Early Life

Raju - "The Brahmin Child"

 The Divine child became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthi and the ryots and cowherds vied with each other in fondling it and feeding it and playing with its lovely silken curls. Its charming smile attracted every one. The fragrance of the jasmine bud filled the air. Like a lighted lamp, Sathya moved about the house and laughter tinkled in the street when he lisped his sweet vocabulary of sounds.

He kept away from places where pigs or sheep or cattle or fowl were killed or tortured, or where fish was trapped or caught; he avoided kitchens and vessels used for cooking flesh or fowl. When a bird was selected and talked about by someone in connection with dinner, Sathyanarayana the little boy, would run towards it and clasp it to His bosom and fondle it as if the extra love He poured on it would induce the elders to relent and spare the fowl. He was called by the neighbours, "Brahmajnani" on account of this type of aversion and this measure of Love towards creation. At such times, the boy used to run to the Karnam's house for they were Brahmins and vegetarians, and take the food offered by Subbamma, the aged lady residing there. So distinct was his behaviour that a wag once nicknamed him "the Brahmin child"! Yes, it was a fitting description. Little did that wag know that, while in the previous body, this child, so laughed at now, had declared at Shirdi "This Brahmin can bring lakhs of men on the White path and take them to their destination!"

Charity begins at Home

At the tender age of three and four, "this Brahmin" behaved as if it had a heart that melted at human suffering. Whenever a beggar appeared at the door and raised his cry, Sathya left off play and rushed in, to force his sisters to dole out grain or food. The adults were naturally irritated by the endless procession of outstretched hands; they easily lost temper; they sometimes shouted the beggar off, before Sathya could bring relief; this made the child weep so long and loud that only by bringing the dismissed beggar back could the elders stop the wailing. Sometimes, in order to put a stop to what the elders thought 'this expensive and misplaced charity,' the mother caught, hold of the child and with a finger raised in warning, she said, "Look here! You may give him food; but, mind you, you will have to starve." That did not daunt the child; he used to run inside and bring out food to the hungry man at the door; and stay away from dinner or lunch, himself. Nothing and nobody could persuade him to come to his plate, which was left untouched! When Sathya began running about in the street, he sought out the maimed, the blind, the decrepit and the diseased, and led them by the hand to the doorstep of the parents; the sisters had to discover from the store or the kitchen some grain or food and put it into the beggar's bowl while 'the little master' looked on, gladly.
There is a small primary school in the village of Puttaparthi, and Sathya used to go there with his contemporaries, for something nobler than learning to spell and scribe. The school had at that time an interesting scheme of punishment to ensure punctuality. The lucky child which first comes in and salutes the teacher, as well as the fellow who gets in second, are exempt from the punishment; but every chap, who for whatever reason, legitimate or other, arrives late, is given a taste of the cane, the number of cuts depending on his place in the list of late-comers, the later the larger. In order to escape from this torture, the children gathered under the eaves of the schoolhouse, much before sunrise, in rain or in fog. Sathya saw their plight and sympathised with his shivering playmates. He visited them under the eaves and, bringing shirts, and towels and dhotis from his house; he covered the boys and made them comfortable.

Jagath Guru

Suddenly, the two sisters discovered that little Sathya was not at home; a search was ordered; men ran about frantically, for it was already past midnight. But, attention was distracted just then, by the arrival, outside the door, of the bullock cart, with Sri Rama! When the inmates of Pedda Venkama Raju's house went to the doorstep, they were surprised to see the five-year-old Sathya sitting on the bullock cart, nicely dressed and with evident authority underneath the Picture! They asked the companions why he was seated there, on top, and not walking with them on the road. Prompt came the answer, "He is our Guru"! Yes & He is the Guru of the children of all climes, and of all ages!

Sathyanarayana was a precious child, learning more things than any one could teach him and much quicker than most; he could sing all the songs and Sthotras that were rehearsed at them for the village operas, and he even composed at the tender age of seven or eight, some touching songs for the cast, which were gladly accepted by them for public presentation!

At the age of about eight, Sathya was declared fit to proceed to the Higher Elementary School, at Bukkapatnam, about two and a half miles from Puttaparthi. He had to trudge the distance in sun or rain, over stony bunds or slushy fields, or wading through neck-deep water, with the bag of books, secured on the head as the season dictated. He had to start early after a meal of cold rice and curds or cooked ragi-rice and chutney, carrying in a bag the afternoon meal: and, with his companions trekked regularly to Bukkapatnam.

The Pandhari Bhajan Group

When he was about ten years of age, Sathya formed in the village of Puttaparthi a 'Pandhari Bhajan' group. The group consisted of about sixteen to eighteen boys dressed uniformly in gerua clothes, holding each a flag in the hand and wearing jingle-bell-anklets. They all danced to the tune of picturesque folk-songs and ballads, describing the yearning of pilgrims for Panduranga's Darshan, the ordeals of the long-pilgrimage, their anxiety to reach the shrine quick, their joy at the sight of the pinnacle of the temple, etc, in simple touching poetry. Sathya taught the children these and other songs. He added some Bhagavatha songs of his own in which the Gopis complain to Yasoda of the unceasing pranks of Krishna. Yasoda chides the Boy for his thievery and mischief, and Krishna pleads innocence. With Yasoda and Krishna in the centre of the circle and with the Gopis dancing on the circumference, this was a great attraction in the village. Baba himself played the role of either the mother or the child and his dance, dialogue and music added to the charm of the Bhajan.

It was also noticed that he mixed up with these traditional themes, songs on a pilgrimage to a new shrine of which no one had heard, and the majesty of a new Deity of whom they had not even the faintest idea, Shirdi and Sai!

Once, while a song describing the prowess and achievements of Lord Narasimha of Kadiri, as related in the folk-lore of the area, was being sung, and the line, "From out the pillar of steel, the God as Lion jumped" was recited by the group of the boys, Sathya suddenly leaped like the Lion-man Manifestation of the Lord, and His face was transformed into such ferocity and indignation and benediction that the entire village frightened and, no one, not even experts in wrestling holds, could control the boy. At last, after a number of people had offered Puja, waved camphor, and broken coconuts before the manifested Lord, Sathya became normal and resumed the song of Kadiri. Another intimation!

This incident spread the fame of the Bhajan group, for when this group sings and dances, God actually manifests Himself, as the villagers of Puttaparthi witnessed! Moreover, it was noticed that when an infection of cholera swept like a poisonous simoom over the area and killed off entire families in the surrounding villages, Puttaparthi did not feel the blast of death; and wise men told one another that the Divine Atmosphere generated by the Bhajan group was responsible.

The Scout camp at Pushpagiri

Sathya had to move to Kamalapur with his brother Seshama Raju. His parents planned to give Sathya a College education, so that he might become an officer! And, hence, they were prepared to part with him and send him to far off Kamalapur, provided his studies could be continued.

Sathya too attended school regularly; he was, in Kamalapur, as at Bukkapatnam, 'a quiet well-behaved boy', the favourite of his teacher. He sang the "Prayer song", before the curtain went up, on a drama in the town; and, those who heard his sweet voice, spread the news that a 'fine musician' had come to town. "Prayer songs" at functions like public meetings became his monopoly thereafter.

Baba speaks even today of a Drill Instructor, who commanded the respect of the entire school by his unstinted love for children. He was also the scoutmaster and he was anxious to have Sathya in his troop. So, he started persuading the boy directly and through his friends. There were two boys, children of the Sheristedar, who sat at the same desk and who were very friendly with Sathya. They also pleaded with him and even thrust a nice new pair of scout shirts and knickers into the desk of Sathya, so that he might join. They all knew that Sathya will be the life of the troop and, if he joined it; the elders of the town too would agree to sponsor it. Otherwise, they might mistake to be 'a group of idlers and do-nothings intent only on hikes and dinners.'

Sathya joined at last, just in time to proceed to the Fair and Cattle show at Pushpagiri, to which the Drill Master planned to take his troop. There was work enough for the boys at Pushpagiri, what with the huge crowds that gather, the children that might get lost, the supply of drinking water to the pilgrims, the supervision of sanitation, and the need to provide first-aid on the spot, at the cattle fair. The camp fee was fixed at ten rupees per boy. Sathya did not have a pie!

He had to demonstrate that Sathya is its own reward, that Prema will overpower everything else; he decided that the chance to teach and inspire his companions should not be lost; so, he determined to walk to Pushpagiri, thus saving the bus fare. He told the drill instructor that his people were coming for the Fair and that they will look after him. (Of course, the people who come for every Jathara (Fair) are His people!) And thus, he avoided the camp mess and the charges he had to pay if he had joined it. He calculated that five rupees would be enough to see him through at Pushpagiri; and, He gave the set of books of the previous class which he had seldom read and which therefore were as good as new, to a needy boy and took from him, not the twelve rupees he offered, but just the five rupees he required. Then he walked the distance to Pushpagiri, reaching the place about 9 o'clock in the night, the day before the Inauguration of the Fair.

He was physically very much tired and with the bag containing his clothes and the money, he slept on the sand of the river, along with the huge concourse that had already gathered there. The next morning, when he woke up, the purse had gone, along with the bag!

While describing these incidents, Baba often tells those around Him that he was not worried at all; but that he moved about the place quite unconcerned and found, on a stone trough, an anna coin and a packet of beedies! He took the coin, it seems, and proceeded to the market place. There was a man there, who sat in front of a contraption, promising profit to men with luck! On a circle drawn on a piece of black cloth in white paint, he had some hieroglyphics; he had attached some monetary value to a few fingers and no value at all to the rest! He had an iron rod, sticking up from the centre and a movable needle on its top. He asked his customers to place a coin beside him and give the needle a quick turn. If the needle stops on top of a section which has a figure like 2, 3 or 4, he gives the customer double or treble or four times the stake amount; otherwise, he appropriates it. Sathyanarayana went straight to this man and, turning the needle a number of times, and always with luck in his favour, collected twelve annas! He says that He could have secured more, but he sympathised with the poor fellow whose earnings were not much!

Those twelve annas sufficed him for a week! Sathya entered enthusiastically upon his task of inspiring his classmates to do selfless social service. Even today this is the central theme of His teaching, service to others being, as He says, service to oneself, for the other is only oneself in another form and under another name!
Sathya quietly slipped out of the camp, when they proposed to take him back by bus for he had not paid his share of the bus fare. He walked back the whole distance, as a matter of principle.

Sathya at Kamalapur was away from parents; even his brother had gone to undergo training course and so, whenever he wanted some odd cash, he wrote as He says, songs for the use of a merchant, Kote Subbanna by name! Subbanna had a shop, selling medicines, tonics, glassware, articles of fashionable wear, umbrellas, etc, and whenever he desired to push a new article into the market or boost the sales of some patent drug, he caught Sathya on the road leading to the school and gave him the necessary; technical or other information. By evening, Sathya was ready with an attractive Telugu song, praising the stuff in really good poetry, full of swerve and lilt, capable of catching the ear when sung in chorus by the band of urchins, whom Subbanna hired for the purpose. They used to march along the streets, with name-boards in their hands, singing the slogan-filled song of Sathya and evidently enjoying their task! Even now, Baba regales His Bhaktas, now and then, by the recitation of these old time articles tunes! Kote Subbanna gave Sathya, in return for these songs, which soon danced on every tongue, the clothes, books and other necessities.

"Do Deeds Follow Words?"

A word may be said about Sathya and the dramatic activities of the school. Sri Thammi Raju, the teacher in charge, once asked Sathya to write and produce a play in Telugu, and Sathya plunged into the work very enthusiastically. The drama was a great success, not only because the hero of the play was a little boy, a role enacted by Sathya himself, but, chiefly because it had as its theme the eternal sin of man, hypocrisy, "Cheppinattu Chesthara?" was the title, "Do deeds follow words?" to put it in English.

The scene opens, revealing a lady, reading out the Bhagvatha to a number of other women, and explaining the meaning of the slokas. She says that it is the duty of the housewife to give charity to the deserving, the defectives who cannot earn by the sweat of their brow, and not to the stalwarts who lead idle parasitic lives. The woman disperse some time later, and the lady is left alone with her little son, who has all along been an interested listener. Presently, a blind beggar comes and makes much fuss to attract attention but he is rebuked and sent away. Then, there comes along a hefty mendicant with a pompous paunch and a polished copper vessel filled with grain and richly caparisoned Tambura, and the mother respectfully welcomes him and offers him rice and coins, and falls at his feet, asking for his blessings. The son is nonplussed; he asks the mother why she did not follow what she had herself extolled a few minutes previously and he is dismissed with the curt answer, "Cheppinattu Chesthara? Can we act as we say?." The mother is irritated by the impertinence of the son who dared question the ethics of adult behaviour; she drags the boy to the office room where the father, an Upper Division Clerk in some Office, is busy with the files.

He gives the son a big lecture on the value of education and how people should study and get promoted from class to class, whatever the difficulties. Suddenly, a schoolboy pops in and asks just a rupee to pay his fees, for otherwise his name will be struck off the rolls and he will fall short in attendance and he will not be promoted. The father says that he has no money with him and shows the boy his empty purse as proof. A few minutes later, a batch of young men, all clerks belonging to his office, thrust themselves in and hold out a subscription appeal calling for contributions for a Welcome Dinner in honour of an officer, taking charge of their office in a few days! The father is very jubilant at the idea, says that it must be done very aristocratically so that the new man may be pleased, offers to make a speech and pulling out the drawer of the table, he gives them the huge sum of Twenty Rupees!

The child looks aghast at this behaviour and asks the father why he went against his own words; why he uttered a lie to the schoolboy; the father turns angrily at the child, and says, "cheppinattu Chesthara? Should deeds follow words?" He roars at the child and commands him to go to school, immediately.

The scene now shifts to the school. Sathya, that is to say 'Krishna' of the drama, enters school. The teacher is in a storm of great excitement because the Inspector of Schools is to visit the school the next day. He coaches the children intensively for the Inspector. He tells them that the Inspector may ask, "How many lessons have been done?" And they were all to say, not "23" the actual number, but, "32". He says that he will do, when Inspector comes, lesson number 33, on "Harishchandra"; so, he teaches them that lesson, so that the answers may come quick and fast the next day; he threatens them with severe punishment if any one so much as whispers that lesson 33 was already done in class. "It must all appear as if I am doing it for the first time tomorrow," he says, and continues with the teaching of Harishchandra's sacrifices for the sake of Truth. When the class is over, all other boys move out, but Krishna alone remains behind; he asks the teacher the question he has already asked twice that day; "Why do you not follow the advice you give?" and he gets the same rebuff, "Cheppinattu Chesthara? Do you mean to say that the adviser should follow the advice?" Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, everywhere!

The scene now changes to Krishna's home. It is next day, school-time, but the boy refuses to go. He throws away his books, says that going to school is waste of time, and sticks to his resolve, not to study in school. The distracted parents send for the teacher, who comes rushing in. Then, Krishna says, "If all that you teach, as mother, father and Guru is only to be spoken and written, if all that is learnt is to be discarded when it comes to action, I do not understand why I should learn anything at all." This opens the eyes of all three and they praise the boy as their "Guru," and decide thenceforward to speak the Truth and act the Truth.

This is the theme of the drama that Sathya wrote at the age of twelve! This gives a clear idea of the far-sighted Intelligence and the Educational Enthusiasm of the young Sai which is ever unfolding.

Sathya was soon sought after by persons who had lost articles of value, for he had brought with him to Uravakonda the reputation for an intuitive perception, which revealed to him the place where anything was! Baba says that in those days, he used to give his friends only the first and last letters of the names of the persons with whom the lost articles could be found. He left them with their own resources to recover the goods.

However, one case in particular deserves some notice. A teacher lost a valuable pen and he persuaded Sathya to disclose the identity of the persons who had 'taken it without his consent.' Sathya gave the name of a servant; but the teacher dismissed the very idea, because he was very faithful and 'honest'. Besides, a search in the servant's room when he was away did not give any trace of his share in the loss of the pen. But, Sathya persisted in his statements; he said that the man had dispatched it to his son, who was studying at Anantapur, and offered to prove the fact. So, Sathya got a letter written as if from the servant (he was illiterate and always indented on the services of a letter-writer for his correspondence) to his son, in which after enquiries about health etc., the father asked how the pen he sent was writing and advising the boy to be careful in using it, For, it was costly and might easily be 'stolen'! There was also a self-addressed card for reply. Within four days came the reply into teacher's hand! The pen was writing magnificently; it will be duly cared for, with all the vigilance due to its high price and its value as a present from a loving father. Thus, Sathya's miraculous power was vindicated; every one honoured him.

Strange turn of Events at Uravakonda

On March 8, 1940, the whole town was shocked to hear that a big black scorpion had stung Sathya. There was a belief current in Uravakonda and the surrounding country that no one will survive a snakebite or scorpion sting in the place, because of the many-hooded serpent stone that has given the name to the place. The rock looks as if a serpent has raised its head to strike its fangs and hence, the dread superstition has gained currency. It was about seven o'clock, at dusk, and Sathya leaped with a shriek, holding the right toe!

No scorpion was discovered, however; and, Sathya slept that night without any sign of pain! Every one felt relieved, only to become anxious once again, when exactly at 7 p.m the next day, Sathya fell unconscious and became stiff; he would not speak and breathing appeared faint. Seshama Raju, the brother and others got alarmed; they inferred that it must be the scorpion-poison that has taken 24 hours to affect the heart. So, Seshama Raju brought in a doctor, who gave an injection and left behind a mixture. Sathya was apparently unconscious throughout the night. The doctor came again in the morning and declared that the boy was out of danger!

An incident happened in the night which showed that Sathya was not 'unconscious' but, that he was even supraconscious! Some one suggested that Muthyalamma; the Devatha near the Hill might be propitiated, because the condition of the boy might be due to some evil spirit that possessed him. So, volunteers hurried to the temple, got down a ladder into the sanctum sanctorum, and offered worship, placing flowers and incense, and breaking a coconut. Just when they did it near the hill, Sathya, who was to all intents 'unconscious', said, "The coconut has broken into three pieces," and when the volunteers came home with the offerings, they had with them three pieces, and not the regular two!

Sathya got up in a day or two and began to behave in an extraordinary way. Baba has said that He Himself initiated the process of manifestation, for, He could not wait any longer, playing about as a mere boy, with 'brother' and 'sister' and 'classmates' and other secular bonds. He wanted to demonstrate, as He said, that 'he was beyond both Visha and Vishaya', unaffected by poison or the objective world. There was no scorpion, which could sting Him.

Meanwhile, Seshama Raju had informed Puttaparthi about the state of things at Uravakonda. He had written that Sathya was not answering any one who spoke to him, that it was a Herculean task to make him accept food, that he was spending the time mostly in silence but, sometimes bursting into song and poetry, sometimes reciting long Sanskrit slokas, sometimes talking the highest Vedanta. The parents took about a week to reach the place, because of unforeseen and inexplicable difficulties that caused delay and increased anxiety.

Seshama Raju got nervous why the parents had not arrived; he got a man who agreed to travel to Anantapur on a bicycle and from thence proceed to Bukkapatnam and Puttaparthi; when he was describing to the man the route he has to take to reach his parents, Sathya interposed and said, "Why, you need not send for them now; they will be here in half an hour," and, true to his word, they came in, exactly thirty minutes later.

The parents caught the infection of fear at the condition of Sathya; he sang and spoke and behaved in such a queer manner, they thought. He also became stiff, off and on, and appeared to leave the body and go elsewhere. It was all so mysterious.

One day, while Sathya was lying as usual without any awareness of his surroundings, he asked some one to bring in the Sastri of the neighbouring house! "He is reading the Bhagavatham all wrong; he is explaining it the wrong way. Go and bring him here", he commanded; of course, the Sastri would not come. "What does that brat know about this Sanskrit Bhagavatham and the right and wrong of the meaning which I gave now to these people here? How did he hear it, by the way? Tell him to mind his own business," the Sastri had continued his exposition. However, Sathya persisted and so, the Sastri had to come, at least to satisfy the parents, who said, "Come and teach the boy a lesson in humility. That will be enough. He has become latterly too uncontrollable."

When the Sastri arrived, Sathya asked him to repeat the exposition and pointed out to him where he had erred; and poured out in quick succession, a series of questions, like 'who is the father of Vali?' 'When was Ravana born? 'Who is Garuda's sister? Etc. that floored the scholar. Finally, the Sastri fell at the feet of Sathya and asked him pardon for not obeying His summons immediately.

Divine Fortitude

Some one gave information to the worried parents that there was a Sakthi worshipper, before whom no evil spirit dare wag its poison tail! He will cure Sathya perfectly and make him fit to go to school, they declared. So, the bullock bandy was got ready, but the bullocks refused to move! There were all kinds of difficulties on the way, sickness, fever, diarrhea, etc., at last the place was reached and the 'case' handed over to the famous expert in devil-craft.

He was a gigantic figure, terrible to behold, with blood-red eyes and untamed manners. He tried all his craft, sacrificing first a fowl and then a lamb and making him sit in the centre of a circle of blood. He chanted all the incantations he knew. He did not allow the parents to take away the boy, for he assumed that it was a case entrusted to him and that it was a trial of strength between him and his Sakthic feats and the little boy, smiling at his failures! He even attempted desperate techniques, which he dared not experiment even with strong adult patients! For example, he shaved the head of the boy and, with a sharp instrument scored three X marks on the scalp, from the top towards the forehead. Sathya sat through the pain without wilting. He asked later, "Even after seeing all that fortitude and that miracle of a little boy passing unscathed through all that terror, you are not now convinced that I am Baba; how then would you have reacted if I just made the announcement, one fine day? "I wanted to make known that I am Divine Stuff, impervious to human suffering, pain, or joy," He said.

With the scalp injured and bleeding with those markings, the witch doctor poured on the open wound the juice of limes, garlic, and other acid fruits. The parents who were watching the proceedings in utter despair were surprised, for; there was not even a tear, or a gasp of pain from the boy! The Sakthi-worshipper was however furious; he arranged that, everyday for some days, early in the morning, 108 pots of cold water be poured on the markings. That too was done; his armoury was now almost empty. The evil spirit that possessed the boy had not admitted defeat and shouted that it will leave him and go elsewhere! He beat the boy on the joints with a heavy stick to drive out-what he called, 'stag fever' when moved about and 'rock-fever' when he was quiet!

So, he decided to use his strongest weapon, which the toughest spirit cannot withstand, the "Kalikam". This is a magic collyrium, a mixture of the entire acidic abracadabra in the repertory of torture. He applied it to Sathya's eyes and the parents were aghast at the consequence. The head and face swelled beyond recognition; they became red and the burning sensation could be 'felt' even by those who went near. The eyes exuded tears and the entire body shook under the impact of pain. The master of devils was happy that success was in sight, that the spirit would soon take formal leave. Sathya never spoke a word or moved a finger. Those around, especially, the parents and the elder sister felt guilty that they had become helpless onlookers of all this torment. They wept in uncontrollable anguish and tried to console Sathya, without the knowledge of the magician, who did not allow anyone to approach his patient. Sathya was making some signs to them, off and on, asking them to keep quiet. By means of gestures, he told them that he would get out of the room under some pretext and he asked them to be ready for him outside. There he told them to bring a remedy he knew; it was brought and applied to the eyes: the two eyes, which had been reduced to the size of thin slits, opened wide and the swelling subsided!

The 'doctor' was put out by this interference with the normal course of his 'treatment'; he fretted and fumed like a wild animal baulked of its prey. "I was within an inch of victory", he raved. The parents wanted to save the boy from the jaws of that Yama in human form; they had seen and suffered enough. They paid him full fees and also gave some unasked gifts, and thanked him for all the 'learning' he had untilised; they cursed only their fate; they promised to build up the boy's stamina a little more, so that he may stand up to his wonderful course of exorcism and bring him again, for the continuation of his attentions. Somehow, they won! The bullock-bandy moved away from the horror-house. They reached Puttaparthi.

But Sathya was far from 'normal' yet. He seemed another 'personality' frequently; he recited Sthotras and poems far beyond the ken of any teen-aged boy. Sometimes, he evinced the strength of ten; sometimes he was as weak as a lotus-stalk; he argued with adult on the correctness of their conduct and behaviour and put them to shame when he proved them wrong.

Some friend of the family advised that the boy could be taken to a village a few miles off, where a clever quack gave some green leaves as a drug to cure exactly such types of cases. The bullocks were brought; the bandy was ready. Sathya was lifted on to it and the bells started jingling along the fair-weather track. About half an hour later, Sathya seemed to realise that he was being taken somewhere; he said, " I do not want to go anywhere; let us go back", and, lo, the bullocks came to a halt and could not be persuaded, in spite of the most vigorous tail-twisting, to take a single step forward. The struggle went on for over an hour; they refused to budge! Then, their faces were turned homewards and the bells jingled merrily once again.

Sri Krishnamachari, a Vakil friend from Penukonda, heard of these occurrences in the Raju house-hold and came to the village to study the situation and offer what help he could. He had a good look; he pondered long, alone, on the river-bank; then he told Venkama Raju, " It is really more serious than I thought; take him immediately to the Narasimha Temple at Ghatikachalam; that is the last chance". Sathyanarayana heard his words. Suddenly, he turned upon him and said, "Funny, is it not? I am already there at Ghatikachalam and you want to take Me to Me!" The Vakil had no inclination to cross-examine.

I am Sai Baba

On 23 May 1940, Sathya rose from bed as usual, but, after some time, he called the members of the household round him, gave them sugarcandy, and flowers taken from 'nowhere.' At this, the neighbours too rushed in. He gave them a ball each of rice cooked in milk and the flowers and sugar candy, concretised by a mere wave of the hand. Sathya seemed to be in a very jovial mood and so, Venkama Raju was sent for, to come and see Sathya in the welcome role. He came rushing in, squeezing through the crowd; the people asked him to go and wash the feet and hands and face, before approaching the Giver of Boons. This incensed him still more; he was not impressed at all; he thought it was a trick, hiding things somewhere and producing them by sleight of hand; at least, that was what he confessed to Sri Kasturi, later. He wanted that this chapter must be closed, before it lengthens into a tragedy. So, he laughed a bitter laugh and accosted the boy within everyone's hearing "This is getting too much; it must be stopped." Arming himself with a stick, he moved a step nearer and threatened to beat it out of him. "Are you a God, or a ghost of a madcap? Tell me!" He shouted. Prompt came the answer, the Announcement, that had been held back so long, " I am Sai Baba."

Further argument became impossible. Venkama Raju was stunned into silence; the stick slid from his hands. He stood staring at Sathya trying to grasp the implications of that announcement, " I am Sai Baba." But, Sathya continued, " I belong to Apasthamba Sutra; I am of the Bharadwaja Gothra; I am Sai Baba; I have come to ward off all-your troubles; keep your houses clean and pure." He repeated the names of the Sutra and the Gothra repeatedly that afternoon. The elder brother, Seshama Raju went near him, and asked, "What do you mean by 'Sai Baba'?" He did not reply, but only said this much: "Your Venkavadhootha prayed that I be born in your family; so, I came."(there was a tradition in the family, of a great ancestral sage called Venkavadhootha, who was looked upon as a Guru by hundreds of villages around.)

The father felt that Sai Baba was a Muslim, speaking through the boy and so, he asked, "What are we to do with you?" . Prompt came the answer; "Worship Me!" "When?" "Every Thursday! Keep your minds and houses pure."

One Thursday, some one challenged Sathyanarayana and asked Him, " If you are Sai Baba show us some proof, now!" In the same spirit that the rustics ask the priest of the village temple, when he dances in ecstasy while apparently possessed. Baba replied, " Yes, I shall" and every one came nearer. " Place in my hands those jasmine flowers," He commanded. It was done. With a quick gesture, He threw them on the floor and said "Look." They saw that the flowers had formed, while falling, the Telugu letters, Sai Baba!

Raju is Virupaksha

It was then that an invitation from some townsmen from Hospet gave an Idea to Seshama Raju; the Deputy Inspector of Schools, the Health officer, the Engineer, some Municipal Councilors and merchants, wanted that Sathyanarayana be brought to their place. Hospet is a few miles away from the ruins of Hampi, the capital of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire. Therefore, the brother caught at the chance of a picnic, which might improve the mental health of the boy. The Dasara Holidays came in handy.

They alighted among the ruins. They 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 Vittalalnathaswami Temple. They proceed 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 Vijayanagara Emperors, who protected and cherished Hindu 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 dream; a reverend 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 was more interested in the height and majesty of the Gopuram, 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. Hospet was on the toes of expectation and excitement. The story that He was seen as Virupaksha had spread to that town also, long before they reached it. The next day, Thursday, Sathya, as Sai Baba, cured a chronic tuberculosis patient by His touch and made him get up and walk a mile; He 'took' a variety of articles for the devotees and the enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds. Bhajan and Namasankirtan continued far into the night, for no one was in a mood to stop.

The Mission Begins

On the 20th day of October, 1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by special bus, Sathyanarayana started for school as usual. The excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu who was very much attached to the little Baba, accompanied Him, as far as the school gate and went home, rather reluctantly. He seemed to see a superb halo, round the face of Baba that day and he could not take his eyes away from the enchantment. Within a few minutes, Baba too turned back to the house. Standing on the outer doorstep, he cast aside the books He was carrying and called out, " I am no longer your Sathya." "I am Sai". The sister-in-law came from the kitchen and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendour of the halo, which she saw around Baba's head! She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, " I am going; I don't belong to you; Maya has gone; My Bhaktas are calling Me; I have My Work; I can't stay any longer." And, so saying, He turned back and left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing all this; but, Baba only told him, "Give up all your efforts to 'cure' Me; I am Sai; I do not consider Myself related to you". Neighbour Sri Narayana Sastri heard the noise; he listened and realised that it was something serious; he ran in; he saw the splendour of the 'halo' and fell at Baba's feet. He too heard the Historic Declaration, "Maya has left; I am going; My work is waiting."

Seshama Raju was nonplussed; he could scarcely collect his wits to meet his new situation. A boy, just fourteen, talking of Bhaktas, Work, Maya and the Philosophy of Belonging! He could think of only one plan: the parents entrusted Sathya to him and it was therefore his task to inform them; Sathya could leave the house, only after they came to Uravakonda.

But, Sathya would not step into that building again; He moved in into the garden of the Excise Inspector's bungalow, and sat on a rock, in the midst of the trees. People came into the garden from all direction bringing flowers and fruits; the tope resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the lines that Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them that day was, as many still remember,

" Manasa Bhajare Gurucharanam Dusthara Bhava Sagara Tharanam "

"Meditate in thy mind on the Feet of the Guru; that can take you across the difficult sea of Samsara."

His classmates wept when they heard that Sathya will no longer attend school, that He was much beyond their reach, that His company was hereafter only for those upon whom He showers His Grace. Many came to the garden with incense and camphor, to worship Him. Some came to sympathise with the family, some to congratulate them. Some came to learn and some, alas, even to laugh!

Three days passed thus in the garden. Three days of bhajan and namasankirtan. A photographer came with a camera. He wanted to remove a crude stone that was right in front of him but Baba did not heed to the prayer. He clicked nevertheless and lo! as can be seen from the picture of the photograph the stone had become an image of Shirdi Sai Baba. But only in the photograph, not for all assembled there.

A few days later Baba left Uravakonda to Puttaparthi. Soon He shifted to the house of Karnam Subbamma who tended Him with love and affection and welcomed all the Bhaktas into her spacious house; she spared no effort to make their stay happy and comfortable. 

Excerpts from Divine Discourse:

On 20th October 1990, Bhagawan Baba recounted the events that transpired on the day of the Declaration of Avatarhood

"While I was in Uravakonda, the Chairman of Bellary, Ramaraju, came to see Swami, who was then familiarly called "Raju". Seeing Swami, he told Seshamaraju: "We shall take this boy to Bellary and keep him with us during the holidays. "He added: "Seshamaraju: you are regarding this lad as an ordinary boy It is not so. The effulgence on his face and his purity has moved my heart. There is Divine Effulgence within him. Do not be deluded. You may also come with him and stay with us. From there, the Municipal Chairman took us to Hampi. Do not consider what I am going to say now as something boastful or fanciful or exaggerated. The entire party went into the Virupaksha Temple. If I had said I would not come with them into the temple, others might feel angry or offended. I said I was having stomachache and did not wish to go into the temple. All the members of the party including Thammiraju went in. They were 50 or 60 persons. Ramaraju was thinking only of God and nothing else. He entreated me repeatedly to come with him. I was a very small boy then. He held my hands and pleaded, "Please, please, come." But seeing my resolve, he did not press me further;

Inside the temple, Arati was being offered to the deity, but Virupaksha was not there; only I was in the sanctum: Seshamaraju got angry. He felt that having refused to enter the temple, Raju had somehow got in and stood in the sanctum. This, he felt was sacrilege. He could not contain his anger. But Ramaraju did not think in that manner. He felt that "Raju is Virupaksha and Virupaksha is Raju".