Beautiful story & Thrilling experience by Krisna Mani

[Guest guest]

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

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