Satsang Devotion to Shri Sai Baba by Sanjay M. Padia
To the young as well as the old, let me say that Shri Sainath is the easiest Avatar to approach for your miseries. Baba is the only saint or Avatar who required the least devotion and without formalities. Baba Himself is equal to Rama, Krishna and Maruti and hence worshipping Baba is worshipping all of them. In Sai Baba's charters and sayings by H. H. Narasimha Swamiji let us refer to Chapter Nos 22, 24, 25 & 27. For reference and information they are as under:
Ch 22) simply say "Sai, Sai" with heart overflowing. I care not for show and respect of forms. I rest in such devotees.
Ch 24) I am formless and everywhere.
Ch 25) If one casts his burden on me and thinks of me I look after all his concerns.
Ch 27) In the abode of my devotees there will be no dearth of food and clothing.
These assurances are enough to indicate that Shri Sainath is always with His devotees who remember Him. Even if we spend a little time only thinking of Sai, that itself is sufficient. But we must have faith and patience as preached by Baba to have His full blessings. And it is true that 9 out of 10 people have benefited from Him during His lifetime and even after so many years of Mahasamadhi, His response towards His devotees is as prompt as what it was during His life. Even today, the majority of the people find relief when they earnestly pray to Him. For Sai Baba we need not chant so many mantras or observe so many rites. The best recourse is to pray silently to Him any time of the day. Many devotees believe that to please Lord Sainath Maharaj various forms of pooja and chanting of hymns is required. In this however they are wrong. It is no doubt very good to do a detailed pooja if one is able to do it, but to those who cannot, it is not compulsory in Sai's case.
To develop faith and patience together with increased devotion, devotees must first read the Sai-Charitra (life-history of Sai Baba), read His leelas, etc. By doing so, a devotee will have increased faith and devotion to Baba thereby making him perfectly qualified for his entry into Baba's Darbar. This very reading of the Sat-Charitra is a prayer itself. A devotee may not follow the usual lengthy procedures for worshipping Baba but to take recourse to an easier path one must first go through His life and leelas. Without studying Baba's life and leelas it is not possible for any person to develop faith.
Baba's innumerable material benefits conferred on His devotees are in sharp contrast to Lord Ramana Maharashi and Lord Ramakrishna Paramhamsa both of whom imparted spiritual instructions and benefits only. Whereas the three Top personalities are equal in their Spiritual and Divine Powers, there are only two differences where Baba actually differs from them:
a) Baba blessed His devotees both materially and spiritually whereas Lord Ramana and Ramakrishna blessed their devotees for spiritual upliftment only.
b) Whereas the Samadhi of Lord Ramana and that of Lord Ramakrishna are not active after their physical departure from this world, that of Baba is. Shri Sai Nath Maharaj is even more active after His Samadhi than when He was physically present.
These two differences indicate that Baba's mission in this world is different than that of the other two. That is why He is continuing to help His devotees in all ways.
Finally let me state that if a devotee places His confidence in Baba he is sure to be protected whatever the circumstances may be. He need not fear for body and soul.
Baba's orders are supreme. No force on earth or even in this universe or beyond can challenge His grace and order. He has got virtual command of the movements of this entire universe and no devotee must even doubt for a moment that nothing is impossible for Him to do. So we must surrender wholeheartedly to Him.
Sanjay M. Padia
Calcutta (West Bengal)
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