Baba’s Recent Lilas in the South and Their Purpose

The chapter

After 1935–36, reports in the Sunday Times and in Sai books helped Baba’s name spread through South India. Near Vellore, a ten-month-old child who had suffered fits for eight months received Baba’s udhi and never suffered another fit. The entire village turned toward Sai.

Nagabhairva Venkataratnam and his wife had been married for seventeen years without a child. After vows to Baba and a visit to Shirdi, they received a daughter named Sai Prasada. They built a Sai Mandir at Ventrapragada with a dhuni and accommodation for pilgrims. The author also names the Tenali Mandir of Dr. Ramana Ammal and the star-shaped Kurnool Mandir built by Veeraswami.

At Coimbatore, Captain Devaraj survived the bombing of his ship during the war. In January 1943, while bhajan was taking place at a small Sai Mandir, a cobra came before Baba’s picture at 5 p.m. It remained there through the night. Devotees offered flowers, performed puja, gave milk and camphor, and waited for a photographer. The cobra stayed until 11 a.m. the next day, and crowds came to see it.

The author then records manifestations at Ramachandrapuram, Thotapalli Hills, Shanti Ashram and Ahmedabad. He closes with the message given through the Ahmedabad vakil: “I am always looking after my devotees.”

Editorial note: This page is a concise paraphrase for web presentation and does not reproduce the complete chapter. Please consult the original PDF for the full account and wording.