MB#53: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢: 𝙈𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙞 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙖.

[MemoirBlogthon #53] In 1971, my father introduced me to the fervent devotion of a colleague's family on Sathya Sai Baba's birthday, noting the miracles they witnessed. Years later, jobless and worried in Hyderabad, I received my own unexpected miracle: a dream where Sai Baba placed his hand on my cheek and consoled me. This divine promise led to three job interview calls within two days. My first visit to the Puttaparthi Ashram, where I secured a first-row darshan, validated my father's belief that genuine spiritual service, exemplified by Baba's massive water projects and hospitals, is the highest form of community development.

The Seeds of Devotion in Machilipatnam

In 1971, while my father was the Executive Engineer for the Roads and Buildings Department in Machilipatnam, he took us to the home of a known officer, Sri Manikya Rao, on November 23rd, the birthday of Sathya Sai Baba. Until then, I had never heard of Sai Baba. The house was filled with devotees engaged in bhajan (devotional singing).

Sri Manikya Rao and his family, ardent devotees, shared tales of miracles—precious stones appearing in a baby’s hands, or Vibhudi (sacred ash) accumulating near Sai Baba’s photos. They trusted that Sai Baba reciprocated their devotion through these signs. Sri Manikya Rao simply described Sai Baba as having mystical powers, the ability to heal, and a principle focused on righteousness (Dharma), love for God, and service to fellow man. My father admired the community projects that Baba established, noting the mandir built in 1944 and the subsequent Prasanthi Nilayam ashram completed in 1950.

The Dream That Secured My Career

Several years later, I resigned from a white-collar job in Vizianagaram and landed in Hyderabad to search for a new position as a Company Secretary. After two weeks of unsuccessful searching, I was worried about my family's future. It was at this low point that a miracle occurred:

In a night dream, Sri Sathya Sai Baba appeared and consoled me by placing his hand on my cheek, saying that everything would go well and I would be settled in Hyderabad soon. I was not a devotee, but the dream was so vivid that I shared it with my cousin brother, who immediately termed it a miracle.

True to the dream, I received three interview calls within two days and was selected by two organizations. I chose the role of Company Secretary in a hotel industry company.

The Visit to Prasanthi Nilayam

My father, when I shared the story, advised me to visit the Puttaparthi Ashram before joining the new company.

My first visit was sheer luck. After securing accommodation and standing in the long queue lines, I found myself in the first vertical line of seated people—a highly coveted spot where Sai Baba would walk past and devotees could offer namaskaram. Strangely, Sai Baba paused for a few seconds right in front of me. Other co-visitors were surprised, calling it a miracle of his grace.

A Legacy of Service

My second visit to Puttaparthi was in 2008, again on November 23rd, to attend the birthday celebration with a group of Company Secretaries, thanks to a student's arrangement. Though Sai Baba was by then frail, he took a round in a battery car within the auditorium, allowing us a close glimpse. Today, the Centenary Birthday celebrations, coinciding with our family's gathering to celebrate my father's memory, continue globally.

My father’s ultimate admiration was for the large-scale community projects established by the Sai Baba trust:

The Sri Sathya Sai educational institutions, including a university.

The super-specialty hospital that provides free advanced medical care.

The Sri Sathya Sai Water Project, supplying potable water across the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.

The story of the dream and the darshan not only secured my job but also permanently aligned my perspective with my father's belief: that genuine spiritual power manifests as admirable community infrastructure and selfless service.

MB #53 Quiz

MB53: Question: Which major community development project initiated by the Sai Baba Trust was noted for supplying potable water?

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• A. The Free University Project.
• B. The Super-Speciality Hospital.
• C. The Annadanam Program.
• D. The Sri Sathya Sai Water Project.

MB #53: Quote

"Love all, serve all." – Sathya Sai Baba