Sai Saga 3

[Guest guest]

Jagath GuruSuddenly, the two sisters discovered that little Sathya was not at

home; a search was ordered; men ran about frantically, for it was already past

midnight. But, attention was distracted just then, by the arrival, outside the

door, of the bullock cart, with Sri Rama! When the inmates of Pedda Venkama

Raju's house went to the doorstep, they were surprised to see the five-year-old

Sathya sitting on the bullock cart, nicely dressed and with evident authority

underneath the Picture! They asked the companions why he was seated there, on

top, and not walking with them on the road. Prompt came the answer, "He is our

Guru"! Yes & He is the Guru of the children of all climes, and of all ages!

Sathyanarayana was a precious child, learning more things than any one could

teach him and much quicker than most; he could sing all the songs and Sthotras

that were rehearsed at them for the village operas, and he even composed at the

tender age of seven or eight, some touching songs for the cast, which were

gladly accepted by them for public presentation! At the age of about eight,

Sathya was declared fit to proceed to the Higher Elementary School, at

Bukkapatnam, about two and a half miles from Puttaparthi. He had to trudge the

distance in sun or rain, over stony bunds or slushy fields, or wading through

neck-deep water, with the bag of books, secured on the head as the season

dictated. He had to start early after a meal of cold rice and curds or cooked

ragi-rice and chutney, carrying in a bag the afternoon meal: and, with his

companions trekked regularly to Bukkapatnam. The Pandhari Bhajan Group When he

was about ten years of age, Sathya formed in the village of Puttaparthi a

'Pandhari Bhajan' group. The group consisted of about sixteen to eighteen boys

dressed uniformly in gerua clothes, holding each a flag in the hand and wearing

jingle-bell-anklets. They all danced to the tune of picturesque folk-songs and

ballads, describing the yearning of pilgrims for Panduranga's Darshan, the

ordeals of the long-pilgrimage, their anxiety to reach the shrine quick, their

joy at the sight of the pinnacle of the temple, etc, in simple touching poetry.

Sathya taught the children these and other songs. He added some Bhagavatha songs

of his own in which the Gopis complain to Yasoda of the unceasing pranks of

Krishna. Yasoda chides the Boy for his thievery and mischief, and Krishna

pleads innocence. With Yasoda and Krishna in the centre of the circle and with

the Gopis dancing on the circumference, this was a great attraction in the

village. Baba himself played the role of either the mother or the child and his

dance, dialogue and music added to the charm of the Bhajan. It was also noticed

that he mixed up with these traditional themes, songs on a pilgrimage to a new

shrine of which no one had heard, and the majesty of a new Deity of whom they

had not even the faintest idea, Shirdi and Sai! Once, while a song describing

the prowess and achievements of Lord Narasimha of Kadiri, as related in the

folk-lore of the area, was being sung, and the line, "From out the pillar of

steel, the God as Lion jumped" was recited by the group of the boys, Sathya

suddenly leaped like the Lion-man Manifestation of the Lord, and His face was

transformed into such ferocity and indignation and benediction that the entire

village frightened and, no one, not even experts in wrestling holds, could

control the boy. At last, after a number of people had offered Puja, waved

camphor, and broken coconuts before the manifested Lord, Sathya became normal

and resumed the song of Kadiri. Another intimation! This incident spread the

fame of the Bhajan group, for when this group sings and dances, God actually

manifests Himself, as the villagers of Puttaparthi witnessed! Moreover, it was

noticed that when an infection of cholera swept like a poisonous simoom over

the area and killed off entire families in the surrounding villages,

Puttaparthi did not feel the blast of death; and wise men told one another that

the Divine Atmosphere generated by the Bhajan group was responsible.

Attachment: (image/jpeg) saisaga.jpg [not stored]