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Posted on : Feb 03, 2012

 

ORCHESTRATING A FASCINATING PLAY OF DIVINE COMPASSION

How Bhagawan mysteriously motivated the Sai Youth of Ambodola to reach out to the most neglected little ones of rural Odisha (in East India) and create an oasis of divine compassion

 

Part - 2

How Sai Installed Himself in Ambodola

 

 

When Mohan Kumar Sahu (affectionately called Mohan bhai) came to Ambodola in 1992 to set up a small electronics goods repair shop, he knew nothing about Baba except that He is a holy man whom his younger sisters-in-laws worshipped. For some inexplicable reason, he called his new tiny business ‘Sai Krupa Electronics’.

Making ends meet in that rural town where there were only half-a-dozen TVs and a couple of radio and cassette players at the time was really hard. Fortunately by then electricity had reached that part of India but the service was patchy. To reach this dry and dreary land was an ordeal.

A glimpse of how Ambodola was in early nineties when Mohan bhai first came to this village - no roads, little electricity, no hospital, no school, etc.

There was no regular physician available even in the health centre at Rayagada, a commercially developed town a few kilometres away from Ambodola. Most of the population consisted of tribals who lived on daily labour wages. The only other kind of people was the small-time traders and shop owners like Mohan bhai.

Mohan bhai (right) in the studios of Radio Sai narrating how he first came to Ambodola in 1992 and slowly went about starting a Sai centre in that village.

Thanks to his endearing nature, Mohan bhai soon became a loved member of the community; one never saw his shop empty. The youth of the village freely dropped in at his workshop in the evenings for relaxed chitchats.

During one such occasion, a group of six youngsters who were familiar with Baba, suggested to Mohan bhai about starting bhajan sessions at this place. Mohan agreed but had no clue what it should be like. So he went to Rayagada, the nearest town where there was a Sai Centre, to observe and learn about bhajans and Sai activities. Soon his workshop transformed into a mini Bhajan Centre.

The activities of the Sai Youth of Ambodola increased and intensified with time, from only bhajans to distributing food and other essentials to the needy to cleaning the surroundings and uplifting the ambience of that rural hamlet.

However as more people began to attend these sessions, many of them being women, the need for a bigger place became paramount. So the activities were now moved to the house of another Sai devotee.

A year into this and Mohan’s desire to see Baba physically only intensified. In October 1993 he found himself at Prasanthi Nilayam. It was the time of Dasara celebrations. As he awaited the Lord in the darshan line, someone told him that if Baba takes one’s letter, their problems would be solved.

Meanwhile darshan music began and Baba was now gliding on the sands of Prasanthi Nilayam Mandir. Even as Mohan was captivated with the sight, he did not want to lose the opportunity of penning down his prayer. Immediately tearing a page from his spiral notebook, he wrote: “Swami, we want to build a Sai Temple in Ambodola. Please bless us.” When Baba came near him, he held out his letter. Baba gently stretched His hand and collected his prayer with much love.

Bubbling with bliss, Mohan bhai returned to Ambodola. When he shared his experience with other Sai devotees they exulted in joy. Soon they approached an elder person of the village and made their request for a bigger place of worship.  Interestingly, the senior person readily gave away a portion of his own land for the purpose.

The youth now started organising themselves to begin construction and they timed the bhoomi puja (land-breaking ceremony) during Dasara, to coincide with the exact day of the previous year when Baba had accepted the letter. And then began the saga of labour of love.

“We used to close our shops at 7pm and work at the site till midnight,” recalled Mohan bhai. “We baked our own bricks, collected wood from the nearby forest in a tractor, filled a big pit with 60 truckloads of sand... we literally did all the non-specialised work of the construction.”

A snap of the youth busy installing a bore well for the Sathya Sai Temple in Ambadola (on the right).

“In fact some years ago when there was a serious accident that involved the overturning of a vehicle near Ambodola, we rushed there immediately. We carried the injured to a hospital in Berhampur, about 240 kms away. Getting an ambulance was difficult but we requested a corporate house engaged in mining business in a place 60 kms from here to help us. Again when a large sum had to be paid to the hospital in Berhampur we sought the help of the District Collector as well as the devotees of the Berhampur Sai Centre.

The Sai Youth serving a patient in severe condition after an accident; on the right is a spiritual picnic organised for the Bal Vikas children.

“Similarly, when there was an accidental huge explosion of crackers in Ambodola which blew off the roof of a house, so many of our youth showed great courage and presence of mind to rescue the affected and take them to the hospital for treatment. Our efforts did really pay off and many were saved.”

On the occasion of Baba's 83rd birthday, the Sai youth organised 83-hour long programme which comprised of short skits (left) to bhajans to service activities to Bal vikas rallies in the rural setting of Ambodola.

Selfless Service Shows the Way

Such instances of service, small and big, done continuously and selflessly served as an eye-opener to many in the village and soon a lot of hands joined the Sai Organisation. For all those with good hearts and a genuine intention to engage in noble activities, the Sai centre provided a medium and an opportunity. And one of the many who was drawn to the Sai fold at this time was Trinath.

The Sai Youth cleaning the premises of a boring well in a tribal village near Ambodola (left); on the right is Sai devotees serving in a local small clinic to improve its hygiene.

“Actually I came to teach at the school here in 2002,” Trinath recalled and continued, “But as I stayed here I noticed the devoted work being done by the Sai youth and I was very touched. By that time they had started Bal Vikas classes and I felt ashamed that my students knew so many verses of the Bhagavad Gita and other sacred hymns when I could not recite even one. I wanted to join this group. What also moved me was the spirit with which they did service – they were never affected by the jeering they received from a certain section of society.”

In fact, once during Sivaratri, the Sai youth decided to serve by managing the crowds in a nearby Shiva temple. They made a shoe stand, separate pathways for men and women using ropes, and so on. Some people did not like this and a man started walking into the temple with his footwear on. What was worse, he took the line meant for ladies. Mohan bhai requested him politely and with folded hands, to conform to the discipline. But the person became so angry that he slapped Mohan bhai hard and abused him for ‘showing off’ his service. And then left in a huff.

The other youth wanted to retaliate immediately but Mohan bhai stopped them. The rest of the service went on without any problems and soon all forgot about it. About a year later, the man who had abused him stopped by Mohan bhai’s shop, went near him, fell at his feet and asked for forgiveness. “This incident taught me the value of patience and tolerance,” Mohan bhai recalled.

It is this nobility and idealism in their service which impressed the local community. Not only this, it drew onto them the grace of the divine too in ample measure.

In 2005 when they undertook the project of distributing Amruta Kalashas (Gift hamper bags with lots of essential food and other items) to 40 poor families, after the service was done vibhuti and kumkum (vermillion) started manifesting from Baba’s pictures in Mohan bhai’s house.

In November 2005, to celebrate Baba's birthday 40 poor families were given Amruta Kalashas (gift hamper bags).

Witnessing this, people started performing bhajan there and once they started singing honey began to drip from some of the pictures.

Various manifestations of Baba's omnipresence in Mohan Bhai's house.

“This happened between September 9 and 13,” Mohan bhai recalled and continued, “In fact on the morning of September 13, my wife had a profound experience. That morning I was waiting for her to complete cleaning our puja room. I was to go and perform my daily prayers after she was done. But she didn’t return for very long time. Curious, I went to the puja room and there I saw her sitting before Baba’s picture with her head bent down completely as if she was offering salutation. I waited but there was no movement for an unusually long time.

“Finally I went near and shook her gently. She was unconscious! But her head was covered with kumkum and turmeric powder! I immediately called out to my mother and sister-in-law. They rushed in and sprinkled water on her face. After a while she woke up and said, ‘Something strange happened to me as I was cleaning the room. As I neared the Baba’s picture on the wall, His hand just stretched out from the picture and touched me! The next second I was completely bathed in a very bright light. I do not know what happened next.’

On the right is Mohan bhai's wife who had a special blessing from Swami wherein she felt His touch and presence; the other photos are signs of divine grace in his house.

“Well, that was the last day of a week of miracles in our house. Baba drew it to a close by blessing my wife thus.”

This couple’s dedication to Baba and His work has been tremendous. In fact, today even in areas 40-50 kms away from Ambodola, everybody knows Mohan bhai as Sairam Bhaina (‘the Sairam Brother’). Baba has been the invisible force and inspiration guiding this small team of spirited youth under the leadership of Mohan bhai. And it indeed had been a long journey with Sai, one that has been most memorable.

 

- Bishu Prusty
Radio Sai Team

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