Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group I | Mr. D.V.Krishna Rao

Mr. D.V.Krishna Rao,
District Educational Officer (Rtd),
D.No.604-B, NGOs Colony,
Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad - 500 661

Mr. D.V.Krishna Rao, a retired Educational Officer of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, narrates his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'It was 1974. I was the Head Master of a Government High School at Nalgonda. I did not know anything about Sri Sathya Sai Baba in those days. However, I was participating in spiritual and devotional activities. In one such meeting, I ran into a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai who gave me the book 'Sathyam Sivam Sundaram'. As I went through it, I was flabbergasted by what I read. I was pleasantly surprised that a Divine Personality who would remind us of Krishna Leelas is amidst us in this Kaliyuga; and, that too, in our own state. I thought that I was unfortunate in not being aware of such things that far.

At the instance of my Sai-devotee-friend, four others and I started Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samstha at Nalgonda and began to take up Bhajans as well as service activities. We also went to Puttaparthi for seva and had Darshan of Swami for the first time. On return from Puttaparthi, I set up Swami Mandiram in our house.

On one Thursday morning, we completed Nagara Sankirtana and returned to our house. We gave Harati to Bhagavan. Then we noticed that the white dress of Bhagavan in the Photograph in our Manidram changed to ochre colour!

After we set up 'Sai Mandir', we used to offer naivedyam to Swami. We serve all the food items cooked in the house on a plate and keep it before the Photograph of Swami. Then we draw the curtain to the Mandir and come out.

That day also we placed the plate before the Photograph of Swami in which the colour of the dress changed. After a few minutes, we went in, removing the curtain. Though we served rice, curries, curd, etc separately, we found that, to our surprise, those items were mixed as if Swami partook the meal. Besides a few cooked grains of rice smeared with curd were stuck at the lips of Swami in the Photograph!

When we put coffee in a cup before the Photograph, we used to find it a little empty. When we placed a pan (killi), there used to be some mark of it on Swami's mouth in the Photograph. This went on for 10 days. Many people came and witnessed it. It was happening only when the curtain was drawn. After the curtain was drawn we used to wait for a few minutes. Then fine fragrance used to emanate from my six-year-old son - as a signal that Swami partook the meal. Then only we used to go, withdraw the curtain, bring out the plate and take it as Prasadam.

One day our younger son was sitting near the Sai Mandir in our house. The curtain was drawn. Suddenly, the curtain was pressed aside a little and Swami appeared to my son, and called him. My son was afraid and came running to us to tell about it. We used to find Swami's palm print in vibhuti on ochre colour curtain.

We arranged a cot and bed for Swami in that room. During night, we used to spread the bed, draw the curtain and come out. In the morning we used to roll the bed and keep the bedroll on the cot. One day we forgot to roll the bed. But we noticed that it was neatly rolled. None of the members of my family or the servants went near it.

We shifted to Hyderabad in 1977 on transfer. After a few days, Swami began to partake meal even in our Hyderabad house. We took a Photograph of that scene and preserved.

On one Sivaratri day, Swami did not touch the food. At that time I used to feel elated at Swami partaking meal in my house, which gradually incited in me ego and pride. Swami did not take food on that day, perhaps, because of my pride. I repented and prayed to Bhagavan to excuse me. We went to Sivam and prayed to Swami to take meal in our house excusing me for my egocentric feelings. When I returned home, I was told that Swami had taken the meal as before.'

-- Mr. D.V.Krishna Rao.

(As written to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao from Hyderabad, received on 27.06.2004.)