Mother With Care and Concern… Mother Easwaramma… Mother Easwaramma was ever an epitome of peace and tranquility… humility and simplicity…  The ‘naive’ mother in her often worried about her Son, dispite Him being Divine, about Him being subject to calumny… and for the suffering, she had always been a connecting link to The Supreme Divine… a beautiful episode from Ms Bikkina Veera Nagamani…(The author rendered service in the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital until merging with Swami in June 2013). I first came to Parthi along with my parents in 1956 and continued to make regular trips here until 1965. In June 1965 when I came here, Swami said I should live here for good and so I have lived here since then and Prasanthi Nilayam has become my home. My acquaintance with Swami’s mother soon developed into an extremely sweet and intimate relationship despite the difference in our ages. It became a regular practice for her and me to visit one another without fail everyday. Either she would come to our room or I would go to her’s. One day when she was in our room, Dr. Jayalakshmi who worked in the hospital happened to come there. When she saw Swami’s mother in our room, she sat down to listen to what she was saying because our conversation invariably centred around Swami. Dr. Jayalakshmi naturally wanted to hear something about Swami. She asked her what Swami was like as a child. On a wall in our room, there was a calendar with a picture of baby Krishna eating butter. Pointing to it Mother Easwaramma said: “Swami also looked like Him with His smiling countenance and curly hair. But we couldn’t deck Him up with so much jewellery (as the Krishna in the picture). Still somehow, I do not know how, we got some silver ornaments made for Him.” Her compassion towards people in distress prompted her ever so often to intercede on their behalf and plead with Swami. Whenever she saw devotees looking unhappy or troubled she would become concerned and appeal to Swami to talk to them. At the same time, her love for Swami made her ever alert to what people might say about Him. In those days, Swami used to freely grant interviews to devotees. At festival times, He used to personally supervise each and everything. One year at the time of Durga Navaratri festival, Swami being very busy could not so freely grant the much-coveted private audience to devotees who wanted to leave after the conclusion of the festival. So, He had it announced that they should return home without waiting for an interview and that His blessings were with them. Then two days later when a devotee came to the Ashram, He granted him an interview. That upset Mother Easwaramma immensely. She could not bear the thought that people might speak adversely of Swami. She wanted Him not to do anything which might prompt people to speak against Him. Feeling very agitated she said to me, “See, this is how He does things. What will people think?” At such times, she became just a mother concerned about her son’s reputation. She forgot that He is above praise and calumny and that whatever He does, He does for very valid reasons known only to Himself. Mother Easwaramma dearly loved her native village of Puttaparthi. Even during the summer months when Swami usually stayed at Brindavan Ashram in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), she chose to remain at Parthi. If someone suggested that she too should go to Bengaluru she would say, ‘No.’ She felt happy to stay at Parthi and was content to live there in spite of the heat. Summer would not last forever, she would point out. She never took any medicine. Sometimes, the visiting doctors would give her vitamin tablets which she would place in my hands with the injunction that I give them to some poor patient at the hospital. If I said she should take them in order to be strong, she would retort, saying she did not need to be strong as she was not going to fight in any war. If a patient’s condition was reported to be serious, she would frequently enquire about that patient and repeat the injunction that we should take proper care of the patients. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Mother’s Love Excels All… Undoubtedly the most exalted Mother on Earth, Mother Easwaramma, Who was chosen by the Divine Himself to be His ‘Chosen Mother’, She is much more than a pleasant memory for them, who know the Mother…rather She is ever an elated decorous memory for everyone in Sai fraternity… With her unbounded love for Her Divine Child, She exemplified herself as the most exalted of the Divine Mothers in the history of Avatars… a beautiful anecdote showing the mother’s attachment towards her Son Divine…shared by Ms Bikkina Veera Nagamani… (The author rendered service in the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital until her merger at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet in June 2013). After the conclusion of the World Conference, we left Mumbai with Swami’s blessings and permission to visit Shirdi en route to Parthi. Swami returned to Parthi on 11th June and on 13th June He gave us all Padanamaskar and Vibhuti Prasadam because He was once again leaving Parthi to go to Bengaluru that day. So, along with Dr. Jayalakshmi I went upstairs to Swami’s dining room to seek His permission for us to follow Him to Bengaluru. To Dr. Jayalakshmi’s verbal request He gave a verbal affirmative reply. I sought His permission with a mute look of appeal and He too indicated His assent with a look. Two days later, I went to Brindavan along with Pedda Bottu, an old devotee who had known and had been with Swami’s previous Shirdi form. At Brindavan, Swami told me to stay inside the Mandir along with Mother Easwaramma and other ladies. Swami had His food in the company of some male devotees in the dining room while the ladies were served food in the adjoining verandah. Swami would finish His food in about two minutes and then would come to the verandah to talk to the Mother. One night, He said in a most casual manner that He was going on a visit to Africa. And as He did so often to tease her, He remarked that in that strange land lions and tigers roamed about as freely as dogs do in our country. That really scared her and she pleaded with Him to give up the idea. Swami only laughed at her fears and then to divert her attention told her that gold was extremely cheap in Africa. That night, Mother Easwaramma had no sleep for Swami’s proposed visit to a land full of wild beasts preyed on her mind. A few days later, Swami once again spoke of His intended visit to Africa and said that His Mumbai devotees were making preparations to give Him a grand send-off on the occasion of His first ever visit abroad. They were constructing an arch with 108 lotus-like structures adorning it. Realising that Swami was definitely going to this far away land despite her protests, Mother Easwaramma asked to be allowed to go with Him as far as Mumbai. Swami said, “We will see,” in a non-committal fashion, but she was not satisfied with that response. As the day of His departure to Mumbai drew near, she once again voiced her wish. Aware of her feelings, and ready to comply with her wish, Swami still did not say yes. He said, “But who will bring you back from Mumbai? Wait, let us ask Java.” So saying, He went in for His breakfast and as we waited outside for Him to come out, there came Smt. Java herself. She greeted Mother Easwaramma and noticing the look on her face asked what the matter was. I asked Mother Easwaramma if I might say what it was and she nodded her agreement. When I told her the problem, Smt. Java was quite willing to accompany her and when Swami came out told Him the same. Swami looked at the Mother and said, “So, you asked her already?” Smt. Java said, “No Swami, she did not tell me,” but Swami said, “You should not tell lies.” So, Mother Easwaramma accompanied Swami as far as Mumbai and after Swami left Mumbai for East Africa, her anxiety for His safety left her sleepless. She ate nothing and would not even drink water until a telegram came announcing His safe arrival in East Africa. Until His return to India, she spent a very anxious and restless time and appeared to have lost her appetite. Though He is the Lord and Master of all the worlds, He was her son and it was a mother’s love that she had towards Him always. She addressed Him like all others as Swami though and had the highest regard for His words, scrupulously disciplining her life in accordance with His wishes. II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Farewell…Little Princess Sai Gita… Seven years since Sai Gita’s glorious exit…still Sai Gita is as vivid a picture with her living presence in every devoted heart and mind, as one of the most exalted devotees of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai… Remembering the Little Princess, we recall the fateful day, through our pages on that day…paying rich tribute to one of Bhagawan’s most ideal devotee and celebrated devotee… Sai Gita, The Little Princess… To the mortals death comes as a big blow, for, it inflicts pain of separation from near and dear ones. Quoting an anonymous poet, Prof N. Kasturi wrote substantiating his statement that anything, which is born and grows, declines and dies… …as soon as we are born our funeral procession started! Our heart is the drum. Our hearts beat like a muffled drum and the funeral march starts! So, birth is only the beginning of death! With death defined as a consequence of birth and at birth man is given an opportunity to rediscover what he has  forgotten,  it should be man’s endeavour to dwell upon how best one could put an end to this otherwise unending cycle. In this modern age when man often fails to find out the real meaning of God’s greatest gift to humanity, the great sojourn called life, here in this ‘God’s Own’ village at Puttaparthi, an elephant by name Sai Gita has epitomized itself, to join an illustrious band of immortals, with its typified devotion!!! That is the inspiring saga of Sai Gita, Bhagawan’s pet-elephant whose sojourn on earth came to a spirited end at 1800 Hrs. IST on 22nd May 2007 after a lengthy script of glorious fifty years of dedicated service at His Divine Lotus Feet! The following extract from SAI GITA …A MYSTIFYING TALE OF UNMATCHED LOVE published in Heart to Heart journal gives clear insight into the unsullied love and devotion she had for Bhagawan. In the early sixties, the regular evening ‘appointment’ of Swami with Sai Gita was a sight which devotees looked forward to with great anticipation and elation. She would wait at the gate on the ladies’ side (where Swami’s car now enters Sai Kulwant Hall) and if for some reason Darshan was delayed, she would get very impatient. Twisting and twirling her tiny trunk, intermittently flapping her lotus-leaf-sized ears vigorously, and her swift and strong legs jumpy and restless, she would eagerly look at the Mandir unable to bear the delay. Tears that rolled down her cheeks on many an occasion, her mischievous pranks acknowledging ecstasy at having been blessed to be in the Divine Presence, were testimonies to the unmatched love,  pristine in quality, she has had for her Beloved Master, Bhagawan,  that for sure would be envied even by human beings. It was not a mere coincidence that brought The Creator and His Creation together in the Mudumalai forest marking the beginning of this glorious tale of love. It was a Divine happenstance, a well-crafted Master Plan by the Divine that would have had its roots linked to many previous births that had made such a meeting possible.  Sai Gita is a Shuddha Brahmacharini (pristine and perfect celibate). She has come for Me, said Bhagawan once, at the end of a long arduous trial she had been forced to undertake at the instance of some senior devotees; she had been ‘reluctantly’ sent to the forest for breeding at the dogged persuasion of some senior devotees in the ashram for no positive result. Sai Gita is history now and essentially a part of His-Story. In death body goes…but the soul, the indestructible divine essence in every being does move on, on a soul-search…and the soul of Sai Gita moved on to successfully find the bond beyond bondage, The Light that has been keeping her life a glowing fantasy that even exalted humans fail to achieve. “Death is the denouement of the drama of life” wrote Prof N. Kasturi. For those who loved Sai Gita, her passing away would definitely mark the end of a drama in physical and leave a vacuum that would never be filled. Devotees would definitely miss her beautifully caparisoned frame majestically leading processions, her gorgeous princely gait, rare sight of tears of love rolling down her cheeks, the beauty of her being cuddled and fed by Mother Sai so affectionately, her unruffled nonchalant looks dissipating every passing thought into the gleam of eternity and lots more…. But, her footprints would continue her legacy in the hearts of millions who loved her so dearly. Sai Gita indeed lived a Life…Full! Adorned as a Little PrincessThere came Sai Gita to Prasanthi NilayamRejoiced Prasanthi in her endearing presence…and struck a love tale…Creator with His creationEchoed the song of her heart’s melodyL-O-V-E for Baba…L-I-F-E for Baba!Gazing at Baba, she weptThe King returned ‘His Own’ to herHis Love was what she soughtHis Heart was what she conqueredKnowing fully, still unknowingly…She lived a Life…a Life Full…Unruffled and nonchalantDissipating every passing thought…into the gleam of eternityYet, in the end came ‘the end’Denouement of the drama of life…Yet, she survived the scare…deathBasking in the love of her ‘Sun’At the end…she receded…devoutlyInto the clasp of eternity!Into a Bond Beyond Bondage!Farewell Oh! Dear,Little Princess, Sai Gita!!!We salute You, Oh! Little Princess!!! For the passersby on the roadside, for those who pass by, to and fro Parthi, a peep through the gate to have a glimpse of the blessed elephant would definitely be missing from now on…one would peep to have a darshan of her samadhi hereafter, and there, one would feel her touch, her legacy, a feeling that would peep into the nostalgic past of her glorious sojourn. Little clue did we have of the Divine Vision Bhagawan had while getting along with the construction of a ‘Sai Gita Mahal’, a new home for His pet-elephant inaugurated in November 2006. Reminding one of the story of Shirdi Sai wherein the Muralidhar Mandir constructed at the ‘instance’ and blessings of Baba had finally turned out to become the ‘Samadhi’ Mandir of Baba Himself, who had expressed His

Travelling To The Light… Ana Elena Diaz-Viana received a spiritual gift from Bhagawan the night of November 23, 1975. At that time, she didn’t know Him, had never heard of Him, and didn’t even have any idea as to why she was having the experience. In March 1976 Bhagawan appeared for the first time in her dreams and six years later she went to India to be in the Divine Presence. Bhagawan has guided her mostly through dreams and personal experiences. She received a technical degree in Computer Sciences in her native Venezuela, where she was the founder of Sai Centres in different cities of the country and eventually worked for the S.S.S.B Organization, becoming the first president of the Venezuela’s Coordinating Committee in October 1988. Since 1993 she lives in the US. In a visit to Swami in 1997 He gave her indications to ‘write’, but remained apprehensive for want of further hints and details. In the next trips Swami would make gestures as a joke about her ‘inability’ to write a word.  After helping with the Spanish translation of the book ‘Sai Thy Kingdom Come’ that speaks about the extraordinary prospects of Sathya Sai Avatar, she realises the extraordinary time we are living now.  Awaiting Bhagawan and His Golden Age, she wonders at the bounteous blessings of being a witness to epochal times of Sathya Sai Avatar.   Nothing could be more difficult than offering something to the Lord.  For the hundredth time I watch through my window. The golden-brownish leaf refuses to leave the tree, the sun and wind have been punishing it for a while, but it is still there…attached.  I have been waiting for the small leaf to drop as if it was a divine signal. For the hundredth time, I’m going through the inner revision of my motives to write this story, scrutinizing the depths of my heart, reviewing the intricate layers and disguises of my ego. Would it ever leave? Swami asked me to write many years ago. He used to tenderly scold me with a twinkle in His beautiful eyes: ‘you have been here two weeks doing nothing!’ As He encouraged me, He also knew I wasn’t ready. My shyness, my silence, my ego, my reluctance to get out of my mind…. Sreejith, a dear friend is now playing Swami’s role in pushing me to write, and at my age, I may not have too much time to continue delaying this unfulfilled request. This story is not mine, it is actually a script written by Thy Hand. Here I am, Divine Sri Sathya Sai Baba, my beloved Swami, at Your Divine Lotus Feet. With all my imperfections, offering just the intention to transcribe the script, the action and the results are all Your’s. Divine Light In November 1975, I was a 25-yr old mother living in Maracaibo, Venezuela. At that time, I was going through an existential crisis. Although I have read about religious experiences, nothing could have prepared me for the event and the life-changing experience that started on the night of November 23rd. By early November I had been preparing for my son’s fifth birthday party and celebrating a job promotion. I was enjoying a successful career in Information Technology, a field that at the time had a high demand for professionals. Apparently from a personal and material point of view, my life seemed a fulfilled existence, needing nothing. Why did I feel so empty all of a sudden?  Was the most recent job promotion what brought this realization? There was no material success or worldly affair or mundane love enough to fill the void in my entire being!  I thought I was going through a depression, but other than this feeling of emptiness I continued to function as usual. One night, while working late as usual, I felt the void and desperation taking over my mind, regardless of my need to focus on work. This time, I realized it was coming from unresolved basic existential questions. Everything was meaningless! The feeling was overwhelming.  Driving home I asked God if He really remembered His creation. Is He aware of His creation? If so, could He please demonstrate to me that He was listening or will this be a one-side conversation again? Between the ages of 5 and 9 I could clearly remember conversations with Him, it was so natural to feel His presence in my heart! Then, when I was 10 years old my parents moved to a farm, and I was sent to a Catholic boarding school. The religious practices were designed around a rigid daily schedule of prayers and masses.  Perhaps to balance all these obligatory rituals, once in a while I used to go alone to the Chapel and sit in front of the Crucifix. Not praying, it was my only opportunity to talk to Him: Why do I have to see You in a statue? Why do I have to settle and have faith just by listening to the stories of the Gospels, rather than experiencing You in the flesh? Why did You come almost 2,000 years ago and not now? I would have followed You! I would have recognized You among the people. Why is everyone saying You died for our sins? I wasn’t even born then! Why? My ‘complaining’ session would usually end with: “I am sorry to say that I am like Saint Thomas*, I desperately need to see You! If You are really listening, give me proof!” Fifteen years later, in that blessed night of early November’ 75, my plight was still the same but the pain, this time, was unbearable. Looking up at the starry night and doubting His existence, I raised my hand –as if possible to touch Him- and asked: “If You really hear me, give me proof!”…. Nothing prepared me to expect a trip across the universe as part of the answer. Some days later, I was working on a weekend. There was a payroll modification that had