A Man "Rolls" 1200 Kilometers to Reach Puttaparthi

A MAN "ROLLS" 1200 KILOMETERS TO REACH PUTTAPARTHI

Om Sairam dearest Sai Family

India is one such country which has fascinated the Whole world for Her spiritual riches. This country is the only country which has been strong mentally in spite of so many adversities, financial hick ups, natural disasters, courtesy of the strong Spiritual back ground the people of India have which acts like a AIR BAG which is fitted to your expensive car.

For Indians God always comes first and there are people who go to any extent of Physical labour to please their "favourite deity . The western world in particular is very fascinated with India because of all the amazing rituals, austerities, customs which is followed in this country.

This is the story of this 30 plus year old Giridas from the State of Maharashtra (west of India) who decided to ROLL to Puttaparthi, the Abode of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Yes you read it right, "rolled" to Puttaparthi. This "Rolling Ritual" is also called "Anga Pradakshina" in Sanskrith. It is 

nothing but going around the temple through the pathway in lying position with both the hands kept 

above the head with palms put together as if praying. This will be done in the temples' 

prahara ( Inner circle) with wet body and cloths after bathing in the temple pond or well. It is being done by many people when God fulfills their requests/prayers and there are few more who do this 

ritual "before hand" to please God to help them solve a problem or fulfill their desire..

The story of Mr.Giridhar from Amaravathi, from the state of Maharashtra is a "before hand"request. What did he request? He started rolling from December 7, 2012. Accompanied with his wife in a tricycle, she used to watch him and try to divert the traffic as her husband rolled on the very hot Tar roads of India. Like our own lives, it was not always a smooth road  for Mr.Giridhar, over the months he had to pass through muddy roads, filthy roads, under construction roads, national highways, back roads, no matter what road, he still had to "Roll". 

Since the day of his journey, he was shown in various News channels in the respective areas. I got a call from my friend who said he is about 30 kilometers from Puttaparthi. Just to make sure i get to know him more and talk to him, i decided to go to see him. I was told that he rests from 10 am to 3pm in the day and it was around 12 that i decided to go and see him. Even though, i would be disturbing him, i still thought let me see what happens, i don't mind even if i were to wait for him to wake up in case he is sleeping.

For a "devoted man" like him, where is the time to sleep. He was camping in a very small road side temple. Just then a marriage party in two mini vans were passing by and seeing his tri cycle with Swami's photographs, they immediately identified the "rolling devotee" because he was already on TV by then.  Every one were looking at him with great respect and reverence for the kind of strict austerity that he has taken upon himself. 

He was having that innocent smile looking at people bit shy some time as every one were craning their neck to have a glimpse of him who was seated under a tree by the temple. Some generous people even gave him some money ranging from 100 rupees to 10 rupees depending on the financial capacity of the person, as a humble offering to this phenomenal devotee.

I just waited for the marriage party to leave and after they all left, i slowly went to him and said "Sairam ji, i am coming from Puttaparthi and asked him in Hindi if i could speak to him". As soon as i said  "Puttaparthi" he jumped in joy and there was that great respect in his eyes. More over he was probably happy to know that some one is speaking to him in his mother tongue, Hindi.

I had my camera with me and i asked him if he can speak a few words and he readily agreed to do so. ( the 10 minutes video would be posted later ) but here are the excerpts.

He said he is a father of two children hailing from a place called Amaravathi in Maharashtra about 1200 kilometers from Puttaparthi. He said he did this "rolling ritual" five times in the past and it was from his home town to Vaishnodevi Temple in Jammu Kashmir (Up north of India) which was a 3000 kilometer roll which took one full year for him.

What made him come to Puttaparthi. Very innocently he said, it was his desire to do this for the past 10 years but God willed it that it should happen only now. He said this "ROLL" is very unique and a very sweet experience because he was getting lot of support from the Sai Centers on the go. Every Sai Center took responsibility of my safety and security, took care of food, clothing etc and there were always some people from the Sai Centers who accompanied me until they pass the responsibility to the next Sai Center.

Why is he doing this?

He said he wants to ask Sai Baba to give peace to the world. That is the only desire he has.

It was shocking to know that he has never seen Swami nor visited Puttaparthi. When i asked him what is he going to ask Sai Baba after reaching Puttaparthi, he said I just want to ask Him to bless this world with peace and tranquility.

I asked him if he can demonstrate his "roll" and he readily did so and here are few photos for you

This  in fact is a great moment to cherish, a great moment to introspect especially those (few) of us who are claiming to be His devotees, who keep on trumpeting about the number of visits we have made to Puttaparthi, number of interviews, chains, rings etc that we got from Swami. What is that we have done to the society? How many times have we prayed for our fellow brothers and sisters? for the betterment of the world that we live in? 

Mr.Giridas's example is a source of emulation, matter of pride to the Sai fraternity and he is verily God sent for us, at the right time, to show the way we should be praying, for plenty and prosperity of the man kind which verily includes us.

As I type this email, he is now camping about 5 kilometers from Puttaparthi.  He is going to start his final lap of his "ROLL" to reach every one's dream destination, Prasanthi Nilayam, around 8 am tomorrow (May 19, 2013). I was also told that the ashram authorities are aware of his arrival and they are making arrangements for his welcome and a comfortable stay in the ashram.

The Local Sai devotees are also planning to give a fitting tribute to this great man by felicitating him in Hanuman Temple premises.

( This is a "developing story" more updates to follow)

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of our beloved Lord,
R.Satish Naik