Sai Pearls of Wisdom 42-A   “I AM I, MS SUBBALAKSHMI, YOGIS" (With Subtitles).
Channel: Sai Pearls of Wisdom - Prof. Anil Kumar Kamaraju
Date: 2023-04-28

One summer, Swami was in Kodaikanal. A few students, teachers and devotees 
accompanied Him. One morning, Swami told all of them, “Whoever answers My question correctly, I will reward him with a special gift!” 

On hearing this, everyone, especially the students, got very excited.

Swami then asked, “Who am I? Who am I?” 

Most of the students answered loudly in one voice, “God!” 

Swami replied, “Not correct!”

One student said, “Shiva-Shakti Swaroopa!”

Swami now said, “Not correct!”

Then second student, “Sri Krishna has incarnated again!”

Swami laughed and said, “Not correct!”

Another student said, “Sarva Devatha Swaroopa!”

Swami once again replied, “Not correct!”

Finally everyone told Him, “Swami, please tell us who You are!”

Swami answered, “I am I! I am I!”

Initially, everyone burst into laughter. But as Swami started explaining in a serious tone, there was pin drop silence. 

Swami explained, “I is the basis of everything! When you say, ‘I am this!’ or ‘I am that!’ a feeling of Dvaita – duality is expressed. ‘I am I’ expresses Advaita – non-duality. I am recognised by many names such as God, Atma, Brahman, Sri Krishna, Sri Rama, Shiva, Allah and Jesus. But this ‘I’-ness of Advaita is the Ultimate Truth!”

Swami’s teachings reflect the essence of all knowledge. One of the many devotees of Swami is the world-famous cricketer Sri Sunil Gavaskar. Since 1970, the Gavaskar family have been devotees of Baba. But Sunil visited Prasanthi Nilayam for the first time only in 1982. After blessing him with an interview, Swami took him to the Boys Hostel. All the students had gathered in the Prayer Hall. 

Swami made Sunil sit next to Him and said to him, “Today is Bakrid. So tell the students about the importance of this festival!”

Sunil replied, “Swami, I have no knowledge about Islam, Quran or Bakrid! How can I speak about it?”

Swami told him, “You just stand in front of the mic. Everything will be alright!”

Sunil obeyed Swami’s directive and he spoke on Islam and Bakrid for about 12 minutes. His speech drew a loud applause. 

As he returned to his seat, Swami said, “Didn’t I tell you that you will be able to speak?

Sunil only folded his hands in reverence to Swami. Today, after so many years, Sunil in wonder says, “I really don’t remember anything that I spoke! It was Swami who spoke through me!” That’s what Sunil Gavaskar said.

On 23rd November 1926, Shiva-Shakti Swaroopa – Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba incarnated on earth. On the very next day, Yogi Aurobindo announced in his ashram: “Yesterday Lord Sri Krishna Himself has incarnated on earth in human form. He will lead all of humanity on the righteous path. In this mortal land, this power will light the Atma Jyothi in each and every heart. His voice will reach the ears of millions. Today, God has incarnated on earth!”

Thousands of years ago, the sages Bhrigu, Agasthya, Vasishta and Shuka Muni have written in great detail about Bhagavan Baba’s Advent in their respective Nadi Granthas. In 1957, after the conclusion of the Divine Life Convention held at Venkatagiri, Swami Sacchidananda declared, “Sri Sathya Sai Baba is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. He is the Atma that dwells in every living being and is the Embodiment of Truth, Awareness and Bliss!”

Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and Sri Maha Purushji have accepted the supremacy of Bhagavan Baba. Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Amritananda, who is the disciple of Ramana Maharishi, Sri Godavari Matha of Sakori, Sri Devi Tai have all expressed reverential feelings about Bhagavan Baba’s greatness and Divinity. 

The great Yogiraj Parama Pujya Niya Gagangiri Maharaj has spoken about Yogishwar Sri Sathya Sai Baba as follows: “In our country, from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari there are many secret places where many Sadhus and yogis have been engrossed in sitting in penance over thousands of years. Even if you collect all their yoga, Samarthya – the spiritual yogic power, it will pale in front of Sri Sathya Sai’s effulgence!”

Devara Baba whose physical age is over 400 years, resides at Tirtharaj Prayaga in a sacred spot where all the 3 sacred rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi - merge. He has expressed, “Bhagavan Baba is Lord Shiva Himself! He is Para Brahma Swaroopa!”

The well-known author of the world famous book Yogi Kathamritha, Swami Paramahamsa Yogananda has said, “God has incarnated on earth in South India and is well- known by the name Sai Baba!” 

In the same Yogi Kathamritha, there is a reference to Mahavatar Baba or Babaji whose age is over a thousand years. He says, “I am familiar with all the 3 Shiva incarnations. I had darshan of Shirdi Sai! I take darshan of the present incarnation, Sri Sathya Sai! I also know about the future Prema Sai Avatar!” .........

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