Sathya Sai Baba’s declaration of divinity

Baba Loganathan PRABHAKARAN

Many in this world have seen and heard of Bhagawan Baba, the God Incarnate in this Yuga. But, some may not have seen or even heard of Bhagawan Baba. Reasons for the latter may be unknown to them and to those who have seen and heard of Bhagawan Baba. Whatever the case, October 20 of any year from the year 1940, is of divine significance, to the World at large.

It is prudent to learn the antecedents of this date, to realize the said significance. Easwaramma, Bhagawan’s Divine mother narrated her experience. “ When I was lifting water from the well” she said, “ I saw a ball of bluish sparkling light rolling down from the sky. It entered my body and I lost consciousness. When I regained my senses with ministrations of my mother-in-law, I told her what happened. She advised me not to breathe a word about it to anyone because people might draw all sorts of undesirable and funny inferences.”

Musical notes

Bhagawan Baba came to this world by Pravesham (Advent) and not by Prasavam (Conception).

It was November 23, 1926, 5.06 am, the cool breezes were wafting softly, Little Bells on the top of the Temple pillar were producing gentle and melodious sounds, whilst inside the house, musical notes from the instruments spontaneously playing on their own were softly reverberating. At that wondrous moment, Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born.

The newborn Baby was placed on palm leaves, as tradition demanded, in a corner of the delivery room, by the paternal grandmother, Lakshmamma. A little later, she noticed a slight movement of the Baby’s bed sheets. When she picked up the Baby, she found to her dismay, a coiled cobra below the bed! It was quite unusual for a coiled cobra positioning itself as a bed for a newborn Baby right in the delivery room. After the excitement caused by the cobra’s presence cooled down, the snake was searched for, but it could not be found. There is absolutely no doubt that the snake was none other than Adishesah, the Divine serpent who serves as a bed for Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in Vaikuntha. This is the very first demonstration of the Divinity of Sri Sathya Sai. Bhagawan was given the name of Sathya Narayana.

The other events indicating that God has descended are:-

* The Sages and Saints from the Himalayas came down to Kapilaharti to perform samooha aradhana (Brahma Sadhana) or congregational worship.

* On November 24, 1926, exactly after 24 hours of the descent of the Avatar, at Pondicherry Ashram, Maharishi Sri Aurobindo came out, called his disciples in the prayer hall and told them “Our prayer was heard by Narayana. He has taken birth in the world; rather God has descended. Our work is over” and went into silence till the end.

Baby Sathya Narayana, extremely handsome, grew up, portraying pity, compassion, love and sympathy to any living being subjected to hardship and grief. Sathya went to school amidst difficult financial conditions at home. Sathya performed many miracles. Some viewed these miracles as Sathya was a victim of some evil spirit etc. This led to Sathya being taken to an exorcist, who subjected Sathya to trauma. But Sathya’s fame spread and people from far and near began flocking to Sathya. Sathya survived all traumas but consistently taught the Vedantic Truths whilst in childhood and helped the needy.

Virupaksha Temple

Sathya was once taken to the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi by one Rama Raju the then Municipal Chairman. After reaching the temple, Sathya expressed reluctance to go into the temple.

Sathya’s elder brother Seshama Raju told Sathya to keep a watch over their belongings as they went inside to have Dharshan of the Deity. Sathya readily agreed and remained outside. Those went inside, to their astonishment, saw Him standing inside the sanctum sanctorum in place of Lord Virupaksha. Seshama Raju came out and found Sathya outside too. Was this a Dream, a Hallucination or Reality for Seshama Raju? Those days wearing a collar pin was a fashion and Sathya was presented with a Collar Pin by Rama Raju, the then Municipal Chairman, with a prayer that Sathya would remember him.

On October 20, 1940, while going to school after returning from Hampi, Baba’s Collar Pin was lost and could not be found. The Collar Pin represented worldly ties.

The day the collar pin was lost, that day was the day of change. The link with the world had gone in the form of the pin; the pilgrimage to Hampi also served its purpose. Sathya left home saying that Maya could not bind Him any longer.

The great annunciation

It was Monday, October 20, 1940. Sathya was on His way to School, when suddenly, he turned back, returned home, flung His books away and cried out

loudly, ‘ I no longer belong to you. Maya has left me. My devotees are eagerly calling me.’ On hearing these loud words, His sister-in-law looked out of her kitchen window. She saw a halo of blinding luminescence around Sathya’s Head. “ I am leaving;” he told her, “the work I have come here for, has to be initiated.” As He said these words, His brother, Seshama Raju and the neighbour, Narayana Sastry, arrived on the scene. On seeing the splendorous halo, Sastry fell at the feet of Sathya. Seshama Raju stood speechless and motionless.

Glorious with the crown of effulgent light, Sathya walked to nearby large garden and sat on a boulder. Several eager devotees sat around Him. Sathya began singing bhajan song, the first in the vast body of bhajan songs, which are now resounding all over the world.

“Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam,
Dusthara Bhava Sagara Tharanam”

First learn that you are in Bhava Sagara (ocean of worldly life); next resolve on Tharanam (crossing it), then fix a Guru or any name and form of God, which appeals to you. Then dwell on His Glory; do Bhajan, but do it with all your mind and concentration; sing in praise of the Master’s Lotus Feet with all your heart; it enables you to cross the difficult-to-cross ocean of the birth-death cycle.

Devotees forgot themselves, as they sang in tune with Him. A photographer who was taking a picture wanted a small rock stood in front of Sathya removed. Sathya said, “ Let it be. Go ahead and take your photograph.” When the film was developed and printed, that small stone was seen to the astonishment of everyone, as Shiridi Sai Baba’s form, the previous incarnation.

When does the avatar come?

“Whenever the Dharma (righteousness) declines and Adharma (unrighteousness) grows, God takes a human form and come among us to foster Dharma and to destroy the evil and the wicked.”

All Avatars are God’s manifestation

God is said to be formless; that is to say, he can assume or adopt any form. He has endless forms. Then, in what form does He grant a clear vision to the devotee? He manifests in the form that the devotee yearns for, the form which will grant him the highest satisfaction. These forms are His Avatars. God does not limit Himself when He thus manifests; He is fully present in every such Avatar; He manifests Himself with His full glory in every Avatar.

The writer is the Central Council Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Sewa Organisation - Sri Lanka