Volume 2011-11

The Glory of Shirdi Sai Ninth Year of Publication - Published as Bi-Weekly www.saidarbarusa.org ~ an affiliate of www.saidarbar.org

Y E A R

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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 Baba’s close devotees Children Section Spiritual Gems From Sai Satcharita Quintessence

Importance of AUM Aum is one of the most chanted sound symbol in Hinduism. According to the Mandukya Upanishad “AUM is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development”. The past, the present and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it. It is believed to the most sacred symbol in Hindu dharma and is the sound of the infinite. All the words produced by the human vocal organ can be represented by AUM. A is produced by the throat, U and M by the lips.

AUM has a profound effect on the body and mind of the person who chants and also on their surroundings. Most mantras and Vedic prayers start with AUM. All auspicious actions begin with AUM. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Aum. Hence it’s sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Aum chant should have the resounding sound of a bell. It fills the mind with peace, makes it focused and replete with subtle sound.

Shri Sai always advised his devotees to chant “Aum Namah Shivaya”. “Aum Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai”, all these chants create a divine energy. On this Thursday let us chant a mantra which helps us to be calm and give us time to think about our Lord and grow spiritually. ***

JAI SAI RAM

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I have to take

Shri Sai always asked His devotees to do Naam Saptaha. Baba always was inclined towards repeating Divine name of God or mantra as he indicated that the effect of chants gather more spiritual energy. This dynamo of the mind creates positive energy and with the combination of Shraddha and Saburi lead us closer to destiny. Baba also suggested His devotees that the chanting helps in relaxing the mind, and lead to meditation and helps the mind focus in certain direction towards Him and be observant of the happenings around.

care of my children day and night and give an account to God of every paisa.

1911 17 January Tuesday, Amravati.

I had court work today so there was not much time to do any thing in the morning. After prayer I came into the hall as usual & finding Baba Palekar there, sat talking with him. He visited Shirdi & made my presents to Sayin Maharaj. The latter accepted them. In the course of conversation he remarked that he had not asked for sugarcanes for the last one thousand years & now that he did so, only three were brought to him. What could he do with them? He permitted Palekar & his companions to go away at once saying they could see God in a few days.

After breakfast I went to court with Gopalrao Dole & Palekar joined us on the way. I appeared before Mr Dighe & presented the written statement of Motilal Champalal. Then I went to additional Session ’s Judges Court and inspected the miscl appeals to be argued tomorrow. Gopalrao Dole and Durrani helped me. It is an appeal purely on evidence. Then we returned home & I lay down for a while and wrote an English letter. Later on I sat reading. Asnari came & I sat talking with him about his recent trip in company with Palekar, Brahman & Ganorkar. He said the last tried to help the Palkhi at Alandi, by putting one of his shoulders to it. Then he thought he would give the other shoulder a chance & made the change but found the Palkhi very heavy and tiring. So he reproached himself & begged to be forgiven whereupon the Palkhi at once became light & he could carry it easily. Annasaheb Patwardhan was there & told the story of a Brahman who had Bramhastra taught to him by his guru.

A man encroached on his land and he could get no redress though he carried the matter to the Madras High Court. So the Brahman, one day, in reciting & giving oblations to the sun, by accident remembered the injustice. Therefrom the trespasser felt a burning sensation, fell ill, and reached the point of death. At last a Swami came & cured him and got the Brahman to renounce the Brahmastra at the root of a Shani tree. We sat talking a long time. V.K.Kale, Godbole, Braji Gokhale & others came & joined the conversation. I told them about Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe’s conviction “inspite of himself ” as he says. He wrote to my son Baba and sent the letter with Baba Palekar who delivered it this morning. Sayin Maharaj won as he was bound to do. The case is wonderful as Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe is a tough customer.

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(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 throne of pure faith I offer you as a seat ; On receiving it Accept the offering ("naiyvedya") of devotion.

…120

You partake the offerings of devotion, Give me the essence ; Because I am your child I have a claim on your milk.

…121

My mind is my monetary offering ("DAKSHINA") That I offer to you ; Therefore, the credit or discredit of any action will no longer be mine.

…122

Now, most humbly and devotedly I do obeisance to you ; Please accept it, Oh divine Sainath !

…123

EIGHTFOLD PRAYER Possessing peaceful mind, and wisdom supreme, Sainath, the compassionate, You are ocean of kindness, truth incarnate , And destroyer of the darkness of ignorance !

...1-124

The sage, beyond caste and greed you are.

Beyond comprehension compassion incarnate; Protect me, protect me, Oh, Sainath of Shirdi !

...2-125

You are the sun of Divine Knowledge the bestower of choicest blessings ; Oh, fabled HAMSA of the minds of the devotees, Protector you are of those who surrender to you.

...3-126

Will be continued......

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(Dreams Of Saibanisa after Undergoing Bypass Surgery on 17-5-1996) Compiled by Saibandhu Raghu Raman Satulury

21-02-1997: Sai appeared as my childhood friend and said:

The wise are cheerful and content with their lot in life.

1. Donot repeat mistakes committed by others and also never talk about other’s mistakes in company.

2. Never aim to draw sympathy for your ill health.

3. Do not be blinded with love for your kith and kin.

4. Follow your own religion 5. Never discriminate by caste and creed while spreading Sai philosophy.

6. Do not aspire for materialistic gains from Saibandhus.

7. Enjoy the spiritual feast in the company of Saibandhus.

8. Do not enter into Saibandhu’s personal matters.

Follow the path as shown by spiritual Gurus.

DEVOTEES EXPERIENCE Sairam,

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.

I am Nipuni from Sri Lanka. I have been a Sai devotee since I was 10 yrs old. From the day, I became a Sai devotee, everything of my life was a miracle.

Last year in December, I had a very important exam which would decide my whole schooling. Usually I am scared of exams. Not just scared, but I fear them. During the exam days, even during small school tests, I cry a lot, I get angry all the time. During exam days, I even feel like dying. I had to take medicines from a psychiatrist for my exam fear, when I was 9 years old. What I do is study till late night, even for small monthly tests. I am really good at studies, due to Sai Baba’s grace, but my fear is a hindrance. But in my O/L exam, which is very important (if I didn’t get along I would have to repeat after a year or I will have to stop schooling), I didn’t drop a single shed of tear. Instead of studying, I read Shri Sai Satcharitra. I wasn’t gloomy and unhappy like during other days, but I was very happy. My parents were also surprised. Thanks to Swami, I did my exam well and very confidently.

I don’t get fear. Swami is always with you, just hand over everything to swami and

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surrender, He will do them according to His way, which is always good for us.

Sai Ram ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————Sairam, I am working on the IT side from a very long time I also worked as a contractor never got a full time job and also as a contractor sometimes I am out of project and sometime it takes 4 to 5 months to find one project with the bad market some time I loose hope and always I use to pray Baba please give me one day a full time so I don’t have to face this problem without projects..

I can't tell you how wonderful thing happened in my life and I am very thankful to baba for bringing that day for me this year May 2011, I got 6 offers from all 6 different companies some are contracts , some are full time and some are Contract -to- Hire I was really surprised with all this offer out of that I took the offer whose result came on Thursday, no one can believe this even my husband who is not a spritual person also was wondered with this miracle from Baba... I only want from baba one thing just be there for me and my family and all the people who need's him If you really follow baba preaching you will always find peace in life .

(Courtesy- www.shirdisaibabaexperiences.org)

Om Sai Ram English and Telugu Version of SHIRDI SAI NATHUNI MADHURANAMAMRUTHAM (Prema Maniharam) is now available.

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

Please contact: Sai Giridhar Ari http://www.shirdisaiashtothara.com/ http://shirdisaimadhuranama.blogspot.com/ http://www.sterlingpublishers.com/bookinfo.asp?na=9788120758681

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Babaâ€&#x;s Close Devotees Continued from last issue‌..

Justice M. B. Rege

The wise are cheerful and content with their lot in life.

THE

As for religious exercise, Ayi was an excellent singer with a divinely charming voice and a good knowledge of music. She could play on the Sitar also. I had a good ear for music and I easily attained manolaya. I was rapt in the music when I listened to it. But as we went on, one day we talked about what form our religious exercise should take. Songs and hymns were good in their way, but they attracted attention of the outside public too much, and were not in any case sufficient for our onward course. Then we agreed that Japa was the proper step for us. What particular name should be used by us for Japa was the important question. She said that many used the name of Vittal, Ram, etc., but that so far as she was concerned, "Sai" was her God and that name was sufficient for her, while I might go on with the name of Vittal, etc., if I choose. I replied that I had not seen Vittal; and what was good for her was good for me, and that I also should go on taking Sai's name. So we sat on, facing each other and repeating to ourselves our chosen (guru God's) name - for about an hour. Later in the day, Sai Baba sent for me and asked me what I had been doing in the morning "Japa". I said, "Of what name?" he asked. "Of my God", I replied. "What is your God?" was Sai Baba's next query. I simply replied, "You know it," and he smiled and said, "That is right". Thus this Japa was really the Japa that he expressly approved and had perhaps silently started through Ayi unperceived by either Ayi or myself. Japa being the Sadhana approved of (in my case), the question may be put - what is the Sadhya or goal that Sai Baba approved of - as the goal of life? What should a man aim at and reach at the end of his life? Just as the Sadhana was indirectly started by Baba, the Sadhya or goal, also was indirectly revealed; it was patent from all he said and did. It was, through love, to reach God, (in

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any form, especially in the beloved form of the loving Guru) and intensely, nay passionately, to love him. This is what we did and what he made us to do, i.e., what he enabled or drew us to do by his own intense and wonderful love for us.

Some may set a great store by Sakshatkara or revelation in physical form of the object or worship, as the be-all and end-all of all religion. But I do not. As I intently meditated on Baba, I had Baba's vision at the meditation. I, however, treated that appearance as a matter of secondary or minor importance. I did not want Baba to be outside of me. I said to Baba that I wanted him to come in and be me. What I mean by "me" is this. The self (i.e., "I") is compounded of two substances - one the gross body and the other, the finer or subtler. In the finer, we have the baser element or part, and the nobler or higher. Our self, God Vittal and other entities are all the reflections of the Real; and so I should rise up to be Vittal or Sai; Vittal or Sai should come into me and take the place of my higher part. That is what I wanted to arrive at - and so was not satisfied with seeing Sai Baba as external to me in my meditation or contemplation.

I have not regularly studied even Gita up to this time. I did not care for spiritual study in my earlier days either; and so I do not go into much detail on the question of the exact description of the further stages or final stage of meditation.

One Guru-poornima day, numerous devotees came to Sai Baba, and as usual, placed a book before him so that he might return it with his Asirvada or blessing for them to study it with profit and benefit. Sai Baba, however, took up a book brought by one man and gave it to another, as he often does. On that occasion every one had a book in hand, except myself.

Baba then looked at me and said pointing to the books:- "In these books, they want to find God, Brahma. There is however, Bhrama, i.e. whirl, confusion or delusion in these books.

You are alright. Do not read books - but keep me in your heart. If you unify (or harmonise) head and heart, that is enough." So I have not been indulging in any regular study of religious books. I content myself with what has led me so far ( and with what has been achieved). Some of my experiences bear upon the question what I should do. Though I have been intensely loving Sri Sai, I have not been able at times to do as good service to Baba as others do.

Will be continued‌.

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t i on c e S n e r d Chil

Learn and Participate

Stories for this Week: “ Being in Association with Good”

Satsangatyam Whatever kind of a person one is, if he spends some time in Satsangam ( in association with good), will change. This is why our elders say “Saadhu janasangam" (association with Sadhus) is "Sakalaartha saadhanam” (meaning attaining everything).

In one village a thief used to live. Nobody was able to catch him. He once planned to rob the King’s personal room itself. He somehow sneaked into the personal room.

He saw that the King and the Queen didnt sleep yet and were discussing something important. He started to overhear their conversation.

The King had a beautiful daughter and the person who marries her will be the next King. The King said “ok. Tomorrow morning I will go to Gangaateeram (to the shores of River Ganga). We will give our daughter to one of the Saadhu’s who live there. Such people will not have any attachments to worldly things and hence will be able to rule the kingdom well.”

The thief thought “why should I try so much and do this trick. If tomorrow I just sit as a Saadhu, I may get married to the princess and become the King”. Thinking like this he joined the Saadhus near Gangaateeram and waited for the King to arrive.

To his surprise he saw that even if the King fell at every Saadhu’s feet and begged them to marry the princess and rule the kingdom, none of them accepted. The thief realized that surely these Saadhu’s are greater than the King. Just because these people were adore Saadhu dress, the King himself was falling at their feet. He realized that the way of life of a Saadhu is great. He thought “just by seeing such people I got so much change in my thinking, imagine how much good can happen if I really lead a life of a Saadhu”.

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When the King came and asked the thief, he too rejected the marraige and later lived the life of a Saadhu all through his life.

Morals in the story: The importance of Satsangatyam (association with good) is well shown in the story.

The greatness of the Saadhus, who don't wish to any wordly things and always spend their time in Bhagavat-dhyaanam (Meditating on God), is well shown in the story.

A moment of satsang with Sadguru is infinitely superior in comparison to millions of years of penance.

A disciple’s sins that are accumulated over numerous previous lives are instantly destroyed by just a single ambrosial glance of the Sadguru.

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CHAPTER 43 AND 44 Contributed by: swamy@saimail.com

continued from last issue..

Baba's Passing Away

Spend money in charity; be generous and munificent but not extravagant.

Paying due respect to Baba's words the people decided to place His body in the Wada and started digging the central portion there. In the evening of Tuesday the Sub-Inspector came from Rahata and others from other places turned up and they all agreed to the proposal. Next morning Amirbhai came from Bombay and the Mamlatdar from Kopergaon. The people seemed divided in their opinion. Some insisted on interring His body in the open field. The Mamlatdar therefore took a general plebiscite and found that the proposal to use the Wada secured double the number of votes. He, however, wanted to refer the matter to the Collector and Kakasaheb Dixit got himself ready to go to Ahmednagar. In the meanwhile, by Baba's inspiration there was a change in the opinion of the other people and all the people unanimously voted for the proposal. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken in procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for Murlidhar. In fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a temple and a holy shrine, where so many devotees went and are going now to find rest and peace. All the obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a great devotee of Baba.

Sai Ram. And He continues to bless us and guide us from there. Like Muralidhar, He draws His devotees from near and far.

Sai Ram. Will be continued‌.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

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(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao) ~ Contribution by "Shashank"crazydiode@gmail.com, Mrs and Mr Anand Chapter 36: The Value of Human Birth Continued from the previous issue‌ Human birth is the result of a long process of Spiritual evolution from lower forms. Having reached this stage, we must make efforts to evolve further spiritually to avoid the possibility of a fall to a lower life.

So, human life should not be frittered away in the pursuit of mundane activities and there should be conscious effort to reorient all activities towards the goal of liberation.

Out of His inherent and abundant mercy, God has equipped us with body and sense organs for using these are instruments in the right direction. Those who are entangled in the world of bondage must get released from it and ultimately reach His divine abode.

God has also shown us the method of acquiring spiritual knowledge and steps to develop devotion. We can worship Him, adore Him, feast on His forms with our eyes, praise His glory, listen to His benevolent deeds, visit places of pilgrimage and smell the flowers which have adorned His holy feet. But we are not utilizing them. We have disobeyed His commands and failed to carry out the ordained duties.

The best method of getting our mind is by seeking the company of godly men because they will always be engaged in praising God. The humility of such Saintly men has been compared to a huge tree that gives protection to all, from the heat of the sun and rain. Such eminent men will train us under their care not to criticize, treat all women as mothers or sisters and avoid gossip or getting into controversies.

Will be continued...

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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Please send your feedback to feedback@saidarbarusa.org From the Editor‟s Desk If the heart’s knot of ignorance is totally destroyed, what natural cause can there be for inducing such a ma to selfish action — the man who is averse to sense pleasure ? ~~Vivekachudamani, 423

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