SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI
PART - 40
(Continued from the previous issue)

---

[ This page has lots of Graphics. Allow time for the images to download. ]

Click here to go to Previous issue story > >

EPISODE 21

ACT XIV - SCENE 1

Kondama’s House.

KONDAMA RAJU: The words of Venkava Dhoota have proved to be absolutely true! ………. Venkama, ours is the Ratnakara lineage, and we do not know black magic, related rituals, and the like. Other than pure devotion to God, charity and compassion to others, and a spiritual outlook, we are ignorant of strange practices.

VENKAMA RAJU: That may be so father, but people are making all sorts of comments about our Sathyam. I am unable to decide whether He has Divine Power in Him or devilish power. I have therefore sent for Narasimhachari, an expert on magical chants. He should be able to diagnose the problem correctly.

NARASIMHA: Venkama Raju,……. Venkama Raju!

VENKAMA RAJU: You have come at the right moment. Please step inside; come.

NARASIMHA: Salutations to you Kondama Raju sir!…….[chants] Please get water in this vessel.

VENKAMA RAJU: Easwari!

EASWARAMMA: Yes?

VENKAMA RAJU: Take this and get some fresh water.

NARASIMHA: Mother, also put a couple of basil leaves in the water. And, apply turmeric as well as kumkum to the vessel on the outside.

EASWARAMMA: I shall do so.

NARASIMHA: Call the boy, and let me see what the problem is.

VENKAMA RAJU: Sathyam, …..Sathyam. ……..Sit here boy.

NARASIMHA: Your name?

SATHYA: Sathyam.

NARASIMHA: Your place?

SATHYA: The whole Universe!

NARASIMHA: Your age?

SATHYA: I am Eternal!

NARASIMHA: Where do You live?

SATHYA: Everywhere!

NARASIMHA: What is this strange behaviour?

SATHYA: It is just Divine Love.

NARASIMHA: Are You a devil or a ghost?

SATHYA: I am the Embodiment of Love!

NARASIMHA: You are talking too much philosophy! Is it due to the poison of the scorpion?

SATHYA: The Blue-throated One held back the poison in His throat. If digested, it becomes ambrosia. It is the same with Vedantic Philosophy. If it is understood, it will reveal Divinity.

NARASIMHA: Venkama Raju, the influence of the devil seems to be greater in this boy than the effect of poison.

SATHYA: Do you know what your lineage is?

NARASIMHA: What! You have now begun to ask me questions in return! It surely means that the devil is in You.

SATHYA: If I am an evil spirit, then you are a deadlier one.

NARASIMHA: Oh I see, You want to talk back, is it? Now look straight into my eyes and tell me what you see.

SATHYA: Basil leaf.

NARASIMHA: No, not that. Now tell me what You see.

SATHYA: I see the bow of Siva, the Pushpaka Chariot, and Anjaneya flying in the sky with the Sanjivi Mountain.

NARASIMHA: Where are they? I cannot see them. …..Did you hear? He is speaking meaningless words. …..The Bow of Siva, the aerial chariot!

SATHYA: They are not visible to you because you are a phoney. I know exactly what your strength is. You, who do Puja to My Divine Form daily, can you not recognise Me? Look at Me!

NARASIMHA: Venkama Raju, your son has lost all His mental balance. He has been seized by some evil spirits. Take Him immediately to the witch doctor in Kadiri-Brahmanapalli. I’ll go back now. Kondama Raju and Mother Easwaramma, the boy is in the grip of evil spirits.

EASWARAMMA: What is he saying about devils and evil spirits? What has happened to our Sathyam?

VENKAMA RAJU: Easwari, don’t get agitated. So far, we have tried the doctors of Anantapur and Dharmavaram. Narasimhachari also has examined Sathyam. We will now see if the native doctor in Kadiri Brhamanapalli at least can cure Him. We will know for sure whether it is the devil or Divinity.

EASWARAMMA: I feel very scared. I will accompany Sathyam on the visit to this doctor.

KONDAMA RAJU: Why you, my dear? Tomorrow, Seshama and Suseela will be here. They can go. Well, Sathyam, …..will You go?

SATHYA: If you wish, grandpa. As far as I am concerned, nothing has happened to Me. The doctor can do nothing to Me.

VENKAMMA[sister]: I too shall go, as company for our brother.

KONDAMA: Alright my dear, you too may accompany.

SCENE 2

At the witch doctor’s place. He chants Black magic.

WITCH DOCTOR: Glory to Maha Kaali, Malayala Bhagavathi. Salutations to You Mother! Speak Mother, speak. Speak! Tell me, are you a ghost, devil, imp, or goblin? Why did you seize Him? Where did you catch Him? Tell me, who are you? Tell me!

SATHYA: I am Satyanarayana Raju.

WD: I know that; I did not ask for the name of the body, but of you the ghost, devil, or goblin, or whatever, within. Tell me: What are you? Speak out!

SATHYAM: I am Sathyam, the whole Truth.

WD: No, you are an evil spirit. Tell me, where did you come from? The north, south, east or west? Answer. Answer!

SATHYA: You are the evil spirit! With the Five Elements as the witnesses, I declare that I am I!

WD: Are You refuting Mother’s words to me, who has the five elements in his hand? Mother is demanding!

SATHYA: Mother will not do anything to Me!

WD: You are a devil who will not respond to mere words. I know how to drag you out! I shalldrag you out! Sound the drums!

VENKAMMA[sister]: Please don’t hit my brother! Don’t hit Him! Don’t hit my Sathya!

SESHAMA RAJU: Don’t be scared Venkamma. He is not hitting your brother, but the evil spirit that has seized your brother. The spirit will flee and nothing will happen to your brother.

VENKAMMA: Don’t hit my brother!

WD: Did you walk under a tamarind tree? Speak out!

SATHYA: Yes, I did.

WD: It caught you there, it seized you there!

SESHAMA RAJU: Which evil spirit has entered Sathya?

WD: The evil power resident in the tamarind tree. It is no ordinary power. If you do not drive it away, this child will not be yours. Glory to Kaali,………… glory to Maha Kaali, Come out, come out, come out.

SUSEELA: Sir, I pray to you; please chant incantations or do some magic and drive away the spirit, but for heaven’s sake, don’t beat the child. [to husband] Please tell him not to rain blows.

SESHAMA RAJU: Don’t feel scared; there is nothing to be alarmed about. Nothing will happen to Sathya. These blows will drive away the evil spirit. Don’t be scared.

WD: This devil will not leave with mere chants or magic. It is the Tintirini Devil. Come out, come out, I say!

SISTER: Don’t hit my brother!

WD: Child, I am not hitting your brother, but the devil that has entered into Him. ……Yes, Mother. What’s that Mother? Is that so Mother? It shall be so, Mother.

SESHAMA RAJU: Whom are you talking to?

WD: To Malayala Bhagavathi. She says that the help of the nine planets must be sought, and employing the nine-fold strategy, this Tintirini devil must be driven away.

SESHAMA RAJU: What must be done for that? What’s that? Why have you taken out chains?

WD: Jai Malayala Bhagavathi!

SESHAMA RAJU: Hey, what’s it that you are doing?

WD: With this chain, I am tying up the spirit.

SESHAMA RAJU: No, no! Don’t bind my brother!

WD: Stop! If you want your child back, there must be violence. This is no ordinary devil, but a very proud one. It has entered the head, and I shall bring it down by tying it.

SESHAMA: Don’t tie my brother with chains! Don’t hurt Him!

SUSEELA: Don’t tie that poor little child! Release Him, I beseech you. Let Him go.

WD: Out, out, come out……

SUSEELA: Release Him!

SESHAMA RAJU: No, no! Don’t hit Him; don’t torture Him!

WD: Come out!…. Come out!

SATHYA: Only if it has gone in, can it come out!

WD: What! You are talking back to Mother?….[chants] What’s that Mother? Is that so Mother? Alright Mother! You want the head shaved? Will be done Mother. …[To assistant] Bikshalu! Hand me that knife!

BIK: Here it is, Master.

SESHAMA RAJU: I appeal to you, please let my brother go!

WD: Stop! ……..One step more, and you will vomit blood, your intestines will get hopelessly knotted, and you will writhe with pain on the ground. …..Drums!

Drums. He sharpens a knife.

SESHAMARAJU: No, please no! Don’t shave my brother’s head. Tell me what you want, and I shall give it to you – any amount of money…… No, please no! I pray to you – let my brother go!

WD: Run away! Run away! I am now shaving your head. Devil Tintirini, I have shaved your head and chased you away; I have shaved your head and chased you away. I have snapped your grip!

SUSEELA: No! ………No!

SISTER/SHESAMA: No!

WD: You are laughing in spite of lashes, and bleeding. You must be a greater evil force than Devil Tintirini!

SESHAMA RAJU: No! Stop! We cannot stand this torture! We want to take our brother home.

WD: Stop! One step forward, you will vomit blood, your guts will twist and you will die! The evil spirit will enter you! …. Jai Maha Kaali!!….Drums!

SESHAMA RAJU: No, no! Don’t torture my brother! ….No! Don’t torture Him please!

WD: This punishment is not enough because this is a cruel and stubborn female devil. I shall deal appropriately with its eyes, and drown the devil in the waters of the nether world!

He throws acid in the eyes. Pours water. Drums.

SESHAMA RAJU: Stop, please stop! Don’t destroy Him totally! What you have already done is enough!

More water poured over Sathya’s head.

SESHAMA: No, no! Stop the torture. ….Don’t do anything to Him!

SISTER: No!….Brother! Brother!

An explosion. WD and assistant collapse.

SESHAMA RAJU: Come on, this is the opportunity to release Sathyam and make a quick getaway! Brother, come! Come!

END OF SCENE 2

Click here to go to Previous issue story > >

---

Dear Reader, how do you like this series? Is it useful? Please tell us at h2h@radiosai.org mentioning your name and country.  Thank you for your time.

---