OLD MANDIR
In those days, the Old Mandir looked like an
evergreen bride, always bubbling with activity as if there was some wedding
function taking place there! The reason for this was our 'Sai Rama' in the form
of 'Kalyana Rama[1]'.
Our Sai Prabhu was not only a bridegroom but also bestowed Himself as 'Sai
Annapoorneshhwari[2]',
the ever-plentiful Goddess! Though our Swami was always a 'Brahmachari[3]',
He plunged into the service of the mankind, and His family began to swell! His
devotees were His life! As the Telugu saying goes, "For those who have Be
was the One, and for those who did not have, He was numerous". Slowly
those who came there became His family and now everyone in the world belongs to
His family. There was never a day without His pranks and marvels! At such a
young age He was very naughty, always playful, a Master of Music, an ace of all
arts, a great dramatist, and an actor! If it were not for all this, that tender
age would have passed by, pale and tasteless. This same play of the youth would
not have looked good at an advanced age and would have failed to bring delight
to all. A mother would love to see the naughty play of her young ones. If her
baby crawls over her, dances on her heart, stands on her tummy, and jumps on
her, only then it becomes a naughty child. These games are not gifted to all to
experience.
The foster mother
Yashoda was likewise engulfed the delight of Krishna's play, and not the true
parents, who were in jail. Even the Gopikas were blessed to witness all His
games and were made to believe that He was the son of Yashoda, though He was
born to Devaki. As children, we few were very fortunate to witness the di vine
play of Bala Sai! In the Dwapara Yuga. the era of Krishna, such games were
called as 'Rasakrida', and we were no less than them! The same play was
enacted by Bala Sai in this Kali era, in the form of playing 'Hide and seek',
'Running race', 'Swinging competition', 'Fun and frolic', 'Song and music', and
a never ending list of all you can ever think of! But one thing was for sure!
Bala Sai was really very adamant! He would never accept defeat! He would never
accept His mistakes! If ladies were considered as great fighters, they were
nothing before Him! In those days, we would eagerly wait to see such adamant
acts of His, as we had never ever witnessed such an adamant person before! This
sight was a myste1ious delight for us! At times, we wondered if God could be so
naughty and adamant! People like me would become a target for His anger, but at
any cost, such targets need not be in sorrow! Because, such delight! Such
closeness! Such affection! Could be felt only by those who became His targets!
This could be understood only by those who became His targets and not by the
on-lookers, who presumed to be very close to Swami! At such times, targets like
us alone could feel the effects of such closeness and then the vast di stance
from Swami! Such were our Old Mandir days!
[1]Kalyana Rama:
Lord Rama in form of a majestic bridegroom.
[2]Sai Annapoorneshhwari: the divine plentiful mother.
[3]Brahmachari: devout bachelor.
