33. Parents of God
Prema Sai Baba was born in the very south of India, in the state of Karnataka, in the village of Doddamallur. His parents belong to a family that for many generations worshiped the god, Shiva.
Prema Sai Baba’s father’s name is Mahesh, and he comes from the village of Doddamallur. Every Hindu family has a «main temple of the family», which family members regularly visit for many generations. The main temple of the Mahesh family (Prema Sai’s father) is located near the city of Mysore.
The whole family makes a pilgrimage to this temple of Lord Shiva several times a year. I was lucky enough to visit this temple several times with Prema Sai Baba and his parents. Prema Sai Baba’s mother’s name is Teja Mani, she was born and raised in the village of Bewur, also in the state of Karnataka.
The Prema Sai Baba boy has been hosting visitors and followers in his home since the age of two and a half. Indian followers most often come for a couple of hours to see the divine child and receive blessings.
However, Russian devotees, and devotees from other countries, are more likely to come for a couple of weeks. There is no ashram yet, so there is no program on a daily basis. Sometimes devotees come to the house, or those who want to inquire. Prema Sai Baba’s Parents hospitably accepts everyone, regardless of the worldview of their visitors.
Big holidays are organized several times a year: Shivaratri (end of winter – beginning of spring), Prema Sai Baba’s birthday (June 28), Guru Purnima (beginning or middle of July), Sathya Sai Baba’s birthday (November 23). These festivals are organized by Jaya Lakshmi Amma, sometimes in Bangalore and sometimes in Doddamallur.
It is Jaya Lakshmi Amma who organizes all the rituals and feeding of the participants during the festivals, and Prema Sai Baba is present at the holidays, blessing those who come.