A 'Viva' conducted by the Revered Founder Chancellor on the Summer Course 2002...

June 11, 2002 (Tuesday) 

Swami came to the Ganesh portico at 3.35 pm. 

Sri Sathya Sai in the Prasanthi Nilayam Mandir portico

Swami : (To Prof. Sudhir Bhaskar, Professor at the School of Business Management) Which subject did your son study? Who is the Guide (for research)?

Teacher : Swami Maths.

Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar) What do you take?

Prof. A. K. : Nothing, Swami.

Swami : Not for the stomach, subject.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, Botany. 

Swami : Vice-Chancellor told you take some awareness classes.

Prof. A. K. : The whole morning I was arranging 500 pants and towels for the children. I am getting the clothes stitched with the help of the staff members’ wives. 

Swami : (To one student) How is your father?

Student : Fine, Swami.

Swami : Did he come back?

Student : Yes Swami.

Swami : There is no war that is why he came back. I am telling from so many years that a war is not going to occur. They tell war and go to bar (court)! 
(To another student) Which subject?

Student : Swami M.B.A.

Swami : Which specialisation?

Student : Swami in the first year there is no specialisation.

Swami : Take Marketing. (Enquiring about a student) That boy is a good boy. (Swami spoke to that student for some time.) (To another student who was holding a sketch of Swami) What is that? Tumhara Face Nahi Kiya? (Did you not draw your face?) The size of the sketch is that of your face. Which language, Telugu or Tamil?

Student : Swami, Punjabi.

Swami : Where did you come from?

Student : Swami from Delhi.

Swami : What is your name? (The student told his name. The Warden was trying to tell something to Swami.) Why do I need your introduction? You should introduce to someone who does not know.
(To another student) What is your name? (The student told his name.) Your parents are planning to come next month is it not?

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : Where is that boy? (referring to the son of a teacher. While the student came, to another student) What are you doing?

Student : Swami, first year M.F.M.

Swami : What is the meaning of ‘F’?

Student : Swami, Finance.

Swami : What is the meaning of finance? (No reply.)
(To the student whom Swami had asked for) What did you do?

Warden : Swami, he completed M.F.M.

Swami : Which class can you teach? (The student was hesitating) Tell confidently.

Prof. A. K. : Swami these boys want to sing some songs expressing their feelings on Summer Course.

Swami : They did not make such a big statement.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, this is the information I have collected.

Swami : You collect everything. (Smiling) Will you also join them?

Students : Swami, songs.

Swami : This is not Music College. (To one student) What did you study earlier?

Student : Swami, B.Com.

Swami : What were your subjects?

Student : Swami Accountancy, Finance.

Swami : Who taught you Finance in Brindavan?

Student : Swami, Sivakumar sir. (Dr. N. Sivakumar is a Faculty Member in the Department of Commerce in the Brindavan Campus of Swami’s University.)

Swami : What did he study?

Student : Swami, M.B.A., Ph.D.

Swami : Where do come from?

Student : Swami, Darjeeling.

Swami : Do you have brothers?

Student : No Swami, I have a sister.

Swami : (Chiding) Then who are all these? Truth only comes first. In Banglore you used to have stomach problem, how is it now? (Swami materialised Vibhuti and gave him) What is your sister doing?

Student : Swami, fashion designing. (Swami takes the letter from his pocket and after reading puts it back in his pocket.) (To another student) What are you doing?

Student : Swami, Music College.

Swami : Where is your principal? Is he taking classes for you?
Student : Yes Swami.

Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar) How many (number of Idlis)?

Prof. A. K. : Not even one Swami, nil. Swami these boys want to sing some songs expressing their feelings about the Summer Course. (In chorus the students say) “Swami, we all want to sing some songs.” (Swami does not respond.

Swami : (To Sai Krishna, a first year M.F.M. student.) Who was Rama’s sister?

Student : Shanta.

Swami : What is Your sister’s name?

Student : Gayatri.

Swami : Who was Lakshmana’s wife?

Student : Urmila.

Swami : What was she good at?

Student : She was a very good painter.

Swami : How do you know?

Student : Swami has told us.

Swami : Who was Bharata’s wife?

Student : Mandavi.

Swami : Shatrughna’s wife?

Student : Shrutakeerti.

Swami : What was she good at?

Student : She too was a good painter.

Swami : What was her father’s name?

Student : Kushadhwaja.

Swami : Who was Urmila’s mother?

Student : Sunetra.

Swami : Who was Janaka’s daughter?

Student : Sita.

Swami : No, Sita was Mother Earth’s daughter. Who was Kushadhwaja’s wife? (There was no reply from any of the students. Swami in a jovial manner…) Mrs. Kushadhwaja! (Everybody burst into laughter.)

Who was elder – Janaka or Kushadhwaja?

Student : Swami, Janaka was elder.

Swami : Who adopted Shanta?

Student : Romarishi.

Swami : What was his other name? (As there was no reply from anyone, Swami gave the answer) Trunabindu. (After a pause.) Who were Rama’s sons?

Student : Lava and Kusha.

Swami : Who was elder?

Student : They were twins.

Swami : Kusha was elder. Who was Kusha’s son? (As there was no reply, Swami Himself gave the answer) Kushadha. (The students had come prepared with a few songs to sing in front of Swami.)
(To the students…) Tum Akele Gaata Yaa Sab Gaata? (Are you going to sing alone or all of you are singing together?)

Student : Swami, together.

Swami : If you all sing together, what will happen to My ears?
(To a student) What are you going to sing?

Student : Swami, first a Ganesha prayer, followed by Sai Gayatri and then ‘Apne Dil Ki Pukar’. Then a speech by a brother and the song ‘Yenta Manchi Teepu’.

Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar) Do you know the songs?

Prof. A. K. : Swami You have composed them.

Swami : Sing.

Prof. A. K. : Swami now I do not have enough strength to sing.

Swami : Then when will you sing?

Prof. A. K. : I will not be able to sing anymore Swami.
Swami : (To a student) How many names does Gayatri have?

Student : Swami, many names.

Swami : No, three names. What is the meaning of Gayatri? Gaayantam Traayate Iti Gayatri (Gayatri is that which redeems the chanter of the Mantra). Who was Savitri?

Student : Swami, first wife of Shiva.

Swami : Chhi! Dunnapota (All laugh). Does Shiva have more than one wife? (All laugh.) She was Satyavrata’s wife. Who is Saraswati?

Student : Bramha’s wife.

Swami : What are the other names of Saraswati? (Swami chanted) 

Saraswati Namastubhyam Varade Kaamaroopineem.

Vidyarambham Karishyaami Siddhir Bhavatu Mesada.

Padma Patra Vishaalaakshi Padma Kesari Varnini.

Nityam Padma Layam Padma Saamam Paatu Saraswati.

Bhagavati Bharati Nisheshya Jaadyapaha.

(Oh Goddess Saraswati, I bow down to You. Please bless me.

As I commence my pursuit of gaining knowledge, 

I pray that I be successful in my endeavours.

Oh Mother Goddess who resides in the Lotus, 

and who has the complexion of lotus-like saffron, please protect me.

Oh Goddess Bharati, please remove my laziness.)

They are not names, but titles. Ask some questions, I will answer.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, Saraswati signifies wisdom. Do Bhagavati and Bharati also symbolise wisdom?

Swami : Saraswati is Upaasana (worship). Savitri is Varnana (description).

Prof. A. K. : People say that Vishwamitra gave the Gayatri Mantram to Rama.

Swami : No. Vishwamitra taught them ‘Bala’ and ‘Abala’ Mantras.

Prof. A. K. : Aadhyaatmika Ramayana - is it related to the formless (Nirakara) and the attributeless (Nirguna) one?

Swami : It is related to the Atma. What is the meaning of Rama?

Prof. A. K. : “Ramimpa Chese Vaadu Raamudu”. (Rama is the one who attracts.)

Swami : What does He attract? (No reply.)
(To Prof. Anil Kumar) Will you come with Me?

Prof. A. K. : Surely Swami.

Swami : Where will you come?

Prof. A. K. : Anywhere Swami.

Swami : Anywhere!

Prof. A. K. : Anywhere, anytime, for any reason.

After a few minutes of profound silence, Swami blessed the birthday boys and went inside interview room.

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (2001-2004)