Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group II | Mr. S. Sreeramulu

Mr. S. Sreeramulu,
Toomukunta - 509 105
Via: Pentlavelli,
Mahabubnagar District
Tel 08501-277359

Mr. S.Sreeramulu (63), an agriculturist and convenor of Sri Sathya Sai Samithi of Toomukunta, relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'In 1962, we wanted to go to Tirupati. On the way we came to Puttaparthi. It was during Navarathri that we came here. In those days, I was studying 12th class. Swami gave Darshan from the first floor balcony of the Mandir. All the devotees were in the open before the Mandir. After Darshan, Swami went inside. Just then one lady started crying, 'someone snatched my gold chain'. No one knew who did it. Swami came out of His room into the balcony immediately and shouted, 'give it back to her'. At once, the person who had stolen the chain went to the lady and gave the chain back to her. We stayed for three days at Puttaparthi before we left for Tirupati.

At one stage I felt disgusted with the way things were going on in our village. I felt like running away from samsara. I came to Puttapathi. That was my second visit. Swami called me for interview. As soon as I entered the interview room, He asked, 'where can you go?' Then He added, 'there are your father and wife waiting for you. Parents are God in person. Serve them. Carry out your responsibility to your family and society. These are the steps by which you have to ascend to Divinity. How can you reach God running away from duty?'

'Swami!' I submitted, 'You know everything. I have many problems at home. My father is suffering from stomachache'.

'That is only due to gas', Swami told me, 'it will be cured. All things will be ok'. He materialised vibhuti and gave it to me. 'This is for your father', He said.

I returned to my house. My father's stomachache was cured completely. It did not trouble him again. I was with my father till his death in 1982. I have not left my house again.

After my father's death, I came to Puttaparthi. There was tremendous development, as many institutions had come up. I began coming for seva every year.

In 1984, I wanted to buy a Photograph of Bhagavan when I came for seva. The shopkeeper showed me a Photograph in which both Shirdi Sai and Parthi Sai were there. 'Why this Muslim fakir?' I thought due to my ignorance; I bought a photograph of Sri Sathya Sai. Then someone told me, 'Swami is giving Padanamaskar to sevadal. So I ran to the Mandir. Swami was giving an envelope to each; I took Padanamaskar and the envelope. There was vibhuti and a photograph. When I took it out, it was the same Photograph of Shirdi Sai and Parthi Sai, which I did not feel like buying in the shop. It is smaller in size. That's all. I realized that Swami was telling me that both Sais are one.

I came for seva for the 60th Birthday of Swami. I was included fortunately in the team sent for gramaseva for three days. Swami got constructed 60 houses and gifted them to the poor. I was one of those who whitewashed the new houses. Therefore, I had the good fortune of witnessing from close quarters Swami cut the ribbon inaugurating the Karanam Subbamma Nagar. Swami also gifted away 60 cows on that occasion.

I admitted my boy in Eswaramma High School at Puttaparthi. To take care of him, I too shifted to Puttaparthi. My son and daughter became soon well trained in singing bhajan songs. I was made in-charge of shed No. 26 where I stayed with my children. My daughter used to do seva in the shopping complex. I do not know English. Yet I could manage well with persons from other states and overseas. It is really a miracle of Swami how He made me communicate with non-Telugu speaking people.

Once I participated in seva joining a batch of sevadal from Darjeeling. At that time, Mr. Simhayya Gupta was suffering from cardiac problem. I told him, 'give me a letter addressing Swami about your health. I will deliver it, as we sevadal will surely get a chance to take Padanamaskar.'

'I will give the letter myself', he insisted.

'Your health does not permit it.' I tried to convince him.

Finally he agreed; I took the letter and sat in sevadal lines. Swami came and took the letter.

'Telugu fellow', Swami remarked looking at me. (Perhaps, Swami wanted to point out that I, being a Telugu person, somehow managed to come in the Darjeeling batch of sevadal for seva.)

'Yes, Swami!' I admitted.

'I know' Swami moved on.

Mr. Gupta was happy. 'I am happy as Swami talked to me', I said, 'you are happy because Swami took your letter'. Mr. Gupta got better and healthy owing to Swami's grace. He became a resident of Puttaparthi.

One day in His Divine Discourse, Bhagavan said, 'if everyone wants to reside at Puttaparthi, how about the work elsewhere? You all be at your places and do Swami's work there'.

I thought that Swami was intending it for me. I went back to my village.

In 1999, I took up a new programme. I wanted to carry Swami's message to 75 villages, as the following year was the year of Swami's 75th Birthday. I used to go to a village and stay in the local temple, assemble local people and conduct bhajan. Then I used to speak about Swami's ideals. I did not know how to address the public. Swami made me speak. Soon all began to call me 'Swami from Puttaparthi'.

In the 75th village, we conducted a camp to cover the neighbouring twelve villages. After that, all devotees of those villages came to Puttaparthi in 3 buses. When we were at Parthi, Sri Shirdi Sai Jayanti was celebrated on September 28. The installation of idols of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman was also done.

In May 2000, I was selected convenor of Toomukunta Sathya Sai Samiti, however much I requested to be left out. I came to Puttaparthi for Sankranti in 2001. On January 13, 2001, I sat in Darshan line along with the past convenor. We both got first line. I prayed in my mind, 'Swami! If it is your will that I should work as convenor, give me strength to carry out the duties, by blessing me placing your hand on my head'. Swami had blessed me on one or two earlier occasions by patting me on my shoulder but not on my head. That day Swami placed His hand on my head and blessed!

We started Swami deeksha tradition in 2001. On October 20, 2002, the day of Declaration of Avatar, we were doing bhajan along with the deeksha members of Gopalapuram. When a speech was being delivered about Swami, amritam began emanating from Swami's Photograph. One person commented, 'you broke a coconut, may be some drops might have fallen on the Photograph'.

Soon after, a second line of amritam was seen on the Photograph dropping down slowly. Then he had no other go than to believe in Swami.

We used to take Swami's Photograph in a palanquin reciting Sai Gayathri. In the front, first a batch of gents used to walk doing Sai namasmaran and bhajan followed by ladies reciting bhajan songs, and then the palanquin. We used to go that way round the villages wherever we did gramaseva.

On one occasion, I brought the palanquin to my house, and took Swami's Photograph into my house. In addition I put two Photographs of Bhagavan - one on the gents side and the other on the ladies side for bhajan. Bhajan was held in my house. Then amritam began to shed from the Photograph on the gents' side.

'What is this? No amritam on our side', ladies complained.

'Do bhajan sincerely for some more time and pray to Swami', I advised.

They did bhajan for another half-an-hour. Amritam started appearing on the Photograph on the ladies' side also.

'Swami! I will begin reciting Sai Charitra from today which is Thursday', I prayed, 'kindly be in our house during the days of paaraayana and show us the proof of Your presence'.

I recited it for 7 days, and on all days amritam appeared on the Photograph assuring us that Bhagavan was present. On the last day, we did bhajan and pooja, gave harati and gave food to all that participated in the bhajan.

In 2004, we brought 3,500 devotees from our district. Swami allowed us to sing songs on one day and to stage a cultural programme on another.

During Dasara this year (2004), 10 persons from our district were allowed to participate in gramaseva. However, only nine attended as if to symbolize navavidha bhakri margaas (nine paths of devotion). We performed paatrasuddhi (the task of cleaning vessels used to cook pulihora for distribution during gramaseva).'

-- Mr. S. Sreeramulu..

(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 04.11.2004.)