SUNDAY SPECIAL

[Guest guest]

SUNDAY SPECIAL

An

atmosphere soaked in music, a heart swelled with sorrow: this was the

mood that Playback Singer K.S. Chitra owned while visiting Bhagawan Sri

Sathya Sai Baba every time. Each visit was the result of salvation from

previous births… and each song led to the Ocean of Milk - Sai Love!!!

(K.S.Chitra,

popularly known as the “Nightingale of South Indiaâ€, lends her voice in

the South Indian Film Industry, whose foray into the field of playback

singing earned her a distinct name in the Indian Music Industry. She

has the rare distinction of highest number of national awards awarded

to any female playback singer in India. She has also been conferred the

prestigious "Padma Shri" by the Government of India in 2005, apart from

winning several other state and national level awards)

 

Posted at 09:15:00 Hrs. IST on 13 Dec 2009

It was from my mother that I first began to hear

about Swami. Her narrations of Sai Charitham and accounts about what

she had heard about Swami brought me close to Swami very long ago. But

a darshan was possible only years later.

That was when Swami had come to Chennai. At that

time, for the function, Susheelamma (P. Susheela) asked me if I could

sing a bhajan. It was the first time Susheelamma asked anything out of

me and that itself was a happy incidence. I agreed immediately. Besides

me there were Mano, Shailaja, Sunanda and many other singers as well. A

special and close darshan was not possible that time but since the singers were allowed padanamaskaram I was fortunate to get it. That was my first darshan.

During that visit Swami stayed in ‘Nandanam’—a house

next to famous Tamil heroine Anjalidevi Amma’s residence. Since

Susheelamma had got permission for us singers alone to have one more darshan,

the next day we waited for Swami. As we waited in that pin drop silence

of expectation Swami walked in. And He spoke to everyone! He even joked!

The next darshan I got of Swami was during

His birthday celebrations at Puttaparthi. It was a function where many

artistes were participating in the name of national integration. M.S.

Subbalakshmi, Pundit Jasraj, Kavitha Krishna Murthy and Parveen

Sulthana were there.

It was during this visit that an unforgettable

incident took place. I had started for Parthi without completing the

recording of a song. The theme of the song was that of a woman angrily

crying out to the gods who were going to take back the life of her

husband. Hence, the ending of the song required exerted emotion where I

had to sing very high. I was afraid that if I sang at that top note I

would find it difficult to sing in front of Swami. So, I told the music

director that I would sing the rest of the song after I returned.

That day, at Parthi, I sang for about 45 minutes.

After singing, I bowed reverentially at Him and received the silk He

gave me joyfully. “Why are you afraid to sing high?†He asked and

surprised me by telling me to sing without any fear. Eminent

personalities like M.S. Subbalakshmi were also present there.

Afterwards, I got an opportunity to sing Sai

devotional songs for a Telugu album. It was with this album’s music

director and producer that I got a chance to visit Parthi again. I sang

before Him during this visit too. During that trip my mother’s memories

weighed heavily upon me.

My mother had wanted to join me on my first trip to

Parthi. But as she was suffering from heart disease the doctors refused

to grant permission. Still, she was insistent, saying that if she was

to die she was happy that it would be in Parthi. Yet, taking into

account her health I did not let her accompany me. Then, when this next

opportunity came to meet Swami she was no more. She would never

accompany me again… pain gnawed me throughout the journey.

The next morning I was fortunate to have Swami’s darshan.

The orchestra members who accompanied me were also there. He said, “Sad

that you have lost everyone? Everything is for the good…†I felt peace

enveloping, as if guilt was getting null. He continued, “You have

something to tell me…†I did not answer. He repeated the question. Yes,

there was a deep desire within me—to have a child. But how was I to ask

for it there? My mind did not allow it. And then, as if reading my

mind, Swami called the women alone to the inner room. Here, He repeated

the question.

“I don’t have a child,†I said hesitantly. A hearty

laugh was Swami’s immediate answer and then He said, “Want a child… the

next time you come to see me you will bring your child also.†Then He

materialized a chain from the atmosphere and presented it to me—a gold

chain with a locket on which the word Om was written with white stones. He then blessed me: “Like the word Om let your sound fill the world…â€

After that, somehow, it took very long for me to see Swami again. Usually, when Swami came to Chennai P. Leela (Chechi)

used to inform me. But once I came to know of His visit only after He

left. It was when my husband read from the newspaper and told me about

it that I knew about the visit. Years later, when I knew I was to

become a mother I still could not meet Him. After I had a child too I

sent letters and faxes. There was no reply. Yet, I was happy. My mind

was in bliss.

Then, once when Swami came to Chennai I saw Him from far. Swami looked from far, but I did not get close darshan.

Finally, it was for this year’s Onam that I went to Parthi and got Swami’s darshan. I sang 9 songs. Throughout, Swami was on stage. After singing He blessed me. He then called me and gave permission for Padanamaskar.

He called my daughter and put a chain around her neck. He also allowed

a group photo and blessed me with the permission of doing Aarathi during prasadam distribution. Then He said, “Come often.†“I’ll come whenever you call,†I replied.

(Originally published in "Devaragam", Sathya Sai

Birthday Supplement in Malayalam by Mathrubhumi Daily...translations by

Ms.Vidya K. Murkoth)

 

source: sssbpt.org