My experience of Shirdi

[Guest guest]

Sairam everyone,

 

Today I would like to share my experience of visiting Shirdi for the first time

in my life. I have known Baba through a friend around 6 to 7 years ago. Ever

since then I planned on making a trip to Shirdi but for some reason never

could. While in India I never could go to Shirdi. Even on my visits to India I

could never visit Shirdi. I was married and after a year of marriage, my

husband and I planned to go home, we did. When we there, my husband one fine

day comes to me and out of the blue asked me for a divorce. Even then I could

not go to Shirdi. My divorce came through. Last year in June, I got a match.

The boy liked me and I liked him, but we were taking it slow as both of us were

divorcees. We fell in love, but 4 months down the lane, in November, the boy

decided to break off the match.

 

At this time, I went to India in late November. My roommate, who is America, was

flying into Mumbai to visit India on the 14th of December. I was to pick her up

at the airport. I was contemplating on going to Shirdi on my way to Mumbai. But

I did not plan on it. I wanted to do the Paraayan for my marriage with this

person. I then realized that I left my Satcharitha back in America. I then

bought another Satcharitha by Shri Bharadwaja and started the Paraayan on

December 5th for my marriage with this person. I also started fasting then. The

priest of the Sai temple I go to was so glad to see me. He did not know that I

was living abroad, and asked me why I stopped coming to the temple, and I told

him that I was living abroad. When he saw the book I was reading, he said he

would give me another book to read. He asked me to read it in the Dwarakamai

when I go to Shirdi. I told him that I was not sure if I could go. I also told

him that I couldn’t read my mother tongue Telugu. He then said that Baba would

take care of everything, and the next day he gave me a copy of the Satcharita

in English. I felt that Baba was being with me, as I wanted to read the

Satcharita.

 

Since I started the Paraayan, I felt Baba being with you at every moment. On the

early hours of December 6th, I had a dream that this boy introduced me to his

friends as his fiancée and then asked me when I looked questioningly at him, if

I would marry him. I was happy with that dream; I thought that to be Baba's

answer. His name is Srinivas. His ex-wife's name is Radhika. The next day

someone by the name Radhika called me when I was not home, my mom asked her to

call me back later, but she never did. I really don't know anyone by the name

Radhika, and she never called me back. The very next day, my best friend sent

me an original picture of Balaji by email.

 

Meanwhile at home, my father was upset with me in regards to the matches and

also because I asked him for some money. He was getting some furniture made, as

they thought that this match would come through and that I would get married in

December. In his anger he ordered that all the work on the furniture be

stopped. On the 7th of December, my Dad's friend came home; he is an ardent

devotee of Baba. I told him that I was thinking to go to Shirdi, and he said

that it would be my luck if I could go. I prayed to Baba to allow me to Shirdi,

just then the servant maid of our next-door neighbor came to say that there was

a Sai bhajan going on and that we were invited for the Bhajan. My mother said

that I could go. I went for the Bhajan. I then asked my father to book tickets

to Shirdi, he said he would but he was not keen on me going to Shirdi. He did

not book my tickets to Mumbai and he let me know that on the 9th of December. I

was upset and I asked my mother what to do, I knew then that I wanted to be in

Shirdi. My mother, who never encouraged me earlier when I said that I wanted to

go to Shirdi, came with me to the Railway Station. I got reservations to

hyderabad(I am originally from Vishakhapatnam) but I had to connect at

Vijayawada. I was fine with that.

 

On the 10th of December I prayed to Baba to be ahead of me when I started from

home that day to the station. On my way, to my surprise I saw an auto just

ahead of me, and the rear of the auto had a picture of baba. To me that was

Baba listening to me, as I had never come across an auto in the city that had a

picture of Baba on the rear, they always have it on the front. The next day I

left to Vijayawada. As I was reading the Satcharithra for that day, I was

reading that Baba did not like his children to fast. It was around 3.30 in the

afternoon then. I break the fast everyday at 4 pm. In my mind I said that if

Baba wanted me to stop fasting, he should send me my favorite cutlets before 4

pm. Needless to say with in 5 minutes there was a vendor on the train who came

selling vegetarian cutlets. Reached Hyderabad on the 11th of December

 

At Hyderabad, my paternal uncle booked a bus to Shirdi. My accommodation at

Shirdi was not confirmed. I prayed to get a ticket in a sleeper bus, and that

my accommodation be confirmed. That evening, my uncle tried a sleeper bus, and

I got a reservation on it, and my accommodation was confirmed. I was on my way

to Shirdi finally. I reached there on the 12th early hours. I took a shower,

and immediately left to the temple. On my way, I bought some prasad, fruit, a

shawl and flowers. I attended the Abhishek, and had a good darshan. I prayed

that my fathers anger should go away, that he see rationale and let the

furniture be completed as there was no point in wasting the half finished

furniture I prayed for my brother, I prayed for my grandmother who was sick for

two years and bed ridden and who was in pain. I prayed that she be given peace.

I prayed for my mother, I prayed for other friends and family. I also asked

Baba to join me in marriage with Srinivas. After that I went to the Dwarakamai.

I started to read the Satcharita just as the Pujari in Visakhapatnam told me to.

I had the consecrated shawl and prasad next to me. As I was reading the

Satcharita, a black cat came and sat on the shawl. I was upset as in my narrow

mindedness, thought that the cat had polluted the holiness of the shawl. I was

about to shoo the cat away, when a Marathi lady sitting next to me said with

her hands that it was okay and that the cat would go away. I then realized that

God was in all beings. I prayed that Baba if you are in that cat and if you are

actually coming in the form of that cat to be with me, then please sit on the

shawl two more times to total it to three. The cat did sit totally three times

on the shawl. And after that, though it was around it never came and sat on the

shawl anymore.

 

After the Madhyaana aarthi, I decided I would go to my room take a small break

and come back at 4 to finish the Satcharitha. I went to my room and laid down

on the bed. I then realized that I was shivering a lot. It was warm outside.

But I was cold to the point that my teeth started chattering. The room had two

beds. I covered myself with two blankets but I was still cold. I thought I was

dying, cause I did not know what was happening. I saw the time say 3.30pm. I

knew I had to get up and go back to the temple. I wanted to use the bathroom,

but I could not walk from the bed to the bathroom, which was a step away. I

then knew for sure that something was seriously wrong, my body was hot, and the

bed sheets were hot from my fever. I lay down on the bed, and cried and asked

Baba to forgive me for all my faults. Then I saw the shawl on the bed. I put

that around me, within 5 minutes I sweated. I got up, washed myself up and by

4pm I was in the temple, I had no fever. I thanked God, and even todate when I

think of that experience it brings tears to my eyes. It was like a cleansing of

sorts to me.

 

I attended the evening and the night aarthis, finished the Satcharitha that

night, and came back to the room. The next morning, I attended the kakad

aarthi, stayed for the Abhishek again. While waiting for the Abhishek in the

room adjacent to the Dwarakamai, I saw some prasad being distributed in the

Dwarakamai. People would stand right at the grill separating the Dwarakamai to

the room I was in, and eat the prasad. For some reason the thought crossed my

mind that I would like to have some prasad too and I asked Baba for some of his

prasad. Just then there was this person dressed in ochre with an unkempt beard

and his hair tied in a knot. He had some Prasad. He stood next to the grill

looking at the prasad before eating it, when he saw me, I put my hand through

the grill and he gave me some of his prasad. I felt so happy with that. I

thanked him and thanked Baba.

 

After that I left for Mumbai to pick up my roommate at the airport. We traveled

a lot up North and finally returned home, by the time we got home, the

furniture was ready.

 

I then later planned a trip to Madras and Tirupathi. Rachel wanted to see that.

Not knowing the ways of Tirupathi, Rachel and I just went up the hill, that

evening we had our train tickets booked back to Vizag. My father was not sure

too as it had been long since he himself had been to Tirupathi. On the hill we

don't have any directions, we were shuffled from one office to another as I was

trying to get some special darshan tickets, as Rachel was a foreign tourist. But

we weren't getting any. Finally at 1.30 in the afternoon I gave up and said that

we had to go without darshan. But before I did I made a small prayer that we

have darshan, just then I met a temple officer, to whom I explained my

predicament, he arranged for two tickets. We had a good darshan and were out in

two hours with the prasad.

 

On my way to Tirupathi I said that I wanted to go to Shirdi again before flying

out of Mumbai. Rachel and I were in Hyderabad on the 31st of December. I was

very upset that day, as I had earlier planned to be with Srinivas for the New

Year. I cried a lot and was getting a bit depressed. I just wanted to go to a

Sai temple. I called my old school friend who had just moved from the States to

Hyderabad. He was new to Hyderebad himself. I was staying at Begumpet, and there

is a Sai temple at Panjagutta, which is close to Begumpet. In my heart I wanted

to be there for the evening aarthi, as Dilshuknagar is close to Malakpet where

Srinivas is from. But I did not think we would go to Dilshuknagar as it was

very far. But my friend Vijay did not know that temple and said that he knew

the one at Dilshuknagar. And he did take me to Dilshuknagar exactly in time for

the evening Aarthi. I was thankful to Baba and to Vijay for that.

 

The next day Rachel flew out of Hyderabad, and I was to fly out of Mumbai on the

4th. I left on the first of Jan to Shirdi to be there on the 2nd. At that time I

was going to make a prayer especially for Srinivas and me. I had a picture of

the two of us, the only picture of us. I took that with me when I went to

Shirdi. I had that picture in an envelope in a plastic bag along with other

puja articles holy books and all. I thought that the pujari would put the whole

bag to baba and give it back to me as it is generally done. But the Pujari took

the bag, put it to Baba, and then for some reason, looked inside the bag, took

out the big packet of rewadi, tore it open, gave some to Baba, and the rest to

me. He then took out the envelope having the pictures, put it to Baba and gave

it to me. I knew then that Baba had blessed Srinivas and me and that we would

definitely be married. I said my thanks.

 

That evening I met a family who were physically handicapped. They had two

daughters. The eldest is doing her 11th. She did Mehndi on my hand. If anyone

of you should be in Shirdi and wish to have Henna, please ask anyone for Payal

classes and they will tell you where it is. The name of the mother is Shobha

and the eldest daughters name is Vinita. They are very poor and live in dirty

conditions but they are wonderful people. They speak Marathi, Hindi and very

good English. I was touched by their hospitality and their simplicity.

 

The next morning I attended the Kakad Aarthi, And for some reason I cried tears

of happiness, I was in a state of bliss, that I cannot explain. It was

wonderful. I wanted to have Baba's tirth and I did. After that, I again met the

family said my byes, and left for Mumbai, from where I flew out back to the

States.

 

Today, baba has answered most of my prayers. He gave peace to my parents. My

brother who was a chain smoker, totally quit smoking. My grandmother finally

passed away on the 9th of January in peace, and all her last rites went so

unbelievably smoothly. I knew she was going to pass away, and also told my

parents that she would. They did not believe me till she did. I had an amazing

pooja here in Florida in January the details of which I shall write again

later. But Srinivas and I stopped talking to each other totally, and his family

has sent back my photographs to my family officially breaking off the match. But

I know deep down that definitely some thing will happen, some time that will

bring Srinivas and me in marriage. Baba's actions, assurances and word are

never in vain. Many people including my mother scoffs at me for that, but I

believe that it will happen in some way in its own time. My good friends think

I am crazy. But I believe in it. I told myself that it was okay not to think of

it anymore. I don't talk to Srinivas, I don't have hopes too, but that belief is

something I cannot understand. I know that Baba would not give me false hopes.

 

One thing that happened was that I asked Baba not to allow any other matches to

come through if Srinivas was to be my husband. And no matches are coming

through, for some reason or the other they all go back, before it can really

advance anywhere.

 

Sai Ram,

Smita Prasad.

http://www.geocities.com/smitaprasad/

-

Anitha Kandukuri

 

Wednesday, February 26, 2003 5:35 AM

Re: Another miracle

Sairam Padmajaji,

It is really beautiful experience truely. So also is that of Smita's. One who

is deeply in love with our SAI will feel HIM and HIS presence in their life

always. All it takes for us is that window of faith and patience. Skeptics

think these miracles play of our foolish mind, but only those who know and have

read satcharita will understand the working of BABA. And what is wrong is

indulging in such foolishness that gives us hope joy happiness and keeps us

going looking forwards to the love of the love. It is a joy to read such

experiences. Thanks for sharing them. Thanks Sister Sharada too for sharing

her most touching and wonderful experience.

BABA bless us and guide us always.Anitha Kandukuri http://www.angelfire.com/sd/SaidarbarCanberra

 

allipuram Padmaja Reddi

 

 

Another miracle

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 11:21:05 -0800 (PST)

Sairam to all my brothers and sisters,

Its really amazing to read the miracle with Sarada..She is really blessed as

Baba dragged her to Shirdi with a string..really wonderful. However I could not

wait to share a miracle how Baba accepted sweet. On Feb.8th my husband left to

India..and he planned leave to Shirdi on the same day of his arrival to India.

One of my neighbors was always telling that the sweet, dood peda which I make

will be so delicious..which I mostly cook to offer Baba.As they were moving to

Ohio on Feb 8th from our place (the same day my husband was visiting India), I

told her I will make dood peda for her family on Feb.7th. We were busy in

packing things for my husband...but I made dood peda for her on that evening

but I could not give her till that night as they were busy too. She told that

she will knock our door in the morning of Feb 8th to say 'Bye' and pick the

sweet around 7-30am. So I packed it and was awaiting her call from the early

morning on Feb 8th.I waited for 2hrs..later called to their house many times

and came to know that they moved.I was surprised and wondered for what

reason..she did not pick the sweet. One of my friends who were in our house

that day to see my husband off to India..suggested me to send dood peda to

Shirdi ..because my husband was supposed to go there on the same day.She told

that they missed to send dood peda to shirdi in december when her husband

visited. I happily send the same with my husband..and my husband went to Shirdi

as planned..offered peda..to our beloved Baba..had a wonderful darshan. I was

really amazed and exicited to hear the same. Baba accepted the sweet he want in

HIS own way. Also..I did sathcharitra parayana last month and I thought on the

seventh day that how Baba is going to bless me..that day(thursday) I found

'Baba aarathis and pooja book' in a bag unexpectedly which I was immensely

searching it since 1 1/2 year (actually I searched for it in that bag before).

My joy knew no bounds.. myself and my husband felt very happy as we both were

searching for the same. I was indeed in tears to experience that Baba is taking

care of us..every moment by staying with us and within us.

May Baba bless all.

Padmaja

 

 

 

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