EL DESPERTAR SAI: THE DIVINE STORY OF SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI 36-40

SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI
PART - 36
(Continued from the previous issue)

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ACT XI - SCENE 4

Sathya goes to the well to fetch water. There He sees an old man struggling to draw water. There are many people already there but no one is making any effort to help the old man.

SATHYA [to a lady near the well]: That poor old man is struggling to draw water. Could you not help?

LADY: If You are so full of concern, why don’t You draw for that man?

SECOND LADY: Leave that boy alone and pour water into this vessel.

SATHYA: Grandpa, you step aside…..Move over, and I’ll draw.

Sathya draws water for the old man.

OLD MAN: May You live long and be happy!

A LADY: My dear boy, can You give me also some water?

SATHYA: Certainly mother.

Draws water for the lady.

LADY: May You enjoy a long and happy life!

SATHYA: The strong must always help the weak; only then will God help you.

SCENE 5

The scene is again the Uravakonda High School. Raju has been made the class leader on account of His exemplary conduct. He is now in the class, cleaning the blackboard in advance of the commencement of the class.

A BOY: Raju, why are You cleaning the board?

SATHYA: I want to show how a class leader must set an example thorough his behaviour and actions. That is why I come ahead of everyone else to clean. For students, the classroom is the temple.

Only if it is clean will our minds and thoughts be sacred, and the Goddess of Learning bless us.

Soon, more boys come into the class. Sathya is wearing a white cap. One of the boys seizes the cap, and it gets passed around as Sathya tries to get it back. Despite Sathya’s repeated requests, the cap keeps getting passed around.

SATHYA: Gaffar Khan, give back my cap….give …..here….Hey, give it back…..give……Shyam, return My cap…give, I say!… Gopal, give back the cap…..Khan, My cap please!

KHAN: What will You do if I do not return?

SATHYA: I won’t do anything. Khan, what will you do with My cap? You can only tease Me for a while and amuse yourself, isn’t that so?

KHAN: Raju, don’t You ever get angry?

SATHYA: No, Gaffar Khan. Anger is man’s enemy number one. Anger promotes the spirit of vengeance, leading in turn to conflict, and evil deeds. Slowly, man becomes submerged in emotional turbulence.

Mental agitation is like an invisible fire; it will slowly but surely consume man. That is why I keep far away from anger. ….Khan, if having My cap makes you happy, keep it.

KHAN: Raju, You are just a student like me; yet, how nobly You speak! Here’s Your cap……..I have a request!

SATHYA: What is it?

KHAN: We have had our fill of sugar candy and such other sweets that You give us. Right now I feel like eating Mysore Pak! Will You give me some?

SATHYA: O yes!

Sathya materialises Mysore Pak.

KHAN: Mysore Pak, Mysore Pak!!

BOY: Raju, will You give me a guava?

SATHYA: Certainly!

Sathya materialises a guava.

A BOY: Wow, a guava!

ANOTHER BOY: Raju, You gave him a guava; how about an orange for me?

SATHYA: Definitely!

Sathya materialises an orange.

BOY: Look! Orange ! Orange!!

Boys surround Sathya and clamour for all sorts of things. At this stage, the Teacher enters.

TEACHER: Silence, SILENCE! What’s all this noise? Is this a market place? Why are all of you crowding around Sathyam?

BOY: Sir, Raju is materialising sugar candy from thin air!

TEACHER: [sarcastically] Oh, sugar candy is it? Not tender coconut? Creating from thin air? What kind of a joke is this?

BOY: Sir, I’m not making this up; it really is true

TEACHER: True is it?…….Sathyam, come here…… It seems You are creating things out of thin air! Let’s see, how about creating a fruit for me?

Sathya creates a fruit. The Teacher is stunned.

TEACHER: No, no! Not this…… I want a custard apple, custard apple!

Sathya creates a custard apple; the teacher stunned even more.

SCENE 6

Seshama Raju’s house. Seshama walks in and is greeted by his wife Suseela.

SESHAMA: Sathyam…..Hey Sathyam! Where is He? I can’t see Him.

SUSEELA: He said that He is going to meet His friends. It’s an hour since He went. He’ll be back soon…..

Sathya enters.

SUSEELA: Look! He is here!

SESHAMA: Sathyam, examinations are approaching; what’s the meaning of all these games? If You don’t stay at home and study hard, You will not pass in the English examination. Remember, You are now in a High School and not in the Puttaparthi Elementary School. Study hard!

SATHYA: I already know all the lessons. Without any further study, I can answer well.

SESHAMA: This is not like materialising things with magic and Mantras! Study! Only if You study hard can You really grasp.

SATHYA: I am not creating things. For Creation, God is the cause. Goddess Saraswati has showered Her Grace on Me. So, words will automatically flow from My pen.

SESHAMA: Is that so? Tomorrow when You write the exams, we will know how much Goddess Saraswati has favoured You! Increasingly, Your speech lacks meaning. You seem to think that You Yourself are God! You must listen to what elders say and not argue.

SATHYA: I am not arguing. I am just expressing My faith and belief.

SESHAMA: Your faith is Yours, and my anguish is mine!

SCENE 7

It is the day of the examination. Sathya comes to School and finds two of His classmates sitting under a tree. These two boys share the same desk with Him, and sit on either side. One of them is Ramesh and the other is Mahesh.

SATHYA: What’s this? Why are you both still sitting here? Are you not going to the examination hall?

RAMESH: Raju, we are not going to write the examination! We are going home!!

MAHESH: No matter how much we study, we cannot remember anything!

RAMESH: If we do not answer properly in the examination, the teachers will have a poor opinion of us.

MAHESH: Raju, we are going home!

SATHYA: Listen, staying away from the exams after coming to School is not correct. Answer the questions for which you know the answer and leave the rest to Me. Listen to Me. Trust Me, and I will take care of everything.

BOYS: Alright Raju.

SCENE 8

The scene is the examination hall; the room is the classroom but the seating order is different. Sathya is well separated from Ramesh and Mahesh. The examination has commenced; the question paper has been distributed to the candidates.

TEACHER: First read all the questions carefully and then write proper answers. If any of you tries to copy, I’ll skin you alive! If you know the answer, write; otherwise, sit quietly in your place. No one is allowed to get out till the final closure bell rings. Now start writing!

Teacher moves around, and watches the boys writing.

TEACHER [to a boy looking at the teacher]: What are you staring at my face for?!… Look at the paper!! ..Hm, continue!

Sathya embarks on a Divine drama! He is about to help His friends. Meanwhile, those two boys are completely stumped; they are unable to answer the questions. But they have the faith that Sathya would somehow come to their rescue.

Sathya starts writing but quickly folds up the sheets. The teacher thinks Sathya is unable to answer the questions and is going to submit a blank answer sheet.

TEACHER [thinks]: What’s this? It is only five minutes since the exams started, and instead of answering the questions, Raju has written His name, folded the paper and kept it under the pad!… Why bother?!

The final bell rings; boys have to hand over the answer papers to the teacher and go out. Everyone does so. Sathya too hands over the answer book and goes out. He has given three answer books, not one! The other two are those supposed to be those of Ramesh and Mahesh. The answers in those books are in the handwriting of those two students!

The teacher sees Sathya going out. He instinctively feels that something strange is going on but does not know what it is.

People may wonder: “Is what Sathya did correct?” This question looks at the matter in a purely worldly sense. Where God is concerned, such an analysis is meaningless. God will shower His Grace on anyone, at any time, and in any manner He wants. He is not bothered about worldly yardsticks. He is concerned only about the faith the devotee has in Him and the Love that the devotee has for Him. If faith and love are present, God is ready to do anything. This is the important lesson that Sathya communicated to the world through this most unusual episode.

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SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI
PART - 37
(Continued from the previous issue)

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ACT XII - SCENE 1

The scene is Seshama Raju’s house. Word has spread that Sathya has given a blank answer. Seshama has heard the news; he is worried and questioning Sathya about it.

SESHAMA RAJU: Sathyam, it seems You have given blank answer books in the exam. Are You not serious about studies?

SATHYA: It is not correct to say that I have not written the exam. I have done so.

SESHAMA: But Your Teacher told me that You did not write even a single word in the answer paper!

SATHYA: He will himself tell you that I answered very well.

SESHAMA: I don’t like this attitude. You are behaving like a crazy person. Tomorrow when the marks are announced, we will know the stuff You are made of. I shall then teach You a fitting lesson!

SUSEELA [to husband]: Please take this…….Sathyam, freshen Yourself, and come for tiffin.

SCENE 2

The scene now shifts to the Staff Room in the School. The Telugu Teacher Koteeswara Rao, who was supervising during the examination continues to be puzzled about what happened. He expresses his misgivings to two colleagues.

TELUGU TEACHER: Vasudeva Murthy, it is very interesting! Not a single letter was written on the answer sheet that Sathyam had on His desk. Yet, when I sat down to evaluate, I found that the answers were all there and absolutely correct too! What do you have to say about this?

THE THIRD TEACHER: Really?

VASUDEVA MURTHY: What do you mean by asking “really”, when Koteeswara Rao Master telling you what actually happened! Are you suggesting that he is uttering falsehood?

THE OTHER TEACHER: No sir, I didn’t mean it that way!

TELUGU TEACHER: Shut up! …..A few days ago, I asked Sathyam to materialise a citrus fruit for me. Just as He was about to give the fruit to me, I wanted it changed to a custard apple, which He did. I did not give much thought to this incident, dismissing it as mere magic. But from this miracle it would appear that Sathyam is a boy with a Divine aspect in Him.

OTHER TEACHER: Sir, if you want to believe in it do so, or else forget the whole thing. Don’t believe and entertain doubts at the same time.

TELUGU TEACHER: It is not quite like that. Those two dunces Ramesh and Mahesh who normally are unable to answer any question, they too have answered very well!

THIRD TEACHER: What is there so surprising about it? Were they not sitting near Sathyam? Obviously, His intelligence has rubbed off on them too.

TELUGU TEACHER: Are you saying that’s all there is to it?

THIRD TEACHER: Yes sir, that’s all there is to it.

TELUGU TEACHER: I am not too sure; I have my own doubts. … [summons the School assistant] Yadagiri, go and fetch Ramesh and Mahesh.

YADAGIRI: Yes sir!

Yadagiri goes out. He finds Ramesh and Mahesh playing there along with other boys.

YADAGIRI: Ramesh! Mahesh! The Telugu Master is calling for you both. Go, and hurry up!

RAMESH & MAHESH: We will come.

OTHER BOYS: OK fellows, let’s continue our game.

Staff Room again.

TELUGU TEACHER: Listen you two! Never in your life have you answered any questions properly in the class, and yet you two have answered so well in the exam. Between us, tell me, did you copy?

RAMESH: No sir! How could we copy when you were there invigilating? Besides, we would never do such a thing!

TELUGU TEACHER: Then how come all your answers are correct?

MAHESH: Sir, we studied hard and prepared well at home.

TELUGU TEACHER: In that case, I shall ask those questions now, and you had better answer them!

RAMESH: At that time we knew the answers….

MAHESH: Sir, we wrote very fast,…….

RAMESH: And now we have forgotten all the answers!

TELUGU TEACHER: Oh I see, you have forgotten, have you?!

TEACHER: What is so strange about it Sir? Although I was taught about the Indus Valley civilisation so many times, I don’t remember a thing!

TELUGU TEACHER [to Ramesh and Mahesh]: Great souls! Do you know that in the entire class, only three have passed? And Sathyam has done so in the First Class! Go and tell the others.

RAMESH & MAHESH: Thank you sir!

SCENE 3

News spreads that in Sathya’s class, only three boys pass – Sathya, Ramesh, and Mahesh. Among the three, Sathya secures a First Class. By way of celebration, Sathya is carried through the streets of the village by His classmates in a sort of ‘victory parade’. They hail His success. The cheer leader shouts “RAJU” and the others shout “FIRST CLASS” in chorus.

BOYS: Raju,….. First Class! Raju,…..First Class! Raju,…..First Class.

The villagers watch with surprise. They want to know what is going on.

A MAN [to one of the boys in the procession]: Hey boy, come here. What’s this carnival procession all about?

BOY: This is no carnival sir, but a celebration of the announcement of the exam results. Our Raju has passed First Class in our School.

ANOTHER MAN: That is strange! It appears that Raju didn’t write anything; and yet He gets a First Class!

FIRST MAN: The boy must be a favourite of the teacher – that is all there is to it!

Meanwhile, the procession moves ahead.

BOYS [chorus]: Raju, …..First Class! Raju,……. First Class! Raju, …..First Class!….

Another group of people sees the procession, and starts its analysis.

MAN 1: The exam results have been announced.

MAN 2: That is the reason for all this excitement among the boys.

MAN 1: It seems that Raju knows all the Mantras and the tricks!

MAN 2: They say that Raju even has Divine powers.

AN OLD MAN: These are not miracles. Sathyam does not have to write exams; He knows everything anyway. Sathyam is not an ordinary boy but a Divine one; He is an Incarnation of God.

SCENE 4

Seshama Raju’s house. Sathya comes home to announce the outcome of the examinations.

SATHYA: Brother, ……brother, I have passed in the First Class!

SESHAMA: What?!

SUSEELA [to husband]: Sathyam has just entered; hold on and wait! Don’t start your questions right away!

SESHAMA: I know very well when to talk, what to talk and to whom! You go and attend to your work. … [to Sathya] Sathyam,….. Hey Sathyam, come here. It seems your friends carried You on their shoulders and paraded You all over the town like a God being taken in a chariot? What for? Is it because You have passed?

SATHYA: Yes brother. In our class, only three students passed, and among these, I alone secured a First Class. That was the reason for the parade.

SESHAMA: Why were the other two who also passed not paraded like You?

SATHYA: That’s because they also were lifting Me!

SESHAMA: I see. ….. But your Teacher said that You did not write anything and gave a blank paper. Is that true, or even though You wrote all the answers, the Master falsely declared to me, “Your boy gave me a blank answer sheet!”?

SATHYA: What the Master said is true. It is also true that he saw all the answers on the paper while correcting. That is why I passed.

SESHAMA: If You knew the answers, then why did You not write them in the first place? You could have answered the questions even then!

SATHYA: The Master saw all the answers in the answer book, and that is why I passed.

SESHAMA: I will get furious if You keep on giving such irritating replies. It is good that You enjoy Divine Grace. But others should not dismiss it all as magic, trickery, and sorcery. It would be better if You behave like all normal boys do.

SATHYA: Brother, I did not do anything wrong. I know no magic or trickery. God is in everyone. I have identified Myself with the Divine in Me, and I follow My own way – that’s all.

SESHAMA: [totally perplexed]: I don’t know whether You understand what You are saying; I certainly don’t!

SCENE 5

Staff Room in the School. Three teachers, the Telugu Teacher, the Maths Teacher, and the Teacher for Social Sciences are having a conversation.

MATHS TEACHER: I am not able to find my pen; I had left it on this table here, and I am exhausted searching for it.

TELUGU TEACHER: Did the pen acquire legs and walk away from the table? You must have left in some class. Try to remember.

MATHS TEACHER: Is a pen a desire like what people give up when they go to the holy city of Benares?

SOC. SC. TEACHER: After all it is a pen, and you are making a big fuss as though you lost something precious. By the way, where do you think you lost the pen?

TELUGU TEACHER: If he knew that, would he be bothering us so much? First he severely boxed the ears of the boys, then searched all the servants and now has begun to suspect everyone he sees! As if it is a new pen! It is old, and belongs to the Aurangazeb era! The nib had become blunt and the cap was just junk!

MATHS TEACHER: So what if it is old? Old is gold!

SOC. SC. TEACHER: So you lost gold?!

MATHS TEACHER: For me, my pen is like gold.

TELUGU TEACHER: Listen, let’s not argue. We will call Sathyam and ask Him. In just a snap, He will tell us who has the pen, who stole it, etc. Master, you do one thing; go and fetch Sathyam.

SOC. SC. TEACHER: I shall [goes out].

TELUGU TEACHER: I wonder where your pen has disappeared?

MATHS TEACHER: Me too.

The Social Science Teacher locates Sathya and asks Him to come to the Staff Room.

SOCIAL SC. TEACHER: Sathyam my boy, come with me.

SATHYA: Yes sir.

SOCIAL TEACHER: Come boy.

The two go to the Staff Room.

TELUGU TEACHER: Sathyam, come my boy, come. Master here has lost his pen, which for him is very precious like gold. Can You tell us where it is, and who has taken it?

SATHYA: Sir, servant Yadagiri has taken it.

MATHS TEACHER: Yadagiri? ….Yadagiri will never do such a thing. I have full faith in his honesty.

TELUGU TEACHER: You may have that belief, but know that what Sathyam says is the truth. Trust Sathyam!

At this stage, the Head Master of the School walks in.

HEAD MASTER: What’s all this? Looks like you teachers are having a meeting?

MATHS TEACHER: No sir; just that I lost my pen.

TELUGU TEACHER: And Sathyam says that servant Yadagiri has taken it.

HEAD MASTER: Sathyam said that? Then that must be the truth. Yadagiri, did you take the pen?

YADAGIRI: Sir, what pen? What will an illiterate like me do with a pen?

SATHYA: You may be illiterate but your son is studying, is he not?

YADAGIRI: But he is not here!

SATHYA: He is studying in Anantapur and using that pen there, is he not?

YADAGIRI: I am here all the time; how then did the pen find its way to Anantapur?

SATHYA: You sent the pen through the boy’s mother. The pen is red in colour!

MATHS TEACHER: That’s right! The pen is red in colour!

HEAD MASTER: Yadagiri, is what Sathyam saying correct?

YADAGIRI: The boy has described it as though He had personally seen it! Forgive me sir, I did take the pen.

HEAD MASTER: Everyone used to say that you were most reliable, faithful, and humble. But Sathyam has revealed your true colours. Listen, never do such a thing again……. Sathyam, come with me; I must speak to you.

The Head Master leaves along with Sathya.

TELUGU TEACHER [with folded hands]: Great man! [to Yadagiri] The Moghuls robbed our temples, the British stole our trade, and now our own people are robbing us! At least spare the chalk and pens!

(To be continued)

SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI
PART - 38
(Continued from the previous issue)

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ACT XII - SCENE 6

Head Master’s room.

HEAD MASTER [pointing to his chair]: Sathyam, sit in that chair.

SATHYA: Sir, that is the teacher’s chair. It is yours. A student must sit at the feet of the Guru!

HEAD MASTER: My boy, that is why I asked You to sit there! Though You are young in age, You are the Guru of all Gurus! We are Gurus only in this School whereas You are the Guru of the whole world!

The Head Master prostrates before Sathya and touches His Feet.

SATHYA: Master! What is this!

HEAD MASTER: If I touch Your Feet, my life will be sanctified!

SATHYA: What is this Master? Please get up…. Get up. What’s all this?…….Listen, you are much older than Me. You shouldn’t do such a thing.

HEAD MASTER: Devotion has nothing to do with age. There is Divinity in You – that is my firm faith and belief.

That is why I have received this great and good fortune to worship You in this manner!

Sathya materialises Vibhuti and gives it to the Head Master.
HEAD MASTER: God’s Prasadam (gift)!

SCENE 7

In the Shirdi Avatar, a man comes looking for his lost horse and Baba helps him. A very similar thing is about to happen now.

A Muslim trader named Salim has lost his horse named Chandini. He is desperately looking for it along with two persons named Kadir and Kasim.

SALIM: Chandini, O my life Chandini! ………Chandini!…….Chandini!….

KADIR: I don’t see it anywhere.

KASIM: I wonder where the horse has gone.

KADIR: Brother Salim, let’s search there.

They go some distance and search there.

SALIM: Chandini, Chandini my horse!

KADIR: Chandini,…….. where have you gone?

The search continues but it is futile.

SALIM: Three days have gone by and Chandini is not to be seen anywhere.

KADIR: Don’t worry brother, don’t worry. There is a Young Swami. When His master lost his pen, this Swami told the teacher where to find it. Let’s go and ask Him.

SALIM: Young Swami?

KADIR: Yes. He can be found up there. [points in a direction] ……Come with me.

KASIM: He is usually up there, singing. …Brother Kadir, look there, look! That is the boy, that is the Young Swami! Come, come, come. ….. Kadirbhai, this is that boy, the Son of God, Bhagavan, this is that boy! Young Swami! ……This is the boy……the Son of God!

The three come to Sathya and ask Him concerning the whereabouts of the lost horse Chandini.

SATHYA: Two hundred yards away to the north, there is a mango orchard. Your horse is grazing in that orchard. Go and look.

SALIM: Is that so Baba?

KADIR: Yes Baba. Thanks.

KASIM: Hurry, let’s go and search there.

The three leave and go as directed by Sathya.

KADIR: Brother Salim, we will get back our horse, exactly like the boy said.

KASIM: This boy is no ordinary one; He is Divine, an Incarnation of Allah. The word of this Young Swami is not just an ordinary word, it is like the Vedas, and our Quran. Whatever this Young Swami says is true.

SALIM: If we get back our horse, I will offer my salutations to this Young Swami.

KADIR: Everything is Allah’s Grace.

The three go some distance.

SALIM: Hey, which direction is north?

KADIR: The Sun rises this side; so that must be north. That’s where the mango orchard must be!

KASIM: Come on, come, come.

The three enter the orchard.

SALIM: Chandini, Chandini, ……my Chandini, …..Chandini!

KASIM: Like the Young Swami said, Chandini must be somewhere here.

KADIR: I’ll search there and you search here. ……Chandini!…..Hey brother Salim! I have found Chandini! …O my life Chandini! Where did you disappear leaving me?

SALIM: You have found Chandini, exactly as the Young Swami said. That boy is truly a child of God!

Three Muslims pick up the horse

SALIM: Brother Kadir, we got back our horse Chandini. We must now go to the Young Swami and convey our gratitude. It is all due to the Grace of the Young Swami. He is no ordinary boy but a Divine one, an Avatar of Allah! …The Young Swami is over there!

The three come again to Sathya

SALIM: Baba, Baba! I found my horse! I got back my horse Chandini!

KADIR: Baba, You are God! ……..For us Baba, You are Allah! Baba, we got back Chandini exactly as You said……. That horse is our means of livelihood………… Our grateful thanks, Baba!

KASIM: Yes Baba, we got back our horse exactly as You said. Baba, You are really God! We can never forget Your good deed, Baba.

SALIM: Baba, You are really God! We got back the horse exactly as You said. You are the saviour of our family, Baba! We will never forget this great help. You really are God!

Sathya creates Vibhuti

KADIR: Baba has given Prasaad! Brother Salim, come and receive this Prasaad from Baba…….Baba! You really are God Baba, You really are!

ACT XIII

SCENE 1

Increasingly, people begin to feel that there is an extra-ordinary Divine power in Sathya. Some are ready to go even further and accept Him as the very Incarnation of the Lord.

This scene shows some villagers seated under a tree and discussing Sathya.

AN OLD MAN: In temples and in holy places, I have personally heard fools and the learned alike say that Sathyam is a Divine child, and that there is Divinity in Him. The son of Pedda Venkapa Raju is not an ordinary boy.

ANOTHER MAN: God assumes human form in every age. For this age, Sathyam is that Form.

A SCHOLAR: As you have all seen, Sathyam is beyond caste and religions. He is the embodiment of equipoise, and the One who shows the Right Path. At a very young age, Sathyam has mastered the entire scriptures and is also the greatest exponent on God. Sathyam’s very appearance is Divine, His words are Divine, and His actions are Divine miracles! I am not just uttering some words. I have actually seen and experienced all this.

A LADY: What that elderly person is saying is quite true. Sathyam is not an ordinary boy. It seems that he is the very embodiment of God.

ANOTHER LADY: Yes, it is true.

SCENE 2

Shortly after the horse incident, Sathya is out one day, admiring Nature. Ramesh and Mahesh come there at that time.

RAMESH: Raju, we have come to be with You. What are You thinking about, instead of talking to us?

SATHYA: I’m thinking about Nature – the flowers, the trees, the hill, the cool breeze, the sky and the earth! I am experiencing the Bliss of all these.

MAHESH: Raju, boys feel happy playing and singing but You experience happiness in contemplation. You are so different, Raju!

SATHYA: That’s the way it is, and you will not understand. …….O,…O my!

At that moment, as a part of the Divine Drama, a big scorpion comes and stings Sathya.

BOYS: Raju, what happened? Raju, ……Oh, a scorpion!…..Raju, Raju!

The boys scream, on hearing the sound, Seshama and his wife Suseela come out and rush to the spot.

SESHAMA: What happened?

MAHESH: Raju has been stung by a scorpion.

SUSEELA: Oh my God! And such a big scorpion too!

SESHAMA: Looks like a black scorpion.

SUSEELA: Yes.

SESHAMA: Suseela, get the medicine box. Hurry. Ramesh, you go and fetch a doctor.

RAMESH: I shall.

Sathya is carried in, and a tourniquet is applied. Meanwhile, Ramesh and Mahesh rush to the house of the local [native]

DOCTOR: Who is that?

RAMESH: Raju has been stung by a scorpion, and Mr. Seshama Raju wants you to come at once to his house.

DOCTOR: Is that so? I shall come.

Seshama’s house

SESHAMA: Come sir, come. Please examine.

DOCTOR: Where did the scorpion sting?

SESHAMA [pointing to the toe]: Here, on the toe.

DOCTOR: On the toe? ………..Please get some water.

SUSEELA: Yes, I will.

SESHAMA: Get it quick!

Doctor treats

DOCTOR: He will be unconscious for a while.

SESHAMA: I see.

DOCTOR: Don’t get worried; He will be OK soon.

SESHAMA: Thank you sir!

(To be continued)

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SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI
PART - 39
(Continued from the previous issue)

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ACT XIII - SCENE 3

After this scorpion incident, there was a great change in Sathya. He seemed withdrawn and lost in spiritual contemplation. Sometimes, He would speak of places and pilgrim centres He had never visited and give graphic descriptions too! Though He had never been to Shirdi, He would speak about that place.

Sathya continued to go to school but brother Seshama Raju was much worried about the change that had come in Him. Seshama wrote a letter to his parents about these changes. And then…

The scene is Venkama Raju’s house in Puttaparthi. Kondama Raju is also present.

VENKAMA RAJU: Our Seshama has written a letter.

EASWARAMMA: Is that so? What has Seshama written?………. What does he say about Sathyam?

VEKAMA RAJU: Easwari, it seems Sathyam was stung by a scorpion.

EASWARAMMA: What did you say? Sathyam bitten by a scorpion?! My God! What happened? How is He?

VEKAMA RAJU: Don’t get excited Easwari, nothing will happen to Him.

SISTER: Scorpion bite is itself very dangerous! Father, can there be a greater danger?

VENKAMA RAJU: Don’t get worried, my dear. Snakes and scorpions are common in villages, and it is natural for them to bite.

EASWARAMMA: Are you suggesting that being stung by a scorpion is a natural occurrence? How lightly you speak! If my child is bitten by a scorpion, will I not feel anguish?

VENKAMA RAJU: Easwari, do I also not feel agony? But tell me, what can we do? He is there and we are here.

EASWARAMMA: Has Seshama written anything about how Sathyam is now?

VENKAMA RAJU: After herbal treatment by the doctor, Sathyam is moving about normally. But……

EASWARAMMA: But? What has happened? What does Seshama say?

THE TWO SISTERS: Father, what happened?

VENKAMA RAJU: There is a peculiar change in Sathyam’s behaviour. Apparently He speaks a lot to Himself, recites the Puranas, keeps waving His hands, and speaks generally in a philosophical manner.

EASWARAMMA: Let’s go to Uravakonda immediately! I HAVE to see my Sathyam! It does not matter if He does not study further. It is enough if my child is with me!

KONDAMA RAJU: My dear, there is no need to be so agitated. Scorpions and centipedes cannot do any harm to Him. Sathyam is born for a special purpose. He is beyond all these worldly disturbances.

VENKAMA RAJU: Easwari, don’t you realise that right from the beginning, our Sathyam has always been different from the rest? That is His nature.

EASWARAMMA: I don’t know about all that. I feel very frightened, and I have to go to Uravakonda immediately! I have to see my son, I have to see Him!

KONDAMA RAJU: Alright my dear, alright. Go and come back. Over there, they too must be scared; so, go and pay a visit………..Please go.

SCENE 4

Seshama Raju’s house in Uravakonda. Sathya has regained consciousness.

SATHYA: Poison entered and drove out illusion. Worldly bonds and attachments are obstacles to the higher worlds. The body is temporary, and the Atma alone is Eternal!

SESHAMA: He is speaking in a most strange manner – must be the result of the poison. Although speaking queerly is not new to Him, today His speech is full of high philosophy.

SUSEELA: You wrote to your mother and father but they have not come yet. So why don’t you write again and send the letter through someone?

SESHAMA RAJU: I was thinking the same, and shall do so immediately.

SATHYA: There is no need to write the letter; in half an hour, the lady of the house will be here.

SESHAMA RAJU: The lady of the house? Whom are You referring to in that manner?

SATHYA: The mother who gave birth to both of us is the lady of the house.

SESHAMA RAJU: Our mother?……….. How do You know she is coming soon?

SATHYA: Well, that’s the way it is!

Venkama Raju and Easwaramma come to Seshama’s house.

SUSEELA: [to Seshama] Mother and Father are coming, exactly as Sathyam said!

SESHAMA: Mother!

EASWARAMMA: Seshama!

SESHAMA RAJU: Mother, come. He is over there. Father!

VENKAMA RAJU: Sathyam, what happened?

EASWARAMMA: Sathyam my boy, how are You feeling? Where did the scorpion sting You? Did it pain a lot?

SATHYA: Mother, the pain is for the body and not the mind. For the mind, everything is an illusion; you too are an illusion!

EASWARAMMA: My boy!

SESHAMA RAJU: Sathyam, that is not an illusion; that is our mother!

SATHYA: Mother and father, brother and sister, all are the children of God and all are same to Me.

EASWARAMMA: Sathyam! What are You saying!

SATHYA: Sathya [Truth] is My Name, Dharma [Righteousness] is My Body, and Prema [Love] is My Form!

SESHAMA RAJU: Mother, now you have heard all His great philosophy! This is the way He speaks.

EASWARAMMA: Sathyam, unlike other people, I only thought that You were different from the rest. But what is this? You are speaking of things far beyond Your age! What has happened to You my boy?! Seshama, what’s all this?

SESHAMA RAJU: That’s the effect of the poison, mother; but don’t worry, for it will all go away with the medicine.

EASWARAMMA: No, no! I will take Sathyam with me to Puttaparthi, and have Him treated there. I will not leave Him here. I cannot leave my Sathyam here!

SUSEELA [to husband]: It is better to do as your mother says. Perhaps a change of place would do good.

SESHAMA RAJU: Mother, what you say is true. Do as you wish.

VENKAMA RAJU: Seshama, make arrangements immediately for our return journey.

SESHAMA RAJU: Yes father.

SCENE 5

Sathya is back in Puttaparthi in His parent’s place. The whole family is gathered there. Kondama Raju is also present.

EASWARAMMA: Venkamma, Parvathamma, I have brought Sathyam home!

KONDAMA RAJU: My dear, you have brought Sathyam with you?

EASWARAMMA: Yes, father-in-law.

VENKAMMA [sister]: Well brother, are You alright?

SATHYA: I am OK, sister.

VENKAMMA [sister]: Where did the scorpion sting?

SATHYA: On the leg.

PARVATHAMMA [sister]: Is it paining now?

SATHYA: No, the pain went away long ago.

VENKAMA RAJU: But there is a mysterious change in His behaviour – He is talking too much philosophy!

KONDAMA RAJU: It was so right from the beginning, wasn’t it?

VENKAMA RAJU: Tomorrow, we must have Him examined by a good doctor.

KONDAMA RAJU: Come here and take this fruit. It is Praasadam.

SATHYA: Grandfather, do you know what this fruit symbolises? The outer skin represents Maya or illusion. The fruit inside represents the human body, and the sweet taste represents the Atma. Maya engulfs the body and eclipses the Atma!

(To be continued)

SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI
PART - 40
(Continued from the previous issue)

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EPISODE 21

ACT XIV - SCENE 1

Kondama’s House.

KONDAMA RAJU: The words of Venkava Dhoota have proved to be absolutely true! ………. Venkama, ours is the Ratnakara lineage, and we do not know black magic, related rituals, and the like. Other than pure devotion to God, charity and compassion to others, and a spiritual outlook, we are ignorant of strange practices.

VENKAMA RAJU: That may be so father, but people are making all sorts of comments about our Sathyam. I am unable to decide whether He has Divine Power in Him or devilish power. I have therefore sent for Narasimhachari, an expert on magical chants. He should be able to diagnose the problem correctly.

NARASIMHA: Venkama Raju,……. Venkama Raju!

VENKAMA RAJU: You have come at the right moment. Please step inside; come.

NARASIMHA: Salutations to you Kondama Raju sir!…….[chants] Please get water in this vessel.

VENKAMA RAJU: Easwari!

EASWARAMMA: Yes?

VENKAMA RAJU: Take this and get some fresh water.

NARASIMHA: Mother, also put a couple of basil leaves in the water. And, apply turmeric as well as kumkum to the vessel on the outside.

EASWARAMMA: I shall do so.

NARASIMHA: Call the boy, and let me see what the problem is.

VENKAMA RAJU: Sathyam, …..Sathyam. ……..Sit here boy.

NARASIMHA: Your name?

SATHYA: Sathyam.

NARASIMHA: Your place?

SATHYA: The whole Universe!

NARASIMHA: Your age?

SATHYA: I am Eternal!

NARASIMHA: Where do You live?

SATHYA: Everywhere!

NARASIMHA: What is this strange behaviour?

SATHYA: It is just Divine Love.

NARASIMHA: Are You a devil or a ghost?

SATHYA: I am the Embodiment of Love!

NARASIMHA: You are talking too much philosophy! Is it due to the poison of the scorpion?

SATHYA: The Blue-throated One held back the poison in His throat. If digested, it becomes ambrosia. It is the same with Vedantic Philosophy. If it is understood, it will reveal Divinity.

NARASIMHA: Venkama Raju, the influence of the devil seems to be greater in this boy than the effect of poison.

SATHYA: Do you know what your lineage is?

NARASIMHA: What! You have now begun to ask me questions in return! It surely means that the devil is in You.

SATHYA: If I am an evil spirit, then you are a deadlier one.

NARASIMHA: Oh I see, You want to talk back, is it? Now look straight into my eyes and tell me what you see.

SATHYA: Basil leaf.

NARASIMHA: No, not that. Now tell me what You see.

SATHYA: I see the bow of Siva, the Pushpaka Chariot, and Anjaneya flying in the sky with the Sanjivi Mountain.

NARASIMHA: Where are they? I cannot see them. …..Did you hear? He is speaking meaningless words. …..The Bow of Siva, the aerial chariot!

SATHYA: They are not visible to you because you are a phoney. I know exactly what your strength is. You, who do Puja to My Divine Form daily, can you not recognise Me? Look at Me!

NARASIMHA: Venkama Raju, your son has lost all His mental balance. He has been seized by some evil spirits. Take Him immediately to the witch doctor in Kadiri-Brahmanapalli. I’ll go back now. Kondama Raju and Mother Easwaramma, the boy is in the grip of evil spirits.

EASWARAMMA: What is he saying about devils and evil spirits? What has happened to our Sathyam?

VENKAMA RAJU: Easwari, don’t get agitated. So far, we have tried the doctors of Anantapur and Dharmavaram. Narasimhachari also has examined Sathyam. We will now see if the native doctor in Kadiri Brhamanapalli at least can cure Him. We will know for sure whether it is the devil or Divinity.

EASWARAMMA: I feel very scared. I will accompany Sathyam on the visit to this doctor.

KONDAMA RAJU: Why you, my dear? Tomorrow, Seshama and Suseela will be here. They can go. Well, Sathyam, …..will You go?

SATHYA: If you wish, grandpa. As far as I am concerned, nothing has happened to Me. The doctor can do nothing to Me.

VENKAMMA[sister]: I too shall go, as company for our brother.

KONDAMA: Alright my dear, you too may accompany.

SCENE 2

At the witch doctor’s place. He chants Black magic.

WITCH DOCTOR: Glory to Maha Kaali, Malayala Bhagavathi. Salutations to You Mother! Speak Mother, speak. Speak! Tell me, are you a ghost, devil, imp, or goblin? Why did you seize Him? Where did you catch Him? Tell me, who are you? Tell me!

SATHYA: I am Satyanarayana Raju.

WD: I know that; I did not ask for the name of the body, but of you the ghost, devil, or goblin, or whatever, within. Tell me: What are you? Speak out!

SATHYAM: I am Sathyam, the whole Truth.

WD: No, you are an evil spirit. Tell me, where did you come from? The north, south, east or west? Answer. Answer!

SATHYA: You are the evil spirit! With the Five Elements as the witnesses, I declare that I am I!

WD: Are You refuting Mother’s words to me, who has the five elements in his hand? Mother is demanding!

SATHYA: Mother will not do anything to Me!

WD: You are a devil who will not respond to mere words. I know how to drag you out! I shalldrag you out! Sound the drums!

VENKAMMA[sister]: Please don’t hit my brother! Don’t hit Him! Don’t hit my Sathya!

SESHAMA RAJU: Don’t be scared Venkamma. He is not hitting your brother, but the evil spirit that has seized your brother. The spirit will flee and nothing will happen to your brother.

VENKAMMA: Don’t hit my brother!

WD: Did you walk under a tamarind tree? Speak out!

SATHYA: Yes, I did.

WD: It caught you there, it seized you there!

SESHAMA RAJU: Which evil spirit has entered Sathya?

WD: The evil power resident in the tamarind tree. It is no ordinary power. If you do not drive it away, this child will not be yours. Glory to Kaali,………… glory to Maha Kaali, Come out, come out, come out.

SUSEELA: Sir, I pray to you; please chant incantations or do some magic and drive away the spirit, but for heaven’s sake, don’t beat the child. [to husband] Please tell him not to rain blows.

SESHAMA RAJU: Don’t feel scared; there is nothing to be alarmed about. Nothing will happen to Sathya. These blows will drive away the evil spirit. Don’t be scared.

WD: This devil will not leave with mere chants or magic. It is the Tintirini Devil. Come out, come out, I say!

SISTER: Don’t hit my brother!

WD: Child, I am not hitting your brother, but the devil that has entered into Him. ……Yes, Mother. What’s that Mother? Is that so Mother? It shall be so, Mother.

SESHAMA RAJU: Whom are you talking to?

WD: To Malayala Bhagavathi. She says that the help of the nine planets must be sought, and employing the nine-fold strategy, this Tintirini devil must be driven away.

SESHAMA RAJU: What must be done for that? What’s that? Why have you taken out chains?

WD: Jai Malayala Bhagavathi!

SESHAMA RAJU: Hey, what’s it that you are doing?

WD: With this chain, I am tying up the spirit.

SESHAMA RAJU: No, no! Don’t bind my brother!

WD: Stop! If you want your child back, there must be violence. This is no ordinary devil, but a very proud one. It has entered the head, and I shall bring it down by tying it.

SESHAMA: Don’t tie my brother with chains! Don’t hurt Him!

SUSEELA: Don’t tie that poor little child! Release Him, I beseech you. Let Him go.

WD: Out, out, come out……

SUSEELA: Release Him!

SESHAMA RAJU: No, no! Don’t hit Him; don’t torture Him!

WD: Come out!…. Come out!

SATHYA: Only if it has gone in, can it come out!

WD: What! You are talking back to Mother?….[chants] What’s that Mother? Is that so Mother? Alright Mother! You want the head shaved? Will be done Mother. …[To assistant] Bikshalu! Hand me that knife!

BIK: Here it is, Master.

SESHAMA RAJU: I appeal to you, please let my brother go!

WD: Stop! ……..One step more, and you will vomit blood, your intestines will get hopelessly knotted, and you will writhe with pain on the ground. …..Drums!

Drums. He sharpens a knife.

SESHAMARAJU: No, please no! Don’t shave my brother’s head. Tell me what you want, and I shall give it to you – any amount of money…… No, please no! I pray to you – let my brother go!

WD: Run away! Run away! I am now shaving your head. Devil Tintirini, I have shaved your head and chased you away; I have shaved your head and chased you away. I have snapped your grip!

SUSEELA: No! ………No!

SISTER/SHESAMA: No!

WD: You are laughing in spite of lashes, and bleeding. You must be a greater evil force than Devil Tintirini!

SESHAMA RAJU: No! Stop! We cannot stand this torture! We want to take our brother home.

WD: Stop! One step forward, you will vomit blood, your guts will twist and you will die! The evil spirit will enter you! …. Jai Maha Kaali!!….Drums!

SESHAMA RAJU: No, no! Don’t torture my brother! ….No! Don’t torture Him please!

WD: This punishment is not enough because this is a cruel and stubborn female devil. I shall deal appropriately with its eyes, and drown the devil in the waters of the nether world!

He throws acid in the eyes. Pours water. Drums.

SESHAMA RAJU: Stop, please stop! Don’t destroy Him totally! What you have already done is enough!