Time ticks away. It is already 40 years since the time I was at Prasanthi Nilayam campus studying for my 2^nd Intermediate in the commerce stream. We were told that Swami had asked all the boys to assemble at Gokulam for a Polaroid photo session. It was about 10 am. Swami arrived in His car with Radhakrishna driving it. The day was sunny. Swami stood with each student, one after another, looking at each of them and posing for the photograph. Each one took his position next to Swami for just a minute and left with utmost gratitude. Those few seconds are framed for a lifetime. Swami told us, “Keep this photo as a treasure since your great-grandchildren will keep it in their altar while doing pooja to Swami and boast to their kinship about this photograph. They will show this photograph and say my great grandfather lived with God”. I was among the fortunate ones to receive that blessing on that day. 

One day we were sitting in the sands of Prasanthi Nilayam during the Darshan. Swami walked toward us and lifted His head to see one young painter, painting the Mandir with utmost sincerity not even noticing Swami. Swami pointed to him and told us when you do your work as Seva offering to Swami with dedication either knowingly or unknowingly, Swami will take care of that person for the next seven lifetimes. 

During my student days, some of the boys had a chance to decorate the Mandir with series light bulbs. I seized the chance to be in that group. During the birthday time, our team went about decorating the walls of the Mandir, lining thousands of bulbs with great precision. Our sole aim was to please Swami and see that glint of happiness in Swami’s eyes.  We completed the work in three days. On Swami’s Birthday, the Mandir was lit up. It was glowing as the devotees looked at it as if it was a Heaven. Swami came out into the sands, called all the VIPs and told them “This is the work of my boys!” 

After the birthday function concluded, we went on top of the Mandir once again to remove the serial bulbs knowing very well that a lifetime opportunity of Seva was presented to us by Swami. Touching every sculpture of the elephants and the birds and every corner of the Mandir, we yearned for the opportunity to serve yet again. Swami handed us some money. We were reluctant to take and He shoved it into our pockets and asked us to keep it.  

As students, we had many more opportunities to offer Seva. I had the yearning to be distinct. I found that opportunity to help with the public address system for Bhajans and talks. I learnt the nitty-gritty’s from Professor KBR and I relentlessly worked to be good at it. Throughout my hostel days, I could offer this as a service to Swami. 

We found Swami’s physical form so attractive that we used to hanker for His darshan every minute of the day. Those days, Swami often walked down to the then hostel at East Prasanthi annexe any time during the day. Even as Swami climbed the stairs to the first floor, word spread like wildfire and we cleaned the dormitory, rolled up the beds and made a Simhasan for Swami to sit on. Swami generally started the conversations asking, “Emi Samacharam”.  The talks went on for a few hours till the Bhajans and Swami then used to leave for the Mandir, with us rushing after Him. 

With hardly any space to sleep in the dormitory, nights were spent under the starry skies in front of the Mandir on the sands. Some of the students used to sleep on the verandah with their thin beds rolled out on the floor. At times, in the middle of the night, it used to rain heavily. We used to run for cover into the hostel while Swami used to look on from the first floor of the Mandir.  On one occasion while Swami had come to visit the hostel, I was sitting right in the gaze of Swami with a peculiar thought: “Does Swami know me?” Our forefathers had been the devotees of Swami for over 6 decades. Swami had visited our house in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh as many as sixteen times. My grandfather had built a house exclusively for Swami. Swami had performed the marriage of my parents in the very Bhajan Hall. Does He know me as His own boy who grew up with the firm belief that Swami is God? As the thoughts were lingering in my mind, I was slowly getting dejected that He does not care for me. Suddenly, Swami set his eyes on me. He then asked a guest whether He knew Babu Naidu of Nellore. Babu Naidu is my grandfather. He showed me to the guest and introduced me to him saying that I was the grandson of Babu Naidu. My joy knew no bounds. 

M. Ramakrishna Prasad Pre-University and Graduation in Prasanthi Nilayam, 1979 – 1984. Currently CEO of Response Informatics.  He serves as Convener in SSSO, Khairtabad Samithi, Hyderabad; Co-ordinator for Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini program for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Co-ordinator, Samarpan programs at Sivam, Hyderabad and Core committee member of Planning team of SSSSO, Hyderabad. He also volunteers for Alumni initiatives such as Premabandham meet at Prasanthi Nilayam.