What is the distance between God and devotee?

The elephant's discovery

The legend of Gajendra, the elephant king, from the 8th Skanda of the Bhagavatha Purana offers us a very interesting answer to how far God is away from us. The story goes that the bull elephant, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, once entered the waters of a cool lake on Mount Trikuta. A crocodile which lived in the same lake caught him by the leg and began to drag him into the deeper parts of the lake. Gajendra fought with all his might but a crocodile's strength in the water is ten times greater than its strength on land! As Gajendra was dragged in, he began to fight with all his might. Legend goes that the battle went on for a thousand years at the end of which, Gajendra trumpeted in pain and helplessness until he was hoarse.

Then, he remembered his Lord and called out to Maha Vishnu. Instantly, Vishnu arrived on His mount, Garuda, decapitated the crocodile with the Sudarshana Chakra (the discus) and liberated Gajendra.

The moment Gajendra called out to his Lord, Maha Vishnu was there in a trice.

As long as Gajendra fought on, Vishnu watched on, respecting the elephant-king's choice to use his own strength. But the moment he surrendered, Vishnu was there in a trice. That story teaches us that God is just as far as our call can reach! That was the discovery of a little boy too. Amey Deshpande realized that, no matter what, his God, his Swami is always within earshot of his cries.

Shattered pride

Amey was devoted to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba since his birth as he was born into a family devoted to Swami. He was enrolled into the Bal Vikas classes and he became a role model for all the other children - He would sit straight for hours, chant all the shlokas and mantras, participate in bhajans and play the tabla. Such was the praise heaped on the child by the elders that he sincerely felt that he was several cuts above the rest when it came to discipline if not devotion!

In 1984, as a 5-year old, Amey came on a pilgrimage to Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of supreme peace. Like Amey's understanding of Swami, Prasanthi too was very different back then. The schedule revolved entirely around Swami's routine. The most sought-after times were the Darshan times when Bhagawan would gently walk, nay glide through the seated devotees, ladies on one side and gents on the other. He would speak to a few, take letters from some others and call the lucky ones for an 'interview'. An 'interview' was not a Q&A session though it could be that also. It was a personal interaction between the devotee and Swami in the interview room where healing, transformation, miracles and counselling took place.

Being God's driver - The life and story of Padmanabhan with Sri Sathya Sai_ Part 1

It is no mean achievement to be the Sarathi to the Sanathana Sarathi!

Duty is God; Work is Worship

A man walking briskly with purposeful steps, dressed in a white shirt and a white pant, is not such a rare sight in Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi. Most of the men here are dressed in whites and all the people here have come here on a purpose! (Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, our dear Swami, emphasizes that unless it is willed by Him, one cannot come to Prasanthi Nilayam.)

Imagine you walk up to one such man dressed in whites and greet him,

“Hello”

And he replies with,

“Sairam, yes.?”

“Could you help me find the Sathya Sai Bhakta Nivas accommodation hall?”

“Sure! I am headed to work and the hall comes along the way. I can guide you there. Do you need help to carry your bags?”

“I am fine with the bags. Thank you for showing me to the hall.”

And you both walk along.

“Actually, there are two battery-operated vehicle service, named ‘Sai Sevak’, to transport devotees with luggage from the gate to the accommodation hall...”

“Oh I see,” you are surprised, “that is a nice development.

You reach your destination and the man begins to retrace his steps.

“Excuse me, can I know where you work?”

Pointing to a big shed nearby, he says,

“Over there - at the Tractor Shed.”

“Tractor shed? You...”

“I am a driver.”

The general response to such a revelation is not something out-of-the-world. I mean, the response will lack the ‘oohs’ and  ‘aahs’ that a revelation of him being an active scientist in the country’s missile program would evoke. It will also lack the admiration and possible envy that a revelation of him being the CEO of some firm would elicit. A driver is not someone you admire, envy or look up to in awe! But imagine that you ask him,

“Who are you? And what car do you drive?”

His answer will blow your mind away.

“I am Padmanabhan. I drove Swami’s cars for 18 years. I now maintain all of them!”

Now imagine your response! Most probably, your hands would fold in salutation and you would exclaim,

“Sai Ram!! The Lord’s driver!! OMG! How lucky I am to meet you...”

That exclamation is what happens when one does one’s work for God! It is the difference between spirituality as we understand it and actual spirituality which is doing one’s duty and daily work as a service to God. And the life of Sri.P.V.Padmanabhan has been one long saga of transforming work into worship. The story of how he came to Swami, how he became Swami’s chauffeur and how he learned what is truly meant by Spirituality, is indeed a nectarous one, another leaf in the gigantic banyan tree of the Sai Bhagawatham.

Introduction to Sri Sathya Sai

Padmanabhan obtained a Diploma in Automobile Engineering which, in combination with some support from his uncle, got him a job as vehicle mechanic in the Indian Air Force base at Assam (there were more than 300 jeeps and other vehicles to maintain). The teenager worked hard and in all sincerity, expanding his skill-set and knowledge base. His hard work paid off when, as a 20-year old, he got a contract job in Baghdad. For more than two years from 1981 to 1983, Padmanabhan maintained his clients’ cars as a well-paid auto mechanic. Reports of his good work reached the neighbouring Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and he won a contract there to manage and maintain several cars. Thus, the 3 years from 1983 to 1986 were spent in the strictly Islamic country.

“Hey! Just a minute. What was the need to mention ‘strictly Islamic country’? Please keep religion out of your narratives.”

Someone might be tempted to tell me thus.

Well, the reason I mention that term is because it was in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that Padmanabhan came to know of Swami! Imagine that - getting to know of God in human form in a country where it is a sin (punishable by incarceration and possibly even death) to indulge in any kind of idolatry! It happened via his friend Venugopal with whom Padmanabhan spent many hours chatting as he was also a Malyali like him. (Padmanabhan hails from Kuttiyady in Calicut.)

Achieving Work-Life balance through the Ultimate Experience - experience of Prof. H.J.Bhagia Part 2

Summer Course 1990 - unexpected bounty

Bhagia sir seemed to be growing more and more disinterested and detached from the ‘mundane’ daily activities which he performed on auto-pilot. His whole being seemed to burn in eager expectation for the eternal Ultimate Experience alone. The summer of 1990 arrived and, as was the practice, Swami shifted from the Puttaparthi ashram of Prasanthi Nilayam to the Bangalore ashram of Brindavan. (The devotees would find it very hot and exhausting, sitting for darshan in the hot Parthi summer. To provide respite for them, Swami would shift to Bangalore which would be cooler on account of its greater geographical altitude.)

{This is actually the second part of a beautiful and message-filled story. To enjoy it in its entirety and immensity, it is recommended that the reader completes Part 1 from the link given below and then proceeds with this Part 2.

Achieving Work-Life balance through the Ultimate Experience - experience of Prof. H.J.Bhagia Part 1}

While Swami went to Brindavan in March, Bhagia sir followed in April after the academic year had concluded. There were some industrial visits and field trips in Bangalore that the MBA students had to undertake as part of the course and Bhagia sir accompanied them. It was during this summer that Swami decided to resurrect a special course that had been discontinued for more than a decade now - the Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality. This course had been Swami’s initiative in the early seventies with an objective to expose students of the University to the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Bharath.

(The course continues on an annual basis to this day. It is always a memorable experience for participants, especially newly admitted students. It orients new students into Bhagawan Baba’s educational philosophy and gives them deep first hand insights into how they can directly benefit from this unique institution. This prepares them well to make the best of the rare opportunities that lie ahead of them.)

Bhagia sir has been blessed with the Ultimate Experience which shows that true happiness lies only in Union with God.

What thrilled Bhagia sir was the subject that Bhagawan Baba took up for the Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1990. It dealt entirely with the why, how and what of Self-Enquiry with Swami unravelling the mystery in stages. Swami dilated in great detail about the mind, the senses, the ego, the Gunas and the Atma. It was definitely a big boon for any aspirant seeking the Ultimate Experience in life.

(The summer course of 1990 is so monumental that it has been taken up for detailed discussion in the Radiosai series entitled Shravanam Mananam Nidhidhyasanam. Bhagia sir too was invited as a guest during one of the discussions which was first aired on 28th May 2014 - a discussion on the discourse that Bhagawan delivered on 30th May 1990. The whole series can be obtained via the Radiosai Audio Search, typing the phrase;

SHRAVANAM_MANANAM_NIDHIDHYASANAM )

Needless to say, Bhagia sir got increasingly inspired as the days passed by. The ‘kick’ came on the last day of the Summer Course. On the 3rd of June, 1990, Swami delivered a lengthy concluding discourse of the Summer Course. He concluded by saying,

“Your entire life must become one continuous meditation.” Bhagia sir’s eyes opened wide as he drank in each and every word from Swami. He internally resolved that spending anything less than 24 hours a day in spiritual pursuit would be unacceptable. Since he had not yet mastered hunger and sleep, it would be physically impossible to spend 24 hours in seeking the Ultimate Experience. But he would definitely spend as much time as possible on that.

PART 2_Destroyed in seconds but rebuilt over years - the love story of Vijaya Sunder with his Swami

First trip to Puttaparthi

Vijay informed his parents about the chance he had got to go to Puttaparthi and be part of a drama to be staged there. They were happy. The past few years had seemed to really improve their son and his positive outlook towards Swami delighted them.

Vijay performed his role behind the scenes to the best of his ability and sincerity. As instructed, he made sure that he did not peep to get a darshan of Swami during the drama and, when the time came, he showered ‘Adi Sankaracharya’ with gold. When the drama concluded, Swami moved down the dais, amidst the children. He blessed all the actors with clothes. He also materialized vibhuti for some of the actors. Having done this, as He sat on the stage, the supreme Lord of the Universe seemed unsatisfied! He is never satisfied when it comes to giving.

He said something to the attendant boy by his side. A tray was brought from within and Swami beckoned to the actors. He handed over a wristwatch to each and every one of them. The line of actors ended but not Swami’s enthusiasm to give. He looked beyond, at the sets’ boys seated behind. Sathya Sai is a silent worker - always acting behind the scenes and giving credit to others. He definitely knows what it is to be a background worker! He beckoned to the sets’ boys too and Vijay was one among the first few to go to Him.

Swami blessing Vijay with gold chain that He materialised with a wave of His hand. This was in 2008. 

(This is the second part of an interesting story. You will get maximum joy by reading it in the proper chronology. In case you have missed it, read the first part at the link below before returning to this part.

Destroyed in seconds but rebuilt over years - the love story of Vijaya Sunder with his Swami_Part 1)

Vijay knelt before Swami. It was for the first time in his life that he was seeing Swami from such close quarters. Swami held out a wristwatch for him. But Vijay’s attention was not on the watch. He was drinking deep into the fountain of beauty that Swami is. That momentary experience was enough to make Vijay desire madly for a seat in Swami’s college. He remembered Shyam’s words that one got admission in Swami’s college only when He wills. So, he told Swami,

“Please give me admission in your college. I want a seat.”

“Ok. Take”, said Swami, handing him the watch.

Vijay did not understand whether Swami was asking him to ‘take’ the watch or the seat. He did not know then that Swami has the ability to bless two birds with the same stone! He felt that Swami wanted to get ‘rid’ of his pestering presence. He took the watch and walked back to his place.

Thus concluded the Parthi trip which triggered an insatiable thirst in Vijay to become a student of Swami.

Playing the harmonium for Sai's bhajans - student S.V.Satheesh's experiences_ PART 1

S.V.Satheesh with his dear harmonium during a programme in Brindavan,
Bengaluru.

A long cherished dream gets fulfilled

In the summer of 2002, S.V.Satheesh sat in the tiny room with extreme exhaustion. It was nearly 3 am and the whole night had been one of great effort for him. For almost a week now, he had been recording what could possibly become his first ever musical album. And today, he had just completed recording the last piece. Though he was feeling fatigued, he was also feeling fulfilled! This was a long-cherished dream come true - a dream that had formed in his student days at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.

Satheesh was ‘just another’ student who got enrolled for BSc in the college at Prasanthi Nilayam in 1992. His bonding with his Swami was almost instantaneous and he decided that he wanted to occupy a special place in His heart - just as He had occupied a special place in his! When he was wondering how should go about achieving his desire, Swami’s statement in several discourses struck him - “God is a lover of music. Lord Narayana told sage Narada that wherever a devotee sings his glory, He will install Himself there.”

And so, with a prayer to play for Him, Satheesh started learning the harmonium, practicing for almost 3-4 hours every day. He had no idea how he would get his first chance to play for Swami, but he just persevered and practiced rigorously. It was the beginning of a life-long saga.

Today, Satheesh has almost mastered several musical instruments - the harmonium, the accordion, the saxophone, the tabla, the mridangam, the violin and the santoor! By virtue of his ability to play the electronic  keyboard, he can surely claim to be able to play another hundred instruments at least - he just has to press the right buttons! It was either the harmonium, accordion or keyboard that he had played throughout his student-life at the Institute. That is why, today he was feeling fulfilled - because he had just completed a music album, playing the Indian santoor!

Satheesh felt an immense surge of gratitude towards his Swami. And in that flow of gratitude, he recollected how he had got his first ever chance to play the harmonium in Swami’s presence.

The wait and the big break

There is a magical thing about diligence that even skill and talent cannot match - longevity. One’s skills and talents may fade away one day but the results of hard work are always here to stay. Satheesh’s persistent practice ensured that he was soon playing the harmonium during the bhajan sessions in the hostel and the college. However, he was constantly aiming for that big break - to play in Swami’s physical presence. But then, there were stalwart harmonium players already - Sailesh sir, Arunesh and Anand Punjabi to name a few. How was he to get his chance? Satheesh waited patiently and worked diligently with faith. After all, faith is believing in what one cannot see which ultimately leads one to see what one believes in!

It was the January of 1993 and the practice for the drama, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was in full swing. This was the drama that had been presented in Swami’s presence during the previous year’s convocation (22nd November 1992) and Bhagawan wanted the drama to be re-enacted for a Cardiology conference being held in the SSSIHMS in January. S.Ravikumar was playing the lead role in that drama. Well, his experiences with Swami are beautiful and touching and they have been detailed in other blogs. The point is that the drama was almost a musical and thus involved the entire music group. And since the practice sessions (which Swami attended) were in the Institute auditorium, the music group would also be assembled there everyday. This was essential because in the 1990s, there was nothing like background recording and all the dramas in the divine presence went on with live dialogues and live singing!

Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future - Part 1

A story of Himalayan proportions

It was Oscar Wilde who said,

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

For long, it was the story of Kalpagiri stood testimony to the truth in this statement for me. After I became a student at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, I came to know of many more such stories. Among the hundreds of stories of Swami’s grace and love that I had heard in my student days, one story stuck in my heart for its uniqueness. And that story brought new meaning to the Oscar Wilde quote. It showed that there are instances where even a sinner has a glorious past. But that glorious past is forgotten due to complete indulgence in the world. The soul starts blundering and floundering in life till God's compassion descends and reveals the Truth.

A file photograph of Sanjay Sahni speaking in the Divine
Presence at Brindavan, Bengaluru.

I first heard of this experience in Swami’s presence, in Trayee Brindavan, narrated by lecturer Sri.Sanjay Sahni who is the principal of the Brindavan campus of SSSIHL as on the date of writing of this article. Listening to the incident and seeing Baba’s rapt attention was such an experience in itself. I again heard this incident narrated in Prasanthi Nilayam a few years later, this time by another lecturer, Sri Ruchir Desai. His was a 15-minute speech and so he didn’t go into the details the way Sahni sir had done in his 45-minute talk. But since then, the incident was etched in me and what a wonderful opportunity it was to hear about it from the protagonist-witness himself! The first-hand narrative from Mr.Prithviraj is definitely a story of Himalayan proportions.

Mr. Prithviraj was an advocate from the Indian state of Orissa and he had prospered well in his career to soon find himself serving at the apex court in India. As an advocate of the Supreme Court of India, he had a very busy and fulfilling life. The fulfilling part came from his devotion to his God and master, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and his annual service at Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi. He came face to face with the most fantastic and thrilling story of his life during one such visit to the abode of highest peace (that is what Prasanthi Nilayam translates into) as a member of the Seva Dal (the service corps of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization).

It was the year 1989 and as always, he was serving at the South Indian canteen of the Prasanthi Nilayam ashram. He was accosted with great familiarity by a man in a white shirt and a white pant.

“Sairam sir, do you remember me?”, he asked with a gentle smile, “you had given me tea.”

Having tea with strangers in order to extract their story with Swami was nothing new to Prithviraj and so, he was unable to recollect this face.

“I am Mohammad... remember? The cigarettes...”

In a flash, he remembered everything. A quick travel down memory lane brought before his mind’s eye everything about Mohammad and his extraordinary life. The time was about five years ago, in 1984.

God does not call the qualified; God qualifies the called - Part 2

The story so far...

Nitin Kanade has had a wonderful transformation journey; from being dead-against being a student at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, he now pines to be a part of that hallowed community. But, the universe seemed to have conspired against him and played a cruel joke because of which he is forced to leave the college.

Dear reader, I would request you to come to this part after having traveled the journey with our protagonist in the first part.

God does not call the qualified; God qualifies the called - Part 1

Part 2 continues from now on...

Not a man who expressed his anger, the warden told him with restraint,

“Swami has come here for the practice session of the music programme. Only music boys are allowed into the prayer hall. I cannot tell you to go to college for you are no longer a student there. But I cannot allow you into the prayer hall. So, if you want to have darshan, stand here itself and maybe you will be able to see Baba from the window.”

Nitin understood clearly the meaning of the saying, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” That little window in the prayer-cum-dining hall of the hostel would be his only window of opportunity to continue as a student. The senior-boys hostel in Puttaparthi has a large quadrangle with lawns at its centre. On the west side of the quadrangle is the prayer hall. Nitin stood on the east side of the lawns, quite a distance away from his Swami. He positioned himself strategically so that he could see Swami through the window. His eyes focused on that little orange-robed figure and his heart broadcast prayers.

If you look to me, I look to you

Nitin seemed to be on a ‘learning’ spree, getting greater clarity on the workings of the Lord. Within a short while, he realized the meaning of yet another of Baba’s statements,

“If you look to me, I look to you.”

Even as he watched Swami from the window, he saw that Swami was looking directly at him. His heart rejoiced and basked under that loving glance. He felt very special - Swami had come for the music practice but was looking at him! That gave him courage to slowly inch his way towards the prayer hall. Within a few minutes, he was inside and sitting along with the sick students who had rushed from their dorm beds to the prayer hall. When the Lord arrives, illnesses are all forgotten! In such times, those very illnesses seem to become blessings for they literally take you closer to God!

Swami sat through the entire practice session, making corrections and changes in the songs. At the end of the practice, as He got up to leave, He began to speak to some of the boys. Out of the blue, He asked Nitin,

“Boy, why are you here?”

The question was asked suddenly and so the answer was spontaneous and factual.

“Swami, I have been asked to leave the college. Since I cannot attend classes, I came to the hostel.”

Swami’s reply was emphatic.

“How can that be? I have called you and given you admission.” Patting him on his shoulder, Swami continued, “Go to college and attend classes.”

And He walked out of the prayer hall.

With thankfulness, Nitin remembered the words of his teacher, Sai Giridhar. Things had indeed changed in an instant. But it was not going to be ‘happily ever after’ so fast for Nitin.

Twists of fate arrive only to amplify God’s love for us

Ten days elapsed and Nitin continued attending classes in the college. Just when he was thinking that the matter had been settled, the vice-chancellor, Sampath sir, arrived to his classroom and summoned him. Walking with him in the corridor, he told him that there was no way he could be permitted to continue studying a course which included Chemistry when he had failed in that very subject.

“But Swami told me to attend classes in college...” whimpered Nitin.

“He told you to attend classes. Did He tell you to attend BSc classes?”, asked Sampath sir.

Nitin’s reply was a blank stare as the vice-chancellor continued,

“Go to the BCom classes. Consider yourself as a student of the commerce stream from now on.”

And so, Nitin shifted classes and streams to become a student of the BCom course of the Institute. But he was still far away from peace of mind as the registrar called him to his office and gave him a piece of his mind!

“What audacity do you have to sit in classes like this when you have flunked your high-schooling? University is only for those who have cleared high-school. These are rules which we cannot flout. I promise you it will not be a pleasant sight for anyone if I see you in class tomorrow. Now you may leave.”

“But Swami...”

“No ifs and buts here. You may leave.”

Nitin had to simply leave the office room and head to the hostel. He was in a deep dilemma. Whom should he obey? Swami or the university authorities? He knew that the registrar was absolutely right in what he was doing - his duty. But Nitin could not imagine a life without Swami. That evening, during darshan something unexpected happened.

Swami commands Nitin to become a
participating Marathi poet in the Kavi Sammelan
during Guru Poornima.

Swami walked up to him and told him,

“There is going to be a kavi sammelan (poets’ meet) for Guru Poornima. I want you to be one of the poets. Compose a poem in Marathi.”

Being ‘raw’ and ‘unseasoned’ in responding to Swami, Nitin shot back,

“Impossible Swami! I don’t know Marathi well and I cannot compose poetry in any language. This is something I cannot do.”

“This is something you have to do and you will do”, said Swami with such a stern look that Nitin cowered. He felt that it would not be wise to get into the bad books of Swami when he was already in the bad books of all the college authorities.

“Yes.... Swami....”, he replied and received a lovely smile from his Lord.

All the student-poets participating in the kavi sammelan were exempted from classes to allow for composition and practice. Nitin knew that he did not qualify in any way to be a poet, that too a Marathi one. But Swami had called him and chosen him. It was yet another reinforcement that Swami’s call in itself is a qualification. Needless to say, within a few days, Nitin was ready with his poem and began to practice for its punchy delivery. The punch came with its best impact on the D-Day, Gurupoornima Day 1989, when Nitin recited his Marathi poem to the audience in Swami’s divine presence. It was an unforgettable experience for him.

Pleasure, an interval between two pains

With the conclusion of the Guru Poornima festivities, the focus shifted back to Nitin’s problem of attending classes. On the very first day itself, he was forewarned by the registrar against trying to attend classes. The explanation that Swami had asked him to did not work and it was obvious that Swami had not spoken anything about Nitin to any of the authorities. Swami had not done anything ‘out of the legal framework’ to support Nitin and yet, He had always told him to attend classes. Between the authorities and Swami, Nitin felt like the blade of grass amidst two fighting elephants! What was he to do?

He was summoned to the principal’s office, two days after Guru Poornima.

“Boy, you have to leave. There is no choice”, said Mahajan sir.

A crestfallen Nitin walked out of the office and into the hostel. He began to pack his bags because the orders had now been issued to evict him from the hostel too. With no other choice when he walked out, he was accosted by Mr. Sanjay Sahni, one of his teachers in commerce. Sahni sir told him,

“Nitin, Swami has told you many times that you should attend class and be in college. Whatever may happen, do not leave Puttaparthi without telling Swami first.”

Nitin agreed to this piece of wisdom. But that also was not going to be easy.

With his seat in college gone, he had also lost his opportunity to sit with the students in the mandir for darshan sessions. He moved over to the area allocated for the alumni or ex-students as they are called. During these days when he literally had no succour other than Swami, his Lord chose to ignore him completely. Now, he was completely at his wits’ end. He seemed stuck between the devil and a really deep sea. Weeks rolled by and the last ounce of hope in Nitin seemed to dry up. The mid-semester examinations of the Institute were conducted and Nitin was not allowed to sit for them. Since these carry 40% weight of the total marks, there was no way Nitin could complete his course by missing them. He began to bid goodbye to one year of studies at least. That was when, again the unexpected happened. (Where God is concerned, the unexpected always seems to happen. Isn't that why He asks us to love His uncertainty?)

One fine day (the day has become ‘fine’ in retrospect for NItin!) in August 1989, Swami walked up to Nitin and beckoned to him. Startled, Nitin rushed to Swami and knelt before him.

“When is the supplementary examination?” Swami asked.

The Supplementary Board Exam in India gives a second chance to students who have failed to clear certain subjects in the first go. The supplementary exam for Chemistry was due in 3 days and Nitin ‘informed’ Swami about it.

“Can you reach in time for the exam?”

“Swami, they will be held in Delhi and I will be able to make it if I can catch today evening’s train from Dharmavaram.”

“Go immediately then. Take padanamaskar. You have my blessings”, Swami said, giving him a sweet smile.

Nitin could not believe it. Even if he cleared the Chemistry paper via the supplementary exam, what could he do about the missed mid-semester exams of the University? He did not have much time to think and so he rushed to get a bus which would take him to Dharmavaram. There, he jumped into the ‘unreserved’ general compartment and readied himself for the arduous 2.5 day journey.

Managing some sitting space, he opened his Chemistry textbook to study and prepare for the impending examination when the train experienced a sudden jerk. Moments later, he was flying through the compartment as his train bogie ran off the tracks. What a time to get into an accident! Chemistry somehow seemed to be a specialist in derailing Nitin always!

By God’s grace, Nitin escaped without a scratch on his body but his mind was in a state of shock. Though delayed by 8 hours, he managed to get on to another train and reach Delhi just hours before the examination! He has no idea of how he wrote the exam during the afternoon. Having done that, he took the same night’s train back to Dharmavaram and hoped for Swami to work a miracle for him.

He returned and immediately Swami told him to attend classes again. The smile on his face did not last long as the registrar personally walked into his class and kicked him out! This divine ‘football’ went on and Nitin, in a span of a week, was in and out of classes 4 times! Now the case against him was stronger - he had not cleared the mid-semester exams. Nitin felt that the inevitable had been delayed enough by Swami. There was no more hope now.

Receiving a certificate from Swami after the Summer Course in Indian Culture
and Spirituality.

The called gets qualified

When the Lord decides to get a work done, He does so in matter of moments. As Nitin, the football, was being kicked from pillar to post, Swami decided that it was time for him to rush into his goal! That happened during another darshan session, in the course of another unexpected twist.

Swami called the registrar, K.Chakravarthi, and began asking him about certain University rules. In the course of the discussion, He asked,

“Tell me, is there a provision for a supplementary mid-semester examination?”

“Yes Swami, there is?”

“Who is eligible to write that?”

“Swami, those who have not been able to clear the actual mid-semester examination.”

“What if someone was absent for the exam?”

“Swami, if the absence is justified, then the candidate could sit for the supplementary exam.”

“What about this boy then”, said Swami and pointed straight to Nitin who was sitting with the students.

Nitin had missed the mid-semester because he had been preparing for the supplementary exam in Chemistry without which he was ineligible for University examination. He had cleared the Chemistry ‘acid-test’ and now had a justified reason for writing the mid-semester exams which he had previously missed.

“He is eligible for the supplementary exam Swami”, said Chakravarthi sir.

“Then, let him write it and if found eligible, let him be taken into the college.”

Nitin completed BCom with honours from the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and later went on to get his MCom degree as well. During those student days, he got hundreds of opportunities with his Lord and Master, his Swami. He learnt lessons for life and won the friendship of the ONLY friend in the Universe - God. He went on to serve in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences till 2005 after which Swami guided him to his current job. His two little girls embody every bit of his love and devotion to Swami as they listen with rapt attention to all the stories their father has to tell. In fact, they have no taste for videogames, movies or the television. They do not own a television at home too. All that time, they spend playing with their parents and listening to stories and experiences with Swami.

Qualification does not matter when it comes to God. Qualifications are results achieved and conferred by mortals. God does not seek results. He only seeks efforts - efforts to be near Him, and dear to Him. And if only one makes those efforts, God will crown those very efforts with His love and blessings - the greatest qualifications that one can ever seek.

Coming back to the quote - God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called -  what more can one say. Isn’t Nitin’s story evidence enough?

It was 'happily ever after' in the real sense for Nitin now...

If you enjoyed reading this, you will definitely enjoy the following:

1. Sometimes things have to go horribly wrong before going right.

2. How I got my job and career at Radiosai.

3. Faith and self-confidence - Story of the little bird

4. Misfortune becomes a blessing in disguise when God is your good luck talisman

For all readers:

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