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The Goal and the Guide
By Bombai Srinivasan
Petal 1
(Introduction)
Sai
Ram.
Any
good things have to come to an end. I had been posting my book,
Sri Sathya Sai Hrudaya Nivasi” on line for quite a long time.
The last chapter will be mailed in a day or two. However, I
cannot add more chapters in the book, which had already seen
three reprints. But the Divine excursion with our Dear Lord
continues, and with His Loving care, I have ventured into
writing my second book. But as a retired man, I do not have
resources to invest in publishing yet another book. At best, I
may again put on line, various chapters of the manuscript of my
next book. I will wait till I receive Divine sanction from our
Dear Swami.
Starting from this day, I shall try to give thumbnail narrations
on how a man had been picked up in a raw condition and guided to
climb up in the spiritual way of life. Thrilling moments, and
Divine supports had come in the way, which I had enjoyed all
along.
He is
our Goal and He Himself Guides us unto Him. I had tried to be
worthy of all the Grace, that He had been showering on me
without any break. Come my dear brothers and sisters, see how
Swami is making a man out of a man.
With
Love and regards
Bombay Srinivasan
Petal – 1
A raw product that I was!
I was
born in a pious South Indian Brahmin family, which was very strict
in adherence of traditional disciplined way of life. For
everything you do, you will receive a reprimand; don’t do like
that; don’t say like that; don’t sit there like that; etc. etc.
And there will be lot of commands from the old members in the
family forcing us to adhere to various rituals. There was nobody
to tell us and explain the importance of the spiritual disciplines
which they were trying to impose on us.., I felt that I am
subjected to do something against my freewill.
Though
born in a Brahmin family in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu, I was
sent to my mother’s birthplace in Kerala for getting education and
also for the purpose of upbringing in traditional way of life.
The little town, Palghat is very big center of Brahmin community.
The cluster of homes they built in one or two lanes each are
called the “Agraharams”.
As I
remember to the best of my knowledge, I was sporting long hairs
like girls, but with a difference. The front portion of the head
will be cleanly shaved off, from ear to ear. And there will be ear
studs donning the tiny ears. The hair will be split into three
portions and with this they will be beautifully woven into long
knots. And there will a colored ribbon tied into the tail of the
hair. There should always be Vibhuthi (drawn in three neat lines)
and also a dot of sandal past in the center. Waking up early in
the morning and taking bath before the dawn is essential. Wearing
a wet cloth (dhothi) we should visit the temple,offer our prayers
and return home. Even while I was growing up, the fashion was
catching up and my friends started cropping the hairstyle like
westerners. But I was not allowed to do so. After reaching the 5th
standard in school, I was allowed to cut off the long hair, but
with only little hair on the back portion and the front portion
still neatly shaved off. I was subjected to jokes and harassment
from my friends. I had no option but to endure.
The
grand mother used to tell us stories from the mythical Puranams
every night. Some of the stories on Krishna used to make us love
God. But the stories of Shiva used to bring terror in minds. We
were told that when Lord Shiva opens up the third eye, everything
in front of Shiva would be burnt to ashes. And there was a
picture of Lord Shiva in the center hall of our home, which was
also the Pooja room. Whenever I used to look at the Shiva’s
picture I used to get frightened. I hoped and prayed that Shiva
would never open His third eye while I was in the home. The tiny
little boy I was, I developed fear of God, than Loving of God.
However this background, instilled in me religious fervor, and
stood in good stead in the later period of my life.
Yes,
though I disliked the idea of religious disciplines in the young
age, I whole-heartedly adhered to the disciplines. I knew that
there should be some reasoning for all those rituals and rules,
but nobody cared to explain things. The stories of punishments
meted out to sinners in the hell, after the death were horrifying.
The little mind, started thinking to find out ways and means to
escape from the torture which we may get from the hell
authorities. So sincerely and faithfully, I adhered to the
rituals and rules of the religion, and in that condition I was
growing up.
Swami
mercifully conducted my 60th birthday wedding with my
wife in His Interview room, and told me that by the time I reach
my 70th year, I should become a “Rishi”, and that I am
destined to progress very fast in spiritual ladder. Within a week
after having His first Darshan in Bombay, I was mysteriously
brought face to face with a saint, and this saint took control of
me and guided me in my spiritual pursuit.
I
shall, try to serialize, the spiritual pursuit and the progress
which I was able to make, by our Divine Lord, Sri Sainath.
Om Sri
Sai ram.
Petal 1 -
Petal 2 -
Petal 3 - Petal 4 -
Petal 5 -
Petal 6 - Petal 7
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