(Life history of Bharam Umamaheswara Rao bears eloquent testimony to a series of
miracles Baba did after Baba’s Mahasamadhi. Baba did heart surgery on B.U.Rao as
Baba is Doctor of Doctors. Baba through the medium of B.U.Rao had sent several messages
for the welfare & also for the spiritual progress of one and all.)
Bharam Umamaheswara Rao (B.U.Rao) was born on 25-05-1922 at Guntur. His parents
were Rao Saheb Bharam Narayana Rao, (retd. Deputy Spdt of Police & then, perhaps
the First RTO (retd) in A.P. with Head Quarters at Machilipatnam) and Mrs. Anjaneyamma.
Narayana Rao was also given by the British Government, a revolver without license
during his life time in recognition of his devotion to duty. Narayana Rao was also
religious and was an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Rama and used to perform every year
Sri Rama Kalyanam with pomp and splendour, not only when he was in service but also
after his retirement. He had led his entire life praying to Lord Sri Rama. Such
was the devotion he had exhibited towards Lord Sri Rama. And even now, the tradition
of celebrating Sri Rama Kalyanam is being continued by his descendants.
Umamaheswara Rao had studied in Board High School, Bapatla upto 1939 and also studied
in Hindu College, Machilipatnam upto 1943. He later joined as S.I. in the Police
Dept in 1945 and followed his father’s foot steps in sincerity and devotion. In
the year 1945, Umamaheswar Rao married Ms. Mani, daughter of Rao Saheb Dr. Manam.Narasinga
Rao and Smt. Laxmi Narasamma. Mrs.Bharam Mani, W/o B.U.Rao, was born on 07-09-1931
in Eluru. They were blessed with three children, first two daughters and a son,
viz. Neeraja, Girija and Krishna Kishore.
During his entire service, he was highly devoted to his duties and was very honest.
While in service, he received Police Medal in 1962 and got promoted as Dy Supdt.
of Police. He worked as Dy. Supdt. of Police in Vizianagaram and Eluru during 1964-67
and later at Visakhapatnam and in Hyderabad.. While in active service in the Police
Dept., he did not exhibit much affinity towards religious and spiritual matters,
perhaps due to his pre-occupation with the service activities. He retd. as Addl
Supdt. of Police in the year 1977.
He was a heart patient from 1968 and was also declared dead in Vijayawada Pushkaram
during 1960s and wireless messages about this information also,
was relayed to the concerned police Head Quarters.Luckily he survived this attack
and got revived with God’s Grace. Since then he was continuously taking treatment
from a cardiologist for his heart ailment.
To begin with, he was initially drawn to Lord Raghavendra Swami and had multiple
divine experiences bestowed on him by Lord Raghavendra Swami. Subsequently, on instructions
from Lord Raghavendra, he developed faith in Sai Baba and was gravitated fully towards
him from 1981. Intrigued and captivated by Sri Sai Baba, B.U.Rao was fully engrossed
in Baba’s devotion and thereafter his life completely started revolving around Baba.
Though he was physically weak due to heart problem and also due to age factor, he
was very active in moving here and there, perhaps having been endowed with fresh
vigour by Baba. Baba had presented very many divine visions, messages, teachings
and his Leelas to B.U.Rao with instructions to spread Baba’s messages and miracles
far and wide, just like the raining showers of clouds. He thus became an ardent
devotee of Baba and started performing daily puja to Baba and also service to Baba
by way of propagating about Baba. He was also visiting Shirdi frequently with his
family, close relatives and friends.
Baba started giving very important messages through him and using him as Baba’s
medium when he was in meditation or in trance position and all the messages that
emanated from his mouth as narrated by Baba, were all written down and recorded
by his wife, Mrs. B.Mani Umamaheswara Rao. All these messages were published in
the shape of a book in English, “Bhava Lahari (Voice of Sri Sai Baba) in 1993. There
is lot of demand for this book. In all, he wrote eleven books on Baba and Baba’s
teachings.
Despite his heart problem since 1968, he had led a devotional and spiritual life
without severing himself from his householder’s responsibilities. He had also strived
for the well-being of everyone he was associated with.
About the heart problem he was having, the condition was diagnosed as 'Aortic Stenosis
with Regurgitation and he was advised to undergo by-pass heart surgery. He endured,
many a time, severe syncope attacks which left him breathless with pulse becoming
very weak and irregular. In the year 1983, while he was having severe heart pain,
Baba appeared in his dream and applied udhi on his fore-head and after he woke up,
he found that there
was really an udhi mark on his forehead and the udhi mark had created a soothing
effect on him. Later, in Nov, 1983, while he was meditating, he experienced a glow
of light that had flashed from Baba's photo and had pierced his skin in the heart
area in a circular manner. Immediately, he felt burning sensation and observed that
blood was oozing from the circularly burnt area. He then fainted and was lifted
and placed on the bed.The marks of burns were seen as stitches and thereafter the
heaviness in the chest and the syncope attacks subsided immediately and disappeared
later. The ring like burn marks were photographed (see the side photo). Thereafter,the
various tests conducted had confounded the doctors since B.U.Rao’s heart condition
was found perfectly normal. Few days before this incident, his wife had a dream
in which she saw four people carrying B.U.Rao, saying that he was dead. This was
a bad omen and however this catastrophic situation was averted by Baba. Then it
was understood that Baba had performed a surgery on him which reaffirmed Baba as
Doctor of Doctors.
Bhagavan Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, a direct representative of all Gods, the Omnipresent,
Omniscient and Omnipotent, is the living spiritual force which is drawing people
from all walks of life, from all parts of the world, into his fold. He came to serve
the mankind, to free them from the clutches of fear. Today he is considered nothing
less than “The Living God on the Earth”. Shirdi Sai Baba, the most benevolent God
and easily accessible God, had been brought into the lives of all of us by this
great personality, Umamaheswara Rao through his experiences. He had dedicated the
later part of his entire life towards the spiritual propaganda of Baba’s philosophy.
Though he had many visions of Baba and other Sathpurushas or other Gods and Goddesses,
he was a simple person, non-assuming, non-egoistic and was ready to help any person
in his spiritual pursuit. He was thus a great but humble man.
Post retirement period is the most significant and valuable part of his life as
during this period only he had attained greater levels of spirituality. His spiritual
and devotional journey began in the year 1978 after which he gradually, step after
step, reached the level of higher consciousness and transcendence. He expressed
that though he held a superior position in the Police Dept., he was more happy in
his later life after he was drawn towards doing service to Baba.
During this period, B.U.Rao took up propagation of the faith and philosophy of Baba.
In May, 1985, he had a dream in which Baba asked him to start a monthly magazine
for propagation of Baba’s philosophy and the same night, Baba also appeared in the
dream of Sri Yousuf Ali Khan, another devotee and asked him to assist B.U.Rao in
starting a magazine and also informed the name of the magazine should be “Sai Prabha”.
Leaving the matter of wherewithal to Baba, both of them started on this venture
and proceeded further. A special issue of “Sai Prabha” was released in 1985 itself
on Vijayadasami day. Later Sri V.Narayana Rao also assisted him. Thus B.U.Rao was
able to run the monthly magazine successfully under Baba’s instructions and guidance.
During 1985, in one of his visits to Shirdi, he met Sri Marthand Maharaj and Sri
Ashok Mhalasapati, son and grandson respectively of ankita bhakta, Mhalasapati.
During 1985, he was in Vijayawada attending Baba’s Nama Sapthaham for 49 days and
in one day Baba appeared in his dream and ordered him to sit in meditation. While
doing meditation on the last day of the Sapthaham, he had a vision in which he saw
Lord Dattatreya, Jesus Christ and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
During summer in 1986, on one day he woke up very early in the morning for nature
call and when he came to the drawing room in his house in Hyderabad, he happened
to see a man dressed in white clothes sitting in a sofa chair. Though baffled, he
shouted, “who is that” and moved near the sofa. Then he had a clear glimpse of Baba
who disappeared immediately thereafter.
He received the first message at Dwarakamai in Shirdi in the year 1987. His faith
in Baba grew multifold and by Baba’s Grace he started experiencing amazing miracles
and visions. During his lifetime, he had many experiences and his near and dear
ones were also fortunate in witnessing such amazing experiences. It is not possible
to narrate all his experiences. All these confirm the fact that Baba was/is guiding
us, helping us and showing his Grace and Mercy in every aspect.
Baba used to tell in advance the impending danger to him. On 4th Jan, 1987 in early
morning in his dream, Baba told him that 4th Jan (same day) was not
a good day for him from 10-30 AM onwards. B.U.Rao also advised his people not to
admit him in any hospital. He became unwell at that exact time and lost his consciousness
and his condition became serious. His body appeared paralysed. He was then taken
to nearby Mahaveer Hospital, Hyderabad. Doctors in the hospital, on examination,
told that his body got totally paralysed due to cerebral haemorrhage and that there
was no hope of his survival and also asked his people to take him to any Govt. Hospital.
Then he was admitted in the Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad at about 1-30 PM and they
also confirmed that it was cerebral haemorrhage and he was taken to ICU. While treatment
was going on, his wife placed Baba’s photo in blessing pose, near his head & Dwarakamai
photo in his pocket and also applied some udi on his forehead. A doctor, perhaps
an atheist, who was observing all these things, expressed that neither Baba nor
any one could save him as his position was highly critical. After some time, there
was slight movement in his body. But his right side was still totally paralysed.
After some time, he started moving his right side also with Baba’s Grace. On getting
consciousness during that night, he started blaming all others for having admitted
in the hospital. And he wanted to go away from the hospital in that night itself.
He was pacified saying that during mid night, it was not possible to move. The compiler
was in Mysore at that time and on receipt of the information about his cerebral
hamorrhage, the compiler rushed to Hyderabad and went to the hospital to see him.
At that time, he was not there in the hospital and the compiler was told that he
got discharged even though he was not cured on some undertaking given by Dr.A.Prabhakar
Rao, a senior Govt. doctor and one of his relatives. Nursing sisters expressed surprise
at the bizarre behavior of B.U.Rao who disliked treatment from any hospital and
believed only in the curing powers of Shirdi Sai Baba. B.U.Rao became alright after
some time. Nothing is impossible for Baba.
During 1988, he along with other devotees visited Paradasinga near Nagpur to have
darshan of Avadhoota Anasuya Mata. She received them with motherly affection and
took all of them to her Ashram.
He continued to receive messages while in trance position and Baba gave a message
on 1st Jan, 1989 when he was in Shirdi, asking him to publish all the messages for
the benefit of the general public. At that time, he received all the messages in
Telugu only except three in English. As per Baba’s
orders, he got all the Telugu messages translated into English for the purpose of
publication and wider publicity. The messages received in Telugu were also printed
in Telugu in a booklet called, “Sai Tatwa Sandesh”
He was also assigned by Baba, many a time, to pray on behalf of others for their
welfare during the period of their adversities The messages received by B.U.Rao
were recorded by his wife Smt. Mani. He had received over 350 messages while in
trance position and by Baba’s Grace they were all recorded verbatim and published
in the form of book, “Sai Tatwa Sandesh” in English for the benefit and welfare
of everyone. All these messages indicate spiritual insight of Baba’s teachings.
He was getting messages even in Sanskrit, some times slokas in Sanskrit, while he
was in trance positionand whatever was coming out from his mouth, was being recorded
by his wife. He did not know Sanskrit. Once there was a Sanskrit sloka that came
out from his mouth and that was recorded. He had a group of Baba’s devotees and
among them there were some Sanskrit scholars also. For all the slokas that emanated
from his mouth, he was consulting the Sanskrit scholars for their meaning in Hyderabad.
Once a Sanskrit sloka came out and its meaning was not known, even to several Sanskrit
scholars in Hyderabad. He left it at that stage and was unable to proceed further
to know its meaning and its context. At that time, Baba gave a message to him, asking
him to go to Bangalore and consult the Swamiji in the Ashram of Sri Rajarajeswari
Temple located on Mysore Road in Bangalore. When he arrived in Bangalore, the compiler
was in Bangalore and took him to the Ashram where Pujya Ratna Puri Swamiji felt
very happy to see the Sanskrit sloka and called all his disciples and explained
its meaning and the name of the religious scripture in which it is available. It
was an important sloka, but the compiler did not remember either the sloka or its
meaning. This had happened in 1990.
On Jan 25, 1990, he was told in his meditation by Baba that coming Sunday, 4th Feb,
1990, your life would end and asked him to prepare for that situation. This was
also true as per his astrological prediction. Baba also advised him to chant his
Nama Japa and take the juice of Bilwa leaves. All his near and dear, were shocked
at this revelation. All the relatives were informed about this oncoming calamity.
Again on 28th Jan, Baba gave a message, asking him to inform all his relatives and
friends and ask them to
come on the specified day and that he should also ask all of them to do Nama Japa
with devotion and faith. On 3rd Feb afternoon, he also received another message
asking him to arrange to read Sri Vasu Devananda Saraswathi Swamy’s “Guru Samhita”
which consists of 7000 Sanskrit slokas during the night on 3rd itself and perform
Datta Homa the next day(4th Feb). His people arranged more than one Sanskrit Pandit
in order to ensure to complete the reading of all the slokas during that night itself
by taking photo copies of the slokas for distribution sectionwise to the Sanskrit
Pandits, as only one book was available. Luckily, Sri Sri Sri Paramahansa Parivrajaka
Acharya Sri Bodhananda Swamy who accepted their invitation, arrived to his house
and stayed till the next day. On 3rd night, all the 7000 slokas were read. On 4th
morning, Nama Japa by groups was going on and Homa arrangements were made. At that
time, some devotees got an urge to recite Lalitha Sahasra Namam for eleven times
which was completed. Some how, without any efforts on their part, a large number
of more than 400 devotees including Dr.Raghava Rao, an ankita devotee, assembled
in the house. All were praying for the bestowal of Mercy by Baba. At 2-00 PM, his
BP came down and his pulse stopped.Based on human instinct, his son tried to connect
oxygen cylinder to him, but the opener of the cylinder got broken and it was of
no use. After some time, B.U.Rao started uttering some thing slowly, “Baba, Baba”
His pulse was then checked by doctor-devotees present there and was found normal.
Thus Baba by miracle, extended his life and saved him from the catastrophic calamity.
The compiler also was present during the entire time and observed the miracle. B.U.Rao
thus got extension in his life span by one year. Similarly, his life span was extended
by Baba each time by one year for further 10 times, with Baba forewarning and B.U.Rao
and his people similarly following Nama Japa and other recitation of scriptures
This significant incident by benevolent Baba would only highlight how cascading
was Baba’s love and compassion on B.U.Rao by extending his life by 11 times since
1990. Every time his life span was extended by one year by Baba, on the critical
day and several people used to gather at his residence, without any special efforts
by him/his family members, including Sri Dr.K.V.Raghava Rao, noted Sai Bhakta and
were able to witness the entire events leading to the extension of his life. B.U.Rao.
strongly believed
that this part of his life thus extended belonged to Baba only and since then he
whole heartedly devoted all of the eleven years in the service of Baba.
B.U.Rao’s communion with Baba was so close and intense that his connect with him
was almost regular, just as between two living beings. By Baba’s Grace, during 1987,
he not only had darshan of various Gods but also had darshan of many Siddha Purushas
viz., Adi Shankara Charya, Narasimha Saraswathi Swami, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji,
Sri Pada Vallaba Swami and others. He had in his dream, darshan of some Goddesses
and also saw Pratyangira Devi. B.U. Rao had developed a large devotional acquaintance,
though he didn’t try to garner the same. But he was very much grounded simple in
nature and had put forth lot of efforts in propagating the philosophy of Baba as
a notable pracharak.
In the evening on 6th May, 1991, while he was in deep meditation, he had many peculiar
visions and experienced very strange incidents. In the vision, a sacred lady who
looked like a Yogini in white dress. with her hair tied to a knot on the top of
her head, with her neck and hands adorned with Rudraksha Mala, took him through
forest and hills and other places where he saw some divine people as well as demons.
But when he enquired for the details with that sacred lady, she said that it was
none of his business. She also did not allow him to offer his obeisance to other
Gods and Goddesses whom he saw while travelling with that sacred lady. They travelled
through a very difficult and troublesome path. Then suddenly there was a heavy rain
with thunders and lightning which were frightening very much, but the sacred lady
knew that he was not afraid of. Finally she took him to a palace which was shining
like a brilliant diamond emanating very bright light which could damage the eyes
and so he closed his eyes. Then he saw a throne inside and on the throne, Goddess
Lalitha Tripura Sundari was sitting, glowing radiantly with innumerable rays, wearing
all the precious ornaments, also having some weapons in her hands. Then only, he
was permitted to prostrate to that Goddess. He thus had darshan of MANIDWEEPA and
the blessings of the Goddess. He felt that with Baba’s Grace only this was possible
and he had this great vision.
He was having a deep meditation during the year 1992 and was meditating on Baba.
During that meditation, he wanted to have darshan of Baba. He kept before him a
photo of Baba with a tinpot (Baba going on begging
rounds). But Baba said that B.U.Rao was a fool as he could not withstand the brilliance
of light emanating from Baba as that would definitely impair his eyes. But he continued
his meditation for more than one day and was adamant. For first five days, he was
taking liquid food. From sixth day onwards, he stopped taking even the liquid food
and he continued like this for 12 days in all. But on the 12th day, Baba gave darshan
to him, not in Baba’s resplendent position which would affect his eyes, but in a
simple usual way through that photo which he kept before him. He was extremely happy
to have Baba’s darshan finally.
He used to inform that whenever he was in deep meditation, he observed that his
body would be warm.
He organized many Satsangas and Nama Japas and used to give simple spiritual discourse
on such occasions. He also attended inauguration of several Sai Baba temples at
different places on the invitation of the Managements concerned. In the picture
shown here, he was giving a simple discourse.
In one of his dreams, Baba appeared and told him that he was Nanasaheb Chandorkar
in his previous birth. Once a lady, in mid 30s, came and wanted to see B.U.Rao who
was unwell at that time. She also said that she was proficient in Rekhi treatment
and had come to treat him. She was allowed inside the room where B.U.Rao was taking
rest. She then asked all of us to vacate the room, leaving both of them only. After
some time, she came out and said that the treatment was over. Then we went inside
the room to see B.U.Rao who said that she gave Rekhi treatment to him. But the most
important thing that B.U.Rao said was that she was her daughter, by name Mainatai
in her earlier birth when B.U.Rao was Nanasaheb Chandorkar in his earlier life.
She had also known her earlier life and also knew about the earlier life of B.U.Rao.
This had happened in Guntur. She was the wife of a senior government official in
Andhra Pradesh at that time. How she located the house of B.U.Rao and how she came
to know that he was unwell and was in need of Rekhi treatment--all these were not
known to any one. However, there is no basis to verify such statements about their
previous births.
During 1995, two disks got dislocated in his spinal cord which got bent and
consequently, he was not in a position to stand erect and walk. Despite this problem,
he was, with Baba’s Grace, in a position to move here and there and do all his activities
on his own without any body’s assistance.
People who have been associated with B.U.Rao had the great privilege of having been
drawn towards Sai Baba, the most benevolent God of this world. His entire family,
the near and dear ones, friends, acquaintances and general public, were tremendously
fortunate that this selfless individual had shared and taken the burden of some
part of their lives by undertaking Prayers and Nama Japas for their welfare. Thus,
he did wonderful service in the area of propagating about Baba, his mission and
his philosophy. He lived for 78 years and left his mortal coil on 23rd May, 2000
and had merged into Baba.
Smt.Mani Umamaheswara Rao, his wife was equally a devout lady, having lot of faith
in Baba with unswerving devotion towards Baba. She gave lot of support to her husband.
From 1981 onwards, she became equally devoted to Sri Sai Baba & was also instrumental
in helping her husband in the mission of propagating about Baba.
She started, on her own, collecting the devotees’ experiences, post Baba’s Mahasamadhi,
across the country and compiled and published the devotees’ experiences in 1987
in a 350-page-book by name “Sai Leela Tharingini” in Telugu as Part I. She also
published another book by name, “Sri Sai Leela Sravanthi” in Telugu as Part II.
She also wrote and published, with Baba’s Grace, another book by name, Sri Sai Lalita
Geeta Vibhavari in Telugu on Baba.
Smt. Mani U.Rao was giving a religious discourse and also on Baba’s unique way of
teaching and the need to understand Baba’s philosophy and also as to how to pursue
spiritual goal (in the side photo). She was a generous woman and was always interested
in talking to people politely and courteously. She was of the greatest help to B.U.Rao,
her husband in constantly helping him in writing and compiling books on Sri Sai
Baba. She helped her husband and also herself in the pursuit of attaining spiritual
goals with Baba’s Grace. She passed away happily on 14th May, 2006 with lot of contentment.
Blessed were the souls of both of them. B.U.Rao and his wife, both of them
had led spiritual lives and received Baba’s help in all their endeavours and finally
attained spiritual progress with the Grace of Baba.
The compiler is related to B.U.Rao and consequently had got ample scope to observe
him from close quarters and also had the opportunity of witnessing all major miracles
of Baba and other miracles as reported by Mrs.Mani.U.Rao. On the desire of some
Baba’s devotees only, the compiler has been forced to compile an article on B.U.Rao
and Mrs. B.Mani U.Rao for the information of the general public.