Statement of Sri Sankar Rao, D. Balvalli, Vakola, Santacruz, P.O., Bombay.

[Guest guest]

Statement

of Sri Sankar Rao, D. Balvalli, Vakola,

Santacruz, P.O., Bombay.

 

I was not a Bhaktha

of Baba till recently. I had and have my Guru Brahmananda

Saraswati (whose life sketch is found in the number

of Kalyan kalpataru) and my Istha

Devata Datta. My attention

to Sai Baba was drawn notably by my sister requesting me to escort her to

Shirdi in 1936. I first declined. Then in a few hours as I gazed on the figure

of Datta at worship, it changed to Baba’s

figure. I cleared it and again at it. Again it was transformed. This was done

thrice. I had not seen Baba’s figure and so I did not recognize it at the

above transformation till I went to Dr.Thakkar’s

place and found there the figure at my pooja. I inquired and learnt that it was

Sai Baba. So I changed my mind regarding the escorting of my sister. I went and

told her I would escort her to Shirdi. Again and again I visited Shirdi. Sai

Baba’s pull was so great that in 6 months I came here nine times. I came

and read Sapthaha of Guru Charitra.

After doing that, I slept in front of the Samadhi Mandir,

i.e. in the front verandah. At midnight, I heard the footfall of shod person. I

woke and found it was Baba walking on to my bedside, standing and gazing at me.

He had come from the Dwaraka Mayi

side. I was captured by his wonderful love and power in 1936. I had not seen

him in the flesh. Recently I consented to be on the executive committee.

Suddenly, by Baba’s order Mr.Kharkar resigned

by Baba’s will I had to take up this Secretaryship,

though I have other honorary but exacting duties in a Bombay Bank etc.,

 

II. An old Madrasi lady of 60

years was here on the 4th day of Punyatithi of 1943.

Her son had been appointed for her service.

In great agony of soul she resolved to seek Baba’s help. She went

to a Railway booking clerk and demanded a ticket for Shirdi, in ignorance of

the fact that Shirdi is not on the Railway line. The booking clerk a Sai Bhakta then gave her a ticket to Kopergaon. Without knowing any language but Tamil, she

arrived here and occupied a room next to the Samadhi. At 8 P.M. in the dark, she moved on, not knowing

that the steps behind the Samadhi had no parapet wall, at that time. She fell

down on the stone pavement near the well. She was badly bruised. Her knees and

forehead were bleeding. She ran up to me and told me in Tamil that “She

fell down from the steps” I offered to send for tincture iodine. She said

“No”. She added that when she fell in the dark, a male with a lit

lantern stood by her side and gently passed his hands over the hurt body. She

looked up and saw it was Sri Sai Baba himself. He told her that she would be

alright. She felt no pain and went to bed. Next morning, she declared that Baba

had appeared to her sleep and assured her that he would take every care of her

boy and that she need not entertain any fears.

(N.B. On enquiry we find this lady is Kamal Ammal of Matunga)

(Source Sai Sudha Jan 1945)