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How Sathya Sai Baba Came as an
Old Beggar to Shardamma's House
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 1945
Sharadamma, the
daughter of Sri
Seshagiri Rao, the
temple priest of
Prasanthi Mandir for
many years, came to
Baba in 1942 when He
was still a young
boy of 16 years. In
her long association
with Baba, she has
had many wonderful
experiences. Here is
one of her
experiences as
narrated by Mrs.
Shakuntala Balu:
She remembers an
occasion when she
had arranged
Samaradhana Puja in
her village. After
the conclusion of
the puja she had
organized a feast
for the Brahmins
(priests).
While the puja was
still under way, an
old beggar arrived
seeking alms.
Sharadamma sent him
away saying, “Come
later. The puja is
not over yet.”
The occasion went
off very well. The
old beggar never
returned for the
promised food and
Sharadamma soon
forgot about him.
A few months later,
in Puttaparthi, she
asked Sri Sathya Sai
Baba to pay her a
visit at home. He
looked at her
severely and said, “You
invite me now, but
if I come to you,
you may chase me
away saying the puja
is not over yet”.
With a shock,
Sharadamma realised
that it had been Sri
Sathya Sai Baba who
had come to her that
day to test her. She
bitterly regretted
her action of that
day, but recognised
that she had been
taught a very good
lesson: never to
turn away a hungry
person who comes
begging for food.
Reference: “Living
Divinity” by Mrs.
Shakuntala Balu.
Page: 180. Published
by S. B.
Publications,
Bangalore, 1983.
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