Autobiographical musings

Brindavan in Whitefield , Bangalore, is Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's mandir just as Prasanthi Nilayam is in Puttaparthi. Both are important for us devotees. As somebody said Whitefield is Swami's home and Prasanthi Nilayam is His office. Whitefield is about 15-20 kms from the city and is connected with frequent buses. The Kadugodi bus stand and Whitefield railway station are very close to Brindavan,  on either side of the rail-road gate nearby. Many of the long distance trains stop there.  We knew one station-master of this station, Mr Radhakrishnan, many years back. He is now no more. His family - wife and 4 sons - are still there. Prasad is an advocate, Narendran is the eldest, Murali is in real estate and engineering. Sai Giridhar was in UK until recently. I gave Murali and Prasad  the job of building a house for us just behind the Kadugodi police station there. They readily agreed and started work. I was regular in payment whenever they asked. Once we went to ...

Every morning while praying, I try to get a topic to write about, and today, the flash was about Amma - Amrithanandamayi . Rema and I had been to Amma's ashramam at Amrithapuri which is in Karunagappilli near Kayamkulam. We had to go a small distance by a country boat to reach the Ashramam. Once we reached there, we were very hungry, went straight to the dining hall and had hot Kanji and puzhukku with relish. Then we went around the place. As we reached the place in the morning, the crowd was less, and we got a temporary accommodation above the Kaali temple. Mainly we needed only toilet facility, as our stay was only till evening. Next we went to Amma's KUTIL (hut) for that special darshan. It was a small hall with a thatched roof. In about an hour, we reached the front of the line, face to face with AMMA. She hugged me and while hugging she said, "Amma sankalpicholam. Nalla kutty aanallo". Rema too was hugged by Amma. Then we went, sat in the Kaali temple hall and sa...

I want to share an incident, my only chance for an interview with Sathya Sai, along with all Kerala SS Trust members. Trust chairman then was Mr Kumaran Eradi, Justice Eradi's younger brother. Along with us was the Ex minister Mr Wellington also. Swami liked him and always talked to him. Lots of things about the Srisailam School were discussed and Swami asked many questions. Just before ending the interview, Swami said something which I didn't hear properly and didn't understand. Later, Mukundan, our state president, told that Swami had commented that I was always thinking, thinking; just do good things and everything will be ok. That was a good message for me. After the interview, all of us came out and sat on the veranda/ Swami continued to talk to Wellington - His plans to enlarge the Sai Kulwant hall in detail. Sorry, I forgot the date of the interview. Forgot to mention (in the previous post about Prasanthi Nilayam ) more about the two museums here in Prasanthi Nilay...

From Calicut, we have gone to Ooty when Swami was there. Darsan was in the Bhajan hall. He would make us wait outside in the open air, and the crowd was not much. Then all would be admitted into the bhajan hall for bhajans. We had the good fortune to go inside when Bhagawan was there. Similarly, we have gone to Kodai also. Hari got this lovely chance to be with His group of students, specially selected by Him (in 2006). They then went by plane to Madurai and from there by bus. Swami really pampers his boys with superlative tasty food and cosy sleeping arrangements. But His strict regulations have to be seriously followed by all. Once He showed Seethamatha's wedding ring - was as big as a bangle it seems.  We had a Maruti Omni when we went to Kodai once, and were making a slow detour around the lake, when Swami's car was coming up behind us. I slowed down for His car to overtake us. Some devotee kept a ripe mango on top of His car, which moved and fell off on the road in front o...

While writing PSN - Prasanthi Nilayam , certain things were forgotten. XMas celebration is one. On XMas day, Nagarasangeerthanam would be done by foreigners. When they collect in front of the Mandir, Swami would appear on the balcony above -  that is an indescribable Darshan for all of us. He blesses all from there and the devotees do the Aarathi, with all holding lighted candles. It is a sight for all Ganas, Devas and angels from heaven. Xmas special programs would be presented in front of Swami - morning and evening - and special food in Foreigners' canteen. Many foreigners would stay put there, wishing and praying for interviews at some time, and some lucky ones get them too.

Father There was a request from a friend to write more about my father"s association with the Cochin royal family. My father was a munsiff and the king ( Madiraasiyil theeppetta thampuran ) Rama Varma selected my father, noting his honesty, straight-forwardness, integrity and other good qualities. The King wanted him for all purposes and made him Sarvaadhi kaari. He held that post for 14 long years. Mother used to tell the stories of life inside the Kottaram (palace) to us later. Our whole family had a cushy life then. Food and accommodation were free and whatever food was made for the King had to be tasted by Sarvaadhi. Father could have saved a lot, but he felt he had to repay all the loans his uncle had brought upon himself for looking after them in childhood. Even the Pisharoty Munsiff's house had to be pawned for repaying the loans. So finally my father didn't have much savings, which caused him to have depressive illness.  I remember him feeling sorry for that state...