Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group II | Mr. Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao

Mr. Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao, I.I.S.,
News Editor, Door Darshan Kendra,
I.J.No.2, Govt. Officers Quarters,
Errum Manzil Colony,
Hyderabad - 500 082
Tel: 040-23328781

Mr. B. Srinivasa Rao (58), an officer of the Indian Information Service, relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan, in his own words.

'It was, I think, in 1975 that I came from Vijayawada to Hyderabad. I was working at that time as a sub-Editor in Andhra Jyothi, Daily. I came to Hyderabad to appear for an interview for appointment as a correspondent of the AIR at Hyderabad.

It was difficult to get an auto-rickshaw during office-going hours in the morning. So an employee of the Reserve Bank of India gave me a lift in his auto-rickshaw up to the Assembly buildings. Before getting down, I opened my briefcase, took out a comb and a small mirror, and brushed my hair. I, then, closed my briefcase, got down from the auto-rickshaw and walked towards the AIR station crossing the road.

At the AIR, one clerk was scrutinising the original certificates of the candidates. I, too, opened my briefcase preparing to show my certificates when called. But, I was shocked to find that the certificates were not there. When I opened my briefcase for the comb and mirror, the certificates might have fallen in the auto-rickshaw or on the road from the auto-rickshaw. What to do? Tension was mounting in my mind. Just then, the clerk called my name but did not ask for the certificates. I quietly sat in one corner, along with others and attended the interview.

On coming out of the AIR office, my nephews met me. One of them Mr. K. Rajendra Prasad happens to be a devotee of Bhagavan. 'You have been behaving casually when you came with me to Sivam yesterday', he reprimanded me, 'see! What happened?'

'If what you said is correct', I retorted, 'I will believe that Sri Satya Sai Baba is God if I get back my certificates now'. We went to the RBI to meet the employee who had given me the lift in the auto-rickshaw, but he said that he did not know the auto-rickshaw fellow. He also said that there were no papers or anything else in the auto-rickshaw when he got down from it.

We came to the Assembly building. I was wearing a coat as I was advised by my elder brother, Mr. Ramachandra Rao to wear it for the interview to appear as a smartly dressed young man. As we were searching for the certificates, a watchman of the Assembly called me, 'you got down here from an auto-rickshaw about an hour ago?' he asked. 'Yes!' I replied. 'Here are the papers that fell down here from the auto-rickshaw', he said, 'take them'. He handed over my certificates to me. That had made me instantly to revise my opinion of Bhagavan.

Though I became a devotee, my usual frolic and flippancy has persisted. Once I went to Puttaparthi as a member of a media party. We were accommodated decently and taken for Darshan. As I was not aware of any dress code there, I went in a lungi, that too, of checks. One senior official there took exception to my dress. 'You should not wear that when you come to a serene place like this', he remarked. 'Bhagawan will see the mind, not the dress', I retorted. I went ahead and sat for Darshan. Bhagawan came straight to me and blessed!

Whenever I go out, I make it a point to put a little vibhuti on my forehead before leaving the house. During my trips to the USSR, the USA, Malaysia and Singapore also, I carried Baba's vibhuti with me. Whenever I have toothache or pain any where in my body, I keep the photograph of Bhagawan on the affected part in my body and, miraculously, the pain disappears. This happens almost regularly. I apply vibhuti on my forehead at least 5 or 6 times, and feel re-assured of swami's protection.'

-- Mr. B. Srinivasa Rao

(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Hyderabad on 18.12.2004.)