try surrendering completely to god - watch miracles happen

[gomisuchi]

The story begins

Many years ago, the narrater of this incident had gone to Vrindavan with his friends. After visiting many temples, they became tired and thirsty in the sweltering afternoon summer sun. Suddenly they spotted a hut in which an old woman sat singing bhajans. They approached the hut and this woman lovingly welcomed them and offered them water and food. After having their lunch, the group wanted to leave but could not as the heat was still unbearable. They decided to stay in the hut for a while till the time the sun's intensity lessened. One of the narrator's friends became curious to know about the old woman and upon some insistence, the woman decided to speak.

This is the story related by the old woman.

I am from Aligarh where I was born and brought up. My father Gopal Das was a simple school teacher. He was an artless and honest man who was committed to his job. He never desired great wealth and would be content with whatever destiny meted out to him. I had two younger brothers and both of them went to school. Although we were poor by any standards yet life passed on. I soon grew older and reached marriageable age.

My father would often get disturbed about our financial condition. He would get worried as to how he would be able to finance my marriage but neverthless somehow maintained courage. He made several friends one of whom was one Mr Shastri a gregarious fellow. My mother would often object to my father's carefree way of living, often accusing him of not having saved any money for his daughter's marriage and sons' education. At this my father, with an artless confidence would say when he would need money he would borrow it from his rich friends and would later return it. My mother always knew beyond doubt that none of my father's friends would ever help him financially and would often warn my father about this. But, my father would casually dismiss my mother's skeptism about his friends.

At last the time for my marriage arrived. My father naturally went to Mr Shastri to borrow some money. He was in for a rude shock as Mr Shastri dismissed him outright saying how would my father ever return the money as he was an impecunious fellow. Not only that, the heartless Mr Shastri also alerted my father's other friends in the fraternity, advising them not to lend any money to my father. None of my father's so called friends came forward to help.This was not a surprise to my mother as she knew all along this would happen. Having been snubbed by his friends, my father's anxiety grew day by day. The day of my marriage was fast approaching and there was no money to organise the wedding. Money is always needed for marriages - for feasts, ceremonies, dowry and so on. My father became extremely tensed and disturbed. All thorughout the day he would wander here and there trying to arrange funds for my marriage but he did not meet any luck. He would often skip his dinner after returning home and would sulk and go straight to sleep. He was also deeply hurt at the behaviour of his friends.

Finally only 5 days remained for my marriage. I saw my father coming home with lots of marriage items like bed, clothes, utensils, sweets, jewellery and so on. Both I and my mother was extremely surprised as to how out of the blue my father could arrange all this when just a day before he had virtually no money at all. Upom asking my father replied with quiet confidence that he had mortgaged the house and borrowed money from Lakshmi Chand, the money lender. Upon hearing this, all hell broke loose on my mother for she had heard several tales about Lakshmi Chand's dishonest ways. Any one who had mortgaged his house or land with Lakshmi Chand was doomed for he could be certain he would never get it back. Lakshmi Chand was a greedy cheat who was adept at juggling account records to dupe poor villagers of their property. He would keep duplicate records, one real and the other fake. He was also well versed in legal matters, had a good hold over hawkish lawyers and so would indulge in brazen manipulations to carry out his misdeeds. My mother rebuked my father sharply and tension prevailed in our home. My mother was certain that we were doomed but my father tried his best to calm my mother, saying her fears were unfounded and after the marriage he would surely pay back the money to Lakshmi Chand and get the house released. My mother doubted father's words for she thought that after my marriage, father would become more carefree and would not take much care to repay the loan.

However, my mother's doubt turned out to be unfounded as after my marriage my father toiled day and night to earn money to repay the loan. After four months of very hard work that took its toll on his health, my father was able to repay the loan.

In India, Hindus consider it a sacred duty to take a holy dip in the Ganges after one has married off his daughter. Just a few days after my father had repaid the loan, my mother started insisting my father for the Ganges pilgrimage. My father did not have money then so he asked mother to wait a little. After long hours of hard work for several months my father's aged body was no longer in a condition to work so he tried to tarry the trip. But my mother was adamant. From God knows where, she arranged some money to finance the trip. My parents then went on the Ganges pilgrimage. The day they returned, a registered postal letter awaited my father. When he read the letter he collapsed in disbelief! The document was a court notice sent by none other than the wicked Lakshmi Chand. It stated that if by a certain date my father did not repay the loan with interest, the house would be confiscated and my father thrown out.

Upon reading that notice all life seemed to have left my father. He had honestly repaid the loan with full interest so why this notice? He was a simple man who had never been to the court. The court for him seemed to be a dreadful place where the rich and the powerful openly maipulated legalities to twist cases in their favour to cheat the poor and the helpless. The court was a place where truth was murdered every day and every minute and falsehood reigned supreme. Every brick of the court building was like a snake's bloody fangs ready to strike the helpless and the meek at the slightest chance. My father neverthless gathered courage to seek the help of his friends. Once again they all cold shouldered him. Mr Shastri refused to help my father saying that as my father had not returned the money to Lakshmi Chand in his presence, how could he become a witness to the case. Besides, Lakshmi Chand was a powerful and inflential man so he did not want enmity with him.

Once again my father was plunged in gloom. He despaired and seemed to lose his balance completely. He wondered at the ways of the world. How strange this world is. Even after one has repaid the loan with interest he is served a court notice. He shuddered to think what would happen to him if he did not vacate the house. He would be dragged to court;humiliated; made to beg and grovel before the judge,lawyer and Lakshmi Chand; his family honour would bite dust and what not. My mother kept her hand over my father's forehead. My father was burning with high fever.

The next morning my father woke up in the same condition. He decided to pay Lakshmi Chand a visit and ask him why he was doing all this. My mother sensing an altercation decided to accompany my father. When my father reached Lakshmi Chand's house, he was warmly greeted by the latter and was served tea and snacks. Lakshmi Chand even touched my father's feet (as a sign of respect) and enquired after his well being. Upon being asked by my father, Lakshmi Chand admitted that my father had repaid the loan in full alongwith interest. He said he was primarily interested in my father's house and wanted that house at any cost. He even offered
my father all the money my father had repaid him as a price for the house. He said if my father did not accept the offer he would have to face harrasment in the court.

My father begged Lakshmi Chand not to do this and said that if he were to vacate the house where would he live with his wife and two sons. Besides, the house was his ancestral property and he could not abandon something so precious. This was of no use as Lakshmi Chand refused to melt. He warned my father not to teach him what was right and what was wrong. He insisted that he had kept a proposal before my father. If my father agreed he would get the money from Lakshmi Chand for his house or else he would have to run from pillar to post to settle the matter in court. At this my mother lost control and warned Lakshmi Chand that it was not proper to harrass someone like this and there was a court higher than all the courts in the world and that was God' court and God would surely take Lakshmi Chand to task.

Acutely disappointed, my parents returned home. My father was already disgusted at his friends' indifference and so did not bother to consult anyone. Everyone was your friend as long as you had money. The moment you were penniless and needed help, you were abandoned. My mother kept insisting my father to seek help. Finally he got fed up and left home. Coincidentally that day was 'Hariyali Teej (a festival of Hindus) and a bus of devotees was gong to Vrindavan from Aligarh. My father lost in thought, absentmidedly boarded the bus. He had no idea where the bus was going, so mired he was in his mental agony. It so happended that the conductor of the bus turned out to be one of father's old students. He offered my father a seat beside his with great respect. During their talk, father came to know that on special occassions the bus goes from Aligarh to Vrindavan with devotees of Lord Krishna. Today was one of such days. My father had heard of "Baanke Bihari" before also. It was only today that he came to know that several devotees go to Vrindavan just to visit the "Baanke Bihari" temple. So endearing was He to his devotees. My father's soul too now yearned for a darshan (devout glimpse) of "Baanke Bihari" - the one and only Lord Krishna. The bus conductor narrated several miraculous stories about Lord Krishna to my awe struck father. He had heard several tales from bus passengers. Besides his own life had been blessed by Krishna. He narrated his own story to my father - how many years ago he had arrived in Vrindavan as a penniless, hungry youth with no dwelling whatsoever; how he had cried and prayed to Krishna and how miraculously he was spotted by his long distant aunt - a rich lady, who adopted him and put him in service in the little transport business she owned. That bus was one of the many buses she ran.

In the meantime the bus arrived at Vrindavan. The passengers alighted from the bus which was supposed to stay in Vrindavan for two hours after which it would go back to Aligarh. The passengers had two hours to stay in Vrindavan. The conductor took my father to the famous "Baanke Bihari" temple. My father devoutly offered his soul to Lord Krishna and in a spirit of true devotion, surrendered completely to the Lord. It seemed that the grace of Krishna was beginning to touch my father. All my father's mental agony seemed to flow down in the river of his true surrender.

At midnight my father returned home - a different man. He walked with a confident and steady gait. It seemed now, he had no worries; he needed no one's help; he depended on no one; he had no fear whatsoever. He had obtained His assurance - He who was the greatest of all helpers.

The very next day my father confidently sent a bold reply to Lakshmi Chand's lawyer stating clearly that as he had already repaid the loan with interest in full he would not under any circumstances vacate the house. Infuriated at this, Lakshmi Chand sent a court summon to my father asking my father to appear at the court on a specified date. The court summon which would ordinarily terrify my father beyond any limits, was today received like a royal invitation by my father.


He did not feel the slightest fear upon receiving the court summon. How could he feel fear when the Lord was with him? On the specified day, my father alone went to the court. There he was asked by the judge about the whereabouts of the payment receipt which Lakshmi Chand must have handed over to my father upon receiving the full payment. Upon this question my father innocently replied that he was not given any receipt nor had he insisted Lakshmi Chand to give him a receipt. There dealings were of mutual faith and trust and receipts was unnecessary. The judge further asked my father whether he could tell him as to on what dates he had repaid the loan instalments and also the amount he had repaid in every instalment. My father looked up his diary and readily told everything. Lakshmi Chand kept duplicate records and presented the false records at the court. The false records, quite obviously did not have any trace of the transactions. My father kept insisting that he had seen Lakshmi Chand enter the amounts in his records but today there was no trace of the payments in Lakshmi Chand's records. Lakshmi Chand's lawyer started accusing my father of being a liar. Lakshmi Chand's lawyer further asked my father to present any witness in whose presence my father had given the payment. My father kept quiet as he had no witness- there was in fact no witness. Hope seemed to dim, he could seek help from no one but suddenly he remembered "Baanke Bihari" - the saviour behind all saviours. The glorious form of the Lord stood there in my father's vision, with his flute playfully at his beautiful lips, smiling a very knowing smile at my father. Father prayed deeply to Krishna - that ocean of mercy. My father blurted out to the judge,"Baanke Bihari is my witness. He was there with me every time I went to make a payment".

At this, the lawyer again asked my father to tell the name of the witness. My father said that "Baanke Bihari" was the name of the witness. The lawyer growled at my father and asked him the witness's address. My father replied "Vrindavan Mathura". Upon being asked the name of the father of the witness. My father replied after some hesitation "Swami Haridas". (Swami Haridas was a great saint and a great devotee of Lord Krishna, who lived in the sixteenth century. It was he who had discovered the idol of Baanke Bihari (Lord Krishna) which till this day is worshipped in that famous temple).

Anyway, the court attendent reached Vrindavan to present the court summon to the "witness" Baanke Bihari. On reaching there he was accosted by a young beautiful dark skinned lad who offered to take him to Baanke Bihari. (Readers no prizes for guessing who this dark beautiful lad was!)

Before the attendant could answer, the lad took him by his hand and brought him to the Baanke Bihari temple. It was afternoon and the temple was closed. The lad requested the attendant to stick the summons document on the temple door and said Baanke Bihari would read it when he returned. He assured the attendant that on the day of the court proceedings, Baanke Bihari would surely be present to give witness. Satisfied, the attendant returned to Aligarh.

Some people later told me that Lakshmi Chand's wicked lawyer had gleefully remarked to his client that the latter need not worry as the case would surely be settled in his favour as God would not descend to give witness in favour of the poor Gopal Das (my father). They both had had a hearty laugh at my father.

The judge was in a dilemma. He knew not what to do. Deep down he knew my father was innocent and Lakshmi Chand was fleecing him but then what could he do. My father had no proof, no witness. He wondered at my father's devotion and innocence. This man, he mused, has named Baanke Bihari as his witness. Baanke Bihari is the judge of all judges, the ruler of all creation, lord of all that lives. Will He have the time to come to give witness in favour of this ordinary fellow?

Just a few days now remained for the court date. My father now decided to go to Vrindavan one more time. Everyone in the household made fun of my father and tried to dissaude my father from going but my father did not listen and left for Vrindavan. On reaching the temple he once more prayed fervently for the Lord's help. His surrender was complete. In the afternoon he sat outside the temple and went to sleep. In the dream Lord Krishna appeared to him and promised him that he would come to give witness in his favour. In the evening my father took a dip in the holy Yamuna and returned home.

Except for my father everyone in the household felt sure that the case would be decided in Lakshmi Chand's favour. But my father was supremely confident that he would win the case. My father's faith was dismissed as eccentricity by everyone else.

On the day of the proceeding, the judge asked my father whether his witness was ready. My father said that the witness had indeed arrived. The court attendant shouted out "Baanke Bihari be present". There was no response. He called out again "Baanke Bihari be present". No response. He called out the third time "Baanke Bihari be present". This time a voice spoke from outside the room "I am here". Just that instant an old man wrapped in a black blanket entered the court room. Everywhere there an exclamation of utter surprise. "Who is this Baanke Bihari?" "Are you Gopal Das's witness?", the judge asked the mysterious stranger. The figure nodded. The stranger's blanket covered face was irritating the judge. "Please show your face and reply clearly, what is your name?", asked the judge now getting stern.

The figure slightly removed the blanket from his face and replied to the judge "Bihari". The moment the judge looked at the stranger's face, he was completely awe struck at the divine lustre on the stranger's face. This face was unlike that of any other human being the judge had ever seen. It was no human face, it was the face of God himself. The pen dropped out of the judge's hand, his forehead began to sweat profusely and he forgot to ask anything else. The stranger spoke, "Gopal Das has returned each and every pie with interest to Lakshmi Chand. If you want proof of this then it is to be found in a yellow file kept in the topmost partition of the almirah which lies at the right of Lakshmi Chand's office seat. All of Gopal Das's transactions appear under the name of "Das" and are fully recorded in page 2 of the file. I will now even tell you the exact amount and the dates on which Gopal Das made the payments." The witness went on to narrate every detail about the transactions. Everyone in the court was dumbstruck. Lakshmi Chand stood there trembling. His lawyer stood there staring in blank space like an idiot.

After some minutes, the judge regained his composure and asked the witness, "Can you recognise the file?". "Absolutely", replied the witness. The judge adjourned the court and went to Lakshmi Chand's office (a part of his dwelling itself) alongwith the witness, Gopal Das, Lakshmi Chand, Lakshmi Chand's lawyer and two court attendants. There it turned out to be exactly what the witness had told him in court. Lakshmi Chand was caught red handed.

The judge turned around. The witness had vanished! My father after that day never returned home. He who obtains the Lord makes the whole world his friend. The very next day, the judge resigned from his job and became a renunciant and devoted his remaining life to Krishna.

Not only this. Everyone related to this incident in any way whatsoever soon abandoned their dwellings and vocations and got lost in the divine charm of Vrindavan for the rest of their lives -and why not? They had become useless to the world.

Story ends.

[Poons]

Dear Gomisuchiji ..
Thanks for this wonderful post. I happened to read it today, when I needed it the most.

May Baba bless you with happiness always !!!

Lots of love,
Poonam

[gomisuchi]

may god bless u with all the happiness poonam ji. 

[saib]

Thanks Suchi for sharing such a beautiful story (or say event from the life of a devotee). Krishna is friend of friends. Many years ago when I felt betrayed by my only friend about to start a business, It was only krishna who did not let me go in state of depression and I got healed to stand again.

Thanks to make me remind my old great days.

Have you ever thought to make a visit or if possible to make parikrama of Goverdhan.

http://www.girirajji.com/goverdhan-parikrama.html

Just Have Faith on Sai. Faith means unconditional Faith. Conditional Faith is no faith at all. May Sai bless you with a great life before coming Holi!

om sri sai ram!

[chweetujaanu]

suchi ji a very nice post it booms our confidence more n more..

omsairam

[gomisuchi]

saib ji,

i wish i could goto vrindavan sometime.. lets see when god calls me.. and chweetuji, its nice yo know my post did something positive to ur mind. feels good. hope everything is ok at ur side. baba bless u all.

[aquafish]

thnaks suchi and thanks chweetu for telling me to read it...felt good...I was really down from a few days..needed this...

Om sai ram

[gomisuchi]

hello aquafish ji,

what happ.. why feeling low??.. cheer up.. its winter.. lol... aqaufish ji... we are all sailing on the same boat... some a lil towards the edge some in the center.. but nevertheless the same boat.. dont worry.. when baba rescues the boat.. all will be saved at once.. have faith.

[aquafish]

thanks suchi...but teek nahi lag raha hai yaar..very bad feeling..dont know why but aisa lag raha hai..i am praying..trusting baba but somewhere its lacking..my faith...coz if i fully beleived in him i wont be scared but I am .....dont know..

[vidyarp]

Its my good luck that i am reading this today. For all these times, i have been praying to baba to do things the way i want. Its only last night, when i relaized that baba is waiting for me to surrender to him completely. I was a fool...trying to dictate my own terms to baba; hoping that he will comply with all that i asked him for. I never realized that he knows what is best for me and he will surely give me what i want but not if dont surrender completely. Its only last night when i totally surrendered to baba and promised that i will not ask him to do this, do that. Rather i will ask him to help me in each step and watch over me and my loved ones. And the bigger decisions, i leave them on to him.
And guess what - i had the most incredible experience today early morning. I have been pining for my mother ever since she died in May this year. I just wanted to talk to her once more and ask her if she was fine. And today early morning at 4, i had a dream. In my dream i saw that my cell phone was ringing and the caller id showed that it was from my mother. I picked the phone and said - "Ma". And i clearly heard her voice on the other end of the line - she said that she was fine. I asked her how she was and my voice was choked - she said that she is fine and watching over me. She said that she was really touched by some of the things i had done and blessed me by saying that i will do well in life. At this point i was crying profusely and the call ended. I woke up and saw that it was 4 AM in the morning. And i could not sleep after that. I think it is baba's leela that he made me talk to my dead mother. I am so happy and emotional. Baba has heard me. He will surely hear me and take care of my father.

[lms]

dear suchi..

menae woh story pada...isa laga woh tumnae nahi likha hae bhagavan nae likha hae..janthi ho..suchi..yesterday..woh log yeham aya dha..anae kae pahale mere cousin sae phone karkar kaha ki..unlokomki ane kae samay yeham..mere realtives alawa...koyi nahi chahiyae agar koyi neighbour ayega thoo..woh kuch nahi kahoonga our wapaz jayega..un kae..anae pahale baba photo kae pass jakar menae kaha...baba mere koyi nahi hae..na koyi..pappa na koyi husband...sirf tum hae..2 days bfore menae ek lawyer kae pas gaya dha..unhonae bathaya ki woh waham samay thak ayega..woh..lok isa kaha..hae mem kya karoom..? samay kae pahalae sasooma agaya..unkae samnae mem kysae..phone karoonga..? kyas uska insult karoonga..?baba kae photo..dekhkar..sai...sai..kaha...suchi tumnae kaha dhaki apply udhi on my forehead..menae isa kiya..our udhi..khaya..with chanting vibhuthimantra...after sometimes...sasoomma na kaha ki ..woh documents laya hae..any confusion tho..copy doonga..kal..any lawyer   dighavoo..Menae is samay me cousin sae kaha..bahar avoo..or kaha..is waqth lawyer ko lana chahiyae..sasoo ki permission kae sath..woh aya..our bath bhi kiyaa..unohnae kaha..ki..jo sasoonae kaha hae sab ghalath hae..lekhin woh manae ko thayyar bhi. nahi dhae hamnae.....at last some conditions ..sasookae samnae rekha..woh..kaha ki ghar jakar..bathawoongi..baba nae us samay..mereliyae lawyer bhej liya hae..,woh bhi sassoki permission kae sath...unhonae kaha ki..per cent ko..10 Lkhs sae bechna..chahthi hae woh adhmi..shop kahridhan chahthae hae woh adhmi..ko ham pahale shop kiraye par diya..da..isliyae..unlokmkae sam na ..kya bath huwa price kae bare sab sirf woh lok janthae hae....agar 10 lakhs sae adhikkae thoo..unlokomko...phir ..mere share..ki..portion adhik milega..baba sab janthae hae...baba sae menae kaha ki..baba ab sab janthae hae..agar..woh mujae..cheat karega thoo..usae..conditions accept nahi karni chahiyae...after that I can go..our..religious..authority..jaham..shadi dowry kae baremem record kiya dha...baba mere sath hae..isliyae sasoosae mere share baremem poocha....menae kaha ki menae waham rahane kae samay...sab kuch sah liya..hae..sab app janthae hae..bhir phi aap..mere sath koyi mercy nahi kiya.., apnae baba kae samna mujae chooda wachan diya dha..apko..ekdin baba ko usak ..jawab dena padega..usnae kaha woh sab..keliyae woh thayyar hae..lekhin  prarthanae karthi hum usae..koyi sasoomma ko..koyi thaklief  nahi dena baba..,..mereliyae baz uski..manko..change karna..hae...unlokomnae mere sath kya kiya..uskeliyae repentence honi chahiyae..mem bold ban chuka..hum..mem pahal ladki nahi hum mujae ab court, police station kuch..bhi .dar nahi hae...sai ram

[Sonu2310]

dear suchi, nice story. and thanks for this wonderful gift

[gomisuchi]

poonam ji, u were looking for this post.. found it for u.. and adding a few more stories for faith to strengthen...

story 1...

I would like to narrate my experiences during my second visit to Sai Baba temple at Sibpur, Nadia district in West Bengal. Like my previous darshan of Sai Baba in this temple , I felt the similar glow in Sai Baba's face. He seemed to me as if sitting there alive, smiling at all the devotees. The arati takes place four times a day- early morning at 4:45 AM, noon arati at 12 PM, evening arati from 6:30 PM till 9:30 PM and the night arati at 9PM . The evening arati is splendid and goes on for 3 hour.

The devotees who are very poor farmers of the village come regularly during the aratis. I spotted a dog and the locals told me that this dog is present always during the arati. He has not missed a single arati!

During the evening arati I had the desire to take a small video of the arati and keep it for myself. An inner voice however asked me to stop taking the video and concentrate on the Puja and Arati. I brushed it aside and continued taking the videos. I tried to take two videos when the evening arati was going on. When the arati was over, I checked how the videos have turned out to be. Lo! To my surprise there were blank screens. None of the videos were recorded.
 
 I spotted a dog and the locals told me that this dog is present always during the arati. He has not missed a single arati!...
  
It then dawned to me that I have to seek Baba's permission to photograph Him. Next morning during the Kakkad arati I asked Baba for His permission to capture His morning Aarati. I looked at Baba and He seemed to be smiling. Happily I took the video. It was recorded this time! I understood that nothing in this universe moves without Baba's permission and grace.

On my way back I heard about the various leelas of Baba in the lives of His devotees of this village. Indeed Sai reigns there and rains His blessings over the poor folks.

- biswanath banerjee

story 2..

My name is N. Sairam and I am from Bangalore. This miracle happened to me in the month of July 09. Due to my careless attitude and as I lacked the skill to perform efficiently my work, I was suddenly sacked from the company on 31st May 09 without given any notice period. I was shocked to lose my job all of a sudden but couldn't do anything and was sitting at home jobless for more than a month and was desperately searching for a job. My efforts went in vain and I was almost losing hope day by day. My bank balance also was getting diminished in order to meet my family's expenses and everyone in family prayed to God for a job for me at the earliest.

In the last week of June 09, I was called for an interview by a small private company (near my place) and I was in the hope of getting that job at the earliest as I had done the written interview very well (though I had not done well in the last technical interview). However my hopes began to fail as I did not receive any further calls from the company even after a week.

During this period, my wife Uma (God's gift to me) told me that praying to Shirdi Saibaba and performing ‘Vridha' (fasting with pooja) for 9 continuous weeks on every Thursdays would yield me a job for sure. Initially I did not have belief in Baba and in the worship as I was a staunch devotee of Sri Rayaru and hence I informed her to do the pooja on my behalf and that I would participate in it. My wife hence started the worship. The previous day of the third week of worship, I got my self drowned in worries as to whether I would be employed in that company as there wasn't any other company that wanted to interview me.

Worrying about my predicament, I started browsing the internet when I came across a website on Shirdi Saibaba. The website exposed experiences of His devotees and His teachings to me, particularly an article published on 'Faith' and 'Patience' drew my attention. As I read on my eyes welled up and I started chanting 'Jai Sai,' surrendering myself completely to Him. A miracle of miracles, as it was, at that very time, I received a call from the company to attend the final round of interview the next day. My tongue immediately and involuntarily started repeating 'Jai Sai'.

The next day, the third Thursday, I completed the worship of Sai and went to attend the final round of interview. It was more than a surprise for me when I was told that I was selected for the job and that my salary was more than what I actually asked for. My joy knew no bounds and immediately thanked Sai within. With the CTC letter procured from the HR department I went straight to a Saibaba temple in the vicinity and placed it at Baba's feet gratefully and took His blessings. I also went to Sri Rayaru temple and took His blessings too. My family members were all very happy on me being employed. As for my wife and me, our faith in Sai increased tremendously. Needless to say, we are now staunch devotees of Baba.

All that I want to convey to my fellow Sai devotees is that, it is not necessary for one to recite any mantras or stotras. All that Sai wants is true faith in Him and patience. Nothing else. Just thinking of Him and uttering 'Sai, Sai' is more than enough to beget His showers of blessings. If possible one can also perform the nine weeks Vridh for which there is a book that states the procedures of the worship.

Praise to Sai and peace be to all.

story 3..

In the year 1991, I was trying for a good marriage alliance for my daughter but could not succeed in the process. It was on 01-01-92 New Year's day morning that I prayed to Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi and asked for a message regarding the marriage of my daughter. I closed my eyes and opened a page in the Sai Sat Charitra written by Sri Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji. To my surprise it was page 241 chapter 47 and the message was "I told him not to worry about this, as the bridegroom himself would come seeking her".

I was very happy as the message indicated the marriage of my daughter would take place in the year 1992. In the month of January 1992 a friend of mine took the necessary details of my daughter in the pursuit of finding a good groom. On 17-02-1992 I received a phone call from a person from Visakhapatnam interested in my daughter's details. I was in a dilemma and prayed to Baba. I had my prayer answered immediately by Baba to go ahead with the proposal.

The groom and their parents liked my daughter and on 20-02-1992, the marriage of my daughter was fixed. The marriage was fixed on 10-05-1992 at 06.58 a.m. in Hyderabad. I prayed to Baba to help me in the marriage activities and for the success of the marriage on 22-03-1992. When I was taking a nap in the afternoon, Sri Sai Baba appeared in my dream in the form of my Father (Late Sri R.V.Rao) and promised me that he will help me in my daughter's marriage and will also attend the marriage.

Chapter 40, page 212 in Sai Satcharitra, Baba has said "I always think about those who remember me, I require no conveyance, i.e carriage, Tonga, (Horse drawn Cart) or an Aero plane. I run and manifest myself to him, who lovingly calls on me". Baba has also said in Sai Satcharita page 151 chapter 28 "I have no form nor any extension - I live Everywhere" Baba has further told in chapter 40 page 213 "See, to keep my words I would even sacrifice my life, I would never be untrue to my words". I totally surrendered to Him and started with the marriage arrangements.

In the month of March 1992 wedding cards were printed out and as per the directions of Baba I had the first card posted to the Ganesh Temple, Ranathambhor, the second card to Balaji Temple, Tirupathi and the third card to Sri Sai Baba in Shiridi. Then I posted five cards abroad and prayed to Baba that at least one family from abroad should attend the wedding.


The day before the wedding I prayed to Baba to help me in carrying out the necessary activities. On the day of wedding I was very busy in the morning that I could not read the Sai Satcharita. I had gloated with pride about finding time to read the Sat Charitra every day. Sri Sai got me really busy that I was unable to read the Satcharitra, thereby removing my pride.

I should confess that I had totally forgotten Baba in the marriage activities. It was around 11.45 a.m when the pandit came to me along with a Brahmin and asked me to give some Dakshina to him. I thought the Brahmin must be his relative, and offered Rs.21/- as Dakshina. The Brahmin then enquired about the food and was sent to the dinning hall by the pandit to partake of the wedding meals.

I walked about the dinning hall inspecting the proper serving of the meals. I noticed the Brahmin smiling at me. I left the place thinking that he might ask for more money. Caught in the wedding activities I was unable to find time to even eat that day. After the Muharat in the morning my well wisher from U.S.A pointed out that had I not taken the breakfast, I would have taken up continuous fasting against Baba's words. Baba did not approve of fasting and never allowed His devotees to observe a fast. (Ref.Chapter 32 page 173). That night I prayed to Baba with gratitude for successfully organizing the wedding.

I was grateful to Baba for all His blessings and support, however I felt it was a breach of promise on the part of Baba for having not attended the wedding. But Baba was one who did not go against his words. Hence I humbly prayed to Baba requesting Him to show me the form with which he attended the wedding.
And lo! Baba appeared to me in my dream, smiling in the form of the Brahmin (who took Rs.21/- from me as Dakshina) I immediately presented myself in front of His picture sought his forgiveness blaming myself for not having recognized Him . The next day to quench my curiosity I enquired the pandit about the Brahmin. He informed that the Brahmin was a stranger who happened to attend the wedding. I felt that He was no stranger and was none other than the merciful Sai.

Bow to Shri Sai and peace be to all.

[gomisuchi]

stroy 4...


Om Sai Ram, I went to shirdi for the first time way back in 1980 when I was a kid. The memories are still fresh in my mind. Shirdi was different from what it is today. It was very easy to get Baba's darshan those days. Hence we used to visit the mandir 4-5 times a day.

In September 2007 I had a strange dream. I dreamt of myself riding a bicycle on a highway. I was dragging the bike on the road pondering if God was present and if so would I be able to see Him . A fakir appeared from behind me and asked me to for bhiksha. I handed some coins to him. He then turned towards a house on the left side of the road and I immediately followed him.

The fakir and I entered the house that was filled with Shirdi Sai Baba's photos. I moved from one room to another to see some more photos when a voice came from behind " Are you Rakesh?". I was shocked and went back to the first room and replied in the affirmation. There was a saintly man over there who pulled a photo which was under a garland on Sai Baba's photo.


The photo was a childhood picture of myself. The saintly person said “ He had kept you in his heart since you were a child". There were also two small girls. The main door of the house had the name 'Kodama Raju' written on it with which the dream came to an end.

My wife and I went on a trip to Mysore after about ten days of the strange dream that I had. We decided to use my bike as the mode of transportation. In the course of our trip we visited Sri Rangapatna which was about fifteen kilometers ahead of Mysore. In Sri Ranga Patna, we visited an orphanage run by Sathya Sai Baba trust. The orphanage is known to be famous for the miracles of Sai. We visited the mandir in the orphanage where I found loads of vibhuti formation on Sai Baba's photos and also the continuous flow of nectar from Baba's amulet. The mandir was actually the conversion of two rooms for the purpose of worship with a lot of Baba's photos.

A small girl then approached us and handed some nectar as prasad which was
amazingly tasty. We then proceeded with our journey to Mysore. We also made a second visit to the orphanage on our way back from Mysore when another small girl gave us the prasad.

On reaching home in Bangalore I found the strangeness of my strange dream come true. Baba's ways are inscrutable!. I would just like to conclude that "Baba loves all and keeps everyone in his heart."


story 5...

 am pleased to share my following glorious experience with innumerable Sai devotees.

It was during November 1997. My wife and I went to our daughter's home in the United States. I am a diabetic patient and I also had an attack of severe bronchitis before we left India. The doctors here had prescribed medication to be taken during our stay in the U.S.

We reached US on schedule and continued to stay with our daughter comfortably. As per our routine, we used to worship our beloved deity Sri Sainath by chanting the usual prayers everyday. We had planned our sojourn for three months. On the thirtieth day after our arrival in US, I suddenly had severe cramps in the chest. I could not bear the pain or breathe. I lay down wherever I was. We were alone in the house with the infant kids of our daughter, as our daughter and son-in-law had left for their work.

I was alone in the drawing room when I had these cramps. I somehow beckoned my wife who was in the kitchen. She was shocked when she saw my plight and immediately called my daughter at the office. It was snowing at the time and there was eighteen inches of snow on the road and approach to our home. Temperature outside was below zero. On hearing about my condition at home one of her senior colleague helped her drive through the snow and they rushed to the house within fifteen minutes.

When my daughter saw my distressed state, she did not waste time pondering. She called the emergency service and explained to them of our predicament. Within ten minutes, the emergency squad arrived at our place fully equipped. There were two doctors too in the squad. They checked my condition, took ECG on the spot and decided that it was a stroke and that I have to be immediately admitted to a hospital having the facility to perform a heart surgery. There were two hospitals nearby who could perform the surgery.

It was heavily snowing, most of the roads were blocked. I was physically immobile but I was in senses. I pleaded that "I need not be taken to any hospital and I will be all right soon and that I can get necessary medical aid in India." The emergency squad insisted that I should be taken to the hospital and specialist doctors will decide the future course. They asked for our preference of hospital, and my son-in-law suggested a hospital, where he knew of an Indian specialist. They then put me on the stretcher and we waded through snow on the way to the hospital.

Within 30 minutes we reached the place. On arrival, the staff took me to the emergency cell. I distinctly remember that, lying on the stretcher on the way to the emergency room, I was continuously chanting and remembering Lord Sainath's name. Silently chanting His name I may have lapsed into an unconscious state. Within an hour I understand that they conducted various tests including catheterization. The tests suggested that there were four blocks in the arteries. A conference was held among various doctors and surgeons and it was decided that an open-heart bypass surgery has to be conducted without delay.

Hospital authorities summoned the anesthetist and within two hours of arriving at the hospital the surgery commenced. I was not aware of anything that was being performed on my physical body. I was gleefully wandering somewhere in the most pleasant gardens and lawns in a serene atmosphere. I was aware that 'I' was not alone and Lord Sainath was with me'.

It nearly took five hours for the surgeon and his assistants, to complete the task of cutting the veins from my calves and thighs and plant them firmly in place in the arteries. The operation was successful. Probably it took another six hours for me to regain my consciousness. My wife, it seems was continuously praying to Baba for the success of the surgery and for my speedy recovery. Her prayers were answered. She was there to give me an assuring smile with tears of joy.

I came to senses all right! But I was trying to find me! I was neither there nor here! It took me some time. May be a minute or two, I am not sure! Suddenly I realized that I was with Baba, and I was walking down from the inside of his heart back to my bed. I was in a state of confusion! I did not for a moment understand why I had to leave Baba and that beautiful garden and walk down to this miserable place. I started looking for him. I could not find! Then after some time, I concluded that he had walked along with me and may have entered my heart! Yes, He is still there! Always there! I am not sure when I will have another opportunity t roam along with Him in those gardens. Why should I worry? Let Him decide.

One thing that has entered my heart now after the surgery is not the new veins 'but that' I am not alone and Baba is always with me! He loves, provides and protects.

"I am not alone, Baba is with me" is not an exclusive privilege of mine. It is a fact decreed for every devotee. We have to be aware of His presence. He is with us hearing and looking at everything we say and do. He is witnessing our speech and actions. The moment the awareness of his continuous presence is felt, we get transformed.

The thoughts which are the cause of our speech and actions will naturally get oriented to speak and do the things which have His approval. Our ego the 'I' will get a knock and a slap. Our speech will get changed to be very courteous and polite. We start appreciating others. We will start saying "Oh! You have done a great job". This is because we also feel the Lord's presence in the person, whom we are addressing. We shall start saying, "I admit I was wrong". I know how difficult it is to admit our inadequacies. But with the awareness of His presence in us it is easy. The 'I' becomes a non-entity. When the 'I' gives room for 'We' the life turns out to be a happy passing phase.

One more thing we normally say "I did this, I said this, I did that, I said that" etc. We should make it a habit to say "Let us do this, let us do that" etc. Let us include Him also in whatever we say or do. I am a non-entity without Him. It is He who does everything and we are only His instruments.

The eight words "I am not alone, Baba is with me" is a mantra that we have to repeat daily and at all times and feel His presence with us!


story 6...

He had come into my life through different means, many a times. Then, I was naive and did not know the deeper meaning hidden in them. Today when I look back I understand that all was in divine plan.

It all began years ago, my sister found her strength in Shirdi Sai. She was His ardent devotee and so I was surrounded by His books, stories, et al. Nothing of this however, stirred 'that' chord in me. Then one day He came into my house, when a friend visiting Shirdi gifted me His idol. I placed Him in my prayer room with the other God's idols. Life went on....

During one of my regular TV channel surfings I chanced upon a serial based on the life of Shirdi Sai Baba. I saw it for a few minutes and went back to surfing. After a week, again I came across the same serial, which of course I saw for a few minutes and moved on. This happened for a while and I gradually started watching the serial for longer. Finally there came a day when I became a regular viewer of the serial.

Throughout the time of the serial, I was glued to the TV. I felt as if I was receiving answers to many complex questions of life. Somehow it made perfect sense and sat well on the situations and problems in my life. Was it just a coincidence or was there something more to it? I thought the latter. Days rolled by and one evening when I was watching the serial, I felt that Baba was asking me to visit Shirdi. I ignored the call and continued with my life. Six weeks later when I was watching the serial again, I heard Baba say "I asked you to come to Shirdi and you are ignoring me." It was a wake up call for me and I decided to leave to Shirdi immediately.

I decided to visit the Sai Baba temple in town at the earliest. Couple of days later as I was stepping into the temple, I saw the flower placed on Baba fall on the ground. I thought it was a good omen and I asked Baba to make my trip to Shirdi comfortable. I then remembered what people had said very often, "only if Baba wills, can you step on the soil of Shirdi."

That evening I informed my parents about my plan to visit Shirdi and they immediately said that they knew a person who could be of help in Shirdi.

Finally I was on my way to Shirdi not knowing what to expect. I was not sure why Baba had repeatedly asked me to come to Shirdi. The bus journey of over 21 hours was comfortable and I reached Shirdi.

The man known to my parents had taken care of everything, including my stay, food and VIP darshan. This I took as a welcome sign from Him, for without His will no one could step on the soil of Shirdi.

On a bright very hot day, I stepped on the soil of Shirdi and that moment will remain etched in my memory forever. Everything taken care, I went into the temple for the darshan. For those who don't know, thousands of devotees throng the temple and for a darshan you would have to wait in queue for long hours. I however had a VIP pass and so went in easily. Sai in all his splendour had adorned his throne in the temple. It is an overwhelming experience which cannot be expressed in words.

Since there is a huge crowd of devotees, you get less than two seconds to see Him from close. As the queue was moving, I was going closer to Baba. I was just near him when all of a sudden, people in front of me made way and I stood there close to Baba uninterrupted, for long. This was an unusually long period than what one usually gets. Thrilled I was that I had finally made it. With joy in my heart I left the temple premises.

 wanted to then visit Dwarakamai, the place where Sai lived. When I reached there, seeing the long queue I decided to first visit the Chavadi *(Baba used to sleep here every alternate day). After the Chavadi darshan I came to Dwarakamai and looked around in awe, for this was where Sai, walked, Sai talked, Sai healed and Sai lived. The fire he lit then, is still kept burning. It is from here that one gets the Sai prasad of 'Udhi' (miraculous ash). I sat in the centre of Dwarakamai, with eyes closed. I began reveling in his presence.

Not satisfied, I wanted more.... I wanted to see Him, I wanted to know why he had called me to Shirdi, I wanted to know that he was there for me, to protect me, to take me on a Spiritual journey. I prayed. I prayed asking Him to bless me with his presence, to appear before me just as He is, in a way that I could recognize him. My heart cried in pain for the desire to see Him and be assured that He was with me guiding me through.

After some time in meditation I left Dwarakamai. Next morning too I got a VIP pass for the morning aarti and went in to see Him. It was followed by a visit to the Chavadi and Dwarakamai many times during the day. Meditating here was a truly enriching experience. With the shlokas and the mantras in the background and the devotees singing along, it was as if I had found the missing link in my life.

Happy that my trip to Shirdi was fruitful, I went to bed that night. When I woke up the next morning, it dawned on me that my visit was not fruitful after all. I had two darshans in the VIP slot and felt what was the point in visiting Shirdi, if I could not stand in the normal queue like most others, chant the Sai nama and then get his darshan? So, I decided to stand in the queue, knowing fully well that the queue would take atleast 3 hours to clear and that I had to take the bus at 12 noon the same day. After about 3 hours I finally got the darshan and the feeling cannot be described. As I was nearing the pedestal where He sat with all glory, I saw devotees asking the priests for flowers.

The flowers and garlands blessed by Sai, where being put into a corner by the priests for the devotees to collect. Determined to get my share, I moved on to collect a garland. As I bent down, to take the garland, I noticed that there was just one garland left in the basket. I happily grabbed the garland and suddenly from nowhere an old lady bent and frail (I had not seen her in queue) reached out for the same. Seeing her reach out to the same garland I handed over the garland to her. Just as I placed the garland in her hand, a big, nice and fresh garland came flying and fell on my shoulders. I felt His power and grace that very minute. My heart was filled with the assurance that He was with me.

Contented and filled with Sai's grace, I went to visit the Chavadi and Dwarakamai. There was a huge crowd but that did not deter me. As the crowd moved on I looked around savouring the walls, which Sai would have touched.

I then saw a Fakir just ahead of me standing with his bag (jholi) outstretched for offerings. I took out my offering and gave it in his hand. He signaled to drop it into his bag. As I dropped the offering into his bag and looked at him, his aged body began shaking deliriously. He lifted his hand and blessed me exactly the same way that I had seen Baba bless people. Just then, like a flash of lightening I realized that in the last two days , I had not seen any fakir inside Dwarakamai. Only then did I remember my cries to Him and my request to see him in a form that I could recognize. That instant I turned back to look and lo behold, He was not there. I knew it was Him. I had seen Him, I had seen Baba!

[Poons]

Thanks a million, dear Suchi. Yeah, I was looking for this thread only. Alo, many thanks for adding many new posts on faith.

Things are not all that great for me right now, but feel I have come out of feeling very bad or low phase. Most of the times, its pretty much neutral. Don't know which direction life is heading towards, I have lot of things I ask Baba for, but Baba the most important of all is please be with me throughout my life and forever, other things I can probably live without. Show me the right way Baba. In all the big and small decisions, guide me, Baba.

Help me surrender to you feet completely.

Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram
Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram
Om Sai Ram Om sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram Om Sai Ram