August-September 1944

During August-September 1944, Baba started from Karnam Adinarayana Rao's house in Illur on a tour to Gooty Taluk. Baba left for Anantapur later, and stayed there with one of the Karnam's relatives. Enroute from Anantapur to Illur, Baba instructed His host to arrange for a photograph to be taken by one Sri K. H. Rayudu, a renowned photographer. Rayudu could not capture Baba on the viewfinder, but only a picture of Shirdi Baba. The photographer, who had been needlessly disparaging of Baba, must have been graced with this special vision in order to make him realize his error. Finally, Rayudu managed to take Baba's photograph, and this portrait is still a precious possession in Rao's family. Baba graciously had lunch with an ardent devotee Sri Narayana Rao, fulfilling an earlier promise given.

Baba decided to proceed to Pamidi for the first time with Rao and his aunt Smt. Lalithamma. He stayed in the house of Sri Subbarangaiah, a local merchant. During this visit, Baba cured Rao's cousin of typhoid by asking him to eat a guava. Baba also spoke to them about the early life of Shirdi Sai Baba of which little was known.

Baba stayed in Pamidi for two days. He took His devotees to the Pennar river bed and materialized idols from the sand. He returned to Anantapur by the evening train and stayed at Sri Chidambaraiah's house. The following night Baba left for Bangalore accompanied by Sri Tirumala Rao.

- Love is My Form, Chapter -10