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 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 Nama Japa : Its necessity and power Repeating the name of God as a formula, or a name, or as a title in a rhythmic way constitutes the Nama Japa. It is very important that the word synchronises with the breathing process. Attention has to be paid when you are reciting the word(s). This also helps in concentrating on the meaning of the words recited, and will at the same time build up your own concentration. While chanting the name it is sometimes felt that fixing the image of God (Ishta Rupa) in mind helps. But it is better to contemplate on the formless God, an expanding light or a brilliant void (Vishwa Rupa). One must begin Japa on a high tone, gradually move to a lower tone and finally into a silent mode. It is important to coordinate chant with thought. If the mind wanders while the lips utter the name, the exercise futile. The mind will wander, but it must repeatedly and gently drawn back to the Japa. Regular practice will lead to a Japa or effortless chanting in the subconscious mind. There is always a mysterious power in the name. There is an inscrutable shakti in God‘s name. All the divine potencies are hidden in the Lord‘s name. When you repeat the Lord‘s name you must evince unflinching devotion from the bottom of your heart devotion to God, without love for any other object. You must drive off all worldly thoughts from your mind. Fill the mind with thoughts of God and God alone. You must exert it hard and remain absorbed in Him and constantly repeat His name with faith, devotion and purity. The repetition of His name again and again generates a great spiritual force and momentum and intensifies the spiritual impressions. More importantly the divine Nama japa will eradicate the disease of birth and death and bestow on you moksha, liberation or immortality. Let us continue on this Thursday our Sai Nama Japa without an end.
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SAI’S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE Sept 28, 1918: Sai baba had a slight attack of fever which lasted for 3 – 4 days. Since then Baba abstained from food and day by day his weakness increased. Oct 1, 1918: Baba asked a Brahmin devotee Waze to read ―Raum Vijay‖ by Sridhar Swami and listened to it for fourteen days.
NAVAVIDHA BHAKTI (Source: Sai Leela Magazine July-Aug 2004)
Seventh Step – Dasya Bhakti Bhagoji Shinde: Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi Soil, their sufferings will come to an end. ~Baba.
It was always Bhagoji who served Him. It was only Bhagoji who would massage the hand. Then, after some time the hand healed and everyone was happy. In this way, although the hand was completely cured, one doesn‘t know what was in Baba‘s mind in allowing Bhagoji, every morning, early in the day, to carry out the ceremony of tying the bandages. Although there was no pain, regularly and for no reason, with the help of ghee a massage was done and the hand was cared for till death. These services were for the sake of Bhagoji. Siddha Sai never needed them. He made Bhagoji render regular service with love, as a devotee should. Because of the sins of his previous birth, Bhagoji was suffering from leprosy. But, it was his good fortune that he came in touch with Sai. Whenever Baba started on His round to Lendi, Bhagoji held the umbrella over Baba‘s head. Though his body was covered with black leprosy sores, he was the foremost in his service. Whenever, early in the morning, Baba was seated restfully against the pillar, near the dhuni it was his good fortune to be there to serve Him. He would remove the bandage, massage the respective muscles, apply ghee to those parts, and thus be fortunate to serve Him. His fingers had become stumps because of leprosy and his whole body emanated a nauseating smell. Thus, the one with such a great misfortune, derived four-fold happines from his services. Bhagoji Shinde was a great sinner in his past lives. His whole body was bleeding with sores. He was greatly affected by this deadly disease. But, he was a matchless devotee of Baba. Will be continued…. 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
Those who enter that cave stay in there for ever in lasting bliss. They do not come out of it. The soul is the root cause of everything. Maya is the effect. This Maya is very important, Oh Narayan! Maya gives rise to ego which makes one feel one's individuality. When Maya engulfs something one loses the sense of truth. Maya has two qualities. Maya covers everything that exists. What does not exists, Maya makes it appear as if it does. Those are the two things, Maya does. She, thus, confuses everybody. A labourer dreams that he has become a king. Here, his existence as a labourer is, first, covered by the Maya. Though there is no kingship, Maya creates the illusion. Thus, Maya covers the Bramhan and projects a different picture. In fact, this universe does not exist. There is only one true thing and that is the Chaitanya. However, due to the Maya, it appears as the universe. The properties of the universe appear to be true though the universe itself is all illusory. This is what causes inauspiciousness. Therefore you must remove the veil of the Maya and see the Chaitanya with the help of the knowledge. You will find that you are everything yourself. When water loses its turbidity, one sees clear water. Similarly, when the turbidity due to the Maya is removed, the Chaitanya will re-appear clearly. You must worship that reality, Oh Narayan! I have to tell this to everybody. The soul is the reality. The main purpose of the spiritual knowledge is to explain this principle. You must realize this soul and achieve the absolution in this birth only. On listening to this sermon, everybody was completely satisfied. They started prostrating before the Lord. Oh children, assimilate what Baba told lovingly to Vaidhya Sathe, Chandorkar, Berey, Nana, Nimonkar, Maruti Laxman and Noolkar. All the devotees said, "Amen' and prostrated before Baba again and again. How can there be the darkness of ignorance where the Sun of knowledge shines? Oh Sai Maharaj! please accept this child. Please allow Das Ganu to sit by the cool shadow of your grace. Sai Maharaj -the cloud of knowledge showered this nectar in this Shri.Sant Kathamrut. Ganu is requesting you to enjoy this nectar. This is the end of the fifty seventh chapter. The end of the 57th Chapter from Shri.Sant Kathamrut by Shri.Das Ganu.
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THE DREAMS TRAIN (Dreams Of Saibanisa after Undergoing Bypass Surgery on 17-5-1996) Compiled by Saibandhu Raghu Raman Satulury
“If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will gain the supreme goal�
~Baba
Please tune in and listen to non-stop bhajans at: www.saibhaktiradio.com
Now you can view this eNewsLetter from iPhone at http://worldofsai.com.
THE
22-11-1996: Before going to bed, I prayed on Sai to advice on how to lead a happy domestic life while in Gruhastasrama. Sai appeared in the form of the priest who performed my marriage rituals and said: 1. Love your wife sincerely and never engage in lavish expenditure with the strreedhan. 2. To lead a happy marital life, money is required, but that should not be at the cost of neglecting wife and children. Not attending to their basic needs is also a crime. 3. Do not give away your children in adoption to runaway from the responsibilities. Marriage calls for greater responsibilities in life.
DEVOTEES CORNER DEVOTEES EXPERIENCE Om Sai Ram, The incident that I am going to narrate happened to me very recently. I am currently working in Bethesda, Maryland and wanted to visit India to receive an award. As I had recently visited India for a month so I was sure that I will not get leave to visit again. I requested Baba for help and decided to show the fax intimating me about the award to my boss. I couldn't believe my ears when my boss not only sanctioned my leave but even sponsored my trip to India. So with Baba's grace I was able to visit India and as I live in Delhi, I got the opportunity to visit the Baba's temple in Lodhi Road in New Delhi. I started my return journey on 2nd of November from Delhi. On my way to the airport I realized that before starting from my home I forgot to do a naman in front of Baba's picture in my house. At that moment I just wished that I could get a chance to see Baba's picture. I reached airport and after all the paperwork as I moved for the final security clearance I was asked to wait, as Security clearance for Air India has not been announced. I decided to sit in the waiting area and the moment I reached there, I heard OM SAI SAI SAI, BABA SAI SAI SAI and I saw Babas picture on TV. It was an advertisement for Om SAI Ram a tape of Bhajans sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Tears started to flow from my eyes as Baba has fulfilled my wish. As human mind is always greedy so after few minutes I just wished that I could see His picture one more time and with this wish I boarded my flight. Once seated, I just picked up Namaskaar the inflight magazine of Air India. To my surprise it
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ARTICLES FROM DEVOTEES had a picture of SAI Baba in an article on Maharashtra. I thoroughly went through the article but it had no mention of Baba or Shirdi but His picture was very much there. After seeing His picture I was really overwhelmed. On this trip my wife had also accompanied me but she had her ticket on a different Air India flight that goes via London. Her flight had started at 7 in the morning on the same day while my flight started for Paris at 930 in the morning. Once I reached here I showed her the magazine and told her the whole incident. To my surprise, she got the November issue current of the inflight magazine on her flight while I had the October issue in hand. I all of a sudden remembered stories mentioned in SAI Satcharitra where Baba gave Darshan to his devotees outside SHIRDI in the form of his picture. I have put this picture in my house and every time I look at it gives me a feeling of contentment that is just indescribable -Dharmendra Rathore *** Namasthe to all SAI devotees Today as per IST is Thursday. May Baba bring happiness and peace to all His devotees. Many of you might have heard about the Nagasai Mandir at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. When this temple was consecrated, HH Narasimha Swami was present. When some eternal doubting Thomases questioned about Baba's acceptance of the Pooja performed that day, Narasimha Swamiji replied in the affirmative. When the doubts still persisted, Swamiji told the gathering that Baba would manifest His presence, but the devotees must be prepared to take it with equanimity. The Bhajans continued late in the night and all of a sudden a big cobra entered the hall, went near the lighted lamp and showed its hood. When the devotee became panicky, Narasimha Swami advised calm. He offered Arathi to the cobra and offered Pranam and requested the Cobra not to frighten the devotees. At the same spot, the cobra dug a pit and disappeared. Narasimha Swami then told the gathering that Baba came in the form of Cobra and His presence in the Mandir confirmed that He had accepted their Pooja. As the temple was associated with this episode of Cobra, the temple was called NAGASAI MANDIR thereafter. An old photo of this incident is available in the rear portion of the Chennai Saimandir at Mylapore. My father narrated this incident to me as he was present in the Mandir on that day. This incident took place around 1948/49. - Sai Krishnan
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/. SaidarbarUSA is celebrating its Annual Day on 2nd Oct, 2010 at Chinmaya Kedar, Langhorne, PA. 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 event info please visit http://www.saitemplepa.com/.
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ARTICLES FROM DEVOTEES BABA'S MIRACLE - 9 HOW THE WHEELS OF BABA GRIND SLOWLY BUT SURELY? It has been narrated in the earlier article, how though past 40 and without a regular job, I was granted exemption and appointed as A Grade office Assistant in the Royal Indian Navy in Dec 1948. It was, no doubt; the first as well as the last such exemption granted by the Government of India as a striking example of Baba's grace. Hardly had I settled down in my job when, out of sheer jealousy, some of the office-staff petitioned the NHQ against my appointment and the exemption granted. I knew about it only when a letter came retracting the earlier order and allowing me the option to work in a lower category as a clerk. Mr. Brooker, who had originally recommended me, showed me the letter and wished to know my reaction. I was stunned. Apart from the discomfiture of being downgraded, my emoluments would go down too, making it impossible for me to make both ends meet. Above all, I was hit below the belt. I said I was not prepared to be demoted. I requested him to forward my appeal against the patently unjust order. He readily agreed.
“Stay by me and keep quiet. I will do the rest.� ~ Baba
All the while what was puzzling me was why Baba was tantalizing me like this. Of course, learn I did, though it took me long years to do so, that MUTE AND HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO HIS WILL IS THE ONLY RULE FOR A PEACEFUL LIFE. But then, still being raw, I became desperate. As muuch so on reaching home, to the astonishment of my wife kamala, and to my own shame later on, I hit Him with my fist, the glass of the frame fracturing and cutting my fist into the bargain. I gave Him an ultimatum, so to say, to see through my appeal, or else! I sat down before Him and wrote it out in the strongest language possible telling the people at the NHQ about their ineptitude, cussedness, inability to take a decision in the first instance, and causing untold misery to an appointee to cover up their administrative inefficiency.' Mr. Brooker's face went red on reading the appeal. He glowered at me and demandd to know whether I called it an appeal and, whether I expected him to forward it to the NHQ. I told him that Britishers were still at the helm and, since they were not playing the game but hitting me below the belt, I expected him, as an Englishman, to come to my rescue. He immediately cooled down and volunteered to send it adding, "The worst that can happen to me is that, they can terminate my contract, according to which I have still a year to go. Well, I can always go back to my job home. So, here goes! "It was a stinker all right. I bided my time keeping my fingers crossed. Before a week had passed came a reply cancelling the adverse letter and regretting the inconvenience caused to me. No long after, a new technical department called the Directorate of Naval Armament Inspection was formed. As there was no age bar for this, Mr. Brooker, sensing a possible recurrence of trouble for me on this score, put me up as a candidate, and I was selected again as an act of Baba's grace. The emoluments were higher. Baba had steered my course clear of the sharks and shoals of jealous intrigues and administrative objections. Baba, in His
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Infinite Mercy, wished to spare me further suffering. Hence it was He had created so many obstacles and diverted my course in a totally unexpected manner to perfect safety. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT MAN IS HIS OWN ENEMY AND OFTEN COMES IN THE WAY OF GOD TO DO GOOD TO HIM. It took me a long time, indeed decades, to sense this fully and cease to be like a wayward and naughty child of an indulgent father, and learn 'to be content to remain where and what you are according to His will. The truth is one can be happy only when one,
"To God both late and early pray More of his grace than gifts to lend, And entertains the harmless day With a religious book or friend. Such man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall, Lord of himself though not of lands, And having nothing, yet hath all".
("A Happy Warrier" by Sir Henry Wotton)
Glory be to Shri Shirdi Sai - Grace be to all
Jai Sai Ram Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah, Om Sri Saraswatyai Namah, OmSri Sainathaya Namah ————————————————————————————————————————————————–
SaiDarbarUSA Greater Philadelphia (www.saidarbarusa.org)
Annual Day Celebrations and Palki Utsav ~ 2010
———————————————————————————————————————— —— With the blessings of Lord Sri Sai Nath, SaiDarbarUSA.org is completing its Seventh year and cordially invites you with family and interested friends for its Annual Day Celebrations at
Chinmaya Kedar (www.chinmayakedar.org) 560 Bridgetown Pike, Langhorne, PA 19054
On 2nd October, 2010 at 01:00pm
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Story for this Week: ― The Three Suitors‖ Long ago there lived a man named Krishna in a town. He had a beautiful daughter called Suseela who was really a ‗suseela‘ in qualities also as befitted her name. Many young men wanted to marry her and approached her father for her hand. Some of them had money but no beauty; some of them had neither money nor beauty; while others who had not were not having good qualities. So he rejected most of the suitors then and there. At last he approved three suitors who were qualified to be his son-in-law from all aspects. But whom to chose out of three? One day he sent for all of them together and said, ―the three of you desire to marry my daughter and I like all of you. I am sure that my daughter will be happy with any one of you. I really don‘t know how to choose one among you. So I shall put a test for you. The one who is the be will be chosen as my daughter‘s husband. What do you say?‖ They all agreed. The Krishna said, ―I shall give you all three months‘ time. At the end of three months come to me together and tell me one fine action that you have done in these three months. The one who has done the best of actions will have my daughter.‖ The three months were over. Krishna invited a big gathering of elders to be present when the three young men would narrate their best deeds. The elders would decide whose was the best deed. The women folk gathered in a corner, the elders sat on chairs, and the three suitors sat in front of them in a row. When all were ready, Krishna turned to the suitors and asked, ―Please relate to us the best deed done by you in these three months.‖ The first suitor got up and said, ―Sirs, while going through the accounts of my late father I discovered that he owed Rs.10,000/- to one business man who is no more. His young son would not have known anything about the debt. I felt that I should discharge my father‘s debt even if the young man did not know it. So I showed the account to the young man and paid off the whole amount to him.‖ The second suitor got up and said, ―Sirs, last month I was passing through the forest near our town. Suddenly I heard a scuffle and a muffled scream. I ran thither to see what was happening. Half a dozen ruffians were manhandling a young man to loot him. Though, I was alone and I had only one lathi in my hand, I attacked those robbers and helped the young man. By God‘s grace together we could overcome the robbers and escape with safety.‖ The third suitor got up and said, ―Sirs, one day I was passing through the range of mountains on the THE
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north of our town. There I found my sworn enemy who had done me many a bad turn, sleeping on the edge of the mountain. In sleep he rolled and shifted and was dangerously near the edge. Had he moved one more inch, he would have fallen into the deep valley and died. I went near him, gently woke him up and advised him to get up and sleep in a safer place.‖ When the three suitors finished, Krishna turned to the elders and requested, ―Please give us your verdict. Whose deed is the best?‖ The elders consulted among themselves and replied, ―All the three suitors are fine men with golden qualities. Since we have to compare and contrast in order to select the best, we do so. The first suitor had been exemplary in honesty. Now-a-days it is very difficult to meet with such honesty. Still what he did was his duty only. The second suitor had been valiant and chivalrous. He was very brave. Still what he did was what is expected of a man. He is an ideal man. The third suitor is the best according to all of us, because he helped his bitter enemy. An ordinary man cannot do it. It is the Divinity within that gives such a forgiving and considerate nature. Therefore we feel that the third suitor deserves the hand of your daughter.‖ All those who were gathered there applauded their decision. On one auspicious day the marriage of the suitor took place with Suseela. Moral: The greatest giving is ―Forgiving‖. RESPONSE FROM JUNIORS
NEW Question for you …. What makes you proud to be a Hindu ? share your thoughts with your other friends Send it to editor@saidarbarusa.org With a subject line: Children Section
Every other weekend, I look forward to two things: one, to see all of my friends at the Satsang, and two, to sing to Shirdi Sai Baba‘s glory. The feeling of comfort and relief that I get after going to every Satsang is unexplainable, and sooner that I know it, two weeks have already passed and it is time to go to the next one. The Satsang is very important to me, as it is an occasion where I can be a part of gathering of Baba‘s devotees, singing and enjoying in presence of everyone and Sai Baba. Being in United States, these opportunities are wonderful gifts which Baba has offered me as a way to connect with Him. Not only the bhajans in the Satsang are of importance, but all of the readings and lessons that are taught in the Balavihar led by a Sai Sevak of Satsang are truly remarkable. Where else can I get a teacher such as himself, who teaches the practices and Gods of Hinduism, and explains in a way that the kids as well as the adults will understand. Balavihar and the Satsang are both things of great importance to me, because it is an opportunity to be with all of my friends and with Sai Baba and this gives relief and comfort to my mind and body. ~Kailash Narayanan
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SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SATCHARITA ~ CHAPTER 39 & 50 Contributed by: swamy@saimail.com
Baba's Knowledge of Sanskrit As stated therein, he gets the impressions - "I am Jiva, a creature, humble and poor." The Guru has to root out these offshoots of ignorance and has to give upadesh or instruction. To the disciple, held spell-bound for endless generations by the ideas of his being a creature, humble and poor, the Guru imparts in hundreds of births the teaching - "You are God, you are mighty and opulent." Then, he realizes a bit that he is God really. The perpetual delusion under which the disciple is laboring, that he is the body, that he is a creature (jiva) or ego, that God (Paramatma) and the world are different from him, is an error inherited from innumerable past births. From actions based on it, he has derived his joy, sorrows and mixtures of both. To remove this delusion, this error, this root ignorance, he must start the inquiry. How did the ignorance arise? Where is it? And to show him this is called the Guru's upadesh. The following are the instances of Ajnana :-
..My eye is
ever on those who love me‌ ~ Baba
1 - I am a Jiva (creature) 2 - Body is the soul (I am the body). 3 - God, world and Jiva are different. 4 - I am not God. 5 - Not knowing, that body is not the soul. 6 - Not knowing that God, world and Jiva are one. Unless these errors are exposed to his view, the disciple cannot learn what is God, jiva, world, body; how they are inter-related and whether they are different from each other, or are one and the same. To teach him these and destroy his ignorance is this instruction in Jnana or Ajnana. Why should Jnana be imparted to the jiva, (who is) a Jnanamurti? Upadesh is merely to show him his error and destroy his ignorance. Baba added :- (1) Pranipata implies surrender. (2) Surrender must be of body, mind and wealth; Re: (3) Why should Krishna refer Arjuna to other Jnanis? "Sadbhakta takes every thing to be Vasudev (B.G.VII-19 i.e., any Guru will be Krishna to the devotee) and Guru takes disciple to be Vasudev and Krishna treats both as his Prana and Atma (B.G.7-18, commentary of Jnanadev on this). As Shri Krishna knows that there are such Bhaktas and Gurus, He refers Arjuna to them so that their greatness may increase and be known. Sai Ram. What a great lesson in self knowledge? We bow in reverence to this pair of Nara-Narayan for that wonderful drama and helping other sadhakas like us on the path! Many people talk of Sadgurus and how one should be cautious in selecting one's guru etc. In other places, Baba advises us how to recognize a Sadguru and having found one, we are, through the above and a few more examples told the importance of surrender. In fact, if the disciple surrenders with full faith, the real Guru takes over even the pseudo Guru and blesses the disciple, as demonstrated by the story of pseudo guru Jawahar Ali.
Jai Sai Ram Will be continued‌..
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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 If the intellect, being related to a mind that is restrained, possesses discrimination and therefore always remains pure, then the embodied soul attains that goal from which one is not born again. (Katha Upanishad 1.3.8) 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