By the time i was three years old, Swamiji had already attained samadhi. There was little chance for me to know him. Yet i always felt i knew him. I somehow felt very connected to him and infact mistook him for my grandfather, not knowing as a child that i could have only two grandfathers. So much of my interaction with Swamiji was through prayers.
I am sharing this today more out of the need to communicate his greatness to one and all. While there are several sannyasis who are well known, Swamiji was like the rare flower which blooms once in 12 years and to be seen by a few. He shunned publicity, behaving like an ordinary man yet touched the lives of many through his unseen actions.
When i was 8 or10 years old, along with my parents, paternal and maternal grandparents visited the Sai Spiritual Centre in Bangalore. We went to Swamiji's room, 'Hamsaniketan'. This room is special as it engulfs visitors with calm and peace. The room houses many of the artifacts used by Swamiji during his lifetime. This includes the clock which jumped by itself to remind a devotee of the time to serve neivedhyam to Baba in Swamiji's absence.
When we went inside i noticed a beautiful red rose on Swamiji's life size picture. I used to be crazy about roses, especially Bangalore roses. I badly wanted the rose as children do and asked my maternal grandfather to give it to me. My maternal grandfather Shri.R.Seshadri however told me that it was not possible. I was a bit dissappointed but quickly sent a prayer to Swamiji himself requesting him for the rose. I forgot all about it later and we returned home following the darshan.
Me and my cousin began playing in the backyard and were actually building a miniature temple for Sai with bricks we had found. Just as we were placing the Sai idol inside i heard my grandfather call out my name. I went inside to find him holding the very same rose in his hand. He explained to me that he found the flower while untying his dhoti. It had fallen from his dhoti out of the blue. He was very surprised. I was happy beyond words. Swamiji had granted my prayer though small and insignificant for adults but important for a child. If you thought i got the rose in one piece, not at all. It was quickly seperated by the petals and everyone took it as prasad. Swamiji let me know that he had heard me.
I am sharing this today more out of the need to communicate his greatness to one and all. While there are several sannyasis who are well known, Swamiji was like the rare flower which blooms once in 12 years and to be seen by a few. He shunned publicity, behaving like an ordinary man yet touched the lives of many through his unseen actions.
When i was 8 or10 years old, along with my parents, paternal and maternal grandparents visited the Sai Spiritual Centre in Bangalore. We went to Swamiji's room, 'Hamsaniketan'. This room is special as it engulfs visitors with calm and peace. The room houses many of the artifacts used by Swamiji during his lifetime. This includes the clock which jumped by itself to remind a devotee of the time to serve neivedhyam to Baba in Swamiji's absence.
When we went inside i noticed a beautiful red rose on Swamiji's life size picture. I used to be crazy about roses, especially Bangalore roses. I badly wanted the rose as children do and asked my maternal grandfather to give it to me. My maternal grandfather Shri.R.Seshadri however told me that it was not possible. I was a bit dissappointed but quickly sent a prayer to Swamiji himself requesting him for the rose. I forgot all about it later and we returned home following the darshan.
Me and my cousin began playing in the backyard and were actually building a miniature temple for Sai with bricks we had found. Just as we were placing the Sai idol inside i heard my grandfather call out my name. I went inside to find him holding the very same rose in his hand. He explained to me that he found the flower while untying his dhoti. It had fallen from his dhoti out of the blue. He was very surprised. I was happy beyond words. Swamiji had granted my prayer though small and insignificant for adults but important for a child. If you thought i got the rose in one piece, not at all. It was quickly seperated by the petals and everyone took it as prasad. Swamiji let me know that he had heard me.
