A Toddler's Tale of Love and Devotion: Yajur's Encounter with Sai

Let me paint you a heartwarming picture of an extraordinary experience that happened a few months ago in Puttaparthi. Yajur, who was just 16 months old on that special day, shares an extraordinary connection with Swami, right from his birth. Yajur's first sight every morning and his last glimpse before going to bed is Swami's altar at home. Throughout the day, he runs around with the vibhuti box, eagerly waiting for Priya or me to apply it to his forehead and mouth.

Meet Yajur, the Little Devotee Who Captured Swami's Heart

We drove to Puttaparthi on 14-April-23 morning, excited to celebrate the Tamil New Year. We had prepared Yajur for the trip, telling him that he was going to meet the Sai Baba he adores in the photo at home. But, as we approached Parthi, Priya and I laughed wondering how Yajur would recognize Swami since the hall had the least number of Swami's photographs!

However, to our amazement, as we neared the Kulwant Hall, Yajur seemed to know exactly where to go. From the Gopuram entrance, he spotted Swami's Mahasamadhi and His throne and ran towards the gate, eager to take a peek. When we brought him into the Kulwant Hall for Samadhi darshan, he was so ecstatic that he refused to leave and tried his best to run back towards the Samadhi.

Yajur takes his first steps at Prashanti Nilayam

But that's just the context. The real icing on the cake happened later on the 15th evening. As Priya and I were getting back into the Ashram after dinner, we decided to take a final darshan of Yajur Mandir, Swami's residence, before heading back to our room. As we approached the Mandir, Yajur became ecstatic, pointing towards the building and shouting with glee. It was the same way he reacts when he generally sees Swami's photograph. While we were a bit scared since silence is emphasized near the Mandir, we were also curious about what Yajur saw.

Yajur Mandir - The Divine Abode of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

We wanted to quickly take him back, but Yajur was adamant about staying. He started crying and continuously pointing to Yajur Mandir. My heart ached, and tears welled up in my eyes. I took him from Priya and went towards the gate, convincing myself that it was okay to take a scolding from the Sevadals if it meant Yajur wouldn't miss out on this experience.

As I approached the gate with Yajur in my arms, I steeled myself for a possible scolding from the volunteers. Yajur was holding onto the gate of Yajur Mandir tightly and shouting with excitement. Each time I asked if he saw "Sairam", he made an affirmative sound. He even started doing namaskar on his own towards Yajur Mandir. He seemed to be having a moment of pure joy and connection with Swami.

To my utter amazement, the volunteers inside the Mandir came towards the gate and said, "He seems to be having Swami's blessings. Let him stay here. Don't bother." Tears welled up in my eyes as I heard these words. It was as if Swami Himself was guiding us and blessing us with this beautiful experience. Yajur stayed there for close to ten minutes, and I could see how much he was enjoying himself.

After some time, I brought Yajur back to Priya, who was waiting for us, shedding tears of joy. Yajur was so happy, and he smiled at her, as if telling her a story. When Priya asked him if he saw Swami, he affirmed it by making a sound. Even when Yajur Mandir was no longer visible, his eyes were still glued there. It looked as though he had seen Swami Himself.

This incident was so fulfilling and heart-touching. Priya and I used to feel sad and wish that Swami had not left His physical body so that He could give Yajur His darshan. But now we saw firsthand that Swami's mortal body means nothing to give someone a darshan. All that was required was love, purity, and devotion. If only we had more of these qualities within ourselves, we could have seen Swami along with Yajur in Yajur Mandir.

In this heartwarming moment, watch as Yajur raises his tiny hands in the Abhaya hasta, just like Swami himself, when asked about what 'Sairam' did when He saw him.

Darshan's Magic: Beyond the Physical, Fueled by Love and Purity!