Divine Life Incidents
Sri Sathya Sai Ashtottara Group I – 1 to 27 Namavali
Introduction
Sri Sathya Sai Baba says,“Have the ‘Namam’ (Name of God) on your tongue, the ‘Rupam’ (Form of God) in your eye and the Glory of God in your heart. Then, thunderbolts will pass you gently by.” Sri Sathya Sai Ashtottara contains the Name and Glory of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Why is recitation recommended 108 or 1008 times? Not because the Lord is pleased when praised loud and long, but because there is just a chance that we will utter at least one out of 108 or 1008 names with sincere feeling and the Lord who is ever alert to respond to sincerity will hear that one and bless us.Significance of the number 108 and 1008 – The digits of 108 and 1008 are 1 and 8. The total of 1 + 8 = 9. The number 9 is called the divine number or Para Brahma Sankhya because this number is immutable. When it is multiplied by any number, the digits in the answer always total to 9. For example, 9 x 3 = 27. The total of 2 + 7 = 9.
Significance of Om or Aum
Om, also written as Aum, is the Primeval sound through which the Lord created the entire Universe. It is the root of all sounds in the Universe. It pervades all Creation. The five elements vibrate with this sound. It is also called Pranava, because it is the inner sound in all beings.
All Names attributed to God are subsumed and treasured in the sound Om. Hence it is a very powerful sound. Just as a long train of coaches moves forward when it is linked to a railway engine, all incantations become potent and fruitful when they are preceded by the sound Om.
1. Om Sri Sathya Sai Babaya Namah
Humble salutations to Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Sri – Prosperity and Glory.
Sathya – Truth, the Inner Reality of all, God.
Sai Baba – Sa (Sarveswara, Lord) + Ai (Ayi, Mother) + Baba (father): Divine Mother and Father of the Universe, the Source and Sustenance of the Universe.
Namah – Humble salutations; to bow down, an outer gesture of inner surrender.
2. Om Sri Sai Sathya Swaroopaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is the embodiment of Truth.
Swaroopa – form.
He is the Lord in Human Form. He was born to Easwaramma and Peda Venkappa Raju on November 23, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi.
One day when Easwaramma was fetching water from the well, a flash of divine light entered her body. She soon realized that she was going to give birth to a Divine Child.
Other indications of the impending arrival of the Divine Child were that musical instruments in the house played by themselves during the night.
On November 23, 1926, Peda Venkappa Raju’s mother Lakshamma had gone early in the morning to perform the Puja of Lord Sathyanarayana. After completing her puja, she came home and gave her daughter-in-law, Easwaramma the flowers and prasaadam from the puja. Immediately after, the Lord was born. As He was born after His mother had the prasaadam of Lord Sathyanarayana, He was named Sathyanarayana. Sathya had a tiny mole on His left cheek. On His soles could be seen the signs of shankha (conch) and chakra (disc) which are insignia of divinity.
He was placed on a sheet in a corner of the room. A little later, a cobra was seen under the sheet. It was truly Lord Vishnu reclining on the Sheshanaag.
3. Om Sri Sai Sathya Dharma Paraayanaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who propagates Truth and Righteousness.
Sathya – Truth, Dharma – righteousness, Paraayana – interested in, absorbed in.
Baba has come to establish Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Shaanti (Peace), and Prema (Love) in the world.
From His childhood, He used to teach His friends the importance of Truth and Righteousness. He told them,“Never deviate from the path of Truth in your daily life under any circumstance. Never speak untruth. There is nothing more powerful than the Truth. Truth alone will protect you.”
Bhagawan Baba lays stress on the development of character and discipline. He says,“The end of education is character.”
He has started several schools and colleges and a deemed University at Prasanthi Nilayam. Here the students acquire not only academic excellence and skills but also gain Self knowledge and Self confidence. They become shining examples of spiritual awareness and its beneficial consequences to the individual and to society.
4. Om Sri Sai Varadaaya Namah
Salutation to Lord Sai who is the giver of boons.
Vara – boon, daaya – giver.
As a young boy, Sathya would give His friends sweets, pencils and other items, which he ‘took out’ from an empty bag.
Sometimes, young Sathya would take His friends to a tamarind tree which was situated on a hillock. He would ask his friends which fruit they wanted and then He would pluck from that tamarind tree a variety of fruits as desired by His playmates, even if the fruits were not in season.
The tamarind tree became famous as the “Kalpa Vriksha” (wish fulfilling tree).
As time went on, people came with bigger desires and problems. Swami continued to give them the boons they desired. One of the greatest boons Swami has conferred is the boon of Knowledge given in His speeches and writings, and through holistic educational institutions.
An alumnus of Baba’s College was sitting in front of an interview board in search of a job. One of the interviewers asked him, “We hear that your Sai Baba gives gifts to people – watches, chains, rings. What has He given you?”
The student smiled and answered, “Sir, I come from a poor village and if today I sit in front of as great an interview board as yours, applying for as honourable a post as this, what greater gift can I ask for than what I have already received from Sri Sathya Sai Baba – the gift of education, totally free of cost?”
5. Om Sri Sai Sath Purushaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is the Eternal One.
Sath – Eternal Truth, Purusha – Supreme Person.
Sai is the God who has come in human form in the Kaliyuga. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, “Dharma Sansthaapanaarthaaya Sambhavaami Yuge Yuge”. (I will descend in human form in every age to establish Righteousness).
Young Sathya lived with His grandfather Shri Kondamma Raju, who was surprised to hear the sound of Omkaar, the primeval sound, from Sathya’s breath when He was sleeping, showing His Divinity. On other occasions, he used to hear the sound of Soham from His breath.
6. Om Sri Sai Sathya Gunaatmane Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai in whom all Divine qualities are manifest.
Guna – attributes, Aatmane – Divine.
Baba is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent.
Once Swami had come to Dharmakshetra in Mumbai during the monsoons. A public meeting was to commence at 6 p.m. At about 5.15 p.m. the sky was overcast. It was feared that the meeting would be disrupted by heavy rains.
Some of the office bearers felt that the meeting should be started earlier. Accordingly Shri Indulal Shah requested Baba, “Baba, can we start the meeting a little early?”
“Why?” asked Baba.
Shri Indubhai pleaded, “Bhagawan, it is likely to rain, the meeting may be disrupted, the devotees may suffer.”
Baba smiled. He held Shri Indubhai’s hand and took him to the window and showed him that the rains had already started.
Baba said, “Yes, yes, it will rain and it will rain very heavily.” Then Baba raised His hand through the window. In a moment, the drizzle stopped and the dark clouds disappeared.
The meeting started as scheduled. During the meeting, Shri Indubhai realized that momentarily he had forgotten that Baba is God and that He had command over the elements. He was now given conclusive proof that Baba is All Powerful.
7. Om Sri Sai Saadhu Vardhanaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who increases the goodness of the people of the world.
Saadhu – good and virtuous, Vardhana – increase.
Even as a young child, Sathya could not tolerate cruelty to any living being. He discouraged people, including his family, from slaughter of animals for food. When a bird was selected for dinner, Sathya would run to it and hug it, pleading with the elders to relent and spare it.
He disapproved of the bullock cart races and cock fights held in the village. He said, “They are torturing mute animals and birds just for the sake of fun. I do not agree to this.” He managed to persuade the elders to stop these sports.
Swami’s message of Sathya, Dharma, Shaanti, Prema and Ahimsa has touched the lives of millions of people and has brought about a transformation in them.
The various educational institutions started by Baba not only give the best of conventional education, but unlike other educational institutions, they stress on the importance of human values. When the blessed students join the mainstream, they are shining examples of good character and values. His students are the agents of transformation in all walks of life. They are the harbingers of the new age that He has come to usher in.
8. Om Sri Sai Saadhujana Poshanaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who fosters the virtuous.
Saadhu – good and virtuous, Jana – persons, Poshana – to foster, guard.
Baba looks after the welfare of the good. One morning in Bangkok, during the Second World War, Dr. Art-Ong Jumsai’s mother heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, she saw a person dressed in an orange robe. He gave her a packet of ‘fine powder which looked like white sand’ and instructed her to sprinkle it all over the house. He spoke to her in her own language and assured her that it would protect the house from getting bombed. The lady did as she was told.
Soon after, there was heavy bombardment of the area. All the buildings around the house were destroyed, but this house remained untouched.
Many years later, Swami revealed to Dr. Jumsai that it was He who had given to his mother a packet of Vibhuti for their protection.
9. Om Sri Sai Sarvajnyaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is All Knowing.
Sarvajna – He who knows everything, Omniscient.
Devotees have frequently found that Swami knows all about their past, present and future even though they have never told Him about themselves. He knows their problems, discusses them and solves them even before the devotee can even mention them.
When Sathya was a small child, one day an Englishman’s jeep suddenly stopped outside the village. All efforts to get it started, were in vain. The driver told him that there was a ‘wonder boy’ near by who might be able to help. When Sathya was located and was told of the problem, he agreed to go to the jeep.
When they reached the jeep, Sathya told the Englishman, “You have killed a tigress which did no harm to you. She was caring for her cubs when you hunted her down in the jungle. Her cubs are missing her. It was I who made your vehicle break down to make you realize this.” The Englishman was stunned.
Little Sathya told him, “You should never kill a living being for your own enjoyment.” He told him that he must promise to find the cubs and give them to a zoo. “If you promise to do that, I will get the jeep started.”
When the man promised, Sathya touched the jeep and it started.
10. Om Sri Sai Sarva Jana Priyaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is dear to all.
Sarva – all, Jana – people, Priya – dear.
From childhood, Sathya was very popular with not only the children, but also the grown ups. He was also the favourite of the teachers at school.
Today, wherever Swami is, people from all walks of life, and from many countries, the rich and the poor, scholars and illiterates, politicians, industrialists and others, all gather to have a glimpse of Him.
He is venerated by millions of people throughout the world as an apostle of Love and Peace. He loves all and is loved by all.
11. Om Sri Sai Sarva Shakti Moortaye Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai, who is the embodiment of all Divine Powers.
Sarva – all, Shakti – Powers, Moorti – image, symbol, embodiment.
All the divine powers are seen in Baba’s innumerable miracles like healing the ‘incurable’, being present in more than one place at the same time, granting special visions, producing vibhuti (holy ash) and other gifts by a mere wave of the hand, bringing the dead back to life, saving people from accidents and many others.
When Baba stayed in the old temple in Puttaparthi, once there were heavy floods and the River Chitravati started overflowing. The waters reached the Temple and surrounded it. Everyone was afraid that in a few moments the water would enter the temple and inundate everything.
At that moment, Baba walked into the waters and said, “That’s enough. Go back now.” Immediately the floods began to recede. Baba’s will is obeyed immediately even by the elements.
12. Om Sri Sai Sarveshaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is the Lord of all.
Sarva – all, Isa – Lord, (Sarveshaa – all manifestations of God).
“All Names and Forms are mine”, He says. He appears as Lord Krishna to those who worship Him in that form, as Lord Jesus to the Christians, as Lord Rama to some and as the Divine Mother to others.
Once a Roman Catholic couple went to Prashanthi Nilayam. The lady was very hesitant as she did not believe in Baba. Baba called them for an interview. The man asked Baba if he could click a few photographs. Baba agreed. When the couple went back and developed the film, they were astonished to see not Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the pictures, but Jesus Christ.
13. Om Sri Sai Sarva Sanga Parityaagine Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who has given up all worldly attachments.
Sangam – bond, attachment, Parityaaga – sacrifice, give up.
14 year old Sathya attended school at Urvakonda where he stayed with his brother Shri Seshama Raju. On October 20, 1940, He returned from school as usual. Standing on the outer doorstep, He cast aside His books and called out, “I am no longer your Sathya, Iam Sai. I am going. I don’t belong to you. Maya has gone. My bhaktas are calling Me. I have my work.” He then turned back and left in spite of His sister in law’s pleadings. He moved into the garden of Shri Anjaneyulu, the Excise Inspector, and sat on a rock. The people who had followed Him, sat around Him. Here Sathya taught them the first bhajan “Manasa bhajare, Guru charanam, dustara bhava saagara taranam.” (Oh Man, worship the feet of the Guru who takes you across the ocean of Life.)
14. Om Sri Sai Sarva Antaryaamine Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is the indweller of all.
Antar – inside, Yaami – dweller.
Swami dwells in us all. He knows what each one wants and gives it at the appropriate time. One of the students was very worried because he had asked his parents for money and had not yet received it. Swami saw him looking worried and asked him what the matter was. The boy did not reply. Swami told him, “You wrote a letter to your father asking for money. You have not received the money order yet. I know.”
Then He told the boy to pick up any envelope from the bunch of letters He had taken from the devotees. He asked the boy to open it. When the boy opened it, he found a Rs. 500/- note inside.
Swami told the stunned boy, “Take it. It is for you. You asked for only Rs. 500/-. If you would have asked for more, I would have given you more.”
Swami says, “I declare that I am in everyone, in every being. You can hear My footsteps for I walk with you, behind you, beside you. When you cry out in agony, My ear will be there to listen. Ask that I protect you. My eye will be there to watch over you and guard you.”
15. Om Sri Sai Mahimaatmane Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is a great and glorious soul.
Mahimaatmane – glory personified.
Sai is the Divine in human form. He is the fountainhead of all good and divine qualities. He is a Supreme Artist and Architect. He can create objects of indescribable beauty with a wave of His hand. He can speak all languages. He knows all the Scriptures and all the Sciences, although He has never received any formal education beyond early schooling.
The miracles of Baba are done with a purpose to inspire and encourage faith.
Dr.Prabha, a gynaecologist who has been with the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital for more than 30 years, says that in the initial stages of her career in Nigeria, she had received a packet of vibhuti from a gentleman who told her it was from Sri Sathya Sai Baba. She had no knowledge of Baba but kept the packet. Soon after, one of her patients was in a critical condition. The case seemed totally hopeless. Then she suddenly remembered the vibhuti packet. She applied the vibhuti on the patient and was amazed to see that she recovered completely.
When she came to lndia, she went to see Baba. As she says, “The doctor, who came to investigate, was conquered and remained to pray at the Divine Lotus Feet.”
16. Om Sri Sai Maheshwara Swaroopaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai, who is the embodiment of Lord Shiva.
Maheshwara – Another name for Lord Shiva.
Swaroopa – Real Form.
When Baba was a student at Urvakonda, His elder brother Shri Seshama Raju, who was a teacher in the school, organized a trip to Hampi to see the famous temple of Lord Virupaksha (Shiva). Sathya stayed outside, while all the others went into the temple. When the temple priest was offering Aarati to the deity, the devotees saw Sathya in the Sanctum Sanctorum in place of the deity, Lord Virupaksha.
Shri Seshama Raju was angry. He thought Sathya had somehow sneaked in. He went out in anger only to see Sathya still standing outside the temple. He could not believe it. He told someone to go into the shrine and see if Sathya was still there, while he himself stood outside to keep an eye on Him. He was stunned to find that Sathya was standing both inside and outside the temple.
Sathya had given a glimpse of His Divinity, of His Omnipresence and His Reality.
17. Om Sri Sai Parthi Gramodbhavaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is born in the village of Puttaparthi.
Parthi – Puttaparthi, Gram – village, Udbhava – birth.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born to Easwaramma and Peda Venkappa Raju on November 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. Before He was born, musical instruments in the house used to play of their own accord. Astrologers predicted a Divine incarnation was about to take place.
Puttaparthi was earlier known as ‘Gollapalli’ which means ‘the village of cowherds’. It was a prosperous village. One day a cowherd noticed that one of his cows was returning home every day with an empty udder. He followed her to find out the reason behind it. He saw to his amazement that a snake came out of a snake hill and began to drink the milk from the udder. The cowherd became angry and hurled a heavy stone at the snake and killed it.
After this incident, the cowherd families declined in number and snake hills proliferated all over. People believed it was due to the curse of the dying snake. This is how Gollapalli came to be called Puttaparthi (village of snake hills).
After the birth of Swami, the village has again been transformed into a prosperous place.
18. Om Sri Sai Parthi Kshetra Nivaasine Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who resides in the region of Puttaparthi.
Kshetra – region, Nivas – residence.
At the age of fourteen, Baba revealed His Divine Mission in Uravakonda. As people started coming from distant places to see Him and request Him to come to their towns for darshan, His parents were worried that He would leave them and go far away. His mother Easwaramma told young Sathya, “Please son, give us your word that you will remain in Puttaparthi only. Let your devotees come here. We will welcome them happily.” Sathya replied, “l have chosen Puttaparthi as my kshetra. The boon granted is not only for you, but for the village, the world itself.”
As His fame spread and people from all over the world started pouring in for His darshan, the small village gradually grew into a major spiritual centre, called Prasanthi Nilayam, ‘The Abode of Peace’. Baba has declared, “This Parthi will become another Tirupati, another Mathura.”
19. Om Sri Sai Yashah Kaaya Shirdi Vaasine Nanah
Salutations to Lord Sai, who was famous in the previous incarnation as resident of Shirdi.
Yasha – fame, Kaaya – body, Vaas – residence.
Sai Baba of Shirdi exhibited extraordinary spiritual powers. His fame spread far and wide. Towards the end of Shirdi Sai’s earthly life, He told His devotees not to grieve at His passing away, because He was going to be reborn after eight years. He passed away in 1918. Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born in 1926.
Young Sathya gave clues about His identity with the Saint of Shirdi even from His childhood. He taught His companions songs on a Sai Baba whom no one in that part of India had heard of and on Shirdi, a place of pilgrimage which no one knew about.
At the age of fourteen, He announced that He is an incarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi. When asked to prove it, He called for some jasmine flowers which were given to Him. He threw them on the floor. They miraculously formed the words ‘Sai Baba’ in Telugu.
Several years later, Swami visited the palace of the Rani of Chincholi, when she invited Him. The Raja, who had passed away several years earlier, had been an ardent devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. Swami asked the Rani about the stone image of Anjaneya which Shirdi Baba had given the Raja. The Rani did not even know that it existed. Baba Himself found it for her in the Palace!
20. Om Sri Sai Jodi Aadipalli Somappaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai, who is the personification of the male and female aspects of God, Shiva – Shakti.
It was November 25, 1958. A devotee and his family left for Bangalore after witnessing Swami’s birthday festivities at Prasanthi Nilayam. On the way, there was a crisis as their 2 year old daughter was attacked by fits and suddenly stopped breathing. In their agony, the family looked around for help. An old man appeared from nowhere. He took the baby in his arms. At his touch, the girl showed signs of life and cried. The parents were overjoyed.
When he was asked his name, the old man replied ‘Jodi Aadipalli Somappa’. Later Baba confirmed that it was indeed He who had revived the girl.
Baba explained the significance of the name as follows: ‘Aadipalli’ means ‘the original village’, Kailasam, Lord Shiva’s abode; Jodi means ‘couple’; Soma is (Sa + Uma i.e. Lord Shiva + Parvati, Shakti); Appa is ‘father’. Hence Swami is ‘Shiva-Shakthi’. Bhagawan thus revealed His real identity as the personification of Shiva-Shakti.
21. Om Sri Sai Bhaaradwaaja Rishi Gotraaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is born in the family lineage of the Great Saint Bhaaradwaaja.
Bhaaradwaaja – name of famous sage with amazing miraculous powers attained by tapas (rigorous penances), Rishi – sage, Gotra – lineage.
On May 23, 1940 Sathya rose from bed as usual.
After some time, he called the members of the household around Him and gave them sugar candy and flowers taken from nowhere.
At this, neighbours too rushed in. He gave each of them a ball of rice cooked in milk which He materialized by a mere wave of the hand.
His father Shri Venkappa Raju thought they were all tricks.
Arming himself with a stick, he accosted Sathya. “Who are you? Are you a God or a ghost or a madcap? Tell me!” he shouted.
Sathya calmly replied, “I am Sai Baba. I belong to the Apasthamba Sutra. I am of Bhaaradwaaja Gotra. I have come to ward off your troubles.”
22. Om Sri Sai Bhakta Vatsalaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is very affectionate to His devotees like a mother.
Bhakta – devotee, Vatsalyam – affection of a mother for her child.
We are all children of our Divine Mother Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Once when a student had developed a fracture on his foot, Swami called the boy and materialized a special ointment. He Himself applied the ointment on his foot. The boy was very embarrassed that Swami was applying the ointment on his foot. He pleaded with Swami not to do so.
Swami replied. “If you were at home, would not your mother have done the same? I am your mother!”
23. Om Sri Sai Apaantara Aatmane Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai, Who as the Universal Consciousness, dwells in the heart of every being.
Antara atma – lnner self.
Swami says, “l am the Atma that dwells in all living beings.”
In Kodaikanal, when Baba was with the students, He asked one boy, “Did you sleep well last night?” He added, “I know you did not sleep soundly. You had an upset stomach.”
During dinner at Kodai, Swami personally supervises the serving of food. Without being told, He knows each one’s favourite dish and ensures that they get a second helping of that dish. How does He know all this? He knows this Only because He dwells in each one of us.
24. Om Sri Sai Avataara Moortaye Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is the embodiment of all incarnations.
Avataar – incarnation, Moorti – image, embodiment.
Swami has revealed Himself in various forms of Avataars. He has appeared as Lord Rama to those devotees whose favourite form of God is Lord Rama. He has appeared as Lord Krishna to those who worship this form, as Lord Ganapati to some and even as Mother Kali to others.
Once young Sathya went with His playmates to the Anjaneya Swami (Hanuman) temple. He told the boys ”You perform circumambulation to Anjaneya Swami and come back. I will stay here.” But the children would not go without Him. They insisted that He accompany them. Finally Sathya agreed. He started walking around the temple. A big monkey suddenly appeared from nowhere and stood in front of Him obstructing His path. The children tried their best to drive it away. But it would not move.
They did not realize that monkey was Hanuman himself, who prayed to Swami, “Swami, I am the one who has to do circumambulation to you. You should not do it for me.”
Swami says, “This is the human form in which every divine entity, every divine principle, that is to say, all the names and forms ascribed by man to God are manifest. You are very fortunate that you have a chance to experience the bliss of the vision of the Sarva Devata Swaroopa, now, in this very life.”
25. Om Sri Sai Sarva Bhaya Nivaarine Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who removes all fears.
Bhaya – fears, Nivaarana – to remove.
Swami’s hand raised in Abhaya-Hasta (raised palm) is a gesture of assurance of Abhaya, which means ‘Do not fear’. This gesture assures us of protection from disease, despair, disasters, doubts and fears. Even before you ask, Sai Baba hastens to give you protection.
Once a heavy truck crushed the leg of a young boy who was participating in construction activity at Prasanthi Nilayam. The boy’s brother ran to Swami crying that his younger brother had lost his leg.
Swami told him, “Do not worry. Nothing has happened to his leg.” He showed the boy His palm on which the marks of the truck’s heavy tyre could be clearly seen. Swami had inserted His own hand between the truck’s tyre and the young boy’s leg to protect the boy, even before the boy called out to Him.
26. Om Sri Sai Aapasthamba Sootraaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who is born in the lineage of Brahmarishi Aapasthamba.
Aapasthamba – Sage who underwent ascetic practices for many years and eventually had a vision of Lord Shiva. He wrote a sootra (treatise) of rituals and spiritual practices.
In His fourteenth year, Baba declared that He belonged to the lineage of Sage Aapasthamba.
27. Om Sri Sai Abhaya Pradaaya Namah
Salutations to Lord Sai who gives security to all.
Abhaya – fearless, Pradaaya – gives.
“Why fear when I am near? I am in you, with you, around you, guiding you and guarding you.”
Baba assures all.
He is our unfailing friend in need. He saves us from physical and spiritual problems. He sends us friends and funds when we need them. He protects us from all harm. He comes in His own form or in any other form to rescue us when we are in distress.
Moorthy, Shri Kasturi’s son, was chased by a wild bear, when he was alone in the forest areas of Assam, where he had gone for work. As he desperately ran from the bear, he tripped and fell, but continued to call “Baba! Baba!” Within moments, a truck appeared from nowhere and Moorthy was saved by getting into it.
A few months later when he went to Prasanthi Nilayam, Swami told him, “I received your phone call and despatched a truck. Did it reach you in time?”