Though not a strong believer of SathyaSai Baba, I went to Puttaparthi officially with a team of L&Tites. Well, this was in the month of November, just before Swami’s 85th birthday on November 23, 2010.
The company with whom I’ve been employed, L&T (Larsen & Toubro) built all the projects of SathyaSai Trust for Swami – PrasanthiNilayam, SaiKulwant Hall, Super Specialty hospital, Whitefield Hospital, SathyaSai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Boys and Girls Hostels, Stadia, ChaitanyaJyothi Building, SathyaSai Water supply projects, Sai Ganga project, Puttaparthi Airport etc to name a few. Literally L&T has constructed every other building and road in the town of Puttaparthi which was nothing but an ant hill decades back.
Coming back to my visit to Puttaparthi, I compiled an elaborate book on the various projects conceived and constructed by L&T for the SathyaSai Trust on the event of his 85th birthday. And on 18th Nov 2010, we released a book titled ‘Service to Man is Service to God’ on SathyaSai Projects at PrasanthiNilayam, Puttaparthi in the presence of Bhagwan Sri SathyaSai Baba. L&T dedicated this prestige publication to Swami on the occasion of His 85th birthday on 23rd Nov 2010 for rendering yeoman service to the society. The book highlights L&T’s association with Bhagwan Sri SathyaSai Baba and the SathyaSai Central Trust since the year 1990 and the 20 landmark years of Sai Service chronicling every major project we have executed for the trust. All this is presented through colourful images, quotes from eminent people who have been associated with projects and also divine images of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Baba. 
While compiling the book, I heard the project team talk about critical circumstances in the project where the architect and engineers were confused in a certain area and it was Swami who gave some really brilliant engineering solutions to L&T’s expats. The design and theme of every building was conceptualized by Swami himself, they say. The different motifs used in the designs are created by Swami, they said. With little belief on this so called ‘divine intelligence’, I dedicatedly designed the book, printed the same and carried it to Parthi. So it’s clear that I went to Parthi on work…but then began the miracle. This book was to be released by Swami during the evening prayer at SaiKulwanth Hall in Puttaparthi and I was told by some of my male colleagues that one should wear only white clothing before Swami in the darshan hall. Well, that was true. On arrival, I found that the entire town of Puttaparthi was dressed in white and I fitted there quite well. After lunch, as I was busy gift wrapping the book at L&T’s site office in Puttapathi for Swami’s release, I heard one of my colleagues who is posted at Puttaparthi office say “why don’t you go change for the evening darshan”. I wondered what changing he was referring to? But soon realized that white clothing is only for Men !!!!!!Tragedy! This was clearly a disadvantage of having only male colleagues in my department. They simply told me white clothing without realizing that I am a woman and the white rule is not applicable for me. My baggage to Puttaparthi had only white dresses….! What will I do?
I was extremely tensed because I didn’t want to miss the opportunity of seeing Swami and be around when the book is getting released in the midst of thousands of devotees and VIP’s. After all I strived really hard to compile every bit of this book for days and nights together. Finally, Mrs.Srimathy Kumar, the spouse of my colleague came to my rescue. She very willingly donated her extremely grand and heavy Kanchipuram silk saree, blouse and in-skirt for me to wear and decked me up like a bride. She said “Swami always wants a woman to come to Puttaparthi like she goes to her mother’s place for the first time after she is married” (that means with all jewellery, grand saree etc…) I can’t explain the embarrassment! The entire town of Puttaparthi knew that it was not my saree!
At last we entered SaiKulwantHall, a place where Swami meets his devotes every day. Thousands of people were gathered here and we were lucky to occupy the first row. Again, all my colleagues (men) had to occupy a different place and not even turn towards the women’s side, even if she was his wife. The best part was that even during the book release, I was not allowed to join them. Women worshiped Swami from a distance and could touch his feet only when he calls them or approaches them.
The disciple and systems followed by the people at Puttaparthi is mind blowing. No loud or impolite talking, clean and neat surroundings, very simple livelihood where everything revolves around Swami. In the first two hours, starting at 4pm, the devotees recite all the Vedas to PERFECTION. Its amazing to hear thousands of people with instruments in the background chanting the mantras in right pronunciation.
The crowd also comprised of children from the schools run by the SathyaSai Trust. I took time to see each of their faces and their behavior as we patiently waited for Swami’s arrival. Trust me, I was wondering if these children were born out of a womb or each of them were crafted individually by a super power. They all looked soooooooo pretty and divine!All of them, both boys and girls! For more than two hours these children also sat in absolute poise chanting the mantras and waiting for Swami’s darshan.
As soon as Swami arrived in his wheeled chair, led by a band of children the crowd sat in absolute silence. Once he took his place up stage, the children of different age groups performed a play for Swami and once again I will call this performance a divine experience. Dialogues, expressions, coordination, lights, background music, special effects, cosumes, make-up …..and every bit of what was said and done there was astonishing. Towards the end, Swami appreciated these kids and there I was able to witness spirituality. The manner in which he hugged them and blessed them was not ordinary….i really found something divine about it. And just after all this was over, our President managed to hand over the first copy of the book to Swami. Though I was not able to go very close to him, I was very happy to see him flip the pages of the book I made. He placed it on his lap and my heart overflowed with joy.
And as Swami left the hall, the children in unity from the bottom of their heart with love in their eyes waved the illuminated an colourful lights they held in hand saying ‘Love you Sai Nana’ (in telugu) and my heart missed a beat here! Wow….he must be doing something really great to have so many thousands of worshipers. I definitely sensed a divine feel there at SaiKulwant hall that evening.
Even after leaving the hall at around 9.pm, at night after dinner, I experience such peace of mind like never before. I swear…it was very different, very warm, comforting and reassuring. I don’t know whether Bhagwan Sri SathyaSai Baba is God or really possesses spiritual powers, I truly believe he is an excellent person and an exceptional individual. He is rendering yeoman service to humanity with infinite love and outstanding qualities. I only hope the devotees and volunteers of Swami continue the services of Bhagwan Sri SathyaSai Baba. Love you Sai nana!
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