Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group V | Ms. Deepa Ravindran

Ms. Deepa Ravindran, II B.Com (Hons),
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,
Anantapur Campus.

Ms. Deepa Ravindran, a student of the second year B.Com. (Hons) of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus narrates an experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.

'One December night, Swami appeared in my dream and told me that He would come to my house. I was really excited and asked Swami when that beautiful day would dawn. Swami replied that He would visit the house the following month on the condition that I give Him a chikkoo (a sweet, fleshy, juicy fruit). However, he did not mention the exact date or time of His visit. I woke up thrilled, and excitedly made ready a beautiful and comfortable chair for Swami with cushions and pillows. I placed a chikkoo everyday at the altar with the anticipation that He might arrive anytime, without my knowledge. Moreover, in order to please Him, my sister and I sang bhajans for Him everyday with a lot of love and devotion. This continued throughout the month of January. The best part of the entire 'play' is that Swami appeared in my dream everyday without fail throughout that period. I waited and waited eagerly for my dream to come true. I was alert for even a subtle sign of His promised visit, but, on the 31st January, I lost hope.

On the first of February, I was thoroughly disappointed. I broke down as Swami had not kept His word, or so I thought. He had neither come nor eaten the chikkoo that I had so diligently offered to Him. When I voiced my pain to my sister, she interpreted the episode in a whole new way. She said that when Swami promised me that He would visit our house, he might not have meant the physical house, but the house of my heart. I thought she had a point. It was only due to the 'dream' that I had developed a continuous contact with Swami, sung bhajans for Him and invited Him wholeheartedly to come. I realised now that He had kept His word and had indeed entered my heart! And, what did the chikkoo signify? What did He mean by telling me that I should give Him a chikkoo? He wanted me to offer my love and my devotion and, above all, myself to Him, which I had effortlessly done those thirty-one days. Further, I pondered over why Swami had asked me to give Him a chikkoo, and not any other fruit. A chikkoo is a very sweet fruit which contains a high level of sugar. Probably, Swami wanted me to offer Him the sweetness of my love. This is how Swami opened my eyes about the importance of looking inward. The lesson I learnt from this experience is that while 'nearness' to Swami is blessedness, establishing a subtle inner relationship with Him is equally, if not more, important. I am acquainted with many people who, in spite of being miles away from Swami's physical form, are still dear to Him owing to their intense love for Him.'

-- Ms. Deepa Ravindran

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