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18th November 2006
Om Sairam to most beloved Sai Family,
The atmosphere in Puttaparthi is catching
up to the birthday celebrations. As the President of India and few
cheifministers and governors are expected stringent security
arrangements are being taken up. About 1500 police personnel have
come here to foresee the security arrangements.
For the first time iron barricades have been put up on either side
of the road. Starting from Super speciality hospital to Puttaparthi,
About 10 meter long Iron poles have been put up to hold the flags of
all the nations besides the road.
This morning, I left home in my motor cycle and when I reached the
new stadium I saw many devotees leaning on to the iron railings, I
was sure they are waiting for Swamy and I thought is He already in
or expected any time from now?There were many VIP devotees, students
seated in the chairs right infront of Sai Geetha’s new house. It was
9:30am then and Swamy usually prefers to finish His street darshans
before bhajans. But since many arrangements were already made, I was
very sure Swamy would come there any time.
Curiosity started mounting up and I was praying to Swamy to give me
a nice spot to witness the Griha pravesh (opening ceremony of new
house) of Sai Geetha. I was wandering here and there and looking for
a right spot. I saw very few people were seated infront of the new
house of Sai Geetha and wondered, how lucky they are Swamy? They are
your special guest. When will I get this chance Swamy? Will you give
me a chance also? With all these thoughts I was looking at the new
building. There were VIPs on one side, 50 odd workers (who built
this house) were on the right side and few students and staff on the
other end. I had NONE of the qualifications, but was still praying
to Swamy to let me in. I knew it would be a long programme and there
would be a good chance to see Swamy from close angles.
I was praying very hard… waiting for a miracle… What will Swamy do
now, just a week ago, on 11 november Swamy let me in to the new
stadium through a seva dal brother, and now when I see at the gate,
the sevadals were very strictly looking at each and every one
entering the premises.. I was praying very hard.. Swamy, pls let me
in … I will do any thing you want me to do.. provided you let me
in!!! As I was praying I see a friend of mine, who works in hospital
entering the premises. No body stopped him. I thought, let me try my
luck. I walked towards the gate but didn’t have the courage to take
another step, just came back, many thoughts were pondering in my
mind.. what if they stop me? What if they suspect me of a foul play?
There are many security personnel in Puttaparthi now and its not the
usual Puttaparthi. Inspite of all the what ifs I thought to my self,
why fear when Swamy is here, with prayers and chanting sairam..
sairam I dared to get into the gate.. No one stopped me.. I pretend
to be brave and casual.. but very much scared from inside.. My heart
beat doubled and the heartbeats were clearly audible to me.. I had
no idea what will happen to me.. I was praying..praying..and just
praying.. I was expecting the sevadal brothers finding out a
trespasser, catch me red handed.. but nothing happened..
I entered the premises.. very quietly and offering thousands of
pranams to Swamy, for letting me cross the first barrier…I find a
spot.. the person sitting next to me,says sir you please go and sit
there. He was pointing to the first row and with no hesitation I
went and sat there, very much surprised and thankfull to Swamy. I
see thousands waiting outside.. I thanked Swamy for picking this
monkey out of the thousands and now He has given me a first row. If
Swamy comes I can see all the rituals very clearly and He would be
only 10 meters away from me.
Just to make friendship with my neighbour, I ask him what is the
time sir? He replies 10:25. Immediately I ask him What time Swamy is
expected here sir? He gives a serious look at me, I thought, O No!!
did he find out that I am a gatecrasher my heart beat again audible
to me.. and I start sweating, yet again I pretended to me brave and
relaxed. He replies, upto 10:30 its rahukalam (inauspicious time)and
Swamy will come after 10:30. I wanted to ask him, if there is such a
thing called inauspicious time, for some one Who is beyond time, but
I thought, its better I shut my wide mouth to avoid un necessary
troubles.
Sai Geetha, the pet elephant of Swamy was beautifully decorated with
red carpet like thing on her back, huge ankle chian with bells of
the size of our fist. She was dancing and raising her trunk in
happiness, as her sweet heart is coming all the way to inaugarate
her new house. I was watching her mood and estimate Swamy’s arrival.
As she intensified her happiness, I knew Swamy is very close to the
venue. It was 10:45 am and I couldn’t resist to inform my neighbour
about Swamy’s arrival and he said, I told you only after 10:30 and I
smiled at him.
As Swamy’s car entered the premises, Sai Geetha started dancing and
getting closer and closer to the car. The bond between Swamy and her
is so intimate and they share a very good chemistry.. Swamy’s car
haulted infront of the new house and just 5 meters away from where
we were sitting..
Swamy looked at all of us with His most beautiful smile as the door
opened and here He is … the Lord of the Universe, coming out of this
tiny Toyota. Two eyes were not sufficient to see His beautiful form,
His magestic smile, His beautiful hair, His soothing eyes, His Wheel
chair and above all the divine lotus feet. I was like a hungry
monkey trying to push in every thing into the throat sack.. had no
idea what to do.. He is right there…
I prayed Him for letting me and in He very kindly permitted me.. I
asked Him to give me a good spot.. This is the BEST spot any one
would ask for.. Swamy looks at me, tears rolled down my eyes, in
happiness… ”Swamy you give us every thing.. every single thing that
we ask for..but we never give you atleast one thing that you ask
for… How compassionate you are Swamy…” As the wheel chair landed on
the ground, Swamy was helped into the house where His own photo was
placed as a preist was ready to perform the rituals. Swamy,
majestically looks at every one of us.. probably checking if any one
were missing from His invitees list. The preist was doing his job
and now and then asked Swamy WHAT NEXT SWAMY… Swamy was more keen in
looking at us and Sai Geetha. There were half a dozen photographers
and Swamy gently smiled at each one of them.
The preist now brings a coconut and places before Him for His
blessing… Swamy blesses the coconut.. and one devotee breaks it. The
preist now calls Mr.Goldstein to break the coconut. Mr.Goldstein,
had no idea has how to break it and Swamy laughs at him and makes
fun of him. At last he faces Swamy and gets ready to break the
coconut. Instead of breaking it bit carefully by bending a bit, he
bangs the coconut on the floor. All the people seated around Swamy
pull back a bit with a big smile on their faces.. Swamy also joins
them.
After about 5 minutes Swamy blessed the engineer and asks him to
distribute clothes to the workers. All of them got clothes and a
wrist watch.
Swamy then signals Sai Geetha to get into the house. huge plates of
apples, were brought and Swamy first fed her with apples and again
with bananas. She was not co-operative some times and atleast three
boys had to raise her trunk to get closer to Swamy’s hand. After
eating the bananas she turned back and Swamy had to call her back
and gave her Sugar cane. Swamy was seen speaking to her and
caressing her. At one point, Swamy called the caretaker and pointed
out to a sore on her leg. The sore was so tiny and it was hardly
visible with all the ankle chains and decorations.. With a stern
voice Swamy said, “baga choosukovali kada” (you have to take care of
her properly) and the care taker nodded in acceptance and seeing him
bit worried, Swamy adjusted His tone and called him closer and gave
him an apple and also padanamaskar.
After sitting there on His chair for some more time, He asked for
Arathi and we all of us got closer to Swamy. Prasadams were
distributed and before anything happened I saw myself in the first
row, close to Swamy’s car. I was just next to Swamy’s door and any
time Swamy would be there. Swamy blessed all the devotees present
there and the chair was positioned to be taken in. Swamy just 3
inches away from me and I was praying to Swamy “Swamy how should I
thank you!! This morning I just asked you to let me in and here Iam
right next to you.. The chair slowly raised Swamy and was going in.
Swamy was looking into my eyes… For those few seconds.. I forgot my
self… It was like being hypnotized.. I have no words to describe
this feeling. Sitting next to Lord of the Lords…He had His beautiful
smile, automatically I smiled at Him,… the smile which relaxed all
the cells in my body.. The smile which I had never experienced.. The
smile which came from the bottom of my heart..
I was looking at Swamy from top to bottom. I was saying to my self,
Swamy! You are beyond time and space.. Why don’t you stop the time
and let me see your beautiful Form to my heart’s content…The holy
Lotus Feet just infront of me, I was so tempted to touch, half
stretch of my hand would reach Them.. I looked at Swamy and asked
from inside.. Swamy can I?(touch your feet)? Swamy never says NO..
He gently nodded His head in acceptance…luckily the boys next to
Swamy were watching Him… Inspite of all the security, I managed to
touch His left Lotus feet. . The feet which every one of us long to
merge into..The feet which sanctifies the whole world… After
touching the feet, I just put my hand on my head… Swamy kill this
monkey mind, let me be YOU…
I look upto Swamy and He is looking at me.. nodding His head like a
pendulam.. very softly says… chala?(is that enough?).. the word
which was directed to me.. the meaning of which was known only to
Him and me… I know, it was all His grace that I am here.. right at
His lotus feet…and now He is asking me if I was happy with His
ARRANGEMENT……With tears and prayers, I got up, while Swamy’s door
slowly closed and the car headed to the ashram.. All this happened
in seconds.. but very slowly, marking yet another GOLDEN day of my
life in Prasanthi….
With pranams at the Lotus Feet of our most beloved Lord, I end this
play scripted and directed by the DIRECTOR of the Universe… our
beloved Swamy…
Jai Sai Ram
Submitted to SBOI by: satish
Naik
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