Gifts of Sri Sai Baba
Most Varied and Unique Pearls for Swans
By Sri Narasimha Swamiji
We find ourselves awake at night, Disturbed about another's
plight. Not things that have, but things that might befall a
loved one, out of sight. We want to stretch protective arms, or
help by sounding out alarms, or even use some ancient charms
to obviate potential harms. Our efforts seem go for naught, and
worry doesn't help, we’re taught. It doesn't have the strength
it ought, to do the job our heart has sought. There is a way that
we many turn to seek the answers we should learn, and get the
strength for which we yearn, provide the cure for our concern.
"Newton's dog, his fellowmen and Newton all looked, at Nature
and saw apples fall. The first looked on and derived no benefit.
The second ran up and ate the fruits. Newton alone discovered
the Law of Gravitation which has served mankind, as a useful
theory or hypothesis to explain many facts of Nature.
All sorts of men and women have approached Sri Sai Baba. Some
have returned without any benefit. Some received much of
temporal goods with just a taste of the spiritual; others, higher
and higher spiritual goods. Every one received what he was fit
to receive. Baba, the Universal mother that he was, impartially
offered his gifts, nay, scattered them before his visitors; but
the crows picked up the offal and the swans, the pearls.
It was in accordance with the capacity, the receptivity and the
circumstances of each visitor due to his Karma Rinanubandha,
i.e., prenatal merits and ties, that Baba's gifts were effective; and
hence spiritual benefits received from him are of a very varied
description. Anything like an exhaustive statement of them
being impossible, we may content ourselves here with a set
or samples.
(to be contd...)
Source Saipadananda October 1992
Friday, February 02, 2007
Sri Sai Amrit Vani
Sri Sai Amrit Vani
1st Feb 2007
Devotees may forward this
letter to other Sai devotees.
Jai Sai Ram
Every week I narrate the Leelas of
Baba which I see happening at Sidhartha Extension
New Delhi. It is a miracle that nothing happened on
1st Feb, inspite of being Thursday. In fact my Uncle
expired on 29th Jan and our house was in ‘Sootak’, We
expected this thing and already communicated to the
members of the group that Sri Sai Amrit Vani will not
be held at Sidhartha Extension on this Thursday and
the next Thursday. Such things had happened earlier
also when my cousin expired and also when our grand
daughters were born, there was no Udi, no honey, no
Leela of Baba. So today I will list out what we missed
instead of what happened.
Very few dovotees attended the
recitation of Sri Sai Amrit Vani, only about 25 or so,
as the message was already given.
This Thursday the 1st Feb we missed the
following Leelas of Baba, which usually happen on
Thursdays.
1. No oozing of Udi from any photo on the walls or
photo or Statue in the Mandir. No formation of any
word or figures of OM, Ram and Sham
2. No water from the Charans this week.
3. There was no Pooja done, no Aggarbatti, no diya, No
books. Only recitation of Sri Sai Amrit Vani was done
with the help of Cassette.
4. There was no Udi in the Lap of Mrs. Gupta
5. There was no Bhog offered to Baba.
6. No Documents, photos , Sai Satcharitras were kept
in the mandir room. In fact no one entered the mandir.
7. No Prayan of Sai Satcharitra was done.
No pooja will be held on next Thursday also.
Sri Sai Bajan Sandhya has been arranged on
24th Feb in the evening at Sidhartha Extension.
However following devotees, participated
in absencia in the recitation of Sri Sai Amrit Vani.
The list is sorted as per their email id’s. However
Mrs. Gupta prayed for all the devotees. We include
only those devotees in the list, who themselves recite
or read Sri Sai Amrit Vani at their places. The names
of the devotees “for prayer”, are prayed for, but not
included in the list. Kindly mention clearly, against
each devotee’s name that he/she will recite or read
or listen to Sri Sai Amrit Vani, or only for prayers, If
no mention is made in the letter, then it will be
presumed that the names are only for prayer and
will not be included in the list. Please also give the
name of the place.
Scripts of Sri Sai Amrit Vani are available
in Tamil, Telgu also, besides in Devnagri (Hindi) and
English, in the file section of the yahoogroup. Links
of Audio MP3 files are given in the link section of
the home page of ‘ mysaibaba20’ yahoogroup. To
go to home page of yahoogroup key in or click
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysaibaba20 .
This activity of Sri Sai Amrit Vani will be
in addition to any other pooja or sewa or prayer that
you are doing.
Jai Sai Ram.
Ashok Gupta
mysaibaba20@yahoogroups.com
veena_gupta_2000@yahoo.com
1st Feb 2007
Devotees may forward this
letter to other Sai devotees.
Jai Sai Ram
Every week I narrate the Leelas of
Baba which I see happening at Sidhartha Extension
New Delhi. It is a miracle that nothing happened on
1st Feb, inspite of being Thursday. In fact my Uncle
expired on 29th Jan and our house was in ‘Sootak’, We
expected this thing and already communicated to the
members of the group that Sri Sai Amrit Vani will not
be held at Sidhartha Extension on this Thursday and
the next Thursday. Such things had happened earlier
also when my cousin expired and also when our grand
daughters were born, there was no Udi, no honey, no
Leela of Baba. So today I will list out what we missed
instead of what happened.
Very few dovotees attended the
recitation of Sri Sai Amrit Vani, only about 25 or so,
as the message was already given.
This Thursday the 1st Feb we missed the
following Leelas of Baba, which usually happen on
Thursdays.
1. No oozing of Udi from any photo on the walls or
photo or Statue in the Mandir. No formation of any
word or figures of OM, Ram and Sham
2. No water from the Charans this week.
3. There was no Pooja done, no Aggarbatti, no diya, No
books. Only recitation of Sri Sai Amrit Vani was done
with the help of Cassette.
4. There was no Udi in the Lap of Mrs. Gupta
5. There was no Bhog offered to Baba.
6. No Documents, photos , Sai Satcharitras were kept
in the mandir room. In fact no one entered the mandir.
7. No Prayan of Sai Satcharitra was done.
No pooja will be held on next Thursday also.
Sri Sai Bajan Sandhya has been arranged on
24th Feb in the evening at Sidhartha Extension.
However following devotees, participated
in absencia in the recitation of Sri Sai Amrit Vani.
The list is sorted as per their email id’s. However
Mrs. Gupta prayed for all the devotees. We include
only those devotees in the list, who themselves recite
or read Sri Sai Amrit Vani at their places. The names
of the devotees “for prayer”, are prayed for, but not
included in the list. Kindly mention clearly, against
each devotee’s name that he/she will recite or read
or listen to Sri Sai Amrit Vani, or only for prayers, If
no mention is made in the letter, then it will be
presumed that the names are only for prayer and
will not be included in the list. Please also give the
name of the place.
Scripts of Sri Sai Amrit Vani are available
in Tamil, Telgu also, besides in Devnagri (Hindi) and
English, in the file section of the yahoogroup. Links
of Audio MP3 files are given in the link section of
the home page of ‘ mysaibaba20’ yahoogroup. To
go to home page of yahoogroup key in or click
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysaibaba20 .
This activity of Sri Sai Amrit Vani will be
in addition to any other pooja or sewa or prayer that
you are doing.
Jai Sai Ram.
Ashok Gupta
mysaibaba20@yahoogroups.com
veena_gupta_2000@yahoo.com
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Quiz on Chapter XIV of Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XIV
(Devotees are requested to read Sai Satcharitra Chapter XIII,
translated by Gunaji before attempting this quiz)
11) Who wrote the article on Dakshina in Sai Leela Magazine
(Vol II )
a) Prof G.G.Narke b) Mrs. R.A.Tarkhad c) Mr.B.V. Dev
d) Hari Vinayaksathe
12) Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia was asked Dakshina by Baba.
Baba did not accept the full amount but only the balance amount
and said that he had already received Rs.3-14 and collected
this amount by
(a) Asking Mr Wadia dakshina on a previous occasion
(b) Collected in previous life (c) Collected the amount in disguise
(d) Baba identified himself with a muslim saint who was hosted
a small party by Mr.Wadia
13) Mr.Wadia prayed to Baba to bless him with
(a) More property (b) Knowledge (c) Son (d) Brahma Gnana
14) Baba pressing him very often for dakshina, he emptied his money
bag before him. The result was as Mr.__________ says in later years he
never had money as it came abundantly
(a) Nimaonkar (b) B.V Deo (c) Bodas (d) Booty
15) Baba asked Rs.15 dakshina from Prof G.G.Narke. The meaning
of dakshina here was
(a) Surrendering the 15 vices (b) Deriving lessons from the book
(c) Money (d) Doing 15 different types of service
(Devotees are requested to read Sai Satcharitra Chapter XIII,
translated by Gunaji before attempting this quiz)
11) Who wrote the article on Dakshina in Sai Leela Magazine
(Vol II )
a) Prof G.G.Narke b) Mrs. R.A.Tarkhad c) Mr.B.V. Dev
d) Hari Vinayaksathe
12) Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia was asked Dakshina by Baba.
Baba did not accept the full amount but only the balance amount
and said that he had already received Rs.3-14 and collected
this amount by
(a) Asking Mr Wadia dakshina on a previous occasion
(b) Collected in previous life (c) Collected the amount in disguise
(d) Baba identified himself with a muslim saint who was hosted
a small party by Mr.Wadia
13) Mr.Wadia prayed to Baba to bless him with
(a) More property (b) Knowledge (c) Son (d) Brahma Gnana
14) Baba pressing him very often for dakshina, he emptied his money
bag before him. The result was as Mr.__________ says in later years he
never had money as it came abundantly
(a) Nimaonkar (b) B.V Deo (c) Bodas (d) Booty
15) Baba asked Rs.15 dakshina from Prof G.G.Narke. The meaning
of dakshina here was
(a) Surrendering the 15 vices (b) Deriving lessons from the book
(c) Money (d) Doing 15 different types of service
Satsang The Glory of Shirdi Sai - Issue 03 - 2007 from Saidarbar.
THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI
Fifth Year of Publication
Published as Bi-Weekly
Issue 03/2007
01-02-2007
-----------------------
This is the first magazine in 3d Page turning format.
http://www.ettitudemedia.com
GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH;
GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA;
GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA;
THASMAI SREE GURAVE NAMAHA:
http://www.saidarbar.org/dattatreya/saidatta.htm
---------------------------------
THIS ISSUE CONTAINS:
1. FROM THE SATSANGHS OF SAIBANISA JI
2. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
3. SAI IN DREAMS
4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY
5. SANATANA DHARMA &SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
6. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES
7. SAI WITH CHILDREN
8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
9. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES
10. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES
11. TELUGU SECTION
12. SAI'S BOOK WORLD
13. EDITORIAL.
-------------------------------
1. FROM THE SATSANGHS OF SAIBANISA JI
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500055.htm
Compiled by:
Sai Sevak Smt. Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar – Hyderabad.
INCARNATIONS
Whenever there is a decay of Dharma and rise of Adharma,
then I embody Myself. To protect the good, to destroy the
wicked and to establish Dharma, I am born age after age.
- Bhagavad Gita IV: 7, 8
Like water, Dharma also finds its level. When an individual
commits an Adharma towards another, he will be made to
compensate the other for it in some form or other, in this or
in a subsequent life. Sin and retribution are inalienable
action and reaction. That is a law of nature.
When that Adharma exceeds individual limits and spreads it
wings to cover large sections of society, and a few ordinary
virtuous mortals are unable to meet the challenge, God
descends on earth in the form of an incarnation or Avatar to
neutralize that collective Adharma. There is nothing accidental
or extraordinary in this. It is only the operation of law referred
to above on a very comprehensive scale to extend its effect to
all the groups of society that deserves it. The combined Karma
of all the individual souls of the society gets embodied in this
incarnation. An incarnation is an agent of the Supreme
Godhead, sent into our midst; with full authority and power
to set in order all lapses and aberrations in the practice of
Dharma.
But in this process, two significant departures of the Lord from
His supreme station of spectatorship deserve special mention
for our enlightenment.
"Prakita' or "Mayasakti" is a creature of Eswara, the lord. At
the time of His incarnation on earth, He manipulates `Prakriti'
and appears to be born and growing, through in reality. He is
unborn and eternal.
Secondly, though in His original state He is above all Karma,
in an incarnation he moves in actual flesh and blood among us
as influenced by Karma but as an ideal Jivatma. He does this
among other things, to bring Himself nearer to His devotee's
understanding of Him – nearer than a mere concept of God,
or scriptural ideal to reach an unseen perfect personality of
an epic.
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
To be continued…
---------------
2. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:
February 25, 1912: Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama) left
Shirdi to attend Kakasaheb Dixit's thread ceremony at
Nagpur and Nanasaheb Chandorkar's son's wedding at
Gwalior.
February 14, 1914: Mr.B.V.Deo was charged by Baba for
stealing His rags and after lot of abusing and scolding
was favored with instructions to read Dhyaneswari
regularly every day as per Deo's desire.
-----------------
3. SAI IN DREAMS:
http://www.ettitudemedia.com
These are the dream sequences and messages as received
by SaiBaNiSaji
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.
08-12-1994
I prayed Lord Sainath to give message to HIS devotees.
Sri Sai in the form of an unknown person said that
Women, children and even dumb animals are employed in
Politics and Cinema field with a motto of personal gains.
Earlier such crimes were restricted only to select people
like kings and Zamindars (elite and rich). Now-a-days
even common people are found indulging in such acts.
My advice would be to distance from such activities,
tarnishing the image of humanity.
Exploitation has become the order of the day.
09-12-1994
A day before was Thursday. Some of my friends visited
my house. I briefed them about Sai, HIS Philosophy and
I felt happy for having done well. If Sai permits, I thought
I could do it for life long. I put this before Sai and the
approval was granted like this. He placed a white stone
like mass in my hand asked me to drop it into the water
storage tank kept on our rooftop. The stone purified the
water. He further asked me to serve the purified water to
the Sai devotees visiting my house. I was glad to get a
green signal to go ahead for spreading HIS philosophy.
Good deeds are always encouraged.
19-12-1994
Yesterday, I was thinking more about the problems faced
in leading family life often resulting in conflicts. I prayed
Lord Sai to give me a solution to this vexed problem. Sai
presented with the visuals as follows:
Imagine the family life as a pond of water with a couple of
fish in the pond. It's possible that they may get separated
due to the motion of waves set by strong winds blowing
and female fish may get separated and reach the ground.
It will be the duty of the male fish to drag the female fish
back into waters, lest it may die or some one else may
catch to eat it up. It will be foolish to expect that someone
will come selfless and push it back into waters. So it is
essential that in spite of the strong disturbances, the fish
should never be separated and touch the ground.
Movement of friends inside the house should be selective.
To be continued…..
-------------------------------------
4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY:
(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao)
"Shashi": shashi_31@yahoo.com
26. Mind Alone Is Held Responsible For the Bondage
& Emancipation
Mind is the cause for man's life, sorrow, joy and liberation
as well. It is the mind that makes us oblivious to Divinity
and lures us to the enchantments of the world. Maya is that
mental state in which the existent appears to be non-existent
and the non-existent appears to be existent. All the
experiences in the dream state are seen in the waking state
as unreal. The joy derived in the deep state is attributed to
the higher mind. Our mind shines with resplendent purity
if we cultivate noble thoughts ideas and feelings. It is only
developing the purity of mind; we can ensure the purity of
action. Pure deeds can yield, if we keep our mind pure. Our
destiny rests on our thoughts only. For our rise and for our fall
the thoughts in us are the cause. Thoughts in our mind can
lead us into dungeons of darkness and also illuminate us. The
thoughts in our mind are the very vital breath to us. Harboring
evil thoughts, or hatred, envy, anger and ego is the cause of
our downfall. We are under estimating the supreme
importance of our mind by our ignorance. Our whole life rests
on the mind.
We should make earnest efforts to understand the power of
the mind. Our love and hatred, pain and pleasure, life and
death are based on the mind only. Even the five elements, the
five senses, the five sheaths and the five vital airs draw sustenance
from our mind only. We must have faith that the mind is the
sacred power in the world. We must all understand that worldly
pleasures that tempt our mind tantalize our mind. But we must
know that there is an immortal Divinity in our mind. It is the
mind which makes us to scale ethereal heights and also fall down
to irretrievable depths. Everything becomes subservient to us,
if we can control our mind. It is the mind which makes us a man.
Man, mind and world are one and the same. It is the mind which
makes the world. Our mind is a slate containing the writings of
our many past lives. So the mind must surrender multiplicity
unto the God to attain unity.
To be continued…..
-----------------------------
5. SANATANA DHARMA &SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
How can I accept or reject anything? Is there anything apart or
distinct from Brahman? Now, finally and clearly, I know that I
am the Atman, whose nature is eternal joy. I see nothing. I hear
nothing. I know nothing that is separate from me.
When one's consciousness, peaceful and strengthened by
goodness, is focused on the divine, one then achieves Dharma,
wisdom, detachment and opulence. "
NEWS FROM ABROAD
www.mysanantonio.com
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, January 29, 2007: After a 16-year wait,
San Antonio's Hindu temple finally has received its crowning touch,
a rajagopuram --literally, a "kingly pagoda" -- that identifies the
building with its roots in South India. The gopuram, a 42-foot-high
entrance tower built by Indian artisans with statues of 52 Hindu
Deities sculpted in concrete on site over the past eight months and
painted white, was sanctified Sunday. The ceremony was conducted
by two resident temple priests assisted by two other priests from
Austin and Houston temples. Several hundred people attended.
"This is my dream come true," said Venkateshwar Goud, a member
since 1991, when the temple building itself was completed. "The
temple is finally complete. It's wonderful. We're all blessed." No
Hindu temple is considered authentic unless it has a gopuram
built according to scriptural specifications by artisans from India
and sanctified according to Hindu rituals. The door must face east.
"It's like the entrance to a palace," said Dr. Rajender Thusu, a
longtime temple member. "It's the entrance to God's house. The
various Deities protect both the house itself and the people." Every
gopuram is built to be seen from a distance. That way, even people
who don't have the opportunity to go to the temple may pray
whenever they see it or pass it. Ram Kushwaha, president of the
temple trustees, said the 15-year wait for the US$120,000
gopuram was necessitated by the requirement that a specially
trained team of 10 sculptors from India do the work.
--------------------------------
www.elfaroceutamelilla.com
CEUTA, SPAIN, January 15, 200&; (HPI note: This report is
translated from Spanish) Carpenters, electricians and bricklayers
are working against the clock on Echegaray Street where the new
Hindu temple is being built. "We hope to inaugurate it by the end
of February," explains Ramesh Chandiramani, president of the
Hindu community. In order to build the temple the Ceuta city
government and the Hindu community signed an agreement last year
in which the city committed to finance part of the work, estimated at
approximately US$390,000. The work started around the middle
of September, once the "Consejeria de Fomento" granted all the
required permits.
When completed, this temple will be an oasis of peace to which
inhabitants of the city, whatever their religious affiliation, will be
able to come when looking for a place of withdrawal and tranquility.
"Like Hinduism, this temple will be open to everybody," says
Chandiramani. "Gandhi also said: a culture that is not open is
condemned to extinction.
-----------------------
www.nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 25, 2007: (HPI note: A
kavadi is a decorated wood arch carried in procession during the
festival of Thaipusam honoring Lord Murugan. Pots of milk are
carried on each end of the arch and offered to the Deity upon
arrival at the temple.
Kavadi range in size from small to large affairs weighing over 100
pounds. What is described in this article are the small to medium
ones. Thaipusam in Malayasia in a big way this year.
Malaysian-made kavadis are now much sought after overseas.
Hindus celebrating Thaipusam in Australia, Canada, Africa
and Japan are ordering the kavadis to fulfill their vows. Devotees
from India have also made several trips here to take home samples
of kavadi
decorations as they felt the decorations here were grander. Kavadi
decorator Soraja Maniam said most of her customers living abroad
were fascinated with Malaysian-made kavadis.
Devotees and tourists are expected to throng the Sri Subramaniam
temple in Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival, with kavadi
bearers climbing the 272 steps to the famous temple as a show of
faith, sacrifice and fulfillment of vows. This year, the festival
falls on Feb 1 and it has also been included as one of the major
events in the tourism calendar for Visit Malaysia Year.
------------------------------------------------
6. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES:
saiappu_v@yahoo.co.in
Thu, January 11, 2007 2:59 pm
OM SAI RAM
I am Sai Aparna. I am devotee of SaiBaba. On November 25th
2005, I had an eye infection. It pains a lot, and it was Friday.
On Monday, doctor visits to our city & I thought of consulting
him. Meanwhile I should to near by doctor. He is not Sure of
what it is and gave medicines. On Sunday night I had too severe
pain such that if I hit my head to the wall also strongly (I made
it practically) I couldn't feel sense because of pain. All my
family members are worrying about me. Meanwhile my mother
bought BABA's Udi and applied on my head and in mouth.
After applying Udi with that pain only I sang Baba's song and
unknowingly I went to sleep. Next day when I visited doctor
he said it is Herpis zoster and he is not sure of sight. I suffered
with it for 3 months and I prayed to Baba to give me good eye
sight. After one week check up doctor was surprised and said
you are so lucky. This all happened because of Baba. Not only
this Baba had showed me many incidents. I want to share this
happiness moment to all devotees. So I am sending my real
experience. If you have 100% faith in Baba then he will surely
help him.
Sai Aparna
--------------------------------
7. 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. Now I want to tell the stories what heard in my
child hood.
The Crow and the Serpent:
Once a pair of crows built a nest on a big banyan tree. They
lived there in a great happiness. One day a black serpent
took shelter under the tree. He started living there in a hole.
The crows did not like this but they could not do anything.
After some time the female crow laid eggs. In due course
small crows were hatched. The crow couple looked after
their small ones with loving care. One day while they were
away in search of food, the serpent climbed the tree. He ate
up the young ones of the crows. When they came back to
their nest they found the nest empty. They were very sad.
They asked other animals and birds living there if they had
seen their young ones. No one could tell them anything.
They were dejected for a long time. Finally when they got
over their sorrow, they decided that the next time they had
young ones they would not leave them alone.
Many months passed. The female crow laid eggs once more.
Once again they had young ones. This time the crow couple
was very careful. They always kept their eyes on the young
ones. One of them always remained with them. One day the
female crow saw the big black serpent climbing the tree
towards her young ones. She crowed wildly for it to go
away. But the serpent paid no heed. He ate them up. The
mother crow was heart broken. She wept bitterly. All her
relatives gathered round her. They wanted to punish the
serpent but by then he had vanished in to his hole.
When the father crow returned in the evening, he heard
the whole story. His sorrow too knew no bounds. At last
the mother crow said that they would leave the tree and
go away somewhere else. That way the tragedy would not
be repeated in future. But the father crow reasoned with
her. He said that they had been staying there for such a
long time. It was their house. If any one, then, it was the
serpent who had to go.
How could they punish the serpent? Then they remembered
their friend, the cunning old, fox who lived nearby. They
would go and ask her to help them. She was sure to have
some clever way to punish the serpent. So they went to the
fox. They told her the whole story and then begged her to
help them. Otherwise they would have to leave their old
banyan tree and go somewhere else.
The fox thought for some time. Then she told them, "No,
you do not have to leave your old home. I will tell you how
the serpent is to be properly punished." "Tomorrow morning
the royal Princess will be going to the river bank for a bath.
Before entering the water she will take off her ornaments
and clothes and keep them beside the water. There will be
guards to look after them." The fox continued, "You make
it a point to be hiding in a tree there. When nobody is
looking, one of you pick up the precious necklace of the
princess and fly away. The other one will follow making a
lot of cawing sound. This would make the guards and others
see that you have taken away the necklace. They will surely
chase you. You carry the necklace to your tree and drop in
on to the hole of the serpent. Then watch the fun."
The crows agreed to do as they were told. The next morning
the crow couple went on to the river- bank and hid themselves
among the thick branches of a tree growing near the bank.
After some time the Princess, followed by her friends, servants
and guards also reached there. The Princess and her friends
took off their clothes and ornaments and kept them at one
place on the bank. Then they entered the water and started
frolicking among themselves. The crow-couple were waiting
for this opportunity. They had noticed a beautiful pearl
necklace among the ornaments of the Princess. The mother
crow swooped over it, picked it up and started flying away.
The father crow followed it, cawing loudly all the while. The
servants and the guards had seen the crow pick up the
necklace. They all shouted loudly and started chasing the
crows.
The mother-crow came to the banyan-tree and dropped the
necklace on the hole of the serpent at the foot of the tree. Then
she flew away. The chasing servants had seen the necklace
falling being dropped. They reached the foot of the banyan
tree. The necklace was half inside the hole. So they tried to
take it out with the help of sticks and spears. The serpent did
not like this disturbance. He got infuriated and came out of
the hole hissing menacingly. The attendants of the Princess
surrounded the serpent and beat it to death with their sticks
and weapons. They then picked up the necklace and went
back. The crow couple was watching the show from a safe
distance. When they saw that their old foe was safely dead,
they both heaved a sigh of relief. Then they lived happily
ever after, increasing their family and always grateful to
their friend, the clever fox.
Learn from your parents the moral of the story - bye children
meet you in the next issue.
-----------------------------------------------
8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
"Swamy" swamymain@yahoo.com
Mon, January 22, 2007 7:52 am
Spiritual Gems from Sai Satcharita - Chapter 22 continued
Sai Ram. We saw how Sri Balasaheb Mirikar was saved from
the Lamba Baba. Now, let us see how the predictions of an
astrologer were challenged by Sadguru Sai in case of Shri
Bapusaheb Buty thus proving that Guru's grace can overcome
any karma or planetary influences, as asserted in Sri Guru Gita
and Sri Guru Charitra. Some more examples of similar
intervention by Sai Maharaj are narrated in this Satcharitra
and we will link up these Spiritual Gems into a nice necklace.
Sai Ram.
Sai Ram. My apologies for not posting the installment in time
for the previous issue of Glory. I was caught up with some
other works and forgot. It is His will. Sai Ram.
SSS: A great astrologer named Nanasaheb Dengale told one day
Bapusaheb Booty, who was then in Shirdi, "To-day is an
inauspicious day for you, there is a danger to your life". This made
Bapusaheb restless. When they, as usual, came to Dwarakamai,
Baba said to Bapusaheb - "What does this Nana say? He foretells
death for you.
Well, you need not be afraid. Tell him boldly "Let us see how death
kills." Then later in the evening Bapusaheb went to his privy for
easing himself where he saw a snake. His servant saw it and lifted
a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb asked him to get a big stick, but
before the servant returned with the stick, the snake was seen
moving away and soon disappeared. Bapusaheb remembered with
joy Baba's words of fearlessness.
SSG: Sai Ram. In Sri Guru Gita and Sri Guru Charitra too, it is
asserted that Guru is Karma Dhwamsi that is destroyer of karma.
It is also mentioned that Guru can save the disciple from the wrath
of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva but the Three Gods cannot save the
disciple from Guru's wrath! That is because Guru doesn't get angry
with the disciple but for the welfare of the disciple. And thus it
obviously goes without saying that if the Guru is pleased, all the
Gods will be pleased (in fact Deepaka, the disciple of Veda Dharma
does say that when Sri Siva and Sri Vishnu appear to him and ask
him for seeking their boons). Sai Ram. The above story appears at
first sight rather simple but is quite deep in its spiritual
significance. Sai Ram.
SSS: Amir Shakkar was a native of the village Korale, in Kopergaon
Taluka. He belonged to the butcher caste. He worked as a commission
agent in Bandra, and was well-known there. He once suffered from
Rheumatism, which gave him much pain. He was then reminded of
God, and so, he left his business and went to Shirdi, and prayed to
Baba to relieve him from his malady. Baba then stationed him in the
Chavadi, which was then a damp unhealthy place, unfit for such a
patient. Any other place in the village, or Korale itself would have
been better for Amir, but Baba's word was the deciding factor and
the chief medicine.
SSG: Sai Ram. Similarly when another devotee who was suffering
from tuberculosis and for whom all medicines failed came to
Shirdi and sought refuge at the feet of Sai, He ordered him to stay
in the house of Bhimabai, which again was not an appropriate
place when looked with the ordinary worldly vision. Sai's
objective in such inappropriate remedies was to show to all
doubting thomases like us that faith in Guru is the real medicine.
Sai Ram.
SSS: Baba did not allow him to come to the Dwarkmai, but fixed
him in the Chavadi, where he got very great advantage. Baba
passed via Chavadi every morning and evening; and every
alternate day Baba went to the Chavadi in a procession and
slept there. So Amir got Baba's contact very often easily. Amir
stayed there for full nine months, and then, somehow or other,
he got a disgust for the place.
SSG: Sai Ram. It is an example of how even great devotees
sometimes slip from their sadhana. Meant to be a lesson for
all of us to be always alert. Sai Ram.
SSS: So one night he stealthily left the place and came to
Kopergaon and stayed in a Dharmashala. There he saw an
old dying Fakir, who asked him for water. Amir brought it
and gave it to him. As soon as he drank it, he passed away.
Then Amir was in a fix. He thought that if he went and
informed the authorities, he would be held responsible for
the death as he was the first and sole informant, and knew
something about it. He repented for his action, viz. leaving
Shirdi without Baba's leave, and prayed to Baba. He then
determined to return to Shirdi, and that same night he ran
back, remembering and muttering Baba's name on the way,
and reached Shirdi before day-break, and became free from
anxiety. Then he lived in the Chavadi in perfect accordance
with Baba's wishes and orders, and got himself cured.
SSG: Sai Ram. It is Sai's grace that forgave Amir Shakar
and allowed the prodigal disciple to return to Sai's fold.
Sai Ram.
SSS: One night it so happened that Baba cried at midnight-
"Oh Abdul, some devilish creature is dashing against the
side of My bed". Abdul came with a lantern, examined
Baba's bed but found nothing, Baba asked him to examine
carefully all the place and began to strike ground with His
satka. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Amir thought that Baba
might have suspected some serpent had come there. Amir
could know by close and long contact the meaning of Baba's
words and actions. Baba then saw near Amir's cushion
something moving. He asked Abdul to bring in the light,
and when he brought it, he saw the coil of a serpent there,
moving its head up and down. Thereupon the serpent was
immediately beaten to death. Thus Baba gave timely
warning and saved Amir.
SSG: By saving His disciples from serpent bites and from
many other dangers, Sai is giving a simple message that
Sadguru takes care not only of the para but also of the iha,
the worldly matters as needed in the case of those who
depend on His grace. Sai Ram.
We will continue with this chapter in the next issue.
Sai Ram.
S.V.Swamy
Author, Editor, Proof-Reader and Book Reviewer
www.freewebs.com/swamyreviews
---------------------
9. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES:
"Raghammudi ramchandrakiran"
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:29:46 +0000 (GMT)
Baba tu hi maata tu hi pita
Nahi sachha aur koi jag ka naata
Tere dar pe aakar sab kuch paata
Hey jagannath hai tu hi ek data
Teri mahima badi nirali
Bhar de sadgunom se meri man rupi jholi
Naiya uski kaabhi na doobey jiski tu karta rakhwali
Aa bas ja mere hriday mein
Mera hriday hai janmon se khali
Upkaar tere kai hain mujh par
Phir bhi jholi phailaye aaya tere dar
Nij swabhavvash nirash na karna Harihar
Sadaa apney bhakton ki rakhta tu khabar
Ye Moodh prarthna karta, sada rahe
shraddha tum par
Puri karo sabki manokaamna Hey Gurvar
------------------------------------
10. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
"Raghammudi ramchandrakiran"
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:29:46 +0000 (GMT)
Dear Saibandhu,
SaiRam
"The Glory of Shirdi Sai" E-magazine is very nice and I
always enjoy reading it and try to put the teachings into
practice.
om sairam,
R.Ramchandra kiran
--------------
"Ramesh khanna" 25 Jan 2007 11:32:05 -0000
Respected Saibandhu,
Thank you very much for keeping me on your mailing list.
I appreciate and request you to continue sending me
valuable information on Sai.
With regards,
Ramesh Khanna
Editor-in-Chief
Neelkanth Publications.
-----------------------
11. TELUGU SECTION:
Please visit:
http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Misc/ShiridiSai/shirdisai.htm
Please visit for Sai Aartis in Telugu:
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/PDFS/pdfs.htm
Please visit for Sai Aaratis Audio:
http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/saibaba/saibaba_aarti.asp
-------------------------------
FOR STARTING A SAIDARBAR CHAPTER
OUT SIDE INDIA:
Please contact: saidarbar@saidarbar.org &
saidarbar@gmail.com
-----------------------------
12. SAI'S BOOK WORLD:
Title: Shri Shirdi Sai Baba: His Life and Miracles
ISBN: 8120728777
Price: Rs. 25
Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. A-59, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II,
New Delhi-110020.
-------------------
Title: Life History of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba
Author: Ammula Sambasiva Rao
ISBN: 8120720334
Price: Rs. 95
Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. A-59, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II,
New Delhi-110020.
E-mail: sterlingpublishers@airtelbroadband.in &
ghai@nde.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.sterlingpublishers.com
--------------------
Please Note:
Those desirous of using this facility (Sai's Book World) to
spread the word about their books may send ONE new copy
of the book to Saidarbar, for details contact:
saidarbar@gmail.com
Acknowledgement of receipt of books will be done by
E-mail only. Book(s) sent to Saidarbar will be retained by
Saidarbar and cannot be returned.
-----------------------------------------
SAIDARBAR – HYDERABAD:
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500041.htm
Saidarbar members would like to convey hearty thanks to the
websites which has uploaded Saibanisa's discourses
Audio C.Ds in
http://www.omsrisai.net
You can download Audio:
Sri Sai Satcharithra (In English Language)
Sri Sai Satcharithra by chapters (In English Language)
Sri Sai Satcharithra (In Telugu Language)
Sai Satcharithra by chapters (In Telugu Language)
Sri Guru Charithra (In English Language)
Sri Guru Charithra by chapters (In English Language)
Request Sri Sai Satcharithra CD
(English and Telugu Language Available)
Saibanisa's discourses (Telugu)
From
http://www.saiaudio.com/sairam/index.htm
---------------------
13. EDITORIAL.
Things impressed me from this magazine:
Like water, Dharma also finds its level. When an individual
commits an Adharma towards another, he will be made to
compensate the other for it in some form or other, in this or
in a subsequent life. Sin and retribution are inalienable
action and reaction. That is a law of nature
Sai devotees may write about their Sai activities in their
place, essays, articles and poetry on Sai to
"The Glory of Shirdi Sai" – they may be address their
contributions to E-mail id: saidarbar@gmail.com with
a copy marked to webmaster@saidarbar.org
We shall put in our best efforts to include them in the
Glory of Shirdi Sai- the bi-weekly E -Magazine. Unless
the author of the articles instructs, not to publish his/her
E-mail id, we will publish them as a matter of routine
practice.
You can subscribe for THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI for
a friend /relative by submitting e-mail ID in the main page
of http://www.saidarbar.org
Also read the old issues from:
http://www.saidarbar.org/glory.htm
If you are subscribing this E-magazine for your friend or
a relative, we request that the person concerned may be
notified about receiving the same.
Editor does not accept responsibility for the views expressed
in the articles published.
This e-magazine is intended for Private circulation only.
Submitted by Sai Sevak: Srinivasa Rao Kasturi
Saidarbar—HYDERABAD--INDIA
P.S. In case you do not like to receive "The Glory of Shirdi Sai ",
Kindly reply UNSUBSCRIBE for our necessary action.
----------------------------------------------------
Fifth Year of Publication
Published as Bi-Weekly
Issue 03/2007
01-02-2007
-----------------------
This is the first magazine in 3d Page turning format.
http://www.ettitudemedia.com
GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH;
GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA;
GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA;
THASMAI SREE GURAVE NAMAHA:
http://www.saidarbar.org/dattatreya/saidatta.htm
---------------------------------
THIS ISSUE CONTAINS:
1. FROM THE SATSANGHS OF SAIBANISA JI
2. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
3. SAI IN DREAMS
4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY
5. SANATANA DHARMA &SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
6. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES
7. SAI WITH CHILDREN
8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
9. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES
10. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES
11. TELUGU SECTION
12. SAI'S BOOK WORLD
13. EDITORIAL.
-------------------------------
1. FROM THE SATSANGHS OF SAIBANISA JI
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500055.htm
Compiled by:
Sai Sevak Smt. Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar – Hyderabad.
INCARNATIONS
Whenever there is a decay of Dharma and rise of Adharma,
then I embody Myself. To protect the good, to destroy the
wicked and to establish Dharma, I am born age after age.
- Bhagavad Gita IV: 7, 8
Like water, Dharma also finds its level. When an individual
commits an Adharma towards another, he will be made to
compensate the other for it in some form or other, in this or
in a subsequent life. Sin and retribution are inalienable
action and reaction. That is a law of nature.
When that Adharma exceeds individual limits and spreads it
wings to cover large sections of society, and a few ordinary
virtuous mortals are unable to meet the challenge, God
descends on earth in the form of an incarnation or Avatar to
neutralize that collective Adharma. There is nothing accidental
or extraordinary in this. It is only the operation of law referred
to above on a very comprehensive scale to extend its effect to
all the groups of society that deserves it. The combined Karma
of all the individual souls of the society gets embodied in this
incarnation. An incarnation is an agent of the Supreme
Godhead, sent into our midst; with full authority and power
to set in order all lapses and aberrations in the practice of
Dharma.
But in this process, two significant departures of the Lord from
His supreme station of spectatorship deserve special mention
for our enlightenment.
"Prakita' or "Mayasakti" is a creature of Eswara, the lord. At
the time of His incarnation on earth, He manipulates `Prakriti'
and appears to be born and growing, through in reality. He is
unborn and eternal.
Secondly, though in His original state He is above all Karma,
in an incarnation he moves in actual flesh and blood among us
as influenced by Karma but as an ideal Jivatma. He does this
among other things, to bring Himself nearer to His devotee's
understanding of Him – nearer than a mere concept of God,
or scriptural ideal to reach an unseen perfect personality of
an epic.
Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
To be continued…
---------------
2. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:
February 25, 1912: Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama) left
Shirdi to attend Kakasaheb Dixit's thread ceremony at
Nagpur and Nanasaheb Chandorkar's son's wedding at
Gwalior.
February 14, 1914: Mr.B.V.Deo was charged by Baba for
stealing His rags and after lot of abusing and scolding
was favored with instructions to read Dhyaneswari
regularly every day as per Deo's desire.
-----------------
3. SAI IN DREAMS:
http://www.ettitudemedia.com
These are the dream sequences and messages as received
by SaiBaNiSaji
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.
08-12-1994
I prayed Lord Sainath to give message to HIS devotees.
Sri Sai in the form of an unknown person said that
Women, children and even dumb animals are employed in
Politics and Cinema field with a motto of personal gains.
Earlier such crimes were restricted only to select people
like kings and Zamindars (elite and rich). Now-a-days
even common people are found indulging in such acts.
My advice would be to distance from such activities,
tarnishing the image of humanity.
Exploitation has become the order of the day.
09-12-1994
A day before was Thursday. Some of my friends visited
my house. I briefed them about Sai, HIS Philosophy and
I felt happy for having done well. If Sai permits, I thought
I could do it for life long. I put this before Sai and the
approval was granted like this. He placed a white stone
like mass in my hand asked me to drop it into the water
storage tank kept on our rooftop. The stone purified the
water. He further asked me to serve the purified water to
the Sai devotees visiting my house. I was glad to get a
green signal to go ahead for spreading HIS philosophy.
Good deeds are always encouraged.
19-12-1994
Yesterday, I was thinking more about the problems faced
in leading family life often resulting in conflicts. I prayed
Lord Sai to give me a solution to this vexed problem. Sai
presented with the visuals as follows:
Imagine the family life as a pond of water with a couple of
fish in the pond. It's possible that they may get separated
due to the motion of waves set by strong winds blowing
and female fish may get separated and reach the ground.
It will be the duty of the male fish to drag the female fish
back into waters, lest it may die or some one else may
catch to eat it up. It will be foolish to expect that someone
will come selfless and push it back into waters. So it is
essential that in spite of the strong disturbances, the fish
should never be separated and touch the ground.
Movement of friends inside the house should be selective.
To be continued…..
-------------------------------------
4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY:
(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao)
"Shashi": shashi_31@yahoo.com
26. Mind Alone Is Held Responsible For the Bondage
& Emancipation
Mind is the cause for man's life, sorrow, joy and liberation
as well. It is the mind that makes us oblivious to Divinity
and lures us to the enchantments of the world. Maya is that
mental state in which the existent appears to be non-existent
and the non-existent appears to be existent. All the
experiences in the dream state are seen in the waking state
as unreal. The joy derived in the deep state is attributed to
the higher mind. Our mind shines with resplendent purity
if we cultivate noble thoughts ideas and feelings. It is only
developing the purity of mind; we can ensure the purity of
action. Pure deeds can yield, if we keep our mind pure. Our
destiny rests on our thoughts only. For our rise and for our fall
the thoughts in us are the cause. Thoughts in our mind can
lead us into dungeons of darkness and also illuminate us. The
thoughts in our mind are the very vital breath to us. Harboring
evil thoughts, or hatred, envy, anger and ego is the cause of
our downfall. We are under estimating the supreme
importance of our mind by our ignorance. Our whole life rests
on the mind.
We should make earnest efforts to understand the power of
the mind. Our love and hatred, pain and pleasure, life and
death are based on the mind only. Even the five elements, the
five senses, the five sheaths and the five vital airs draw sustenance
from our mind only. We must have faith that the mind is the
sacred power in the world. We must all understand that worldly
pleasures that tempt our mind tantalize our mind. But we must
know that there is an immortal Divinity in our mind. It is the
mind which makes us to scale ethereal heights and also fall down
to irretrievable depths. Everything becomes subservient to us,
if we can control our mind. It is the mind which makes us a man.
Man, mind and world are one and the same. It is the mind which
makes the world. Our mind is a slate containing the writings of
our many past lives. So the mind must surrender multiplicity
unto the God to attain unity.
To be continued…..
-----------------------------
5. SANATANA DHARMA &SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
How can I accept or reject anything? Is there anything apart or
distinct from Brahman? Now, finally and clearly, I know that I
am the Atman, whose nature is eternal joy. I see nothing. I hear
nothing. I know nothing that is separate from me.
When one's consciousness, peaceful and strengthened by
goodness, is focused on the divine, one then achieves Dharma,
wisdom, detachment and opulence. "
NEWS FROM ABROAD
www.mysanantonio.com
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, January 29, 2007: After a 16-year wait,
San Antonio's Hindu temple finally has received its crowning touch,
a rajagopuram --literally, a "kingly pagoda" -- that identifies the
building with its roots in South India. The gopuram, a 42-foot-high
entrance tower built by Indian artisans with statues of 52 Hindu
Deities sculpted in concrete on site over the past eight months and
painted white, was sanctified Sunday. The ceremony was conducted
by two resident temple priests assisted by two other priests from
Austin and Houston temples. Several hundred people attended.
"This is my dream come true," said Venkateshwar Goud, a member
since 1991, when the temple building itself was completed. "The
temple is finally complete. It's wonderful. We're all blessed." No
Hindu temple is considered authentic unless it has a gopuram
built according to scriptural specifications by artisans from India
and sanctified according to Hindu rituals. The door must face east.
"It's like the entrance to a palace," said Dr. Rajender Thusu, a
longtime temple member. "It's the entrance to God's house. The
various Deities protect both the house itself and the people." Every
gopuram is built to be seen from a distance. That way, even people
who don't have the opportunity to go to the temple may pray
whenever they see it or pass it. Ram Kushwaha, president of the
temple trustees, said the 15-year wait for the US$120,000
gopuram was necessitated by the requirement that a specially
trained team of 10 sculptors from India do the work.
--------------------------------
www.elfaroceutamelilla.com
CEUTA, SPAIN, January 15, 200&; (HPI note: This report is
translated from Spanish) Carpenters, electricians and bricklayers
are working against the clock on Echegaray Street where the new
Hindu temple is being built. "We hope to inaugurate it by the end
of February," explains Ramesh Chandiramani, president of the
Hindu community. In order to build the temple the Ceuta city
government and the Hindu community signed an agreement last year
in which the city committed to finance part of the work, estimated at
approximately US$390,000. The work started around the middle
of September, once the "Consejeria de Fomento" granted all the
required permits.
When completed, this temple will be an oasis of peace to which
inhabitants of the city, whatever their religious affiliation, will be
able to come when looking for a place of withdrawal and tranquility.
"Like Hinduism, this temple will be open to everybody," says
Chandiramani. "Gandhi also said: a culture that is not open is
condemned to extinction.
-----------------------
www.nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 25, 2007: (HPI note: A
kavadi is a decorated wood arch carried in procession during the
festival of Thaipusam honoring Lord Murugan. Pots of milk are
carried on each end of the arch and offered to the Deity upon
arrival at the temple.
Kavadi range in size from small to large affairs weighing over 100
pounds. What is described in this article are the small to medium
ones. Thaipusam in Malayasia in a big way this year.
Malaysian-made kavadis are now much sought after overseas.
Hindus celebrating Thaipusam in Australia, Canada, Africa
and Japan are ordering the kavadis to fulfill their vows. Devotees
from India have also made several trips here to take home samples
of kavadi
decorations as they felt the decorations here were grander. Kavadi
decorator Soraja Maniam said most of her customers living abroad
were fascinated with Malaysian-made kavadis.
Devotees and tourists are expected to throng the Sri Subramaniam
temple in Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival, with kavadi
bearers climbing the 272 steps to the famous temple as a show of
faith, sacrifice and fulfillment of vows. This year, the festival
falls on Feb 1 and it has also been included as one of the major
events in the tourism calendar for Visit Malaysia Year.
------------------------------------------------
6. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES:
saiappu_v@yahoo.co.in
Thu, January 11, 2007 2:59 pm
OM SAI RAM
I am Sai Aparna. I am devotee of SaiBaba. On November 25th
2005, I had an eye infection. It pains a lot, and it was Friday.
On Monday, doctor visits to our city & I thought of consulting
him. Meanwhile I should to near by doctor. He is not Sure of
what it is and gave medicines. On Sunday night I had too severe
pain such that if I hit my head to the wall also strongly (I made
it practically) I couldn't feel sense because of pain. All my
family members are worrying about me. Meanwhile my mother
bought BABA's Udi and applied on my head and in mouth.
After applying Udi with that pain only I sang Baba's song and
unknowingly I went to sleep. Next day when I visited doctor
he said it is Herpis zoster and he is not sure of sight. I suffered
with it for 3 months and I prayed to Baba to give me good eye
sight. After one week check up doctor was surprised and said
you are so lucky. This all happened because of Baba. Not only
this Baba had showed me many incidents. I want to share this
happiness moment to all devotees. So I am sending my real
experience. If you have 100% faith in Baba then he will surely
help him.
Sai Aparna
--------------------------------
7. 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. Now I want to tell the stories what heard in my
child hood.
The Crow and the Serpent:
Once a pair of crows built a nest on a big banyan tree. They
lived there in a great happiness. One day a black serpent
took shelter under the tree. He started living there in a hole.
The crows did not like this but they could not do anything.
After some time the female crow laid eggs. In due course
small crows were hatched. The crow couple looked after
their small ones with loving care. One day while they were
away in search of food, the serpent climbed the tree. He ate
up the young ones of the crows. When they came back to
their nest they found the nest empty. They were very sad.
They asked other animals and birds living there if they had
seen their young ones. No one could tell them anything.
They were dejected for a long time. Finally when they got
over their sorrow, they decided that the next time they had
young ones they would not leave them alone.
Many months passed. The female crow laid eggs once more.
Once again they had young ones. This time the crow couple
was very careful. They always kept their eyes on the young
ones. One of them always remained with them. One day the
female crow saw the big black serpent climbing the tree
towards her young ones. She crowed wildly for it to go
away. But the serpent paid no heed. He ate them up. The
mother crow was heart broken. She wept bitterly. All her
relatives gathered round her. They wanted to punish the
serpent but by then he had vanished in to his hole.
When the father crow returned in the evening, he heard
the whole story. His sorrow too knew no bounds. At last
the mother crow said that they would leave the tree and
go away somewhere else. That way the tragedy would not
be repeated in future. But the father crow reasoned with
her. He said that they had been staying there for such a
long time. It was their house. If any one, then, it was the
serpent who had to go.
How could they punish the serpent? Then they remembered
their friend, the cunning old, fox who lived nearby. They
would go and ask her to help them. She was sure to have
some clever way to punish the serpent. So they went to the
fox. They told her the whole story and then begged her to
help them. Otherwise they would have to leave their old
banyan tree and go somewhere else.
The fox thought for some time. Then she told them, "No,
you do not have to leave your old home. I will tell you how
the serpent is to be properly punished." "Tomorrow morning
the royal Princess will be going to the river bank for a bath.
Before entering the water she will take off her ornaments
and clothes and keep them beside the water. There will be
guards to look after them." The fox continued, "You make
it a point to be hiding in a tree there. When nobody is
looking, one of you pick up the precious necklace of the
princess and fly away. The other one will follow making a
lot of cawing sound. This would make the guards and others
see that you have taken away the necklace. They will surely
chase you. You carry the necklace to your tree and drop in
on to the hole of the serpent. Then watch the fun."
The crows agreed to do as they were told. The next morning
the crow couple went on to the river- bank and hid themselves
among the thick branches of a tree growing near the bank.
After some time the Princess, followed by her friends, servants
and guards also reached there. The Princess and her friends
took off their clothes and ornaments and kept them at one
place on the bank. Then they entered the water and started
frolicking among themselves. The crow-couple were waiting
for this opportunity. They had noticed a beautiful pearl
necklace among the ornaments of the Princess. The mother
crow swooped over it, picked it up and started flying away.
The father crow followed it, cawing loudly all the while. The
servants and the guards had seen the crow pick up the
necklace. They all shouted loudly and started chasing the
crows.
The mother-crow came to the banyan-tree and dropped the
necklace on the hole of the serpent at the foot of the tree. Then
she flew away. The chasing servants had seen the necklace
falling being dropped. They reached the foot of the banyan
tree. The necklace was half inside the hole. So they tried to
take it out with the help of sticks and spears. The serpent did
not like this disturbance. He got infuriated and came out of
the hole hissing menacingly. The attendants of the Princess
surrounded the serpent and beat it to death with their sticks
and weapons. They then picked up the necklace and went
back. The crow couple was watching the show from a safe
distance. When they saw that their old foe was safely dead,
they both heaved a sigh of relief. Then they lived happily
ever after, increasing their family and always grateful to
their friend, the clever fox.
Learn from your parents the moral of the story - bye children
meet you in the next issue.
-----------------------------------------------
8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
"Swamy" swamymain@yahoo.com
Mon, January 22, 2007 7:52 am
Spiritual Gems from Sai Satcharita - Chapter 22 continued
Sai Ram. We saw how Sri Balasaheb Mirikar was saved from
the Lamba Baba. Now, let us see how the predictions of an
astrologer were challenged by Sadguru Sai in case of Shri
Bapusaheb Buty thus proving that Guru's grace can overcome
any karma or planetary influences, as asserted in Sri Guru Gita
and Sri Guru Charitra. Some more examples of similar
intervention by Sai Maharaj are narrated in this Satcharitra
and we will link up these Spiritual Gems into a nice necklace.
Sai Ram.
Sai Ram. My apologies for not posting the installment in time
for the previous issue of Glory. I was caught up with some
other works and forgot. It is His will. Sai Ram.
SSS: A great astrologer named Nanasaheb Dengale told one day
Bapusaheb Booty, who was then in Shirdi, "To-day is an
inauspicious day for you, there is a danger to your life". This made
Bapusaheb restless. When they, as usual, came to Dwarakamai,
Baba said to Bapusaheb - "What does this Nana say? He foretells
death for you.
Well, you need not be afraid. Tell him boldly "Let us see how death
kills." Then later in the evening Bapusaheb went to his privy for
easing himself where he saw a snake. His servant saw it and lifted
a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb asked him to get a big stick, but
before the servant returned with the stick, the snake was seen
moving away and soon disappeared. Bapusaheb remembered with
joy Baba's words of fearlessness.
SSG: Sai Ram. In Sri Guru Gita and Sri Guru Charitra too, it is
asserted that Guru is Karma Dhwamsi that is destroyer of karma.
It is also mentioned that Guru can save the disciple from the wrath
of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva but the Three Gods cannot save the
disciple from Guru's wrath! That is because Guru doesn't get angry
with the disciple but for the welfare of the disciple. And thus it
obviously goes without saying that if the Guru is pleased, all the
Gods will be pleased (in fact Deepaka, the disciple of Veda Dharma
does say that when Sri Siva and Sri Vishnu appear to him and ask
him for seeking their boons). Sai Ram. The above story appears at
first sight rather simple but is quite deep in its spiritual
significance. Sai Ram.
SSS: Amir Shakkar was a native of the village Korale, in Kopergaon
Taluka. He belonged to the butcher caste. He worked as a commission
agent in Bandra, and was well-known there. He once suffered from
Rheumatism, which gave him much pain. He was then reminded of
God, and so, he left his business and went to Shirdi, and prayed to
Baba to relieve him from his malady. Baba then stationed him in the
Chavadi, which was then a damp unhealthy place, unfit for such a
patient. Any other place in the village, or Korale itself would have
been better for Amir, but Baba's word was the deciding factor and
the chief medicine.
SSG: Sai Ram. Similarly when another devotee who was suffering
from tuberculosis and for whom all medicines failed came to
Shirdi and sought refuge at the feet of Sai, He ordered him to stay
in the house of Bhimabai, which again was not an appropriate
place when looked with the ordinary worldly vision. Sai's
objective in such inappropriate remedies was to show to all
doubting thomases like us that faith in Guru is the real medicine.
Sai Ram.
SSS: Baba did not allow him to come to the Dwarkmai, but fixed
him in the Chavadi, where he got very great advantage. Baba
passed via Chavadi every morning and evening; and every
alternate day Baba went to the Chavadi in a procession and
slept there. So Amir got Baba's contact very often easily. Amir
stayed there for full nine months, and then, somehow or other,
he got a disgust for the place.
SSG: Sai Ram. It is an example of how even great devotees
sometimes slip from their sadhana. Meant to be a lesson for
all of us to be always alert. Sai Ram.
SSS: So one night he stealthily left the place and came to
Kopergaon and stayed in a Dharmashala. There he saw an
old dying Fakir, who asked him for water. Amir brought it
and gave it to him. As soon as he drank it, he passed away.
Then Amir was in a fix. He thought that if he went and
informed the authorities, he would be held responsible for
the death as he was the first and sole informant, and knew
something about it. He repented for his action, viz. leaving
Shirdi without Baba's leave, and prayed to Baba. He then
determined to return to Shirdi, and that same night he ran
back, remembering and muttering Baba's name on the way,
and reached Shirdi before day-break, and became free from
anxiety. Then he lived in the Chavadi in perfect accordance
with Baba's wishes and orders, and got himself cured.
SSG: Sai Ram. It is Sai's grace that forgave Amir Shakar
and allowed the prodigal disciple to return to Sai's fold.
Sai Ram.
SSS: One night it so happened that Baba cried at midnight-
"Oh Abdul, some devilish creature is dashing against the
side of My bed". Abdul came with a lantern, examined
Baba's bed but found nothing, Baba asked him to examine
carefully all the place and began to strike ground with His
satka. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Amir thought that Baba
might have suspected some serpent had come there. Amir
could know by close and long contact the meaning of Baba's
words and actions. Baba then saw near Amir's cushion
something moving. He asked Abdul to bring in the light,
and when he brought it, he saw the coil of a serpent there,
moving its head up and down. Thereupon the serpent was
immediately beaten to death. Thus Baba gave timely
warning and saved Amir.
SSG: By saving His disciples from serpent bites and from
many other dangers, Sai is giving a simple message that
Sadguru takes care not only of the para but also of the iha,
the worldly matters as needed in the case of those who
depend on His grace. Sai Ram.
We will continue with this chapter in the next issue.
Sai Ram.
S.V.Swamy
Author, Editor, Proof-Reader and Book Reviewer
www.freewebs.com/swamyreviews
---------------------
9. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES:
"Raghammudi ramchandrakiran"
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:29:46 +0000 (GMT)
Baba tu hi maata tu hi pita
Nahi sachha aur koi jag ka naata
Tere dar pe aakar sab kuch paata
Hey jagannath hai tu hi ek data
Teri mahima badi nirali
Bhar de sadgunom se meri man rupi jholi
Naiya uski kaabhi na doobey jiski tu karta rakhwali
Aa bas ja mere hriday mein
Mera hriday hai janmon se khali
Upkaar tere kai hain mujh par
Phir bhi jholi phailaye aaya tere dar
Nij swabhavvash nirash na karna Harihar
Sadaa apney bhakton ki rakhta tu khabar
Ye Moodh prarthna karta, sada rahe
shraddha tum par
Puri karo sabki manokaamna Hey Gurvar
------------------------------------
10. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
"Raghammudi ramchandrakiran"
Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:29:46 +0000 (GMT)
Dear Saibandhu,
SaiRam
"The Glory of Shirdi Sai" E-magazine is very nice and I
always enjoy reading it and try to put the teachings into
practice.
om sairam,
R.Ramchandra kiran
--------------
"Ramesh khanna" 25 Jan 2007 11:32:05 -0000
Respected Saibandhu,
Thank you very much for keeping me on your mailing list.
I appreciate and request you to continue sending me
valuable information on Sai.
With regards,
Ramesh Khanna
Editor-in-Chief
Neelkanth Publications.
-----------------------
11. TELUGU SECTION:
Please visit:
http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Misc/ShiridiSai/shirdisai.htm
Please visit for Sai Aartis in Telugu:
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Please visit for Sai Aaratis Audio:
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-------------------------------
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-----------------------------
12. SAI'S BOOK WORLD:
Title: Shri Shirdi Sai Baba: His Life and Miracles
ISBN: 8120728777
Price: Rs. 25
Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. A-59, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II,
New Delhi-110020.
-------------------
Title: Life History of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba
Author: Ammula Sambasiva Rao
ISBN: 8120720334
Price: Rs. 95
Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. A-59, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II,
New Delhi-110020.
E-mail: sterlingpublishers@airtelbroadband.in &
ghai@nde.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.sterlingpublishers.com
--------------------
Please Note:
Those desirous of using this facility (Sai's Book World) to
spread the word about their books may send ONE new copy
of the book to Saidarbar, for details contact:
saidarbar@gmail.com
Acknowledgement of receipt of books will be done by
E-mail only. Book(s) sent to Saidarbar will be retained by
Saidarbar and cannot be returned.
-----------------------------------------
SAIDARBAR – HYDERABAD:
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500041.htm
Saidarbar members would like to convey hearty thanks to the
websites which has uploaded Saibanisa's discourses
Audio C.Ds in
http://www.omsrisai.net
You can download Audio:
Sri Sai Satcharithra (In English Language)
Sri Sai Satcharithra by chapters (In English Language)
Sri Sai Satcharithra (In Telugu Language)
Sai Satcharithra by chapters (In Telugu Language)
Sri Guru Charithra (In English Language)
Sri Guru Charithra by chapters (In English Language)
Request Sri Sai Satcharithra CD
(English and Telugu Language Available)
Saibanisa's discourses (Telugu)
From
http://www.saiaudio.com/sairam/index.htm
---------------------
13. EDITORIAL.
Things impressed me from this magazine:
Like water, Dharma also finds its level. When an individual
commits an Adharma towards another, he will be made to
compensate the other for it in some form or other, in this or
in a subsequent life. Sin and retribution are inalienable
action and reaction. That is a law of nature
Sai devotees may write about their Sai activities in their
place, essays, articles and poetry on Sai to
"The Glory of Shirdi Sai" – they may be address their
contributions to E-mail id: saidarbar@gmail.com with
a copy marked to webmaster@saidarbar.org
We shall put in our best efforts to include them in the
Glory of Shirdi Sai- the bi-weekly E -Magazine. Unless
the author of the articles instructs, not to publish his/her
E-mail id, we will publish them as a matter of routine
practice.
You can subscribe for THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI for
a friend /relative by submitting e-mail ID in the main page
of http://www.saidarbar.org
Also read the old issues from:
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If you are subscribing this E-magazine for your friend or
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Editor does not accept responsibility for the views expressed
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Kindly reply UNSUBSCRIBE for our necessary action.
----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Satsang Gifts of Sri Sai Baba -That Boundless Love:
That Boundless Love:
When people talk of God, to most He is a word and nothing more.
They know how to use it for their worldly purposes, nothing what
effect it has on the hearer. Convention and current feeling invest
its use with a certain dignity and telling force, especially in oaths
and curses. But how few have felt at all or in any appreciable degree
the sacred awe, the first basis of the idea of the Holy or that far
higher feeling of all consuming all-sacrificing boundless Love!
For too many have been begotten or brought up in godless families
amidst cheerless, cramped and darkened surroundings where the
words and conduct of the parents, relations and friends are really
a stifling negation of God, conscience and the moral principle,
sometimes nominally veiled by an occasional observance of forms
of worship are reference to God. Some of these are at times candid
enough to admit and sometimes to bemoan the fact that they
could never conceive of, much less experience God in their lives.
Spiritual Rebirth, First step in God-Realisation:
The greatest service Sri Sai rendered and renders to mankind is to
save such souls from their utter darkness, to show them the
existence in himself and elsewhere, of vast power, vast knowledge,
vast goodness and self-forgetting Love which blesses him that gives
and him that receives and to make them float on waves of joy and
happiness, hither to inexperienced. Rudely shaken from or terrified
out of their prolonged stupor and indifference they just receive a few
gleams of light into their sin soiled eyes, feel a glow of gratitude, love
and other noble emotions in their chilled hearts, begin their spiritual
birth and see or feel their God in Sai, their real Savior. For the first
time, they get a rudimentary idea of Sri Sai and know God. He is the
giver of the God-idea to them and is God, in their view and it may be
their only God.
The benefit is by no means confined to this class just described.
Persons, who start life better, fall into evil ways, get tainted by wicked
company, sunk in voice and sin from drama and cinema songs and
street talk, lose their early innocence and receptivity, become
thoroughly care-hardened, sneer at purity and piety and blatantly
proclaim their imperviousness to godly influence. To such, Sai has
many times restored, in some degree, their lost innocence by making
them feel that they see God in him and in his devotees. Some cultured
and English educated persons that this writer met have confessed to
him that Baba, who has restored their faiths, is God to them, that in
their present life of holiness the foregrounds are fully occupied by
Baba, and that Rama, Krishna, Siva, Datta and Pandarinath get their
halo of glory through Baba. One lady said "Krishna no doubt appeals
to me and attracts me. But Baba who often appears and instructs me
in visions is a hundred times more powerful".
The need for a noble "Superman" that leads one to God is at its height
in the case of advanced spiritual aspirants who style him their Samartha
Sadguru and derive from him the maximum benefit that a human being
can enjoy. Realisation of the Ishta devata, perpetual enjoyment of
Heaven at His feet, attainment of Adwaitic Bliss or Nirvana Sukha can
alike be had at the guru's feet and there alone.
(to be contd...)
Source Saipadananda October 1992
When people talk of God, to most He is a word and nothing more.
They know how to use it for their worldly purposes, nothing what
effect it has on the hearer. Convention and current feeling invest
its use with a certain dignity and telling force, especially in oaths
and curses. But how few have felt at all or in any appreciable degree
the sacred awe, the first basis of the idea of the Holy or that far
higher feeling of all consuming all-sacrificing boundless Love!
For too many have been begotten or brought up in godless families
amidst cheerless, cramped and darkened surroundings where the
words and conduct of the parents, relations and friends are really
a stifling negation of God, conscience and the moral principle,
sometimes nominally veiled by an occasional observance of forms
of worship are reference to God. Some of these are at times candid
enough to admit and sometimes to bemoan the fact that they
could never conceive of, much less experience God in their lives.
Spiritual Rebirth, First step in God-Realisation:
The greatest service Sri Sai rendered and renders to mankind is to
save such souls from their utter darkness, to show them the
existence in himself and elsewhere, of vast power, vast knowledge,
vast goodness and self-forgetting Love which blesses him that gives
and him that receives and to make them float on waves of joy and
happiness, hither to inexperienced. Rudely shaken from or terrified
out of their prolonged stupor and indifference they just receive a few
gleams of light into their sin soiled eyes, feel a glow of gratitude, love
and other noble emotions in their chilled hearts, begin their spiritual
birth and see or feel their God in Sai, their real Savior. For the first
time, they get a rudimentary idea of Sri Sai and know God. He is the
giver of the God-idea to them and is God, in their view and it may be
their only God.
The benefit is by no means confined to this class just described.
Persons, who start life better, fall into evil ways, get tainted by wicked
company, sunk in voice and sin from drama and cinema songs and
street talk, lose their early innocence and receptivity, become
thoroughly care-hardened, sneer at purity and piety and blatantly
proclaim their imperviousness to godly influence. To such, Sai has
many times restored, in some degree, their lost innocence by making
them feel that they see God in him and in his devotees. Some cultured
and English educated persons that this writer met have confessed to
him that Baba, who has restored their faiths, is God to them, that in
their present life of holiness the foregrounds are fully occupied by
Baba, and that Rama, Krishna, Siva, Datta and Pandarinath get their
halo of glory through Baba. One lady said "Krishna no doubt appeals
to me and attracts me. But Baba who often appears and instructs me
in visions is a hundred times more powerful".
The need for a noble "Superman" that leads one to God is at its height
in the case of advanced spiritual aspirants who style him their Samartha
Sadguru and derive from him the maximum benefit that a human being
can enjoy. Realisation of the Ishta devata, perpetual enjoyment of
Heaven at His feet, attainment of Adwaitic Bliss or Nirvana Sukha can
alike be had at the guru's feet and there alone.
(to be contd...)
Source Saipadananda October 1992
Quiz on Chapter XIV of Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XIV
(Devotees are requested to read Sai Satcharitra Chapter XIII,
translated by Gunaji before attempting this quiz)
6) Mr.Ratanji was blessed with ___ children of which only _____
survived
a) Twelve, six b) Twelve, four c) Six, Six d) Six, four
7) Baba told ______ to remarry again, after the death of the first
wife and he would get a son
a) Shama b) Das Ganu c) Hari Vinayaksathe d) Ganpatrao Bodas
8) Mr.Ganpatrao Bodas was a _________
a) Marathi Actor b) Spiritual guru c) trader d) farmer
9) BABA asked Rs.6 as Dakshina from wh om
a) Mr.Ganpatrao Bodas b) Prof G.G.Narke c) Mrs.R.A.Tarkhad
d) Kaka Mahajani
10) Mr.B.V.Dev was a great devotee of BABA, He was a retired ______
a) Professor b) Doctor c) Mamlatdar d) Dy.Collector
(Devotees are requested to read Sai Satcharitra Chapter XIII,
translated by Gunaji before attempting this quiz)
6) Mr.Ratanji was blessed with ___ children of which only _____
survived
a) Twelve, six b) Twelve, four c) Six, Six d) Six, four
7) Baba told ______ to remarry again, after the death of the first
wife and he would get a son
a) Shama b) Das Ganu c) Hari Vinayaksathe d) Ganpatrao Bodas
8) Mr.Ganpatrao Bodas was a _________
a) Marathi Actor b) Spiritual guru c) trader d) farmer
9) BABA asked Rs.6 as Dakshina from wh om
a) Mr.Ganpatrao Bodas b) Prof G.G.Narke c) Mrs.R.A.Tarkhad
d) Kaka Mahajani
10) Mr.B.V.Dev was a great devotee of BABA, He was a retired ______
a) Professor b) Doctor c) Mamlatdar d) Dy.Collector
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Satsang Power of Guru
Power of Guru
(From the glorious life of Bodhala Baba)
In the village of Dhaman, there lived a pious family which
was devoted to Sri Vittal of Pandharpur. That famous
abode of the Lord was near their village, and no day passed
without their remembering the great mercy of Lord Vittal.
Manakoji Bodhala was the father, Mamatha Bai the mother,
Yamaji the son and Bhagirathi his wife. All the four were
deeply religious and worshipped the Lord and fed Sadhus
with real fervor. Every 'Ekadashi' they would all go to
Pandharpur and spend the day in soulful bhajans and on
'Dwadashi' they would feed guests and take the remnant
as the Lord's 'prasad' and then return to the village.
One day, Bodhala was watching over the jowar crop in his
field. As his thoughts were full of Lord Vittal, he did not
notice what was taking place in the field. Several birds
were taking the ears from the stalks and depleting the
grain that should otherwise fill the granaries of the devotee.
His wife noticed this and implored the absent-minded
Bodhala to watch the field more carefully, but he did not
care. A party of pilgrims happened to pass that way felt
hungry and begged Bodhala if he could give them food.
But Bodhala simply told them that they were free to take
away as much corn from the green stalks as they wished.
Soon the revenue collectors came and demanded their
dues. The fields had yielded no corn. But the revenue
arrears had to be paid. Bodhala had half the amount in
his hand and prayed for time till the next morning for
the balance. He went to his neighbor Nagabai for a loan
which she promised to give a few hours later. But meanwhile
the envious neighbors who wanted Bodhala to suffer,
dissuaded Nagabai from giving any loan to Bodhala, who
they said was getting bankrupt.
The myrmidons of the law came for the dues; Bodhala was
disappointed in Nagabai and so left for the neighboring
village of Virala to raise a loan from certain friends there.
The tax collectors thinking that the devotee had absconded
laid siege to his house and forbade the exit of the inmates.
But Lord Vittal assumed the form of a Talayari went to the
Taluk Office and paid the necessary dues of Bodhala and
obtained a receipt. The Tax collectors on production of the
receipt by the Talayari accepted it and went away.
Meanwhile, Bodhala had gone to the Taluk Office to pay up,
but was informed that a Talayari had paid and obtained the
receipt. The devotee was overwhelmed with gratitude for the
Lord. On coming home he found all his chests were full of
gold, and his granaries full of corn and the stalks of jowar
in the fields were hanging down unable to bear the grains
in the ears which showed forth in large clusters.
Bodhala lived for a long time singing the glory of Lord
Vittal and ultimately reached the lotus feet of the Lord.
Learning to Love the Divine in Others
When we look at another human being, we can remind
ourselves what he really is. Ordinarily, we focus on the outer
appearance and behavior of people their idiosyncrasies, their
quirks, their habits, the clothes they wear, the way they comb
their hair, and so on. But have you ever looked at someone
and thought: "That is a soul, a child of God. That human
being is an expression of the Infinite?" By doing so, we acquire
a more understanding perspective: "That person has feelings
just as I do. He has thoughts and opinions and aspirations that
are as important to him as mine are to me. The life energies of
God in that person are manifesting in the services he performs-
in the things he does for me, the dishes he washes, the money
he earns, the joy he brings me".
Source Saipadananda October 1992
(From the glorious life of Bodhala Baba)
In the village of Dhaman, there lived a pious family which
was devoted to Sri Vittal of Pandharpur. That famous
abode of the Lord was near their village, and no day passed
without their remembering the great mercy of Lord Vittal.
Manakoji Bodhala was the father, Mamatha Bai the mother,
Yamaji the son and Bhagirathi his wife. All the four were
deeply religious and worshipped the Lord and fed Sadhus
with real fervor. Every 'Ekadashi' they would all go to
Pandharpur and spend the day in soulful bhajans and on
'Dwadashi' they would feed guests and take the remnant
as the Lord's 'prasad' and then return to the village.
One day, Bodhala was watching over the jowar crop in his
field. As his thoughts were full of Lord Vittal, he did not
notice what was taking place in the field. Several birds
were taking the ears from the stalks and depleting the
grain that should otherwise fill the granaries of the devotee.
His wife noticed this and implored the absent-minded
Bodhala to watch the field more carefully, but he did not
care. A party of pilgrims happened to pass that way felt
hungry and begged Bodhala if he could give them food.
But Bodhala simply told them that they were free to take
away as much corn from the green stalks as they wished.
Soon the revenue collectors came and demanded their
dues. The fields had yielded no corn. But the revenue
arrears had to be paid. Bodhala had half the amount in
his hand and prayed for time till the next morning for
the balance. He went to his neighbor Nagabai for a loan
which she promised to give a few hours later. But meanwhile
the envious neighbors who wanted Bodhala to suffer,
dissuaded Nagabai from giving any loan to Bodhala, who
they said was getting bankrupt.
The myrmidons of the law came for the dues; Bodhala was
disappointed in Nagabai and so left for the neighboring
village of Virala to raise a loan from certain friends there.
The tax collectors thinking that the devotee had absconded
laid siege to his house and forbade the exit of the inmates.
But Lord Vittal assumed the form of a Talayari went to the
Taluk Office and paid the necessary dues of Bodhala and
obtained a receipt. The Tax collectors on production of the
receipt by the Talayari accepted it and went away.
Meanwhile, Bodhala had gone to the Taluk Office to pay up,
but was informed that a Talayari had paid and obtained the
receipt. The devotee was overwhelmed with gratitude for the
Lord. On coming home he found all his chests were full of
gold, and his granaries full of corn and the stalks of jowar
in the fields were hanging down unable to bear the grains
in the ears which showed forth in large clusters.
Bodhala lived for a long time singing the glory of Lord
Vittal and ultimately reached the lotus feet of the Lord.
Learning to Love the Divine in Others
When we look at another human being, we can remind
ourselves what he really is. Ordinarily, we focus on the outer
appearance and behavior of people their idiosyncrasies, their
quirks, their habits, the clothes they wear, the way they comb
their hair, and so on. But have you ever looked at someone
and thought: "That is a soul, a child of God. That human
being is an expression of the Infinite?" By doing so, we acquire
a more understanding perspective: "That person has feelings
just as I do. He has thoughts and opinions and aspirations that
are as important to him as mine are to me. The life energies of
God in that person are manifesting in the services he performs-
in the things he does for me, the dishes he washes, the money
he earns, the joy he brings me".
Source Saipadananda October 1992
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