Three Generations of Blessed Devotees - Devi Priya -1
Episode 60
Devi Priya, like her mother Krishna Dasi, is a very devoted person. Along with the blessings of Unni Kanna and Devi Maa, they also have blessings of Sai Baba - who they consider their Sadguru.
As far back as Devi remembers, she was around 7 years old, when she first received Baba’s blessings. One day, a person in a white robe and a white cap, dressed like a Maharastrian, came to their house asking for alms. She opened the door and shouted to her mother that someone was at the door asking for alms. Since Krishna Dasi was busy in the kitchen, she said, ‘Give him some rice’.
When the man heard those words, he said ‘Child!! I don’t want rice. Please give me just two rupees. I have to go to my village in Maharashtra and I am two rupees short.’
By then her mother came out, looked at him, and asked Devi to get the change. Devi went searching for the money. She found only two rupees in a glass jar, which she gave to the man. A few seconds later her mother went out to see the man again but he had already vanished.
Later in the evening her mother told Devi that it was none other than Shirdi Sai Baba who came to their house asking for alms.
Devi Priya, like her mother Krishna Dasi, is a very devoted person. Along with the blessings of Unni Kanna and Devi Maa, they also have blessings of Sai Baba - who they consider their Sadguru.
As far back as Devi remembers, she was around 7 years old, when she first received Baba’s blessings. One day, a person in a white robe and a white cap, dressed like a Maharastrian, came to their house asking for alms. She opened the door and shouted to her mother that someone was at the door asking for alms. Since Krishna Dasi was busy in the kitchen, she said, ‘Give him some rice’.
When the man heard those words, he said ‘Child!! I don’t want rice. Please give me just two rupees. I have to go to my village in Maharashtra and I am two rupees short.’
By then her mother came out, looked at him, and asked Devi to get the change. Devi went searching for the money. She found only two rupees in a glass jar, which she gave to the man. A few seconds later her mother went out to see the man again but he had already vanished.
Later in the evening her mother told Devi that it was none other than Shirdi Sai Baba who came to their house asking for alms.
Every day Krishna Dasi had the habit of visiting the Sai Baba temple in the neighbourhood to offer two rupees. On that particular day she did not visit the temple since Baba himself came to take the offering.
What a blessing!!!
One day, Devi went to the Baba temple. The temple priest was removing garlands from the statue of Baba. There were many garlands but one particular garland caught her eyes. It was a garland made with roses and lilies, which was well-made, very beautiful, and still fresh.
Moreover, it was adorned on Baba. And what more does a devotee ask for.
Like many of us, she also wished for the garland. But it was a wish in her heart which she could not voice out.
Suddenly the priest called her and handed over the same garland to her.
Jumping with joy, she took the garland, and offered her thanks to Baba.
What a blessing!!!
One day, Devi went to the Baba temple. The temple priest was removing garlands from the statue of Baba. There were many garlands but one particular garland caught her eyes. It was a garland made with roses and lilies, which was well-made, very beautiful, and still fresh.
Moreover, it was adorned on Baba. And what more does a devotee ask for.
Like many of us, she also wished for the garland. But it was a wish in her heart which she could not voice out.
Suddenly the priest called her and handed over the same garland to her.
Jumping with joy, she took the garland, and offered her thanks to Baba.
On another occasion, a lady devotee offered ladoo to Baba as naivedyam.
The priest took the ladoo and touched it to the face, hands, chest, legs and all over the body of Baba. After witnessing the priest’s ritual, Devi wished to partake the prasadam. It was sanctified with the holy touch of Baba.
But could she ask for it??
No.
Customarily, the ladoo would be given back to the lady who offered it. Hence Devi kept quiet and sat there doing her prayers.
Suddenly the lady came to her and offered her the ladoo. Devi took a little piece. The lady devotee insisted her to take more, broke the laddoo into two pieces, and handed over half the ladoo to Devi.
The priest took the ladoo and touched it to the face, hands, chest, legs and all over the body of Baba. After witnessing the priest’s ritual, Devi wished to partake the prasadam. It was sanctified with the holy touch of Baba.
But could she ask for it??
No.
Customarily, the ladoo would be given back to the lady who offered it. Hence Devi kept quiet and sat there doing her prayers.
Suddenly the lady came to her and offered her the ladoo. Devi took a little piece. The lady devotee insisted her to take more, broke the laddoo into two pieces, and handed over half the ladoo to Devi.
On another occasion, Devi wanted to offer a shawl to Baba. She asked her mother to buy the shawl and gave her specific instructions that it should have a gold or silver coloured border.
Krishna Dasi bought a shawl which was in blue colour. Devi was disappointed since the shawl did not have the border or design as per her wish. Her mother observed her disappointment and clarified that she could not find any shawl with the specified design and border, since the shop had only plain shawls.
Left with no options, Devi offered the shawl to the priest and requested him to drape it on Baba.
The priest asked her to come on the following Thursday, since that is the day of the week when Baba’s abhishekham is routinely performed and new clothes are offered.
As she was busy on that particular Thursday she asked her sister to visit the temple. She asked her sister to offer her (Devi’s) pranamams to Baba and take His blessings.
Her sister came back with a picture of Baba dressed in new finery. Devi was shocked to see that shawl she had offered was tied to Baba as a head scarf.
Moreover, the shawl had a silver border, just as Devi had envisaged it to be - on the forehead of Baba.
Wow!!! How Baba fulfilled the wishes of his dear devotee!
Krishna Dasi bought a shawl which was in blue colour. Devi was disappointed since the shawl did not have the border or design as per her wish. Her mother observed her disappointment and clarified that she could not find any shawl with the specified design and border, since the shop had only plain shawls.
Left with no options, Devi offered the shawl to the priest and requested him to drape it on Baba.
The priest asked her to come on the following Thursday, since that is the day of the week when Baba’s abhishekham is routinely performed and new clothes are offered.
As she was busy on that particular Thursday she asked her sister to visit the temple. She asked her sister to offer her (Devi’s) pranamams to Baba and take His blessings.
Her sister came back with a picture of Baba dressed in new finery. Devi was shocked to see that shawl she had offered was tied to Baba as a head scarf.
Moreover, the shawl had a silver border, just as Devi had envisaged it to be - on the forehead of Baba.
Wow!!! How Baba fulfilled the wishes of his dear devotee!
SAI BABA WEARING THE SCARF GIVEN BY DEVI PRIYA
On another occasion, she was sleeping on a cot at her grandparent’s house.
Suddenly, she felt she was unable to move, as if she was paralysed.
She could see Baba coming and pressing her forehead just above the aagna charka for a few moments.
Later, when Devi discussed this incident with her mother, they deduced that the Shani dasa had just started and Baba had come to reduce the ill effects of that dasa, which lasts for seven and half years.
Suddenly, she felt she was unable to move, as if she was paralysed.
She could see Baba coming and pressing her forehead just above the aagna charka for a few moments.
Later, when Devi discussed this incident with her mother, they deduced that the Shani dasa had just started and Baba had come to reduce the ill effects of that dasa, which lasts for seven and half years.
While studying for her professional degree, Devi resided in a hostel On one particular day, at around 4 am, she heard a loud laugh which she
assumed was Baba’s.
Hearing the voice she woke up suddenly. The laughter was followed by a gentle voice which uttered something in Arabic. At that point of time she could not comprehend what the words meant. She just wrote them on a paper and kept it safe.
Later she researched the meaning of the words.
It meant,
“In addition to Guru, worship God too”
assumed was Baba’s.
Hearing the voice she woke up suddenly. The laughter was followed by a gentle voice which uttered something in Arabic. At that point of time she could not comprehend what the words meant. She just wrote them on a paper and kept it safe.
Later she researched the meaning of the words.
It meant,
“In addition to Guru, worship God too”
This was the starting point of the many countless blessings for Devi.
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