3. DIVINITY RECOGNISED
 
Seshma Raju, the elder brother, tried to divert young Sathya's
mind and restore Him to His original self by taking Him on an excursion. They
came to the temple of Lord Virupaksha - The three-eyed Siva -(The patron deity
of Vijayanagar Empire). When they happened to pass by a venerable sage, engaged
in 'tapasya', the eyes of the sage fell upon young Sathya. He became entranced.
He stared spellbound and stunned, at the supreme phenomenon of a Divine
Manifestation & before him. He uttered in sudden spontaneity, " Do
believe me, this is not an ordinary human being but is Divinity in human form.
He must be cared for and reared with great reverence, perseverence, devotion
and veneration".
 
Similar
prophetic words had been propounded for Shirdi Sai by two of His contemporary,
pious and elevated souls, Gangagir Buva and Anandswamy, when on seeing young
and tender Shirdi Sai they had exclaimed, "Baba is not ordinary but a
Divine Purusha, an invaluable Ratna (gem)".