The Glory of Bala Sai
Published four decades ago, this article from one of Bhagavan Baba’s teachers gives us a snapshot of His Divinity in the early years of the Advent. These episodes underscore His protective grace on those who surrender to Him.
Even when Baba was “acting” as a student in the Uravakonda High School (where I was teaching) He, now and then, would reveal His Divinity. The village of Boodagavi (Buddha Gavi), which was about a mile and a half from the town, had a Shiva [Hindu god] temple. We often used to go to that temple to worship Shiva. On one Shivaratri [a night dedicated to worship of Shiva], Baba along with my second son, Sriramulu and two other boys, quietly left for that village without informing me or anyone else. When Baba stood before the lingam [the oval form that represents Shiva] a stream of light emanated from Him and entered the lingam; in return, a stream of light from the lingam entered the body of Baba!
Of course, this was not an unusual experience for Baba; for He is the entity who is Shiva, Rama, Krishna, [divine incarnations] and Maruti [Hanuman]. But, the boys who accompanied Baba were stunned by the occurrence. They asked Him what it signified but He parried the question. The boys, however, related this wondrous event to us, and thereafter treated Baba with great reverence.
Yet another episode at the time revealed Baba’s Divinity. At the end of the Dasara [ten days festival] holidays, Baba returned from Hampi to Uravakonda via Hospet [towns adjacent to each other]. The Municipal Commissioner, Sri Narasaraju and the manager of the municipal office, had earlier given Baba a gold brooch as an offering after witnessing His Divinity.
Now, Narasaraju along with some 25 persons that had accompanied Baba on that bus trip decided to visit my house unannounced. Unprepared for this, my wife had made snacks and coffee for just the six members of our family. As soon as He arrived, Baba told my wife, “Ammayi [mother]! Give all these people snacks and coffee!” My wife was petrified as the quantity of food was nowhere near what was needed. Baba, who knows the past, present, and future, said, “Don’t worry, the food will suffice; go ahead and serve these people.”
We had read how Samartha Ramadasa [a devotee well-known for his faith] fed Shivaji [a famous king] and his 60 soldiers with food prepared for just three. But we had not actually witnessed such miracles and experienced the thrill. Our situation at that time was quite similar. My wife started distributing the food, and wonder of wonders—it sufficed for the entire party and for our family, too! Six cups of coffee turned into 36 and so did the snacks prepared for six. It was akshaya [inexhaustible]… right before our very eyes!
Baba, by His very ‘will,’ can bring forth the Kalpavriksha [wish-fulfilling celestial tree] and the Kamadhenu [wish-fulfilling celestial cow] to fulfill all the wishes of His bhaktas [devotees]. Pure and unsullied devotion is the only qualification needed to draw His grace.
Here is an example that shows that Baba guards His bhaktas as the eyelids guard the eye. We have read that He became a charioteer for Partha [Arjuna, one of the Pandavas]: a woman for the sake of Sakku [a female devotee]: and a watchman for Bali [a king]. In 1940, we experienced it in our own home!
At the time, the two villages of Paltheru and Karakamukkala, situated between [the towns of] Uravakonda and of Cheekalagurike were caught in the grip of famine. A famine office was opened to deal with relief work and road construction. My son got a job there as a clerk. The construction crew was paid either on a bi-monthly or monthly basis. On one occasion, my son, escorted by four policemen, went to the treasury office located in Gooty and brought back nearly 10,000 rupees [about $225] in cash to be paid to the crew the next day
However, in their ardor to see a play in the neighboring village of Vidavanakallu, my son and the policemen hurriedly left, placing the cash in an unsecured box. I returned as usual from my evening walk, and after some time started to sing bhajans by myself. The children had not yet returned from their games.
Shortly, I distinctly heard the sound of someone tapping the ground with a heavy stick [like the watchman does on his beat]; this lasted for about 20 minutes. I was surprised for I knew my street well and there was no reason for any noise of this type. Still, out of sheer curiosity I opened the door and looked out, but the street was empty. I asked Santhamma, the lady who had a shop across the street, whether she had noticed or heard anything unusual. She said, “No, not a single person passed this way.”
I returned to the shrine room. Then I heard a similar noise again, for another 20 minutes! I called my wife in and asked whether she had heard it. She said she had and added, “Our son returned home from the treasury office and left immediately afterward; while leaving I heard him speak about some treasury cash. He must have placed it in his room … [This] Must be some leela [divine play] of Baba.”
I ran into the room and found the box open with the bag. When I counted the contents, it came to Rs.10,000 and some change. I shed tears of gratitude when I realized how Baba had guard-ed the money, so carelessly left by my son and the policemen. I locked the box and the room, and we carried on the bhajan in grateful joy till far into the night. When the policemen and my son returned at sunrise, they found the entire money intact, down to the last paisa [penny].
During our next trip to Puttaparthi, Baba said, “Yes, I watched over your house that day. Have I not told you that I take upon Myself the burden of the bhaktas? If even a fraction of that sum was lost, what could you or your son have done? You could not have made it up; I Myself would have had to make it up! I was at your place for 50 minutes. I left when you had been sufficiently warned and you locked the box and room.”
What other proof is needed of His protective grace? He guards and protects all those who surrender to Him. Has He not said, “Ananyaas-chinthayantho maam, ye janaah paryupaasathe, thesham nithyaabhiyukthanaam yogakshemam vahaamyaham?” “I shall ever be with those who surrender to Me and I shall bear the burden for them.”
~Manchiraju Thammiraju
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Sept. 1963
