The day to visit Puttaparthi for the first time, finally came.
Whoever visits Puttaparthi is coming with Baba’s permission.
Without Baba’s approval, nobody can land here.
Went to the Yeshwantpur station at Bangalore and boarded the required train. While on the train, I was deeply immersed in Naam jaap with mala in hand. I was very delighted to see the mountain and monkeys. Shared a couple of biscuits with monkey friends which they happily accepted.
Before getting down, I asked someone how to get to the ashram. I thought he was a fellow traveller on the train. He was in his white clothes. He asked me questions about are you visiting here for the first time? I said, Yes. It just happened spontaneously.
He said, whoever visits here is coming with Baba’s permission. Without Baba’s permission, nobody can land here. He asked me to find an auto to get to the ashram by paying 50 rupees or can have a ride with him in his two wheeler. I chose auto and travelled.
Just by landing at Sri Sathya Sai Prashanthi Nilayam railway station (SSPN), I deeply felt a sense of relief and calmness. Couldn’t explain in words but felt it significantly.
While travelling from the train station to Prashanthi Nilayam ashram, I kept seeing the photographs of Swami Shri Sathya Sai Baba. Somehow, the feeling arose that he is not a normal human but someone beyond that.
Went to the information centre and asked for details. An elderly person helped a lot and shared his personal stories of how he joined seva and his people not believing in Swami despite being in close proximity, within a few mins. I was thrilled to hear this because it’s a personal story.
Got two days accomodation. I went to the ashram in pants and t-shirt since that’s my usual go-to attire. When I opened the bag, I saw Kurtis and pants with a shawl. How did I pack that, didn’t have 1% percent idea about that because I usually don’t wear that. But, I know I did that after receiving the message somehow.
Again, another elderly person helped to see places, temples, museums, showed me the way around canteens of ashram to eat, etc.
The next morning I got ready and went to places to see everything. I went to Shiva temple where a person standing there told me to do Puja for Lord Shiva. Since I was not a very external ritualistic person, I hesitated a bit. Then, I thought, don’t know when I will come back again. So, let me do it. Bought a mala for Lord Shiva and did complete pooja for nearly 20 mins with arati, offering flowers, rice grains and slogan chanting.
Then, I came to Sathyamma temple where Sai Baba did the pratistha. Then a person in the temple explained to me the history of the temple. This person goes to Devi idol and takes 3 bangles put on her and gives it to me. Couldn’t really comprehend what was happening there.
Because a few days before, a navaratri festival happened. I visited a temple in Bangalore. But, just before me the Bangles got finished. So, I felt a bit disappointed with that.
Now, this person comes and gives the bangles directly to the Goddess directly.
I felt an invisible presence guiding and even was physically there and directing everything.
A day went by.
The next day, I attended bhajans for some time. Went to the meditation tree to meditate. It was raining a bit so I went with a shawl and meditated for nearly 2.5 hours. Got drenched while meditating but didn’t feel anything while on meditation.
When I finished watching the video show, I saw a man come up to me with a Sai Baba photo, vibuthi packet. Went away immediately into nowhere.
When I went to the museum, a lady asked are you a teacher? I said, no. See how this prophecy manifested later.
With all these profound experiences, I went back to Bangalore.
When I came back, everything strangely looked empty. Nothing was looking like before. Something happened. I couldn’t put that into words yet internally there were a lot of changes.