Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group VII | Mr. D. Venkateswarlu

Mr. D. Venkateswarlu,
Shed No. 31,
Prasanthi Nilayam - 515134.

      Mr. D. Venkateswarlu (81), who retired as Manager, the then Nizam Sugar Factory at Bodhan, Nizamabad District, relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I came in contact with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization while I was working at Bodhan in 1970. I began to attend bhajans and participate in seva activities.

In 1980, I went to Brindavan and had darshan of Bhagavan for the first time.

In 1984, I started to go to Hyderabad in a jeep from Metpalli where I was then working. As our jeep was coming out of my house, a bus came from our back and hit us. The jeep made three somersaults before it became standstill. My backbone was injured. An iron rod protruded into my body tearing away trousers but, miraculously, stopped short of piercing my skin. All others were safe. I was taken to the hospital. I was afraid that I would have to be bedridden all my life due to the backbone injury. I prayed to Bhagavan. I applied some vibhuti and swallowed a little before starting to go to the hospital. The doctor found nothing wrong in me and advised rest for a few days. I thought it was Swami's grace that had wiped out my backbone problem even before I reached the doctor. After 3 days, I could go to Hyderabad in the same jeep as originally planned.

In 1985, I retired and went to stay with my daughter in Assam. One day Swami appeared in my dream. 'Come with me' He asked me showing His white car. 'How can I come back, Swami?' I asked. 'Ok, go and see all your relatives' Swami told me, 'then come to me'.

Next morning I told my daughter that I was going to Prasanthi Nilayam as Swami bade me to go over there.

'Why do you take the dream seriously?' my daughter asked, 'be here.'

I went to the Railway reservation counter. 'No reservation available for the next two months' was the reply. As I started to persuade him, he said 'come tomorrow. We will see.'

'It is you who asked me to come to you' I prayed to Swami, 'You have to take me.'

Next day, I went. The Railway reservation clerk gave me a ticket. 'Only one is luckily available' he said. When there are no vacancies for two months how could he give me a reserved ticket? Swami's grace!

I distributed all my property among my children, registered the documents keeping some minimum for myself, and arrived at Prasanthi Nilayam in 1986. At the time of darshan, luckily I got the front line. I wrote a letter to Swami. Swami came direct to me and took the letter. He told Mr. Chiranjeevi Rao 'see he does not leave. Let him wait.' Swami sent the same message to me through three other persons. I sat there only. Finally Swami sent word. 'He wants to do voluntary service and seeks prasanthatha (peace) Swami said in His message, 'let him work in Gokulam.'

I used to live in the Ganesh shed and work in Gokulam.

One day Mr. Kutumba Rao asked me 'where are you put up?' He didn't know me. I did not know him.

'In the Ganesh shed.'

'There is a new shed constructed' he said, 'shift there. It will be cooler and more peaceful.'

'But it will be far' I murmured.

'Not that far' he said, 'you shift there.'

'So I shifted to shed No. 31. Later, the Ganesh shed was removed completely.

In 1988, I sat before the shed. 'Swami is giving everyone something - a ring or locket' I thought, 'He has not given me anything.' At that time, I saw something twinkling at a distance. I went and picked it up. It was a ring! It fit my finger exactly. There is a Ruby on it. I was overwhelmed with joy to find Swami inside the Ruby. No picture was stuck there. No enamel work, but Swami's form appears clearly in the Ruby! Many people come to me only to see Swami in my Ruby.

My grandson Subrahmanya Sarma appeared for EAMCET. I gave a letter to Swami about it. Swami took the letter and smiled. I could not understand why He smiled. Next day, I was informed by phone that my grandson got a seat in Engineering. 'Swami's smile' I thought then meant that 'your work had been done even before you asked me.' My grandson is now a software engineer in the USA. This was around 1990.

In 1995, another grandson Chakravarthi was planning to go to the USA after taking a degree in Engineering. But there was no financial support. On the request of my daughter (his mother), I prayed to Swami. The very next morning, I had a call from my daughter. 'In response to your prayers' she told me, 'Swami's grace got a scholarship for my son to pursue higher studies in the USA.' He is also an engineer in the USA now.

In the nineties, my son-in-law Mr. ASN Rao was working in the ONGC in Assam. The conditions in the State were not good. Some armed revolt was on. So I prayed to Swami in my mind to get him a transfer to some safe place. The very next day I received the news that he was transferred to Mumbai.

My first son-in-law Dr.SSN Murthy was working in the IDPL drawing a salary of Rs. 10,000. He opted for VRS. I advised him to continue for one more year. He agreed. I prayed to Swami about his case. On retirement, he was employed by a private Company offering him double the salary he was drawing on retirement. He was later promoted as Director at Rs. 50,000 per month.

Once I had some leg pain. I could not walk except with a limp. I went to Hyderabad and got it checked up. 'There is an overgrowth of bone' the doctor said, 'it has to be corrected by surgery.'

'If Swami wants me to do His seva, He will cure me without surgery by tomorrow' I prayed that night, 'otherwise, I will have to go in for operation.'

Next morning, I woke up. Surprisingly there was no pain. I forgot about the overgrowth of bone. No surgery. No pain or problem with my leg till now.

There are several instances where the succour came promptly - even before I prayed for it. Once I had toothache. 'How can I eat Swami?' I prayed to Him, 'pray help me.' I put some vibhuti on the tooth. After a few minutes I went for lunch. I could eat normally. My tooth has ceased to trouble me till now.'

-- Mr. D. Venkateswarlu

    (As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 04.05.2006)