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'Why fear when I am near'
By
Maj. Gen. S.P. Mahadevan, AVSM (Retd) - India
In 1973, I was lucky to receive a
silver ring materialised by Baba while He was travelling with me
in a military staff car on the way to Wellington Barracks in
Nilgris district to bless the soldiers of the Madras Regimental
Centre and their families. Later in 1974 during an interview
graciously granted to me and my wife in Brindavan, Bhagawan
declared "Why fear When I am near".
I had read about His earlier saying "Why fear When I am here", but
His statement "Why fear When I am near" turned out to be a more
direct Divine assurance for a military man like me. At that time I
was General Officier Commanding of a Mountain Division in the
snowcovered area of Ladhak facing the Chinese on one side and the
Pakistanis on the other. I had my usual quota of anxiety, worries,
problems and fear about the hostile weather, inhospitable terrain
and the adverse aggressive actions which either the Chinese or the
Pakistanis or both could launch without notice. Armed with Baba's
assurance, I was able to ensure the security, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of our motherland in spite of numerous
casefire violations by Pakistani army and many intrusions by armed
Chinese patrols.
In Treta Yuga, Lord Rama kept His word given to Sugriva and
Vibhishana. In Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna kept His words given to
the Pandavas. Similarly in Kali Yuga, Lord Sai had been keeping
His word given to an ordinary devotee like me. When I suffered a
heart attack on 24 April 1986 during my visit to Hyderabad. Lord
Sai as "Apadhbandhava" not only saved me by responding immediately
to my wife's prayers but also mentioned to some devotees in
Prashanthi Nilayam on the same day that I had suffered a heart
attack and that He had saved me. In addition, in His infinite
mercy, He had sent me through the Andhra Trust Convener, who had
gone to Prashanthi Nilayam, the Divine Vibhuti prasad, a basket of
citrus fruits and also a letter full of His love, compassion and
blessings saying "Don't worry, I am with you, in you and around
you guiding you and guarding you". Later, on 18 July 1986 Bhagawan
gave me a pleasant by coming all the way to Madras unannounced
just to bless me, and my wife.
Whenever I prayed to Him sincerely with full faith in Him, He
responded promptly and saved me from dangers, difficulties and
near-death situations - once in a helicopter crash over Kardungla
Pass in 1974, in a snow-avalanche in 1975, in a head-on car
collision in 1982 and also during Bhagladesh operations. When I
wanted to resign in 1983 as Chairman Tamil Nadu Public Service
Commission, being very unhappy and agitated due to the political
pressure exerted on me by Ministers, MPs and MLAs for selecting
their candidates, Bhagawan counselled me not to resign and gave me
very valuable advice, "You need not oblige all the time, but you
can always speak obligingly". This golden advice stood me well
during my full six years tenure as chairman of TNPSC. In December
1977, He saved my youngest son who is an Officier in Indian Navy
from a scooter accident, in June 1985 he saved my second son who
is a pilot in the Air Force from an air crash north of Hyderabad,
and in 1980, He saved my eldest son who is an Army Officier from
bullets during internal security duties. My wife who is a Sai
devotee does not take medicines except Vibhuti given by Swami. On
many occasions I have received answers to my doubts, queries and
worries from Swami either in person during His appearances in
dreams or hearing His words directed towards somebody else sitting
nearby. Time and again Swami had made me realize by His mysterious
ways that He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, knowing
all about our past, present and future and also that He is always
residing in our hearts. We are lucky to be contemporaries of the
Sai Avatar. Let us pray to this 'Living God' who is also the 'Loving
God' to bless us all.
Maj. Gen. S.P. Mahadevan, AVSM
(Retd) - India
Recipient, Ati Visisht Seva Medal.
Author of 'Military Tactics' and books on moral guidelines. Former
Chariman, Tamilnadu Public Service Commission.
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