Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Shri Narasimhamoorthy, Warden of Vrindavan Hostel has been a
sincere devotee of Baba for several years. He has been
blessed to be a good instrument in Baba’s programme of
implementing integrated education system in India. He was
initially at Alike and Muddanhalli schools before Baba
asked him to come over to Vrindavan and be the warden
there. In between for a brief time, he was the warden of
Prashanthi Nilayam Campus also, before being permanently
shifted to resume duty at Vrindavan.
Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy, as we students know him, is a man of
great discipline, moral values and unshakable faith on
Baba. He is an excellent orator and greatly respected by
the students both at Prashanthi Nilayam and Vrindavan
for his organisation capability and conviction.
This
episode described below is also a proof Baba’s words of
the utter catastrophy of events that could occur in case
we do not follow his command. Baba on his return from
Brindavan to Puttparthy on 12th December had announced to
the students that the Sports Meet (which were held
every year in January 11th) should not be held that
year (1999). He announced the same at Vrindavan too before
coming to Puttaparthy. Students did not listen and prayed
very fervently for the Sports Meet, which they felt was
the only opportunity to do something for Baba and dedicate
it to him. Even though Baba had ordered the sports meet
not to be held and a notification from the
Vice-Chancellor’s office to this effect had already been
issued, students still persisted with their regular
practices hoping that Baba would somehow still agree. Many
days passed this way with students praying hard within the
mind and also sending greetings and requests to Baba to
take back his order of not holding the sports meet. Baba
took none of them. Some greetings were sent back to hostel
with Baba’s message of not raising the issue again. But
students still persisted....Baba later agreed.
January
14th arrived and the students arrayed themselves to
display before Baba all they had practiced for 45 days.
Baba’s caravan arrived with Baba seated on a seat with
a steel covering. As Baba’s caravan reached the ladies
section, Baba’s car halted for a while and Baba stood up
to wave to the people assembled. As he stood waving to the
crowd, Baba’s car moved a little bit to the front. Baba
lost his balance and fell back on the steel covered seat.
Baba’s hands, spinal cord and head rammed against the
steel covering which sent shock waves amongst everyone.
Baba sat on his seat in that position for a few moments.
Our (students) hearts missed a beat. Did Baba get
hurt?.....If that had really happened, we
students would never be able to forgive ourselves for it
was on our persistent request that this cancelled Sports
Meet was revived. But did we want it at the cost of our
dear Lord getting hurt? That surely was unacceptable .. to
anyone.
A few
moments later to everyone’s relief Baba got up and started
waving to everyone again. The car stopped and the Vice -
Chancellor received Baba, who got down and accepted the
floral tributes. Baba walked without any apparent problems
on the ramp and occupied his seat.
The
program commenced as scheduled with the primary school
children performing first, our sisters of Anantpur next
followed by the brothers of Vrindavan and Parthi. After
each performance Baba came down the ramp and gave group
photographs and climbed up the ramp again. After the
program, Baba left waving to everyone saying he was
immensely happy.
As Baba
went away to the Prasanthi Ashram, news reached the
students that Baba was giving group photographs. All
students rushed to the mandir expecting to be in time
before Baba went back into his apartment. As Baba came out
of the interview room with Mr. Indulal Shah (Chief
convener of Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisations ), Mr.
Srinivasan (central trust members) and others, He blessed
everyone , gave group photographs to a everyone and left
the Prashanthi darshan hall.
Two days
later, before the brothers of Vrindavan left, Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy was called in for an interview. During
the interview, he noticed bandages on Baba’s hand and
cried out “Baba, What is this?” Baba
brushed aside his question but on being persistently being
asked, Baba revealed the truth, which when announced by
Shri. Narasimhamoorthy the next day stunned everyone.
The
following are the excerpts of the speech delivered by Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy, who was crying continuously as he gave
his speech:
As Baba
was speaking to Mr. Indulal Shah, Mr. Srinivasan and
others in the interview room, Mr. Indulal Shah noticed
blood oozing out of Baba’s sleeve. A shocked Indulal Shah
got up to ask Baba about it, but was quitened by Baba who
said “Don’t tell anydody about this outside. The
children will get scared.”
Baba
later told Mr. Indulal Shah, Mr. Srinivasan and Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy that the year 1999 was the year of
Pramadi (an year of torments) .One of the boys performing
a dangerous stunt was going to fall from a height that
very day. Baba knew this right from the start and to avoid
this ordered the sports meet not be conducted, which as
readers know was not adhered to.(Later Baba disclosed in
the discourse following Shri. Narasimhamoorthy’s speech
that -- “You were not ready to listen to me. You all
were praying so hard. Even after repeatedly telling you
not to go ahead with the program, when you were so
insistent, then I had no other alternative but to let you
perform. But there was no way I could let my own children
get hurt. So I transferred his Karmic effect on me. I can
bear it but you cannot. If he would have fell from that
height, his hands would have smashed on the ground , his
spinal cord would have split and head smashed to pulp.
When Baba fell on the steel casing , Baba’s hands, spinal
cord and head rammed against it. That was my way of taking
up his injury”).
Baba
started bleeding profusely. His back was soaked in blood.
His head too had been hit. But Baba let no one know of
this. Baba’s maya covered the visibility of blood from the
scores of VIP’s between whom Baba was sitting. For five
hours Baba bore the ordeal. Inspite of the piercing pain
Baba came down to give group photographs and climbed the
stairs again. Even when Baba’s robe became wet due to
blood coming out continuously, Baba went into the
temporary toilet and washed the blood off the robe.
Knowing fully well that, if the student, who was
attending to Baba that day saw the blood stains on the
towel and the make -shift toilet floor, would get
alarmed Baba even washed the towel he had used with soap
and also swept the floor.
For 3
days Baba bore the injuries. Not one of us knew of this
until Shri. Narasimhamoorthy was allowed to tell it in
course of his speech. Shri. Narasimhamoorthy cried, the
students cried and the devotees wailed.
Later
when students apologised, Baba said
“Are, Protecting
you is my responsibility ra (ra is a word frequently used
in telugu towards someone you love). You are my children.
Can I ever let you high and dry?”
We,
students of Baba experience him so closely. Baba is our
father, mother, teacher and friend, he is also the love of
our life. Our very life is his gift and dedicated to him.
Everything emerges from Sai.
Everything will go into Sai.
From him
have we come.
Into him
we shall go.
SAI :
LET US LOVE YOU
LET US LIVE YOU
LET US BE YOU
Source:
http://www.geocities.com/sai_ram108/mira8.htm