The missing certificates

I came to Prasanthi Nilayam for the first time in 1980. Admissions were going on, but I had been naïve enough to show up without my academic records. I came just to see whether I liked the place. During the interview, one teacher said, “Since you haven’t brought your certificates, keep your fingers crossed.” The list of selected students was taken to Swami for approval, and this fact was told to Him. He simply said, “Give him admission, he’ll go and bring the certificates.” But for that benevolence of Bhagawan, I would’ve missed that golden chance.

Swami’s Lighting Boys

Every year, for Dussera, Swami’s Birthday, Christmas and New Year celebrations – and for some Poornachandra programs as well, a group of nine boys would have the chance to decorate the Mandir with lights. We usually used six to eight hundred lighting decoration sets, though for the 60^th Birthday, we used two thousand! Ten to fifteen days prior to Swami’s Birthday, we would request Swami for permission to start. Swami would lovingly permit, and say, “First, climb and clean. Then decorate. Be careful.”

Since the Mandir was full during day, we worked during nights. Looking back, it was physically challenging work, especially the parapets; one slip could mean a major injury. But He truly took care in every possible way.

Many times, at around 12.30 or 01.00 in the night, Swami would come to His room’s window (without switching on the light) and whistle or click His tongue, just to assure us that He was there. Just imagine seeing a reflection of Swami at that time of the night and feeling reassured that He’s with you!

He would instruct us where to put more lights. Talk about topics around spirituality and philosophy. He would always say, “First have your dinner; only then work.” And without fail, wish us, goodnight before retiring after these bonus sessions. Sometimes, when we would mess something up, the electricity would go out in His room, He would lovingly say, “Dunapotha! What have you done? There’s no light in My room.”

On those nights, after some hours of work, we would fall asleep on the verandah. Swami would tip toe His way out in the morning and instruct others, “Don’t disturb them. They’ve been working throughout the night.”

Once the festival was over, it was our job again to neatly remove the decorative lighting sets. It took many days to do this. In addition, we always tried to extend this period by intentionally leaving a few sets scattered so that our bonus sessions with Swami continued. Swami would lovingly permit this mischief for a day or two, then say, “Dunapotha, you’re not removing these 5-6 sets. Now finish! Next festival will come. I will call again.” He would add, “After you finish, my job is to get it repainted.” (The tape used to stick the lights, when removed would chip off the paint in that area).

We truly cherish the memories! Those beautiful interactions and the daily Padanamaskars!

Lunching with the Lord

During Dussera, Birthday, and Christmas, Bhagawan would host the lighting boys for lunch on the first floor of the Mandir. And not just regular lunch, an absolute feast! Dishes like Tamarind Rice, Veg Pulao, Potato Curry, Brinjal Curry, Chutney, Ladoos, Payasam, Sweet Roti, and so on were prepared. He would make it a point to serve each of us, Himself. Every single time. Like a doting mother, He would ensure that we ate well, often serving second and third helpings, saying “Till you finish, I will not go.” After serving us He would sit at a height of 3-4 feet on a pile of Dhotis against the wall, so that others downstairs could not see Him and congregate.

I’d often wonder thousands come from all over the world just to get a glimpse of Him – even more so on festival days. And here, the Lord was showering exclusive love on us for an hour or hour and a half – making conversation, talking about the morning and evening programs on each of these days. Only our Swami can do this! This continued for 6–7 years without fail.

Additionally, on the day prior to the festival, He gave us money to get a new dress stitched for the big day. He’d pay for both – cloth and tailoring. If we resisted, He’d say, “Shut your mouth and take. If you don’t take, I won’t allow you to attend the festival.” Later, He would tell us, “I saw you from the window, you went in the afternoon for stitching. Chala Bagundi.” And then, on festival morning, we used to get the first Padanamaskar. Truly, memories that one can spend lifetimes holding on to.

Like the eyelids that protect the eye

Working with wires and climbing heights is risky business. There are bound to be a few accidents. But when they happened, our Swami was always the first to protect.

Once, a brother slipped from the top of the Gopuram Gate. However, his trouser has stuck in a hook in the Hanuman flag, which probably reduced the velocity of the fall, but it was still extremely scary. Swami, from the balcony, instructed us to give him water. He then came to us quickly, tore a piece from his robe’s inner dhoti, and side “Tie this, the bleeding will stop.” Then added, “Dunnapotha, be very careful when you work.”

At another time, in the hostel, another brother, using his teeth, attempted to remove insulation from an electrical wire to expose the copper. However, unknowingly, the line was switched on. The brother received a near fatal shock. By the time the current was switched off, he had a hole in his tongue.

When the warden told Swami about this, Swami said, “The current did not hit him. It hit me.” Swami sent the boy to Hyderabad to consult a specialist who recommended a series of medicines and injections, coupled with three months bed rest. The boy returned to Parthi with the prescription and showed it to Swami. Swami asked him to open his mouth and put ample amount of Vibhuti on the wound, tore the prescription and asked the boy to prepare for the Sports Meet.

On hearing this, the consulting doctor, who was the boy’s uncle, was aghast and extremely sceptical of this ‘negligence’. The boy went on to win many prizes during that year’s Sports Meet, which was conducted about a month from that dangerous incident, in athletic events. Even Swami remarked, “Dekho usse shock laga, magar vo 1st aa gaya!” (“See! Even though he received a shock, he has come first”). Which prescription worked? Only Swami’s grace! The incident converted the consulting doctor into a devotee of Bhagawan.

“What can electricity do to Me?”

Christmas mornings in Prasanthi Nilayam were special. Early morning Carols filling the air and in that spiritually charged environment – Bhagawan’s first floor balcony Darshan! On one Christmas however, this mesmerizing experience took an unexpected turn.

To power the decorative lighting, a high-voltage wire from the electricity tower outside the Mandir used to be brought in, and one of its branches ended on the first floor balcony. Many lighting sets in the front of the Mandir structure were powered from here. The floor used to be laden with wires.

On Christmas, when Swami opened the silver door, the base of the door cut off the main wire – all the lighting in that area went out. We were horrified! We knew that our Swami was walking on 440 volts of electricity. Crying profusely, we could only pray. Swami, however, completed the Mandir session like any other Christmas, full of bliss and showering love on everyone. Later, fearing that Swami or one of the seniors at the ashram would not allow us this chance ever again, we said a heartfelt sorry to our Lord, but He just replied with, “What can electricity do to me? Nothing!”

What Swami really wants

In my experience, Swami only looks at our Antaranga Bhava (Innermost feelings). If we are selfless and pure, we can feel Swami’s presence with us every second. Once Swami asked a group of us, “Do you know what I want from you all?” One said Bhajans. The other said meditation. Swami said, “Even if you don’t do all that, I don’t bother. I want you to be good human beings in society.” Then, Swami put His hand forward and all of us put forward a hand to meet His.

That is all our Lord expects. I pray that we always stay mindful of that and enjoy nearness and dearness with Him.

Jai Sai Ram.

Ramesh Agraharam joined Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School in the 11^th standard in 1980. He then went on to complete B.Com. and M.Com. from Swami’s Institute in 1987. Upon completion, Swami told him to “do computers”, so he completed a course in Advanced Systems Management from the National Institute of Technology, Hyderabad. After a two-year stint at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), he joined the Government of Andhra Pradesh as a public servant. He is currently an industrialist in the field of organic products and continues to consult the Government of Telangana in the Rural Development Sector.