Light of the cool night By Malayalam Film Actor Mohanlal

January 9, 2010

It was the time when my film 'Uncle Bun' was being shot at Kodaikanal, years ago. Sri Sathya Sai Baba was camping there at that time. Every day I would think of going to Baba's place and having 'darshan' of Him at least from a distance. But, in that film, I was acting the role of an abnormally fat man. After a dayâ€™s work, it would take long hours to free me from my costume. By then, it would be past midnight.

Baba left the place, before our shooting was over. Thus, though Baba was at arm's length, I couldn't meet him. I was left alone.

To tell the truth, I was greatly grieved. I found solace in the adage that 'Guru appears only when the Sishya (Disciple) is ready'. Perhaps at the moment, I may not have been fit.

Later, on many occasions I was called to go to Puttaparthi and once the trip was almost settled; but it fell through, on account of the unequal mental equation with the sponsors who offered to take me to the holy place.

Recently, a relative and childhood acquaintance of mine, Dr. Vipin Chandran (Kuttan) of Changiath Ayurvedic Hospital, who is my mother's physician, invited me one day, to go to Puttaparthi with him. Impressed by the sincerity of his words I accompanied him to Puttaparthi. It was my good luck that I reached there when Prasanthi Nilayam was gearing itself to celebrate the 84th birthday of Bhagawan Sai Baba. May be, the earlier opportunities slipped through my fingers, just to give me the bliss of this moment