SRI SATHYA SAI HRUDAYA NIVASI [7] - By Bombay Srinivasan

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SRI SATHYA SAI HRUDAYA NIVASI [7]

(Indweller of Hearts)

By Bombay Srinivasan

 

CHAPTER 25

 

SRINIVASA, SAI VENKATESA

 

Thirumala Hills in Tirupati is a very well known, renowned pilgrim

center, perhaps the biggest in our country attracting millions of

devotees all through the year, from all parts of India and even from

overseas countries. Our Lord, Sai had revealed that He is the

embodiment of all forms and names. As such, the divinity of Lord

Venkateswara in Tirupati temple is our Swami Himself. I was made to

realize this aspect following an experience forced on me. Until this

experience, I had never been to Tirupati, till I was about 55 years

old.

 

When I moved over from Bombay to Madras to set up a business, I had

taken an youngster, with me who had contributed his mite towards a

part of capital investment and became a partner in the company. He

was very energetic and intelligent and had the capacity to run the

factory with utmost skill.

 

Our main clients were M/s. Brakes India Limited, one of the TVS group

of companies. They had their foundry at a place called Sholingar

about 120 kilometers away from Madras. This place is a famous

pilgrim center particularly for the vaishnavaites. Atop the big

hill, there is a small beautiful temple. The presiding Deity is Lord

Narasimha one of the ten Avatars of Vishnu according to the

scriptures. Narasimha is dreadful in lion headed form, having killed

the invincible Asura Hiranya Kasibu. Even the Gods from the heavens

did not dare to go near the Lord; only the child devotee, Prahlada

could go to Him. But the Deity in the Sholingar, called the

Sholmgeswar, is seen sitting calmly in Yoga posture and hence called

as Yoga Narasimha.

 

We had to make daily supplies of shell cores to Brakes India Ltd.,

and we found the transportation of the materials everyday from Madras

to be too expensive and resulting in damages also. Our clients had

problems of quality control on our products, and hence insisted that

we should establish a small unit at Sholinghur. Ultimately we took a

small place on rental there and commenced production.

 

Everything went on well during the early periods. The trouble started

when we had built up assets like factory shed and had developed an

excellent goodwill in the industrial circles. One day my partner

informed me that he wanted to go back to Bombay and wanted immediate

settlement of his accounts. We were drawing minimum amounts for our

maintenance and the entire earnings from four years of running the

industry, had been ploughed back into the business. I did not have

any reserve funds. I told him that I would need some time to think

over the matter. He agreed, but made it clear that till the

settlement was over we would not be eligible for any monthly

withdrawals for personal expenses. He took away the Chequebook with

him without my knowledge, he had already started some other minor

business and he had no financial problems. The stalemate continued

for more than 3 months. I found it very difficult to maintain my

family; we had no relatives in Madras to help us out.

 

My partner claimed huge cash compensation in settlement, and I could

go nowhere to raise such a sum during those difficult days I had

stopped visiting the factory and stayed in the house. The only

activity of mine was, attending the programmes of the Samithi and

reading Sai literature. The developments that followed proved that

Swami was doing what was best for me and at the same time imparting

certain spiritual knowledge to me in His own subtle way.

 

We used to conduct Bhajans in our house every Friday. On a particular

Friday during the period of the crisis, when the Bhajan was going on

as usual, I had to go to bathroom several times. I had developed

diarrhea and by the time the Arati was over, the problem had become

very acute. I did not have any money left with me. I had in fact only

a small amount with me, which I gave to the harmonist who used to

assist us in the Bhajan. It was about 8 PM and a doctor was available

just below our flat, but I did not have any money to pay either for

consultation or for purchasing any tablets. By around 9 P.M. the

condition became too severe and I collapsed on the bed. I became

unconscious. Even at this stage Swami appeared as if in dream. He was

consoling me not to worry. He was advising "When you are reduced to a

helpless situation, the Lord takes over your care under His control.

Now you have no penny left with you and are a ZERO. Don 't be ashamed

of being a zero. When you become zero, I come and give you my hand

and Lift you up. Yes. I am lifting you up, and up".

 

As Swami was sounding into me the above words, I was slowly regaining

consciousness. I felt somebody was calling and actually lifting me up

holding my hands. A lady, who had adopted me as her dear elder

brother, was calling me and lifting me. Mrs. Parvathi Ram was then

working as a senior nurse in the Apollo Hospitals, Madras. In fact

she was with us during the Bhajan that evening. Looking at my

condition, my son had rushed to her house, and had brought her. As

Swami was telling that "I am lifting you up". Mrs. Parvathi was

trying to lift me from the bed. In no time she arranged to take me to

the Apollo Hospital and admitted me in an emergency ward. The doctor

on duty diagnosed that it was a case of dehydration and that my pulse

was very week. They put me under glucose drip treatment, and this

process continued till morning. Parvathi was sitting in a chair by

the side of the bed and was reading some book on Swami. She was

keeping vigil on me and did not have any wink during the entire night

though she was to resume duty the next morning. I was helpless and

allowed her to look after me. The next morning I felt better and I

was discharged and brought back home. It took another couple of days

for complete recovery.

 

This sudden set back in health was only a temporary phenomenon. But

Swami turned it into a tremendous opportunity to infuse in me the

wonderful concept and practice of Saranagathi (surrender). Mentally I

gained strength and my faith in Sai. Even in the partnership crisis,

I left everything unto Him since I was myself a zero without any

capacity to tackle the issue by myself I resorted to reading of Sai

literature very vigorously. I had nothing else to do, and waited for

Swami to take control of the situation. There had been several such

instances of His mercy in my life Because of my intense faith, I had

ceased to worry.

 

AND SWAMI MADE THE NEXT MOVE!

 

My aged mother was still living at that time, with one of my brothers

in Bombay. She had recalled to me several times that she had gone to

Tirupati walking all the way and climbing the hills when she was

carrying me in her pregnancy. She had been told by somebody, that at

that point of time, if a girl were to be born, it would not be good

for the family. So she was praying for a boy child this time.

And her prayers were answered and I was born, a boy. She wanted to

call me by the name of Lord of Tirupati, but my father was already

bearing that name, Venkateswara. Hence she named me Srinivasan, which

is one of the many names of Lord Venkateswara. She had further taken

a vow in the name of the same Lord that she would bring me to the

temple and offer my hair. Though I was aged 55, I had never visited

Tirupati and could not fulfill the prayer of my mother. After

becoming a devotee of Sai, I had no interest left in me to visit

other temples and go on pilgrimages to sacred places. Only Sai was

my God, and Prashanthi Nilayam was the only place of pilgrimage. I

was fanatically so strong in my devotion to Sai, that I did not

recognize any other form of God as worthy of worshipping, since I

believed that Swami is the embodiment of all names and forms. It was

at that time, I started having visions of my old mother in my dream

very regularly. She used to plead with me to go to Tirupati and offer

my hair to the Lord and fulfill her prayers before she left the body.

But I was trying to be `rationalistic'! Is Lord Balaji (Venkateswara)

going to be benefited in any way by the offer of my Hair? Then why is

this sentiment about all the foolish sentimental prayers? God is not

going to punish if the hair is not offered. He always forgives and

protects His devotees. This is what we learn from Sai. Nevertheless

the frequent dreams of my mother continued.

 

I happened to be reading a book of Swami as usual It was 'Sri Sathya

Sai Speaks' but I do not remember which volume it was. There it was!

In one His Divine discourses, l accidentally stumbled upon a

paragraph. It begins with a question from Swami. "Does Lord Balaji

need your hair?" Swarm answers that the Lord does not want you hair.

But then why such prayers are made? Swami further explains that

whether the Lord require your hair or not, it is the duty of the

devotee to keep his words. " If you do not keep up the word to Lord

how can any one expect that you will keep your promise to human

beings? As such, without debating whether Lord Balaji is interested

in your hair or not, it is your duty to fulfill the vow taken in the

name of God." Instantly I knew that Swami was teaching me another

lesson on the importance of adhering to Sathya (the truth).

I started pondering over the importance of that teaching. But

egoistic human beings, as we are, the so-called intelligence tried to

interpret that I had never made such a prayer. I tried to wriggle out

of my conscious obligation towards keeping up the promise made to the

divinity. I was wrong again Swami did not allow me to escape. The

very next day, I took another book at random for my daily reading.

It happened to be "Rama Katha Rasa Vahini" Again on casually opening

a page these were the words staring at me. "Did Lord Sri Rama make

any promise any time to go to forest? And yet He made up his mind to

relinquish the throne and joyfully proceeded to forest. Though he had

not given any word. Lord Sri Rama was very eager to fulfill the

promises made by His Father King Dasaratha ".

 

I felt as if somebody had slapped me. I understood the implications

of those lines. It is better to obey the command of the Lord

implicitly than using our own half-baked intelligence to analyze the

pros and cons. At once, I got up from the chair, and proceeded to the

place where Bhagawan's photos were kept for daily Pooja and prayers.

I knelt before the Bhagawan's picture and prayed that I should be for

given. I promised that I would proceed to Tirupati very soon and

fulfill the vow of my mother to shave off my head.

 

When once, I prayed for forgiveness, and affirmed my words of

promise, things started moving very fast. Early next morning after my

Pooja was over, I decided that I would go to the factory. Why should

I not? I was still one of the partners of the company and I had equal

rights in the company. I became emboldened knowing fully well that

Swami was with me. I decided that I would assert my authority in the

company affairs, I could by then think very clearly and come to

certain conclusions. In the evening when the establishment was closed

for the day, I asked my partner to give me a lift in his scooter up

to the nearest bus stand from where I could take a bus to my house.

Half way through, an idea developed in my mind. I asked him as to why

we should not part as friends in the policy of live and let live. I

told him that I was willing to offer the workshop at Sholingar with

the available assets there, including the raw materials and the

machinery as compensation, and all the liabilities would be absorbed

by me. I further promised him that the business with M/s. Brakes

India Ltd., would also be diverted to him. I did not know what

transpired in his mind and how he took it. He stopped the vehicle and

looking back at me asked whether I was serious about that offer. On

my assurance, he fixed up the next day to draw up the deed of

retirement and settlement. The very next day he signed the documents,

shook hands with me and walked out of the factory, leaving me behind

as the sole proprietor of firm There was still a small balance amount

of cash compensation to be paid to another minor partner. I did not

have liquid cash. And my adopted sister Parvathi came to my rescue

She offered a sizable amount as a temporary loan so that I could meet

the commitment and come out of the crisis.

 

Left alone in the factory, I was in dazed condition. The things had

moved very fast, and an impossible solution had been found instantly

and I could be of my own in the business. I tried to recall all the

events that went past during the last ten days or so. Only a day

before I had promised to Swami that I would gladly fulfill the vow of

my mother and within 24 hours I had been rescued miraculously from a

knotty situation for which I could not think of any solution. He had

found the solution in His own way. In the end, the net result of the

long period of agony proved to be beneficial. I knew that it was all

the Grace of Bhagawan Baba. While He had willed to do something for

my own good, He had also taught me a few lessons on Saranagathi

principle. When once I had surrendered, identifying myself as a big

ZERO, he took control of the situation and did what was best for me.

I did not forget the promise I made to Bhagawan the day earlier. From

the factory I telephoned to a travel agency and organized a tourist

taxi so that we could proceed to Tirupati the same day. I also

informed my wife about the developments and asked her to be ready so

that we could leave for Tirupati as soon I reached home. My partner

had signed the deed and left the premises by 4.00 PM and within an

hour, say by 5.OO PM, we were on our way to Tirupati.

 

Somehow I could feel an overwhelming enthusiasm within me in going on

this special pilgrimage to Tirupati, equal to that of my visit to

Prashanthi Nilayam. As mentioned earlier, I had never gone to this

hill temple. But I had heard from several friends that we would have

to wait several hours in the large queue boxes, even if we opt for

special Darshan for which a charge is levied. When we arrived atop

the hill, it was almost night and we decided to have our night food

in one of the nearby hotels. The taxi driver later took us to the

place where we had to purchase the entrance tickets for the special

Darshan. We got our tickets and were shown the entrance point of the

queue.

 

We did not find anybody in the queue. As we passed through the

barricaded line, there were none to be seen. At last we reached the

main Gopuram and then the Dwajasthamba, the metallic gold covered

flag post. Still nobody was seen. As we were entering the sacred

sanctum we could clearly have the Darshan of the beautiful Deity,

Lord Venkateswara standing there majestically. I felt that I heard

him calling me "Come my son, come, I am waiting for you". I felt as

if our Swami was actually calling me. I was full of tears as I heard

this, and dashed into the sanctum. There were a few priests in the

passage. I ran in and fell down prostrating. I was weeping. My wife

followed suit.

 

The priests became alert and directed us to get up. There is a rule

that nobody could offer Namaskar inside the sanctum. We did not know

the rule, nor did we care for any such rules at that time. I was in a

state of bliss, enjoying every moment of it. We were persuaded to

leave the sanctum, after receiving sacred theertham. While we were

coming out of the sanctum, scores of devotees were streaming in

chanting 'Govinda, Govinda'. Later on I was told that, the Darshan

had been temporarily suspended for a few hours, since there were some

celebrations in the Pushkarini (temple tank). It was just a

coincidence that we were first to go in, after resumption of Darshan.

Or was it a coincidence at all? Lord Himself had developed the

situation with perfect timing! We felt grateful to Swami for making

our first visit to Tirupati so blissful.

 

We left the temple and checked into a lodge. Early next morning, I

called for a barber and got my head shaved neatly. After taking bath,

we went to the temple and had one more Darshan. This Leela of our

Swami taught me taught a lesson that we should not be fanatic in our

devotion, and we should accept all forms of various gods, as the form

and name are Sai Himself.

 

CHAPTER 26

 

THEY WERE LIBERATED

 

There are instances when Bhagawan Baba had given extension of life to

some devotees. He had, by His Grace, even brought some other back to

life, hours after they had died. And yet in some cases, Sai, had by

His compassion, taken some blessed souls unto HIM, liberating them

from the cycle of birth and death.

 

When somebody passes away, we normally say that so and so has

attained the Lotus Feet; Or attained the Paramapadham, Or reached Sri

Vaikunda, (the abode of Lord Vishnu; Or reached the Holy Kailash (the

abode of Lord Shiva). The end, which a devotee meets in this earthly

sojourn, indicates the level of surrender and the degree of devotion

he has reached. The Lord takes special care to give them a blissful

end. To many devotees, Swami had given His Darshan when they were to

breath their last and Swami made the transition less painful and the

passing blissful. I wish to narrate the cases of couple of such

devotees.

 

Sri. M.K.Bhaskar was a retired Senior Railway Officer. He was the

District President of Sri Sathya Sai Organizations in Madras. We

always cherish the days when we worked under him, engaged in various

service activities. You cannot find anybody more vigilant than Mr.

Bhasakar who enforced strict discipline in the organization without

fear or favour. Yes, he was always strict, and yet was a very kind

hearted man. Mr. Bhaskar and His wife were affectionately called by

us, as Achhan i.e. father)and Amma (i.e. Mother). Both of them

derived great joy in giving sumptuous food to all those who visited

their house. They never got tired of this seva. 'Athithi Devo bhava'

is one of the dictums of Vedas and they followed this dictum

enthusiastically. Even now, in spite the old age and restricted

movements, Amma continues to treat her guests with sumptuous food.

After relinquishing the post as District President, Mr.Bhaskar was

nominated by Swami as one of the members of Sri Sathya Sai Trust of

Tamil Nadu. Once, while he was in Parthi, it seemed that he had an

heart attack, but was discharged from the general hospital the same

day, after keeping him in Oxygen for a couple of hours. He traveled

the same night in a bus along with us. By the next day, his condition

had become very serious and he had to be admitted in the Railway

Hospital in Madras. By the Grace of Swami he recovered very soon.

Later on, Mrs. and Mr. Bhaskaran shifted their residence to

Prashanthi Nilayam. Swami had assured that He would give him a good

job at Parthi. He was waiting for that opportunity. It was a long

wait. After a couple of years, it was the Holy festival of

Shivarathri day. After the morning Darshan and devotional songs were

over, I went to his residence at Parthi in the round building. Sri

Bhaskar was sitting in an easy chair in the verandah and was reading

a paper. Suddenly he collapsed. On hearing our frightened call, his

wife came out and prayed to Swami. Vibhuthi was applied on him, and

after a while he recovered. We stayed back and spent some more time

with him. During the chat, Mr. Bhaskar insisted that my friend Sri.

G. Venkatesan and myself should have lunch in their house the next

day without fail. We agreed and accepted the invitation. I could not

forget the next day in my life.

 

The morning Darshan was over and Mr. G. Venkatesan and myself were

standing in the queue outside the canteen for our breakfast.

Mr.Bhaskar was returning home I found him dressed in a new white

safari dress, hoping that Swami might give him the promised job that

day. He spotted us in the queue and told us very sternly that we

should go to their house for lunch without fail. We promised to do so.

It was morning Bhajan time in the Mandir. Swami had finished the

interview for the chosen devotees and came out of Mandir. The Sevadal

volunteers, from Madhya Pradesh, who had completed Prashanthi Seva

for about a week, were sitting outside, for the blessed Pada

Namaskar. The Bhajan was going on, as Swami walked amongst the gents

Sevadal. We were standing outside the compound wall and Mr.Bhaskar

was sitting on a chair just inside along the wall, almost in front of

us. Swami, while walking along a row, which terminated just where

Mr.Bhaskar was sitting. Bhagawan Baba enquired as to Mr.Bhaskar what

he wanted. He replied 'Swami, Padam'. Swami allowed him to touch His

Lotus Feet. He got up blissfully and was trying to sit on the chair

again. But he was falling down sliding from the chair as soon as he

managed to sit. All the eyes were glued to Swami and nobody noticed

Mr.Bhaskar falling down from the chair. As Swami mentioned later on,

Mr. Bhaskar had died as a chairman (sitting in a chair) and not as

sick man in the bed.

 

What a beautiful end to a devoted soul! The end happened, inside the

compound of the Mandir premises. that too, immediately after taking

Pada Namaskar. The ears were listening to the Bhajan while the eyes

were feasting on the Divine Form of Bhagavan and the body just had

physical contact with the Divine, while taking Pada Namaskar.

The senior doctors from the Super Specialty Hospital who were there

for Darshan rushed to him but could not revive the heart. I was

witnessing the event quite dazed. If the end had come the previous

day, he would have memories of his wife and family at that critical

time. But Swami extended his life by one more day and had willed that

the end should come in His very Presence. Mr.Bhaskar left the body

with nothing else in his mind other than Swami. Swami even undertook

to organize all the religious rituals as per the customs of the

family for Mr.Bhaskar.

 

How else can we explain this liberation other than by calling it

that "Mr.Bhaskar attained the Lotus Feet." There was glory to the

devotee even in his end.

 

I wish to add one more such an episode. Here the name of the devotee

was Mr. Kasthuri Rangan. He was a member of our T'Nagar Samithi, at

Madras. He was earlier a senior executive with Manali Refineries Ltd,

and opted to retire on voluntary retirement scheme. He was always

very regular in attending the weekly Bhajans at Sundaram Temple, and

he used to reach there early so that he could enter the hall and sit

almost behind the Bhajan singers. He was a regular lead singer in the

Samithi.

 

We did not know how deep-rooted devotion he had for Swami. We knew

him just as another devotee and a good singer. But in the end he

proved to be very close to Swami. Swami had often said that physical

proximity to Him might not indicate that the person is a great

devotee. Perhaps a person who is away from Swami could still be a

close devotee of Swami.

 

The weekly Bhajan at T'Nagar Samithi was regularly conducted on

Saturday evenings. As usual, on that particular Saturday, the Bhajan

was going on, and Mr. Kasthuri Rangan was singing. That song came to

an end and the first line was resumed in slow rhythm, as it is the

practice in Sai Bhajans. Immediately after finishing the song, Mr.

Kasthuri Rangan slipped sideways on to the laps of another singer

named, Mr. Kailash who tried to pop him up. Instantly we knew

something was wrong. Mr. Kasthuri Rangan was lifted by a few devotees

and taken to a clinic in a car. As is the discipline in Sai

Organizations, the Bhajan continued. On arrival at the hospital,

doctor pronounced that Mr. Kasthuri Rangan had already passed away.

What a great devotee, Mr. Kasthuri Rangan should have been. Only

Swami had known the depth of devotion and had liberated him. We have

heard of the stories of many singer devotees in our scripture like,

Meera, Purandhara Das, Vittal, Sri Krishna Chaithanya and all. But

this Sai devotee had cast away his body immediately after finishing

his singing. A blissful divine end of a devotee with Lord's Name

dancing in his mouth!

 

TO BE CONTINUED

With Sai love from Sai brothers

/

 

Bombay Srinivasan

E-Mail: "Venkatachalam Srinivasan" <vsvasan99

Telephone: Mobile: 9382685217

Residence: 91-44-24837093