The Divine Photographer

The Divine Photographer

Om Sri Sai Ram

The group (Telengana group) was very much attached to Baba. They crowded round the sofa when Baba was in the room on the first floor. They stroked the feet and gradually made bold to exert extra pressure, pretending to perform the Seva of ‘mild’ massage. I had to nuzzle through them to secure a crevice between their toroses through which I could caress the Lotus Feet. One day while Baba was tickling us into waves of laughter, Parthasarathi from Madras got a brilliant idea. He pulled his camera from its bag and taking good aim. shot and bagged a picture of us around the Feet and of Baba lit with smiles. At this Baba rose and asked for the camera. I feared that He might nullify the portrait and negate the negative by holding the camera in His hand. Instead, He told Parthasarathi “Come! Stand behind the sofa, I shall click the next one”. The Telengana brothers did not welcome the plan. They shouted -they had not yet learnt that still small voice we were used to-that the empty sofa did not deserve to be photographed. I protested, “What? When Baba clicks, this sofa will not be empty, Be assured!”. And, Baba responded with an emphatic “Right Kasturi!” I kept my right palm on the foot-stool when Baba was peering through the lens.

When He returned the camera to Parthasarathi, He said, “Hey! Be careful. I am there.” At that, I asked Parthasarathi, ”You must give each of us a copy,” and looking up to Baba, I implored, “Swami, you must tell him to give us copies or else, he won’t”. And, to our great joy, Baba directed him to send a postcard size print to every one. It came into my hands, ten days later. Baba is sitting in the chair, His face and hair slightly blurred with a look of surprise at the role He had imposed on himself.

Though I admired the deep devotion of the Telengana group, I was unable to appreciate their blatant pranks, often in Bhagawan’s very presence. I saw them open Baba’s silver pan-box and take supari for their own use. I witnessed them behaving like the cowherd boys of Vrindavan, carrying away bunches of bananas which were near Baba’s room and plunging into a peeling spree and finishing off the lot. “They ought not swagger so,” I told my neighbour, Radhakrishnan of Coimbatore. He too shook his head in fierce disapproval. We resented their ‘disregard’ of the pervasive and profound sanctity of the place. We commented, confidentially of course, on the phenomenal tolerance with which Baba was allowing them to strut about. The climax for us was when Baba agreed to accompany them to their native villages when they decided to leave.

The jeeps which had brought them weeks previous and which helped us to reach various picnic spots, (among the hills, inside the jungles and along the Chithravathi) now turned homewards. I had heard them plan visits with Baba to many beauty spots in and near the Telengana countryside. Some place names, like Ekasilapuri, the ancient capital of the Kakatiya Empire and Ajanta, the centuries old repository of Buddhist fresco paintings, aroused in me a great longing to join the party. I had years previous taken my students on an educationa). tour to those places, but visiting them again as a member of the party that Baba the Supreme Artist leads, would certainly elevate me, I felt. No one knew whom Baba would favour with the direction to get ready to join. So, most of us stood on tiptoe.

I saw two big leather boxes come down the circular stairs, from Swami’s room. At the same moment, one of the Telenganas ran down to where I stood and said, very excitedly, “Swami wants you”. Though he did not finish the sentence, I could surmise the message, “Jump into a jeep.” When I leaped up, two steps at a time, I found Baba talking to Seshagiri Rao, the septuagenarian. Baba turned to me and said, “Kasturi! Stay here itself. I am taking Seshagiri Rao with me.You did not quite like these people being so free with me. It was sheer envy that bothered you. You and your Radhakrishnan! Could you not be happy that so many from Telengana came to Swami and did such splendid seva and earned so much grace from Me? This Seshagiri Rao was happy for that very reason. So, I am not taking you with me. Seshagiri Rao! Go and sit in the jeep.”

That was it! I came down the eighteen steps heavy laden with remorse and repentance. I stood stupefied, when Baba and His cowherd companions drove away, along the bumpety-humpety road which will take them to the asphalt highway to Hyderabad! That was the first time I was stuck in such lacerated loneliness. I could not attend to anything but the wound my ‘superiority complex’ had inflicted on me. I diagnosed the complex with the help of my accomplice, Radhakrishnan. :dhakthi need not always be packed in starched shirts. I had misread their open-heartedness as audacity, their innocence as boorishness. I must cast overboard the tawdry academic acquisitions that weighed me down. They did not help me to rise in Baba’s estimation – the University Degrees, the pedagogic self-esteem, the metropolitan veneer of hollow etiquette.

The Nilayam was denuded and desolate since Baba had left me behind, to nurse the sickness in my mind. I sought rigorously to cleanse my cynicism, a handicap which Baba has often categorised as evil number one. To relieve my distress, I spent larger hours in prayer and meditation…..

The Divine Photographer – Capturing Souls Through the Lens of Grace

Life is filled with countless moments, but only a few touch the heart so deeply that they remain alive forever. The Divine Photographer is a beautiful devotional expression that reminds us of a higher power who sees everything with perfect love, wisdom, and compassion. While an ordinary photographer captures outer appearances, the Divine captures the truth hidden within the soul. He sees not only the face, but also the faith, pain, purity, and silent prayers of every heart.

A camera can record smiles, colors, places, and events, but it cannot fully capture the emotions behind them. The Divine vision is different. It sees beyond what the world notices. People may judge us by success, beauty, status, or mistakes, but God sees the intention behind every action. The Divine Photographer does not focus on our outer image; He focuses on the inner light that still shines, even when life becomes difficult.

Every human life is like a photograph in the album of creation. Some pictures are bright with joy, while others are shaded with sorrow. Some moments show victory, and some show struggle. Yet every frame has meaning when seen through divine understanding. What we call failure may be preparation. What we call delay may be protection. What we call pain may become the beginning of spiritual growth.

The Divine Photographer knows the perfect angle of every life. Human beings often see only one small part of their journey and become impatient. We compare ourselves with others and wonder why our life does not look as beautiful as someone else’s. But the Divine sees the complete picture. He knows the past, present, and future together. He understands why some chapters must be dark before the final image becomes beautiful.

In photography, light is very important. Without light, even the best camera cannot create a clear picture. In the same way, without divine light, human life becomes confused and restless. Faith becomes the light that helps us see meaning in difficult situations. Love becomes the light that softens the heart. Service becomes the light that makes life useful. When these lights enter the soul, the picture of life becomes brighter.

The Divine Photographer also teaches us that nothing is wasted. Every tear, every prayer, every act of kindness, and every moment of patience is recorded in the unseen world of grace. The world may forget our sacrifices, but the Divine never forgets. A simple good deed done with a pure heart is more beautiful in His eyes than a grand action done for praise.

Sometimes, people try to present a perfect image to the world. They hide their sadness, fears, and weakness behind smiles. But before the Divine, nothing needs to be hidden. He already knows the truth, and still He loves us. This is the comfort of devotion. We do not need to pretend before God. We can come with our brokenness, confusion, mistakes, and tears, knowing that divine compassion will not reject us.

The Divine Photographer captures not only what we are today, but also what we can become. A rough stone may look ordinary, but the Divine sees the hidden diamond within it. A struggling person may feel weak, but the Divine sees future strength. A devotee may feel unworthy, but the Divine sees the sincerity of the heart. This vision gives hope because it reminds us that we are always capable of transformation.

In spiritual life, every experience becomes a frame in the larger story of the soul. Childhood innocence, youthful dreams, mature responsibilities, old memories, and silent prayers all form a sacred collection. Some frames make us smile, while others bring tears. But when we look back with faith, we often realize that grace was present even in the hardest scenes. The Divine was arranging, guiding, and protecting in ways we did not understand at that time.

The Divine Photographer also reminds us to live carefully because every action leaves an impression. Our thoughts, words, and deeds shape the image of our character. If we live with anger, ego, and selfishness, the inner picture becomes dull. But if we live with kindness, humility, truth, and service, the soul begins to shine. The most beautiful photograph is not of the face, but of a heart filled with love.

A true devotee learns to see the Divine Photographer at work in daily life. A sudden blessing, a timely help, a peaceful feeling during prayer, or protection from danger can all feel like sacred moments captured by grace. These moments may not always be visible to others, but they remain deeply personal to the devotee. They become memories of faith that give strength during future struggles.

The Divine also teaches us to look at others with a softer lens. Just as God sees our hidden pain and potential, we should not judge people too quickly. Everyone is carrying a story that may not be visible. A kind heart learns to see beyond outer behavior and respond with compassion. When we look at life through the lens of love, the world itself becomes more sacred.

In the end, The Divine Photographer is a reminder that our life is being seen, guided, and preserved by divine grace. No sincere prayer is ignored, no tear is unseen, and no good action is lost. The Divine captures the truth of our journey, not for judgment alone, but for awakening. He shows us where we must grow, where we must heal, and where we must shine.

The greatest photograph is not printed on paper. It is formed in the heart. When faith becomes clear, love becomes natural, and service becomes joyful, the soul becomes a living image of divine beauty. That is the true blessing of The Divine Photographer.