Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group V | Mr. L. Prasada Rao

Mr. L. Prasada Rao,
1 / 6 Near District Training Centre,
P.O. Visalakshmi Nagar,
Visakhapatnam - 530043.

Mobile: 98484-38800

Mr. L. Prasada Rao (62), who retired as Deputy Manager (Mines), Hindustan Copper Ltd, narrates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I was going to places of pilgrimage with family availing leave travel concession in 1987 when I happened to touch Prasanthi Nilayam also. As I had no Idea of things at Prasanthi Nilayam, I wanted to be for one day here. But after coming here and having darshan, I was so impressed by the environment of peace and spirituality reigning here that I stayed here for 6 days. I returned to Visakhapatnam happily, completing my tour. I later retired from service, and shifted from Jamshedpur where I was working then to Visakhapatnam where I bought a house and settled down.

In 2004, we were considering alliances for my daughter, Ms. Vijaya Lakshmi. There were two alliances, both from the USA. Of the two, I had some preference to the alliance from Vizag district, to the one from Hyderabad. In July that year, Sri Sathya Sai Vrathams were performed in our Sai mandir. I took part in it. At that time I made a sankalpa. 'Swami! If the Vizag district alliance is settled for my daughter, I will come to Prasanthi Nilayam and have your darshan!'

In December 2004, the boy from Vizag district was coming to see the bride. I was doing Ramaraksha Stotram as a vow observing the strict discipline of sleeping on the floor, etc. On December 16, I had a dream in the early hours. Swami appeared to me in His bright ochre robe. He was moving His hand in His characteristic gesture. The dream ended. I opened my eyes. I was pleasantly stunned to find Swami standing before me in the same posture as he had appeared to me in the dream. This was neither a dream nor my hallucination. He was right in front of me physically.

After a few seconds, He disappeared. Owing to His grace, the alliance was settled. The date for wedding was fixed very close-by. I had no money except a few thousands. Sri Sathya Sai devotees of our area rallied behind me. They literally carried out all the marriage arrangements and did service in such a way that not even my kith and kin would have helped me thus. I sent a fax to Bhagavan on the day the muhurtham for the marriage was fixed. We all went to Prasanthi Nilayam to submit to Bhagavan the first wedding invitation card. My daughter sat in darshan line on the morning of December 29. Swami did not take the card. She sat in the evening, too. Swami did not take it. She sat with the card again in the next morning praying to Bhagavan internally. Swami was entering from the ladies side in His car, which was open on sides. He looked at my daughter straight into her eyes as He was entering Sai Kulwanth Hall. When the car was nearing the place where my daughter sat, He stretched His hand smiling benevolently and took the card from her. We returned happily. The marriage took place excellently, without any hitch, owing to His grace.'

-- Mr. L. Prasada Rao

(As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 25.11.2005.)