Chapter 30
Telegraphic prayer

By the very next academic year he got admission in the pre- degree course in the Swami's college in Whitefield campus. He was one of the lead singers in the college.  He continued to study there till the end of his graduation in B.Sc. He was somehow reluctant to pursue his post-graduation at Prashanthi Nilayam. He did not like the idea of studying at Parthi campus. He was earnestly trying to secure admission in some other universities.  He had even written an entrance test in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.   My wife and myself felt very sad but allowed him to decide his future by himself. We helped him in all his endeavors. In the meanwhile, the summer vocation in Sri Sathya Sai Colleges was nearing the end, and the colleges were to reopen within a couple of days.

One day I had just  returned home from the factory late in the evening,. My son approached me and asked me whether I had visited "Sundaram” and had the Darshan of Swami.    I was wonder stuck by this question. There was no programme of Swami's visit to Madras at that time. I enquired what he was talking about.   He told me that Swami had come to Madras all of a sudden and that Swami was staying in Sundaram. .  He also informed that Baba may leave Madras early next morning.

My son gave me an surprise.  He announced that he was proceeding to Parthi the next day and join the college, for his M.Sc. course. I enquired what was the reason for this sudden change of mind.  He replied that it was because of Swami.

He explained the situation further. Though he was not a regular visitor to SUNDARAM, on that particular day, he went there with an old college mate, who wanted to see SUNDARAM.  He understood from the small crowd gathered there, that Swami was inside, and was likely to come out anytime now. He was standing by 'Shantivedika' near the  gate.    Very soon, Swami    emerged  from 'Sundaram" walked straight to my son, and talked to him Swami  had asked him, when he was proceeding to Parthi and Join the college.  There was nothing more to think about the matter, since Swami had Himself asked.  He replied that "Swami I am going tomorrow".  A reluctant boy was made to fall in line with Swami by the unexpected  Divine visit and the face to face talk with Him.

Now the readers might be wondering how was it that Swami was in Madras unannounced and without any   real programme.  Here is the story of Divine mercy, which we all happened to witness. Maj. Gen. S.P.Mahadevan, was then the State President of Tamil Nadu. He was a retired senior Army officer. One day while he was in Hyderabad, he collapsed, after a severe cardiac arrest. His wife, who was near him, called out to Swami.  Swami had heard the distress call and instantly resurrected Maj. General.  After some days, Swami wrote a letter to Maj. Gen. Mahadevan, a letter written by His own Divine Hands, saying that Swarm had saved him and he need not worry. He had also written that "Why fear when l am near" For the sake of this devotee, Swami had changed the word from 'here' to 'near'.  Swami had also sent him a basketful of fruits. After convalescing for about a couple of months at Hyderabad, our State President had returned back to Madras.

On that particular day Maj. Gen. Mahadevan was sitting on the verandah of his house, reading some news papers. His wife was talking with the neighbor lady across the compound wall. Suddenly Swami's car stopped in front of their house. Swami got out of the vehicle and called out to Major General who tried to run down to the gate, which was locked. Swami cautioned him not to rush, and waited till his wife rushed to the gate after coming to know of Swami's unexpected arrival, and opened the gate. Swami, in His Divine mercy had come all the way to Madras to personally bless the devotee whom He had saved recently.

This unexpected Divine visit, solved the problem of my son's continued study in Swami's college, on which he was not so keen.

My son, had ultimately completed his post graduation from Swami's university, and had since settled down in Madras running his own business.  My dear Readers from various previous chapters, all of you would have, by now, become aware of Swami's Grace on this boy right from his birth  and at every stage of his education, the  performance of his sacred  thread ceremony, and then His  Grace during his marriage.  We call our son by the pet name Kanna. By the Grace of Swami his business was  flourishing and he has purchased a flat of his own.  The couple had plans to go together to the USA. for further studies.  But some events or other had been cropping up which had not made it possible so far.

An update please! (The latest information is that my son is now settled in U.S.A. with his wife and two little children).

Now to continue with the story:

In the meanwhile, his wife, Sow. Vijaya conceived and was expecting a baby.    She was subjected to regular monthly medical check up and was looked after by my son very tenderly.  In our custom, there is a  function called "SEEMANTHAM" celebrated during the 6th -8th months of pregnancy.  This is essentially a religious function, followed by Valai Kappu for the girl; all the lady friends and relative will adore the girl with lots of colorful bangles and other decorations.  The essence of seemantham is to welcome a noble and pious soul in the pregnancy, and also prayers to the Lord for the safe delivery of an intelligent offspring without any deformity. After the celebrations, their parents took the girl to their home, according to customs, to be taken care of, till the delivery was over.

The date expected by the doctors for delivery had come and gone. And yet there were no symptoms of any labor pains. One day by late evening, our in-laws came to our house with Viiaya. They looked greatly anxious and concerned. They told us that, after waiting for several days, they had taken the daughter to a specialist doctor. A complete check up and scanning was also done.  To their surprise, the doctors found that the size of the baby was quite large, and they estimated the weight to be somewhere around 13 pounds, almost double the weight of a normal child in advanced pregnancy. The doctors had some reservation about the safety of the mother in the normal delivery, and suggested immediate operation to take out the child.  The parents had come to us, directly from the doctor, as they wanted to consult us before any action was taken.

Patiently I heard their reports, and requested them to be cool and not to worry. They could do anything they wanted. But I suggested and requested that one more day be given to our Swami, Sri Sai Baba, and after that they could  their own decision.   It was late in the night and yet I proceeded to the telegraph office with my son, and sent an express telegram to Swami.  I tried to explain the situation in a nutshell and prayed that Swami should take control of the situation.  The second day after this prayer was made, our in-laws decided in favour of cesarean operation; a baby boy of normal health was born.   There was surprise for the doctors and the parents  The child was weighing normal,  about 6+pounds only, where as the scanning projected   double the  weight. Whatever others would have thought, I firmly believed that Swami by His merciful Grace had intervened to bring down the weight of the child to the normal one. The boy was born on an auspicious day, having the birth star of SWATHI.  The scholars had analyzed the horoscope of the child and  opined that the timing was very appropriate and beneficial for the child. This child  is now about 5 year old. They have got another male child too during the last year. An important coincidence is that this child was also born on the birth star of SWATHI !

(Another update: The children are now aged 9 years and 5 years respectively.)

We firmly believe that our own elder son is a gift from Swami.  He looks after him and all that happens to him is only Sai's Grace.  He guides, protects and looks after the entire family and we are only His dear Children.

We are striving our best to live the life as shown by HIM and to retain His Grace all along our journey, till He wills us to be in the earth. We do not wish to have another birth and if at all we have to be born again, it is our earnest prayers that  we should then live again during the period of Prema Sai and be with HIM and serve HIM to the best of our ability.

THE KNOWLEDGE

According to Brahma - Samhita, there are two ways of acquiring Knowledge - the ascending process and the descending process.

By the ascending process, one is elevated by knowledge, acquired by himself.  In this way, one thinks, "I do not care for any authority or authorities or books.   I will attain Knowledge by meditation, philosophy etc.,. In this way I will understand God".

The other process, the descending process involves receiving Knowledge from higher authorities. Brahma Samhita states that if one takes to the ascending process and travels at the speed of Mind, and wind for millions of years, he will still end up 'not knowing’! For him the subject matter will remain elusive and inconceivable.

But this subject matter is also given in Bhagawad Gita : Krishna says to meditate on Him without deviation from the path of devotional service, in submission. For one who worships ME, (in total surrender) in this way, --'Tasyaham sulabha". "I become easily available", this process. If one works for  Bhagavan 24 hours a day, Swami cannot forget him. By becoming submissive, he will certainly attract the attention of God!

Sankara (Mani)

At this stage, I take leave of you. I had made my prayers in the beginning pages. I had also made my submissions to our dear Lord in the concluding chapter.

'I do not know what is in store for me during the remaining period of my life in this birth.  He is the Director and I am only trying to play my part to the best of my ability, as directed by Him. I am well aware of the rigid disciplines and deep-rooted devotion, which He expects from us.  I shall pray to Him to forgive me, if, at any time, by mistake, I am to deviate from His expectations. He is Karuna murthi and l am sure He will guide me though the right path, as chosen by Him.