The present day village of Puttaparthi was known in olden times as Gollapalli (the village of cowherds). The whole area was populated with cowherds and their cows. One day, a cowherd of the village noticed that one of his cows had returned from grazing fields with an empty udder. This continued to happen for the next several days. He decided to stalk her quietly to the fields to find out who might be stealing her milk. The cow went as usual to the woods with the keeper watching her every movement with peeled eyes. She approached a snake-hill out of which emerged a wondrous serpent, wound itself around the cow s hind legs and fed itself from the udder without hurting the cow. The cowherd lost his temper. It did not occur to him that this serpent might be something uncommon or divine. He picked up a heavy stone and hurled it at the serpent. Blood flowed out and stained the stone. The serpent died. Ever since that incident, cowherd families of Gollapalli gradually declined in numbers and serpent-hills proliferated all over. People believed that the dying serpent cursed the villagers, which was the root-cause of their misery. As time passed, Gollapalli acquired the dubious distinction of being known as Putta Vardhani (place where snake hills abound).
The contrite villagers took the blood-stained stone which had killed the serpent, named it Gopala Swami (Krishna, the cowherd) and installed it in the village for regular worship. The charming name of Krishna evokes the childhood pranks and amusing frolics of Lord Krishna who grew up among cowherds. As a boy, he playfully stole milk, butter and curds to feed himself and his cohorts and playmates. The villagers worshipped the stone as Krishna, the cowherd, as an act of penitence and atonement. Soon enough, the village prospered and grew, and came to be known as Puttaparthi. During the reign of the great ruler, Sri Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagar empire, it earned renown as a stronghold of brave warriors who lent their services to the royal forces. A temple was built and elaborate arrangement were initiated for regular rituals of worship in the traditional manner, i.e., offer of pooja, lighting of the sacred lamp, offer of incense and naivedyam to the deity, and so on. The prosperity of the village grew more and more. After the advent of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai, He confirmed the divinity of that deity. At His instance, bathing of the deity (abhishekam) and application of sandalwood paste all over, were introduced. To the wonderment of the devotees, the stone revealed the divine form of Lord Sri Krishna with flute in hand!
There is in Puttaparthi a distinguished and devout family with the family name of Ratnakara . A great saint called Venka-Avadhootha was one of their ancestors. The paternal grandfather of Sathya Sai, named Kondama Raju, was a highly evolved soul and led a life of devotion to God. He could recite from memory stories and verses from the sacred epics of Sri Maha Bhagavath and Ramayana. Inspired by a dream, he built a temple for Goddess Sathyabhama Devi, the consort of Lord Krishna. It is now known in Puttaparthi as Sathyamma s temple. Lakshmamma was Kondama Raju s wife. (Tapovanam)
Kondama Raju (Swami’s grandfather) had four sons. The eldest was named Pedda Venkama Raju. The second son was named Chinna Venkama Raju. The third son was named Venkata Subba Raju while the fourth bore the name Venkata Rama Raju. Since Venkavadhoota was his preceptor, Kondama Raju liked the name ‘Venka’ very much; that is why all his sons had Venka admixed in their names.
In due course all these sons got married but being poor, all the four families had to share the same small hut. The hut did not have a tiled roof but only one of thatched grass. As time passed, children were born in all the four families. Chinna Venkama Raju had twelve children; Pedda Venkama Raju had eight children; Subba Raju had nine while Venkata Rama Raju had eleven. There were enough children to fill a small primary school! (SSB 2000, p.265)
Easwaramma
Some close relatives of Kondama Raju were residing in a village called Kolimikuntla in the Koyalakuntla Thaluka of Kurnool District. Their family name was Meesraganda. Subba Raju of that family built a temple for Lord Siva in his village. While the temple was under construction, Subba Raju was blessed with a female baby, who was named Namagiri. While returning from a pilgrimage, Kondama Raju happened to visit that village. He was very much distressed to find that his relatives were leading uneasy lives due to the depredations of dacoits active in that region. He invited them to come over and take permanent residence in the village of Karnata Nagapalli on the other bank of the river Chitravathi, right opposite to Puttaparthi, which he said, would be a safe haven. As an added incentive, he gave his word that he would accept Namagiri as his daughter-in- law.
The Meesaraganda family soon shifted and settled down in Karnata Nagapalli and took up farming. As divinely ordained, Subba Raju s daughter was wedded to Peda Venkama Raju. Not quite pleased with the name his daughter-in- law was given by her parents, Kondama Raju changed it to Easwaramma (mother of Lord Easwara, i.e., Lord Siva). That name eventually proved not only quite appropriate but also prophetic! The devout couple begot a son, Seshama Raju, and two daughters, Venkamma and Parvathamma. To the great distress of Lakshmamma, four miscarriages followed. She earnestly prayed to God to bless her family with another child. (Tapovanam)
The moment of divine fulfilment was about to dawn. The prayers of numerous saints, sages and renunciates for the incarnation of God on earth were about to be answered. The agony of suffering humanity moved the ever-merciful Supreme Divinity. Easwaramma was again pregnant, for the eighth time. Quite significantly, Lord Krishna was born as the eighth child of his mother, Devaki Devi. The Inscrutable, the Incomprehensible, the Universal Absolute was now about to reveal Himself. Musical instruments in the house, like mridangam (percussion instrument) and thanpura (stringed instrument) used to produce, of their own accord, musical sounds. People were surprised and also delighted at this extraordinary occurrence, but at the same time, they were confused and concerned. Peda Venkama Raju went all the way to the nearby town of Bukkapatnam to consult astrologers. After carefully going through ancient texts, they enquired whether any lady in the house was pregnant. When the reply was affirmative, the astrologers said, "For the pleasure of the child in the womb, celestial musicians are providing entertainment. When divine incarnations are about to take place, such unusual incidents happen!" They showed relevant parts of astrological treaties to Peda Venkama Raju in support of their opinion.
It was 23rd November 1926. According to the Hindy calendar, it corresponded to Somavar (Monday), Thadia (the third day) after the full moon, Kartika month, Akshaya year and ardra star. Hindus consider Mondays of the Kartika month as favourite days of Lord Siva and perform special worship. (Tapovanam)
The villagers were chanting the names of Siva, the cosmic rhythm personified, in remembrance that the day was a Monday of the Holy Month of Karthika devoted to the worship of Siva. That day was even more auspicious because the ascendant star was Ardra, and on such rare occasions when the month, the day, and the star coincide, special worship is performed in the temples of the Lord. The year was Akshaya, the "Never declining, the Ever-full!"
While the mother was going through the final rituals of her Satyanarayana adoration in accordance with her vows, the birth pangs forewarned her. When she revealed this, messengers were sent to inform the mother-in-law, Lakshamma, the pious old lady of the house. However, she had gone to the house of the priest to perform her own Satyanarayana Prayers. The messengers went there and urged her to return. She was so confident of the Grace of Satyanarayana, so steadfast in her devotion, so disciplined in her religious adherence, that she refused to be hurried! She sent word that she would bring with her to her daughter-in-law, Easwaramma, the sacred offerings after the worship, and that on no account would she interrupt her prayers. She finished the entire ritual with full concentration, came home, gave Easwaramma the flowers which had previously been placed on the idol and the sacred waters with which it was washed. Easwaramma partook of the blessings of the Lord, wore the flowers in her hair, and sipped the water. (SSSm Vol.1)
It was now 5.06 am. Cool breezes were wafting softly. Little bells on the top of the temple pillar (dhwaja sthambham) were producing gentle and melodious sounds. Inside the house, musical notes from the instruments spontaneously playing on their own were softly reverberating. At that wondrous moment, Sri Sathya Sai, the divine incarnation was born.
He had a tiny black mole (birthmark) on his left cheek. He had also another mole on his bosom, like the Srivatsa ornament adorning the bosom of Lord Maha Vishnu. On his soles could be discerned the signs of Sankha (the conch) and Chakra (the circular disk) which are insignia of divinity.
Lakshmamma, Easwaramma s mother-in-law, placed the new born baby delicately on palm leaves, as tradition demanded, in a corner of the delivery room. A little later, she noticed a slight movement of the baby s bed sheets. When she picked up the baby, she found to her dismay, a coiled cobra below the bed! True enough, Puttaparthi knew no dearth of snakes. But it was nevertheless quite unusual for a coiled cobra positioning itself as a bed for a new born baby right in the delivery room. After the flutter caused by its presence cooled down, the snake was searched for but it could not be found. There is absolutely no doubt that the snake was none other than Adishesha, the divine serpent who serves as a bed for Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in Vaikunta. This is the very first demonstration of the divinity of Sri Sathya Sai.
As the baby was born immediately after his mother had partaken of the prasadam of Lord Sri Sathya Narayana Swami, he was given the name of Sathya Narayana. The old man, Kondama Raju, was immensely delighted with this name. For he was reminded of the incident in the Sri Maha Bhagavatam when Lord Sri Krishna was born as the human incarnation of Lord Narayana. Lord Brahma presented himself before the child and paid homage thus:
Sathya Vratham, Sathya Param, Thri Sathyam,
Sathyasya Yonim, Nihitam cha Sathye,
Sathwasya Sathyam, Ritha Sathya Nethram,
Sathya-Athmakam, Tvam Sharanam Prasannah.
(Oh Lord, You are the embodiment of truth. In fact, You are the truth itself; only You are the eternal truth. Truth is the only path to reach You. Oh the personification of truth, I surrender to Thee!)
Even if one goes by the name given to the little baby, Sathyam, it is evident that he is truly Lord Sri Narayana and the embodiment of truth (Sathyam).
The inner, profound spiritual significance of the word "Sathya" has come out in all its striking appropriateness in Swami s life. Ritam and Sathyam are the two bejewelled ornaments of the ears of Sruti Mata (Veda Mata, the Mother Goddess of the Vedas).
When we contemplate deeply on their meaning and spiritual significance, even now ever new beauties are revealed to us. Sathyam (eternal truth) and Nityam (knowing no beginning or end) are worth meditating on. (Tapovanam)
Not Conception, But Advent
In the Sri Maha Bhagavatam, it has been stated that Lord Narayana intended to incarnate on this earth as Sri Krishna and "entered" the womb of Devaki Devi. After Bhagavan Sathya Sai proclaimed, "I am that Krishna of yore," a doubt arose in the mind of a learned scholar named Sangubhatla Rama Sarma. He was the scholar-laureate (asthana Pandit) of the ruler of Venkatagiri, and he was a learned scholar of scriptures and sacred epics. One day, he happened to be with Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the mandir when spiritual matters were being discussed. He asked, "Swami, was your birth through normal conception (pravasam) or by advent (pravesham)?" Everyone present was intrigued and somewhat surprised, "What is this odd question and, in any case, what is its property?" they wondered. But Swami certainly knew the inner substance and profound significance of the question. He turned towards Easwaramma, the mother, who was sitting in the front row, and said, "Tell Rama Sharma what happened on that day when you were lifting water from the well."
Easwaramma then narrated her experience : "When I was lifting water from the well", she said, "suddenly I saw a ball of bluish sparkling light rolling down from the sky. It entered my body and I lost consciousness. When I regained my senses with ministrations of my mother-in-law, I told her what had happened. She advised me not to breathe a word about it to anyone because people might draw all sorts of undesirable and funny inferences."
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai now turned to Rama Sarma and said, "Do you now understand, Rama Sarma? My brith was not through conception but by advent." (Tapovanam)
SATYANARAYANA RAJU - HIS CHILDHOOD
Kondama Raju used to take this extraordinary child into his pooja room and seat him there. As he would perform the worship, he would note that the child s presence gave him immense tranquillity of mind and he could effortlessly concentrate on God in meditation. Why not? It is perfectly understandable. Whoever enthrones Bhagavan in his heart is bound to experience transcendental peace, which is something that every devotee knows from personal experience.
The baby was extremely handsome. Neighbouring women folk used to spend hours and hours playing with him, caressing him and embracing him. Easwaramma never bothered to know what caste or community or faith they belonged to. She raised no objection whatsoever. The baby too learned to love them and liked their company. He would often run away from his mother s lap to the company of others. He was indeed restless except in their company. Bhagavan Sathya Sai once declared that He would unfailing go to those who yearned for Him wholeheartedly. When we hear of his childhood pranks and plays, we realize that even as a child, he had been practicing what He declared much later, after he grew up. (Tapovanam)
The house next to the one adjoining Kondama Raju s belonged to a Karanam (village revenue official). The lady of the house was Subbamma. Whenever she took the charming child in her arms, his face would glow in happiness; he would titter with delight and she would experience supreme joy. She had no children of her own. She often took this child to her home, as proudly as if she was bringing home precious treasures. She smothered him with her motherly love. Subbamma s family was a Brahmin family and was vegetarian in food habits. As Sathyam always insisted on going to her house and found much happiness there, people used to observe that, like his grandfather, Kondama Raju, little Sathyam would also be a vegetarian and hence, he preferred to spend much of his time in the environment of Subbamma s house. In fact, Sathyam was not as happy in his own house as he was ins Subbamma s. Some of the relatives of Kondama Raju s family used to comment that Easwaramma was Devaki (the natal mother of Lord Krishna) while Subbamma was Yashoda (his foster mother).
Another unusual feature of Sathyam was that he never used to ask for any particular thing to eat nor for any particular piece of clothing. Clothes used to be brought from the neighbouring towns of Hindupuram and Anantapuram for all children in the family. The little ones would gather around them and eagerly snatch up pieces they preferred. But Sathyam would cheerfully accept whatever was left behind. He never indicated that he had any choice of his own; there was nothing that he would particularly prefer. On the other hand, when he saw the other children in happiness, Sathyam s face would bloom with pleasure and satisfaction. "Your happiness is My food," Swami declared m any years later. That surely, must have held true even when Sathyam was a mere child.
He was full of pity, compassion, love and sympathy for any living being subjected to hardship and grief. A few playful boys once collected about a dozen frogs and were carrying them in a basket. They planned to have fun by subjecting the poor creatures to some sort of torture. Sathyam requested that they be freed. The boys did not agree. Suddenly, Sathyam transformed them into pigeons through his divine will. He told them that there were no frogs in their basket. When they disbelievingly opened the lid to see, the birds escaped into the sky.
We can read a spiritual meaning too in this incident. From that day to this day, Bhagavan has been transforming ordinary individuals, who are entrapped and living like frogs in the deep mire of ignorance (Ajnan), into strong human beings who are bold and happy and capable of soaring free in the spiritual firmament like birds in skies.
Even as a little boy, Sathyam was fond of natural beauty. He spent much time contemplating nature. Mountain peaks, stars and sky gave him profound happiness as he contemplated on them spellbound. At such times, he appeared serene and serious, way beyond his tender age. The women of Puttaparthi who had seen him so lost in his thoughts used to refer to him as "Brahma Jnani" (one who attained supreme realization). They might have, no doubt, said so in mirth and frolic; they could never suspect that the boy they were making fun of was indeed a Brahma Jnani.
Divine Touch
Easwaramma and Karanam Subbamma would often sit, at dusk in the front portico of their houses overlooking the street, and spend time in conversation. Right in front of them in the street, Sathyam would wear a bandage across his eyes and play hide and seek with his colleagues. That was the time when cattle headed home from pasture. There was always the risk of unruly animals trampling passers-by. Easwaramma would naturally feel apprehensive about her darling child s safety. But Subbamma would always reassure her: "Calm yourself and just keep watching. Nothing untoward will happen." The blindfolded Sathyam would catch hold of some rogue animal. Under his gentle touch, the animal would become docile, lower its head and move away harmlessly. Such incidents used to leave onlookers baffled.
Probably because Sathyam was born under the auspicious influence of the ardra star, his heart would melt at the very sight of suffering. (Ardra in Sanskrit means compassionate). If a hungry person stood at his door, Sathyam would run inside, bring some food and place it affectionately into the outstretched hands. The glow of happiness in the eyes of the hungry person would fill Sathyam s heart with satisfaction. He used to bring to his home, persons shivering from cold and gave them clothes to cover themselves. It was customary for people to carry fowl upside down by their legs, bound together and heads hanging down, a position torturous to the poor birds. Bullocks were goaded to move faster by twisting their tails cruelly. At the sight of such insensate cruelty, Sathyam would suffer the agony of the poor birds and animals in himself. (Tapovanam)
When this body was seven years old, dreadful and contagious diseases like cholera and plague were rampant in this tiny hamlet of Puttaparthi. Fear-stricken, the parents would not allow their children to go out of the house. But the children, out of their love for Me, would come to Me without even telling their parents. All those children were of the age group of six to eight.
One day, nearly 12 boys gathered around Me and said in a anxious tone “Raju, we came to know that cholera and plague are rampant in our village. It seems they are dangerous and fatal. What would be our fate?” I told them, “The body has to perish one day or the other, whatever may be the precautions you take. So, do not be afraid of death. Contemplate on God and take care that the diseases do not afflict you.”
The boys asked Me as which form of God they should contemplate on. They were all very innocent. In those days this was a very small village with a population of 106. They had no idea as to which form of God they should worship.
How Swami drove away the diseases
I told them to light a lamp, place it in the bazaar at 6 o clock in the evening, and do bhajans. They did not know what bhajans to sing. Then I composed a few bhajans for them. I told them, “We need not search for God outside. He is within us. Let us go around the village chanting the name of Ranga, donning ochre robes and anklets, playing the cymbals in our hands, and getting rid of the evil qualities of anger and desire.” In those days, after 5 o clock in the evening, no one dared to go beyond the Sathyamma temple, because they considered it to be far off from the village and believed that the area beyond the temple limits was haunted.
I infused confidence in them, saying there are no ghosts or devils and advised them to drive away the diseases of cholera and plague by chanting the name of God. We wore anklets and walked up to the riverbed of Chitravathi playing the cymbals and singing bhajans. It was the divine name that eradicated diseases of cholera and plague for good within a short span of three days.
The parents brought the children to Me and expressed their gratitude for having saved them from the epidemic. They said, “Raju, we are indebted to You for having instilled courage and confidence in our children. We don’t want them to attend school, instead they will come to You. Kindly impart the education necessary for their welfare.”
Everyday at 6 o clock in the evening, they would assemble at My residence, after having their dinner, for tuition. They used to address Me as “tuition master”. Their parents wanted to offer 3 paise per month as guru dakshina, which I flatly refused.
The children used to come to Me every evening to learn numeric tables and alphabets. Taking this as a pretext, I used to impart value-oriented education also. I used to advise them to keep away from bad company and not to indulge in criticism and slander. Cultivate good habits and good qualities. Respect your parents and obey their commands. Since then, there was marked improvement in their behavior and outlook.
Swami’s skills in composing bhajans
On moonlit nights, we used to go to the Chitravathi River at 6 o’clock in the evening and return only at 11 in the night. Few elders also would accompany us. They used to pass time by playing games like kabaddi, but the children were not interested in joining them. In spite of My repeated entreaties, they would not participate in any of these pastimes. They were more interested in bhajans and being around Me. They would request Me to lead bhajans. Thus we used to spend our time in Chitravathi singing bhajans.
The children used to plead with Me to compose new bhajans and tunes. They used to extol My composing capabilities. I used to ask them to express their desires, if any, but not praise Me. One day a pharmacist by name Kotte Subbanna came to Puttaparthi from Kamalapuram. He had heard a great deal about My composing capabilities and had come to request Me to write a song that would serve as an advertisement for his new medicine. He came to Subbamma and enquired about Me.
She told him, “I know Raju very well. He is the only good boy in the entire village. He is one of good character, behaviour and conduct. Not merely that, He imparts good teachings to others.”
One day, Subbamma invited Kotte Subbanna for lunch. During the lunch, he expressed doubts regarding My composing skills. He said it was difficult for him to believe that a tiny tot like Me could write good poetry that would sell his new medicine in the market. Consequently, I sent him away saying, better that he goes to some person whose composing skills he had faith in.
I had immense love for the children. Keshanna, Ranganna, Subbanna, and Ramanna were among the children whom I used to take to the riverbed every evening. Words are inadequate to describe their innocence, purity and love for Me. A seven year-old boy used to request Me to lie down for a while keeping My head on his lap saying, I looked very tired and needed some rest. Seeing this other children also wanted to have the privilege of keeping My head on their laps. Then they thought of a plan so that all would get an equal chance. It was decided that each boy would take turns to keep My head on his lap for a count of one to fifty. They missed no
opportunity to serve Me and I used to satisfy all of them.
Swami writes a poem for advertising medicine
One day, Kotte Subbanna came to Me again and said, “Raju, all these children are ready to obey your command. They all sing well and have sweet voice. Please write a few songs to advertise my new medicine and ask these children to go around the village singing them. I am prepared to pay remuneration for this.”
I told him, “I do not like this business of give and take. These children also do not approve of this. Anyway tell Me exactly what your medicine is. I will compose a song accordingly.”
He explained that the name of the medicine was Bala Bhaskara and that it could cure many types of ailments. I composed a beautiful song in Telugu on the efficacy of the medicine:
O children, come here, a new medicine,
Bala Bhaskara, has arrived in the market.
It is a wonderful remedy for various ailments like
Stomach ache, indigestion, malnutrition,
and swelling of legs and hands.
It is available in the shop of Kotte Subbanna.
It is a very good tonic
prepared by Pandit Sri Gopalacharya.
Kotte Subbanna was very much pleased with the poem and got it written in big sheets of paper for advertisement. As his luck would have it, I was taken to Kamalapuram for studying 5th and 6th classes. Kotte Subbanna made maximum use of My stay in Kamalapuram for the advertisement of his medicines.
Anjenya stops Swami’s pradakshina of the temple
Right from early days I have been a source of inspiration for the young children. I would exhort them to desist from hurting others and discharge their duties sincerely. During the month of Magha, I used to take the children to the temple of Anjaneya at 4 o clock in the morning. Some of the children were so young that they would not get up at that early hour.
So, I would carry them to the nearby pond, give them a bath, and take them to the temple. I would sit at the temple, while the children would do pradakshina (circumambulation). One day they insisted that I too should join them in circumambulating the temple. I finally yielded to their pressure and started circumambulating the temple. Believe it or not, Anjaneya himself came and stopped Me from going round the temple saying, “O Lord! It is I who should circumambulate you. You should not do this.” But the children mistook Anjaneya for an ordinary monkey. I told them that Anjaneya himself came and would not allow Me to circumambulate the temple.
After this incident, there was a great transformation in the hearts of the children. They went around the village telling people what they witnessed at the Anjaneya temple. This news reached Karnam Subbamma also.
Next day, she invited Me to her house saying, “Raju, today I have prepared dosas, you should come and partake of them.” In those days food items like idli and dosas were considered to be rich man’s food. I told Subbamma that it is not My nature to eat alone leaving so many other children. Then Subbamma prepared dosas for all the children.
The need for sattvika food
The villagers had lot of reverence for Me. It is because of Sathya Sai Baba that the people of Puttaparthi started thinking of God for the first time in their lives. It gradually spread to the other villages, too. I used to exhort the villagers to refrain from partaking of non-vegetarian food, consuming liquor, and smoking. I used to stress on the need for sattvika food.
During the festival of Ekadasi, it was the practice to hold bullock cart races on the riverbed of Chitravathi. They used to whip the bullocks to make them run faster. I would tell the children to insist upon their fathers to stop whipping the bullocks. Not only now, even in those days I taught the principle of nonviolence.
Cockfights were quite common in villages those days. They used to tie small knives to the legs of cocks and make them fight with each other till one of them died. In the process, the other cock would get injured badly. I told them that one should have competition in doing good deeds, not in such cruel acts.
One who always does good will never be put to disrepute
One day the father of this body, Pedda Venkama Raju, chided Me for interfering in the affairs of the village. He said that the elders knew better and I should not cross My limits. I told him that I could not tolerate killing or ill-treating animals.
Since he could not convince Me, he directed the mother of this body to advise Me. At the time of serving food, she would tell Me, “Sathya, you should not do things that would displease your father. If you do not listen to him, you will earn a bad name in the village.”
I argued with her saying I was doing only good and was not bothered about what others said. I emphasized that one who always does good will never be put to disrepute. Kondama Raju, the grandfather of this physical body, also supported My argument. He called the villagers and told them that what I was doing was good for the village. He too advised them to refrain from violence and gambling. He cautioned them that lack of unity would lead to unrest in the village. Because of this kind of teachings, some people developed hatred toward Me. (SSS Vol.32 Part II, pp.101-107)
In those days, people knew how to live united, adjust to each other, get along with each other, and help each other. For the sons, Kondama Raju was father but for their wives, he was not a blood relative. Thus, on account of the daughters-in-law, differences of opinion slowly began to crop up. Noticing this, Kondama Raju realised that it was no longer possible to continue the joint family, that it would have to be split, and that each son would have to shoulder his responsibility separately. The family had just two acres of land – it was that poor. Kondama Raju divided this land equally amongst the four sons so that they got only half an acre each. He also divided the ancestral house into four portions, ten feet by eight feet each, and gave one portion to every son for living with his family. This may seem small but by the standards prevailing then in the villages, this was ample space.
After this division, Kondama Raju had no place of his own in the original house. So he moved to a small plot eight feet by eight feet and built there a small hut for himself. The four sons told him, “Father, why do you have to live alone? You are old. Please be with each one of us by turn for a while, and spend your remaining days in this manner.” He replied, “I do not wish to live with my sons and daughters-in-law. I wish to live independently, supporting myself by opening a small shop.” It was a small provision shop that supplied common needs like pulses, puffed rice, some edibles, coconuts, etc. The shop was very small, not bigger than this table [at this point, Swami indicated the table in front of Him]. For the village, however, this was a big enough shop. When Kondama Raju declared that he would run a small shop and take care of himself, Pedda Venkama Raju said, “But who would cook for you, look after you, attend to your needs, etc.? We feel it would be good if you were to have someone by your side.” Kondama Raju thought over the matter for sometime. Whom should he take with him? At that time, this body was about seven years of age. Kondama said, “Venka (this is the way he addressed his eldest son), don’t think otherwise; I would like to have Sathyam live with me. He alone is my property.” Everyone said, “But Sathyam is so young! How can He cook for you? We will hire a cook.” Kondama replied most emphatically, “I do not want anybody except Sathyam. If Sathyam is by my side, no one else is required.” (SSB 2000, pp.266-267)
He asked me, if I was willing to stay with him. I readily agreed. Both of us were staying in a small room. I used to get up early in the morning, clean the vessels, and cook food for both of us. After making the food ready, I used to run to Bukkapatnam to attend school. The lunch bell would go at I o clock. I would run back to Puttaparthi, serve him lunch, have it Myself, and then rush to school for the afternoon session. I maintained punctuality both at school and at home. Kondama Raju, being one with wisdom, always craved Me. (SSS Vol.31 Part I, p.192)
After finishing school in Puttaparthi, Sathyam went to the nearby town of Bukkapatnam and enrolled in the middle school. The loving mother watched with bated breath as her little child prepared day after day to go to Bukkapatnam; he was hardly out of his cradle, but now he had to walk all the way to town! Sathyam would put on a white shirt and shorts, apply vibhuti on his forehead, and a red dot of vermillion to lend accent to it. With a small bag contining his simple mid-day meal of cooked ragi (a coarse grain) in one hand, and a bag of books in the other, he would bid her goodbye every morning. The poor lady s eyes would swim in tears. He would leave home at about 8.30am and return only at dusk. How could she endure the agony of his absence until then? Sadness haunted her every moment of the day. (Tapovanam)
I had to go to Bukkapatnam by 7 a.m. to attend the school. Teachers were very affectionate toward Me. Every teacher would first ask as he entered the classroom, “Has Raju come?” Do you realize what I was like in those days? Ours was a poor family. Like children of these days, I did not have dozens of sets of dresses. I just had one pair of shirt and shorts. As soon as I returned from school I would take off My clothes, wash them and put them up to dry and wear a towel round My waist. This way I would make-do with one pair of dress for a whole year.
Peace is My nature; love is My very nature
When questions were put to Me at school, I would always answer well. Most other students were not good at answering questions. My fellow classmates were quite grown up —in fact, some of them were almost 25 years of age and most of them would be wearing dhotis. I was the youngest in the class.
One day, when I answered a question well, Mahboob Khan asked Me to slap the other dull students. I would have to climb on to the desk to reach their cheeks. I used to touch them gently on their cheeks. The teacher then chided Me, “Have I asked you to apply turmeric on their faces? I will show how!” Saying this, he gave a few hard slaps.
As I was returning to Puttaparthi, some of the students threw Me down on the sands of the river and dragged me along by my legs. They tore off My shirt and threw Me into the slush. All through this torture I remained calm. Peace is My nature. Love is My very nature. Peace is the form of Swami. Bliss is My resolve.
After reaching the Hanuman temple I washed My clothes and put them on again. Students may well imagine My state then. If there is a tear in My shirt, there was not even a safety pin available to hold the cloth together. Nor had I any money to buy it. I had no desire to request anyone also. I do not ask for anything from anybody. This resolve I have been upholding from that day to this day.
I went to Sathyamma temple and took out a thorn from a cactus and used it as a pin to mend the tear on my shirt. If one remains steadfast in his true resolve, anything can be achieved. Once, Subbamma told Me, “Raju, you are becoming weak. Eat well and grow strong.” My friends would bring everything prepared in their house for Me. But I used to tell them, “See, in your houses meat or fish is cooked and eaten. Please don t bring anything from such houses.” This way, I brought down non-vegetarianism in Puttaparthi.
In the same manner I had prevented cruelty to animals in the form of cockfights and cart races and also prevented the gambling habit.
We protect truth and truth protects us
Once, some people inimical to Me set fire to the room I was sleeping in. Some 10 children of the age of 6-9 years were sleeping outside in the verandah. The miscreants had locked My room from outside and set fire to the roof. The children were shouting loudly, “Raju! Raju!” I peeped out through the small window smilingly and said, “Don t be afraid. Dharma eva hato hanti, dharmo rakshati rakshitah (Righteousness, when destroyed, destroys; righteousness when protected, protects).” We protect truth and truth protects us. Have firm faith in this precept. The children closed their eyes and chanted “Raju! Raju!” as if it were a mantra. Since the roof was made of hay, there was a big conflagration. Suddenly there was a cloudburst, and the fire was totally put out. The downpour was just over that small hut and nowhere else.
The joy of the children was indescribable. “Raju, Raju... What a great miracle?” They were shouting, “We cannot livewithout you.” I called them in and gave them some guavas and bananas. They asked Me, wherefrom I got these fruits. I told then, “Why do you bother? Eat what is given.” Whether it is a mansion or a wayside shelter what does it matter, it is enough if you get sleep. Likewise, it is enough if your stomach is full.
Subbamma’s love for Swami
Subbamma came to know of the episode next day. Subbamma was a great soul. Swami was her very life. She set afoot a detailed search to find the culprits. They were caught. She ordered that they should be banished from the village. The entire property of the village belonged to her. She was very wealthy. All lands belonged to her. So, she ordered them to get out of her lands. Then I caught hold of her hands. I told her, “Please don t harm them because of Me. Knowingly or unknowingly, they have committed a mistake. Please forgive them. Please don t drive them away.”
When she told them this, all those children came to Swami and carried Him over their shoulders. Subbanna, Ramanna, etc. were very proud people. They carried Me on their shoulders saying, “You must have been some great person in your earlier birth. Otherwise you cannot have such nobleness in you. Because of you, gradually this village is going to attain great fame”
Subbamma said, “Don t mistake Him for a small boy. His power is like a lightning strike, how can you understand His true nature?” From that day, she did not allow Me to go out of her house. I stayed in her house and went to school from there itself. She was a great lady. She was sixty years old then. She was always looking for Me, asking, “Is Raju there? Is Raju there?” She would sleep only after seeing Me safe. She was trying to protect Me from the wicked people in the village.
Attempt on Swami’s life by poisoning food
One day, a Brahmin lady came. She requested Subbamma to send Raju to her house for taking snacks in her house. Subbamma was not very happy at the proposition. She was suspicious and thought that there was some evil intention behind the invitation. She refused and told Me, “Raju don t go anywhere without my consent.”
“Subbamma! Why do you want to thwart her desire?” She replied, “There is some wicked purpose behind her invitation.” But I persisted and said, “I must fulfil her request.” I went there. She had made some vadas. They were poisoned. I ate them. Within five minutes My entire blood stream had turned blue. Subbamma came to know of this and came running looking for Me. When she found Me, I told her, “Don t worry, what they wanted, they have done. I can look after Myself.” I asked Subbamma to give Me a tumbler of water with her own hands. As soon as I took that water, the blueness vanished.
Subbamma s anger had reached its limits. She said, “Such women will ruin the reputation of Puttaparthi. There is no-room for such people in this village. Only righteous and good natured people should live here.”
She called the mothers of Swami s companions and told them, “These children are not yours. They are all mine. They should be with Raju all the time. They should spend every moment of their life with Raju.”
Till recently they were alive. You all may know Bukkapatnam Sathyanarayana, he was one of them and is still with us here. He was My classmate in the 6th class. All these children would come to Swami. It is hard to describe their unsullied affection, devotion and attachment to Swami. The Kali Yuga has poisoned the minds of children.
Those days, when Swami stretched Himself to sleep, there was competition between them to take His head on their laps. They would say, “Raju, since you slept on my lap, there is no pain or distress in my body and there is some kind of joy filling me.” (SSS Vol.32 Part II, pp.107-112)
At that time, Sathyam had just one pair of shorts and one shirt. He had to manage with those for one whole year. The shorts and shirt would be worn while going to school; at home, Swami would wear a small dhothi. Life was very simple then. After advancing to the fourth standard, it became necessary to go to the school in Bukkapatnam since the school in Puttaparthi did not offer studies beyond the third. One had to go to Bukkapatnam by walk. There were other boys in the village who studied there, and Swami used to go along with them.
Early in the morning, Swami would make a millet preparation – two balls of it, one for the grandfather and one for Himself; also, some groundnut chutney to go along with it. After this, Swami would run to school. Once a week, He would prepare some dal [a soup-like preparation made out of pulses], laced with spinach. There were no vessels made of metal; only earthen pots. After hurried cooking, Swami would run all the way to school. At noon, there would be a break; as soon as the bell rang, Swami would run back home. The distance to be covered was three miles [about four and a half kilometres]. All the boys used to do this, and Swami did the same. On reaching home, Swami would serve food to His grandfather. He would wash the clothes, keep food for the night, and then have His meal. After this, a long run back to the school; this was how life went on for some years.
Kondama Raju was quite upset by all this. He thought, “There is no one to help Raju.” One Sunday he asked, “Sathyam, am I giving You a lot of trouble?” Swami replied, “Grandfather, if I do not work hard now, when else then? Start early, drive slowly, and reach safely! This is work that I have to do with pleasure! So long as I am strong in body and mind, I am ready to do any amount of work.” The grandfather was immensely pleased with this reply. This is the loving manner in which we spent time together. Sometimes in the evenings, Swami would prepare rasam. The wonderful aroma of the preparation would spread all over, attracting the attention of people who lived in the neighbourhood. They were mostly tribals, called Valmikulu or Boyavallu. These people would wonder, “Where from is this nice aroma coming? What is the item being cooked? Raju is too young to make such items and Kondama Raju is too old to do the cooking. Who else could it be?”
One day, one of the tribals who had discovered the secret came to the hut, wrapped up in a blanket. He was shivering and suffering from fever. He said, “I am getting the smell of something good being prepared here. Please give me some of it.” Kondama Raju was a most compassionate person. He called Swami to his side and whispered into His ears; he did not want everyone to know and that is why Swami was summoned to his side. Kondama Raju said, “Poor fellow, he is eager to have the rasam that you have prepared. Give him some.” Swami gave that person some rasam. Next day, his fever was gone. The news quickly spread and from then on, everyone in the neighbourhood started coming for rasam, bringing aluminium tumblers; and for their sake, Swami had to make extra! He would make rasam in a big pot. Meanwhile, the tumblers would have been lined up, and Swami would pour rasam into them one by one. Thanks to the rasam, sickness disappeared from the village and everyone was happy. In due course, this news reached the other street where Pedda Venkama Raju and Chinna Venkama Raju resided; soon, people from there also started coming for the rasam! What you have to note here is that even at the age of seven, Swami not only had to manage the house but also serve others outside. Drawing water, cleaning, cooking, procuring the provisions – everything had to be done by Swami.
Meanwhile, Swami was made a teacher! Students living on the street – students does not mean just young boys; some of them were in their twenties (!) – they all came to Swami and said, “Raju, please teach us alphabets and how to read.” Swami readily agreed. Kondama Raju was not happy about this and said, “Raju works so hard during the day; He has little rest, and now you are adding to His burden.” Swami intervened and told Kondama Raju, “My mission is to make everyone happy. Teaching these people is no problem at all. I will do this teaching without problem or inconvenience to you.” There was a person named Narayana Rao, who lived near the Sathyamma Temple. There were only two persons in the village, namely, Karnam Gopal Rao and Narayana Rao, who had proper houses. This Narayana Rao, made available a small thatched hut in his compound and that became our ‘school’. Classes were in the evening, after all the household work was over. Swami used to serve food to Kondama Raju, eat, wash the vessels and put them away, and then leave for teaching.
Swami must make a special mention about the type of students He taught. These students were really adults; some even had moustaches! Swami would come wearing shorts; yet, all these grown-up people would stand up as a mark of respect. In the beginning, they used to address Swami as ‘Raju’ but soon they began to say ‘Sir!’. There was no chair for the teacher; so, a big, nice stone was brought, covered with cloth, and this became the chair. The students had no slates to write on. Swami therefore asked them to bring sand from the Chitravathi River and spread it in the ‘classroom’ before the places where the students sat. The sand thus became the slate! Swami used to write the alphabets, starting in the traditional manner with ‘Om Namo Narayanayah’. This is how the instruction was commenced. Within a week, the students had learnt the basics of the alphabets. The students now needed books and slates. In those days, the slate cost one anna [the decimal system of currency did not exist then; the rupee was divided into sixteen annas, and each anna into twelve pies; three pies made one pice], and for one pie, one could get three slate-pencils. Swami asked the students to procure these but they did not have any money, not even one anna – that is how poor they were.
Students! You have to note how much Swami cared about the welfare of those whom He taught. There was a small shopkeeper named Venkataramana Shetty who lived in Puttaparthi in those days. Swami told him, “Listen, I want you to give slates to each of the eleven persons studying with Me.” The shopkeeper said, “But they will not pay me any money!” Swami replied, “I shall see to it that they do; My students will not default.” Having total faith in Swami, the shopkeeper supplied slates and slate-pencils to all the eleven students. Swami then told His students, “Be careful with the slates and the slate-pencils. Use the slate-pencils till they become really small. You have obtained all these by paying money and so you have to be careful with what you have acquired.” This is how Swami taught even in those days that money never ought to be wasted. The students learnt everything with great enthusiasm.
These people had no regular employment. They used to grow a small amount of spinach in their backyards and then try to sell it. Swami taught them how to augment their income. He asked them to go where there were tamarind trees, collect the tamarind fruits that fell down, remove the seeds, and then sell the processed tamarind. Swami said to them, “This belongs to no one; it is God’s property. No one can object to your collecting and selling tamarind this way.” These people followed Swami’s instructions with implicit faith and total obedience. With money earned this way, every week they used to pay back the shopkeeper one bottu [a quarter-anna]. In a little over a month’s time the slate and the pencil were paid for completely, by each and every student. The students were now happy and declared, “At last, the slate and the pencil really belong to us.” Swami cautioned, “Yes, it is now yours, but never waste anything!” This is how Swami constantly reminded His students about the importance of never wasting anything.
In due course, the spinach business began to thrive. Where there is sacrifice, there is quality; and where there is quality, there Goddess Lakshmi [the Goddess of Wealth] appears. Swami now advised these people to grow papaya fruits along with spinach. This way, in due course, they could now earn about half to one rupee per month, which they kept aside.
Two years passed. Swami had completed studies up to the sixth standard, which was the highest available in Bukkapatnam. In those days, one prepared for ESLC [Elementary School Leaving Certificate] examination; for this one had to study up to the eighth standard which meant going elsewhere. But then some one would have to look after Kondama Raju. At this juncture, Seshama Raju [Swami’s elder brother] came to Puttaparthi and told Kondama Raju, “By keeping Him here, you are denying Him education; this would spoil Him. Therefore, send Him with me.” Kondama Raju was a very wise and philosophical man. He replied, “Well what have I studied? Nothing. You are supposed to have studied; what good has it done to you? What is the harm that has come to me by my being uneducated? It is all the same, whether one receives this education or not. I do not care for this type of education. You do not possess even one thousandth of the good qualities that Sathyam has! In what way has your education benefited you?” Seeing the angry response of Kondama Raju, Seshama Raju remained silent; in those days, youngsters kept quiet when elders became angry; they did not argue back.
Later, Seshama Raju called Swami aside and said, “Look Sathya, education is very important. What can you do without education? Even to count, for example, for counting the number of clothes given to a washerman, one has to study and learn. Education is therefore indispensable.” Swami then went to His grandfather and said, “Grandfather, I am going.” He asked most anxiously, “What happens to me?” Swami then arranged for one of the sons of Venkata Subba Raju to take His place. In this manner, Swami prepared to leave for Kamalapuram, along with His elder brother Seshama Raju. When word got round about the impending departure, the eleven students being trained by Swami began to cry, “Our teacher is going away; we are losing our teacher. What happens to us now? What will be our fate?” That was their affection for Swami.
On the following morning, these eleven students planned to walk all the way to the Bukkapatnam Bus Stand along with Swami and His elder brother to see them off. From Bukkapatnam, we were to go to Dharmavaram, and from there to Kamalapuram. These students wanted to give a parting gift and so they collected some money; each contributed half-an-anna. It came to almost six annas. They offered the money to Swami but Swami refused saying, “ I do not want all this. You keep it for yourself.” In those days things were so cheap that one could buy a short-pant for half-an-anna and a shirt for just one anna. Swami took just what was needed for one shirt and one short-pant, plus two piasa for stitching charges. But the tailor was so nice and so full of love for Swami, he said, “Raju, for You there are no charges!” What you must notice here is that everyone had love for Swami. What was the reason? Soft and sweet words, always spoken by Swami. This is what endeared everyone to Swami. These students got the dress stitched and sent it over.
Meanwhile, Seshama Raju got married. Following his marriage, he had to go to Anantapur for some further studies and training. His wife was left behind in Kamalapuram, and Swami had to do all the household work. In those days, a train used to pass by early in the morning. Hearing the whistle of the engine, all the town-people would take their pots and head for a pond five miles away, to fetch drinking water. Swami would go at four in the morning to bring water. It was the time of the Second World War. It so happened that one day, a special military train passed by at eleven o’clock at night. Hearing the whistle of the engine, all the people went as usual to the pond, without realising what time it was. Swami also went with all the others. It was very chilly then but one had to carry on nevertheless. After daybreak, there was more work to do; water had to be drawn from the well for people in the house to bathe. After this, there was a lot of household work to be done, followed by the cleaning of the entire house. It was only after finishing all this work that Swami could go to school.
In the school there was a Muslim teacher by name Mehboob Khan, who liked Swami very much. One day, with much kindness and consideration he said, “Raju, You work so hard all the time. I live just opposite Your house and, through my window, can see what You are doing. You are fetching so much water and also doing so much household work.” Swami replied, “Sir, the body has to do work. In fact, the body has been given for doing work. If there is no work, laziness would set in and the body would become sick. Work is not all that difficult.” In due course, Mehboob Khan’s love for Swami increased. He used to teach English; the lessons were simple and Swami would quickly absorb them.
It was only the six