MIND BOGGLING MIRACLES OF SATHYA SAI

SHIRDI SAI AND SATHYA SAI CONNECTION

That Baba knows our thoughts – indeed our past as well as future, has been repeatedly
attested to by a large number of devotees. Just one such example from this writer’s own
experience is recounted here.

For many years, I developed a deep yearning to visit Shirdi. I made several attempts to pay
my respects at Shirdi Sai shrine at Shirdi itself but to no avail. The closest I could come to
the point of realizing this dream was in 1983, when I planned on my home-leave trip from
New York to India to visit Shirdi after our landing in Bombay. Unfortunately, the whole
family developed a stomach virus after our first meal in India at a Santa Cruz airport five-star
hotel – precluding any extensive surface travel all the way to Shirdi. It was once again a
great disappointment. I was thinking of this escapade while intensely gazing at Shirdi Sai’s
shining silver idol and his giant size picture in the background of the Prashaanthi Mandhir
Bhajan hall, and also wondering about the connection of Shirdi Baba with Parthi Baba, about
which I found numerous references in the Sai Literature. I closed my eyes, with Shirdi Baba
in my mind, when to my utter amazement Parthi Baba stood right in front of me while I
continued in my reverie. Svaami waited till I fully opened my eyes, when with a burst of
bliss I clasped His soft lotus feet and hung on to them like a child. Svaami beckoned me
inside the interview room and materialized a rather large silver ring with an inlaid
multicoloured enamel picture of Shirdi Sai – saying that I am He. I was stunned and
electrified and I blurted out that at long last my long-cherished desire was fulfilled now! The
shining large Shirdi ring on my finger used to attract the attention of my diplomatic
acquaintances during my frequent elevator rides in the forty-story UN headquarters building
in New York, leading to many inquisitive queries on the strange-looking personality on the
ring-face. One thing led to another and before long I found myself presenting Sathya Sai
literature to the UN Secretary General in his office!

SRI SATHYA SAI STUDY CIRCLE AT THE UN

Sensing the growing interest in the story of the glory of Baba, we had founded, with Baba’s
blessings, a Study Circle at the United Nations headquarters, with regular Thursday
gatherings in delegates’ meeting rooms situated right underneath the UN General Assembly
Hall, and sometimes under the Security Council Chamber. Before long, Sai Bhajans began to
reverberate in the after-office hours in the United Nations! The annul celebrations of the
Study Circle attracted a large number of UN staff members and country delegates. I
remember the occasion when the president of the International Court of Justice came rushing
along with a couple of delegates seeking Sai Vibhuuthi (sacred ash). He proudly showed me
a picture of Baba in his wallet!

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 SHIRDI RING REPLACED BY SATHYA SAI RING

A few years after Baba gave me the Shirdi Baba ring, Svaami called me again for a brief
interview, and suddenly inquired of me whether I still wanted the old man or was now ready
for the younger man! I then replied that having lived with the old man till then, I would
welcome the change into company of the younger man! Svaami graciously took out the
somewhat worn-out big Shirdi ring which then disappeared right in front of my eyes and,
then and there, materialized a well-fitting similar, silver enamelled ring with a picture of
Svaami showing His Abhaya Hastham – a raised palm assuring protection. This creative
gesture and gift signified to me my spiritual (mental) journey from Shirdi to Parthi guided by
Bhagavaan Sathya Sai Himself. As a result, I found myself and family settling at Baba’s
Lotus Feet in Prashaanthi Nilayam – indeed the very abode of peace.

THREE SIDED OBLONG STONE

This leads me to remember another miraculous manifestation of a triple-sided grey stone

Baba materialized for me ten years earlier. Not knowing what to do with it, I kept it as a
curio in my UN office desk drawer for two years. On my subsequent home-leave trip, in an
interview with Baba, I held up the three sided stone and asked Baba about its meaning and
significance. Baba then endearingly chided me for keeping it aside in a drawer and asked me
seriously whether I was interested in knowing the meaning (Artha) of its shape or in reaping
its beneficial effects (Phala). I replied categorically that my interest was in the benefit it
would yield me!

Baba then explained that the triple-headed stone was given as a protective talisman in my
numerous global air travels, and therefore I should wear it on my chest. A thought crossed
my mind as to how I could wear an odd-shaped piece of stone on my chest. Baba sensed my
inner doubt, took the stone from my own hand, held it up and blew, and lo and behold there
appeared a twine-sized hole running through the point of the stone. Only a laser could drive a
hole of that size through the sharp points on the opposite ends of the oblong stone. Svaami
then instructed me to insert a string or a thin wire and wear it like a chain around my neck
with the stone resting on my lower chest.

MATERIALIZATION OF GANESHA’S IDOL

Whatever article Svaami materializes has a powerful purpose behind it. His materializations
are not for exhibition (Pradharshana) but they are purposive evidence (Nidharshana) of their
beneficial effects on the receiver. They are really His natural spontaneous manifestations of
His overflowing LOVE. Around the early 1970s, Baba materialized for me a silver idol of
Ganesha, saying that this would help me overcome obstacles in my spiritual and professional
efforts. That was the time of our founding a Ganesha temple in New York, practically the
first traditional Vedhik style temple in the Western Hemisphere. A stone frieze of the Sarva

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Dharma Symbol of all religions adorns the entrance of the Ganesha temple. This symbol was
earlier resisted by some of the tradition-bound Hindhu devotees of the temple but after

Svaami appeared in the dreams of several trustees, the opposition melted away to the point
that the temple management welcomed the holding of Sai Bhajans in the main hall of the
temple facing the Sanctum Sanctorum itself! Today, the Sathya Sai Bhajan Mandali at the
Ganesha temple in New York – dating back over thirty years – is perhaps the oldest, the most
well-attended regularly organized Bhajan group in the western hemisphere. Hail to the Sai
devotees in the New York Ganesha temple!

VIBHUUTHI STORM IN CONNECTICOT

That the mind-boggling miracles of Sathya Sai are not confined only to India but spread
across the world has been attested to by many overseas devotees. Suffice it here to cite just
one striking example repeatedly witnessed by this writer – a virtual Vibhuuthi storm for a
continuous period of nearly two weeks in the house of a Connecticut Sathya Sai devotee. I
was overwhelmed by the unending flow of Vibhuuthi in practically all rooms of that
devotee’s house and by the Amrith (nectarine fluid) on the Sathya Sai pictures taken and kept
by this writer in that house. Inevitably such a miracle draws a large number of curiosity
seekers disturbing the Saadhana of the devotees and Svaami therefore advises against any
undue publicity to such miracles.

REVELATION OF SATHYA SAI GAAYATHREE

Some of my most unforgettable experiences of Baba’s miracles relate to my father, the late
Shree Ghandikota Subrahmanya Shasthry, a great doyen of Vedhik learning and wisdom. A
collection of the talks and articles on Baba by this great Vedhik scholar was published in
Thelugu as SRI SATHYA SAI AVATHAARA VAIBHAVAM – the Glory of Sri Sathya Sai
Incarnation. My father had received in his long life, many honours, but none of these
compared with the joy and bliss conferred by Baba on this venerable Vedhik scholar who was
chosen by Baba as one of the founding members of the Prashaanthi Vidhvan Mahaa Sabha,
and who was often invited by Baba to preside over the Dashara Yagna Ceremonies and to
deliver Vedhik discourses in Baba’s august presence. This reverted Vedhik Pandith was
inspired to reveal, in the presence of Baba on the Christmas eve of 1977 in Brindhaavan,
Bangalore – the vision of Shree Sathya Sai Gaayathree and electrified the gathering by his
subsequent exposition of its meaning and significance. At the insistence of the late Kasturiji,
I transcribed this event into an article in Sanaathana Saarathi of April 1979. The Sathya Sai
Gaayathree conforms to the Vedhik mould and characteristics similar to the other
Gaayathree Manthras and reads as follows:

Om Sayeeshvaraaya Vidhmahe
Sathya Dhevaaya Dheemahi
Thannassarvah Prachodhayaath

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It means: We realize that Sai is the Supreme Lord. We meditate on this God of Truth. Let
that All-in-All entity inspire and enlighten us.

Baba called this Vedhik scholar a Maha Rishi – a seer and revealer of Vedhik manthra – and
showered on him compassion and grace in abundance.

RESCUING A VEDHIK SCHOLAR FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH

When my revered aged father was completely bed-ridden with severe complications after a
compound fracture of the hip, one morning he even passed into a long coma and the doctors
warned us of the impending doom. When we gave up all hope, a telegraphic message
reached us in our home town that all would be well soon and that I should bring my father to
Puttaparthi for Baba’s sixtieth birthday celebrations. My father woke up shortly thereafter
with a smile on his lips and narrated, to the astonishment of the doctor, that all through that
period Baba was sitting chose to the bed, conversing with him, and even invited him for
Baba’s 60th birthday celebrations. When I inquired of my father whether it could have been a
dream or hallucination, he emphatically declared the divine presence of Baba at his bedside
and wondered why we did not notice it! The learned Vedhik scholar also asserted that when
Baba was speaking to him, Vedhik passages flashed across his mind and that Baba was indeed
the Vedha Purusha (embodiment of Vedhas) Himself, exuding the fragrance of Vibhuuthi all
around.

With all these happenings, there was no doubt in my mind that the devoted Vedhik scholar
was rescued by Baba from the very jaws of death. The Vedhik scholar lived for a year and a
half in Prashaanthi Nilayam where he received Baba’s Dharshan, Sparshan and
Sambhaashan, i.e. seeing, touching and conversing with divinity practically everyday.

BABA IS SHIVA SHAKTHI SVARUUPA

A few years earlier Baba lovingly performed the 90th birthday ceremony of my venerable
father, when He materialized a most beautiful 42 diamond-studded automatic gold watch
with a gold wrist band. He also materialized a picture of His Shiva Shakthi form, reiterating
His Avathaarik source as SATHYAM (Truth), SHIVAM (Goodness) and SUNDARAM (Divine
beauty).

During my father’s stay at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavaan towards the end of his life, Baba used
to materialize Vibhuuthi (sacred ash) frequently and would Himself put it in the mouth of this
renowned Vedhik scholar and devotee. Once Svaami manifested for my father a Shiva Linga
of Neelakanteshvara – the blue throated form of Shiva, and instructed that he daily drink the
water poured on it for his better health. Another time Baba pulled from the air a small silver
medallion of Shiva on one side and the Shiva Panchaakshari Manthra (five syllable holy
formula of Shiva) on the other side. He inserted, with great dexterity, this medallion onto the
sacred thread worn by my father. Svaami then stated that Shiva being my father’s favourite

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deity, the silver medallion still wet with sandal paste was brought by celestial Sai messengers
as Prashaanthi immediately after Shiva Puuja in Kailasha (abode of Shiva)! Hail to the glory
of Shiva Shakthi!

THE GHANDIKOTA SECRET REVEALED

A day prior to the passing away of my revered father, Svaami spoke to me in the verandah of
the Prashaanthi Mandhir and somewhat cryptically told me that my father would go home the
next day, being the first day of the Dassera festival, and that Svaami would come to our
apartment. Since my father’s condition was improving, I interpreted Svaami’s remarks to
imply that my father would return home from the hospital the next day. But something
prompted me to wake up at 5 AM of that fateful day, and I sleep-walked my way from the
Aashram apartment to the hospital nearby. My father’s eyes lit up as I lifted him up in my
arms when, saying SAI RAM, he passed away in serenity and peace. That same evening
after the cremation was over, Baba graciously visited our apartment in Prashaanthi Nilayam
and consoled us, explained the mystery of birth and death and declared that my father’s life
was fulfilled in Vedhik and Vedhaanthik terms and that he attained final liberation as he was
in Brahma Jnaani – steeped in Braahmik consciousness. On the tenth day of my father’s
passing away, Svaami once again visited our apartment and later in the Puurnachandhra
auditorium, Svaami eulogized Subrahmanya Shaasthriji for his unsurpassed Vedhik wisdom
and his Vedhaanthik living, called him an immortal soul (amara), and declared that this
Vedhik scholar lived in the strong conviction of the Truth that Shree Sathya Sai is the
embodiment of all divinities. When I heard the last statement from Svaami’s lips I recalled
exactly the same words in Sanskrith imparted and thrice repeated to me in secret confidence a
month earlier by my father. The secret Manthra was revealed by Baba Himself to devotees
in Puurnachandhra auditorium.

SEE GOD IN RITUALS AND NOT RITUALS IN GOD

Just a few minutes after my father passed away in my very arms, I received a telephonic
message of condolence from Baba, and that if we wished the arrangements could be made for
the body to be taken to our home town for cremation. On my stating that our sole refuge as
well as that of my just departed father was Baba’s lotus feet only, Baba promptly made
arrangements in the minutest detail for the large funeral procession led by a number of
Vedhik chanting priests in front of Bhajan singing devotees at the back and for the cremation
of the body on the river bed of the nearby dried Chitravathi river. Amazingly by the day of
the bone-interring ceremony, unexpectedly the river swelled to such an extent as to wash
away the bones and ashes – a sign of ritual fulfillment and a miracle in itself!

As promised, Baba visited our apartment the next day to console us personally. He directed
me to perform post-funeral ceremonies for a period of ten days in strict Vedhik style. When I
expressed my ignorance and inability to perform them in the strict scriptural manner and
wondered at the necessity of performing elaborate rituals, Baba stated that it was my bounden
duty to perform them in memory of my learned father who, for a long period of his life,

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strictly followed Vedhik Karma Kaanda – ritual actions. Svaami arranged for a priest who
was not only an expert in funeral rites but also learned in their significance. Svaami
instructed me to first understand the importance of each of the numerous ritual actions, before
I performed the actual ritual on the ground. The daily rituals used to begin at 8 O’clock in the
morning and ended in the late afternoon with a repeated number of baths and fire sacrifices.
Svaami advised one to read the Garuda Puraana during this period. When Baba visited
us again on the tenth day, he explained why He insisted on my performing these esoteric
rituals strictly. Having been abroad all these years, I was like a cooking vessel kept for too
long in the attic gathering grime and dust. The vessel had to be thoroughly cleansed and
rubbed free of dirt. Baba made it clear that my departed father, being a Brahmajnaani
steeped in Braahmik consciousness did not require these funeral ceremonies. But it was I that
needed purification and understanding through the performance of rigorous disciplines or
penance!

Initiated, I thought, by Baba Himself into Vedhik ritualism, I took to it like a duck to water,
with the zeal of a new convert! Baba sensed this and promptly applied the brakes. He
cautioned me about priestly ritualism and when I remonstrated that it was Svaami who got
me into it, He told me that the substance of spirituality should not be sacrificed for the shell
of ritualism. He opened my eyes when He stressed that loving remembrance and expression
of heartfelt gratitude to our forefathers is more important than mechanical ritual action and
that Ashru Tharpanam (offering of tears of gratitude) is more important than Thila
Tharpanam (offering of sesame seeds with water).

SVAAMI AS A VEDHAANTHIK GURU PAR EXCELLENCE

Svaami is primarily a Divine Aadhyaathmik Guru; He imparts profound spiritual lessons to

the devotees on an individual, group and collective basis. His teachings are the quintessence
of Adhvaithik non-dualistic Supreme Reality. A few experiences of this writer in this regard
are given below.

Once this writer, just on the eve of his departure from Puttaparthi in a hurry to catch a plane
that very morning in Bangalore, was called by Svaami to His modest living-cum resting room
in the upstairs of Prashaanthi Mandhir. Without being told that I was studying
THAITTHIREEYA UPANISHATH during my week end spare time in Delhi (where I was then
a field representative of a UN agency) Baba, in His infinite Grace expounded for nearly one
full hour of essence of this famous Upanishath. When I began to write it all down, Baba
remarked that there was no need to take notes; He assured me that whenever the need arose, I
would automatically recall His teachings!

While Baba’s teaching was proceeding, Kasturiji came up to request for Svaami’s article for
the monthly Sanaathana Saarathi, the issue of which was just then going to the printer.
Svaami, with a wave of His hand, produced the article and gave it to Kasturiji in my direct
presence! When Svaami concluded His Upanishadhik teaching, He materialized a king-sized
hot laddu (a type of Indian sweet) as His Prasaadham to be distributed to members of my
family. Furthermore, Svaami assured me that I would definitely catch the plan as it was
flying late that day. I reached Bangalore airport with all anxiety but to my pleasant
astonishment I was the last passenger on the long delayed flight!

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I recall another individual teaching session with Baba also in the Prashaanthi Mandhir
upstairs room. Baba explained to me for almost an hour on five most significant
Brahamasuuthras – analytical aphorisms on the supreme Reality. As the saying goes,
Brahma Vidhyaa Vidhyaanaam – the Braahmik knowledge is the acme of all learning. The
teaching by Svaami was marked as usual by profundity and simplicity, using parables, and
filled with good-hearted humor on the other side.

Apart from these exclusive individual teaching sessions, I had the greatest good fortune of
listening in the interview room to Baba’s teachings on the Bhagavath Geetha. Thus I was
initiated by Baba Himself into the Vedhaanthik lore of the holy scriptural texts called
Prasthaana Thrayee, viz. Bhagavath Geetha, Brahma Suuthras and Upanishaths! Hail to
Bhagavaan Sathya Sai, the JÑAANA BODHAAKA GURU, the preceptor of Supreme
knowledge.

When He performed the Upanayanam of my eldest son in the early 1960s and also of my
youngest son in the early 1980s, He not only materialized turmeric-anointed
Yagnopaveetham (holy threads) but also patiently taught the Vatus (the young boys) the
meaning and significance of Gaayathri Manthra recitation, the Sandhyavandana (daily
prayers) ritual, and the importance of celibate living. Salutations to the World Teacher Sri
Sathya Sai Baba, SAYINAM VANDHE JAGADHGURUM.
In one occasion, just after having witnessed one more extraordinary miracle, the expression
came to my lips that Swami’s Will is Siddhi Sankalpa, will of Power. Swami readily rectified
my words, declaring that it was rather Sankalpa Siddha, power of Will.
Sankalpa refers to the powers of Siddha Purusha with acquired – and therefore depletable
Yogik powers, whereas Sankalpa Siddha signifies the state mere WILLING IS
FULFILLING! Svaami’s undepletable miraculous powers are the most natural and
spontaneous manifestations of His love and grace to the devotees.

SEE AND ENJOY SVAAMI’S MIRACLES

That it is not possible to fully understand Svaami is aptly expressed by Baba Himself when
he stated:

In order to understand Me, you will have to stand under me for so long that you legs are
likely to collapse! Then, what about experiencing Him? To this Svaami replied that
experience is something like experimentation, with yesterday’s experience being different
from today’s and one’s experience being very different from other’s. Experimentation is
mentation – a mental act and the Lord cannot be reached, understood or experienced by the
mind, APRAAPYA MANASA SAH as the THAITTHIREEYA UPANISHATH states. If one
cannot fully understand or experience, what then, Svaami? He says, Enjoy – be in joy and
end (your mind) in joy! Just as in the Upanishathik saying AANANDHO BRAHMANO
VIDHVAAN – The knower lives in Braahmik Bliss.

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