29. THE SAIS - IN SERIES
On the morning of Saturday, 29th June, 1963, to the evening of 6th
July, 1963, 5ri Sathya suffered a sudden onset of paralysis of the left half of
His body. He also had twitching of the face on the left side, with slurred
speech. He even had four heart attacks during this period. Physicians including
the Director of Medical Services of Mysore State, were summoned in service - at
a human level -of the 'Incarnate Divinity'.
In the Divine body of Sri Sathya Sai, the left half pertains to
'Shakti' and the right to 'Siva'. Thus presenting a composite of 'Siva-Sakthi-Swaroopa'
which is but a small part of the 'Sampooran Avatar, that He is. (A
manifestation in totality of all that is Divine).
This incident is yet another example of 'Bhakta-Samrakshana' -
having taking upon Himself the paralytic episode of some bhakta. On the eighth
day, whilst still in that state of disability, He was brought to the Prayer
Hall for darshans. He asked for water and with His right hand sprinkled the
same, over the left half of His body. Cured instantaneously - He stood up and
gave a discourse. Relevant excerpts from which are: "Do not grieve! That
is not Swami's illness this is an illness which Swami has taken on, in order to
save so me one. According to My Dharma of 'Bhakta Samrakshana', I had to rescue
him. Even in the previous 'Sariram at Shirdi', I had this responsibility".
This is reminiscent of the words of Shirdi Sai, "The sea may turn the
rivers back' But I will not neglect my devotees". Indeed a marvelous continuity of purpose
which not only establishes – par-proof-identity of the two Sais, but also
brings forth once again the great Divine commitment to protect His devotees
Baba further said, "Even in Shirdi, Dada Saheb Nandaram, Balwanth, all were
saved by these means. The eight day period had to be observe, for another
reason. The great rishi Bhardwaj decided to perform a Yaga. The sage wanted
that Shakti must bless the Yaga (to extract to boon from Her or order to enable
him, to know an understand the Vedas). He went to Kailas, where Siva and Sakthi
were engaged in a cosmic dance.
Eight days passed this, before Sakthi noticed Bhardwaja standing
in the cold. She just cast a smile at him and danced along as before' The sage mistook
the smile as a cynical refusal to notice him and he turned his back on Kailas
and started to descend. To his dismay, he found his left leg, hand and eye put
out of action by a stroke. Siva revived him and cured him, sprinkling water
from a kamandalu. The couple attended the Yaga. After the Yaga was over, they
were so pleased that they conferred even more boons on the Sage. Siva said that
they would take human Form and be born in the Bharadwaja lineage or Gothra thrice:,
Siva alone as Shirdi Sai, Siva and Sakthi together as Sathya Sai and Sakthi
alone as Prema Sai. As expiation for the neglect which Sakthi showed you at
Kailas for eight days, this Sakthi will suffer the stroke for exactly the same
period when We both take birth as Sathya Sai and on the eighth day I shall
relieve Her from all signs of the disease by sprinkling water just as I did at
Kailas to cure your illness. This had to happen, this stroke and the cure. The
assurance given in Thretha Yuga had to be honoured. The disease had to be gone
through, the bhaktha had to be saved, the assurance to be carried out, the Mystery
had to be cleared, the Divinity had to be more clearly announced by the
manifestation of this Grand miracle".
Both the Sais have saved their devotees from serious illness by
taking themselves, their maladies. Mumps, typhoid fever, labour pains, scalding
burns, appendicitis, migraine are but a few to mention. Is it not a testimony
and a practical demonstration of the assurance given in the Gita,
"Paritranaya Sadhunam ....Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge,(to save the righteous I
incarnate from age to age)"