On 29 June 1963, Swami called Kasturi and told him to announce that He would not grant interviews for the next one week. The next day Swami fell ill. His left hand was clenched into a fist. His left leg had become stiff and toes had become taut. Kasturi and Raja Reddy were in constant attendance. Over the next few days, Swami had apoplexy, tubercular meningitis, angina pectoris and a series of heart attacks. He declined all treatment, be it injection, lumber puncture or intravenous glucose solution. Many people kept vigil while some wept.
On 6 July 1963, Gurupurnima Day, Swami was brought to the stage with the help of Kasturi, Raja Reddy and some others, who helped Swami to sit on the silver chair. The left side of His body was paralyzed. Swami then asked for a glass of water to drink. He sipped a few drops and sprinkled some water with His right hand on His limp left hand and on His left leg too. He stroked the left with the right hand and with both hands stroked the left leg. He rose and brought His mouth near the mike, and said, "Premaswarooplara" in His normal voice. There were scenes of wild jubilation, people got up and danced with joy. It took some time for order to be restored.
Swami then announced that the time had come for Him to reveal who He really was and why had He taken birth. The story started with Rishi Bharadwaj's desire to master the Vedas. In three hundred years, he found that he was far away from his goal. When he asked Indra for another 100 years of extension to complete his study, Indra told him that this would get him nowhere. He advised the Rishi to perform a yagna called Savitra and in that yagna, he would teach the Rishi the essence of the Vedas. Rishi Bharadwaj went to Kaliash to invite Shiva and Shakti but found them engaged in a competitive dance to see who could dance longer. Shakti smiled at him, looked away and continued dancing. Shiva told Shakti that their roles are complementary and not competitive so what she was doing was wrong. Besides she had neglected the yearning of the Rishi and would have to pay for this.
Bharadwaj turned away in despair and disappointment and started to return, but had a stroke and fell down. Shiva and Shakti stopped dancing and hastened to the Rishi. Shiva took water from his Kamandalu and sprinkled it on the Rishi and revived him. They told the Rishi that they were pleased with his devotion and promised that they would grace the yagna with their presence. The yagna was performed and the Divine couple showered many boons on the Rishi.
Finally they told him that in Kaliyuga, they would take birth three times in Bharadwaj gotra (lineage). The first time Shiva would come alone and he came as Sai Baba of Shirdi. The second time they would come in one body and they came in this body of Sathya Sai Baba. The third time Shakti would come alone and would be known as Prema Sai Baba. Shiva continued that when they took birth together in one body, Shakti would suffer for 8 days as Bharadwaj did, for expiation of her neglect. That is why the left side of Swami's body suffered paralysis. The immediate cause was waiting for the right occasion to play out his incident and reveal His real identity.
Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu