Soumya Roopa
It was the summer of 1988.Bhagwan arrived on a rainy April night at the Sri satya sai vidya vihar nandavan Ooty. The next morning there was a sports and cultural programme on the play ground. In the evening there was a cultural show by the students in the school prayer hall. When Bhagwan visited ooty school on His way to kodaikanal, He stayed for a day. On His return journey to Bangalore, Bhagwan used to stay for a few more days. Bhagwan came to the school on 9th may 1989 on His way from Kodaikanal to Bangalore.
Bhagwan attended the morning prayer
assembly. He walked between rows of school boys, patting a boy, straightening
the collar, looking at each child He asked them “what is the form of love?”
Some boys made heart shaped gesture in the air and said Swami this shape, Swami
said “Sai is the form of love”.
I had just joined the school has a teacher and
had the joy of witnessing Bhagwan showering His love on His children. He used
to walk into the class rooms and talk with the boys. He used to ask them
whether they liked their teacher, whether any teacher beats them etc. when the
boys were getting dressed for the evening cultural programme, He helped to tie
a sash, put a crown for a king, asked the students their names, which character
they were enacting, from where they had come etc. He who knows everything, yet asks
little questions to children, just to give them the joy of interacting with
Him. Bhagwan walked in the dining hall while the children had their festive
lunch and He urge them to eat more.
After
bhajans in the evening the 7th standard boys took up the duty of
serving dinner, supervising study hours and night prayer for the rest of the
classes from standard 1 to standard 6th.
Till today I admire that they all did it in perfect silence. This gave
teachers time to sit with Bhagwan. While it rained heavily outside, Bhagwan sat
in a room with a fire lit in the fire place, the light of the dancing flames
made changing patterns of light on Bhagawan’s robe in that warm, cozy room. Bhagwan
spoke to the few college students and guests who accompanied Him. We teachers
too could enjoy the evening. Bhagwan spoke about Krishna, Radha, Gopika
chandravali etc. He asked the principal questions about the children- How many boys get above 90%? Above 60%? Above
70%? Are they doing well in mathematics, the English play was very good, how
many children are bed wetters? Since
they are away from the parents they may be afraid, hence they wet the bed. Give
love. With love, they will become alright. One of the senior devotees general
Mahadevan said “Bhagwan there should be many such schools in India”, Bhagwan
said “it is easy to open school, but, who will work and look after them with
dedication”.
Bhagwan
gave a valuable health tip for growing boys. Bhagwan said, “Growing boys need
more protein, soak ground nuts in water overnight. The next morning give each
boy one table spoon full of the soaked ground nuts with salt and pepper or with
jaggery according to their taste.” From that day soaked groundnuts were a welcome
part of their breakfast. Today these boys are healthy young men, thanks to
peanuts in childhood.
During
such visits, Bhagwan gave us sarees, He also gave us money and told to buy
sarees of our choice. He blessed us with padanamaskars, took letters, listened
to our personal or family problems. Receiving a yellow saree from Bhagwan in
that room with the fire dancing in the fire-place is one of my warmest
memories.
On
10th may 1988, Bhagwan asked the boys during the morning prayer, “what
day is it today?” the boys told the date and day. Bhagwan repeated the question
“what day is it today?” then He told us “today is the day Sri Shankaracharya
was born”. This revelation by Bhagwan spurred us into action- by evening 4pm a short cultural programme was
ready, a student spoke about Sri Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, this was followed
by the recitation of Bhajagovindam. Bhagwan appreciated that the boys had
performed so well in such a short time. Bhagwan then gave a divine discourse.
After arati Bhagwan created a lingam with a wave of His Hand. He called a boy,
Amith saying this is for the boys, give it to the principal. Bhagwan instructed
the principal to worship the lingam with water and give the water to the boys.
Bhagwan said the boys will be healthy. Every single physical ailment almost
vanished due to the tonic of lingam water. Each morning 4 boys worshipped the
lingam with the guidance of the principal. At breakfast time two boys gave the
divine tonic to all the students and teachers. After a few days when I looked
at the children they were glowing with health. Where ever they are, I hope
those students realize that besides ordinarily body health, the special lingam
tonic they had in their childhood is still giving them health in body, mind and
spirit.
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