Chapter from: Sanathana Sarathi – Bhagavan 70th Birthday Commemoration Volume, Nov. 1995

In The Service Of The Divine Architect

S. K. Bose, Brigadier (Retd.)

On retirement from active work as the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, for 17 years, and the Director, I.I.T., Kharagpur, for 5 years, reaching the age of 65 in September, 1975, I came to stay with Bhagavan Baba and serve Him in whatever way He chose to use me. Remembering His mahavakya, "Service to man is service to God, I wished to engage myself in selfless activities with a pure heart expecting nothing in return except the grace of Bhagavan.

Dr. J.S. Hislop, the then President of the Sai Organization in U.S.A, urged me to reveal how I was able to meet the construction goals set by Bhagavan which could never be met by a builder in the time allotted and in the prevailing circumstances. Since then the Lord has blessed me with many more opportunities to serve Him.

I narrate here briefly only my experiences as an instrument in the Divine hands in constructing Sai educational buildings.

It was also a process of self-education for me. The best education that one receives is that by which he educates himself – a process which continues all through life. According to the Gospel of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, we came to this world because in our previous lives we forgot the existence of God and forgot to love God. We must not repeat these mistakes again. The realization of God is the goal and destiny of human life. Everything we do must be done as an offering to God.

I would like to narrate what great lessons I learnt while engaged in construction work over the last two decades directly under Bhagavan Baba.

THE SARVA DHARMA STHUPA

The first work given to me in September, 1975, was the construction of the Sarva Dharma Aikya Sthupa to mark His 50th Birthday. The work had to be completed by 23rd November within 60 working days, without the help of any contractor. All unskilled work was to be carried out by Sai devotees only. Work commenced in this fashion. The 7 foot high base for the sthupa was made by filling up earth from a distance. For three days we all worked together, completing the earth-filling over which the concrete slabs were to be laid as pedestal for the Sthambha (the column) having a huge concrete at the top, with petals opening out, each petal 11 feet long. At about 3 a.m. in the night heavy rains lashed the site of the work. I woke up and felt that great havoc had been caused by the heavy rains on the new earth-filled surfaces sloping on all the five sides of the proposed sthupa. Early morning I went to the site to see the exact extent of damage caused by the rains. I was completely surprised to see that the surfaces of the earth-filled area did not show any sign of erosion by rain. I imagined for a moment that Sri Krishna's Leela of upholding the Govardhana Giri had been reenacted by Bhagavan Baba by holding an umbrella over the sthupa area to protect it. When Bhagavan came, as usual, at 10 a.m. to see the work, I approached him with folded palms saying: "I witnessed an unprecedented Glory of God this morning". He taught me a lesson at the site by saying, :"whenever any work is done by devotees with full devotion, no damage can come to their work". I could witness how Bhagavan helped the construction works at other places by his Divine Sankalpa.

This work was completed on me. After a meeting of the Central Trus in the Mandir, all the Trust members came to the site together with Bhagavan Baba, who instructed me to mix concrete and place it before Him. He handed over a pan-ful of concrete at a time to a Trust member who poured the concrete within the form-work of the Sthambha. This Sthambha figures on the cover page of Sanathana Sarathi, Bhagavan's spiritual monthly journal.

The next day, students from the boys' college at Prasanthi Nilayam and, later, from the girls' college at Anantapur, poured in relays panfuls of concrete to the form-work of the sthambha, which was completed in 60 days. The majestic column, proclaiming Bhagavan's message of Unity of Faiths, stands as a monument to the devotion of those who helped in its construction with Bhagavan's blessings.

COLLEGE AUDITORIUM AT BRINDAVAN

My next assignment was the construction of the Auditorium at the northern end of the College building at Brindavan (Whitefield,) having seating arrangements for one thousand persons, with four guest rooms in the front. The Auditorium was completed by the end of March, 1977, so that the summer course that year could be held in May. This work was taken up just when the Hostel No.1 with a large dining hall for 600 students was completed within a period of 13 months. While Bhagavan Baba was taking some important visitors to see the construction work at the Hostel, one of the visitors asked me, "Who is the architect of this building?" I pointed out to the visitor Bhagavan Baba, who was standing a little ahead of us.

THE BEACON ON VIDYAGIRI

I should like to relate my experience in the construction of the beautiful building located on the top of what has come to be known as Vidyagiri,- the Administrative Building of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. This majestic building dominating the surrounding landscape is a landmark that attracts and delights all who come to Prasanthi Nilayam. A Greek devotee of Baba sent to Him a picture postcard showing elevation of four monasteries in Greece. Bhagavan Baba selected one monastery as a model for the Administrative Building. I went to Bombay by air with this post-card to the office of the architects, Mis H. Godbole, to get a drawing made for the Administrative Building. After three days, I brought a drawing prepared by Sri S.K. Athale of the architects' firm. Bhagavan Baba approved the main design, but did not like the design of the domes on the top. He wanted these domes to be replaced by features of the Somnath and some Buddhist temples. We could, however, start the construction of the building up to the roof level by which time Sri Athale could prepare a different design for the domes on the lines desired by Bhagavan. The entire building had to be completed in a period of nine months so that it could be inaugurated on November 22, 1982.

The building was completed on time and was inaugurated by Bhagavan in the presence of the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri Gundu Rao. The important lesson I learnt from the completion of this work was: no matter how difficult a task is given to me by Bhagavan Baba, with steadfast faith and unwavering devotion, His work would always be completed to the satisfaction of all. There was no single contractor, but several labour contractors, who worked continuously as directed by me. Here, again, we saw the Divine Architect getting His work done in His own mysterious ways.

I may refer to how a majestic building called Santhi Vedika was constructed in the Hill View Stadium to enable Bhagavan to give his discourses to lakhs of devotees who were expected to come to Prasanthi Nilayam on the occasion of His 60th birthday on 23rd November, 1985. This work was started in January, 1985, and was completed well before the 60th Birthday. The Santhi Vedika is· a unique construction, not only because of its unique architectural features but also because of its engineering novelties. The Construction of the Central Dome (70 feet long and 40 feet wide) was carried out as a 5-inch brick-sheath construction self supporting on steel reinforcing bars eliminating costly plywood centering work. This magnificent work could be completed because of the Divine Will, which we all experienced while the work was in progress, during Bhagavan's visits almost every day to the Hill View Stadium.

"TRAYEE BRINDAVAN"

I would like to conclude this article with a reference to the construction of a superb building where Bhagavan Baba stays in Brindavan, named, - "Trayee Brindavan". The drawings for the building were made by the architect in August, 1983. It was to be erected at the site of the old structure, where Bhagavan had resided for many years. The entire new structure is surrounded by a three feet deep moat with water giving the impression of a majestic building floating on water. The building is circular in shape, 72 feet in diameter. The water pool is shaped like a lotus with 18 petals. There is a central circular hall 42 feet in diameter, having a segmental dome on the top with a rise of 8 feet. This magnificent building was completed in eight months. The over - all beauty and solemnity of this building is evident to every visitor to Brindavan. It is one of the most striking architectural marvels anywhere in the world.

This narration does not include accounts of the superb construction works carried out at the Super-Speciality Hospital and the new Mandir at Prasanthi Nilayam. They are perpetual reminders of the glory of Bhagavan and the great message of love, service and sacrifice which these architectural monuments symbolise for mankind.

Brigadier S. K. Bose

Prasaatbi Nilayam, India