Love of the Divine – By Anand Sastry

Everybody experiences the love of one mother in this world. But we see here that the students of Sai experience the love of a thousand mothers. She shapes our destiny. Her compassion and Love towards us cannot be repaid. A few of the Divine miracles of such Compassionate One are given below. 

In the year 1995 I came here as a Seva Dal. When we were given Padanamaskar I asked Bhagavan for admission into His school the coming year. When I came the next year Bhagavan told that the admissions were over. Then one year passed after which I joined in Bhagavan’s institution in Alike. This institution runs under Bhagavan’s direct supervision. 

Introduction of my family to Sai Organisation in Kerala has a short story behind it. My maternal grandfather was good at singing and very often he used to sing in the temples. Once a member of Sai Samiti approached him and requested him to sing in the Samiti Bhajans. Initially, he hesitated but later he agreed.  

As he was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, he planned to sing a Bhajan on Lord Shiva. Soon after he began singing, a snake appeared on Bhagavan’s photo and remained there throughout the Bhajan session. After this miracle, my grandfather joined the Sai Organisation. When he came to Puttaparthi for Darshan, Bhagavan called him for interview and told that he would look after his whole family. Now his daughter and sons are very well settled. 

My grandfather was a scholar in Sanskrit. Slowly he was drawn towards Bhagavan upon hearing various miracles experienced by many devotees. Our home deity is Lord Muruga. After gaining firm faith in Bhagavan, my grandfather became a good devotee of Bhagavan. Thus, his practice became to worship Lord Muruga first and then Bhagavan. When he came to Parthi for the first time, he was fortunate enough to be called for an interview. Bhagavan noticed a photo of Lord Muruga in my grandfather’s pocket. Bhagavan took a close look at the photo. A few moments later Bhagavan blew at it, and to my grandfather’s surprise, he found that a portrait of Bhagavan appeared behind Lord Muruga’s photo! Then Bhagavan explained to him that He and Lord Muruga are one and the same. 

When I was young, my parents had a wish that my ‘Vidyarambham’ (Beginning of Study) must be done by Bhagavan Himself. So, we all came to Prasanthi Nilayam. Bhagavan came near us. I directly caught His Pada (Legs). So, in order to release it, Bhagavan held me with both hands and lifted me. He then called me as “Bangaru.” Then He caught my hand and made me write “AUM” on the slate. I have preserved it since then. 

My father works in a bank as a senior manager. When I was studying in third standard my father was posted in a place called Kanur. But my brother, mother and I stayed back. Since he was staying there, he started to attend that Sai Samiti. At my father’s place from the photo of Bhagavan,Vibhuti started coming out! It was a continuous flow. 

After two years he got transfer to a place called Trishur. So we also shifted our residence to Trishur. He had applied for a car loan. In a few months, the money was sanctioned. So, he started attending the driving school. But in a dream, Bhagavan came and blessed him by teaching him how to drive. This happened regularly. In this way Bhagavan blessed him. 

My brother, studying in Whitefield (Brindavan) campus of the Institute, had a wonderful experience with Bhagavan. When he was studying in fifth standard, our State President asked my parents if they would like to make the boy sing in the presence of Bhagavan. Later two others also joined him. They learnt a Telugu song, which was not familiar to them and presented it in front of Bhagavan. Bhagavan was pleased and blessed them. My brother asked Bhagavan if he could get admission in His Institute. Bhagavan said, “Yes” and blessed him. 

Once Bhagavan graciously allowed our district Bal Vikas students to present a cultural programme. I was also fortunate to be a part of the acting team - of the drama called ‘Sai Avatar’. During the stage rehearsal session, the drama was shortened from around thirty minutes to twenty minutes. We were not happy with this, but we carried on. On the day of the programme, we were all dressed in our costumes and were taken to Poornachandra Auditorium. We were asked to cut short the time of the drama further. After a while it was informed that there wouldn’t be any drama. I broke down. Suddenly, Bhagavan came there and observed me so. He signalled me to be calm and referred to me as “Chinna (small) Shastry.” We all got Padanamaskar. By this we can understand that Bhagavan has His own ways to bless His devotees. 

Bhagavan’s miracles are mysterious. They have a definite reason behind them. He will never leave our prayers unanswered. Thus, He alone is the embodiment of Love. He works for the welfare of humanity. We are really fortunate to have come to His Lotus Feet. Our virtues blossom only because of Him. He alone can lead us to the light of wisdom. 

My cousin lives in Bombay at Dombivli. He had a serious internal problem near the kidney. My father went to attend the operation. He gave the book ‘Shirdi Sai Satcharita’ to my cousin’s mother. On the day of operation, my father was sitting outside the operation theatre and was doing Namasmarana. A Sadhu dressed like Shirdi Sai Baba came there at the very moment the operation started. He sat there until the operation was finished. 

Prior to this incident, my father had a similar dream. Thus the operation was a success. This is another way how Bhagavan showers His blessings. 

Bhagavan likes those persons who have good thoughts in their mind. He blesses everyone at the appropriate time. The things practised by Him alone teach us. He loves everyone in this world. There is no enemy or friend for Him because it is from Him that we have all come into this world. He never tells that we must worship only Him. He tells that we can devote ourselves to any God. 

A paralysed lady used to attend the Bhajan sessions. Many treatments were tried on her but all in vain. She was brought to the Samiti by her son and was made to sit in a corner. She took the Vibhuti given after the Bhajans. She sent a letter to Bhagavan through the Kerala Seva Dals. The letter was given to Bhagavan and from the time Bhagavan accepted that letter, she started recovering. She became healthy within a week and became an active member in the Samiti. 

This following incident will clearly prove the omnipresence of Bhagavan. My brother was studying in Bhagavan’s Institution in Alike. Once the Warden of the Hostel had given an important instruction to the boys. My brother could not understand the instruction because he could not understand the local language in which the instruction was being given. He was caught and reprimanded by the teacher. He felt sad and ashamed. The next day he was still feeling sad. Suddenly in the morning, the teacher who had reprimanded him came and consoled him. The teacher said to him that Bhagavan had come in his dream the previous night and told that he was a good boy and that he did not know the local language. By this incident we can learn the omnipresence of Bhagavan. He would never let His devotees down - never ever. 

If you surrender to Him, He will look after everything. He will reward everyone for his devotion and dedication. Whenever I see Bhagavan, I feel a burst of Love from Him. Love is the bond between Him and me. This love is the real bond between everything in this world. 


- Anand Sastry
Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Prasanthi Nilayam


Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Offering) 

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