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XII.
Manifesting in Multiple Locations
The Virupaksha
Miracle
Young Sathya appears in the sanctum
sanctorum of the Virupaksha temple
This incident took place during Bhagawan’s
childhood days, soon after the historic declaration of His
Avatarhood. The strange turn of events connected to young
Sathya had perturbed His elder brother, Sri Seshama Raju.
It was at this time that a group of townsmen from Hospet (a
town in Karnataka) consisting of the Deputy Inspector of Schools,
some Muncipal Councillors and merchants, approached Seshama
Raju with an invitation to Bhagawan to visit their town. Seshama
Raju felt that the change of scene would improve Sathya’s
condition and hence accepted the invitation.
Prof. Kasturi narrates the events that transpired
during the visit:
Hospet town is a few miles away from the
ruins of Hampi, the capital of the ancient Vijayanagar Empire.
They alighted among the ruins and trudged along the roads,
once lined by jewellery shops and flower-stalls, trodden by
men and women of all the nations of the East as well as travellers
and traders from the Middle East and the Mediterranean shore.
They saw the elephant stables, the Palace of the Queens, the
Vijayadasami Mound, and then went to the Vittalanathaswami
Temple. They proceeded to the stone chariot, the monolithic
Narasimha, and the gigantic Ganapathi. Finally they came to
the temple of Lord Virupaksha, the patron deity of the Vijayanagar
Emperors, who protected and cherished Bharatiya Culture for
well nigh three centuries from 1336 A.D. to 1635 A.D.
It was noticed that throughout the morning,
Sathya was moving among the ruins, unaware, as in a trance.
A revered sage, sitting in front of one of the temples, said
of Him, "This boy, believe me, is Divine."
When the party went into the temple of Virupaksha,
Sathya too went with them but He seemed more interested in
the height and majesty of the temple than in the worship at
the sanctum sanctorum. He stood outside and no one pressed
Him to enter with the others.
After a while, the priest waved the flame
of camphor before the Lingam and asked the pilgrims to see
the illuminated shrine, because the flame lit up the interior.
There, inside the shrine, they saw to their utter amazement,
Sathya!
He was standing in place of the Lingam, smiling
and erect, accepting their Pranams. Everything about the 'boy'
was so thrilling and unexpected that Seshama Raju wanted to
verify whether he had not actually strayed into the shrine,
evading everybody's notice. So, he hurried outside to find
Sathya leaning on a wall, staring at the horizon!
The amazement of the members of the party
can better be imagined than described. They did special Puja
for Him that day, though it was not a Thursday, for their
faith in Him as a Manifestation was confirmed.”
Reference: “Sathyam
Shivam Sundaram” Vol – I, by Prof.
N Kasturi. Page: 41-42. Published by Sri Sathya Sai
Books and Publications Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam.
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