Sathya Sai at P'parthi and soaring temperatures by Puneet Rajhans

Sathya Sai at P'parthi and soaring temperatures by Puneet Rajhans

The heat untamed; the summer scorcher taking away every bit of energy dispensed and restored; and to top it all the green fiddled portfolio getting a new life to carry on in the face of bevy of concrete structures that have sprung up here and there. And as confinement is the inevitability of the exercise of undue haste and preponderance to increasing material confessions, undiluted and unchecked is the order we are asked to pursue. Very tempting to say that these summer days would make you a reclusive lot, but there are others who won't be outplayed to say the least.
As heat delivered equations continued unabated, my chances of making it to Puttaparthi were linked to Sathya Sai's presence as outings to Kodaikanal and Whitefields, Bangalore in the months of May and June have been a regular feature with few odds here and there. The date with the holy town had no summer as the fearsome ally as the temperatures are known to gravitate to points of extreme day after day.
Burdened with the idea that the journey would be all the way to B'lore as Swami won't be there in P'parthi, a chance encounter with residents in station led me to abandon the train at Prashanti Nilayam and seek refuge in one of the blessed parts of the country.
There have had been instances when one had to traverse long distances to secure food of their choice or seek accommodation in vicinity. But these fears were misplaced as each activity this time had a natural flow to it with fewer interruptions. To be honest, the time slot of 9a.m to 6 p.m. could turn the most obedient to a truant in this part of Andhra, but then the gamut of this exercise is essentially to raise your resistance bar - and this had what kept the flock staying put for long.
Three hrs in the hall and crowd multiplying every moment, the wait for Sathya Sai was lengthening by the day. But none were prepared to move away before securing a glimpse. Against all permutations and combinations doing the rounds, Sathya Sai came and stayed for over an hour. THe ones who had secured a vantage point courtesy joining the queue earlier were in the same frame of mind as those seated at the back lanes. All gaze turned towards the Swami, the hall reverberated with songs in praise of the Bhagwan.
With a slew of papers, essentially applications addressed to him, he pored and paused.At times when it looked he was about to exit, another lengthening date with the devotees looked feasible when he made it to other end of the hall (not visible to many) and stayed there for a while. Close to 7 he finally left, with more requests coming his way in sealed envelopes. THese papers are the best way to reach Swami apart from the prayers that come from the heart. With another bountiful of papers he was wheeled in to his abode, and the four-and-a half hour old crowd dispersed as well.
This time as well i coudn't miss out on the long series of prayers propitiating Lord Ganesha and the miracle movement that the Lord provides to us in times of distress. THe Lord's idol right at the entrance of the ashram is a pointer to our enduring faith.
As for the audience, those in attendance at the prayer hall, some looked to be familiar ones; suggesting they had stayed put for the past three to four months
Similar familiar faces were seen at the Western India canteen, with the overwhelming query of what brings you when the temperatures are hardly in persuasive mode. Well, it is Swami and Swami.
As one made his way to Anantpur (inordinate delay for hrs together) and later to one of the twin cities, i couldn't but thank the almighty for having made me venture to P'parthi when the last visible moment in The Capital was through tinted glasses.
Well, Sathya Sai was supposed to visit Kodai Kanal on May 10th and the last heard was this would happen on May 22nd.