Parthi Sai - Experiences, Articles, Teachings

[sundaram]

Late Kutumba Rao was an ardent devotee of Baba, he came to Parthi in late 40s to see who this wonder kid is, after being impressed and convinced by Bhagawan he stayed back and did a great service at various levels in the Trust and passed away in late 80s.

Well, this happened in 1950 when Shri Kutumba Rao came to Parthi for Dharshan enroute to Tirupathi . His intentions were to stay at Parthi for 3 days and from there to go to Tirupathi for a couple of day's stay. As he spent time at Parthi, attended a few sessions of Chtravathi, bhajans he forgot the time. He only realized the time when his money coffers became empty. With full faith he prayed to Bhagawan for the success of his remaining part of the tour. As a response to that he heard a message in the evening that Swami would be leaving for Brindavan by late evening, which means that he lost the opportunity to talk to Bhagawan in the next morning.

The determined Kutumba Rao prayed and stayed. A few hours passed and Swami left for Brindavan. Shri Kutumba Rao was completely at lost as he left with penniless to go home or continue his journey. When he was in that dilemma a person came in search of Shri Kutumba Rao and asked him are you Mr. Kutumba Rao. After hearing in affirmative the stranger put a pocket in Kutmba Rao's hand, to his pleasant surprise, told him, Swami asked me to give you.

Shri Kutumba Rao opened and found a set of currency notes in that packet. The overjoyed devotee thanked the omniscient Lord and pursued his journey. He never counted how much money was there in that pocket. As the Lord sent, it should have sufficient money to take care of his journey. As he started spending money to his delight he kept on getting money. He reached home and after spending some time with family he went inside the Pooja room to open the packet to count the money.

To his Surprise, there was only a Rupee note left in that.

This note is still in the Pooja room of the family members of Shri Kutumba Rao. That was the faith and that was the response of Lord.

groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabalist/message/28090

[sundaram]

Do not preach; practise. In politics, in the field of administration, in schools and colleges, in spiritual institutions, everywhere, we have a surfeit of preachers but a famine in practitioners. Heroes on platforms prove themselves zeros when they descend to the ground. Therefore, demonstrate in your own lives, how love can confer peace and joy, how all faiths lead to the same goal, how all men and brothers of one another.

- From Bhagawan's Divine Discourse in Simla on 17th Mar 1973

[sundaram]

sourced: SAI SPANDAN - Journal of SSSIHMS Prasanthi Gram - Third Issue
www.saibabaofindia.com/lame_hand.htm

"Naa Cheyi Baaga ayyindi"

When I was working, unofficially as sub Editor of Telugu Sanathana Sarathi, I came across a lady who had an experience - a miracle - to narrate. However, as per the then practice, such miracles were not to be mentioned in the Sanathana Sarathi. However, a friend of mine, Sri Krishna Mohan Raju, who heard of this miracle, investigated the same personally and wrote an article, published in his monthly magazine - Sri Vani, in Telugu. Here is the narrative, in brief: -

Janapati Lakshmi, a resident of Piduguralla village of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh was married at an early age of 12, but due to some high fever, her left hand became paralyzed, weak and twisted. Due to this handicap, her husband did not take her at all. God, however, had bestowed her with a melodi­ous voice and she used to sing Annamayya Kirtans and Bhajans to eke out her livelihood, supporting her mother as well. Even to tie her own sari was a difficult task for her. Because of this handi­cap she was nick named as "Kunti Lakshmi" or "Lame Lakshmi" in the nearby villages.

As per some well-meaning people, they advised her to get the defect set right in Vellore and she set about collect­ing funds for her journey and surgery. When this was accomplished, she set about for the journey, escorted by her music teacher. When they reached Vijayawada, by bus, all of a sudden, after seeing the bus for Puttaparthi, she changed her plans and requested her guide and teacher to travel to Puttaparthi first and then proceed to Vellore after having Swami's Darshan. Accordingly when they reached Puttaparthi, at the bus stand it­self, they learnt that Swarni was at Brindavan. As per advice of some local residents, they went to Brindavan to have Swami's Darshan. By a stroke of luck (or is it Swami's Grace!) she was seated in the second row, behind a lady who was awaiting Swami.s blessings on her birth­day. When Swami came near the lady, Lakshmi touched the Lotus Feet with her right hand and then wanted her left hand also to touch the Lotus Feet. With great trepidation she extended her left hand and touched His Feet and lo and behold! Her left hand became perfectly all right and straight. Joyously she cried out in Telugu "Naa Cheyi Baaga ayyindi" meaning, my hand has become alright. Swami smiled and graciously went off but other ladies nearby asked her to keep quiet, as she was shedding tears of joy and repeating the sentence - my hand has become alright. This was on 12th April 1990- after paralysis of seventeen years.

Thereafter, abandoning her plan to visit Vellore, she returned to Puttaparthi. narrated her experience to a few here and returned to her village. All people of the Piduguralla village who came to know of the miracle were exhilarated and happy to note that "Kunti Lakshmi" or "Lame Lakshmi" had her hand perfectly restored. In one voice, they proclaimed that only God could do such miracles and Sai Baba was God. This episode is a thing of joy to (heists and a puzzle to atheists and rationalists but to the people of that village Sai Baba is God.

[sundaram]

Saibaba in Croatia

One year during the vacation period, Swami asked a Greek lady to address the gathering. This lady happens to be a doctor, actively involved in Sai service. One of her service campaigns was in Croatia, then torn by war and conflict. She organized a volunteer group and took it to Croatia for rendering assistance to the war victims. The members of the group distributed packets containing food, medicines, clothing, and along with these, a small photo of Swami. Recalling the service experience, the doctor said, "The people were very happy that we had come to help them. One of the people there held up Baba's photo and said, 'We know this person'. I was very surprised and asked, 'How do you know Him? Have you heard about Him?' They replied, 'No, we have actually seen Him here.' I was astounded and asked, 'Seen Him? Here in Croatia? And what was He doing here?' They said 'Just what you are doing; distributing food, blankets, and medicines.' I was stunned." After the electrifying narration was over, one of the devotees present remarked, "Swami this is absolutely extra-ordinary!" Swami replied, "For you it is extra-ordinary but for Me, this quite ordinary and routine." A hush descended on the audience - naturally.

Source:
www.saibabaofindia.com/Babaincroatia.html
www.radiosai.org/Journals/05NOV01/TemplesLearning/Trayee.htm

[sundaram]

Swami's Leelas at Sai Sruti Temple in Harrow, Middlesex, UK



Jalarambapa, Shirdi Saibaba, Sathya Saibaba covered in Vibhuti.

[sundaram]

Phyllis Krystal experience with the divine avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Phyllis Krystal experience with the divine avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is special and is important reading for everyone who wants to go to India to meet with him. This book 'The Ultimate Experience' is a vivid account of her encounters with Sai Baba over a period of ten years. In this she explains her first experience meeting with this avatar.

There were many several people in wheelchairs or lying on stretchers and many obviously sick children held in their mother's arms brought there as a last resort, in the hope that Baba would heal them. As I looked around at all those waiting people, I wondered what pain, sorrow, loss or deep yearning had been the impetus to bring them all to Baba.

After what seemed like hours but was probably less than an hour, an almost audible hush came over the crowd. By craning my neck I was just able to catch a fleeting flash of orange as Baba approached the Ornate gates. Then he emerged into full view giving me my first sight of him in person. I had many different reactions in far too quick succession for me to grasp them all at once. But of one thing i was certain; he was more vibrantly alive than anyone i had even seen in my whole life. I was, however, surprised to notice that he was even shorter than I had expected, both from his photographs and the films we had seen.

I saw that his thick neck and shoulders and head, with its shock of black hair standing our all around it like a dark halo, all gave the impression that he was a large man. Yet I observed that his body was slight and extremely graceful. He appeared to float rather than walk and slowly and drifted between the rows of densely packed men and women. Perhaps what most impressed me was the way his eyes darted here and there over the heads of the people, as if watching and listening to tune in to their needs and conditions.

I prayed silently for him to give me a sign to indicate if he was the Master I should now follow. He continued to move gracefully back and forth between the sides of the driveway. Then he moved past me and several feet beyond. As I watched, I thought to myself, "So that is my answer. He is not my guru." Heavy-hearted, I realized that I must continue to seek further.

No sooner had I accepted this decision than he wheeled around until he faced me directly, and said, "So you have come!"

With this observation his face broke into the most radiant smile I have ever seen, like the sun suddenly coming out from behind a cloud and lighting up everything it touched. I was so dazzled by it, that I seemed to lose all sense of time or place, and my mind went blank.

I have no idea how long it was before he turned and continued on his way between the lines, for time seemed to stand still.

Source: www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=382994942482

[sundaram]

"I am a punkahwala; come to repair the fan!" - Sai as - Fan Repairman

It was the hour when man, bird and beast were still, wrapped in sleep. Everything had melted in the thick darkness. The train was speeding along like a spangled snake, along the Sub - Himalayan jungle track.

Dr. R turned in bed and opened his eyes, for there was a strange smell in the compartment, something burning, he thought! The fan was emitting sparks, like a Catherine Wheel! There was no one else in the coach, except his wife who was fast asleep. There was no time even to think out a plan. He put out his hand and fumbled with the switch, but, good God, it was out of order! The fan could not be stopped. It had to burn like that! ……. and perhaps, set the compartment on fire!

Pull the alarm chain? But, that will be a big sensation; it would involve delay, for the guard has to investigate, come, diagnose, prescribe, administer the treatment etc. The sparks increased ; the smell smote the nose.

"Baba! O Baba, save us, O Baba!" The prayer automatically rose from his heart, for Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was his never failing succour. The train slowed down just a wee bit. Was it a station they were coming to? Well then, when it halted, he could wake the wife and both could get down and tell the guard.

He rose and peeped into the darkness, far out into the oncoming stage. Suddenly he saw a man clinging to his door holding fast to the handle. How could have possibly hopped up the running train in that forest blackness? A nascent fire, a sneaking thief -what was he to do?

The man said, "I am a punkahwala; come to repair the fan!" He looked a seasoned mechanic; he had a screw driver in his hand; he wore a kakhi shirt and drawers; he smiled in an appealing way. So, the doctor opened the door and let him in. The train gained speed. The wife too woke. It was all so easy for his skilfull hands; a few turns of the screw and tap or two at the proper place; the sparks ceased , the fan whirred, swift and safe. He was a silent, skilful hand. He then sat crouching in a corner and asked the doctor to lie down and sleep. His voice was so sweet, his kindness was so overpowering that the doctor lost all fear and suspicion. He laid himself down and turned away from him and dozed.

But, the wife had her own fears. She had read and heard of robberies in running trains of even worst calamities and so, she had half an eye open to watch the stranger's slightest movement. And, even while her eye was watching him, he disappeared!!

A week later, they get a letter from Baba at Puttaparthi, "How did you like my Punkah repair?"

Dr.R. himself narrated this wonderful incident when he came for Mahasivarathri to Puttaparthi.
"This is My Duty; when a call comes out of distress and devotion, I hasten to the rescue", Baba said. And sure enough, Baba kept His word!

Source: from the Sanathana Sarathi , October 1961

[sundaram]

MEMOIRS OF THE BOATMAN
By Mr. K.V.S. Dileep

I faced an ocean far and wide,
Only a small boat I had for a ride,
Frightened I was, and completely crestfallen,
Cursing the misery befallen

Then came this boatman along the way,
With smile so serene and words so pleasing
He offered to be my friend, philosopher and guide,
Through the journey of ocean called LIFE

Armed with oars, and other implements
Me and the boatman set out for an adventure
We laughed together through the smooth sailing,
Leaving the oars to Him for the rough patches

Through the journey he always told
Tales of morality, and about lands far and behold
Under his tutelage and expert instruction
I found myself becoming a better boatman

How can I repay you, I used to ask,
Help and Love your travelers he used to tell
Where do I find you, I asked
Find ME in every heart that needs help

We journeyed along until time immemorial,
And then suddenly He vanished from the boat
No proper goodbye or a farewell hug
Leaving me in total shock

As a gasp of sorrow threatened to escape me
A strange feeling began to encompass
The boat continued to sail
As if He was never gone

It surged through the water much more than I rowed,
Then the subtle realization did dawn
For though the hold is gone, the grip remains
For though his voice is gone, the echo remains

The whistling wind of the sea then whispered,
Why to say goodbye my child If I never left
Keep rowing my friend, for I am always there
In the strength of the oars
And the Wind beneath the sails.


media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_09/01MAY11/09-Swami_and_me.htm