Baba Appears as an Old Man

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Baba Appears as an Old Man

By R. Radhakrishnan

Lovely temple for Sai Baba has come up at Mekkudi, 18 km from Trichy on

the Madurai route. It is built at a cost 65 lakhs and it can accommodate

over 500 devotees for congregation. Kumbabhishekam took place on 24th

and 25th October 2001.

 

On 25th October 2001 around 11 a.m., a tall bearded old man came to the

temple. He was dressed poorly and was holding a bamboo stick of 7-ft

height. His personality resembled Baba. On seeing him, my intuition

prompted me that it is Sai Baba himself has come in that form. I

received him with folded hands and made him sit on a vacant chair. I

called Sai Bandhu K. V. Ramani and told him my feelings. He immediately

took out an 'Anga Vastra' and bowed to him by placing it around the old

man's neck. Then the old man pretended that his legs were paining and

asked us whether Baba would alleviate his suffering. We affirmed that

Baba would take care of everything. He then looked at Baba's idol and

bowed to him. By then, my wife, a few devotees like Swaminathan came

there and were quick to recognize the old man as Baba and prostrated

before him.

 

The old man told us that he has kept some 'kanikai', which he will bring

it next time. He also told us that he has been visiting this place since

a long time and declared that this is a sanctified place and the

devotees who come to this temple will be blessed and their problems

would be automatically solved.

 

Then he received the prasad - sweet 'pongal'. He put it in his upper

cloth and took leave of us. He walked back to the entrance holding the

bamboo shaft for support. Sri Swaminathan escorted him and at the exit

door offered him a 'dakshina' of Rs. 10/- with reverence.

 

Sai Baba appears in any form, at any time, at any place in the form of a

fakir, Sadhu, dog, cat, pig etc., and blesses the devotees. We should be

alert always to recognize Baba. If we are always thinking of him, then

we would have his 'darshan' easily.