Commenting on Avatars, Swami Prabhavananda of the Ramakrishna Order tells us that Their validity is very often revealed by that unique power of transmitting spirituality and transforming men's lives by touch, look or wish.

It was the third day of the Dasara Festival 1979. I was among the thousands who thronged into the Poornachandra Auditorium to have that much sought Darshan. My Lord was walking along the aisle when I lifted up some letters to HIM. Those life filled eyes fell on me and the hand that was stretched out to receive the letters came into contact with my right forefinger. The experience began and my Master moved on. A deep stillness permeated and penetrated my whole being and for a moment I felt that I was alone in that huge auditorium. A few seconds of unawareness followed, and on my return to reality, I became aware of my inability to speak. The stillness within persisted, and I began to experience what I think has been referred to as the peace that passeth all understanding. In this state of bliss I lived within the depths of silence for five days. Bhagawan brought me to the realisation that "Only in Absolute Stillness can you know Me as I Really Am, and then, but as a feeling and as a faith."

Everyone who sits in the Darshan line, longs for a look, a word or touch from the Master and a few days after Dasara I was blessed with a very tender and meaningful experience. Sitting in the line for morning Darshan I summed up the courage to speak to Bhagawan as HE approached. Those love filled eyes met mine, and as I spoke, HIS giving hand reached out for my half stretched one. The contact was made, and from the hand of the Divine was materialized a large crystal type sweet. The Lord moved on and, as I clutched the sweet, the effect of that mother like touch began to manifest itself. I sunk again for about half-an-hour into a great silence and I was made aware of the truth that "this 'Mother Sai' has the love of a thousand mother."

Years before the first meeting with my Master, I had prayed. "O Heavenly Father! If Thou art incarnated on earth, draw me to Thee and lift me to a consciousness of oneness with Thee." Those were Bhagawan's mode of revealing to me that HE was indeed the Heavenly Father to whom I prayed to be drawn, and Who was fulfilling my prayer for a spiritually uplifted consciousness.

It is for us to understand the immense sacrifice the Godhead has made by incarnating as our Beloved Bhagawan. This form HE has assumed for lifting the consciousness of man from sensuality to spirituality, and if hearts are open and receptive, all can be touched and lifted.