Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group II | Mr. R. Parthasarathi

Mr. R. Parthasarathi,
21 / 11, Vivekananda Street,
Ayyappa Nagar, Trichi - 620 021
Tamilnadu
Tel: 2351416

Mr. R. Parthasarathi (63), a retired official of the Telecom Department, narrates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I was a devotee of Shirdi Baba originally. I came to Trichi from Chennai on transfer in 1962. In Trichi, I used to attend mass recital of Vishnu Sahasra Nama in the temple of Anjaneya there. One day I saw there a stranger in white dress that called me at the end of the recital. 'Do you know Sri Sathya Sai Baba?' he asked. Immediately, the priest of the temple interfered passing some unfavourable remarks on Bhagavan. Even though I was not a devotee of Swami at that time, I felt that the behaviour of the priest was inappropriate.

Later, on the day of Tyaga Brahma Aradhana, I was listening to the radio when I slipped into a sort of mental state, which was not sleep. Sri Sathya Sai Baba came in Viswarupa. He came to me and sat keeping His knees on my body. His hand was very near me. I wanted to make sure if it was a fact or a dream. So I caught hold of His hand. I felt that I had caught a snake. His hand was like a snake for touch. I realized that I was not dreaming. I called my mother to come and see who had come. By the time my mother came, Swami disappeared freeing Himself from my grip with a jerk.

One day Mr. Natarajan, an ardent devotee of Swami, asked me, 'can you sing?' I replied, 'yes, a few bhajan songs!' 'Why don't you come to my house and sing a few bhajan songs? We are having bhajan in my house', he asked me. I readily agreed presuming that it would be Shirdi Sai bhajan. But when I went to his house, I found all big Photographs of Sri Sathya Sai. I was taken aback but participated in bhajan, nevertheless. Then Mr. Natarajan showed me a Photograph of Swami, which was glass-framed. It was sweating. The sweat could be perceived inside the glass frame! I was amazed. Mr. Natarajan told me that vibhuti, kumkum, etc were emanating from Photographs of Swami in several houses and sent me round with another person to witness the miracles. I went round and what I had seen left a profound impression on me.

Mr. Natarajan told me one day that they were all going to Prasanthi Nilayam for Darshan of Baba and asked, 'why don't you join?' I agreed. It was in 1963. We all came to Prasanthi Nilayam. Sai Kulwant Hall was not there at that time. Swami coming along Darshan lines, signalled to me. I could not understand that it was a call for interview. Nor did I think he meant me. So I did not get up. Then Swami called me saying, 'R. Parthasarathi from Trichi.' I was amazed that Swami had known my name even though I was a stranger.

During the interview Swami mentioned so many incidents from my family life that I could not control my emotions. I openly broke down and wept. In fact, I was crying inconsolably. Then Swami touched my finger and, instantaneously, I stopped crying as if it was switched off. Then Swami did what I had not expected Him to do in the least. He opened the buttons of my shirt and caressed the left side portion of my chest for a few minutes. He materialized vibhuti and gave it to me.

I was married in 1968. I was blessed with a daughter and a son. My daughter is Ms. Santa Lakshmi and my son is Mr. Sai Giridhar. We used to call my daughter 'Jayasri' also. My daughter, when she was 2 years old, needed lot of coaxing to swallow a few morsels of food. She was very adamant. My mother used to get vexed with her, while making her eat.

One day she was so vexed with the child that she warned her, 'if you don't eat, Swami would eat it'. That day, quite surprisingly, the child ate quite well. In the afternoon, I was reading the newspaper when my daughter, who was playing in the Puja room and hall till then, ran to me and said, 'come, papa! See!' I was absorbed in my paper. So, I did not pay much attention and sent her away saying, 'ok, ok, I will come'. She came again after a few minutes and wanted me to go with her into Puja room.

I got up reluctantly and went in only to humour the child. When I looked at the Photograph of Swami, I was non-plussed. I called my mother. She too came hurriedly. The entire Photograph - except for the two eyes of Swami - was completely coated with curd rice! This happened in 1972. My mother told me, 'I told the child only to threaten her mockingly that Swami would eat if she did not eat her food. And, see Swami made it happen!'

Sometime afterwards my daughter had a bout of dysentery. We used medicines but there was no improvement. I prayed to Swami to cure her. That day vibhuti - white in colour - appeared before Swami's Photograph in a lump. I was surprised and tasted a little. I realized that it was medicated. We gave it to the child and she recovered very fast completely.

My wife, Mrs. Sulochana who was working in SIMCO Metre Factory had to walk her way to office one day, as she did not have money for the Bus. After going about a kilometer she heard a voice, 'why fear when I am here!' Soon she saw a five-rupee note on the road. It was rising up and falling again as if to attract the attention of my wife. My wife took it as a gift from Swami. Then a thought crossed her mind - 'I should not spend even a nayapaisa of this as it was given by Bhagawan. I must preserve it.' Soon a coin fell before her. It was a nayapaisa coin!

My wife was so frightened that she ran without caring to pick up her tiffin box, which had fallen down while she was walking away hastily. When she returned home that day, I asked her casually, 'why are you looking so tired and weak? Do you need any money?' In fact, there was no connection between her condition and money. Yet, somehow, the issue of money came out of my mouth involuntarily. That made her tell me the whole story of the five-rupee note and the nayapaisa coin as well as the loss of the tiffin box. After that day, there has been a perceptible improvement in our finances.'

-- Mr. R. Parthasarathi

(As narrated to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 22.10.2004.)