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Features
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Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees
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VII | Mr. Peddi Reddy
Mr. Peddi Reddy,
Caretaker of the Planetarium and Sai Gita,
Prasanthi Nilayam.
Mr. Peddi Reddy (67) has been
a resident of Prasanth Nilayam for the last about four decades with the firm conviction
that Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai is God. A very ardent devotee of Bhagavan, highly educated,
he yet lives a very simple life in the Ashram tending Sai Gita, Bhagavan's pet elephant,
taking care of the Planetarium, working in the canteen serving the devotees, etc.
A very unassuming and extraordinarily simple person, he looks humility and spirituality
personified. Here is an extract of the conversation recorded between the Hyderabad
Youth group and Mr. Peddi Reddy in July 2006 relating to his experiences of the
Divinity of Bhagavan.
'Q: Uncle, tell us how you first came to Swami? A:
I did my M.Tech in Physics (!!!) and came to Parthi for
the first time. I saw Swami and was instantly convinced that He is God. I do not
know why.
After that, I came to Parthi and started staying here. My parents
passed away when I was studying and my siblings were taking care of me. In 1965,
I was called for an interview by Swami. He told me in my first interview that I
would never get married and that I would stay here for the rest of my life.
Q: What happened then? Did you come here immediately?
A: Yes, I stayed here. I thought that even if I got a watchman's
job here, it is worth it when I am doing it for the Lord. Swami gave me job as a
teacher. Q: How did you happen to become the caretaker
of Sai Gita then? A: Swami told me to teach. As I was
staying here, He said that 'since you stay close to where Sai Gita is, do take care
of her also'. That is how I came to look after Sai Gita. After sometime, the planetarium
came up and Swami told me to take care of it. He told me to leave the teaching and
take care of planetarium, Sai Gita and the canteen. He gave me a room in East Prasanthi.
Sri Kutumba Rao was in charge of the Ashram those days. Swami told him to give me
a room. Q: Tell us about Sai Gita's early days.
A: Sai Gita was very close to Swami those days. Everyday
her duty would be to wait outside the Mandir in the morning and she would be ready
with a garland. As soon as Swami came out of the interview room, she would garland
Him. Swami, too, was extremely affectionate towards her and would keep feeding her
with delicious fruits, etc. In fact, Swami used to hold her trunk
in His armpit and take her to the interview room. One day, she did not fit in, and
that was the last time she went in.
Swami used to grant her interview for more than an hour each day.
I wondered what He was speaking to her.
Q: Uncle, did you never feel that you were so qualified
and Swami had given you such a menial job? A: No. I
was ready to be a watchman, remember? So, this is better than that. Moreover, how
does it matter what job you do. I just decided to stay here. My needs are minimal.
My monthly expense is only Rs. 45 (!!!) That too, is only for my soap, brush and
paste. Once in a while, when Swami gives clothes, I get them stitched. That's all.
Swami gives me free food in the canteen. So, I don't need to spend more. Q:
Uncle, have you never eaten outside the canteen? A:
No. In the last 40 years, I have never eaten anywhere else.
I don't go anywhere even when Swami is not here. I have not moved out of Parthi
for the last 26 years (!!!) What need do I have? Every need is taken care of by
Swami. I am blessed with good health. I am 67 years old now. I have never had any
health problem so far. Q: Uncle, it is quite incredible!
You have not moved out of Parthi!! Didn't you ever go to Brindavan either?
A: No. I don't even know how it looks. Q: Have
you never felt neglected? Have you never felt that Swami is not giving you importance?
A: No. The only important person here is Swami. All
others are only in the delusion that they are 'important'. You must first understand
this.
You will feel neglected only if you have an expectation. If there
is no expectation, there is no disappointment.
Q: When was the last time Swami called you for an interview?
A: Swami called me for interview only 4 times. The
last time He called me was in 1990(!!!). Q: Has Swami
never spoken to you after that? A: Yes, He does speak
to me whenever I bring Sai Gita to Mandir. I don't even come for Darshan on other
days. He enquires about her health. Sometimes, if He comes to Sai Gita's compound,
He speaks to me, too. During His 75th birthday celebrations, several Ashram authorities
were felicitated. My name had not been in the list originally. But He included my
name, and blessed me with clothes and money. Q: Uncle,
are you paid for this job? A: No. What made you think
so? Q: How do you manage then? A: I
told you, I don't have to spend for food. Apart from that, Swami gives stitching
charges with clothes once a year. That suffices. (!!!!!) Q: What
about haircut? A: I cut my own hair. (!!!!!) Q:
Uncle, this is true ceiling on desires. A: It
is not so difficult. I am not giving up anything actually. I never had anything
to give up. I still eat everyday. I still bathe everyday. What else could I possibly
need? But there is one thing I would like to tell you. You should not spend unnecessarily.
Spend where it is required, but not unnecessarily. Q: Uncle,
don't you ever feel that there are people who do not practise even half of what
you do, and are very close to Swami physically whereas you are so far away doing
something, which is not in sync with your educational qualification? A: I
do not even know who are close physically to Swami. That keeps (they keep) changing.
This (my attitude) does not change. Why to compare? Who to compare with? I have
never even expected to be spoken to by Swami. So, why should I think of all that?
I should do my work and offer it to Swami. Let Him do what He wants to. Q:
Uncle, are there any situations where you got into trouble
with Ashram authorities? A: Ha-ha. Why do you ask?
Anyway, there was a time when they wanted to dismantle the Planetarium. The then
AIP (All India President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization), I think his name is
Satyanarayana, had come to me and taken my signature on a paper to lodge a protest
against the dismantling of the Planetarium, saying that it was Swami's command.
Later, Swami called me and asked me about it. After I told him what had happened,
He said 'promise Me that you will never put signature on anything again'. I made
the promise and came away. I don't know what happened after that. Q: You
are really great uncle! You have taught us so many valuable lessons of life today.
A: No, no. It is very easy to be like this. You boys
are the true heroes. You have your offices, studies, etc. Still, your love for Swami
makes you come and work for Him. This is what Swami wants.'
-- Mr. Peddi Reddy
(The above is the conversation between Mr. Peddi Reddy and the Hyderabad Youth Group
in July 2006, recorded by Mr. Saras Kollengode.)
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