THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI
Fourth Year of Publication
Published as Bi-Weekly
Issue 4 / 2006
16-02-2006
Maha Shivarathri Special
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GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH; GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA;
GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA; THASMAI SREE GURAVE NAMAHA:
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Maha Shivarathri day- 26th February 2006
Shivarathri is a very auspicious day for all. It is the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight when the moon is waning and the sun is in the sign of Aquarius. The festival is, however, related to the moon rather than the sun. That is the reason why it is called Shivarathri, the night of Shiva. Unlike other nights, this particular night is the night of consecration, of dedication, of illumination.
On this night there is just a minute part more to be conquered and that can be done by keeping vigil and dwelling on the glory of God. The vigil that is prescribed is symbolic of the eternal vigil one has to observe, while the rite of fasting is symbolic of divesting the senses of the pleasures for which they crave. The nightlong devotional singing is significant of the life-long consciousness of the Divine Presence that every one should cultivate.
You must realize that devotional singing, reflection on the name of God, and offerings at the lotus feet are not for pleasing or propitiating God, but for our own spiritual progress. God does not shower grace on people because they sing His praises. Nor does He come down upon them because they do not deify Him. Recitation of the Divine attributes only enables us to dwell on elevating ideals and approximate ourselves more and more to the Divinity that is our nature. We become what we contemplate. When we fix our thoughts on the evil that others do, the evil pollutes our mind. When, on the contrary, we fix our mind on the virtues or well being of others, our mind is cleansed of wrong and entertains only good thoughts. No evil thought can penetrate the mind of a person wholly given to love and compassion. It is said "He who knows Brahman (God) becomes Brahman." The only way to become Brahman is to be ever immersed in contemplation of Brahman. With a lump of candy on the tongue, how can the taste of salt and savory be known?
Immerse your mind in good thoughts and the world will be good; soak it in bad thoughts and the world will be bad for you. So, recollect only good; do, think, and plan only good; speak and act only good. Then as a result you will approximate God, the source of all good. This is the message for the coming Shivarathri.
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THIS ISSUE CONTAINS
1. FOUNDATION STONES FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
2. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
3. SAI IN DREAMS
4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY
5. SANATANA DHARMA& SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
6. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO LORD SHIVA…..
7. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES
8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
9. SAI WITH CHILDREN
10. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES
11. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES
12. TELUGU SECTION
13. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS
14. SAI'S BOOK WORLD
15. EDITORIAL.
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1. FOUNDATION STONES FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE:
From the Satsanghs of Saibanisaji
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500055.htm
Sai Sevak Smt. Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar – Hyderabad.
180. You may feel bad for the well wisher’s bitter words, the way a Doctor prescribes bitter medicine for your good health.
181. If you nourish the bitter fruit plants with sweet water, it gives only bitter fruits. similarly telling good words to crooks is of no use.
182. In this modern age, the persons with bad characters are projected as heroes of society where as the good persons with simple living are ignored. So it is the duty of the society to recognize the good and bad.
183. The bad person will flourish with the sweet words. Where as the good person will flourish with the healthy criticism.
184. Following the path shown by Mahatmas (Good persons) may give hardship during the journey but after reaching the destination, you will realize the importance of hardships.
185. You are advised to take shelter under the shade of a tree which is having fruits. Due to unforeseen reasons, if you have not enjoyed its fruits, do not feel bad as you enjoyed its shade.
186. The minerals under the earth, the trees above the earth are utilized by the mankind but not by the mother earth. In the similar way, the Saints knowledge will be useful to the society at large.
187. The head of the state should prepare to punish the bad, encourage the good, spend the money in a proper way, avoid partiality among his followers and dedicate his total life for the protection of the state.
188. With dedication, if you rub the logs, you can generate fire. If you dig the earth, you will get water. In the similar way, a bold person with dedication proceeding towards his goal will certainly meet success.
189. A wise man will not drink the salt water from well dug by his kith and kin. He prefers to drink sweet water from the well dug by outsiders. In the similar way, do not keep any attachments to sentiments and live above sentiments.
To be continued…
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2. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:
February 22, 1914: A Sadhak of Yoga (Swami Ram Baba) visited Shirdi and seeing Baba eating Roti with onion got suspicious and disappointed. However Baba proved His power of Omniscience by reading his mind and the Sadhak returned highly satisfied and blessed
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3. SAI IN DREAMS:
http://www.ebeacon.indiainabook.com/
These are the dream sequences and messages as received by SAIBANISA From our beloved GURU LORD SAINATH OF SHIRIDI. In Anticipation that this feature will help in one's spiritual growth are hereby compiled from his personal Diary and presented to SAIBANDHUS.
Translated and presented by RAGHU RAMAN SATULURY.
08-04-1994
Yesterday was Thursday. I asked Baba to enlighten me on how the life was in Shiridi, when HE was alive. Sai said –
During those days people came with lot of faith and devotion. In the return trip, they left Shiridi with good results to their homes. People now are visiting Shiridi without any faith and more often to probe and test whether anything good happens to them or not besides looking for a change from the monotonous daily scores of life. Often their inner intentions are to verify the veracity of the statements made by others. That’s precisely the reason why everybody coming to Shiridi is not able to reap the fruits of the visit undertaken.
Do not undertake any pilgrimage for the sake of pleasure seeking.
09-04-1994
Sai in the form of an unknown person said-
When elders commit mistakes, naturally children have to bear the results of the misadventures. It is left for elders to ponder over and decide as to why indulge in such activities when the results are certainly known to be bad.
A good deed begets good results sooner or later.
12-04-1994
Yesterday, I incurred lot of displeasure due to my family members. I
Prayed Baba to grant me peace. Baba said-
Life is like a marathon walk. We come across many and engage in playing games with few of them. Obviously one has to win or loose. There is no use in grieving over the end result. One should cultivate the habit of not paying much attention either to praises or abuses.
Life has to be lived with a sportive spirit.
13-04-1994
My thoughts were totally pre-occupied with family affairs. I asked Baba to throw some light on my responsibility in the process of upbringing children. Baba in the form of an unknown person said
-Take full responsibility of the girl child till she is married off and that of son till he is in a position to live by himself. This is the only way to set one’s self-free from the family ties.
As a head, family obligations are commitments to be honored.
To be continued…..
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4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY:
(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao)
"Shashi": shashi_31@yahoo.com
22. Atma – Jnana
Atma-Jnana is the only benefactor of a man. If man is devoid of Atma-Jnana, he will not have happiness or peace, inspite of his several possessions and enjoyment of pleasures.
Atman does not die. It is not that which did not exist earlier is born now. It is birth less, eternal and ever – existing. It does not die. It is not that which did not exist earlier and is born now. It is birth less, eternal and ever – existing. It does not die. Immortality will be attained from the knowledge of Atma and it will not be obtained by rhetoric. Only when a Guru imparts the sacred knowledge, it is easily known that Atman is birthless and deathless. It is not the product of any process. It is not bound by the cycle of births. It is ever existing, eternal. Atman will not kill nor it is killed.
The seeker, who is also the sought will clearly understand the nature of Atman. The wicked, who lack peace and single mindedness cannot see the Atman. Intellect is higher than the mind and Atman is greater than the intellect. Atman has no duty to perform “Kartavyam”. It begets no fruition of Papa or Punya. It is Nirmalam and taintless. Atman has no Bandham or Liberation.
Atman has no difference of Akara or Nirakara. Atman is of an auspicious nature, (Mangalaswaroopam). Baba always tells: “You should always look at Atman every moment and do Manana. Those who had Atma – Sakshatkara shall be merged with Paratatwam irrespective of the place of death. The one who realizes Atman as oneself will realize cosmic power. Chitshakti generates Pran – Sakti and flows into your body and flows through your nerves causing their movement.
Baba Says: “First know what is Atman. He becomes ‘I’ and ‘I’ becomes ‘He’. That is Atman”.
Visualize Atma. Know it, recapitulate it and meditate upon it. Then only it can be perceived. After attaining that state, we can get salvation wherever we die and what ever may be its circumstances. Know Atman as Atman only. Do not take all our people for granted, as our Atmeyulu. Only Self- seekers are our people. Then only the radiance of Atman can manifest. This is the quintessence of Philosophy of Atman.
To be continued…..
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5. SANATANA DHARMA & SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
AKHILANDAKOTI , BRAHMANDA NAAYAKA, RAAJAADHI RAAJA, YOGIRAJA, PARABRAHMA SREE SATCHITANANDA ,SAMARDHASADGURU, SAINATH MAHARAAJ KI JAI”
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Sai In Ramayan: By Sri SAIBANISA Gopal Rao Ravada
Lord’s Paadukas
In Ramayana, Bharatha went to the forest to request Ram to return and rule Ayodhya. But Ram refused to return. So Baratha asked for Ram’s Padukas. Baratha kept these padukas in the throne and paid reverent homage to the Padukas. He worshipped these Padukas with great respect.
In the 5th chapter of Sai Sat Charita there is a similar incident. Bai Krishnaji thought that there must be some memorial of the fact of Sai Baba’s coming to Shirdi and sitting under the neem tree. So he consulted with Upasani Maharaj and others and made the Padukas. Baba touched the Padukas and asked them to install on Sravana poornima day at the Gurusthan. But after installation, Baba said that the padukas were not His, but were the feet of the Lord and asked the people to worship it as Lord’s Padukas.
Om Tat Sat
After fulfilling the duty of His avatar of killing Ravana, Ram felt it was time for him now to leave the sorrow of earthly life and resume his celestial identity as Vishnu. As He set forth on his final journey, the people of Ayodhya and the vanaras followed him. They followed him as He walked out of the capital and straight to the banks of the Sarayu River. He paused for a moment on the shore. He shone like the sun in all its radiance. A serene smile lit his face. He descended into the water of river Sarayu, submerged himself under the surface and instantly rose again and transformed into His eternal form as Vishnu. Effulgent on the coils of his serpent seat, that Lord revealed himself briefly to those left behind, then ascended to His Celestial abode.
Sai also left his mortal coil happily. In fact two years before leaving this world, Baba gave an indication that He would attain Mahasamadhi on Vijayadasami. On the day of His Mahasamadhi, He gave nine coins to Laxmibai Shinde as a token of her bhakthi. In order that He should not be entangled with love and affection, He ordered all His devotees to go and have their noon meals. He never told anyone the exact time of His departure to heaven. After accomplishing His mission of Lokasamrakshana, Baba left His mortal coil on a Vijayadasami day peacefully.
Jai Sai Ram
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SANATANA DHARMA –NEWS FROM ABROAD:
Thai Pusam Festival in Penang Expected to Draw 500,000
www.bernama.com.my
PENANG, MALAYSIA, February 8, 2006: More than 500,000 people, including foreign tourists, are expected to throng the Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple near the Botanical Gardens here on Saturday in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration. Temple Chairman Chandra Kanthan said Wednesday the large number of people was anticipated because the festival falls on the weekend. Hindu devotees would carry various kinds of kavadi and climb the 248 steps up to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple located atop a hill. Hindus carry the kavadi and undergo penance by piercing their face and body with metal spikes in fulfilment of vows made to Lord Murugan for having granted their wish for good health, education and such. Some devotees fulfil their vows by carrying pots of milk (paal kodum). Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus nationwide and elsewhere in the world on the full moon day in the month of Thai in the Tamil calendar, which usually falls in January or February. More than one million devotees will be expected at Batu Caves Murugan Temple outside Kuala Lumpur.
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Archaeological Society of India to Renovate Cambodian Temple
NEW DELHI, INDIA, February 1, 2006: The ancient Tra Prohm temple in Cambodia will be restored to its pristine glory, thanks to a new proposal envisaged by the Cambodian government involving Indian agencies. For the restoration work at the Tra Prohm, which is dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses, the Cambodian government has roped in the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehra Dun. While the restoration work on various Deities would be undertaken by the ASI, the preservation of scores of ancient trees in the vicinity of the temple complex would be done by the FRI. The FRI, which is one of the world's largest institutes of its kind, will undertake a foreign assignment for the first time. "We have been asked to conserve the trees inside the temple complex," Dr. S. S. Negi, Director of the FRI said. There are an estimated 250 ancient trees in the temple complex here, Dr Negi added. The Tra Prohm temple -- which was constructed in 1139 -- is situated in the Siemreap city of Cambodia. The temple is dedicated to Lord Brahma among other Gods. The FRI has developed its expertise in silviculture and documented nearly 550 tree species in Asia. A team of experts from the Forest Research Institute would be travelling to Cambodia next week, Dr. Negi said.
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First Sanskrit-Catalan Dictionary Published
BARCELONA, SPAIN, January 26, 2006: HPI note: Catalan is Spain's second most widely spoken language. It is spoken or understood by as many as 12 million people who live in North-Eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands, in Andorra and also in parts of France and Italy. translated from Spanish. Enciclopedia Catalan publishing house of Barcelona (in collaboration with the provincial government) has just released the first Sanskrit-Catalan dictionary that translates and explains more than 50,000 words of this sacred language making it the most modern of all the European volumes according to the translator, Oscar Pujol.
The Dictionary Sanscrit-Catala includes a comprehensive range of themes from mythology to yoga, offers encyclopedic explanations on Hinduism and Indian culture and includes for the first time a double etymology, traditional grammatical Sanskrit and a comparative western one. It utilizes an alphabetical index of all its romanicised entrances which allows the consultation of words without the need of knowing Devanagari, the Sanskrit alphabet. This volume is the first dictionary of such size between Sanskrit and any Romanic language.
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Indiana State Gets Its Second Hindu Temple
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, USA, February 6, 2006: With the symbols of their God in place, Hindus who joyously celebrated the statues' arrival Sunday can today begin regular worship in the new Hindu Temple of Central Indiana. "This is the second temple in the whole state of Indiana," said board chairman Girdhar Ahuja, one of hundreds who helped sanctify the new building and honor the deities in weekend initiation ceremonies. The Far-Eastside temple -- in reality a wing of a much grander facility being built in phases -- opens today at 3350 N. German Church Road. On Sunday, following a day during which the temple and its congregants were sprinkled with purifying holy water as part of the prayer and preparation for its opening, Hindus applauded as the deities were introduced. "There's a misconception that Hindus believe in many gods," said Indu Vasudevan. "We believe in just one God that takes many forms," she said. "It's not simply the forms, but the grace of God that we are welcoming in this place now."
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South African Indians Celebrate
news.webindia123.com
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, February 8, 2006: There may be no crops to harvest in Johannesburg but that did not deter South Africa's Telugu community from hosting their annual Ram Bhajan thanksgiving function for the 10th consecutive year. The event was organized by the Transvaal Andhra Sabha, the representative body for Telugu-speaking people, in the sprawling mainly Indian area of Lenasia, south of here. Sam Naidoo, president of the Sabha, said the event was essentially a thanksgiving prayer on the lines of the one held in Andhra Pradesh at harvest time. In India, the crop harvest is marked in all states with special prayers to God, the sun, the earth and cattle. "Although the seasons are exactly the opposite between India and South Africa, and we do not have harvesting here, the tradition of giving thanks to Lord Ram for everything in our lives has continued here.”It's essentially about identity - ensuring that we continue to observe the universal tradition of thanksgiving no matter where you are in the world or what your religious affiliation is, which is why we get people from all walks of life attending," Naidoo added. "We have a lot of people who have moved to this region from Durban, which is why we have attendance by so many people not just from the Telugu community but many other communities as well," said Naidoo. The Andhra community is a minority here, with most of them settled around Durban, where the first Indians arrived in 1860 as indentured sugarcane laborers. "Since we started it on a small scale a decade ago, it has become a much-awaited event in the Hindu community," Naidoo added. The members of the Transvaal Andhra Sabha Bhajan Group, mostly young men, led the proceedings with non-stop religious recitals until midnight. A sumptuous dinner followed.
Compiled by Sai Sevak Srinivasa Rao Kasturi
Saidarbar– Hyderabad.
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6. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO “LORD SIVA”
From Sai Satcharita -chapter 28
Megha began to look upon Sai Baba as an incarnation of Shiva In order to worship Shiva, bela leaves are required and Megha used to go miles and miles every day to bring them and worship his Shiva (Baba).
Megha worshipped Baba in two places; in the Dwarakamai he worshipped Baba in person and in the Wada, Baba's big picture, given by Nanasaheb Chandorkar. This he did for 12 months. Then in order to appreciate his devotion and confirm his faith, Baba gave him a vision. Early one morning when Megha was still lying down on his bed with eyes closed but internally awake, he saw clearly Baba's Form. Baba knowing him to be awake threw Akshata (rice-grains marked red with Kumkum) and said, "Megha, draw a Trident" and disappeared. Hearing Baba's words, he eagerly opened his eyes but did not see Baba, but saw only rice grains spread here and there. He then went to Baba, told Him about the vision and asked permission to draw Trident. Baba said - "Did you not hear My words asking you to draw Trident? It was no vision but direct order and My words are always pregnant with meaning and never hollow.
Megha returned to the Wada, and drew a red Trident on the wall near Baba's picture. Next day a Ramadasi Bhakta came from Poona, saluted Baba and offered Him Pindi (an image of Shiva). At this time Megha also turned up there. Baba said to him - "See, Shankar has come, protect (i.e., worship) Him now." Megha was surprised to see Pindi following Trident immediately.
Maha Shivaratthri-Sunday 26 February--2006
Information about JyotirLingas:
1. SOMANATH in Saurashtra
Somnath, the first in the twelve jyothirlingas, is located at the Viraval port - Prabhas Pattan in Saurashtra - Gujarat.
Anceint Glory
Known as prabhasa kshetra, Somnath occupied a much esteemed place in the Hindu holy places. It finds many references in the puranas & itihasas.
The inner temple of the Garbhashay was supported to be aglow with the luster of these gemstones. The Nanda Deep was always kept lighted with Kannauji attar. The treasure of the temple was forever full of vast wealth and was kept safe.
For worship of the Lord-and Abhishek (worship with holy water) sandalwood scented water was brought from Haridwar, Prayag Kashi every day. However flowers for special festivities were imported from Kashmir. For the routine daily worship, one thousand Brahmins were appointed. About three hundred and fifty dancing girls were appointed for the regular music and dance concerts that took place in the Temple courts.
This religious place of worship was earning the produce of ten thousand villages. Among the twelve JyotirLingas (Lingas of light) Somanath is considered as the primary one. Because this deity is supposed to be Swayambhu (self-born) and is always awake, lakhs of devotees visited this temple and considered themselves blessed and to have achieved piety. Offerings made by crores of devotees amounted to crores of rupees which kept the Temple always rich and abundant.
Chandra, (moon) was the first one to receive the benefic boon of Shri Somanath of Saurashtra, the Shiva pilgrimage, Agni Teerth and Surya Teerth. Then Chandra built a beautiful golden temple and put a glorious JyotirLinga in it, the first of its kind in India.
According to Prabhaskhand of Skanda Purana, the legend goes like this:
Chandra married the twenty seven daughters (stars) of Daksha, but was very partial and showed lot more love and affection to Rohini. The remaining twenty six wives not only felt neglected but also insulted. They were disappointed with their husband and complained to their father. Daksha was upset to see his daughters suffer thus, and tried twice to convince his son-in-law to change himself, but in vain. He put a curse on him that Chandra would be “decreasing” in size.
The Devas (Celestial gods) were very sad at Chandra’s plight and went to Brahma. The Creator, in order to find out a remedy for this condition of Chandra and get a solution for redressing the curse. Brahma told them that the only way out was to worship Vrishabhdhwaj Shankar at Prabhas Kshetra Mahamrityunjay. Chandra went on a penance for six months and prayed to Lord Shiva, at the end of which Shankara appeared before him. He gave Chandra the boon that in a month, he would grow for fifteen days in one half and in the other half he would keep loosing one Kala (shade) per day and decrease in size. He was pleased with the Devas and in order to increase the prestige of the place, Lord Shiva Himself came to be known as Someshwar, meaning famous moon (Soma). The Devas established a Someshwar Kund there. By taking a holy dip in this pond or Kund, it is believed that one would obtain release from all the sins.
Chandra or moon is also called Som. That is why this JyotirLinga has become famous as Somanath. Chandra or moon looks very bright here. Therefore, this place is also known as “Prabhasapattana”.
Later, Shri Somnath Mandir was built by Ravana fro Rupa in the tretha yuga and Lord Krishna fro Chandran in. Emperor vikramadhitya built the temple in the kali yug.
Troubled times and Hindu Resilience
In 1783 AD Sadhvi Alalya devi Holkar, a great devotee of Siva, built a new temple for Somanath after India become independent, the lion of Gujarat, Sardar Vallabhai Patel renovated the Somanath Temple on the advice of Kakashaheb Gadgil of Maharashtra with its revived Indian architectural beauty for which it became an unique example. It drew the attention of the world.
The Somanath JyotirLinga statue was reinstated (Pran Pratishta) on Friday the 11th May 1951 at 9.46 A.M. It was done by the then President of India, Honourable Dr. Rajendra Prasad, to the tune of the Veda chanting of Vedamurti Tarka Teertha Lakshman Shastri Joshi, in a grand manner.
The temples 15th memorial and the ancient monument located on the sea side of Kahiavad near Prabhaspattan. There are many famous mythological stories attached to them. The sun temple is the most ancient of all. There is no presiding deity in it, but the architecture of temple is so exquisite, that even by seeing the ruins one can imagine.
Saint Agastya, is supposed to have drunk the entire sea near Prabhasapattan. Mythological heroes like Janamejaya, Pandavas, Ravana are supposed to have visited Prabhasapattan Teerth. In the month of Magha (sometime in February) on the day of Shivaratri, Somanath JyotirLinga festival is celebrated with great aplomb.
To be continued-------
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7. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES:
Sat, 04 Feb 2006 22:22:20 -0600
Sairam:
I would like to share how Sai saved and protected us today from a catastrophe. After we have moved into our new house, we have fixed a large photo of Shirdi Sai from the Samadhi Mandir facing the main entrance door, so that Baba sits there Blessing and protecting the house and everyone who visits us.
Today morning my family decided to go to Balaji temple in Aurora and do prayers. While leaving at 10.30am, I prayed at the entrance looking at Baba as usual, to protect the house and family. We went out by van by exiting through the garage door. While in the temple, I was praying to Balaji to show His presence in that big idol, which was nicely decorated. I prayed to Balaji to help me remember Sai always in my thoughts and action. I was eagerly waiting for an assurance from Him, in the form of at least one petal falling from the Balaji Moola Vigraha. Nothing noticeable happened, while I stood there for long. The time to leave the sanctum sanctorum came, I half heartedly took leave, just then not from Moola vigraha, but the small idol of Rama which was kept below the feet of Balaji, from that a petal fell down. I was thrilled and got happy with the assurance Balaji gave. I prostrated a few times conveying my gratitude to Sai.
With the resolution of remembering Sai's name, we drove back home around 4pm. It was very windy, cold and snow flurries have been falling continuously from the time we left the house. When we reached home, as usual we parked the van in the garage. We entered the house through the garage door. From the road we drove and entered, we cannot see our main entrance door. Everything looked normal as I came into the house, but my wife who had gone inside before me, shouted loud and called me to come and see the main entrance. Without removing the shoes, I ran inside thinking something had gone wrong. We both noticed that our front door was widely open, with snow fallen inside the house, it looked as if someone had entered through that door left it open. It was freezing inside the house, in that floor. I immediately ran upstairs and checked every room and the valuables. All were intact, nothing was stolen, though the door was kept open, there is no evidence of anyone entered the house. In the second floor, it was very hot, due to the heating going on continuously. We were shocked how the door was opened. It then came to our thinking, that the door was not locked fully when we went out, due to heavy wind it would have got opened.
Even though many people would have passed by seeing the open door, we were thankful that no theft has taken place. There was no fire hazard too, due to the increased heating because of low temperature in the first floor, which had heated up heavily the second floor rooms. We both stood prayerfully staring at the Shirdi Sai's photo decorating the entrance. We are thankful to Baba for protecting us and the house, as He only saved us from great mishap, by constantly watching and taking care of the house. This miracle further assured me of Sai's presence and my resolution of constantly remembering Him.
Sridhar.
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8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
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2/14/2006 22:09:24 -0800
Sai Ram. We will continue with the spiritual gems from this chapter.
Baba's Advice Regarding our Behaviour
The following words of Baba are general and invaluable. If they are kept in mind and acted upon, they will always do you good. "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them, with due respect. Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him, like a dog." Sai Ram. Baba gave a similar advice in another form to His favorite disciple Shri Nanasaheb Chandorkar. When the other person persists in demanding money or some thing which we are not prepared to give, it is the normal tendency of our ego to get angry and start shouting or even to use force against the other person. Baba advised us to overcome these egoistic
tendencies which arise out of Rajasic and thamasic characteristics of the ego. Sai Ram.
"Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy." Sai Ram. Here again, Baba is advising us to overcome the tendency of our ego to react than to act.
"Let the world go topsy-turvy, you remain where you are. Standing or staying in your own place, look on calmly at the show of all things passing before you." Sai Ram. Shifting the consciousness to a witness mode is an effective method of controlling one's lower tendencies.
"Demolish the wall of difference that separates you from Me; and then the road for our meeting will be clear and open. The sense of differentiation, as I and thou, is the barrier that keeps away the disciple from his Master, and unless that is destroyed the state of union or atonement is not possible." Sai Ram. The sense of separation is the product of our ego, which limits our awareness. Baba is advising us to dissolve the ego and thus merge our consciousness into His universal consciousness. Sai Ram.
God is the sole Proprietor, nobody else is our Protector. His method of work is extra-ordinary, invaluable, and inscrutable. His will shall be done and He will show us the way, and satisfy our heart's desires. It is on account of Rinaubandh (former relationship) that we have come together, let us love and serve each other and be happy. He, who attains the supreme goal of life, is immortal and happy; all others merely exist, i.e., live so long as they breathe". Sai Ram. This advice of Baba is really invaluable.
Encouraging Good Thoughts of Fruition
"It is interesting to note how Sai Baba encouraged good thoughts. You have to surrender yourself completely to Him with love, and devotion, and then you will see how, He helps you, off and on, in so many things." Sai Ram. Once our ego is surrendered to Him, we keep getting good thoughts only and He ensures that these thoughts are fulfilled. I am leaving most of the balance part of this story since most of the readers are familiar with Sai Satcharita.
The song was "Guru - kripanjan payo mere bhai" etc. by Ekanath, in which he says that he got collyrium in the form of Guru's grace which opened his vision and made him see Rama, in and out, in sleep, dream, and waking state and everywhere.
"All Saints agree on and lay stress upon the efficacy of uttering Rama's (God's) name, in fulfilling the ambitions of the Bhaktas and in protecting and saving them from all calamities. " Sai Ram. Gods grace and Guru's grace follow each other. Each beget's the other and help the sadhaka progress further on the path till the goal is reached, viz., merger with the Unity. Sai Ram.
We will continue with the chapter in the next issue. Sai Ram.
Swamy
Author, Editor, Proof-Reader and Book Reviewer
To be continued…..
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9. SAI WITH CHILDREN:
http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/portraits/7.jpg
Smt. Madhu Gopal Ravada, Saidarbar, Hyderabad.
Hello Children! I am Madhu aunty. Do you know Baba use to play with children and used to tell stories to them? I felt children visiting Saidarbar should be entertained with good stories. For the last 2 years I have told you about Lord Krishna's Leelas and Lord Rama Story. Now I want to tell the stories what heard in my child hood.
Let's See On Which Side The Camel Sits
Once a greengrocer and a potter jointly hired a camel and each filled one side of the pannier with his goods. The camel as he went along the road took a mouthful every now and then, as he had a chance, from the greengrocer's bag of vegetables. This provoked a laugh from the potter, who thought he had the best of the bargain.
But the time came for the camel to sit, and he naturally sat on the heavier side, bearing down on the pots, and also to have his mouth free to operate on the bag of greens. This caused the pots to break in the bag, and then the green grocer had all the laugh to himself.
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10. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES:
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAI AND HIS PHOTO
One day Baba Saheb Tarkhad and his son Jyotindra had a dream in which they saw a beautiful carved mandir with Baba seated on it. Accordingly they got a beautiful Sandal wood mandir carved by special carpenter. They needed Baba's portrait.
Let us see the wonderful way how Baba arranged His photo. On one Friday evening, both the father and son went to chor bazar in Bombay. A shopkeeper ran to them and asked to collect parcel meant for them. As the shopkeeper was new to them, they asked him how did he know a parcel was meant for them. The shopkeeper narrated that one saintly, elderly person came to his shop and handed over the parcel and also paid Rs 50/- towards service charges. The elderly person wanted it to be given to a father wearing an English hat and son wearing a black Gandhi cap. Tarkhad and son were exactly wearing hat and cap as told.
When they asked him to open the parcel it contained a framed photo of Lord Sainath suitable to be kept in the Sandalwood mandir.
Later Tarkhad family went to Shirdi and had Baba's darshan in Dwarakamai. At the sametime Baba told a devotee who was trying to take Baba's photo "Please go to my Bhau's place where you will find me alive in the photograph in the mandir" Tarkdad's were very happy to hear this news and shed tears of joy.
Dear readers, Let us recapitulate Baba's declaration that there is no difference between Him and His photo. Did not Baba attend in the form of His photo Hemandpant's shimaga dinner? When Shama sought Baba's permission to go to Kaashi and Prayaga did not Baba say "WE would be ahead of Shama", actually Baba's photo was hung in Pujari's house in Prayag?
BOW TO SAI PEACE BE TO ALL
D.Sankaraiah.
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11. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
2/06/2006 04:07:54 -0700
SaiRam!
Ram Mohan.
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shas_prof@yahoo.com
2/08/2006 09:14:00 -0700
SaiRam! Recently taken by SAI wave. Now mind is calm .Your site http://www.saidarbar.org nourished me a lot about Sai... Thank U Shantha.
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2/13/06: 04:07:54 -0700
SaiRam,
I am delighted with you all & hope we'll be able to perform as Baba is willing from us.
Sincere Sai Pranama.
Jai SaiNatha.
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30 Jan 2006 05:35:19 -0000
Dear Saibandhu,
Sairam! Than Q. I will be waiting for your bi weekly E-magazine “The Glory of Shirdi Sai”.
Regards,
Ravindranath
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Please visit for Sai Aartis in Telugu:
Please visit for Sai Aaratis Audio:
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13. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS:
Due to space constraints of E-magazine, we are not able to give the full report on activities of Sai organizations. However, we are providing their contact e-mail ID’s and web site address for interested readers.
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The Following Saidarbar chapters are functioning around the Globe; devotees may be contacted for necessary information about their activities to the following E-maid ids:
For further details please visit: www.saidarbarusa.org
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SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE, 46-16 ROBINSON ST, FLUSHING, NY
Submitted by Sai Sevak: Srinivasa Rao Kasturi
