Being at HIS lotus feet from the age of 5, as any other devotee, I grew up attending Bal Vikas, Weekly Bhajans, Narayan Seva, Medical Camps, Veterinary camps and the special event of those days, Bal Vikas Rally.

During summer whenever Swami travels to Ooty or Kodai, we would welcome HIM in our hometown (Salem in TN), by doing Bhajans on the roadside, where a temporary tent will be put and organised by our District Samithi. He would get down from his car on the way and bless all the devotees gathered there.

During my 12th Std summer too, Swami came to Ooty and I was there in Ooty with a letter, asking Him for admission into SSSIHL for my B.Sc. As He picked up my letter, I was mentally prepared that I was going to join the institute. However, as a student, I had a fear that I should do well in my entrance to get through.  Finally, I got into the institute but during my UG degree, Swami never talked to me a single word, which made me very sad. Neither did He give me any gift. I used to think, why is that I did not get even a pair of whites which almost every student got.

After graduation, whenever I came to Parthi, I used to sit with the general public and never used to sit in the old students block. When some of my friends asked me why are you not coming to this side, I would just smile and say that from the general public seating place, His Sannidhi is seen better than from the old students’ gallery.

However, the real reason was my ego that came between me and Swami. As He neither talked to me nor gave me any gift, I did not want to associate myself with being a student. It’s the love between a mother and her son; we may fight with the mother, but at the end of the day, we need her around everyday.

Years later, my son joined Swami’s primary school and I still continued to sit in the General Public area. The cold war was lasting still, between me and Him. Of Course, He is my mother and I have all the right to fight with my Sai.  Eventually, I joined the Vidya Vahini project as well and did as much as service as I could in the role of an IT volunteer. For a VV anniversary day, I got a chance to sit in front of His Maha Samadhi. Function got over and everyone was eager to take a group photo.  Suddenly there came a prasadam distribution and as usual, I thought it will be some sweet that I can relish. But to my astonishment, it was a new, clear white and white shirt and pant cloth, given to each one of us. I just broke down. It was 20 years back that I went with a sad face that Swami didn’t give anything to me…and the ever-loving mother knows that I’m waiting for it…and He gave me the same gift after 20 years. Swami is the Universal Mother!!! He knows and Plans everything for us, very well and well in advance.

Veeramani R graduated in 1999 from the Brindavan campus. He currently resides in Bengaluru and serves in IT. He is an IT volunteer in Vidhya Vahini and has also participates in medical camps in Prasanthi Nilayam