Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group VI | Mr. S. Ganapathi Rao

Mr. S. Ganapathi Rao,
56 / 13, I Main Road,
R. A. Puram, Chennai - 600 028.

Tel: 044-2436 2670
            &
Krishna Sai Apartments,
Chitravathi Road, Puttaparthi - 515134.

Tel: 08555-289162

      Mr. S. Ganapathi Rao (79), a businessman dealing in pharmaceuticals, relates a few of his experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in his own words.

'I had darshan of Bhagavan at Chennai in 1966 when He visited the city. It was the first time I had His darshan. I also heard His discourse and heard Him sing bhajan songs during bhajan. He impressed me as a great person.

In 1986, my wife, Mrs. Poorna Mahalakshmi came to Prasanthi Nilayam along with a group of mahila devotees in a bus. On return, she told me about the silence prevailing there.

The same year a bus was going to Prasanthi Nilayam. I had no inclination to go. That night at 12 o' clock, the bus contractor phoned to us. My wife without telling me booked two seats on the bus - one for me and the other for Bhanu, our daughter. Thus I had to be on the bus which started around 3 a.m. that very night. He showed us Shravana Belagola and brought us to Prasanthi Nilayam. I had to sleep in the verandah in front of the interview room in the mandir. There was no Sai Kulwanth Hall at that time. We were awakened at 3 a.m. and sent for our daily ablutions outside. Someone arranged a bucket of hot water for me on payment. I got ready and returned to the mandir for darshan.

During darshan one Mr. Reddy sat by my side. Swami came and stood before me. 'What Reddy?' He asked the person by my side, 'when are you going? He said 'tomorrow, Swami.' 'Santhosham' remarked Swami. He turned to me 'What do you want?' He asked me. 'Nothing, Swami' I replied, 'but your grace!' He materialized vibhuti and gave me. 'When are you leaving?' Swami asked me. 'Tomorrow, Swami' I replied. 'Santhosham' Swami remarked, 'come again.' I was not sure I would come again.

But in 1972, I came again to Prasanthi Nilayam for Gurupoornima. Swami materialized amrit and gave us all each a tea spoonful.

In December 1973, I came again. When Swami came to me in darshan line, I asked 'Swami, my daughter is for marriage'.

'Will the marriage be consummated?' Swami retorted, 'if you sit in your shop? Go out and search for alliances. It will be over.' I returned to Chennai. The same day, I got into the train to Tuni, my brother-in-law's place without any reservation in the train and without any plan. 'Swami asked me to go and search' I told my brother-in-law, 'so I started.'

He suggested an alliance or two. We went to Kakinada and then to Rajahmundry. The bridegroom at Rajahmundry was a Ph.D in Hindi Literature. He was working as Principal of a college there. They consulted some astrologers and got confirmation that the horoscopes of the bride and bridegroom tallied. I went to Chennai and brought my wife and daughter. They saw the girl and agreed. Only the opinion of the boy was to come. 'I had a mysterious feeling' the bridegroom later explained, 'as if some force was urging me from within to say 'yes' at once' I thought it was Swami that had prompted him to agree.

I came to Prasanthi Nilayam with wedding cards. I wrote three cards - one for Swami, the second for Sri Kasturi and the third for Col. (Retd) Joga Rao. I kept the card addressed to Swami on the top, the other two cards and some blank cards underneath. Swami came, blessed and took not only the card addressed to Him but the other two cards also.

'Swami, pray attend the wedding' I prayed to Swami. 'I will come' Swami said.

On the night of the marriage, forty Veda pandits arrived at the marriage venue. We had not invited any of them, but received them well and held 'sadasyam' the next morning. At the time of the marriage, vibhuti emanated from the photograph of Swami kept by us at the venue signifying the arrival of Bhagavan. We left that photograph with the in-laws of our daughter. We were informed later that the garland they were putting on the photograph at their place was lengthening daily and reached three times its original length. Owing to the grace of Bhagavan, my son-in-law, Dr. H.S.M Kameswara Rao received the Best Teacher award and was also felicitated later by the President of India at Rashtrapathi Bhavan for authoring a research work on comparative study of Telugu and Hindi.

In 1975-76, I visited Anjaneya temple in Chennai. When the priest was giving harati, I clearly saw Bhagavan in the place of Anjaneya for two seconds.

In 1980, I visited the Vivekananda Rock Temple at Kanyakumari where I sat for a few minutes for meditation. When I opened my eyes, I saw swami standing before me in physical form. That vision lasted for a few seconds.

In May, 1997, I came to Prasanthi Nilayam. I wrote a letter about the problems I was then facing. Swami came and took the letter. 'Swami' I prayed to Bhagavan, 'I have some problems.' 'You will have still more' Swami remarked and left to my discomfiture.

In 1985, Swami came in my dream. 'Stay at Puttaparthi for 40 days' He told me. The dream ended. But I did not come to Prasanthi Nilayam. In 1986, I came to Prasanthi Nilayam for Bhagavan's Birthday. Swami came to me in darshan line. 'Stay here for 40 days' He told me, 'I am going to Brindavan and come back.' He left and I stayed on. After 20 days, Swami returned. My daily routine was doing sahasra Gayathri daily, spending time in the company of elders like Sri Kamavadhani and Sri Kalluri Veerabhadra Sastry. After 40 days, I asked Swami 'forty days are over. May I return to Chennai?' He agreed and materialized vibhuti for me. He never told me why He had wanted me to be at Prasanthi Nilayam for 40 days.

In 1986, my people wanted to perform Shashthipoorthi to me. Sri Paidimarri Venkateswarlu was invited with his team to do Shashthipoorthi. When he was meditating in our house at Chennai on arrival, he clearly heard Swami's voice telling him 'perform the rituals well.' Sri Venkateswarlu told me that. He performed the rituals, etc excellently well.

In 1991, Sri Venkateswarlu and his team came to perform Chandiyagam at Padmanabha temple in Chennai. Sri Lanka Venkatarama Sastry, the Veda pandit, was felicitated on the occasion. 'We will perform Putra Kamesthi' Sri Venkateswarlu told us, 'there is no extra expenditure.' Four couples including my daughter and son-in-law were to participate as they were issueless at that time. One of the four ladies was weeping. 'Why are you weeping?' Sri Venkateswarlu asked her. 'My husband says he has no belief. He does not want to come.' 'Never mind' Sri Venkateswarlu told her, 'bring his towel and sit. Swami will take care.' She was the first to be blessed with a son in one year. All the other three were also blessed with children.'

-- Mr. S. Ganapathi Rao

   (As narrated to Mr. B. Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 03.03.2006)