Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group VI | Ms. Shubhra Upadhyay

Ms. Shubhra Upadhyay, II B.A.,
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,
Anantapur Campus.

Ms. Shubhra Upadhyay, a student of the second year B.A. of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus narrates her experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan in her own words.

'When I was five years' old, my family came to Prasanthi Nilayam for Bhagavan's darshan. All of us, except my father, were fortunate to receive padanamaskar. Fifteen days later, as planned, my mother started packing to leave. Seeing her preparations, my father asked her a strange question, 'where are you going?' Befuddled, my mother replied 'of course, back home to Varanasi.' Dramatically, my father handed over the tickets to her and said that he had changed his mind about returning. My mother was shocked, and told him that she could not go back without him. How could she manage all alone a long three days' journey with the children? My father replied 'I don't know. If you want to go, you can go. But I won't go anywhere until I get padanamaskar from Swami.' There was an argument between my parents and, finally, my mother resorted to prayers.

The next day, during darshan, Swami walked to my mother and told her to take padanamaskar. Then, she requested 'Swami, my husband is sitting there. Till now he has not been blessed with padanamaskar. Please bless him.' Swami smiled gently and answered 'what husband? Whose husband? He is My devotee.' He went to my father and granted him also the much-craved-for blessing. Swami satisfied the demand of his stubborn child!

Bhagavan's love manifests itself in the subtlest of ways. One November evening, the Sai Kulwanth Hall welcomed the Vedapurusha amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns. Thousands bowed in reverence at the sight of the Master. A celebrity, Anuradha Paudwal was already seated on the dais. She was to give a musical performance in the Divine Presence. The mellifluous voice filled the Hall enthralling the audience. A small sincere prayer arose from my heart. I wanted to listen to my favourite song - 'Paayo ji meine…' As if in response to my prayer, Bhagavan, who was absorbed in the rendering, suddenly turned and looked in my direction.

In a short while, the concert ended. I saw Swami saying something to a person in Ms. Paudwal's troupe. The microphone in front of him caught bits of the conversation. I could hear him say 'Paayo? Swami… Paayo?...' The person was then seen conveying something to the singer. The next instant, she burst into 'Paayo ji meine Ram ratan dhan payo.' Swami again turned to me, and my eyes were filled with tears. I sobbed like a small child. He continued tapping His fingers to the rhythm with half closed eyes. He proved to me in one instant that all prayers reach Him.'

-- Ms. Shubhra Upadhyay

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