Swami on board Indian Airlines

[Guest guest]

Darshan of Lord Sathya Sai Baba on board Indian Airlines Uma and Ravi were

caught in the same flight with Lord Sai Baba when they travelled from Bangalore

to Bombay on 24th Jan 1992. How we wish we were similarly caught! And granted

high altitude padmanaskar and darshan!

In December 1991, my husband and I spent six weeks in Puttaparti with Baba. We

celebrated all the major festivities like Christmas, New Year, Sports Day,

Pongal. etc etc. It was one of our most memorable trips as we had wonderful

darshans and the good fortune to travel with Baba all the way from Puttaparti

to Bangalore and from Bangalore to Bombay. Since this was about ten years ago,

I will try my best to write an account of that trip as accurately as possible.

An unexpected bonus on board Indian Air on Jan 24th 1992 flying from Bangalore

to Mumbai after receiving His darshan in Prashanti. These are rare pictures of

the Lord on board, and

We were scheduled to return to London via Bombay on 26th Jan 1992. Our flight

from Bangalore to Bombay was on 24 Jan 1992. Sometime around the 20th Jan,

there were rumors going around in Parti that Baba was supposed to leave anytime

for Bangalore and that He could be going to Bombay. We had booked our taxi to

take us to Bangalore on 22nd Jan. We were to leave after the morning bhajans.

After the bhajans, I went back to our room to pack. My husband followed soon

after and told me that there seemed to be a commotion at the Mandir as Baba too

may be leaving that very morning for Bangalore. Our taxi was waiting just below

our flat and we set off. We stopped for a while in front of the accommodation

office to return the keys to our flat. That was when we saw Baba’s car leaving

by the gate of the Main Mandir. The devotees broke a coconut etc. We were happy

to have another glimpse of Baba seated in His car. Mentally, I thanked Him for

having given us the wonderful opportunity to be with Him for a long period of

time and sort of wished Him goodbye for this trip. Little did I realize that He

did not want to wish us Good Bye as yet!!! Our taxi drove out and my husband

requested the driver to wait for a while at the side road ( those days cars

could just be parked anywhere) whilst he went to pray to Ganesha at the other

gate. I sat in the car ( to look after our luggage ) . He spent some time going

around Ganesha etc. As we left Puttaparti, we both were feeling somewhat sad.

However, we had a good trip and felt energized after our six week stay with

Baba. The taxi driver was someone whom we had not taken before ( from

Suleiman’s company). He was a young gentleman. As we drove along, we noticed an

unusual large crowd waiting outside near the Super Speciality Hospital. As our

taxi came near the gates of the Hospital, Baba’s car came out of the Hospital

and His car turned left from the Hospital Gate. Our taxi passed the Hospital

Gate and that’s when we realized that our taxi was the second car behind Baba’s

car. Our taxi followed Baba’s car most of the way. Of course, Baba’s Mercedes

was going at high speeds and our driver was trying to keep up with the speed.

Behind us, more cars/taxis with devottees were following Baba’s car. At one

point we were wondering if we should follow Baba’s car as we have heard

conflicting reports of who should or should not follow His car. We just decided

to go with the wind as it looked like He was playing a game with us. I used to

wonder how lucky and priviledged people like Hislop and others were to have had

good chances to follow Baba around. And now, we just could not believe that we

were special too and that we were actually following Baba in His car. Baba

stopped at numerous points on the way, to greet the villagers who had news that

Baba would be passing by. Most of them were so happy when He stopped His car to

talk to them. When Baba’s car stopped, all the cars that were following,

stopped too. Baba was seated on the right side of the car, behind the driver’s

seat. Often, when His car stopped, the villagers would run to the car to catch

a glimpse of Him. Baba would bring down the window of His car, and talk to

them. We could see Baba materializing vibuthi for some of them. One particular

scene is still so vivid in my mind. An old lady offered Baba a coconut drink

with a straw. Baba took a sip and then told his seva dals to pass the coconut

drink to his officials in the car just behind His car. ( Our taxi was behind

this official’s car). At another point Baba stopped His car. It was time for

refreshments. ( lunch time). An official got off from Baba’s car and he passed

a stainless steel carrier of tiffin ( food ) to the

officials in the car that was following Him. How gracious of Baba! He was

looking after His officials. We had our camera and we did take some snaps of

this part of the journey - but the pictures turned out blank when we had them

printed in London. So for about four hours, we were in the taxi following

Baba’s White Mercedes. It was such a wonderful return trip to Bangalore. We

knew that Baba was aware that a number of cars were following Him. Baba just

did not make us loose sight of His Mercedes. His car would slow down at certain

times - so that all the cars that were following Him, could catch up with His

Mercedes and then His Mercedes would go very fast again - literally flying!!!

It was like He was playing a game with all of us and enjoying it. This game of

flying and then slowing down went on and on. I am very adverse to fast driving

and so I had to caution the driver several times to drive slowly. But, that

particular taxi- driver had very good driving skills. When we neared the

outskirts of Whitefield, two sevadal outriders on scooters were waiting for

Baba. They escorted Baba’s car all the way to the gates of his Whitefield

Ashram. His car reached Whitefield at around 2.00pm. We were happy that we

escorted Baba all

the way from Puttaparti to Bangalore. We thanked Him for having given us the

opportunity to accompany Him and we continued to drive to Banglalore city where

we spent two nights in a hotel. On Jan 24th morning, we went to Bangalore

Airport to take the domestic fight to Bombay. We were surprised to see many

devotees ( mainly Westerners) dressed in white kurtas, and sarees scrambling to

get seats on the same flight as us. My husband and I looked at each other and

the same thought ran in our minds. Gosh! Was Baba taking the same flight? We

asked around and no one was sure - everyone was playing a guessing game. We

lined up for the check-in. When my turn came, I asked the Indian Airline

Officer if Baba was taking the same flight. He told me that Baba was booked on

that flight and that we were very lucky to be traveling with Him. My next

question to the Officer was, if Baba was traveling in Business Class or Economy

Class. He said Economy Class. We were thrilled. I then had a request. I

requested the Officer to give us the seats very near to where Baba would be

seated. The Officer was very kind and he obliged and gave us seats near the

front of the aircraft. I think that

this officer obliged all the devotees by giving most of them very good seats (

near to Baba’s seat). The flight did not take off on time. So again there was

this confusion if Baba was actually taking the flight etc. Later we were told

that Baba observes the timings for all journeys. We had to wait for the

auspicious time. The final announcement came through for us to board the

flight. We had to board the bus to take us to the aircraft. As the bus was

driving off to the aircraft, we saw Baba’s White Mercedes parked on the tarmac.

Baba was sitting in the back seat - waiting for all of us to board the flight

before He came on to the flight. We felt so very sorry to see Him seated in His

car in the blazing hot afternoon sun. But then, that is Baba - His devotees

always comes first! The devotees in the bus were so jubilant - we waved to Baba

and He waved back etc. We boarded the flight and took our seats. There was a lot

of excitement. There were others ( non devotees - business men etc ) on the

flight as well and they felt a little irritated with us, I think. They just

could not understand why we were so hyped up and excited. We just could not

believe that we were flying with GOD. It was an exciting and memorable

experience of a life time. Baba and His group of five officials then boarded

the flight. There were about 30 devottees on the flight. His devottees were so

very happy and thrilled - we were standing in front of our seats and not

sitting down. Baba waved to us and He went on to occupy the window seat 2A. One

official was seated next to Him and another two of them were in the seats in

front of Him and another two were behind Him. The members of the crew - pilot,

co-pilot, flight attendants and stewardesses came up to Baba to get His

blessings. He materialized vibuthi for them and exchanged some words with the

crew. All of us were still standing and very so eager to take glimpses of Baba

who was seated. The crew tried to tell us to be seated and buckle up but

somehow or other the instructions fell over deaf ears as every devotee wanted

to have His darshan. Baba was in a very jovial mood. The group of devotees on

board the flight were very united and we clicked instantaneously. No one

dictated what to do, how

to behave etc. It was just that everyone was in such pure ecstasy to be

traveling with God in the skies. The flight just could not take off as we just

refused to sit down! We were behaving like little children. Well, the crew

looked at Baba - Poor Baba ! He stood up in front of His seat, turned around

and spoke to us in English. Wow!!! We were having an interview in the skies

with Baba. He told all of us to sit down and fasten our seat belts for just for

a few minutes. He talked to us and gave us His promise that once the flight has

taken off, He will given us more darshan and that He will speak to us. He was

like a loving kindergarten teacher talking to some small children. He gestured

and told us ever so softly “Sit, sit” and blessed all of us. He looked at each

one of us. Tears were rolling down. All of us complied and sat down, and

buckled up. The devotees had not come prepared for this darshan cum interview.

I was happy that I was wearing a salwar kameez ( my shawl was in my air bag).

So I had to wear my shawl. Most devottess were going through their air-bags to

find photographs of Baba so that they could get these photographs signed by

Him. Then there were the others like my husband who got their cameras ready. We

sat down and the pilot made the announcements and we were soon up in the skies.

As soon as the “fasten seat belt” sign was off, some of the men went up to

where Baba was seated, to speak to Baba. He spoke to a number of them. They

also had a number of photographs signed and He allowed them to take padanamskar

from where He was seated. There was a slight commotion as we were standing

around Baba listening to Him talking. At this time, the other non devottees

were getting a little restless as they could not get their refreshments because

we were blocking the aisle. So again, Baba told us all to go back to our seats

and that He will come to us once we have had the refreshments. The refreshments

were served. None of his devotees were interested in the drinks and snacks. Baba

too, did not have any thing. We wanted the crew to finish that part of their

duty as soon as possible so that we could talk to Baba. The crew members were

very kind and obliging. They served the snacks and quickly removed the empty

cups etc in the shortest possible time. The next thing - all of us we were near

Baba again. There was more photo signing sessions. Then Baba got up and went to

the cockpit where the pilot and co-pilot were seated. We could see Him put his

hands on each of their shoulders and exchanging some words for about eight to

ten minutes. In the meantime, we devotees thought that we should line up in the

aircraft for padamanaskars. So at the front end of the aircraft, near the exit

door and the kitchen area we formed two rows - men on one side and ladies on

the other side and we went on our knees and were kneeling. Baba left the

cockpit and was surprised to see all of us on our knees. . He walked in between

us so very slowly and each one of us took padanamskar. The space for Him to walk

in between us was rather tight. This was the first time that I was seeing Baba

wearing a red chappel ( Indian slipper) and we all took padanamskar with Baba

wearing the chappel. As He walked through the row of us, He placed each of His

palms on our heads as He walked through , thus blessing us. What a grace!! Baba

then walked back towards His seat and He walked along the aisle to a few rows

behind just till where His devotees were seated. He blessed everyone and

stopped to talk to some of them. He then returned to His seat. We had ample

darshan and very soon it was time for us to land. This time we had no problems.

We got back to our seats and fastened our seat belts. We had enjoyed our

wonderful long darshan and interview on the flight. We felt so privileged and

happy. When we landed in Bombay, Indulal Shah boarded the aircraft to receive

Baba. Baba waved to all of us and got off with His officials. The darshan was

over. However, we continued to have another darshan in Dharmashetra in Bombay

before departing for London. With Sai Love,Sis Uma

COLLECTION : PREETHAM SAI P.V.

MANGALORE,INDIA.

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Sis Uma,

 

i recently joined sai baba news and i look forward to

checking my email everyday. thank u for sharing your

wonderful experience with Swami. i cried while reading

it!

 

jai sai ram,

scarlett

 

 

--- preitam preitam <preitam wrote:

> Darshan of Lord Sathya Sai Baba on board Indian Airlines

..........

[Guest guest]

Really tears rolled down from my eyes while reading this article and I felt like

as if I was one amongst your group on that day.

Really it touched my heart and made to cry for Swami after a long time.

Thank you,Sairam

V.V.Vishwanath, Kuwaitpreitam preitam <preitam > wrote:

Darshan of Lord Sathya Sai Baba on board Indian Airlines