3. The Dattatreya Form !
Every year on Sivaratri day, in the presence of a huge concourse
of devotees and amidst the singing of bhajans, a Siva-lingam forms within Baba.
This precious and marvellous creation is then ejected from His mouth signifying
the origin of the creation from f the Creator. In 1977, when I was present
there on 4 this wonderful festival in Prasanthi Nilayam, Baba l made a divine
declaration, “henceforth this great I festival of Sivaratri will not be
celebrated at Puttaparthi in the manner that it was being done." In March
1978, Baba was at Ooty and accompanied by some of His college students and Seva-dal
volunteers went to Madhumalai, a hill-resort at the foothills of Nilgiri ranges
near Bandipur forest. There, from the sands, He created a 'lingam' in the shape
of the moon with all its details and gave a divine discourse about the moon.
"The moon has a deep influence on the mind as the deity of mind is the
moon. If man continues his spiritual sadhana (efforts) then with the waning of
the moon, the vagaries and fickleness of the mind also get gradually
diminished. On this day of Siva-ratri (the moonless night) if man keeps awake
and meditates and prays to Lord Siva, singing His glories, surrenders himself,
then all the ill effects of bad influences on his mind get dispelled and erased
completely; thus man can conquer his mind."
At this stage one student, though listening very attentively to
Bhagavan, was still doubting the Divinity of Baba. Turning towards that student
Baba
said, "You are still doubting as to who actually I am. The
student nodded in the affirmative. Then Baba if told him, "You have a
Polaroid camera, you can take my photograph. I shall prove to you my true
reality and my real form." The student clicked. Lo! Behold! A Divine Miracle. In the photograph, instead of Baba, there
appeared the TRINITY of BRAHMA, VISHNU and MAHESH in the most beautiful form of
Lord Dattatreya.
Accompanying that charming form, four cows (four Vedas) and a dog symbolising
faith and loyalty) had appeared in the picture; just as they have been
depicted always accompanying the Dattatreya form.