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SRI SATHYA SAI HRUDAYA
NIVASI
(Indweller of Hearts)
By Bombai Srinivasan
Chapter 4
The Spiritual Wedding
The wait in the verandah seemed to be very very
long for me. Swami belongs to every body and He gives His time to
everybody. In our concern with self, we become impatient of
Swami’s concern and time for others. I sat through, praying
mentally and reverently. Swami entered the verandah, walked
through the devotees and students, and reached us. With His benign
smile, He spoke a few kind words to on or the other who has
assembled there, on His call for interview.
This time, Swami had selected a group of Australian devotees and a
Lady devotee from Thailand whom Swami introduced to us as the
Maharani (Queen) of Thailand. When Swami directed us to go inside
the Interview room, we could see the Lady walking very reverently,
her face almost touching her knees. Swami pointed out this to us
and remarked what a devotion this Lady had got towards Swami.
Swami’s remark touched us deeply. Blessed indeed are such souls
and it is also Swami’s way of making us learn to intensify our own
devotion.
After ushering in all of us into the interview room, Swami closed
the door, bolted them from inside, and looked at us to see whether
everybody was seated comfortably. Swami the switched on the fan
and occupied His seat. Even though the room was over crowded Swami
insisted on ladies and gents sitting apart. One gentleman from
Australia, when asked to mover further away from the nearest lady,
mentioned that she was his wife. Swami sharply said that such wife
and daughter relationships would be true in their individual
homes. But in the Ashram the rules are very strict and should be
followed as such.
Swami then materialized Vibhuthi and distributed the same only to
the ladies. I was sitting at His Lotus Feet and my wife was
sitting at the far end of the end room near exit door. Swami
called her to come and sit near to Him. Bhagavan then announced
abruptly to all assembled devotees that this couple (meaning us)
would be wedded again in His presence on the eventful occasion of
my sixtieth year birthday. This announcement took me by surprise.
At the same time, the Divine Mercy overwhelmed me. I could feel
the warmth of His love overflowing on us. I could utter nothing.
During the course of general talks on various spiritual matters,
my wife prayed to Swami for a clarification. She told Him that
Bhagavan had blessed her through many Divine dreams during which
Swami had told her that he would always be with her. Though she
believed in Swami’s assurances in the dream, she had never had
such experience of His presence. Swami smiled at her and said that
he would explain this matter to her shortly.
Swami then turned to an Australian devotee and enquired where from
he had come. He replied that they were from Australia. Swami asked
him the reason for his visit to Prashanthi Nilayam. Pat came the
reply, “Swami, we have to come here to see God!” Swami, “Oh! Is
that so? Then you do not have God in Australia?” The devotee could
not say anything and felt cornered. Some how another devotee took
up courage and expressed that “Swami, there is God in our country
also, but we have intense desire to see God in Human form, who is
none other than Baba Himself.”
Baba was much pleased with this reply. Swami advised that we
should love God without any conditions or reservations in mind,
because God is one who is our ever lasting friend, relation, and
everything to you during all our births. This intense love towards
God should be continuous and constant feeling and we would then
develop a feeling to be with Swami as much as possible. In far
away places, when devotees think of Swami, they should pray to Him
or sing of His glory, whenever they feel lonely. They could also
reach out for sathsang, company of other Sai devotees, which would
to some extent satisfy their longing to see Swami.
Swami continued,
“There are some devotees who reply that Swami is always in their
heart and they need not go to Him very often. This shows their
lack of enthusiasm. What does this reply indicate? Here is
kerchief, and I am holding this inside my Hands. This means my
hands are bigger than the kerchief and it can hold on the same
inside the hand. Likewise, when somebody claims that Swami is in
his heart, then it means that he is much bigger the Swami. This is
not correct. Sure, Swami is in your heart. But he is also in front
of you, behind you, around you and all over the place. He is
omnipresent.”
“There could be some compelling reasons for the inability of the
devotee to come to Me. One reason could be lack of enthusiasm.
Then it could also be due to the pressure pf your work from which
you could not escape and come to Swami. Then there could also be
another reason, that is, lack of resources. But, if only, you have
the enthusiasm and intense desire to be with Swami, then the other
two obstacles could be overcome by His Grace!”
Swami suddenly reverted to the topic of our 60th birthday. He told
us, “When you enter the 60th year of your existence, you are
entering into a new phase of your life. By the previous wedding
during your youthful days, you were allowed to enter
Grihasthasrama, the family life. But when you put your knots today
on this 60th birthday, you are coming out of all the pleasures of
your family life and you should from no onwards proceed into the
spiritual life. The wife and husband could only be supporting each
other in their spiritual journey form now on wards. Thus, if you
live for another decade, at the age of 70, you will be like Saptha
Rishies who leads only holy life. You should soon be at the 80th
birthday. What does it mean? By living like Saptha Rishies for
over 10 years, you become as powerful as ASHTA DIK PALAKAS. They
are the protectors of the eight sides of the world. You become one
among them. Soon you will be arriving at the 90th year ,and you
will be like the NAVBAGRAHAS. (The nine planets in the universe).
By then there will not be any effect on you, buy the transitory
movements of the nine planets; what is more, your very presence
will protect others also from such effects. When you enter the
100th year, you would have lived a full divine life, you are free
from all your previous karmas, and you will be liberated.”
Swami instantly waved His Divine Hands, and materialized a
beautiful black pearl necklace, which was to be the Mangala
Soothra for our wedding. He showed it to me and enquired whether
this Mangala Soothra was as per our traditions. I replied in
negative, since the one, which we tie, is Mangala Soothra fitted
in a yellow coloured thick twine, or a gold chain. Swami said that
he had made it since my wife had wanted it this way. I did not
know her secret desire and hence told Swami that anything Swami
gives would be a blessing and that Swami knows what is good for
us. Swami showed the wonderful black pearl necklace to everybody.
Finally Baba told my wife to look at the small gold pendant
hanging in the chain and also a wonderful Ruby stone placed at the
center of the pendent. Swami told us that this is how AMBAL
(Divine mother) wears Thirumangalyam. It was so cute and
beautiful, and wonderful to receive such a Grace from Swami.
Swami then directed me to get up and then deposit the necklace on
the neck of my wife. He showed me the special hook provided
therein, and asked to hook it up properly. While I was abiding by
His directions, Swami kept His Divine Hands on my wife wife’s head
and chanted the Mantra, “Sathamanam Bhavathi, Sathaaya
Purusha…..”! I was choked with emotion and literally in tears and
somehow went through the process. When I tried to fall at His
Lotus Feet, He commanded me to sit down, saying, “It is not yet
over!”
Swami again waved His Divine Hands, materialized a very beautiful
Ring with a large emerald stone, and handed over the same to wife.
Swami Himself was holding my fingers and asked my wife to insert
the ring. It was a perfect fit! Swami said that it would be a
perfect fit into my finger. Swami further said that He was
blessing me with an Emerald ring, to give me peace, which I needed
very much at that time. My wife and myself got up and offered
Pranams together at His Lotus Feet. Swami sprinkled the Akshatha,
on our heads and assured us that His blessings will be with us all
the time. I did not feel like getting up from His Feet. Swami
patted on my head and also on my back and asked us to get up.
I have no words to put in the feelings, which we experienced by
this extraordinary Grace and the kindness showered by Bhagavan.
The Divine Love of Bhagavan surcharged the entire interview room
and the occupant devotees. But, Swami looked unaffected, in usual
poise, as if nothing had happened. The captivating Divine smile
lingered in our minds and could never be erased. The blissful
events are enshrined deeply in our hearts.
Swami later on attended to other devotees, materializing Divine
gifts to some of them and giving them spiritual advices. Swami
then got up, and directed the group of Australian devotees to go
into the inner room for private interview. We waited in the front
room basking ourselves in the blissful recollections from Divine
Baba. The emotional feelings continued and we were unable to come
out of it. We felt very small in the Divine presence and nervous
as well… Swami opened the door of the inner room after a while and
he allowed the Australian devotees to come out one by one.
Author's statement in:
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/SaiGroup-BombaySrinivasan/message/1
Many of you may
be aware that I had authored a book with the title "Sri Sathya Sai
Hrudaya Nivasi (Indweller of Hearts). This book had seen the third
reprint, and is being sold in Bhagavan's Bookstall at Prashanthi
Nilayam. Many of you would have purchased and many would not have
got chance to go to Parthi and get the book. After the third
edition, this may not go to print again. As such I wish to bring
the contents of this book to each and every one of you.
Starting from today I shall post one chapter every week or if
possible twice a week, depending upon the response I get from you
all. I would request you to kindly read it and then re-circulate
it to your other friends in the Sai Family.
The text could be transferred to your hard disk, and if possible
print outs taken out.
Utilize the contents, as much as you like.
With Lots of Love and regards
Bombay Srinivasan
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