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Sri Sathya Sai Vratha Kalpam
(Procedure of
Worship of Sri Sathya Sai)
Index
Chapter 2
MAHIMA KAANDA (Swami's Divine Deeds)
From the time Sri Bala Bhagavan
took up residence in Karanam Subbamma's house crowds of people from nearby
villages, desirous of his darsan, began converging on that house. They were
worshipping him with intense faith and devotion. After participating in the
bhajans they were returning home with their hearts overflowing with
happiness and satisfaction. Subbamma too was feeling overjoyed at her good
fortune of witnessing these glorious developments. She was fully conscious
that all that was happening around her was solely due to Sri Bala Sai's
personal benediction. In gratitude, she willingly and happily placed her
expansive house at the free disposal of Baba's devotees. She was also making
arrangements for feeding them too. She was convinced that nothing in life
was more precious than serving the devotees who continued to arrive in
ceaseless flow. Ever since his arrival at her house, Sri Bhagavan was
holding regular bhajans morning and evening. As the gatherings swelled by
the day it soon became difficult to accommodate them within the house.
Crowds spilled into the street outside. To meet the situation, Subbamma got
a huge pandal erected for holding bhajans. Outstation arrivals from
Bangalore and Ananthapur were bringing their own tents. Even so the space
available proved to be still insufficient. Further it became evident that a
large kitchen was also urgently needed for providing meals to the ever
increasing visitors. Quite often, it so happened that the quantity of food
prepared would appear to be insufficient. When such doubts arose, the matter
was taken to Sri Baba. He would simply send for two coconuts, knock one
against the other thereby producing four equal pieces, collect the water and
sprinkle it on the vessels holding cooked food and order it to be served.
Irrespective of the number of guests the quantities were proving to be
sufficient to feed everyone of them. Those who witnessed such miraculous
incidents would conclude that only the fantastic spiritual powers of Sri
Baba could make them possible.
Sometime later, the Old Temple was
constructed and Sri Baba moved there. As for Subbamma, even as she grew old
in course of time, she continued to serve the devotees with unfailing
dedication.
It was noticed that now and then
Bala Bhagavan was going somewhere without telling anyone. On such occasions,
Subbamma, accompanied by a handful of persons, would go in search of him.
The group would go over every hill and cave and grove and along the
Chithraavathi in every possible direction. Finally, they would chance upon
him, sitting all alone, in deep contemplation. They would beg and persuade
him to return home. Subbamma's motherly affection for Sri Baba was boundless.
As he was thus making himself scarce quite often, devotees were constantly
fearing that he might some day abandon them altogether and disappear for
good. As the cosmic purpose for which he had taken incarnation was quite
beyond their comprehension, they were feeling distraught and uncertain about
what the future held.
Be it remembered that it is an
inherent and absolutely natural function of Sri Bala Baba's Avatar to give
happiness and enjoyment to his devotees, through displays of his immense
divine powers (mahimas) by performing supra-natural deeds. Quite often, he
would take his devotees to the Chithraavathi sandbanks and hold evening
bhajans there. On one such occasion he revealed that for the first sixteen
years of his life he would display his leelas, for the next sixteen his
mahimas, and the rest of his life would be devoted to activities like
discourse and upadesh (exhortations). In the sands of the river, at evening
times, Sri Bala Bhagavan was frequently exhibiting his supra-natural
miracles (mahimas) and divine visions. Several of those who were fortunate
to witness those astonishing incidents are happily still with us. One day he
took his devotees to the top of a hill lying to the right of the pathway
leading to the river. He seated himself under a tamarind tree, which has
since become celebrated as Kalpa Vriksha (wish-fulfilling tree), and told
them that he would give them whatever fruit they desired. He went on
plucking fruit after fruit from the branches of that tree as his eager
devotees asked for mango, orange, jamun, guava or blackberry. Such was the
measure of his immense divine powers. On another occasion, leaving his
devotees in the river sands, he went up the nearby hill all by himself. From
high up, he called to those down below and told them to look at him. As they
did so, they saw a brilliant circle of light around his head. Occasionally,
a divine effulgence, blindingly bright, would be seen on his forehead. In a
moment, it would vanish and he would be seen with the serene visage of Sri
Shirdi Baba. On moonlit nights, the divine face of Sri Baba would be seen on
the disc of the moon in the sky. Once he repaired to the far bank of the
river and entered a grove of trees. He got a swing made of stout ropes fixed
to the branch of a tree and was swinging himself merrily back and forth. The
devotees sat on the ground enjoying the spectacle. Suddenly he asked them to
look at him intently. As they watched with eyes wide open, in a moment they
saw the vision of Balagopal of Brindavan gently swinging back and forth in a
beautiful flower-bedecked swing. A few devotees would sometimes go into a
swoon because they were not strong enough to face such mahimas, magnificent
displays of awesome divine powers. On such occasions, Sri Baba would
materialise akshathas by a wave of his hand, sprinkle them on the
unconscious devotees and revive them. Once some devotees arrived from
Kamalapuram and while they were with Sri Baba he enquired whether they would
wish to hear the divine music of Sri Krishna's flute. He then asked them to
place their heads close to his chest and listen carefully. They were
astonished to hear the enchanting musical notes of flute emanating from his
bosom. Sri Sai Bhagavan is none else but Sri Parabrahma Sathchidananda
Moorthy himself. To each one of his devotees according to his individual
wish, Sri Baba was providing everything in order to make all of them happy
and pleased. Such was his innate love and kindness towards his devotees.
Meanwhile, Sai Bhagavan's name and
fame were spreading far and wide in many countries. People were hearing
wonderful stories about him, that Shirdi Baba had reincarnated in
Puttaparthi; that he was displaying astonishing leelas and mahimas; that he
was healing every kind of disease; and that he was relieving suffering of
every description. Thousands of devotees were making their way to
Puttaparthi to have his darshan. He was receiving one and all with open arms
with overflowing love and kindness; he was patiently lending ear to every
tale of suffering and woe; he was offering relief from every agony; and
sending everyone of them back happy and pleased. He would busy himself day
and night. Dedicated and enthusiastic, he was immersing himself in his
mission of mercy and love of his devotees. Some of his closest associates
tried to prevail on him to take things easy, to be content with merely
giving spiritual lessons and not to wear himself out physically, to allow
himself adequate relaxation and rest. He would heed no such advice. He
explained, "Why are all these persons rushing to me if not to seek relief
from their problems and sorrows? Of what use is mere bodha (preaching) to a
person beset with baadha (suffering)? I should first relieve them of their
agony. Once they attain bodily comfort and happiness, they will turn into
devotees and undertake bhajans". This too, he would further add, was part
and parcel of his scheme of things, his programme of action. From every nook
and corner, countless persons were reaching Sri Baba seeking relief from
chronic diseases of every description, bodily ailments and disabilities and,
most importantly, possession by evil spirits. With immense pity and kindness
he would heartily receive them and send them back home fully healed and
happy. Several devotees were begging him to visit their towns or villages.
Just to please them, Sai Bhagavan would go there. Out of love and gratitude
they were cheerfully receiving him in their homes happy at their good
fortune at playing host and worshipping him to their hearts' content. Once
he met a devotee who was chronically ill with gastric ulcer which had been
troubling him for a long time. With his usual wave of hand he materialised
all the needed surgical instruments for operating on him and fully relieved
him of his chronic ailment. That devotee thus received not only sound health
but also heavenly bliss at the hands of Sri Baba himself. As Sri Baba went
on displaying his mahimas, people went on swarming to him in ever increasing
numbers and received his benediction.
Sri Sathya Sai Bhagavan was always
assuring devotees, "Why fear, when I am here? Wherever I may be at any
moment, I will unfailingly be looking after your welfare". Once he was
walking in the company of his devotees on the seashore near the seaside town
of Machilipatnam. Leaving the others behind he entered the waters and
proceeded forth walking into deeper waters. Suddenly everyone heard some
loud report and looked intently towards the distant sea. There in the midst
of far off waters all of them saw a clear vision of Seshasayee (Lord Vishnu)
reclining on the bed formed by the celestial serpent, Aadisesha. The vision
was sharp and clear and lasted but a minute. The next moment the devotees
found Sri Sai Bhagavan standing by their side. They were all overjoyed; they
realised that they had the rarest privilege of witnessing, with their own
physical eye, a cosmic Truth. Sri Sai Bhagavan moving among them in flesh
and blood was no way distinct from Sri Maha Vishnu (Srimannarayana)
reclining on his bed of Aadisesha, of whom they had a vision just a while
ago.
Those who completely and
unreservedly surrender themselves to Sri Sai Bhagavan, who sincerely yearn
for his protection, worship him with genuine devotion and faith and seek
refuge in him are defended and protected by him. Even those who are not
quite aware of the divine significance of Sri Sai's Avatar, those who have
not even seen him, those who have not even heard his name - all those will
nevertheless receive his love and kindness and blessings. Once Sri Bhagavan
was on a long journey travelling in his car. As he was passing through a
sparsely peopled area he noticed a young woman walking along the road with a
small bundle on her head and a child at her hip. Apparently she was going to
her village on foot. Sri Bhagavan ordered the car to be stopped and called
the woman to come near. He gave her some money and some eatables. He told
her, "The festival of Deepavali is approaching, Celebrate it in good style
and enjoy yourself". Then he enquired whether she had ever heard the name of
Puttaparthi Sai Baba. She replied that she had heard the name but never saw
him. With a gentle smile lighting up his face, Sri Baba told her, "I am
myself that Puttaparthi Sai Baba", and resumed his journey. What more
convincing proof is needed to establish that Paramathma looks upon every
being with a perfect sense of equality, with even measure of love and
compassion - a truth which the Vedas have been proclaiming for ages.
Sri Sai Bhagavan is an unfathomable
ocean of love and compassion and his mahimas know no end. It is impossible
for anybody to enumerate them. This Avathar has come down to earth only for
the cosmic purpose of resurrecting and restoring dharma to its pristine
position of pre-eminence, to establish Truth and to save mankind. Sai
Bhagavan's Avatar is the embodiment of Truth and he is always at the beck
and call of his eager devotees. If a devotee as much as recalls his name, he
presents himself at once before him and blesses him. There was an
interesting event worthy of record here. Once some devotees decided not to
go to Puttaparthi for Sri Bhagavan's birthday celebrations but to observe
the great day in their own place. Elaborate arrangements were made, pictures
of Sri Baba were decorated with large flower garlands and made ready for
pooja. Worship was duly completed and the devotees were performing bhajan.
At the same hour, thousands of devotees congregated at Puttaparthi for the
usual birthday celebrations. Sri Sai was happily moving among them and
speaking with them. But, simultaneously, without anyone noticing it, he
transported himself to that far off place where his devotees were performing
bhajan. On one of the flowers on the right side of the garland decorating
his picture in the pooja, he appeared in miniature form. Wearing red clothes
and mounting a white horse, he was seen by one and all. The horse was about
an inch tall and his body was about an inch high. He was seen with his hand
raised in benediction. The vision lasted for about three minutes.
Photographs were taken which still exist. The devotees at Puttaparthi never
knew that Sri Sai had been away from them even for a minute. And those who
were doing bhajan at a place far removed from Puttaparthi had never expected
that Sri Sai would present himself at their celebrations. But once they
beheld, most unexpectedly, the image of Sri Sai in their flower garland
their rapturous joy knew no bounds.
This is but a single instance of
Sri Sai's abounding love and affection. Devotees alone can fully enjoy the
bliss of such mahimas.
The above incident had an
interesting sequel. About four days after the birthday celebrations devotees
from that village went to Puttaparthi to have Sri Sai's darsan. As soon as
he noticed them, he beckoned them to him and smiling softly said, "You were
so good to pray to me with such intense devotion. I therefore hastened to
you on a white horse and appeared before you". The devotees were delighted
to hear those words and told each other that Sri Sai himself stated what
they themselves wanted to tell him in person and had travelled all the way
to Puttaparthi. They bowed to his feet in reverence and went their way.
Common people may think that here
is an instance of Sri Sai's immense mahimas. But it is but quite a natural
and essential part of Sri Sai Bhagavan's agenda of providing happiness and
mental pleasure to His devotees. Appearing before those who are facing
dangerous situations and rescuing them; assuming various forms for saving
numberless devotees caught in diverse difficulties - such mahimas are only a
few incidents in the scenes featured in his cosmic stageplay. They are
manifestations of his inherent, characteristic principle of compassion and
love. They are inextricable part and parcel of the cosmic purpose behind his
Avatar. In the earlier Avatars, he was overcoming evil forces and dealing
out commensurate punishment to them. In the present Avatar there is no
question of any code of punishment. The dominant and primary principle is
now to transform and correct the evil doers by gentle persuasion and turn
them to the path of virtue and piety. What we are beholding before us is
Prema Avatar. Sri Sai is the encapsulation, personification of love, pity
and kindness. His creed is to save those who are suffering, who are
oppressed. It is our extra-ordinary fortune to be able to see and feel
Bhagavan moving among us, with us, in flesh and blood. May all the people
the world over perform Sri Sathya Sai Vratham with abiding devotion and
obtain fulfilment of their hearts' desires through His divine grace and
blessing.
End of Chapter 2
Pooja will be performed again. A
coconut or fruit will be offered as naivedyam. After arathi the recitation
of the katha will be resumed.
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