| |
SRI SATHYA SAI HRUDAYA
NIVASI
(Indweller of Hearts)
By Bombai Srinivasan
Chapter 18
The curing fragrance
Swami’s Grace flows unto him
who surrenders himself
totally to the Lord. Even when we fail to cry out for
Him in the critical time of our trials and
tribulations, He will still respond to the devotee
who has surrendered himself. Be it pain or pleasure,
good or bad, the real devotee does not bother. He
considers it, as His Will to go through it as fruit of
his own Karma. With this attitude he prays for His
Grace to carry him through the happenings and make the
pain as bearable as possible.
And, along with our prayers we are to play our part
and take our own initiatives for possible remedial
measures. His intervention or non-intervention, the
timing of such intervention, the nature of such
intervention etc., are all matters beyond the human
ken and should not be a subject of reasoning or
concern. They should be accepted with unshakable
FAITH. Whatever happens or does not happen, be
attributed to His Will only.
There are innumerable instances in the Puranic stories
and other Epics of the Grace of the Lord manifesting
to save His devotees. In this Kali Yuga also,
countless number of devotees are experiencing the
saving Grace of Lord Sai from the innumerable
diseases, physical, mental and spiritual I had myself
witnessed several such instances of His Grace flowing
to various devotees. Some instances and such
information just happen to come my way.
I had mentioned in the earlier chapters how I was
blessed by Sai, in getting an industrial shed in
Madras. Those days, it was very difficult to get
electricity power connection for industries due to
severe shortage in the generation of power in the
state. I had applied long back for the power
connection and considerable delay had taken place, I
took the chance of visiting and meeting a Senior
Engineer of the Electricity Board. The name board on
the door of the cabin displayed the name "Mr.
Aravamudan". As I pushed open the door and entered
into the office cabin, a beautiful photograph of
Bhagavan Baba on the wall, with His "Abhaya Hastha"
struck my vision. I was delighted to see Bhagavan's
photo in the most unexpected place. There were a
couple of smaller photos too on the table. I
responded to his invitation and quietly sat down on a
chair across his table. We discussed my problems
including the necessity for the need of enhanced
supply of power for my unit. There had been some
reassuring kind words from the Engineer and after a
little persuasion he informed me that the situation
had since improved and my connection should be
forthcoming very soon. I was about to take leave and
stood up to shake hands with him. At the last moment,
I told him how happy I was to spend few minutes in the
presence and company of a Sai devotee, as was evident
from the Sai photographs in his cabin. I introduced
myself to him as a Sai devotee. He said he had heard
about me, and invited me to sit a little longer, since
he felt happy to talk to me. He had something to
tell me about his own experience, as to how Swami had
saved him miraculously from undergoing a serious heart
operation.
Yes, Mr. Aravamudan happened to be a heart patient
having punctures in his heart. He was advised that
surgical cure alone could save him. Being a Sai
devotes, he prayed to Swami, while accepting the
suggestion of the doctor. He was admitted in a
Hospital in Madras, but his operation got postponed
twice for different reasons.
At last a fresh date was fixed for the operation and
he was admitted again in the hospital, a couple of
days in advance so that he could be properly prepared
for the surgery Meanwhile, some happening in his ward
gripped his mind with fear. A very close friend of Mr.
Aravamudan had also been admitted for heart surgery
but the operation was not successful, resulting in the
death of his friend. He was
Witnessing the body being removed. As the day of his
own operation dawned, the fear in his mind increased.
He resorted praying to Sai with all fervor and
devotion to be saved. Those days as the open heart
surgery was a new medical development, the patients
used to get greatly concerned and worried. Mr.
Aravamudan was no exception to this fear psychosis.
He prayed and prayed for His blessings to save him.
He was wheeled to the operation theater and was kept
outside, since another surgery was being performed
inside. After finishing the earlier operation, the
surgeon and the staff were coming out. The surgeon
experienced the scent of some perfumes in the room,
which had been earlier sterilized. He got annoyed and
shouted who had lit the Incense in the sterilized room
where the patients were kept ready for surgery. None
was aware of any "incense" material in the room and in
fact there was no incense at all. But the sweet
fragrance was pervading the room. The Sai devotees
know well that such manifestation of fragrance in
unexpected place, indicates the Omni Presence of Sai
in their midst.
Mr. Aravamudan was now moved to the operation theater.
All preliminary checks before the operation were
conducted in his systems with the monitoring
equipments. Surprisingly enough, the surgeon, on
reading through the monitors, developed second
thoughts on the need for subjecting him to any
surgery. Everything looked normal in the heart of the
patient. He arranged for further tests and found
everything to be fine. After prolonged investigations,
it was decided that there was no necessity for any
surgery. Ultimately he came to be discharged without
any operation. Back in his house, relieved of all his
tensions, Mr. Aravamudan slept well for the night. He
woke up very late in the morning and that too after
his wife had tried to wake him up. There it was,
the same fragrance of divine Vibhuthi filling the air
in his house too!. He remembered the scent of the
fragrance in the hospital. He knew too well, that Sai
had been with him through and through, responding to
his prayers and that the Grace of Bhagavan had
avoided the surgery which he feared most.
While Mr. Aravamudan was narrating the touching
events, I was watching his face intensely. His
devotion and his surrender to Sai were all evident on
his emotionally charged mien. The very Sathsang with
such devotees, listening to
the Leelas of Sai would ward off many of the karmas of
the devotees. "Sravana, Patana Mathrena Janma
Samsaara Bandhanad Vimchyuthe."
Author's statement in:
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/SaiGroup-BombaySrinivasan/message/1
Many of you may
be aware that I had authored a book with the title "Sri Sathya Sai
Hrudaya Nivasi (Indweller of Hearts). This book had seen the third
reprint, and is being sold in Bhagavan's Bookstall at Prashanthi
Nilayam. Many of you would have purchased and many would not have
got chance to go to Parthi and get the book. After the third
edition, this may not go to print again. As such I wish to bring
the contents of this book to each and every one of you.
Starting from today I shall post one chapter every week or if
possible twice a week, depending upon the response I get from you
all. I would request you to kindly read it and then re-circulate
it to your other friends in the Sai Family.
The text could be transferred to your hard disk, and if possible
print outs taken out.
Utilize the contents, as much as you like.
With Lots of Love and regards
Bombay Srinivasan
|
