The Glory of Shirdi Sai Eighth Year of Publication - Published as Bi-Weekly www.saidarbarusa.org ~ an affiliate of www.saidarbar.org
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श्रद्धा CONTENT Satsangs of SaiBaNisaji Time Machine Navavidha Bhakti Shirdi Sai Baba's Sermon The Dreams Train Devotees Corner NEW
Children Section
Spiritual Gems From Sai Satcharita JAI SAI RAM
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गुरुब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णु: गुरुर्दे वो महे श्वर: |
गुरु: शाऺात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः:||
सबुरी
FROM THE SATSANGS OF SAIBANISA JI LOVE : SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY Love : We know this word, hear about it, and even talk about it, but do we really practice it ? We either use it carelessly or guard it closely. For most love is lust and attraction. The whole world is based on this strong four letter word. It is the underlying concept of Holy Quran, Holy Bible, Shri Bhagawad Gita, or Sri Sai Satcharita. LOVE is a strong emotion devoid of lust. Let us love everybody, which is the basic principle of every religion, and purpose of spirituality. Think of these words : I feel honored to know you, I love each one of you, I feel fortunate to have known you.... these phrases can make a difference in your life and spread happiness. When you spread LOVE nothing can bother you. Start loving people, show you care by small gestures, which brings in smile to faces. Realize that you are doing harm to God when you harm anyone by actions, words and thoughts. The cool rays of peace, truth and love do not emanate when hot flames of intense desire and anger are rising in our heart. Your love to others will raise you to realise that the Atma in everyone is the same. “Paropakaarah punyaaya; paapaaya parapeedanam” (Helping others is meritorious, harming others is sinful).Use your life to spread joy not grief. Let no one suffer the slightest pain as a result of your thought, word or deed . Let this be your sadhana and Shri SAI will guide you throughout the pathway you cross in life. The best way to love GOD is to LOVE ALL and SERVE ALL.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD WITH LOVE.
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SAI’S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE 1910: The Shirdi Sai Baba Movement began in the 19th century, but in 1910 with the Sankirtans of Das Ganu ( one of Sai’s devotee) the fame of Baba began to spread throughout India and different parts of the world. After 1910: Shri Sai Baba’s fame spread like fire in Mumbai, and numerous people started visiting Him. They regarded him as the Guru with the power of performing miracles and they built his first ever temple at Bhivpuri, Karjat..
NAVAVIDHA BHAKTI (Source: Sai Leela Magazine July-Aug 2004)
Fifth Step – Archan Bhakti
Trust in the Guru fully. That is the only Sadhana. ~Baba.
Taking clean water in his hands, he washed Baba’s lotus feet and did puja in the traditional way. Then he offered bananas and coconut. He offered incense, light, betel leaf and made a monetary offering; mentally circumambulated, offered a garland of flowers and then, sat near His feet. Jog came to the Masjid with sandlwood paste, consecrated rice, flowers, bell, niranjan and the five-wick lamp etc. and asked Baba : “What should I bring for naivedya to-day ?” Maharaj instructed : “Bring Me a platterful of sanza. You can do the arati and puja later.” Since then he was devoted to Baba. He regularly offered agarbattis, coconut and garland. Lakhmichand also prospered. The puja was regular and ritualistic. Seeing the beautiful image in the picture, everyone was supremely delighted. Everyone was surprised by the unimaginable way in which all this had happened. After placing the picture on the central seat, and doing full ritualistic puja, naivedya was offered with loving devotion. Then everyone started their meal. From then onwards, till this day, on every Holi day, the tradition is carried on with all rituals and pujas. Lakshman Mama was a staunch brahmin and uncle of Madhavrao. After taking a bath in the morning and putting on clean washed clothes, he would take Baba’s darshan. He would wash Baba’s feet, apply sandalwood paste with consecrated rice, offered flowers, leaves and tulsi and afterwards burnt incense, lit the lamp and offered naivedya. Then he offered dakshina. After offering eight-fold obeisance with prayers, he took Baba’s blessings. Then he would apply the sandalwood paste tilak to all and distribute prasad. Then he would leave. He would bring the bel from long distances, get together all the puja paraphernalia completely, and then worship all the village deities, one by one. He would offer to all according to the proper rituals. After that, he would come immediately to the Masjid, lovingly bow to Baba’s seat, wash His feet etc. and then drink the water as tirth. Till Megha was in Shirdi, he performed the noon arati regularly. But, before that he worshipped all the village deities and then went to the Masjid. He worshipped Khanderaya and Megha also got rid of his uneasiness. Then Baba allowed Megha to do His puja. Then, he did the puja with great reverence with sandalwood paste, flowers and the other eight offerings. He offered dakshina, garlands, fruits etc. according to his means. Jai Sai Ram
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SHIRDI SAI BABA’S SERMON (Four Chapters on Shirdi Sai Baba by Dasganu Maharaj) The four Chapters are Chapter 31, 32 and 33 from Shri Bhakta Leelamrut and Chapter 57 from Shri Sant Kathamrut.
Chapter - 57 from Shri Sant Kathamrut The first one is the proper understanding of the real and the unreal. This is called Vivek, the reasoning. Second is Vairagya the asceticism. The third is the group of six consisting of Shama, Dama etc. The fourth is the desire for Absolution. Listen to the definition of Reasoning. This deals with the permanent and temporary things. One must have realized that the world is an illusion and Bramhan is the truth. A lot of pure Chaitanya. The visible world is simply, an illusion. Oh Narayan, one cannot believe in it but one experiences its existence. There is no place in this universe devoid of this Chaitanya. One cannot find a single thing devoid of this. My son! It does not have any colour or form. Do not forget this, this is called Bramhan. It is worshipped by Gnanies who are called the realized ones in this world. The Chaitanya contains millions and millions of animals, plants and insects. It is the prime cause for the very existence of the universe and the shapes of these life forms. The Chaitanya envelopes everything. It is without pain. It is truth, knowledge and bliss embodied. We are also not different from it.' Nana folded his hands and prayed, 'Baba, I have some difficulty in understanding, here. You said the Bramhan is devoid of pain and it envelopes everything. It is blissful too. My Mother, you said everything contains this Bramhan. I, however, find that the world is full of miseries and pain. It is also infinite. I do not see any properties of Chaitanya in it. How can a born-blind see beauty? How can Real Chaitanya live in an illusory thing? If the Soul itself is the life force, then its unity does not exist at all because there are many souls. The pleasure and pain of one soul do not affect others. How can we? Then say that all of them contain the same Chaitanya? Since the bodies are different I feel that the souls are also different." Baba said, Nana,you make a mistake, here. Now listen to me with full concentration. If we mix red, white, black, yellow, blue, green, violet and crimson colours separately with water and keep these mixtures in different glasses, can the water be different? It gets red colour with red and yellow with yellow. If we separate the colour from the mixture, the colour of the water will not be visible again. In the same manner, after the union of the soul with heart, experience of miseries and pain are caused. Bodies of the animals are different but there is no difference in their souls. All of them have the same soul. Pleasure and pain are the properties of the heart (body). The body, however, is necessary for the soul. Understand this, My Child. Now, I will analyze this topic so that you will understand it well. My child Narayan, the Chaitanya has three qualities. They are spiritual (Parmarthic), customary (Vyavaharic) and illusory (pratibhasic). They are similar to the three states of the body viz. childhood, youth and old age. The souls who have reached the state of spiritualism are considered as holymen. Those who understand the difference between the right and the wrong and follow" the Shastras are called customary. Those who consider illusion as the truth are called illusory. They are covered with nescience, Nana. Will be continued…...
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THE DREAMS TRAIN (Dreams Of Saibanisa after Undergoing Bypass Surgery on 17-5-1996) Compiled by Saibandhu Raghu Raman Satulury
19-11-1996: Sai appeared as an unknown person and talked about the greatness of spiritual life: He said: 1.As long as a man is living happily enjoying all comforts in life, people call him a very lucky person. When he goes through a patch of difficulties, he falls sick and finally is bedridden. A man with spiritual bent of mind will never get scared in the event of encountering difficulties. 2.Mistakes of the past chase us like a snake with vengeance ready to sting. However snake cannot do any harm to those who realize and are into spiritual path. Spiritualism is the biggest strength that anybody can possess.
“Stay by me and stay quiet. I will do the rest”
~Baba
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THE
DEVOTEES CORNER DEVOTEES EXPERIENCE Sai Ram Sai Devotees. I am and was much interested in spiritualism and in transcendence of the self. I read many books of philosophy and religious scriptures. Also I would visit many saints and gurus in the search for truth. I was (and am) very much attracted towards J. Krishnamurti’s words. I was experimenting with the awareness of self. And whatever feeling I use to get I let it flower without naming it and judging or theorizing it. The general tendency of human being is trying to run away from the painful psychological and emotional experiences. I do not do that and let the pain or pleasure flower. Somehow I had respect for Shirdi Sai Baba. Once I tried reading Sai Sat Charitra, and had put down the book thinking it has stories of mere miracles and not much about self transcendence. However respect for Sai Baba was the same. While experimenting with different styles of meditations which I used to do with awareness on self I had started feeling subtle vibrations at holy places like temples and pilgrimages. It happened that two of my friends decided to come with me to come to Shirdi as I had and have this passion to visit pilgrimages. We reached Shirdi and had darshan at the Samadhi temple. It felt nice, however I could not feel much vibrations there, there was a feeling of calmness, serenity and Then we went for the darshan of Gurusthan and then went to Masjid Mai, we had darshan of dhuni and then opposite to the entrance of Masjid Mai is the stone,
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ARTICLES FROM DEVOTEES on which Sai Baba used to sit. Devotees were placing their heads on the stone and there was a small queue for the same. Since I was not in any kind of rush, I stood near the stone waiting for the small queue to get over. As I was standing I felt as if someone was hitting my legs with the sand. I was wearing jeans and when I looked down there was nothing to be seen hitting my legs still the feeling was the same and soon the feeling took over the other parts of the body. My friends had similar experience. I had never felt the subtle vibrations so strong, ever. I was getting overwhelmed. We stood in the queue which was reduced to about three devotees. I placed both my hands on the stone and then the head. What great energy I felt. Whole of my vertebrae column was vibrating and I felt energy rushing between my eyebrows. I stayed there for about 3 minutes. My friends later told that a devotee wanted to disturb me as there were devotees waiting in the queue. But another devotee stopped him by saying Achi Bhakti kar raha hai( he is doing good devotion). I was like drunk, drunk with the divine energy of Baba. I sat besides the stone enjoying the bliss and the energy I was receiving. Both my friends had felt the same energy. We sat there and again and again put our heads on the holy stone with the same effect. The feeling of that great energy the presence was felt even when we reached hotel and thereafter for few days. This presence is always felt when ever I go to the holy land Shirdi. Aplesh (Courtesy- babasaiof shirdi.org)
To Be Continued…
सत्सङ्गत्वे ननस्स्ङ्गत्वं
ननस्सङ्गत्वे ननमोहत्वम ् |
ननमोहत्वे ननश्चलतत्त्वं ननश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मक्ु तः ||
SaidarbarUSA conducts bi-weekly satsang in Greater Philadelphia area. For more information please visit http://www.saidarbarusa.org/. Sai Temple, Downingtown, PA. (http://www.saitemplepa.com/.) Temple is open on Thursdays and Sundays after 2:00 pm. Please contact Mr. Raj Singh at 610-656-1396 or Sai Temple at 610-269-1112 for more details about the temple activities. For more info please visit http://www.saitemplepa.com/. Music, Mantra and Meditation programme at Sai Temple, Downingtown, PA by Shri Anup Jalota and Shri Chamuda Swamiji on September 10, 2010. For more information, please visit http:// www.saitemplepa.com.
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ARTICLES FROM DEVOTEES BABA'S MIRACLE - 7 " When truth is stranger than fiction"
~~The Upanishad During the Second World War, I was employed as a Civilian Office Supervisor in the" Embarkation Headquarters Vishakhapatnam through which all the requirements of war against Japan were being routed. This was the first time I had ever worked for the army or the Government for that matter having been in private employment till then. Hence, I had often to bungle through to success, 'heart within and God overhead/ We worked under the strictest discipline I had even known. Even minor mistakes attracted immediate and summary punishment. It was in this context that I once found myself in a highly embarrassing position. It came about as under: “Whatever you do, wherever you may be, always bear in mind; I am always aware of everything you do. � ~ Baba
THE
A British Military Officer and I were in charge of disbursement of pay to the soldiers and sepoys (as Jawans were then called) According to the rules, soon after the payments are made, the O.C.'s counter signature should be obtained and the ledger posted up. However, on the first of a certain- month, it was so late in the evening by the time payments were made that I postponed the work of getting the pay rolls countersigned and posted to the next day and went home. I had no qualms about the safety of the document, since it was a war-time military establishment, everything under lock and seal with sentries pacing up and down round the clock. However, imagine my shock and surprise the next morning when I opened the almirah, to find the pay-rolls missing. Hardly a month earlier, I was handpicked as the best available man and given the charge of the office by the new boss, one Maj G. William, a distinguished warveteran. This was my first major task and I would be found wanting. He was indeed a fire-eater with a penchant for dismissing a person found negligent in any way on the spot. Many including my predecessor in the seat had thus been axed in quick succession. This had created a lit of heart-burning. It was clear that someone bent upon putting me in trouble was behind this mischief. I was completely non-plussed. My heart rose in prayer to Baba, my Sole Refuge, for His unfailing help to a devotee in trouble. Sustained by such faith, I pulled out all the files methodically one by one, in the hope of locating the payrolls among them. It was of no avail. I became frantic and went on repeating the process with each of the twenty odd almirahs in
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the office hoping against hope to find by chance the missing documents hidden in one of them but with the same negative result. I went and sat in my seat utterly frustrated. To go and tell the boss would be worse than useless, since the whole thing smacked of negligence and he was bound to pounce upon me. It would mean only one thing, namely, dismissal. That would be my undoing. Caught in this dilemma, I once again beseeched Baba to my rescue. Now, some impulse led me back again to the same almirah in which I had kept the pay-rolls and which I had throughly searched already, and involuntarilly opened it, when lo! and behold! There before me exactly where I had kept, were the payrolls starting me in the face! I know for certain that all the while none had stirred from his seat. There was no way to explain it. It was another clear example of Baba's 'chamatkar'. "Ask, it shall be given." Glory be to Shri Shirdi Sai - Grace be to all
Om Sai Ram Shirdi Sai Baba has blessed me by providing the HOLY opportunity to compile two books on HIM.-- One in English and another in Telugu. Telugu books are released this month. You can have more details about the book “SHIRDI SAI NATHUNI MADHURANAMAMRUTHAM (Prema Maniharam)” from http://www.shirdisaiashtothara.com/About.html.
The book is about 108 names of Shirdi Sai with detailed meaning, Miracles and prayer for each name. If you're interested in having a copy of the book, please email me for more details. Regards, Sai Giridhar Ari saigiridhar@hotmail.com http://www.shirdisaiashtothara.com/ http://shirdisaimadhuranama.blogspot.com/
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t i on c e S n e r d Chil
Learn and Participate
Story for this Week: “ God’s Gift” Once upon a time, a farmer lived in a small village. He was a great devotee of God, contented with what he had and never craving for the pleasures of life. His wife was not as much of a devotee but she also lived a simple life without grumbling for the good riches of life. They possessed a small field that the farmer personally cultivated. One day, when the farmer was tilling the land, a mud jar which was buried under the earth got pulled out. The farmer took it out of the ground and opened the lid. The jar was full with golden coins. The farmer put back the lid and placed the jar beneath a tree and continued his work. He worked till the evening as usual and returned home without glancing at the jar. In the night while taking meals, he remember the jar and mentioned to his wife about the find. His wife was shocked. “What a simpleton you are!” she said, “you did not seek out the wealth but it came to you as God’s gift. Why didn’t you bring it home?” The farmer smiled and said, “If it is God’s gift to me, it will remain there tomorrow also. Why worry?” As the couple were thus talking, two thieves who were lying in wait for looting the house after the couple went to sleep, overheard their conversation in amazement. “What a fool is this farmer! Anyway, it is good that we heard it now, why unnecessarily break open this farmer's house? Let us go to the field and pick up the jar.” Thus deciding they silently went away from the farmer’s domain. They reached the field of the farmer and searched for the tree under which the farmer had placed the jar. There, to be sure, was the jar. They picked it up with great glee. It was very heavy. They were happy with the weight because they would have enough gold to share. Lest anyone saw them and caught them, they silently ran away with the jar until they reached a safe place where no one would see them. There they placed the jar with high hopes. But what they saw what they saw therein turned their blood into water for fear, because there was no gold inside as they thought. Live cobras were hissing and twirling inside the jar. . They put back the lid in a hurry and ran away from the place leaving the jar there itself. Next night, they again came to the farmer’s home to know what the truth was. The farmer said that there was gold in the jar. How did the live cobras come in? What happened to all the gold? They were anxious to know. They farmer was taking his night meal. He mentioned to his wife that the jar was not under the tre where he left the previous day. The wife was sad at the loss. “You ought to have brought it yesterday itself. Because of your neglect we lost the gold,” she wailed. The farmer smiled and said, “Well the fact that it was not there proves that it is not God’s gift to us. Then why worry about what is not ours?” When the thieves heard the dialogue, they were unable to decide whether the farmer was really a simTHE
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pleton who believed what he said, or whether he cleverly guessed their presence and wanted to get rid of them by making them carry the jar of cobras. They wanted to check up and wreak their vengeance on the farmer if he was cheating them. So they went to the place where the jar was abandoned by them. They heard the hissing of the cobras inside and carried the jar carefully to the tree in the farmer’s field and left it there. If the farmer was innocent, he would open the jar. If not, he would not open the jar. The next night, they came again to the farmer’s place to hear what happened in the field. The farmer was taking his meal. He mentioned to his wife, “Eh, the jar came back to the tree today.” His wife’s face beamed with pleasure. “Then now you are sure it is God’s gift to us. Did you bring it home ?” she asked. “Oh no,” said the farmer. “If it is God’s gift to us, why should I carry it home? It will come by itself.” They thieves were carefully listening to the conversation. When the farmer said that he did not touch the jar, their suspicions were confirmed that the farmer deliberately did it to harm them. They got very angry with the farmer and wanted to punish him for this. They could hear the cobras hissing inside. They wanted to see what the farmer would do in the morning. Even if the farmer did not open it, his wfe was sure to do so and get bitten by the cobras. They waited the whole night for the morning to come. Early morning at the break of dawn, the farmer opened the door to go to the field. The moment the door opened, his eyes fell upon the jar. He smiled and called his wife. “Dear, come and look. Here is God’s gift on our doorstep. The wife came running and opened the lid. Her eyes danced with joy at all the gold. She looked at her husband and said, “You are correct. What God meant for us, nobody can take away. It will ultimately reach us.” The poor thieves did not understand at all. What happened to the cobras in the jar? Why could they not see the gold if it was really gold that was contained in the jar? They did not know that to take what God meant for others was as dangerous as to hold a live cobra.
Question for you ….
How important is Satsang for you ? share your thoughts with your other friends Send it to editor@saidarbarusa.org With a subject line: Children Section
Response from our little friends…. In my eyes, Satsung is important to me. It’s a place where I go to learn about my culture and it also improved my confidence level. In Satsung we learn about our culture but we don’t have to sit in a classroom where the teacher drones on about Hinduism. Instead we get to sit on the floor and the teacher asks us about what we know and we get to learn from our classmates. What I like most about Satsung are the nice people that go there. The adults encourage us to do our best. Every time it’s my turn to sing a bajan, I get jittery but after I’m done, people give me compliments. Satsung has done a lot to help me and it influenced my life in a positive way. Avisha Kumar—Age 13
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SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SATCHARITA ~ CHAPTER 39 & 50 Contributed by: swamy@saimail.com
Baba's Knowledge of Sanskrit Baba's Interpretation
Baba - Nana, is it enough to make prostration merely ? Nana - I do not know any other meaning for the word 'pranipata' than 'making prostration'. Baba - What is 'pariprashna'? Nana - Asking questions. Baba - What does 'Prashna' mean? Nana - The same (questioning).
..All that is
Baba - If 'pariprashna' means the same as prashna (question), why did Vyasa add the prefix 'pari'? Was Vyasa off his head? Nana - I do not know of any other meaning for the word 'pariprashna'. Baba - 'Seva', what sort of 'seva' is meant?
seen is my Nana - Just what we are doing always
form: ant, fly, Baba - Is it enough to render such service? prince, and
Nana - I do not know what more is signified by the word 'seva'.
Baba - In the next line "upadekshyanti te jnanam", can you so read it as to read any pauper.. other word in lieu of Jnanam? Nana - Yes. Baba - What word? Nana - Ajnanam. Baba - Taking that word (instead of Jnana) is any meaning made out of the verse? Nana - No, Shankara Bhashya gives no such construction. Baba - Never mind if it does not. Is there any objection to using the word "Ajnana" if it gives a better sense? Nana - I do not understand how to construe by placing "Ajnana" in it. Baba - Why does Krishna refer Arjuna to Jnanis or Tattwadarshis to do his prostration, interrogation and service? Was not Krishna a Tattwadarshi, in fact Jnana himself? Nana - Yes He was. But I do not make out why he referred Arjuna to Jnanis. Baba - Have you not understood this? Jai Sai Ram Will be continued‌.. THE
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Disclaimer: The editor does not accept any responsibility for the views expressed in the articles published. This e-magazine is intended for private circulation only. Information contained in this email is about Sri Shirdi Sai Literature and Sanatana Dharma. You have received this magazine because you are either subscribed to this directly or through one of the email groups receiving "The Glory of Shirdi Sai". To Subscribe: You or your interested friends and family members can subscribe for THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI by sending an email with the subject line ‘Subscribe’ to members@saidarbarusa.org. To Un-subscribe: If you are a direct member and do not wish to receive this e-magazine in future, please email to members@saidarbarusa.org with the subject line ‘Unsubscribe’. Please send your feedback to feedback@saidarbarusa.org From the Editor’s Desk We can make a difference in this world with Love.
“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” Sai devotees may continue to write about their Sai-related activities, essays, articles or poetry and send to the email id editor@saidarbarusa.org. We shall put in our best efforts to include them in the upcoming newsletter. Unless the author of the articles explicitly instructs not to publish his/her email id, we will publish them as a matter of routine practice. JAI SAI RAM
Publisher and Editor: Badri Narasimhan Editorial Team: Radhika Nistala, Kanchana Kumar, Sumathi VijayBhaskaran, Sneha Narasimhan Email: editor@saidarbarusa.org
BOW TO SHRI SAI ~ PEACE BE TO ALL