MLN Swamy
1980 Brindavan
On one fine day in 1965, Swami asked Shri. Kasturi Garu to open a particular letter received through post and read it. It was written by Shri. Manchiraju Suryanarayana Murthy Garu, an ardent devotee from Tanuku, Andhra Pradesh.
The letter was full of gratitude from a father (himself) for saving his 5-year old son who fell down from the 2nd floor of a building. He thanked Swami profusely for giving his son another life (Punarjanma). Swami directed Shri. Kasturi to get that letter printed in the very next issue of Sanathana Sarathi August, 1965. Being a Balvikas student, the child attended every service activity along with his father, who was instrumental for the initiation of Seva Samithis all across Srikakulam district and Kovvur, West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.
I am fortunate to be that blessed boy.
In 1978, I was selected to participate in the Summer Course representing the West Godavari Dist following which Swami blessed me with an admission for a B.Com. course in Brindavan.
During my academic journey, I was fortunate to participate in various activities. I got an opportunity to play a comic role in a Burrakatha in His divine presence. In my 1st year summer vacation, I was operated for tonsils in my home town, which got complicated. Swami’s grace enabled the doctor to save my life. When I was back for my 2nd year, the problem showed up again for which Swami blessed me with Vibhuti Prasadam and directed me to get operated in Bangalore city. I could happily sing His glory from that moment onwards.
Let me share a memory from my student days. Swami had conducted a devotee’s wedding & wedding feast was being organized in our hostel dining hall. I was busy serving salt on the dining leaves before the guests could arrive, without noticing that Swami had already arrived to check on the preparations. A sudden pat on my back made me realize that Swami was right behind me observing my work. He then said, “Dunnapotha! Uppu vaddistunnava, kura vaddistunnava?” (Buffalo, Are you serving salt or curry?) He made me remove the excess salt from all the leaves I served. His attention to such minute detail shows His perfection.
Though I was singing Bhajans in the college auditorium and our hostel regularly, I never got an opportunity to sing in His divine presence. I used to seek His permission through letters repeatedly which were always brushed away by Him saying, “I know what’s there in it”. Years rolled by, I had completed my studies without getting to sing in the divine presence. Finally in 1999, after the alumni medical camp, I got an opportunity to sing a Bhajan in front of Swami. In my anxiety or anxiousness, I started the Bhajan in a very high Shruti. Just when I had to sing higher notes, Swami symbolically raised his posture from a relaxed position & this raised my Shruti in an unimaginable way! I felt that Swami sang through me that day. Not just that day, each moment of life has been sanctified working for His mission & basking in his protective embrace.
The next year Swami also blessed me to start our alumni musical programs with Telugu commentary and made me confident enough to be a Master of Ceremonies for various programs conducted by our alumni &the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization at Sivam in many other places across the state. I was also given an opportunity along with my family members to record many programs in Telugu at Sivam Digital Studio (Hyderabad) for Radio Sai Global Harmony. Swami also allowed me to serve in various capacities in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation. Swami gave life twice to my wife through the heart surgeries performed at the Super Speciality Hospital, Puttaparthi. The All- knowing lord saved me from a fatal epileptic attack in 2011 by blessing me with a golden chain on January 1st 2011 – eleven months prior to the attack.
As He promised my father in his first interview in 1969 saying, “Mee inta, venta, janta undi kaapadataanu,” Bhagawan has been our saviour since then. I am indebted to my parents who showed me to the Divya Avatar.
Brother MLN Swamy is based in Hyderabad. Apart from his profession, he is co founder of an NGO that supports literacy. He is very active in spiritual activities of the samithi & in alumni initiatives.