Satsang Why Worship Sai Baba?

Why Worship Sai Baba?
By M. Rama Rao

What Kids Need From Their Fathers
1. Someone who shows his love for them
2. Someone who will spend time with them
3. Someone who can see the world through a child's eye
4. Someone who will set limits
5. Someone whom they feel proud to imitate.

Despite all that mothers can provide, children feel safe and
protected with their fathers.
Nothing can change the need for a dad.

I attended the 'Guru Poonima' celebrations at Sai Spiritual
Centre on 12th July 1995 and on our return trip home, my
grand-daughter asked me : "Why so elaborate pooja and
rituals? Sai Baba has stated simple remembrance of My
name as 'Sai' 'Sai' will do away all the sins of speech and
hearing'. I pondered for a while and told her that she will have
a convincing reply from Sai Baba Himself by that evening.

When we went home, we had a guest who had just returned
from Africa. He was describing African sanctuaries and other
places he visited there. He showed us several photographs
taken in Africa.

I had almost forgotten the morning's incident. In the evening,
my grand daughter said that Sai Baba is ever living to help
and guide all and she herself had a unique experience in this
connection when she asked me in the morning - Why worship
Sai Baba?

Her experience is something, which is a direct reply of Sai Baba
Himself. Sai Baba anticipated the psychological difficulties of
His devotees who have been worshipping their family Gods
through traditional forms of worship by insisting that they
continue to worship their family Gods with undiminished reverence.
She told me that the very fact of a guest coming to our house and
narrating his experiences of African sanctuaries is a Sai-miracle.
Sai Baba has made her learn that in the African sanctuaries where
wild life is protected, there are guide posts and shelters where lost
tourists may take shelter and procure information about correct
routes and directions. Our temples, churches, mosques etc., are
like these guideposts set in the wildlife sanctuary for the guidance
and protection of toast tourists. Sai Baba is that facet of the
Supreme who out of irrepressible love and compassion is such a
guide always on the look out for the lost tourists and waiting
eagerly with open arms to welcome them. That is why it is easier
for all of us to take shelter in Sai Baba from the terrors lurking in
the forests of this 'samsara.'

Regarding the elaborate rituals in worshipping Veda Vyasa,
Krishna, Shankaracharya and the lineage of Gurus upto Sai Baba,
Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji at Sri Sai
Spiritual Centre, she understood that the Supreme Being containing
all Gods, avatars, prophets and Gurus like the 'Viswaroopa' revealed
in the 11th chapter of Bhagavad-Gita. Sai Baba repeatedly stressed
on 'Allah malik' and thereby tunes the minds of His devotees to the
Supreme Being. She concluded that Sai Baba insisted on continuing
traditional methods of worship.
Sai Baba - the 'Antaryami' seated in my heart - in His own inimitable
manner had convinced my granddaughter in less than ten hours of
her argument with me. This transformation itself is a Sai Leela par
Excellence.

Saipadananda Magazine July 1995
Source: http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/saipadananda/oct95.htm