Sri Prasanthi Society was established in the year 1985 by the Divine Grace and blessings of our beloved Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Members of the society are from various walks of life. Since the inception of the society members had a rare opportunity to direct Darshan, Sparshan and Sambhashan with our lord in the form of various interviews granted to them. Let us recollect some of the experiences members have had during the above interviews.
Usually, Swami does not teach anything new in the interviews other than what He does in His public discourses. The specialty is His proximity, the tenor of His tone like a mother cajoling the child, is what we observed in our very first interview in the year 1985. Swami was appreciative of the various service activities undertaken by Late Sri. Nageswara Rao, a Professor of Pharmacy, the first General Secretary and the unity among the members.
Swami said that where there is Unity and Purity there will be Divinity. He has compared Sri Nageswara Rao to that of a thread in the garland and the members as flowers. The thread won’t be visible, but it is the basis for the garland. During the year 1985, Sri Prasanthi society was releasing a special volume commemorating Swami’s 60 th birthday. Late Sri Diwakarla Venkata Avadhani, a Sanskrit scholar par excellence has proposed the caption of the volume as Sri Sathya Sai Prabha and Swami has approved the title. While Swami was talking about spiritual topics, suddenly He turned towards Sri Murali Babu , a member dnd questioned “What is the end of education? And without waiting for my reply, he answered “Character”. At that time when Swami looked into the eyes of Sri Murali Babu and he could clearly see sparks of light in His eyes, Swami said something which was not audible. The rest of the members burst into laughter; Later I was told that Swami was playing with me.
On one occasion, Sri P Sitapati IAS (Retd), an officer of the AP Government in the rank of Chief Secretary , the then the Advisor of the Society who later served Bhagawan in Prasanthi Nilayam as PRO ,in the interview room asked that it was pretty difficult for him to do “Sandhya Vandhanam” – (a daily ritual wherein the Gayatri Mantra is chanted 108 times along with along mantras) as he was on the move due to official commit commitments. Swami then directed him saying that while he was taking a bath, he should recite Gayathri Mantra thrice pouring water on his head and this would be quite enough to compensate for not doing the full Sandhya Vandhanam … a shortcut from Divinity Himself !
On one occasion, as all the members of the society were going to Prasanthi Nilayam, one member Sri Vinod Bhatia dropped at the last moment as his father was quite sick and the doctors had diagnosed cancer. We had the unique opportunity, once again, with Bhagawan calling us for an interview. During the conversations with the Lord, our Joint Secretary of the Society, Sri Gopi Krishna put forth the prayer to Bhagawan stating that Sri Vinod Bhatia, a very active and devoted Joint Secretary had dropped at the last moment due to the sudden diagnosis of his father’s cancer illness and Swami should bless him. Swami for a second stopped the discussion and with great authority said; It is not cancer ! Well, if the divine had spoken-it has to be the truth and the doctors subsequently declared that it was not cancer but an outgrowth which earlier had been diagnosed as cancer by the same doctors ! Such was the love of Bhagawan not only to the members of the society but also to the parents of the society members.
On one occasion, Bhagawan chided a senior member of our society that he was giving a lot of freedom to his son, and she should not do so. He said, one should not give both the steering wheel and the accelerator to growing children. He advised all of us that till the age the children realize their responsibility one should carefully nurture them. He jovially said that the steering wheel could be given with some support to the children but the accelerator should always be under the parents’ control. What divine advice for parents and parents to be …
Few more members joined us during the interview in the year 1987. The interview room appeared to be a little congested. Our advocate member Late Sri C.B.Desai, an advocate of the AP High Court was suffering from knee pain and could not sit cross legged. He was stretching his legs but was desperately trying to fold his legs. Swami looked at him endearingly and asked him to sit comfortably with his legs stretched. Then Sri Nageswara Rao was clarifying with Swami about the comments of some of the members of the organization – that Sri Prasanthi Society is running as a parallel organization and hence it must be closed. He said the society will abide by Swami’s command. To that, with a little surprise in His looks Swami asked – did I say anytime that you must close the society? He assured the members to continue the activities happily saying that His blessings are always with us. Then He materialized a diamond ring and inserted the same into the ring finger of Sri Nageswara Rao. Then He looked at Late Sri P Subbu Krishnaiah , a senior audit officer in the AG’s office and said “You have some gastric trouble in your stomach – Don’t worry”. He then waved His hand and Lo! There came a beautiful grey colour Siva Lingam. It has some white scar on one side. Pointing at the white scar Swami said “See this is how the gas is covered in your stomach. Perform daily Abhisheka to this Lingam and take that Holy water a little. Disease will be cured”. Then Subbu Krishnaiah garu was expressing doubt about his lack of knowledge about chanting of mantras and the procedure of proper worship for which Swami has replied that “You need not perform pooja conventionally. Take bath daily and do abhisheka. You can offer the holy theertham to others also”. Then Swami looked at Smt. Janaki Kondapi , IAS (Retd), former Special Chief Secretary in the Government of AP and created for her a pair of diamond ear studs.
During the same interview, Sri Subbu Krishniah, during the discussion asked “Swami!, in the world, wherever we see, there is a lot of violence, hatred, jealousy and loss of human life. Particularly in the country Bosnia, Croatia there is anarchy and widespread killing of human beings. Is there a remedy for this?” For this Swami has replied “why do you bother about others? Mind your business. In God’s creation everything happens in a particular order”. He jovially said , you mind your home first … and your immediate surroundings ,things are similar to Bosnia.
The society had obtained land in Srinagar colony, Hyderabad to construct a Kalyana Mandapam. Bhagawan while discussing the matter in the interview room with the society members especially with Mr K.V. Natarajan, IAS(Retd), former Chief Secretary, Govt of AP and Advisor, Sri Prasanthi Society and Sri P Sitapati and Late Sri M Nageswara Rao garu and Sri A Ranga Rao, eminent Educationist and Chairman of Sri Prasanthi Society asked them what the budget outlay for the proposed Kalyana Mandapam would be. Upon this divine query, they answered that it would be around 10 to 15 Lakhs. Swami gave a divine smile and asked the society to hand over the land to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and that he would construct a magnificent hall in the same area with a budget outlay of 400 lakhs. Divinely said, “ It is perhaps the most beautiful hall in Hyderabad “ even today…
During the year 1988 Sri Prasanthi Society brought out bhajan cassettes on Lord Ganesha, Siva and Sai. Swami was in Brindavan, Bangalore at that time. We wanted to get the cassettes blessed by Swami. Some of the members of the society along with singers and other music artists hired a van and went to Bangalore. In Brindavan we sat near the statue of Lord Krishna, eagerly awaiting the Divine darshan. Swami, walking majestically, came near us. “Why did you come here” Swami shouted at us. There was a mixture of anger and concern in His tone. Then Sri Nageswara Rao in a pleading voice said “Swami we just came to have your darshan. Swami has touched the packet of bhajan cassettes held in Nageswara Rao’s hands. Swami immediately ordered us to go back. Not knowing what was in store for us We stared back a few hours later on the same day. It was raining heavily in the return journey. Visibility was very poor. The van, we were traveling, met with an accident near Bagepally check-post at Karnataka and Andhra border. Some of the members have sustained injuries. Sri B.G.K.Sastry, a retired manager of State Bank of Hyderabad has died on the way to the hospital. Other members, with great difficulty, reached Hyderabad on the next day.
After a few days of the accident we all went to Prasant Nilayam. Swami graciously granted us an interview. Nageswara Rao was about to inform Swami about the accident. Swami immediately said “ I know I know, all the members in the van were destined to die. Swami has intervened and saved you. B G K Sastry has discharged his duties. He had my first and last darshan – a long-cherished desire, he had”. Swami looked very charming. Mr. S VSN Raju, General Manager of AP State Co op Bank has brought along with him some cloves and cardamom. He offered the spices to Swami. Swami graciously accepted them by taking a clove bud and putting it in His mouth. Then Swami stood up from the throne saying “Oh! Today is your birthday. Is it so? Very happy. I will give you a birthday sweet. Then He asked Raju garu to stretch both the hands and join the palms. Swami was waving his hand in circles. Lo! And behold!. Fresh from the oven, hot hot boondi laddu was flowing from the Divine hand. Swami was moving his fingers. Sugar syrup along with boondi was coming between the fingers. The palms of Raju garu were filled to the brim. Now it was the turn of other members. There were more than eighteen members in the group. Each had the sweet to his heart’s content. I tried to pack some boondi in my handkerchief so that I could share it at home with my family members. But Swami commanded “ You eat the entire stuff here only. Don’t take it home. Swami has created enough sweets to cater to all the members. The surprising fact is that, after distributing the sweet to everybody, Swami has cleaned His hands with the kerchief kept on the throne- There is not even a single stain of the sugar syrup neither on the kerchief nor in the hands of Swami. Both the hand kerchiefs are as fresh as they were used before. That is our Sai – The creator of the Universe.
Then Swami was talking about His food habits. He usually takes ‘Ragi Sankati 'and groundnut chutney. He said He is not in the habit of eating fruits, milk or milk products. Immediately Sri Nageswara Rao was looking at Swami and said “Swami in your previous Krishna avathar you have partaken enough milk and milk products with relish. Probably you got fed up with them in the present avatar. Swami, laughing heartily, agreed “Yes, Yes”. See how beautifully Swami has confirmed that He is verily Lord Krishna. Then pointing at Smt.Yamuna Ranga Rao, presently Director of Shakti Institute of Hotel Management and an International expert in Catering technology , Swami said “Yamunamma is a good devotee. In her childhood days she used to wear frocks and run here and there in the old mandir”.
A few days before Swami’s 65 th birthday when Sri Nageswara Rao was ailing in the hospital he had a dream where in Swami personally took his hand and showed the entire Ashram that was gearing up for the birthday celebration. Swami has also shown him the 65ft tall Hanuman statue that was to be inaugurated on His birthday. Unfortunately, Sri Nageswara Rao could not live until the birthday celebrations of Swami.
In the last group interview with Prasanthi Society members, we were sitting very close to Swami. I was sitting near the divine lotus feet. I had an intense urge to touch Swami’s feet. But I was hesitating that Swami might take objection to my act. Swami lovingly looked at me and smiled. I got emboldened and immediately grabbed the chance and started gently pressing His feet and legs. Imagine my happiness. I forgot the surroundings. In those days I was suffering from a small eruption between my chin and throat. A swelling with secretion and pain was there. Swami was talking with Smt Ganga Indira, a member of Sri Prasanthi Society and presently the State Bal Vikas Coordinator of Telangana and Sri Gopi Krishna , who were newlywed… He was giving advice to Gopi that the girl is leaving her kith and kin and joining your new home and that it was his responsibility to take care that she is comfortable. During the same discussions, Swami also pulled up Sri Gopi pretty badly saying that he was a bad leader and was not taking care of his Hyderabad Youth group properly. He went on to say that as a leader, he should know what his team member was doing, where he going, what he was eating etc., Sri Gopi was protesting with Bhagawan saying that it becomes too personal swami to get into those details … but HE is the divine Lord… he said there is nothing personal between a team leader and a team member …they are a single family and he should know these and interfere wherever and whenever necessary … What a profound thought !
As this conversation was going on, I prayed to Swami for the removal of the ailment. Swami, while still talking with the couple, even without looking at me, placed his right palm on my throat. There was an instant relief. The entire eruption subsided and I was completely cured and normal in two days.
In another interview, Late Sri R.V.Subba Rao, former General Secretary of the Sri Prasanthi Society and an advocate by profession wanted a clarification from Swami. He asked “Swami is it necessary to observe the annual day ceremony “Tathdinamu” of a departed person? I felt a bit skeptical as to why R.V.Subbarao has brought such an inauspicious topic for discussion when the members are in the immediate presence of the personification of auspiciousness. Swami paused for a moment and explained. The moment a person dies, the indwelling Atma comes out and leaves the body instantly.
It goes out in search of another suitable body as per its Karmic acquisition. It won’t come back every year to partake in the offerings, “Pinda Pradhanamu”. That Dinamu means that day the soul left the body. The apt way of observing this day is sincerely shedding at least two drops of tears in gratitude for the departed person who is primarily responsible for our well being and the present state or position of our life. It is our duty to follow the tradition prescribed by our ancestors as it provides us an opportunity to remember and express our gratitude to our dear departed ones. While explaining thus Swami looked at me and questioned “is it not?” I nodded my head nonchalantly and replied “Yes Swami”. (After two days of the above interview when I came back to my house it dawned on me as a flash in my brain. I felt the shock. When I was in the interview room and when Swami questioned me “is it not?” – that same day happened to be my father’s annual ceremony day. I totally forgot that fact. Now I could understand why Swami looked at and questioned me. A great lapse on my part indeed. But I consoled myself, feeling that I have been richly compensated by the Divine presence).
Then, Sri R.V.Subba Rao prayed to Swami on behalf of one of his relatives who was suffering from cancer. He asked for Prasadam from Swami. Swami in all his kindness materialized Vibhuti and instructed Subba Rao to go immediately to Bangalore and give the prasadam to the ailing relative. Subba Rao followed Swami’s instructions and later it was known that the ailing relative was completely cured of cancer. But on some other occasion when the same R V Subba Rao prayed to Swami to cure the cancer of another relative, Swami simply said” Ayyo Papam! what is there in our hands! The cancer is in the advanced stage”. Swami did not give Subba Rao any Prasadam, this time. The ways of Swami are inscrutable. In the same interview Swami has posed for a photograph by standing between the newlywed couple Smt Ganga Indira and Sri Gopi Krishna holding their hands with so much love and concern as a divine Mother…
The Guru Poornima festival in the year 1991at Prasanthi Nilayam was the last occasion for the members of Sri Prasanthi Society to celebrate the award of Sri Sathya Sai Gold medals distributed by the divine hands of Swami. In the subsequent years, on the divine directions of Swami the Gold medals awarding function was conducted annually at Hyderabad. His Excellency the Governor of Andhra Pradesh has distributed the prizes. On the Guru Poornima festival day in the year 1991, Swami , Late Sri P. Sitapati IAS , Late Sri R.V.Subba Rao garu and myself were on the stage of Poornachandra Auditorium, which was packed to the full as it was the festival day. With the divine permission of Swami, Late Sri P. Sitapati, started announcing the names of the winners of the Gold medals in the mike and conducted the proceedings of the function. One by one the awardees came on the dais to receive the medals through divine hands. My job was to arrange the gold medals along with ribbon, laminated certificates and a spare certificate separately in a tray for each individual and pass on the same to Sri R V Subba Rao who finally handed over each set to Swami. Swami graciously presented the Gold medals as well as Padanamaskaram to all the recipients. A great fortune the awardees really had in their lives. At the end of the function we all had a group photo with Swami.
Soon after the awarding medals function was over an announcement was made that there would be a Karnatic Music Program on Saxophone by the renowned musician Sri Kadiri Gopinath. To our surprise the program had immediately started and we hardly had any time to pack up our belongings and exit the dais. Swami came and occupied his throne. Sri Gopinath commenced playing saxophone. R.V.Subba Rao and myself hurriedly rushed to one corner of the stage and sat there. Swami was enjoying the music and looked now and then at us and smiled. Along with the excellent music we had the rare opportunity of being with Swami’s proximity on the dais. We drank the happiness of seeing Swami’s most beautiful and charming form to our heart’s content particularly on Gurupoornima festival. It was indeed an additional bonus for us.‘
Sri Prasanthi Society was started by a few of us, devotees of Bhagawan Baba in the year 1985 with the objective of rendering seva in thought, word and deed to the society.
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