Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group I | Ms. Chinta Karunaratne

Ms. Chinta Karunaratne,
DV 1 / 3 / R, Manning Town Flats,
Rajayathana Place, Elviligala Ma Watha,
Narahenpita, Colombo - 5
Sri Lanka

Ms. Chinta Karunaratne (45), a Non-medical Healer from Sri Lanka, narrates some of her experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.

'When I was about 7 years old, I used to attend Sai Bhajans - more attracted by the rhythm and music, though I did not know about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at that time. As a girl, I used to sit staring at the sky or some stream or some flower, lost in thoughtlessness. I used to feel better after that, and enjoy it.

My grandmother took me to a Buddhist monk who resides in a nearby forest. He looked at me and said that meditation came to me naturally as the result of past karma. He also told me that what I had been doing was meditation of loving kind, and taught me techniques of doing it better.

From my childhood, I have been a vegetarian and have been endowed with love and compassion, paying attention to sick and old as well as to animals and birds.

On my 34th Birthday, I fell into a state of sleep. I used to get up only for a shower and meals, and remained asleep rest of the time. If anyone touched me to wake me up, he / she also used to fall asleep. This went on for three months. I was taken to Doctors who, after doing tests, came to the conclusion that I was perfectly all right. I used to feel some power coming into the tips of my fingers. When my photograph was taken, aura used to be seen around my head. I used to have a feeling that some being was with me all the time energizing me and guiding me, but I could not understand who it was.

In my 35th year, I went to Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya, a famous Buddhist monk. He used to visit Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba frequently and move closely with Swami. He heard my experiences and said, 'it is Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba that is with you always. You are endowed with healing power to serve the needy'. From that time I used to hold healing sessions and heal people without any fee. Once I conducted the largest mass healing session for 5000 persons, which was a grand success.

Some people, who were jealous of my success and popularity, were waiting to harm me. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who used to appear to me, warned me about such dangers. Yet when I was complacent, my food was poisoned. This happened about six years ago. I knew intuitively that I faced death in my 39th year. I vomited severely due to the poison and was almost dying. I was alone on that day and telephoned to my preceptor, Ananda Maitreya. He told me, 'you have been poisoned by jealous people'.

At that time, I saw Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba standing by my side. His hand was big. He put His palm over my tummy. I had a feeling that the venom inside was being burnt with Swami's power. I got up. Swami said, 'come to me' and disappeared. I telephoned to my preceptor. He wanted me to go over to him and meet him at once. I went there and explained to my preceptor what all had happened. 'Go to Puttaparthi', he advised.

I then came to Puttaparthi. As I was entering the premises, I vomited again. I stayed in a room where there was a Photograph of Swami. As I was looking at the Photograph, light was emanating from it and was coming to me. Again the light was going back from me to Swami in the Photograph. My roommate also saw this. I assumed that Swami was curing my ailment by giving me positive energy, and withdrawing from me the negative energy. It is my firm conviction that I was to have died of the poison but for the benign intervention of Swami.

I was at Puttaparthi in February 2004. At that time, an amazing thing happened. I lost my Mother long ago. I also lost one Brother on May 9, six years ago. Another Brother, a Police Officer, was also killed on May 10, two years ago while on duty. They both died in May though in different years. During Darshan at Sai Kulwant Hall, I saw my Mother descending like a bright cloud near Swami. One of my Brothers also descended like that. The other Brother, however, came walking into the Hall. He came to me, hugged me affectionately and went towards Swami. This was not a dream. Nor was it my imagination. Thus Swami demonstrated to me that I need not worry about them, as they are all with Him in a higher and happier plane.

Around May 15, 2004, I had breathing difficulty at my house in Colombo. I was in pain. I was crying in agony. I thought of the idol of Buddha and the Photograph of Swami, which were in my shrine room. I saw in my vision Swami giving Darshan to devotees. I also saw him jerking His head as if He was moved on hearing my shrieks in pain. Then I saw Swami coming out of His Photograph in physical form towards me. It was not a dream. Nor was it my imagination. He came to me and said, 'come to me'. After that, my pain subsided.

I came to Brindavan a few days ago as instructed by Swami. I had Darshan of Swami.

Even on May 21, 2004, I saw Swami in my room in Sai Gokulam. He came to me and did some healing on me. He has been guiding me all the time on astral plane.'

-- Ms. Chinta Karunaratne

(As narrated to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao at Sai Gokulam, Brindavan, Bangalore on 22.05.2004.)