Sairam. I am a 1991 graduate from Prashanti Nilayam. Swami’s teachings imparted during my stay got imprinted in my heart and have guided me in all walks of my life.  I was fortunate to be given the responsibility of being the Convener of the Dwarka Sai Samiti, Delhi and with Swami’s blessings have been involved in Sai activities by undertaking a number of regular Seva activities such as spiritual sessions like Bhajans, study circles etc. as well as serve the poor and needy through Narayan Seva and distribution of dry ration i.e. Annakalsham.

Since March 2020, as everyone is aware, the world has been suffering from the Covid pandemic and all community activities came to a grinding halt. In India the lockdown led to people, especially migrants losing jobs and left them struggling for two square meals a day. During such adverse times, Swami’s teaching “Manav Seva hi Madhav Seva Hai” became extremely relevant. We tried to put this teaching into practise as I at my Samiti level started a small-scale Narayan Seva wherein food was prepared by the devotees, kept at their gates and a few dedicated seva dals picked and distributed to the needy. Soon, we in our Samiti got a bigger opportunity when the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Delhi in conjunction with the local administration established a community kitchen in the Mandir premises of our Samiti, very aptly named Prashanti Dham. As convener, I was asked to manage the “Community Kitchen Seva”. These were testing times when everyone was scared to come-out and perform seva. However, clutching Swami’s hands, we managed to convene a dedicated team of 10-12 seva dals for this seva. We used to cook food for about 2500 migrants daily, pack them into neat packets, which were then distributed by the local administration. The seva went on for 28 days.  Swami, throughout the seva period, kept showing his omniscience and omnipresence. 

There is one incident that will remain etched in our memory forever. On May 6^th, Eshwaramma Day, an old virtuous looking lady came to Prasanthi Dham gates and asked whether she can get some food.  We asked her why she didn’t come earlier and her answer was that she wanted Prasadam only on that day. When we offered her the food packets, she showed a jholi (bag) and asked us to put the food packets in the bag. We did the needful, and continued with the seva with a feeling that the Divine’s mother came in that form to partake our Prasad, a thrilling thought by itself.  That night Swami came in our District President’s (DP) dream. Swami, as narrated by our DP, moved around the community kitchen area blessing all.  Finally, He turned towards our DP and said that the lady who came wasn’t The Mother but He, the Divine Mother Himself and ended saying “He loved the Prasad”.  This was an eye-opener to all seva dals who understood that Swami was overseeing all the seva that was taking place and that led to rejuvenated seva from all.   

We as a dedicated team of seva dals were out in the streets when almost the whole of India was in lockdown.  However, not a single seva dal contracted the dreaded corona. Everyone went back home happy with the thought that they could bring a smile on someone’s face by feeding the hungry.  And the lesson learnt: practise Swami’s teachings – Love All Serve All.  When we walked that first step by accepting the local administration’s request, Swami not only made sure that His benevolent hand was always there blessing and protecting us, but also through incidents made us aware of His presence.

Praying to Swami to Bless us all.

Jagannath Rao completed his graduation in Economics from SSSIHL in 1991. He started his career as an academic, teaching Engineering student’s Economics and Financial Management. He currently serves as a Senior Macro Economist for the American Embassy.