Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Digvijayam to Tamil Nadu

The Avatar of this Yuga, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in His infinite mercy, has visited Tamil Nadu innumerable times. He pervades all the Worlds. There is proof of Him manifesting Himself in two or three places at the same time. Very few have however documented the early visits of this Divine incarnation. Many such families have also gone missing with time. Holding onto our dear Lord’s Divine Lotus Feet with utmost humility, we pray to Him to bless us and guide us in writing about the history of His Digvijayam to Tamil Nadu, starting with this Tamil New Year. Along with this, with His blessings, some rare photographs of Bhagawan would also be published.

In a Divine discourse, Bhagawan had told that the first incarnation was in Maharashtram and this incarnation was in Madrashtram. In those days, except for the territories of Trivandrum, Cochin, Pudukkottai and Hyderabad, and Pondicherry which was under the French rule, the whole of South India was included in Madras Presidency. That was the reason for Bhagawan saying so. People from many places like Madras (Chennai), Karur and Madurai, when they learnt about a person called ‘Wonder Boy Bala Sai’ who had come as Vaitheeswaran  and cured many types of diseases, proceeded towards Puttaparthi in search of a cure for their chronic bodily ailments, mental illnesses and for salvation. Once cured, they told others, and many received Bhakthi as the ultimate medicine for their soul. ‘Keep coming back to our town’ was the request placed by these devotees to Bhagawan.

Where Shaivism and Vaishnavism flourished, through the path shown by the Naayanmaars and Azhwars, the people of Tamil Nadu were immersed in their devotion for God and lived a life of spiritual proximity with God. It was no wonder then, that Bhagawan who is the embodiment of Siva and Sakthi, soon after announcing His Divine incarnation, closely associated Himself with the state of Tamil Nadu.

Our Madhavan appeared in the dream of Karur Ramalakshmi Ammayaar, sister of a very old-time devotee Subramaniya Chettiyar, and asked her to come to Puttaparthi via Penukonda. A Krishna devotee that she was, she went and stayed in Puttaparthi for 40 days and when she returned after being cured of her chronic ailment, Chettiyar too went to Puttaparthi and stayed there.

Isn’t God coming in dreams, in reality, a direct appearance? If so, it means that in 1940 itself, Bhagawan came to Karur and called them over. In 1940, soon after the declaration of  Avatarhood, for the reason stated above, Sai devotees increased in many places like Karur and Madurai and they kept going to Puttaparthi.

It is told that Bhagawan in His physical form came and stayed in Egmore in 1942. Whatever way one may view it, in His early youth itself, for uplifting Dharma and for His Avataric Mission to be embedded deeply and flourish, Bhagawan set His Divine footprints in Tamil Nadu’s many cities, towns and very small villages where even proper roads were not laid. It would not be an exaggeration to state that it was the deep love and pure devotion of the old-time devotees that attracted this Loving God like a magnet. We should be indebted to them.

An Emperor waging a war with the smaller Kings, one country devouring another, superpowers clashing with each other, are what we know as History. But when one thinks deeply, it is understood that it is only ‘His Story’ that is meaningful History.

The first known visit of Bhagawan to Chennai was in 1942 to Sri Raghava Naidu’s home in Veerasamy Street in Egmore. Many came to participate in the bhajans held there. Called the Volkart Brothers, Parthasarathy Mudaliar and Nagarathinam Mudaliar who lived nearby came and received the Divine grace and blessings. When on a trip to Puttaparthi subsequently, Bhagawan materialized an apple for Parthasarathy Mudaliar and cured him of his long-time asthma problem. His mother was suffering from cataract and was almost blind. Bhagawan placed jasmine flowers on her eyes and tied it, and with this treatment her vision was restored fully.

Relatives of Raghava Naidu who had lost everything and returned as refugees from Burma, Kamalamma, elder daughter Chandramma, son-in-law Aalavandhaan Naidu and son Dheenadayalu were staying in his house. Seeing Kamalamma drowned in sorrow as her husband Rajasekara Naidu who was to join them later had not come, Bhagawan described in detail the troubles they met while coming from Mandalay. They were all amazed upon hearing that, as they had not told anything about their escape from Burma and especially Mandalay to Him. They were surprised when He described everything in such detail. What does Bhagawan not know? When Kamalamma asked Him about her husband’s return, Bhagawan replied ‘He has taken up Sanyasa. Forget him.’ He then materialized a green apple, gave it to Kamalamma and asked only her to eat it. He gave a Divine assurance that He would be with her and save her. Once she had the apple, her worries and memories slowly vanished. With Swami’s guidance, Kamalamma got pension from Fort St. George till her last days.

There would have been many more who  had met Bhagawan in Raghava Naidu’s house and become devotees.

Source: April 2014, Tamil Sanathana Sarathi Issue.