Beautiful story & Thrilling experience by Krisna Mani

[Guest guest]

> > AMAZING TRANSFORMATION AND DIVINE MIRACLE> > Through

Unity, Purity and Divinity in> Melakavatti, Tamil Nadu > > > >

Ten kilometers away from Ooty, in Tamil Nadu,> India, is the village of

Melakavatti, which lies on> the road between Ooty and Nanjanadu. Surrounding>

this valley are cloud-capped, mist-laden hills that> offer a panoramic view of

Nature's emerald greenery> at its best. > > The slopes of the hills are

thickly wooded and> the shifting mist seems to play hide and seek upon> them.

300 families live in this verdant village. > > The Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organisations of> Nilgiris selected this village for their three-year> Seva

activities prior to Bhagavan's 80th Birthday.> > They could not have

realized that it was the> Divine Hand that had pointed out this village, since>

a Leela was to be played out there. > > > A Paralyzed Lady Blighted and

Uncared For . > In was in January 2003, at the inauguration of> the Seva

activities in the village, that the members> of the Ooty Samithi conducted a

Nagarsangeerthan one> early morning. > > After the Nagarsangeerthan they

visited each> and every house and gave out Swami's picture, a> laddu and

vibhuthi as prasad. At the end of a lane> they entered an ancient, dilapidated

house for> handing out prasad. What they saw

shook them to the> very core of their being. On the damp floor was> lying a lady

well past her prime on a sacking cloth.> Wherever they turned, their eyes met

only signs of> abject poverty and neglect. Some villagers who had> come along

with them explained the pitiful condition> of that lady. > > > > She was

extremely poor and had been orphaned> at a very early age. The little plot of

land that> she inherited was the source of a meager income that> kept her body

and soul together.> > Having no near and dear relatives to arrange> her

marriage, she remained a spinster. When she was> 30, suddenly, she lost the use

of both arms and> legs. > > The Divine Sai Seva Begins..> > The

District

President and other members of> the Organization, who heard these pathetic

details,> were deeply touched. That second itself they> resolved to adopt her

and take care of her.> Immediately, a cot, a mattress and blankets were> bought

and she was transferred from the cold sacking> cloth on the floor. > >

They planned that every day one member would> bring food and stay with her the

entire day and take> care of her. That was how the Divine Seva began. > >

The Villagers' Hearts Awaken.> As months rolled by, the collective

conscience> of the village woke up. They felt ashamed that in> the name of Sri

Sathya Sai Baba, volunteers were> coming from distant Ooty to take care of the>

elderly, paralyzed lady who had always lived in> their midst, totally neglected

by them. > > They felt that it was their bounden duty to> take care of the

lady. Slowly, their minds and> hearts changed and kindness and compassion crept>

into their hearts. As a result, the village> panchayat (head committee) was

convened. > > Each one commented appreciating the continuous> Seva that

had been going on, rain or shine. The Ooty> Samithi members had never failed in

the Sai Seva> they had taken up even though they had to travel 20> kms to and

fro from Ooty. The villagers resolved> that henceforth they would take over the

care of> their neighbor whom they had forsaken till then. > > Thirty

people came forward to care for her.> All the days of the month were thus

covered and the> specific date for each family was written on a paper>

and kept near Bhagavan's picture in their Pooja room> as an offering at the Feet

of the Lord Sai. > > The service continued and the Samithi members>

continued to associate themselves and assist when> need arose. The eagerness to

serve spread and soon> everyone in the village wanted to do something! > >

The Seva Ideal Spreads.> They began to renovate her house, cementing> the

floor, painting the walls and repairing the> roof. It gained a new look and

shone because of the> love and service gushing from generous hearts. They>

began cooking her food in the renovated kitchen and> thus she was able to eat

hot food, a very welcome> change for her in Ooty's cold climate. > > A

healthy competition began between the> villagers

so that each month lots had to be drawn to> assign 30 families for performing

Seva to the> paralyzed lady. All the important activities of the> village began

to be held in her house only. It had> become a symbol of their unity and purity

of hearts> and the readiness to serve that sprang from that> purity. > >

The dark, dismal house had become transformed> into a shining center for all

activities in> Melakavatti. The village that was earlier divided by>

selfishness, clashes of ego and disinterestedness,> came together bound by love

of service to the> long-neglected lady. Thus, started the link that> bound them

together into Unity, which spread Purity> among them. Can Divinity be far

behind? > > The Lady's House.the Cent re of the Village > > In

September 2004, the Smithies in the> Nilgiris District planned to hold bhajans

in 80> villages. The turn of Melakavatti came along and all> the people in one

voice opined that the bhajan> should take place in that lady's house, which

had> become the focal point of all their activities.> Accordingly, a well

decorated shamiana (temporary> shed) was erected in front of the house and

bhajans> started in the evening. All the villagers> participated with great

enthusiasm and devotional> fervor. The bhajan singers from Ooty were totally>

immersed in singing the praise of the Lord who had> brought the village

together.> > The Unexpected Divine Miracle! > > At that golden

moment something momentous,> something miraculous, something totally

unexpected,> began to happen. That 50 year old lady who

had no> sensation in her hands and legs and had been> confined to her bed for

the past 20 years, suddenly,> without the help of anybody or without anyone

being> conscious of it, raised herself up to sit on the> bed. Slowly, she put

her feet down and stood up! She> moved her hands as well. She moved towards the

place> where bhajans were being sung in front of Bhagavan's> picture. > >

The whole village was immersed in the bhajans> and did not know of the miracle

that was taking> place inside the house. All at once, they saw her> coming to

the front of the house unaided and raising> her hands in homage to the visible

Lord and> beginning to dance in ecstasy. The bhajan singers,> Samithi members

and the villagers were all struck> with wonder seeing that lady dancing before

their> eyes and this must have flashed on their minds

"Sai> Bhagavan! How is it possible for this lady who had> remained paralyzed for

20 years to dance to the> rhythm of the bhajans except by Your Grace? You are>

indeed present here and have taken over the entire> village and working

miracles. The total> transformation of this village has been due to Your>

boundless Grace, mercy and compassion." > > The lady explained to the

amazed gathering> that Swami had appeared in her dream the previous> night and

had massaged her hands and legs thus> removing her paralysis.> > The

Amazing Transformation in the Village > > Today, the 300 families are

closely knit into> one Sai family. Unity led to Purity that has> expanded into

Divinity.The village chief who was> shocked by what he saw resolved then and

there that> he would never touch another bottle of liquor in> that pure village

where God was present. He had been> a confirmed alcoholic throughout his entire

life! > > Lo and behold! The paralyzed walks! > > The addict

renounces liquor at a moment's> notice! > > Unity prevails in a divided

village and their> pure === message truncated === Sai Ram Your story tell us

the wonderful leela of Bhagavan. Paralsyed lady walk, sigining bhajans.

Tkank you for sharing this story. May Lord bless you and your family.

Ram.Chugani Ram ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp PhotosRing in the

New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.