Unto Sai a witness
Monday, August 27th, 2012
Prof N. Kasturi was undoubtedly the most familiar name in Sai fraternity who lived an astounding forty years in close proximity to the Avatar of the Age, serving Him in His mission in various capacities. The Professor whose genius had many pens in his pocket was His ‘charge d’affaires’ and when the right time for Prasanthi’s premier publishing enterprise arrived it was Prof Kasturi who was ordained to take mission ahead, the mission of Sanathana Sarathi. Remembering the legend, on this occasion of quarter century of His ascent, who was the first Editor of Sanathana Sarathi and the first Convener of Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, we reproduce what his successor Sri VK Narasimhan had written for Sanathana Sarathi announcing the ascent of the doyen, merging at His Lotus Feet!
“Death is the denouement of the drama of life,” wrote Prof Kasturi in 1981. That denouement came to him on August 14 at noon, a few minutes after Bhagawan Baba saw him in the Sathya Sai Hospital at Prasanthi Nilayam. He was 90.
Bhagawan, Who was overseeing a students’ rehearsal in the College Auditorium, abruptly stopped it at 11‑30 a.m. and went straight to the Hospital. Reaching the bedside of Prof Kasturi, Swami called him: “Kasturi!” Prof Kasturi opened his eyes for a moment and looked at the Lord. Bhagawan materialised Vibhuti and placed it in Kasturi’s mouth. Kasturi closed his eyes and a serene peace enveloped him. Swami told those at the bedside to do Namasmarana. An hour later his spirit merged in the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Streams of devotees paid their last respects to him at the hospital.
The next morning his mortal remains were cremated on the bed of the Chitravati river.
For over forty years he rendered devoted service to Bhagawan as writer, editor, companion and tireless propagator of Swami’s life and message. Millions of devotees all over the world got acquainted with Bhagawan’s life and teachings through the four volumes of “Sathyam Sivam Sundaram” (on the life of Bhagawan) and the 11 volumes of “Sathya Sai Speaks”, besides the Vahini Series.
Prof Kasturi was a witness to the innumerable miracles of Swami and he could bear authentic testimony to the glory and magnificence of the Avatar as few others could. He had travelled with Bhagawan all over India. Vivid accounts of his intimate experiences with Swami are given in his autobiography, “Loving God”, which was released by Swami on Christmas day in 1982.
Kasturi continued to work right upto his last illness, giving of his best to “Sanathana Sarathi”, which Swami launched in 1957 with Kasturi as the Editor.
After 1982 Kasturi brought out two books, one on the Lord’s mother “Easwaramma”, and the other on the essence of Swami’s message in a book entitled “Prasanthi”.
It could be truly said of Kasturi “Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust offers its eternal gratitude to this ‘Legendary Servant of the Source Of All Avatars!”
II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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