Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group I | Mr. Bandaru Venkateswara Rao

Mr. Bandaru Venkateswara Rao
S/o Satyanarayana
Movaapalem, Movva P.O. - 521 135
Krishna District, A.P., India

Mr. Bandaru Venkateswara Rao (35), a businessman from rural Andhra Pradesh, relates his experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I came for seva to Prasanthi Nilayam in December 2001 for the first time. Swami came along Darshan lines and talked to all of us who were in seva. We cannot forget those happy moments. Before leaving Prasanthi Nilayam, I went to Sri Sathya Sai Book Stall and bought a book named 'Sri Sai Geeta'.

Though I wanted to read it, somehow it was lying in the bag for long even after I reached my home. Two years later, I started reading it at my house whenever I could find time. As the book had more than 400 pages I was doubtful whether I could ever complete it. I placed the onus on Swami and started reading it. But I could not cover more than 3 or 4 pages a day, however much I tried.

During that time, I was facing financial difficulties as well as troubles on domestic front. I used to feel so vexed that I even toyed with the idea of committing suicide. Therefore, reading of Sri Sai Geeta was not proceeding as fast as it should.

One day, on July 30, 2003, I sat to read the book. My wife said, 'go and open the shop. That book is ours. It will be with us always. You can read it anytime. But if business goes, we cannot get it back'. I was then looking into the book trying to recollect the page up to which I had completed reading the previous day.

The book opened at page 42 where there is a Photograph of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai. The Photograph appeared very bright to me. I recollected that I had read up to page 33. As I took up reading the book from page 33 and completed up to page 41, and looked at the Photograph on page 42, it was covered fully with vibhuti! There was also fine fragrance emanating from vibhuti. There was no chance of vibhuti falling on that Photograph from outside. At that time there were some people who came to hear while I read the book aloud. Some of my family members also were there. All of them witnessed this miracle.

Just at that very moment, a feeling that all the villagers are my own family members overwhelmed me. I was so happy that my happiness was more than that of the richest person of my village. On seeing vibhuti, I was overpowered by an emotion of love towards one and all. I distributed that vibhuti to all those present. I also made a few packets by mixing vibhuti I had brought from Prasanthi Nilayam with the vibhuti that emanated on the Photograph of Bhagavan. Later, those who had received that vibhuti prasadam told me that they had many favourable developments in their homes.

After vibhuti emanated in the book my reading Sri Sai Gita started moving very fast. I could complete the book by reading one chapter a day. I continued to read it the second time also. When I was reading it the second time, I used to feel soothing coolness on the palm of my hand that was holding the book. Since then many of my problems have been solved giving me new hopes.'

-- Mr. Bandaru Venkateswara Rao.

(As narrated to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 18.06.2004.)