Love is God, Live in Love - By M. Sai Roopak

We have heard that “All that is experienced cannot be expressed.” And this is true with everyone in some way or the other. This is true with me too. 

“Love is God, Live in Love,” is a very popular saying. We have heard it many a time but we experience true love only when we are in the proximity of the Divine.

I had joined The Primary School in Parthi and from then on I have been experiencing this love in different ways. This has helped me develop faith and devotion in Lord Sai. Hearing to the different Leelas of Bhagavan in the Primary School, I used to feel, “Oh! Bhagavan can do this also!” When I was in eighth class, on seeing Bhagavan giving gifts to many people in the form of rings, chains, etc., I also began to wish that Bhagavan would give me such a gift. But I didn’t know how. I saw Bhagavan giving gifts to boys who stood first in the class and those best in athletics. Not being outstanding in either of these, I wondered how or in what situation I could get such gift form Bhagavan. I gave up the thought about such a thing altogether. But God’s ways are mysterious and this dawned on me only after everything happened. 

Sri Sathya Sai in the portico of Prasanthi Nilayam Mandir

It was in my tenth class, February 3rd 1995, when Bhagavan had called all the tenth class students for an interview. I was sitting in the third row. Bhagavan created a golden ring with an ‘AUM’ inscribed on it and showed it to all the boys. Then, He blew the ring thrice; then the golden ring turned to a silver one with the picture of Shirdi Sai Baba on it. He then began trying to fit it to some of the boys’ fingers. When it was my turn, the ring fitted me exactly and the gift was mine! 

This was probably the only occasion when Bhagavan gave an article just because it fits the person. Indeed, His ways are mysterious. This was not only a shower of His love but also an incident, which helped me to develop complete faith in the Divine. 

Sri Sathya Sai performing the
Aksharabhyasam

He is the Lord who knows everything and it is impossible for us to hide anything from him. When I was born, my parents wanted Bhagavan to give me a name, but due to my poor health, they could not bring me to Parthi and therefore they named me in my hometown itself. Later on, when we came to Parthi, Bhagavan performed my Aksharabhyasam, but did not agree to give me a name. This was because my parents had decided my name, and already performed all the rituals concerned. Later, when my sister was born and we came to Parthi, Bhagavan not only performed Aksharabhyasam but also gave her a name. This was one of the ways in which Bhagavan revealed His Omniscience and Omnipresence to us. 

The Book compiled by
M. Sai Roopak

When I was in my ninth class, I had planned to take up some work, mainly with regard to writing a book. So, the best solution I thought was to put this forward to Bhagavan. On December 7th 1994, I told Bhagavan “Nenu Pustakamu Rastunnanu.” (“I am writing a book.”) Bhagavan asked, “Nuvva?” (“You?”). I replied “Yes, Swami.” Then Bhagavan told “Scholar. Scholar!” and moved away. This gave me a lot of encouragement, but I didn’t know how to proceed. It was much later that I felt I could at least compile a book for the benefit of all and this resulted in a compilation of Stotrams in the form of a book ‘Stotramala’. The completion of this work was purely by Bhagavan’s grace because the way things happened, the book would have never been completed otherwise. Finally, Bhagavan released it on April 14, 1999 -Tamil New Year Day, and later told me that He had seen the book and was very happy about it. This filled me with great happiness and I felt that the purpose of my life had already been fulfilled. Then, our hostel Warden suggested me to take up yet another work concerning the compilation of a few Veda mantras and this was made into a book - ‘Veda Pushpanjali’. This was released by Bhagavan on April 12, 2000 on the occasion of Rama Navami. Undoubtedly, all these are due to the bountiful showers of Bhagavan’s grace. 

One thing I have understood is that we should always bask in His love and this alone will give us the ultimate happiness. Since God is Love and He radiates love all around, we can redeem ourselves by just basking in His Infinite Love. This, I believe, is the true meaning of the sentence, “Love is God; Live in Love.” 

-      M. Sai Roopak

Alumnus (2000-2002), Department of Management Studies

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Currently, Senior Manager, Capital One, Bangalore

 

Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Offering)