Enthralling Reminiscences of the Days of Yore

From the mental diary of Mrs. Karunamba Ramamurthy - Part 4

Extremely fortunate to come to His lotus feet when she was just a tiny girl in the 1940s, Mrs. Karunamba Ramamurthy, lovingly addressed as Kannamma, has a priceless treasure trove of incredible memories of the yester years. She is also the author of the famous book "Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi - Journey with Sai". This is the second part of her wonderful reminiscences.

He Hears All Our Pleas

During the days of the Old Mandir, we were often blessed with the opportunity to offer Pada Pooja (worship the feet) to Swami. During one such occasion, Baba sang a song that went as “Kamalamba! Please remove my mental worries!”

It happened that there was a devotee present there by name Kamalamba who, needless to say, was surprised to hear Swami singing the song that she used to sing many years before. She asked Him, “What is this, Swami? I was singing this song long back! How is it that you are singing it now?”

Swami replied, “You would sing this in your kitchen after cooking, when you felt tired and weary. Of course you only praised Me with this song, and now I am singing it for you to remember. How many years have passed by since those days?”

The lady narrated that she was married at the tender age of 11 years (child marriage) to her husband who was a tempestuous and angry man. They did not get on and he never helped her in her household chores. When he would leave the house, she would console herself by worshipping the Mother Goddess.

It was then that she used to sing this song - “Kamalamba, shower your Grace!” When she calculated the time period, we were startled – this had occurred before the birth of Swami’s body!

The Account of Earning Punya

On another occasion, two disciples of Swami Shivananda of Rishikesh, called Sadananda and Chidananda, came for Swami’s darshan. They would neither eat in the canteen nor anywhere outside. So, Swami called my mother and said, “You have to cook and serve them from tomorrow.”

There were no electric lights in the Old Mandir, we used only oil lamps. When they were about to take meals at night, they themselves used to light the lamps, and after partaking food, they would throw out the leaves and clean the floor neatly.

My mother was perplexed at their behaviour, and said that she would like to do all this for them. However, the monks told her something quite interesting: “If a daily labourer, who earns a hundred rupees a day, has his wages cut by five rupees, he feels very sorry. Whatever time he serves us in a day, we have to compensate him an equal amount of ‘punya’ (the fruits of virtue) from our earnings.”

“We try to earn 100% of our share of goodness out of our penance. If others serve us we will lose something. Even if we don’t give anything to them, it automatically accrues in their account. That’s why we will not allow anyone to serve us. This treasure, the fruit of penance, is very subtle and we don’t want to lose any by taking others’ services.”

In those days, when we were a handful, Baba used to tell us to carry out all kinds of service activities, even though some of us protested. There were many buildings coming up, and this involved the shifting of stones and sand, and the carrying of baskets of construction materials. Swami never said ‘no’ to anyone who wished to participate and told us that “Any type of service performed near Me will yield great punya. You don’t know how much virtuous effect or punya you have acquired - but I know. So, do as much as you can and ignore the small physical discomforts involved.”

Singing Bhajans – a Potent Sadhana

Once the Swamis, Sadananda and Chidananda, asked my mother how was it that there was such a relaxed atmosphere in the ashram? People wear good clothes, move about and talk freely; it appears that no one is performing any sadhana (spiritual practice). They were perplexed as they were used to practicing severe austerities in simple hermitages.

My mother answered them by saying that Swami taught His ashramites to perform bhajans every dawn and dusk daily by His side. Then, the monks went and asked Swami, “Why is it that You have not taught any sadhana and penance?”

Swami replied, “My devotees earned holy power in their past lives. When I incarnated due to their prayers, they reached Me and are staying here. For you, there is a lot of sadhana yet to be done. So, you carry on and do it.”

They were very happy and understood how bhajan singing is a way to reach God. Swami never told them to leave the path of their own sadhana.

He Bears the Brunt of Our Suffering

Swami had one day invited my daughter-in-law to come to Puttaparthi with her children. However, just before leaving for Puttaparthi, a dog bit my second son. His leg became infected and he was in great pain. Though he was under doctor’s treatment and was administered injections regularly, we all went to Puttaparthi. Swami was very happy at our arrival and welcomed us joyfully.

It was a very hot summer and I was worried where the children would play. My fears were confirmed when my grandson, Neelu, had his foot run over by a lorry. His foot was severely injured, and one toe was separated from the others; it was bleeding profusely.

In those days (1950s), in Puttaparthi, there was a very small dispensary room with limited medicines. My elder son went and reported to Swami this tragic incident. Swami immediately pulled back His sleeve to reveal His hand, and there he could see the impression of a lorry tyre! Not only that, there was profuse blood flowing from it!

We laid down our grandson in the veranda of Prof. Kasturi’s house. Swami used to come and visit him every day and would ask Prof. Kasturi too about him. It took one month for the wound to heal completely, but even after that he was not able to walk without a limp. We were quite concerned about his condition, and our minds were full of questions.

During one of His visits, Swami came, sat on the veranda and talked to our family. He said, “Do you all know why I have called you here? If this accident had happened at your place, what would you have done? The boy might have died there. I averted a worse situation. Who would have looked after you there?”

Then my elder son told Swami that even though we might be away, Swami could still look after us there. Swami replied, “It is not like that. Let all difficulties be experienced here in My presence. That is why I called you all here. Do you understand? If it happens in My presence, the impact will be less.” We were overcome with His grace and marveled at His loving care for us.

Astounding Grace and Healing

At one period, smallpox struck all three of my sons; boils sprouted all over their bodies, they vomited and the whole night was spent crying without sleep. I wrote a letter to my mother who was at Puttaparthi, to return home to help us in this hour of distress.

She took the letter to Swami and said, “Swami, I will go to Bangalore. My daughter is unable to look after the children with this ailment. I will help them a little, by at least cooking for them.” Swami asked my mother, what else would she do? She replied, “I’ll pray to You, Swami.”

“Why can’t you pray here, instead of traveling so far? If you stay here I will look after them. Write My instructions to your daughter but don’t go there.” Then my mother posted the letter to me.

Amazingly, all the boils on their body suddenly subsided and vanished. Their eyes also were cleared. Their fevers abated and they began to regain their former health. Right from the time of Swami’s instruction to my mother at Puttaparthi, my children in Bangalore were relieved of suffering. How powerful are Swami’s command and word!

The Wonder of Sai Prasadam

My son, Sathish, had an injury on his leg and subsequently, a lump had developed. As I had said earlier, Swami had granted him rebirth when a lorry had run over his foot. After this lump showed up, he started talking strangely and used to bite his teeth frequently. However, Swami avoided any question I put to Him about my son. Days passed, and suddenly the boy’s leg swelled up. I asked Swami what should be done. He said, “None of you should stay here in Puttaparthi; leave before evening.”

I silently acquiesced to Swami’s wish. A devotee called Ravindra from Kobugu in Mysore state offered to help us, saying “I have brought my car here. I can take your son and drop him at Chimpangi railway station where I have some other urgent work. From there all of you can go by train.”

We accepted his kind offer and reached Bangalore where we admitted him in a hospital. The leg was swollen like an elephant’s, and the doctors thought his illness was untreatable; they did not take as good care of him as they should have done, and believed that amputation was the only option.

At this time Baba visited Bangalore, and was staying at the residence of Mr. Shetty, an ardent devotee. When I heard this news, I went to Swami and told Him that the doctors had decided to amputate my child’s leg, and asked for my consent stating that otherwise he might turn mad or may even die. I told Him that I was being forced to take this decision.

Swami then said, “Some doctors behave very strangely; they make amputations too readily. Do not allow them to do this. I will give you vibhuti right now. Take this home and put in his mouth. That’s all - he will be cured.”

I gratefully accepted the vibhuti and did as He said. The very next day, all the fluid from his leg drained out, and he became normal. The doctors were shocked; they wondered how the legs suddenly looked healthy without even an operation! I told them how Swami’s prasadam had done the magic.

“Be like a child and Swami will look after you” - Baba

We went to Swami again and reported the improvement. He compassionately told us, “Do you know why I drove you out from Puttaparthi. If you had stayed there, one of you would definitely have died; it was bound to happen. Hoping that you would go home I ordered you to leave. Everything will be fine in future. All of you come to Puttaparthi for Dasara Celebrations.”

Truly speaking, my son would have possibly died, or become insane. Even after his recovery, the doctors advised us not to send him to school, as due to his mental impairment, the teachers may mistreat him, and that could make his condition worse.

When I came to Puttaparthi next time, I reported the doctors’ advice to Swami. And Baba told me not to worry. He asked me not to send him to school but let him live in Puttaparthi, and that He would look after him. From then onwards, he stayed at Puttaparthi for a long time.

He had medical problems affecting his head and legs, and also suffered mental illness. The doctors would continue to drain pus from his body. One day, Swami wanted to see this specimen. And after the Lord Swami saw it, he was completely alright - fully cured!

Is this not a wonder? Who else can do this? This is possible only for God. We have overcome many hurdles like this, with His grace alone. He guides us in the present and will always do so in the future. But, our mind should always be stable and steadily fixed on Him alone.

Always exhorting us not to worry, on one occasion, Swami said,

“I will remove all your problems. I have come down to earth only for this purpose. But if you are having more bad karma, I will leave some part of it for you, which will present some difficulties. Don’t blame Me for that trouble. If you can cross over that karma peacefully, you will receive My full grace.

“How does a little child ask if he needs something? He cries and the mother looks after him. Be like a small and innocent kid and Swami will at once take care of you. You need not do any great deeds. Simply chanting God’s name is the best sadhana for you.”

(To be continued)