It was Dasara at Puttaparthi, long ago, the fourth day, at about 9 P.M. Bhagawan sent word to a band of young men that they must assemble in the hall for some urgent work, and within a few minutes, there were double the number, eagerly awaiting His orders. Everyone wondered what that could be! Well, Baba came and explained that the buntings and flags with which the Nilayam and the garden were decorated since the first day of Dasara had faded slightly and become dull in colour and so they had to be replaced by fresh ones, to be prepared and fixed during the night! The work engaged everyone till the smaller hours of the night and Baba was with the party all the time, attending to every details. Some one dared asking Him the reason for the extra attention upon the 5th day of Dasara and the reply he got was this: “Don’t you know that tomorrow your Bandhus come for the feast?” and this everyone knew! For, the next day was the day the poor, the Daridranarayanas were coming to the Nilayam to receive Prasadam and Vastram (clothes) from His Hands! But, who could imagine that His Love was so great, so deep, so all embracing as to celebrate the arrival of the poor by this ‘de novo’ decoration? When some one told Him that the feeding of thousands of people and the distribution of hundreds of saris and dhotis should be published in the news papers, He turned towards him and asked “What! Do you publish in papers the news that your friends and relatives came to your house?”! We have, everyone of us, to learn the lesson of those flags.

Verily, it has been truly sung, “Karuna (compassion) indeed is He; He is indeed Karuna”. In the Viveka Chudamani, the Guru is described as Ahethukadayasindhu; His Grace is showered on all without interruption and without cause! Such is our Master, our Beloved Bhagawan. Truly His Love is all conquering and His Grace is overwhelming that bind us in silken bond of affection.