Incarnation
Sai
Saga - 1
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This is the Story
of the Lord come in human form, incarnated at a quite little village,
Puttaparthi, in 1926. Born to a quiet, pious and contented couple, Sri Pedda
Venkama Raju and Mother Easwaramma, and christened Sathyanarayana Raju. Bhagawan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba is now worshipped as 'God Incarnate' and adored as 'Loving
Divinity' by millions across the globe.
Signs of The Descent
Mysterious indications of the impending incarnation occurred in Pedda Venkama's
house. For example, there was the twang of the tambura! Since the brothers and
the father were all interested in the village operas, there was a substantially
big tambura and a Maddala or drum. As the birth of the Son for whom Mother
Easwaramma prayed, announced itself as imminent, the house was awakened at
midnight, and sometimes even later, by the tambura twanging automatically, and
the maddala beating rhythmically as if an expert Hand was handling it! One
Sastri, whom Pedda Venkama Raju approached for an explanation, said that it was
an auspicious occurrence: it meant the presence of a Shakthi, a beneficent
Power, conferring Harmony, Melody, Order, Symmetry, Spiritual Elevation and Joy.
The Sun rises above the horizon!
On the 23rd day of November 1926, the son was born. It was the time of sunrise;
and, the villagers were chanting the names of Shiva, remembering that the day
was still Karthika Somavara, a Monday of the Holy Month of Karthika, devoted to
the puja and worship of Shiva. That day was made even more auspicious for Shiva
worship, because the ascendant star was Ardra and on such rare occasions when
the month, the day and the star coincide, special pujas are performed in the
temples of the Lord. The year was Akshaya, the Never-declining, the Ever-full.
The Mother had also just finished, in some hurry of course, her Sathya Narayana
Puja in accordance with her vows, for, even while she was going through the
final rituals, the pangs forewarned her. When Easwaramma announced the pangs,
word was sent to the mother-in-law, Lakshamma, the pious lady of the house; but,
it became known that she had gone to the house of the priest to perform the Puja
of Sathya Narayana; the messenger discovered her there and urged her to return;
but she was so confident of the Grace of Sathya Narayana, so steadfast in her
devotion, so disciplined in her religious adherence, that she refused to be
hustled! She sent word that she will bring with her to Easwaramma the sacred
offerings after the Puja and that, on no account would she interrupt her
prayers! She finished the entire ritual with full concentration, came home, gave
her daughter-in-law the flowers and the sacred water Easwaramma partook of the
blessings of the Lord. Next moment, the Lord was born; And the Sun rose above the
horizon!
Sathyanarayana Raju
Indeed the
village, which bears the name, Ant-hill Prosperity, gave the child an
appropriate welcome! A snake was there lying in the room! The women did not
notice it for long; but, when the baby, laid on a bed of clothes, was being
moved up and down in a peculiar way by something underneath, they watched
with bated breath and when at last they searched, they found a cobra below
the bed! The snake was acting the role of Sesha to the Seshasai! |
The baby was charming beyond description, and, no wonder! For, it had even in
the cradle all the Yogic Siddhis, which Pathanjali says come along with birth
itself. Baba has declared that He knew even prior to His Birth where He would be
born; He has said that he was born with all the miraculous powers, which He is
later out of His own will, manifesting one by one, as and when He feels each
could be so announced. It must therefore follow that the baby had a halo of
splendour around its head, that its smile had an other-worldly beauty and a
heavenly power to captivate the heart.
The baby was named Sathyanarayana, since the relationship between the puja to
that God and the realisation of her cherished desire seemed to the Mother to be
very important. When the Namakaranam (Naming Ceremony) was performed and the
name was whispered in the ear; it seems the baby smiled, for the suggestion to
give that name must have emanated unobtrusively from Itself! How else can we
explain the fact that the first requisite for spiritual advancement, now
propounded by Baba, is Sathya
itself? The embodiment and exponent of Truth could not give Himself a more
appropriate name.
Online source:
www.srisathyasai.org.in
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