Good olden days

Good olden days

Smt. G. Sujatha Devi – India

I had darshan of the Swamy [Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba] for the first time in the year 1954 in the company of my husband, Sri Govindu Ramachandra Rao, to whom I was married just then. We travelled from Hyderabad to Dharmavaram by train and from there by bus to Bukkapatnam, enroute to Puttaparthi, as there was no direct bus connection then from Dharmavaram as at present. From Bukkapatnam our journey had to be continued by the only bullock cart available in the village. It was night fall and raining when we reached Bukkapatnam.

Being strangers we did not know of any place to go. We took shelter from the rain in the covered space in front of a shop that was closed. It was pitch dark. There was no movement of persons. There was absolute silence. Then we were startled to hear a voice, “Why are you standing in the rain? Hot, Hot ‘Senagalu’ (Bengal Gram) are available there”.

Pleasantly shocked, we looked around but could not see any person. My husband the proceeded a little ahead. In fact a person was selling ‘hot, hot’ groundnuts and ‘senagalu’. Wondering at this unexpected but very welcome situation, we bought these, ate them and spent the night in the verandah (of a house) offered to us. We got into the single bullock cart (of the village) in the morning and reached Puttaparthi.

The journey to Puttaparthi by the bullock cart took one and half hours, part of being through the Chitravati river. In those days Puttaparthi was accessible from Bukkapatnam, and the single bullock cart in the village owned by a maternal uncle of Swamy was the only method of transport.

This was our first trip to Puttaparthi. Bhajan was in progress in the “Paata Mandiram” (Old Temple). Swami was present there. We had our first glimpse of Him while circumambulating the temple.

Swamy did not look at us but looking elsewhere, He said, “Were the ‘Senagalu’ tasty?” It did not immediately occur to us that Swamy was actually reminding us the meal we ate the previous night at Bukkapatnam! It struck us later that Swami was reminding us about ‘Senagalu’. During the Darshan, He spoke to us very affectionately. Thus started our first experience with the Swami.

About the miracles performed by Swami in those days, some times Swami used to take us to the ‘Kalpa Vriksha’, the Tamarind tree on the banks of Chitravati river, make us sit around Him, ask us to hold the tamarind leaves of the tree in our closed fists.

Lo and behold! The sweets wished for by us were in our open palms! The sweets were not materialized by Him in his hands; instead the leaves in our palms got transformed into sweets! He would keep the petals of some flower in the hands of women and ask them to wish for flower they liked; the flower wished for was there in their palms immediately!

Swami would gesticulate by His empty hands as though throwing something at us. When we tried to catch hold of it, we got either an apple of an orange! It is similar to the present practice of Swami showering ‘Akshatas’ (sacred rice used for blessing) on all.

About Prema Sai, once before commencement of Bhajan, the women-folk were gossiping and one of them said that some thought that the Baba was playing dramas, and there was another Baba at Shirdi who was endowed with many supernatural powers. Suddenly the passing voice of Swami was heard announcing that ‘Another Baba also would be appearing”. Later He presented to my mother a locket which contains the pictures of all the three Babas. This is still preserved in my mother’s house.

He once told us that Shirdi Baba was not a fakir; He was born in a Brahmin family and nurtured by Muslim fakirs.

The miracles of Swami are infinite and can be talked about endlessly.

Smt. G. Sujatha Devi – India
Andhra Pradesh, India. Housewife. A longtime devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Good Olden Days – A Heartfelt Journey into Simpler Times

Good olden days is a phrase that instantly brings warmth to the heart. It reminds us of a time when life moved slowly, relationships felt deeper, and happiness was found in simple things. People did not need expensive comforts to feel satisfied. A peaceful evening with family, a shared meal, a kind conversation, or the sound of devotional songs could fill the heart with joy. Those days may not have been perfect, but they carried a beauty that many people miss today.

In the Good olden days, homes were not only places to live; they were centers of love, learning, and togetherness. Family members spent more time with one another. Children listened to stories from grandparents, parents taught values through daily actions, and elders were respected as guides of the household. There was less distance between hearts because people spoke face to face, shared their worries openly, and celebrated small moments with sincerity.

One of the most beautiful parts of those times was simplicity. People lived with fewer things, but they often had more contentment. Clothes were simple, food was homemade, and celebrations were filled with devotion rather than display. Happiness did not depend on luxury. A festival meant cleaning the house, preparing traditional dishes, lighting lamps, praying together, and visiting neighbors with love. This simplicity gave life a natural sweetness.

The Good olden days also remind us of strong human bonds. Neighbors cared for one another like extended family. If someone was sick, others came to help. If a family faced difficulty, the community stood together. People shared food, tools, advice, and emotional support without expecting anything in return. This spirit of mutual care made society feel safe and connected. Today, many people live close to each other physically but remain distant emotionally.

Children in earlier times enjoyed a different kind of childhood. They played outside, ran freely, climbed trees, flew kites, listened to birds, and learned from nature. Their games did not always require costly toys. A small stick, a ball, mud, rainwater, or open space was enough to create joy. They developed imagination, courage, friendship, and patience through real experiences. Their laughter filled streets and courtyards with life.

In the Good olden days, food had a special place in family life. Meals were usually cooked at home with fresh ingredients and love. People often ate together, and that made food more meaningful. The kitchen was not just a cooking area; it was a place of care and nourishment. A mother’s simple meal, served with affection, carried more satisfaction than the richest dish eaten alone. Food connected people with family, tradition, health, and gratitude.

Spirituality was also woven naturally into daily living. Prayer was not treated as a separate duty but as part of the rhythm of life. Mornings began with remembrance of God, lamps were lit in the evening, and sacred names were chanted with devotion. Elders taught children to respect all beings, speak truth, serve others, and live with humility. These values shaped character and gave strength during difficult times.

The Good olden days were rich in patience. People waited for letters, seasons, harvests, guests, and opportunities. Waiting was not always seen as a burden; it was part of life. This patience made relationships stronger and minds calmer. Today, speed has increased, but patience has reduced. Messages arrive instantly, yet understanding often takes longer. Technology has made life convenient, but it cannot replace the peace that comes from a patient heart.

Work in earlier days was also connected with dignity and responsibility. Whether someone was a farmer, teacher, craftsman, shopkeeper, or homemaker, work was done with sincerity. People understood the value of effort. They repaired things instead of throwing them away. They saved resources and avoided waste. This attitude came from respect for hard work and gratitude for what they had. Such values are still deeply needed in modern life.

Of course, the past also had its difficulties. Life was not always easy. Medical facilities were limited, travel was harder, and many comforts we enjoy today were not available. The purpose of remembering the past is not to reject the present. It is to learn from what was valuable. Every age has its blessings and challenges. The wisdom lies in carrying the goodness of the past into the possibilities of the present.

The Good olden days teach us that progress should not make us forget kindness, respect, simplicity, and faith. Modern life can be beautiful if it remains rooted in timeless values. We can use technology without losing human connection. We can enjoy comfort without becoming wasteful. We can become successful without becoming proud. We can live in the present while preserving the fragrance of the past.

In the end, Good olden days is not only a memory; it is a reminder. It reminds us to slow down, speak gently, eat with gratitude, respect elders, love family, care for neighbors, and keep God in our thoughts. The real beauty of those days was not in old houses, old clothes, or old customs alone. It was in pure hearts, simple living, and meaningful relationships. If we bring those qualities back into our lives, then the sweetness of the past can live again in the present.