Baba's Blessings - M.Ganga Reddy B.Com (May 1975)

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BABA'S BLESSINGS (May 1975)

 

TRUELY speaking I did not know much about Baba until 1956 except hearing

casually regarding greatness of Baba through a very close friend of mine,

whose grandfather, being a staunch devotee, had been fortunate to be blessed

with the Baba's darshan in his life time-In 1956 I was convalescing after I

suffered badly from T. B. for about 11 years. I had in my flat a small

portrait of Baba. I do not remember as to who brought it and placed it

there. I used to have a glance of the portrait but not with much devotion.

At the beginning of 1957, I had a vision of an old person with features

quite similar to those of Baba, who was moving up and down on a small plank

in a dilapidated house. There from a sort of feeling leading to devotion

started developing in course of time. In 1958 (during Holi vacation), as a

result of inner urge, I visited Shirdi. It was rather unprecedented to find

that nobody connected with the establishment of the temple demanded or

accepted, even if offered, money from devotees and that there were no thefts

of the sort generally expected at such places. I found the employees of the

temple advising the devotees to put money, which they offered to them as a

token of courtesy, into the boxes meant for the purpose. I feel that this

was unusual and uncommon manifestation of integrity imbibed in them by the

grace of Baba.

I did not start regular worship of Baba till late 1959. An interesting

instance occured then. My wife lost her gold earring in my apartment. She

rummaged the entire house thrice but in vain. She suspected the maidservant

in the usual way. But she restrained herself from making any wild allegation

against her openly, except mentioning to her about the missing earring in a

casual manner. I and my wife could come to firm conclusion that the earring

was lost once for all. At that stage, we both, in ourselves, thought of

testing the grace of Baba. Next day morning, the maid-servant, while

cleaning the house, restored the ear-ring to our utmost astonishment. I have

no comments as to how and wherefrom she could get it after about a week

since it was lost. Thenceforth Baba instilled unwavering faith in me. So, as

a weak human being, I started regular worship of Baba, which I continue to

do till to-date with all devotion and faith.

In 1961, Baba created an urge to visit Shirdi. I started for Shirdi with an

idea that I should come back to Hyderabad before rush of people for Ram

Navami festival starts at Shirdi. I completed my pooja on Thursday. On

Friday I participated in Noon-Arati and went to the Chief Executive to take

leave of him formally. By that time, some people from Bombay and other

places, started arriving for the festival. The Chief Executive instead of

formally permitting me to leave Shirdi, insisted on me to stay over for the

festival. I took it as the order of Baba through the Chief Executive and

stayed over for the great festival. Although there was a great rush of

people, I was accommodated comfortably in the guest house by the grace of

Baba. There was a gathering of more than 50,000 people belonging to

different faiths viz., Sikhs, Jains, Zorastrians, Muslims, Christians apart

from Hindus who were found eager and enthusiastic to participate in all

phases of the festival and offer prayers in the Samadhi Mandir according to

their wish and Vow. Of all the aspects of the Festival, the most spectacular

and significant was giving bath to Baba with sacred Godavari water carried

by thousands of devotees individually on their head. Among these devotees

were even children of 10 to 12 years, women and men, old in age, besides a

multitude of others. After Baba was thus given bath of devotion, the

devotees, started getting ready to offer garlands. At that curious juncture,

I just looked around at other devotees, who were holding very costly and

grand garlands and wished in myself that I would be fortunate if Baba

accepted my garland first before that of any one else, although mine was not

so grand as those of some others nearby the rostrum. The very moment, the

pujari made a gesture towards me and took my garland and offered it to Baba

as the first one of that great festival. Belive me, I became so overwhelmed

with joy that I have no words to express it. Thus Baba blessed me.

 

M.Ganga Reddy B.Com

Hyderabad

 

 

(Source Sri Sai Leela May 1975)

This experiences can be read at

www.saileelas.org/articles/experiencesinsaileelas