|
II.
Resurrections
“Now you
can go!” - Ticket to Eternity
How Baba extended the life of Sri
Seshagiri Rao
Prof. N Kasturi in “Sathyam Shivam
Sundaram” narrates this thrilling experience of Sri
Seshagiri Rao, who served as the priest at the Mandir in Prasanthi
Nilayam:
Seshagiri Rao, who tended the shrine at the
Old Mandir and later at the Nilayam for full 14 years had
been injured by a fall and was in the throes of death. He
was declaring aloud with his last breath the amazing Truth
(enshrined in the Isavasya Upanishad) which no one except
sages recall at the moment of mortal crisis: "This body
composed of the five elements is disintegrating into its components;
I am being liberated!" I stood by admiring and envying
the old man. "What great good fortune, to pass into the
beyond with these words on one's lips!” I told myself.
Suddenly, Baba appeared in the room, as someone
had informed Him of the approaching demise of His trusted
servitor. Baba chided Seshagiri Rao in firm tones. He said,
"How dare you start on this journey, without taking a
ticket from Me? Come down; do the task allotted to you. I
order you to come to the Prayer Hall this noon and carry on
with Arathi, as usual. We stood aghast at this 'unkindness',
but who are we to pit our judgement against the All-knowing
One? Seshagiri Rao obeyed the order; he attended Bhajan and
went through the allotted schedule of work.
Six months later, he fell ill, seriously ill and was admitted
to the Sathya Sai Hospital; his condition worsened. His mental
faculties began to fail, he lost all disgust for dirt and
it saddened everyone that a faithful servant of God should
suffer so. His brother came from Bangalore and prayed to Baba
that he may be allowed to take him to the Victoria Hospital
where he could be given personal attention by his son and
his nephews, who were employed there.
But, Baba said, "Do not worry at his
present plight. I am allowing him to work out the suffering
he has to undergo. After this, he has the chance to die peacefully
and quite happily. Otherwise, I could have despatched him
months ago, when he had a fall." And, it happened so.
A month passed. Seshagiri Rao recovered quite
mysteriously. The sun shone around him in his apartment. He
spent six weeks of bliss, doing his chores. Then he started
to decline and took to his bed. His son was by his side, tending
him lovingly.
One evening, Baba went into Seshagiri Rao’s
room. I had the privilege of going with Him. He asked me to
bring a cup of hot milk. Spoon by spoon, He fed him the entire
cup, calling on him by name and telling him that it was his
Baba that was feeding him! Then, He rose and moved; turning
back at the door, He looked at him and said, "Now you
can go!" And, Seshagiri Rao obeyed, within an hour! Baba
knew when he had to come down and when he had to "go".
We can only watch and pray, only stand agape at the wonder
and the meaningful "waywardness" of the wind of
Grace”.
Reference: “Sathyam Shivam Sundaram”,
Vol-II by Prof. N. Kasturi. Page:
224-225. (Chapter: ‘Signs and Wonders’). Published
by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Prasanthi
Nilayam.
|
Previous
