The Glory of Shirdi Sai A Bi-Weekly Publication by www.saidarbarusa.org an affiliate of SAIDARBAR Hyderabad, India
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श्रद्धा CONTENT *** Ambrosia in Shirdi Shirdi Dairy Guru Poornima The Dreams Train Devotees Corner Baba’s close devotees Children Section Spiritual Truths ***
JAI SAI RAM
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गरु ु ब्रह्मा गरु ु र्विष्ण:ु गरु ु र्दे वो महे श्वर: |
गरु ु : शाक्षात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगरु वे नमः:||
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eela 19: In the Sai Satcharitra, Ch.29, the Leela of the avaricious Bhajan Mandali from Madras is given. He was called Bhau Swamy because his Guru was Ram Bhau of south Kanara. This Govinda Swamy worked in Madras Electric Tramways. He and his family went on an all India pilgrimage in 1915. They visited Shirdi on 23.8.1915. They sang beautifully and did bhajans daily. Baba gave them Rs.2/- and two rupees worth of burfi. The burfi he sold for one rupee and twelve annas. All these details he wrote in his diary daily. One day, he had a dream vision of Baba (which is elaborated beautifully in the Sai Satcharitra). After this revealing vision, the greedy skeptic became an ardent devotee. Dr. Pillai asked him to write his dream, which he did, and handed it over to him. Knowing of Radhakrishna Mai's love for bhajans, he performed bhajans in her home too. She gave him a Marathi book containing the life of Baba, which he treasured. His wife Adilakshmiamal was given sakshatkar (vision) of Sri Ram at noon Arathi while the rest of the Mandali saw Baba sitting in his usual place. Filled with joy, she decided to make prasad of Bhaaji and Payasam for Baba. On 30/08/1915, while preparing it, she fervently prayed to Baba to accept it, as she had prepared it with all her love and devotion. Eagerly she took it to Dwarakamai and handed it over. To her utter consternation, the lady (Durga Bai) placed it last in the rows of Prasad offerings. Baba however, slowly moved to the back, and opening her dish, devoured the whole of it with great relish. This touched the lady to the bottom of her heart further strengthening her devotion in Baba.
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1912 February 16 Friday
Apavarga pradhathre Namaha
I attended the Kakad Arti. Sayin Saheb exhibited great grace accompanied by hard words. We held our Panchadasi class in the morning after prayer. My wife & others could not go to Kopargaon as they could not get a cart. We saw Sayin Baba go out. Mr Morgaonkar has come & distributed a translation of Para-Puja. There is a Shastri from Kalyan -Bhivandi. He is staying with Bapusaheb Jog and is a very quiet nice man. We fasted today on account of Shivaratri. There was the afternoon Puran of Dixit & after it we held our Paramamrit class & made good progress. We saw Sayin Saheb at mid-day arti & also at the evening stroll. He was in a very pleased mood. After the Wada Arti, there was Puran & Bhajan as usual. 1912 February 17 Saturday I got up early in the morning, prayed and held our usual Panchadasi class with Upasani, Bapusaheb Jog, Kunté Shastri of Kalyan, & Moregaonkar. We finished the third chapter today. We saw Sayin Maharaj go out & again after he returned. He was in very pleasant mood &made jokes. The midday arti passed off as usual & after it we had our food. Mr Dixit is thinking of going to Nagpur for the moruj of his son. He wishes to take with him as many from here as he can, but everything depends on the orders which Sayin Saheb gives. In the afternoon there was Dixits Ramayan & then we held our Parmamrit class, & made good progress. Later on we saw Sayin Maharaj at his stroll, then there was the Wada Arti & Sheja-Arti. At the latter the big fan came to me. On our return Kunté Shastri of Kalyan did Kirtan. He told the story of Uttargograhana. He is an old man & considering his age which is 80 years, his powers of endurance, his energy and all else is very praiseworthy & remarkable. Mr Dixit had his Ramayana & Bhishma read Bhagavat. Sri Saisatcharita contains essence of Ramayan, Bhagavatam, Shivamahapuranam, Gurucharitra,Gurugita and Bhagavadgita the Discourses by Saibanisa are proof for the same Now Listen to all the Discourses in ENGLISH and TELUGU on Sri Shirdi Saibaba-by Saibanisa Gopalarao Ravada from this link. CLICK HERE to Get weekly updates from Saibanisa's Sai In Dreams. Listen to Saibaba discourses/Bhajans by SaiBanisa on the go. Watch Discourses Videos and much more.
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MESSAGE BY H.H.NARASIMHA SWAMIJI FOR GURU PURNIMA 7 July, 1952
Some one may answer that only in cases of persons having a Samartha Sadguru like Sai Baba to guard them, there is any need to go in for guru worship. The answer to this objection, which is an objection to the general practice of guru puja on this day, or on similar occasions is that which Baba Himself gave. He has advised people not to cavil at their gurus because they are not possessed of all siddhis. Said He, 'Your guru may not have wonderful powers like those possessed by another's guru, but stick to your own and be intensely devoted; you will derive the fruit of your devotion . The fact is that it is the intensity of one's devotion that is mainly responsible for the good effects of guru bhakti. A Dronacharya may not accept Ekalaiva for his sishya, but the white heat of Ekalaiva's bhakti enables him to put up a clay image of Dronacharya, and that image suffices to give him all the benefits that Dronacharya in flesh and blood could give to Arjuna. A Ramananda might refuse to give formal initiation to a Muslim at Kabir was supposed to be. But Kabir's determination to make himself a sishya was quiet sufficient. He laid himself down on some steps over which Ramananda had to walk to get his early morning bath before the dawn broke. And Ramananda's utterance of Ram, Ram, when treading upon the body of Kabir was found to be a sufficient upadesa of Rama mantra to Kabir. These are not given as the only basis for our conclusions. Guru Bhakti or bhakti to the guru has decidedly an objective as well as a subjective side to it. The guru's extraordinary powers working through his fleshy body have an undoubted effect and power. This was demonstrated several times by Sri Sai Baba Himself as also by other well known gurus. Hastha deeksha and karma deeksha have an effect over the disciples' bodies and souls. Saktinipata is claimed to be the direct result of deeksha from a guru or a series of gurus. When discussing the exact extent to which the physical body is a necessary adjunct or basis of the guru influence, one may very well say that the ordinary fleshy guru is an undoubted advantage to the pupil. But one must avoid over generalizing in this matter. Persons they are who say occasionally that they do not went dead gurus. A Vaisya lady on one occasion said to the President of the All India Sai Samaj. Why do you preach a dead guru; why not present us with a living guru?'. Then instances were quoted of Baba's present watch, power and kindness from the President's own experience, and that convinced the lady and removed her objections. 'Can I get a guru; a moksha guru, one who loves me and pursues me like the hound of Heaven'? is a question which we sometimes hear. Will Continue‌...
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19-03-1998: Sai appeared as a saint and said:
Look at the dilapidated temples on the seashore near Mahabalipuram. God was once residing in them and received worships. Today many temples are washed away by the tidal waves. Some of them remaining are in pathetic condition standing as a testimony of the past glory. Thus the passing times have not spared even Gods, then why talk of human beings.
Your life is like a green tree. Some may come to take shelter and to forget their difficulties while some may come take rest. With the passage of time you stand as mute witness to all the past. One day you will also get dried and mix up with the soil.
Astavarga mayaya Namaha
DEVOTEES EXPERIENCE AND ARTICLES AN INCREDIBLE MIRACLE OF BABA IMPELLING THE GOVT. OF INDIA TO MODIFY THEIR DECISION FOR THE SAKE OF HIS DEVOTEE ~ (Late) Dr. RS.R. Swami BABA'S MIRACLE - 14 BABA'S CONTROL OVER THE FORCES OF NATURE
The climate of Jabalpur is, certainly, one of extremes, the brunt of which was keenly felt by a valetudinarion like me from the sea-coast. The ordeal of confronting the fierce heat of the Summer of 1960 was all the more exhausting since if followed a major surgery I had undergone not long before. Though not fully recovered, I had, perforce to be in my seat and hold the fort due to official exigencies, contrary to my habit of going on leave for the peak of the season every year. At this time we were temporarily accommodated in a building where the toilet room was isolated and a bit far. On the particular day in question the temperature had suddenly shot up. It was so scorching-hot outside the air-conditioned office, that I peeped out many times and retracted.
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However, as I am accustomed to do when desperate, I mentally handed myself over to Baba to do with me as He and ventured out. Imagine my surprise, astonishment and wonder, all rolled into one, to find all the glare and searing heat gone, the sun hidden by soft, grey clouds so pleasing the eye, and cool balmy breeze so refreshing to the nerves went and stood in the open letting the honey-heavy drops from heaven fall gently over my head and face making my heart leap and sing the glory of the Ail Merciful Baba, alert at all times to the rescue of His devotees in distress. Glory be to Shri Shirdi Sai - Grace be to all
BABA'S MIRACLE - 15 If you know about Sai Baba what I know about Him. You will call Him the Master of all creation" - Meher Baba The incident herein described bears ample testimony to the above-quoted assertion of Shri Meher Baba regarding Baba's absolute mastery over all creation, animate and inanimate. Indeed, we can realize that in reality the Creator and Creation are one, the latter being but the ocular demonstration of the former. This is in consonance with the latest discovery in the light of the post nuclear research in the frontiers of science according to which all manifested nature is only a phenomenon of thought behind which is The Thinker. This in turn reflects and reiterates the Biblical enunciation regarding the origin of creation viz., "Let there be light" said God and there was light and the Upanishadic axiom viz., "Swayam Samkalpa Sam Siddhi" i.e., God's manifestation in concrete form according to His will. It is as God's incarnation that Baba has repeatedly, both during His Incarnate stay at Shirdi and after His Mahasamadhi, given recurring proof of this divine aspect. As a direct corollary of this, forces of Nature like rain, storm, lightening, fire etc., bowed to his will. The present instance is an example of this. We celebrated the marriage of our youngest son Dr. V Satyanarayana Sai, now a lecturer in the A.PS. University, Rewa, MP, on April 5, 1981 at Rayagada in Orissa. The other members of the family having dispersed to their respective Places, we were returning to Rewa via Raipur by the morning Passenger train from Waltair on the 7th of the month. We had not known that apart from the inconveniences incidental to travelling long distance by passenger train, we were wittingly in for an ordeal. We learnt later that people of the region avoid this train as a rule. The route traverses a tribal area more or less entirely dependent for sustenance on the sale and export of the forest produce without arm middleman by the tribals themselves. The Summer is the season of mangoes and the jack fruit in unbelievable abundance of Nature's bounty which has to be seen to be believed. At every stop came an unending stream of the girijans carrying the maximum possible load of the above items and literally hurling themselves and their burdens helterskelter through the doors and windows into the compartments nearest to them. No railway control (even if tried) could stem that onslaught, as it were, at any cost. The result was the compartments were literally jam-packed and choking. It was a frightful situation in which one did not have any space to move at all. Even the lavatories were full so that we were obliged with unshed tears to possess our souls in patience till we reached Raipur, a matter of twelve hours of torture since to detrain too was physically impossible. Glory be to Shri Shirdi Sai - Grace be to all Will continue‌
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Baba’s Close Devotees ~ Courtesy: http://blessedones.saibaba.com/
Damodar Savalram Rasane
S/o Kasar, alias Anna Rasane, Savalram Rasane, formerly of Ahmednagar, now at Poona
Aparajitha sakthaye Namaha
What my son said is true about his birth. When I went to Baba, desirous of issue, he was kind enough to remember me and give me his blessings. When I was still on my way to Shirdi, passing through Kopergaon station, he mentioned at Shirdi that I was coming and reserved mango fruits for me. He gave me those fruits with the blessing that I should give them to my junior wife and that she would bring forth two sons first. She ate the fruits and gave birth to two sons, one fifteen months after my visit, the other years later and he gave names to both in advance. I noted those names in my note book (page 3) and these children bear those names also, in addition to the usual Hindu names I have given them. I prayed to Baba for a second grandson at his samadhi and he was born. When I first went to Baba, one Bala Patel of Nevasa or Seagaon was sweeping the masjid and doing (in various ways) service to Baba. I always took Baba's advice and acted up to it and the results were always satisfactory. Once I had an appeal in the High court, and the lawyer had written to me to go to Bombay. Then Baba detained me and prevented me from going. Yet the result of the appeal was in my favour. Nanasaheb Dengle brought a big silver plate full of various dainties and begged Sai Baba to eat. Baba shouted out. A black dog ran up and licked up some of the food. Nanasaheb Dengle who was standing near looked at it with disgust. "Is it for this pariah dog that I prepared all this?" he thought within himself. Baba at once flung away the plate with its contents towards him and said, “Take it away". I was present then. I remembered always Baba's treatment to low creatures and men of low position as his equals or as himself. Once when I went to Baba and knowing that he would not care to go to my lodgings and have his dinner there, requested that he might send Bala Patel to be my guest. Bala Patel was of a low caste. So Baba in granting my request said, "Don't cry Dhut Dhut at him" i.e., do not humiliate the guest by giving him place far away from your own place of eating. I agreed. When I had prepared sumptuous meals, I spread one plate for
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Baba and filled it with all eatables and then called out, "Baba, come!". A black dog came in and ate from the plate. I waited reverently till it finished its meal and then gave meals to others and took my own. I gave Bala a plate and made him sit near me and not outside the house. My mind is always dwelling on Baba, and often I see Him here. Sometimes Baba abused me and beat me even fiercely. But I knew that as with Akkalkote Maharaj, blows and abuse have an auspicious ending. So I never resented or grumbled and I never gave up my attachment to him. He has asked Muslims to do their namaz and then go to him to read their Quran; he has talked with moulvis on their religion. I was not asked by nor have I given any information regarding my experience to Das Gunu Maharaj or Dabholkar. I went to Baba for the first time about 1895. In the year after I went, Ramanavami Utsav celebration began and for these 40 years, I have provided one ornamental standard for that occasion every year. That was before Nana was born. The statement I had three wives is wrong. I had two both living when I went to Baba. I had consulted astrology. Ketu was in the fifth place in horoscope and so there was the difficulty of getting issue. But Baba, a Satpurush, over came all that. He anticipated and provided for the issue of so many years. He said 8 children would be born to my younger wife, to whom I was to give the four mango fruits he gave me. As for business consultations with Baba, the proposal about speculating at Bombay in cotton was from a broker. He was not to be partner. I was to be the sole venturer. I went to Baba, thinking I would allot a share to him in the profits and I was massaging his feet. Then Mahalsapathy, I and Baba alone were the three present. Baba replied expressly that he did not wish to get involved in any Samsara (like sharing profits). So I gave up that idea. On another occasion, I went to Shirdi and there I expressly asked Baba if I could trade in grain, wheat, etc. He said that the prices would fall and that I would have to sell at a lower price than the price at which I bought. I gave up that proposal. But when I mentioned the prophecy of Baba to a merchant-friend, he showed me how the prophecy was falsified by the steady rise in prices for many days. But Srawan came and there were good rains. The prices suddenly fell and the grain storers had a serious loss. Baba saved me from that fate. I never started any transaction without getting sanction from Baba. When he was in the flesh, I went to Shirdi and asked him mentally. After 1918, I still consult him, by chits etc. and he guides me still. Once when I sat at his feet along with many others, I had two questions in my mind and he gave answers to both. I. There are so many crowding to Sai Baba. Do they all get benefit from him? To this He replied orally. "Look at the mango tree in blossom. If all flowers turned fruit what a splendid crop it would be! But do they? Most fall off (either as flowers or as unripe fruits, by wind, etc.) Very few remain". II. My second question was about myself. If Baba were to pass away, how hopelessly adrift I would be and how am I to fare then? To this, Baba answered that he would be with me whenever I thought of him wherever I thought of him. That promise he has kept up before 1918 and after 1918. He is still with me. He is still guiding me. This was about 1910 - 1911 when my brothers had separated from me and my sister died and there was a theft and Police enquiry, all of which incidents upset me very much. *****
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Lear arn n an Le andd Parti rtici cippa atete Pa
Stories from “Chinna Katha� Purity - Patience - Perseverance A certain spiritual aspirant went to a sage and asked him to give him a mantra. The sage said that he would impart the message only if the disciple agreed to serve him for twelve years, carrying out all his injunctions. The disciple agreed and carried out his services to the preceptor with devotion for twelve years. At the end of the period, when the sage felt that his own end was approaching, he asked the disciple to bring a palmyra leaf on which he would inscribe the mantra before his death. The disciple went in search of a palmyra leaf, but before he could return, the preceptor died. On enquiry from a boy who was there, he learnt that before dying, the sage had written something on a bed of sand, which a woman had copied and then wiped off the inscription. The disciple went in search of the woman, who was having some donkeys. He learnt from her that she had inscribed on the palm leaf roll that she wore in her earlobe what she found on the sand. When she learnt from the young man that the writing on the sand was a mantra intended for him and for which he had served the sage faithfully for twelve years, the woman said that she would give him the palm leaf only if he served her dutifully for twelve years. The disciple who was determined to get the mantra at any cost, agreed to serve her. The young man looked after the donkeys and served the woman for many years, living upon the food given by her. One day, he could not get the food from her and went about in search of food. At that time, he learnt that the king of the region had been feeding the poor for a long time and that he might be able to get food if he went to the feeding place. On going there he learnt that the king had stopped the feeding from that day because it did not yield the result he was expecting from it. The king had started poor feeding on the advice of his preceptor who had told him that he would have a son if a truly godly man ate the food that he would serve to the poor. A bell was kept in the palace and when it rang by itself, that would be the sign that a godly man had partaken of the king's food. As the feeding had gone on for long without the bell ringing, the king decided to stop the feeding.
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That was the very day when the young disciple went to the feeding place. On learning that all the vessels used for cooking the food had been sent to the river for cleaning, the young man hastened to the river bank to find out whether some food scraped from the vessels would be available for him. He found some crumbs at the spot and started eating them. At that very moment the bell in the palace started ringing. The king was startled to hear the bell and immediately sent out messengers to find out who was the person who had eaten the food that day which made the bell ring. After enquiries, the messengers traced the young man at the river and brought him to the king. The king was overjoyed on seeing the young man because he felt that he would soon have a son. He offered the young man half his kingdom and invited him to stay with him. The young man told the king his whole story and said that he was not interested in the kingdom or anything else, but only in the mantra from his guru, which was now in the keeping of the woman with the donkeys. The young man insisted that the palm leaf ear-ring worn by the woman should be obtained without any compulsions. The king sent out men to trace the woman, who was brought before him. Learning that she was an acrobat, who could perform feats on a rope, the king asked her to demonstrate her skill before the queen who was now enceinte. As she was dancing on the rope, he asked her whether she could catch two diamond ear-rings he would throw at her and wear them while dancing on the rope. She readily agreed. Catching them in her hands, she took out the palm leaf rings from her ear -lobes, cast them down and wore the diamond ear-rings in their place. As the palmleaf rings dropped down, the young man rushed towards them and eagerly read the message inscribed there in. Immediately after reading the mantra the young man secured instant illumination and liberation thereafter.
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SAI AMRIT VARTA Shri Sai Mahima Namo Namo Sai avinaashi, Namo Namo ghat-ghat ke vaasi | Sai dhwani hei naam uchcharan, Sai Ram sukhasidhdhi kaaran ||3||
ď œ Apanthar athma rupena srasturista pravartha kaya Namaha
Hail Hail, Oh Sai, the Everlasting , Hail Hail, Oh Resider of Each and Every Heart The music of Sai is the Utterance of His name, Sai Ram is The Spring of Peace, the Fountain of Charm ; Namo Namo Shri aatma raama, Namo Namo prabhu pooran kaama | Amritvani amrit Sai Ram, Sai Ram mrud mangala dhaam ||4|| Hail Hail Oh, Atma Ram(consciousness of his ownself), Hail Hail Oh Lord Perfect Conqueror of Sense gratifications The Eternal Breath, The Sweetest Psalm, Home of Blesings and Bliss, --Sai Ram. Sai naam mantra jap jaap, Sai naam mete trayi taap | Saidhuni mein lage samaadhi, mite sab aadhi vyaadhi vupaadhi ||5|| Recite the Holy Mantra, the name of Sai. Sai's name will destroy pain/adversity In the Sai Dhuni, let it rest -thus purging self of the fear, care, sin, disease and trouble ; In the name of sai, my wholeself immersed in Him ‌..Will continue
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From the Editor’s Desk
The Purusha (the Supreme Being), who has thousands of heads, thousands of eyes and thousands of feet enveloped the earth on all sides and stood beyond it in the ten directions of space. ~~Purusha Sooktam~Verse I 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. JAI SAI RAM
Kindly send your comments or suggestions to Editorial Team Email: editor@saidarbarusa.org
BOW TO SHRI SAI ~ PEACE BE TO ALL