Features | Experience of the Divinity of Bhagavan by Devotees | Group I | Mr. Lalith Nonis

Mr. Lalith Nonis
Former Mayor, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 25, 3rd Avenue, Dandenong, Victoria 3175, Australia
E-mail: lalithnonis@hotmail.com
Tel: 040-27532344

Mr. Lalith Nonis (37), a former Mayor of Moratuwa, the largest city after Colombo in Sri Lanka and, presently, a builder and a businessman in Australia, has had many mystic experiences. He narrates a few of them in his own words.

I was not a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba earlier. I am a Christian and my wife is a Buddhist. But that did not come in the way of our marriage. I was in politics and my wife was not happy with it. She has been a devotee of Bhagavan since her early childhood. I was skeptical about a human-being being the Almighty.

It was in 1994 that my wife and I came to Puttaparthi after our marriage that in 1993. I was Mayor of Moratuwa at that time. We came to Bangalore on our way to Puttaparthi, and stayed there for the night in a hotel. On that night I went to a party and returned late, which annoyed my wife. We had an altercation that night. Next day we left for Puttaparthi. It was on January 31, 1994, that I had Darshan of Bhagavan for the first time. Swami called us for interview.

At the outset of the interview, Swami spread His hands apart and remarked, 'why are you like this?' He then told my wife, 'why do you quarrel? He is a good person'. Then Swami turned towards me and said, 'I am with you always'. Swami then materialized a gold bracelet for me and tried to put it on my wrist Himself. It was a bit tight. Then Swami said, 'a little tight, isn't it?' So saying, He took it out and again put it on my wrist. It then fit perfectly. He materialized a lingam and gave it to my wife saying, 'do daily abishekam and take the water as teertham'. We have been doing so ever since.

The interview was a turning point in my life. Swami's observation subtly referring to our altercation the previous night in the hotel room at Bangalore came to both of us as a stunning surprise. That had a profound impact on us. Besides, there was a perceptible improvement in my finances after my meeting with Swami. My finances gradually stabilized at a comfortable level. At that time, we were facing a couple of court cases, and everything was sorted out in our favour.

During the interview, Swami also told us, 'you don't have a son, isn't it?' and went on to add 'you will have one'. Later in fourteen months time, we were blessed with a son Master Julana (glow of light) in March 1995.

After meeting with swami, I began to lose interest in politics mainly because I would be constrained to do certain things, which Swami, I thought, would not like me doing. Besides, my wife did not like my dabbling in politics. So I gave up politics and turned to business.

We could get a temporary business resident visa for one year to go to Australia. Our visa was later extended to four more years. Though the visa was valid up to 2000, I applied for permanent visa in 1996. My lawyer himself was doubtful if they would give me a permanent visa, as I was not qualified for it.

But I had faith in Swami. I went to Puttaparthi with family. It was my second visit. I prayed to Bhagavan intensely, within, about my visa problem. On return to Australia, we were granted permanent visas not withstanding the doubts of my own lawyer about our not being fully qualified for them. Thus, the members of our family have become Australian citizens.

In 1999, we came back to Sri Lanka to start a small building project. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous obstacles from every side and of every sort. There were financial problems, private problems with relations, problems relating to administration, and what not. All the time I was praying to Bhagavan, and the various problems we encountered were getting solved in appropriate time, though not exactly when I wanted them to be solved, but in a manner better than what I had envisaged. The project, by the grace of Bhagavan, ended up in good profit for us.

In the year 2000, I visited Puttaparthi again with family for Mahasivaratri. We could witness Lingodbhavam (emergence of linga from the mouth of Swami). I could also have padanamaskar during that trip. Again, in May 2000, I went with my son and wife to Brindavan, Bangalore on the occasion of Buddhapurnima. My son, who was then a five-year old, had the good fortune to be in the procession, and escort Swami personally to the dais.

Again in August 2001, I came to Bhagavan with my wife and son. That time also Bhagavan gave me padanamaskar. That year we migrated to Australia for good.

In February 2003, I started a mini-hydroelectric project in Sri Lanka. That project has run into several difficulties. However, I am fully confident that by Bhagavan's grace, we will complete it successfully.

On March 19, 2004, my wife and I were travelling in a car in Australia while my daughter was driving. Suddenly, a 'double-train truck' collided with our car. By the impact of the collision, our car was pushed back and hit an electric pole. In fact, the truck would have come over our car crushing both the car and the persons inside normally. But by the grace of Bhagavan, it did not happen. We were all unhurt, save for minor scratches and bruises. But the car was completely smashed. Those, who saw the car later, could not believe that anyone travelling in it had a chance to survive. The collision sparked off fire in the car. However, by that time, we could all come out, as the doors of the car were not jammed by the impact. I prayed to Bhagavan frantically, uttering Sairam! Sairam! Within seconds, the fire was put out by itself miraculously.

When I was about to leave for Sri Lanka on a business trip, I received a notice to vacate the house I had rented in Australia. I could not get a suitable house in short notice. I applied to an Agency for allotment of a house, but could not stay on and settle it, as I had to leave hurriedly for Sri Lanka. Though, I came to Sri Lanka, I remained restless because of this problem. After three days my wife telephoned me to say that she had got a suitable house allotted, and that she had shifted to the new house without any problem. This news came as a great relief to me. I feel that it was due to Bhagavan's grace that we could find a suitable house at short notice, which is not normally possible there.

In Sri Lanka, we faced a typical technical problem with regard to our mini-hydroelectric project. We needed to install two turbines, which had to be lifted up by a crane, and installed to fit into concrete holds specially built to hold the turbines. The crane engaged by us could not lift them as its capacity fell short of the requirement. Besides, the concrete holds, when measured, were less in diameter by an inch than the turbines.

As these problems surfaced, I decided to go and have Darshan of Bhagavan. I came to Brindavan, Bangalore and had Darshan of Bhagavan. While I was there, I contacted the project-site and received information that the same crane could lift both the turbines, one after the other, and install them successfully in the same concrete holds which, by actual measurement, were found to be less in diameter than those of the turbines. How could this happen? Only Bhagavan knows!'

-- Mr. Lalith Nonis.

(As narrated to Mr. B.Parvatala Rao at Sai Gokulam, Brindavan, Bangalore on 07-05-2004).