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

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

'It is only due to His will that today I am a student of His institution. Before joining here, I was, like any other girl, pampered by my parents. My mother was so attached and protective towards me that she never allowed me to go out of our town even to pursue higher education. But my desire to study further was very intense. One night, as if in answer to my prayers, Bhagavan appeared in my mother's dream and told her, 'send your daughter to college.' From the stress on the word 'college', my mother knew it had some inner meaning, but she couldn't understand what it was. Three days later, she happened to see the advertisement in the Sanathana Sarathi, for admission to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. On seeing it, she asked me if I desired to join that College for a B.Com. (Hons) Course. My heart was filled with joy and I obviously answered in the affirmative. It was then that I remembered my mother's dream and Bhagavan's emphasis on the word 'college'. Thus, the Mother of mothers showed me the path of my life and gave me admission to His College. This was my first step towards Him.

After coming under the Divine Umbrella, the web of attachment enmeshed me so intricately that I found it impossible to live without my parents. I decided to leave. But, as man proposes and God disposes, the very next day I received a letter from my father, in which he told me, how proud he was that I had become a Sai student. This letter changed my thinking. How could I dishearten my father and, above all, the Father of fathers who had taken me into His fold?

As days rolled into weeks, and weeks into months, the first semester came to a close. With the passage of time, I found a subtle transformation in my heart. The person within me was changing for the better and the discontent within me was subsiding. This change was my next step towards Him.

One Sunday, I felt lazy and decided not to get up for suprabhatam. But, that morning, at 4:40 a.m., I felt a tap on my shoulder. I awoke and found no one around. I wondered who had woken me up. Anyhow, I attended the suprabhatam, but came back and slept again, still wondering who had woken me up. I then dreamt that vibhuti was falling from the photograph on the altar beside which I was sleeping. This dream indicated to me Swami's presence, and I knew it was He who had woken me up for suprabhatam. Generally, my friends wake me up in the morning, but, on that day, He proved Himself to be the Friend among friends.

Finding Bhagavan by my side giving timely help, in my most desperate moments, I tried hard to forget that I was staying in a hostel away from home and parents. But my mother just couldn't get over the separation. One Friday, when she was performing the Vaibhavalakshmi Puja, she felt quite upset that I was not present at home. She expressed this feeling to our maid, who was also a staunch devotee of Swami. That night Bhagavan appeared in our maid's dream. Bhagavan, with my hand in His, was entering our house. When she reported this to my mother the next morning, my mother realized that, though away from home, I was not alone. I have been under the care and guidance of the Supreme Lord - Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Thus, in His own way, He bestows His grace on everyone, directly or indirectly.'

-- Ms. Pallavi M

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