Eternal Companion - October 2025
Among the various festivals that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba celebrated, Dasara holds a very special place. It is possibly the earliest and most elaborate festival conducted in the divine presence. To get a glimpse of the magnificence of the festival and the munificence of Swami, especially at that time, let us travel back to the middle of October 1947, to relive the Dasara festival based on the descriptions given by several devotees who were present in those halcyon days of the Pata Mandiram (old mandir) during 1945-50.
The Pata Mandiram refers to the very first Mandir (temple) built for Swami in Puttaparthi before the Prasanthi Nilayam ashram was constructed. It was inaugurated on Vaikuntha Ekadashi, December 14, 1945.
Dasara in Puttaparthi
Vijayadashami marks the culmination of Navaratri (the nine holy nights) and holds unique spiritual and cultural significance. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, symbolized by Goddess Durga’s triumph over the demon Mahishasura and Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana. Spiritually, it signifies the destruction of inner enemies like ego, anger, and greed, and the restoration of righteousness (dharma).
For the Dasara celebration in 1947, people came to Puttaparthi from several cities, including Bangalore, Bellary, Madras, Madurai, Karur, Kuppam, and Trichy. All of South India seemed to converge on this tiny hamlet. The Pata Mandiram was woefully inadequate to accommodate such a large gathering. Also, there weren’t enough homes or rooms in the village to accommodate all people, so military tents were procured from Bangalore and set up across the Pata Mandiram.
Leela of the Cobra and a Message
A humorous yet profound incident happened during the Dasara regarding accommodation in the tents. Swami had ‘reserved’ one of these tents for the ailing mother of a beloved devotee, Sri Balapattabhi. But while Balapattabhi went to get the luggage, a jeweller from Madras occupied the tent, laid out his bedding, set up his luggage, and walked away as if it were his own tent.
So, Balapattabhi and his mother stood outside, stranded, watching the grand Dasara procession pass by. While Swami saw them and did not say anything, His leela was unfolding.
When the jeweller returned, he screamed and started running, because there was a gigantic black cobra curled up on his bedding! He cried out for help, and people rushed in to help. Just then, someone came running saying that Swami was calling the jeweller!
He ran to Swami, who calmly said, “There is no cobra now. I came there Myself. How can you occupy a tent that is meant for someone who is sick? Don’t you have the slightest sensitivity and courtesy? Always look out for chances to help. Help ever, hurt never. Even if you can’t help, at least don’t hurt anyone and cause inconvenience.” Embarrassed, the jeweller promptly vacated the tent so that the elderly lady could stay comfortably.
Nine Days of Divine Glory
Dasara in Puttaparthi was celebrated over nine days of Navaratri, followed by the grand finale of Vijayadashami. Every day would unfold like a family festival, and everyone took the initiative to make the occasion a grand one. There would be no division among people based on caste or status. They all celebrated in the spirit of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. Arrangements were made to get a brass band and flowers from Bangalore.
Each morning, there would be Omkaram followed by Kumkum Archana—the chanting of 108 names of the Divine Mother (Ashtothara Pooja), with women offering kumkum (holy vermilion). This would begin at 8 a.m. every day, after which Swami would bless everyone with the coveted padanamaskar. Afterward, they would sing bhajans for an hour or two, depending on other programs scheduled for the day.
Each evening, there was a grand procession. Swami would be adorned as a different Devi (goddess) every night: Shailaputri, Mahagauri, Kalaratri, and so on. He would be adorned with elaborate jewellery, and at times, even covered with radiant sarees. Then, He would be taken around the village in a procession on various celestial vahanas (divine vehicles) lovingly prepared and decorated by the devotees, corresponding to the deity being honored.
Honoring Earthly Ties
The processions would normally begin around 4 p.m., and Swami would always stop by the home of Mother Easwaramma, the Chosen Mother of the Avatar. He would also stop at the homes of His sisters, Smt. Venkamma and Smt. Parvathamma, and at the house of Karnam Subbamma’s family. Smt. Karnam Subbamma was a devotee blessed to play the unique role of mother to Swami, akin to Yashoda, who lovingly raised Lord Krishna.
But then, some villagers would shut their house doors as the procession passed by. Poor souls, they didn’t want the procession to stop by their homes. Such was their antagonistic and critical attitude toward Swami! Did Swami lose anything from such an action? No! As the celebrated devotee and composer, Sri Annamacharya sings, “Enta maatramuna evvaru talachina, antamaatrame neevu” (In whatsoever way one thinks or visualises You (God), You respond likewise). And as Swami says, when it rains, it rains everywhere. If your vessel is upside down, nothing will be collected. Likewise, unless we open our hearts, the grace of the Lord, though pouring equally on all, will not enter.
Each Day, a Different Leela
On the first day of Dasara, Swami wore a dark yellow robe with a blue veil and was taken in a swan-shaped vehicle that had been prepared by florist devotees from Bangalore. As the procession went around with the women in the center, the men armed themselves with sticks and flanked it, guarding the procession.
On the second day, Swami personally oversaw Narayana seva (serving food to the needy). Sometimes, people call this “poor feeding,” but Swami would correct them, saying, “You are not feeding the poor, you are feeding the Lord Himself.” Freshly cooked food was heaped on large serving mats spread on the floor. They were served to all from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.! Miraculously, the food never ran short and kept getting replenished. For the evening procession, Swami was in a radiant red robe, covered with a rose-coloured veil. His forehead was adorned with vibhuti stripes and a vermilion dot, while a diamond necklace adorned His neck.
On the third day, Swami wore a brilliant green robe with a red dhoti. All the women performed Laksha Archana—collectively chanting one hundred thousand names of Devi and offering kumkum, That day, everyone witnessed a grand miracle as they saw their dear Swami verily as Goddess Parvathi, adorned with ornaments and flowers on one side, and as Lord Shiva, with the crescent moon and Goddess Ganga emerging from His hair, on the other side! All the devotees witnessed Swami as Ardhanarishwara: half Shiva, half Shakti.
On the fourth day of celebration, Swami was dressed in violet and taken around on a vahana (divine vehicle) resembling a dancing peacock Each day saw an increasing number of devotees, and therefore, the processions took longer. In fact, these processions continued late into the night, until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., and devotees only realized how much they had walked once it was over. They’d wonder, “How did we walk so much in a village so small?” Perhaps devotees from other worlds were joining in, and the roads stretched accordingly!
On the fifth day of Dasara, Swami was dressed in a mesmerizing rose attire, and His vehicle was designed as Lord Vishnu’s chakra (discus). Wearing a colourful garland with a decorated, enchanting flute in hand, Baba appeared like Muralidhara, Lord Krishna Himself! For day six of the event, Swami was all in pure white, riding on a Garuda (eagle) vehicle as Goddess Mahagauri. On day seven, He was dressed as Goddess Kalaratri in sky blue with swans by His side and the Omkaram forming the backdrop of the palanquin. As part of the eighth day celebrations, the palanquin was shaped like a hooded serpent with Baba wearing a lime coloured robe and lotus coloured veil. And on day nine, Swami appeared in a dark brown robe, seated on an eight-petaled lotus vehicle.
The Grand Vijayadashami Day
Then came Vijayadashami—the day Lord Rama vanquished Ravana, and the day the Pandavas reclaimed their weapons. The day is all about standing for dharma and standing up against adharma or wrong.
It is the sacred day when Swami performed the memorable abhishekam to a silver idol of Shirdi Baba, gifted by Sri Ranjot Singh, the Inspector General of Police in Bangalore. There was also a Krishna idol painted by Swami Himself, which would be beautifully decorated with flowers. At the Venugopalaswami temple, Swami materialized vibhuti by just rubbing His palms together—not the usual soft powder, but coarse Udi (ash) from the dhuni (sacred fire pot) of Shirdi Baba. He said those who partake of it would be free from ailments and have strong bones and muscles.
Symbolism and Grace in Action
Later, Swami was taken in a beautifully decorated bullock cart to a juvvi tree (Ficus virens) that symbolized the demon king Ravana. From there, Lord Sai Rama stood on a bullock cart and shot three arrows at the tree. What a sight it must have been! He then materialized coins from the tree and threw them into the crowd, tokens of His grace. He also materialized glass bangles and kumkum for the women.
On other days, there was jhoola utsavam (joyful ceremony with a swing) during which Swami would be seated on a swing, and devotees had a chance to rock Him. Flowers would be showered on Him, and Swami would pick them and throw them back, turning them into sweets and candies. What a beautiful metaphor! We offer our devotion, and He returns it a thousandfold as grace and sweetness.
Two Incredible Memorable Episodes of 1947 Dasara
1. The Silver Throne
Once, Sri Ranjot Singh brought a silver throne and prayed to Swami to accept it and sit on it. But Swami wouldn’t even let the box be opened, let alone sit on it. It lay outside, unopened, for weeks. Just before His Birthday, Swami called Sri Subbaraju (His brother-in-law) and asked him to open the box and clean the throne.
Tears flowed from Subbaraju’s eyes. Years ago, when Swami was a 10-year-old boy in Kamalapuram, Subbaraju had scolded Him for sitting on a rocking chair, saying, “You think you’re a prince?” Swami had said, “No. The chair that is meant for Me is a silver throne. You will open it one day and clean it. That’s how you will know who I am.” Now, that sacred moment had come!
2. The Mercury and the Trance
A two-year-old boy, grandson of Sri Seshagiri Rao, the first priest of Pata Mandiram, was suffering from a high fever. Swami gave his mother, Smt. Sundaramma, a thermometer. The boy, in feverish delirium, accidentally bit it and swallowed it, including the mercury in it! Although upset, the mother who had strong faith in Swami still went for bhajans. Swami didn’t come for the bhajans. Instead, He lay down at the Tulsi Mandapam and entered a trance! Since He did not return, everyone was confused. It was only the next morning that Swami emerged from the trance.
By then, the little boy was healed! Swami later revealed, “I did three things: first, I removed the mercury from the boy’s stomach. Then, I went to a devotee in Bangalore who was crying by my photo, and I comforted him. And later, I visited another devotee, also in Bangalore, suffering from stomach pain, and arranged food for him as his friend.” Later, He told Mrs. Subhadra Krishnamurthy Raval, “That man suffering from stomach pain was your husband. He’s fine now.”
What a compassionate Lord! Wherever His devotees call out, He rushes to help. Sit by His photo, speak to Him, and Swami will respond. This is not just a poetic metaphor – it is a literal, living truth!
Dasara with God
The 1947 Dasara celebration at Pata Mandiram was no ordinary festival. It was the supreme divine power enacting divine leelas, healing, guiding, and uplifting, and showing us that He is both Mother and Father, both Shirdi Baba and Sathya Sai.
More importantly, He reminded us that true devotion means following His message implicitly. As He says, “My life is My message”, which in turn automatically implies that Swami’s message is Swami’s very life!
As we celebrate Dasara each year, let us experience Swami in our lives by following His message. Let us also honor the divine mother within by becoming pure and compassionate and surrendering to the divine. Let us remember that when God comes down, we must be ready—not just with garlands and sweets, but with open hearts, humility, and an eagerness to serve. May Swami bless us all to walk on that path.
Jai Sai Ram.
Mr. Aravind Balasubramanya
India
Mr. Aravind Balasubramanya comes from a family that has been devoted to Swami from early 1960s. He completed his Bachelor of Science from the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, receiving a gold medal. He also holds an M.S. (Chemistry) and an MBA from the SSSIHL. He worked for Radio Sai from 2007 to 2021. Aravind has authored five books on Swami. He was Swami’s photographer for nearly five years. Aravind has dedicated his life to serving Swami and sharing His teachings through various media channels. He is presently part of the SSSIO Digital Media team and mentors the Young Adults.