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Features
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Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees
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I | Mrs. P.Sujatha
Mrs. P.Sujatha
A4, Sesha Sai apartments
I Cross East, Gopuram Road
Puttaparthi - 515134
Tel: 08555-287303
Mrs. P. Sujatha (52), a longstanding devotee of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, relates
a few of her experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.
'I was married in 1965. At that time my husband, Mr. Sambi Reddy was working at
Namburu, Guntur District. In the house rented by us there was a Photograph of Sri
Sathya Sai Baba. I did not know anything about Bhagavan at that time. Those who
visited our house used to ask us, 'are you a devotee of Parthi Baba?'
When we changed our house, one of our neighbours gave me the book 'Satyam Sivam
Sundaram'. I read it but did not pay much attention.
Later, my husband was transferred to Vallabhapuram in 1968. In the house rented
by us there, there was a large-sized Photograph of Swami on the wall facing the
main door. We had several devotees of Bhagavan around. At that time I was reciting
Panchakshari Mantra. On seeing Bhagavan's Photograph to whichever house we were
going, I thought that He was not going to leave me. Under the influence of my neighbours,
I used to attend Bhajans in the neighbourhood. Thus I was attracted to Bhagavan.
In 1974, many of my neighbours were going to Puttaparthi for Sivaratri. They asked
me to go along with them. I told them that it was not possible for me to go as I
was having then a son three months old. They said, 'we will take care of him'. But
I did not say yes.
Usually, the Bus would not stop at our house there. It had to enter the village,
go along our street to the end of the village, turn and return by our street only.
All those who were going to Puttaparthi gathered in front of my house with luggage
and sat there waiting for the Bus, which went into the village. Then I began to
weep like a child asking them to take me also. That day being Sunday my husband
was in the house. My nephew who was watching all this put some clothes of mine along
with those of my two children in a suitcase with other essential items like toothbrush,
toothpaste, soap, etc and kept the suitcase ready without my knowledge. I straight
went to my husband and asked him to give me money to go to Puttaparthi. I did not
even ask his permission. He did not like my going to Puttaparthi. But, he did not
make it an issue. He simply gave me Rs. 150. I boarded the Bus with the suitcase,
which was already packed by my nephew.
In those days, we had to go to Guntakal and then to Dharmavaram. Somehow we reached
Puttaparthi two days before Sivaratri. Swami was coming to get garlanded by the
elephant, Sai Gita. I saw Him and alerted our group about Swami's arrival. That
was my first Darshan. Swami performed Aksharabhyasam to my elder son, Master Jagadish
one day before Sivaratri.
We witnessed taking out Sivalinga by Bhagavan on Sivaratri day. Bhagavan came along
the Darshan line with a bag full of vibhuti packets next day. In those days, Swami
used to do vibhuti Abhishekam to Shirdi Sai idol during Dasara. They used to make
packets with that vibhuti for distribution by Swami. Swami gave all of us Padanamaskar
and personally distributed vibhuti packets. He gave me five packets, and the person
accompanying Bhagavan gave another four. Thus I received nine packets (a number
dear to Bhagavan).
I always wonder how the trip materialized. I never had any hope. Why they all gathered
before my house for the Bus without going to the Bus stand? Why did my nephew pack
the suitcase? How did my husband give money though he did not approve my going?
Not only Swami made my trip possible, He performed Aksharabhyasam for my son, and
gave me Padanamaskar and vibhuti packets. I had the fortune to witness lingodbhavam.
'When you go back to your place', Swami asked us, 'tell them that you have witnessed
lingodbhavam to witness which sages had to perform penance for 1000 years'.
When I returned home, I expected that my husband would express his disapproval.
Instead, he began to ask questions about Swami, His appearance and other activities.
On return, I found a transformation in me also. I became rather mild in tone and
tenor. Whenever I was trying to do panchakshari, I was reciting Sai Namam instead
involuntarily.
Though my husband did not make any fuss on my Puttaparthi trip, he did not like
my placing Bhagavan's Photograph in our Pooja. But he did not remove it.
In 1982, I had some fever and swelling of the leg. Everyone thought that it was
filarial, and advised immediate medication. It was a tough disease, which would
not respond fully to medicines. At that time I was having a vow not to take medicines.
My husband was keen that I should take medicines. I was praying to Swami intensely.
Then one day I had a dream. Swami appeared and rubbed vibhuti on my leg. Next day
also I had a dream. Swami appeared and said, 'you are not taking food', and served
me meals. On the third day consecutively I had a dream. Swami appeared and said,
'don't worry, you will be with me. I will take care of you'.
I wanted to go to Puttaparthi for Krishnashtami in 1992. At that time, I was in
my sister's house at Bangalore. I came to the Bus-stand but missed the bus scheduled
to leave at 9:45 a.m. The next Bus was at 11:45 a.m. There was unusual rush. I went
to get tickets for me and another relative of mine who was coming with me. Someone
behind me in the queue was saying, 'if that fellow does not give us tickets, Swami
will give'. We both got seats as well as the two persons behind us.
But then the local officials said that the Bus would not leave until 6 p.m. What
to do? Even to go back to my sister's house, I was not conversant with Bangalore
city. Or, I had to back to Guntur. I was praying to Swami. Then the two people who
were talking behind me in the queue that Swami would give tickets came to me and
said, 'if you are willing to come, we will take you to Puttaparthi in our car which
we are hiring'. We two were ladies. They were both hefty personalities. I hesitated
but finally agreed. We got into the car and reached Puttaparthi by 3 p.m. safely.
We went for accommodation. They were not giving rooms either for only males or for
only females. So the persons who brought us to Puttaparthi came to us and said,
'we all will take a room. As both males and females are there, they will give'.
A few minutes earlier, I heard them talk between themselves, 'if that fellow does
not give us room, Swami would give'. I was in a fix. 'How can we ladies stay with
these strangers?' I thought, 'If they can get a room using our names, let them take
it. That will be a help to them. We can go and stay in the shed later'.
So they took a room. We put our luggage in it and went for Darshan. After Darshan,
I went into the village, secured some bed sheets from people known to me and returned
- fully determined to go and stay in a shed.
When I returned I saw a third person with them. They said, 'we are going with our
Father. You can have the room entirely for yourself'. They did not take money either
for taxi or for the room rent, which they had paid. 'Swami tells us that we should
respect Bharatmata', they told me, 'you are ladies. You are Bharatmata. How can
we take money from you?' I was touched by their love and lofty words.
I had some teertham (Amritam), which I had brought from Srirangapatnam. I gave it
them. They gave me Shirdi prasadam. We parted company. I wondered how Swami arranged
everything for us. In fact, I was running temperature at that time and had thyroid
problem, too. I badly needed a room to rest. We noted that they had paid rent for
the room in advance exactly for the number of days of our proposed stay! What a
grace!
Earlier in 1982, I had stomach pain during periods. Mrs. Bullemma, an acquaintance
of mine who was in Puttaparthi, told Swami about my ailment. 'Not only that', Swami
told her, 'she had another problem, too'. He materialized vibhuti and gave it to
her for me. After taking it, my filarial and stomach pain - both disappeared.
During 1971, I did pradakshinas to Sivalayam at our place for 42 days for children.
In those days, I used to long to see Lord Siva in the linga. Later, in 1972 my elder
son was born. In 1982, that is eleven years after I did pradakshinas, I wrote a
letter to Mrs. Bullemma who was at Puttaparthi. In it I wrote, 'please tell Swami
that Kaliyuga Radha wants a kiss from Kaliyuga Krishna'. Mrs. Bullemma gave that
letter to Swami. Swami gave her a few things packed in His robe (lungi) saying,
'here is the kiss. Send it to your daughter'. Mrs. Bullemma sent it to me. When
I opened it, I found one Salagramam, one Japamala and a tinfoil on which were written
the words 'linGODbhavam'. In the letter O in the middle of GOD, there is a Photograph
of Swami in standing posture. I wanted to see Siva in the linga when I performed
pradakshinas to Sivalayam in 1971. Now Swami is showing me Himself in O, which is
in the shape of a linga. He also tells me by that, that there is no difference between
Siva and Himself.'
-- Mrs. P.Sujatha
(As narrated to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao at Prasanthi Nilayam on 05.07.2004.)
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