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The Virupaksha Miracle
Young Sathya appears in the
sanctum sanctorum of the Virupaksha temple
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
This incident took place during
Bhagawan’s childhood days, soon after the historic declaration
of His Avatarhood. The strange turn of events connected to young
Sathya had perturbed His elder brother, Sri Seshama Raju. It was
at this time that a group of townsmen from Hospet (a town in
Karnataka) consisting of the Deputy Inspector of Schools, some
Muncipal Councillors and merchants, approached Seshama Raju with
an invitation to Bhagawan to visit their town. Seshama Raju felt
that the change of scene would improve Sathya’s condition and
hence accepted the invitation.
Prof. Kasturi narrates the events that transpired during the
visit:
Hospet town is a few miles away from the ruins of Hampi, the
capital of the ancient Vijayanagar Empire. They alighted among
the ruins and trudged along the roads, once lined by jewellery
shops and flower-stalls, trodden by men and women of all the
nations of the East as well as travellers and traders from the
Middle East and the Mediterranean shore. They saw the elephant
stables, the Palace of the Queens, the Vijayadasami Mound, and
then went to the Vittalanathaswami Temple. They proceeded to the
stone chariot, the monolithic Narasimha, and the gigantic
Ganapathi. Finally they came to the temple of Lord Virupaksha,
the patron deity of the Vijayanagar Emperors, who protected and
cherished Bharatiya Culture for well nigh three centuries from
1336 A.D. to 1635 A.D.
It was noticed that throughout the morning, Sathya was moving
among the ruins, unaware, as in a trance. A revered sage,
sitting in front of one of the temples, said of Him, "This boy,
believe me, is Divine."
When the party went into the temple of Virupaksha, Sathya too
went with them but He seemed more interested in the height and
majesty of the temple than in the worship at the sanctum
sanctorum. He stood outside and no one pressed Him to enter with
the others.
After a while, the priest waved the flame of camphor before the
Lingam and asked the pilgrims to see the illuminated shrine,
because the flame lit up the interior. There, inside the shrine,
they saw to their utter amazement, Sathya!
He was standing in place of the Lingam, smiling and erect,
accepting their Pranams. Everything about the 'boy' was so
thrilling and unexpected that Seshama Raju wanted to verify
whether he had not actually strayed into the shrine, evading
everybody's notice. So, he hurried outside to find Sathya
leaning on a wall, staring at the horizon!
The amazement of the members of the party can better be imagined
than described. They did special Puja for Him that day, though
it was not a Thursday, for their faith in Him as a Manifestation
was confirmed.”
Reference: “Sathyam Shivam Sundaram” Vol – I, by Prof. N Kasturi.
Page: 41-42. Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications
Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam.
Courtesy:
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pages/Devotees_Experiences/Manifesting_The_Virupaksha.htm
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