Shri. Narasimhamoorthy, the Dynamic Warden of the Brindavan Hostel of the
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning has been a sincere devotee of Baba
for many many years.
In 1999, Swami on his return from Brindavan to Prasanthi Nilayam on 12th
December that year had announced to the students that the Sports Meet should
not be held that year. He announced the same at Brindavan too before coming to
Prasanthi Nilayam. Students did not listen and prayed very fervently for the
Sports Meet, which they felt was the only opportunity to do something for Swami
and dedicate it to him. Even though Swami had ordered the sports meet not to be
held and a notification from the Vice-Chancellor's office to this effect had
already been issued, students still persisted with their regular practices
hoping that Swami would somehow still agree. Many days passed this way with
students praying hard within the mind and also sending greetings and requests
to Swami to take back his order of not holding the sports meet. Swami took none
of them. Some greetings were sent back to hostel with Swami's message of not
raising the issue again. But students still persisted....Swami later agreed.
The Day, January 14th which every student even today looks forward to
arrived and the students arrayed themselves to display before Swami all they
had practiced for 45 days.
Swami caravan arrived with Baba seated on a seat with a steel covering.
As Swami's caravan reached the ladies section, Swami 's car halted for a while
and Swami stood up to wave to the people assembled. As he stood waving to the
crowd, Baba's car moved a little bit to the front. Baba lost his balance and
fell back on the steel covered seat. Swami's hands, spinal cord and head rammed
against the steel covering which sent shock waves amongst everyone.
Baba sat on his seat in that position for a few moments. Everyone Present
were stunned .
Did Swami get hurt?.....If that had really happened, every Student would
never be able to forgive themselves for it was their persistent request that
this cancelled Sports Meet was revived. But no one ever wanted it at the cost
of everyone's Dear Lord getting hurt? That surely was unacceptable .. to anyone
and everyone .
A few moments later to everyone's relief Baba got up and started waving
to everyone again. The car stopped and the Vice - Chancellor received Baba, who
got down and accepted the floral tributes. Baba walked without any apparent
problems on the ramp and occupied his seat.
The program commenced as scheduled with the primary school children
performing first, our sisters of Anantapur next followed by the brothers of
Brindavan and Prasanthi Nilayam.
After each performance Baba came down the ramp and gave group photographs
and climbed up the ramp again. After the program, Baba left waving to everyone
saying he was immensely happy.
As Baba went away to the Prasanthi Mandir, news reached the students that
Baba was giving group photographs. All students rushed to the mandir expecting
to be in time before Baba went back into his apartment. As Baba came out of the
interview room with Mr. Indulal Shah (Chief convener of Sri Satya Sai Seva
Organisations ), Mr. Srinivasan (central trust members) and others, He blessed
everyone , gave group photographs to a everyone and left the Prashanthi darshan
hall.
Two days later, before the students of the Brinadavan Campus were leaving
,Shri. Narasimhamoorthy was called in for an interview. During the interview,
he noticed bandages on Swami's hand and cried out "Swami, What is this?" Baba
brushed aside his question but on being persistently being asked, Baba revealed
the truth, which when announced by Shri. Narasimhamoorthy the next day stunned
everyone.
The following are the excerpts of the speech delivered by Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy, who was crying continuously as he gave his speech:
As Baba was speaking to Mr. Indulal Shah, Mr. Srinivasan and others in
the interview room, Mr. Indulal Shah noticed blood oozing out of Baba's sleeve.
A shocked Indulal Shah got up to ask Baba about it, but was quitened by Baba
who said "Don't tell anydody about this outside. The children will get scared."
Baba later told Mr. Indulal Shah, Mr. Srinivasan and Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy that the year 1999 was the year of Pramadi (an year of
torments) .One of the boys performing a dangerous stunt was going to fall from
a height that very day. Baba knew this right from the start and to avoid this
ordered the sports meet not be conducted, which as readers know was not adhered
to.
Later Baba disclosed in the discourse following Shri. Narasimhamoorthy's
speech that -- "You were not ready to listen to me. You all were praying so
hard. Even after repeatedly telling you not to go ahead with the program, when
you were so insistent, then I had no other alternative but to let you perform.
But there was no way I could let my own children get hurt. So I transferred his
Karmic effect on me. I can bear it but you cannot. If he would have fell from
that height, his hands would have smashed on the ground , his spinal cord would
have split and head smashed to pulp. When Baba fell on the steel casing ,
Baba's hands, spinal cord and head rammed against it. That was my way of taking
up his injury").
Baba started bleeding profusely. His back was soaked in blood. His head
too had been hit. But Baba let no one know of this. Baba's maya covered the
visibility of blood from the scores of VIP's between whom Baba was sitting. For
five hours Baba bore the ordeal. Inspite of the piercing pain Baba came down to
give group photographs and climbed the stairs again. Even when Baba's robe
became wet due to blood coming out continuously, Baba went into the temporary
toilet and washed the blood off the robe. Knowing fully well that, if the
student, who was attending to Baba that day saw the blood stains on the towel
and the make -shift toilet floor, would get alarmed Baba even washed the towel
he had used with soap and also swept the floor.
For 3 days Baba bore the injuries. No one knew of this until Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy was allowed to tell it in course of his speech. Shri.
Narasimhamoorthy cried and tears were in everyone's Eyes.
Later when every Student apologised, Swami wonderfully said "Are,
Protecting you is my responsibility ra (ra is a word frequently used in telugu
towards someone you love). You are my children. Can I ever let you high and
dry?"
Swami Protects everyone in everyway.
OUR LIFE IS HIS MESSAGE
Sai Ram
