Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group I | Mr. K. Chakrapani Rao

Mr. K. Chakrapani Rao
3-896, II Floor, Sai Priyanka Towers
Karnataka Nagepalli Road
Puttaparthi - 515134
Tel: 08555-289208

Mr. Kasturi Chakrapani Rao (69), Deputy Manager (Rtd), Industrial Relations, in a private industry at Hyderabad manufacturing explosives, narrates some of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'When I was a student of Law at Hyderabad in 1958, my friend Mr. Parabrahma Sastry came to me and said. 'Swami is at the house of Sri Burgula Ramakrishna Rao. Why don't you come and have His Darshan?'

I did not know about Sri Sathya Sai Baba at that time. So I did not show any interest about what Mr. Sastry had told me. But I had to accompany him because of his insistence.

We were all seated in a corridor. Mr. Sastry saw to it that I was seated in the front row. Swami opened the door of His room and signaled someone in the corridor to come in. Many people were thus called one after another including Mr. Sastry who was seated far behind me, but I was not called. I thought of gatecrashing when Swami opened the door next. When I tried to butt in, Swami held His hand to stop me and said softly, 'your time has not yet come'. I do not know what happened to me, but I was back at my seat. I wondered how and why I backed out. That was the first time I had been blessed by the Darshan of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

The same year I was married. My wife Mrs. Gayatri Devi hails from a family known for its spiritual environment. We had Darshan of Swami in 1973 when Bhagavan came to Sivam in Hyderabad. That was my second Darshan.

My daughter Mrs. Jnanasri married my wife's nephew. She was working in an Insurance Company. At that time, we used to visit often the house of our close acquaintance whose grandson used to see Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai on astral plane and talk to Him.

When we asked about our daughter's problem, Swami speaking through him said that she should divorce her husband. So we opted for divorce. At that time, a new officer came as her boss in the office. He proposed to marry her fully knowing that she had already two sons from the first marriage. With our consent she married him. They are now happy due to Swami's grace. This was in 1993.

Master Shyama was born to my daughter, Mrs. Jnanasri earlier from the first marriage in 1991. Though the date for delivery given by the Doctor was December 16, he was born on November 23, the Birthday of Swami, in the early hours. That boy also used to see Swami and talk to Him on astral plane.

My son-in-law is an extremely nice and cultured person brought up in an environment of spirituality and under the influence of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's teachings. He loves the children of my daughter more than any one loves his own children. This happy ending to the unfortunate and sad saga of my daughter's first marriage was due to Bhagavan's grace. In fact, Swami came in astral plane and performed her marriage second time. Later, I arranged Satyanarayana Vratam and lunch at my house.

In 1996, an offer of alliance came for my son Mr. Kalyana Chakravarti who passed MCA and MBA, and settled comfortably in a software company. This was in May 1996. My boy agreed for the alliance.

One day in this month, I was plucking Jasmine flowers standing on the first floor of my house from a creeper, which crawled on to it. While plucking the flowers, I remember to have bent over the parapet wall.

Suddenly, I had a vision in which I saw myself falling down rolling over in the air. 'Swami!' I thought, as I saw that vision, 'You are going to show me a miracle'. There was neither fear nor panic in my mind. That was my only thought. There is a compound wall down below. By its side were logs of a tree, which was cut down a few days back. There is a window on which there is a concrete shade. If I were to fall either on the compound wall or on the logs, I was certain to break my neck or skull. Even if I were to fall on the window shade, the result would not be much different. The place was narrow, and there was not enough space to avoid the outcome.

I do not know how it happened. I did fall from the first floor. Against the norms of gravity, I took a turn in mid air avoiding the parapet wall and the logs on one side, and the window shade on the other. I fell by the side of the house inside the compound between the logs and the room wall under the window shade!

On seeing me fall down, my people as well as my neighbours came running. I asked them to take me to Swami's room (we keep one room for exclusive use of Swami in our house) and apply vibhuti to me. They telephoned to Mallapur where my grandson Shyama was there at that time. Shyama said, 'Swami put his leg to turn him to safety. No need to worry. Swami is laughing'.

Afterwards, there was pressure on me to go to a Hospital and take x-ray, etc. But I did not go. Shyama applied some haldi (turmeric) and vibhuti. The very next day I attended the engagement function of my son as if nothing had happened. Later, I took rest for 12 days as a matter of caution, and was perfectly all right afterwards.

Once in 1997, I went to the Secunderabad Railway Station to receive some guests. Suddenly I fell down from the platform on the rails, which were 4 or 5 feet below. There was no injury anywhere. Even my spectacles were safe. Even now, I can't say why I fell down in the first place, and how I escaped unscathed.

In 1997, another incident occurred. When I was returning to my house from Narayanaguda, I tried to board a Bus near Deepak Mahal. As I was getting in, some one pushed me back and I fell out of the running Bus. But I did not give up holding the rod on the footboard. So I was being dragged on the road by the Bus, and was in the danger of coming under the wheel. But I felt that some force was holding me up. At Narayanaguda crossroads, that is, after dragging me for about 100 yards, the Bus stopped. I let go the rod and got up. I was not at all injured. When I returned home still dazed at what had happened, my wife saw a palm print on my back as if someone was holding me from falling under the wheel of the running Bus. That is how Swami's grace saved me.

We went to Shirdi in 2001 on being instructed by Swami on astral plane. We were asked to get a new sari that is generally worn by Marathi ladies. We were also asked to bring a cap. We went to Shirdi. When we were at Sakuru, one of those who accompanied us told us that those who give a blouse piece at a tree bearing the figure of Ganesh there would get married. I quipped, 'anyone?' meaning that would those who were already married also get married? At that time our co-passenger did not tell me, but Swami told her on astral plane, 'shall we get this fellow married?'

Later, they purchased a pair of Mangalasutras and garlands. My wife and I were asked to come in Marathi attire. We went to Shirdi temple (Samadhi Mandir). There my wife and I were asked to exchange garlands. I tied Mangalasutra on her neck. That is how Swami arranged our shastipurti and marriage at Shirdi. As they did not allow us to take a photograph there, we came to the Ganesh Temple and took a photograph there. When the film was developed and printed, Shirdi Sai, as seated on a throne in Samadhi Mandir, came in the photograph between my wife and me as if the photograph was taken in the Samadhi Mandir!'

-- Mr. K.Chakrapani Rao

(As narrated to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 27.06.2004.)