A Miracle in the US
A Personal and Family Experience
Devotees who have had the good fortune of being in the presence of Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi have witnessed countless awe-inspiring miracles. Swami Himself often referred to these miracles as His “visiting cards”, spontaneous manifestations done purely out of love, as per the need of the devotee. For those who experienced them, these were not merely supernatural acts but divine interventions, lifesaving, transformative moments that provided solutions to pressing problems or interventions that safeguarded them from dire circumstances, including critical illnesses or even from death. As there is no publicity for these incidents, others came to know about the incidents only when the beneficiaries narrate them.
Many such miracles also occurred far from His physical presence. Devotees have witnessed the spontaneous appearance of Vibhuti (sacred ash), Amruth (divine nectar), honey, etc at their homes from Swami’s photo. He often materialized rings, chains, and other sacred objects with just a wave of His hand and are mostly for protection of Devotees from certain calamities. The purpose and significance of each materialization were often deeply personal, known only to Swami and the recipient. For onlookers, they were moments of joy and divine awe, but for Swami, they were acts of pure Love and Grace, delivered as needed. These incidents are never for show, and nor for any publicity as there the Ashram never entertained material, money or any other donations.
One such extraordinary event occurred in our family, far from India, in the United States. While there have been several such instances, this particular one stands out for its profound impact and the way it unfolded.
The Incident at Niagara Falls
A young couple, whose parents were visiting them in the US, decided to take a trip to Niagara Falls. During their journey, they engaged in deep spiritual discussions, particularly about Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the relevance of devotion in today’s fast-paced world. The parents, ardent devotees of Swami, were sharing stories, anecdotes of Sai Avatara Mahima, hoping to plant seeds of devotion in their youngest son and his wife.
While both the young man and his wife were spiritually inclined, they had not fully embraced Swami’s fold. The son, in particular, was skeptical. He told his father that life in the US is too fast and scientific—there’s little room for spiritual practices or belief in miracles. The father gently shared stories of Swami’s divine interventions and how faith alone can open the door to grace.
Still unconvinced, the young man said, “At this age, it’s hard to believe in miracles. If I were to see one myself, only then would I truly believe, because seeing is believing.”
Father responded with caution: “Swami doesn’t perform miracles to impress or convert. Faith is blind, and Baba is pure love. His miracles are acts of compassion, not spectacle. Pray with an open heart, and blessings will follow.”
The young man admitted that he had previously relied on Vibhuti given by a Sai devotee during his exams, even before the family was fully connected to Baba. Deep inside, he sincerely wished to experience a miracle- something tangible, something personal.
That night, the family went to sleep with thoughts of Swami and His Leelas (divine plays) in their hearts.
The Divine Intervention
In the middle of the night, the young man was jolted awake by his wife’s screams. She was in severe pain, clutching her chest and crying out due to an intense burning sensation. As she herself is a doctor, he initially chided and scolded her for overreacting, asked her not to disturb the parents. But her pain was genuine and intense, so she rushed to the bathroom, trying to pour some cold water to curb the pain. Even a Doctor can do only that in such sudden situations.
Soon, the parents woke up and were deeply disturbed by their daughter-in-law’s condition. In desperation, they all began praying fervently to Swami.
Then something remarkable happened.
The wife noticed a burned, blackened patch on her chest, right at the source of her pain. Moments later, she felt a heaviness around her neck, to her astonishment she found a ring and a locket now hanging alongside her Mangal sutra (wedding chain).
She immediately called her husband, and the entire family gathered in disbelief and awe. The ring bore an image of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and the locket depicted Shirdi Sai Baba. The burnt patch on her chest was likely caused by the heat of the materialization, a visible mark of this divine act.
The young man, who had longed to witness a proof was speechless. Within hours of his sincere inner wish, Swami had answered, not only granting him a miracle but also offering physical evidence of it.
Ongoing Grace
This was just the beginning. The young couple continued to receive blessings from Swami on many occasions. One such sign was a green apple, placed at the altar as prasad (holy offering), which remained fresh and intact for two years, until a neighborhood child took and ate it. Perhaps, even that was part of Swami’s plan—an apple preserved for a special soul by the Loving God.
Sairam.
Let us continue to cherish these divine moments and hold strong in faith, knowing that Swami watches over each of us, responding in ways only He understands—at the perfect time, and in the perfect way.
