A Journey with Sai
Sri V. Srinivasan, an electrical engineer and industrialist, has held several very prominent positions both in India and abroad. A devotee of Bhagavan for over three decades, he is currently the All-India President of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization. Below is an edited version of his article.
Today, on the eve of the 80th year of Bhagavan Baba’s Advent, my thoughts go back to that day in 1970 when I first met Him. Baba had come to Madras, and my father-in-law, Sri N. S. Sethuramon, pressed me to go see Bhagavan. Unenthusiastically, I agreed. We went to Sri J. H. Tarapore’s house, where Bhagavan was going that day.
With many people present, I was at the back of a large room, while Baba was seated at the front. He spoke to several persons and then invited questions. People were silent. I had been attending Sri J. Krishnamurti’s talks with interest. Boldly I raised some spiritual matter, and Bhagavan looked at me with great love that totally encompassed me. He patiently answered my query, and His words went straight to my heart. I was overwhelmed. While leaving, Baba looked at me and said, “Come to Puttaparthi.”
At home I narrated my experience to my wife and we decided to go to Puttaparthi soon. So it was in February 1971 that I went there for the first time. We were given a room near the old post office, and it even had a toilet, a luxury in those days. Sri Soorayya kindly sent us lunch, saying that it was Bhagavan’s prasad [blessing]. The Lord thinks of every need of His devotees! When we sat in the darshan (being in presence of holy being) line, Bhagavan graciously called us for a private interview. That was an exhilarating experience; I felt that I had found my destiny.
On that day, several decades back, our lives changed forever. Drifting until then, we had now come to a safe haven and were under the protection of Divinity itself. No aspect of our lives has remained untouched by Baba’s love and wise counsel. In light of the multifarious problems facing humanity today, we shudder to think of our plight but for the Lord’s grace and protection. The kaleidoscope of our lives since that prophetic day is a wonder, and it constantly refreshes us when we recall the times that we have spent with Bhagavan. We have also been fortunate to meet eminent scholars, artists, statesmen, royalty, primates of different religions, all united by the common bond of devotion to Bhagavan Baba. We have visited many places in India and abroad, and witnessed the omnipresent Lord’s glory. We have witnessed the transformation of men and women into real human beings, inspired by His message and teachings. In the process, hopefully we have also been refined, moving toward the ideal He has set before us all.
Since that glorious and prophetic day, my life embarked on a new journey, one with Sai. The many milestones on this journey proclaim Bhagavan Baba’s glory and love. Let me share a few with fellow pilgrims to the lotus feet.
In my early days with Bhagavan, I was new to His ways. One day, during darshan at Prasanthi Nilayam, I was sitting on the verandah. Bhagavan was making His way through the devotee-s, blessing, consoling, and guiding. He also selected some fortunate ones for the eagerly sought interview. I noticed that He had selected a lady who had a fairly big child on her lap and was shedding copious -tears. When He signaled her to go in, she struggled to lift the child. She managed to slowly pick him up and tottered to the mandir (temple).
By that time, Bhagavan had already reached the verandah and was waiting for her. As she came near, she almost collapsed under the child’s weight. Impetuously, I rushed forward to help her. Bhagavan sternly told me to go back, and He turned to the child and said in a strong tone, “Walk.” Lo and behold, this child who was crippled until then staggered up and took hesitating steps toward the interview room. The entire crowd broke into loud applause at this miracle. This incident of many years back is still fresh in my memory as a sign of the Lord’s unique power.
Bhagavan, during one of His visits to Chennai, agreed to give an audience to select businessmen and industrialists, who were overjoyed at this unexpected opportunity to meet Him. They flocked in large numbers to the venue, and Bhagavan graciously mingled with them and had a word for each one of them. He also agreed to address them. He suddenly looked at me and indicated that I was to translate His address from Telugu to English. My knowledge of Telugu is imperfect even now and at that time was worse. Nevertheless, I obeyed Bhagavan’s command. I decided to look into Bhagavan’s eyes, and wonder of wonders, the words came out of my mouth. Those who knew me were astounded that I had become proficient in Telugu. At the end of His discourse, Bhagavan told the audience, “Poor fellow, he does not know Telugu.” With Bhagavan, everything is possible.
Bhagavan has love and concern not only for human beings but for all creation. On a visit to Kodaikanal, we had gone for a drive past the Pillar Rocks. After some distance, Bhagavan suddenly asked me to reverse the car. I slowly did, and Bhagavan lowered the window and gazed into the distance. We followed His gaze and saw a horse standing amid the trees. Bhagavan kept looking at the animal with great love and concern. After a few minutes, when the horse took a step forward, we could see that it was lame. It kept looking at Bhagavan, who continued to shower His grace on the fortunate being. Only after about five minutes, Swami asked me to proceed. From that day, the particular location on the Berijam road is known to us devotees as the Lame Horse Point. It was another demonstration of the Lord’s love for every single being in creation.
Another instance of Bhagavan’s miracle was in New York. In transit to another city, I was at my sister’s apartment in Manhattan. I had to leave the next morning for Chicago and planned to take a shuttle bus to Kennedy Airport. I decided to leave the apartment at 7:15 a.m. and walk over to the nearby air terminal to take the 7:30 a.m. bus. Around 7 a.m., the late Ghandikota Subba Rao, then convener of the UN Sai Center, called me. We began conversing and, as Sai devotees do, forgot the time. Past 7:40 a.m. I realized I would have missed the bus. I quickly left the apartment. The elevator arrived and I pressed the lobby button. To my surprise, the elevator started going up. I felt that this was not a good day as things were off kilter. The elevator went up several floors and the doors opened. Two gentlemen in airline uniforms got in. They looked at my suitcase and said, “Looks like you are traveling somewhere.” I replied that I had planned to take the particular flight to Chicago but most probably I had missed the flight. They smiled and said, “You are not missing the flight; we are the pilots for it.” They then took me in their car right up to the aircraft; I got VIP treatment. When we are engaged in Bhagavan’s leelas [play], He takes care of us in every respect.
When our second son was born, he developed a fever that persisted even when he was about three. We consulted many doctors and did all kinds of tests, but to no avail. This went on for several months. We took him to Prasanthi Nilayam, and Bhagavan in His infinite love and mercy called us for an interview. He asked the boy what was wrong with him. Our son began to reel off all that doctors had said, and Baba patiently listened and encouraged him to talk. After hearing all that the little fellow said, Swami materialized some vibhuti and asked him to take it every day. The very next morning, the fever disappeared. Our son is now married and has a child of his own by Bhagavan’s grace.
There are many instances of the Lord’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Millions travel on this journey of life with their own milestones. Perhaps they do so by separate paths, but all share the same destination, the abode of pure love.
Source: Tribute, pp. 87-91
