Baba Sharan
Prasanthi Nilayam

Bhagawan has a special corner in everyone`s life. He is like a cool breeze in the evening walk that comforts without discrimination. But Bhagawan is so loving and caring that He put me in the breeze. How can I describe the sweet memories of that gentle zephyr?

Having brought me into His fold as a child of 6 years, Bhagawan showered on me love that can best be described as ‘indescribable’. Entering into the hallowed precincts of His school, Sri Sathya Sai Primary School insured me for life with the dividends of love never ending… His love was always there, but with the limited and narrow-minded thinking that we possess more than often, I questioned and doubted His love for me. He has often stressed on the importance of looking within for His guidance. This reminds me of a memorable incident…

As was the practice in those days, students were conferred a special chance to offer dry fruits and cardamom to Bhagawan on their birthdays. During my 8th standard I was blessed with that beautiful chance (8th October 2006 to be precise).

I took the beautifully decorated tray of Akshatha, clove, cashew nuts, raisins, chocolates, pens, Vibhuthi packets, and a letter to offer to Swami. However, He made me wait… wait… and wait. The Lord was testing me. Bhagawan is a hard task master. I went everyday with the tray for His ‘special’ attention, but returned to the hostel with a heavy heart. This ‘period of waiting’ went on for nine long days. The next day I thought, “Nine days have passed and Swami hasn’t noticed me at all even though I sit on the first line – right in front of Him. This means I have to put in effort, however big or small it may be”. I decided to do something. I am not good at drawing, but I decided to draw a picture of Swami. The easiest way to draw Him was from the rear view. This would be easy as I needn’t draw His face. Just draw black hair and below that outline His robe and colour it orange! Thus, on the 10th day, I drew a picture of Him and waited for His arrival…

The result was the same.

I thought, “What Swami! Because I didn’t draw Your face, you are not giving me Darshan”. Bhagawan went into the interview room. I prayed desperately. Tears rolled down my cheeks. How could a mother let her child cry? Swami came out of the room… and another day seemed to go in vain for me. But I still carried hope after all, God’s delays are not His denials. The next day, Swami came out for Darshan very early in His car. He used to generally stop in front of the interview room, but on that day He stopped the car before the center of the stage and got out of it and walked a few steps on to the stage. And as He did so, he motioned me to come to Him. He saw my letter, smiled mischievously and showered Akshathas on me and accepted a clove. My heart brimmed with joy boundless! I could only smile in return for I was basking in that moment of glory.

These memories of childhood are etched in memory for ever & we continue to bask in the warmth of His Divine Love.

Brother Baba Sharan is currently pursuing his engineering and is based out of Tirupathi. He did his schooling from Bhagawan’s primary & higher secondary schools