Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group VI | Ms. Shalini Singh

Ms. Shalini Singh, III B.Sc. (Hons),
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,
Anantapur Campus.

Ms. Shalini Singh, a student of the third year B.Sc. (Hons) of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus narrates her experiences of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.

'As a little innocent girl from the small town of Purnea in Bihar, I never knew that my life would be flooded with the love and assurance of such a dear friend. After my VI Standard, my parents wanted me to join a school in Delhi as educational facilities were not good in Purnea. I was well prepared for the examination and the interview. I was confident that my obvious talents would make the interview a cake-walk. I passed the written examination and was waiting for the interview with all the certificates I had successfully gathered till the VI Standard. Just before the interview, my father showed me a photograph which was hung on the wall. He also pointed out that the whole corridor was filled with the photographs of that person. He told me that it is that of Sai Baba who lives in Prasanthi Nilayam. Born on the 23rd November 1926, He is an avatar of Shirdi Sai Baba. He further told me that my grandfather had been his devotee and they all had been to Prasanthi Nilayam. My mother also told me that Sai bhajans used to be conducted in our house before my grandfather's death. All this information was given to me in anticipation of any such questions in the interview. And, thus, He entered Himself my life and I joined the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Delhi, for the VII Standard.

When I was in the VIII Standard, my school authorities decided to make a trip for the students to Prasanthi Nilayam. I was very anxious to join the group. Somehow, I assured my parents that I would be very careful in the train, and got their permission to go. In my heart of hearts, I calculated that it would be my best chance to be close to Him. With much anticipation and eagerness, we got a programme ready to be presented in front of Swami. The D-day came. The presentation was over. In the end, there was a group song which was a plea to Bhagavan to come near us. I was more desperate than anyone else for that treasured proximity. It seemed impossible that I would make another trip to Prasanthi Nilayam. When Swami came on to the stage, my heart was bouncing. I was almost sure He would come from the front and stand in the centre where we had a place for Him. And, I happened to be just there. But, to my utter dismay, He turned from the side itself and came to the centre from behind. All my hopes crashed. I felt I would never earn a chance to be close to Him. As I turned in dejection, I was taken by surprise - He was right there beside me! Those compassionate eyes fell on me and then came His encouraging words 'good girl'. I felt immensely blessed. He added the blessings of a sari and padanamaskar to it, and I was blissful. How assuring indeed are His sweet ways! His entry, silent and sure, has changed my life forever.'

--Ms. Shalini Singh

(As extracted from the souvenir Ananta Prematarangini published by the Anantapur Campus of the SSSIHL on the occasion of the 80th Birthday of Bhagavan)