Born a beautiful relationship

God, Is that You ?

A divine thursday it was.

"Bring me Sathya Sai Baba's photo Rohini", my tuition teacher said to me. She used to decorate the altar before the bhajan and bringing Swami's photo is a blessed opportunity for the students who studied there. So obviously those who gets called would be excited to even touch Swami's photo. But you know what I was thinking when my name was called upon. "Who is Sathya Sai Baba?". I was that ignorant. In fact, I could not able to differentiate between the forms of Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai. I was in Class 8 that time. My tuition would fully be decorated with Swami's photo. There used to be bhajans every Thursday. Though I didn't know anything about Swami's divinity, whenever the Mangala Aarathi was sung, I used to become so energetic and clap hands. Slowly Swami entered into my life :) My Chitta Chora.

Depiction of Swami's photo kept in the Bhajan hall

Bhagwan has said in a discourse "The divine will not consider your status or position, your pomp and show. The Lord is bound only by the devotees' devotion."

These words would be the right one to describe my life with Sai. I did not hail from a family that was devoted to Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai baba nor did have any spiritual knowledge. Just as He decided the time, place of His incarnation and the parents, He knew exactly when to enter into my life as well.

Thus Enters The Master

When you ask a school going kid what is his/her favorite day in a week, obviously the answer would be a Sunday. But not with us. It was Thursday. It was the day when we get to forget ourselves in Sai Seva. Decorating the altars, Singing bhajans, distributing the Prasadam and more such activities. The beauty of it is, at that time I had no idea about the great blessing that was being showered on us by Mother Sai. Out of all the Seva activities, I had a deep desire to sing for Swami. But one doesn't get that blessed opportunity so easily.

In Swami's word, "Singing aloud the name of the Lord in the form of Bhajans is like placing a lamp on the threshold of the house; it illumines the within and the without. The name of the Lord brings peace to the one who sings as well as to those that listen. "

So clearly it was not an exhibition of one's talent but a sacred act of worship that brings about 'unity and purity' which eventually leads to 'Divinity'.

Coming back to my story, I was no more than a scared little girl who sings only when no one is around or in the bathroom amongst the sounds of running water. So it was a "Mission Impossible" task for me. But I gathered all courage to ask my teacher if I can sing in the next bhajan to which she replied positively. I was paired up with other student who regularly sings. I was all charged up and excitedly planning out my bhajan-singing debut in front of Swami.

Finally the day came. The song I chose was "Shirdi Sai Dwarakamayi" (The One who incarnated as Sai Baba of Shirdi and resided in the mosque which You called Dwarakamayi). As the bhajan progressed, my heart started beating faster. And when my chance came to offer the bhajan, I was dumbstruck. Would you believe me if I said I forgot the entire bhajan. Thankfully my partner managed the song and I was on mute throughout the whole bhajan. This was my debut bhajan to my dear Saimaa.. 😄

Shirdi Sai Viswanath Mandir

Fast forward to this day, in the same place where I met my Swami, where all such beautiful interactions with Bhagwan happened, there is Shirdi Sai Viswanath Mandir built with Dwarakamayi.. And if you recall my first song was "Shirdi Sai Dwarakamayi". That was no coincidence but Bhagwan's Divine hand at work :-) 💙

Dwarakamayi Sai at the temple

I am sitting in the same Thursday bhajans and now I am no more on mute. How could I thank the Lord for all the bounties He has bestowed me with? I can only offer myself at your Lotus feet Saimaa..

Thus began a glorious relationship between a little girl and her only Lord... !!!
JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME BEGINS :-) 💫