Sathya Sai baba: January 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SWAMI IN KURUKSHETRA !!!

This happened many years ago in Trayee Brindavan, it was evening, and the post Bhajan period when the boys gather around Swami's jhoola (swing) inside Trayee, waiting for yet another of those memorable sessions to start. As usual, after Swami entered and was seated, there was small talk for sometime, after which Swami said, "Narasimhan, say something to the boys." The remark was addressed to late Mr. V. K. Narasimhan, a distinguished journalist and for long the editor of Sanathana Sarathi, after Kasturi.

Narasimhan, who was widely read and could speak on practically anything, replied, "Swami, when you are there, what business do I have to speak? It is you who know everything and it is you who should speak. In any case, the boys are waiting for You to speak, not me!"

Swami smiled and said, "No Narasimhan, you go ahead and speak." When Narasimhan persisted with his prayer adding that it is God who should speak to man and give advice, not man to man, Swami said, "Narsimhan, you know, sometimes man listens better to man than to God!"

Narasimhan was shocked and said, "Swami, how can that ever be?" Swami then said, "Narasimhan, don't you remember? When Bhishma told Krishna that He should advise Yudhishtra, Krishna insisted that it was Bhishma who should speak and not He! And it worked, did it not?"

It was on the advice of Bhishma that Yudhishtra assumed the rulership of Hastinapura and ruled for many years as a wise king who never deviated from the path of Dharma.

Narasimhan smiled and accepted that he had been vanquished in argument and went on to give yet another scintillating talk! God uses man as His instrument, even though He could do it all Himself!

The story of the Pandavas is an inspiring saga of courage and determination. It also illustrates that having the Lord on one's side does not automatically provide exemption from troubles or difficulties. However, the Lord does help in bearing the difficulties with courage and fortitude.

In the course of the dialogue, Yudhishtra asks, "Which is the best dharma of all?" To which Bhishma replies that the best one is the ceaseless contemplation and worship of Lord Narayana. Having said this, Bhishma composed on the spot a flowery hymn in praise of Narayana, containing over a thousand different descriptions of the Lord - this is the famous Vishnu Sahasranamam (which Shirdi Baba asked many to recite daily). The incredible aspect of it is that the first time it was recited was in the physical presence of Narayana Himself!

Karna is perhaps the most tragic of all the characters that appear in the Mahabharata. On occasions, Swami has praised Karna but has also pointed out that for all his noble qualities, Karna committed one fatal blunder. He surrendered himself totally to Duryodhana because he felt that Duryodhana saved his honour in an hour of crisis. It was this loyalty that compelled Karna to refuse even his mother's request to desist from fighting. Swami says that total surrender must only be to God and not to man, whoever that may be!!!

Moving on, Swami has also made a few other remarkable revelations concerning the Kurukshetra War. First is the fact that the war was fought in 3141 BC, when Krishna was 86 years old (Krishna, Swami says, was born on July 20, 3227 BC).

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_06/01OCT08/05-avatars.htm

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE TINY SPARROW !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT

THE TINY SPARROW

In a clearing in a forest there stood a huge banyan tree. It had a gigantic trunk and mighty knolled prop roots, and sturdy branches. And on one such sturdy branch there was a lean twig on which sat a tiny sparrow. A slight breeze set the twig into a harmonic oscillation, and the sparrow chirped in with rhythm.

The breeze slowly turned into a wind and the sparrow's seat shook violently. But the sparrow just continued chirping with none to listen to its melody. The wind turned fierce and roared; the sparrow only twittered.

And in the asymmetric battle that continued, the twig snapped, unable to bear the onslaught. What happened to the tiny sparrow?

"It just spread its wings and flew away!!!"

"Man lives in this world and builds a home, housing in it everything he has acquired in life. And he sits in this house and twitters to the tune of life. But when the winds are not in favor and the world comes crashing around him, he hops about lamenting his plight. He blames all including GOD!"

The tiny sparrow on that branch did not depend upon the twig, or on the branch, or on the gigantic trunk of the mighty banyan tree. It depended on its wings! So too in life, let us depend not upon mere twigs of passion and fashion, of pain and gain, of wealth and glory.

Let us rather depend upon wings of Faith. Faith in 'His' Benevolence, and in 'His' Benediction!

'When the tempest becomes stormier than we can bear, we can spread these 2 wings of

'NAAMA SMARAN' & 'SEVA' and glide effortlessly to our destinations!!!" - SWAMI

PS: "PREMA JYOTHI" EXHIBITION" in the 'Institution of Engineers India' building also known as Viswesraya Bhavan in Khairathabad- Hyderabad. It will be in public view from 5th of February to 15th of February 2009 opening at 10 am and closing at 9 pm every day.

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE SCORPION !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT

THE SCORPION

Once, some SAINTS were walking along the BANK OF THE RIVER GANGES... At one place a big depression was caused due to fall of water from a great height, resulting in the formation of 'foam' there.

From somewhere, a scorpion happened to fall into the foam & was struggling.

One of the saints lamented, "This scorpion is caught in the foam & is not able to come out of it. We must try to save it."

To save the scorpion, the saint got into the water & put his hand into the foam to remove the scorpion. At once the scorpion 'stung'. The saint was in deep pain, but again put his hand into the foam to save it. And again the scorpion bit his hand. Still he didn't leave his attempt & without caring about the pain, after a few attempts, ultimately succeeded in taking the scorpion out & put it on the ground!!!

The other SAINTS really admired this act & commented, "The scorpion didn't stop biting you even though you were trying to save it. You have really taken great pains to save this deadly scorpion! WHY?"

Then the SAVIOUR replied, "The scorpion didn't forget its' NATURE even when it was caught between life & death. Being born as a HUMAN BEING, should I forget MY DIVINE NATURE?"

"The difference between you & me is that I KNOW THAT I AM GOD and YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU ALSO ARE GOD!!! Your objective is to realize this ultimate truth about your DIVINITY."

DUST IF YOU THINK DUST YOU ARE.

GOD IF YOU THINK GOD YOU ARE.

AS YOU THINK SO YOU ARE.

THINK GOD AND BE GOD. – SWAMI

PS: VIBHUTHI has been sent to BANGALORE, TIRUPATHI, HYDERABAD, NAVI MUMBAI, ILLINOIS (USA) & SRI LANKA.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE CONVERSATION WITH GOD !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT

CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Once a fortunate devotee saw God and said "God, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

God says "Not at all, ask me anything."

So the man says "God, you've been around for a very long time. So, in your time frame, how long is a 'thousand' years?"

God replied "For me, a 'thousand' years is only 'five' minutes."

The man again asks, "That's very interesting indeed! And, for you, how much is a million Rupees?"

God replied "For me, a million Rupees is only five Paisa."

The man says excitedly, "Really? Well then God, could you please lend me just five Paisa?"

God looks at the man, sweetly smiles at him, and says "Of course my son. Just wait for five minutes and I shall give it to you!!!"

PS: Be careful what you ask GOD. He might just give it to you!!! But he would give everything to you in HIS time frame and not yours'!!! (Remember the NARADA & HARI story?)

Sometimes we feel that disasters increase instead of diminishing. Instead of getting agitated and asking GOD something, Spirituality teaches us that we should do more than our best, then close our eyes and tell GOD with faith: "Thy will be done. You think of it."

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...MAHASHIVARATRI OF 1978 !!!

On the previous Mahashivaratri in 1977, observing the difficulties of the mammoth crowd of devotees surging forward to have a glimpse of the Lingodbhava at Prashanti Nilayam, Bhagavan had announced that He would be canceling further public celebration of the festival and that the devotees could celebrate the holy day in their own places from next year onwards.

The next Mahashivaratri was on Thursday, the 7th of March 1978 . Even as devotees were wondering where He would be on that sacred day, He went away to Ooty during the early hours of the morning of 4th March with a very small contingent of students and devotees. He left Ooty on the 7th and proceeded to Mudhumalai forest, which is on the way to Mysore. He broke journey at the guesthouse on the top of a small hill in the forest.

After breakfast, Baba walked on to the beautiful meadow in front of the guesthouse and posed for photographs with every member of the party. A Polaroid camera was used by a student to click the photographs. The photos were given to the members instantly. Finally, Baba asked a student to click His photograph.

The lower part of His orange robe had been caught in the twigs of a bush. Before the camera clicked, Smt. Ratanlal rushed forward to set right the folds of the robe. Everyone was astonished when Bhagavan shouted at her loudly, "Don't touch me!" and she retreated quickly.

After the camera clicked, Baba held the photo coming out of the camera and gave it to Col. Joga Rao. As he held it in his palm, the picture developed gradually.

In the place where he had expected to see Baba's form in orange robe, there stood a young figure in the black and white photo. The form, which wore a white flowing garment, had three heads and six hands!!! (See photo)

Each arm was holding an insignia of Divinity. The lower left arm bent at the elbow, was resting on the back of a majestic young cow. There were four dogs in the background. The face in the centre was that of Baba! It was the form of Lord Dattatreya as described in ancient Indian texts, the integrated form of the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara!!!

That was His real form! After all eyes had feasted on that incredible creation and all hearts had registered the rare revelation, the photo vanished. Bhagavan confirmed while speaking to the students at Brindavan the next morning that it was indeed His true form. He also clarified that Smt. Ratanlal would not have survived if she had touched Him then!

http://media.radiosai.org/journals/Vol_03/10OCT01/jogarao.htm

(This is a repeat)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...16 YEAR OLD SAI WITH GRANDFATHER !!!

This was a trip to Puttaparthi in 1943!!! And on one of these trips, my grandfather was asked to go with the ladies; because they couldn't go by themselves without a male escort on these journeys that were so difficult those days.

And he was an orthodox Brahmin gentleman. He said; "I am not coming to see some 16 year old! He is not even a Brahmin! He has never gone to school! He doesn't know Sanskrit! I am not coming!" So the ladies pestered him, they said: "No, you don't have to come. You just escort us all the way to Puttaparthi because we want to see Him again. He has asked us to come."

I am not coming to see Him. I believe in my Lord Shiva that I worship everyday. I will drop you off all there and go to my relative's house and spend my time there and that's about it!" So they finally convinced him.

They were happy to have a gentleman to go with them. And they did this whole trip of the bullock cart, and the train, and the bus, and being stoned in Pennakonda and everything else! He was scolding them as the time went by - as he saw what the journey was like - and finally, they arrived in the old mandir!

They arrived there around 5.30 in the evening, and Swami in those days, used to sit on that stone and there was no bhajans as we have it; no devotional singing the way we do it these days. They used to just sing long songs one after the other, one person would sing a song and a second person would sing a second song, and Swami would sing the third one, but Swami would join in the bhajan too!

At that time in the evening while the bhajan was going on, these people - my grandfather, and my two aunts – arrived, and as they entered the compound of the old mandir; there was Swami, sitting on the rock.

And here comes the gentleman who is supposed to be helping these two ladies - this is my grandfather, Sheshagiri Rao. He takes one look at Swami that he had vowed not to - because he was going to go away - he takes one look at Him; two seconds, and bang! He has fainted on the floor.

So you can imagine these two aunts! He was supposed to be protecting them and here he is on the floor in a dead faint! Swami gets up from the middle of the bhajan and says: "Don't worry, don't worry!" He gets up, and helps them carry this 58 year old man into Swami's room and puts him on His bed. Swami says "Don't worry; he is going to be like this for two days. You people go and attend the bhajan."

So these poor ladies, this is the 2nd time they're seeing Swami; they have a father who has fainted away, and they are sitting and trying to sing bhajans! Talk about concentration! And there is Swami, happily sitting on the rock continuing with the bhajan. As the bhajans are done, they say: "What has happened to our father?" Swami said: "Don't worry, he'll tell you when he wakes up. But he is alright, I'll look after him."

So, for one and a half days, Swami looked after this old man - 58 years old, puts water in his mouth every 2 hours, materializes vibhuti, puts it on his head every 2 hours. This goes on for 2 days.

2 days later he gets up and he is a completely changed man! He said: "You ladies, you two daughters of mine, you can go back to Bangalore, but I am not coming back." They said: "You said you were not going to come here! What do you mean you are not coming back with us?"

He says: "No, when I walked into that compound, and I saw the young boy sitting on the rock, in His face, I had the vision of Lord Shiva. In His head, I saw the moon, and on His forehead, I saw the third eye! This is the Lord Shiva that I have been worshipping for the past fifty years. And now that I have seen Him, why would I leave Him? I am not coming back."

So he resigned his job and he never came back. He would visit Bangalore; he would visit us with Swami - when Swami came to Bangalore - and he lived there till 1965, until he passed away.

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_04/01JUL06/wonderful-swami.htm

This is a partial transcription of the talk given by Mrs. Geeta Mohanram during a Sai Retreat at Stourbridge, UK.

Monday, January 19, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE VIOLIN CONCERT !!!

I (Mrs Geetha Mohanram) remember that Laalgudi Jayaraman - a famous violinist in India was coming to Puttaparthi to play the violin there in front of Swami. My father (Dr Padmanabhan) used to always go from Bangalore to Puttaparthi on the weekends. And my father being a doctor also would always want to come back on Sunday night so that Monday morning he could attend to his patients.

And Swami in those days would say: "Stay one more day!" And my father would say: "No Swami! I have given appointments and my patients will come so I have to go." "Stay one more day Padmanabh!" "No Swami, I have to go!" So this was a constant thing in our childhood.

Sure enough after the morning Darshan my father said: "We are packing up, let's leave!" And in those days we always used to leave during daylight hours because the roads were so bad that in fact, Swami used to say: "Before it gets dark, you have to cross those 22 miles first from Puttaparthi." So he said: "Pack up!" We said: "Please, can we stay?" He said: "No! Pack up!"

My mother and I were talking: "I wish for once daddy would agree and stay!" Because we were very fond of the violinist – he was a very famous Karnatic Music violinist and I wanted to hear!

Suddenly we look up and there in His balcony with His bedroom door open, Swami is standing in the balcony and gesturing to us to not make a noise!

He gestured: "Don't pack!" We said: 'But Swami we have to go now!" He said: "No! Don't pack!" And He showed us with gestures that the car tire has a puncture. Flat tire! We can't go! Because the 22 miles ride from Puttaparthi to Pennukonda was the worst road. If anybody had a flat tire, Swami had a rule – you had to get the flat tire fixed and only then can one leave.

So while my poor father was getting the tire fixed, we were happily listening to Lalagudi Jayaraman's music!

After the music got over, Swami got up from His chair and asked: "Where is Padmanabhan? Has he gone to Penukonda?" We said: "Yes, Swami! He has gone to Penukonda." He said: "He will come back at ten o'clock, you go to bed! Wasn't the music good?"

Then He smacked my cheek and said: "See! You wanted to listen to the music, so I sent your father to Penukonda!"

PS: Mrs. Geeta Ram comes from a family which has been associated with Swami for the last four generations. Her great grandfather, Mr. Seshagiri Rao, came to Swami in 1943 and was the temple priest of Prasanthi Nilayam for many years. Her father, Dr. Padmanabhan (Merged with SWAMI recently) was a familiar figure in Swami's ashram in Bangalore. Having come to Swami at a tender age, her life is full of exciting and illuminating experiences. This is a partial transcript of a talk delivered by her during a Sai Retreat on May 13, 2006 in Atlanta, USA.

VIBHUTHI has been sent to CHENNAI, COIMBATORE, MANGALORE, BANGALORE, SALEM, (All in INDIA) SRI LANKA, MIDRAND in SOUTH AFRICA & ARKANSAS in USA.

Friday, January 9, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE TRANSFORMATION !!!

In one of the interviews to Anantapur students, (Ladies only) Swami had said that He will be present in our in-law's house even before His students step into the house and that He will always protect them.

It was this constant thought that gave me (Mrs. Krishnaveni Nagisetty, an alumna of the Sri Sathya Sai University) courage to go to my in-laws house after my wedding. I had never been to their house before that.

Earlier my parents had bought a picture each of Shirdi Baba and Sathya Sai Baba but when my mother was bringing the photos inside, my mother-in-law did not allow her to bring it into the house. She forbade my mother because she thought bringing the photos would bring bad luck to them. My in-laws were not believers in both the Sais. So, you can imagine my happiness when I saw an idol of Shirdi Baba in their house when I went there!!! Swami was indeed present in their house even before I had come!

Ever since, I was married, I have constantly prayed to Swami that my husband and my in-laws should also develop devotion to Him. Compassionate that Swami is, He heard even this prayer of mine.

Everyday, when my husband got up in the morning, he would look at his own face in the mirror. This was a routine he followed so as not to blame others if his day went bad. One day, he saw Swami's face in the mirror instead of his! He was amazed. He pinched himself but continued to see Swami's face in the mirror for one entire minute. And the same day, he got a job offer from a US-based company.

My husband had to leave for the United States the very next month. In US, while he was boarding a plane to California, Swami granted him a darshan physically, by appearing on the runway with hands raised in a blessing gesture!!! Those two incidents had a great transforming impact on my husband's life and brought him into Swami's fold. That was enough to make my husband a devotee of Swami.

My husband now reveres and respects Swami very much. Swami is everything to him. In the beginning of our marriage, I didn't have the courage to tell him about Swami's teachings, but after he had this miraculous darshan of Swami, I began to share my experiences with him.

He doesn't do anything without Swami's consent. Though a very competent computer engineer, I remember he used to get very stressed about his projects before. But now, he offers not only every act but also the fruits of his actions to Swami. All his tensions and worries have disappeared. Tears roll down my cheeks when I recollect these memories of how Swami transformed my husband.

In days that followed, my husband had many dreams of Swami. The Lord started talking to him through these dreams and guided him personally in all his endeavors. So much so that, he is now a staunch devotee of Swami! In the year 2000 when I had come to India, my husband was not very happy as he was left all alone in the house. One night he skipped his dinner and went to sleep on an empty stomach.

That night Swami came in his dream and consoled him saying that He was always there for him. Swami, then, went into our kitchen, made dosas (a south Indian dish) on the pan and fed him two dosas with His own divine hands. Believe it or not, my husband later confessed to me that, he felt really full after that divine 'dream' meal! Who would not after God himself decides to feed you?

Both my husband and I chant the vedas and sing bhajans daily in our house. I am very happy and grateful to Swami for this miracle in our lives, as it has made our lives so much happier and peaceful. (See photos)

PS: An alumna of the Sri Sathya Sai University, Anantapur campus, Mrs. Krishnaveni Nagisetty graduated with a degree in Zoology in 1995. Mother of 2 boys, Krishnaveni currently lives in Connecticut, USA where she serves as a Pre-SSE teacher at the Farmington Sai Center.

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_06/01JUL08/07-Krishnaveni.htm

Thursday, January 8, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE GOPIKAS !!!

The devotees' feelings determine his concept of God.

When a devotee prays: "Oh Lord! Don't you see my sufferings? Don't you hear my lamentations? Can't you see the troubles I am going through?" The Lord appears to him only as a pair of eyes. He is not able to see the full form of the Lord.

The state of mind of spiritual aspirants today is like this: when they are in meditation they appear like yogis. After the meditation is over, they return to their daily activities and are immersed in mundane pleasures.

This is not the way of life preached by Lord Krishna. He declared: Be Yogis at all times. What we witness today is: "Yogis in the morning, bhogis during the day and rogis at night!!!"

How can such persons ever remain yogis at all times? You have to think of the Divine at all times, in all situations, in whatever you see, do, say or experience. To pray to God when you are comfortable and to blame God when you are in trouble reflects your selfish and narrow outlook…

Lord Krishna once enacted a small drama to demonstrate how the devotion of the illiterate cowherdesses (Gopikas) of Brindavan was deeper and fuller than that of His consorts, Rukmini or Sathyabhama, or the sage Narada.

He pretended that he was suffering from a severe headache, and that only the application of the dust from the feet of a devotee would cure Him. Neither Rukmini, Sathyabhama nor Narada were willing to offer the dust from their feet, as they felt that they would be condemned to live in hell if they allowed the dust of their feet to pollute the Divine head of Krishna.

But when Narada approached the Gopikas, they had no hesitation in collecting the dust of their feet, because their only concern was to relieve their beloved Krishna's pain instantly, without caring about what happened to them as an outcome.

Even though they were warned by Narada about the dire consequences of their action, they told him that they were not concerned about the worst that might happen to them, if only their Krishna would be relieved of pain.

Krishna's pain was gone the moment the Gopikas offered the dust of their feet. Narada realized that the totally unselfish devotion exhibited by the Gopikas was Parama Bhakti (the highest form of devotion).

What you offer to God must be your sweet love. Your love must be all embracing. This is the foremost message of the Avatar.(See photos)

PS: "Oh man, it is because you lack love and are filled with selfishness that the world is plunging in so much conflict and chaos. It is only when you develop love and the spirit of sacrifice that you will realize the divinity that is in the human." SATHYA SAI BABA

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_06/01AUG08/02-ssspeaks.htm

Sunday, January 4, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SWAMI'S WONDERFUL ANALOGIES !!!

THE SHADOW COCONUTS

Here is a coconut tree and up the tree are the coconuts. This tree has a shadow that extends for a distance on the ground.

Now, a man who wishes to secure the coconuts climbs up the coconut tree. At the very time he is climbing the tree; his shadow may be seen climbing the shadow tree.

And, when he plucks the coconuts, his shadow may be seen plucking the shadow coconuts. The man who climbs the real tree secures the real coconuts and, at the same time, his shadow self climbs the shadow tree and plucks the shadow coconuts!

But if the man does not relish the task of climbing the real tree, and instead limits his action to the climbing of the shadow tree, he will not get satisfaction from the shadow coconuts.

While the shadow tree represents the world, and the shadow coconuts represent worldly prosperity, the real tree represents the spiritual life, and the real coconuts represent the fulfillment of life.

Hence it is said that the person who devotes his life and energy to spiritual values will 'automatically' get worldly benefits. In fact, everything is spiritual and the 'make – believe' world is nothing but 'the shadow tree', an illusion!!!

Do contemplate on this!

THE GARLAND

Man's life is like a garland, with birth at one end and death at the other. Between the two ends are strung together flowers of all kinds - troubles, worries, joys, sorrows and dreams.

Few are aware of the string that runs through all the flowers. Without the string there can be no garland. Our sole objective is to recognize this Divine string!!!

The hundreds of flowers in a garland are held together by this thread, which we do not see.... So also, this world has an unseen Master and lawgiver.

The Unseen is the sustainer of the Seen!!!

That SUPREME POWER is the thread around which the flowers are strung; we see and feel the garland very easily; are we seeing and feeling that string that holds the flowers together?

Are we seeing & feeling that supreme power?

THE GUEST!!!

There was a nice couple who had a guest. But that guest was like a pest. He didn't want to leave. At first, they treated him well for 1 or 2 weeks. Later, when they saw he wouldn't leave, instead of giving him 3 or 4 snacks, they cut it down to one snack. They used to give him 2 meals, but then cut it down to 1 meal. But he still wouldn't leave!!!

One day they got frustrated because now this guy was staying with the family for almost 1 year. They didn't know what to do to get rid of this bad guest. Then they made a plan:

The husband and wife enacted a drama that they were fighting with each other. "Either you stay in the house or I will." Finally the guest looked disgusted with their fights and left.

The wife said, "See how beautifully I acted. That's why he left." The husband said, "No, I acted better, that's why he left."

Meanwhile they heard a knock on the door. When they opened the door, the guest was standing there and said, "Oh, I acted even better," and came back!!!

However hard we 'shoo' away the 'VAASANAAS' like anger, jealousy, desire, Ego, criticizing others etc…they keep coming back to haunt us. We've to try even harder to keep them away if we've to MOVE UP THE SPIRITUAL LADDER!!!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...HOW TO SUMMON GOD !!!

Moorthy, Sri Kasturi's son was doing research in Geology, when he had to tour forest areas in Assam, India. (North-East) On one occasion when he was alone, a wild bear noticed him & started closing in on him!

Moorthy started running but the animal continued to chase him. As he ran faster over some rocks in his desperate flight to safety, he tripped & fell down but continued to cry loudly, "BABA, BABA."

Within moments, a truck appeared there from nowhere & Moorthy found safety by getting into it.

After a few months he happened to be in Prasanthi Nilayam when SWAMI told him, "I received your phone call & dispatched a truck. Did it reach you on time?!!!"

One night Pedda Bottu, (As she was affectionately called) a great devotee of SWAMI was sleeping under a tree opposite Swami's residence. As it prepared to drizzle, she went to the verandah outside Swami's room & prepared to sleep there.

As she was making her bed, she was muttering to herself, 'OM SRI SAI RAM' as a matter of habit.

Swami came out & asked her, "Why won't you allow me to sleep?"

Pedda Bottu said, "SWAMI, who stopped you from sleeping?"

SWAMI retorted, "When you're summoning me, how can I go to bed & sleep?"

The poor lady explained, "But I was in the habit of doing NAAMA SMARAN , whispering to myself & didn't intend to call you."

BHAGAWAN told her, "What does that JAPAM mean? It amounts to calling me only!!! NAAMA SMARAN is no different from summoning GOD!!!"

PS: Incessant NAAMA SMARAN of a deity filled with longing, anguish and love for GOD elevates the devotee to a level that he attains the form of that deity itself!!! – SATHYA SAI BABA

REF: SRI SATHYA SAI SATHCHARITHRA

VIBHUTHI sent to all. No requests pending with us as of date.

Sathya Sai baba