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 To the mortals,
exit from the physical plane 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!
Sai Geeta’s
illustrious story that has essentially become a part
of His Story is indeed an inspiring saga, especially
in an age when man often falters to understand God’s
greatest boon to humanity, the great sojourn called
life. In an age when human values struggle to find
their way into human hearts, when man's bestial
tendencies often prevail upon the latent good in
him, it is Divinity's masterplan that showcases the
dedicated life of an elephant modelling devotion in
its real and complete sense. indeed, it serves as a
great lesson to humanity.
Tears that rolled
down her cheeks on many a 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 Geeta 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.
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Adorned as a
Little Princess
There came Sai Geeta to Prasanthi Nilayam
Rejoiced Prasanthi in her endearing presence
And struck a love tale…Creator with His creation
Echoed the song of her heart’s melody
Love for Baba…Life for Baba!
Gazing at Baba she wept
The King returned ‘His Own’ to her
His Love was that she sought
His Heart was that she conquered
Knowing fully, still unknowingly…
She lived a Life…a Life Full…
Unruffled and nonchalant
Dissipating every passing thought
…into the gleam of eternity
Yet, in the end came ‘the end’
Denouement of the drama of life…
Yet, she survived the scare…death
Basking in the love of her Sun
At the end…she receded…devoutly
Into the gleam of eternity!
We salute You, Oh! Little Princess!
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Sai Geeta is
history now and essentially a part of His-Story. She must have been
with Bhagawan through many of His previous Avatars and hence
possibly having found her way to Prasanthi Nilayam. Who are we to
decipher Bhagawan’s play with our very limited intellect? It all
seems a part of His overall drama. He knew that the children would
come in to study at the schools and the universities. He knew that
they loved animals and animals loved them in return. He had a plan
to instil the mantra of divine love through His interaction with Sai
Geeta. And she too seemed to play with the Divine, just the way the
cows nuzzled up to Him in Brindavan.
"Death is the
denouement of the drama of life" wrote Prof. N. Kasturi. For those
who loved Sai Geeta, her passing away marked the end of a drama in
physical. 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.
A year has gone by. And it is still vivid in the minds of
those who were present to witness the scene on the morning of 23rd
May 2007 when His all conquering love filled and fulfilled Sai Geeta
and perhaps her final wish to have Him with her during her final
earthly moments. How an ordinary mortal could decipher the
mysterious moments that happened on that fateful morning when
Bhagawan Himself drove down to the planetarium side to have a look
at His pet elephat that had dropped down on the previous evening? He
went close to Sai Geeta and smeared vibhuti all over her head. He
was there for a couple of minutes pressing her head with His
fingers, stroking her trunk, applying vibhuti on her face and limbs.
He then lovingly moved His fingers over her eyes and even asked the
caretaker to open her eyes. Though it had been fifteen hours after
her passing away, clinically, her body was still supple and flexible
as if it was still having traces of life inching towards final exit.
Braving the simmering summer, there waited God in human form,
silently guiding the entire proceedings of His beloved's final
journey, for more than two and a half hours, at the newly
constructed Sai Geeta Mahal, as devotees affectionately started
calling the same. All knowing God, the master crafter and designer
who knew in advance of the events to come had a well thought out
plan for His beloved pet elephant. He had in fact shared with Mr.
Pedda Reddy, the caretaker, an interesting idea well in advance of
the fateful happening that the new building could be dedicated as a
memorial to Sai Geeta. The hidden truth behind Bhagawan’s
‘indication’ was not properly understood by anyone, then. In similar
fashion, it was against the usual schedule that had been in place
over the years, that Bhagawan returned straight to Prasanthi Nilayam
after three week’s stay in Kodaikanal, as if some important event
was awaiting Him over here.
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A Divine Grace to
Record the Present:
Alex Prowse, an
accomplished artiste from the United Kingdom, member
of The Pastel Society, a member of The Federation of
British Artists, The Mall Galleries, London and more
importantly an ardent devotee of Bhagawan had a
beautiful experience with Bhagawan that had a Sai
Geeta flavour. He believes that, foreseeing the
future, Bhagawan had given him a rare chance to record
the present, painting Sai Geeta alive! Alex Prowse
along with his wife was fortunate to have an interview
with Bhagawan on the afternoon of 3rd April 2007.
During the interview Bhagawan lovingly enquired after
his health, as he had been unwell in between. Upon
answering the question in affirmative, Alex showed Him
a pencil drawing on Sai Geeta that he had done just a
week before and expressed his concern that the
elephant was suffering from a bad tummy. Bhagawan
keenly looking at the drawing asked his wife, 'now he
will do painting?' His wife, sitting at the other end,
looked across to Alex before nodding and replying that
yes, he would. During the following week Alex spent
more time dedicated to drawing and filming Sai Geeta
in preparation for a series of paintings that he was
sure by then to undertake, as inspired by Bhagawan.
“What a joy and privilege it was” writes Alex. Upon
returning to the UK on the 19th April 2007 he began
working on the first painting. Barely a month later,
on 22nd May, he was shocked and saddened to receive a
message informing him of the passing away of Sai
Geeta. Alex writes:
Swami had seen the future and given me the chance to
record the present. The painting given here shows Sai
Geeta losing her worldly form and morphing with her
heavenly energy surrounded by Devas.
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Urs Keller, a
devotee from Switzerland and a great fan of Sai Geeta
has had some interesting tales about the little
princess of Prasanthi Nilayam. But, before turning
into the Sai Geeta pages, it would be interesting to
read, in his own words, how this man who set out to
meet Sathya Sai Baba of Prasanthi Nilayam mysteriously
reached the Abode of Shirdi Sai Baba at Shirdi from
where he was subsequently guided to Parthi during his
maiden trip to Bhagawan, as if some unseen hand was
orchestrating the whole of the happening. Writes
Keller:
"In the year 1978,
I was in Luzern for teacher's training. To go
somewhere after my studies where there was peace was
the most important thing for me. So, I began searching
for this place in different spiritual groups and in
literature where I could be free and at peace. After a
long search here and there I came across an article in
a magazine with a small photo of Sathya Sai Baba. The
title was ‘Prashanthi Nilayam, The Abode of Supreme
Peace’.
I told myself
spontaneously, “I’ll go there!” and cut out the
article and put it into my wallet. Then I forgot about
it, since I did not know about Sai Baba and Prashanthi
Nilayam. Half a year later someone saw the photo of
Sai Baba and invited me for tea. This Swiss man had
visited Sai Baba in India and told me about the place.
Now, everything became clear to me. Subsequently I had
earned enough money and was able to travel to India to
see Sai Baba in August 1980 and stay for three months.
The article about Sathya Sai Baba had been with me for
a long time.
Because I was told
that all people in India know Sai Baba, I flew to
Bombay. Outside the airport I asked where I could find
Sai Baba. Everywhere I got the answer ‘yes, yes’ and
was first directed to the railway station. There I
heard different answers until I got exhausted,
crouched down in a corner and wept. After some time
someone came to me, took my hand, guided me to a
train, put me into a compartment and told the fellow
travellers where they should let me get off. At last
he placed a ticket into my hand, smiled and
disappeared. I had no idea who he was, but until today
I am very grateful to him.
In the early
morning hours I reached a small village north of
Bombay. I walked through the deserted lanes as if
guided by an unseen hand to a temple and stepped
inside with my shoes on, like in a church. Because I
was there all alone, ready to drop down, I fell asleep
at the feet of the marble idol.
When the priests
came they did not know what to do with me and first of
all took my shoes off while I was still asleep. Waking
up I realized that the priests and some other people
were looking at me with eyes wide open. As I walked
out of the temple one of the priests started
conversing with me in a very friendly way. He
explained that this was Shirdi Sai Baba’s temple and
asked me to stay another day. Then he arranged my
tickets for the train and bus to Prashanthi Nilayam –
the Abode of Supreme Peace- about 800 km in the
South."
And once in
Prasanthi Nilayam he developed a new found love, apart
from regular darshan of Bhagawan, Sai Geeta,
Bhagawan’s pet elephant. Keller continues:
"For several
weeks, I spent my time at noon sitting near Sai Baba’s
pet elephant, Sai Geeta, in the cowshed called
Gokulam. Many a time, I went for a walk with Sai Geeta
and her mahout. Once we were on our way to the small
animal park next to the college when Sai Geeta
suddenly started trumpeting like mad. The mahout told
me that Sai Baba’s car would come from the village at
any moment. In fact, after a few seconds the car
showed up to the place. Bhagawan got down, patted Sai
Geeta and smiled at me. I bowed down before Him. Sai
Baba then explained to the man in charge of the small
animal zoo in a very fast way many things about small
animals like deer, rabbits and birds."
It is indeed a
known fact that every time Bhagawan would cross the
then Sai Geeta residence through the road His
attention would be diverted to Sai Geeta at that split
second. Joy Zieglere of the US wrote about such an
incident.
Almost each day of
my stay at Prasanthi Nilayam, I walked through the
village, past the schools, past the new planetarium,
to the large plot of tropical land that is Sai Geeta's
home. Often I would stop at one of the many small
fruit and vegetable stands along the roadside and pick
out five or six ripe bananas to take for the elephant.
Usually, the gentleman who took care of Geeta allowed
me to feed her and stroke her trunk.
Some days, if
Swami was going to the Gokulam, He would drive by
Geeta's lush area and wave. Geeta would run to the
gate and bow, holding her trunk out in salute to her
adored Swami. I witnessed this many times during the
two months I had been at the ashram. Sometimes Geeta
would trumpet her love for Swami, sending elephant
sounds deep into the sultry jungle that surrounded
her. top
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There were other days when Swami
would drive by and not glance Geeta's way.
Unhampered by this, the faithful elephant could
still be seen at the roadside, knees bent, trunk
outstretched, in praise to the Divine, as His car
slowly passed.
Geeta's keeper was ever ready with
assistance. Each day she was bathed, Indian designs
were painted on her large forehead, usually in
white, and a brass bell hung lazily from her neck.
Purple bougainvilleas adorned the fence around
Geeta's yard as well.
One
morning, as was my practice, I waved at the keeper
and held up my gift of bananas. Holding up his hand
in returned recognition, he walked toward the
entrance. Speaking to me, he said, "I will not have
you feed these to Geeta today,” taking the fruits
from my hand.
I
responded quickly, "Is she sick?"
"No, no,” came his reply. "Swami may stop and feed
her these bananas today."
I
thought to myself, `I have been here almost every
day, and Swami has never stopped to feed her. Why,
sometimes He has not even looked her way. This man
must be dreaming.' I finally presumed that the
keeper was going to consume the bananas himself.
No
sooner had this thought gone through my mind than a
student, neatly dressed in fresh, white trousers
with matching shirt, galloped up to the gateway and
shouted to the elephant keeper that Swami was indeed
on His way. Wiping Geeta's trunk and straightening
her bell, the keeper walked with Sai Geeta to the
entrance. He opened the gate and she stepped out on
the sand to wait in anticipation of Swami.
She
bowed low and trumpeted loudly, as the red car came
to a stop in front of her. The door opened and Swami
stepped out. Walking several steps toward Geeta, He
reached out and put His arms around her trunk and
gave a hug. Geeta closed her eyes in ecstasy. Swami
then took the bananas and fed them one by one to
Geeta, stroking her trunk as she ate.
I
was breathless. How had the keeper known Swami would
stop there that day?
Nudging me gently, the elephant mahout pointed to
the camera that hung forgotten around my neck, then
to Swami, reminding me of the opportunity to take
pictures.
What went on between God and His elephant that day
was inexpressible. But the love that passed between
them was glorious.As Swami's car vanished down the
narrow road, I turned to the keeper in near
hysteria. "How did you know that Swami would stop
and feed Geeta today?" I asked in an almost scream.
Softly, the man replied, "I didn't know. What I did
know was that Geeta needed to be close to Swami. It
had been waiting for a long time. God gives each of
us what we need; not just to humans alone, but to
each species of creation. Every being is in His ever
knowing hands." top
 Sai Geeta is incomparable and her life
is a deep mystery that the ordinary cannot
comprehend. She is arguably the most fortunate of
her kind, a great devotee of Lord. There were
questions after her passing away as to ‘who next?'
But, none expected another calf to come so soon to
fill the vacuum. Barely few months after her passing
away, another sweet calf was brought to Prasanthi
Nilayam. Yes, yet another Geeta – Sathya Geeta and
that too all the way from the Bihar Nepal border.
The new calf that was fed and christened by Bhagawan
Himself would continue the great legacy of Sai Geeta
traversing in her footsteps unravelling greater
heights of devotion towards God in human. Sathya
Geeta would once again demonstrate the interplay of
God with Nature. The very name rings true of the
closeness which Nature has with God – Sathya – and
Geeta. Is this the new song of love being
demonstrably played by Bhagawan so that we soak in
the melody and transform our lives?
Bhagawan’s love
for the world is unfathomable. When Sai Geeta moved
on there was sadness and now when Sathya Geeta has
taken her place, this little bundle has brought
great joy. Is not this the message that Bhagawan is
constantly trying to help us internalise? That pain
and joy come in close cycles?
Yes, as a devotee
wrote about the pet elephant, Sai Geeta got her
befitting due, and a Divine Adieu! His words on Sai
Geeta would be ringing in every human heart
reminding them of the level of devotion human should
strive to peak, after having been blessed with the
Lord in physical, to transport themselves to the
gleam of eternity. In His first address after the
passing away of Sai Geeta, to the students of His
educational institution, Bhagawan exhorted:
“If only you can remember and
ruminate on the intense love that Sai Geeta had for
Swami and develop such sacred and noble thoughts, I
will Myself take you close to My heart. You do not
have to do anything else."
Let
us feel grateful to Bhagawan for making every large
and incomprehensible lesson so seemingly simple that
it reaches out
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source: Sai Spiritual Showers Team sssbpt.org -
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