Hadshi Mumbai diaries - Part 2 - First flight with God
Swami's 2001 visit to Latur and Chakur
There were experiences galore as the
construction of the Mandir progressed in right earnest in
Latur. It was a daunting task no doubt, but the Jadhavs felt
the comforting Divine presence throughout the period in so
many ways. For instance, the holy ash, Vibhuti manifested
copiously from a photograph of Shirdi Sai Baba. And on
another occasion, they saw Swami’s face replace that of Lord
Vitthala in a large picture! The miracle happened in plain
sight for all to see.
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A full-sized capture
of Swami near the residence of Sri.S.B.Chavan at Nanded. Photo Credit: S.Balasubramanya |
"Swami, it will take only one more year."
"No! It will take two years," Swami clarified
again.
(This is part 2 of the serial. Ensure that you have complete joy by reading from the beginning. The first part is given below:
Hadshi Mumbai diaries - Part 1 - The blessing materializes )
The Jadhavs had no doubt that the temple would not get ready before 2001. In perfect accordance with the Divine words, everything was ready and set in the year 2001. The historic visit to Latur and Chakur finally did materialize. Swami fulfilled the promise of sitting in the golden chariot that had been created especially for Him. The experiences and details of that Divine trip is part of the folklore in the Marathawada region and it needs to be documented as another separate book, but for the record, here is a brief account. I shall switch from my detailed ‘running commentary’ to a quick ‘galloping commentary’ before returning to the Hadshi trip.
(This is part 2 of the serial. Ensure that you have complete joy by reading from the beginning. The first part is given below:
Hadshi Mumbai diaries - Part 1 - The blessing materializes )
The Jadhavs had no doubt that the temple would not get ready before 2001. In perfect accordance with the Divine words, everything was ready and set in the year 2001. The historic visit to Latur and Chakur finally did materialize. Swami fulfilled the promise of sitting in the golden chariot that had been created especially for Him. The experiences and details of that Divine trip is part of the folklore in the Marathawada region and it needs to be documented as another separate book, but for the record, here is a brief account. I shall switch from my detailed ‘running commentary’ to a quick ‘galloping commentary’ before returning to the Hadshi trip.
July 15, 2001 was the glorious day when Swami
left for Latur by a special plane which took off from the
Sri Sathya Sai Airport at Puttaparthi at about 7.30 a.m. The
journey was made in an hour. The then Chief Minister of
Maharashtra, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh and his Cabinet
colleagues, former Home Minister of India, Mr. S. B. Chavan,
the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Shivraj Patil and other
dignitaries welcomed Baba on His arrival at Latur airbase at
8.35 a.m. When the motorcade proceeded towards the town,
masses of people in their traditional costumes lined the
entire route to offer Bhagavan their respectful salutations.
The road was decorated with beautiful arches and welcome
gates depicting Baba's teachings in Marathi and English.
At Latur, Swami addressed a congregation of
intellectuals at the residence of the local M.L.A, Mr.
Diliprao Deshmukh. Bhagavan also gave
darshan
to devotees at the residences of Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Mr.
Shivraj Patil and Mr. Uttamrao Jadhav.
On the following day, Swami went to “Sai
Nandanavanam”, a temple built for Him in Chakur. At the
entrance of this edifice, Baba ascended the magnificent
golden chariot and traveled a distance of 1.5 kms. Mammoth
crowds of devotees hailed Bhagawan with full throated shouts
of `Sai Ki Jai, Jai Jai Sai'. The entire area was vibrant
with colourful banners, flowers, buntings, lanterns,
garlands, flags and huge gates; everywhere there were
impressive displays of His sayings and teachings in local
languages as well as in English.
At the
Shivalaya
(temple dedicated to Lord Shiva), Swami was given
a traditional welcome with the
Poornakumbham.
Bhagawan lit the sacred lamp, then placed His hand on the
Shivalinga
surcharging it with Divine energy. He consecrated
the other idols in the Prayer Hall as well as those in the
surrounding nine temples. At two in the afternoon, after a few
public speeches by elders, Swami blessed the crowd with a Divine
Discourse.
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| Bhagawan charging and lending life to the Shiva Linga at the main temple in Latur. The two Jadhav brothersare also seen. The elder Uttamrao, has a towel on his left hand while the younger, Shivajirao is applauding. Photo Credit: S.Balasubramanya |
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| Swami addressing a huge gathering in Chakur. There were two translators for the discourse that day - Prof. Anil Kumar for English and Sri Shivaraj Patil for Marathi. Photo Credit: S.Balasubramanya |
At 12.55 p.m., Bhagavan came to Sri Guru
Gobind Singhji Stadium to bless the devotees gathered there
with His
darshan.
All of a sudden, Swami advanced the timings for the
programme. His enchanting discourse concluded early in the
evening itself. He seemed to be in a great hurry and
everyone was wondering why. Soon, everything became clear as
the hitherto blue sky was covered with thick rain-bearing
clouds! Nanded had not yet received its share of rains for
the year and everyone seemed to be praying for it. No sooner
had Bhagavan completed the discourse and His aircraft left
the skies of that city, there was a heavy downpour. It was
as if Bhagavan willed to answer the sincere pleas of the
devotees instantaneously! It was undoubtedly a memorable
trip for anyone who was a witness or a part of it.
The D Day arrives
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|
Everyone was filled
with beautiful memories of their Lord who showered
immense grace on one and all in the Marathwada region. Photo Credit: S.Balasubramanya |
This being the history of the Jadhav brothers
with Swami and of Swami with the Marathwada region in
Maharashtra, I was so excited about the divine odyssey to
Hadshi, the second ‘pilgrimage spot’ created by the Jadhav
brothers. A confirmation list would be announced, we were
told, and so, I eagerly waited everyday for that call which
would say “Yes, you are in!"
The mind is so funny. My heart asked me in an
absolutely confounded tone,
“Swami called you into the interview room and
asked for your name to be written. What further confirmation
do you seek?”
But the mind kept grumbling, “You never know
how things can change with Swami. You are meant to love His
uncertainties! So you better be prepared for everything!”
And I, though mostly on the side of the heart, cannot say
with authority that I wasn't troubled by the mind!
It was on the 26th of October that we were
all called to the University’s Administrative Block and the
good, nay the best news was communicated. Ah! My joy knew no
bounds that day, and I began preparations in full gusto for
the D-date, October 28, 2009.
Finally the day dawned – the culmination of
many a sleepless night when butterflies romped freely in my
stomach. By 6:15 a.m., we had all assembled in the hostel
for Senior Students feasting on a breakfast specially
arranged for us. At 7 a.m., we were in the airport
completing all the formalities of the check-in. A Jet
Airways Boeing 737 was to ferry us along with our Beloved
Lord to Pune. Soon, we entered the aircraft and took our
allotted seats. Within ten minutes, news arrived that Swami
was on His way.
It was at this point I realized that the
memory chip of my cell phone was not in the phone where it
is meant to be! Perhaps it had fallen off when I had
accidentally dropped my cell phone on the tarmac.
Frantically I rushed out of the plane with Ravi Bhaiya.
Imagine my delight when, within a minute of searching, I
found the tiny card on that huge road!
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| Swami arrives to enter the flight via the vestibule life. |
Well, that I understood, is the advantage of
keeping God as your “screen saver” in life too - you become
aware of your problems which can then get sorted
automatically!
Dream flight
Swami arrived and boarded the aircraft
through a huge vestibule lift. I was right in the front with
Sai Prakash (whom everyone fondly calls CG) who was shooting
the video while I was taking pictures. I actually moved
close to the window of Swami’s seat in the Executive class
section of the aircraft. After brother Satyajit had Swami
seated, I moved out to the aisle ensuring that my leg does
not touch Swami. Swami seemed to be in very good spirits and
He was definitely excited about the trip like a child. This
was a side of Swami that I was privileged to see – a facet
so human and intimate! The members of cabin crew now began
to take
padanamaskar,
one after another, and I went to a prime position to take
their photos. Finally, when everyone had got their
opportunity, I asked Swami whether I could take a picture of
Him. Considering the absence of resistance as permission, I
went ahead and clicked twice. Oh! How lovely He looked!
The flight was ready for takeoff and I
quickly returned to my seat. Now the safety precautions to
be observed on the flight were being demonstrated. It was an
interesting sight to see the usually unemotional face of the
steward become tense as if in awe at the Presence in which
he was standing and making his presentation. He did his duty
sincerely. The announcement was,
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|
A sweet and lovely
smile which He gifted just before take-off. He is
buckled and all set for the flight! The elder Jadhav brother is in the seat right behind Swami. |
“In case of a drop in cabin pressure, masks
will descend. Please put them on first before helping
others…”
“When the provider of air to the lungs of all
beings is amidst us, why should one fear about the ‘fall’ in
air pressure”, I thought with a smile to myself.
“In case of an emergency landing on water,
the seat below will act as a flotation device...”
“Ah! Don’t you know that Swami is a
specialist at saving people flailing and struggling in this
Bhavasagara,
the ocean of life”, I almost spoke aloud!
It is such a different feeling boarding an
aircraft knowing that Swami is with you.
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| The words have been taken from Swami's letter to Charles Penn. |
As we taxied down the runway, we saw hundreds
of people wave to us from the road. Not actually “us” but to
Swami! But just like the monkeys in the painting alongside
Lord Sri Rama in the Coronation scene also get a part of the
adoration due to the Lord, we too received the devotees’
loving gaze. Moving slowly to the eastern end of the runway,
the aircraft turned around. Facing the west now, the flight
thundered down the runway and, soon we were airborne! Up in
the skies with Swami! The very thought excited me. I have
travelled many a times by flight, but never had I been so
thrilled.
It was past 8:40 a.m. and soon we were
cruising comfortably towards Pune. The refreshments arrived
presently, but all the while, my concentration was at the
front end of the aircraft where the Goal of my life was
seated. He was being ‘entertained’ by small talk from the
All India President (AIP) of the Sathya Sai Seva
Organisations, Sri V. Srinivasan and Mr. Balaram, a
long-standing devotee. Unable to hold back any longer, I
went ahead and took a few pictures from behind Swami.
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| Hundreds and thousands of people lined the airport fence in the hope of catching a glimpse of Swami in the front window of the aircraft. |
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| Imagine being in a flight where the front seat has been occupied by the goal of your life! |
I felt it would be better to capture these
invaluable moments on a professional camera. Calling CG, I
went ahead and got into the seat beside Mr. Ratnakar and
started clicking pictures.
Meanwhile, GV Sir (that is the popular name
for Prof. G. Venkataraman, an eminent scientist and
currently the Director of the Radio Sai studios) got up and
moved to the front. He told the AIP and the people in the
seats behind to shut the windows (and I am sure mentally
told himself, “There! I have taken care of the problem of
backlight.”) and took a picture. Sensing the opportune
moment and also utilizing the better photographic settings
created by the meticulous professor, I too moved forward and
took photos of Swami with the entire cabin. It was another
nice frame (that picture is shown above with Swami's quote
that He wrote in a letter to Charles Penn.)
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| All the crew members took turns to speak to and interact with Swami - a great chance for them all! |
When Swami saw CG shooting, He asked as to
why there was no flash. That was so sweet I felt. CG replied
that it was a video camera. Swami nodded and smiled. After
this, we returned to our seats.
A small detour here.
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| Sai Prakash (CG) explains to Swami that since it is a video camera that he is operating, it has no 'flash'. |
A small detour here.
Many times Swami asks these ‘common-knowledge
questions’. That is to give an opportunity for us to answer.
I remember, on one occasion, Swami asked a student,
“What is your name?”
“Swami, you know.”
Where do you come from?”
“Swami knows everything...”
“What are you studying?”
“Swami, you know everything.”
“You prayed that I should speak to you. I am
answering your prayer.”
Swami walked away gently.
If information-seeking was the only reason
why Swami asked questions, then thousands would have lost an
opportunity to speak to Him! It is indeed sweet on His part
to ask questions and create opportunities for interaction.
Even as everyone was finishing their breakfasts, it was announced that we should be ready for landing.
to be continued
in Part 3 at the link below.
