Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group II | Mr. Gajanana G. Hegde

Mr. Gajanana G. Hegde,
Dombekai, Gunjgod - 581 355
Karwar District, Karnataka.
Tel: 08389-275761

Mr. Gajanana G. Hegde (43), an agriculturist, relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'In 2000, I felt a desire to go to Puttaparthi. After I boarded the bus, I overheard our bus-driver saying that Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was in Brindavan. I could have easily cancelled my trip to Puttaparthi, but some force - I don't know what - made me continue my journey. After staying at Puttaparthi for the night I left for Brindavan the next morning.

When I reached Brindavan, bhajan was going on. I went in, had Darshan of Bhagavan and participated in the bhajan. Later, I was told that the bhajan was to conclude five minutes before I entered the premises. If it did, I would not have been able to have Darshan of Bhagavan that day, as He would leave the Prayer Hall as the harati was in progress. For some inexplicable reason, bhajan was prolonged that day for five more minutes. It gave me the good luck of having Darshan of Bhagavan that day itself.

During 2002, my father was very ill. On the advice of a local doctor, we took him to Nanjappa Hospital at Shimoga where he underwent all tests including scanning. It was diagnosed as cancer of prostate gland. According to the doctors, we were already late, very late, indeed. After two days they conducted surgery. He was kept in the ICU for keeping constant vigil. I was with him. Doctors called me aside and confided in me that the condition of my father was very bad. Even after surgery, it continued to be so.

'As there is no hope of recovery, you better take him home', they advised. I started praying to Baba with a heavy heart filled with anxiety and sorrow. I prayed intensely and applied Baba's vibhuti on the forehead of my father. The same day there was marked improvement in his condition. He could take some food also. Within two days he was discharged. However, it was the considered opinion of the doctors that he might survive hardly for a week or two.

Yet, I did not lose hope. I was hoping that he would be cured completely owing to Baba's grace. We took him to my sister's house in Sirsi as it would be more peaceful and would help in speedy recovery. All my people lost hopes. Even my father, too, was skeptical of survival. Mine was the lone soul of hope. After three months at my sister's place, we took him back to our house. By that time he recovered miraculously. He could attend to his daily cores himself. He could even wash his clothes. Disproving all medical assessment, he lived for more than a year quite normally.

I used to sleep by his side usually. On August 10, 2003, I went out to sleep in the verandah. At about 2 to 3 a.m. in the night I had a dream. Some sevadal volunteers came there. One of them came up to me and remarked, 'no! This is not the person'. Then they moved in the direction of my father's room. The dream ended and I woke up.

I heard some sounds from my father's room. He went for toilet and returned to his bed. He used to complain of heaviness in chest whenever he went for toilet. He complained of heaviness in chest that night also. My younger brother, Mr. Sridhar went to fetch the doctor. The doctor came and said, 'no chance'. However he gave some medicines. I gave him some lemon juice. He drank that. I gave him some asava (Ayurvedic medicine). He took it also. I applied some vibhuti. He folded his hands as if he was making namaskar. Then he began getting cold. Efforts were made to revive him. Finally, he passed away peacefully in my hands. Even after his death, his face remained calm and peaceful as if he was in sleep, without losing the glow of life. My dream was intended, perhaps, to forewarn me of his condition as well as of the impending doom. Appearance of sevadal in my dream instead of soldiers of Yama indicates, in my opinion, that my father merged in Swami.

Before these incidents happened, I had been to Puttaparthi once. When I reached Parthi, I was told that Swami was in Brindavan. I rented a room in a hotel and made a night halt. Between 2 and 3 a.m. that night, I clearly heard some one whispering in Kannada in my ear, 'come to Brindavan'. On arrival at Puttaparthi, I had bodily pains as well as stomachache. Nevertheless, I left for Brindavan in the very next morning. When I entered the premises of Brindavan Ashram, all my bodily pains and stomachache disappeared miraculously.'

-- Mr. G.G.Hegde.

(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 11.11.2004.)