Today as I serve as the manager in one of the most incredible wonders of the world, The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Puttaparthi, that is verily the seed of God’s love for humanity, I recall the promise that Swami had given to my mother when I was in the womb. Swami had asked for my parents and in the interview blessed them profusely with Vibhuti and a reassurance that He would always take care of me. Swami also told them all of my characteristics, what would I do in my life, which had come true exactly. Yes all this while I was still in the womb! 

This episode tells us that the connection that we have with Swami goes way back in time and beyond the present birth and He knows us better than we ourselves do. 

My life has been one momentous journey and at each trial and tribulation I have come to see His loving hand, guiding and guarding my every step. 

Before I had even turned one, I had a bad case of diarrhea and having suffered an entire day the situation aggravated and I was admitted in the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital. The episode stabilized for a while and the doctor asked that I be kept hydrated all night. So my father sat beside me through the night and with a wet cotton and squeezed drops of water into my mouth all night. Yet, come morning, I was again in a bad situation and nothing seemed to help. So my mother took me in her embrace to the Sai Kulwant Hall for Swami’s Darshan, surrendering my fate to Swami. Even as I lay weak and almost lifeless in her arms, Swami came and enquired about me. When my mother expressed her anguish, Swami lovingly rubbed my abdomen and back with a divine reassurance that all will be fine. I was instantly healed and cured by His grace.   

When I was six and ready to begin schooling, I was unfortunately stuck in the storms in my native village and missed the entrance to the 1st standard in the primary school. On coming to know my predicament, Swami graciously spoke to the Principal and blessed me with a direct entry to begin my studies. And from that first step He silently walked beside me along the entire journey, holding my hands and lifting me up whenever I faltered. 

One day I was conversing with a student and it so happened that the discussion drifted towards Swami as it would always happen in Puttaparthi, and he casually enquired if I had any direct interaction with Swami having studied here right from my primary school. I did not want to say it but had to admit it had never happened. Pondering over the conversation made me feel sad, so the next day, I decided that I will make an attempt to speak to Swami at least once.  

We had a chance to go for morning Darshan that day and I made the necessary preparations so as to ensure that I would get a chance to sit in the first line. For this I skipped breakfast and got ready earlier than my friends. But then man proposes and God disposes. On reaching the Sai Kulwanth Hall, to my utter dejection, the entire first row had already filled and I could only manage to find a seat in the second row. Even as I sat there brooding as to how all my efforts had gone in vain, news arrived that the university students would not be coming for Darshan owing to their semester examinations. Taking it as a sign, I grabbed the opportunity to earn a first row on the opposite side of the carpet laid for Swami.  I was very happy and was eagerly waiting for Swami to arrive for Darshan. The Darshan music started and I began to feel a surge of joy in my heart. Swami entered the Sai Kulwanth Hall and as He was completing the Darshan on the ladies side, my heart began to race, beating hard in my chest in excitement and anticipation all at once. Each moment stretched longer as He glided like the morning sun through the sea of fair clouds as everything else disappeared into oblivion.  

The next moment, Swami was standing right in front of me, even as I stared dazed at His majestic presence. He lovingly looked into my eyes and before I could say a word, asked me, “What did you have for breakfast?” Without a second thought, I replied, Swami, Upma. And pat came the reply “All lies, you buffalo”. It was then that I  remembered that I had skipped breakfast that day in eagerness to rush to Swami and had involuntarily blurted the day’s menu rather. As Swami smiled and walked on, my heart blossomed and bliss filled my being. Swami had finally spoken to me. If one has a sincere desire, Swami responds to it immediately.  

The most beautiful aspect of God is His compassion. For, His love is that of a million mothers. Drawn to the mundane cycle of existence, we often get lost in the varied days of our mortality and forget the divine opportunity to live with Him. However, every once in a while, He reminds in the most magical and tender way.  

During the celebrations of the Ganesha chathurthi festival, all of the institutions, schools, trust, hospital and other divisions would get a chance to make a chariot for taking lord Ganesha in a procession first to Swami’s presence and then to the immersion. In my twelfth standard, we modeled our chariot resembling the golden chariot of Swami. With love in our hearts, Swami's name on the lips and in fervor and total dedication, we worked day and night to manifest an incredible chariot that had taken a great shape. We were excited to bring it in front of Swami and draw him to our offering. And more so, wanted to spend as much time as possible in His presence. Swami finally came to take photographs with our chariot, the look of pure love and pride in His eyes moved us all to tears and we all silently prayed for Swami to spend at least a moment longer. But it was not to be and Swami moved away. But as He was walking away He cast his sidelong glances at us and we felt as if He also wanted to spend a little more time with us, but compulsions of the programme were forcing Him to move ahead.   

It was soon time and we had to leave for the immersion, as we labored back, pulling our chariot with a heavy heart, Swami was waiting for the opportune moment to lovingly answers our prayers and He did it in the sweetest way. As the various chariots moved out of the Sai Kulwant Hall one by one our chariot also turned around and reached the exit gate. At that very moment a huge downpour ensued, literally out of the blue, and we were sent a message to return to the hall till the showers abated. And the loving Lord sat right before us, smiling in His gazing at our chariot. He is the Lord the Lord of the creation and He will go to any extent to fulfil the desires of His children.

In 2013, while I was in Bangalore for some work I had to be admitted in the middle of the night to a private hospital for an emergency surgery and infection from an abcess had started spreading into my blood. The situation was dire and the doctors had their doubts about me being able to make it. It was almost a 6 hour surgery. Though the surgeons were tense, they said, they were surprised that while under anaesthesia I was smiling throughout the surgery. Only I knew the reason. All throughout the surgery in that dream like state, Swami appeared and stood holding my hand right next to the operating table for all the six hours. How would worry bother me then?  The surgery went perfectly well due to Swami’s Grace and I recovered in just a few days.  

Swami hears every single prayer of ours, be it in thought, word or deed and always responds in a way that right manner deserving of our longing. It is we who must ensure that we have the complete faith and trust in Swami. 

Jai Sai Ram