Once Sri Sai Narayana visited a house in Bangalore. Many people had assembled there to have Baba’s Darshan. Some of them had brought flowers and fruits to offer to Swami some of them were talking of Swami’s miracles and His compassion.

A poor cobbler, overheard their talks. A beautiful thought came to his mind. He lovingly plucked a rose from the garden, and squeezed his way through the crowd, and slowly walked towards where Swami was seated. He peeped inside and at the same time, Swami also peeped out. Their eyes met and at that very instant for the cobbler, an irresistible love overflowed through him for Swami.

Swami lovingly called out to him to come close. The cobbler went near Sai Narayana and offered Him the rose Swami graciously took the rose from him and asked him, "My dear, what do you want?" Swami asked in Tamil, which was the cobbler’s mother tongue. The cobbler was not prepared for the question. So he replied, "Swami please visit my hut." Swami replied, "Definitely I will visit."

Tears of joy flowed from the cobbler’s eyes. With reverence , he fell at the Lotus Feet of Sai Narayan. In his excitement, he forgot to ask Swami when He would Grace his hut. After Swami left the residence, all these questions came into his mind. Days passed but there was no sign of the Lord’s visit, to the cobbler’s hut.

One day, as the cobbler was stitching some torn and broken chappals, at a road side, a car stopped in front of him. Thinking it was a police car; the cobbler hurriedly collected his things and wanted to run. He thought that the policemen had come to chase him away. Swami got out of the car and told the cobbler not to be afraid but instead, made him sit in the car. Swami went with the cobbler to his hut.

The cobbler was too stunned to speak. The car sped on with Lord Sai Narayan and the cobbler to the cobbler's hut. The cobbler got out of the car and went inside. He asked his wife to spread a mattress and rushed out to welcome Swami. Sai Narayan sat on the mattress. There was nothing in his house, which he could offer to the Lord.

He was in a great fix. He was squeezing his hands in agony. Swami looking at his plight told him not to worry and that He had come to give him and not to take from him any thing except love.

With a wave of His hand, Swami created sweets and fruits etc. and gave to all the people, who were present. He created the holy vibhuthi and applied to the cobbler’s forehead. Before leaving Swami said, "I shall take leave of you now. Do not worry, I am always with you." Before the cobbler could say anything, Swami got into the car and left. Swami transformed the hut of the cobbler into a temple.

Once when Swami had gone to Trichinapally. Some people started spreading false allegations against Swami. That evening, when Swami was addressing the gathering, He called a beggar boy, who was dumb and known to all. He asked Him to come on the stage and in front of the crowd asked him, his name. The boy, who was born dumb, said loudly, "Venkatanarayana". The people, who had spread false rumors about Swami, bowed their head in shame. Swami’s mahimas are innumerable.

Once in Thiruvanamalle, Sai Narayana created some medicine for Swami Amrithananda and cured him of his chronic ailment. At another time, Dr.Bhagawantham’s son was operated by Swami Himself. He created the instrument also. The instrument is still with Dr.Bhagawantham.

Dr. Shanker is an ardent devotee of Baba. Many times, Swami has entered Dr.Shanker’s physical frame and performed very complicated operations successfully.

Sri Karunyananda Swami had an Ashram in Andhra. Some photos of Swami he had put up in the hospital. One helpless lady, who was pregnant, came to the Ashram for help. The Swamiji put her up in the Ashram’s hospital.

One night, leaving the pregnant lady alone in the hospital, the midwives went to watch a late night movie. The same night, the poor lady started getting severe labour pains. Seeing her suffering and helplessness, Swami came down from the photo, hung on the wall. Swami treated her and helped her deliver the baby safely. Mother Sai even cleaned the new born baby and put the baby beside the mother, to feed it.

When the midwives returned, they were surprised to see that someone else had done all their work. When they questioned the lady, she pointed out at Swami’s photo and told them that the Sadhu Matha had come and helped her. She did not know that the Sadhu Matha was Lord Narayana Himself.

Sri Sathya Narayana is born once again and is protecting all of us. He will always protect whosoever trusts Him. It is our very good fortune earned through many, many births that all of us are having the Lord’s Darshan, Sparshan and Sambhashan.

Sathya Narayan’s very nature is love. He protects those, who follow the path of Bhakthi and Dharma. He is called by some as Easwara, some as Maha Vishnu, some as Father and some call Him Allah.

Likewise, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba takes on various forms of God, as all the forms are His names are His. He bestows on all His devotees, His Grace and grants their wishes. He says that human values are our very life. Without Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema, education is empty. Without Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema, charity and donations have no value. Without Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema, sacred activities, so-called are pointless. The Eternal values Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema, are the four pillars of Sanathana Dharma. The Sanathana Bhagawan reminds us always to think of God and not to put it off! God’s name alone can secure redemption.

Whosoever performs this Pooja (Vratha) with true love and devotion, the Lord Sri Sathya Sai, Sathya Narayana will bestow on them, a happy and peaceful life and will take away their sorrows and worries.

The fifth chapter of Sri Sathya Sai, Sathya Narayana Katha ends with all auspiciousness. Bow to Sri Sai. Peace be to all.

BELOVED BHAGAWAN GRACIOUSLY BLESSED THIS KATHA IN PARTHI, ON THURSDAY, 7^TH FEBRUARY 2002.