Before the start of ARMY ( Athi Rudra Maha Yagna) at Prashanthi Nilayam,
one of the organisers, a Karnataka Youth member, was allotted the duty of
getting the Lingam. Swami had indicated that an agent in Bangalore had to be
approached for this. On approaching him, the agent guided them to a marble
factory in Jaipur. So this person prior to leaving for Jaipur, went to a
Hanuman temple to pray to grant him the ability to successfully bring the
Lingam. After coming out, feeling that he was on a holy mission, he left his
footwear at the temple premises itself and went to Jaipur barefoot. On reaching
the place, they found that this factory was run by muslims,with all employees
being muslims.
The person in-charge, a young person, asked the Sai Youth to wait and
work of making the Lingam was commenced. They chose a good marble without any
cracks or bubbles for
the purpose. The strange thing was that all work in the factory was
stopped and all the employees gathered around the place where the Linga was
being made and started doing Namaaz during the entire duration of the making of
the Lingam which was for 4 hours!!! It was found that this was the routine in
this place that whenever a lingam was being made in this factory, all of them
gathered around to offer their prayers to the Almighty and the holy task was
undertaken with an attitude of devotion.
The time came for Billing ..........the person in-charge asked in whose
name it was to be billed. The Sai Youth asked them to "please make the Bill on
Bhagawan sri satya sai baba's name". Then the in- charge person told him to
wait and brought his 90+ grandfather who was at his house. He came gently
inside and said that he felt that it was his great fortune that he could at
last make a Linga for BABA.
Now the grandpa with his sweet soft voice told them ," You know what, 40
Yrs back baba had come to this factory which was a small workshop then. I had
offered Him one small Linga which was made here, but BABA said when time comes
He would take it from him . It is only because BABA stepped into his small work
shop it has grown into this big factory." Saying this he said "I cant charge
BABA anything please take this and just give it to HIM." So they left the place
taking the Linga with utmost care and of course in BLISS .
When they reached parthi ,our Dear Lord was waiting for them In the
veranda. As soon as He saw them He asked them to come to the interview room,
they removed the well packed Linga and were trying to show Him when Swami
insisted that they place the Linga on His lap. Reluctantly, they placed this 8
KG HEAVY linga on the frail delicate lap as they had no other option other than
to obey HIS command. After It was placed ,Swami very gently kept touching the
linga all over and said "THIS IS A PERFECT ONE " Then Swami asked them to keep
It back.
On lifting they felt that it was heavier.Swami then asked then how much
it had cost them. When they narrated what had happened in the factory, Swami
asked the Sai Youth who had brought the Lingam to return to the factory and
give the owner Rs.11/- On returning to the room as they had to fix this linga
into a silver bowl like thing which all of you would have seen they had to
measure it by Height and weight . Lo and Behold!!! The Linga which weighed 8
KG'S now weighed 11 KG after It was placed on Swami's lap!!! We know not what
is the significance of this no 11 - the linga weighed 11 kgs - an amount of
Rs.11/- was asked to be paid for this - the Athi Rudra Maha Yagna was conducted
in 11 days and on each day the Rudram was chanted 11 times.
Om Sai Ram
