The celestial vision

[Guest guest]

Smt. Gali Sarada Devi was an ardent devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. She

had spent several years in close proximity to Him, more than 20 years

after Shirdi Sai merged in the infinite.

 

Once she had the privilege to meet Sri Sathya Sai and He summoned her

to puttaparthi.

 

In due course, she was provided regular accommodation in Prashanthi

Nilayam and was addressed by Bhagavan as " Pedda Bottu " endearingly.

The word meant " BIG BINDI " as she used to wear an unusually large

mark of vermilion (Kumkum) on her forehead.

 

It so happened one day in early hours of the morning as she was

sitting in meditation under the 'Tappo Vriksham' tree in Puttaparthi.

It was still dark. She happened to open her eyes and suddenly saw

something unbelievable: 'Celestial women' were moving in the sky

above the Prashanthi Mandir.

 

They radiated brilliant white light as they traveled over the hills

towards the east . Beautiful in appearance and bright in complexion,

richly adorned with flowers and garlands, they did not walk on the

ground but sped high in the open sky.

 

Celestial women' were moving in the sky above the Prashanthi Mandir

 

Pedda Bottu guessed that they were no ordinary human beings. She

could also hear melodious musical sounds. Astonished at the vision,

she realized that celestial beings were returning to their abode

after having darshan of Sri Sathya Sai Parabrahma, the supreme God.

 

Peddu Bottu was a Yogini and therefore was blessed with this soul-

stirring experience by Bhagavan. After a little while she came down

the hill and quietly opened the door of the Bhajan Hall to find every

one asleep.

 

But strangely enough she could still hear the music. She realized

that the celestial visitors were still entertaining Baba with music

and dance. In the morning when Pedda Bottu met Baba, she mentioned to

Him. " Swami, I saw the celestial beings as they were returning after

meeting you " Swami gently smiled said " Oh, did you? "

 

This is a true experience of a devotee who was fortunate to witness

His divine drama. Each one of us is on a long journey from " I ...

to...We'. We are immensely fortunate to have our guide as well as our

goal as Bhagavan. Our constant prayers to Bhagavan is that He should

be with us and guide us throughout in order to become His divine

instruments.

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan