Om Sai Ram

[Guest guest]

Swami will save His children even at the cost of his life

 

Shri. Narasimhamoorthy, the Dynamic Warden of the Brindavan Hostel of

the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning has been a sincere

devotee of Baba for many many years.

 

In 1999 Swami on his return from Brindavan to Prasanthi Nilayam on

12th December that year had announced to the students that the Sports

Meet should not be held that year. He announced the same at Brindavan

too before coming to Prasanthi Nilayam. Students did not listen and

prayed very fervently for the Sports Meet, which they felt was the

only opportunity to do something for Swami and dedicate it to him.

Even though Swami had ordered the sports meet not to be held and a

notification from the Vice-Chancellor's office to this effect had

already been issued, students still persisted with their regular

practices hoping that Swami would somehow still agree. Many days

passed this way with students praying hard within the mind and also

sending greetings and requests to Swami to take back his order of not

holding the sports meet. Swami took none of them. Some greetings were

sent back to hostel with Swami's message of not raising the issue

again. But students still persisted....Swami later agreed.

 

The Day, January 14th which every student even today looks forward to

arrived and the students arrayed themselves to display before Swami

all they had practiced for 45 days.

 

Swami caravan arrived with Baba seated on a seat with a steel

covering. As Swami's caravan reached the ladies section, Swami 's car

halted for a while and Swami stood up to wave to the people

assembled. As he stood waving to the crowd, Baba's car moved a little

bit to the front. Baba lost his balance and fell back on the steel

covered seat. Swami's hands, spinal cord and head rammed against the

steel covering which sent shock waves amongst everyone.

 

Baba sat on his seat in that position for a few moments. Everyone

Present were stunned .

 

Did Swami get hurt?.....If that had really happened, every Student

would never be able to forgive themselves for it was their persistent

request that this cancelled Sports Meet was revived. But no one ever

wanted it at the cost of everyone's Dear Lord getting hurt? That

surely was unacceptable .. to anyone and everyone .

 

A few moments later to everyone's relief Baba got up and started

waving to everyone again. The car stopped and the Vice - Chancellor

received Baba, who got down and accepted the floral tributes. Baba

walked without any apparent problems on the ramp and occupied his

seat.

 

The program commenced as scheduled with the primary school children

performing first, our sisters of Anantapur next followed by the

brothers of Brindavan and Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

After each performance Baba came down the ramp and gave group

photographs and climbed up the ramp again. After the program, Baba

left waving to everyone saying he was immensely happy.

 

As Baba went away to the Prasanthi Mandir, news reached the students

that Baba was giving group photographs. All students rushed to the

mandir expecting to be in time before Baba went back into his

apartment. As Baba came out of the interview room with Mr. Indulal

Shah (Chief convener of Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisations ), Mr.

Srinivasan (central trust members) and others, He blessed everyone ,

gave group photographs to a everyone and left the Prashanthi darshan

hall.

 

Two days later, before the students of the Brinadavan Campus were

leaving ,Shri. Narasimhamoorthy was called in for an interview.

During the interview, he noticed bandages on Swami's hand and cried

out " Swami, What is this? " Baba brushed aside his question but on

being persistently being asked, Baba revealed the truth, which when

announced by Shri. Narasimhamoorthy the next day stunned everyone.

 

The following are the excerpts of the speech delivered by Shri.

Narasimhamoorthy, who was crying continuously as he gave his speech:

 

As Baba was speaking to Mr. Indulal Shah, Mr. Srinivasan and others

in the interview room, Mr. Indulal Shah noticed blood oozing out of

Baba's sleeve. A shocked Indulal Shah got up to ask Baba about it,

but was quitened by Baba who said " Don't tell anydody about this

outside. The children will get scared. "

 

Baba later told Mr. Indulal Shah, Mr. Srinivasan and Shri.

Narasimhamoorthy that the year 1999 was the year of Pramadi (an year

of torments) .One of the boys performing a dangerous stunt was going

to fall from a height that very day. Baba knew this right from the

start and to avoid this ordered the sports meet not be conducted,

which as readers know was not adhered to.(Later Baba disclosed in the

discourse following Shri.

Narasimhamoorthy's speech that -- " You were not ready to listen to

me. You all were praying so hard. Even after repeatedly telling you

not to go ahead with the program, when you were so insistent, then I

had no other alternative but to let you perform. But there was no way

I could let my own children get hurt. So I transferred his Karmic

effect on me. I can bear it but you cannot. If he would have fell

from that height, his hands would have smashed on the ground , his

spinal cord would have split and head smashed to pulp. When Baba fell

on the steel casing , Baba's hands, spinal cord and head rammed

against it. That was my way of taking up his injury " ).

 

Baba started bleeding profusely. His back was soaked in blood. His

head too had been hit. But Baba let no one know of this. Baba's maya

covered the visibility of blood from the scores of VIP's between whom

Baba was sitting. For five hours Baba bore the ordeal. Inspite of the

piercing pain Baba came down to give group photographs and climbed

the stairs again. Even when Baba's robe became wet due to blood

coming out continuously, Baba went into the temporary toilet and

washed the blood off the robe. Knowing fully well that, if the

student, who was attending to Baba that day saw the blood stains on

the towel and the make -shift toilet floor, would get alarmed Baba

even washed the towel he had used with soap and also swept the floor.

 

For 3 days Baba bore the injuries. No one knew of this until Shri.

Narasimhamoorthy was allowed to tell it in course of his speech.

Shri. Narasimhamoorthy cried and tears were in everyone's Eyes.

 

Later when every Student apologised, Swami wonderfully said " Are,

Protecting you is my responsibility ra (ra is a word frequently used

in telugu towards someone you love). You are my children. Can I ever

let you high and dry? "

 

Swami Protects everyone in everyway.

 

OM SAI RAM

 

MAHADEVAN