Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group V | Ms. K. Sai Sudha

Ms. K. Sai Sudha, III B.Com (Hons),
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,
Anantapur Campus.

Ms. K. Sai Sudha, a student of the third year B.Com (Hons) of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus narrates a few of her experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.

'My grandfather hailed from a middle-class family. He was working as a Government school teacher in Tadepalligudem, West Godavari district. In order to provide drinking water facilities to our area, the Government bought water pipes. My grandfather was a village elder whom everyone respected, and so the pipes were stored in the backyard of his house. The situation took a dramatic turn when, instigated by some jealous people, the Panchayat reported to the authorities that my grandfather had misappropriated the water pipes. They filed a case against him. The next day, the authorities were to come for inspection. If they found those pipes in our backyard, they would arrest my grandfather.

Finding no solution to this problem, my grandfather was frustrated and, looking at the small pocket-sized photograph of Swami, threw a challenge to Him 'if you are really God, then do something to get me out of this problem. If it is solved, I will come to Puttaparthi, and believe that you are God for the rest of my life.' No sooner had he completed this prayer, than a stranger appeared from nowhere. He said that he would shift all the pipes to the go-down where they were usually stored. He plunged into the job with tenacity. By the time the officials came, there was no a trace of the pipes that were there earlier. After the formalities, the officials apologized. My grandfather wanted to thank the man who had helped him. But he was nowhere to be found. He had not taken even a penny for his efforts.

With tears streaming down his cheeks, my grandfather realized that this was a miracle of the compassionate Lord Sai. He immediately started for Puttaparthi. Swami came to him with a mischievous smile and asked lovingly, 'Nannu Nammitiva? (Do you believe in me now?)' In this way, Bhagavan not only brings His devotees to Him but also takes care of them throughout their lives.

Once my grandparents went to Vijayawada for Krishna Pushkaralu (a popular festival in Andhra Pradesh in which the rivers are worshipped once in twelve years). When they were returning, they boarded an overcrowded bus. A young man with extraordinary charm came to my grandparents saying that the next bus was empty and he had reserved places for them. Believing in his words they boarded that bus. After settling down comfortably, they turned around to thank the stranger. But he was not to be found in the bus. My grandparents had a comfortable journey and reached home. The next day, the news came that there was a major bus accident wherein many passengers had lost their lives. On reading further, my grandfather discovered that it was the same bus from which the young man had got them out. Now they knew why 'the mysterious young man' had insisted on shifting them to another bus. We all shed tears of gratitude.

In the year 2002, we planned to go to Shirdi. My father went to book tickets for our journey. He asked for tickets for the 2nd January in AC III Tier coach. After coming away from the booking counter, my father noticed that the tickets had been given for the 3rd instead of the 2nd. However, he decided to overlook it and postpone the journey to the 3rd, instead of rebooking the tickets. On the 2nd night, as we were watching the news, we were shocked to see that the train by which we were supposed to travel met with an accident. Many casualties were reported, and we realized that we could easily have been one of them but for the 'error' that the booking clerk had made!

In the Bhagavatham, we hear of Lord Krishna accepting a particle of food from Draupadi and repaying her in plenty. In the Sai Bhagavatham, this is an everyday occurrence. Life was not easy for my grandparents when they started their family life. Getting one square meal a day was also difficult. One day, it so happened that my grandmother fed my grandfather and the children and had nothing left for herself. She drank water and slept. She got a dream in which Swami asked her 'annam vunda? (Do you have food for Me?). A little rice was left in the vessel. She gave that to Swami. Swami asked her for curd. She was scared whether the food would be sufficient for Him or not. But, as she was serving, she found that the vessels were full of rice and curd, and Swami was eating with much delight. She woke up with tears. Strangely from that day, events took a different turn. New sources of income opened up. Assets started paying good returns. There was only abundance, abundance and … abundance. How can we repay our debt to our dear Mother Sai?'

-- Ms. K. Sai Sudha

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