8. SHIRDI SAI IN PARTHI
Eshwaramma, the blessed mother of Divinity that is Baba, narrates
an enchanting personal experience. One day as they sat in the house, Baba
exclaimed "Listen ' Shirdi Sariram is here!" All present there heard
distinct footsteps entering through the door and approaching towards Baba,
finally ending near Him. So real were the footsteps that at first the mother
retorted angrily, "Who is entering the house with footwear on?"
Even more gratifying, glorious and genuinely convincing experience
has been narrated by the father Shri Pedda Vankappa Raju.
Shrl Krishnamachari a resident of Puttaparthi, was a practicing
lawyer at Penukonda. One day he, along with few others, visited Puttaparthi and
went to Subbamma's house. Over there a conversation developed regarding the
miraculous and unique phenomena that were being demonstrated by
Sathyanarayana. At that time Shri Pedda Venkappa Raju, the f ather happened to
enter. Shrl Krishnamachari with his legal bent of mind started inquiring, to
what extent all these tales about Sathya were true. Shri Pedda Venkappa Raju
who himself had not yet clearly understood the unique mystery, submitted humbly
that for him too, all this was an incomprehensible wonder and an inexplicable
secret. Perhaps a mystic occurrence which cannot be easily understood. At this
the lawyer became irritated and accused Shri Raju of being a cheat, liar and
charged him with the perpetration of a conspiracv to misguide the innocent
villagers with unbelievable and fake tales. Shri Raju felt humiliated and hurt
and became restless on hearing these painful allegations. He straight away went
to Sathya and narrated all that had happened. The father accused Him, "It
is because of you that I have had to bear these allegations and insults and be
the recipient of indignant and baseless ignominy. If you are really all
powerful then prove your Divinity to these people so that in future no one may
hurl on me this dishonour and infamy as the lawyer has done today". The
omniscient and omnipresent Sathya Sai with His characteristic tranquil
composure said to His father, "Whoever among these people has any doubt,
disbelief or distrust ask them to come here in my presence". The whole
group came before Sathya and there in the presence of all Baba asked Subbamma
"Do you want to see the Samadhi of Shirdi Sai?' He then took her into the
room and said, "Here you are ' Now you can see for yourself". The blessed
Subbamma saw a panoramic view of the entire Shirdi scenario in front of her,
live and dynamic to the minutest detail, the very same Samadhi with flowers and
incense sticks placed on it for puja. Diagonally opposite was the beautiful
idol of Sainath seated in His characteristic, blissful and gracious posture
(kalayankari). A priest prayerfully chanting the mantras completed the scene.
At that time Baba spoke to her and said, "Look that side, see there the
temple of Anjaneyu (Hanuman) and behind there in the far distance that
beautiful Margosa tree". Smt. Subbamma felt as if she was actually at Shirdi
with the entire expanse full of live-detail right in front of her. She remained
lost in enjoying the feelings of immeasurable ananda of the Divine scene that
she had been fortunate to witness.
On coming out of the room after the blissful experience she
insisted and induced Shri Krishnamachari to follow Baba to the same inner
room. In this manner Baba showed everyone present the same great scene of
Shirdi Samadhi and the surroundings. Last of all Shri Pedda Venkappa Raju went
inside. When he emerged out of the room he was entirelv a changed man. All
those who saw this, were convinced beyond any pale of slightest doubt that
Parthi Baba in fact is the reincarnation of Shirdi Baba.