Swami- Our Wonderful Lord

By Aswath Narayan

(Aswath is one of the most celebrated singers in Swami’s court. After his bachelors and Masters degree in Bio Sciences, he continues to pursue his doctorate at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He has won Swami’s attention and appreciation on numerous occasions with his mellifluous renditions of Bhajans and other devotional songs. Aswath’s humility alone outshines his talent. This nightingale of Parthi  loves being with children and is a passionate ‘foodie’ too.)

It’s a wonderful opportunity to express my feelings and reflections on our beloved Swami. We cannot comprehend the glory and divine leelas of our Swami as Swami Himself has told that one cannot guage my glory. I am reminded of one song which is dear to Swami, Enta maatramuna… sung by MS Subbulakshmi amma. The meaning of the song is as you think of whatever God is, so will He appear. Swami is a pure reflection, one has to experience.

Being a part of bhajan group, we were very fortunate to have the blessed opportunity to sing bhajans in His divine presence every day. This is one such opportunity that every artiste craves for.  Not only this, even gods pine for this wonderful opportunity. I am very grateful to Swami for having blessed me with wonderful moments of darshan, sparshan and sambhashan. In this newsletter, I recollect such wonderful moments of proximity and the valuable teachings that we learn from Swamis life.

Gaanalolaa

Swami is gaanalolaa. I would like to share some nice incidents which substantiate this. Swami is very easily pleased by music. I remember at this juncture during Kodai 2007 trip, Malladi brothers got the very first opportunity to present the songs before Swami. Swami was so pleased and happy that He blessed them profusely. Later after the conclusion of aarthi, we had a private session with Swami and Swami was praising Malladi brothers. Swami said, “I am not hungry, I am fully satiated. They sing with Bhakti and Shraddha.” Swami expressed this same sentiment even in the recent Delhi-Shimla trip in 2010. We got an exclusive opportunity to sing for him songs in his residence in Shimla. After the songs, Swami remarked, “I am not hungry, I am fully satiated.” He is verily Gaanalolaa.

Caring Mother

One more aspect which we all can learn from Swami is His concern for others. Swami defines culture as concern for others. He is truly the embodiment demonstrating the definition of culture.  Swami was, is and always will be concerned about the welfare of devotees. It was one day during a session in Kodai 2007 that Swami was reading letters of devotees one after another. Swami remarked, “This is my duty, you ask Giri sir after darshan what I do.” Swami knows what is there in the letter, yet for the satisfaction of us, he takes and reads the letters.

I still remember a session which we had in Kodai 2006. It was the day after we arrived in Kodai. Swami was enquiring about our well being. Swami asked, “Did you get proper sleep? Did you get hot water? Did you get proper bedding and blanket? Did you have breakfast? I was worried about all of you as this place is a new place for most of you. I could not get proper sleep; I was sitting like this in the chair.”

One more incident which comes to my mind at this juncture is a really touching incident shared by Satyajith brother who stayed with Swami for several years. This happened in Whitefield in Trayee Brindavan after his recovery from hip fracture. Swami was walking taking the support of two boys. In the drawing room below, some of the doctors were sitting. Swami requested that coffee be arranged for the doctors. He is not bothered about any physical discomfort. He is always concerned about people’s welfare. Every day we chant ‘Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu’. Swami one day called me and asked me to change it to ‘Samastha lokaha sukhino bhavantu’. I later happened to read ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramahamsa Yogananda. In one particular chapter, he explains in detail about the different realms or worlds to which the soul goes after escaping from the physical gross body.  I then realized the significance of what swami meant by samastha lokaha sukhino bhavantu.

Annam Brahma

Swami insists that we do not waste food. I remember an incident during Kodai 2009. Swami will come for one round in his wheel chair and see all of us eating and also will enquire about the items being served. Swami once remarked, I will be happy when I see a clean plate. (Plate kaaligaa Undaali, appude naaku trupthi).

Deenodharana

In every trip, be it Kodai, Delhi, He will distribute gift items to boys and guests. In Kodai sessions, He will distribute clothes to all of us. He will make sure that everybody gets it. On one such occasion in Hilltop bungalow, Swami was giving clothes. Swami told my classmate to bring clothes from car and then gave it to the watchman and his family members. Another point of time, Swami while distributing remarked workers and cooks are very important. I also remember during the construction of Indoor stadium complex, Swami would regularly come and monitor the progress of work. One such day Swami came and distributed 500 rupee notes to all the workers and gave them all biscuit packets. Swami’s importance and respect for workers is very much seen in the above instances.

Love All

Swami’s love for animals is very much evident when we see Sai Gita’s relationship with Swami. After Sai Gita passed away, Swami was there for 2 hours during the cremation ceremony. Swami instructed us to sing bhajans and chant vedam when the cremation ceremony was going on. Later on for the thirteenth day Swami went to Sai Gita’s Samadhi and visited the place. Many of the elders who were there with Swami had completely forgotten about this. Swami remembered and went there.

We can go on writing about Swami’s Leelas as there is no end. Let us ruminate over the blessed moments. Let us be grateful to Swami for all the blessings which he has bestowed upon all of us and always walk on the path of Swami.