Features
|
Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees
| Group
VII | Mr. D. Venkateswarlu
Mr. D. Venkateswarlu,
Shed No. 31,
Prasanthi Nilayam - 515134.
Mr. D. Venkateswarlu (81), who retired as Manager,
the then Nizam Sugar Factory at Bodhan, Nizamabad District, relates a few of his
experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.
'I came in contact with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization while I was working at
Bodhan in 1970. I began to attend bhajans and participate in seva activities.
In 1980, I went to Brindavan and had darshan of Bhagavan for the first time.
In 1984, I started to go to Hyderabad in a jeep from Metpalli where I was then working.
As our jeep was coming out of my house, a bus came from our back and hit us. The
jeep made three somersaults before it became standstill. My backbone was injured.
An iron rod protruded into my body tearing away trousers but, miraculously, stopped
short of piercing my skin. All others were safe. I was taken to the hospital. I
was afraid that I would have to be bedridden all my life due to the backbone injury.
I prayed to Bhagavan. I applied some vibhuti and swallowed a little before starting
to go to the hospital. The doctor found nothing wrong in me and advised rest for
a few days. I thought it was Swami's grace that had wiped out my backbone problem
even before I reached the doctor. After 3 days, I could go to Hyderabad in the same
jeep as originally planned.
In 1985, I retired and went to stay with my daughter in Assam. One day Swami appeared
in my dream. 'Come with me' He asked me showing His white car. 'How can I come back,
Swami?' I asked. 'Ok, go and see all your relatives' Swami told me, 'then come to
me'.
Next morning I told my daughter that I was going to Prasanthi Nilayam as Swami bade
me to go over there.
'Why do you take the dream seriously?' my daughter asked, 'be here.'
I went to the Railway reservation counter. 'No reservation available for the next
two months' was the reply. As I started to persuade him, he said 'come tomorrow.
We will see.'
'It is you who asked me to come to you' I prayed to Swami, 'You have to take me.'
Next day, I went. The Railway reservation clerk gave me a ticket. 'Only one is luckily
available' he said. When there are no vacancies for two months how could he give
me a reserved ticket? Swami's grace!
I distributed all my property among my children, registered the documents keeping
some minimum for myself, and arrived at Prasanthi Nilayam in 1986. At the time of
darshan, luckily I got the front line. I wrote a letter to Swami. Swami came direct
to me and took the letter. He told Mr. Chiranjeevi Rao 'see he does not leave. Let
him wait.' Swami sent the same message to me through three other persons. I sat
there only. Finally Swami sent word. 'He wants to do voluntary service and seeks
prasanthatha (peace) Swami said in His message, 'let him work in Gokulam.'
I used to live in the Ganesh shed and work in Gokulam.
One day Mr. Kutumba Rao asked me 'where are you put up?' He didn't know me. I did
not know him.
'In the Ganesh shed.'
'There is a new shed constructed' he said, 'shift there. It will be cooler and more
peaceful.'
'But it will be far' I murmured.
'Not that far' he said, 'you shift there.'
'So I shifted to shed No. 31. Later, the Ganesh shed was removed completely.
In 1988, I sat before the shed. 'Swami is giving everyone something - a ring or
locket' I thought, 'He has not given me anything.' At that time, I saw something
twinkling at a distance. I went and picked it up. It was a ring! It fit my finger
exactly. There is a Ruby on it. I was overwhelmed with joy to find Swami inside
the Ruby. No picture was stuck there. No enamel work, but Swami's form appears clearly
in the Ruby! Many people come to me only to see Swami in my Ruby.
My grandson Subrahmanya Sarma appeared for EAMCET. I gave a letter to Swami about
it. Swami took the letter and smiled. I could not understand why He smiled. Next
day, I was informed by phone that my grandson got a seat in Engineering. 'Swami's
smile' I thought then meant that 'your work had been done even before you asked
me.' My grandson is now a software engineer in the USA. This was around 1990.
In 1995, another grandson Chakravarthi was planning to go to the USA after taking
a degree in Engineering. But there was no financial support. On the request of my
daughter (his mother), I prayed to Swami. The very next morning, I had a call from
my daughter. 'In response to your prayers' she told me, 'Swami's grace got a scholarship
for my son to pursue higher studies in the USA.' He is also an engineer in the USA
now.
In the nineties, my son-in-law Mr. ASN Rao was working in the ONGC in Assam. The
conditions in the State were not good. Some armed revolt was on. So I prayed to
Swami in my mind to get him a transfer to some safe place. The very next day I received
the news that he was transferred to Mumbai.
My first son-in-law Dr.SSN Murthy was working in the IDPL drawing a salary of Rs.
10,000. He opted for VRS. I advised him to continue for one more year. He agreed.
I prayed to Swami about his case. On retirement, he was employed by a private Company
offering him double the salary he was drawing on retirement. He was later promoted
as Director at Rs. 50,000 per month.
Once I had some leg pain. I could not walk except with a limp. I went to Hyderabad
and got it checked up. 'There is an overgrowth of bone' the doctor said, 'it has
to be corrected by surgery.'
'If Swami wants me to do His seva, He will cure me without surgery by tomorrow'
I prayed that night, 'otherwise, I will have to go in for operation.'
Next morning, I woke up. Surprisingly there was no pain. I forgot about the overgrowth
of bone. No surgery. No pain or problem with my leg till now.
There are several instances where the succour came promptly - even before I prayed
for it. Once I had toothache. 'How can I eat Swami?' I prayed to Him, 'pray help
me.' I put some vibhuti on the tooth. After a few minutes I went for lunch. I could
eat normally. My tooth has ceased to trouble me till now.'
-- Mr. D. Venkateswarlu
(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam
on 04.05.2006)
|