. Chandran and family who is a

leading businessman in the city. They were in a way the local

guardians of our son Mr. Ramesh during his period of study at Sri

Sailam. They extended all possible help to the boy.

 

This family own one of the biggest transport company in India called

Kerala Transport Company (K.T.C) with branches all over India.

Besides various other business interests, they own one of the biggest

vernacular (Malayalam language) daily named 'Mathru bhoomi'. They

also publish a weekly magazine bearing the same name.

 

An ardent devotee of "Gunrvayuroppan" (Deity in the Temple

Guruvayoor), Mr. Chandran is also a devotee of Bhagawan Baba. They

bring out special issues of this weekly magazine, fully dedicated to

Swami, containing beautiful photographs of Bhagawan, and many

articles authored by eminent Kerala devotees. The issue is released

during every World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations.

I was fortunate to sit next to him during the last conference at

Prashanthi Nilayam during Darshan times. Mr. Chandran placed the

first few copies of the special edition at His Lotus Feet and Swami

blessed and returned a few copies to him. A magnanimous Mr. Chandran

gave me a copy blessed by Divine Hands. I went through the book the

same day. In one of the articles, a Sai volunteer from Whitefield

had talked of the experience of a devotee. I was wonder struck

reading the article as to how Swami showed His mercy to a particular

devotee. With the kind courtesy, of the Mathru Bhoomi, I attempt

below to narrate the incident.

 

One day Swami emerged from His Abode at White field as usual and

called out the Sevadal and gave him some Instructions. Devotees were

sitting outside, awaiting Swami to come out for Darshan. Swami gave

the volunteer some identifications of a devotee sitting outside, and

instructed that the particular devotee should be asked to leave the

premises immediately. Swami further said that He would come out for

Darshan only after this devotee was removed from the premises. The

volunteer located the devotee and requested him to move away. Even

after disclosing Swami's command to leave, the devotee refused to

budge, and flatly refused to get up. He told the volunteer that he

was suffering from the dreaded disease of leprosy and that he would

not leave until he had Swami's Darshan and His blessings. The

volunteer returned back. When Swami asked him whether the fellow had

gone away, the volunteer pointed to the reluctance of the devotee to

move out. Swami's next command was a surprise. "Either push him out

or you go out" was the stem reprimand. No volunteer would feel happy

to leave Swami. Hence he rushed to the Darshan line and apprehended

the devotee. Since repeated persuasion did not have any effect, he

took the help of a couple of others to physically lift this man up

and deposit him outside the complex. He was left near the railway

level crossing gate.

 

The volunteer felt very sad for having to undertake such a job. They

had no other alternative but to obey the Divine Command. Days passed;

even after about a month, a growing feeling was there, very much

bothering the volunteer, as to why Swami was so harsh on that

devotee. But they could not know, or guess at that time that Swami

was actually saving that devotee. Nobody can comprehend the ways in

which the Divine Drama is being played.

 

Swami was still in Whitefield. Barely 30 days after this incident,

the volunteer was told that somebody was waiting outside the main

gate wishing to meet him. He was surprised to find the devotee whom

he had pushed out, standing outside the gate smiling at him. He was

worried that the fellow might force his way inside, thereby creating

problems for him. He tried to shun him and go back. The devotee

called out, and told the volunteer that he would not attempt to force

himself inside. He only wanted to tell him the wonderful experience

he had.

 

On the day when he was dragged out and deposited near the railway

gate, it pained him very much. He was asking himself again and again

whether he was such a sinner, not to have even a Darshan of Bhagawan.

He moved along to the nearby Railway station and laid down on one of

the concrete benches. Before long, he fell sleep at this odd hour. He

had a dream in which appeared Swami, who had denied him the Darshan

inside. Swami told him that it was not his physical body, which He

tried to push out, but the very disease itself and those 30 days from

then, he would be fully cured. He could then come back and have

Darshan.

 

True to Swami's assurance and by His Grace, he had been completely

cured now which happened to be the 30th day as foretold by Swami in

the dream. He would come inside only the next day. He only wanted to

personally thank the volunteer for what he had done to him. But for

his action, he would not have, had the chance of Swami's Darshan in

his dream followed by the miraculous cure.

 

As he was narrating the incident, there was a hush among the

devotees, as Swami was coming out to give Darshan to the devotees.

This devotee was also enjoying the Divine Darshan though from a

distance i.e. near the gate. As Swami was nearing the place, the

devotee could not contain himself any longer. To the utter dismay of

the volunteer, he rushed to Swami and fell at His Feet. He was

weeping profusely. Swami lifted him and patted on his back and

commanded him to go inside for the interview.

 

We cannot even remotely imagine, when and/or in what manner the Grace

would flow on a devotee. We are simply to follow His teachings and

practice a life as shown by him, engaging ourselves in selfless

service, leaving everything to Him We should know that we are in

Divine protection.

 

CHAPTER 24

 

THE OMNI – SAI

 

In one of the earlier chapters, I had narrated an incident of Sai's

Omnipresence. There are several such experiences for many devotees.

And yet, when we are made to know of this Divine Omni, by our own

experience, it is altogether blissful.

 

After I made it to Madras, in the hope of setting up an industry of

my own, I visited 'SUNDARAM' at the first available opportunity, and

enrolled myself as a Sevadal volunteer. It was the year 1982 and in

the whole of Madras city there were around 50 volunteers only, during

that time. The Sevadal were highly motivated by the inspiring

leadership of the organization. No wonder, even this limited number

of volunteers could achieve satisfying results in their Seva

activities. Those days, the service activities were mainly in the

sphere of Health & Hygiene several medical camps were being organized

by the Madras Samithi in addition to the weekly free clinics run by

it. Such medical camps included free eye camps for cataract

operation, Dental camps, Pediatric camps, Geriatric camp and polio

surgical camps.

 

When I started participating in the above medical camps, it was

totally a new experience for me. I could never imagine hat there

would be so much scope for seva in medical camps. I was under the

impression that it would all be for the doctors to attend to the

patients. But a lot of preparations had to be undertaken by the

volunteers. First of all the message about the camp had to be reached

to the poor and needy who lived in the city slums. I joined the other

senior volunteers and visited the slums and the news conveyed house

to house. We even tried to identify the possible patients for each

camp. On the day of the camp, the patients would have to be received

and registered. The attitudes and expectations of the patients were

of different kinds and each one needed care and attention till his or

her turn came. The role of the volunteers during the operation and

post operation stage would also be very important. The duties

included assistance to the patients in answering call of nature,

providing sponge bath etc. The volunteers had also to handle all the

paramedical work including dispensing.

 

Madras possessed the advantage of having a huge hall belonging to Sri

Sathya Sai Seva Trust where all the camps were conducted. The

patients selected for surgical cure were admitted in the make shift

wards organized for this purpose. In one of the eye camps, which I

attended for the first time, I witnessed such selfless service by the

volunteers. The patients operated for cataract were very old and

poor, with differing demands and needs. During nighttime, if we

switch on the fans some would call out and order us to switch it

off. Others would insist on having the fan. The volunteers were

posted on a 3- shift basis so that they could give round the clock

nursing and attendance. The volunteers posted for the night duty,

were seen fanning the patients individually by hand fans so that the

others who did not want would not have problems. Even in the middle

of the night, when somebody wanted to pass urine, the volunteers

would hold out pans and carry it to the bath room. The Seva, made

them, love the patients and do anything possible for their comforts.

They had been trained in that way. Highly motivated souls indeed!

There was the other Polio surgical camp. We were struck by the huge

gathering of the parents carrying their polio-afflicted children to

the camp. The camp did suffer a limitation in reaching the maximum

level of perfection since almost all cases needed surgical

correction. In some cases, three or even four parts of the limps were

to be cut open, and they were major operations on a mass scale.

Naturally all the patients could not be accommodated and we felt

sorry to return back many of them. We had a difficult time in

persuading them to go back.

 

The selected children were admitted into the make shift wards. The

first duty of the volunteers was to carry the children to the

bathrooms and give them a good bath. The volunteers had to prepare

the children carefully for the operation. The nails had to be trimmed

and hair shampooed Before they were wheeled to their wards. As in the

case of the elders, the children were also very difficult to handle,

especially so when they were in severe pain after surgery.

 

One has to participate in such a Seva to experience the joy and the

mental satisfaction flowing from it. Sri Sathya Sai Seva

organizations offer unique opportunities, usefully channelizing the

time and efforts of the Sevadal volunteers to offer maximum Seva and

derive joy.

 

During the initial period when I joined the Sevadal in Madras, the

number of Sevadal members in the city was around 50 plus only. With

such a small group of dedicated volunteers, so much activity was

undertaken. The organization in Madras have a number of senior most

devotees of Swarm; perhaps they have been the best in organizing

service activities in the best ever possible manner, I have seen. It

requires an inspired leadership to motivate and get maximum seva from

individual volunteers. It requires special skill to mobilize the

limited manpower resources and attain greater heights of selfless

service.

 

We used to meet at SUNDARAM every Saturday night. In addition to the

briefing for the next day activities, our then, District President,

(Presently the State President of the organization), Sri. T.G.

Krishnamoorthi used to deliver talks on Swami, stressing importance

of selfless Seva. He used to advise us that without a spiritual

practice in life and discipline, any service activity would not yield

the desired result of Swami's Grace, and that without the spiritual

approach, the enthusiasm would not last long. Participation in Seva

activities, embedded in spirituality alone, would please our Lord. If

one were to undertake Seva, without spiritual discipline and

involvement, then there would be no difference between the Seva

attitude by Swami's organization and that of the various other

organizations. Such advice from the senior devotees impacted on us

and with small numbers we were able to perform great things in Seva.

During my initial period of Seva, Sri G. Venkatesan was our leader.

He had the uncanny ability to build a team and then lead them to the

highest perfection. Managing the individual Sevadal in-group activity

would be very difficult especially in a voluntary organization. He

had to instill faith in the volunteers and motivate them by his

personal example. There were many occasions when we had worked

together.

He used to narrate several of his experiences in the Divine Presence.

He used to tell that Swami had said many a time, "Venkatesan is my

son" About three years back both of us visited Prashanthi Nilayam on

some important assignment. Having finished the job, we were

preparing to return to Madras, and we informed the Secretary of the

Central Trust accordingly. The same evening he told us that he had

informed Swami of our intention to return and also had obtained

permission from Swami for us to sit in the front line for Darshan,

the next morning. I was very much thrilled to know that we were to

sit in the front line with Divine permission. We were staying in a

private lodging in the Chitravathi Road. Early next morning we got up

and finished our morning bath and were getting dressed. I found that

my friend was trying to wear the same dress of the previous day. I

told that since Swami had permitted us to sit in the first line, we

should dress neatly like a bridegroom, (in Tamil, Maapillai). My

friend replied that Swami had told him earlier that he is Swarm's

Pillai (son) and hence I could only be the maapillai (bridegroom.)

We terminated our dialogue at that point and proceeded towards the

Mandir for Darshan.

 

We were ushered into the front line just opposite where the general

public used to sit. The college staff, senior students and other old

devotees were sitting on our block. There was not much time left for

Swami to arrive. Soon after we had taken our seats, the soft

instrumental music started. We knew Swami would be coming very soon.

All our eyes were glued towards the Poomachandra Auditorium to have

the first glimpse of the Divine Form. Everybody was very eager to

have Swami nearer to them as early possible. I felt that it was a

long way for Swami to cover and it would take more time. After

passing through the Ladies' side, Swami moved on towards the Gents,

and slowly reached the place where we were sitting, and stood in

front of us. Just about two feet away Swami was looking at me with

His Divine charming smile, and then He uttered, "Emi Pellikkoduku"?

I could not understand the Telugu language and hence could not make

out anything. Mr. Bhaskaran, who was our District President in

Madras, was sitting Just behind me and he was trying to convey to me

that Swami was asking me something. Like an innocent fool, I was

also smiling back at Swami. Swami continued to smile at me for

another few seconds and then moved away from us.

 

Swami had entered into the Interview room with the chosen devotees

and the music also stopped when the door was closed behind Swami. I

was excited to know what was the meaning of Swami's words. My friend

Mr. Venkatesan who speaks Telugu very well explained that Swami was

asking me if I was the bridegroom. (Pellikoduku means Bridegroom) Mr.

Venkatesan further told that Swami was only trying to prove that he

was with us in the Lodge when we were discussing about the dress. "I

told you that I am Swami's son and not the bridegroom and Swami was

joking on your remarks"

 

We have already known that Swami is Anthariyami and also

Omnipresent. And yet when we get confirmation of the fact through

our own direct experience, we feel happy. I felt immensely more happy

by Swami's remarks than by getting any possible Pada Namaskar.

 

TO BE CONTINUED

With Sai love from Sai brothers

/

 

Bombay Srinivasan

E-Mail: "Venkatachalam Srinivasan" <vsvasan99

Telephone: Mobile: 9382685217

Residence: 91-44-24837093