Dr. Komarraju Durgaprasad (57), a Medical Practitioner at Somerset, New Jersey, USA relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I first heard of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba when I was about 10 years old. I heard that He came to Nelakondapalli in Khammam district, which is near to my native village. I could not go there. So I wrote a letter to Him on a post card, but it came back to me. I could not understand why it came back to me. After several years, Dr. Narasimha Reddy who was my colleague and a devotee of Bhagavan told me that 'it is a good omen if the letter addressed to Swami comes back.'

In 1971, I went to Sivam of Hyderabad. My colleague, Dr. Narasimha Reddy tipped me about the arrival of Swami. He was one of the volunteers there. By the time I reached Sivam, Swami had gone into Sivam. 'You missed God by a few minutes as you had come late' Dr. Reddi told me, 'He won't come out now'.

'I will believe He is God if He came out again' I told him, 'and gave me darshan. This is a bet.'

Before I concluded my statement, Swami came out. He came in the direction where we sat and walked right in front of us. 'What do you say now?' Mr. Reddy asked me. 'Of course' I replied, 'I become His devotee right now-on-wards'.

In 1977 or so, I went for darshan of Swami at Sivam. As He walked past me, I saw people touching His feet. I, too, tried, but I could touch only one foot of Swami.

I went as a member of a team of Doctors to Prasanthi Nilayam to participate in a medical camp organized there in connection with Bhagavan's 63rd Birthday. Swami called us all for a group interview. I could not only see Him from close quarters, but also have padanamaskar touching this time both His feet contentedly. As He was going away, I called 'Swami!' I don't know why. He turned back and looked straight into my eyes. It was an exhilarating experience.

In 1978, Swami came to a school in Mehdipatnam. My eldest son, Anand was five years old. I bought a new slate and slate-pencil, and took my son to the meeting place. There was a heavy crowd. Some one who saw the new slate remarked 'I don't think you have any chance of going near, let alone have the aksharabhyasam done by Bhagavan to your son.' I kept quiet praying to Bhagavan. Swami came out and, pushing Himself through the crowd, He came to me. He took the slate and slate-pencil from me and wrote 'Aum' on the slate. I was overwhelmed with joy. There has been no looking back for my son, Anand since then in his life. He is now in a good position in the USA.

I think it was in 1980. We went to Anantapur to participate in a medical camp for brain fever patients. After the camp, some of us came to Prasanthi Nilayam and had darshan of Swami. It was my first visit to Prasanthi Nilayam.

I came along with a group of my close relatives to Prasanthi Nilayam to be there on the New Year Day in 1991. I took with me atukulu and jaggery in a small pack jut as Kuchela took to his friend Krishna. Swami came and walked in front of us. I lifted up the pack. Just then Swami picked up a handful of chocolates from a tray held by a devotee and threw them around. One fell on my lap. Though swami did not take the pack of atukulu, I was happy that He had blessed me with a chocolate.

I left for the USA soon after in August 1992.

I came to India for the marriage of my second son, Praveen. We called on Dr. Krishnakumari, the author of Bhadrakalyanam. She gave us copies of that book. After a couple of days, my son's marriage was fixed. The wedding took place on August 23, 2004. Soon after the marriage I came to Prasanthi Nilayam with my wife and daughters-in-law. We had darshan and also went round the SSSIHMS, Whitefield.

In August 2005, I had a dream in which I saw a young lad with a flute. He put that flute in my mouth when I began to sing melodiously. The dream ended. For a long time, I wanted to write Bhagavad-Gita in Telugu. I wanted to render true translation in easily intelligible Telugu vachana kavitvam. I took the dream as a green signal from Lord Krishna, the author of Gita. So, I started to write it. But after writing the Chapters I and II, it stopped. My pen was not moving however much I tried.

In the first week of September, I had another dream. I was hearing a voice - I can't say whose. 'You have started it straight away' the voice said, 'should you not praise the Lord before penning His work?' Next day I wrote 18 stanzas in praise of the Lord. After that, the work proceeded smoothly till I could complete the entire book. On the 80th Birthday of Bhagavan, November 23, 2005, I dedicated it to Bhagavan.

Though I completed the work, I had a feeling whether it would get the approval of Swami. In December 2005, I had a dream in my house in the USA. Swami appeared in my dream, hugged me taking me in His arms. I was happy that Swami blessed my effort thus.

On January 17, 2006, I came to India and reached Bangalore on the 19th. 'You just missed Swami' my relatives told me, 'He left for Prasanthi Nilayam today.'

But to my happiness, Swami returned to Brindavan on the 21st. We went to Brindavan on Sunday the 22nd. Actually that day the hall was full when we arrived there. As there was no place inside, we had to sit outside in the sun. As we could not sit for long in the sun, we went out for a stroll. When we returned after a while to the Sai Ramesh Hall, a sevadal came to us and said 'go straight in and sit there.' We followed his directions and found ourselves near the dais! No sooner did we sit there, than Swami came on to the dais. We found Him sitting there turning towards us. He sat on the dais for more than 40 minutes and gave us excellent darshan.'

-- Dr. Komarraju Durgaprasad

(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 26.01.2006)