V.Kumar was a student in the Sathya Sai College in Puttaparthi. Swami allotted
his parents ground floor accommodation in the eastern block close to the
Prasanthi Mandir. At the evening prayer one day, Kumar sang a bhajan, "Sai
Pitha Aur Matha Sai" ("Sai is the father and Sai is the mother"), as Swami sat
on his throne quite close by and nodded His head in tune with the song.
Swami's eyes were swimming with kindness and compassion. No sooner had the
first stanza of the song ended, than Swami abruptly got up and hurried out.
The boy felt that his singing was not probably to Swami's liking. Swami walked
into the residence of Kumar's parents. Devotees who watched the scene were
surprised. In recent times, no one had seen Swami thus leave His residence and
proceed beyond its precincts.
In the residence of Kumar's parents, his mother had a heart attack and was
struggling for life. Baba hastened into the house, gave her a glass of water
and materialized vibhuthi for her. After a few words of solace and
encouragement to the lady, He returned to the bhajan hall and resumed His
throne; just then, Kumar's bhajan song was coming to a close.
When it was over, Swami spoke to Kumar, "Do you know why I hurried out? Your
mother was on the verge of dying and I went to save her. Here you were singing
: 'You are the father; You are the mother'. How could I sit here enjoying your
song when your mother was in agony there? I had to reach her urgently and save
her."
The lady's husband was all the time present in the bhajan hall among the
devotees. His son too was there singing. All the same, only God could rescue
the suffering lady. God, undoubtedly, is the closest and the most intimate of
one's kith and kin.
OUR LIFE IS HIS MESSAGE
Sai Ram
