Sathyam Sivam Sundaram - Part I (Sl# 37)

May 12, 2006

SaiRam

Sai Baba Again (Continued..)

Soon the temple was found to be too small for the gathering of devotees. Many worshippers of Sai Baba of Shirdi, on hearing that He had incarnated in human form in the village of Puttaparthi, hurried there. Many who went on pilgrimage to Shirdi as usual were "directed" when they arrived there to go to Puttaparthi. Others came to know the Baba of Shirdi through Sathya Sai Baba Himself. The afflicted, the inquiring, the seekers of comfortable life, and the wise are four types who approach the Lord with their varied motives, but the Lord welcomes all and satisfies all. The afflicted He relieves. His Ash acts as a charm to drive away evil spirits from hundreds of unfortunates. The critical, the inquisitive, the doubting, the sceptical, the agnostic. He satisfies and attracts and attaches to Himself. The persons eager to get a comfortable life, He blesses, provided they are educated enough to use the peace of mind they get for cultivating the Spirit and

contemplating on the ultimate goal of life itself. The wise one, purified and clarified by steadfast discipline, is dearest to Him, for He reveals Himself in all His Glory. People belonging to all these groups come to Puttaparthi, the first and the third groups naturally in much larger numbers. He revolutionizes the lives of all who come to Him.

The transformation of a gang of thieves into God-fearing agriculturists is worth recording. One night when Sai Baba was on the hill on the other bank of the Chitravathi, He came upon a group of thieves engaged in the rather ticklish task of dividing their spoils. But when they saw Him and accepted from His Hand the Divine Ash, they knew they were face to face with the Eternal Witness. Sai Baba spoke to the seventeen black hearts, and by His Alchemy He brought them over to the village of Puttaparthi. They all took up various honest ways of living.

Within a few years in order to accommodate the huge gatherings, a long shed with a roof was erected along the entire front of the temple. But even that addition proved too small. A separate block with one living room and bathroom was put up for Baba behind the temple. It was in this room that Sai Baba operated on Dr. Padmanabhan's brother for hernia! It was in that shed behind the screen in front of the Shrine that Baba operated on Appish of Puttaparthi for appendicitis. It was while sleeping in the open space between the temple and the block behind, that Baba one night announced that one of His devotees had lost a Talisman which He had given him, for it had come back into His possession! The author remembers Baba saying that He would have to go to Madras immediately to tie it to the wrist of the patient. But all the people around Him prayed that He should not undertake the "journey", at that hour, going out of His Body and coming back into it. He agreed to send

it with someone proceeding to Madras. So He placed the Talisman in the custody of Sri Seshagiri Rao, an old devotee, with the warning, "Keep it tight; tie it in a towel and wind it around your waist." Seshagiri Rao obeyed the command implicitly and slept with the Talisman wound around his middle. About two hours later, all of us were awakened by the loud laughter of Sai Baba who was sitting up in the bed. We gathered round him and wanted to join in the joke. Seshagiri Rao was unaware of what was going on. Baba woke him up and asked for the Talisman. He unwound the towel, unrolled it, and lo, the Talisman had disappeared! Sai Baba chided him in fun and said that He had "gone" and tied it around the wrist of the patient who had to be continuously guarded by it! Yes, He had gone to Madras and returned.

Devotees will never forget the Old Temple, for Sai Baba was always moving right in the midst of the people there. He composed many songs and hymns portraying the Love of God which He taught while there. He trained the people with great love and attention. Since the number of devotees who were present was not large, Baba used to go out more frequently to the sands on the river bed, or to the hills nearby, or to the gardens across the river. While some were engaged in cooking the feast, He showed them miracles, or signs of His Divinity .

(Sai Baba Again To be continued..)

SaiRam