People Of Nepal - Blog Space

Our Trip to Sai

Sai Ram! In the summer of 2009, my sister Kshama and I had a great opportunity to go to Puttaparthi, India to see the physical presence of Satya Sai Baba for a week. There were about four hundred devotees from Chicago region who made this journey to Swami’s holy ashram. After a long flight, we reached Bangalore airport and from there our group took a two hour bus ride to Puttaparthi, a small village in south India.

We could see everyone in our group were very excited to see Swami in Prasanthi Nilayam where He resides. We sang bhajans on the bus as we approached to the Ashram. As we entered the gate of the Ashram, we could see beautiful buildings and a lot of people were walking towards Kulwant Hall where Swami gives darshan to his disciples every morning and evening. We were accommodated by our group leaders for the rooms and food while we stayed in Parthi and this was all done back in Chicago so when we reached there my sister and I got a room. The rooms looked very simple yet clean and the buildings had huge marbled corridors. Long flight causing jet lag plus the hot weather made us very tired so we went right to bed after we made ourselves comfortable. The next morning very fresh and eager to see our beloved Swami we wore our same color Saarees that our group were assigned to wear. Our group was recognized as “USA” group as all the ladies wore matching Saarees and a scarf with a symbol for the gents we had made before going to Parthi.

We lined up to go to Kulwant hall for Swami’s darshan after the updates and information was shared by the group leaders because for some of us this was a first visit to Prasanthi Nilayam. We were told to sit as a group and be very silent. We couldn’t hear a single noise in that immense Kulwant Hall where more than six thousand people were seated to get Swami’s Darshan. We were amazed to see people from all over the world. There were Nepali, Brazilian, African, Indonesian, Chinese and many many more all who came in large groups from abroad. The wait was lengthy and hot at times but when Swami came in everything got aside and He was the only primary focus. The bhajans started when he entered the hall and seeing him first time physically was unbelievable. He was in an orange attire and his face was so intense that you couldn’t take your eyes of him. He would go around the Kulwant Hall in his wheelchair giving darshans and taking letters of his devotees. He would talk to some of them and stay till the bhajans and aarti were done then he would proceed to his home. It was just so wonderful to sing and praise the Lord when He was present not only mentally but also physically.

All the eight days we stayed in Parthi we had a routine from the beginning of the day to the end. We woke up at around five and wore the assigned Saarees for the day and went to get break fast. After eating breakfast we would make lines and go to Kulwant Hall and wait for Swami’s darshan. Then after the darshan, we would go eat lunch. After lunch we would have some time for our selves in which we used to go to the book store, library, or shopping center. Then at around three in the afternoon we would line up for the evening darshan and after darshan, dinner then sleep.

Strange thing: Our travel agent couldn’t find us tickets for 4^th of July as most of the people in our group were returning to Chicago that day so our tickets were fixed for 6^th of July. My sister and I were bit scared because we would have to take a cab to the airport alone but we left all up to Swami. There were only about quarter of our group left in Parthi after the fourth.  Dearest Swami called us and the remaining USA group inside on the 5^th during the evening darshan and gave permission for an interview. We couldn’t believe it! This was meant to happen and we didn’t get that indication of not finding the tickets for the 4^th.  We went inside and Swami was patiently sitting there and he gave Pada Namaskar to each one of us. Some people were asking personal questions to Baba but we were so content to be so close to him that both of our happiness burst into tears and we couldn’t talk to him. Baba materialized a ring to a male and said four things to him when he asked “How can we serve you Baba?” Swami answered “Think of God, Fear Sin, Be Happy and Serve the Poor.” Swami’s main message was “Be Happy” for most of us.

This was a life turning experience for both of us and we are very lucky to be there at the right time. We can’t describe in words how that experience has elevated us and gave us lighter feelings. Our pilgrimage to Prasanthi Nilayam was a great experience and we would never forget it our whole life. We don’t know how to thank Baba for his lotus feet darshan. We would like to go again to Prasanthi Nilayam because it is a home for everyone no matter what race, what color, what social status you are. It’s a place where there is peace, kindness, simplicity, and it’s a heaven made on Earth. The water and food that’s served in Ashram is with so much purity and served with worship it doesn’t even cost much. People come from miles and miles seeking for Seva and humanity in this Ashram. People come to Satya Sai Baba, the source of all.

Sai Ram Sai Ram Sai Ram

Kshama Adhikari & Bipashana Adhikari