Different Occasions when He revealed Himself as Shirdi Sai Baba - 1940s

Avatar Declaration Day
(with the idol of Shirdi Sai Baba materialised before Him) - 1940

Saturday, July 15, 1940

A long standing devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba was promised by Him that He would reappear in the state of Andhra Pradesh bearing the same name ‘Sai Baba’. This devotee, Smt. Gali Sarada Devi, as a 60 year old, came to have His Darshan at Uravakonda. Her mind attained great peace, and a firm conviction grew in her making her believe that this lad was indeed Shirdi Sai Baba come again, for He spoke in Hindi in the same endearing manner that Shirdi Sai Baba did. He asked her, “Let Me have the balance 16 rupees you owe Me”. He went on to explain the precedence of the sixteen rupees much to her astonishment. ‘Oh, my God! How old an event, and trivial an incident! Who could remember it and recall it other than Baba?!’ she exclaimed. Little Sathya addressed her softly, “I do not want your money. It is only to assure you and to reassure you of My Shirdi identity have I recalled this.”

The Shirdi Sai re-incarnate

1942

This is the story of Mr. Krishnamurthy, on whom sixteen year Sathya Sai showered His grace, and fulfilled his ultimate desire. Sri Krishnamurthy, a clerk at the Secretariat, had Darshan of Baba at Bangalore. He pleaded with Baba to reveal His Divinity to him. Baba materialised a picture of Shirdi Sai and told him to meditate on it. Baba went out and returned in the afternoon. Mr. Krishnamurthy was present there. He called out to Baba in a state of trance and fainted. A little later, he came to his senses and his body was trembling. Closing his eyes, he tried to touch Baba’s feet. Baba consoled him saying, “Not so soon ‘Bangaru’, not so soon”. However, Krishnamurthy would not listen to Baba and tried his best to touch Baba’s feet. Baba went away to another devotee’s house in order to avoid Krishnamurthy. With closed eyes, Krishnamurthy could smell Baba’s fragrance and tracked Baba down. Baba however, had bolted Himself inside. Krishnamurthy’s relatives forcibly took him away. Back home, he remained immersed in thoughts of Baba, without even a sip of water. His condition worsened and was admitted to a hospital where he refused treatment. Baba’s heart melted at the plight of Krishnamurthy. Baba washed His Lotus Feet with water and sent it to the hospital for Krishnamurthy to drink. As soon as he drank the Prasadam sent by Baba, he regained his strength and was brought back home. He requested his family members to sing Bhajans. During the Mangala Arati, the light of his life, like the flame of the camphor, melted into the eternal glow of Baba.

On the banks of Chitravati

Saturday, January 1, 1944

One of Baba’s teachers, Sri V.C.Kondappa, wrote the life story of Shirdi Sai Baba in Telugu (Sree Sayeesuni Charitra, 102 Slokas). Baba Himself had provided the contents for this work. Sri Subbannachar wrote the foreword for this book. Baba blessed both of them with a vision of Himself as Shirdi Baba, thus convincing them deeply that He was indeed Shirdi Sai. 

Baba asked Sri Lokanatha Mudaliar’s daughther Smt. M.L. Leela to read the book aloud on one of His famous Chitravati visits. When the line ‘Shirdi Sai Baba in now reborn as Sathya Sai Baba’, was read, Baba’s form changed to that of Shirdi Sai Baba. Lokanatha Mudaliar sprang forward and embraced Baba tightly shouting ‘Hey Sai! Hey Sai!’ Baba could not release Himself from this embrace until He changed back His form to that of Sathya Sai!

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam – Part 1 (1926 to 1985)