I commenced parayana (spiritual adherence almost always involves an assigned reading of a spiritual literature/book from beginning to end on consecutive days without any break in reading followed by a spiritual offering to God) of sacred Gurucharithra on 17th July 1986 and completed on Gurupoornima day, on 21st July 1986. My sons Sai Niranjan and Manohar too completed Shri Satcharithra parayana on the same day. We three did parayana strictly observing ‘Upavasa’ (fasting) throughout the period, except eating little ‘phalahara’ (fruits) in the evening after pooja (worship). At first, we thought of going to Shirdi on 3rd August and later on, I decided to start on 4th on ‘Chaturdasi’ before new moon day which is considered as the most inauspicious especially for travel by many people. But, I was quite confident that by Baba’s grace all would be well, as our minds were centered on Baba and Baba alone.
We reached Guntakal junction by 2:30 P.M. A train bound for Bombay was ready on the platform. We immediately got into a compartment expecting that the train would start soon and thus hoping to reach Daund junction by 3:00 A.M next day (5th August). The compartment was fully packed and there was not enough space even to stand. At once we got down expecting to go by the next train scheduled at 3:30 P.M. We drank tea and were awaiting the departure of the halted train and the arrival of the Navajeevan Express. But Lo! the train at the station did not move at all though it was 4:00 P.M.
I enquired of the Railway porter who informed that Navajeevan was expected soon. We decided to travel by that train in the hope of securing comfortable seating at least. It was 4:30 P.M but the position remained same. We again stepped into a compartment of the train already parked on the platform that was bound for Bombay with the same discomfort of the crowd; we again got down expecting to board the next train. It was 4:50 P.M and there was no trace of Navajeevan express. The halted train did not move and our anxiety grew worse. With determination to travel by the waiting train, we once again stepped into the same compartment and sat down on the floor near the door as all available space had already been occupied. Immediately a man stepped in and took his seat by our side. He, on his own accord, informed that we had done better in concluding to travel by the same train as no other trains would come from Madras for Bombay due to derailment of a goods wagon between Madras and Guntakal. The train which we boarded, had arrived from Bombay about four hours earlier at Guntakal and the same was being sent back to Bombay instead of to Madras on account of the aforesaid accident ahead. He also emphasized that if we failed to travel by that train, we would have to wait for more than 24 hours at Guntakal itself for any other train bound for Bombay. Had not this stranger come suddenly and informed about the facts, we would have got down again for the third time as well. Does this not remind us the scene wherein Shri Hemadipant was informed by a Muslim gentleman at Dadar to go to Boribander to catch another train for Shirdi as Manmad Express would not stop at Dadar? Had this miracle not taken place then, Shri Hemadipant would not have reached Shirdi in time as programmed, and many a suspicion would have arisen in his mind about Sai Baba’s greatness, as it were. Sai leelas are known to Him alone and He would guide His devotees on the right path readily at all costs. With least difficulty, we reached Shirdi on time by 7:00 P.M. on 5th, and I along with the boys Manohar and Dinakar, attended evening arati too.
Reception Officer at Shirdi was very kind enough to allot us a room in Bhakthinivas on my request, and permitted us to stay till the 8th (Friday). On the 7th, at Dwarakamai, a young man was introduced by Shri Shivanesan Swamy. He told us about his pilgrimage to holy places. He asked me to deliver Baba’s Udi which he would give me on 8th morning, to a particular gentleman in Nandyal, who in turn would deliver the same to a teacher there. I accepted his request. He again, on his own accord, stated that the gentleman at Nandyal to whom Udi had to be delivered in the first instance, was a man of more worldly attachments than of Sai devotion, though he styled himself as an ardent Sai devotee. He left me for his prayers. I immediately thought that this young devotee should not hand over Udi for delivery at Nandyal, and thus I should avoid contacting him. In my opinion, the so-called Sai devotee was ill-famed. Again, on the same evening the young devotee met me in sacred Samadhi Mandir and informed me that he would be ready by 5:00 A.M on the 8th in Dwarakamai when he would hand over Udi along with a garland. At once I prayed to Baba that the young devotee should not hand over Udi and garland on the morning of 8th for delivery to the gentleman at Nandyal.
At about 4:15 A.M. on 8th, I went to Dwarakamayi to offer prayers and obtain Baba’s permission to leave Shirdi. But the doors were not open. I sat on the steps awaiting the arrival of the priest. The young devotee was also present. He came to me and talked about some matter and never touched the subject of giving Udi and garland to me, of which he had been repeatedly telling me the previous day. Later the doors were opened and I placed my head at the Lotus feet of Sri Sai prayed to grant me permission to leave Shirdi for home by 6:00 A.M. bus. A rose flower fell on my head in token of Baba’s permission to go home. My joy knew no bounds, and I was filled with mental bliss as a result of this. We came to bus stand at Shirdi and got into a bus at 5:45 A.M. Baba is our Antaryami and He would make things happen as per the wishes of his trusted devotees. I assured my son Sai Niranjan that we would definitely catch the connecting train at Daund by 1:30 P.M. When we reached Daund, it was announced that the train which was supposed to depart at 1:30 p.m. had been cancelled and any other train from Bombay towards Madras was not expected due to the boulders having fallen on the railway track near Pune. I was disappointed, but my intuition was telling me that the train would definitely come.
At 3:30 P.M. it was again announced that the train that was supposed to arrive at 1:30 P.M. was arriving at Daund by 3:45 P.M. and thus, we were relieved of acute anxiety. If no train from Bombay came on that day as earlier announced, I would not have been in a position to reach Nandyal on the 9th for fulfilling my promise to my friends in my village to go meet a lawyer in the morning of the 10th in connection with a case involving an amount of nearly 4 lakhs. My prayers to Baba to have the train come to Daund at least by evening were fruitful. We boarded the train and secured comfortable seats too, quite contrary to our anticipation and information. We reached home safely by 3:00 p.m. on the 9th But for Sri Sai’s grace, I would not have returned home on the 9th evening and thus my promise to my friends to meet the lawyer on the 10th morning could not have been kept up. Their trust in me to accompany them to meet the lawyer was thus accomplished.
Oh! Sai brothers and Sai sisters, Sri Sai is here with us even now, to guide us, satisfy us, and to make things happen for us as per our wishes, provided we completely surrender to him with devotion, Nishta, and Saburi. Sri Sai is our Antaryami and thoughts of us would materialize as Baba hears us being within us.
By
D.L. Kanta Rao
Source Shri Saileela Magazine
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