Bhagavan narrated this experience which happened 30 years ago. A devotee from East Godavari had come to Bhagavan and prayed to Him to come for a house warming ceremony. Swami consented to his prayer and fixed a date when He would be there. He even said, “I will be there on that day at 9:00 a.m.”
Given this Divine assurance, the devotee made all preparations for Bhagavan to visit his home in East Godavari. As usual, the yearly rains came and played havoc with the lives of the people. And that year too a cyclone hit East Godavari. As the Godavari River began to swell, so too did the hearts of the devotees with prayer. But God had given them His word and assured them that He will be there.
Nature continued to pour down relentlessly on East Godavari and the only connection East Godavari had with the rest of the world was the old bridge at Rajahmundry. For obvious reasons, the district officials closed the bridge and no transportation was now possible across the river.But SWAMI had said He would go. And so, on the due date, He set forth with a few dignitaries to East Godavari. When they approached the river it was in full spate.
The district officials tried to dissuade the party from attempting to cross the bridge.They insisted that Swami had to give a declaration that He is taking the journey at His own risk. Consider the irony of the situation where God had to assure them of what He does!!!
Bhagavan wrote there: “Nothing will happen to anyone who is with me!”
Who else can give such an assurance except the POORNA AVATAR? And so, a small boat was arranged to ferry Bhagavan across to the other side. And it was in such a position that it had to go under the bridge to reach the shore.
The devotees gathered on either side of the river to see what would happen. By now the water level had risen so high that when the boat reached the bridge it was lashing the roof and there was absolutely no space for the boat to pass beneath it. The people waited eagerly and anxiously wondering what would happen.
Bhagavan instructed the people in the boat, “Close your eyes. Do not watch what will happen.” Then, in a fraction of a second, the boat suddenly disappeared and appeared on the other side!
Imagine the roar of the devotees on both sides drowning out the roar of the river. And as promised, Bhagavan reached the home at exactly 9:00 a.m.
During a public meeting SWAMI said, “When I came as Rama, the ocean gave way; it had to give! When I came as Krishna, Yamuna gave way! When I came as Sai, what is Godavari? This Lord of Puttaparthi will never give you up – He will never forsake you. This ocean of mercy will take you by His hand and guide you across. You will never be abandoned.”
