The Glory of Shirdi Sai Ninth Year of Publication - Published as Bi-Weekly www.saidarbarusa.org ~ an affiliate of www.saidarbar.org
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गुरुब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णु: गुरुर्दे वो महे श्वर: |
गुरु: शाऺात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः:||
सबुरी
CONTENT Satsangs of SaiBaNisaji Time Machine Shirdi Dairy Shri Sainath Stavan Manjari The Dreams Train Devotees Corner Children Section Spiritual Gems From Sai Satcharita Quintessence JAI SAI RAM
FROM THE SATSANGS OF SAIBANISA JI Our Shri Sai is always sweet like a nectar to His devotees. Always his teachings are filled with value and directions to eradicate worries in our life and how to work our way towards HIM. He took the human form and lived among us to ensure that we reach our ultimate path of salvation. The only way which is constantly geared towards HIM is to remember Him in any form or method which is possible for us. By singing his bhajans and reading his stories gives us all the knowledge and enlightenment we need to direct us in that righteous path. In our Shastras it is always insisted that a Puja is incomplete, unless a golden coin is offered to the Divine, our Lord with a complete pure heart. This is also supported by our Vedas that we can never go empty handed to see God, King, Saint or Guru. The value that it implicates is that “Practice Charity…Give with faith, Give with magnanimity”. It doesn’t matter how much we offer, but the offer we make with our heart is a way to complete our Puja to our Sai. In various stories from the Satcharita, in many instances we can see that Baba asked for Dakshina to remove people’s attachment to money and also to purify their minds. It was not the Dakshina he collected but their sins to make them happy and free from mundane existence. Baba also says that, “He had to give back hundred times more of what he received”. Donation of money and charity inculcates non-attachment to money and leads to balance our mind away from the other worldly affairs. On this Thursday let us ensure that we understand the importance of offering dakshina to our Sadguru and develop this habit of offering the dakshina and be blessed immensely by Shri Sai.
*** Bow to Shri Sai ~ Peace be to All
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SAI’S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
I think of my people day and night. I say their names over and over. ~ Baba
THE
To quote an instance, Mr Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi autobiography that, on Baba’s pressing him often for Dakshina, he emptied his money bag before Him. The result of this was, as Mr.Bodas says that in later life he never lacked money, as it came to him abundantly. It is to be noted that, though Baba collected a lot of money by Dakshina, He would distribute the whole amount the same day and the next morning, He would become a poor Fakir as usual. When Baba took his Mahasamadhi, even after receiving thousands and thousands of Rupees as Dakshina for about ten years, He had only a few rupees in His possession. Thus, Baba’s main object in taking Dakshina from His devotees was to teach then the lessons of Renunciation and Purification…… (Satcharita, Ch. XIV)
SHIRDI DAIRY
BY SHRI G.S. KHAPARDE
1910 10 December Saturday Shirdi. In the morning after prayer I told my son Baba never to mention anything about our going away to Sayin Maharaj. He knows all & would know when to send us away. As usual we Sayin Saheb as he was going out & later on when we went to the Masjid. Sayin Saheb was very much pleased and told the story of a former life of a young girl who was playing with him. He said she was an artist & died & was usual buried. Sayin Saheb passed that way & spent a night near her tomb. So she accompanied him. He kept her in a Babul tree and then brought her here. He said he was Kabir before & used to spin yarn. The conversation was exceedingly pleasant. In the afternoon Mr. Shridhan Paranjape of Wardha accompanied by one Mr Pandit, another doctor & a third, came. Mr Patwardhan junior of Ahmednagar was there. My son & he are old college friends. They all went to see Sayinsaheb & we all accompanied them. Sayinsaheb treated them, the same way as he treats every body, & and talked first of Teli, Marwadi ,etc. Then he talked of buildings that are being put up & added “The world is gone mad. Every man has acquired a peculiarity of evil thinking. I never put myself on an equality with any of them. So I never listen to what they say. Nay. I never reply. What should I reply.” He then distributed “Udi ” & told us to return to the wada. He singled out Patwardhan junior & told him to stay behind, as usual mentioning “tomorrow ” as the day of departure. I & Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe returned to the wada. It appears Paranjape & his companions went to the lady Radhakrishna. Somehow Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe went there, but apparently was not treated as he deserved to be. Bapu Saheb Jog ’s wife has been ill. She has benefited very much by what Sayinsaheb says & gives as medicine but apparently she lost patience today & wanted to go away -even Bapusaheb Jog, out of sheer helplessness agreed to let her go. Sayin Saheb, made repeated enquiries about her & when she was going. When, however, in the evening Bapusaheb Jog proposed to go formally to Sayinsaheb for asking permission, she said she felt better & did not wish to go. We wondered.
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SHRI SAI NATH STAVAN MANJARI (A Humble Tribute of praise by Dasganu Maharaj)
(Translated from the marathi by Smt.Zarine Taraporevala and edited by Dr. Smt.Indira Kher, Ex.Executive Editor, Shri Sai Leela Magazine)
A HUMBLE TRIBUTE OF PRAISE TO SHRI SAINATH The trunk is the eternal abode ; You are the Godavari, unshakable faith is the ghat; All beings are the garments Full of the impurities comprising six vices.
….85
The "DARSHAN " of your feet Is like a bath in the Godavari ; Wash away my sins. Oh, Samarth, and purify me !
….86
We worldly people Gather layers of impurities again and again ; Therefore, we are the right people for the "DARSHAN " of saints.
….87
In the abundant waters of the Godavari Comes the wash 28, to be cleansed at the GHATS : If it is really left unattended, Then, it is a discredit to the Godavari !
….88
You are the cool, shady tree, with abundant foliage ; We are the travellers, really, Suffering from the scorching sun - rays Of the three - fold 29 calamities of Life.
….89
From that blazing heat, oh compassionate one, Protect us, Oh GURURAYA. The benign grace of your cool shade Is extraordinary !
….90
Sitting under a tree If one feels the heat of the sun, Then, who will call that tree The shade-giving tree ?
….91
28. 29.
The dirty clothes. These arise out of spiritual conditions, physical conditions or due to fate.
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
30-01-1997
Sai appeared as an unknown person and said: 1. To majority of people, morals and ethics make no sense. A person whose mind is so trained will certainly tear off the paper preaching values. Do not hate him, keep the values to your heart and move forward. I look on all with an equal eye. ~Baba
2. There are many a starving people in this country. So also there are equal number indulging in wastage of food in public functions. Feed the hungry ones and pray for wisdom to prevail upon those wasting food. Many a times, educating values is like blowing trumpets before a deaf man.
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THE
In your section "Experience of Devotees'", I would like to narrate a significant miracle, not that miracles are small or big, a miracle is a miracle. Baba's grace is magnanimous and we have to acknowledge that. Yes, there are some Bhakts' who are disillusioned at the moment but Baba knows what is going on in our lives and by surrendering to Him, we can get rid of our problems. However, when we lose patience and faith, we lose the vital link, and this is unfortunate for any devotee. My daily prayer to Baba comprises prayers' for all Sai Bhakts' that, may our faith and patience in you grow magnificently. Well, let me not digress from my experience, which I would like to share with everyone. My niece, Anuradha was afflicted with leucoderma, a disease that leaves white patches all over the body, and disfigures the face. She developed it suddenly, sometime in 1995. What started as a tiny patch grew insidiously and in no time, she had full-blown leucoderma. At nineteen years of age, her dreams of getting married or socializing with
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people were completely shattered. However, I went to visit her in Chandigarh, India and gave her some UDHI, which I always carry with me. That was in December 1995, I am mentioning the time so that people in a similar dilemma can hope for something similar to happen to them and can appreciate the time lapse, and the patience. My niece started going to a local Sai temple every Thursday. She would sit there, attend Arti, sing Bhajans', and she was positive from day One that her cure was imminent. Well, a homeopathic doctor gave her some medicines, which she would apply on her face, but she feels that Doctor was Baba in disguise, because he gave her the medicines and was not contractible after that which remains a mystery. Now, Anu is cured and the patches are not visible anymore. I firmly believe that when He cures, He cures from the root. Sai Ram to all. - A Sai Devotee JAI SAI RAM: We are devotees of Baba from past 10 years. We have lot of experiences with Baba. But this is really a wonder of Baba. On September.30 1996, our family and our uncle's family went to Shirdi to pray to Baba. We were travelling in our Maruthi van and my brother was the only driver at that time. In Shirdi, we attended three arathis. From there, we visited Shani Shinganapur. On Oct.3, we were returning Hyderabad. We were planning to stop for lunch. We were looking for good dhaba for taking lunch. Then suddenly what happened we don't know may be my brother felt sleepy because he is the one driving for the whole trip? He dashed the van into a milestone then the van jumped off the road and it rolled three times. After that, it came to the original position. While rolling, my mother was screaming Baba...Baba... That was really a big Accident. In that accident my uncle's leg fractured. And every one got some scratches. Near by. two villagers watched our accident they helped us a lot. They were telling us later, we saw this type of accident in movies only, not in real life. They were thinking that no one would survive in that accident. But Baba blessings are with us. After that, the two men took us to local hospital for first aid. Then they took us to Sholapur there my uncle got some temporary treatment to his fractured leg in a hospital and at the same night, they dropped us in our home at Hyderabad. All these transportation was in their own vehicle. My uncle got operation for his broken leg. My family members were worried about me because my wedding was 45 days from that day. After that I got married and I came to USA. In SAI BABA SATHCHARITHRA Shyama use to ask Baba every time, "Why giving obstacles to your devotees and again why do you go to save them ?". We also asked Baba the same thing, "Why Baba? Why? You did to us that big accident and you came as the villagers to help us". This is a given life from Baba for both of our families. After that we all visited Shirdi. OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI. - Jyothi, CA, USA
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ARTICLES FROM DEVOTEES (A RECORD OF THRILLING EXPERIENCES OF (LATE) DR.P.S.RAMASWAMI AN ARDENT DEVOTEE OF SHRI SHIRDI SAI BABA)
BABA'S MIRACLE THROUGH GURUJI-3
HOW A MAJOR FRACTURE OF THE FEMUR (THIGHBONE)OF SHRI LAJJA SHANKAR JHA, PAST 90 YEARS, WAS MIRACULOUSLY FUSED AND HEALED (1967) This concerns Shri Lajja Shankar Jha, famous educationist of the Benaras Hindu University and the father of Dr. V.S.Jha, our former UNESCO Commisioner in the UK and Australia. He was 92 or 93 at the time. One night, as he got up as usual to
If you are wealthy, be humble. Plants bend
answer a call of nature, he got entangled in the mosquito-net and slipped over the edge of the cot and fell. As a result, his thigh bone was fractured. He was immediately shifted to the nearby Nursing Home where an X-ray examination showed the fractured parts slightly over-lapping each other. The surgeon, Dr.Chatterjee, felt that it would be too risky to try to set the bone which was bound to be too brittle to stand the pressure involved. "So he put a gravity bandage and left it, hoping that, in
when they
due course, it would help to bring the fractured parts into position when further
bear fruit.
It was at this junction one fine morning in December, 1967, that I was intro-
~ Baba
steps could be thought of. duced to Dr.Jha, forthwith beseeched me to take over the treatment of his father saying he would speak to Dr.Chatterjee known to him since the latter's childhood. Though now I felt a little more sure of myself, even as (Nimitha Matra) an instrument after the miraculous recovery of Shri Patil (see No.2 miracle worked through Guruji), I nevertheless, requested Dr. Jha to see Guruji and obtain' his approval first. I was conscious of two aspects of treatment, one, orthopaedic and the other, spiritual. Obviously, the first was out of question, for, even if the bone was set, the fusing of the fracture at this age was impossible. As for the second, namely, invoking Baba's perennial and unfailing help, it is an 'open sesame' to all with faith, irrespective of age or any other consideration. Is not faith to believe what you cannot see and the reward of that faith to see what you believe?
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Dr. Jha returned with a beaming face with Guruji's O.K. for me to go ahead as well as assurance for success. The treatment was started at once. The same afternoon, four or five members of the family attending upon the grand old man finding him sleep, came out to bask in the sun. Presently, hearing his call, they hurried into the room to be asked who it was that had just been in. He had felt a hand gently sweeping across and down his fractured thigh without anyone answering his query as to who it was. It was their turn to be mystified, for, none of them had come in nor seen any one else to do so. I was thrilled when I came to know this in the evening. I knew in my heart that it was Baba answering Guruji's prayer in behalf of the senior Jha. When after a couple of months, an X-ray was taken, wonder of wonders! It showed the bone had fused and became whole, no doubt, set by the Expert Hands of the Master Orthopaedist! It was the second feather in my cap, though I was fully well aware of being only a proxy for receiving it.
Glory be to Shri Shirdi Sai - Grace be to all ——————————
Om Sai Ram English version of SHIRDI SAI NATHUNI MADHURANAMAMRUTHAM (Prema Maniharam) is now available.
A Diamond Necklace to Shirdi Sai Baba Publisher: Sterling Publishers This book is about 108 names of Shirdi Sai with Detailed Meaning + Miracles + prayer for each name Regards, Sai Giridhar Ari http://www.shirdisaiashtothara.com/ http://shirdisaimadhuranama.blogspot.com/ http://www.sterlingpublishers.com/bookinfo.asp?na=9788120758681
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t i on c e S n e r d Chil
Learn and Participate
Story for this Week: “ Think twice before you act� Long ago, there used to live a very great King by the name Nruga, the son of Ikshvaaku. He gave as many gow daanams as there are grains of sand on the earth, stars in the heavens, or drops in a rain shower. He gave the best quality kapila varna cows, decorated with pure golden hooves and horns, along with their calves. He gave them to the most learned braahmanas (priests) , whose families were in need, were young and possessed of excellent character and qualities, who were dedicated to truth, famous for their austerity, vastly learned in the Vedic scriptures and saintly in their behaviour. He performed many other such great daanams (charities) for the needy. In addition, he performed many yagnyas (sacrifices) and executed various pious welfare activities. Once, a cow owned by a learned braahmana wandered away and entered the herd being given as charity by Nruga. Unaware that he was giving a cow that did not belong to him, he gave it to one other needy braahmana. When the owner of the cow saw his cow being taken away, he said "The cow belongs to me!" and the other said "No! It was given to me by Nruga." Nruga comes to know about this and offers each one of them a thousand cows of highest quality and asked them to save him from this difficult situation. However, both the braahmanas went away leaving the cow. Yamadharmaraaja, lord of death, after King Nruga leaves his physical body and comes to Yamaloka, asks Nruga "do you wish to experience the results of your paapam first, or those of your punya? Indeed, I see no end to the greatest daanams you have performed, or to your consequent enjoyment in the urdhva lokas. However, you made the sin of stealing a cow from a braahmana". Nruga chooses to face the consequences of his paapam first and immediately falls as a huge chameleon in a well. Since he always had bhakti towards the Lord and performed uncountable number of great daanams, he always remembered who he was, and what mistake he committed. He used to repent for his mistake and spent a very long time alone in the well, always doing Bhagavatdhyaanam.
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After a very long time, once when Shri Krishna, Saamba, Pradyumna, Chaaru, Bhaanu, Gada and other boys were playing, out of thrist they goto the well where Nruga was living. Out of pity, Shri Krishna takes him out of the well. The touch of the Lord of the universe made Nruga get a divya tejaswi (light) form, with radiating kiritam and ornaments and tejas of Sun. On being asked by Shri Krishna, the Sarvagnya, the reason for the chameleon form, Nruga tells him his unfortunate story. He does a stotram to Lord krishna, does a pradakshinam, takes leave from the Lord and before the eyes of everyone flies to urdhva lokas in a divya vimaanam. Morals in the Story: 1. Even for a great person like Nruga, one mistake, which he did unknowingly, made him experience the result of his paapam. Thus one should be very careful not to commit any kind of sin even unknowingly and lead a very ideal life. 2. Some or the other time, one must experience the results of his paapa or punya. However, if one surrenders himself to the God, He will lift you from the samsaaram and in the end give you kaivalyam, as Krishna did to Nruga. 3. Since Nruga never forgot remembering the Lord and the Lord was impressed by his great acts, Krishna granted him urdhva lokas in the end. So the end result for a good person will always be good.
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SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SATCHARITA ~ CHAPTER 42 Contributed by: swamy@saimail.com
Baba's Passing Away Charity to Laxmibai Dasara or Vijayadashami is regarded by all the Hindus as the most auspicious time and it is befitting that Baba should choose this time for His crossing the border-line. He was ailing some days before this, but He was ever conscious internally. Just before the last moment He sat up erect without anybody's aid, and looked better. People thought that the danger had passed off and He was getting well. He knew that He was to pass away soon and therefore, He wanted to give some money as charity to Laxmibai Shinde. Pervading All Creatures Do not be Baba This Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman. She was working in the Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was
obsessed by allowed to step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was sitting in the Masjid the importance of wealth. ~ Baba
with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted Baba. The latter said to her "Oh Laxmi, Iam very hungry." Off she went saying - "Baba, wait a bit, I return immediately with bread." She did return with bread and vegetables and placed the same before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog. Laxmibai then asked - "What is this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared bread with my own hands for You and You threw it to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You gave me trouble unnecessarily." Baba replied - "Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an axiomatic Truth." This is an ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical application in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. This bread-story should not be considered as a digression; it shows, how Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them. He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal. Sai Ram. Let us also recollect the earlier stories of Baba fed sumptuously (Chapter 9). Baba has given several such instances of His oneness with all creatures and beings but because of maya, people were tending to forget the lessons. So, He was teaching the same lessons again and again at different occasions to different people as needed. Sai Ram. Will be continued‌.
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Quintessence from Shri Sai Baba’s Philosophy (By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao) ~ Contribution by "Shashank"crazydiode@gmail.com, Mrs and Mr Anand
Chapter 35: The Wheel of Time and the Pangs of sorrow and Death Continued from last issue
25. Death is but a change of garments. The old body falls off like autumn leaves and the new body comes like spring flowers. So there is no fear or loss in death. The soul is reborn when Karma drags into a womb. Death is a relief from the woes of this earth-life. It carries the soul to the next step of evolution. Live purely and peacefully even if death comes. Do not fear death. When it comes – laugh and never weep. You are only going to return in new garments. Death is the beloved who decks you in new robes. 26. Unable to bear the woes of family life and bodily sufferings, some people invite death saying – O death, come and take me away. If it actually comes, they will tremble and cry – Go, go O Death. We love our home, our wife and children; we cannot leave them. This is the nature of the world. 27 Death which comes for everybody, comes for the hero too. The good self-sacrificing heroes never fear for death. Their goodness has already immortalized them. They are conscious of the immortal self beyond the body. 28. Death separates only the body. It never touches the spirit which travels up with the subtle body and descends into another womb forced by Karma. The impression of Karma is attached to the subtle mental body. This is the seed of the coming birth and life. The Karma and its fruits perish as soon as the Pure Spirit is realized. Then the Spirit does not take a body, but mingles and lives free in the spiritual ether. That consistent impersonal Spirit can descend into anybody, and work for the human elevation. Liberated Souls thus life for ever impersonally and come to the human aid in time of need. Will be continued... सत्सङ्गत्वे ननस्स्ङ्गत्वं ननस्सङ्गत्वे ननमोहत्वम ् | ननमोहत्वे ननश्चलतत्त्वं ननश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मक्ु तः ||
For all SaiDarbarUSA activities in Greater Philadelphia, please visit 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 event info please visit http://www.saitemplepa.com/. UDI Prasaad From Shirdi Now Available in Canada for Distribution : Devotees of Greater Toronto Area can visit Sai Darbar and receive UDI from Baba with His Blessings - Darbar is open for DARSHANbetween 10:30am to 4pm every Thursday. (visits after 4pm pls call to confirm). Devotees in the OTHER PARTS OF CANADA can receive UDI PRASAAD by submitting their request by email at saileela99@gmail.com orSubmit your willingness by visiting www.shirdisainath.org giving your full family name - Phone number postal and email address.
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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 “Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to
the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve...Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, you will achieve your destiny”. ~ The Bhagavad Gita 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