MOMENTS WITH THE DIVINE - By Dr. G. Nageswara Rao
Sri G. Nageswara Rao receiving gold medal from Bhagavan during the
III Convocation of SSSIHL (1984)
Living with the Lord is an occasion when we are exposed to many spiritual
teachings. Once in Kodaikanal, Bhagavan asked, “What is the greatest Sadhana?”
Giving the answer Bhagavan said, “Following the Lord’s command is the greatest
Sadhana.” Hanuman was near and dear to Lord Rama because to him the greatest
Sadhana was to follow Rama’s command. Not following Bhagavan’s command is
acting like the bus conductor who, for the sake of Rs. 2, accommodates more
than the capacity of the bus the result of which is a flat tyre, adding Rs.
2000 to the cost. Bhagavan narrated an incident to show how following the
Divine command will benefit us. Mr. X was president of Andhra Bank. Once all
the Andhra Bank employees went on a strike demanding the fulfilment of their
conditions. The president consulted Bhagavan and according to His guidance he
did not budge. Days went by. One day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi phoned to Mr.
X and asked him to come immediately to Delhi. Bhagavan told him not to go. Mr.
X told the Prime Minister that he was not coming. The Prime Minister asked him,
“With what courage are you talking?” He told, “Bhagavan asked me not to go.”
The Prime Minister phoned the next day and told Mr. X, “You did a good thing
not coming. The labour union leaders were waiting with machine guns and pistols
at the airport to shoot you.” The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. X for his
not coming.
Dr. G. Nageswara Rao with Bhagavan in Kodaikanal (1988)
I was suffering from an allergy problem for several years. Even if I touch, cut
or eat brinjal, I used to get swelling and itching all over the body. A small
piece of cauliflower was enough to cause allergy. In 1997, Bhagavan took a
group of students and teachers to Kodaikanal. On our way to Kodaikanal we
stopped at Salem for lunch. One of the curries served was cauliflower, which I
did not touch. Bhagavan finished His lunch and moving among us, came to me.
Pointing towards the cauliflower curry He said, “This is vegetable, good for
health. Take.” With hesitation I ate the curry. I was expecting allergic
patches on my face the day and worried how to show my face, which would be
swollen, to Bhagavan. The next day I was surprised to find that there was no
allergy! After that I started eating all vegetables I was allergic to, like
brinjal etc., and by Bhagavan’s grace the allergy problem never came back!
Lord Rama
In the evenings after Bhajans, we used to sit with Bhagavan to listen from Him
the stories of Rama and Krishna. Bhagavan narrated some of the stories, which
were not recorded in the Puranas. Surpanakha after being punished by Lakshmana
did Tapas and her desire was fulfilled when she was born as Kubja and was
blessed by Lord Krishna in the Dwapara Yuga. The dhobi who spoke ill of Sita in
Rama Avatar was born as a dhobi in Dwapara and was killed by Krishna when he
was taking clothes from Kamsa’s palace.
Lord Krishna and Balarama
Bhagavan also narrated how the eight queens were wedded to Krishna. In the
kingdom by name Avanti, there were six powerful and ferocious bulls, which were
harassing and killing many people. It was difficult to subdue those bulls.
After many unsuccessful attempts to overpower these bulls the king made an
announcement that whosoever would subdue the bulls would be given half the
kingdom and the King’s daughter Bhadra in marriage. Many kings tried their best
to subdue the bulls but failed. One day Krishna along with Satyaki
single-handedly subdued the bulls. Krishna held the bulls by their horns, swung
and hit them on the ground and killed them. The king gave his daughter in
marriage to Krishna and presented a ring. Bhagavan created that ring and showed
us. It had bullhead shape and there were eighteen gems (diamonds) studded in it
making horns, eyes, nose, etc. Bhagavan mentioned that figure ‘18’ is very
significant in Mahabharata and this came from this. There are 18 chapters in
Bhagavad Gita and 18 Akshauhinis (a unit of the infantry and cavalry) army
participated in the Kurukshetra Battle.
One day Bhagavan narrated the story of Revati. Revati’s father Kushasma was the
king of Kushasthali. Once he was attacked by Rakshasas and was defeated. Then
he went to forest, losing his kingdom. He performed Tapas. Brahma appeared and
asked him to express his desire. King Kushasma prayed to the Lord for the
bright future for his only daughter, Revati. In response, Brahma gave a
medallion, which contained a golden Hamsa (swan) fixed on a gold base. “Ask
your daughter to wear this in her neck. The person who defeats your daughter in
single combat will be her husband. He will defeat the demons and bring back
your kingdom.” Telling this the Lord disappeared. Revati learnt both secular
knowledge and martial arts under Sandeepani. One day Sandeepani arranged a show
where his disciples participated in a martial arts competition. Revati was an
expert in mace fight. Balarama was the only one equal to her. Balarama fought
with her and defeated her in the combat. Along with Krishna, Balarama defeated
Danavas (demons) and gave back the kingdom to Kushasma. Later Balarama was
wedded to Revati. Bhagavan created the Hamsa ornament and showed it to us. In
the stomach of the Hamsa Bhagavan’s head was there!
One day Bhagavan narrated the story of Kamsa. Jarasandha, father-in-law of
Kamsa performed Aswamedha Yagna. He requested Kamsa to go behind the Yagnasva
to conquer the opposed kings. He gave a ring ‘Vijayanguli’ (given to him by
Lord Siva) to Kamsa. The person wearing it would be victorious in the battle.
After the Yagna the ring was with Kamsa. Bhagavan materialised this ring also.
It was a big ring with a green gem.
The Darshan of Bhagavan is an elevating experience. Let me narrate an
experience of my father. After my mother’s passing away, my father did not
recover from the grief and suffering for a long time. Few months after the
incident, he came to Prasanthi Nilayam. Bhagavan graciously granted him an
interview. Bhagavan told me that father was suffering from grief and thoughts
of mother’s death were tormenting him all these months. After the interview I
asked father about this and he said, “Yes, all these months my mind was filled
with sorrow and grief. But when I sat for Darshan on the first day of my
arrival and had Bhagavan’s Darshan, all the grief in my mind vanished. Now I am
completely free from the traces of that grief and I am now happy.”
- Dr. G. Nageswara Rao
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, SSSIHL;
Deputy Warden, Sri Sathya Sai Senior Boys Hostel, Prasanthi Nilayam
Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Issue)
Courtesy:
http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.it/2012/11/moments-with-divine-by-dr-g-nageswara.html
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