Born into a family devoted to Swami, I was the third generation He graciously embraced into His fold. ‘Dharmakshetra’ was in the neighbourhood and we frequented it for most activities, that I almost can’t tell my home apart. I started attending Bal Vikas naturally. I have been fortunate to have participated in many programs in the physical presence of Swami in Mumbai and Puttaparthi. It kindled a love for Bhagawan even as it moulded my personality.

Later, as an MBA student at Parthi, I had my fair share of chances to act in dramas for Him at the Mandir and the Institute, each one having a special place in my memory. 

Once, inside the Bhajan Mandir in Sai Kulwant Hall, before the Sports Meet drama of 2009, in which I was acting as ‘Karna’, Swami asked me, in Kannada, my mother’s name. I fumbled my own mother’s name instead of the character’s. The befuddled look on Swami’s face was quite a sight to behold. The warden and other brothers chipped in and salvaged the situation.

During that interaction, each actor was getting their props – a baby doll which ‘Draupadi’ showed as ‘Parikshit’ – blessed by Him. However, He broke down into tears when a brother playing ‘Shakuni’ showed Him a pair of dice. Swami said, “This is what caused the Mahabharata war. Do you want Me to bless this?” The actor immediately retreated. This taught me an important lesson that Swami is always living in the moment and would not even accidentally approve even an inanimate object that conveys a wrong message. Also, in this drama called Life, we’re all playing different roles and He expects us to give it our best every moment.

Ours was the last batch for which Swami physically presided over the convocation ceremony. Many of the folklore that seniors would share in the hostel, repeated during our batch, after many years. Like watching a video film with Him in Poornachandra auditorium, Swami’s visit to the hostel and the institute on the first Thursday of the academic year 2009. For me personally the highlight was performing the hallowed ‘corridor drama’. 

After my final exams, I made a brief visit to my parents, and returned to Parthi so I can spend the summer vacation with Swami and maximise the opportunities I could get as a ‘student’ until our results were declared. During this stay, Swami approved two programs to be presented to Him and one of which was a ‘Corridor drama’. I was overjoyed.

On the day of the drama, Swami caught everyone by surprise by arriving early and heading straight to the Bhajan Mandir. My makeup and the costume were complete and I was asked to sit in the front. Swami’s chair was brought right in front of me and I had the most amazing opportunity of my life, where for those blissful eight minutes, I sat performing Padaseva to Swami – just as I’d always dreamt of. To top it off, in my role as Sant Tukaram, I was to act singing the Abhang ‘Aata Kothe Dhaave Mana Tujha Charani Dekhli Aa’ (meaning, ‘Where will this mind wander now that it has had the Darshan of Your feet?’) I was blissful and that moment is possibly the most special one to date as He had orchestrated it to be so.

This incident taught me that when I chose Him over everything else even during those vacations, He reciprocated with the best ever blessing that I could have asked for and fulfilled all my deepest desires. Becoming a student in Parthi enabled a huge shift in my equation with Bhagawan. Until then, He was God – someone I revered, held in a high pedestal and whose darshan I had only rarely. Now, as a student, I saw him closely everyday. What enriched the experience was the constant stream of programs in Mandir and the various enlightening Parayanam sessions in the hostel. The selflessness with which our teachers, seniors and other brothers bonded with each other as a family and more importantly associated with Swami as a member in it, completely collapsed every inhibition that I may have held about Him. From being a public figure, He had now allowed me the liberty to make Him my personal guardian, friend and family member with whom I could share my deepest emotions or even my darkest secrets. He had now made Himself mine and available a thought away. That, for me, is priceless. And that is the only real permanent treasure for this lifetime and hopefully thereafter.

Shivakumar Kannan MBA Finance, 2008-10, Prasanthi Nilayam. Currently AVP & Head – Customer Affinity and Offline Acquisition in Marketing for Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd, Mumbai. He was an active volunteer of the central cultural team in the SSS Vidya Vahini programme, Puttaparthi and now continues to be an active volunteer in the SSSSO, Mumbai.