I first met Bhagawan Baba in the summer of 1967 at Horsley hills, a small hill station near Puttaparthi, where I was working in a small clinic. During Bhajans during His visit, I remember Swamy Himself sang the bhajan ‘Subramanyam Subramanyam Shanmukanatha Subramanyam’ and we all followed. My mother used to attend the Bhajans daily and Swamy blessed her profusely. She merged with Swamy at the ripe old age of 97. She had lived without any health problems and without the need to take medicines or use a stick to walk. The clinic at Horsley Hills closed and very soon I got an MD seat at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. 

After my MD I went to Kuwait as I had been selected by the Govt. of Kuwait as a permanent staff. Later I completed my final fellowship and returned to Kuwait. While I was working in Kuwait Iraq invaded Kuwait and the Gulf war broke out. There was a mad rush by the expatriates to leave the country. All flights were booked, but I somehow happened to get the last ticket on the last flight that was leaving for India. I profusely thanked Swami for that.  But Swami’s Leela was to play out further. As I made my way to the flight on the tarmac, a burly Iraqi soldier held my hand tightly. He took my passport and threw on the tarmac and was in no mood to allow me to leave. My jaw dropped as I saw the last of the passengers board the flight while the vice like grip of the Iraqi soldier on my hand stayed. I fervently prayed to Swami. Suddenly there was commotion and I understood that the Iraqis had got information that the US army had started attacking the Iraqi positions in the city. Hearing the news the soldier let my hand go and rushed inside the airport, while I picked the passport and rushed to the flight. There was only one seat available on the flight and I took that seat. Later I came to know that the news about the US attack at that time was a false alarm. It was Swami who created the confusion so that I could leave Kuwait safely. In response to an earnest prayer Swami can go to any lengths to save His children, like He had saved Gajendra from the jaws of a crocodile. In my case it was a literal representation of a modern day Gajendra Moksha.   

 I returned to India and went to Prasanthi Nilayam to have Swami’s Darshan. It is vain to express our gratitude to Swami in words. We just bow to Him in silence.  

After working for some years in India I got an appointment in Saudi Arabia, without actually applying for it!

I had to return to India some time later as my son, who was in third year of Medicine, went into deep depression and became extremely irritable. All the psychiatrists we visited suggested deep sedation as the only solution. I knew only our Dearest Swami could help us. So I left my job and came to Prasanthi Nilayam. I came to know that there was a vacancy for the post of Consultant at the Radiology department at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram. I applied and Swami gave me the job. Few days later Swami gave me and my wife a personal interview. We told Swami about our son’s health to which He graciously replied, patting me on my back - “When I am here, why do you fear?”

Then onwards the whole family would come for Darshan of Swami every day. Soon we realized that all the symptoms of depression that were plaguing my son started disappearing. And after a while, he became perfectly healthy. Swami cured my son by His Darshan. Swami says do not try to understand me, you cannot, just enjoy My Grace. Yes. But suffice for us to understand that Swami is God.   

During Darshans I had so many wonderful experiences.  As soon as He entered Kulwant hall from the West gate each morning, I used to see an Aura around His head which was brighter than the Sun! The first few days I saw it only around his head. Later, I started seeing it from Bhagawan’s head to toe as He was walking. I felt I was in heaven. I started going very early in the morning each day to mandir to wait for Bhagawan’s Darshan with that Aura. One day I saw Bhagawan walking and the Aura took the shape of Lord Shiva. Bhagawan was smiling as always. He came to me, stopped for a moment, blessed me with padanamaskaram and the moved on.  I have no words to describe the happiness I felt at that moment. Another day I saw Bhagawan just entering Kulwant hall at Darshan time in the morning with a huge Aura in the form of Shridi Baba and the Aura was fading as he came towards us. I did not like the shape to disappear as He came near me. Bhagawan Baba came to me after going around and stood before me. I prayed to His Lotus Feet and He went ahead.  I did not have anything on my mind except Bhagawan Baba. Before coming to Swami’s fold I was a heavy smoker, an alcoholic, and a non-vegetarian, Swami with His Love, turned my life around. Later I started reading a lot of books of Bhagawan Baba - over 100 - including Satyam Shivam Sundaram. I began to learn more about the creator of our Universe day by day. The Love of Bhagawan Baba is so much that I have no words to mention. He showered so much of his grace on me that I totally forgot all my physical, mental and worldly troubles. As days passed by, I could not withstand physical separation from Him for even a single day.  

After my retirement I went to Mumbai on a personal work, there I was diagnosed with a heart problem. I flew down to Puttaparthi and my friend and colleague Dr. Selvarajah, of Radiology Department, SSSIHMS received me at the airport and before taking to the cardiac department of SSSIHMS, decided that we both should first have Swami’s Darshan. Bhagawan came to me, but I did not Him tell anything about what had happened in Mumbai. I merely prayed for His blessings. He put his right hand on my head and blessed me saying, ‘Happy, healthy, long life’. That was it. Later various tests were performed at the Cardiology department of Swami’s hospital in Puttaparthi, but no heart disease was found! A few days later after curing my heart, Bhagawan asked me to go to Saudi Arabia for a job. I prayed to Swami fervently, I wanted Him to keep me at His lotus feet until my last breath. He said “Manchidi” meaning ‘Ok’. Later, I was appointed as an honorary senior consultant and I am continuing to work until now in the Radiology department.

A few years later, my right ankle Achilles tendon had a total cut. The Orthopaedics surgeon Dr. Sundaresh decided to do a surgery for it if Swami permitted. When I asked Swami, He said, ‘No operation!’ Within seven days of my applying vibuthi on my ankle, it became perfectly normal. I had to endure only a few days of walking with a limp, eventually the limp also went away.  

My son’s marriage was blessed by Bhagawan to take place in the Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyanamantapam. My daughter-in-law, after two months of menorrhea, was diagnosed with no fetus in the uterus even though the urine test was positive for pregnancy. I sat in the Darshan line to convey my worry to Swami.  Swami came near me and in a loud voice, said ‘Do not worry!’. By Bhagawan’s blessings, in seven days’ time, the pregnancy became normal and in nine months’ time, one Thursday, our daughter-in-law delivered a boy. I requested Swamy to name the boy. He told me that all names are good. We named him Sai Rama after our Lord who has guided and protected us at every step. 

To conclude I wish to say, we all who are connected to Swami in anyway are the most fortunate and blessed people in the world. Let us keep this opportunity close to our heart and re-dedicate ourselves to Swami's work. 

May Bhagawan Baba shower His Grace on all of us.  

Jai Sai Ram