DASARA
Dasara was a grand festival of ten days, at
Puttaparthi. In the beginning, it was referred to as 'Uragimpu Pandaga', as Swami
would be taken around the village on a palanquin. Each year, itbecame grander and grander
with the increase in the number of devotees. Each day, a different palanquin
was arranged, and Swami wore different coloured jubbas, each day. On one such
occasion some rowdies planned to cause trouble, eye. That day, He selected only
a few ladies to lead the palanquin procession, and the men surrounded them,
from all the sides. They started singing, as the procession moved forward
towards Puttaparthi village. After some time the rowdies started pelting stones
from different directions. The stones turned into flowers and landed at Swami's
feet, without hurting anyone. Everyone was surprised at this rare miracle, and the
rowdies got tired of pelting stones, and soon disappeared. Besides teaching
them a lesson, He showed us the way He would protect the devotees with love and
without using of force.
For all the ten days, different palanquins,
beautifully decorated with flowers, were made. Each day He would grant Darshan,
depending upon the way the palanquin was decorated. On the last day, He would
shoot the dummy arrows, kept in the palanquin, at the Juvi tree inside the
village. As the arrows reached the tree, they would manifest into beautiful
garlands. When He stood there shooting arrows, He verily looked like Lord Rama,
with so much effulgence. To witness this, not just one birth, even many births would
not suffice!
Ladies would wear new clothes after bath and
start Kumkum Poojas, (worship by sprinkling of red vermicelli powder). Swami,
looking like Goddess Lakshmi, would be seated before them and bless them with
Padanamaskar, after the worship. On the last day, called Vijayadasami, He would
gift them with bowls vermicelli, jacket pieces, and bangles, and bless them.
Full details are covered in my sister's first book.
There was no end to singing during such festival
days. Everyone in our family used to sing well, due to His grace, and the
trouble my mother Radhammagaru took to force us into singing. As already
mentioned, Bala Sai was the embodiment of Saraswathi, and when He sang, the
melody flowed like the nonstop dancing Ganges River. We would forget ourselves,
for hours, when He sang classical songs with Chitta Swaras. The songs of
Purandaradasa, Meera, and others were sung in such a way that tears of joy
would engulf everyone. Besides His wonderful compositions, He would also make
us sing our compositions. To ensure that the world should not forget these, we
have recorded some of those songs, as sung by Swami in those days. Though these
are very old compositions and tunes, anyone would dance in delight hearing
them.
THE MONTH OF KARTIKA
Way back in those days, festivals like
Shivaratri, Shankaranthi, Deepavali, etc., were being celebrated in the Old Mandir.
Maybe, because Swami was born during Kartika, that month, as per the Hindu
calendar, was treated as most auspicious by the devotees. It was during the
month of Kartika that the Gopikas had performed special worship - not to loose Krishna
forever. During that period, one famous sanyasi came to the Old Mandir. He was
gigantic and a great devotee of Shakthi. That evening, Swami told us to get
ready for Harathi of 108 wicks and camphor. As usual, we failed to light the
wicks, and just by showing His Abhaya Hasta, Swami lighted all the wicks in a
flash. As the grand Harathi was being performed, He appeared in the form of
divine light, to the sanyasi. Engulfed by this divine vision, he just bundled
himself at Swami's feet, in total surrender. When, how and why He would perform
such miracles, no one could guess! This was how He proved that he was the
embodiment of all the forms.
The next day, when the sanyasi wanted to leave
and asked for Swami's permission, Swami asked him to stay back, as it was a
more auspicious day. In the evening, Swami told us to assemble near the hillock
where a lot of Tulasi (Basil) trees grew naturally, like a forest. During
festivals, we used to pluck a lot of Tulasi, for worship from that hillock. The
villagers would also collect Tulasi from there and supply it to various temples.
Swami told us to be attentive, and in a flash He was on top of the hill.
SUN DARSHAN
Though the Sun had set, Swami told us He would
show us the Sun. Soothing white rays started appearing from behind and within
no time, it became redder, and redder! When we were engulfed by scorching heat
all over, we started shouting to Swami for help. Within no time, it cooled
down, and everything became normal.
MOON DARSHAN
Swami did not stop with this, and He said that He
would show us the Moon. Silvery rays started appearing from behind. As its
intensity increased, the whole background became whiter, and whiter. At the
same time, the place became so cool we felt as if we were getting frozen. As
before, we shouted to Swami, and everything became normal.
TRINETRA DARSHAN
This time, Swami told us that He would show us
the Third Eye of Lord Shiva. Again, tender rays started appearing, and Swami's
face became very big. His face appeared like dazzling stars, and for a few
moments, fantastic sparks came out from His forehead. As it cooled off, the
whole place became dark again. We did not know when Swami came down and joined
us. We were relieved to see Him appear, in His usual form, and were happy to
note that all was well with Him. All this happened within moments. We staggered
back to the Mandir, trying to sing songs, but we only succeeded in mumbling
something. We did not know what had happened to us.
The next day, Swami whispered something to the sanyasi,
in his ear, and we presumed that it must have been a Mantra. He also advised
him to be in seclusion and do meditation, to attain salvation. We presumed that
Swami would show many more miracles, to the delight of the whole world.
One famous Guru, by name Kartika Swami, came to see our Bala Sai, with
his disciples. They bowed to Swami with respect, and Kartika Swami came out
with his story. It seems he was born in a poor family and opted to become a
sadhu. As he remained silent, without speaking, in the month of Kartika, as per
the Hindu calendar, and did many types of worship during that period, he came
to be called Kartika Swami, by his disciples. Slowly, he had started an Ashram
and started his livelihood by receiving something from the people who came there.
He had come to see Bala Sai, after having heard so much about Him. Our Master
could read anyone's mind, and, if necessary, give them some proper treatment.
After three days, during one prayer session, he saw Swami in the form of a Jyothi,
divine light. He stood there like a statue with folded hands and seemed to
float in bliss. After some time, he fell on Swami's feet and exclaimed that the
effulgence that emanated from His form was like tender Sunrays. Swami just
smiled, as if He knew nothing. Before he left, Swami seemed to him some tips on
running the Ashram and on the importance of internal reforms. He did leave the
Old Mandir with much more wisdom.
Swami fully knew how to deal with anyone, and the
people who surrendered to Him got the best out of Him, more easily. People who
were proud, had to wait for a long time, so that their ego was burnt, and then
receive whatever they were ordained to receive. Though He looked small, there
was nothing He did not know. It was difficult for the newcomers to realize Him
as the Almighty Lord and the Creator of the universe. In spite of seeing all
this with their own eyes, many remained ignorant, due to the veil of Maya,
illusion.
ROYAL FAMILYOF
MYSORE
In those days, the royal family of the Maharaja
of Mysore used to visit Puttaparthi. Mysore Raja's mother was called as
Rajamatha, the royal mother. They would seek Swami's permission to come there,
and tents were put up, before their arrival. We had never seen such tents
before. These had all the facilities inside, with lots of privacy, as were 'in Gosha',
not to be seen by the public. They came with their own cooks, and helpers, and
these were also provided with separate tents. They were very devoted, and their
family deity was 'Chamundeshwari', a form of Shakthi. Everyday rituals and worship
was a must. They would also do Pada Pooja (washing the feet with rosewater,
etc.) to Swami, and He had granted the divine vision of Chamundeshwari to the
Rajamatha, impressed by her devotion. They would stay for a few days and leave
with Swami's consent.
GROWING GARLANDS
Lots of flowers were being sent by the royal
family, from Mysore during festivals. On one such occasion, there was a huge
mass of flowers that looked like a small hill, and the devotees started making
garlands out of it. Swami was no less than any, in this art, either. He would
sit among us and make garlands of various types. He would also draw men into
this arena. Though the process continued till late in the night, still half the
hill of flowers remained untouched. We wondered what Swami would do with so many
loose flowers and the garlands already made by us. Satisfied with our job, He
made us convert the garlands into round balls. As we started rolling the
garlands, into tight balls, it continued to grow like the tail of Hanuman.
We were surprised to see that the hill of loose
flowers, become smaller, and smaller and flowed into the garlands that were
being made into balls. Ultimately, not a single loose flower was left. If Lord
Krishna had saved Draupadthi from the shame of being stripped. of her saree, by
making it grow longer and longer, what was this for our Sai Krishna? If naughty
Krishna had saved Sakkubai, by grinding heaps of rice into rice flour in one
night, what was this for Him, now as Bala Krishna? That was another simple
miracle, to reveal His powers and to open our eyes.
RACE DRIVER
During one festival, the Rajamatha of Mysore had
sent some items to Puttaparthi in a jeep. Though Chitravathi was flowing, it
was not a big hurdle for a jeep to cross over. Surprisingly, half the way into
the river, it got stuck and would not budge. All the efforts of the driver
failed, as the wheel had gone deep into the loose sand below. The efforts of
the villagers to pull the jeep, using their bullocks, also failed. As it was
already dark, they lifted the items to the Old Mandir. Even the next day, when
they failed to move the jeep, they informed this matter to Swami. Our tiny Lord
would not move, unless asked for! He had observed all this labour, with a
smile. When all our efforts fail and when we surrender to Him, He would surely
swing into action.
We reached the spot with Swami and wondered how
the jeep would move, since the wheels had disappeared into the sand below. The
driver was not able to start the jeep, as much water had flowed under the
bonnet. Swami took over the driver's seat, and the jeep not only started, but
also moved like a feather through water. Was this Mantra or Magic, we wondered?
But, it was His mysterious Leela! In no time, it went through the village and
stopped in front of the Ashram. Swami dived out of the jeep and went in. The
driver, who had failed to start the jeep, and a few others who got down, looked
pale, and seemed to shiver. When we enquired as to why they were looking
aghast, they said that Swami drove the jeep so fast into the narrow lanes of
the village, no 'Race Driver' in the world would have ever beaten Him. They
wondered who had taught Him to drive. When did He learn driving? Like this, He
taught that divinity need not be taught anything! The villagers were dazed, to
see such a young driver! Well, we knew, that for the charioteer of the
Mahabharath war, this was nothing! He had exhibited many such great acts and
continues to do such strange things. Our births were indeed sanctified to see
such divine acts of Bala Sai.
