Bhaghwan's Discourse - 9-10-2002

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REMINISCENCE OF THE DIVINE

(Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, on 20th

October 2002, in Sai Kulwant Hall, Prashanthi Nilayam, on the occasion of the

62nd Anniversary of the Declaration of Avatarhood)

On October 20, 1940, which happened to be a Sunday, Swami lost the collar pin

and with that the veil of Maya disappeared. The worldly attachment left Him in

the form of the collar pin. He left home saying that Maya could not bind Him

any longer. This happened after a visit to Hampi. (Telugu Poem)

 

Embodiments of Love!

 

It happened when I was at Uravakonda. The Corporation Commissioner of Bellary

had a dream in which he was directed to go to a particular house in Uravakonda

and bring Sathyam to Bellary. At the same time, his wife also had a dream in

which she was directed to accompany her husband and bring Sathyam with them.

They thought Sathyam would be a great and famous personality. Now My height is

a little above five feet. I was much shorter those days. I used to wear a

shorts and a shirt. I was 14 years old at that time. As I came out of the

house, the Corporation Commissioner and his wife at once recognised Me to be

the same person who had appeared in their dream. They felt extremely happy and

prostrated before Me on the road itself. They were unmindful of the fact that I

was a small boy. I was on My way to school with a few books in My hand.The

Commissioner and his wife approached Seshama Raju, the elder brother of this

body, and requested him: "Please bring Sathya to Bellary today. You may have to

apply for leave but does not matter." One cannot say no to a person of the

status of the Corporation Commissioner. Hence, Seshama Raju approached the Head

Master of the school Kameswar Rao with a request to grant him leave. He also

explained to him the reason for his taking leave. Kameswar Rao was very fond of

Me. He said, "You may take Sathya to Bellary or wherever you want. You do not

need to seek my permission in this regard." He even gave his car to take Me to

Bellary.

The Commissioner and his wife played host to us for three days. They took us to

the Virupaksha temple in the nearby Hampi Kshetra. Seshama Raju and his wife

told Me to remain outside the temple and keep a watch over their belongings as

they would go inside to have Darshan of the deity. I readily agreed and

remained outside. As soon as they entered the temple, to their utter

astonishment, they found Me standing inside the sanctum sanctorum where the

deity is supposed to be standing. Seshama Raju could not believe his eyes. He

thought, "Why did he come here when I told him specifically to remain outside

and take care of our belongings?" He at once came out of the temple only to

find Me standing there! He again went inside and found Me there also! Still he

was not convinced. He told his wife, "You go outside and keep a watch over

Sathya. Do not allow him to go anywhere. Meanwhile, I will go inside and see

whether he is still there." She did accordingly. He again saw a smiling Sathya

standing in the sanctum sanctorum. The Corporation Commissioner was also a

witness to all this. He recognised My divinity. When they came out of the

temple, he caught hold of Seshama Raju's hands and said, "Raju, do not be under

the impression that Sathya is your brother. He is not an ordinary person. You

are deluded seeing His physical form. There is divine power in Him."

We came back to the Commissioner's house, had our food there and started our

return journey to Uravakonda. The Commissioner wanted to give Me a gift. He

said that he would get four pairs of shorts and shirts stitched for Me. I

firmly told him that I would not accept even one. He did not want to force Me

either. Then his wife suggested that a gold collar pin would be an appropriate

gift for Me. In those days, it was a matter of prestige for children to wear a

collar pin. Immediately, he bought a gold collar pin and put it on the collar

of My shirt. I protested. Under any circumstances, I never accepted anything

from others. But Seshama Raju insisted that I accept the gift. He said that my

refusal to accept the gift would amount to showing disrespect to the

Commissioner. So I obeyed him.

 

After returning from Hampi, I was going to school wearing the collar pin. The

pin dropped on the way and could not be traced. A major change took place in

Me. Worldly attachment left Me in the guise of a collar pin. I decided to

embark on My mission to alleviate the sufferings of My devotees. I threw away

the books and entered the garden of the Excise Commissioner Hanumantha Rao. He

was an ardent devotee. Seeing Me, he told his wife to prepare various

delicacies. But I did not touch any of those preparations. Seshama Raju came

there and forced Me to return home. He then sent a telegram to Puttaparthy

asking Pedda Venkatma Raju Garu and Easwaramma Garu to come immediately to

Uravakonda. In those days, it used to take one week for the telegram to reach.

One of the schoolboys was also sent as a messenger to Puttaparthy. When they

arrived, Seshama Raju brought them to Me. Easwaramma pleaded with Me, with

tears in her eyes, "Sathya, come, let us go back to Your brother's house." But,

I did not agree. "If you want Me to come, I will go with you to Puttaparthy. I

will go of My own accord and make the villagers happy."

 

In those days, I used to lead the school prayer at the loving insistence of the

headmaster. He would say, "Raju, you may be young, but your prayer melts our

hearts." The day after I left the school, another boy, who used to sit close to

Me in the class, was asked to lead the prayer. When he went on the dais, he

broke down in tears remembering Me. All the students and teachers were in

tears, and the prayer meeting was cancelled. They wanted to accompany Me to

Puttaparthy. But how was it possible to accommodate so many of them in this

village? Then I told Kameswar Rao to somehow convince the boys not to follow

Me.

In the classroom, three of us used to share a desk - Myself in the middle,

flanked by Ramesh and Suresh on either side. They were not too well in their

studies. Whenever teachers asked them questions, they would give the answers

prompted by Me. It was the time of our E.S.L.C. public exams. Our register

numbers were such that we had to sit separately, quite at a distance from each

other. It was not possible for them to copy. They were much worried. I infused

courage in them saying, "You don't need to write anything. You just attend the

examination and feign to write the examination. I will take care of the rest".

The duration of the examination was two hours. I completed My answer paper in

just 10 minutes. I took some more papers from the invigilator and wrote the

answers in Ramesh's handwriting. After completing it, I took another set of

papers and wrote the answers in Suresh's handwriting. I also wrote their names

on the answer sheets. When the final bell rang, all the students got up, and I

silently placed all the three papers on the table of the examiner. Nobody

raised any objection. The results were announced on the following day and only

we three got first class. The teachers were surprised as to how Ramesh and

Suresh also got first class. There was no scope for any doubt. They could not

have copied from Me, since we were seated far from each other. Their answer

sheets were in their own handwriting. The local people were overjoyed. They

carried us on their shoulders, and took us in a grand procession. Those two

boys had such intimate relationship with Me. When I left Uravakonda, Ramesh and

Suresh could not bear the separation from Me. Ramesh, utterly dejected, fell

into a well and died. The second boy went on repeating "Raju, Raju, Raju …" and

ultimately turned mad. He was taken to various mental hospitals, but there was

no improvement. Finally his parents came to Me and prayed, "Raju, he will be

cured of his madness if he sees You at least once. Please come and see him." I

went to the mental hospital to see him. He was continuously repeating "Raju,

Raju, Raju …" Seeing Me, he shed tears, fell at My feet and breathed His last.

They had surrendered themselves to Me. They prayed that they should never be

separated from Me.

 

When I came to Puttaparthy, Karanam Subbamma gave one acre of land near

Sathyabhama temple where a small house was built. There I used to live. The

same Ramesh and Suresh were born again as two puppies, and came to Me. The

sister of Mysore Maharaja named them Jack and Jill. They were always with Me.

One day the Maharani of Mysore came to have My Darshan. She was a great devotee

and a highly orthodox woman. She would perform Puja with flowers everyday. She

would personally pluck the flowers after sanctifying the plants by sprinkling

water and milk. As there were no proper roads to Puttaparthy, she alighted from

the car at Karnatakanagepalli and walked the rest of the distance to Old Mandir.

There used to be a small shed where the Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam

stands now. The Maharani decided to rest for the night in the Mandir. The

driver had his dinner and was returning to Karnatakanagepalli where the car was

parked. I told Jack to accompany the driver and show him the way. Jack walked in

the front and the driver followed. Jack slept under the car. Next morning, the

driver started the car not knowing that Jack was sleeping under it. The wheel

of the car ran over the back of Jack and its backbone broke. Jack dragged

itself across the river, wailing all the while. A washer man named Subbanna

used to take care of the Old Mandir day and night. He was very loyal and

considered Swami as his very life. He came running to Me and said, "Swami, Jack

might have met with an accident. It is coming wailing in pain. I came out at

once. Jack came close to Me, wailing loudly, fell at My feet and breathed its

last. It was buried behind the Old Mandir and a Brindavan was erected. As per

My instructions, it was built by the side, not at the centre. I told there

should be a place for another Samadhi. As Jack had passed away, Jill stopped

eating food and died after a few days. It was also buried by the side of Jack's

Samadhi. In this manner, Ramesh and Suresh did penance to be with Me. Even after

their death, they took birth as dogs to be with Me.

First the collar pin was lost; then I stopped going to school and parents

arrived and brought Me here. Owing to all these changes, I left Uravakonda.

After I came here, many people from Bangalore and Mysore started visiting this

place in their cars. Maharani of Mysore, coffee planter Sakamma, Desaraj Arasu,

the maternal uncle of Mysore Maharaja were among those who used to come here.

One day they prayed, "it is difficult for us to come here often. Hence, please

come and settle in Mysore. We shall build a big mansion for You." I told, "I

don't want palatial buildings. I want to be here." That night, mother

Easwaramma came to Me with tears in her eyes and said, "Swami, people want to

take You here and there for their selfish purposes. If you leave Puttaparthy, I

will give up My life. Please promise me that You will remain in Puttaparthy for

ever." I gave her My word that I would never leave Puttaparthy. It is for this

reason that I have constructed many buildings in the Ashram for the comfort and

convenience of devotees.

When I made it clear that I would not leave Puttaparthy, Sakamma and the

maternal uncle of Mysore Maharaja decided to build a Mandir, a little away from

the village. They acquired ten acres of land here and started the construction

work. An ardent devotee by name Vittal Rao volunteered to oversee the

construction work. He was a forest officer during the British regime. He is the

father of Jayamma (Prof. Jayalakshmi Gopinath) who spoke earlier. He supervised

the construction work. R.N. Rao from Madras, Neeladri Rao, the son-in-law of

Pitapuram Maharaja, the son-in-law of Baroda Maharaja, all of them took active

interest in the construction work. As all of them joined hands, the Mandir was

constructed in a very short period. As it was wartime, it was very difficult to

procure iron for the construction work. They overcame all such hurdles with

sincerity and devotion. They prayed that I should not go there till the

construction was over, lest I may be put to inconvenience. Such was their love

for Me.

I always fulfill My promise made to the devotees. Whatever I do is for the

happiness of the devotees. I don't need anything for Myself. I don't have any

desires.

They worked day and night, made payments to the laborers, and saw to it that the

construction was completed successfully. Jayamma was very young at that time.

Every Sunday Vittal Rao used to come here in his car to pay wages to laborers.

Jayamma would insist that she be allowed to accompany him. Vittal Rao was very

fond of his daughter. He used to get food prepared in Bangalore itself and

bring his daughter along with him. She has been serving Swami for the last 60

years. She came to Me when this body was 17 years old. Now this body is

approaching its 77th Birthday. She would visit Prashanthi Nilayam very

frequently and would learn Swami's Bhajans and sing His glory. In this manner,

she developed sacred feelings and intense devotion for Swami. One should have

Prapti (deservedness) to experience divine proximity. One cannot get it for the

mere asking. It cannot be denied either. One gets it out of the merits accrued

over past lives. Their family has been the recipient of bounteous grace. I was

moved by her repeated reference to Venkamma Garu (Swami's elder sister) in her

speech.

Venkamma Garu used to cook food for Swami. Jayamma used to be with her always to

learn cooking. They had such intimate friendship. Later Parvatamma Garu

(Venkamma Garu's younger sister) also came here. They used to bring food for

Swami by turn, one in the morning and the other in the evening. They were

concerned that it was not safe to allow others to prepare food for Swami. They

extracted a promise from Me that I would eat the food prepared by them only.

They served Me till their very last breath. They were in Manipal Hospital,

Bangalore, at the time of their passing away.

Venkamma was taken from here to Bangalore in an unconscious state. She had never

opened her eyes. I went to her and called, 'Venkamma'. She instantly opened her

eyes and saw Swami. She offered her Namaskar to Me by taking My hands close to

her eyes. She shed tears and left her mortal coil.

The same happened in the case of Parvatamma also. She was also unconscious when

she was taken to Bangalore. I went to her and called out her name. She

immediately opened her eyes, shed tears and breathed her last. So long as they

were alive, they served Swami by bringing food everyday, morning and evening.

Such intimate relationship with the Lord is the result of merits of past lives.

It cannot be acquired by human effort. They never cared for their ill health and

continued to serve Swami with love. Their lives were sanctified.

Even to this day, food is received from their houses. Seshama Raju's son lives

here. Easwaramma's son Janakiramaiah also stays here. You all know him. His

wife prepares and brings food for Me, likewise Parvatamma's daughter also

brings food for Me. In this manner, they are serving Swami everyday. I don't

take food at night. Every morning, they bring food for Me. Such is the intimate

relationship that Swami has with this family. Some incarnations were due to the

prayers of their parents; but, in Swami's case, it is different. I decided

that, so and so should be the father and so and so should be the mother. This

body has not taken birth in the ordinary mortal way.

Though Karnam Subbamma was not physically related to this body, emotionally, she

was closely attached to Swami. She used to think of Swami day in and day out.

She requested Me to stay in her house. She was prepared to vacate the house for

My sake. Many relatives argued with her, "Being a Brahmin, how are you allowing

a Kshatriya to stay in your house?" She said, "I don't go to anybody's house.

None of you need come to my house. It is enough if I have Swami with me." Such

was her devotion and determination. She had only one desire. She prayed, "I

should see your beautiful form when I leave my body." I said I would certainly

fulfill her desire.

 

Once I went to Madras acceding to a devotee's prayer. Subbamma was in

Bukkapatnam at that time. She was staying with her mother. By the time I

returned from Madras, Subbamma had breathed her last. When I came here, people

came running to Me and said, "Swami, Your Subbamma passed away last night."

Immediately, I turned the car and went to Bukkapatnam straightaway. Her body

was kept in the verandah, covered with a cloth. The entire household was

grief-stricken. Once Swami makes a promise, He will certainly fulfill it under

any circumstances. I removed the cloth covering the body. As she had passed

away the previous night, ants were crawling all over her body. I called out,

"Subbamma". She opened her eyes. This news spread like wildfire within no time.

The people of Bukkapatnam started crowding the place telling each other that

Subbamma was brought back to life. Subbamma's mother was hundred years old at

that time. I told her to bring a glass of water with a Tulsi leaf soaked in it.

I put Tulsi leaf in Subbamma's mouth and made her drink some water. I said,

"Subbamma, I have kept up My promise. Now, you may close your eyes peacefully."

She said, "Swami, what more do I need? I am leaving blissfully." Shedding tears

of joy, she held My hands and breathed her last. I never go back on My promise,

I always keep up My promise under any circumstances. In this manner, the Words

are inadequate to describe Subbamma's service. During the Krishna Avatar,

mother Yashoda could love and serve Krishna more than mother Devaki.

In those days, Easwaramma and Subbamma used to converse with each other through

the window in the wall separating their houses. They could not visit each

other's house because their husbands were not on talking terms. But Easwaramma

had a cordial relationship with Subbamma.The parents of this body were chosen

by Me. Pedda Venkama Raju used to help the devotees visiting Swami. He used to

run to Bukkapatnam even for a coconut or provisions required by the devotees.

One day, he came to the Mandir and expressed his desire to talk to Me. I had

already called a group for an interview. I took him inside. He said, "Swami, I

should not leave behind any debt. I had a small shop. I might have forgotten to

return a paisa or two to someone. Hence, I request you to distribute food to the

poor on the 12th day after my demise." He took out some money and placed it in

My hands, saying, "It is my hard earned money. You may use it for feeding the

poor. He also mentioned that he had kept a few bags of rice and jaggery

required for that purpose. After this, he went home, slept and died peacefully.

 

Easwaramma also had such a sacred end. She used to follow Me wherever I went.

She came to Brindavan to attend the Summer Course. She felt very happy seeing

so many students. She even served water to them during their lunch. She used to

say, "It is because of Swami that we are able to witness such a grand event."

One-day breakfast was served to the students as usual. Easwaramma too had her

breakfast. Venkamma, who used to look after her needs, was by her side at that

time. Easwaramma was pounding betel nut in a mortar. I could hear the sound

from upstairs. All of a sudden, she cried out, "Swami, Swami, Swami." I said,

"I am coming, I am coming." I came down immediately and she breathed her last.

She had absolutely no suffering at all, not even a mild headache. Their lives

were sanctified as they were selected by Swami.

Ramesh and Suresh considered Swami as their very life breath. Though they were

very young, they had intense love for Swami. Knowing that I did not have money

with Me, Ramesh got two pairs of dresses stitched for Me and kept them in My

desk with a note, "If you do not accept them, I will give up my life." I

refused them saying, "Our friendship and love should not be built on the basis

of giving and taking. Ours is heart to heart relationship with pure love. We

should share only love. There should be no material transaction". Right from

then till this day, I never accepted anything from others. I always conduct

Myself in accordance with the principle of Help ever, Hurt never. This has been

My motto. I never harmed anyone. I derive great joy in helping others. That is

why I tell the devotees to always pray, Loka Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu (May

all the people of the world be happy!) All should be happy, healthy and

blissful. With such sacred motive, I have been spreading the message of love to

the entire world. My students are My biggest property. The students of the

Primary School, Higher Secondary School and the Institute are always with Me.

They do not leave Swami and Swami cannot be without them. My life is for the

sake of humanity at large. The happiness of people is the happiness of Swami. I

have no interest in celebrating My Birthdays. But the devotees would not leave

Me. They want to have different celebrations, but I do not want any. I consider

your birthday as My Birthday. The day you are happy is truly My Birthday. Though

bodies are different, you should not give room for any differences. All are one,

be alike to everyone. The relationship that Swami has with the devotees is not

of a worldly nature. It is relationship based on Divine love.

Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Prema Mudita Manase Kaho”

 

 

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