Arul Selvanathan joined SSSHSS in 1981 in class 11 and went on to complete B.Com and M.Com from SSSIHL in 1988 from Prasanthi Nilayam Campus. He has been part of the Sai family from 1969 and is currently the President of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.

The Lord took me into His divine care

It was in the year 1969 when I was little over three-and-a-half years old, an age when a child realizes and recognizes its own existence in this world, God took me into His arms. All that I am writing below is based on what my father told me later about the events on that day.

Swami has said that He brings in problems in our lives so that we will seek Him, and He can bless and shower divine grace.

At that time, I had a health issue, called Knock Knees, where both knees knock against each other while walking or running. The doctor had advised that I would have to wear metal shoes coming up to my knees. However, we were reluctant to try, and instead, my father carried me whenever we went out so that there would be no delays. Though it was, maybe God’s first knock on our door for His entry into our lives, much thought did not go into that.

Yes, it was time for a louder knock on our door, by God. My mother fell ill with severe pain in gallbladder. My parents were not happy with the surgery suggested by the doctors, because the doctors had also advised that it would not resolve the issue. Thus, having introduced the problem, Swami also introduced the solution to the problem. Swami made my father see the book ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’. My mother read the book and felt that only Swami could cure her. Thus, my parents decided to visit Prasanthi Nilayam with the hope that our Sweet Lord will cure my mother. As my mother’s ailment was a major problem, my knock knees problem was considered minor and was ignored. However, God doesn’t ignore any problem.

A couple of days after we arrived in Prasanthi Nilayam, Swami called us for an interview. As it had become the pattern, my father carried me on his right arm and entered the interview room. Swami always stood near the door as devotees entered the interview room. When my father approached the interview room, Swami had put His divine hand on my knees and caressed both my knees. That was the first interaction. In the interview, Swami materialized Vibuthi and cured my mother of her ailment. Thus, Swami made His entry into our lives.

When I look back, to me that was not just a caress, but Him taking me over. Yes, I feel that Swami has been carrying me since then. When parents carry their children, they would give candy and sweet, tease and laugh, scold and even slap their children depending on circumstances. Swami did the exact same in my life – He gave me Amritham candy and Palkova sweet, teased me and laughed at me and with me, scolded and even slapped me.

In that first interview, Swami had asked me, “Papa, un payru enna?” (Child, what is your name?). As I was small at that time, I had not responded, but He who knows everything knew even my name too. But I always wonder – was he asking my name or reminding me of my name on that first conversation. My name is Arulselvanathan, which means ‘the one who has wealth of grace’. If we earn His grace, we can have everything that we need.

When I was studying at Parthi, Swami wanted students to take part in Grama Seva. For that, Swami had got Khaki clothes stitched for all the students. When the Khaki clothes were distributed by Swami, and my name was read out, Swami said, “Your name is like Hanuman’s tail”. Since then I am in bliss because He compared my name to Hanuman’s tail and not a monkey’s tail. Romu romu mein Ram hain. It is said that every hair on Lord Hanuman’s body reverberates with Lord Rama’s name. Sai Vachanam is Sathyam. As Swami has uttered so, I know that I will be able to reach a stage when I will be constantly chanting His name.

Rakshaa, the divine protection

Many of you may be aware that the island of Sri Lanka was plagued with communal riots. In 1983, the Sinhalese government openly encouraged rioters to loot and burn the houses of minority Tamil citizens. They also openly tortured and killed Tamils in Colombo and surrounding areas. As we were studying in Swami’s college, we were ignorant of those atrocities. However, Swami would come and talk to me daily during Darshan and describe the atrocities. Swami would say that despite all the troubles, my parents were fine as He was taking care of them. There were no letters from my parents during those days. One day, Swami came and said that my parents would arrive in Parthi in a couple of days. Once parents arrived, Swami granted an interview and advised my father to change his job. When God says something, it is His Sankalpa and everything happens as per His plan. As soon as the interview was over, a Sri Lankan devotee who was in Prasanthi Nilayam that time arranged for a new job for my father.

On the following summer holidays in 1984, we had to leave the hostel as there were some renovations planned. On the day we were to leave on holiday, after the morning Darshan, Swami called my brother and me for an interview. During the interview, Swami said that in Sri Lanka innocent people are being shot and killed. Immediately, He materialized three pendants and gave one to each of us and said that it was “Rakshaa”. Having given it to us, Swami told the devotees in the interview room, “These are my students; if they get killed when they go to Sri Lanka, all that they studied here will go waste. Therefore, Swami has to protect them. That is the reason I have given them the protection.”

Sharanagatha Priya Sai

When I joined Swami’s college in 1981, I had seen many devotees getting autographs from Swami on large photos. As I could not afford to buy such large photos, I decided to draw Swami and get his autograph. That ‘drew’ me closer to Swami. Every time I showed my drawings to Swami, He commented and corrected. Sometimes, He would tease me. Once He said, “You have put a Sri Lankan nose for me. I don’t have Sri Lankan nose”. Such interactions made me draw more and more.

As I had not learnt or gotten any training in art, my drawings were simple without much shading. It was hard to draw Swami as He was ‘Living God’ while drawing Lord Krishna or any other deity was easy, as it was all imagination and I used to look at the pictures of deities and draw.

For Krishna Janmashtami, I made two drawings of Lord Krishna, both looking at some other pictures. Once the drawings were complete, I took those drawings for Darshan. At times, Swami saw the drawings from a distance and walked away without any comments. I used to take the drawings until Swami commented on the drawings. After a week or so, one day Swami came near me and asked for the drawings. Initially, Swami talked about how I drew; was it by looking at another picture or from imagination, etc. The conversation went on for almost ten minutes. During that conversation, Swami once asked me why I had put so much jewellery on Lord Krishna. I innocently said that the picture from which I had drawn had lots of jewellery. Then Swami said that Krishna was a cowherd and did not wear so much jewellery. Krishna tied a turban around his head and when he found a peacock feather on the ground, he would place it on the turban.

Swami asked, “Why do artists put so much jewellery?” I answered, “Swami, to make it beautiful”. Then Swami said that “Krishna was naturally beautiful, therefore, don’t put lots of jewellery” Then He advised me that I must learn to draw from my own imagination. That becomes a meditation. That is true meditation.

Towards the end of that conversation, Swami said jokingly that Krishna had 16,000 wives. Then He became serious and said “No! No!! They are not wives. They are Gopikas and they were true devotees of Krishna. They had surrendered to Krishna… For them, only Krishna existed… They were immersed in Krishna.” Swami paused for a while then looked deeply into my eyes and asked me, “When will you surrender to Me?” I remained silent not knowing what to say. Swami continued to look into my eyes, smiled and walked away.

That was not a question – it was a call. I now feel that it was certainly His Divine Will with extra blessings for me to surrender. Nowadays, whenever I am in any kind of problem, these Divine words ring in my ears reminding me to continue to be in a surrendered state.

Many people misunderstand the word ‘Surrender’ as though it is a commandment from God asking people to fall at His feet. Certainly not. In the surrendered state, the devotee need not worry about anything, as God will take care of everything. God wants every one of His devotees to reach that worry-less and fearless state, remain in complete bliss always; because when we have surrendered, we are His.

God grants boons when you please Him

It was November 1981, and by then Swami had started referring me as the Sri Lankan artist. Preparations were underway for the inauguration of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and the first convocation. Swami is a perfectionist. He always ensured that every minute detail is taken care of. On 20th November 1981 morning, Swami had gone to the Poornachandra Auditorium to see the stage arrangements. The complete stage was set up with a rostrum on the gents’ side. Swami had enquired that if one individual on the other side of the stage had to speak, they have to walk all the way to the other side of the stage. Therefore, Swami wanted another rostrum to be placed on the other side of the stage as well. When they immediately brought and kept one rostrum on the other side, Swami had noticed that the SSSIHL emblem that was on the men’s side rostrum was missing on the new rostrum they had set up. Swami had advised the administrators to get a similar emblem for the other rostrum. The administrators had contacted the company in Bangalore that made the emblem and asked them to make another one and to deliver on the following day. The company had refused as the emblem was handmade by an artist and it was not possible for them to deliver on the following day.

When the situation was communicated to Swami, He had immediately advised the administrators to contact the hostel warden and get the Sri Lankan artist to make it. I was called at 3:30 pm and Swami’s request conveyed. I went to the Mandir and after the evening Darshan, went to  the auditorium to see the emblem which I had to copy. I had to copy the emblem in complete appearance – in colour, shape and size.

When a king or boss orders, workers struggle to get ideas for execution. However, when God commands, He gives the idea, skill and all that is required – because God doesn’t order, but Wills (Sankalpam). As per the Divine Will, I got ideas, took measurements, and collected the materials that would appear like the materials used for the emblem. The original emblem was made of plastic material but I had decided to replicate that with thermocol. After dinner, I started working on the emblem. As I was never involved in any crafts before, I did not have the tools to cut the thermocol. I used the small blades from the shaving razors to cut the thermocol. As I was only 15 years old, and didn’t have the experience in handling sharp blades, I got cuts all over my fingers. However, I was determined to complete it as God has asked for my help.

When God can materialize it with a wave of His Hand, He is asking me to make it. I was aware that it had to be only an opportunity for me to serve Him. That feeling engulfed me and so, I did not feel sleepy. I worked all alone that night and completed by 4:00 am next morning. After a little rest, I got ready, went to the auditorium, placed the replicated emblem on the other rostrum and waited for the arrival of our Lord. After the morning Darshan, on November 21st morning, Swami came straight to the auditorium and went to the middle of the auditorium. He gazed at the stage, and as He walked back to the stage, I stood near the emblem I made. Swami came near the rostrum, stood there, looked at the emblem completely and looked at me. As Registrar, Sri Chakravarthi, told Swami pointing to me, that I had made the emblem in one night, Swami said, “Yes. Vaadu cheysaadu… Vaadu anni cheysthaadu”. Swami asked me to take Padanamaskar, blessed me and smilingly walked away.

That was a boon, I consider. That has multiple meanings I feel, because I did it for Swami. From then onwards, I was able to do anything and everything in my life. I am indeed waiting for every opportunity to do anything and everything for Him because He said it.

Sai Vachanam Sathyam, Sai Karmam Dharmam.

Omnipresent Nayaka and Omniscient Vinayaka

As I was being addressed as an artist by Swami, I looked for every opportunity to interact with Him and please Him. During Ganesh Chathurthi in the ’80s, Lord Ganesha idols were always made of clay in the hostel, worshipped and then immersed. As there were senior artist brothers in the hostel, they were getting involved in making Lord Ganesha idols and I never got an opportunity to make. Even though I had never learnt sculpting or even drawing, I always had the feeling that I could make one because Swami said “Vaadu anni cheysthaadu”.

One of the senior artists who used to make Lord Ganesha idol in the hostel was not well in the year 1986. So, I decided to make it all by myself. Before 1986, all the Lord Ganesha idols made were small and when taken in the procession, it looked too small. Therefore, I wanted to make the idol bigger. I used to perform Abhishekham for the Lord Ganesha statue in the college and had the desire to make in that size. We secured a good quantity of clay from the village. The day before Ganesha Chathurthi, I secluded myself from any disturbances and started making the idol from around 8:00 am. I spent the whole day and completed the idol at around 8:00pm. With the help of strong brothers in the hostel, lifted the idol and moved it to the prayer hall. As they felt that it was very heavy, they decided to weigh the idol and found the weight to be 108kg, miraculously!

We had a Mandap to place the idol. Since the idol was heavy, we decided to place the Ganesha idol I made on the floor. The Ganesha statue from the altar was placed inside the Mandap. There was a small Lord Ganesha statue in the meditation room and that was placed in the middle.

On Ganesha Chathurthi evening, I started asking Swami to come to hostel and all the brothers on the portico joined me in inviting Swami. On the third day, our omniscient Lord started a conversation in response to my pleading.

Swami: Why do you want me to come to the hostel?

Me: For Ganesha Chathurthi.

Swami: What is there in the hostel? Same food, nothing new.

Me: I have made the Ganesha idol and we have a nice altar. Please come to see…

Swami: To see your idol, I don’t have to come to the hostel. I can see from here.

Me: Swami, please come. Please…

Swami started describing the altar: You have put up the Mandap and have put the idol from the altar, inside. In front of that Ganesha you have placed a small Ganesha statue. The Ganesha idol that you have made has been placed on the floor on a wooden stool. Am I correct?

Me: Yes, Swami.

Swami: See, I can look from here. To see the idol that you made, I don’t have to come to hostel.

By describing the altar, the Omniscient Lord stopped my pleading on the portico. However, He did not comment on the idol, and in my heart, I was not satisfied.

On the day of the procession, Swami stood in front of the interview room (as you see on the photo), gazed at the idol and then looked straight at me lifting His eyebrows and with His eyes wide open, swayed (shook) His head like a pendulum, expressing that the idol looks nice. That filled my heart with bliss.

The loving Lord, knowing each one of our hearts, fulfilled our desires more than we expected and showers love more than we deserved. My life is full of such divine experiences, each teaching a lesson and elaborating an attribute of God. The above are a few drops from my huge vessel of divine nectarine experiences my most beloved Lord has blessed me with.