FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE NADASWARAM GIRLS !!!

[Guest guest]

My journey to Swami began when I was 12 years old. Every person who comes to Bhagavan, no doubt, has a mysterious, scintillating Sai Katha to narrate and treasure. In 1990, I wrote a letter to Swami expressing my desire to have a divine opportunity of being photographed with Him!!! After eleven years, my passing thought and desire became crystallized. I was praying very intensely to Swami to bless me with the divine opportunity to become His student. My prayer was answered in the year 2001 when He allowed me to enroll in His University for my master's degree in Home Science! After I joined the Anantapur Campus of the Institute, mysterious events led me to become a part of the Nadaswaram group (Nadaswaram is a non-brass band very popular in South India) of the campus. It was a Herculean task to learn as it was totally new for all of us. Being girls, it required a great deal of stamina, willpower, physical strength, self-confidence, and above all, Swami's grace.

With Swami's grace, in only three months' time we learned this new art and were able to present it before Him. The long awaited day arrived. We sat next to Swami's interview room on the ladies' side with our instruments – four Nadaswarams and three Tavils (Tavil is a percussion instrument while Nadaswaram is wind-based).

On October 12, 2001, after arathi in the evening, Swami came by and gave us a mysterious and loving look, and with a captivating smile asked, "What is this?" Before we could answer, He said with enthusiasm, "Are you going to play?" We nodded in affirmation. He blessed the instruments by gently touching them and blessed us with His Abhaya Hastha (hand raised in blessing) and graciously granted us permission to perform.

Swami graciously agreed to pose for a photograph with the Band girls. I was dazed by this rare and wonderful opportunity. It suddenly flashed on me that I had written to Swami praying to Him to bless me with a chance to have a photograph with Him. After 11 years, He fulfilled my heartfelt desire!

Each time we performed sitting at the gate, though we weren't professionals, He encouraged us by putting thaalam (providing rhythm by His hand), and blessing with a charming smile and loving glance for each one of us..

One day, we, the Nadaswaram girls, were called to the entrance of Swami's residence (Poornachandra entrance) where He was waiting for us. He spoke with us and gifted saris to each of us as a token of His appreciation and love. Receiving a gift directly from the Divine Hands of Swami was a unique and thrilling experience!

On another day, an announcement over the PA System said that the Nadaswaram girls should go to the dais and receive Swami's blessings. We went up to the dais where Swami presented us with a suitcase each and an opportunity for another group photo with Him!!!

Let me humbly submit that it was only by His grace that we were able to play the Nadaswaram as it requires a lot of stamina. A prayer submitted to Swami 11 years ago to bless me with a divine opportunity of having a photograph with Him was fulfilled. It took many years, but it did get materialized. Therefore, it is very clear that in the kingdom of God there may be delay, but no denial. All our prayers, big or small, will be answered in God's time. We should remain patient and firm in our faith.

By Ms. Pallavi Vedantam, A Former Student of theAnantapur Campus of Swami's Institute.

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_04/01NOV06/pallavi.htm PS: VIBHUTHI has been sent to SRI LANKA, BALTIMORE, SIKKIM, BANGALORE, HYDERABAD, MUMBAI and CHENNAI against fresh requests.