'Why fear when I am near' - By Maj. Gen. S.P. Mahadevan, AVSM (Retd) - India In 1973, I was lucky to receive a silver ring materialised by Baba while He was travelling with me in a military staff car on the way to Wellington Barracks in Nilgris district to bless the soldiers of the Madras Regimental Centre and their families. Later in 1974 during an interview graciously granted to me and my wife in Brindavan, Bhagawan declared "Why fear When I am near". I had read about His earlier saying "Why fear When I am here", but His statement "Why fear When I am near" turned out to be a more direct Divine assurance for a military man like me. At that time I was General Officier Commanding of a Mountain Division in the snowcovered area of Ladhak facing the Chinese on one side and the Pakistanis on the other. I had my usual quota of anxiety, worries, problems and fear about the hostile weather, inhospitable terrain and the adverse aggressive actions which either the Chinese or the Pakistanis or both could launch without notice. Armed with Baba's assurance, I was able to ensure the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our motherland in spite of numerous casefire violations by Pakistani army and many intrusions by armed Chinese patrols. In Treta Yuga, Lord Rama kept His word given to Sugriva and Vibhishana. In Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna kept His words given to the Pandavas. Similarly in Kali Yuga, Lord Sai had been keeping His word given to an ordinary devotee like me. When I suffered a heart attack on 24 April 1986 during my visit to Hyderabad. Lord Sai as "Apadhbandhava" not only saved me by responding immediately to my wife's prayers but also mentioned to some devotees in Prashanthi Nilayam on the same day that I had suffered a heart attack and that He had saved me. In addition, in His infinite mercy, He had sent me through the Andhra Trust Convener, who had gone to Prashanthi Nilayam, the Divine Vibhuti prasad, a basket of citrus fruits and also a letter full of His love, compassion and blessings saying "Don't worry, I am with you, in you and around you guiding you and guarding you". Later, on 18 July 1986 Bhagawan gave me a pleasant by coming all the way to Madras unannounced just to bless me, and my wife. Whenever I prayed to Him sincerely with full faith in Him, He responded promptly and saved me from dangers, difficulties and near-death situations - once in a helicopter crash over Kardungla Pass in 1974, in a snow-avalanche in 1975, in a head-on car collision in 1982 and also during Bhagladesh operations. When I wanted to resign in 1983 as Chairman Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, being very unhappy and agitated due to the political pressure exerted on me by Ministers, MPs and MLAs for selecting their candidates, Bhagawan counselled me not to resign and gave me very valuable advice, "You need not oblige all the time, but you can always speak obligingly". This golden advice stood me well during my full six years tenure as chairman of TNPSC. In December 1977, He saved my youngest son who is an Officier in Indian Navy from a scooter accident, in June 1985 he saved my second son who is a pilot in the Air Force from an air crash north of Hyderabad, and in 1980, He saved my eldest son who is an Army Officier from bullets during internal security duties. My wife who is a Sai devotee does not take medicines except Vibhuti given by Swami. On many occasions I have received answers to my doubts, queries and worries from Swami either in person during His appearances in dreams or hearing His words directed towards somebody else sitting nearby. Time and again Swami had made me realize by His mysterious ways that He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, knowing all about our past, present and future and also that He is always residing in our hearts. We are lucky to be contemporaries of the Sai Avatar. Let us pray to this 'Living God' who is also the 'Loving God' to bless us all. Maj. Gen. S.P. Mahadevan, AVSM (Retd) - India is the Reciepient, Ati Visisht Seva Medal. Author of 'Military Tactics' and books on moral guidelines. Former Chariman, Tamilnadu Public Service Commission.. Sai Ram
