Sai Spiritual Showers – Issue 67

Sathya Sai Baba Prema

Sai Spiritual Showers – Issue 67

The Omnipresent One cares for you in your absence as much as He enthralls you in your presence. One such account by a student of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba‘s University sheds light on the affection par excellence of the Divine Mother. Read on for an account by Sri P.S. Priya Chakravarthi, an alumnus of Sathya Sai University as published in Fragrance – A Tale of Love, souvenir brought out by the School of Business Management – Accounts and Finance, Sri Sathya Sai University.

From Disability to Ability
It was during Dasera in 1995, just after my B.Sc. (Honours) Course, in the Brindavan campus of SSSIHL. All the Brindavan boys who stayed back for the vacation were accommodated in the old Hostel located near the Mandir. As usual, the students used to rush inside the Mandir and were often selective about their sitting locations. I used to have a particular seat where I sat for Swami’s Darshan. May be it was my perception, but Swami appeared to avoid looking in the direction where I used to sit.

One day during Darshan, observing my vacant seat, Swami enquired about my absence from my brother (Vamsi, MBA 1995-97) and asked him where I was. My brother was perplexed and he feared that I was absconding from Darshan with no valid reason. Once the Darshan got over and Swami went inside the interview room with a few devotees, my brother immediately rushed to the old Hostel where I was sleeping. He approached me with anger but seeing me, his anger melted down. He saw me in lot of pain and my face wet with sweat. I was finding it difficult to even sit down on my bed. I was struggling with excruciating pain at the right lower side, but I had not mentioned about this to anyone.

He immediately went back to the Mandir and Swami again approached him and asked him as to where Chakravarthy was. My brother promptly replied that I was in agony and was experiencing unbearable pain. This shows the Omnipresence of Swami. Bhagawan exhibits His Love for all His beings where ever they are, immaterial of whether they are present physically in front of Him or not.

Swami smiled at him and immediately calling a doctor, told him to take me to the Super Speciality Hospital. He also directed my brother to accompany me. I was transported to the Hospital and was given medical attention. In the evening Swami again called my brother and the doctor, materialised Vibuthi and gave money to buy tender coconuts to be given to me with instructions that the Vibuthi should be applied externally at the place where the pain occurred. It reached me by evening. This act of Grace repeated for 3 days (Swami materialising Vibuthi, giving money to buy tender coconuts to be given to me)! The 3rd day, Swami instructed that the Vibuthi should be taken with water.

Then came the D-day, when the senior surgeon recommended that I should be operated upon immediately. I was in a dilemma and could not accept the fact that I was suffering from appendicitis. But the situation demanded surgery and I had no choice. Prior to my operation, I wanted to have Swami’s Darshan and possibly, a chance to talk to Him about my operation (shows my ignorance!). I was permitted for Darshan and was sitting in the front line, mainly to catch the attention of Swami. As usual Swami was busy and He was distributing Prasadam. I was not making any attempt to talk to Him as He was very busy, but the doctor on the verandah began insisting that I should take a chance to talk to Swami. Then, by Swami’s Sankalpa I got a chance to talk to Him. I told Swami, “The doctor says I need to be operated; I need your Grace and Blessings”. Swami gave a stern look and He moved away from me without saying a single wor d. This gave me a shiver that chilled my bones! I was baffled and scared.

My operation was scheduled for the next morning and the doctor administered some medicines. He advised his team to do an initial scan on me to get more clarity about my ailment. But lo and behold! When the reports of the scan arrived, the protrusion of the appendix was literally not visible! The team wrestled with the machine but it always showed a negative report for the protrusion. I was brought back to my ward. The senior doctor was astonished, but was ready to accept this as an instance of the Omnipotence of Swami. I was discharged in a day and I went for Darshan. This time Swami gave me a smile and moved on silently!

This is just one of the many incidents showing His Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience.

The Baba We Adore

The Sathya Sai Baba We Adore

The Baba We Adore
by S. Ramakrishnan
Bhavan’s Journal
[Nov. 9, 1975 pp 20 - 29]

Reverential homage to Poojyapada Sri Sathya Sai Baba on his fiftieth jayanthi. He was born on November 23, 1926. It was a Monday, Somavara. The month was Kartika, specially sacred for the worship of Lord Siva. The ascending star on that day was Ardra. The combination of Karthika Somavara and Ardra Nakshatra is rare and is exceptionally auspicious.

To see him is a feast for the eyes. To listen to his spell-binding oratory is an education for purposeful living. To hear his soul-stirring bhajans is to go into ecstacy. Once we meet him, he simply haunts us and we cannot but give him a permanent lodgement in our heart.

Majestic and winsome, simple yet sophisticate, steeped in our ancient lore yet well-versed in current affairs, agile yet imperturbable, wise and witty, with a bewitching smile and a visage that exudes sneha and karuna, with the shock of curly hair that forms a natual crown on his head and the flame-red one-piece robe that stretches from neck to feet, Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a magnificient personality.

Baba is virtually deified by lakhs of devotees the world over. In their homes and offices, his photograph finds a pride of place among the family deities. I have seen his picture adorning the tables and office-rooms of many of our distinguished leaders, editors, literateurs, scientists, administrators, senior officials in the Secretariat in New Delhi and State capitals and even in the Indian High Commision in London.

One of the most arresting and revered personalities of the century, Baba spontaneously commands the respect and reverence of millions of people, in India and abroad. He has his own unique way of transforming people in all walks of life. Their number is legion. It is indeed true that Baba’s devotees include a sizeable number of those who are drawn to him because of his superhuman power or siddhi and are proud of venerating one endowed with such a rare gift.

And it is equally true that down the ages Mankind has always viewed the mysterious and the miraculous with awe and reverence associated with godliness.

But then not all of Baba’s devotees belong to the class of mystery worshippers. His followers include many people noted for their intellectual attainments, rational outlook and scientific research.

What is the secret of this magnet in human form that goes on irrestibly drawing devotees whose ranks are ever swelling?

Is it his power for materializing out of thin air with a mere wave of his hand an amazing array of objects that holds the key to his irrestible pull and commands the spontaneous adoration of the multitudes?

The Baba we adore is not the one who performs miracles of materializing Vibhuti, photos, rings, necklaces, silver and gold idols, spatika lingas and other precious articles, but the Baba who performs the greater miracle of transforming men.

The Baba we adore is not the one from whom people expect cure for all their physical ailments– after all, the human body is ephemeral and it must progressively decay and wear out and birth and death are but obverse and reverse sides of the same coin and the one is inseperable from the other.

The Baba we adore is not the one, who according to some, is the founder of a new sect or cult, but the Baba who stands for Sarva Dharma Samaanatva.

The Baba we adore is the Baba who, without fuss of the `arrogance of humility’ associated with knowledge and scholarship, lovingly and convincingly dins into people the inner meaning and significance of our ageless traditions, symbolism, customs and manners.

The Baba we adore is the Baba who is the bhakthavatsala, the snehamurthi, the karunasagara.

The Baba we adore is the Baba who comprehends the basic motive of everyone and who ensures eternal life to ideals and institutions which seek to represent the life-breath of Sanathana Dharma.

Wednesday, December 23, 1970. At Dharmakshetra, atop a hillock overlooking the Western Ghats, in the shade of the beautiful lotus-shaped Sathya Deep blooms the Bombay abode of Baba.

The sun had set some time ago and there was an all-pervading quietness. The sky had been lit up by the innumerable stars and star-clusters. There was something indescribably serene about the atmosphere. The clock had just struck the quarter hour to eight- the clock, the handiwork of man, a mechanical contrivance which, in its littleness, is vainly trying to measure the Immeasurable Eternity.

One felt the hovering presence of some Mighty Force. As Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas averred, the mind is famed for its swiftness even to outstrip the wind. But in Baba’s presence, the mind is riveted, as it were, and stands still, as if bidden.

About a dozen close devotees were there in the mini-guest house adjacent to Saytha Deep – some in the courtyard, some in the verandah and some inside the rooms. Dr. V. K. Gokak, Sri N. Kasturi, the late Sri P. R. Kamani, Sir Indulal Shah and Sir Ratanlal were in the rooms. I also happened to be among them. We were `conversing silently.’

In the verandah was an American, Dr. Joseph Hislop, from California. For the past forty years, Dr. Hislop had been on a pilgrimage in quest of Truth. He had associated himself with various religious and saintly organizations, and had been making a study and pursuing the search by a life of dedication to the cause. He has been a keen and ardent student of Eastern Religion and Mysticism, having had long contacts with Burmese monasteries (Buddhist monks) and Indian teachers of Yoga like Sri Mahesh Yogi.

Dr. Hislop was reading the Guruvayurappan number of the Bhavan’s Journal (December 13, 1970), standing in the verandah, slightly resting his back against the wall.

Suddenly there descended complete silence. All involuntarily sprang to their feet and bowed reverentially.

Softly treading the steps, Baba gently came in. He went closer to Dr. Hislop and looked at the picture adorning the cover page – the picture of Sri Guruvayurappan, with Sankha, Gada and Padma in His hands,

Dr. Hislop respectfully gave the copy of the Bhavan’s Journal to Baba. Baba glanced through the Journal from cover to cover, graciously making sparkling explanatory commands and remarks. In particular, he stopped at the the feature on Upanishads by Sri Rajaji and then told Dr. Hislop the gist of the Upanishads in a few short and succint sentences. He spoke of the young, bold, intrepid inquirer of Truth, Nachiketas, who went to the abode of Yama, the God of Death, and wanted nothing but imperishable knowledge that enabled man to conquer death. Yama offered him the best of things, things beyond the reach of mortals on earth, tempting and alluring. No persuasions, no enticements could move Nachiketas to give up the goal that he had set out to achieve- the transcendent wisdom to be learn from the Only Teacher, Yamadharmaraja, who could dispel all doubts regarding the mystery of life and death. Nachiketas was not made of common clay- he was one of the few that had the courage turn his gaze inwards to become one with antara chakshus and seek the truth and not, unlike the millions of commoners, to let the senses go after external pleasures. Yama imparted to him the Truth, and the vision of the ultimate reality dawned on Nachiketas.

Turning his attention again to the picture of the Lord on the cover, Baba queried: “What is the significance of the Sankha (conch), the Chakra (discus), the Gada (mace and the Padma (lotus) in His hands?”

None dared or could answer the question. We all looked on in mute silence expectantly for the answer.

Baba explained: “The Sankha represents the Primordial Sound, the Nada-Brahma. The Chakra,” he said, “symbolizes the Kalachakra, the Eternal Wheel of Time, that rolls on and on and on. And the Gada,” he proceeded, “symbolises the Will Power, the Sankalpa Shakti of the Lord, whose potency is voiced through the epigram – Tena vina trinamapi na chalati – Without His Will not a blade of grass doth stir. The Padma is the thousand-petalled flower, symbolizing the mind, with its fitfulness, rushing forth in all directions and the Lord hath it in His hand to proclaim that He is master over the minds of men.”

In 1971 a dear and respected elder, a distinguished educationist and philosopher, a former director of Bhavan’s Delhi Kendra, and myself went on a pilgrimage to Puttaparthi. We left Bangalore by car about 3 a.m. so as to reach Puttaparthi by 6 a.m.

During the three hour 100-mile drive, we discussed, among other things, about the advisability or otherwise of accepting a donation offered by a philanthropist for conducting research in Bhavan on Vishtaadvaita. The Bhavan has always firmly stood against fanning differences – denominational, religious, regional or linguistic. It is is pledged to foster harmony, unity. In view of the unbridled fanatic zeal of some of the overzealous followers of the great messiahs, there was a natural anxiety on our part as to whether the accpetance of the donation was likely to unconsciously carry with it the seed of some futile controversy on some abstract aspects of something or other. However, long before we reached Prashanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi, we unanimously came to the conclusion to recommend acceptance of the offer to Bhavan’s Executive Committee. Thereafter, we discussed many other matters and by the time we reached Puttaparthi, we had forgotten all about the donation offer.

We reached Puttaparthi at about 6 A.M. As usual, there were large crowds of devotees, from far and near. When our request to have an audience was submitted to Baba, he told the messenger that “they left Bangalore at 3 A.M. They have not even taken water this morning. First give them breakfast and then let them see me.”

When we were duly ushered into Baba’s holy presence, we prostrated before him. He affectionately patted us and bade us to sit. After solicitous enquiries about the Bhavan, with a broad grin, he said, “Some people think that Advaitins and Visishtaadvaitins – followers of Adi Shankara and followers of Ramanuja – cannot work together, isn’t it? This is absolutely wrong.”

We were dazed. How could he have known what we had discussed a few hours ago in the privacy of a speeding car? Baba added. “The Saivites hail their Ishta Devata as Pasupati, while the Vasishtaadvaitins hail their Ishta Devata as Gopala. Is there any difference in substance?”

Then with his characteristic smile, Baba asked, “What is the name of your friend?” I replied, “Professor Sankaranarayanan”.

“Does not his very name proclaim that Sankara and Narayana are one? How can there be any difference between Advaita and Vishishtaadvaita, Saivites and Vaishnavites?”

On December 30, 1971, Munshiji’s 84th Birthday, I had the privilege of escorting Baba from Dharmakshetra at Andheri to the Bhavan at Chowpatty.

During the 45 minute drive in his inimitable style, Baba explained some of the truths of life. Referring to Kulapatiji, Baba remarked: “The machine is good. It has worked well. But it has gone old and worn out. It may break down in less than 4 to 6 weeks.”

When Baba met Munshiji in his sickbed, the latter never asked any question about his own longevity or family matters. His sole concern was the Bhavan and its future.

Baba emphatically said:

“Your sankalpa in establishing that Bhavan was absolutely pure and unselfish. In the same spirit, you have nursed it with love and care. You have rightly declared that it is God’s work. You may rest assured that the Bhavan will flourish and render more and more useful services to the cause of culture in India and outside.”

Munshiji literally shed tears of joy. And Munshiji breathed his last on Monday, February 8, 1971, in less than six weeks!

It is not uncommon, particularly in our country, that many institutions flounder when the founding father fades away from the scene. But fortunately for the Bhavan, thanks to the blessings of the godly and good, and the dedication, foresight and genius of Munshiji, the Bhavan is forging ahead.

The Seed of the London Kendra of the Bhavan was sown in June, 1972 – about a year and a half after the passing away of Munshiji. The decision to found a Kendra in London was an agonizing one. “Will it be a leap in the dark?”, “Will the Kendra thrive?”, “From where will the resources come?”– all these and a hundred other questions had to be sorted out before embarking on the venture.

On the day prior to our leaving for London for exploring the possibility of opening a Kendra there, I had Baba’s darshan at the Sardar Patel Stadium at Worli, Bombay, where he addressed a vast concourse of lahks of devotees.

Among the milling crowd, I was just a speck and, even if I wanted to, I could not have thrust myself forward!

Baba who was taking a round among the crowd suddenly stopped in front of me and surprised me with these words: “You are going to London tomorrow?” I said, ‘”Yes.”

“Well, go ahead with faith. Whatever may be the initial difficulties, the Bhavan’s London Kendra will flourish.”

And true to his prophetic words, the Kendra has got over its teething troubles and is now doing well.

A Merchant-Prince from Gujarat who had made his fortune by his untiring industry in East Africa once came and met me in the Bhavan a few years ago. The man who exuded opulence from almost every pore of his body, I expected, would also be brimming with inner joy, but, alas, this was not to be. He did laugh during our conversaion, but the laughter sounded hollow and in fact it was only an echo of his deep grief within. I enquired of him whether there was anything worrying him secretly.

He opened up and said, “Yes, it is my young son, eldest son…” He could not talk easily, such was his anguish.

Slowly I gathered that he was sorely distressed because his son who was in England for higher studies had been nearly `seduced’ into leaving Hinduism and embracing Christianity.

All the persuasive efforts of the father and the even more worried mother had fallen flat on the youngster for whom Hinduism, with its “maze of thousands of gods and goddesses” held very little attraction and appeared irrational and anachronistic.

The gentleman sought my help in infusing his son with faith in Hinduism. I explained to him that our ancients had enjoined to look upon one’s children as equals after they attain the age of 16. Hence, any compulsion was likely to harden the heart of they impetuous and misguided youngster in pursuing his own decision. I also stressed the futility of brow-beating of imposing a decision on a confused and bewildered, though sincere, soul. I told him tht the best way to `teach’ was to follow the way of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: expound and explain the pros and cons of the issue and then tell the son, as the Lord told Arjuna: “I have explained everything to you. Now you do what you think best.”

However, I suggested to the anxious father that his son might get a much better insight into Hinduism by coming into direct contact with noted religious leaders. Entirely agreeing with this view, the father pleaded that his son should be exposed to the influences of some of the religious luminaries in our land. Indeed, two well-known Swamijis had a dialogue with the young man but then, he could not be deflected. In the meantime, I had also given him a few of the Bhavan’s publications for reading and understanding Hinduism in depth.

As luck would have it, Baba happened to be in Bombay at that time and on Christmas day he was to speak on Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, at Dharmakshetra.

I suggested to the worried father that he should try and take his son to Baba’s meeting which might change his mind. At first, the young man did not seem particularly enthusiastic, but somehow he was persuaded to attend. The boy, his parents and myself motored together to Dharmakshetra. From Sathya Deep, Baba came down to the pandal, moved among the vast concourse and then commenced his holy sermon on Christ and the significance of Christmas.

When the speech was over, wild with enthusiasm the young man embraced me and said:

“When I saw him and his childlike simplicity and overflowing love and total freedom from fanaticism, my heart throbbed. When I was listening to his message, my mind stood still. My doubts vanished. I now realize that Hinduism is all-inclusive, all-embracing, is the `Mother of all religions.’ I am convinced that the core and kernel of all religions are the same. To be a genuine Hindu is to be a genuine Christian or Muslim or Parsi and vice versa. Mere changing of label by formal conversion is unnecessary, nay, it is indeed irreligious.”

If this is not a divine miracle, what else is it! Has not Baba himself dwelt at length on the ordinary miracles? I had the privilege of attending the Maharashtra Sathya Sai Conference in Bombay on March 31, 1973. Referring to the report of one of the Sathya Sai Kendras which had with a sense of pride mentioned that Vibhuti was coming out from some of the photographs in a particular Sai Kendra, Baba declared:

“We should not give attention and thought to the Vibhuti that comes out of the photographs. We must make an attempt to see that the Vibhuti of divinity comes out of our own heart. The meaning of the words Bhagavat Vibhuti is that you should develop what is called divine sight or divine vision. You should utter divine words. In your own life, you should propagate and give rise to divine ideas. The kind of Vibhuti which you see on the photographs may come today, but may disappear tomorrow. It may be created by some people in order to give favour for some kind of thought. We should not attach any importance to this transient phenomenon. It is a matter of some regret for me that members of the Sai Organization are also giving importance to such things. This is not the correct path. Isvara who lives in your heart is something which is permanent. What comes as divine Vibhuti from your heart is much more important than the artificial Vibhuti which we see… What is contained as Ishvara Bhava in your own divinity, each one has to try and propagate and hand over to others. That is real bhakti.”

I have often wondered: What is Greatness, Divinity? Man in his ignorance or arrogance has endeavoured to define Greatness by many a yard–stick, but has failed in the attempt. But when we are in the presence of Baba, we sense sublime Greatness — it is in the air, suffused throuhgout in the atmosphere around. All doubts and discords, all the petty things that trouble us at other hours, just evaporate. It is dazzlingly bright, yet soothingly cool. It is felt, but is indefinable. It is everywhere, but cannot be seen anywhere by the naked eye.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a soumyamurti. The mere sight of this Sanathana Sarathi’s radiant face, full of mercy and compassion, comforts and consoles. The words that flow from him dispel all doubts. They carry with them a force that is neither that of vehemence nor of cold logic. It is a force generated by the alchemy of love, springing from an Akshayapatra of Karuna and Prema.

Poojyapada Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a unique blend of sweetness and light, the gist of the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Darshanas, Epics and Puranas, all rolled into one, with the intellectual sweep, sharpness, sway and alacrity of Sri Adi Shankaraacharya and the directness, catholicity, clarity and simplicity of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Glory unto Him. Amen

Prayer To Our True Parent

Sathya Sai Baba Avatar

Prayer To Our True Parent

Tvameva Ma Ta ca pita tvameva
Tvameva Bandhusca Sakha tvameva
Tvameva Vidya Dravinam tvameva
Tvameva sarvam mama Devadeva

You alone are the father
You alone are the mother
You alone are the true relative
You alone are the true friend
You alone are the source of true knowledge
You alone are the source of true wealth
You are my all, O! My God of all gods

Once Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was visiting the primary school at Puttaparthi. For reasons known to Him alone, he picked out a boy and asked him: “Who is your parents?” The boy perhaps thought that Swami might be the good and great God but not that good in English Grammar. So he began to answer: “My parents are …”, Swami stopped him short and again asked: “Who is your parents?” with added accent on the ‘is’. The boy was feeling uneasy and again began answering. “My parents are…” Again he was cut short. Then with great love Swami told him: “I am both your true mother and true father. Yet I am not two but one. So I have deliberately used ‘is’ instead of ‘are’!” How truly it is said in the Upanishad that gods are fond of telling things indirectly (Deva paroksha priya).

Bhagawan is also known to have often asked devotees, “Where do you come from?” repeatedly until the right answer “from You, Swami” is elicited. Indeed, Bhagawan is the true begetter and the so-called parents are only receivers, keepers and caretakers. This is brought out beautifully in the Tamil language by the word ‘petrore’ which means ‘receivers’. The sooner this is realised the better it will be, for the children as well as the parents of their physical bodies.

In the ancient scriptures it is advised that we must regard the mother and father as gods. Indeed Bhagawan often exhorts his students to do so. But He does not fail to point out to the elder devotees that they are not exactly good examples to their children: Either they set bad examples of behaviour without much regard for the five human values or they pamper them with too much (comforts etc) to live with and too little (aim or ideal) to live for. Parents must try to give more time, love and care to their children than money and material comforts and further they must not hesitate to chide and punish the children when they make mistakes. How well our true parent (God) does it! He calls us Dhunna pothus (Buffalos) and rowdies with a show of anger when we do things wrongly and bangaru’s (golden ones) when we repent and resolve to set right our courses. So in the present times it will be more appropriate to say: Regard God as your mother and father!

In the second line, the devotee calls the Lord as his true relative and friend. True in the sense that He will be with us through thick and thin and not only when we are fine and full of felicity; that he will not only praise our good deeds but also criticise freely when we go wrong. Anyone with enough experience of life will know the validity of this statement for human/physical relatives and friends are fair-weather mates more often than not. Inspired by Bhagawan’s example, so many devotees have showered affection and care on the people who come to our medical camps and other service camps that the people often exclaim: “Even our relatives could not have shown so much care and affectionate regard as you have done”.

In the third line of this prayer, it is proclaimed that the lord is the source of knowledge and wealth. We gain knowledge through direct observation and experience (pratyaksha) , through inference using our reasoning mind (Anumana) and through the words of others and the words conveying ideas received through intuition, insight or divine revelation (sabda). The truest and the most important source of knowledge is ‘sabda’ which is not only informative but also transformative.

Similarly, wealth is not synonymous with lots of money. One can be happy and healthy and very useful to others with less lucre and more love, less gold and more of good values of life; if wealth is regarded as a source of happiness the latter will be more so than the former. Since love and values of life originate in the Lord’s love for us and in the teachings that He imparts, He then is the real source of knowledge and wealth indeed.

The last line is a summary of all that is said above. Yet another meaning too can be read in it. God is in parents, relatives, friends and the circumstances of our life that we now have, in or behind all of them. Through them God allows us to experience the results of our past and present deeds: Through good parents He teaches us with good examples worthy of following; through the not-so-good or bad ones, we are taught how not to think and do things. Through the facilities we have, the lord rewards our meritorious acts; and through the problems we face the Lord helps us to learn where we went wrong. So behind and in front and all around us there is God facilitating our growth in the understanding of our true self and concomitant wisdom and happiness. We are indeed the children of God, heirs to the legacy of His love, wisdom and bliss.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: Spiritual Impressions

Experience The Divine Essence Of Darshan

Bliss Of Darshan

Experience The Divine Essence Of Darshan
22 Nov 2008, 0000 hrs IST, Shammi Paranjape

Once a large crowd collected at a big city venue for darshan of a Divine Master.

The place was packed to capacity with eager devotees, including the rich and the famous. A chauffeur became curious about the person who his employer was so keen to see. Standing at a distance, he managed to get a fleeting glimpse of the ‘holy man’. He thought that had he got closer he could have unburdened his problems and got blessings. However, that was not to be.

A strange thing happened after that. His life took an inexplicable turn for the better and his situation improved dramatically. Some years passed and he got a chance to travel to the ashram of the same holy personage whose brief darshan he once had. From amongst the thousands seated for darshan he was picked for an audience by this Divine Master. Face to face with him he was nonplussed when the divine personage said to him: “We have met once before, when you ferried your employer for darshan . Your plea from the heart reached me.”

The story exemplifies the power of darshan the sight or vision of a holy being, experienced with sincerity. `Darshan’ is different from ‘mere seeing’, as it is imbued with a sacred attitude of reverence and faith. So it has spiritual consequences. Devotees testify to experiencing a sense of ineffable peace in the act of darshan of a holy being as also to a sense of being spiritually rejuvenated.

Holy personages are store houses of divine energy and just being in their presence nourishes the soul. Kirlian photography which captures the auras of human beings has recorded that the aura of light around divine masters is significantly different; it extends far beyond the normal range and is layered with incredible hues of gold and pink, signifying divine compassion and love. Anybody in the proximity of such beings is touched and enveloped by the aura.

When adharma is rampant and moral structures are crumbling divine masters restore the faith and spread the light. Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita underlined the importance of the presence of these holy souls on earth whose ordained task it is to help humanity. Saints and holy men like Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Paramhamsa Yogananda, Meher Baba and Ramana Maharishi all helped to raise the spiritual quotient of humanity. Just being in their presence and having their darshan became an edifying experience for followers. Ramana Maharishi would sit in perfect silence in God-communion and devotees would have darshan in silent retreat. In this simple act, everything of real value was gained. In darshan , when a divine master glances at us, he’s viewing our stainless parts and bestowing the grace needed to make it more manifest in our lives.

Darshan in its purest essence, however, is the vision of the Lord Himself. In most religious traditions, this darshan or blessed vision remains the central motif of devotion where the inner eye is opened and dependence on external darshan is shed. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says: “Outer darshan is essentially insufficient and transitory… but God is omnipresent. The limitations of the body and the outer senses do not hold for the inner vision. Therein you can see Him at any time and any place and receive Darshan .”

Truly, once God’s invisible beauty is revealed through the Self in this manner, one is utterly charmed and is impelled to turn inward. The vision confers everything including deep satisfaction and bliss.

Tomorrow is Sri Sathya Sai Baba‘s birthday.

Reference

How Sathya Sai Baba Suffered For A Devotee’s Sake

How Sathya Sai Baba Suffered For A Devotee’s Sake

In the December of 1970, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba travelled to Panaji, the capital city of Goa stopping enroute in the town of Dharwar in Karnataka. In Panaji, a strange and mysterious turn of events took place, which afforded His devotees another glimpse into His Divine nature. In fact, just prior to this incident, Prof. N. Kasturi, Bhagawan’s biographer, was to start for Sri Lanka, as Swami had blessed him earlier to address the Sai Centres there. But, all of a sudden, Bhagawan commanded him to cancel his visit and accompany Him to Goa instead.

For what happened next, over to Prof. Kasturi:

Sathya Sai Baba

At noon the next day, I accompanied Baba on a circuitous journey to Goa. The three cars moved towards Jog Falls. As usual, while leaving Brindavan, devotees lined up on both sides of the road, anxious to get a glimpse of Baba and to see the Hand waving to them.

It was a Fiat 1500 in which Baba, Mr. N.D.M. Appah, Chairman, Mysore State Electricity Board, and myself were traveling. The road was stony and rough, so the drive was full of jerks and bumps – this caused Baba to reprimand the driver for not being circumspect enough. “You do not know how much pain I get in the abdomen when it bumps,” He said. We wondered why Baba who withstood worse roads better, was insisting on slow driving that day….

When the cars reached Goa, it was night. The stars came forth; they came with us, every yard of the road, keeping pace. When the border of Goa was reached, the Lt. Governor of Goa, Sri Nakul Sen, received Baba and let us into a rest house, where china gleamed in the shelves by the wall and geraniums glistened on the window sills. We had coffee; from then on Baba sat in the state car, with the head of the state.

Hurrying around the rambling roads, towards Panaji (the capital of Goa), the cars finally arrived at Raj Nivas, the Palace of the Governors-General of the “Portuguese Possessions in India and the Far East” for many centuries, but now, the official residence of the Lt. Governor. The time was 9.15 p.m. We had motored 385 miles, since morning, over good and bad roads, but Baba as fresh as a lily when He hastened up the red-carpeted flight of steps to the flower-decked apartments, set aside for His stay. Very soon, Baba presided over the dining table to which we were led by the Lt. Governor. He watched with amusement the contingent of waiters, and the beautiful chinaware, which the Portuguese had brought from Macao.

Though Mrs. Sen made bold to remind Him of His duty to Himself, He did not eat anything. He appeared to be anxious to send every one to bed. “Go, go! You are all very much exhausted,” He insisted. I protested that traveling with Him can never exhaust anyone, but He repeated that I was really in immediate need of rest. When we rose Mrs. Sen was informed by Baba that coffee be made ready for Him only at 8 a.m the next day! She knew that at Prasanthi Nilayam, He had His coffee at around 6 a.m., but despite appeals for revising the order, Baba gave instructions that it was to be brought only at 8 o’ clock.

Baba was alone in the suite reserved for Him. Nakul Sen pleaded for permission to be within call, but Baba sent Him away to his own room. We from Bangalore were in rooms on the ground floor.

About what occurred that night, Baba wrote later to Dr. S. Bhagavantham, in a letter I carried to him on the 12th December:

“On the night of the 7th, strange events happened. I could not lie in bed, I could not sit upon it, nor turn, from one side to another. Nor could I speak or call. I did not like to cause anxiety or trouble to anyone. So I kept silent, pretending that all was well with Me!”

Next morning when the Sens grew aware of the truth it became clear, why He had abstained from dinner, and postponed the coffee hour, wanting only to hurry away to bed! I too began to understand why He had come away from Dharwar, and why He had taken the driver to task. Obviously, He had been ‘ill’ when He started out from Dharwar!

Mrs. Sen felt that Raj Nivas was an ‘unlucky’ place since He had fallen ‘ill’ there, but Baba immediately corrected her. “No, it is a house of good luck! I brought the ‘illness’ with Me to Cabo, so that I could get rid of it here.”

By daybreak on the 8th, Baba appeared to be in great pain and Nakul Sen called in doctors from the Medical College at Goa, and some leading physicians of the City. Soon an imposing medical team surrounded the sick bed; their report read as follows, “history of pain in right lower quadrant of the abdomen since 3 p.m. on the 7th December. To begin with, the pain was all over the abdomen, progressive in intensity; towards the night, it localized in the umbilical region, and the right lower quadrant. Had difficulty in extending the right lower limb. Pain is exaggerated by movement. 8th December morning, had nausea and fever.” No one could be definite about the illness; there were too many experts and Baba was amused at the clash of their conclusions. The Sens were aghast at the turn of events for, among other reasons, the local Sathya Sai Seva Samithi had announced, that He would deliver a discourse at the large Maidan in the heart of the city, at 5 p.m. that evening.

Meanwhile, pain, nausea and fever kept Baba in bed all day. Information came that 20,000 people crowded the Maidan, awaiting Baba; and half the number had come from far off villages. Baba endeavoured to rise and don fresh clothes to keep the appointment, and not disappoint thousands of people. But Cabo Raj Nivas had no lift; for reaching the Maidan, Baba would have had to get down 28 steps and walk up some distance in order to give Darshan to the people. And then, climb the 28th steps back to His room!

Baba directed me to tell the assembly to disperse quietly, and to assure them that He will be addressing them in a few days at the same place. I was to tell them that He had taken over the illness of a devotee, for I had witnessed such instances of healing and saving in the past years.

At 8 o’clock that night, the doctors reported:

“Lying supine in bed, with legs drawn up. On examination, the right side of the abdomen not moving with respiration; abdomen tender on the right side, and the lower flank…, point of maximum tenderness in lower flank…, no rebound tenderness… guarding present over right lower quadrant, with rigidity of flank. Temperature 100o F; pulse 100 /m; respiration 16/m. Total blood count 22,000; neutrophils 88%. A diagnosis of acute paracolic appendicitis was made. Unwillingness for surgical intervention.”

Pressmen approached the doctors, anxious to report the reason for the postponement of the announced public meeting, alarmed at the news of the illness of the world-renowned personality. The doctors told them that Baba was suffering from an acute attack of appendicitis. This news was flashed all over India and spread through the early morning editions and the papers issued from Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore and Madurai.

Telegrams and telephone calls poured in from all over the country, praying and pleading, and denying – disbelieving, hoping, weeping and wailing. There were many offers to accept the ‘illness’ from Baba; some devotees said they would fast until Baba was free from the illness. Devotees having firm faith in His Divinity were convinced that just as the illness had been taken on miraculously, it would be thrown off miraculously, too.

The doctors told us Baba must be suffering excruciating pain, but He said, “I have taken it on upon Myself with Love and Love knows no pain!”

Ms. June Schuyler, a school teacher who was accompanying the party writes:

I had once asked Baba a question, and I now remembered His answer. ‘Baba, why did Jesus allow Himself to be crucified?’

‘Because the Great Ones never use spiritual power for themselves.’ Ah! Baba had not set the car right on Saturday night because it was not imperative for the good of someone other than Baba. “Baba! Baba!,” I exclaimed, “I adore you; I utterly love you. Imperfect as I am, I give my heart to you completely!”

Precisely at this very moment I became aware that Mr. Nakul Sen was motioning to Mrs. Rajagopalan, Indra Devi and myself to step inside the doorway of Baba’s room. I could not believe it was true. We crossed the threshold half expectant, fixing our eyes on the bedstead where the Master was suffering for His dear devotee. He was not there! He was standing before us, feeble and frail, with eyes full of love and mercy – charming in spite of it all.

He drew back the orange robe, and permitted us to touch those precious feet. The lovely feet were warm because of the fever. The beloved face was pale and etched with pain. The cheeks had been hollowed for want of sleep and refreshment. But He stood there for our sake. ‘Do not worry’, He said tenderly, in a soft, soothing voice, ‘It is a little upset, that is all,’ indicating the right side of the body.

‘Swami! accept what the doctors prescribe,’ we prayed. ‘What do the doctors know? What can they prescribe? I only want your Love’, He said, quietly, almost wistfully. He stepped out of the room into the adjacent drawing room where several others anxiously waited. He stood for a few minutes, looking languidly, lovingly, at them all, reassuring the timid and charging them with courage. Then He returned to the bed. None of us knew that the appendix was very near bursting point, and the doctors had said that He must not rise from his bed at any cost.

Later in Bombay, on Christmas Day, Baba referred to the “illness He had taken on at Goa” and the suffering it caused to many…

“The other day, a serious illness came upon this body in Goa. Many who are devoted to Me were plunged into anxiety and despair when they learnt of it. Illness can never afflict this Body. It cannot even approach it! If it should come sometime – believe this – it belongs to someone; not Myself. And it goes just as it came, of My free Will. I have no contact with it; I am not affected by it.”

On 9th December, the doctors decided to put tubes down the nose to relieve the hiccough, which was complicating matters, for taking the gas out of the stomach. They talked also of the urgent need that had arisen to puncture the lump and syringe off the pus from the abscess. It must indeed have given a terrible gash of pain for Baba, every time the hiccough pulled the muscle tight and affected the lump round the inflamed appendix! But eventually the doctors left the Raj Nivas with their tubes and bottles, as Baba refused to accept their proposals.

On the 10th, a Bhajan meeting had been announced at Government House, and word had gone round indicating that Baba would attend the meeting! Baba too said “Yes! Arrange it.” The doctors could not believe their ears. They did not foresee any possibility of a public appearance that day. There was doubt, wonder and amazement in the minds of various people, but a few of them were convinced that whatever He says will come to pass.

At tea time Mrs. Sen looked rather serious, as time was running out and already people were streaming towards the meeting place. Goa, which had been previously shocked by the news of the agonizing illness, was now jolted by the impact of such good news.

Baba’s condition may be described in His own words:

“The doctors were unanimous that an immediate operation was necessary, or they would not be held responsible for what might happen. They said the inflamed appendix had burst, and the pus had entered the blood – a situation that is fatal for all mortals!”

Baba had to move across His own room, across the drawing room, walk along the veranda, ascend a low step, get across to the doorstep of the hall which He had selected for Bhajan, traverse its length, reach the dais, climb two low steps – and finally sit upon the chair placed there. A total distance of 200 feet! A floral carpet stretched all this length.

Sri Nakul Sen spoke later during the Bhajan sessions.

“The doctors became panicky, and I could feel that they were absolutely against what Bhagawan had said to me. My sixth sense somehow assured me that Bhagawan was showing one of His Leelas in Goa and that through His Sankalpa (will) He would get rid of this trouble as quickly as He had assumed it.”

Dr. Varma, the chief of team of doctors came at about 4 p.m and finding a floral carpet covering a distance of 200 feet, protested that it was too long a walk. He suggested some short cuts through other doors and passages making the journey a distance of only 40 feet. He said, “The dais itself will have to go; let the chair be on the floor, for He cannot get up the steps however low they may be – and please, have the dais on the near side, not at the farthermost end of the hall.”

At 5 p.m. Baba was led into the bathroom, and twenty minutes later He came out of it, clean shaven, wearing a new robe! Fresh as a new blossomed rose.

When the doctors examined Him again, they could not locate any abscess, nor could they find any trace of big lump of flesh near it. The whole area of the appendix was as soft and as normal as it could be.

“Lo and behold!,” said Nakul Sen, in the speech he delivered as soon as Baba sat on the dais at 6 p.m., “Bhagawan walked from His bedroom to the dais, a distance of about 200 feet without any aid. He sat down erect on an office chair.”

Ms. June writes about that historic moment of ecstasy:

“Bhajan began, and my heart was pounding a joyous tune of expectancy. Love for Baba filled the hall. Ah! There He was, moving majestically down the hall, although He had required the assistance of two men all day. He now moved as if nothing had ever happened. His steps were as sure and graceful as ever. The cheeks which had been hollow when I last saw them were completely filled out. His Love flooded the hall. It was overpowering. He swung into the room, and when He saw someone leaning against the wall with a sick child beside him, the Hand began the familiar circular motion to create the cure.

Baba’s eyes which plumb the depths, His eyes which pour out love and compassion, His eyes which flash when he speaks of cruelty, falsehood, hypocrisy and injustice, eyes which can be full of quips, were as eloquent as ever. He took His place on the divan in front of the gathering and began keeping rhythm with the Bhajan being sung, with His head and hand. Mrs. Rajagopal whispered in my ear, “Look! Those eyes are more beautiful than ever. There is an ethereal expression, not of this world in them; a look of radiant joy and adoration.

Baba’s eyes caressed the gathering, which was watching Him without even a wink, apprehensive that the cure He had effected on Himself, might be only partial or temporary.”

Sri Nakul Sen was full of gratitude and wonder! While welcoming Baba, and introducing the gathering to Him as convention demanded, he said:

“Bhagawan lives in the inner recesses of the hearts of His devotees; there is nothing He would not do for them. He has simultaneously appeared in this Form at different places, to help His devotees in distress, or to save them from impending calamities, of which He alone has the precognition! Through His Sankalpa or Will, He has assumed the illness of His devotees and suffered it from them, because they would have succumbed to it, if left alone.

We have witnessed this now, a Leela which has greatly perplexed the medical experts of Goa. It leaves no doubt in our minds that there is nothing on this earth which is beyond Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. His Leela is Adbhut – unprecedented; it is Romancha Kari – exhilarating; it is Madhumaya – sweet in memory; Mangalamayi – promoting the happiness and welfare of mankind; Manoharini – overpowering the mind and turning it to truth, beauty and goodness. It gives Ananda – bliss!…”

Nakul Sen concluded his descriptions of the ancient glories of Goa and its sacred contacts with Shiva, Rama, Krishna, and Parasurama, the Divine Avatars, with these words:

“No wonder the Lord decided to visit this ancient and sacred land again, in the form which He has assumed now, with the name of Sathya Sai Baba; He has loved Goa in His previous incarnations and Goa continues to be dear to Him even now.”

Baba spoke for over forty minutes with His usual emphasis and élan. The gathering listened spellbound, for it was a message of triumph, benevolence, and benediction.

The illness that had vanished an hour ago was still uppermost in the minds of all, and so, Baba spoke of the significance of its ‘entrance and exit’ and its place in the scheme of the Avatar’s activities.

“There are many who doubt the existence of God or deny Him, or dismiss the idea of God as a silly outworn superstition. To make them discard their conceit, the Divine, out of Its Innate Grace, reveals its superhuman glory. The doubters receive the reply without asking, the door is opened without even a knock; for those who deny will not knock at all. The ‘superstition’ will be illumined into divine status by a concrete experience, an indisputable fact.

The human body generates diseases as a result of faulty food or frivolous habits, or foolish rashness or fanatic emotions. The illness that was witnessed by you during the last two days was quite different. That was an illness taken over by Me, voluntarily put on, in order to save a victim who could not have survived it! His continued existence, in good health is desirable for the task dear to Me. Pouring Grace on the devout is one of the functions of the Avatar. The appendix was inflamed, it turned into an abscess which the doctors could cure only by removal… He could not have survived it, I know. I have come with this Body in order to save ‘other bodies’ from pain. This Body is ever free from pain. Disease can never affect it.

I had to go to the rescue of a person who had surrendered to Me – even his judgment. I took over his illness and went through it. It shall not recur again in him. You refer to this incident as a miracle, but remember – every breath is a proof of the Providence of God. Every event is the consequence of Divine Omnipotence.

Wherever you find truth, beauty, goodness, justice, wisdom, compassion – God is present, and active. An atheist denies God, with the very breath that God has given him! He closes the eyes that God has opened in Him, and declares that there he could see no God. Therefore, such amazing events have to be accomplished and made known to man everywhere, so that mankind can be saved from over-fond involvement with the world, and lovingly drawn towards the Master of the World.”

Reference: “Sathyam Shivam Sundaram” Vol – III by Prof. N Kasturi. Page: 227-246. Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam.

94-kg Gold Throne For Sai Baba

Golden Throne At Shirdi Temple

94-kg Gold Throne For Sai Baba

Shirdi (Maharashtra) : Sri Sai Baba Sansthan at Shirdi – the town famous for Sai Baba’s temple – received an early morning bounty Thursday from two devotees.

Two brothers, Mahesh and Girish Reddy of Hyderabad, gifted the Sansthan a 94-kg gold throne costing a whopping Rs. 100 million.

It has been made by artisans in Bangalore for a five-and-half feet idol of Sai Baba, installed at the Sai Temple in Shirdi.

It was a challenge for the Reddys and the transporters to ferry the throne safely to Shirdi, located nearly 200 km from Pune.

The Reddys packed it in a bus, which was escorted by a fleet of 15 cars carrying gun-toting security personnel.

Jayant Sasane, director of Sri Sai Baba Sansthan, said the siblings, builders by profession, are Sai Baba devotees and have been visiting the temple town for the past 20 years.

During one such trip, they had sought Sai Baba’s blessings for a big contract which could bring them prosperity. They promised to install a special gold throne for the Sai Baba if they bagged the contract.

Apparently, Sai Baba fulfilled their wish and the Reddys called the Sansthan to tell them that they would keep their promise made to the Baba, Sasane told IANS.

“Incidentally, one-and-a-half years ago we had announced our plan for a gold throne for Sai Baba. Devotees had been donating for the cause and so far we have collected around Rs. 10 million,” Sasane said.

Some political parties suggested that the money meant for the throne should be used for victims of natural calamities.

“Last September, the Reddys called with their private offer to install the gold throne,” he said.

It will be installed Sunday (December 23), the day of Dutta Jayanti. The date is significant for millions of Sai Baba devotees around the world as he is considered an incarnation of Dutta Guru.

The throne is the second most generous donation that the Sansthan received in 2007. In June, one V.K. Ramani of Chennai donated Rs. 750 million, Sasane said.

Ramani, an IT professional, donated it for the construction of the sprawling Dutta Niwas. “It will cost almost Rs 10 billion. The money donated by Ramani will be used and the Sansthan will spend the rest,” Sasane added.

When completed, the Dutta Niwas will accommodate 15,000 devotees at a time, making it one of the largest congregation halls in the country.

Sai Baba Golden Throne

Anandamayi Ma – The Blissful Mother

Anandamayi Ma – The Blissful Mother
By Chris Parnell (a Sai Devotee)

Individuation & Personality
Anandamayi Ma was born in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1896. She was the second child of a pious, highly orthodox, impoverished Brahmin couple. Her devout mother had several auspicious dreams of gods and goddesses before Ma’s birth – a sign usually indicating the presence of an imminent mahatma (evolved soul). She was named Nirmala Sundari, and attended school only for two years. She was married when thirteen years old, to Mohan Chakravarthi, who later became her disciple (renamed Bholanath), and, finally a guru (spiritual preceptor) himself.

Their marriage would never be consummated: when her husband once tried to initiate conjugal relations, he felt a violent electric shock surge through his body. The Divine Light in Ma began to spread radiance and splendour. Soon Hara Kumar Ray, brother of the landlord of Astagrama, began to view Ma as a spiritual Mother. One evening Ma went into a deep trance during a public kirtana (devotional singing session). This further added to her growing reputation as an extraordinary spiritual personage.

Often, sitting in her room at night, after impeccably carrying out the household chores during the day, an ‘inner guidance’ prompted Ma to recite ancient Sanskrit verses and mantras (potent sound-symbols) which she had never heard. She also experienced the different aspects of God. When asked who or what this ‘inner guidance’ was, Ma replied, “Your Shakti (Divine Power).” It was then revealed to Ma: “You are everything.” After this, she stated, “I realised that the Universe was all my own manifestation… I found myself face to face with the One that appears as many.”

On the night of August 3, 1922, Ma, guided by her inherent Shakti initiated herself. She played the roles of both the guru and disciple – uttering an arcane bija mantra, which she then repeated for a while. This unprecedented self-initiation rite shocked one of Ma’s cousins. Ma had ‘flouted’ an age-old tradition, as well as ‘set’ herself up as spiritually superior to her uninitiated husband. Ma promised this cousin that Bholanath would also soon be initiated. Sure enough, five months later Ma initiated her husband, sending him into deep trance for two hours! Ma followed, in full, all the details of the initiation rite prescribed by the ancient scriptures.

While living in Dacca, Ma’s spiritual lustre illuminated many hearts. Many times during religious chanting, she would become stiff and even fall to the ground in a faint. Her body would variously become deformed during these events. She would sometimes hold difficult asanas (yogic positions) for long periods and spontaneously form complex mudras (tantric hand positions) and gestures.

Sometime in 1924, Ma lost the ability to feed herself. Henceforth, she was hand-fed by a devotee. Once she abandoned all food (solid and liquid) for 23 days. For one six-month-period, she ate only six grains of rice daily, and two or three ripe fruits fallen off the tree. Ma ‘knew’ which fruit had fallen and which had been plucked!

Once when Ma passed a Muslim tomb, she immediately began to recite portions of the Quran, and perform the Namaz ritual. This, and other similar acts, showed that Anandamayi always moved through a variety of psychic and spiritual states.

Anandamayi Ma wrote no books. She travelled extensively throughout India and established many ashrams, affording women the opportunity to lead the celibate life as brahmacharinis.

Ma’s devotees are spread worldwide. They are of all ages, from different walks of life, from various religions. Westerners began visiting Ma since the 1940s. Mrs. Blanca, a former Austrian aristocrat, became a renunciate under Ma, receiving from her the name “Atmananda.” This lady outlived Ma by a few years. She performed invaluable service by translating Ma’s teachings into English and other European languages.

Speaking about Brahmacharya (the life of celibacy), she said that it was better to become an ideal family man than to become an aimless brahmachari (celibate). In her view, “There is nothing wrong in leading a virtuous family life. It is good for some people to strive to move close to God through marriage.”

Ma, in the midst of a conversation or a devotional song, would often begin to laugh in a rich, resonant and rhythmic voice. Her laughter sometimes quite prolonged seemed to say: “Don’t worry – be happy!” This was in keeping with “Ja hoye jay” was the most frequent of her pithy East Bengali aphorisms. It means, “Come what may, all’s well, all is God’s wondrously intelligent, benevolent play.”

Travels and Teachings
Ma was once invited to the Sevagram Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (first President of India) and Acharya Vinóba Bhave came to have her Darshan.

Kamala Nehru took Ma and her followers, there. Gandhiji greeted her, addressing her “Mataji” and Ma reciprocated by addressing him “Pitaji.” Mahatmaji took Ma in his arms like a little child. Appropriately Ma turned into one, hiding her face in his chest. Gandhiji’s first words to her were, “Perhaps you know that I sent Jamnalal to you. He came back and told me that he got the peace of mind from you which I failed to give him.”

Mentioning Kamala Nehru’s devotion to Ma, Gandhiji once told those present that Kamala used to treat Ma as her guru. Ma immediately protested, “Pitaji, I cannot be a guru to anyone. I am just a little girl.” Ma and Gandhiji spent the whole day together like a little daughter meeting her father after a long time.

Ma meets Shri Aurobindo
Once, at Bhimtal, Ma experienced travelling in the astral form to be with Shri Aurobindo. From Bhimtal, Ma moved to Nainital. Here one day, during a kirtana, she suddenly found that the congregation comprised a myriad Krishnas. There was just one image of Lord Krishna but in her eyes all participants had turned into living Krishnas. A similar thing happened in a gathering singing the glory of Ram. In her eyes, all those present had been transformed into Ram. Speaking about high significance of Nama Kirtan, Ma said, “It is not being suggested that you leave everything behind and run away. You should be with the world and its various demands, but keep a fire burning – the fire of His name. If He chooses to bless you, then this fire will burn all impurities and lead your pure soul unto Him. Live your life in this world but keep Him along.”

Ma on Karma
Once a man named Pannalal came with a problem. His friend had been continuously doing sadhana (spiritual practice) for 20 years without any change in consciousness and had now decided to leave the path in disgust. He had even lost faith in God. Ma told him that mere external sadhana was not enough. One had to get rid of lust, and desire. “If you hold on to the chain while taking a bath, you can never have a proper dip.” Again, “the old practices and beliefs stand in the way of getting to Truth.”

Pannalalji’s wife used to pray and meditate hours on end everyday and yet she died in pain of cancer, after a prolonged illness. Why did she suffer like that? Ma explained, “One accumulates the effects of habits, practices and beliefs over several life-cycles. Don’t you think it is His mercy if all the accumulated ill effects are washed away through the suffering in just one life-cycle?” Dwelling on his friend’s doubt, Pannalalji asked, “Can one see God?” Ma’s replied, “You can see Him the way I see you now or you see me here – there is no difference. You can achieve Him more intimately if you have a yearning to achieve and feel Him.”

Ma and Islam
Shortly after 1945, Ma was felicitated in a function organised by Muslims. After excerpts from the Holy Koran were read, speakers discussed various aspects of religion. By her presence, Ma emphasised that in essence every religion had the same message: the disputes were over the external attributes and rituals.

One day, speaking about the ways of God, she said, “Frequently, you lament over the unkindness of God, when you are merged in sorrow; but the point is that He dispels danger only by creating danger. No one would move towards Him unless one passes through sufferings.”

Ma and Mother
At Madras, a devotee asked Ma the way to reach God. Ma said, “Cry for Hari and you will get Him.” The questioner said he was incapable of crying. Her reply was, “In that case, keep company of those who can.”

Ma went to Pondicherry next. She had a meeting with ‘The Mother.’ Mother stood in the sitting room of Sri Aurobindo and looked at Ma for a long time with a fixed gaze. Ma looked at Mother with a natural poise. Mother presented Ma with a rose, a ‘ball’ flower (globe lily) and two pieces of chocolate. Ma returned the rose and one piece of chocolate. Mother kept the chocolate but gave the rose back. This exchange of flowers was repeated twice or thrice after which Mother tore a portion off the rose and returned the rest to Ma. The same evening, the two had another meeting at the same place. Mother was distributing roasted peanuts to visitors with a spoon from a wooden container. She offered some to Ma who said, “This little girl is the youngest of all.” Mother said in English, “Forever a little child.”

Poorna Kumbh
Once Ma attended the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad. Millions of people from all corners of India had assembled there. A camp was set up also by Anandamayee Sangh to receive devotees. Mohantas (high priests) of three sects – Dasnami, Udasi and Vaishnav – were honoured at the camp. The Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath also paid a visit. The auspicious moment for the holy dip fell in the small hours of the night of February 3. As Swami Paramananda left with a hundred devotees for the dip at three in the morning, Ma looked unusually disturbed. When the second batch left the camp a few minutes afterwards, Ma told them to chant God’s name all the while. At nine in the morning Ma lay down and suddenly cried out, “There, they are being crushed, stampeded, there they cannot breathe.” Shortly, the sad news of hundreds of devotees having been stampeded to death was received. Later, while returning to Kashi, she said, “When the tragedy occurred, it was as if ‘this body’ was being crushed and it was ‘this body’ that was losing breath.”

On Conquering Fear
Ma’s birth anniversary was celebrated at Solan one year. The Governor of Himachal Pradesh came to have her Darshan. Ma felt at ease in the calm and quiet atmosphere of Solan and devotees could approach her easily. Once, talking to a group of young men, Ma said, “You can conquer fear if you think of God. He is the soul – the life force. Unless you call Him, you cannot get free from the shroud that covers you. Never try to bribe your way to God. If you try to deceive, you will be deceived yourself.” On reaching God while leading a family life, she said “Turn your house into a temple of God. Whosoever stays in my house are images of God and I shall serve them as a manager. If you can live in this spirit there is every chance of your becoming a true servant of God in good time.”

Time taken to reach God
Ma returned to Kashi Ashram. During a religious discourse there, a devotee asked whether any particular name of God when recited would lead to Him more quickly. Ma said, “All names given to God have the same power. You can reach your destination by taking any name you like. The more intense your sadhana, the quicker you reach Him. Take it lightly and you take more time.”

Devout Mistake:
Once Ma went to Kishenpur Ashram for a week. Shortly after, Ma was at Kankhal. Devotees surrounded her. An old lady bowed in Pranaam (salutations) before an American lady, mistaking her for Ma. When she realised her mistake, Ma assured her, “You have done the correct thing. There is just one Lord; everything else is of no consequence. To whomsoever you may bow your head in reverence; the offer is being made to the Lord. For that matter, all creatures, plants and even inanimate objects are nothing but the manifestations of God.”

Last days of Earthly Sojourn
By March 1982, symptoms of an undiagnosed ‘disease’ that baffled doctors showed on Ma’s physical form.

On the Guru Poornima Day on July 6, Brahmachari Bhaskaranand performed worship to Ma as she lay in her bed in the Verandah. She herself restricted Darshan to once a week – half-an-hour every Sunday. For quite sometime preceding this, Darshans had been completely stopped. A number of devotees came for her Darshan on July 11. Among them were Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, her sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Indira Gandhi had rushed down from Delhi on hearing the illness of Ma. For a few minutes Ma sat up on the bed and spoke to her. This was the last time that Ma sat up on her own to give Darshan to anybody.

The condition of Ma’s body was preparing itself for Ma’s Mahasamadhi conscious exit of the soul of an evolved personage, and mergence with the Absolute. In the night of July 23, Ma told Mrs Khaitan, “Tomorrow morning ‘this body’ will move to Kishenpur Ashram.” On arrival at Kishenpur, next morning, she was seated in a chair kept in the courtyard, and then taken straight to her room on the first floor. It was here that the Divine Light completed Its role as ‘Ma’ and merged in Itself.

Once Ma took a trip to Lucknow. While returning, she received the news of Jamnalal Bajaj’s death. He used to be very child-like in Ma’s presence. When someone was lamenting his death, Ma said, “Who goes away – who else is that arrives? What is the distinction between life and death? One who passes away, in fact, merges into the One who is ever-existent.”

Reference

Amma – Amritanandamayi Ma – Ammachi

Experiences With Amma – Amritanandamayi Ma – Ammachi
One day, while in India with Sathya Sai Baba, I dreamed that Baba was walking towards me with a woman by his side. Both Baba and this woman were wearing brilliant, pure white attire and Baba told me, “She is my sister.” The woman’s face and form were very clear and I often wondered if she was really Baba’s sister.

About 2 years after having this dream, when I was again in India with Baba, a man shared a room with me. This man set up his altar and pulled out a picture of a woman wearing white. I immediately recognized her from my dream and asked the man who she was. He said, “Oh, she is Ammachi.” He told me all about her and I was awed that Baba had showed me an Indian Saint, who I had never heard or seen before, 2 years before even finding out that she was real!

Ammachi is considered an incarnation of the Divine Mother. She is a globe-trotting hugger who has hugged literally millions of people. And when I say “millions”, I mean “millions”. I had some very intense and beautiful dream-visions of Ammachi.

I once had a job opportunity that took me to California. During the brief time I was in California, Ammachi happened to visiting and I got to see her. She hugged everyone who was there, including me. She chanted a mantra in my ear, when she hugged me, and it was total deja vu. Whatever she uttered in my ear, brought up something in me that I KNEW I had experienced before. I still have not figured it out, but it was real.

One day, I had a very intense dream vision of Ammachi. She was wearing an unusually brilliant sari that sparkled with many colors. She just swirled into my dream, smiling, and then disappeared. As I was walking along the street wondering why Ammachi had come to me, a complete stranger walked up to me and told me that that day was the first day of Dassara, the festival of the Divine Mother! Ah!

For the past 10 years, Baba has, without fail, come to me on the first day of Dassara in my dreams. Every year, it is a complete surprise too! Dassara does not fall on the same days. The date changes every year, varying by as much as two weeks earlier or later. No matter where I am at, Baba gives me dreams on the first day of Dassara. Only one year, Baba did not come to me on the first day of Dassara. That year was when I had the above dream of Ammachi, where she came, instead of Baba!

One of my most intense visions of Ammachi happened about a week after she hugged me in California. I saw her very clearly and her face was very close to mine. Ammachi was laughing and laughing. As she laughed, surging waves of fathomless awareness filled me. I felt like I was engulfed by a tumultuous ocean, surrounded in all directions by immense depth. I have not forgotten that Ammachi experience to this day.

Reference