The Divine Rainbow
Joel of Los Angeles was all contempt for Baba. He would sarcastically refer to Him as the ‘character’.
Joel started for Puttaparti cracking a joke among friends. “This character is said to materialise all sort of things. By this he is attempting to cover the lands from India to America, like a rainbow sweeping from one end of the horizon to the other! I shall expose him by asking them to create a rainbow”.
Before having a darshan of Baba, Joel was sitting on a hillock along with his wife Diana and another lady Pamela who had accompanied them. When Joel chanced to look over the shoulder of his wife eyes were transfixed.
In a few seconds he changed to trembling. He was sweating profusely. Tears pierced through his eyes. “Did I speak so slightingly of so great a power?”
What happened? Beyond the shoulder of Diana, up in the skies there had formed the spectrum of a rainbow. In no time it raced up the sky, hit the zenith and bent down opposite.
There was brilliant sunshine then, not a cloud in the sky. The firmament was fresh as though swept clean. If there be a rainbow in this, won’t there be a shock and a shake-up?
Joel’s amazed reaction turned the other two also to see the rainbow. For a time, they stood astounded. Being of the fair sex they broke into sobbing.
Dissolved in devotion to Baba they came to Prasanthi Nilayam and sat for darshan. The Legend of Love, without an inkling of the wondrous in Him came out of the Mandir (temple). The warmth of love to remove the ‘shivering’ of Joel was glowing in Swami’s eyes. A smile sneaked along the betel-red lips.
The Divine Rainbow – A Sacred Symbol of Grace, Unity, and Hope
The Divine Rainbow is a beautiful spiritual theme that reminds us of God’s love shining through the many colors of life. A rainbow appears after rain, when sunlight touches the remaining drops in the sky. In the same way, divine grace often becomes visible after tears, struggles, prayers, and patience. Life may bring storms, but the rainbow reminds us that darkness does not last forever and that beauty can rise even after difficulty.
The Divine Rainbow also teaches that creation is full of harmony. Each color has its own place, yet together they form one wonderful vision. No color fights with another. No color tries to become superior. This becomes a lesson for humanity. People may belong to different religions, languages, countries, cultures, and traditions, but the divine light within all is one. When we live with love and respect, diversity becomes beauty instead of division.
A rainbow is not held by human hands. It cannot be owned, controlled, or stored. It appears by grace and disappears gently. This teaches detachment. Many things in life are temporary: success, praise, wealth, beauty, comfort, and even sorrow. But the divine message behind them can remain forever. The Divine Rainbow reminds us to enjoy life with gratitude, without becoming attached to passing things.
In spiritual life, colors can also represent values. One color may remind us of love, another of truth, another of peace, another of sacrifice, another of purity, another of courage, and another of devotion. When these values come together in one life, the heart becomes bright and beautiful. A person who lives with values becomes like a rainbow for others, bringing hope, comfort, and inspiration.
The Divine Rainbow often appears after rain, and this has a deep meaning. Rain can represent pain, confusion, or cleansing. Sometimes life washes us through difficult experiences. We may lose something, face illness, suffer misunderstanding, or pass through emotional heaviness. At first, such moments feel painful. But later, they may purify the heart, remove pride, and deepen prayer. After the rain of suffering, grace can reveal a new light.
This sacred symbol also reminds us of hope. A person who is passing through a dark period should not think that life is finished. The sky may be covered with clouds today, but light is still present behind them. Faith means trusting that the light will appear at the right time. The Divine Rainbow teaches the heart to wait with patience and continue walking with courage.
A rainbow connects earth and sky in a poetic way. It seems to rise from the earth and bend toward the heavens. This can be seen as the journey of the soul. Human life begins with ordinary duties, relationships, work, and struggles, but its higher purpose is to move toward God. When earthly life is filled with love, service, and prayer, it becomes connected with the divine.
The Divine Rainbow also gives a lesson in balance. If there is only rain, life becomes heavy. If there is only harsh sunlight, life becomes dry. But when rain and light meet, a rainbow appears. In the same way, joy and sorrow, effort and surrender, action and prayer, discipline and love must come together. A balanced life becomes spiritually rich.
Nature speaks silently, but its message is powerful. A rainbow does not preach, yet it teaches peace. It does not make sound, yet it fills the heart with wonder. It does not stay long, yet it leaves a lasting memory. This shows that true beauty does not need noise. A peaceful person also blesses others quietly through presence, kindness, and goodness.
The Divine Rainbow can also inspire us to become more compassionate. Just as every color contributes to the beauty of the rainbow, every person has a place in God’s creation. We should not reject anyone because of weakness, poverty, caste, religion, or status. The Divine does not create without purpose. Every heart carries a hidden light, and love helps that light shine.
This theme also reminds us that blessings can come in many forms. Sometimes grace comes as healing. Sometimes it comes as protection. Sometimes it comes as guidance, strength, forgiveness, or inner peace. Just as a rainbow has many colors, divine grace has many expressions. A grateful heart learns to recognize these blessings in everyday life.
In the end, The Divine Rainbow is a sacred reminder of hope after hardship, unity in diversity, and beauty born from grace. It teaches us to look beyond storms and trust the light behind them. When love, truth, peace, service, devotion, courage, and purity shine together in the heart, life itself becomes colorful and meaningful. The rainbow in the sky may fade, but the rainbow of divine values can remain forever within the soul.