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A book on Him
Smt. Nagamani Purnaiya has written a
book in Telugu (later also translated into and printed in
English), entitled, 'Divine Leelas of Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba'.
In the foreword to the book she says, "I have availed myself of
every opportunity of witnessing His divine powers." The book
describes more than 140 miracles, of which she says "more than
115 were witnessed by me with abundant joy." Nagamani Amma was
the wife of Sri Purnaiya, the chief commercial superintendent,
southern railways, and the miracles she records were revealed at
what is called the 'old' Mandir (temple) in the village, in the
first few years after Swami's announcement. When the present
Mandir called Prasanthi Mandir was inaugurated in 1950,
the Mandir at the village became old! The miracles described
relate to cures effected by the administration of Vibhuti
created by Swami, and of raging floods subdued at His command.
Baba revealed to her, "It is because of your faith and trust
in Me that your bus could cross the river in spite of the
surging floods." Swami created Tulsi (basil leaf)
garlands, rings and pendants for personal wear. He also
performed surgical operations. "One day I saw Swami throwing
something like a banana peel over the wall," narrates Nagamani
Amma. "Then He came towards me and asked for water to wash His
hands which were red with blood. 'You had prayed to me to
cure that man, so I operated upon him,' He said. That night
I could not sleep due to my anxiety for the man, since he was
operated upon without cocaine and in full consciousness. I was
very troubled by the thought of the pain he must be suffering in
the adjacent room, and so I stayed wide awake. At daybreak Swami
called me and asked me to give the patient some surgical cotton.
'Go and give the cotton at once' He commanded. When I
went in, after hesitating at the door for a while, I found the
patient eating a plate-ful of idlies and chutney. Swami stood
behind me. 'This is not an operation by a doctor,' He chuckled.
'I have done it; so there is no pain caused, no rest required
and no special diet prescribed. He can eat whatever he wants.' I
was shown a long mark on the stomach but could discover no
stitches. Swami said, 'The Vibhuti I created and applied on his
brow acted as an anaesthetic. I created a Trisul
(trident) and a knife for the operation. After I had finished, I
smeared Vibhuti, and it was all over.'
"On another day, four men came to Prasanthi Nilayam with the
intention of testing Swami," continues Nagamani Purnaiya. "When
they reached Bukkapatnam, three miles away, they exchanged the
wrist watches they wore, deciding among themselves to find out
whether Baba would discover what they had done. 'If He is God,
He should know,' they thought. Swami called them and said, 'I
know why you have come and what you were talking on the way. One
is wearing the watch of the other. I know that you have come to
test Me, but this is a place for devotees. You can go back to
where you have come from.'"
Source:
Dr. N. Kasturi, Sathyam, Shivam, Sundaram, Part IV |