"God always helps those who help themselves."

[SS91]

A Touch of the divine

There was once a Sanyasi who lived in a small village called

Medchal.

He would often talk to the villagers about the Lord and His Grace.

One day, he said, "The Lord is kind and merciful and He is full of

love for his devotees. Whenever you are in trouble and your strength

fails, pray to the Lord, He will certainly help you!"

Ramprasad, a farmer in the village, always went to listen to the

Sanyasi.

He was a great devotee of Anjanneya, Lord Hanuman.

He felt very happy when he heard that God always helped His

devotees, when in trouble.

One day, as Ramprasad was driving his bullock cart filled with

rice-bags, it began to rain heavily.

 He had barely gone a little distance when both the side wheels of

the cart got stuck in the mud.

As he was checking the damage done, he remembered the words of the

Sanyasi.

With folded hands and closed eyes he began to pray,

 "O Anjanneya, please come and push my cart out of the slush".

He prayed again and again but no God appeared before him.

Very disappointed, he became very angry with Lord Anjanneya.


Then he turned his anger towards the Sanyasi. He rushed to the

temple where the Sanyasi was staying and said,

 "Maharaj, you have fooled us all. God never helps man.

My cart was stuck in the mud and I prayed to Anjanneya so many

times, but all in vain".

Then, he angrily explained all that had happened.

The Sanyasi patiently listened to Ramprasad.

Then patting his back with sympathy and love, he said,

"My son, I do know that you are disappointed but didn't I tell you

that The Lord comes to your help only after you have put in all the

effort? If you stand near a well and say, "Oh well, I am thirsty,

please give me some water !" What will you get ? Nothing! ! You have

to lower down a pot into the well and pull it up.

Only then will you get water from the well.

So too with the Lord. Use all the strength He has given you and then

pray for help."

Ramprasad ran back to his cart. He put his own shoulder under

one of the sides of the cart and urged the bullocks to pull the

cart while he pushed the wheel with all his strength.

He continued to pray. At that very time, Ramprasad felt that someone

else was pushing the other wheel of the cart with still greater

strength. He knew deep down in his heart that it was Anjanneya who

had come to his help. Immediately, both the wheels came out of the

mud and bullocks started running joyfully drawing the cart.

As the bells around the bullocks' neck jingled. Ramprasad began to

sing a prayer, expressing his gratitude to Lord Anjanneya.

Thereafter, Ramprasad would always tell his friends whenever they

were in trouble, "Use your intelligence and strength even as you

pray for God's help. Surely He will help you,

as God always helps those who help themselves."

Like wise if we have sincere  devotion towards Sai

and with our hard efforts I am sure

Sai will come in some form to help us and

His Divine Touch and Grace will also be felt by us.

Jaisairam.





OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.