Love of the Divine

Everybody experiences the love of one mother in this world. But we see here that the students of Sai experience the love of a thousand mothers. She shapes our destiny. Her compassion and love toward us cannot be repaid. A few of the Divine miracles of such a Compassionate One are given below.

In the year 1995, I came here as a Seva Dal. When we were given padanamaskar [touching the Lord’s feet] I asked Bhagavan for admission to His school in the coming year. When I came the next year, Bhagavan told that the admissions were over. One year passed, and after that I joined in Bhagavan’s institution in Alike [a village in Kannada District]. This institution runs under Bhagavan’s direct supervision.

There is a short story behind how the family was introduced to the Sai Organization in Kerala. My maternal grandfather was good at singing, and very often he sang in the temples. Once a member of Sai Samiti approached him and requested him to sing in the Samiti bhajans (devotional song). Initially he hesitated, but later he agreed.

As he was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, he planned to sing a Shiva bhajan. Soon after he began singing, a snake appeared on Bhagavan’s photo and remained there throughout the bhajan session. After this miracle, my grandfather joined the Sai Organization. When he came to Puttaparthi for darshan, Bhagavan called him for an interview and told him that He would look after his whole family. His daughter and sons are very well settled.

My grandfather was a Sanskrit scholar. Slowly he was drawn to Bhagavan when he heard the miracles and experiences of the devotees. Our home deity is Lord Muruga. After gaining firm faith in Bhagavan, my grandfather became a good devotee of Bhagavan. Thus, his practice became to worship Lord Muruga first and then Bhagavan. When he came to Parthi for the first time, he was fortunate enough to be called for an interview. Bhagavan noticed a photo of Lord Muruga in my grandfather’s pocket. Bhagavan took a close look at the photo. A few moments later Bhagavan blew at it, and to my grandfather’s surprise he found that a portrait of Bhagavan appeared behind Lord Muruga’s photo! Then Bhagavan explained to him that He and Lord Muruga are one and the same.

When I was young, my parents had a wish that my ‘Vidyarambham’ (beginning of study) must be done by Bhagavan Himself. So we all went to Prasanthi Nilayam. When Bhagavan came near us, I caught His pada (feet). To release grasp of my hands, Bhagavan held me with both hands and lifted me. He then called me a “Bangaru.” Then He caught my hand and made me write “AUM” on the slate. I have preserved the slate since then.

My father works in a bank as a senior manager. When I was studying in third standard my father was posted in a place called Kannur. But my brother, mother, and I stayed back. Since he was staying there, he started to attend the Sai Samiti. At my father’s home, from the photo of Bhagavan Vibhuti started coming out! It was a continuous flow.

After two years he got transferred to a place called Trishur. So, we also shifted our residence to Trishur. He had applied for a car loan. In a few months, the money was sanctioned. So he started taking classes at the driving school. But in a dream Bhagavan came and blessed him by teaching him how to drive. This happened regularly. In this way Bhagavan blessed him.

My brother, who is now in the Whitefield (Brindavan) campus of the Institute, had a wonderful experience with Bhagavan. When he was in fifth standard, our State President asked my parents if they would like him to sing in the presence of Bhagavan. Later he was joined by two other boys. They learnt a Telugu song and sang it in front of Bhagavan. Bhagavan was pleased and blessed them. My brother asked Bhagavan if he could get admission in His Institute. Bhagavan said, “Yes” and blessed him.

Once Bhagavan graciously allowed our district Bal Vikas students to present a cultural program. I was fortunate to be a part of the acting team of the drama called ‘Sai Avatar’. During the stage rehearsal sessions, the drama was shortened from around 30 minutes to 20 minutes. We were not happy with this, but we carried on. On the day of the program, we were all dressed in our costumes and were taken to Poornachandra Auditorium. We were asked to cut short the time further. After a while we were informed that there wouldn’t be any drama. I broke down. Suddenly, Bhagavan came there and saw me so. He signaled me to be calm and referred to me as “chinna (small) Shastry.” We all got padanamaskar. So Bhagavan has His own way of blessing His devotees.

Bhagavan’s miracles are mysterious and have a definite reason for them. He never leaves our prayers unanswered. Thus, He alone is the embodiment of love. He works for the welfare of humanity. We are fortunate to have come to His Lotus Feet. Our virtues blossom only because of Him. He alone can lead us to the light of wisdom.

My cousin lives in Bombay at Dombivli [a suburb]. He had a serious internal problem near his kidney. My father went to attend the operation. He gave the book ‘Shirdi Sai Satcharita’ to my cousin’s mother. On the day of operation, my father was sitting outside the operation theatre and doing Namasmarana [chanting the Name]. A sadhu [mendicant] dressed like Shirdi Sai Baba came there at the very moment the operation started. He sat there until the operation was finished. Prior to this incident, my father had a similar dream. Thus, the operation was a success. Another way Bhagavan showered His blessings on us.

Bhagavan likes people who have good thoughts. He blesses everyone at the appropriate time. He teaches us by setting examples. He loves everyone in this world. He has no enemies or friends, after all we have all come from Him. He never says that we must worship only Him, on the contrary He asks us to devote ourselves to any God.

A paralyzed lady used to attend the bhajan sessions. Many treatments were tried on her but all in vain. She was brought to the Samiti by her son and was made to sit in a corner. She took the Vibhuti that was given after the bhajans. She sent a letter to Bhagavan through the Kerala Seva Dal. The letter was given to Bhagavan and from the time Bhagavan accepted that letter, she started recovering. She became healthy within a week and became an active member in the Samiti [organization].

This following incident will clearly prove the omnipresence of Bhagavan. My brother was studying in Bhagavan’s Institution in Alike. Once the Warden of the Hostel gave important instructions to the boys in the local language. My brother did not understand the instructions because he was not familiar with the language. He was caught and reprimanded by the teacher. He felt sad and ashamed. The next day he was still feeling sad. Suddenly in the morning, the teacher who had reprimanded him came and consoled him. The teacher said that Bhagavan had come in his dream the previous night and said that he was a good boy and that he did not know the local language. He would never ever let His devotees down.

If you surrender to Him, He will take care of everything. He rewards everyone for their devotion and dedication. Whenever I see Bhagavan, I burst with Love from Him. Love is the bond between Him and me. This love is the real bond between everything in this world.

~Anand Sastry, Alumnus, SSSIHL, Prasanthi Nilayam
Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Offering)