Sai-My Saviour and Protector by (Sai Premi) R. VENKATRAMAN

[Guest guest]

Sai-My Saviour

and Protector

SRI SAI RAM

Samartha

Sadguru Sai of Shirdi is my Saviour,

who by His unbounded Mercy, rescued my life from the

jaws of certain death, that looked a distinct probability for months at a

stretch, following a ghastly road accident in New Delhi

on 1-12-1984. It is a Truth

that is being experienced by me every moment of my existence. . ,

Although disability in the

form of a shortened left leg with more or less irreparable damage has been

caused to it, Sai has, by his Leela, put me back on the road both spiritually

and materially. His helping hand is realised by me

every moment I was on the busy roads of Madras,

which enable me to earn my livelihood with honour,

dignity and ease too. I am indebted to all those kindly souls who unhesitatingly

(in fact willingly and smilingly) transport me in their vehicles, be they

owners of cars or two wheelers. I feel convinced they are all messengers of our

Dear Sai who help a Sai brother in need.

I was involved in a road

accident at New Delhi on 1-12-1984 in the lonely Delhi Cantonment area when riding

on a two wheeler. In normal parlance, it could be termed a God-forsaken place

but in retrospect, I would like to record it as the place where 'SAT was

present and kept vigil. All I could remember at that time were the presence of

a Military van and a fellow two wheeler rider picking up my 'Visiting Card'

after which I became unconscious. The injury to my fractured Fenner Bone (Thigh of left leg) was minimal while a head

injury internal and serious was the main culprit in my condition deteriorating

fast at the AllMS where I had been admitted, hours

after rendering of First aid at a Military Hospital near the Accident Spot.

I was then transferred to K.J. Hospital, Madras. Four months of tortuous hospitalization at

Delhi, weakening of systems and the untreated head injury had caused such

emaciation in my body that the K J. Hospital authorities declared on 23-3-85 to

my Father-in-law (When I was brought in a stretcher) that only a bundle of

bones was brought instead of a patient in some health was even clearly heard by

me. They were right in their assessment as almost everyone visiting me felt the

same way and the weak-willed stayed away after the first visit, fearing the

'Inevitable'.

The outer world what appeared

as an unconscious and semi-comatic patient lying in a

hospital bed, visions of Sai Baba, Ramana Maharishi, Kanchi Sankaracharya (Sr), Tajuddin, Gajanan Maharaj used to be experienced before my mind, Baba eye.

The frequent visions used to assume the form of my own physical body taking

rounds as in Giri - Pradakshana

done at Thiruvannamalai, which is considered sacred.

I am not aware of that there are such hills around Shirdi. The most regular

vision was one of this humble self standing in the Sannidhanam

(Sanctum-Sanctorum) of Shirdi Samsthan. In restrospect I cannot recall of having been frightened by

the darkness of death, while actually it was all 'Ecstasy' inwardly whenever I

was under the influence of such spells. I also remember to be always taking

about Baba, Ramana, etc to my visiting well-wishers

although my physical strength and voice was at its lowest ebb - almost whisper.

Those noble souls who were co-satsanghas used to be

present by my bed side frequently, helping with donation of blood and other

acts of selfless service. The 3 years proceeding my

accident were almost entirely devoted to sat-sangh.

When I was so to say 'Drenched' in it, be that Bhajan

sessions at various devotees' places, Sai Temple, Ramana

Kendra or learning Thiruppugazh.

I would like to record here

that I am in total agreement with the learned (Late) E.

Bharadwaja, the great Sai devotee that

visits to saintly souls are preordained and they have beneficial effects in the

spiritual advancement of any soul. In my humble life, I was blessed to see the

physical form of Paramacharya Sankaracharya,

Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi, Mahar Baba, Gajram Maharaja Temple

at Shegaon and the holy shrines of Tajjudin Baba (Nagpur)

and a number of muslim

saints in and around Nagpur.

While I lay hospitalised in Delhi

and Madras, the feeling of having

visited (mentally) Bharadwaja's Vidyanagar Sai

Temple was drilled into my

consciousness. In Bharadwaja's books on Baba his

reference to Blessings of parents has been given due importance.

After about 2 years of the accident, Sai

saw that his child could gain mobility and become physically fit to continue

his material and spiritual work.

My account will be incomplete without the

reference to Sakshatkara experiences when Baba

manifested Himself to me in my place of work in 1981 (in Madras) and cautioning

me that I should not feel depressed at any time and that Blessings of Shirdi

Baba will ever be attending on me. On this occasion he came as a white robed Sanyasi (without beard) of medium height offering me " Vibhuthi Prasatham "

conversing in chaste Hindi, a language I am very familiar with having lived in

central North India for considerable periods of my life. His visit and stay for

over 10-15 minutes was witnessed by at least half a dozen people including my younger

son who was then only 9 years of age.

About a month prior to the

accident, i.e. in Nov. 4 when I was proceeding one early morning (on a pathway

in a public park in Janakpuri area in Delhi), I could spot an unusually tall figure long

robed, sporting a beard, counting beads with his fingers. I instantly felt the

presence of my Master and saluted to him which he acknowledged.

His

assurance and helping

hand blessed me

to survive and

He provided

with substance and

meaningful life now.

It is rightly

said that darkness is

followed by light

and that light

when switched on

by Baba results in external

glow blessed by

Eternal Love. It is his Blessings that this piece of writing

planned long back is being completed on a Thursday.

JAI SAIRAM JAI

SAIRAM JAI SAIRAM

Glory Be to our

Lord and Peace be to all.

(Sai Premi)

R. VENKATRAMAN