Saionline: Shirdi Sai Baba

Gopal Rao Deshmukh (Venkusa)

Life is a complete mystery where the supernatural can suddenly interact with what seems to be ordinary life. The mystery behind Swamiji's birth is a good example of extraordinary events that can take place in life at the most unexpected moments.

In Puttaparthi, then known Gollapalli (village of cowheards) in Penukonda Taluk of Anantapur district, there lived an abstemious peasant named Kondama Raju of the Ratnakaram Raju family. The family had long since abandoned its military kshatriya role and taken up interpreting and popularising sacred literature. From this they became known as Bhat Raju - a name attributed to a particular creed that praises royalty with songs and poetry. Kondama Raju had musical and dramatic talent. He sang songs from the Ramayana and enacted the role of Lakshmana in village plays about Rama.

Sage Venkavadhuta (Venkusa) was the saintly ancestor and family diety in the Raju family. It was unknown how old the great saint was and various accounts claim that his age was far beyond normal human years. Shirdi Sai Baba was handed in the care of Venkusa from the age 4, and lived with the saint for 12 years. Kondama Raju was a very devoted person and it is reported that he had offered Venkavaduta food and met him in person many times when Venkusa would visit Gollapalli (Puttaparthi). Oral tradition held that the divine would incarnate, as Mother Earth was in deep distress and pleading for help. Kondama Raju described Venkusa thus:

"No face could ever be gloomy in his presence, for he was always jovial. No door ever closed as he passed by; everyone invited him in. People everywhere claimed him as kinsman though he himself refused to accept such a relationship or ties with anyone. He was hungry when another one was hungry in his presence. He wore clothes only when they were wound around him and they remained on him only until they fell off. He carried his body about as if it were gossamer. The rains washed it; the sun dried it; sleep visited it as it sat or stood and left it when it found itself unwelcome. His voice never grated, and his eyes shone bright. When he laid his hand on the head of someone, that touch was prelude to paradise. He was a breeze, a cloud, a bird on a flight from heaven to earth... No one knew...where he came from or where indeed he went. He was here, there, anywhere, everywhere for nire years than any knew or could guess."

Kondama Raju's dedication and affection for Venkusa must have been rather pronounced, as the great saint blessed Kondama Raju and proclaimed "God will one day play in your lap". Many years later Easwaramma, the daughter of Kondama Raju's youngest sister, had one son and two daughters but also had four miscarriages which at that time was attributed to 'evil planetary influences'. Easwaramma longing for another son set about with a number of vows and fasting, praying for a successful pregnancy. Not long afterwards, Easwaramma's mother-in-law had a dream that she could only interpret to mean auspicious for Easwaramma - perhaps the gift of an extraordinary son? Due to various supernatural experiences they had discussions that Easwaramma may be the recipient of supernatural blessings and if such would occur, should not be frightened by them.

Many years later Easwaramma was to recollect that one morning when she had gone to the village well to draw water something had happened to her. As she prepared to draw up her water filled pot, she became aware of a strange, blue glow. The warm glow transformed itself to a luminous blue ball and softly glided deep into her being. Filled with light and rapture she fell unconscious near the well. Easwaramma had several spiritual experiences which in her innocense she could not understand, and which she only shared with a few people. Shortly thereafter Easwaramma found herself expecting.

By the blessing of Venkavadhuta, Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born to Easwaramma and finally, indeed, God played in Kondamaraju's lap as predicted.

THE ORIGINAL SHIRDI SAI SANASTHAN
Shri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi, is the Governing and Administrative body of Shri Saibaba's Samadhi Temple and all others temples in this premises, and devoted towards development of Shirdi village. Shri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi, is the authorised body to control and manage the day-to-day activities at the Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple.

Access Chapters of the Shri Sai Satcharitra

See paintings of early Shirdi Baba devotees

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Did you know that...

Those who complete the Sri Sai Satcharitra with deep concentration, prayers, dedication, and disciplin with food, habits and sleep for seven days obtain their wishes through the blessings of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. Many people have obtained a vision of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba after reading the Shri Sai Satcharitra...