Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group II | Mr. V. Krishnayya

Mr. V. Krishnayya,
G.1, Sai Deepa Apartments,
West 1st Cross, Gopuram Road,
Puttaparthi - 515134

Mr. V. Krishnayya (74), an agriculturist and businessman, relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I was first informed about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by my brother-in-law, Mr. Balaswami, working in the Indian Navy. 'We always keep Bhagavan's photograph with us' he told me, 'and He protects us as well as our family at home'. On seeing his devotion, I, too, had a desire to have Darshan of Bhagavan.

I came to know that the Anantapur Campus for Women of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning was being inaugurated, and went there. Mr. V.V. Giri, the then Vice-President of India, inaugurated it. I do not remember if Mr. Giri was elected as the President also by then. I had Darshan of Bhagavan there for the first time. I was attracted to Him along with several others after I had His Darshan.

In 1973, we started a bhajan mandal at my native place, Nagarkurnool. Within one year, we could form Sri Sathya Sai Samiti and get recognition also. We started taking up seva activities also. Some of us made a proposal that we should build a mandir for bhajans. At that time we used to do bhajan in the local Anjaneya temple before a Photograph of Swami. It was not enough for our needs.

Soon we constructed a temple and wanted to invite Bhagavan to install the idol of Shirdi Sai in it. For that purpose, we had to go to Puttaparthi and Brindavan several times to get a date from Bhagavan. At last, Bhagavan came to Nagarkurnool on March 30, 1979, that is, 3 years after completion of the temple. At that time only the sanctum sanctorum was completed. It was a small one. I had the good fortune of getting into the sanctum sanctorum when Bhagavan entered it for installation of the idol.

Immediately on arrival at the temple, Swami closed His fist and opened in a moment when a golden yantra, which was originally of two or three inches long, was seen. It instantaneously grew to four or five inches long as we all were looking. Swami put it there and took the cement with a silver tapi, which was kept there already and put the cement on the yantra. Then the idol was placed on it after carefully seeing the alignment. Swami signalled to us with His hands to turn the idol aside to correct the alignment. When we looked at the angle, we found that we were mistaken and Swami detected the error in alignment in time. We corrected it by turning the idol slightly.

Later, we added a hall to the mandir. Mr. Simhayya Gupta contributed the amount for it. Owing to the grace of Bhagavan, the temple has grown in popularity, and persons have come forward to donate lakhs of Rupees for its improvement. Devotees believe that whatever they desire in that temple is fulfilled.

Once I came to Puttaparthi for Sivaratri. At that time, the Purnachandra Auditorium was constructed, but it was not yet given the finishing touches as we see today. Swami conducted bhajan there, and after bhajan took out a linga from His mouth. I had the good fortune to witness the lingodbhava. Swami said, 'this is Jyohtirlinga'. It used to glow. When we looked at it, we could perceive a trisul in it. We went to see it the next morning also, and could see the trisul inside it still. Swami left it on the table for all to see. As many did not expect Swami to take out the linga that year, the crowd was not much. I have not seen Swami taking out such a Jyothirlinga with trisul again.

I was fortunate to attend the 6th All India Sri Sathya Sai Conference at Rajahmundry as a delegate. At the end of the meet, Bhagavan gave padanamaskar to all of us. When He came to me, I caught hold of His feet and remained in a state of ecstasy without being aware of time that was ticking by. Then Bhagavan gently tapped me on my shoulder and said, 'get up, get up'. Several times I had padanamaskar at Puttaparthi, but such an ecstatic one I had not had earlier. Nor could I hope for in the future.

I came into contact, some time ago, with a devotee of Bhagavan, by name, Mr. C. Prabhakar Rao, a retired Accounts Officer of the APSEB. He is presently residing at Puttaparthi. Once he and I were walking along the road near Brindavan. I saw clearly Bhagavan's silhouette in blue radiance going before him (Mr. Prabhakar Rao). Sometimes, he keeps on looking at the sun. Once or twice, I observed a flow of incandescence emanating from the sun and going into him.'

-- Mr. V. Krishnayya.

(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 07.11.2004.)