Swami has the
power to control Nature but He rarely interferes
with natural phenomena. His argument is very
simple. He says, "I have ordained the forces
of Nature and they have their duties to
perform. However, when it becomes absolutely
essential for the welfare of mankind, I
intervene in a benign manner." As young
Krishna, he lifted an entire hill to protect
the people of His village from a deluge. As
Sai too, He has several times done similar
things. One example is provided by the
floods of 1973.
That year, thanks to very heavy rain, there
was an unprecedented flood in the
Chitravathi river. Water submerged all the
low-lying parts of Puttaparthi, and came
right up to the Ganesha and the Gopuram
gates. The Ashram being at a relatively
higher elevation, the flood waters had not
yet entered its premises, but were
threatening to do so. Meanwhile, all the
villagers flocked into the Ashram seeking
shelter. The compassionate Bhagavan not only
allowed the villagers to take shelter but
also provided them with food.
The weather continued to be inclement, and
it appeared as if the water level might rise
even further. At this stage, Baba went to
the East Prasanthi block of flats, and
climbed up to the terrace. From there He
looked down at the overflowing river, and
whispered something. People nearby could not
make out what Swami was saying but they
could clearly hear the word Shanti being
repeated three times. While 'advising' the
river to calm down, Baba also raised His
hands in a gesture of benediction.
Miraculously, the flood waters began to
recede immediately, and within a few hours,
the people huddled in the Ashram could go
back to their homes.
There are also occasions when Swami
emphatically refuses to intervene. Once
during a Discourse, it was raining heavily.
Devotees prayed that the rain be stopped but
Baba brushed aside the request. He explained
that while the rain might be an
inconvenience for them, the farmers were
eagerly looking forward to precisely this
downpour. Devotees must not be selfish, He
added.