Moments Made Special by Sri Sathya Sai
Tanmay Das was a student from 2009-2014 in the Faculty of Management and Commerce at the Sri Sathya Sai institute of Higher Learning. Currently he is a specialist at the Standard Chartered [bank] GDS Pvt. Ltd., Chennai.
Being with Swami has always been very special for me, not only because He is God. For me, He is more of a loving mother, a caring father and an adorable sister! The five years in the Institute have been like five days—as if we came just yesterday and today, our academic association with the Institute is over. When I joined for my undergraduate course in 2009, it was for the first time that I came to know about Bhagavan.
My mother had been an ardent devotee of Shirdi Baba right from her childhood days, but our family was not aware of Sri Sathya Sai Baba or about Prasanthi Nilayam [Abode of Peace, Swami’s ashram], apart from knowing the fact that there exists a Super Specialty Hospital that treats people free of cost. When one of my friends came to know about this Institute, through his father, he immediately brought me the prospectus of the Institute. He asked me if I was interested in applying for the undergraduate course there. I immediately told him, “No”, thinking the Institute may not be well recognized like Hans Raj College or Symbiosis. But the events that took place subsequently were all part of His divine leela [play] to bring me closer to Him.
The last date for applying for the Institute was February 28, 2009. I was one of the few students left in my batch, who hadn’t applied for any college until then, so I was a bit apprehensive and uncertain what to do next. I called the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus Office of the Institute and inquired if I could still apply for the undergraduate course in the Brindavan Campus. To my dismay, I was informed that the last date for applying for any course was over. My brother-in-law had come to know that I was applying for this Institute. He called me up immediately and asked if I was serious about joining the Institute. Something inside told me that I should say yes to him. What followed was like a chain reaction.
Suddenly, I received the application form from the administrative block of the Institute in the mail, which I was asked to fill out and send in the same day i.e. 8th March, 2009. By the end of April 2009, I was called to appear for the entrance examination. I did not do well in the written examination and I was sure that I was not going to make it. On the next morning when I saw my name in the list of selected candidates, I was shocked! Everything followed as usual and I was selected for the B.Com. (Hons.) course at the Brindavan Campus.
My second experience with Swami was on the eve of Krishna Janmastami [birthday] 2009, when the Brindavan boys had come to Prasanthi Nilayam. The boys who were in charge of card making had made a beautiful card to show to Swami. I was sitting in the third block and for a long time and I wanted to see what the card room boys had made. So when Swami came and the boys were showing the card to Him I made a desperate attempt to see the card. Swami had blessed the card and moved on to complete His usual round of darshan without my having seen it. Later when the photos of the festival were printed, one of the seniors came and informed me that I was photographed with Swami in several of the photos. So those were my first photographs with Swami.
In the same year, during Guru Poornima [the festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers]celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam, some boys were called to distribute prasadam [a devotional offering made to a god, typically consisting of food that is later shared among devotees]inside Poornachandra auditorium, where devotees were eagerly waiting for a glimpse of Swami. I took a box containing prasadam and went inside the auditorium where we were asked to wait. I waited there for a while and then ran back to Sai Kulwant Hall where Swami had already arrived. I got a chance to distribute prasadam for the first time inside Sai Kulwant Hall.
Once the distribution was over and Swami was returning to His residence, I remembered that I had left my sitting mat and fan inside the auditorium. I rushed to the auditorium to get them, thinking that the Seva Dal might bring down the shutters. But when I reached near the auditorium, I was amazed by the pin drop silence inside the auditorium. As I entered the auditorium, I heard all the devotees chanting ‘Sai Gayatri’ in unison. One of my classmates present there told me that Swami was coming there. My joy knew no bounds as I was sure that Swami would give us individual attention since only a few of the boys distributing prasadam were present there.
Uncertain as His ways are, He entered the main stage and sat for a while. He then called a few of the boys to bless the prasadam. I missed that opportunity as I was not wearing a full sleeve shirt. Another brother next to me grabbed that chance and ran to the stage. Nevertheless I was happy that Swami had come there, blessed each one of us and gave us His beautiful smile, assuring that He was very happy. A task by chance was converted into a chance to be cherished for a lifetime.
The Annual Sports and Cultural Meet drama presented by the boys from the Brindavan Campus had been a major attraction over the years. With successful dramas like ‘Bhakta Potana’, ‘Sant Kabir’, etc. it was time for ‘Bhakta Tukaram’ to be staged during the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet, 2009-10. By then I had come to know from our teachers, that no role, be it big or small, goes unnoticed by Swami. I got a small role of an untouchable from the village, who visits the Vitthala temple and gets ill-treated by the Sabhapati (village head). Until then, whenever we practiced that scene, the boy who was playing the Sabhapati’s role would swing the stick in his hand toward me and it would look as though he was hitting me and I would fall down.
On the final day, as we were presenting the drama to Swami, I don’t know what happened to me as I entered the stage; the same scene, repeatedly rehearsed, was lacking the right emotional touch even until the last day. The stick which appeared to be hitting me in the scene, actually brushed my nose that day. I got frightened and looked at Swami. Swami was in tears. Seeing tears in Swami ’s eyes, I also started weeping on the stage. As the scene appeared very natural with tears in my eyes, it was well appreciated.
Later Swami gave all of us a chance to pose for a photograph with Him and also gave us safari suits. We all sat around Him in the portico and requested Him to come to Brindavan. Swami in a feeble voice said, “You all study well, I will come.” The warden translated His words for us. Swami also told us that the drama was very good and appreciated everyone’s effort. That one assurance from Swami kept our spirits high throughout the year in Brindavan and we worked hard to make Him proud of us. Although Swami did not visit physically, yet His presence was felt in each and every activity that we undertook.
It was October 16, 2010. This was the first time I got a chance to sit for a blessing on my birthday. During that year Swami used to take akshatas (yellow colored rice) from a boy’s plate and shower them on the boys who were waiting to be blessed. I was praying intensely that Swami should take the akshatas from my plate only. It might sound foolish and childish on my part to pray this way, but for Swami, any prayer originating from the bottom of one’s heart is dear.
Finally, when all of us were seated for His blessings, there were few boys from the Higher Secondary School seated in front of me who wanted to get their projects blessed. Swami came there and started blessing their projects. I became worried that Swami might not take akshatas from my plate. Then He moved slowly toward me and as though responding to my prayers, He took akshatas with His left hand, He also took the letter from my tray and blessed me! His mere touch on my head sent divine ripples across my body. I took padanamaskar [touching the Lord’s feet] and sat down with tears in my eyes. Swami continued with the regular round of darshan and I was left wondering how the Lord beautifully answered a small prayer, made and forgotten long back. This small incident made me realize the power of prayer—a lesson for life!
This incident is by far the most memorable one and I cherish it every single day of my life. As usual, at the end of Akhanda Bhajans [hymns contemplating the divine source] on Maha Shivaratri [annual festival dedicated to Shiva], Brindavan boys were given the duty to transport the vessels containing prasadam from the South Indian canteen to Sai Kulwant Hall; a few boys (around 35 in number) would be required inside Poornachandra Auditorium for distributing the prasadam as well. Most of us knew that going inside Poornachandra meant losing a chance with Swami in Sai Kulwant Hall. But still, the required number of boys was available for distribution inside Poornachandra. Around 8.30 am Bhagavan finally came out. We were given instructions to start distributing once the distribution had started in Sai Kulwant Hall. To our utter surprise, one of the brothers working in Radio Sai came running inside the auditorium and started unrolling a carpet that was generally used for Swami. We were told that Swami had decided to come first to the Poornachandra. Our joy knew no bounds! The ever-merciful Lord didn’t disappoint His devotees who were awake throughout the night inside the Poornachandra, just to get a glimpse of Him.
As Swami was ushered onto the main stage, we all lined up against the carpet in a single line; the boys were offering letters to Him but He did not take them. He looked very weak and lost in His thoughts. I did not give up and kept the letter in my hand, praying that He would take it. As He came to me He extend His left hand for my letter. I could not speak a word, as usual, and with tears in my eyes, I gave the letter to Him. But ever merciful that He is, He did not move on. He was waiting there and I seized the opportunity to take His padanamaskar and only then He start to walk.
Only a few seconds had passed when Swami began heading back to Sai Kulwant Hall. I was lucky a second time, for as He stopped in front of me but only for a second, I could only tell Him, “Swami, please come to Brindavan.” He didn’t reply and moved on. As soon as Swami reached the portico inside the Sai Kulwant Hall, indication for prasadam distribution was given. When we started distributing prasadam, it was very stunning that a few elderly devotees were touching our feet, telling us that, “We could not touch Swami, for us you are Swami.” These words still ring in my ears, even though three years have passed! What was really memorable for me on that day was, when Swami was leaving Sai Kulwant Hall for His residence, there were very few letters that He had taken that day. And as the cameras focused on Him, I could clearly make out that He was holding my letter in His right hand. That was something I can never forget.
He reiterated the fact that for Him, each and every individual is important. At this juncture when we are going to face a challenging new phase of life, I hope and pray that He guides us, holding our hands.
~Tanmay Das
Source: Sai Nandana, 2015 (90th Birthday Offering)
Sathya Sai with Students
