Shri Dubagunta Sankaraiah
Shri Dubagunta Sankaraiah, a Sai devotee who has been associated with spreading the name of Sai throughout the length and breadth of India, including remote places of Andhra Pradesh by Nama Japa ‘Aum Sai Sri Sai Jaya Sai’ has got his own innumerable experiences with Baba to narrate. Most of these Leelas have been written by Shri Sankaraiah himself and published in many magazines including Shri Saileela magazine.
Baba’s presence through a medium is something of an enigma but when one comes across Baba Himself one has skepticism about the happening. A blissful experience which one does not become conscious of until one comes out of the Maya (facade) God has created. Shri Sainath could anticipate devotee’s requests, their aims, and virtues. His love is unique and apt for the one who seeks aid.
Shri Sankariah recalls with a lot of glee, his most overwhelming incident of life. This incident happened in August 1985 when he went to Secundrabad railway office accompanied by Shri MLN Prasad of Vijayawada to enquire the position of representation that was submitted in the context of erecting Baba’s photo at Vijayawada railway station. Sri Prasad was actively associated with the then proposed Akhanda Sai Nama Saptha Sapthaha (nonstop chanting of Sai’s Name for 49 days) in Sai Mandir, near Stella College, Vijayawada.
In due course of the conversation, Shri Prasad discussed of a few Sai devotees who were spreading rumours about the organisers (Shri Sankaraiah being one of them). A genuine person is deeply hurt when even an inkling of such thing takes place. Since Shri Sankaraiah’s aim was to spread the name of Sai and invoke devotion in all, he was taken aback by such an accusation. Shri Prasad also advised Sankaraiahji not to mingle with such crowd as they were not in favour of the Naam jap (reciting name of God) program. This attitude also created doubts on the motive of this programme.
On hearing this, Shri Sankaraiah was very disturbed and felt like committing suicide under the moving train. With a devastated mind, he was roaming near Alpha hotel, Secundrabad, where he waited for his company bus (Balanagar IDPL) to arrive at his office. His thoughts were still wandering around the conversation with Prasad, thinking how people could spread false rumours to such an extent and how Baba had allowed such things to take place. Baba is aware of everything and is waiting for His devotee’s call. Baba’s help comes to those who merely seeks His help sincerely.
Shri Sankaraiah was in such frame of mind that he did not think about anything but the insult he felt out of those remarks. Little does one realize that those who try to hurt us sometimes end up by doing us a favour. The favour here is precious and cannot be depicted. When in such state of mind, a tall fakir who was draped in a striped lungi (a type of Sarong, a garment worn around waist in regions where the heat and humidity creates an unpleasant climate for trousers.) as lower garment and a dirty towel as an upper garment, with joli (bag) and tumbler approached him out of nowhere. On seeing the fakir, Sankaraiah picked a four anna coin from his pocket and dropped in his tumbler. An interesting conversation then began.
Fakir: Oh! Char anna mujhe kyun? (What for is this 25 paisa for?)
Sankaraiah: Please take it. Where have you come from?
Fakir: Mere mandir se (from my temple)
Shanakaraiah: Where is your Mandir?
Fakir: Sab Jagah (everywhere!!)
S: Baba’s function is about to take place but few people are doing gadbad. (Creating mischief)
F: No gadbad, Sab hojayega! (Everything will be done)
S: Have you ever visited Shirdi?
F: Shirdi jaaneko kya soch na? Manmad se jaao, Kopargaon se nao mile hain (is there a need to think in order to visit Shirdi? Go via Manmad, else it is 9 miles away from Kopargaon)
S: I know very well as I visited several times, I am asking about you.
F: (Uninterested to drag the conversation) Mere Mandir ko jaane ka time hogaya.
Sankaraiah then removed a card from his pocket that had the Baba’s picture on one side and program details (in Telugu) on the other side. Without even a glance, the fakir said he didn’t understand Telugu and departed.
Shri Sivanesan Swamiji
On boarding the bus, Sankaraiah started recollecting the strange happenings and felt that Fakir he met could be Sai Baba. He shared this incident with Sri Prasad who was delighted about it. The same evening, Shri Priyanath Guptaji who was closely associated with Sivanesan Swamiji and Dattaghad, Kallur came to visit Sankaraiah. He also confirmed it was none other than Sai Baba and interpreted Manmad as ‘Mann’ (Mind) and ‘Mar” (kill), ie. To visit Shirdi one has to kill one’s mind out of impure devotion (Kopar in ‘Kopagaon means Pure coconut) and 9 miles meant 9 types of devotion. Guptaji also said despite the Fakir indicating at every instant of the conversation, that he was not an ordinary beggar; Sankaraiahji couldn’t make out it was Baba.
Sankaraiah visited Shirdi next day as planned before this incident. As usual, he spent most of his time with Shri Sivaneshan Swamiji. After Noon Arati, Swamiji was picking half burnt incense sticks near the tiger statue, Dwakaramai while collecting Swamiji declared “Manmad means, kill your mind”. Dumbfound to hear this abrupt comment from Swamiji who was absolutely not informed of the previous day’s incident, Sankaraiah embraced Swamiji as tears sprang to his eyes. Crying aloud Sankaraiah asked Swamiji, “Was it Sai Baba whom I met at railway station??!!!!”
Sankariah was disillusioned for not being able to identify Baba and the chance to prostrate at His feet. Swamiji said, “Even greatest of the spiritual personalities couldn’t recognize God when He appeared before them in human form, you need not feel bad as you are nothing compared to them”. As predicted by the Fakir, the program went on to be a huge success and people who visited accoladed it as “Na bhuto, Na bhavishyati” In Shri. Sankaraiah’s words “this is one of the precious moments of my life. I cherish and feel content as I could give four annas to Baba Himself”.
Every Leela teaches us what Baba tried to enlighten us during His time and now. Even after Baba’s Samadhi, as Baba assured He will come to rescue His children whenever required, even if they are thousands of miles away, he did ensure to deliver on his assurance. Blessed is this devotee of Baba whose heartburn became a hearty blessing of Baba.
By: Sandhya Udtha
“You may go anywhere in this world, and there I go with you. My adobe is your heart; I dwell within you. Am the one who abide in your heart, it is me, you should always worship. Even in the hearts of all living creatures, it is I alone, who dwell in all”.
Sai Baba
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