Multifaceted Sai... As Reformer

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Multifaceted Sai... Previous articles in the same series: As Student As Reformer Sai is a great reformer. His one look, a word or a smile can bring tremendous change in a person. It is of such remarkable and lasting effect that the recipient of such a treat sheds one of his acquired bad qualities instantly paving way for cleansing himself further. A very senior army officer could not do away with his habit of drinking and eating meat in spite of his best efforts even after retirement. His wife was terribly upset over this as it posed a grave threat to his health, considering his age though he looked stout

and healthy. Once he met with an accident fracturing his leg. He was in traction in the hospital. But this did not deter him from drinking like a fish with a good load of meat soon after dusk-fall. To those who visited he unhesitatingly lamented over his own bad habit which he could not get rid of. He loved to hear the stories of Baba, but could not resist the habit just after that. This went on for a few weeks even after discharge from the hospital. One morning, surprisingly, he phoned to a friend devotee to say that he and his wife were leaving for Bangalore for Darshan. Though his friend couldnot believe, he expressed happiness. They reached Whitefield and got some meagre accommodation outside Brindavan campus (Baba's residence). The facilities were poor and nights were sleepless owing to the swarming mosquitoes. However they had darshan of Swami for two consecutive days.

Because of inconveniences caused due to an uncomfortable stay and the bleak chances of an interview they decided to return. So they came back to the Bangalore city railway station, deposited the luggage in the cloakroom and went to the bazaar to purchase a few saris and other items, keeping aside a minimum amount for return journey. But when they came back, to their utter disappointment, they saw a board at the station that 'all trains are cancelled' owing to some disturbance enroute. The question before them was where to stay? They moved to a hotel about 150 yards away from the station for the next 3 or 4 days' stay. The next morning, being free, they decided to go to Whitefield for Baba's Darshan. Baba just passed by his side and Brigadier Khanna asked for an interview so that he could seek the blessings of Baba for (1) expanding his business which he had organised after his retirement (2) for giving up the habit of drinking and (3) for good health. Baba smiled at him,

patted thrice on his back saying 'Santosham, Santosham, Santosham'. After moving a few steps to one side Baba again walked towards the Brigadier. Without missing the chance he asked: 'Baba, shall we leave?' Baba just looked and smiled at him as if to say 'you were leaving the other day also, what happened?' So the Brigadier stayed for another four days, everyday going to Whitefield for Darshan in the morning and returning to the Hotel at Bangalore in the evening. On the last day he again asked Baba for permission to go and Baba said 'yes'. When Baba went to the ladies side He was just before Mrs. Khanna but she could not say anything. Baba again came and stood just before her, but she forgot to touch His feet, as she was overjoyed at His very presence. Meanwhile Brigadier Khanna

had another personal problem to solve. Having spent the extra money he had had with him his purse was getting exhausted with the prolonged stay. Sitting at the Darshan line he was just pondering as to what to do. Someone just pulled him from behind. He was Lt. Col. Krishnaswamy, ENT Specialist and an old friend. 'Do you remember me?' he asked. The Brigadier scratched his head to recollect him after 27 years. Presenting his current problem the Brigadier asked for the telephone numbers of two of his old friends for encashing a cheque. The Col. immediately gave the numbers and the Brig. promptly noted them in his diary. He turned to put back the diary in his pocket and thank him for the help, but the man was not traceable. He sent his eyes up to the gate, but there was none in that direction. With the telephone numbers in hand he rang up Brigadier Naik, Commandant of Land Army who sent a jeep to take him to his office. He collected sufficient money for his next three days

stay and return journey. On the 4th day they boarded a train for Hyderabad where they stayed for the night. The last problem was accommodation in the train for Bhopal. A porter approached him and asked whether he needed accommodation in the train. He straightaway took him and Mrs. Khanna to the TTE and got him two berths - 32 and 33. The porter accompanied them to the bogie to show the seats, but declined to accept the money offered. Brigadier Khanna could only gratefully thank Baba for all the arrangements done for him unasked. But a much greater surprise was in store for him. The chicken and drinks he had had before going to Bangalore were the last, for he never felt the urge anymore. Baba often helps his devotees with love to reduce their ego and pride to a portable size even

in the first encounter. A District and Sessions Judge of one of the districts in Kerala narrated his own personal experiences in 1972. He never objected to his wife being a devotee of Bhagawan Baba or for her occasional visits to Puttaparthi. But he had always warned her against inviting him to accompany her. This went on for quite some time. She has all the time been praying ardently to the Lord to bring him on the track so that the blessings showered by Him could be full and complete. Once she decided to request him to drive her to Puttaparthi in their car. After initial protests he agreed to go with her on the condition that she would not, under any circumstances, ask him to go inside for meeting Baba. She readily agreed. The car went upto the gate, the wife entered the campus, but the judge remained inside the car. He sat like that for quite some time observing hundreds

of people going in but none coming out. After a long wait he felt an insatiable urge to peep in. But then he cautioned himself and remained in his seat. But the prompting from inside was so powerful that he walked towards the gate and, peeping inside, was surprised to see a big crowd of a few thousands sitting and waiting for Baba silently. The perfect silence which is very unusual in such vast gatherings surprised him most. Though he wanted to withdraw, he could not as he was virtually glued to the ground. Suddenly there was a mild hustle and Baba emerged in red robe from a distance. The Judge became curious. And as Baba slowly walked among the crowd, wading across, he suddenly noticed that He was advancing in his direction. A thought flashed across his mind ' if Baba were to come near me, I shall have to bend to look at him downward as Baba was too short for a six foot tall man like me'. In the meantime Baba reached near the spot. And placing both his hands on the

judge's shoulders Baba smiled at him. The judge says, "I had to look up to see Baba's face as He appeared to be quite tall, and his slender looking hands were so heavy that my shoulders were being crushed under their weight. I fell at his feet". In later years it is learnt that he was holding some higher position in the Government besides being an office bearer of Swami's Organisation. Once Kasturiji, Baba's biographer, remarked that Baba 'catches whom He wants by his neck and puts him into His basket'. I have noticed that this has often been through healing of an ailment, curing of a chronic disease or saving from an accident. I know of one such case intimately when Baba not only cured his long-standing heart disease but also bestowed upon him physical, mental and spiritual strength to lead a purposeful

and more meaningful life. A wealthy Industrialist of Bhopal had little knowledge of the greatness of the Avatar. But two of his staff members, who had the good fortune of Baba's Darshan at Bombay and Puttaparthi, acquainted him with the nectarine story of the Avatar. It was at that time the organisation at Bhopal was taking roots. The office bearers, having obtained Swami's permission for a college at Bhopal, approached this industrialist for help. One of them had several sittings with him over a period of a few months at the end of which he agreed to be with them to have Darshan of Baba at Bombay. On 14th May 1974 Baba called the group headed by State President for an interview. The all-knowing Lord made this industrialist the Convener of His Trust in MP. Like a typical businessman he appealed to Baba that he may not be competent to hold that responsibility and that he was a

heart patient. But Baba said: 'Baba first sees the capacity of the lorry before filling the load. Don't worry about your heart. Swami is in your heart.' That settled the issue. In the personal interview that followed Baba created vibhuti and Himself rubbed it on his chest and said 'You are all right'. On return he consulted his family physician, a heart specialist, who declared, "it is amazing; none can say that you ever had an attack". But Baba wouldn't stop at that. He knew a follow up was necessary to cement his faith. After a couple of months we all again visited Puttparthi in a group and in the interview that followed Baba materialised a locket with the embossed image of Ashtabhujangini Durga and before releasing it from His palm asked the gentleman: 'What is this'? he said 'beyond me Baba'. 'What is this me'? 'That is also beyond me Baba'. Then releasing the gift He

bestowed the biggest boon saying "Arogyashakti, Dhanashakti, Sarvashakti". We were spell bound. The devotee could not speak. He was full with Swami. The reaction was wonderful and inspiring. The devotee withdrew himself slowly from all organisations and associations which had entangled him for money and position and became an exclusive Sai worker, being the mainstay for the Trust and the College. There is another incident depicts the act of compassion and protection of beloved Bhagawan. In the group that was called in by Swami one Mr. Singh (must have been in his seventies) who was a Captain of Hotel industry, having a chain of hotels including one at London. Baba extended His hand towards him and asked for the locket he was wearing. When it was placed in His hand He showed it to all of us. It was an oversize locket with the image over it completely effaced as if smashed by

the impact of some very heavy weight. Baba took it and blew at it. It became a beautiful locket again with Swami's image shining on it. Swami gave it with all His love to Mr. Singh who was sobbing in tears, after showing it to all of us. We learnt later the thrilling experience. He was driving at a high speed on a London road. His car collided with another and the impact was so heavy that he was thrown out of it at a distance, the car having been smashed beyond recognition. But to his pleasant surprise Mr. Singh found himself squatting on the footpath unhurt. This miraculous escape suddenly sent his hand in search of the locket given by his protector and it was completely defaced as if it alone received the jolt. We also learnt later that Shri Singh only had constructed the Hostel for Boys at Brindavan. http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Specially/As_Reformer.htm