by V.K. Narasimhan
There are certain periods in the history of mankind when the
mortal beings of this earth witness epoch-making divine events with
their own eyes. By far the most astounding event of this century is
the Advent of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Birth and Family
Bhagavan Baba was born on 23rd November 1926 in Puttaparthi, a
remote village of Andhra Pradesh in India, in the Ratnakar family of
Sri Kondama Raju, who was the grandfather of Bhagavan's physical
body. Sri Kondama Raju, who lived separately from the family
contemplating on God day in and day out, had full faith in the
prophecy of his Guru Venkavadhoota that God would incarnate in his
family. He lived a long life of 116 years to realise and experience
the divinity of his grandson, who was by his side to fulfil his last
wish of pouring water into his mouth when he breathed his last in
1950. He had two sons, both named after his Guru Venkavadhoota, Sri
Pedda Venkama Raju and Sri Chinna Venkama Raju. The divine child
Sathyanarayana Raju (called Sathya or Raju in childhood) was the
fourth child of the devout couple, Sri Pedda Venkama Raju and
Srimati Easwaramma.
Childhood
Sathya as a child was enchantingly charming. The entire village
was enthralled by His unearthly beauty and majestic demeanour. Even
at the age of five, He earned the titles of Brahmajnani (one endowed
with the knowledge of God) and Biddalaguru (child teacher). He was a
born renunciant and never let a needy person go empty-handed. He was
a vegetarian and abhorred cruelty to animals. He spent most of His
time in the house of Karnam Subbamma, who lived in the next house,
and whose boundless motherly affection for Sathya was reminiscent of
Yashoda's love for Krishna.
One of the favourite activities of child Sathya was Bhajan
singing. He not only sang and composed Bhajans, but also organised a
children's Bhajan group in Puttaparthi even at the age of ten.
Later, in old Mandir as well as in New Mandir (Prashanthi Nilayam),
Bhajan singing became an essential part of the daily programme. Who
else but Divinity could know that one day Bhajans would become one
of the main instruments in Divine hands to put the deluded humanity
on the path of devotion and spirituality? No wonder, today Sai
Bhajans are sung in all parts of the world and in all the languages
as a means of elevating and ennobling human nature.
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi in the early 40's consisted of only two lanes, which
met each other at right angles in addition to a few mud huts. A
western author, Arnold Schulman, who visited this hamlet in late
sixties described this cluster of scattered huts as "ten minutes
past the Stone Age". Bhagavan Baba has transformed this so-called
Stone Age village into a modern township with a unique educational
complex and a university, a super speciality hospital with all
modern facilities and an airport of its own. The crest jewel of this
now world-known place is Prashanthi Nilayam, where millions come
every year from all corners of the world to receive the blessings of
the Avatar.
Bukkapatnam
After finishing his elementary education in the school in
Puttaparthi, Sathya was admitted to the Higher Elementary School in
the nearby town of Bukkapatnam at the age of eight. Bukkapatnam is
about 2 1/2 miles from Puttaparthi across the river Chitravathi.
Sathya's conduct in school was a model for others. He excelled in
studies, games, sports, plays etc., and invariably sang the prayer
song at the start of the school everyday. He earned the love and
admiration of not only his classmates, but many teachers also. Janab
Mahbub Khan was one of those teachers who adored and loved Sathya
and recognised His Divinity. After the famous incident of a teacher
getting stuck to his chair as he made Sathya stand on the bench,
Sathya came to be recognised as a divine child not only in the
school, but in the town also. Another fortunate teacher of Sathya
was Sri B. Subbannachar. Since the entire family of this teacher
adored Sathya, He often lived in their house. He also visited the
house of another teacher Sri V.C. Kondappa, to whom He used to
narrate the story of Shirdi Sai Baba. On this basis, Sri Kondappa
wrote the life story of Shirdi Sai Baba in 102 Telugu verses and
published it as a small book entitled "Sree Sayeesuni
Charithra".
Uravakonda
After completing His studies at Bukkapatnam, Sathya went to
Kamalapuram (Cuddappa District) with His elder brother Seshama Raju
for further education at the age of ten. The fame of the wonder
child Sathya reached Kamalapuram also. In school, He earned the love
and admiration of His schoolmates and teachers. While Sathya
continued His studies at Kamalapuram, Seshama Raju went elsewhere to
undergo training. After completing his training, Seshama Raju was
posted as a Telugu Teacher in a High School at Uravakonda, a town in
Anantapur District. Naturally, Sathya accompanied His brother to
Uravakonda, where He was admitted in the same school where His elder
brother worked. Stories of Sathya's manifestations and miracles were
already on the lips of not only the students and teachers but all
over Uravakonda. As in Bukkapatnam school, Sathya's proficiency in
music, dance, drama, poetry was immediately recognised in the
Uravakonda school also.
When Sathya turned 13, history took a sharp turn. Divinity of
Sathya as an Avatar was in full readiness to bloom, but mystery of
the Divine is impossible to fathom. The effulgence of the Supreme
Being comes only after the darkest period. The body of the tender
child Sathya had to undergo a terrible persecution before the rays
of Divinity could spread in the universe in full effulgence from it.
On the 8th March 1940, a shocking news spread in the town of
Uravakonda that Sathya was stung by a big black scorpion, as Sathya
shrieked and held His right toe at about 7.00 p.m. on that day.
Nobody saw the scorpion, but exactly after 24 hours, Sathya became
unconscious and remained so throughout the next night. On regaining
consciousness, Sathya behaved in a most extraordinary way as if
possessed by a spirit. Alarmed at the condition of Sathya, His elder
brother Seshama Raju called the parents who brought Sathya to
Puttaparthi. After consulting doctors and other village healers, the
parents took the tender child Sathya to the house of a terrible
exorcist at Brahmanapalli, who put the child to such horrible
treatment that every onlooker was moved with fear and shock. The
dismayed parents could not bear all this and brought Sathya back to
Puttaparthi.
Early Declarations of Avatarhood
Exactly after two and a half months of the scorpion incident,
Sathya made His first declaration of Avatarhood on 23rd May 1940.
The household of Pedda Venkama Raju was crowded with people as
Sathya was materialising flowers and sugar candy and distributing to
the amazed villagers. Pedda Venkama Raju was informed about what was
happening in his house. Enraged and puzzled by the behaviour of his
own child, he threatened him to disclose his true identity. And pat
came the reply from Sathya "I am Sai Baba" in the form of the first
declaration of Avatarhood. Later when He was asked to give proof of
what He said, He threw a handful of jasmine flowers on the ground
which formed into Telugu letters "Sai Baba". Not impressed by these
extraordinary acts of Sathya, Seshama Raju stuck to his plan of
giving Him higher education to make him fit for "Public Service".
So, only a few days after this incident, he took Sathya back to
Uravakonda in June 1940 and admitted him in the same school. Sathya
was already a celebrity in Uravakonda. Crowds of pilgrims started
coming to the miracle boy's house to seek his blessings. The
headmaster of the school and several teachers recognised the
divinity of the child Sathya. His teacher Thammiraju adored and
worshipped Him.
Sathya provided another proof of His Divinity to His unbelieving
elder brother when in Dasara holidays they all went to Virupaksha
temple in Hampi near Hospet. When Seshama Raju and party entered the
sanctum sanctorum of the temple, they found to their utter
amazement, Sathya standing in place of the Lingam, though they had
left Him outside. Baffled by this extraordinary happening, Seshama
Raju rushed out and found Sathya leaning against a wall. This in
fact was the prelude to the momentous declaration the Avatar wanted
to make about His Divinity, as He seemed to have resolved to declare
to mankind that God had come on the earth in human form to usher in
the promised Golden Age.
After their return from Hospet, Sathya went to school as usual,
but returned soon from midway. It was 20th October 1940. History of
mankind was rewritten on this glorious day when Sathya, throwing his
school bag in the house, cast away the veil of Maya and assumed the
role of Sathya Sai Baba to start His mission of transformation of
mankind which He has been performing for the last 60 years for the
benefit of the beleaguered humanity in all corners of the world.
From Uravakonda, Baba was brought in a grand procession to
Puttaparthi, where He first took residence in the spacious house of
Karnam Subbamma who served Him all her life with devotion and
dedication. This old lady served Baba with tender care and looked
after all the devotees who came to meet Him. Bhagavan stayed at her
house for several years after declaring His Divine Mission in
Uravakonda before he shifted to the Old Mandir.
Old Mandir
When the number of devotees increased, need for a Mandir was felt
by the devotees. Thus, the Old Mandir was constructed at the place
between Sathyabhama and Gopalaswami temples, which was inaugurated
by Bhagavan Baba on 14th December 1945. The Old Mandir had four
rooms. Bhagavan shifted from Karnam Subbamma's house and occupied
one of the rooms to the left of the verandah. One room was used as a
store room and the other two rooms were for the devotees.
Divine Leelas on Chitravathi Sands
After the inauguration of the Old Mandir, the daily flow of
devotees to Puttaparthi increased substantially. During those days,
devotees would get ready at 3.00 p.m. in the afternoon to witness
Bhagavan's Leelas (divine pranks) on the sands of Chitravathi. By
4.00 p.m. all would reach there. Baba would ask the devotees to
choose the place of ther liking and all would sit in a circle. Baba
would then start playing with the sand while eager eyes of the
devotees watched His divine play. From the mounds of sand, He would
bring out idols of gods and goddesses, sweets of various kinds and
numerous other objects. In fact, anything He willed would come out
of the sand. From 1946 to 1949, this was almost a daily event. On
certain special days, Baba would take out a Kalasha (vessel) full of
nectar from these sands and distribute this ethereal liquid to
devotees. At other times nectar would flow from His fingers and the
fortunate devotees would receive it. In later years also some
devotees were privileged to see such Leelas of Bhagavan.
The tamarind tree, now called Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling tree)
standing on the hill on the west bank of Chitravathi, was another
object of Bhagavan's Leelas. Sometimes, Baba would take the devotees
to this tree and ask them what they wanted. And in an instant, Baba
would pluck them from the tree and give them.
Prashanthi Nilayam
The number of devotees kept on increasing with the result that in
a few years the Old Mandir could not accomodate them. Even sheds and
makeshift Pandals around the Old Mandir were inadequate during
festivals. In answer to the prayers of the devotees, Baba agreed for
a more spacious place. Thus, the idea of New Mandir was conceived
and the same was constructed at a place to the south of the village
of Puttaparthi. Bhagavan Baba inaugurated it on 23rd November 1950
on his 25th birthday and named it Prashanthi Nilayam (the abode of
supreme peace).
Prashanthi Nilayam, the abode of Bhagavan Baba, bears testimony
of Bhagavan's Divinity. The millions who throng this small township
in a remote part of Andhra Pradesh in India experience its divine
vibrations, which are soaked in its atmosphere. They come from all
parts of the world, from nearly 180 countries spending their money
and time to have Darshan and blessings of Bhagavan. When they return
to their countries and places, they carry with them numerous stories
of experiences, which describe the divine love of Bhagavan for the
entire mankind. Bhagavan's presence has made Prashanthi Nilayam a
township of love and peace. It is a different world altogether where
Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa permeate the entire
environment. Though there are crowds evwerywhere, there are no
jarring noises. There is cleanliness, order, discipline, courtesy
and humility everywhere. This is a mini world in itself. People from
different countries following different religions, speaking
different languages live together, dine together and mingle with
each other with sacred feelings of love and brotherhood. If one
wants to see "brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God" not merely
in theory but in practice, one can see it in Prashanthi Nilayam.
Divine Mission
Bhagavan announced His Mission in the following words way back on
25th May 1947, when he wrote to His elder brother Seshama Raju in
reply to his letter:
"I have a Task: To foster all mankind and ensure for all of them
lives full of Bliss (Andanda).
I have a Vow: To lead all who stray away from the straight path
again into goodness and save them.
I am attached to a Work that I love: To remove the suffering of
the poor and grant them what they lack.
I have My definition of Devotion I expect: Those devoted to Me
have to treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude.
This means that I will never give up those who attach themselves to
Me.
When I am thus engaged in My beneficial task, how can My name be
tarnished as you apprehend?
You can yourself see the full glory in the coming years. Devotees
must have patience and forbearance."
Bhagavan's Mission spread rapidly after the construction of
Prashanthi Nilayam. Publication of "Sanathana Sarathi" was started
of Sivarathri day in February 1958 in which all the 14 books of
Vahini series written by Bhagavan Baba were published in serial
form. Besides, Bhagavan's Discourses now run into 30 volumes of
"Sathya Sai Speaks". Sri Sathya Sai Organisation was started in
1965, which now has branches in nearly 180 countries all over the
world. Some remarkable changes have also taken place in and around
Prashanthi Nilayam, including those on the growth of Sri Sathya Sai
Institute of Higher Learning (commenced in 1981), the functioning of
Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital (1991) and the Drinking
Water Projects (1995). A few articles highlighting the significance
of these and various other aspects of Bhagavan's Mission have been
given in this Special Issue of "Sanathana Sarathi," which is offered
at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan to mark the 74th year of the Advent of
the Avatar. A brief account of Bhagavan's early life and Mission has
also been included for the benefit of the ever-growing community of
devotees.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Special Issue, November
1999, published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications
Trust