My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi…

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi…

Bhagawan at Shirdi would often repeat that, let His man be at any distance, a thousand koss (an Indian unit, measuring distance) away from Him, he will be drawn to Him like a sparrow, with a thread tied to its feet. When He wills, His Will turns into accomplishment… He chooses the right time for the right action. This is all the more true for a fledgling pilgrim who is about to reach Him. How William Hwehu Ansah, Accra, Ghana was drawn to Prasanthi Nilayam and how Bhagawan cleared him out of one last bit of skepticism…?!? …An interesting experience from December 1979 issue of Sanathana Sarathi.

Towards November 1977, our centre invited names of devotees who would like to make a trip to Puttaparthi. It never occurred to me to immediately give my name since I considered it would be presumptuous for a penniless public servant to think of making such an expensive trip.

Soon after this, I started seeing Swami in my dreams. The first night I woke up with a rather vague feeling that I should think of going to Puttaparthi. I discarded the thought immediately. The next dream was more detailed and lengthier. I was in a little village living in rooms with a lot of people some of whom were from my centre and with whom I ate together. Next I saw myself in front of a tall building which had protruding platforms on the first floor. Bhagawan was on the ground floor and I was doing Namaskara. At this time I didn’t know that to dream of Bhagawan was a privilege and not an ordinary occurrence and I again dismissed the dream as my silly imaginings. My third dream was a most peculiar experience. I saw only the face of Bhagawan for an instance or two; whereupon I was forced awake in the middle of the night in a sweat with a clear command that I should go to Puttaparthi!

After giving so much trouble to Swami in my inexperience and innocence, I finally gave my name to the planning committee without an inkling of where the money for the trip was coming from. I need not have worried! Within the next few days I made three times my annual salary simply because a friend of mine, for no compelling reason, decided to sell a huge consignment of imported goods through me and give me a percentage of the profits.

So the stage was set and need I say that all other arrangements and requirements went through without a hitch? Need I also say that those from the centre I travelled with were some of the faces I saw in my dream? So, we got to the village late on the 21st of November. The last thing on my mind was my dreams but a friend decided to take me round and as we made the turn to the back of the bhajan hall, I stopped dead in my tracks. My friend asked what the matter was and I muttered something incomprehensible to him but what had stopped me was the fact that my dream was staring me right in the face in all its details—the two protruding platforms and rather surprisingly, the architecture and colours of the structure which I remembered very well.

My surprise was not too great then when my private interviews were granted in a room on the ground floor and I did my Namaskara exactly where I had dreamt it! (I went to one of the interviews with my fingers shorn of all rings having made the wish that Bhagawan would give me a ring. As the interview progressed, my wish crossed my mind and at that instant Bhagawan interrupted His discourse, turned to me and said “Tomorrow I will give you a talisman!”)

But all these surprises were nothing compared to what I experienced when I was bidding farewell to Bhagawan.

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi – A Sacred Journey Of Faith, Love, And Inner Peace

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi is not merely a journey from one place to another; it is a movement of the heart toward silence, devotion, and divine remembrance. For many devotees, Puttaparthi is not just a town. It is a sacred space where faith becomes deeper, prayer becomes softer, and the presence of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is felt within the heart.

Every spiritual journey begins before the body starts moving. It begins with a thought, a longing, a prayer, or a silent pull from within. The devotee may plan the travel with tickets, bags, and arrangements, but the real invitation comes from grace. When the heart is called by God, even an ordinary trip becomes a pilgrimage.

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi teaches that holy places have a special way of calming the mind. The moment a devotee enters an atmosphere filled with bhajans, prayer, discipline, and devotion, worldly worries begin to lose their weight. The heart starts remembering what truly matters: love, purity, service, surrender, and God.

Puttaparthi carries countless memories of divine love. The roads, mandir, darshan grounds, and quiet corners remind devotees of Swami’s physical presence, loving glance, gentle smile, and life-transforming teachings. Even after the physical form is no longer seen, the spiritual vibration continues to touch sincere hearts.

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi becomes meaningful when the devotee does not go only to see a place, but to change within. A pilgrimage should not be treated like tourism. Its purpose is not only to collect photographs or memories, but to collect peace, humility, discipline, and inspiration for a better life.

In such a sacred environment, one begins to reflect on personal life. Have I spoken kindly? Have I served selflessly? Have I reduced ego? Have I remembered God in daily duties? These questions arise naturally when the heart becomes quiet. The holy place becomes a mirror showing both our weaknesses and our divine potential.

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi also reminds us that Swami’s true presence is not limited to one location. Puttaparthi helps us feel Him deeply, but His real home is the pure heart. If we return from a holy place with more love, patience, truth, and compassion, then the journey has truly blessed us.

The beauty of a pilgrimage lies in simple moments. Sitting silently in prayer, listening to bhajans, watching devotees from different places, serving with humility, or walking with remembrance can become deeply moving. The mind may not understand everything, but the heart feels nourished by divine peace.

My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi finally teaches that the Lord calls each devotee in His own time. Some may visit often, some may visit once, and some may long to go but remain far away. Yet sincere love reaches God beyond distance. A heart filled with devotion can feel Puttaparthi within itself.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s message gives the real meaning of such a journey. Love All, Serve All; Help Ever, Hurt Never should not remain only as words heard in a sacred place. They must become the foundation of daily life. The best offering to Swami is a transformed heart.

A devotee should return from pilgrimage with renewed discipline. Prayer should become regular, speech should become gentler, actions should become more helpful, and thoughts should become purer. If the visit increases only emotion but not transformation, the lesson remains incomplete.

Every journey to a holy place is also a reminder of life’s greater journey. We are all travelers moving from ignorance to wisdom, from restlessness to peace, from selfishness to service, and from body-consciousness to God-consciousness. Puttaparthi symbolizes this inner path toward divine realization.

In the end, My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi is a sacred reminder that the real pilgrimage is from the outer world to the inner heart. It asks the devotee to carry Swami’s love not only in memory, but in conduct. When faith becomes service, prayer becomes purity, and remembrance becomes daily living, the journey remains alive forever through divine grace.

Unity Cup International Cricket Match at Prasanthi Nilayam