The Inscrutable

An article published by Bhavan’s Journal in 1975 giving an analytical judgment of the Phenomenon called Sathya Sai Baba holds good even today after 36 winters, when we are into the 86^th year of His Advent. Recapping those glorious days, of trudging the road with Sai Baba for 28 years, Prof. N. Kasturi summed up calling Him “The Inscrutable”. Read on…

The world has lived with a unique human Phenomenon for 50 years now! Millions are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Advent of this Person, on November 23, 1975. I have spent 28 years in the bracing climate of His Presence, the cool, comforting, but, none-the-less vital and vibrating aura of this Phenomenon. I have witnessed the waves of gratitude that surge round His Feet, from hearts reinforced by the impact of His Love, minds cleansed by the imprint of His Power, brains rendered wholesome by the intake of His Wisdom and bodies strengthened and straightened by contact with His Compassion.

Arthur Osborne summarized all that he had to say about the Sai Baba of Shirdi in two words: “The Incredible.” Dr. S. Bhagavantam ventured to summarise his experiences of the Sai Baba I am writing about in two other words, “The Inexplicable.” As a scientist who has dedicated himself to the study and propagation of physics, he had to confess that this Sai Baba is a law unto Himself, Who cannot be construed by any of the known categories of physics or even metaphysics.

Dr. Bhagavantam has the integrity of a scientist, who accepts the existence of the inexplicable and asserts that a fact can never be fiction, however vehemently it is ignored or denied by those who would not or dare not see.

I have experienced Baba in almost every phase of His multifaceted personality. He has cured intractable illness; He has infused confidence and courage; He has brightened the intellect revealing unsuspected sources of joy and power; He has opened several satisfying opportunities for offering skills and strength at the service of fellowmen.

He has allowed me to share in the wonder aroused atbthe manifestations of His Love in distant lands like Uganda, and nearer home in many parts of India. I have witnessed emanations of vibhuti, nectar, gems, slips of paper on which warnings, counsels, and teachings for the recipients are written, and eats, from pictures of this Sai Baba, in homes and shrines in places hundreds of miles away from where His physical frame resides. I have met and discussed with people who have welcomed Baba into their homes, sat around Him and talked with Him for hours, sung songs which He taught them – all this, when I knew He was hundreds of miles away.

Baba says, “No one can come to Me unless I call him.” And, I know hundreds of instances where cynics, agnostics, atheists, rationalists, fanatics of various creeds, patients suffering from various complexes, manias and intellectual anaemia, arthritis, apoplexy etc. have been called by Him and directed along the path of Sadhana to the understanding of their innate Divinity. How does He call them? By arousing curiosity, awakening interest, assuring cure, alerting during dreams, advising through friends or acquaintances, administering some warning or desire which He alone can avoid or fulfill.

Arnold Schulman toured India and even met Him; he returned to New York, happy in the conviction that in India every Guru is a ‘crook’ and every pupil, a ‘psychopathic patient’ – or at least a sizeable majority! Now, here was a person whom Baba decided to call and correct.

He implanted in his mind an idea which Schulman himself tried to dismiss as impossible, undesirable, impracticable, and even insane! It was “to write a book on one of those Gurus, the person he had discarded with a shrug, the Sathya Sai!” When he finally arrived before Him, after many hesitations and heart-searchings, Baba told him, “I wanted you to come not for the sake of the book-the book is publicity; I do not need publicity; I need you, you!” That is the measure of His Grace.

Those who believe in only things that they can see with their limited and perverted vision or experience with their prejudiced minds or infer as true on the basis of their perverted, polluted logic, are denied the joy and elevation of spirit that all can win by contact with Baba. They do not know that syllogisms cannot contain the Incredible, that laboratories cannot compress the Inexplicable into a formula and that science deals only with the tangible, the measurable, and the calculable. But, there are worlds, and worlds of emotions, ambitions, yearnings, exultations, adorations and a host of emanations from beyond the region of the senses and the intellect, which we ignore at our peril.

Baba is engaged in the fundamental task of discovering and defusing the germs of anxiety, restlessness, fear, doubt and distress that injure the individual and, through Him, society and ultimately, entire mankind. He has been busy with the Avataric Schedule from His very childhood; and on the fiftieth anniversary of His Advent, millions are offering Him the homage of gratitude. Millions are awaiting the healing touch, the kindling smile, the illumining word and the Divine vibration that His Presence arouses.

If I am asked to summarise what I have known and felt, during the 28-year-long road through which He has led me, I can only follow Arthur Osborne and Dr. Bhagavantam and reply in two words “The Inscrutable.”

Memoirs of the Boatman

 

By Mr. K.V.S. Dileep

An alumnus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning who has spent nine years studying in Baba's educational institutions, Dileep completed his Masters in Technology (Computer Science) in the Prasanthi Nilayam campus in 2010. Currently he is a Doctoral Research Scholar at Artificial Intelligence and Databases Lab (AIDB), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Madras in Chennai, India.

When I heard the tragic news on April 24, I was totally confused. I then prayed to Swami and He inspired me with a message which I have composed in the form of a poem. This did help me a lot and I hope it will serve many others too.

I faced an ocean far and wide,
Only a small boat I had for a ride,
Frightened I was, and completely crestfallen,
Cursing the misery befallen
Then came this boatman along the way,
With smile so serene and words so pleasing
He offered to be my friend, philosopher and guide,
Through the journey of ocean called LIFE
Armed with oars, and other implements
Me and the boatman set out for an adventure
We laughed together through the smooth sailing,
Leaving the oars to Him for the rough patches
Through the journey he always told
Tales of morality, and about lands far and behold
Under his tutelage and expert instruction
I found myself becoming a better boatman
How can I repay you, I used to ask,
Help and Love your travelers he used to tell
Where do I find you, I asked
Find ME in every heart that needs help
We journeyed along until time immemorial,
And then suddenly He vanished from the boat
No proper goodbye or a farewell hug
Leaving me in total shock
As a gasp of sorrow threatened to escape me
A strange feeling began to encompass
The boat continued to sail
As if He was never gone
It surged through the water much more than I rowed,
Then the subtle realization did dawn
For though the hold is gone, the grip remains
For though his voice is gone, the echo remains
The whistling wind of the sea then whispered,
Why to say goodbye my child If I never left
Keep rowing my friend, for I am always there
In the strength of the oars
And the Wind beneath the sails.

Rain Rain Go Away

 

- - Prof. N. Kasturi

I remember another funny incident. We were in Coorge, where the rain fall is the highest in the South, and once it starts raining it goes on for 10-15 days. Baba was there, so there was a public meeting in the open. I was to translate His Telegu speech into Kannada, the language of the area. Before Baba spoke, He asked me to say something. And like a fool, I started with rain as the subject.

Everyone in the audience, there were about 10, 000 people, were looking back at the hills in the distance, because they were conscious that the rain would be coming soon upon them. So I said in my speech, "Why are you turning back like that all of you, looking at the mountain ranges in the distance'? There won't be any rain because wherever Baba is, He has said His functions will never be disturbed by rain", and I told them a story that is in the Bhagavad Gita.

The story is that Indra - the God of rain, felt that he was insulted by Krishna who wanted the Indra worship to be stopped and he wanted the mountain in that region to be worshipped. Krishna said, "Why is everyone worshipping God in the sky, we must worship this mountain because it is full of trees, and it is this mountain that brings down the rain that grows the grass for our cattle to feed and therefore we must be thankful to the mountain and not to some imaginary God who lives in the sky". Hence, Indra worship stopped and Indra got angry and He poured tonnes of rain on every square inch of the ground. Krishna lifted up the hill with one finger, they say, and underneath the hill, the entire population of man and the cattle were sheltered.

I told the audience that Swami can stop the rain without lifting up the hill, as was done in Krishna's time.

When Swami began His speech, I had to translate, so I was standing by His side. When I looked at the mountain range in the distance, I saw the rain coming closer. It came down the hills, it was attacking the plains, it was coming towards the town. It came very close; the distance was so small that we could feel the cold wind that was accompanying it, and all the time I was engaged in praying within my mind, "Swami, please stop that rain, If it comes here, people will be disillusioned. I am sorry Swami, I should have asked you whether I could give the story of You being able to control the rain. I should have asked You! But I did not, so You have to pardon me for my impertinence".

I was feeling terrible! My mind was in a dither. But I had to listen to Swami and translate His speech, and so I had to cut down my fear. I was terribly tortured during that one hour whilst Swami spoke. I continued to pray to Him in my mind, "Swami, stop this speech, the rain is coming. Swami please stop, the rain is coming". But He would not stop; He even spoke for extra time. And finally He said.

This Kasturi, though he gave the story of the rain, does not have faith, all the time he worried in his mind whether I will be able to stop the rain. The rain will come now. It will be here in about 15 minutes. So all of you get home".

A Wonderful Incident of Bhagawan's Love – From a Sai Student’s Diary

 

This incident happened on Jan 3rd, 1989. Every year, the first two weeks of January are very lively for all the Students of Swami's college. Because, the Inter-campus Sports and Games take place during this time. I was a good Athlete in my school and college and I have participated in many sports and games and won a number of medals and had the good fortune to receive them from the lord himself for many years. That day early in the morning ( around 6 :30 a.m. ) I was all set to go for the Long Jump finals. There were 5 other finalists. I had won the first prize during the previous two years and I was a little overconfident this time, and thought I would repeat the history. I did not even warm up or loosen my muscles because of this overconfidence. But I always prayed to Swami before I took the jump.

As all of us know, we would be given 3 chances to make our best mark in the Long Jump. I have taken my first and the distance I jumped was awfully low. Almost all
others cleared it. I have taken my second jump and it was fairly better but surely not the best of me. But something happened at that time. I sprained my ankle. I could not even stand up after that jump and I had to be physically lifted and taken to the hospital directly from the field.
I could not bear the excruciating pain at that time. Obviously, I did not take the third jump. I knew I would lose the prize this time as that was not my best jump. I was feeling awfully bad because Swami taught me a lesson for my overconfidence and I repented for this. The ever-forgiving and ever-kind lord has forgiven me and I learnt later at the hospital that I won the First Prize. I was in tears for his benevolence. There is more... Because of the Sprain I had to "bunk" my college, I was happy about it, but I was hoping to make it for the Darshan in the evening.

My doctor advised me not to strain my leg any further and he has advised complete rest. I pleaded to go for the Darshan and he said "Pray to Swami he will take care of you, but do not go for Darshan", because my foot was swollen and round like a big
football ! I felt miserable at this time and I kept crying as I had never missed Darshan in my whole stay at Prasanthinilayam. That was the first time. I was lying down on my bed kept imagining what was happening at the Ashram. " .......Now Swami is coming out... He is on the ladies section .. now He is taking letters from a devotee.. now He is creating Vibhuti for another Devotee... Now He is signalling a devotee to go in for the interview.......".
Another student, Srinivas, who was participating in some sports events that evening, was asked to take care of my needs as well, as I could not move out of my bed without someone's help. It was just around 4:15 p.m. or so.. Srinivas excused himself and went to the rest room. I was lying down on the bed, turned towards the wall, covered my face with the rug and lost in my imaginations about Swami's darshan. Tears kept rolling from my eyes as I was feeling really bad for not having Swami's Darshan. I did not want any one to see that I was crying so, I covered my face fully and turned towards the wall. Then.. I felt as if someone tapped my back from behind. I thought it was Srinivas again, I thought he brought me some coffee or some snacks.
Slowly I turned to tell him that I was not in a mood... but...it was not Srinivas... and behold... I found the Lord standing there !!! I was dazed... trust me I was totally amazed...I thought I was still imagining Swami's Darshan...and kept staring at Swami's beautiful face without an expression or a word.... I was not sure if I was in a dream or wakeful status.
As you all know by now that Swami gives Darshan in the mornings and there would be Bhajans at 9 a.m. Swami takes quick ( 3-5 minute ) lunch soon after bhajans and at that time if he wants to visit different places, he goes out for about 1 hour, and then retires for that session. The objective is to generally oversee how different organizations ( like the Super Speciality Hospital, the University or the Gokulam etc.,. ) are operating and any other new constructions etc.

Obviously Swami's visit to these places gives immense joy and pleasure to people working there and it rejuvenates their energy and dedication to their work. Because everyone wants to please Swami with their devotion and dedication to work. He, however, does not visit the Boys' hostel during these times. The Students will have to pray to Swami to make a visit, it is only then He goes to the Hostel when all the students are in the Hostel, and gives them the immense pleasure of his presence.
Apart from these morning visits, Swami normally does not go out of the Ashram at all. But that day was different.Swami apparently gave a very quick Darshan and got into His car along with another senior devotee ( Mr.V.K. Narasimhan- editor of Sanathana Sarathi ) came straight to the Hostel.......into my room. Swami said " it is not a dream, it is real " (in english ).. I tried to get up and Swami asked me not to.

He then started explaining to Mr. Narasimhan in Telugu as to how I jumped and fell down in a wrong position. he told Mr. Narasimhan that for that fall, I should have broken my ankle. But Swami saved me, made sure that my ankle was not broken and it was only a sprain.
I then realised finally that swami was actually there in front of me !! I broke down, my heart melt down for His motherly love and I threw myself on His feet and kept sobbing. Swami patted my back with a lot of affection, created Vibhuti and rubbed it on my face, put some in my mouth, gave some in hand and asked me to put it on my leg. He said, "do not worry.. It will go away soon.( in telugu )" and quickly walked out of the room.

No one in the Ashram knew where and why Swami was going. I was just one of the 800 students and thousands of devotees sitting for swami's darshan in the Ashram, leaving all his near and dear devotees in the Ashram and many important tasks in the Ashram and go out of his way to shower his grace on a small, not-so-important, unwanted soul like me ? He would melt for pure Love from the devotee and sincere yearning and craving for Him.

OUR LIFE IS HIS MESSAFGE

Remaining loyal

 

During the 2nd world conference of Sri Sathya Sai organizations held in Prasanthi Nilayam, besides the daily Divine discourses, there were talks by some of Swami's close devotees.

Dr. Nithyananda Menon, who was at that time a faculty member of Swami's college at Whitefield, narrated this astounding miracle in the DIVINE presence.
This incident is about a rich gentleman in Zimbabwe in Africa . At that time there was a lot of political turmoil in that country. This rich Landlord, who owned lot of properties in that country, had come to India and was staying in Bombay . He came in contact with many overseas visitors in that hotel, some of whom happened to be devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba!!!
He was hearing about Baba for the first time and came to be impressed by some of the miracles reported by others. Incidentally, Baba had also come to Bombay at that time and was in Dharmakshethra. Our gentleman from Zimbabwe accompanied others to have Baba's Darshan. He later followed Swami to Puttaparthi and stayed there for the next few months!!!
In Prasanthi Nilayam, he was also blessed with many interviews. Swami had explained to him the purpose of human birth in this planet and the necessity to live a pious and spiritual life. He was made to understand that divinity is inherent in all the creations and that love should be extended to and shared with all others especially those who work for him.
After a few months in the Divine presence, he was directed by Swami to go back to his country. He had to leave Prasanthi Nilayam reluctantly and reached Bombay on his way back to his country. During the entire period of his blissful days in Prashanthi Nilayam, he was unaware of the happenings around the world, especially in his own country!!!
On reaching Bombay , he came to know of the political upheaval in his country, involving the take over of the country by the natives from the minority government.
The Landlord got worried & called his ranch manager and was surprised to hear from him that though the country was passing through a state of turbulence, his ranch and properties had not been affected. On the contrary, the workers very considerate and demonstrated a total loyalty, something unbelievable! !!
On arrival in his country, he invited all the workers to his ranch the same night to have food with him. A large size photograph of Bhagavan Baba brought by him from Prasanthi Nilayam, covered with a piece of cloth, was kept near the chair. He mingled very freely with his workers enquiring about their welfare, which he had never done in his earlier days. After the food was served, he addressed the workers.
He conveyed his heartfelt thanks to all of them for their noble behavior even at the time of crisis in the nation. He told them of his meeting with the Living God in India and of the blissful days he spent in His Divine Presence, which had mellowed him into a true human being.
He further announced that he was going to show them the Living God and removed the cloth covering the photograph of Bhagavan Baba!!! But to his surprise this didn't evoke any trace of curiosity among the laborers. On the contrary they were laughing by themselves!
The labor leader got up and said; " You might have seen Him in India .. But till yesterday, we were seeing Him, here every day in our fields!!! First, we sighted Him one day far away in the Horizon when the sun was rising early in the morning. He raised His hands and blessed us. Later on He came down to us and conversed with us.
This was going on during all these days when you were away. He had taught us the importance of remaining loyal to those who were giving work and a living to us.. He had taught us the same path of love, which had been taught to you also.. It seems the very same God who happened to be with us had taken you also under His merciful fold. Yes sir, we were seeing Him almost everyday! 
This amazing disclosure of the laborer completely astonished the landlord who was with Swami all during that time at Prasanthi Nilayam!!!

OUR LIFE IS HIS MESSAGE

Swami Protects everyone in everyway

 

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.

Jai Sai Ram.

When They Played At The Lord's…

 

 

They were the best, the game could boast of…in the country and in the world.
They came to play a cricket match at the Lord's………..own playground!
The Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup.

It all started on a day when Sunil Gavaskar and Alvin Kallicharan were speaking to Bhagavan. Sunil is, of course, a cricket legend while Kalli is a test star of distinction, hailing from the West Indies. Both are Bhagavan's devotees, and have been coming to Swami for many years.

On that day, both of them told Swami, "Baba, we see devotees doing so much for you all the time. We too love you very much and want to serve you. But cricket is our profession, and we cannot obviously serve you like doctors and teachers do. So, please guide us and tell us in what way we can serve you, because we both are very keen to do so."

Bhagavan smiled and said, "Well, why don't you arrange a cricket match for Me?"

The two cricket stars simply could not believe what they heard. "Was Baba really serious?" They wondered.

Soon they discovered that Swami was not joking but meant precisely what He said. And that was how the idea for the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup, a one-day international cricket match betweenIndia XI and the World XI, was born.

With their wide international contacts, it was not difficult for Sunil and Kalli to get in touch with stars from overseas. Getting the consent of the Indian board of control for cricket also was no problem at all.

As everyone knows, the schedule of cricket stars is packed. Yet, when Swami wills, things happen smoothly. It came as no wonder, that the overseas players invited for the Unity Cup match had no problem, in finding free time slots. In fact, 30th December, 1997, the day fixed for the Unity Cup, came right in the middle of the Sri Lankan tour of India. In spite of that, Indian and Sri Lankan players participating in this match could easily make it.

Now, an international cricket match requires a cricket field meeting international standards. When Gavaskar and Kallicharan came up with the idea for a one-day international, Puttaparthi did not have such a ground. So, where was the match to be played? In Bangalore perhaps? Bangalore had a full-fledged cricket stadium, and Swami also spent many months in a year at Bangalore. So, may be one could think of Bangalore as the venue for the match, since that also was Swami's town - so many thought!

But Swami had other ideas. He simply said, "The unity cup match will be played in the Hill view Stadium, here, in Puttaparthi!"

"Hill view stadium, Swami? But we don't have a cricket pitch there, in the first place. And, what about the galleries to accommodate the huge crowds that would turn up?"

Doubting Thomases had a field day, raising all kinds of questions. But they all forgot some basics. Who brought drinking water to millions? Who was it that had built an ultra modern hospital in a rural area, a hospital that was treating thousands of patients absolutely free? Compared to those achievements, a cricket ground was just chicken feed.

While the Thomases were busy with their doubts, others became busy with various details connected with the Unity Cup match.

The reputed, Larsen and Toubro, that had built the Super Specialty hospital and executed the Drinking Water project, was asked to get the stadium and the pavilion ready, in good time, for the match. E.A.S Prasanna, a great spin bowler of the past, became deeply involved with the preparation of the pitch, the outfield, and supervising all aspects of infrastructure development, including the pavilion and the scoreboard.

By the way, why was Swami particular that the match be held in Puttaparthi? There were many reasons. Firstly, it would enable rural cricket enthusiasts to get a chance to see an international sporting event in their environment. These young cricket fans could not afford to go to the cities and pay huge gate money. But they loved the game nevertheless, and Swami decided to make them happy. Swami also decided that there would be no gate fee for the match, something totally unheard of where such a sporting event was concerned. Not just that. On the day of the match, Swami even gave free breakfast and lunch to the crowd!
But this was not all. There was another and perhaps more important reason. The Unity Cup match offered yet another opportunity for Bhagavan, to grant the Blessing of Divine Intimacy to students. And to establish a basis for this, as if one were required (!), it was decided that the Unity Cup match would be played under the auspices of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.

How wonderful were those days were for the students! Practically every student and teacher of the institute got involved with some duty or the other, associated with the match. That is Swami's way of giving opportunities for spiritual development and advancement. Swami once said, "God does not ever want anything. But when He comes down as an Avatar, He sometimes pretends that He wants this or that. With much love, the devotee then tries to fulfil what he believes God wants. And in this manner, the devotee earns much merit, which he otherwise would not have."

An unprecedented event of this kind, that proclaimed global unity via sports, could not be allowed to pass without an appropriate chief guest. Therefore, with Swami's blessings, Sri. I.K.Gujral, the Prime Minister of India, was invited to be the guest of honour. The choice of Gujral was befitting, since he had personally done much to promote international amity.

D-day minus one. The whole of Puttaparthi was in the grip of severe cricket fever and there was tremendous excitement in the air. In the afternoon, the players all arrived by air, and went straight from the airport to the Hill view stadium. Almost all of them were coming to Puttaparthi for the first time; and when they saw the ground, they were overwhelmed. Such a beautiful setting, and so very different from the grounds they had seen the world over. Yes, is there any another ground in the world where Buddha, Jesus and a host of other Gods stood atop, as spectators?!

They went to the middle and inspected the pitch. It was unbelievable. Some of them said that this pitch looked far better than many they have played on. Prasanna who heard it all smiled. Yes, he had every reason to. What would these very people have said if they had come to the ground a few months ago?! Someone said, "How about checking in at the Guest House and having some lunch?" The players had other ideas. They wanted to see every inch of this wonder. And so they went to the pavilion, only to discover that it too was world class. And why not? Had not swami come there every day to supervise every little detail, including the chairs, the curtains, and the crockery? Meanwhile, a huge crowd of fans had already gathered on the field, and movement became somewhat difficult. The players were very happy. Nothing gives players greater happiness than to play before large crowds. They now knew that Puttaparthi was not exactly in the middle of nowhere, as the saying goes.

Shanti Bhavan, the guest house, was the next stop. My word, what a scene it was! Thousands milling around to catch a glimpse of the cricket stars! "If it is like this today, what would it be like tomorrow?" that was the question many had. It was time for the evening Darshan. Devotees made their way to the Mandir. But would the players come for Darshan? They did! Who would miss Swami's Darshan?!

Finally, the big day. Crowds started filling the stadium even before dawn. Villagers came from everywhere, and thousands perched on the hill by the side of the Gods there. All the Gods had plenty of company! There was a riot of colour all over, and the new stadium was grand and marvellous. And, what about the ground? The outfield was a wonderful green carpet, definitely world class. And all along the boundary line, there were hoardings carrying Swami's sayings. What a change from the ads that one sees in the usual cricket grounds!

Swami entered the ground in a ceremonial parade. He came in an elegant sports car, white in colour, and driven by His student. At the head of the procession was the popular favourite, Sai Geetha. This must have be the only cricket match where a caparisoned elephant formed a part of the opening ceremonies! Behind Sai Geetha came the institute brass band, in a smart turnout, followed by over a hundred students, in slow march, bearing the flags of all nations.

At the Dias, Swami was ceremonially received by the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. The Vice-Chancellor, then requested the Prime Minister, to hoist the unity flag, an impressive mosaic of the flags of all nations. The Unity flag was hoisted, to the tune of specially composed music played by the brass band of the Institute. The flag bearers, then ran towards the hill, and planted the flags in an impressive row, all along the road leading up to the Hanuman statue. As the flags fluttered in the morning breeze, it really was a sight to behold!

Swami and the Prime Minister then went down to the ground for the formal introduction to the players of the two teams and for photographs. As Swami, the Prime Minister, and the players took their seats, the camera men had a field day, clicking away. Yes, the media people were there in full strength, too. Doordarshan (the National Channel) was telecasting this match, not only all over India, but also to several countries overseas! Incidentally, this was one of the subtle aspects of the divine drama. Thanks to the match, there was a telecast. And thanks to the telecast, millions of devotees all over the country and even abroad, were able to get Bhagavan's darshan. Swami satisfies the aspirations of one and all, in numerous ways. However, very few take note of it.

It was time for the game to start. The rival captains, Sachin Tendulkar of India and Arjuna Ranatunga of world XI went out into the middle for the toss. India won the toss and elected to bat. Runs came briskly for India, and the score board, operated by the institute boys, incidentally, was moving at a good rate. And when Sachin enters, there were electrifying fireworks. The crowd was simply delirious with delight. The TV camera repeatedly swung from the ground to the dais, giving viewers a heady mix of sport and the Lord who willed it. It was just unbelievable! Swami was surrounded by Sunil Gavaskar of India, Clive Lloyd of West Indies, Hanif Mohamed and Zaheer Abbas of Pakistan; and all were absorbed, watching cricket! Meanwhile, in the commentary box, Syed Kirmani of India was going gaga, waxing eloquent on Baba's love rather than the game in progress!

India piled up an impressive score of 289 runs, in the allotted overs, bolstered by a blitzkrieg by Sachin. It was then time for lunch.

The children of the primary school came on to the field and presented a most colourful as well as impressive half-time show. For the institute students, it was their finest hour. They were on hospitality duty everywhere. In fact, everyone had been working throughout, and very have few have had the opportunity to see the match, though they all would have loved to. But, as Swami says, duty first! On the dais, Zaheer Abbas, a scintillating Pakistani cricketer of yester years, was amazed by the service rendered by the institute boys. Seized with curiosity, he wanted to know all about how Swami trains his students!

After lunch, it was the turn of World XI to bat. But, they were no match for India, and were scuttled out for 161.To the delight of the crowd, India won the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup!
Under Bhagavan's supervision, a simple but impressive ceremony had been arranged. The visiting dignitaries made speeches; among them was Clive Lloyd, former Captain of the West Indies. He said the he was thrilled to witness this great spectacle and to see the wonderful stadium come to fruition. He reminded the players that their talent was a gift from God; and what they did with their talent was their offering to God and gift to humanity. Words right out of the Bhagavad Gita. Yes, if one's heart is in the right place, as they say, then even without reading the scriptures, wisdom pours forth. It comes gushing straight from the source!

When the speech making was over, Swami gave a signal, and the Unity Cup was wheeled in from the Shanti Vedica. It was huge! And made of gold too! It could not be carried, and had to be brought in a cart!
Half a dozen people lifted the cup and held it up to Bhagavan, and He blessed it by touching it! Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian captain, was then asked to come forward and receive the cup.Sachin did. As Sunil Gavaskar said, Sachin's batting performance in the field earlier in the day was overshadowed by his weight-lifting performance when he received the cup all by himself!

It was all over. The unity cup match had not only become history but a part of His Story!
But why did Swami want to have a Unity Cup? What is the connection, between cricket and spirituality?

It is not only cricket, but in fact everything in this universe has a connection with spirituality. Five thousand years ago Krishna declared: "Any good act if lovingly offered to Me becomes sacred. This is the way to transform even ordinary work into Worship." Baba was reminding man of this timeless message by hinting that even a one-day international becomes spiritual, if it is played entirely for the pleasure of the Lord and offered to Him with Love.

Also read Sunil Gavaskar’s experiences with swami. - http://saicharan.blogspot.com/2008/04/realizing-supreme-beatitude.html

Our time is fast approaching

 

Well, I just wish to share something regarding this - a hint given by Bhagvan earlier that Bhagvan shall become very distant and HIS Darshans would become rare. So many books stand testimony to the fact and the incident I am about to share was told to us in the hostels Parayanm session by one teacher whose colleague was involved in this, it approves the fact that its true.
In the year 2000 when there was Purna Kumbha mela held in Allahabad [Purna kumbha mela/fair is the most holy ceremony takes place once in 12 years on earth according to the Sanathana Dharma] Swami came in the evening for Darshan and had been speaking to the students and staff as usual. Suddenly the course of talks lead to the then ongoing Kumbh mela, and Swami very seriously asked 2 of the teachers present there to go and attend it. To which the teachers replied saying Swami when You in Your Physical form are here, I don't see any need to go there at all. But Swami pressed hard on it and they agreed to it saying they don't wish to stay there for long.
They went there, bathed in the Holy Ganges at Sangam and were returning. Just while strolling back, they let there eyes wander at the surroundings. They saw many ascetics and holy men gathered there, and deliberately the thought crossed their mind that not all of them can be fake but if it is so then how come they are not there in Parthi where God Himself has descended. Are they even aware of it? - they wondered. Suddenly then they heard somebody calling out to them by name (to one of them of course). They spun and saw that one Sadhu Maharaj, whom they had seen seconds before - lost in deep meditation, had summoned them. As soon as they went near him, he said - "Beta! Haven't you been coming from Puttaparthi? Don't you ever underestimate HIM. He is THE Direct descendant of Shiva-Shakti...!!!" One of the teacher said - Pardon me Maharaj! But if you are aware of this then what purpose does it serve you to be elsewhere but in Parthi?" That holy man replied firmly - " O' you dear! HE hasn't allowed us to come there. The day HE Does so, this Kumbh mela would be held in Parthi....But our time is fast approaching. You! (he pointed to that teacher) Are you not the one who sits right next to HIS chair? Soon you shall find me there instead and you would be meters away, along with others. For that would be the closest for you to get ...."

Abhishek Narayan Acharya 

Prasanthi Nilayam.

An Amazing Experience to Cherish

 

For all students who worked at the Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium weeks and months before it was to be opened in 1982 will never forget Bhagawan's Love showered upon them every day, Apart from the L&T Engineers, the people who worked the Hardest were Swami's Students because Bhagawan always drilled the fact into them that It would they who would be using the Staduim the most, So they should work more on it.

Apart from Bhagawan's daily trips to the stadium, his giving of sweets and other presents to the boys, which were imprinted on the minds of everyone concerned,

One incident happened which left an indelible impression on everyone concerned. There was a dog which used to follow Bhagawan from a distance everyday, It never interfered with anyone, after bhagawan left it used to go and sleep in front of the High School. Swami never even looked at it even once, As days passed, One day before Bhagawan was about to get into his car, He sudenly stopped and walked a few metres, and stood for a few minutes facing the high School Building, Everybody was surprised at seeing Swami standing alone and looking into the distance, then the Dog appeared from behind the School building and statred running towards Bhagawan, Bhagawan bent down, patted and carressed the dog, gave it a few eatables and after a few minutes, left the dog and went away.

Nobody ever saw the dog after that, After a few days someone mustered the courage to ask Bhagawan about the Dog, Bhagawan said that immediately after it left me it jumped into a well and died because it as Swami said "It did not want to touch anyone after I had touched it". We sometimes look down upon creatures down the line of species as very inferior to us, this incident proves that everyone and everything has a consience and every one are equal before Bhagawan.

Bhagawan's Love is for everyone to experience, it is how we experience it is the Question.

Bhagawan is closer than your Mother

 

Once Bhagawan was to give a discourse in the S.A.P. Kalyana Mandapam in Madras, now Chennai. Thousands of eager devotees gathered to have His darshan and to hear His inspiring words.  His divine form filled them with bliss.  After Darshan, Swami spoke in Telugu.  Chithoor Nagayya, the celebrated actor and devotee of Swami, was standing by Swami and translating His discourse into Tamil.  The audience was spellbound and enjoying every word of Bhagawan.

Suddenly, a small baby, barely a year old and lying in his mother's lap, began to wail loudly.  All eyes turned towards the crying baby who was the cause of the disturbance.  A few seconds passed.  Everyone saw Swami on the dais gently smiling.  He extended his open palm towards the crying child in the 'abhaya' mode , but suddenly closed it into a tight fist!  That very moment, the child fell silent.

None could gauge the reason why the baby suddenly started wailing and why he, equally suddenly, stopped crying.  Swami extended the closed fist now towards Nagayya, opened it and said, "A small 25-paise coin got stuck in that little baby's throat and I have removed it.  Here it is!"  Sri Nagayya was completely overcome by emotions or surprise and happiness and immediately announced it over the microphone.

The enraptured audience exploded into wild applause.  Even though the little baby was right in her own lap, the poor mother did not know what had gone wrong with her child.  It is obvious that, more than even one's own mother, God is much, very much, closer.

Sai Ram

Swami Karunyananda with Swami

The following anecdotes from Swami Karunyananda' s experiences with Bhagavan are collected from several interviews between 1994 and 1997.Karunyananda passed away in August 1997, under the auspicious celebrations of Dassara :

In 1959 I came with the Jeevakarunya Sangham [a spiritual organization] to Puttaparthi for Shivaratri celebrations. We had two jeeps, one van, and a car with a driver with us, and a lot of other paraphernalia. We had an office in Chittur also. We first went to our Chittur office and then departed for Puttaparthi to obtain Bhagavan's darshan. Facilities for travel were very unsatisfactory at that time. I traveled by bus. It was too cold to travel by bus. The bus came to Horsey Hills area, beyond Madanapalle, and then went out of order and broke down! It was evening and it was getting very cold. It soon turned into dark night. The women and children were shivering due to the cold. I then thought, "These so called Baba's - why do they put us up to this trouble? Why do they reside in the hills? Why can't they set up residence in a place accessible to common people? How many people are suffering!"

I was thinking this way but did not mention these inner thoughts to anyone.

The bus was repaired and after many trials it started again and reached Mudigubba at 2:00 a.m. I had to stop there until morning, took another old rattling bus to Bukkapatnam, and reached there with great difficulty. At Bukkapatnam I hired a bullock cart and reached Puttaparthi after even more difficulty. Puttaparthi had scarcity of water at that time. I kept my bedding and luggage in the residence of one Sathyamma, bathed somehow, and then went to the Nilayam. Mr. Kasturi then summoned Bhagavan, and Bhagavan sent word for me and I went up to His room. One Veerabhadra Sastry [a scholar] and several other people were present with us. I paid my obeisances to Bhagavan, when He asked me, "What Karunyananda! What is the news? How many cars do you have?"

I wondered why Bhagavan had interest in the number of cars! I bowed to Him and I replied, "Swami, why should you talk about cars now?" Bhagavan insisted, "No, no. How many cars do you have?" Veerabhadra Sastry then asked me, "When Swami asks you, why do you not reply?" I thought there was no escape and replied, "Swami, I have two jeeps, one car, and one van."

Then Bhagavan asked, "When you have four vehicles, why could you not come by one of them? Why come by that bus, and blame later 'All these Babas reside only in the Hills!'?" Then I realized that Bhagavan knew what I had thought miles away as if a telegram had been sent to Him.

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I have the good fortune of being the first person to greet Bhagavan in the morning. I go upstairs, and open the door of Bhagavan's room and have darshan and padnamaskar of Bhagavan. There is Divine Power in the feet of Swami. There is power in the glances of Swami. His body is not like ours, it is a Chinmaya Sareeram (divine energy form). Ours is a body made up of dust, which dissolves finally, into the primordial elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. 

He is not limited to one form. He is the form of all deities worshipped by religions. He is the very embodiment of Chaitanya (energy, force). He is the embodiment of all Gods. We cannot probe into Him. Have you not seen Him during the mornings? He has a special effulgence in Him; sometimes this effulgence is frightening. On the last day of Devi Navaratri (Dasara) when Poorna Ahuti is performed, His body temperature becomes hot. I have touched His feet at such times and found that they were very hot.

Deer released from its cage

In 1976, a small number of deer were brought from the Madhumalai forest to Brindavan, and the grounds were cordoned off for the deer cage. Everyday, Swami would feed the deer with apples. A small cage inside also had a few partridges and parrots. Some students were blessed with the opportunity of maintaining the cages.

One day, as Bhagavan was coming towards us after feeding the deer, looking at our faces pressed against the mesh, with a twinkle in His eye He indicated the students and told an elderly devotee, "These are two legged 'dear'. Those are My four legged deer. All are dear to me." We were thrilled by His statement.
Years later, it was a hot summer day in 1988. The time was around 2:30 p.m. In the place of the old bungalow, now stood the new Trayee Brindavan. A few boys observed a strange spectacle. A female deer was looking longingly up at the window of the rooms on the first floor, where Bhagavan lived. There is only one language - the language of the heart. What prayers the deer (which was among the first deer to come to Brindavan) addressed to the Lord, we shall never know. But the response was swift.

The doors of Trayee opened, and Bhagawan walked quickly down the marble steps, across the hot marble floor, instructing the students to get some apples. He entered the cage and patted the deer affectionately. As the fruits were brought on a tray,
Swami fed the deer with His own hands. The deer ate the apple pieces quickly.

Swami finished feeding it, and after patting it lovingly, He left. After a few minutes the deer collapsed. Its hour had come. The Lord had entered the cage to release the soul encaged as a deer. Had he not said, "All are dear to me."

Om Sai Ram