At the Sanctum of Sai Narayani

Ever since the day Swami beckoned me to His fold, I knew in my heart that His was the only form I needed to meditate on, in order to cross this Samsara Sagara (the ocean of cyclic existence). That being the case, I still had an affinity towards the Goddess form and did find joy in contemplating on Sai as the Divine Mother – my beloved Sai Ma. Yet there was no inner prompting to visualize my favorite form in a female outlook with long hair, bindi(1), ornaments, clad in a saree! So I was surprised, albeit pleasantly, when I saw the Sai Narayani form in a picture for the very first time.

During my India trip in August this year, I had the good fortune of visiting the residence of Sai Sandhya in Trivandrum. Sai Sandhya is a young celibate who has dedicated her life to the worship of Lord Sathya Sai Baba. Swami blesses her with numerous visions and dreams which are mostly instructions for her to do particular tasks associated with her worship. At her residence, Swami is worshipped in the "Sai Narayani" (Devi or Goddess) form according to Swami's own instructions. Swami Himself had physically blessed and approved the worship of this form. Sai Sandhya has surrendered totally at the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan and has immersed herself in the Upasana (worship) of Sai Narayani.

When Swami left His body on April 24, 2011, He told Sai Sandhya in a dream that it was all a maya and that He would be back in the Sathya Sai form once again. Since then she started announcing to everyone around her and the various visitors to her home about the imminent reappearance of Bhagawan. Many of the devotees who heard this, scoffed at her and even termed that as a crazy idea. Despite of all the criticism, she has stuck to her faith of His return, which Bhagawan Himself had instilled by the virtue of various visions and dreams. Later on, when she received a copy of STKC (Sai, Thy Kingdom Come) from a friend, she was overjoyed to see the same belief echoed in the book. It was around that time I came in touch with Sai Sandhya through another devotee (named Malathi Lakshman) and during my recent India trip, made it a point to pay her a visit.

Sai Sandhya in her prayer room

Our conversation started off on an exhilarating note. Out of the blue, Sai Sandhya threw me a question “Is your nakshatra(2) (birth star) ‘bharani’?” I replied in the affirmative. As I stood there wondering how she could have known, in a flash came her answer: “Swami mentioned to me in a dream yesterday…and did you know that today is bharani too?”.

The day of the bharani nakshatra (star) is considered very auspicious for the Goddess worship and I felt it was not just a coincidence that I was visiting the Sanctum Sanctorum of Sai Narayani right on that auspicious day, which also coincided with my birth star!

Then our conversation moved to the topic of Swami’s return. Sai Sandhya told me many incredible things that happened in conjunction with His return. Much before STKC was published, she had a vision in which an ultra bright light like that of a thousand Suns appeared in the sky heralding Bhagawan's return. On the clouds in big letters was written "Thy Kingdom Come". Following that vision, she had a Divine Inspiration to place on top of her altar, a picture of Bhagawan that she received quite mysteriously from a Saintly person, along with two icons of angels on either side. All this happened on the Christmas day of 2011, i.e., three months before STKC was published.

Much later when she received a copy of STKC, she was stunned! For one thing, she had already seen the name of the book in the vision. Secondly, the exact same picture of Bhagawan she had placed on top of her Altar along with the two angels, were depicted on the cover page of STKC. Too much for a coincidence, is it not?

Top: Upon receiving a vision, Sai Sandhya had a Divine Inspiration to place on top of her altar, a picture of Bhagawan that she received quite mysteriously from a Saintly person, along with two icons of angels on either side.
Bottom: Cover page design of Sai, Thy Kingdom Come

Sai Sandhya showed me many pictures from her album as proof of various miracles that happened with her and in the house. In the center picture of her Altar, Swami is seen holding His palms together. However, when a photo was taken of the Altar, Swami was seen clearly with His blessing hand (Abhayahasta) posture. I can go on and on…but only seeing is believing!

After paying my most reverential salutations to Sai Narayani, I departed with a heart full of Divine bliss and beaming with joy at Sai Sandhya’s assertion that Swami is returning soon!

(1) Bindi - A decorative mark worn in the middle of the forehead by Indian women. 

(2) Nakshatra - The term for lunar mansion in Indian astrology. The zodiac is divided into 27 Nakshatras through which the Moon has to pass through. Bharani is the name of the second Nakshatra.