Early Divine Visits to Hyderabad. Part-2 The Spiritual Magic of Shivam

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EARLY DIVINE VISITS TO HYDERABAD Creating Shivam Consciousness before It was Born – Divine Visits to Hyderabad Though Sai breathed life into Shivam on April 4, 1973, the inauguration day, He was working splendidly and silently for decades awakening the minds and energizing the souls of many in Hyderabad. He was preparing a critical group of inspired individuals who would embody the spirit of Shivam and ensure that this marvel of a Temple in the heart of Hyderabad becomes the epicenter of auspiciousness and peace for thousands. Swami’s first visit to Hyderabad dates

back to as early as 1958. It was August 26, 1958 to be precise, when Swami blessed the house warming ceremony at Kausalya Bhavan, a devotee’s home, and also delivered a discourse at the same venue. This was followed by numerous Divine visits in the sixties. In 1964, Swami chose Hyderabad to host the conference of Prasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha – an organization that Bhagavan had founded in 1962, not only to revive the ancient scriptures of the sacred land of India, but also to restore the respect due to scholars of these sublime texts in the eyes of the modern man. Sai arrives in Hyderabad

in the sixties Welcoming with prayers and flowers With the Governor and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh during the inauguration function The

invitation card printed in 1964 for the Prasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha Speaking on the first day of this conference on December 7, 1964, which was attended by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh among other distinguished officials, Bhagavan said: “The body is the tabernacle of God, the chariot in which He is seated in all majesty. Do not identify yourself with it and its modifications and transformations. You are the Atma, and so, you are above these affections of the body. Cleanse your mind of the temptations and

tenets of ignorance; make it free from dust, so that God may be reflected therein. God cares more for the motive behind the deed, the ideal that prompts the effort – the bhaava (depth of feeling), not the baahya (outer pomp). The goldsmith who is purchasing the golden idol offers equal sums for every gram of gold, whether the gold is the crown, the foot or the head of the idol. God too says, ‘I care for the depth of your thirst for Me. I do not care what Form you select for your adoration.’ This Prashanthi Vidwan Mahasabha has been formed to teach men this path and this endeavour, and revive this pilgrimage which is fast being overwhelmed by the pressure of paltry journeys into the wasteland….God and the constant remembrance of His Grace will remove all anxiety. There is no other support in times of dire need than God. To know Him, cling to Him, and merge in His immeasurable splendour – that is the highest

goal of man.” "To know God and merge in Him - that is the highest goal of man" - Swami Devotees heard the flow of Divine eloquencein rapt attention Swami with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh in 1973

Inside the Governor's bungalow with Mr. Khandubai Kasanji Desai in Hyderabad On the second day of this conference, Swami

stressed on the process of purifying one’s mind and blessed everyone with the words: “Let your thoughts be concentrated on God, His Name and His Form; you will then find that you are always with the Pure and the Permanent; you will then derive perennial joy. That is the reason why I attach so much importance to naamasmarana, the chanting of His Name, as a Sadhana (spiritual practice).” DRAWING PEOPLE FOR THE SHIVAM MISSION Personal Crisis

Draws His Instrument to Him The year 1964, was also the time Swami had decided in His Master Plan to bring to His fold a pious and precious devotee of the Lord, who in the years to come, would contribute to this namasmarana movement in the Sai Mission like few have done. Mr. Rama Brahma Sastry was as deeply spiritually inclined as he was religious, and at the same time gifted with great literary talent. In the fifties, he heard a discourse of Swami where He said, “To whichever God you may worship, all prayers reach Me.” “This cannot be true!” he said to himself. Being a devotee of Lord Krishna since his childhood, any other concept of God was difficult for him to digest. But destiny has its own ways, and in 1964, his job shifted him to Hyderabad. It was also the time when he was struck with a tragedy – his third son, Krishna Mohan, became a victim of polio. He lost his ability to

walk completely; Rama Brahma Sastry’s family was devastated. For three months, treatment went on in Gandhi Hospital, but with little hope. It was at this time that a well-wisher alerted him, “It seems Swami would soon be coming to Hyderabad, why don’t you take your son to Him? With His Blessings, He will become fine.” Mr. Rama Brahma Sastry wanted to test God and He gave him a taste of His Grace The Divine magic wand of His Love and Grace Rama Brahma Sastry also learnt that Swami would be staying in the house of Mr. Burugula Ramakrishna Rao, the first elected Chief Minister of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. He

said to himself, “These Swamis bless only those who can fly them in planes and house them in palatial homes. Why would He bother about me?” Nevertheless, hoping for the best, he went for darshan to the house of Mr. Ramakrishna Rao and sat in the crowd carrying his son along with him. He saw Swami coming from the interview room, and he was reminded of a verse from Bhagavad Gita which described God. He thought to himself: “If Swami is really God, He should bless the common people in the same way He blesses the rich. For, God knows no difference between the two.” 7.59 MB The scintillating journey of Mr. Ram Brahma Sastry's journey to Sai Gratitude Translates into Devotion and Service Mr. Sastry - from a doubting Thomas to an ardent devotee and a precious instrument Swami had by now passed by him, but then, He suddenly stopped, retraced His steps, looked into his eyes, glanced at his son on his lap, waved His Hand and materialized Vibhuti, the sacred ash. Next, He lovingly poured it into

the mouth of the toddler. Now, He again looked at Rama Brahma Sastry, proffered a mischievous smile and moved on. From that day, Krishna Mohan’s health began to improve and in a few days he started walking again! Today, 44 years later, he is a Branch Manager at the State Bank of India, Hyderabad. Rama Brahma Sastry’s faith received a boost and in the days to come, though He would test the Lord more than once, finally he would be lost in his love for Him, writing many beautiful shlokas while his wife and son composed bhajans to be sung in Shivam. Some of these like Parthieswara Sathya Sai Saieswara, Sri Ram Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama, Sai Ram Bolo and so on are sung in the Prasanthi Mandir even today. From their initial days, his family has been instrumental in not only enriching

bhajans in Shivam, but also in a variety of activities concerning the spiritual wing of the Sai Organisation. If that was the fascinating story of a man whose son, Mr. Ravi Teja, even today, plays the flute during every single bhajan session in Prasanthi Mandir, the tale of how Swami drew to His Feet another diadem of a devotee who would contribute immensely to the service movement in the soon-to-be Shivam, is even more incredible. SHARING WITH SAI LOVE) RAM.CHUGANI Ram ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp