Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group VI | Ms. A.R. Sharanya

Ms. A.R. Sharanya, II B.Com. (Hons),
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,
Anantapur Campus.

Ms. A.R. Sharanya, a student of the second year B.Com. (Hons) of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus narrates her experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.

'When I was a mere infant, my parents took me to Prasanthi Nilayam. They vaguely hoped that Swami would feed me the first morsel of solid food (annaprasana) with His Divine hands. The present Kulwant Hall was not constructed then, and people used to gather for darshan on the sands of an open ground. By a stroke of luck, my mother got a seat in the front row for darshan on both the days of our stay. On the second day, I was running temperature. As we waited for darshan, it started raining heavily, and many people left the place. But my mother continued to sit there with a bowl of payasam, despite my fever. I began to cry. My mother tried her best to pacify me, and put me to sleep. In a short while, Swami came walking towards my mother. She could not believe her eyes. Swami asked her to raise the bowl, and He fed me the payasam. He also put vibhuti on my forehead and in my mouth, and blessed me by placing His hands on my head. Bhagavan then instructed my mother to take shelter from the rain in the Poornachandra Auditorium. As soon as my mother set foot inside the Auditorium, my fever, that had been raging since three days, started abating.

When I was three years' old, my parents once again brought me to Prasanthi Nilayam, hoping that swami would do the aksharabhyasam ceremony. I was seated with my grandfather for darshan. When Swami came near us, we stretched the slate. My heart leapt with joy as He wrote 'AUM' on my slate. The slate is still treasured and worshipped daily at the altar in my house.

Every time I came to Prasanthi Nilayam, I used to be envious of the students who enjoyed Bhagavan's physical proximity, grace and love. He always shows great concern for His students. I longed for the opportunity to become His student. Swami fulfilled my earnest desire with my enrolment into the Anantapur Campus in June 2004. I feel His presence in my life, and seek His blessings to walk on the path shown by Him.'

-- Ms. A.R. Sharanya

(As extracted from the souvenir Ananta Prematarangini published by the Anantapur Campus of the SSSIHL on the occasion of the 80th Birthday of Bhagavan)