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

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गुरुॄह्मा गुरुिवर्ंणु: गुरुदेर् वो महे श्वर: | गुरु: शाक्षात परॄह्म तःमै ौीगुरवे नमः:||

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CONTENT Satsangs of SaiBaNisaji Time Machine Shirdi Dairy Sri Sainatha Mananam The Dreams Train Devotees Corner Baba’s close devotees Children Section Spiritual Gems From Sai Satcharita Quintessence

Acknowledge the Blessings!

We can never understand and be satisfied in life with our Guru if we do not acknowledge and thank Him for the blessings He has shared upon us.

Without this gratitude it is impossible to attain the stage of peace and prosperity in our life. If we forever want more and more and we do not appreciate the things we have in life, we will not be able to understand and exhibit the same wavelength like our Sadguru.

Appreciation is more than just acceptance -- it's respect and admiration and it can be overused in our lives. It does not mean that it is always related to gifts and goods, as appreciation can start from a word.....to a hug.

Appreciation has this great concept that the more you give out appreciation, the more you get back. On this Thursday let us appreciate our Guru and our fellow being as much as possible and try to attain great heights in thoughts.

Kind Attention You can now read Saibanisa ji' s articles on LORD SAINATH OF SHIRDI in TELUGU from teluguvarisaidarbar.blogspot.com Now You are at ONE CLICK distance from our facebook:  Dwarkamai Geet Mala  Shirdi Sai Darbar  SaiBaNisaJi

JAI SAI RAM

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One day, he summoned Kelkar and told him, "Today is Guru Poornima. Perform Guru Puja to me." No one threw the meaning of Guru Puja. Kelkar asked Baba what Guru Puja meant. Baba asked, "Who do you think is a guru? It is not those appointed of Maths [spiritual Organizations] who are gurus. Nor are Sanyasis (renunciates) gurus; God alone is the Guru (preceptor). He is Brahma, He is Vishnu, He is Maheshwara, He is the Supreme Absolute. Salutations to the Supreme Guru. The true guru is one who combines the three forms of the Trinity, the gods who preside over creation, protection, and dissolution. Thus God alone is the real guru," declared Baba.



On hearing this Kelkar asked, "Should I worship Brahma, Vishnu or Rudra?" Baba declared in a voice of assumed anger, " Here I am! Offer worship to Me!" Thereby Baba made known that He was Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. All those present felt that Baba was the Divine incarnate.

Kalathithaya Namah 1911 22 December Thursday, Shirdi I got up early in the morning to go to Kakad Arti, but in consequence of a remark made by Madhavarao Deshpande, I thought of not going but later on Madhavarao himself went & I accompanied him. Sayin Maharaj was particularly pleasant looking & went quietly to Masjid. We all saluted him when he went out & again after he returned to the Masjid. Shigne and Darveshasaheb made an attempt to go today but Sayin Maharaj did not grant them the necessary permission.

Darveshasaheb got ill & had fever. Dr Hate treated him. I think I have mentioned before that there is one Tipnis staying here with his wife. She is ill & Dr Hate has been doing all he can for her. Ram Maruti Maharaj is also here for her. She had a fit in the evening, but it turned out to be an obsession.

Dixit, Madhavarao Deshpande & others went to see her. She is possessed by the owner of the house in which she lives by two Mahars. The owner declared that he would have killed her but that Sayin Baba ordered him not to. The Mahars are also kept away by Sayin Baba. When Tipnis threatened to move his wife to this wada the spirits prayed earnestly & asked him not to do so. The spirits said Sayin Baba would beat them. There was Bhishmas ’ Bhajan as usual & later on Ramayan by Dixit a little before midnight.

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Pujyasri B.V.Narasimhaswamiji, who visited Shirdi in the year 1936, collected authentic information about Lord Sainath from persons lived with Sai and wrote many books on Lord Sainath. All his works are authentic . One such book is SRI SAINATHA MANANAM. This book was published as early as in the year 1942 and the fourth edition came in the year 1945.

Dhynana

(Krishna says) whatever has magnificent strength, glory and prowess, know That issue out of my splendour. 

Whoever calls upon this (Sai) in times of distress or fear or amidst forest Will surely be supported (and not get dejected).



Sai Deva is the Grand Brahman, the goal of all quests, Kaivalya, the felt Bliss of Nirvana, our dear one and friend, our self, worthy of reverence, Law-giver and Guru.



This alone is the good that persons with intellect improved by their skill in yoga should acquire with all their heart and soul, viz., the clear perception that the invidividual self is the Supreme self.

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In this world, the highest good of the soul is deemed to be concentrated (exclusive, one pointed) Devotion to Lord Sai whereby one sees Him everywhere.

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Sai--Hari pervades everything, i.e. is inside and outside of all objects seen or heard in the world.

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Revered sirs, you are blessed souls,--for you with all your heart and soul identify yourself with (i.e. merge in ) God Sai, the Lord of all the universe. And consequently you escape rebirth (Samsara) which is so terrible.



(Sai) Krishna's face is sweet, also his speech. His smile is sweet and his lilas too. His eyes are sweet, also the bare remembrance of him. Everything about the Lord Mathura is sweet. ...will continue.....

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Dreams Of Saibanisa Compiled by Saibandhu Raghu Raman Satulury

29-05-1997: Sai appeared as an aged colleague of mine and said: 

Swamijis lecturing about God’s omniscience failing to realise that they are crushing many insects and germs under their own feet make no sense.



The poor beggar eating rice with buttermilk is expressing gratitude to God. On the other hand the rich one is eating the same rice with curds shabbily throwing around the plate while enjoying. Who is great of the two, the poor one valuing the food or the rich one carelessly throwing the food all around?



Food is for satiating hunger and not meant for wastage.

Kalaaya Namaha

DEVOTEES EXPERIENCE AND ARTICLES INTRODUCING SHRI SHIRDI SAI BABA - (Late) Dr. RS.R. Swami

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.

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ON A SINGLE POINTED DEVOTION (Continued….from last issue) Once a brilliant agnostic friend of mine who nevertheless held me in warm esteem, when I narrated to him my wonderful experiences of Baba, how He has been saving me from perils and dangers time and again and how He solves my day-to-day of problems (here I must confess that having come under the personal magnetic influence of Gandhiji, we were inspired to be naked and un-ashamed, so to say, and bare our hearts even to scoffers with impunity) -- so as I was narrating my experiences to my friend, obviously laughing within himself incredulously, he queried sarcastically whether Baba is there only to attend upon my personal needs. Indeed so, I replied with conviction born of actual experience and gave him instances which not only silenced him but thrilled him. It is like asking a gopi whether the Lord in her arms is her own monopoly. Indeed so, she would reply. So also will every other gopi and every one of us who, so to say, becomes a gopi for the time being, a jeewatma longing for the bliss of merger with paramatma. Here, permit me to quote a sacred anecdote. It seems when Sri Ramachandra was

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wandering in Dandakaranya, some 50,000 Rishis and tapasvis faced him with a request that they wished to embrace Him, Alingan as Tukaram says, Sri Ram was so modest and shy smitha vakthro mitha bashi poorva basheecha Raghava, says Valmiki; He told the holy souls, "Not now, you can all embrace Me in my next Avataar as Gopis to your hearts content. That is the continuity and unity underlying the different auataars of God or human embodiments of divinity like Sri Ramana Maharshi, Shirdi Baba who said He was kabir in a previous birth, Akalkot Maharaj etc. When a devotee went to the Akalkot Maharaj for upadesh, he directed him to go to Shirdi. When Rajen Baba, while taking leave of Sri Ramana Maharshi requested him for a message to Gandhiji, the Bhagawan said (a word so prostituted now with so many self -anointed Bhagwans) what message is needed he said when the hearts are beating in unison? Such is the oneness that pervades holy souls. They are like so many cosmic tuning forks vibrating to the same pitch and frequency in unison with Sabda Brahma, what Shakespeare calls the music of the spheres. It is the poor half-baked (kachcha) beings who seek to make a dichotomy between them saying your God and my God. Such is the sweet attachment one develops for Baba.

Will continue…

Devotees Experience: (Courtesy - www.babasaiofshirdi.org) Dear Saibandhu's, Like every year baba blessed me as darshan of Lord Ayappa (son of lord Vishnu and lord Shiva) for past few years at Sabarimala. I feel great at that place and attain new energy every year. This year before going there I went to babas mandir and gave baba dakshina,coconut and asked his blessings and ask HIS darshan there also. Every year I had seen Ayyapa in ghee abhishekam so this year i requested him to give his darshan in flower. I started my journey on HIS name. And by HIS grace I reached the place without any problem.

Then we had our holy bath in Pampa (holy river) and started climbing the hill. As the place was crowded with too many devotees being the holy month we had to wait 24 hrs to have darshan. We stood in line at 6.30 pm in line and spent the whole night and day in 'Q' sheds provided for devotees. And the next day at 6.00 pm we went near the temple, the temple has 50 steps. In that last shed the 'Q' was very much and a Swamy accompanying me said its suffocating so I made him sit in between the lines and gave him my Irumudi -"pooja things for lord" said will join u on the other side of the 'Q' as I was also very much tired. It was mistake to give mine to him but I had no option because I had lost most of my energy. When I later completed the line and came to join that Swamy, to my surprise he had gone away with my 'irumudi'. And our diksha is of no use if we don’t climb the holy 18 steps of the temple and without that we are not allowed to climb the steps.

So I was lost with no option one person near me told tell lies and climb the steps I thought okay I may lie but what when I satnd infront of baba? so I thought I will plead the temple person to allow me without that 'irumudi' if he allows I will go otherwise babas wish. I closed my eyes and asked baba"with ur permission I came here baba plz do something I have no way other than to ask u, I might have done some mistake plz forgive it and give me strength not to repeat it". And as I had thought before I was about to step to the temple person an oldman stepped infront of me and blocked my way. I took a step back and allowed him to cross thro me. Then to my sudden surprise he took out a 'irumudi' from a tree near by and saw me I asked "baba can I take it plz mine is misplaced”. He just said one word "this is sent for u by lord Ayyappa"my heart knew no words to explain my happiness. I knew that was none other than baba who came for my help.I saw baba in him and said thank u baba. He smiled and said dont worry "this I have to give to my guru after u climb the steps give it back to me" I said as u wish baba. After having darshan I tried to figure out baba but as I had gussed he was not to be seen :-). So as said by him I offered all the pooja things to Lord Ayappa there and thanked baba there and gave dakshina there in his name.

Baba never leaves our hand was proved thus in my life. Saibhalakare.

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Baba’s Close Devotees Rao Bahadur S.B.Dhumal, B.A., LL.B, Pleader, Brahmin, aged 63, Nasik Nasik, 16th October, 1936 & Shirdi, 28th October, 1936 In 1918, a few days before Baba passed away, influenza was raging at Shirdi, at Poona and many other places. At Poona my brother's wife had a very serious attack and he wired to me about it to Nasik. So I started at once with Rs.80 in my pocket to cover expenses of the journey and to meet all contingencies. I halted en route at Shirdi to get Baba's blessings and Udhi for the patient. When I went to him, Baba took from me dakshina repeatedly and the Rs.80 or the balance thereof was cleared off my hand in no time.

This was no good augury of my trip to Poona being achieved or made useful to the patient. When I craved leave to go, Baba said in his characteristic fashion (reminding one of the form of the Regal Veto The King will consider") i.e., we shall see {what to do) tomorrow.

He stopped me for three days. Meanwhile, wire from Poona announced that the patient had expired. After that Baba gave me leave to go away. It was clear that Baba saw what was happening and to happen to my sister-in-law and judged it best for her to depart from the world and me to reach Poona some days after her departure.

His reasons for such judgement, I could not discover. But surely he was in a position to judge and I was not. So I meekly accepted his decision as final, as usual.

This was shortly before he himself passed away and he gave me on the above occasion the last opportunity of spending a few days with him while he was in the flesh.

By Baba's grace, I soon recovered some part of my former financial position after it was wrecked by District Local Board Presidentship or by acceptance of other office.

 Kaala Kaalaya Namaha

I was holding the office of Revenue Member of the Dewar State from 1-9-1930 to 9-4-1932 and I was the Karbhari of the Surgana State from end of 1932 to August 1933. Each time I returned to Nasik, I resumed my practice and got on as well as I did before, without having to wait idly even for a day. Baba's kind help on the financial side was manifested in a peculiar incident while I was in the latter State. One day I was seated at my meal and the Chief of that State walked into my room. I apologized for my inability to leave the table and accord him a proper reception or even to offer him a fitting chair or seat. But he quickly walked

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into the next room, gazed a while at the portrait of Sai Baba that was hanging on the wall and returned to my dining room. He at once announced to me that from that time I should have an increase of Rs.50 in my salary. I had never asked for this increase. This grant of an increase in salary within a fortnight of my appointment and without any motion on my part can only be explained by his having been with Baba in my Pooja room. I had not asked for the increase. Baba evidently had, i.e., the child's welfare is the mother's care.

As for my pooja, I may mention that I had first the photos of Baba and later the coloured or painted portraits of Baba for worship. I carried these pictures wherever I went. When I was tossing between Dewar and Nasik several times, first my cook at Dewar and later my nephew at Nasik wanted them or some of them to be left behind. Each time I cast lots before Baba to ascertain his wish and each time came the answer that I should carry them with me. The middle portrait which I constrained Radhakrishna Ayi to part with I specially like. In it, Baba is standing in a pensive or meditative mood. It reminds me of that important occasion when he made the disclosure "Bhav, I had no sleep all night due to thinking and thinking of you". I was passing by the side of the Masjid with that picture in my hands from Ayi's residence. Baba called me and I went into the Masjid. Pointing to the portrait, he asked.

Baba : What is this?

I : You are here.

Baba : Give it to me.

I gave it to him. He kept it a while, gazed at its front side and back side and returned it to me, saying "keep it". This was the very thing my heart was desiring, to get Baba's portrait touched by him and given to me for purposes of worship. This was a personal gift by Baba to me and I regard it with great veneration.

Will continue‌..

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n o i t c e S s ’ Children

Lear arn Le n an andd Parti rtici cippa atte e Pa

Stories for this Week: “The Story of a Weaver” There was a weaver called Mandharaka in a southern city. One day, when he was weaving clothes, the wooden frames necessary for weaving were totally damaged.

He went to the forest to bring wood to make new frames. From the forest he drifted towards the seashore where he saw a gigantic tree and thought that if he could cut wood from the tree it would stand him in good stead throughout his life.

As he started to cut the tree, a Yaksha living on that tree said, “O weaver, this tree is my home. So I have to protect it. I am very comfortable here enjoying the cool breeze coming from the sea.”

Mandharaka said, “Sir, if I do not cut the tree and take home its wood, my family will starve and die. So, please go somewhere else. I have to cut this tree.”

“All right, if you do not cut the tree, I will give you a boon of your choice,” said the Yaksha.

The weaver said, “Sir, in that case, I will go home and consult my wife and friends.

You can give me the boon later.”

On the Yaksha agreeing to it, Mandharaka went home and on his way he met his friend who was a barber and asked him, “Friend, a Yaksha has given me a boon of my choice and gave me time to consult friends and my wife. What boon do you want me to ask him?”

“Ask him to give you a kingdom. You will be the king and I will be your minister.

Both of us can enjoy life here and hereafter,” said the barber.

“True. But let me ask my wife also,” said Mandharaka. The barber warned the weaver against consulting his wife and said quoting learned people: “A wise man can give to his woman, Fine clothes, pearls and diamonds; but never consult her on his affairs because women have low wits.”

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And as Shankaracharya said that home that is run by women or children or tricksters will meet ruin in the end.”

The weaver gently ignored the advice of the barber saying that he would nevertheless consult his wife and went home. He told his wife the whole story of the Yaksha and the boon he had offered.

Mandharaka also told his wife that his friend, the barber, had advised him to ask for a kingdom. His wife said, “O my lord, how intelligent is a barber? Never listen to his word. No wise man would consult children or barbers or servants or beggars.

Also, “Kingship has too many problems; Conspiracies take away your peace. With the crown comes not only thorns but also sinister plots and treason. It was for the sake of kingdom Lord Rama lived in the woods, Pandava brothers fled into exile The Yadava dynasty disappeared, King Nala embraced anonymity.” “Therefore, no wise man will invite kingship that leads to killing brothers, friends and relatives,” said the weaver’s wife. The weaver replied, “My dear, what you say is true. But you haven’t told me what boon I should choose.”

The wife said, “Every day you are able to weave a single piece of cloth. That’s barely enough to meet our daily needs. Therefore ask the Yaksha to give you another head and two more hands. That helps you to weave two pieces of cloth every day instead of one. The first piece will help us meet our daily needs. The second one will help us meet special needs. We can sail through life comfortably and happily.”

The weaver was happy with the advice his wife gave and went to the Yaksha and prayed to him, “Sir, you have kindly given me a choice. I request you to give me two more hands and an extra head.”

At once, he had four hands and two heads. Happily, he began his homeward journey. On the way people saw him and mistaking him for some monster hammered him with sticks and stones. The poor weaver died on the spot.

He who has no wits of his own or does not heed advice of friends perishes like this weaver.

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Chapter 47

Contributed by: swamy@saimail.com

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Baba's Reminiscence Story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa (Snake and frog).

The last Chapter described Baba's reminiscences about two goats. This one describes more such reminiscence and relates the story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa.



Sai Ram. These stories or rather Baba’s reminiscences go to show us the inviolable laws of karma, we reap what we sow, sooner or later. No doubt firm faith in Sadguru helps us to sooner or later burn off these seeds of karma and become liberated from the cycle of birth and death, a Jeevanmukta like Baba Himself. Sai Ram.

Kala Darpa Damanaaya Namaha

Preliminary Blessed is the face of Sai. If we cast a glance at Him for a moment, He destroys the sorrow of many past births and confers great Bliss on us; and if He looks at us with grace, our bondage of Karma is immediately snapped away and we are led to happiness. The river Ganges washes away the dirt and sins of all people, who go to her for a bath; but she intently longs for the Saints to come to her; and bless her with their feet and remove all the dirt (sins) accumulated in her.

She knows, for certain, that this accumulation can only be removed by the holy feet of the Saints. Sai is the crest-jewel of the Saints, and now hear from Him the following purifying story.

Sai Ram. Teerthi kurvanthi Teerthani goes the saying. A river becomes a Teertha (sacred spot capable of cleansing our sins) only because the spot was / is visited by a Saint, Sant or Mahatma. If we recall, Ganga and Yamuna sprang up from the toes of Baba (Sri Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 4 – Das Ganu’s bath in Prayag), just as the Ganga river took birth from the toe of Lord Vishnu. Thus a Saint / Sadguru is verily the Lord Sri Hari and has come there to purify the river (in addition to the purification performed by Sun, Wind and earth). Remembering Guru’s sacred name is similar in its effect of cleansing us from within. Sai Ram. Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all.

Will continue...

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(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao) ~ Contribution by "Shashank"crazydiode@gmail.com, Mrs and Mr Anand Chapter 39: Baba’s Advice on Food It means that who eats Satvika food, possesses a divine nature, while who eats Rajasika or Taamasika food possess a demonic nature. By the way of a man is taking food, we can assess the nature of man and his inclination for faith can be known. If we eat pure food, our mind will be purified. The place, the seat and the atmosphere where we eat the food should be pure and holy.

Otherwise it affects our mind. Not only this, the feelings and thoughts of the cook should be pure and good.

Before having a meal, we should wash both of our hands, both the feet and the mouth. We must sit on a clean and pure seat with our face towards the east or the north. Then we must offer our food to the God by chanting His name. After this, we should take a little water on palm and chant God’s name and sip it. Then we should put the first morsel of food into our mouth by chanting the name of God. Thus the food becomes digestible and nourishing and food will be purified.

Will be continued...

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From the Editor’s Desk

He who perceives all beings in the Self alone, and the Self in all beings, does not entertain any hatred on account of that perception. ~Isavasya Upanishad Dear Sai Devotees, We encourage you to continue writing about your Sai-related activities and experiences in essay, article, or poetry form and email it to us at editor@saidarbarusa.org. We will put in our best efforts to include as many of your submissions as possible in the upcoming newsletters. As previously done, we will publish the author’s email id with the respective entry. If you would like to stay anonymous, please explicity state this request in your submission email.

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BOW TO SHRI SAI ~ PEACE BE TO ALL