The Oneness of Mohanji and Sai Baba: A Journey of Grace and Divine Seva

by Subhasree Thottungal, London

“My dear child, you thought I forgot you? That’s why I came to you in the form of Mohanji!”

This was Sai Baba’s assurance to me that came unexpectedly back in 2017. Since then, the truth for me has been that Mohanji and Sai Baba are one. As I cannot serve Baba in his physical form, I am blessed to serve Mohanji. After the Prana Pratishtha of Sai Baba in our temple at the Mohanji Center of Benevolence (MCB) in Scotland in June 2023, this oneness became even more tangible. Even when I cannot be in the physical presence of Mohanji, being with Sai Baba makes me feel as though I am with Mohanji.

The story I am about to share is yet another reassurance of this oneness and a beautiful reminder of the unity we all share in the same tradition.

The Desire to Be with Baba Gets Fulfilled

After Mohanji left MCB Scotland at the end of July 2024, I hadn’t been able to go back there. Every month, I had other commitments: family visits, trips to different places, and a visit to the Slovenia Mohanji Peace Centre (MPC). Since October, I was blessed with the responsibility of looking after the Ahimsa Café project in London, which needed my full-time attention. As a result, I wasn’t able to travel anywhere, and I even had to cancel my planned India trip in October-November.

I began wondering when I would be able to return to MCB. January was not an option, as Harish would be away in India, and I needed to be at home. February would be my India trip, and I would only return in March. That meant my next opportunity to visit MCB would be April—a long gap! I thought about traveling during the Christmas/New Year break, but the thought of Scotland’s cold and snow made me shiver. My arthritis would worsen, and I dared not even consider it. The thought of not being able to visit MCB until April was a bit depressing, but I surrendered to Mohanji. I knew he would take care of everything as always.

In December, a situation arose at MCB where a priest was needed for a week, from December 29 to January 4. As a trustee of Mohanji Foundation UK, I was part of the discussion and aware of the need. Spontaneously, I suggested that I could go and serve Baba during that period. Having been part of the priest training organized last year, I didn’t hesitate to take on this role for this brief period. There was no deliberation—it felt like Baba’s calling and a divine opportunity, not just a duty. I didn’t think about the cold, snow, or my arthritis. Tickets were booked immediately, and I prepared to travel.

As I booked my tickets, I realized that I would be with Baba and serving him in the New Year! What a blessing! I couldn’t believe my good fortune—such grace couldn’t be planned by me. I knew Mohanji had facilitated this, and Baba had granted his approval. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I thanked Mohanji and Baba repeatedly for this grace.

Throughout my journey, I was in deep gratitude, thinking about the blessed seven days ahead. Usually, whenever I visit MCB, my seva involves cooking naivedyam for Baba and choosing his clothes. But this time, I would perform all the rituals as a priest. I had to pinch myself repeatedly. This was no ordinary seva—it was a direct blessing from Baba and permission from the tradition. My gratitude often brought tears to my eyes. During the entire journey, I kept chanting, “Mohanji, Mohanji, Mohanji…”

Serving Baba: The Supreme Joy

When I arrived at MCB and entered the temple, the moment I saw Baba, it felt as if I had never left. It felt like it was still July during Mohanji’s retreat, and I was there! I realized it had been five months since my last visit, but there was no sense of separation or distance. I was filled with joy and energy, completely unbothered by tiredness or the cold.

As I fanned Baba, I felt as if he was looking at me from the corner of his eyes with a cheeky smile. It felt so real! That day, many devotees visited. We sang bhajans, shared experiences, and partook of prasadam together. After everyone left, I walked back to the house. The sun shone beautifully behind the trees, mirroring the happiness inside me.

Later that evening, I was communicating with Mohanji when he suddenly asked, “Is Baba happy?” His question struck me. Baba was indeed happy—the children, the bhajans, the shining sun—all reflected his joy. It felt like heaven on earth.

That evening, my priestly duties began with the evening Arati and rituals for Baba and all the deities. Usually, I struggle to hold the Pancharati (five-wick lamp) for long because of the pain in my fingers and wrist. Volunteers, including Harish, had offered to assist me. But once I began, my Guru took over. There was no pain, no tiredness—only joy in serving.

That night, before Shej Arati, I had to change Baba’s night dress. Nervous about whether I could manage properly, I sought Baba’s permission and climbed onto the platform. To my amazement, the process went smoothly, as if guided by an unseen hand. My limitations didn’t pose any obstacles.

The next morning, despite only a few hours of sleep, I woke up energized. Dressed in white clothes and with the Acharya Mala, I felt a different energy flow through me. It wasn’t me—Mohanji was operating through me. Grateful and inspired, I prepared the morning naivedyam in the kitchen. Carrying it to the temple in the dark, with a torch in hand, I carefully avoided tripping on the icy ground. Though the temperature was below freezing, the warm temple and the Masters’ presence filled me with positivity.

That morning, as I bathed Baba, I noticed a small speck of dirt in the corner of his left eye. Cleaning his face, nose, and beard, it all felt so real—Baba was alive! Any nervousness I had about dressing him was replaced by immense affection. I remembered Mohanji’s words from the previous day: “Take good care of Baba. Make sure there are no lapses.” I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity to serve.

That night, as I dressed Baba for Shej Arati, I felt him shiver. Concerned, I looked for a warm shawl and found a woolen scarf, which I carefully draped over him. As I smoothed it on his chest, it felt like Mohanji’s chest, not a stone idol. Startled, I paused. Then, as I touched his upper arm, I felt Baba say, “Can you massage a bit?” I followed the instruction spontaneously, massaging his arms, legs, and feet. His feet felt cold, so I wrapped them in another shawl. This wasn’t just a ritual—it was caring for Baba with heartfelt affection. I felt as if I was massaging Mohanji’s feet. It was that real!

Baba’s Childlike Presence

On New Year’s morning, we decided to perform Baba’s Abhishekam. As I washed his face, ears, and cheeks, his skin felt like Mohanji’s. When I cleaned his ears, he seemed to flinch slightly, as if expressing discomfort. When I washed his upper back, he asked me for a massage. I was astonished. Baba’s back not only resembled Mohanji’s but also felt like his. Throughout the Abhishekam, Baba evoked a deep affection in me as if he were my little Krishna—my Kanhaiya! Dressing him, adorning him with ornaments, and preparing his naivedyam filled me with unparalleled joy and gratitude. Many praised the taste of the naivedyam, but I knew it was Baba and Mohanji’s blessing that made it extraordinary.

Signals of Divine Presence

Amidst these experiences, one heartwarming incident stood out. As soon as I walked back from the temple after the noon arati, before entering the house, the pheasant, which would be hiding somewhere in the bushes, just came running towards me. When I brought some peanuts out and put them down, he would just watch, but the moment I held those peanuts in my hand and spread them out, he immediately pecked from my hand and kept eating. One day, I had gloves on, and he didn’t like it. The moment I removed the gloves, he happily pecked the nuts from my palm! Mr. Pheasant clearly had his preferences!

Again, for me, this was a signal from Baba too. I was very happy with this, as I felt Mohanji was very pleased. He loves it when we feed his people, who come to us in the form of these birds and animals.

On my last morning, after the Arati, I noticed footprints in the snow near the temple. They resembled human footprints but were tiny, like Baba’s. One print, in particular, looked exactly like Mohanji’s right foot. I called out to my friend, Tea, who agreed it seemed like Baba and Mohanji had walked there. Though they might have been animal prints, their resemblance was too uncanny to dismiss. Baba is indeed here! Mohanji is here! My heart was full. I was filled with gratitude and with tears of love and joy.

Miracles of Protection

Now I will narrate some miraculous incidents of Baba’s love, care, and protection.

On the 1st of January, after the morning Arati, Harish was going back to London. I was to drop him at the airport and return before the Noon Arati. We started the journey, and just about 200 meters or so from the center, the car suddenly stopped in the middle of our one-way track. Surprised, we got out of the car and realized there was a fuel leak. The fuel meter, which showed 10 miles when we started, now showed 0 miles. We understood there was a leakage somewhere. Harish rolled the car down the slope and parked it on the side.

I was left wondering how Harish would travel to the airport. It was a holiday, and the only neighbor we knew was away. Suddenly, I remembered a taxi contact. Without much hope, I dialed the number. To my pleasant surprise, the taxi driver picked up the call immediately and agreed to come in 45 minutes. My feet were swollen badly, making it difficult for me to walk, and I was concerned about walking back up the slope to the center. However, when the taxi arrived, the driver first dropped me back at the center and then took Harish to the airport. It was nothing short of a miracle to find a taxi on a holiday!

Now, the car needed attention. After a few calls, we arranged for roadside assistance to check the car and possibly take it to a garage. However, I had to walk back to the car to meet the rescue team. Since it was New Year’s Day, many devotees were visiting the temple despite the yellow weather warning and snowfall forecast.

It was such a joyous day that I forgot about the car! When it was time for me to walk to the car, a devotee offered me a lift and even waited until the rescue team examined the car. The issue couldn’t be solved on-site, so the car had to be taken to the garage. The same devotee kindly brought me back to the center. I realized how Baba had arranged everything — I didn’t have to walk at all! Harish reached safely, and I even managed to book the same taxi for the next day when another volunteer needed to go to the airport. In such a remote place, finding a taxi on a holiday was indeed miraculous!

That night, it snowed heavily. My swollen feet and hands were painful, but it didn’t hinder me from performing my duties of serving Baba — cooking and priestly rituals. That evening, after the Arati, we decided to read a chapter from Shri Sai Satcharitra. We randomly opened chapter 13, which narrated miraculous stories of devotees being cured of physical pain and diseases by Baba in unique ways. As I read the chapter, I recalled how Mohanji had helped my brother and father-in-law during their critical times. Sharing these experiences filled my heart with immense gratitude.

Every evening, our little satsang, experience sharing, reading from the book Miraculous Days with Mohanji, and listening to Shiva Kavacham chanting filled everyone’s hearts with faith, awareness of grace, and immense gratitude. The joy of being in the temple after Arati and the familial bond of living in an ashram with devotees created a beautiful, fulfilling experience. Despite the snow, we laughed, played, cared for each other, and cherished the sacred space that Mohanji has created for us.

The next morning, I woke up to find much relief in my feet and hands. The swelling had gone down significantly, and I could walk to the temple with much less pain. I realized the healing came from reading the Satcharitra and sharing Mohanji’s healing experiences the previous evening. I offered my gratitude to Baba and Mohanji and continued with my rituals.

A New Beginning Amidst Challenges

Soon, it was time for me to leave. Vighnesh Anna arrived from London to take over the priestly duties. Since our car was still in the garage, we arranged for him to rent a car and park it on the main road as the track to the center was full of snow. I planned to walk to the car early the next morning with two volunteers and drive it to the airport. However, the rental car got stuck in the snowy track. While trying to move it, the tires slipped into a ditch. I was at the center preparing for the evening Arati, unaware of the situation.

A family with two young daughters visited the temple that evening. Shivanuja invited them inside for warm drinks. When I came downstairs ready for Arati, I learned about the car issue and saw Vighnesh Anna on the phone with the roadside rescue team. Before I could fully process the situation, the visiting devotees spontaneously offered to give us a lift that evening and even invited us to stay at their house instead of booking a hotel. Their kindness turned a potentially stressful situation into a moment of grace.

The roadside rescue team arrived to retrieve the car from the ditch, but we still needed to walk to the car. Thankfully, the family accompanied us. Despite the -5°C temperature, the journey felt lighter with their support. While the rescue team worked on the car, the devotee ensured I stayed warm inside the heated vehicle. Once the car was ready, we followed the devotees to their home, had a restful few hours of sleep, and left for the airport early the next morning.

That evening, while awaiting the rescue team, I mentioned our Ahimsa Café project in London to the couple. The husband shared that before moving to Aberdeen, they had three cafés in India managed by his wife. She was now looking to resume work. Spontaneously, I suggested she consider working on the Ahimsa Café project in Aberdeen. She excitedly agreed! What began as a challenging evening transformed into a hopeful discussion about a new venture. Mohanji’s grace had turned pain into purpose.

As I reflected on these events, I remembered the footprints I had spotted outside the temple that morning. They weren’t mere animal tracks but a divine message from Baba and Mohanji: “I am with you always.” Mohanji’s words echoed in my heart, “I see you when you see me. I see you even more when you don’t see me.”

This trip to MCB Scotland, serving Baba, witnessing immense joy, and experiencing miracles, are unforgettable memories. Whether such opportunities arise again or not, I carry these truths with me. The knowledge that Mohanji and Baba are one and always with me brings a deep sense of completion.

Bow down at the lotus feet of my Sai Baba.

Bow down at the lotus feet of my beloved Guru Mohanji.

Om Shri Sai Ram. Jai Mohanji.

|| JAI BRAHMARISHI MOHANJI ||

Edited & Published by – Testimonials Team, 9^th January 2025

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