When Swami explained the meanings of Songs He composed...

March 5, 2002 (Tuesday)

Swami came out of the interview room at 3.30 pm and proceeded towards the portico. Looking at the card brought by students, He asked them, “What’s all this?”

Students : Swami, please give permission to sing songs before You. 

Then Swami read the title of the card in which the Telugu letter was not proper.

Swami : Is it Geetanjali? Or Gatanjali? 

Student : Swami, Geetanjali. 

Swami : Then why ‘Gee’ is written ‘Ga’? (Swami sent them back after blessing it. Students kept it in slanting position instead of erect posture) Why you are making it to sleep? 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, because it was ‘Gata’ (passed away). 

Students : Swami, songs, songs. 

Swami : What? What? 

Students : Swami, songs. 

Swami : What songs? (Then to teachers) Have you listened to their songs? 

(The teacher nodded in the negative. Swami wanted to emphasize on the importance of discipline to the final year students who were pleading for the chance. So He used this opportunity to focus on that.) 

Some of our students do not have any respect for elders and teachers. In the Hostel, the Warden should teach them. 

(Swami highlighted that while giving Him letters, some of the students unmindfully jump across teachers sitting before Swami. Then Swami asked whether the Vice-Chancellor was informed of the programme.)

(To Prof. Anil Kumar) Do you think they have it (respect)? 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, it is slowly reducing. 

Swami : Something must be there to get reduced. It is wrong, wrong, wrong. One should behave in a manner that one is praised by others. 

Students : Please Swami, songs. 

Swami : (About an elderly teacher) Where is he? (Pointing the way) Usually he comes this way. (To students) Songs! Why songs? 

Students : II PG students Swami, give us a chance to sing before You. 

Swami : Final year, so is it necessary to sing songs (Patalu). Not Patalu, teach Paatalu (lessons).

Students : Swami, please Swami, songs. 

Swami : Songs! You can sing in Bhajan hall. OK, speak something. 

One student got up and said, “It’s an offering at the Lotus Feet of Mother Sai by final year students.”

Swami : Oh! Final Year. 

Then II PG students sang songs in Telugu, Hindi and English. In between the songs, students gave short speeches in various Indian languages. Few of the Telugu songs were those written by Swami Himself. The songs contained the teachings of Swami. Before singing each song, one student gave the script to Swami. Holding a Telugu song script, Swami asked the students, “Who wrote this?” (One student approached Swami.) 

Student : Swami, You have written it. 

Swami : Not that, who selected this? (Two more students approached Swami) 

(To students) You selected this, will you follow it (the message contained in the song)? I wrote it 60 years back. (Then going through line by line of the lyrics, Swami asked students) What is Paapa Bheeti? 

Student : Swami, it is fear of sin. 

Swami : Do you have that fear? (No response from students) (Proceeding to next line: Satyavantulaku Neevu Saaya Paduduve, Andukane Ninnu Sai Baba Andure… You help those who are truthful. That is why people call You Sai Baba, Sathya Sai.) Are you confident of this? 

Students : Yes, Swami. 

(You can access the song, lyrics, translation and audio here.)

Swami : That’s why they call Me Sathya Sai? (Reading out another line.) 

Donga Bhaktulaku… (Fake Devotees) (In the actual poem Swami has used the words, ‘Donga Sanyasi’ meaning those who pretend to be renunciants.) 

Did I say ‘devotees’ or ‘Sanyasis’? I wrote one thing, you are singing another! Like this, you have been changing the words based on your own convenience. Buddhi Ledu (You don’t have brains)! 

Then, Swami narrated incidents from the Ramayana on Hanuman:

When Hanuman went to Lanka in search of Sita, he found Lankini, the Commander-in-Chief, at the entrance of the city. He introduced himself as a visitor to Lanka and asks her to permit him. He was a devotee of Rama, so he asked her with proper manners. Lankini was very powerful. No one on earth could challenge her. That is why Ravana kept her to guard the main entrance to Lanka. With great pride, she made fun of Hanuman as a mere monkey, and tried to knock him down. The agitated Hanuman banged her. In one shot she was flat on the ground and started rolling. Then she got reminded of the Divine forewarning that when one monkey would strike her, the destruction of Lanka would commence. Then, she permitted Hanuman to enter Lanka. But Hanuman reduced his stature so that none could see him. He entered a palace. Everywhere, he could see colourful objects, and glorious things. It was Ravana’s harem, and there he found all demons drunken, rolling here and there. Then he thought, this cannot be the place of Sita. At once, he proceeded to another big room, which was Ravana’s bedroom. There, all demons are sleeping without being conscious of how they were sleeping. The entire building was resounding by the sounds of snoring. Hanuman made such a noise that everyone was awakened! Hanuman chanted Rama’s name, which was overheard by Ravana and he ordered to capture Hanuman, and commanded that Lankini be presented at once before him. Lankini said that the time of destruction of Lanka had come and also reminded Ravana about the forewarning by Brahma. Even though Lankini was born in a demonic race, she was very devoted and truthful. 

(Going to next line: Kaama Krodhulaku Neevu Kaanaraavuga… You are invisible to those who suffer from desire, anger, greed, pride and jealousy) Desire and anger cannot see Me. 

(Continuing the next line: Paapabheeti Kaluga Bhakthula Paalintuvuga… You help those who are truthful.) In those days, people would take so much care so that they do not do any sinful activities. This is not Charma Drishti (wordly vision), but it is Brahma Drishti (Divine vision). As Hanuman didn’t find Sita anywhere, he became furious. But the wife of Vibhishana said, “How can such a pious Sita be found in these unworthy places. She is there in Ashoka Vanam’s pleasant climate.” 

Hanuman at once proceeded to Ashoka Vanam and found a lady who wore old garments, and her hair was covering her face. Her head was bent over her lap. Meanwhile, Ravana came with many servants, said many many things to Sita, first lovingly, then with anger, and later with hatred. He even pleaded with Sita. But finding no response from her, Ravana angrily left from there. 

Hanuman immediately jumped down from the tree, caught hold of Sita’s feet and said, “Oh Mother! I am not going to leave Your feet.” Surprised, Sita asked him about his details. Hanuman narrated the whole story from the marriage of Dasharatha to Kaikeyi with the permission of the other two wives Kaushalya and Sumitra for the sake of progeny, right upto how Rama forged an alliance with Sugriva till he reached Lanka. Then Sita replied, “Oh Hanuman! You are Dheerudu (valorous), Gambhirudu (unperturbed), Balavanthudu (strong) Gunavanthudu (virtuous), hence Hanumanthudu. You have taken such a vow to relieve me. You should win in this task. You are servant of Rama; remember you must always be humble and must have patience.” 

(To teachers, pointing to students) What all they have said just now is nothing but qualities of Pravritti (outward path). They are just Kalpitamulu imaginary). Kalpitamulu should not become Kalushitamu (polluted). Without polluting, you should reach Nivrutti (inward) from Pravritti. You hear everything from others. That is why Surpanakha (Ravana’s sister) lost her ears. You should not tell that studies got over; still so much is there to study. You must be bold, straightforward, and should win, no matter who challenges you. 

(Then Swami materialised Vibhuti and poured into the mouths of those three students.) You sang Sai Mata Biddalam... (We are the children of Mother Sai).

(You can access the song, lyrics, translation and audio here.)

You must keep your word. Anasuya got three children. They were none other than Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. But her sister, Asuya got six children Kama, Krodha, Mada, Moha, Lobha, Matsarya (desire, anger, pride, attachment, greed, jealousy) who are all bad qualities. They symbolise Pravritti. But the trinity who are serene and stable symbolise Nivritti.

Students : Swami, photos. (Students wanted Swami to bless them with group photos.)

Swami : Don’t bring Pravritti qualities in the middle. (Once again students sang the song with the corrections made by Swami.)

Swami : (Making a remark on one of the lines: Eruga Galare Nee Leelalu (Baba) Evarainanuga… Can anyone ever fathom the mystery of Your Leelas?) Don’t blame it on others. It is not necessary whether they know My Leelas or not. You should know them. Keep these in your heart, wherever you go.

Sri Radhakrishna with
Sri Sathya Sai

(To a teacher) I wrote this song 62 years back. I gave all songs that I have written to Radhakrishna of Kuppam. (Sri Radhakrishna was an ardent devotee of Swami, and father of Smt. Vijayakumari, the well-known author of the book ‘Anyatha Sharanam Naasthi’.)

Teacher : Swami, those days there were no proper roadways to Parthi. 

Swami : Yes, but people used to come by walk all the way. That’s why they were able to enjoy pure love. Radhakrishna’s children are working near Swami. 

Then Swami gave chance to students to have photos with Him class wise. Subsequently, Swami also called some Institute teachers for photos with Him. He also had photos taken with Hostel teachers. Later, Swami gave apples to all final year students with His own hands. Thus ended a very memorable session in the portico. The final year students would cherish it was a wonderful gift from the Lord for many many decades to come.

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