SHIRDI SAI AND SATHYA SAI ARE ONE AND THE SAME

(AR]AN D. BHARWANI)

(VINOD MALHOTRA)

 

The 23rd day of May 1940 will come to be enshrined in human history as the most auspicious and blessed day. It was on this date that the fourteen year old tender lad, Sathyanarayana Raju, made a revelation to a gathering of family members and neighbours. This proclamation had the import of a 'Divine Declaration'. He announced "I AM SAI BABA. I belong to Apasthamba Suthra. I am of the Bharadwaja Gothra. I have come to ward off all your troubles. In your ancestral lineage sage Venkavadhoota, whom you all acknowledge and worship as a Guru, had prayed to Me and responding to his sincere call, I have taken human birth in your family. Worship Me every Thursday and keep your houses and minds clean and pure."

 

Shirdi Sai had also incarnated in the Apas­thamba Suthra and the Bharadwaja Gothra.

 

1. THE INCREDIBLE PROOF

 

Soon after this historic declaration some sceptic scornfully spewed a challenge to Sathya­narayana to testify His claim of being the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. He questioned,"If you are Sai Baba in reality then right at this moment and at this very place give us a convin­cing and concrete proof". Sathyanarayana instantly responded, "Yes, I shall "' He then asked for some 'jasmine flowers'. His request was complied with. Sathya took the flowers in His hands and cast them on the floor. Lo and behold! 'The jasmine flowers' fell in an orderly arrangement, making in Telugu alphabets the words 'SAI BABA'.

 

On the day following His 'Mahasamadhi', Shirdi Sai vouchsafed a vision to Das Ganu at Pandharpur saying, "The mosque has crumbled. I have left the place. I am here to tell you about this. Now listen to My last wish. You proceed to Shirdi and strew 'jasmine flowers' on My samadhi". The era of incarnation of Shirdi Saithus terminated with an association of 'jasmine flowers', which heralded the advent of His reincarnation as Sathya Sai. It may be added that even today Baba, is giving proof of His presence by the fragrance of 'jasmine flowers' at many places over the world, so much so, that the Sai Centre at Tustin, California, is called the 'JASMINE TEMPLE'. Sathyanarayana's elder brother Seshama Raju, who was not present to witness this Divine Leela of 'jasmine flowers', asked Him later about the incident. Sathya explained to him clearly saying that, Undoubtedly this name is that of an incarnation before Mine, but it should be clearly and unambiguously understood and interpreted that the same Divine Sakthi which had incarnated as Shirdi Sai, has reincarnated as Sathya Sai. The third incarnation WILL BE Prema Sai who shall be born in Mandya District near Mysore in Karnataka State.