Swami explains - The Blitz Interview (September - 1976) with Late
Karanjia

Om Sri Sai Ram

When in fear and doubt, pray to Me. Tune in to My Mighty Power,
which, compared to the power of the Sun, which I have placed in the
Heavens, is what a baby's breathing is to a
typhoon.
                         - Baba

The Interview given by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to the Senior
Editor, Late K. Karanjia of Blitz News Magazine in September of 1976:

Sai Baba tells the interviewer that He comes from age to age,
whenever strife and discord threaten to overwhelm the world.

The Interview

R.K. Karanjia, Blitz Newsmagazine: At the outset, Swamiji, we would
like to know something about your triple incarnation -- past, present
and future -- that is, from Shirdi Sai Baba to Sathya Sai Baba and
the Prema Sai Baba to come, according to your prophecy.

Baba: First of all, you must grasp the complete oneness of the three
incarnations of contemporary times with those of the past like Rama
and Krishna. This is a difficult task. When people cannot understand
the present, how can they comprehend the past?  Every incarnation is
full and complete in relation to the time, environment and the task.
There is no distinction between the various appearances of God as
Rama, Krishna or Sai.

Rama came to feed the roots of truth and righteousness, Krishna
followed to foster the plant of peace and love. Now these sacred
principles are in danger of wholesale destruction by reason of human
weakness under the onslaught of evil forces. They are overcoming the
good, the spiritual and the divine in man. That is why the present
Avatar has come invested with the totality of cosmic power to save
dharma (righteousness) from anti-dharma.

Why God Takes Human Form

Q: By the present Avatar, you mean Sai Baba?

Baba: Yes, I incarnate from age to age, time to time, to save dharma
from anti-dharma. Whenever strife, discord and disharmony overwhelm
the world, God incarnates in human form to show mankind the way to
love, harmony and peace.

Q: That is understandable. But skeptics wonder why God should assume
human form?

Baba: Because that is the only way to incarnate the God within man.
The Avatar takes the human form and behaves in a human way so that
humanity can feel kinship with divinity. At the same time he rises to
godly heights so that mankind also can aspire to reach God. The
realization of the indwelling God as the motivator of life is the
task for which Avatars come in human form.

Previous Avatars like Rama and Krishna had to destroy a few
individuals who could be identified as enemies of the godly way of
life and thus restore the dharmic path. Today, however, wickedness
has tainted so many that humanity itself stands under the threat of
destruction. Therefore, in My present Avatar, I have come armed with
the fullness of the power of formless God to correct mankind, raise
human consciousness and put people back on the right path of truth,
righteousness, peace and love to divinity.

Message of Triple Incarnation

Q: Why had this task to be divided into three separate incarnations
of the Shirdi, Sathya and Prema Baba?

Baba: They are not separate. I have already mentioned the complete
oneness of the three in the final objective of the mission. I will
give you an example. Take a kilo of gur (a sweet substance). The
whole of it tastes sweet. Next break it into small pieces. Each of
them is sweet. Finally break them into small grains. You find the
same sweetness in them. So the difference is one of quantity and not
quality. It is the same with the Avatars. Their tasks and powers
requisite to them differ according to the time, the situation and the
environment. But they belong to, and derive from, one and the same
dharma swarup or divine body.

Let us take the example of fruit. It begins with the seed, which
grows into the tree and from it comes the fruit. Work can be compared
to the seed, worship to the tree and wisdom to the fruit.

The previous Avatar, Shirdi Baba, laid the base for secular
integration and gave mankind the message [that] duty is work. The
mission of the present Avatar is to make everybody realize that the
same God or divinity resides in everyone. People should respect, love
and help each other irrespective of color or creed. Thus all work can
become a way of worship. Finally, Prema Sai, the third Avatar will
promote the evangel news that not only does God reside in everybody,
but everybody is God. That will be the final wisdom, which will
enable every man and woman to go to God. The three Avatars carry the
triple message of work, worship and wisdom.

Man Must Develop into Mankind

Q: So that is the holy mission and divine purpose of this triple
incarnation?

Baba: To unite all mankind into one caste or family in the
establishment of the unity - that is, Atmic realization - in every
man or woman, which is the basis on which cosmic design rests. Once
this is realized, the common divine heritage that binds man to man to
God will become apparent and love shall prevail as the guiding light
of the universe.

In the first place, man has to develop into mankind in the fullness
of its integrated potential. At present mankind as such is absent in
the world. There is no synthesis between thought, word and deed. Man
today thinks one thing, says something different, and acts quite the
contrary. So what we have is the individual man, confused, confounded
and bombarded with contradictory thoughts. What we do not see is
mankind in him motivated by good thoughts, good words and good deeds.
We have to make him realize God within him to develop a synthesis
correlating thought, word and deed.

Evangel of Love and Devotion

Once this primary lesson is taught in the family, the school, the
college, the society, the cities, the states, the nations of the
world, then man will become conscious of the fact that all mankind
belongs to one family. As Christ preached, all are one, be alike to
everyone. The vital issue is the oneness: one caste, one class, one
creed of humanity: and this can be achieved only by the surrender of
one's self or ego to pure, selfless, universal love and devotion.
Love is the basis, the common denominator, and devotion the divine
spark, the cementing, unifying, integrating factor between man and
man, and man and God.

Let Me give you an illustration. (Baba spreads his handkerchief on
the ground between us). Here is a piece of cloth. As you see, it is
all made of threads. Pull out the threads separately and the cloth
becomes weak. Put them together and it is firm and strong. It is the
same with mankind. Love binds it like the million, billion threads in
cloth and devotion reunites it with God. I therefore embody love and
use it as My instrument to regenerate man and create the brotherhood
of mankind with the help of the latter's devotion. I always say:
Start the day with love. Fill the day with love. End the day with
love. This is the quickest way, the surest path to God.

Life is love, enjoy it

Life is a challenge, meet it

Life is a song, sing it

Life is a dream, realize it

Life is a game, play it.

Shirdi Baba Incarnate

Q: Did Shirdi Baba actually claim that he would be born eight years
after his death in 1918?

Baba: Yes, he did. This has been recorded by Kaka Dixit as well as a
number of other devotees who were with Shirdi Baba.

Q: What makes you so sure that you are Shirdi Baba incarnate?

Baba: The knowledge of My own authentic experience, of course. Since
no one who knew Shirdi Baba is alive today, there is no evidence
except My own knowledge and experience. The very fact that I
announced that I am Shirdi Baba 40 years ago, when I was only 10 and
when nobody in this part of the South had known or even heard of
Shirdi Baba proves this fact.

Dharma (Righteousness) Alone Can Save the World

Q: The existing situation driven by evil forces to destruction as you
have correctly analyzed it, appears to suggest the inevitability of
another Mahabharata-type (an epic relating to the battle of
Kurukshetra) war. Does this mean that the salvation for which you are
working can be consummated only after a destructive war?

Baba: The evil must and shall be removed before such a catastrophe
takes place. There will be minor wars and skirmishes, of course:
these cannot be helped in the existing state of affairs. The
Mahabharata war was a different issue altogether. Lord Krishna
decreed it and, in fact, led Arjuna to the battlefield in order to
rid the world of evil men and ungodly forces.

Today, as I told you, the evil is so widespread that humanity itself
would be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust in the event of a world
war. It is to prevent such a catastrophe that this Avatar has come to
raise human consciousness above the existing syndrome of anger, hate,
violence and war and save the world from disaster. This can be
achieved only by the reestablishment of the brotherhood of mankind
though the Vedas, Shastras and all religions with their evangel of
dharma to liberate the human race from the chains of karma (the cycle
of birth and death). I always say: Let the different faiths exist,
let them flourish, let the glory of God be sung in all the languages
in a variety of tunes. They should be the ideal. Respect the
differences between the faiths and recognize them as valid so far as
they do not extinguish the flame of unity.

God is Man Minus Desire

Q: From what Baba has said, it seems that there is not much
difference or dichotomy between God and man. Am I right?

Baba: Quite right, God is man and man is God. All of us have
something of God, the divine spark, within us. All men are divine
like Myself, but with the spirit embodied in human flesh and bone.
The only difference is that they are unaware of this Godhood. They
have come into this karmic prison through the mistakes of many lives.
I have taken this mortal form out of My own free will. They are bound
to the body, while I am free of this bondage. The main difference is
that they are shoved hither and thither by desire but I have no
desire except the supreme one to make them desireless.

Take paddy or rice by way of an illustration. Every grain of rice is
enclosed in a husk. You have to remove the husk to get the grain of
rice. Now husk and rice, both come from the same seed. Rice is the
equivalent of God in man, while the husk can be compared to desire
which reduces God to man. Therefore, My formula is:

LIFE + DESIRE = MAN

LIFE - DESIRE = GOD


The Way to Self-Realization

Q: In what way can life without desire make Gods of men?

Baba: Life without desire means the realization of the pure, genuine
self that is Atma. Bound to desire, the self degenerates into
selfishness. Atma turns into ego. The way of self-realization is to
cleanse the self of this ego of selfishness. Then you reach a state
of consciousness beyond the mind or intellect, revealing the true
self that is God. The mind is like a cloth that covers and stifles
consciousness, the threads of which are desires. If we give up the
desires, the threads fall and the cloth disappears, revealing our
true nature. That is what the Vedanta (epic of ancient wisdom and
knowledge) means when it enjoins that one must get rid of the ego to
realize oneself.

Q: You mean that the mind of man as such creates the block between
man and God?

Baba: Yes. One must make a distinction between the mind that is the
ego, and the real self that is consciousness. The latter helps us to
cross the frontiers of the ego-mind and become aware of oneself as
the witness of truth. Normally the scientist of the mind looks
outside to what can be perceived by the senses existing in the world
of the mind to ask: What is this? The scientist of consciousness, on
the other hand, always looks inside to that which is beyond the
senses or the grasp of the mind to ask: What is that?

One has, therefore, to rise beyond the mind to consciousness to
achieve self-realization. To gain the infinite, universal Atma, the
embodied self must break out of the puny, finite little prison of
individuality. Desire belongs to the senses, the brain, the mind;
once you become free of it, you realize the self, Atma,
consciousness, enlightenment, and become one with the cosmic power.
Self-realization is God-realization. Thus man reaches God.

Q: What is the significance of the vibuthi (holy ash) and the
trinkets that you materialize and give to people? Is there any need
for a Godman to demonstrate such miracles, which any magician can
conjure?

Baba: So far as I am concerned this is evidence of My divinity. It is
not by any means an exhibition of divinity. All performances of
magic, as you know are done for the sake of income. These are tricks
of the magicians trade. They constitute a kind of legalized cheating,
the transfer of an object from one place to another by a trick of the
hand which goes unnoticed. They involve no siddhi (occult power) or
miraculous power.

What I do is quite a different act of creation. It is neither magic,
nor is it siddhi power either. For one thing, I seek no return. For
another, I do not cheat people by transferring objects, but I create
them. Again, I do so not because of any need or desire of exhibition
of My powers. For Me this is a kind of calling card to convince
people of My love for them and secure their devotion in return. Since
love is formless, I do materialization as evidence of My love. It is
merely a symbol.

Q:
Still I do not understand why you should materialize rings,
bracelets, watches and those kind of trinkets.

Talisman of Protection

Baba: Most people desire talismans as symbolic of My protection. So I
provide them. When they are in trouble they feel the grip of the
ring, bracelet or watch to remember Me and call Me to their rescue so
that I can help them. On the other hand, if I give them something
they cannot wear, they are likely to store it and forget about it.

The main thing is that these trinkets or talismans, by whatever name
you call them, give people a sense of security and protection they
need in times of troubles or crises and create a symbolic link
covering the long distances between them and Myself. When the
devotees need Me, these objects flash the message as if by wireless
and I instantly come to their rescue.

Q: I am sorry to be persistent, Swamiji, but isn't the gift of an
Omega or HMT watch an act of cheating the company or breach of its
patent?

Baba: I assure you there is no such thing. It would be cheating the
company or breaching the patent if it were a case of transfer of the
watch from one place to the other. But I do not transfer; I totally
create. Whatever I will instantly materializes. I know of no company
that has complained about any breach of patent.

Significance of Vibuthi (Holy Ash)

Q: What about vibuthi materialized by you? We would like to know its
relevance because your critics are trying to discredit you by sending
around magicians who produce exact replicas of vibuthi.

Baba: What I materialize is a manifestation of divinity with a potent
significance as well as symbolism. It is symbolic of the cosmic,
immortal and infinite nature of all forms of God, Atma or the spirit
-- that is, what is left when everything worldly, transient and
changeable has burnt away.

I have spoken to you of the imperative of a desireless life. After
Shiva had burnt the God of desire, Kama, into a heap of ashes, he
adorned himself with the ash to shine as the conqueror of desire.
When Kama was destroyed, Prema reigned as the Goddess of love. Such
is the significance of ash.

In the first place, it is symbolic of the life-death cycle in which
everything ultimately reduces itself to ash. "For dust thou art, and
unto dust shall thou returnest." Ash or dust is the final condition
of things. It cannot undergo any further change. In the spiritual
context, it constitutes a warning to the receiver to give up desire,
to burn all passions, attachments and temptations, and makes one pure
in thought, word and deed.

It is in order to press home this lesson that I materialize ash for
those who come to Me with love and devotion. Like the other
materializations, it also acts as a talisman, healing the sick and
giving protection to those who need it. It is the symbol of divinity,
quite different from the magician's trickery mentioned by you.

Miracles of Healing

Q: You are believed to have performed miraculous cures to the extent
of resurrecting the dead. There are cases where you reportedly saved
people from drowning and other accidents in distant places. Medical
experts have attested to remote controlled surgical operations
performed by you. How do you manage these?

Baba: By My own sankalpa -- that is, divine will and power. As an
Avatar, this power is intrinsic, inherent, total and natural to My
will and decision. I need no mantra (mystical formula), no sadhana
(spiritual practice), no tantra (sacred writings) and no yantra
(pilgrimage) to perform the so-called miracles, which are natural to
My state. My powers are simply the expression or assertion of the
reality of goodness, which merges Me with everything, everywhere, at
all times and places. The miracles belong to the boundless power of
God.

Now coming to the main points of your question, this healing
phenomenon has a dual aspect. I can cure, save, and even resurrect
people provided they are in a spiritually receptive condition. It is
like the positive and negative currents of electricity. My capacity
to heal can be compared to the positive current. Your devotion to Me
is like the negative current. Once the two come together, the
devotion provides what is called the miracle of healing.

It is man's mind that is really responsible for his illness or
health. He himself is the cause or motivator of either. So when it
comes to healing or curing, the necessary faith has to be created
within his mind for the purpose. All I do is invest him with the
confidence, will and power to cure himself. It is My abounding love
reciprocated by the intensity of the devotee's faith in Me that
produce the desired result.

Not Siddhis or Magical Tricks

Q: So these are not siddhic powers or magical tricks, as your critics
suggest?

Baba: They are neither magical tricks nor siddhic (occult) powers,
which can come to everybody with the appropriate discipline and yoga
exercises, but My powers to protect, heal and save people and
materialize objects originate in God and can be used only by an
Avatar. They are in no way designed, disciplined or developed, but
flow from cosmic power.

Q: Some say that you command invisible spirits, which can transfer
objects from one place to another on your orders.

Baba: There is no need for Me to command invisible spirits since My
own divine will materializes the objects. I am everything,
everywhere, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent; and so whatever I
will, instantly happens. Like the qualities of truth, love and peace,
these are things that generate the Atmic (godly) or cosmic forces
behind the universe.

Q: Your followers at home as well as abroad claim positive evidence
of the presence of Baba in their innermost hearts. Some have written
of you as their in-dwelling God. What is the explanation of this
phenomenon?

The In-Dwelling God

Baba: This is the grace begotten of My love for them reciprocated by
their devotion. After all, as I repeatedly say, we all belong to the
same divine principle. The godliness which is present in everybody in
the form of a little spark is present in Me as the full flame, and it
is My mission to develop every little spark of God in everyone to the
fullness of the divine flame.

The first imperative of this development is that the receiver of the
grace also provides from his or her side the devotion necessary to
the consummation. Those who carry the presence of Baba in their
hearts like an in-dwelling God belong to these kinds of devotees.
They come to Me, see Me and hear Me, experience My love for them and
receive it with devotion. Thus, they become part of Me and My
divinity.

To the doubting or confused ones, I give this illustration. Those who
want to secure pearls from the sea have to dive deep to fetch them.
It doesn't help them to dabble among the shallow waves near the shore
and say that the sea has no pearls and all stories about them are
false. Likewise, if a person wants to secure the love and grace of
this Avatar, he must also dive deep and get submerged in Sai Baba.
Then, only, will he become one with Me and carry Me in his innermost
heart.

Q: The critics of Swamiji ask why Sai Baba does not help people in
distress by bringing rains in times of drought or creating food where
there is famine by means of his sankalpa shakti (divine power,
universal energy). Cannot an Avatar help humanity to control the
natural forces and prevent calamities like earthquakes, floods,
droughts, famine and epidemics?

Baba: This is precisely what I am doing by incarnating the in-
dwelling God in man to overcome such calamities. There are two ways
in which an Avatar can help people: an instant solution as against a
long term one.

Any instant solution would go against the fundamental quality of
nature itself as well against the karmic law of cause and effect.
Most people live in the material world of their desires and egos,
which is governed by this law. They reap the fruits of their actions.
This brings about their evolution or devolution. If the Avatar
intervenes to instantly solve their problems, it would stop all
action, development, even evolution. This solution can be ruled out
because it totally negates the natural laws.

The other and more effective alternative presents a long-term
solution whereby the Avatar leads the people themselves to a higher
level of consciousness to enable them to understand the truth of
spiritual laws so that they may turn towards righteousness and
steadfastly work for better conditions. This will relate them back to
nature and the karmic law of causation. This would then transcend the
cycle of cause and effect in which today they are involved as victims
and thereby command and control the natural forces to be able to
avert the calamities you mention.

Raising Man to God

Q: You mean that you are presently raising the consciousness of
mankind to a godlike condition to enable them to command their own
destiny?

Baba: Exactly. They would become shareholders of My sankalpa shakti
(divine power, universal energy). I have to work through them, rouse
the in-dwelling God in them and evolve them to a higher reality in
order to enable them to master the natural law and forces. If I cure
everything instantly, leaving the people at their present levels of
consciousness, they would soon mess up things and be at one another's
throats again with the result that the same chaotic situation would
develop in the world.

Suffering and misery are the inescapable acts of the cosmic drama.
God does not decree these calamities but man invites them by way of
retribution for his own evil deeds. This is corrective punishment,
which induces mankind to give up the wrong path and return to the
right path so that he may experience the godlike condition of sat-
chit-ananda -- that is, an existence of wisdom and bliss. All this is
part of the grand synthesis in which the negatives serve to glorify
the positives. Thus death glorifies immortality, ignorance glorifies
wisdom, misery glorifies bliss, and night glorifies dawn.

So, finally, if the Avatar brings the calamities mentioned by you to
an immediate end, which I can do, and do, when there is a great need,
the whole drama of creation with its karmic (universal, inescapable
duty) law will collapse. Remember, these calamities occur not because
of what God has made of man but really because of what man has made
of man. Therefore, man has to be unmade and remade with his ego
destroyed and replaced by a transcendent consciousness so that he may
rise above the karmic to command.

Q: Have you succeeded in bringing about this synthesis, Swamiji,
particularly with the wealthy and powerful classes?

Fusion of Rich with Poor

Baba: I have not reached all of them as a class, but to the extent
that I am able to contact them individually, the results are
encouraging. The wealthy and powerful, of course, present a difficult
problem in the matter of transformation. They need a special
approach. The poor people, on the other hand, are very cooperative.
They understand, appreciate and help My plans and ideas.

Q: What is the solution to this escalating conflict between wealth
and power on one side, and poverty and weakness on the other?

Baba: The transformation of both into a single cooperative
brotherhood on terms of equality without competition or conflict.
This can result only from truth and love. The main issue is to fuse
the two classes into one single class. The problem, however, is one
of bringing them together on a common base or platform. Wealthy
people live isolated in a certain state or condition. The poor also
are similarly isolated in another state or condition. How do we bring
them together?
I do so in many subtle ways by breaking the barriers of wealth and
poverty and creating a feeling of equality and oneness between the
poor and the rich. In this ashram (spiritual community) you find them
living and working together, even performing menial labor on terms of
complete equality. Here there are no distinctions whatever, or any
special facilities for the rich. They live, eat, work, worship and
sleep like the poor. All live like a community of workers to share
the common austerities of the ashram.

Peace of Mind Beyond Wealth

Despite our rigorous discipline, industrialists and businessmen want
to come here. Why? Because they secure peace of mind beyond physical
comfort which no wealth or power on earth can purchase or provide.

Thus we open to them a wonderful new world of spiritual treasures and
they must sacrifice material wants and comforts. My mission is to
show them the way to peace of mind, which everybody, rich and poor
alike, desires. In that process of spiritual evolution, the seeker
learns that this blissful state cannot be purchased for money in a
shop or gifted to one by anybody but oneself. It can come only from
the universal source of divinity, the in-dwelling God that embraces
poor and rich alike. This concept creates a common fellowship, a
brother hood of give and take between the wealthy and the poor. Those
who have too much are obliged to give up their unnecessary wants,
while those who have too little get their needs fulfilled.

After all, in spiritual terms, all mankind belongs to one and the
same class, caste or religion. The divine principles in each and all
of them derive from one and the same God. This fundamental oneness
has to be made manifest to them through direct contact with spiritual
realities and the persuasive expanding power of love, till they
become part of the universal religion of work, worship and wisdom.

Material Wealth is Spiritual Poverty

Q: All this would be simple and welcome evangel for the poor since
they lose nothing and gain everything from your philosophy, but what
about the rich who have to lose all if they followed it?

Baba: That is the crux of the problem. They simply have to lose,
surrender, submerge their false values if they want My grace. So long
as people continue to be slaves of materialistic definitions of
wealth and poverty, there can be no solution. I, therefore, try to
convert their minds and hearts to spiritual values and truths.

After all, who is the richest man? One who has the largest wants and,
therefore, troubles and worries? Or one who is satisfied with the
barest necessities of life and, therefore, is more or less desireless
and comparatively happy? Judged from this criterion of happiness, the
poor are spiritually rich but the rich are spiritually poor. It is
not material but spiritual satisfaction that ultimately makes life
worth living.

As I have said before, life without desire brings divinity to man;
and those who seek My grace must shed desire and greed. Riches
provide a fatal temptation. They are the source and cause of human
bondage. The desire to raise the standard of life can never be
satisfied. It leads to multiplication of wants and consequent
troubles and frustrations.

No Grace Without Sacrifice

The solution lies in our emphasis on the quality as against the
standard of life, on high thinking and lowly living. The mind is the
horse, the body the cart: to achieve mental peace, you must put the
horse of high thinking before the cart of physical comfort.

Q: This is sound philosophy but how do you implement it in action?
Baba: The rich as well as the poor come to Sai Baba to seek love,
peace and liberation from their problems and troubles. My
prescription to them is absolute selflessness and desirelessness. To
the poor, this is a natural state or condition. So My love flows to
them to embrace their devotion. Thus they obtain My grace.

Monkey-Mind Bondage

The rich, on the other hand, cannot secure this grace without
surrendering their materialistic outlook and selfish attachments. So
it becomes obligatory for them to sacrifice material greed to receive
spiritual grace. I tell them:

Ego lives by getting and forgetting,

Love lives by giving and forgiving.

In this way, I change their mental attitude. I transform their monkey-
minds into loving, giving and forgiving minds.

Q: Monkey-minds, Baba -- what do you mean?

Baba: It is a kind of mentality that is used by peasants to trap and
destroy monkeys. When the peasant wants to catch a monkey, he uses a
big pot with a narrow mouth as a trap. Inside the pot he puts edibles
which the monkey loves. The monkey finds the pot and puts its paws
inside to grasp as much of the stuff as it can hold. Once it does so,
it is unable to pull out its paws from the small mouth of the pot. It
imagines that someone inside the pot is holding its paws, so it
struggles and attempts to runaway with the pot, only to fail and get
trapped. No one is holding the monkey; it has trapped itself because
of its greed. If only it lets the stuff in its paws go, it will be
free of bondage.

In the same way I tell rich people, man is tempted by the wealth,
pleasures and desires of the world. When he gets lost in such
attachment and suffers the consequences of greed, he thinks that
something is binding him down, capturing him, destroying him. The
moment he gives up material wealth and desires, he will be free. I
make him realize his bondage to the monkey-mind and liberate himself.

Baba's Spiritual Socialism

Q: Baba seems to be prescribing a kind of spiritual socialism based
on the conversion of wealth into a trusteeship for the removal of
poverty.

Baba: Yes, a trusteeship based on love, cooperation and brotherhood.
What else can one do? The change must evolve from the heart; it
cannot be imposed from outside. All materialist doctrines have failed
to bring about any real transformation. There is no equality
anywhere. Only spiritual transformation into a desireless mentality
can put through the imperative revolution in human consciousness from
which alone the desired changes can accrue.

We need to transform society from false to real values. We have to
convince people that the ideal of a high standard of life is wrong.
It must be replaced with a high level of living and thinking on the
basis of humility, morality, compassion and detachment, as against
the existing greed for competitive luxury and conspicuous
consumption. People have to be convinced that the only way to rouse
the latent divinity in them is to master desires and conquer greed
for pleasure and luxury instead of being a slave to these false
materialistic values.

Sai Path to Dharma (Righteousness)

Q: Then I take it that the various educational and social service
organizations run by Baba -- some 3,000 in all -- are designed to
create the cadres necessary for bringing about the desired
socioeconomic change by means of love and persuasion?

Baba: They are designed to put the new generation on the Sai path of
truth, righteousness, peace, love and nonviolence. Their motto --
work is worship and duty is God -- seeks to bring in the new social
order related to Sathya -- that is, truth, and dharma -- namely,
right action.

Q: India has been described as a rich country of poor people. We have
the wealth of the whole world locked up in the bosom of our good
earth. And yet the people remain economically poor and backward. Have
you any solution to rehabilitate our economy?

Socio-Economic Synthesis

Baba: Your analysis is correct. The solution to the problem you have
posed lies in hard work and increased production on a cooperative
basis. To achieve this, one has to rid people of the disease of
individuality, greed and selfishness. Every individual must be taught
to think and work in the broader concept of society and its needs.
Once that is done, there will be less talk and more work.

Here again, it is the spiritual path that can save this country and
the world from the wrongs of a materialistic order. What we need is a
synthesis of the spiritual and material aspects of life. That will
provide man with the social conscience and cooperative spirit
imperative to the creation of national wealth and prosperity through
selfless, cooperative labor.

Q: Very good counsel, Swamiji - but the trouble is that all the
wealth created by labor appears to find its way into the pockets of a
rich and powerful minority. Have you a spiritual prescription for
this inequality?

Desire must be equalized

Baba: There is no doubt that the distribution is not taking place
properly. The existing doctrines of equality, socialism, etc., have
not succeeded in achieving equality in distribution of wealth and
property. The difficulty is that you equalize, wealth, land and
property by legalization, but can the law bring about equality in the
desires of the people? This requires the healing touch of
spiritualism.

To begin with, one has to cure desire and its evil consequences. We
must persuade the rich that desire and its fulfillment in
materialistic wants is an aspect of the monkey-mind which can only
harm them and put them under bondage. That alone will solve the
problem of inequality and maldistribution.

The rich will give up their extravagant wants, the poor will get what
they need and a little more; and this process will bring about more
equitable distribution.

Q: To conclude this section, Swamiji, would you sum up the main
causes of India's social and economic backwardness?

Baba: From a purely material viewpoint, it is a question of supply
and demand. Because of the overpowering material values of our
society, the demand is growing larger and larger, while the supply
remains the same or decreases. The solution, obviously, is to
increase the supply or decrease the demand. Then, of course, there is
the problem of growing population. This triangular issue of economic
imbalance needs to be spiritualized if an effective solution is to be
found.

Less Luggage: Better Journey

It is here that our insistence on a desireless life, in which human
wants are reduced to the minimum needs, comes to the rescue as the
only possible way of restoring the social and economic balance. Curb
your desires, reduce your wants, live in spiritual austerity, and the
available material will be sufficient for all humanity. More than
that, the tensions of a competitive socioeconomic system will be
dissolved and peace of mind will be restored.

Life is like a journey in a vehicle between birth and death. The body
is the vehicle in which you are motoring to death. The less luggage
you carry the better. Why encumber yourself with worldly riches and
material comforts, when you may have to change your course or even
meet with some dislocation or accident and, in any case, at the end
of the journey you will have to leave behind all your possessions
accept your Atma? Would it not be better to attend to the immortal
spirit rather than waste time, which is running out on gaining wealth
and securing comforts?
This is the logic of spiritualism with which I seek to change the
attitude of people.

Why no Pumpkins or Cucumbers

Q: Baba has already clarified most of the issues raised by Dr.
Narasimhiah and other critics. Some, however, remain unanswered.
Narasimhiah asks why you do not materialize a pumpkin or a cucumber
or a watch with a distinct mark to prove that it is your creation and
not a transfer of somebody else's manufacture?

Baba: Pumpkins and cucumbers can be materialized as easily as rings
or objects. But these are perishable objects and the whole point of
materialization, as I have already explained, lies in their
permanence. That is why rings or watches become more serviceable as
talismans or means of contact and communication, between the Avatar
and his devotees.

The point they are trying to make is that big objects like pumpkins
cannot be transferred while small ones like rings can be. But as I
have repeatedly said, I do not transfer things by a sleight-of-hand.
I create them to be talismans.

Now coming to your question about a ring or watch with a distinct
mark to prove that it is My own creation, would you like Me to
materialize something for you?

Miracle of OM Ring

Q: Yes, Swamiji, I certainly would.

Baba waved his hand in the air to produce a silver ring bearing the
inscription OM in the center with Sai Ram marks on the sides and held
My right hand to gently put it on the third finger. It was an exact
fit and it was precisely what I wanted from Baba.

Q: Thank you, Baba; you have answered the question beautifully. Now
to Narasimhiah's unanswered point regarding the bogus Sai Krishna or
Pandavapura exposed by his committee as a fraud and a cheat. He
alleges that the boy had your patronage.

No Contact with Fake Boy

Baba: I can assure you there is absolutely no connection between him
and Myself. His people have several times attempted to arrange a
meeting between us, but we have refused their requests. Of course,
thousands of people, as you saw this morning, come here for Darshan.
There are others also who masquerade as My disciples or make money
using My name. As this happens not only here but in other states and
even abroad, we cannot do anything about it. They expose themselves
sooner or later, as did this boy. I have absolutely no connection or
relationship with such people.

Q: The Narasimhiah Committee wanted to investigate your miracles
scientifically under controlled conditions, as they put it. You
rejected the proposal. Would you like to comment on this controversy?

Baba: How can science, which is bound to a physical, and materialist
outlook investigate transcendental phenomena beyond its scope, reach
or comprehension? This is a fallacy on the face of it. One belongs to
the material and the other to a spiritual plane. Science must confine
its inquiry only to things belonging to the human senses, while
spiritualism transcends the senses. If you want to understand the
nature of spiritual power you can do so only through the path of
spirituality and not science. What science has been able to unravel
is merely a fraction of the cosmic phenomena; it tends, however, to
exaggerate its contribution.

Q: That is true, Swamiji, but science is developing all the time so
that the metaphysics of yesterday become the physics of today.

Glow-Worm in Sunlight

Baba: Quite right, but it is still blind to the vast and invisible
world of consciousness. The very fact that science is changing all
the time proves its incapacity to investigate the ultimate and
absolute truth. Some time ago, scientists maintained that the atom
cannot be broken, but recently they succeeded in breaking it. They
are still ignorant about the realities of the pranic force behind the
atom, which is the least of its components.

Science is merely a glow-worm in the light and splendor of the sun.
It is true that it can research, discover and gather a lot of
information about nature and its material functions and use it for
the development of worldly things. Spiritualism, on the other hand,
reigns over the cosmic field where science has no place. That is why
some discoveries of science are useful while others can be
disastrous.

As I have said before, Dr Narasimhiah and his group are like the
Telugu men who go to the cinema to see a Tamil film. They will see
only the dancing, the fighting and violence, the heroes and villains,
the star with a beautiful face and these kinds of superficial things,
but they will lose the subtler aspects such as the music and the
poetry, the plot, the dialogue, the jokes and the like.

Wrong Spirit and Approach

However, as I have said again and again, those who want to understand
Me are welcome here. It is the spirit of the investigation that is
important. Foreign parapsychologists have come here and examined Me
in such a positive and constructive spirit. You have seen their
reports. They do not write letters or make public demands.

Narasimhiah's approach was improper; that is why I rejected it. If it
were not so, he would have been welcome. I do not call people here so
that they may bow to a God. I want them to come, see, hear, study,
observe, experience and realize Baba. Then only, they will understand
Me and appreciate the Avatar.

Q: Dr. Narasimhiah maintains that according to science, "Nothing can
be created out of nothing." You have evidently negated this law of
science with a transcendental formula for controlling cosmic energy
and producing paranormal power. Can you explain this mystery?

"What I Will, Happens"

Baba: The formula that nothing can be created out of nothing is
appropriate to the limited field and dimensions of science. It does
not at all apply to the transcendental field and dimensions of
spirituality. In the latter field, anything can be created by the
supreme will. All that exists can be made to disappear and what does
not exist can be made to appear.

Our history and tradition, scripture as well as literature, are full
of such incidents, which they call miracles. The material laws and
formulas simply do not apply to divinity. For Me this is not a matter
of any mystery or mystique. What I will, happens: what I order,
materializes.

Q: The Vice-Chancellor appears to ridicule your statement that "There
is God in us all." He asks: "Is this not pure escapism? How can God
be so unsure of Himself?" Your rejoinder, please?

God Exists in Everybody

Baba: His questions contradict the very basis of Indian philosophy as
well as that of most religions. All our scriptures assert that God is
present in everyone. According to Vivekananda, "God is present in
all." The only thing that is manifest and common to the whole world
and, in fact, governs and directs the entire universe is divinity.
Nothing else really exists except divinity.

Mine is no escapism but the fundamental and eternal truth. I say so
not because I am unsure of My own divinity. It is My confidence in
its absolute and total authenticity that makes Me affirm this fact.
It is the scientists who are so unsure of themselves that they
indulge in escapist theories.

For example, they say that the moon is lifeless. Simultaneously, they
maintain that all matter consists of moving atoms. Now isn't the moon
also a conglomerate of the same moving atoms? Then how can it be
lifeless? There is no matter, which does not consist of atoms,
electrons, neutrons, and protons, which are also constantly moving.
This energy, too, is God.

So also there is no human being in whom there is no divinity. To say
there is no God in man is like saying that there is no atom in the
moon or any large lump of matter. The omnipresence of God has been
described in our ancient texts as: "ano baniyammahatoo maniyam" (God
is a small particle in the smallest of particles and a large mass in
the largest of masses). In this context, how can one say that God is
not in man?

No Preference for Wealth and Power

Q: Another pertinent issue raised by your critics is that you show a
preference for wealthy and powerful people as opposed to the poor and
week in the matter of divine gifts, miracle cures and individual
Darshan. Is this true? If so, why?

Baba: This is wrong. I never see or make any distinction between the
rich and the poor. I only look at them from the viewpoint of their
devotion, their desires, the sacrifice they are willing to make and
their troubles. You were here this morning and saw hundreds of
people, a few rich, the majority poor. Did you find Me making any
distinction? All those I brought with Me to this room were poor and
weak, sick or troubled.

In My view, those who appear to the world as wealthy or powerful
persons really bring to Me their troubled hearts and sick minds. I
cure them by asking them to surrender material wealth and power to
spiritual peace and grace.

Q: From what Baba has hitherto said, it appears that your mission is
to enable mankind to rediscover and incarnate its lost godliness. Am
I right?

Baba: You are right. When man turns inward to realize his true self,
then God will become manifest to him. Self-realization is God-
realization. In simple words, it is the realization that you are not
just a body and mind with physical organs, but there is within you a
self - the Atma that is God - distinct from these perishable things.
This self is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. The
comprehension of this truth puts you on the correct path to God-
realization.

Terror of Nuclear War

Q: So your objective can be summed up as a brotherhood of humanity to
be achieved through the doctrine of love?

Baba: Yes, what else can save the world from thermonuclear fires?
Everything points to the terror of conflagration coming; and My
mission is to pre-empt the fires by re-establishing dharma and the
spiritual law of one God, one religion, one language embracing one
humanity.

I preach only one religion of love for all, which alone can integrate
the human race into a brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God.
I know only one language of the heart beyond the mind or the
intellect which relates man to man and mankind to God, thereby
creating mutual understanding, co-operation and community life in
peace and harmony. On this basis I want to build one humanity without
any religious, caste or other barriers in a universal empire of love
which would enable My devotees to feel the whole world as their
family.

Q: Well said, Baba -- but wouldn't this dharma with its Hindu
orientation conflict with the established religions?

Baba: No, it will not do anything of the kind because My objective is
the establishment of sanathana dharma, which believes in one God as
propitiated by the founders of all religions. So none has to give up
his religion or deity, but through them worship the one God in all. I
have come not to disturb or destroy but to confirm and vindicate
everyone in his own faith.

Dharmic Way to Peace

Q: But how will that prevent a nuclear holocaust?

Baba: By removing all causes, sources, barriers and provocations of
class, caste, creed, color and race, and replacing the existing hate
and violence with love and non-violence. I expect to provide humanity
with an evangel of peaceful co-operation to replace the present
escalation to death by co-destruction.

R.K. Karanjia: Thank you, Swamiji. I am all the more grateful to you
because I really did not expect you to answer the whole long list of
my questions.

Concluded

KNOWING TRUE HAPPINESS

	 Happiness means different things to different people. To some
money is happiness. To others happiness lies in fame, power, devotion
or something else. For certain persons happiness has come to mean
what it is not and what it cannot be.

There are four main sources of happiness-body, mind, money and
spirit. Physical happiness is attained by self-restraint, eating
simple, balanced and nourishing food and daily exercise. Mental
happiness comes from contentment, reading scriptures and good books
and keeping the company of godly people.

Material happiness comes from earning one's living by honest and hard
work, simultaneously increasing one's ability. Money thus earned
should be spent judiciously and some part of it should be given in
charity. A part of it should always be saved for the proverbial rainy
day. Spiritual happiness is experienced by universal love, selfless
service to society and spiritual sadhana.

A noteworthy point is that happiness thus attained cannot satisfy a
man beyond a limit. However a man may concern himself with the
happiness of the passing moment, there is an instinct in him, which
craves for pure, lasting happiness with no trace of sorrow.

Viewed in this light, the issue boils down to `being happy' as
opposed to `becoming happy'. Man cannot understand the nature of such
happiness, which is qualitatively and quantitatively different from
what happiness commonly stands for till he has known his own nature.
The difficulty is being happy is no so great as it is in knowing what
true happiness is. Its main cause is man'' ignorance. He thinks he is
body while actually he is spirit.

Man has to transcend his body consciousness before he is able to
realize that he is divine by nature. The opposite of "I am unhappy"
is not "I am happy, but, I am divine". This self-realization cannot
come overnight. It requires several years of dedicated meditation and
following the path of righteousness, dictates of one's conscience.

To sum up, happiness is a state of enlightenment and not of enjoyment
of sensuous pleasures. Pleasures and pain are two sides of the coin
and are passing phases. Let them come and go without being affected
by them. Always concentrate your inner reality, your divinity.

Maintain equanimity of mind under all circumstances. Whatever good or
bad happens in man's life is the result of his own actions but the
timing of the reaction (fruit) is so set under the law of the grace
of God that they accelerate his progressive human evolution. Nothing
can equal this grace of God.

However, people who do not understand its significance often accuse
Him of His delayed justice.
(Courtesy: The Tribune - January 17, 2002)

MANTRA LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

Religiously active people appear to reap particularly strong health
benefits from lower stress levels, say Duke University researchers.
The study authors theorize that religious activity helps to lower
blood pressure by reducing stress and anxiety in people's lives. High
blood pressure has been linked not just with stress but also anxiety
and repressed hostility, they point out. Religious practices, on the
other hand, go together with a greater sense of well-being, higher
life satisfaction, lower anxiety and better coping ability.

Prayers and religious reading in particular have a calming effect
that works to lower stress. According to Herbert Bension, M.D., a
professor at Harvard Medical School and author of popular book, `The
Relaxation Response', repeating words during prayer and then using
that repetition to quell anxious thoughts – produces a peaceful,
tranquil state of mind. The peaceful state, for which Dr. Benson
coined the phrase "the relaxation response", helps to counter the
physical effects of stress.

"There is a fight or fight response that people have to stress." Dr.
Benson explains, "When elicited, it increases the secretion of
adrenaline and other stress hormones into your body. Those hormones
lead to anxiety, depression, anger, high blood pressure, heart
arrhythmia, and insomnia among other ills. But repetitive prayer,
such as occurs with going through the Catholic rosary of davening (a
swaying, standing kind of prayer used in Orthodox Judaism) or
repeating the words `Om' or `Allah' can elicit the relaxation
response – and that, in turn, "evokes physiological changes in the
body, slowing or lowering metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate, and
breathing," he says.

Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that certain parts of the
brain – in particular, those areas under the control of the
`auronomic nervous system' – are activated by mind-body techniques.
The automatic nervous system regulates digestion, heart rate, and
other processes that require no conscious thought. Benson has traced
the relaxation response to the release of `nitric oxide', a molecule
that plays a role in many neurological and immunological processes.
(Courtesy: Health & Nutrition – October 2001)

STAGES OF BHAKTI

In the religious books, the following stages of Bhakti are mentioned.

1. Satsang (good company of saints)
2. Swadhyaya (study of holy scriptures)
3. Stuti (admiration)
4. Shraddha (faith in God)
5. Bhakti (devotion to God)
6. Nishtha (Sincerity)
7. Ruchi (taste of hearing and chanting His name)
8. Rati ( intense attachment to Lord)
9. Sthayi Bhava (steadfastness)
10. Prema-Maya (the devotees at this stage has no attachment to
worldly objects and lives and moves in Divine ecstasy)

Briefly there are nine modes of Bhakti:

1. Sravan (hearing of Divine Glory)
2. Kirtan (singing praises to Him with Bhava {emotion} and devotion)
3. Smran (remembering His name)
4. Padasevana (service and presence at the feet of the Lord)
5. Archana (worship)
6. Vandana (prostration to God)
7. Dasyam (cultivating Bhava of a servant)
8. Sakhyam (cultivating Bhava of a friend)
9. Atma Niveddana (complete self-surrender)

There are 16 limbs of Puja (ritual worship) of a Deity:

1. Asan – offering seat for the Deity
2. Svagat – welcome the Deity with prayer (mantra)
3. Padya – washing the feet
4. Arghya – Water offering made in a vessel
5. Achamana – sipping of water
6. Madhuparka – (honey, ghee, milk and curd)
7. Snana – bathing
8. Vastra – garments
9. Bhushan – ornaments and jewels
10. Gandha – perfume
11. Pushpa – flowers
12. Dhoop – incense
13. Dipa – light
14. Naivedya – food offering
15. Tambulam – betel nut
16. Vandana or Namaskaram – prostration and prayer.

The accessories of worship mentioned above have inner meanings as
mentioned below:

Arghya (water) used in worship is a symbol of pervasiveness and an
object for purification.

Bhushan (ornaments) placed on image symbolise the virtues of the
Deity who is immortal.

Gandha (perfume) stands for the perception of consciousness pervading
the earth of which the physical body is made. Sense of smell is
connected with the prithvi tatva (earth).

Pushpa (flowers) offering of flowers indicates perception of
consciousness pervading the akash tatva (ether).

Dhoopa (incense) stands for perception of consciousness pervading the
vayu tatva (air).

Dipa (light) stands for perception of consciousness pervading the
agni tatva (fire).

Yajna (fire) stands for transmutation. Agni is a great transformer in
nature.

Arati (waving of lights) stands for discarding of the objects of
thought, which is the inanimate world.

Naivedya (food) Food sustains life. Offering of food stands for
perception of the principle of immortality. Rice as food stands for
the perception of Existence-Consciousness-Experience in all things.

Vandana (obeisance and praise). Obeisance stands for dissolution of
all thoughts into the Principle-of-All. Prayer and praise offerings
stand for the dissolution of words into the word principle.

There are eight signs of progress in the Path of Devotion:
1. Tears
2. horrification
3. tremor
4. weeping
5. laughing
6. perspiration
7. fainting and
8. inability to speak.

Sri Ramanuja has mentioned some ways of fostering and intensifying
Bhakti:

1. Abhyasa-Practice-to be regular and punctual in daily sadhana.
2. Viveka-Discrimination-to know what is right and what is wrong.
3. Satya-Truth-to be in words and deeds.
4. Arjava-Straightforwardness, avoid cunningness.
5. Kriya-Doing good to others-i.e., rendering selfless services.
6. Kalyana-Wishing good of all, i.e., never harm anyone by thought,
word or deed.
7. Daya-Compassion-to be merciful and to forgive others' fault.
8. Ahimsa-Non injury
9. Dana-Charity.

There are five kinds of emotions (bhav) in Bhakti:

1. Shanta Bhava (peaceful emotion).
2. Dasya Bhava (considering oneself as a slave/servant of God)
3. Vatsalya Bhava (considering God as a Father-Mother).
4. Sakhya Bhava (considering God as friend like the Arjuna and
Krishna)
5. Madhurya Bhava is a most difficult mode of vedanta Sadhana. It is
merging in Him.
One emotion (Bhava) embraces the other.

A devotee starts from fine emotion, which develops into warm
affection and then in glowing love and ultimately into the supreme
and unbounded love. When a devotee advances in devotion to the Lord,
he sheds tears of delight. He may cry or laugh. He may sing or dance
in Divine Ecstasy.

When devotion matures, it brings jnana (wisdom) to the devotee.
Bhakta is also a jnani. It is only at the time of intense devotion
and love that becomes void and free from conceit and pride.
(Courtesy: by Hari Dutt Sharma)

BABA AND COURT SUMMON

  A person was charged before the Dhulia's court with stealing jewels
etc., The man pleaded that Sai Baba of Shirdi had given him the
jewels and cited him as a witness. Summons came.

Constable: Baba, here is a summon for you.

Baba: Take it and throw it in to the fire. Anyhow the report was sent
that Baba was served and as Baba was absent for the trial a warrant
came to Shirdi.

Ganpatram, the constable to Baba: Baba, they have sent out a warrant.
Will you kindly go with me to Dhulia?

Baba, angrily: Throw that piece of paper into (Baba was cursing and
swearing).

The constable was perplexed. Then, as advised by N.G. Chandorkar, a
Mahajar (largely signed) was sent up to the effect that Baba was
worshipped by large numbers as God, that that the issue of summons
and warrant were improper and undesirable and that if his evidence
was necessary a commissioner might be sent to take it. Then Nana
Joshi, the commissioner, a first class magistrate came and examined
Baba.

Commissioner: What is your name?

Baba: They call me Sai Baba?

Commissioner: Your father's name?

Baba: Also Sai Baba.

Commissioner: Your Guru's name?

Baba: Venkusa.

Commissioner: Creed or religion?

Baba: Kabir.

Commissioner: Caste or Race?

Baba: Parvardigar (i.e., God)

Commissioner: Age please?

Baba: Lakhs of years.

Commissioner: Will you solemnly affirm that what you are going to say
is the truth?

Baba: Truth.

Commissioner: Do you know the accused, so and so?

Baba: Yes I know him and I know everyone.

Commissioner: The man says he is your devotee and that he lived with
you. Is that so?

Baba: Yes, I live with every one. All are mine.

Commissioner: Did you give him jewels as alleged by him?

Baba: yes. I give him. Who gives what to whom?

Commissioner: If you give him jewels, how did you get them and become
possessed of them?

Baba: Everything is mine.

Commissioner: Baba, here is a serious charge of theft. That man says
that you delivered the jewels to him.

Baba: What all this? What the devil have I to do with all that?

The commissioner was perplexed. Then it was suggested that the
village diaries showing the presence of strangers in the village
should be sent for. The diary showed that the accused, a stranger was
not at Shirdi, at the time of his alleged receipt from Baba. And it
was well known that baba never left the village.

The commissioner put the facts before Baba and Baba said that they
were true. That closed the commission evidence. Baba was not asked to
sign or put his mark. Baba does not appear to have signed or put his
mark to aqny paper at any time.
( Coutesy: His Highness Pujyasri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji)

SAI SERVICE Newsletter – 09
Issue Date: June 06, 2002

This Thursday's Message: .– (Baba said).

"This is a Brahmin, a white Brahmin, a pure Brahmin. This Brahmin
will lead lakhs of people to the Subra Marga and take them to the
Goal-right up to the end. This is a Brahmin's masjid"

a) Baba's Talk with Devotees
b) Divine Dews from our God
c) Weekly Article on Baba – How Baba spent his nights?
d) Spiritual Spectrum
e)  Baba's Help

a. Baba's Talk with Devotees.

Saibaba: The key of my treasury is now placed in your hands. Ask for
anything you want Rs. 5 to 100 a month or what you will and I will
give it to you.

Devotee (M B Rage) declines to ask.

Saibaba: Ask something, I am anxious to give you.

Devotee: Is it agreed that you will grant anything I ask for?

Saibaba: Yes

Devotee: Then, Baba, I want this. In this and in any future birth
that may befall me, you should never part from me. You should always
be with me.

Saibaba: Yes, I shall be with you, inside and outside you, whatever
you may be or do.

b. Divine Dews from our God

 Unless God wills it, no one meets us on the way. (SSS Ch. XXXII)

 Believe in God ! (SSS Ch. XXXIV)

 Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes
anywhere.
       (SSS Ch. XVIII & XIX)

 I require no door to enter, I have no form; I always live
everywhere. (SSS Ch.XXVIII)

 She (Masjidmai) wards off all dangers and anxieties of the
children. (SSS Ch.XXII)

 Blessed and fortunate indeed is he, who knows me thus. (SSS Ch.XV)=


 You need not be anxious, there is no difficulty about the matter. =

(SSS Ch. XX)

c. Weekly Article:
How Baba spent  his nights?

As Baba said, his nights were not intended for sleep. On the other
hand with his divine eye of supervision, he was keeping watch over
all his bhaktas in all their places and averting danger from them.
Look at this vast unimaginable task of one person trying to save
hundreds in hundred different places. The task is simply
unimaginable. No human being could ever succeed in it. It is the
divine Baba that could do it and that did it. His divine power
enabled him to do it and his divine kindness made him forego sleep
and all comforts for that purpose. the sacrifice of physiological
well-being by giving up sleep night after night, was very serous, but
Baba willingly consented to do it. Baba's body was human, though his
soul was divine. Baba had to undergo all the physiological evils of
protracted loss of sleep and loss of comforts.

Baba really cared more for the welfare of his children than for the
safety of his body. Baba however was both human and divine. His body
underwent serous damage by reason of the sacrifices he made.
Especially in a rude village where people had little imagination and
less civilization, his comforts were cut down mercilessly. to make up
for the loss of a whole night's sleep, he had the yogic power to
recoup his energies by spending one hour in sleep after the noon-
meal. But was he allowed to have that rest? Here is an instance.

Syamkarna, a horse, was presented to Baba's Sansthan, for the
sansthan requires a horse. A rustic was sent to the village to fetch
the horse. He returned and demanded his wages from Radhakrishna Ayi
who referred him to Shama. Shama in turn said, `Go and ask Baba', The
rude idiot ran up to the mosque at the time when Baba was taking his
rest after the noon meal and bawled out loudly saying, `Give me my
wages for bringing the horse'. Here comes the human element. Baba was
losing the very little rest that he got by this rustic's idiocity. He
got angry, took up a brickbat and flung it at the man. The strole hit
the man on the head and fetched blood. the man bawled out that he was
being killed for asking his wages. There were policemen in the
village of Shirdi and they would be only too ready to seize an
opportunity to launch a complaint against Baba and screw out as much
money as possible from him. H.S. Dixit was on the spot and scented
the danger. He sent for the rustic and told him the absurd mistake he
had committed in disturbing Baba's sleep and give him Rs. 200
wherewith he could buy a cart and a horse and become a carriage drive
in stead of being a miserable cooly that he was then. The man jumped
at the offer and the danger of prosecution was averted. We see here
the human element. Baba himself noted that element his gosttis.
referring to his human system he said, there are two parts of it. One
is spirit and the other is flesh. The latter he called matti, which
means clay. he said sometimes matti was up and anger broke out. This
is exactly what happened in the above case. The human element. The
human element could not be banished, and so Baba got angry and flung
a brickbat. Luckily all is well that ends well, and this incident,
far from damaging the man gave him a good fortune.

d. Spiritual Spectrum: (EXTRACTS FROM PURANAS, MESSAGES FROM
SATPURUSHAS)

Divine Wealth - Daivi Sampat - (continuation from last week)

Chapter 16, Verse 1:
1.Fearlessness (Abhayam):Among the Divine qualities, Fearlessness
stands foremost. Fear is an effect of ignorance. Identification with
the body causes fear. Blind attachment to the body, wife, children,
house, property etc. is the cause of fear. The sage who has realised
the Self is absolutely fearless.

"He who knows the Bliss of Brahman (God) from which words as well as
mind turn powerless, fears nothing." -Taittiriya Upanishad

Fear can be removed by constant thinking of the immortal and all-
blissful nature of the Self. If you lead a life of honesty and
truthfulness, if you devoutly observe the precepts of the scriptures
without doubting, if you lead a life of right conduct, and if you
remember God always, you will become fearless.

2.Purity of heart (Satvasamsuddhih): Purity of understanding,
cleanliness of life or purity of heart. Purity of mind, i.e., giving
up of cheating, hypocrisy, untruth and the like, in all dealings with
the people, and doing transactions with perfect honesty and integrity
is purity of heart. A purity of mind cannot be obtained without
devotion to the Lord.

3. Steadfastness in Knowledge and Yoga (Jnanayogavyavasthitih):
Understanding the nature of the Self as taught in the scriptures and
by the preceptor. Self-realisation through meditation on the Great
Sentence of the Upanishad, " I am Brahman" (Aham Brahmasmi) is
Knowledge. Yoga is union of the individual soul with the Supreme
Being; it is the realisation of the Self by concentration and
meditation through self-restraint and control of the senses.

(Fearlessness, Purity of heart, and Steadfastness in Knowledge and
Yoga are the three pre-eminent virtues amongst the Sattwic attributes
enumerated in verse 1 to 3. These three attributes are found in Jnana
(Knowledge) Yogis only. The other qualities are common to Jnana
Yogis, Karma Yogis, Raja Yogis, and Bhaktas or those following the
path of Devotion. If you cultivate one virtue, all other virtues will
cling to you by themselves. Fearlessness is the basis and foundation
of the whole of man's moral structure within.)

4. Alms giving (Dana); Distributing food, clothes etc., as far as it
lies within one's power, according to one's means. A charitable man
hastens to comfort the distressed and helps the needy.

5. Control of the senses:(Dama). Self -restraint, self-control,
control of the external senses. [Control of the inner senses or the
mind is described in verse no. 2 ]. The practice of self-control
annihilates the union between the senses and the sensual objects. He
keeps the senses under the strictest restraint. He is moderate in his
diet. He checks the outgoing tendencies of the mind and the senses.
He induces the mind and the senses to turn backwards towards their
source. As householders cannot practice perfect control of the
senses, even moderation or regulated and disciplined life will
constitute self-restraint for them. The practice of self-control
includes forgiveness, harmlessness, truth, steadiness and patience.

6. Sacrifice (Yajna): The fire worship (agnihotra or havan) and the
like enjoined in the Vedas and also the sacrifice to the gods (deva-
yajna) or worship of the gods, Pitr-Yajna, Bhuta-Yajna, Manusya-Yajna
and Brahma-Yajna enjoined in the scriptures (smrtis). [See page
"Mantras-Sacred fire" listed in the column on the left].

7. Study of scriptures (Svadhyaya): Study of the Vedas in order to
attain the 'unseen fruits'.

8. Austerity (Tapas): True Tapas is meditation on the Self. It is
fixing the mind on Brahman (Supreme Reality) or the Self. It is to
turn the mind towards the soul.

The three kinds of Tapas that are mentioned in The Bhagavad Gita,
Chapter 17, Verses 14, 15 and 16 come under this category. These
three verses are as follows:

Verse 14: Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers and the
wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury are called
austerities (Tapas or self-discipline) of the body.

Verse 15: Speech which causes no excitement, truthful, pleasant and
beneficial, the practice of the study of the Vedas, are called
austerity of speech.

Verse 16: One should speak what is true; one should speak what is
pleasant. One should not speak what is true if it is not pleasant nor
what is pleasant if it is false. This is the Sanatan (eternal,
ancient ) dharma.

9. Straightforwardness (Arjavam): This is conducive to the attainment
of knowledge. The aspirant should always be candid, upright or
straightforward. Straightforwardness should be his constant attitude.
A just and truthful man alone can be straightforward. He is respected
by the people. He is liked by all. He attains success in all his
endeavours. He never hides facts or truth.

Chapter 16, Verse 2:

10. Harmlessness (Ahimsa): Non-injury in thought, word and deed. By
refraining from injuring living creatures, the outgoing forces of
Rajas are curbed. Ahimsa is divided into physical, verbal and mental.

11. Truth (Satyam): Speaking of things as they are without uttering
unpleasant words or lies. This includes self-restraint, absence of
jealousy, forgiveness, patience, endurance and kindness

12. Absence of anger (Akrodha): Absence of anger when insulted,
rebuked or beaten, i.e., even under the gravest provocation.

13. Renunciation (Tyagah): Literally giving up; giving up of vasanas,
egoism and the fruits of action. Charity is also tyaga.

[For explanations of the term 'VASANA' visit page "Gita for
Children". See column on the left. ]

14. Peacefulness (Santi): Serenity of the mind or tranquillity

15. Absence of crookedness (Apaisunam): Aversion to slander and
absence of narrow-mindedness.

16. Compassion towards beings (Daya): Compassion to those who are in
distress. A man of compassion has a tender heart. He lives only for
the benefit of the world. Compassion indicates realisation of unity
or oneness with other creatures.

17. Freedom from covetousness (Aloluptvam): Non-covetousness. The
senses are not affected or excited when they come in contact with
their respective objects; the senses are withdrawn from the objects
of the senses, just as the limbs of the tortoise are withdrawn by it
into its own shell.

18. Gentleness (Mardavam).

19. Modesty (Hrih): It is shame felt in the performance of actions
contrary to the rules of the Vedas or of Society.

20. Absence of fickleness (Achapalam): Not to speak in vain. Not to
move the hands and legs in vain. Avoidance of useless action.

Chapter 16, Verse 3:

21. Vigour (Tejas): Vigour, energy, brilliance. The aspirant who is
bent on attaining salvation marches boldly on the spiritual path.
Nothing can tempt him or slacken his progress. This unbroken progress
towards the realisation of the Self or the Absolute is lustre. It
overcomes the downward pull of Tamas.

22. Forgiveness (Kshama): He who is endowed with this virtue does not
exhibit anger even when he is insulted, rebuked or beaten, although
he is strong enough to take vengeance. He is unaffected by the insult
or injury.

23. Fortitude (Dhrti): The sage absorbs within himself all
calamities. He is steadfast even when he is in very trying and most
adverse conditions. This is a particular Sattwic vrtti or state of
mind which removes depression or exhaustion of the body and senses
when they sink down. An aspirant who is endowed with this divine
attribute never gets disheartened, even when he is under severe
trials and difficulties and tribulations. Dhrti is a divine tonic
when the body and the senses are in a state of low spirits or
dejection.

24. Purity (Saucham): This is of two kinds , viz., external and
internal. External purity are done by means of earth and water.

Internal purity: The mind and heart (intellect) are free from Maya;
free from deception, lust, anger, greed, pride, jealousy, hypocrisy,
likes and dislikes. Purity is achieved by the practice of celibacy,
forgiveness, friendliness, charity, humility, nobility, love,
complacency, compassion etc.

25. Absence of hatred (Adroha): Freedom from malice. Includes absence
of desire to injure others.

26. Absence of overweening pride (Atimanita): Atimanita is great
pride. A proud man thinks that he is superior to others and that he
is worthy of being honoured by others.
The Divine Wealth or Daivi Sampat consists of these 26 attributes.
This is a rare gift from the Lord. This is an inexhaustible wealth
which cannot be taken away by thieves or robbers. This Daivi Sampat
helps the aspirant attain the imperishable and immaculate Brahmic
seat. It is the short cut to the realm of eternal bliss or moksha.

d. Baba's Help:

BABA'S HELP IN RESPECT OF PROPERTY (continuation from last issue)

The provision of wealth has taken various shapes, for example,
recovery of loans. We may here cite two instances. Bapu Saheb Jog,
who was performing Baba's puja, had lent money to an upcountry
person, and the time for limitation was approaching. Jog asked Baba
for permission to go and make his demand. Baba stopped him saying
that the debtor himself would come. Jog could not believe it, because
the debtor on previous occasions did not show very great readiness to
pay. Anyhow, he had to obey and so kept quiet. The limitation period
was gone. His legal claim was gone. But Baba acted on the mind of the
debtor, and the man came up with the principal sum of Rs.1400, and
paid it up without interest. Baba's ignoring the interest reminds one
of Baba's Muslim leaning, interest on debt is considered a sin
(Haram). In other cases also Baba has helped people to recover
amounts due to them. Baba has the same time enabled people to protect
themselves against false demands.

There was a Parsi who, after Baba's Mahasamadhi, prayed to Baba that
he should be saved from a proceeding on a promissory note, which was
absolutely without consideration. He had handed over to a friend a
promissory note and that friend sued on it. When he prayed to Baba,
Baba appeared in a dream, and promised to help him. Finally the claim
was settled in a reasonable way so that there was no large undue
demand made on the devotee.

Baba helps and has helped time and again in numerous cases, even in
civil litigation in respect of property. But on the whole he
dissuaded people from quarreling over property and going to court. He
told a lady, Athai, whose father had given her a portion of his
property and then withheld it from her for the sake of a second wife
whom he wanted to please, `God will give you plenty; do not file a
suit against your father. For it is after all your father that eats
your property that he has given'. Accordingly she got plenty of
income, and there was no necessity for her to file a suit against her
father.

Baba very often follows the policy of "not resisting evil" advocated
by Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi and other great souls. To a certain extent,
it is true that by not resisting evil, we not only promote our own
spiritual welfare, but sometimes meet the heart of the evildoer and
always get the support of the public and of God. Who, in some way or
other, try to recompense us for not resisting evil. At the same time
it is not a safe maxim for universal adoption for in society it is
often necessary to resist evil. What is meant by the maxim is that
you should not resist evil by another evil or by the use of force and
we can safely rely, in cases of evil done to us, on the protection of
our Guardian Sai.

So much in respect of property, readers may remember Baba's vast
powers of control over the minds of all people, and how when a
devotee – Kaka Sahib Dixit – had urgent need of money, he could
control the mind of a friend's son to run up with required 30,000
rupees even though it was quite a big sum, and gave it to Kaka Sahib
Dixit to pay his creditor. Baba could provide funds for various
purposes, and to quote only a small incident, when Varde wanted to do
Satya Narayan Puja and required only Rs. 2-8-0, Baba pointed to
Jayakar, the painter, who was before him, and who had exactly Rs. 2-8-
0 in his pocket, and said, "Apply to this man for a loan". Jayakar
had to part with Rs. 2-8-0 because Baba had said it. Baba said so to
Jayakar for express reason, that Jayakar must be made to feel what it
was to be in a zero condition, and to trust absolutely in Baba's
grace for further provision. In point of fact, Jayakar after having
given Rs. 2-8-0 to Varde found a friend who helped him to get along
and get back to his place.

When Damia thought that Baba, having vast powers of knowledge of the
future and also control of events and properties, would help him to
acquire lakhs by cotton speculation, found that Baba was not disposed
to do so, but used all his superior antarjnana- Ritambhara Prajna for
– other purposes. As Damia's wealth was quite sufficient for his
purpose, Baba warned him against aspiring for lakhs, and against
losing the large amounts he had in his hand through his greed.
Similarly in grain speculation also, Baba gave him the same advice,
and asked him not to be over greedy.

The advice `Ma Gridhah' found in Isavasya Upanishad was frequently
impressed by Baba upon those approaching him for the sake of wealth.
There was a large number of persons that pestered Baba for wealth
because Baba was known to have antarjnan and commanded the future.
Very large number of people came to him and asked him to give them
the numbers of successful horses in horse races for betting purposes.
Baba treated them all with contempt and brushed them aside so that
people should not pester him and ask him for such help. Strangely
enough, in some special cases, Baba had shown the gift of knowing the
numbers of the successful horses but he at the same time prevented
that knowledge from being used for getting unlawful earnings, a
person in Nellore district, a good Sai bhakta, had the peculiar power
to guess or know the numbers of the winning horses. He had a rich
friend or patron, who had vast sums in his control, and who was also
interested in horse races. But that friend would not trust the
guesses and readings of this Sai devotee. Thus Baba prevented his
devotees knowledge from being used for purposes of betting on horse
races.

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N G Chandorkar: Who is this Maya? Who created her? What is she likes?
You Just now said that the root of the whole world is Chaitanya. Then
where does Maya come in.

Baba: I will describe to you where and how she comes. Maya is the
name given to the Shakti or Power of Chaitanya which makes chaitanya
appear in different forms. Can you separate Chaitanya from its
Shakti? You cannot – just as you cannot separate jaggery from its
sweetness and the sun from its brilliance. The separation comes only
at the end of Maya. Maya ends when Chaitanya is released. Chaitanya
is endless. Both chaitanya and Maya are beginningless. Maya and
chaitanya are also named Prakriti and purusha, which are fully
described in the Jnaneswari from which you must get your Atma Jnana.

Chaitanya is a cave and he who enters into that cave never returns
but becomes the cave.

Maya is Karya and has wonderful quality. I am such and such a person,
you are such and such etc., - all this is the result of Maya. All
these of unreal differences. You see, it you are under Maya, (and
differenced) reality does not appear. Maya has two aspects. (1) The
Avarna covering up the consciousness of the soul of atman and (2)
Vikshepa, producing illusory appearances over that covering. Here is
an illustration.

A cooly dreamt that he became a king. Thereby he forgot his
coolyship. That coolyship was covered up (avarna) by Maya, and
kingship was produced by Maya over that cover. Similarly Maya covered
up Brahman and produces worldly appearances. In reality, the world
does not exists. Only one Real (Sat) exists but these appearances are
taken to be real. That causes the mischief (akalyan). So kick out
Maya and regain Brahman how? regard yourself as pure Chaitanya. Water
when relieved of impurity is pure water. Similarly remove impurity of
Maya from this world of appearances. Then that appearance becomes
reality. This is the upasana of the Real sadvastu. Think of this
always. This is my advice to all. This constant thought of the
sadvastu or Atman is the Adhyatma. You should release this atman as
yourself and become Mukta in this life.

REACHING GOD: THE METHOD:

NG Chandorkar: Baba, again I am asking you for the third time, who
God is, what he is like and where he is?

Baba: I have already told you. If you act upon what I have said, you
would be equipped with Sadhana Chatushtya i.e., the four helps.

NGChandorkar: What are they.

Baba:
1. Viveka
2. Vairagya
3. Scama
4. Mumukshuta
First is (Viveka) Nitya-Anitya Vastuviveka i.e., discriminating
between the real and unreal. Some people make others believe that
they are such vivekis and become varkaries i.e., pilgrim to
Pandharpur, without however, knowing who Hari really is, what he is
and where he is. But this pilgrimage is not real devotion, but a mere
device to get respect from others.

Persons who merely read and memorise many works without making their
hearts pure, pour out precepts at debates, cavil at others and are
full of self adulation. These are not vivekis and they do not attain
Brahma Jnana.

Vairagya is second. The real vairagi cares not for the good things of
this world or of the next.
Baba's Vairagya.
(1) When Damia Rasane offered Baba a share in the profits of his
proposed business Baba said `I am not to be entangled in anything.
(2) Baba's advice to a Madrasi Swami. : If you are so fond of your
mother, why did you assume the garb of a sanyasi. Kashaya and mamata
(attachment) cannot go together. …  Utter renunciation alone leads to
bliss. Bo Bhagavatha Sapthaha thrice with intended meditation. that
will quench all vasanas. all illusions will end.

Scama, the third. Scama is preventing the mind from going into the
objects of the senses. Dama is the withdrawal of the mind, when it
does go in, by control of external activity.

Titiksha is putting up with pain that results from prarabdha karma,
without murmur.

Uparati is looking upon wealth, women, children, friends etc., as
unreal and thus escaping the meshes of Maya.

Sraddha is faith (Viswasa of the mind)

Samadhana is equanimity i.e., looking on pain and pleasure equally
unexited and with firmness of mind.

Mumukshuta is the fourth help

Mumukshuta is strong desire for Moksha (with dislike of joys and
sorrows of phenomenal existence), accompanied by the idea that
Aparoksha jnana i.e., realisation of Brahman alone is the solution.
Moksha is not Heaven, Kailasa or vaikunta. It is subtle and not
gross. It is the invisible origin of the universe-pure consciousness,
pure being-Suddha chaitanya. Being or becoming that is moksha. That
is immortality and that is the goal of human life. All other alms are
worthless.

N G Chandorkar: Pray, tell us about Suddha Chaitanya, what it is.

Baba: That is the origin, the essence, the foundation and the
permeator of the entire universe, sentient and insentient, as also
the end of it. The source is Suddha Chaidanya. You cannot exactly
describe `Chaidanya', but every moment it exists in your existence.
There is no place without it but it has no form or name. in that it
resembles air, which has no colour or form to be seen, and whose
existence however is unquestionable, Suddha Chaidanya is called
Brahman. The wise do upasana of it under the name `Brahman' and then,
are called Brahmavit. Vegetable, animal, human and all other lives
are contained within it. It is the original cause of all appearance,
perceptions and knowledge. It is the one root of the many. It
pervades everything. It may be characterised as sat-reality, chit-
consciousness, Ananda-bliss and Ekatva-unity. All of us are that. We
are not distinct from it.

N G Chandorkar: Baba, you say Brahman is bliss, i.e., without pain
and that, it is unity, i.e., without multiplicity. Yet you say the
same Brahman is all and everything in the world, wherein there is not
merely multiplicity but also suffering. How can bliss appear as pain
and suffering? How can the one appear as many, How can the real
appear as the unreal, Again, it each of us consider ourselves as
Chaitanya as Brahman there must be many Brahmans (and not one)
because we are so many. Further, if all of us are the one and same
Brahman, each man must feel the pain and pleasure felt by others; but
he does not. Just as our bodies are different, our souls must be
different and not one. Please explain.

Baba: You are wrong. Just listen red, black, white, blue, yellow,
etc., are different colours. Add them to water. Is not water still
one and the same water, despite the different colours. That, you will
see by separating the colour from the water. The result will be that
you get water in each case. Just like that, the Atman or Brahman is
one. But the hearts it occupies, are different. It is one and the
same Atman that runs through all the hearts. As far pain and
pleasure, these are not the functions of Brahman or Atman, but only
of the hearts. To make the heart, a heart, is the function of the
Atman or Brahman.

I will further explain the matter. Chaitanya appear through three
gunas and is classified further as Paramarthika-Satya, Vyavaharika-
Satya and Pratibhasika-Satya just as one body has three stage,
childhood, manhood and old-age, so Satya has these three stage. A
person in Paramartik stage (called a sage) sees truth as truth and
acts according to sastras, i.e., without differentiation. One in the
Vyavaharik stage (called the Good) tries to follow the sastras but
goes on differentiating at every step selecting the good and
rejecting the evil. One in the Pratibasik stage (called the ignorant)
does not see the truth either entirely as it is or with the addition
of differentiation merely, but sees it quite inverted i.e., in the
way quite opposite to the Vyavaharik person's view. He sees good as
evil and evil as good.

But Atman or Brahman is common to all these three stages.

I will give one more illustration. There is (1) the King, (2) the
King's deputy and (3) the King's messenger. You see the common point
running through all the three i.e., Kingliness; yet the three are
different. It is just like that, Brahman runs through all the three
classes, which appear different.

N G Chandorkar: How can you divide Regality? It is indivisible.

Baba: Right. Regality is one and indivisible; but in point of fact we
note the division of Regality in the above three and their difference
between them. Similarly Chaitanya (Brahman) is unlimited but each
limited ego partakes of it, i.e., to the extent of its capacity and
exhibits it, i.e., this chaitanya or kingship. Take another example,
viz., space or Akasha. Aksaha though illimitable is in a small pot
(then call Ghatakasha), in a big pot then called kumbhakasha and so
on. All have Akasha in degrees. Just like that Brahman appears in
different forms in this world which is the play of Maya. It is the
union of Brahman with Maya that causes Bramanda, the universe.

WHO IS GOD

N G Chandorkar to Baba

(1) Who is God?
(2) What is He like?
(3) Where is He?
(4) How are we see Him?

Baba: I will tell you later on.
Baba: (later)
Baddhas, (the very worldly) do not know or observe the difference
between right and wrong… or what God is. They have no moral
tendencies.

Ever immersed in the world, (and impure in heart), having no faith in
Scriptures or saints, they do not get to God-but go to Hell.

The Mumukshus, disgusted with the baddha state, begin vichara and
viveka and thirst for the sight of God. They are devoted to God and
observe the Moral Law.

They become sadhakas, by adopting sahanas e.g., repetition of God's
name (Japa) and (Dhyana) meditation on god, in solitude, withdrawing
their minds from objects of senses. They love to move with Saints.

These, when perfect are called Siddhas. At that stage, God becomes
the same as man; praise, the same as blame etc., They have no
desires. They are past the notion that the body is their home or
their self. They feel their self to be identical with God. "I am
Brahman" is their feeling.

To know God, see how God is viewed by each of these, at each stage.
Then ultimately, God is seen as manifested in all forms – moveable
and immovable.

God is everywhere. there is no place from which he is absent. But
behold the power of Maya that does not allow Eswara to be seen and
recognised (in all). I, you and the entire world are Amsa i.e., parts
of the Lord.

Therefore let none hate others, Forget not that God is in every place.

Thereby Love (Non-hatred) is there, of itself. when that springs up,
everything is achieved.

HOW ARE WE TO SEE GOD?

The mind is turbulent. efforts must be made to make it steady. Just
as a fly flies and sits on all objects but turns back when it
approaches fire, so the mind longs after sense objects, rejoice in
them and merges in them. When it sees i.e., approaches are twice to
see Brahman, it turns its face away. When thus the unruly mind does
not merge in God (Brahman), samsara, i.e., rebirth is inevitable.
till the mind is conquered, one is reborn. But among births, human
birth is most precious.

There fore do Moortipooja – i.e., worship God in form, in his images,
to make the mind steady and concentrated. Even the image is got
(Parameswara). Do not reject images. When an image is worshipped with
deep devotion, the mind attains concentration, without which there is
no steadiness of mind.

Next practice Manana and Dhyana i.e., recollection and meditation;
and study spiritual works, practice what is mentioned in them. Atma
Vidya, the science of the self, is the highest wisdom. If that is
mastered, salvation (Mukti) is achieved; and Hari (Personal God) is
one's slave. The easy steps to get to that wisdom and to moksha
(i.e., to real seeing or knowledge of God Brahman) are:-

HOW TO GET MOKSHA: Have sadhana chatushtaya i.e., nitya Anitya
viveka, i.e., Inquiry into what is real and what is unreal. Vairagya
i.e., dispassion, sama i.e., quiet of mind and other five qualities
and mumukshutwa i.e., desire for mukti. Have Navavidha Bhakti i.e.,
ninefold devotion etc., Practice these. Surrender yourself to God
(Atma Nivedan) Prapatti.

Nine steps of devotion are (1) Listening to sacred works or accounts
of God, Avatars and saints; (2) reciting the name of God, (3)
remembrance and meditation; (4) prostration to god's feet; (5)
worship of objects representing him; (6) paying respect to saints;
(7) service; (8) fellowship and (9) self surrender.

Daily take darsan of Sidhas, i.e., perfect saints. Live a moral life.
Then you will be pure even at death. At the time of death, have no
desire at all. Concentrate on God, i.e., your Ishta Devata (GOD),
Mukti (salvation) is attained.

Books in English
 108 Names of Shirdi Sai Baba, compiled by Vijaya Kumar, Sterling
Publishers, L-10, Green Park Extension, New Delhi-110016, 1997, 120
p.
 Ambrosia in Shirdi : 101 Experiences of Devotees when Sai Baba was
Embodied, and 100 Experiences of Devotees after Sai Baba's Samadhi in
1918, by Ramalinga Swamy.
 The Blossom of Praise to Shri Sainath, (Shri Sainath Stavan
Manjari), by Das Ganu, translated from original Marathi into English
by D. Y. Biniwala, edited by Mukundrao Balwantrao Nimbalkar, Oum Sri
Sai Ram Adhyatmika Chaitanya Kendram, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Andhra
Pradesh, 1988.
 Children's Sai Baba, by D. L. Parchure, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan,
Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1991, 46p.
 Devotees' Experiences of Shri Sai Baba (Statements of 81 Devotees
Most of Whom had Seen Sai Baba), by B. V. Narasimhaswami, Akhanda
Sainam Sapthaha Samithi, B/3/F, 15 Krupa Complex, Anandabagh,
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh -500047, 1989; All India Sai Samaj, 113/57,
Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004, 3 vols.
 God Who Walked on Earth : The Life and Times of Shirdi Sai Baba, by
Rangaswami Parthasarathy, Sterling Publishers, L-10, Green Park
Extension, New Delhi-110016, 1997 (1996), 240 p.
 Golden Words of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Ramalingaswamy, Munja
Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra, 1985, 66p.
 Guide to Holy Shridi, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-
423109, 20p
 Gurus Rediscovered : Biographies of Sai Baba and Upasani Maharaj of
Sakori, by Kevin R.D. Shepherd, Anthropographia Publications,
Cambridge, 1985
 The Incredible Sai Baba (The Life and Miracles of a Modern Saint),
by Arthur Osborne, Orient Longmans, Mumbai, Maharastra, 1957, 102 p.
 Introduction to Sai Baba of Shirdi, by B.V. Narasimhaswami, All
India Sai Samaj, 113/56 Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004, 1938
(Out of print).
 The Life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Antonio
Rigopolous, State University of New York Press, (1992); Sri Sadguru
Publications, Indian Book Centre, 40/5 Shakti Nagar, Delhi, 1993.
 The Life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi, by T.S. Anantha
Murthy, the Author, 140, 4th Main Road, Malleswaram, Bangalore,
Karnataka, 1974, 177p
 Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba, by Ammula Sambasiva Rao, Sterling
Publishers, L-10 Green Park Extension, New Delhi-110016, 1997, 244 p
 Life of Sai Baba, by B.V. Narasimhaswami, All India Sai Samaj,
113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004,1955-56, 4 vols
 A Mission Divine (novel on Shri Sai Baba), by R.S. Junnarkar, Meher
Era Publications, Avatar Meher Baba Poona Centre, 444/1, Somwar Peth,
Pune, Maharashtra-411011; Prasanthi Prakashan, Vasant Apartments,
Plot No. 47, Kasturi Park, Shimploi Road, Borivali (E), Mumbai,
Maharashtra, 1980, 511p
 Pictorial Sai Baba, Sri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-
423109, 1968
 Sai Baba : The Master, by Acharya E. Bharadwaja, 4th edn, Sai
Master Publications; Shirdi Sai Publications, Vidyanagar, Andhra
Pradesh; Sri Guru Paduka Publications; Lawyerpet Extension, Ongole,
Andhra Pradesh-523001, 1993 (1978), 392 p
 Sai Baba : The Perfect Master, edited by D.N. Irani, Meher Era
Publications, Avatar Meher Baba Poona Centre, 444/1, Somwar Peth,
Pune, Maharashtra-411011,1986
 Sai Baba : The Saint of Shirdi, by Mani Sahukar, Somaiya
Publications, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 1991
 Sai Baba of Shirdi (Pictorial), by Indira Anantha Krishna, Adarsh
Chitra Katha, 32p
 Sai Baba of Shirdi : A Unique Saint, by M.V. Kamath and V.B. Kher.
Jaico Publishing House, Mumbai, 1991, 316 p
 Sai's Help, by B.V. Narasimhaswami, All India Sai Samaj, 113/56,
Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004 (Out of print).
 Santakathamrita, by Das Ganu, 1903
 Shirdi Darshan (Pictorial), Sri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi,
Maharashtra-423109, 1972,
 Shirdi Diary of the Hon'ble Mr. G.S. Khaparde (events between 1910
December and 1918 March), Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-
423109, 1918, 141p
 Shirdi Sai Baba : An Epic, by Basavaraj Gunaki, Sai Baba
Publishers, 68, Somwar Peth,Tilakwadi, Belgaum, 1994.
 Sree Guru Charita, by Gangadhara Saraswati, translated by Acharya
E. Bharadwaja, Sai Baba Mission, Ongole,1987
 Shri Sai : The Superman, by Swami Sai Sharan Anand, Shri Sai Baba
Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1991 (1962), 139 p.
 Shri Sai Baba, by Swami Sai Sharan Anand, translated from original
Gujarati into English by V.B. Kher, Sterling Publishers, L-10, Green
Park Extension, New Delhi-110016, 1997, 350p.
 Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Rao Bhhadur Moreshwar W. Pradhan, 10th
edn, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1993 (1933),
56p
 Sri Sai Baba's Charters and Sayings, by B.V. Narasimhaswami, All
India Sai Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004
 Sri Sainath Sagunopasana, by K.J. Bhishma, translated from Marathi
into English by Zarine Taraporewala, under the title `Worship of
Manifested Sri Sadguru Sainath', Saidhun Enterprises, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, 1990, 39p
 Shri Sainath Stavan Manjari : A Humble Tribute of Praise to Shri
Sainath, by Das Ganu, translated from Marathi into English by Zarine
Taraporevala, ed by Indira Kher, 2nd edn, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan,
Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1991
 Sri Shirdi Sai Baba : The Universal Master, by S.P. Ruhela, 3rd
reprint, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1996 (1994), 160p
 Significance of Baba's MahaSamadhi, by B.V.Narasimhaswami, All
India Sai Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004, 1965
(Out of print).
 Sources of Sai History (Diary of 1910,1911,1912), by G.S. Khaparde,
Jupiter Press, Bangalore, Karnataka.
 Tales of Sai Baba (Pictorial), India Book House, Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
 What Researchers Say on Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, compiled and edited by
S.P. Ruhela, 2nd edn, MD Publications, 11 Daryaganj, New Delhi-
110002, 1995, 137 p. (Umang Paper-backs).
 Who is Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi? by B.V. Narassimhaswami, All India
Sai Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004 , 23p.
 The Wonderous Saint Sai Baba, by B.V. Narasimhaswami, All India Sai
Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu - 600004, 110 p.
 The Divine Glory of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, by Chakor Ajgaonkar,
Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., X-30, Okhla Industrial area Phase !!,
New Delhi, 1998, 126 p.
 Life of Shri Sai Baba by B.V.Narasimha Swami (Revised Vth edition
1994) Volume I, II, III, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Spiritual and Charitable
Trust, Sai Puram, Injambakkam, Chennai - 41
 Sri Shirdi Sai Baba : The God Who Descended on Earth in English,
French and Spanish Language, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Spiritual and
Charitable Trust, Sai Puram, Injambakkam, Chennai - 41
 Sai, For each, for all, forever, by Shaila Hattiangadi, Book Quest
Publishers, 21, Rajgir Chambers, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort,
Mumbai-1, 1999, 124p.
 Sai Baba : The Saint of Shirdi, by Mani Sahukar, Somaiya
Publications Pvt. Ltd., 172, Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya Marg,
Dadar Mumbai-14, 1997(Vi Ed), 121p.
 Aarti SaiBaba, by Sarath Babuji, Saiyana Books, Saipatham
Publications, P.O.Box 1277 Hyderabad-27, 1996,61p.
 The FootPrints of Shirdi Sai, by Chakor Ajgaonkar, Diamond Pocket
Books (P) Ltd., X-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-2, New Delhi-20,
1999,212p.
 The Eternal Sai, by S. Maneey, Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. X-30,
Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-2, New Delhi-20,1997,88p.
 Sai Baba : The Perfect Master, Compiled from writings by Dr.
A.G.Munsif, Mehar Era Publications, 441/1, Somwar
Peth,Puna,1991,121p.
 Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism, by Marianne Warren,
Sterling Publications (P) Ltd., L-10, Green Park Extension, New Deli-
16, 1999, 439p.
 Shri Sai Satcharita (Enlarged Edition), by G.R.Dabholkar,
translated by Indira Kher, Sterling Publications (P) Ltd., L-10,
Green Park Extension, New Deli-16, 1999, 883p.
 May I Answer, Compilation of Messages & Question-Answers in Sai
Faith by Shri C.B.Satpathy, Shirdibaba.org, 2000, 140p.

SAI SERVICE Newsletter – 08
Issue Date: May 30, 2002

This Thursday's Message:  (Baba said)

I am Parvardigar (God).
I live at Shirdi and everywhere.
My age is lakhs of years.
My business is to give blessings.
All things are mine.
I give everything to everyone.

a) Baba's Talk with Devotees
b) Divine Dews from our Lord
b) Weekly Article
c) Devotees Page
d) Our Prayers to Baba
e) Baba's Help

a) Baba's Talk with Devotees

When (in 1918) Mrs.T and her son Master T, visited Saibaba.

Saibaba: Mother, now a days I have been much pestered, Some want
wealth, some want women, some sons, Hallo! what I have, none wants. I
wait and wait; and one day I will suddenly disappear. I am quite
disgusted.
Mrs.T: Baba, why do you say so? Then, what is to become of us?
Baba: Why are you anxious? Is not God taking thought for your
welfare? I am very much pleased when my children come to me, and then
I take my two morsels of food with gusto and put on more flesh.
Master T: We come to you to ask just what you have got. You know that?
Saibaba: yes. You will get it.
Master T: Yes, we are quite sure of it. But when?
Saibaba: Very soon.
Master T: Baba, I must have an assurance from you how many more
births I will have to take before getting it.
Saibaba: Three more lives will be sufficient.
Master T: But Baba, will you not be always with us?
Saibaba: Hallo! During how many births have I already been with you!
We shall meet again and again. I have to take care of my children
night and day, and give an account of every pie to God.

b. Divine Dews from our Lord:

 Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me. (SSS
Ch.III)

 It is not good to dispute and argue, so don't argue, don't emulate=

others. (SSS Ch.X)

 My abode is in your heart and I am within you. (SSS Ch.15)

 Make Me the sole object of your thoughts and actions and you will,=

no doubt, attain Paramartha (the spiritual goal of life). (SSS Ch.
XVIII & XIX)

 Well, you need not be afraid. (SSS Ch.XII)

 Be patient at heart. (SSS Ch.XXXII)

c. Weekly Article:

Baba had immense powers. He knew everything everywhere. He knew what
troubles devotees were undergoing and what dangers awaited them in
every place. It is no doubt a grand feat for one to be able to know
what takes place with so many devotees at the same time. But to
proceed next to guard each devotee and help each devotee at each
place is a task that stuns the human mind. No human being can
possibly be watching one at Poona one at Bombay, one at Bandra and
hundreds of others in various places and providing the safety needed
for them all. What was the safety granted by Baba? He assured people
that he would even save them from death. He would save them from
Government prosecution. He would save them from the danger of missing
their trains and hardships on the way. For all these purposes, he
would watch numerous devotees and various people and provide for
their safety. To take one small instance, Abdul Rangari's carriage
broke down on the road to railway station far away from Shirdi in the
middle of the night, and Rangari, his wife and children were on the
road absolutely helpless. But was he really  helpless? Baba's
superhuman eye and superhuman love were upon him. Baba saw the whole
thing from his Shirdi residence with his own wonderful powers. He
sent a jutkawalla on that road asking him to cry out, Thanawalla,
Thanawalla, for a Thanawalla's cart had broken down and left him
stranded on the road helpless at midnight. So, a tongawalla came
shouting Thanawalla, Thanawalla, to the place where Rangari was, and
told him of Baba's instruction. Rangari was wonder-struck at the
extend of Baba's knowledge and kindness.  So, he got into the cart
sent so mysteriously and kindly by Baba, and went back to Baba and
found Baba waiting for him.


Baba would watch people in far away places like Poona and Bombay.
Nana Chandorkar, a fat stout gentleman, and Lele Sastri, his
companion, were in a tonga coming from Poona, and on the road, the
horse reared and upset the carriage. Both the corpulent men were
tossed down. Baba at that time was in his mosque and he, putting his
hands in front of his mouth, make a sankham sound, that is, a
dolorous warning about the approach of death. He said, `Nana is about
to die. But will I let him die?" Then what happened was that Baba, by
the use of his mysterious powers, saved both the corpulent gentlemen
from any injury to life and limb. They picked themselves on the road,
and they came later on to Baba to learn that Baba at that time when
death and danger faced them had known that fact and averted both
death and danger. The knowledge is wonderful. the exercise of power
is wonderful. But yet more wonderful is to save his devotees

(Written by: His Highness Pujyasri B V Narasimahswamiji)


d. Spiritual Spectrum:
(EXTRACTS FROM PURANAS, MESSAGES FROM SATPURUSHAS)

Divine Wealth - Daivi Sampat

From the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, I.3.1.
"Verily there are two classes of the
Creator's creatures - gods and demons."

From The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verse 6:
"There are two types of beings in this world, the divine and the
demoniacal"

Explanations drawn from the writings of Swami Shivananda, Divine Life
Society, Rishikesh

The Divine Wealth consists of 26 attributes
These are described in The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verses 1, 2 and
3

Gita, Ch. 16, Verse 1: The Blessed Lord said :
Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in Knowledge and Yoga,
almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures,
austerity, and straightforwardness

Gita, Ch. 16, Verse 2 :
Harmlessness (Ahimsa), truth, absence of anger, renunciation,
peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings,
freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness

Gita, Ch. 16, Verse 3 :
Vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of
overweening pride - these belong to the one who is born with Divine
treasures.
Commentary by Swami Shivananda, Rishikesh:

The 16th chapter of The Bhagavad Gita is called
'The division between the Divine and the demoniacal'.

Daivi prakrti (Divine treasure or Daivi sampat) or the nature of the
gods leads to moksha (liberation) or release from the rounds of birth
and death The nature of the demoniacals leads to bondage.

The Divine nature must be accepted and cultivated. The demoniacal
nature should be abandoned. All these qualities are found in human
beings. There are Sattwic people who possess the Divine attributes.
There are among human beings those that are endowed with demoniacal
qualities, who are filled with excessive Tamas.

In an ordinary man there is a mixture of the three gunas (Sattwa,
Rajas and Tamas). Tamas and Rajas pull a man downwards; Sattwa lifts
a man upwards. Tamas and Rajas lead to bondage; Sattwa helps to
attain salvation. Discipline yourself and develop Sattwa. When the
mind is Sattwic, there is calmness in it. Divine light can descend
only when the mind is serene and cheerful.

The Sattwic man controls the senses, does selfless service, and
practices japa, pranayama, concentration, meditation, self-analysis,
and enquiry of "Who am I?" He has no attraction for sensual objects.
He has a burning desire to attain moksha (salvation). He is humble,
generous, merciful, forbearing, tolerant and pious. He destroys his
little personality.

The rajasic man is proud, intolerant, egoistic, self-sufficient,
lustful, hot-tempered, greedy and jealous. he works for his own glory
and fame and self-aggrandisement. He develops his own little
personality.

There is an intimate connection between the gunas and karmas (actions
performed by men).The nature of the karmas depends upon the nature of
the gunas. A Sattwic man will do virtuous actions. A Rajasic and
Tamasic man will perform non-virtuous actions. It is the guna that
goads a man to do actions. The Self or Brahman is actionless. He is
the silent witness.

Daivi sampat enables the aspirant to attain the highest state of
super-consciousness (Nirvikalpa Samadhi), wherein the seer and the
seen are united in one; the meditator and the meditated become
identical.

(to be continued)


e. Baba's Help:


BABA'S HELP IN RESPECT OF PROPERTY

Baba always pointed out that wealth is not a thing to be dreaded and
kept aloof from. Wealth is necessary for getting on in this world and
in society, though in many circumstances wealth, especially,
unrestricted attachment to wealth is a serious danger. Baba helped
people to get wealth, to guard it, especially against improper claims
or attacks, and also helped people otherwise in monetary matters. The
number of such helps is legion, and Baba's help took various shapes.

So, first let us take Baba's providing wealth. Now providing wealth,
especially for the sake of sustaining the organism, is providing
maintenance. Baba has off and on definitely undertaken the
responsibility to provide food for his bhaktas, and even for those
families and children. For instance, when he told Das Ganu Maharaj to
give up Government service and he actually did so with great
reluctance and under great compulsion from Baba in the year 1903, he
went and asked Baba, `I am without property and I have no income.
Unless there is some provision, myself and my wife will have to
starve'. Then Baba said, `Do not fear. I will provide for you, Ganu'.
Baba did provide. Baba told him, `Go to Nanded in Nizam's state.
Attend to your Brahminical duties of reading puran, explaining and
conducting kirtans, etc.,' Das Ganu did so. Das Ganu has an excellent
voice and had a good mastery of the art of Kirtans, and went on
reading and writing puran stories and delivering them as kirtans and
from 1903 up to date (luckily Das Ganu Maharaj is still living –
Readers please note: at the time of writing this article by HH
Pujyasri BVN Swamyji). Das Ganu had never had to starve for want of
food, always some way or other money coming and later he began to own
land and house, which he to his adopted son. Baba's undertakings are
never left unperformed.

Then again in the case of Manker who attached himself to Baba with
intense love solely for spiritual purposes, his relations complained
to Baba that he was the only earning member, and by his sticking on
to Baba at Shirdi, there was utter damage done to the family welfare.
They said that Manker had a number a number of sons who would be left
destitute by his neglecting business. Baba then said, `I will provide
for Manker's sons'. Manker was sent away to Machengad for spiritual
meditation, and especially for learning fact that Baba was as much
with him at Machengad as he was at Shirdi. Baba one day appeared to
him there and told him that the object of his being sent to Machengad
was to demonstrate to him that Baba who was at Shirdi was at the same
time at Machengad also and could talk to him and guide him. Manker
had very great spiritual advance, and it was at one time hoped that
he would be the successor of Baba to Baba's gadi. So high was his
spiritual position. But unfortunately he died in 1913 long before
Baba passed away. As for provision for his family, all the four sons
of Manker are now well placed and are in high positions drawing
income in four figures. Baba's statement that he would provide for
Manker's sons has proved to be absolutely true.

Then again Baba provided for so many other families that trusted to
him absolutely. In point of fact, he asked devotees not to overburden
themselves with thoughts of worldly income, and very much in the
language of Jesus he said that people should not trouble themselves
about what they should eat and what they should drink, that is, about
the needs of the body, that all these would be provided for, that
they should concern themselves solely with their religious duties and
that everything would be safe with them.

There are hundreds of people who put their trust in Baba and acted on
his declarations and advice. There is not one who comes and says that
Baba has disappointed him totally. Of course, there are many people
who are without bread, but if we examine the cases, we would find
that they are cases in which they had no trust or no full trust in
Baba and did not implicity act on his sayings. One must be sincere
and earnest and try really to follow Baba's advice, and then only can
rely on Baba's charter that he would provide for all such cases.

In individual cases when Baba said that he would provide something,
he did provide. When Babugir was sent up to Jamnere to carry udhi to
Mina Thai, daughter of Nana Saheb Chandorkar, Deputy Collector, in
the throes of labour trouble, Babugir wanted to know how without
practically any money in hand he could cover 30 miles of road journey
from Jalgaon to Jamnere, Baba told him, Babugir, go, everything will
be provided. When Ramgir Gosavi (Babugir) arrived at the Jalgaon
station at midnight, he thought it was a hopeless affair. But there
was a liveried peon with tonga, food and everything waiting for him.
Ramgir Gosavi was safely taken to Jamnere. When he delivered the
udhi, and told about the liveried peon and tonga sent by Nana Saheb
Chandorkar, the latter was amazed, because he had sent none. In fact
he did not know whether anybody was coming from Shirdi at all. Both
Ramgir Gosavi and Chandorkar discovered that Baba had provided all
these to enable the Gosavi to reach Jamnere and deliver the udhi in
proper time, and the udhi when delivered and applied to Mina Thai
helped in her easy and quick delivery. Numerous instances are
available where Baba has provided such helps, and it is not necessary
to prolong this chapter by quoting those instances.
(to be continued)

(Courtesy: Sai's Help, by HH Pujyasri B V Narashimha Swamyji,
Booklets donated by Saibandhu Sri K. Ramaswamy, Past President All
India Sai Samaj, Chennai-4)

Publisher's Note:

THE SOLE PURPOSE of this newsletter is to present Sai messages and
other spiritual messages to the interested devotees on Thursdays.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates.

In this newsletter, wherever the sources of the articles not
mentioned, please consider these items are taken from H H Pujyasri B
V Narasimha Swamiji's books.

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SAI SERVICE Newsletter – 07
Issue Date: May 23, 2002

Sai Service Newsletter  is a Weekly newsletter distributed every
Thursday and is
devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates.
Our contact e-mail address is:  essgee@...

This Thursday's Message:  (Baba said)

My master told me to give bountlessly to all that ask. No one listens
to me or wisdom. My treasury is open. Non brings carts to take from
it. I say dig; none will take any pains. I said dig out the treasure
and cart it away. Be the real and true sons of the mother and fully
stock your magazine. What is to become of us i.e. this body life?
Earth will return to the earth; and the air (breath) will return to
the air. This opportunity will not return.


a) Baba's Talk with Devotees
b) Divine Dews from our Lord.
b) Weekly Article: Healing Powers of Sai Baba
c) Devotees Page
d) Our Prayers to Baba
e) Baba's Help

a. Baba's Talk with Devotees

Saibaba: (May 1914) addressing Mrs. T., a Bandra lady and her son
Master T., :
Mother, I have to go thrice a day to your house.
Mrs. T: Yes, Baba
A local lady was astonished at this statement as she saw Baba daily
at Shirdi, and said "Baba what is this strange thing you say?
Saibaba: I do not speak falsehood. I am Mahalaxmi. Mother I came to
your house. You give me things to eat, is that not true?
Mrs.T: Yes, Baba
Shirdi Lady: Truly, does Baba go to you and do you feed him?
Mrs.T: Yes.
Baba to Master T: Do I not come to your house?
Master T: Yes, Baba.
Saibaba to Shirdi Lady: Yes, mother, I go easily to Bhav's house
(i.e., Bhav's house at Bandra). In the middle, there is a wall,
Jumping over it, next comes the railway line, and then Bhav's house.
(Here Baba described the crow's flight from Shirdi to the lady's
house at Bandra).  I have to fly across walls and excavations.

b. Divine Dews from Our Lord:

 All your desires will be fulfilled and you will be happy. (SSS Ch.=

XVIII & XIX)

 Go wherever you wish, over the wide world, I am with you. (SSS Ch.=

XV)

 If you listen to me carefully, you will be certainly benefited.
(SSS CH. XV)

 Standing in your place look on calmly at the show of all things
passing before you. (SSS Ch. XVIII & XIX)

 Renounce worldly honours.(SSS Ch.VI)

c. Weekly Article:

Healing Powers of Saibaba.

Several of our great saints are known to have exercised great healing
powers; and the `medicines' they used were often surprising. Similar
was the case with Sri Saibaba and Mrs. Manager mentions a few such
cases in the following statement of her reminiscences.

"When we had difficulties to get over, we never had to speak-we had
merely to go and sit or stand in his presence. He at once knew what
the matter was and gave directions exactly meeting our requirements.
We had our servant with us Shirdi. He had acute pain his lumbar
region and was sorely distressed. My husband went to Saibaba and was
standing. Some others were also present. Baba suddenly said, "Hallo,
my leg is paining. Great is the pain". Someone suggested that
something should be done to relieve the pain.

Green Leaves:

"Yes". Said Baba. "If green leaves are heated and applied over it, it
will go away".

"What leaves, Baba?" was query of someone.

"Those green leaves near the Lendi".

One suggested one leaf and another a different leaf. One finally
asked if it was korphad.

"Yes." Baba said. "That is it. The leaf has to be split into,
slightly heated over the fire and applied. That is all".

The Real Cure:

"Saibaba's cure for our servant was not a medicine for all. Korphad
was tried for others and failed. It was Baba's special blessing that
operated to cure and not the korphad.  On other occasions he had
picked up a bit of earth and given it as a remedy and it was
successfully used. Similarly Madhav Rao Deshpande's inflammation of
the eyes was cured by application of pepper. And Dada Kelkar's growth
of a film over the eyes was removed by application of a bit of coke
crust under a baking pan mixed with water-as prescribed by Baba.

Drawing Diseases:

"Still more wondrous was his curing deep-seated organic diseases
abruptly and suddenly-without any visible application of remedy or
treatment. Scientists and medical men may disbelieve this. But having
actually experienced it in my own case and noticed that of others who
came before Sri Saibaba. I cannot disbelieve such cases and what is
most peculiar – the drawing of diseases on to himself by pure will-
power.

My eyes have been giving me trouble constantly. On one occasion while
I was in Shirdi, they were greatly paining me and water was freely
flowing from them. In such a condition, I went and sat up before
Baba. He looked at me. My eyes ceased to pain and water. But his eyes
were dropping tears".

(His Highness Pujyasri B V Narashima Swamyji in The Wondrous Saint
Sai Baba)


d. Our Prayers to Baba:

"If My stories are listened to, all diseases will got rid of. So,
hear My stories with respect, and think and meditate on them,
assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment." –
Shri Sai Baba, SSS Ch. III

Dear Sai bandhu,
I am member of your news letter ,I am forwarding you this mail so
that being Sai Baba's children we all can come forward and group pray
for Manjunath brother to
our Baba and if possible any other help in any form we can do with
Baba's grace ..This is a humble request to all the Baba's children to
come forward and help in
this critical time of our brother undergoing all this, Though we know
Baba is there for Him but let us also come together and pray for our
Sai brother.....let us
know what all can be done .... Baba is Ultimate may Baba guide us
all. Sairam.
Manisha Bisht

Sairam,
There is a brother of ours, who is suffering from a paralyzed
condition. Sairam, lets all pray for him, so that Baba will remove
his pains, listen to our cries for him is unimaginable. There is
prayer request going on for him, in saibaba.org (devotee's forum).
Sai Baba, please help this son of yours, who is suffering like
anything. Sai, please we all beg in front of you for this little son
of yours. Please Baba, we beg in front of you, for this son of yours.

This is in reference to Manjunath Kalmani who is paralyzed and in the
Nashville Hospital.
Sairam, I have copied these postings of him, on saibaba.org.
Please pray for the young brother who is hospitalized after a
terrible accident. He is paralyzed from neck down. He is jobless no
insurance and his parents are in a small village in India. Hope our
prayers will bring solution. The hospital here has not decided what
to do with him. His bills are piled up. He was travelling through
this city when he had the accident. He has no family here.

Baba,
Show that you are the Help of the Helpless. Bless the brother who is
paralyzed. But I am humbly asking for your grace for this brother.
His family will be devastated. Baba, why this much pain for this
brother. It is unbearable. Please listen, I hope, his cries melt your
heart. Pardon if any fault on this brother's part and save him.
Everything is possible with Your grace. Please listen and respond
soon. Baba, please sit by his side, love him, console him and fill
him with strength. Do what is good for this brother. Baba, being a
human being, it is but very hard to leave hope. Please protect him.
From Satish,

This is reference to Manjunath Kalmani who is paralyzed and in the
Nashville Hospital. I am his friend far relative. I have seen him in
the Hospital on May 3 after 3 days of accident. It was shocking very
disturbing when I have seen him in the condition. I live in
Philadelphia. I sincerely thank the Nashville Temple authorities all
the devotees for taking care of him and pray God for miracle to work
on him so that he can overcome the existing situation.

Manju as an Achiever and Committed person. He was an employee of
"Weather Channel" for a year where his achievement was he won the
"EMPLOYEE of the YEAR" award and was rated as one of excellent
employee. He was in process of developing a Web site by
http//www.basavanna.com. Please visit the site to see his work.

Oh God Sai Baba please help him to overcome the existing situation
with all your blessings and give him the Power to fight the paralyzed
situation. Thanks,
Satish.

e. Baba's Help:

BABA'S HELP IN MARRIAGES

People now that the greatest difficulty of a family, at least a Hindu
family, is to procure a suitable bridegroom for a girl. But equally,
some houses amongst Hindus, and much more amongst Muslims and others,
felt difficulty in getting a boy married. Help in discovering a
proper match for a girl or a boy is therefore a veritable boon. We
will first deal with the marriage of girls.

G.D. Pandit of Colaba was greatly troubled for inability to discover
a good bridegroom for his daughter. He made a vow that if he should
secure a groom in 15 days, he would start on a pilgrimage from Colaba
to Shirdi to see Baba and pay his respects. Then, from distant
Hyderabad a young gentleman cam of his own accord to Pandit's house,
took a fancy for his daughter, and also married within 15 days.

Ganesh Keshav Rege, an Amin, and a staunch devotee of Baba, in poor
circumstances had the misfortune, as he called it, of having many
daughters so much so that he believed that paradise would the only
place where a man would be free from the anxiety to dispose of
daughters in marriages. He had succeeded in getting 3 daughters
married. For his 4th daughter, he was knocking about from pillar to
post and post to pillar, and could not find any suitable husband.
Sometimes, success seemed to be within reach, but unkind Fate
scattered his hopes to the winds at the crucial moment. In great
disgust he sat his Anjangaon in deep despair. Suddenly he heard a
voice: `Go to Jirapur'. The words were very loud and clear, but there
was no person visible who could have uttered them. This, he thought,
was Baba's Asariri Vak for his benefit. He felt that Baba had issued
this order to settle the marriage problem. But how could a visit to
Jirapur serve any useful purpose? There was none at Jirapur whom he
knew, and he had no influence there. So, when he was lost in surprise
and confusion, he got an order `Transferred to Jirapur. Go and join
duty there'. This was Baba's gift. He was going to an official, an
Amin there, and a Government post always carry influence with it,
however low it might be. So he went and joined in Jirapur, and made
enquiries about the matrimonial possibilities of that new field. He
found at Soyath, a few miles from Jirapur, that there was an eligible
person. He started negotiations quickly, and within a month of that
Asariri Vak, his daughter was wedded.

Mr. Ganesh D. Vaidya had a daughter to be married. Repeated efforts
to find a groom were failures. He was feeling very much worried. As
he was sleeping one day, Baba appeared in a dream and said, `Arre,
why are you anxious? Keshava Dixit has a son'. Baba showed him the
figure of that boy. Then he got up. He had never heard of Keshava
Dixit or seen a boy like that shown in the dream. When he mentioned
these facts to his son, the latter told him that in his office there
was a Dixit, son of Keshava and a boy had the very features described
by his father. They found the community to which the boy belongs was
just their community, and the boy was good and willing. The marriage
was then performed.

The cases of Baba's intervention after his Mahasamadhi are similar to
those of his intervention and benefit before his Mahasamadhi. So, we
shall describe a few post – Mahasamadhi cases of help. A poor orphan
girl had innumerable obstacles in finding a match for herself. She
was advised to make a pious study of Dabolkar's Sai Sat Charitra,
which is called, Sai Ramayana. She sat before Baba's picture and
started that study. The next day someone came and saw her at the
parayana, took interest in her, made the necessary enquiries, and
married her within a week.

This had parallel in Madras, which will be mentioned later. But we
will first mention the remaining Maharashtrian cases. Gopal Ganesh
Shirian, an ardent devotee of Baba, had entered into a "gentleman's
agreement" with a friend that Shirian's daughter should wed his
friend's son, after both of them completed their education. The
agreement was made in 1924. As he has passed, the boy's progress in
collegiate education raised his value in the marriage market, and his
father resiled from the agreement and was entering into negotiations
with other persons who would give a good karini, that is a high
bridegrooms price. When Shirian heard of this, he went before Baba's
picture and gave vent to his sorrow. Sai in a dream gave him
assurance `Do not worry yourself. I will get the same boy for your
son-in-law in two years' time'. Meanwhile so many proposals were
being made for that amount of karini and this amount of karini, which
were all for above the capacity of poor Shiriyan to pay. But each one
of these negotiations of his friend fall through for some reason or
other, and at the end of two years, the boy felt ashamed and told his
parents that they had broken the gentleman's agreement for no benefit
at all and had only lost their reputation by their mercenary efforts.
At last, the friend confirmed the original pact, and the marriage was
celebrated in two years as fixed by Baba.

Another interesting case is that of a sister of Mr. Moreshwar
Balakrishna Chouhan. In 1923, a certain gentleman had come and seen
that lady, and expressed himself satisfied, and said that a formal
letter of acceptance would be sent by him to complete the contract in
a week. But many weeks passed, and for nearly six months no letter of
acceptance came. Mr. Chouhan's mother was despairing of hearing from
that gentleman at all. One night she approached portrait of Baba that
she daily worshiped and told Baba, `You use your miraculous powers
for the sake of all and sundry. Why not give it us? My daughter is
still a spinster, and my mind is greatly worried/ If you have any
power, then I must get a reply approving of the match by to-morrow.'
Then she went to sleep. That night she dreamt that the following
morning (9.00 a.m.), while she was serving food to her son to send
him to office, the post man dropped the letter of acceptance from the
hesitating party. She forgot all about it till breakfast time the
next day. And only then she remembered the dream and mentioned it to
her son. Her girl was married.

Now we shall come to Madras cases. One Ethirajammal is an ardent
devotee of Saibaba, and she had two daughters of whom one was
marriageable age, but there was very difficulty in finding a match,
expenses of the marriage and the cost of presents to made. So they
prayed to Baba. Luckily a groom agreed to marry her daughter and a
contractor came to the Sai Samaj, Mylapore, behind which she was
living, and offered to help. A programme was fixed upon, and Rs.1700
was the amount required for the performance of the marriage. This sum
was not with her family but the contractor came to Samaj, learnt of
their condition, and was kind enough to promise Rs.1700 for the
marriage. So, arrangements were being made for the marriage, and when
it was just a few days before the date fixed for the marriage,
suddenly the mind of contractor changed. He said that he could not
and would not give even a pie. The girl came with her parents to the
Samaj thoroughly disconsolate. It was a Thursday bhajan, and she sang
in heart-trending tones the well known bhajan song. What, Baba, are
you testing us still? It was so heart-melting that Sri B.V.N. Swamy,
the President, who was present, earnestly appealed to Baba to help
the poor lady. Then they went away. Next morning another contractor
came to the Samaj and learning about their pitiable condition at once
provided the money. He wrote out a cheque for Rs.2000 odd and placed
it in the hands of the President and asked him to give it to the
girl. The marriage of the girl was celebrated in the Sai Mandhir

(Sai's Help, by His Highness Pujyasri B V Narasimahswamiji)



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SAI SERVICE Newsletter – 06
Issue Date: May 16, 2002

Sai Service Newsletter  is a Weekly newsletter distributed every
Thursday and is
devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates.
Our contact e-mail address is:  essgee@...

This Thursday's Message:

 Question; Baba, who are you? whence?
 Sai Baba: (in the absolute mood): I am the attributeless, Absolute=
,
Nirguna. I have no name, no residence.
 (Again Baba in the mood of Duality) I got embroiled by Karma, and =

came to a body. (So) I got a name and abode. Dehi, i.e., the
embodied, is my name; and the world is my abode, Brahman is my father
and Maya, my mother. As they interlocked, I got this body. The world
is evanescent, mutable.

a) Baba's Talk with Devotees
b) Spiritual Dews from our God
c) Weekly Article: Sri Saibaba's Touch
d) Devotees Page
e) Baba's Help

a. Baba's Talk with Devotees:

Baba as a cat is beaten.

Baba to Hansraj, an asthma patient: Do not take curds or taste sour
things.

But Hansraj was daily preparing curds overnight to drink it in the
noon meal. Daily a cat drank it off and one day he beat the cat.

Baba to others in the presence of Hansraj. "There is an Urphatia, a
cusses, cross-grained man. I told him not to take curds. But he daily
prepared it. Daily I went as a cat and drank it off, to save his
life. Today I went again. Do you know what he did? He beat me over
the shoulder. See here, (Hansraj looked and found a fresh weal on
Baba's shoulder, though it was a cat he beat with a stick on the
shoulder)

b. SPIRITUAL DEWS FROM OUR GOD

 See, how I have to suffer for My devotees, their difficulties are =

Mine. (SSS Ch.7)

 If you want anything, beg to the Lord. (SSS Ch.6)

 I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in your hearts. (SSS Ch.3)

 He will get some other job, but now, he should serve Me and be
happy! (SSS Ch.3)

 Do not be deluded by worldly honour. (SSS Ch.6)


c, Weekly Article:

IS SAI BABA TO BE BROKEN?

In 1943 December issue of Sai Sudha, the question is raised and
answered whether Sai Baba is a builder or breaker. In that very
issue, a `devotee' in stating his experience of Saibaba, narrates how
he lost faith in Sai Baba and consequently broke Baba's image and how
some one else with more faith in Baba successfully used the broken
bits of that image for improving a patient's health. This was perhaps
a distance repercussion produced by the report in Sai Sudha of a
similar conduct of another `devotee' leading to similar results. It
is not improbable that this second report may have similar further
repercussions. Hence, it is the solemn duty of those responsible for
the journal at any cost to analyze the mentality of these `devotees'
frankly, so as to prevent further repetition of iconoclastic frenzy.

Let us carefully dive into the minds and hearts of numerous devotees,
who `proclaim their devotion to Sai with complacency and pride. In
most cases, the devotion will be found to be a bargain, - Sai to give
so much temporal benefit and the devotee to offer his namaskarams,
archanas, naivedyams etc., in return. Most people frankly declare
that (only) in case of the benefit being reaped, the devotion will be
confirmed and the proposed naivedyams etc. offered. This may not be
considered bhakthi at all and in any case, not a bhakthi of a very
estimable sort. But, all the same, this is how devotion starts, is
made to start or can start in the vast majority of cases. No
objection should be raised to rudimentary  bhakthi being so crude.
But it would be pitiable indeed if bhakthi being continued so crude,
after the early days and stages are passed. The child soon throws
away its teething ring, trundle hook and springtoys, one after
another. So should a baktha soon recognise the absurdity of resorting
to God (or Godmen, who are the manifestations of God that men can
easily reach to) merely to pull out one's earthly chestnuts from the
fire. God is not to be bargained with and God knows what is really
good for a devotee better than the devotee. Regard for God beginning
with gratitude for one or more extraordinary acts of help must turn
into Love, the Love of a child to its mother touched into sublimity
by dim perception of Infinite Power, Wisdom &c. in the unseen
Universal Mother. Failure to advance will be not mere stagnation but
decent into lower and lower levels.

Let us know the evil effects of continuous looking to Baba for
earthly benefits. Our longing for earthly benefits get strengthened
i.e. rajas and tamas get more and more to predominant in our nature,
clouding the satwa and even temporarily banishing it from us. The
evils of tamas and rajas rise up at once. A bit of disappointment
makes us angry with God and Saints that we have just worshipped for
earthly objects alone and we break our idols and Gods, fiercely
trample upon them and gloat over our vandalism. If we but worshipped
in the correct spirit, we would ask for earthly benefits, not in a
bargaining spirit, nor in terms of dictation but with humble
submission, recognizing the possibility that the All-wise Mother-God
might deem it better to disappoint us and make us suffer in the
present, to wipe off old karmic accounts, to develop the satwic side
of our nature and to fit us perhaps for the position decreed by
Supreme Wisdom and mercy. The Omnipotent, Omniscient and Universal
Mother provides for the present and future of innumerable creatures
with apparently conflicting interests and may make use of us as her
instruments or even as agents to carry out her high decrees. It is
for us to submit our wills and to be receptive. If we are in this
proper mood, prayers are found to be needless assertion of ego, not
promoting but retarding our real progress.

These general observations have been made with a view to help people
to approach Sai Baba, one of the most powerful manifestations of God
in recent times, in the correct spirit. Let people go to him for
earthly benefit if they want. But let them realize more and more that
it is God that they are really dealing with. Let the apparent
distinction between Baba and God that appears at first so patent be
dissolved in the increased appreciation of the divine attributes of
Sai Baba i.e. his wonderful and obviously limitless Love and Power,
Wisdom and Mercy. Let us recognize that our notions of God are really
abstractions and that is wise not to ignore and lose the concrete
manifestation of God before us in trying took pledge at abstractions
that are so elusive. If we recognize Baba as God or divine amsa, can
we ever try to break his image without descending to the level of a
Hiranya Kasipu or Kamsa or Satan?

It is not unlikely that just a few people that read the above may
feel hurt. No personal hit, however, against any particular person is
intended, and the writer deprecates the assumption of any personal
animus in him. But the intention of the article is deliberately to
hit at certain traits and attitudes. People sticking to those traits
and attitudes may feel aggrieved at the hit. The write must only
apologize and hope that his motive i.e. desire to benefit the soul by
pruning off dead and dying matter will be ultimately appreciated when
the soul's growth is promoted as a result of such pruning.

(Courtesy: Glimpses of Sai Baba, by His Highness B V Narasimah
Swamiji, Founder-President, All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-4,
India)


d. Baba's Help:

HELP FOR ISSUE

It is help for issue, which Baba rendered that broadcast his fame and
started his cult. Till 1890, Baba was known only at Shirdi and its
neighbourhood mostly. It was about 1890 or so that one Gopal Rao
Gundu, a Revenue Inspector of Kopergaon Taluk, was informed by Nana
Saheb Dangle, Zamindar of Nimgam and descendant of Trimbakiji Dangle
about Baba's wonderful powers and wonderful nature and about his
being a Sai Purusha whose blessings are effective. Gopal Rao Gundu
went to Baba and paid his respects. He had until then no issue even
though he had two wives. Then Baba gave him Asirvada, blessing that
he would have a son, and he got a son to the great surprise of
himself and all who knew him. Out of sheer gratitude, Gundu was
broadcasting the greatness and powers of Baba amongst people whom he
met, both officials and non-officials, villagers and townsmen. Out of
gratitude again, he tried rebuilding Baba's Mosque and brought
quality stones, which Baba distributed to local temples. he also took
a leading part in starting Baba Urse (festival on Rama Navami day in
honour of Baba at Shirdi, about 1897.

The next notable grant of issue was the case of Damodar Sawalram
Rasane. He brought Baba's name to the forefront among Saints because
of the very peculiar circumstances of damia's case. the stars were
against him, the astrologers having declared that the papi in the
Putra-sthana would prevent any issue. But the Guru Sai Baba overcomes
the adverse influence, and by Baba's blessing, he had eight children,
and exactly in the order of sexes that Baba had stated neither more
nor less. Damia (Rasne) became a great and ardent devotee of Baba,
and took a prominent part in the Rama Navami Standard festival and
contributed to other important celebrations also.

There were numerous other persons whom we need not take in
chronological order, but may take in the order of peculiarity of the
facts in each case. We shall take up ordinary views of medical and
quasi-medical men about issue. Medical science has not been
successful in exploring all the causes of sterility. Far greatly
distresses many of them, and they long for children. The human or
animal longing for issue (philoprogenitiveness) is a natural instinct
and is said to be due to the pineal gland and also to family
sentiments. As George Elliot put it, "A child is a divine gift to
declining age and brings hope with it and forward-looking thoughts.:
so people are anxious to beget children and in default to adopt
children as Silas Marner did. By medical research and experience,
some of the reasons, which prevent issue, have been found and
declared. Absence of issue may be due to disease like hypochondria,
anemia, hypogonadism, malformation of the genital organs, diseases of
the ovaries and tastes, and the incompatibility of the blood of the
parties etc., are made responsible. In the case of some people, age
and similar circumstances are also declared to be interdictory to
issue.

Now we will take one of such difficulties, anomaly, and age. One
Sakharam Aurangabadhar had no issue by his second wife. She never
conceived even one during 27 years she lived with him. She, however,
went up to Baba, and on Shama's intercession got Baba's blessing,
after a very comical conversation. Shama told her to wait till Baba
should be in good humour, and kept her outside the Mosque when Baba
was eating. When Shama poured water on Baba's foodsoiled hands, the
latter pinched his cheek. Shama pretended to be angry, and asked,
"Deva, is it proper for you to pinch me?" Baba said, "Arre, during
the 72 janmas that you were with me I never pinched you till now. And
yet you resent my touching you"

Shama: Deva, we want a Deva to give us sweet things, swargaloka,
vimana, etc.,
Baba: Yes. Indeed I have come for that.

Then Baba sat in a very good mood on a seat which as been prepared.
Shama beckoned to the lady. She brought a coconut and scented sticks
and presented to Baba. The coconut was taken up by Baba. The internal
kernel was loose and rolling in it was copra. Baba shacked it said,
`Shama, hear what it says', Shama said that the women prayed that a
child should be similarly quickening in her womb, Shama requested
Baba to give her the coconut with his blessing. Baba said, "Will the
coconut turn into a baby? How foolish are to fancy such a thing?"
Shama said that he knew the power of the blessing. After some little
talk, under Baba's orders, the coconut was broken, one half was given
to the lady, and Baba said that in 12 months' time she would have
issue. Accordingly she had a child in 12 month.

Another lady (Mrs. Chandra Bai Borker) had never been pregnant upto
the age of 51 and people were laughing at her when she said that by
Baba's blessing she was to have issue. But Baba's saying proved true.
In her 51st year she had her first conception, and brought forth her
boy who blessed her with his presence and made her happy.

It is not merely having issue but having issue of a particular sex
that is the demand of the bhaktha. The Hindus believe that if no male
child is born, then in spite of female children being there, the man
goes to put a place in hell. therefore, the male child is called
Putra, the child that saves his father from going into Put-Naraka.
Rao Bahadur H.V. Sathe, a Deputy Collector, was in this condition. At
the age of 50 he was a widower with two daughters and no male issue.
he was strong and vigorous, and was advised to marry again. But he
stated that the marriage would involve difficulties for his daughters
and yet give no guarantee that any but daughters might be born. So,
he said that he would not marry unless some saint assured him that he
would have a son. In 1914, he was working as Deputy Collector in
Ahmednagar district, and he came to Kopergaon. The Kopergaon
Mamlatdar and he visited Baba inn 1904. Then the Mamlatdar (Barve)
told to Baba, `Saheb (meaning H.V. Sathe) has no sons', Baba then
said, `If Saheb marries, the God will give him a son'. Accordingly in
1906, H.V. Sathe married the daughter of Dada Kelkar, but strangely
his first two children were both girls. Dada Kelkar went to Baba and
asked, `Baba, when are we to have a grandson?' Baba's reply was, `I
am requesting Allah, He will comply with my request.' accordingly in
1913 a son was born to H.V.Sathe.

Similarly Mahalsapathy, who was constantly attending upon Baba, had a
number of daughters, but no son. Yet, disgusted with life, he came
and slept with Baba at the Mosque. One day Baba said to him, `Hey,
Bagat. Go and live in your home, Your will have a son.' A son is a
mango fruit while a daughter is a tamarind fruit. Even then
Mahalsapathy was unwilling to add to his samsara. But his friend
Kasiram Shimgi compulsorily took him away from the mosque and made
him sleep in his house. He went home on Gokulastami day and slept
there on that night and on further nights. The next Gokulashtami day,
a son was born to him. The child was named Marthanda.

  (Sai's Help, by His Highness Pujyasri B V Narasimahswamiji)


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The Suddhadvaita Philosophy of Sri Vallabha

  Introduction

The philosophy of Sri Vallbhacharya is Suddha Advaita or pure monism,
because he does not admit Maya like Sankara, and believes that the
whole world of matter and souls is real and is only a subtle form of
God. Those who bring Maya for the explanation of the world are not
pure Advaitins, because they admit a second to Brahman (Supreme
Reality). Vallabha holds that Brahman can create the world without
any connection with such a principle as Maya, but Sankara traces the
universe to Brahman through the power of Maya. Hence the philosophy
of Vallabha is called pure monism or Suddhadvaita.

Vallabha expounded this system in the Anu-Bhashya, his commentary on
the Brahma Sutras. He called it Suddha Advaita or pure monism as
against Sankara's Kevala Advaita and Ramanuja's Visishta-Advaita.
Vallabha was a Telugu Brahmin of South India. He migrated to the
north and developed the views of Vishnuswamin who belonged to the
thirteenth century. His system of thought is known by the name Brahma-
Vada.

Vallabha says that the entire universe is real and is subtly Brahman.
The individual souls and the world are, in essence, one with Brahman.
Jiva (individual soul), Kala (time) and Prakriti or Maya are eternal
existences, but they have no separate existence apart from Brahman.

Vallabha was a great Sanskrit scholar. He settled down first at
Mathura and then at Varanasi. He preached with great zeal the
Vaishnava creed and philosophy. He was the founder of the great
Vaishnava Mutts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. His followers are found in
great numbers in Nathdwara.

Important Works of Vallabha

Vallabha accepts the authority not only of the Upanishads, the
Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras, but also of the Bhagavata
Purana. The important works of Vallabha are Vyasa-Sutra Bhashya (Anu-
Bhashya), Jaimini-Sutra Bhashya, Bhagavata-Tika, Subodhini, Pushti-
Pravaha-Maryada and Siddhanta-Rahasya. All these books are in
Sanskrit. He has written many books in Braj Bhasha (Braj language)
also. The scriptures are the final authority for Vallabha.

Stress on Worship and Grace

Vallabha's religion is a religion addressed to the worship of Vishnu
in the form of Krishna. It was derived chiefly, like the system of
Chaitanya, from the Vaishnava philosophy propounded by Ramanuja. It
is centred round the conception of a personal and beneficent God who
is Sat-Chit-Ananda. Lord Krishna is the highest Brahman (Supreme
Reality. His body consists of Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-
Consciousness-Bliss). He is called Purushottama.

Vallabha's followers worship Bala-Krishna (Krishna as a child or
boy). They have Vatsalya-Bhava (the attitude of parent and child).
Vallabha lays great stress on Pushti (grace) and Bhakti (devotion).
Maha-Pushti is the highest grace or Anugraha which helps the
aspirants to attain God-realisation.

God – The Only Being

According to Vallabha, God is the Absolute or the Purushottama. He is
perfect. He is Sat-Chit-Ananda. He is infinite, eternal, omnipresent,
omniscient and omnipotent. He has all the auspicious qualities also.
The Sruti texts which say that He has no attributes, mean that He has
not the ordinary qualities.

God is real. There is no other reality besides Him. He is the only
Being. He is the source for this universe and all souls. He is the
first cause and the only cause. God is the material as well as the
efficient cause of the universe. He creates the world by the mere
force of His Will. Brahman manifests Himself, of His own Will, as the
universe and the individual souls, but He does not undergo any change
in His essential nature. Things come out of the Akshara (Sat-Chit-
Ananda), like sparks from fire. Brahman (Supreme Reality) is the
Creator of the world. He is also the world itself.

God is personified as Krishna, when He possesses the qualities of
wisdom and action. He appears in various forms to please His devotees.

The World of Nature and the World of False Relations

Creation is manifestation of Brahman. The universe is the effect of
Brahman. The universe is as eternal and real as Brahman Himself. The
inanimate universe is filled with Brahman. The world is not an
illusory appearance. It is not different from Brahman in essence.

Jagat is the world of Nature. It is not illusory. It is real. It is
God Himself in one form. But, the Samsara or temporal involvement is
illusory. This is created by the soul around its `I-ness' and `mine-
ness'. The separation from God on account of egoism makes the soul
forget its original true, divine nature. Samsara is a product of the
soul's imagination and action which play around its "I-ness' and
`mine-ness'. On account of its selfishness, it puts itself in wrong
relations with other souls and with the objective universe. It
creates a web of its own and gets itself entangled in it.

This is an illusion, because the web has no reality. This samsara,
the world of false relations created by the soul, is alone Maya.
Samsara or Maya rises because the soul, which is not apart from God,
tries to set itself up as an independent reality or entity in its own
right. The self which is something apart from God is illusory. Its
body is illusory and its world also is illusory. All this is samsara.
It is very different from the world of Nature.

Jiva and Brahman
Analogy of the Spark and the Fire

The Jivas are not effects. They are Amsas or parts of God. They issue
from Him spontaneously as sparks from fire. Brahman is the whole. The
Jiva or the individual soul is part; but, there is no real difference
between Brahman and the individual soul, because the individual soul
is of identical essence with Brahman. (According to Ramana, the parts
are really different from the whole). The soul is one with Brahman.
It is as real and eternal as Brahman.

The individual soul is not Brahman screened by the veil of Avidya. It
is itself Brahman, with the attribute `bliss' being obscured or
suppressed. Ananda or bliss is suppressed or obscured in the
individual soul. Ananda and consciousness are suppressed or obscured
in matter or the inanimate world. When the soul attains bliss, and
the inanimate world attains both consciousness and bliss, the
difference between Brahman and these vanishes.

The soul is both a doer and an enjoyer. It is atomic in size, but it
pervades the whole body by its quality of intelligence, just as
sandalwood pervades even the places where it does not exist by its
sweet fragrance and just as a lamp, though confined only to a part of
a room, illuminates the whole room.

Classification of Souls

There are three kinds of souls:

The pure (Suddha) Jivas. The divine qualities (Aisvarya) are not
obscured in these souls by ignorance.
The worldly Jivas (Samsarin). These souls are caught in the net or
clutches of Avidya or ignorance. They experience births and deaths on
account of their connection with gross and subtle bodies.
Mukta Jivas or liberated souls. These souls are freed from the bonds
of Samsara through Vidya or Knowledge.
When the soul attains the final emancipation, it recovers its
suppressed qualities and becomes one with God or Brahman. The world
appears as Brahman to one who has realised the Truth or Brahman.

There is another classification of souls, viz., Pushti souls, Maryada
souls and Pravahika souls. All these are different from one another
in their origin, nature and final end. They all issue from God with
their differences.

The Pushti souls are the highest, as they issue from the Anada-Kaya
or the bliss-body of God. These souls are the Amsa (parts) of His
body. God is the Amsi (the whole). These are the souls of grace. They
have the divine seed in them which bears fruit in the end. They
ultimately reach the goal through the grace of the Lord. They have
communion and fellowship with Lord Krishna. They develop Bhakti
(devotion)through the grace of the Lord. Bhakti is the means and the
end in itself.

The Maryada souls are generated from the Vak or the Word of God. They
are governed by law, not by grace. They perform their ritualistic
duties, at first with selfish interests. Later on, they develop
Nishkarma-Bhava (unselfish attitude) and do their ritualistic routine
without any self-interest. This purifies their mind. They reach the
Akshara, which is a kind of vestibule to the abode of God. Afterwards
they attain the supreme abode of God.

The Pravahika souls issue from the mind of God. They are the Samsaric
Jivas. They are souls neither of grace nor of law. They are in
continuous motion (Pravaha).

These three kinds of souls have further sub-division and cross-
divisions into Pushti-Pushti, Pushti-Maryada, Pushti-Pravahika,
Maryada-Maryada, Maryada-Pushti, Maryada-Pravahika, Pravahika-
Pravahika, Pravahika-Pushti and Pravahika-Maryada.

Pushti Marga or the Way of Grace

The way of life and salvation preached by Vallabha is called Pushti
Marga. The soul of man has become weak and lean on account of sin. It
is, therefore, in dire need of the grace of God for its uplift and
emancipation. God's grace gives Pushti (nourishment) and Poshana
(strength); and hence the name Pushti Marga or the Way of Grace.

The individual soul can attain the final emancipation only through
the grace of God. Bhakti is the chief means of salvation. Jnana is
useful. Maha Pushti or the highest grace removes great obstacles and
helps in the attainment of God. The Bhakti (devotion) generated by
special grace is known as Pushti Bhakti.

The Four Kinds of Bhakti (devotion)

This Pushti-Bhakti is of four kinds:

Pravaha Pushti-Bhakti
Maryada Pushti-Bhakti
Pushti Pushti-Bhakti
Suddha Pushti-Bhakti.
Prava Bhakti is the path of those who while leading the worldly life,
perform works which will lead to the attainment of God-realisation.
Worldly life is compared to the flow of a river (Pravaha).

Maryada Bhakti is the path of those who are rendered fit to attain
knowledge which is useful for worship, through the grace of the Lord.
They know all about the ways of God. They depend upon their own
efforts to obtain knowledge.

In Pushti-Bhakti, the devotees lead a life of self-restraint. They
hear discourses about the Lord. They do Kirtana and sing His name.
The do Japa (repeated recitation) of Mantra.

Suddha Pushti-Bhakti or the Purest Type of Devotion

In Suddha Pushti-Bhakti, the devotees do Kirtana and sing the Lord's
name. They praise God. They develop a strong passion for doing these.
This kind of devotion is generated by the Lord Himself. The Lord's
grace descends on the devortees. Then they develop a liking for God.
This liking grows into Prema Bhakti (love for God). The devotees
acquire knowledge about God. Then they get attachment to God
(Asakti). Then they develop a strong passion for attaining God. This
is the ripe condition of love and Asakti. It is called Vyasana. This
strong passion, or Vyasana, leads to the attainment of the highest
bliss, the Summum bonum or the end.

When love for Sri Krishna becomes intense, the devotee sees Lord
Krishna everywhere. Hence everything becomes an object of love for
him. He identifies himself with everything. The Gopis had this
experience. They saw Krishna everywhere. They saw themselves also as
Krishna. This is a Para Bhakti or supreme devotion which becomes akin
to the knowledge or Brahma-Jnana of the Vedantins or Jnanis. The
inner and outer world is full of Krishna or Purushottama for such
devotees. The fruit of this devotion is admission to the eternal
sports or Lilas of Sri Krishna.

The Supreme goal is not Mukti or emancipation. The highest goal is
eternal service of Lord Krishna and participation in His sports in
the celestial Brindavana. Those who have developed Vyasana, or strong
passion for God, reject with scorn the four kinds of Mukti. The
Maryada-Bhaktas attain Sayujya Mukti, i.e., they become one with Sri
Krishna. The Pushti-Bhaktas reject Mukti and take part in the sports
or Lilas of Sri Krishna. They choose with intense delight the eternal
service of Sri Krishna. The Bhaktas assume the forms of cows, birds,
trees and rivers and enjoy the company of Sri Krishna, which bestows
infinite joy. These sports are similar to those which Sri Krishna did
in Vraja and Vrindavana. Some of the devotees become Gopas and Gopis
and join the sports in the celestial Vrindavana.

Different Kinds of Liberated Souls

The liberated souls are of different kinds. Some have freed
themselves like (Sage) Sanaka. Some dwell in the city of God and
attain salvation through the grace of the Lord. Some others develop
perfect love and become the associates of God.

The Achintya Bhedabheda Philosophy of Sri Chaitanya
(The Hare Krishna Movement)

Introduction
Sri Chaitanya or Lord Gauranga may be regarded as the greatest
Vaishnava teacher of the North. He gave a new form to the Vaishnava
faith. He was born in 1486 AD in Bengal.

Chaitanya had a very large heart. He accepted converts from Islam
freely. His disciple Haridas was a Moslem fakir. Nityananda spread
far and wide the Chaitanya movement. Rupa and Sanatana who descended
from a prince of Karnataka and settled in Bengal, and their nephew
Jiva Goswami, were great Sanskrit scholars and were really the
fathers of the Chaitanya movement (Today's Hare-Krishna movement).

Jiva Goswami and Baladeva furnished the philosophical basis for the
school. The philosophical classics of the school are Jiva's Sat-
sandarbha, and his own commentary on it. Sarva Samvadini, and
Baladeva's Govindabhashya on the Brahma Sutras. Baladeva's
Prameyaratnavali is also another popular book. Jiva and Baladeva were
greatly influenced by the views of Ramanuja and Madhava. They admit
God, souls, Maya or Prakriti, Suddha Sattva and Kala or time.

The world and souls depend on God, though they are separate and
distinct from Him. They are neither one with God nor different from
Him. There is an incomprehensible difference- non-difference
(Achintya Bhedabheda).

Chaitanya insisted on the unity of the Godhead which underlies the
multitude of idols of popular worship.

The Ultimate Reality

The Ultimate Reality is Vishnu. He is the God of love and grace. He
is one without a second. He is Sat-Chit-Ananda. He is Nirguna in the
sense that He is free from the qualities of Maya. He is Saguna (with
attributes) as He is endowed with the attributes of omnipotence and
omniscience. He is the material and the efficient cause of the world.
He is the source, support and end of this universe. He is the
efficient cause through His higher energy (Para-Sakti). He is the
material cause through His other energies (Apara-Sakti and Adya-
Sakti).

Mysterious and Incomprehensible Sakti of the Lord

Just as the sun has its light and the fire its heat, so the Supreme
God, Krishna, has naturally His energies or Saktis which are
mysterious and incomprehensible. These Saktis have no independent
existence. They depend upon God. God and His powers are either
identical or different.

These energies are of three kinds, viz., Chit-Sakti, Jiva-Sakti and
Maya-Sakti. They are also called Antaranga, Tatastha and Bahiranga
respectively. Jiva-Sakti is called Tatastha because it occupies an
intermediate place between Chit-Sakti and Maya-Sakti.


The Process of Creation

Chit-Sakti created Vaikuntha. There is only pure Sattva in Vaikuntha.
Maya has no access here. Kala (time) cannot execute its destructive
power.

The souls are created by the Tatastha Sakti or Jiva-Sakti of the
Lord. The Lord's Svarupa-Sakti supports His Jiva-Sakti.

The Lord creates the universe from the great principle of Mahat. He
manifests the Vedas and communicates them to Brahma. The work of
creating other stages of creation is given to Brahma. The souls and
matter are the manifestations of God's energy according to Jiva
Goswami and Baladeva. Maya is set in vibration by the mere gazing of
the Lord.

The Lord Who Appears in Different Forms

The Supreme Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Brahman to Jnanins; as
Paramatman to Yogins; and as Bhagavan full of all glories, all
beauties, all sweetness and all attributes, to Bhaktas. Lord Krishna
is the soul of all souls and the Lord of all that is. A Bhakta
(devotee) only has full knowledge of the Supreme Personal God with
all His divine attributes. Krishn's form is unique. He assumes
endless forms.

Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Rama, Krishna, etc., are
Lila-Avataras (incarnations). There are Gunavataras and
Manavantaravataras. The four Sanakas, Narada, Prithu, Parasurama,
Brahma, Sesha in Vaikuntha and Ananta who supports the earth, are the
chief Avestavataras of the major type who have direct power from God.
In Sanaka, Jnana-Sakti; in Narada, Bhakti-Sakti; in Brahma, creative
Sakti; in Ananta, the earth supporting Sakti; in Sesha, God-serving
Sakti; in Prithu, the power of preserving people; and in Parsurama
the power of destroying the wicked prevailed.

Radha-Krishna

The Avataras (incarnations) are one with the Supreme. They are not
parts like the individual souls. God assumes infinite forms of which
the chief is that of Krishna. Radha is the essence of the delight
giving power of Lord Krishna (Hladini). The Lord is the ruler of all
souls. He is omnipresent or all-pervading.

The Jiva

The Jiva is of atomic size. He is the eternal servant of God. He
bears the same relation to God as the sun's rays bear to the sun and
as a spark bears to the mass of fire from which it flits out. The
ray, although it radiates from the sun and is part and parcel of the
sun, is not the sun. So also, the Jiva, who is partly similar to God
in respect of his spirituality or Chaitanya and partly dissimilar on
account of his animal nature and susceptibility to the influence of
Maya, is not God Himself.

The soul is bound by the power of Maya. Maya makes him forget his
real, essential, divine nature. The Jiva, illumined and infatuated by
Maya, can naturally have no knowledge of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna
has, therefore, out of His infinite mercy, created the Vedas; and
reveals Himself to the Jiva through the media of scriptures, Guru and
intuition. Then the Jiva is convinced that Lord Krishna is his Lord
and saviour.

The Jiva can have God-realisation through spiritual love or Prema to
Lord Krishna. Bhakti overcomes the force of Karma. Bhakti (devotion)
is the way to the final emancipation. Through Bhakti the soul attains
to a status of equality with God, but he is never absorbed in Him. He
is freed from the round of births and deaths.

The Culture of Bhakti (Devotion)

Chiatanya taught that God could be realised only by means of ardent
and all-absorbing love. He wrote to a royal minister who had asked if
there was any path of salvation for a man leading an active life: "As
an immoral woman constantly thinks of her illicit lover while living
in the midst of her family, so do thou silently and ceaselessly
meditate on Hari while doing your worldly activities".

According to Chaitanya, ardour is born from the culture of Bhakti and
when ardour deepens, it is called love (Prema).

From taste (Ruchi) comes strong inclination (Asakti) which generates
the sprout of passion (Rati) for Krishna. When this emotion deepens,
it becomes Prema. This is the permanent form of Bhakti in Krishna.

When love grows, it is successively called Sneha, Pranaya, Anuraga,
Bhava and Mahabhava, just as we have successively cane-seed, sugar-
cane juice, molasses, sugar and fine sugar-candy.

When the permanent emotion (Bhava) is mingled with Rasa, it is
changed into Vibhava, Anubhava, Sattvika and Vyabhichari; just as
curd, when being mixed with black sugar, black pepper and camphor,
becomes a thing of extreme deliciousness named Rasala. Vibhava is of
two kinds:

Alambana, which is kindled by Krishna, etc., and
Uddipana, by the notes of His flute, etc.,
Anubhava is stimulated by smile, dance and song. Stupor and other
sensations are included in Sattvika Anubhava. Vyabhichari is of
thirty-three kinds, such as delight, rapture etc.

Rasa is of five kinds- Santa, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya.
In the Santa Rasa, Rati advances to the stage of Prema and in the
Dasya to Raga. Sakhya and Vatsalya attain to the limit of Anuraga.

Krishna-Prema – The Supreme Attainment

That devotee who has developed Prema always communes with Lord
Krishna. No mundane sorrow or affliction can perturb his mind. He has
no attraction for earthly objects. He has no fear. He never cares for
material success. He intensely longs for union with Lord Krishna.

Love of Krishna is the highest thing worth attaining. Bhakti is the
means of attainment. Krishna-prema is, indeed, the highest
achievement of life. This Prema makes the devotees serve Krishna in a
selfless spirit and enjoy the Rasa or sweetness of the Lord. Bhakti
is the only means of attaining Krishna and is, therefore, spoken of
as Avidhaya or means. Just as wealth gives comforts, and with the
enjoyment of comforts all worldly miseries disappear of their own
accord, so also, Bhakti generates Krishna-prema, and with the
enjoyment of Prema, the cycle of births and deaths comes to an end.
Escape from the effects of privations and the stoppage of rebirths
are not, however, the fruits of prema. Beatitude or Moksha is Prema's
handmaid. Therefore this Krishna-prema is regarded as the supreme
attainment .

Other Teachings of Sri Chaitanya

Veneration for the preceptor is a fundamental feature of Sri
Chaitanya's teachings. Study of the Vedas, the Bhagavata Purana,
etc., is inculcated. Practice of ethics and development of ethical
virtues such as mercy towards all creatures, humility, purity of
heart, freedom from mundane desires, serenity and truthfulness are
essential. The distinctions of caste have to be ignored. Anyone can
obtain the grace of the Lord.

The following qualities make a Vaishnava. He is compassionate,
truthful, saintly, innocent, charitable, gentle, pure, spiteless,
humble, serene, tender, friendly and silent. He is a universal
benefactor. He solely depends upon Lord Krishna. He is desireless. He
is abstemious in diet and self-controlled. He has mastery over the
six enemies. He honours others and does not care for honour from
others.

Sankirtana – The Supreme Healer

The supreme healer in this iron age is Sankirtana of the Name. It is
equivalent to the Vedic sacrifice. The true sacrificer is rewarded
with Krishna's feet. Sankirtana enables you to conquer sin and the
world. It creates purity of soul and all kinds of Bhakti. It is not
restricted to a particular place or time. It works everywhere. It
bears the name of Sarva-Sakti (omnipotence).

Hari's name should always be chanted by him who must be humbler than
a blade of grass (which is trodden upon); who is more patient,
forbearing and charitable than a tree (which does not cry out even
when it is cut down and which does not beg for water even when
scorched to death, but on the contrary, offers its treasure to
whoever seeks it, bears the sun and rain itself, but protects those
who take shelter under it from rain and sunshine); who, however
worthy of esteem should instead of claiming respect for himself, give
respect to all (from a sense of God's immanence in all beings). He
who thus takes Krishna's Name gets Krishna's Divine Love (Prema).

The Dvaitadvaita Philosophy of  Sri Nimbarka

Introduction

This is also known by the name Bhedabheda School of Philosophy or
dualistic monism. This system was evolved by Sri Nimbarkacharya.
Nimbarka was a Telugu Brahmin of the Vaishnava faith. He lived some
time after Ramanuja and prior to Madhav, about the eleventh century
AD. He is regarded as the incarnation of the Sun.

He wrote a short commentary on the Brahma Sutras called Vedanta-
Parijata-Saurabha, as well as Dasasloki. His commentaries develop the
theory of the transformation (Parinama) of Brahman.

Nimbarka's view was largely influenced by the teachings of Bhaskara
who flourished in the first half of the ninth century and who
interpreted the Vedanta system from the viewpoint of Dvaitadvaita or
dualistic non-dualism. This doctrine was not a new discovery of
Bhaskara. It was upheld by the ancient teacher Audulomi to which Sri
Vyasa himself refers in his Vedanta Sutras.

God, Soul and World
Identity in Difference

Nimbaraka holds that the relation of God to the soul and the world is
one of identity in difference. The soul and the world are different
from God, because they are endowed with qualities different from
those of God. At the same time, they are not different from God,
because God is omnipresent and they depend entirely on Him.

Nimbarka's philosophy admits Brahman as the Supreme Reality without a
second. The world and the Jivas (individual souls) are only partial
manifestations of His Power (Sakti).

Jiva and Brahman are self-conscious. Jiva is limited. Brahman is
infinite. Brahman is independent Reality. Jiva and Prakriti are
dependent realities. Jiva is the enjoyer (bhokta). The world is the
enjoyed (bhogya). Brahman is the Supreme Controller (Niyanta).

God, Jiva and the world are not absolutely distinct. If the Supreme
Being is absolutely distinct from the individual soul and the world,
it cannot be omnipresent. It will be as limited as the individual
soul or the world. It cannot, then, be regarded as their Governor.
Nimbaraka says that both difference and non-difference are real. The
soul and the world are different from Brahman, as they are endowed
with natures and qualities different from those of Brahman. They are
not different, as they cannot exist by themselves and as they depend
absolutely on Brahman. Such a relation exists between the sun and its
rays, the fire and its sparks. The souls and matter are distinct from
God, but they are closely connected with Him – as waves with water,
or coils of a rope with the rope itself. They are both distinct and
non-distinct from Brahman.

The Supreme Being and Its Characteristics

In this school, Brahman (Supreme Reality) is regarded as both the
efficient and the material cause of the world. Brahman is both
Nirguna and Saguna, as It is not exhausted in the creation but also
transcends it.

The Four Forms of the Ultimate Reality

The Ultimate Reality exists in four forms. In Its primary form, It is
the unconditioned, immutable, Supreme Brahman. In Its second form, It
is Isvara, the Lord of the Universe. In the third form, It is called
Jiva or the individual soul. In Its fourth form, It is manifested as
the universe of names and forms. The phenomenal universe is a part of
Brahman. It has no existence separate from, and independent of
Brahman. The relation between the world and Brahman is also one of
Bhedabheda. The universe is not different from Brahman.

Krishna – The Supreme Being

The Supreme Being is absolutely free form all defects. He is full of
all auspicious qualities. He has a divine body. He is full of beauty,
love, sweetness and charm.

Nimbarka identifies the Supreme Brahman with Krishna. He is endowed
with all auspicious qualities. He is free from egoism, ignorance,
passion and attachment. He has the four forms (Vyuhas), viz.,
Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. He also manifests
Himself as the Avataras (incarnations).

In Nimbarka, Krishna and Radha (Kirshna's consort) take the places of
Narayana and Lakshmi. Radha is not simply the chief of the Gopis, but
is the eternal Consort of Lord Krishna.

How Brahman Is both the Material and
the Efficient Cause of the World

Brahman is the material and the efficient cause of the universe. His
powers of Chit and Achit in their subtle forms manifest themselves as
the universe. Hence He is the material cause. He causes the union of
the individual souls with their respective Karmas and their fruits.
He provides them the proper instruments for their experience. Hence
He is the efficient cause.

Brahman does not want raw materials in order to create the universe.
Also, He does not need hands or any other instruments. He is
omnipotent. He simply wills and the whole world comes into being. His
Satsankalpa objectifies or materializes as this universe. Just as a
spider spins a cobweb out of itself, so also Brahman has evolved the
universe out of Himself. This is the declaration of the Upanishads.
In thus evolving the universe, Brahman is both its material and the
efficient cause. As Brahman is all-powerful, it is perfectly within
His power to be evolved, and at the same time, to remain beyond such
evolution. This is supported by the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras.
Brahman has transformed Himself into this world, without His noumenal
aspect being affected. This is due to the inscrutable creative power
inherent in the nature of Brahman.

Relation between the Individual Soul
and the Supreme Soul
Formal Difference and Essential Identity

The individual soul is a part of the Supreme Soul. It is also
identical with or the same as, the Supreme Soul. Just as a wave is
both different from the ocean (being only a part of the ocean), and
identical with it (both being water), so also is the individual soul
both different from (being a part of the Supreme Soul), and identical
with (both being of the nature of Chaitanya or Consciousness), the
Supreme Soul. The relation between the individual soul or Jiva and
the Supreme Soul or Brahman is one of formal difference and essential
identity. There is no difference between Jiva and Brahman in kind.
The difference is only in degree.

The Jiva is different from Brahman with reference to the phenomenal
aspect or the body-idea. It is identical with, or same as, Brahman
with reference to the noumenal aspect as the invisible whole. This is
what is called Bhedabheda.

A strong wind perturbs the sea and a wave is formed. The wave is
different from the ocean, though it is a part of it. The wind passes
away and the wave subsides. Now it cannot be distinguished from the
sea. Even so, the mind is agitated by desires and cravings. It runs
towards the objects along with the senses and becomes conscious of a
distinctive individuality. The ego or the finite self beholds the
relative world with its phenomena, and gets experiences. When the
mind becomes calm and serene by eradication of desires, it ceases to
function and all the Vrittis or waves subside. The phenomenal world
vanishes and the finite self realises the Infinite Self or Brahman.

The Jiva and Its Attributes

Souls are infinite in number and are atomic in size. The Jiva is
minute (Anu). It is of the form of knowledge (Jnanasvarupa), though
not in the sense of Sankara. The Jiva is knowledge and it is the
possessor of knowledge also, just as the sun is light and the source
of light also. The relation of the soul to its attribute is like that
of the Dharmin (the qualified) to the Dharma (the attribute). It is
one of difference and non-difference (Bheda-abheda).

Though the Jiva is atomic in size, it experiences the pleasures and
pains throughout the body owing to its omnipresent quality of
knowledge. It is everlasting. It continues to exist in deep sleep and
the final state of emancipation. In Pralaya or dissolution, the
individual souls and the world merge in the Lord in subtle form.
Births and deaths concern the body, but not the Self.

The individual soul is the agent of activity (Karta). It has no
independent knowledge or activity. The individual souls and the world
are not self-sufficient. They are guided by the Lord. They are all
sustained and governed by God. Each soul is a ray of Brahman
individualised. Ananda or bliss belongs to the individual soul in all
its states.

Two Classes of Jivas

Jivas are of two classes:

Jivas who have knowledge of the all-pervading indwelling spirit and
who have realised that the appearances are non-separate from Brahman.
They are called liberated souls (Mukta). They are free from
ignorance.
Jivas who only behold the appearances, but have no knowledge of the
all-pervading indwelling spirit, the support of these names and
forms. They are called bound souls (Baddha).

The World - A True Manifestation of Brahman

The world is not an illusion for Nimbarka, as it is a manifestation
(Parinama) of what is contained subtly in God.

The world is not unreal or illusory, but is a true manifestation or
Parinama of Brahman. It may, however, be said to be unreal only in
the sense that the present state of its existence is not self-
sufficient and it has no separate existence from Brahman. The world
is identical with, as well as, different from Brahman, just as a wave
or a bubble is the same as, and at the same time different from water.

There are three principal Tattvas or principles:

Aprakriti, which is not derived from the primordial Prakriti, which
is the stuff of the divine body of the Lord (which is similar to the
Suddha Sattva of Ramanuja), and which is the basis of the Nitya-
Vibhuti (eternal glory) of Isvara.
Prakriti with its three Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas
Kala or time.
These three Tattvas or principles are also eternal like the
individual souls.

According to Nimbarka, the Sakti of Brahman is the material cause of
the world. The changes of Sakti do not affect the integrity of
Brahman. The `Body of Brahman' of Ramanuja is the `Sakti' of Nimbarka.

Salvation

Avidya is beginningless. The purity of the individual soul is
obscured by its Karma which is the result of Avidya. This Avidya can
be put an end by the grace of the Lord.

True Devotion and Real Knowledge Lead to Release

Prapatti or complete surrender to God is the way to release. God
showers His grace on His devotees who make complete self-surrender.
The grace of God lifts up the devotees to have Brahma-Sakshatkara.
The Lord generates devotion in them which results in God-realisation.

Bhakti involves a knowledge of Brahman, of the nature of the Jiva, of
the fruit of the Lord's grace or Mukti, and of the nature of the
impediments to God-realisation such as the wrong identification of
the soul with the body, the senses and the mind.

Salvation is attained by real knowledge (Jnana) and true devotion
(Bhakti). Real knowledge reveals the true nature of the all-pervading
Brahman. True devotion leads to total self-surrender to the Lord. The
individual soul retains its individuality with reference to divine
enjoyment (Bhoga-samyatvam), but its will is subservient to that of
Brahman. The individuality of the soul is not dissolved even in the
state of release, the individual soul is different from, as well as
identical with, Brahman. This is identity with difference, Bheda-
abheda.

Salvation a State of Full Awareness
of Identity With the Lord

Brahman is revealed to the liberated soul in its pristine glory, but
not in the form of a deity. The soul realises itself now as an
inseparable part of Brahman. It no longer feels that it is a separate
or distinct individual, as it felt in bondage. It is released from
its previous state of bondage. It abides now in the glory of its own
true Self which is Brahman Itself. It is in full awareness or
consciousness of being one with the Lord. It will not return to the
world. It is freed from the round of births and deaths. As it is in
union with Brahman, it attains the same status as that of Brahman,
but it has no power over creation, preservation and dissolution of
the world.

The Dvaita Philosophy Of Sri Madhavacharya
(Madhava was born in A.D. 1197).

Introduction
Sri Madhavacharya evolved a dualistic system of philosophy out of the
Prasthana-Traya, viz., the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the
Brahma Sutras. It is an unqualified dualism. Madhava's Vaishnavism is
called Sad-Vaishnavism, in order to distinguish it from the Sri
Vaishnavism of Ramanujacharya.

Madhava makes an absolute distinction between God, and animate and
inanimate objects. God is the only independent Reality. The animate
and inanimate objects are dependent realities. Madhava's Vedanta is
the doctrine of absolute differences. It is an Atyanta-Bheda-Darsana.
He insists on five great distinctions (Pancha-Bheda), viz.,

The distinction between God and the individual soul.
The distinction between God and matter.
The distinction between the individual soul and matter
The distinction between one soul and another soul
The distinction between one material thing and another.
Madhava's philosophy is a philosophy of distinction. Every follower
of the Madhava school should have a firm belief in this fivefold
distinction, known as the Panch-Bheda.

You can clearly grasp Sri Madhavacharya's philosophy if you study his
commentary on the Brahma Sutras and Anu-Vyakhyana, his commentaries
on the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and his glosses on the
Mahabharata (Bharata-tatparya-nirnaya) and on the Bhagavata Purana.

Madhava's philosophy has many points in common with those of
Ramanuja. In Madhava's system of philosophy, Hari or Vishnu is the
Supreme Being. The world is real. Difference is true. All the Jivas
(individual souls) are dependent on Hari, the Lord. There are grades
of superiority and inferiority among the individual souls. Liberation
is the individual soul's enjoyment of its innate bliss. This is
Moksha or the final emancipation. Bhakti or devotion, without faults,
is the means of attaining Moksha. Perception, inference and the
scriptures are the three Pramanas, or ways of knowledge. Hari is
knowable only through the Vedas. Worship of Lord Krishna as taught in
the Bhagavat Purana is the centre of his religion. This is the
quintessence of Madhava's teachings.


The Categories
According to Madhava, Padartha or objective reality is of two kinds –
independent (Svatantra) and dependent (Paratantra). God, the Supreme
Being, is the only independent Reality. The soul and the world are
dependent realities. God rules them. The dependent beings are of two
varieties, - positive and negative. Conscious souls (Chetana), and
unconscious entities like matter and time (Achetana), are the two
varieties of the positive. Unconscious entities are either eternal
like the Vedas, or eternal and non-eternal like Prakriti, time and
space or non-eternal like the products of Prakriti.

The Supreme Being And His Consort

The Supreme Being is Vishnu or Narayana. He is the personal first
cause. He is the Intelligent Governor of the world. He lives in
Vaikuntha along with Lakshmi, His consort. He and His consort Lakshmi
are real. Brahma and Vayu are two of His sons. One can know His
nature through the study of the Vedas. He manifests Himself through
various Vyuhas or group-forms, and through Avataras (divine
incarnations). He is present in the sacred images. He is also the
Antaryamin or the Inner Controller of all souls. He creates,
maintains and destroys the world.

God is free from Doshas or faults. He is endowed with all auspicious
qualities. He is omnipresent or all-pervading and independent. He is
beyond time and space. He is greater than Lakshmi. There is no other
who is greater than Lakshmi. She is the foremost of the dependents.
Lakshmi is the Lord's Sakti or energy. She is the personification of
His power or creative energy. Lakshmi can put on various forms
without a material body. She is co-eternal with Vishnu and all-
pervading. She beholds the glory of Her Lord through eternity. She is
Nitya-Mukta, i.e., eternally free from Samsara. She is not affected
by sorrow and pain. She is intelligent.

Prakriti – The Material Cause Of The World

God is the efficient – but not the material – cause of the world,
because Prakriti, which is the world-stuff, is different from Him.
Prakriti is the material cause of the world. It evolves into the
visible world. All the objects, bodies and organs of the souls are
made out of Prakriti. God energises Prakriti through Lakshmi. Then
there is creation.

The three aspects of Prakriti are presided over by the three Powers
Lakshmi, Bhu and Durga. Avidya (ignorance) is a form of Prakriti. It
obscures the spiritual powers of the individual soul. It forms a veil
which hides the Supreme from the vision of the individual soul.

Mahat, Ahankara (egoism), Buddhi, Mind, the ten senses, the five
sense-objects and the five great elements are the modifications of
Prakriti. These exist in the primordial Prakriti in subtle forms
before their evolution.

The Worlds – A Reality Distinct From God
According to Madhava, the world is not an illusion. It is not also a
transformation of God, as curd is of milk. Madhava does not admit
that the world is the body of God. The distinction between God and
the world is absolute and unqualified. Hence the system of Madhava is
called Dvaita or unqualified dualism.

The Individual Soul – A Distinct Entity
Plurality Of Souls

There is plurality of Jivas. They are all of atomic size. The entire
universe is filled with Jivas or individual souls. Every atom of
space is filled up with Jivas. Madhava says in his "Tattvanirnaya":
"Infinite are the souls dwelling in an atom of space".

No two Jivas are alike in character. They are essentially different
from one another. There are different grades amongst them even in
their enjoyment of bliss after salvation.

A Real Distinction Between Jiva And Brahman

The Jivas are different from God, and from matter. Madhava regards
the distinction between Brahman and Jiva as real.

Though the Jiva is limited in size, it pervades the body owing to its
quality of intelligence. The Jivas are active agents, but they depend
on the guidance of the Lord. The Lord impels the Jivas to action in
accordance with their previous conduct. They are eternal, and by
nature, blissful. But, the connection with material bodies due to
their past Karma makes them suffer pain and undergo transmigration.
So long as they are not freed from their impurities, they wander
about in the Samsara. They pass from birth to death, and from death
to birth. When their impurities are removed, they attain salvation.
The natural bliss of the soul becomes manifest at the time of Moksha
or salvation.

Salvation Does Not Entitle The Soul
To Equality With God
The soul does not attain equality with God. It is entitled only to
serve Him.

Even in heaven, there are essential differences among the Jivas. The
classes of souls in the realm of bliss are various. There are
different grades also. The liberated souls are not all equal; but
there is no discord among them, because they all know Brahman and
have no faults.

Classification Of Souls
Madhava accepts Ramanuja's classification of the souls into

Nitya or eternal (like Lakshmi),
Mukta or liberated (the gods, men, Rishis, sages and fathers), and
Baddh or bound ones.
The third group consists of two classes:

Those who are eligible for Moksha (Mukti-yogya)
      B. Those who are not so eligible.

Of those who are not eligible for salvation, there are two classes
again:

Those who are bound to the cycle of Samsara forever (Nitya-
Samsarins), and
Those whose destiny is hell, the region of blinding darkness (Tamo-
yogya).
Some are pre-ordained for the final emancipation by their inherent
aptitude. Some others are eternally destined either to wander in
Samsara without end, or to go to the world of darkness. The Sattvika
souls go to heaven, the Rajasa souls revolve in Samsara and the
Tamasa souls fall into hell.

Bhakti – The Means To Salvation

Bhakti is the means to salvation. Souls attain salvation through the
grace of God. That grace comes on the devotee only through the
mediator Vayu, the son of Vishnu. God cannot be approached directly.
Vayu is the mediator. The grace of the Lord is in proportion to the
intensity of devotion.

Worship of God is the indispensable preliminary condition for
obtaining the grace of God. The soul is saved by the knowledge that
it is dependent on God and is under His control. Correct knowledge
results in the love of God. Bhakti is the result of knowledge of the
greatness of God.

Ankana, Namakarana, Bhajana and Smarana

The worship of Vishnu consists in

Ankana, marking the body with His symbols.
Namakarana, giving the Names of the Lord to Children
Bhajana, singing His glories
Smarana, constant practice of remembrance of God.
Madhava says: "Form a strong habit of remembering God. Then only it
will be easy for you to remember Him at the moment of death."

He pointed out that when the Lord incarnated, no Prakrita Deha or
material body was put on by Him. Madhava has prescribed a rigorous
kind of fasting to his followers.

Practice Of Sadhana

Good moral life is a preliminary for Moksha. The aspirant should
equip himself with the study of Vedas, control of the senses,
dispassion and perfect self-surrender, if he wants to have vision of
the Lord. Renunciation, devotion and direct cognition of the Lord
through meditation, lead to the attainment of salvation. The devotee
attains direct intuitive realisation of God through meditation and
divine grace. Then he is freed from the round of births and deaths.

These are some of the important teachings of Sri Madhavacharya, the
renowned exponent of the dualistic school of philosophy.

The Visishtadvaita Philosophy Of Sri Ramanuja
(Ramanuja was born in the year 1017 A.D.)

Introduction
The Visishtadvaita is so called because it inculcates the Advaita or
oneness of God, with visesha or attributes. It is, therefore,
qualified monism. God alone exists. All else that is seen are His
manifestations or attributes. God or Lord Narayana of Sri Ramanuja is
a complex organic whole – Visishta – though it is one. Hence the name
Visishtadvaita.

According to Sri Sankara, all qualities or manifestations are unreal
or temporary. They are a result of Avidya or ignorance. According to
Sri Ramanuja, the attributes are real and permanent. But they are
subject to the control of the one Brahman (the Supreme Reality). God
can be one despite the existence of attributes, because they cannot
exist alone: they are not independent entities. They are Prakaras or
the modes, Sesha or accessories, and Niyamas or controlled aspects,
of the one Brahman.

Ramanuja's celebrated system of philosophy known as Visishtadvaita or
qualified monism is Advaita or non-dualism with a qualification or
Visesha. It admits plurality. Sri Ramanuja's Brahman or Lord Narayana
subsists in a plurality of forms as souls (Chit) and matter (Achit).
Hence it is called Visishtadvaita or qualified non-dualism.
Visishtadvaita philosophy is Vaishnavism. The Sampradaya (sect) of
Ramanuja's creed is known as Sri Sampradaya. His followers are
Vaishnavas. Ramanuja systemized the philosophy of Vaishnavism,
because `Sri' or the Goddess Lakshmi is made to have an important
function to perform in the salvation of the soul.

Sri Sankara's philosophy is too high, subtle and abstract for the
vast majority of persons. But Sri Ramanuja's philosophy is suitable
for those in whom the devotional (Bhakti) element preponderates. In
Sri Ramanuja's system of philosophy, the Lord (Narayana) has two
inseparable Prakaras or modes, viz., the world and the souls. These
are related to Him as the body is related to the soul. They have no
existence apart from Him. They inhere in Him as attributes in a
substance. Matter and souls constitute the body of the Lord. The Lord
is their indweller. He is the controlling Reality. Matter and souls
are the subordinate elements. They are termed Viseshanas, attributes.
God is the Viseshya or that which is qualified.

The Visishtadvaita System – The Story Of Its Evolution

The Visishtadvaita system is an ancient one. It was originally
expounded by Bodhayana in his Vritti, written about 400 B.C. It is
the same as that expounded by Ramanuja. Ramanuja followed Bodhayana
in his interpretation of the Brahma-Sutras.

The Bhakti (devotion) school worships a Personal God. The devotees
develop devotion to Narayana or Vasudeva. Those who worship the
Personal God are called Bhagavatas. They have their own scriptures
called the Pancharatra Agamas which are regarded by them as equal to
the Upanishads. The Bhakti movement was further strengthened in South
India by the work of the twelve Alvar saints. The hymns composed by
the Alvar saints were collectively called by the name Nalayira-
Prabandham, a series of four thousand poems.

Afterwards came the Vaishnava Acharyas – Natha Muni, Yamunacharya and
Ramanujacharya. They were great scholars. They gave a philosophical
basis and colouring to their beliefs and practices. The Alvars solely
relied on Bhakti, but these Acharyas combined Jnana (knowledge) and
Karma (action) with it for the realisation of God. They regarded
Jnana and Karma as means for realising God. Their object was to
reconcile the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Gita, with the Tamil
Prabandha. They interpreted the Tamil Prabandha in terms of the
Upanishads and the Gita. Therefore, they were called by the name
Ubhaya-Vedantins (ubhaya = both). Ramanuja accepts the Vedas, the
Upanishads and the Tamil works of the Alvars for his philosophy.
Therefore, his system is known as Ubhaya-Vedanta.

Natha Muni raised the Prabandha to the level of the Vedas.
Yamunacharya laid the foundations on which Ramanuja, his successor,
built his philosophy. Ramanuja wrote the commentaries on the Brahma
Sutras known as the Sri Bhashya. He wrote a commentary on the
Bhagavad Gita also. He wrote also three other books – Vedanta
Sara,Vedartha Sangraha and Vedanta Dipa. These are the chief texts of
the Visishtadvaita system of philosophy.

Ramanuja accepts perception, inference and scriptures as valid
sources of knowledge. The Vedas and the Smritis are the sole and
independent authority for the knowledge of Brahman. He adopts the
theories of Satkarya-Vada (satkaryavada = the doctrine which holds
that the effect is inherent in the cause and that the effect is only
a change of the cause) and Parinama-Vada, i.e., the doctrine of the
real effect proceeding from a cause.

Ramanuja's Brahman – A Personal God with Attributes

According to Ramanuja, whatever is, is Brahman; but Brahman is not of
a homogeneous nature. It contains within Itself elements of plurality
on account of which It truly manifests Itself in a diversified world.
Ramanuja's Brahman is essentially a Personal God, the all-powerful
Ruler of a real world, permeated and animated by His spirit . There
is thus no room for the distinction between Param Nirguna (formless,
without attributes) and an Aparam Saguna (with attributes) Brahman,
between Brahman and Isvara. [for explanations of the terms `Brahman'
and `Isvara', see Page `Nature of Reality']. Ramanuja's Brahman is
Savisesha Brahman, i.e., Brahman with attributes.

Ramanuja's Brahman is not the Impersonal Absolute, but He is a
Personal God with the qualities of omnipotence, omniscience and
infinite love. God is Saguna (with attributes). When the Vedic texts
declare that He is Nirguna, it means that there are no base or lower
qualities such as sorrow, pain, mortality, change and old age in Him.

The Lord is interpenetrating everything. He is the essence of the
soul. He is the Antaryamin or the Innner Ruler. He is one with the
soul. He is all-pervading (Vibhu). He is the Supreme Being. He is
full of auspicious attributes. He is of the nature of Satya (Truth),
Jnana (Knowledge, intelligence), and Ananda (Bliss). Matter and soul
depend on Him. He is the Adhar or support for this world and all
souls. God is the governor or Controller (Niyanta or Seshin) of the
world. Jiva or soul is Niyama or Sesha (one who is being controlled).

The Lord is immanent. He is also transcendent. He is unchanging. The
entire universe is latent in Him during Pralaya (dissolution). The
world is projected during creation, but this does not touch His
essence. Ramanuja's Brahman has internal difference (Svagata Bheda).
It is a synthetic whole, with souls and matter as Its modes (Chit-
Achit-Visishta). Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa and Antaryamin, i.e.,
the transcendent, the group, the incarnation, the image and the
immanent are the five forms of the Lord.

Ramanuja identifies God with Narayana who dwells in Vaikuntha with
His Sakti or consort, Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the Goddess of prosperity.
She is the Divine Mother. She pleads with Her Husband (Lord narayana)
on behalf of man. She introduces the devotee to Her Lord and obtains
for him salvation. Lakshmi occupies a pre-eminent place in
Vaishnavism.

The World – A Real Part Of Brahman's Nature

The world, with its variety of material forms of existence and
individual souls, is not an unreal Maya, but a real part of Brahman's
nature. It is the body of the Lord. Matter is real. It is Achit or
non-conscious substance. It undergoes a real Parinama or evolution.
Matter exists in a subtle state as the Prakara of God during Pralaya
(dissolution). Hence it is eternal, but ever dependent. It is
controlled by the will of God. It is neither good nor bad. It becomes
a source of pleasure or of pain according to the nature of the Karma
of souls. It forms the object of experience for the souls.

Prakriti has three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas [for explanations
see Page `Sattva, Rajas, Tamas']; but, Suddha Tattva has only Sattva.
It is pure matter. Suddha Tattva is the substance which constitutes
the body of God and is called His Nitya-Vibhuti. The manifested world
is His Lila-Vibhuti.

The Soul – A Distinct Individual Entity

The soul is a higher Prakara of God than matter, because it is a
conscious entity. It is of the essence of God. According to Ramanuja,
God, soul and Nature are three eternal entities. The soul is self-
conscious, unchanging, partless and atomic (Anu). The souls are
infinite in number. The individual soul of Ramanuja is really
individual. It is absolutely real and eternally distinct from God. It
has, indeed, sprung from Brahman, and is never outside Brahman;
nevertheless, it enjoys a separate personal existence and will remain
a personality forever.

Three Classes Of Souls

According to Ramanuja, there are three classes of souls, viz., Nitya
(eternal), Mukta (free) and Baddha (Bound). The eternal souls have
never been in bondage. They are eternally free. They live with God in
Vaikuntha. The freed souls were once subject to Samsara (samsara =
life through repeated births and deaths; the process of worldly
life), but have attained salvation now and live with God. The bound
souls are caught up in the meshes of Samsara and are striving to be
released. They wander from life to life till they are redeemed.

Man or the individual soul is a particle of which God is the whole.
The individual soul is like a spark of that mass of fire. The whole
pomegranate fruit represents the Brahman of Ramanuja, each seed
corresponding to the individual soul.

The Evolution Of The Soul And Its Final Emancipation

When the individual soul is immersed in worldliness or Samsara, its
knowledge is contracted. It gets its body according to its past Karma
(actions), and goes from birth to death and from death to birth, till
it attains Moksha or the final emancipation. When it attains Moksha,
its knowledge expands. It knows everything. "Every action that
contracts the heart of the soul is bad, and every action that expands
the heart of the soul is good" – this is the statement of Ramanuja.
The soul is marching on in this Samsara, expanding or contracting
through its good and evil actions, till it attains the final
emancipation through the grace of Lord Narayana. The grace descends
on those souls who are pure and struggling for the divine grace.

Emancipation Or Passing Into Paradise

According to Ramanuja, Moksha means the soul's passing from the
troubles of mundane life into a kind of heaven or paradise
(Vaikuntha) where it will remain forever in undisturbed personal
bliss in the presence of God. The liberated soul attains to the
nature of God. It never becomes identical with Him. It lives in
fellowship with the Lord, either serving Him or meditating on Him. It
never loses its individuality. There is no such thing as Jivan-mukti
(liberated in this life, while yet living), according to Ramanuja.
Salvation comes when the soul leaves the body.

Bhakti (devotion, love of God) - The Means To Emancipation

The final emancipation can be obtained only through Bhakti and the
grace of the Lord. The grace of the Lord comes through devotion and
Prapatti or absolute self-surrender. Karma and Jnana are only the
means to Bhakti (devotion, love of God).

The Advaita Philosophy of
Sri Sankara
(According to some scholars Sankara was born in the year 788 A.D.)

Introduction
The first systematic exponent of the Advaita is Gaudapada, who was
the Parama-Gura (preceptor's preceptor) of Sri Sankara. Govinda was
the disciple of Gaudapada. He became the preceptor of Sankara.
Gaudapada has given the central teaching of Advaita Vedanta in his
celebrated Mandukya Karika. But it was Sankara who brought forth the
final beautiful form of Advaita philosophy, and gave perfection and
finishing touch to it. Carefully go through Sri Sankara's
commentaries on the principal Upanishads, the Brahma-Sutras and the
Bhagavad Gita. You will clearly understand his Advaita philosophy.
The commentary on the Vedanta Sutras (Brahma-Sutras) by Sankara is
known as Sariraka Bhashya.

The teachings of Sankara can be summed up in half a verse: "Brahma
Satyam Jagan Mithya Jivo Brahmaiva Na Aparah" (Brahman the Absolute
alone is real; this world is unreal; and the Jiva or the individual
soul is non-different from Brahman). This is the quintessence of his
philosophy.

The Advaita taught by Sri Sankara is a rigorous, absolute one.
According to Sri Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman Itself is
absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory.

Brahman – The One Without A Second

The Atman (Soul) is self-evident.(Svatah-siddha). It is not
established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the
Atman, because It is the very essence of the one who denies It. The
Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions and
proofs. Self is within. Self is without; Self is before, Self is
behind; Self is on the right; Self is on the left; Self is above and
Self is below.

Brahman is not an object, as It is Adrishya (beyond the reach of the
eyes). Hence the Upanishads declare: "Neti, Neti" – not this, not
this, not that. This does not mean that Brahman is a negative concept
or a metaphysical abstraction or a non-entity, or a void. It is not
another. It is all-full, infinite, changeless, self-existent, self-
delight, self-knowledge and self-bliss. It is Svarupa (essence). It
is the essence of the knower. It is the Seer (Drashta), Transcendent
(Turiya) and Silent Witness (Sakshi).

Sankara's Supreme Brahman is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or
attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special
characteristics), immutable, eternal and Akarta (non-agent). It is
above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It
can never become an object as It is beyond the reach of the senses.
Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside It.
It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman
cannot be described because description implies distinction. Brahman
cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is
not the distinction of substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda
(absolute Existence, absolute Consciousness, absolute Bliss)
constitute the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its
attributes.

The Nirguna Brahman of Sankara is impersonal. It becomes a personal
God or Saguna Brahman only through Its association with Maya.

Saguna (with form or attributes) Brahman and Nirguna (without form)
Brahman are not two Brahmans. Nirguna Brahman is not the contrast,
antithesis or opposite of Saguna Brahman. The same Nirguna Brahman
appears as Saguna Brahman for the pious worship of devotees. It is
the same Truth from two different points of view. Nirguna Brahman is
the higher Brahman, the Brahman from the transcendental viewpoint
(Paramarthika); Saguna (with attributes) Brahman is the lower
Brahman, the Brahman from the relative viewpoint (Vyavaharika).

The World – A Relative Reality

The world is not an illusion, according to Sankara. The world is
relatively real (Vyavaharika Satta), while Brahman is absolutely real
(Paramarthika Satta). The world is the product of Maya or Avidya
(ignorance). The unchanging Brahman appears as the changing world
through Maya. Maya is a mysterious indescribable power of the Lord
which hides the real and manifests itself as the unreal. Maya is not
real, because it vanishes when you attain knowledge of the Eternal.
It is not unreal also, because it exists till knowledge dawns in you.
The super-imposition of the world on Brahman is due to Avidya or
ignorance.

Nature Of The Jiva And The Means To Moksha

(Nature of the individual soul and the means to final liberation)

To Sankara, the Jiva or the individual soul is only relatively real.
Its individuality lasts only so long as it is subject to unreal
Upadhis or limiting conditions due to Avidya (ignorance). The Jiva
identifies itself with the body, mind and the senses, when it is
deluded by Avidya or ignorance. It thinks, it acts and enjoys, on
account of Avidya. In reality, it is not different from Brahman or
the Absolute. The Upanishads declare emphatically: "Tat Tvam Asi"
(That Thou Art). Just as the bubble (foam) becomes one with the ocean
when it bursts, just as the space within a pot becomes one with the
universal space when the pot is broken, so also the Jiva or the
empirical self becomes one with Brahman when it gets knowledge of
Brahman. When knowledge dawns in it through annihilation of Avidya,
it is freed from its individuality and finitude and realises its
essential Satchidananda (Existence, Consciousness, Bliss) nature. It
merges itself in the ocean of bliss. The river of life joins the
ocean of existence. This is the Truth.

The release from samsara means, according to Sankara, the absolute
merging of the individual soul in Brahman due to dismissal of the
erroneous notion that the soul is distinct from Brahman. According to
Sankara, Karma and Bhakti (devotion) are means to Jnana (knowledge)
which is Moksha (liberation).

Vivarta Vada Or The Theory Of Superimposition

To Sankara, this world is only relatively real (Vyavaharika Satta).
He advocated Vivarta-Vada or theory of appearance or superimposition
(Adhyasa). Just as snake is superimposed on the rope in twilight,
this world and body are superimposed on Brahman or the Supreme Self.
If you get knowledge of the rope, the illusion of snake in the rope
will vanish. Even so, if you get knowledge of Brahman or the
Imperishable, the illusion of body and world will disappear. In
Vivarta-Vada, the cause produces the effect without undergoing any
change in itself. Snake is only an appearance on the rope. The rope
has not transformed itself into a snake, like milk into curd. Brahman
is immutable and eternal. Therefore, It cannot change Itself into the
world. Brahman becomes the cause of the world through Maya, which is
Its inscrutable mysterious power or Sakti.

When you come to know that it is only a rope, your fear disappears.
You do not run away from it. Even so, when you realise the eternal
immutable Brahman, you are not affected by the phenomena or the names
and forms of this world. When Avidya or the veil of ignorance is
destroyed through knowledge of the Eternal, when Mithya Jnana or
false knowledge is removed by real knowledge of the Imperishable or
the living Reality, you shine in your true, pristine, divine
splendour and glory.

The Advaita – A Philosophy Without Parallel

The Advaita philosophy of Sri Sankaracharya is lofty, sublime and
unique. It is a system of bold philosophy and logical subtlety. It is
highly interesting, inspiring and elevating. No other philosophy can
stand before it in boldness, depth and subtle thinking. Sankara's
philosophy is complete and perfect.

Sri Sankara was mighty, marvellous genius. He was a master of logic.
He was a profound thinker of the first rank. He was a sage of the
highest realisation. He was an Avatara of Lord Siva. His philosophy
has brought solace, peace and illumination to countless persons in
the East and the West. The Western thinkers bow their heads at the
lotus-feet of Sri Sankara. His philosophy has soothed the sorrows and
afflictions of the most forlorn persons, and brought hope, joy,
wisdom, perfection, freedom and calmness to many. His system of
philosophy commands the admiration of the whole world.
_______________________________________________

The Achintya Bhedabheda Philosophy of Sri Chaitanya
(The Hare Krishna Movement)

Introduction
Sri Chaitanya or Lord Gauranga may be regarded as the greatest
Vaishnava teacher of the North. He gave a new form to the Vaishnava
faith. He was born in 1486 AD in Bengal.

Chaitanya had a very large heart. He accepted converts from Islam
freely. His disciple Haridas was a Moslem fakir. Nityananda spread
far and wide the Chaitanya movement. Rupa and Sanatana who descended
from a prince of Karnataka and settled in Bengal, and their nephew
Jiva Goswami, were great Sanskrit scholars and were really the
fathers of the Chaitanya movement (Today's Hare-Krishna movement).

Jiva Goswami and Baladeva furnished the philosophical basis for the
school. The philosophical classics of the school are Jiva's Sat-
sandarbha, and his own commentary on it. Sarva Samvadini, and
Baladeva's Govindabhashya on the Brahma Sutras. Baladeva's
Prameyaratnavali is also another popular book. Jiva and Baladeva were
greatly influenced by the views of Ramanuja and Madhava. They admit
God, souls, Maya or Prakriti, Suddha Sattva and Kala or time.

The world and souls depend on God, though they are separate and
distinct from Him. They are neither one with God nor different from
Him. There is an incomprehensible difference- non-difference
(Achintya Bhedabheda).

Chaitanya insisted on the unity of the Godhead which underlies the
multitude of idols of popular worship.

The Ultimate Reality

The Ultimate Reality is Vishnu. He is the God of love and grace. He
is one without a second. He is Sat-Chit-Ananda. He is Nirguna in the
sense that He is free from the qualities of Maya. He is Saguna (with
attributes) as He is endowed with the attributes of omnipotence and
omniscience. He is the material and the efficient cause of the world.
He is the source, support and end of this universe. He is the
efficient cause through His higher energy (Para-Sakti). He is the
material cause through His other energies (Apara-Sakti and Adya-
Sakti).

Mysterious and Incomprehensible Sakti of the Lord

Just as the sun has its light and the fire its heat, so the Supreme
God, Krishna, has naturally His energies or Saktis which are
mysterious and incomprehensible. These Saktis have no independent
existence. They depend upon God. God and His powers are either
identical or different.

These energies are of three kinds, viz., Chit-Sakti, Jiva-Sakti and
Maya-Sakti. They are also called Antaranga, Tatastha and Bahiranga
respectively. Jiva-Sakti is called Tatastha because it occupies an
intermediate place between Chit-Sakti and Maya-Sakti.


The Process of Creation

Chit-Sakti created Vaikuntha. There is only pure Sattva in Vaikuntha.
Maya has no access here. Kala (time) cannot execute its destructive
power.

The souls are created by the Tatastha Sakti or Jiva-Sakti of the
Lord. The Lord's Svarupa-Sakti supports His Jiva-Sakti.

The Lord creates the universe from the great principle of Mahat. He
manifests the Vedas and communicates them to Brahma. The work of
creating other stages of creation is given to Brahma. The souls and
matter are the manifestations of God's energy according to Jiva
Goswami and Baladeva. Maya is set in vibration by the mere gazing of
the Lord.

The Lord Who Appears in Different Forms

The Supreme Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Brahman to Jnanins; as
Paramatman to Yogins; and as Bhagavan full of all glories, all
beauties, all sweetness and all attributes, to Bhaktas. Lord Krishna
is the soul of all souls and the Lord of all that is. A Bhakta
(devotee) only has full knowledge of the Supreme Personal God with
all His divine attributes. Krishn's form is unique. He assumes
endless forms.

Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Rama, Krishna, etc., are
Lila-Avataras (incarnations). There are Gunavataras and
Manavantaravataras. The four Sanakas, Narada, Prithu, Parasurama,
Brahma, Sesha in Vaikuntha and Ananta who supports the earth, are the
chief Avestavataras of the major type who have direct power from God.
In Sanaka, Jnana-Sakti; in Narada, Bhakti-Sakti; in Brahma, creative
Sakti; in Ananta, the earth supporting Sakti; in Sesha, God-serving
Sakti; in Prithu, the power of preserving people; and in Parsurama
the power of destroying the wicked prevailed.

Radha-Krishna

The Avataras (incarnations) are one with the Supreme. They are not
parts like the individual souls. God assumes infinite forms of which
the chief is that of Krishna. Radha is the essence of the delight
giving power of Lord Krishna (Hladini). The Lord is the ruler of all
souls. He is omnipresent or all-pervading.

The Jiva

The Jiva is of atomic size. He is the eternal servant of God. He
bears the same relation to God as the sun's rays bear to the sun and
as a spark bears to the mass of fire from which it flits out. The
ray, although it radiates from the sun and is part and parcel of the
sun, is not the sun. So also, the Jiva, who is partly similar to God
in respect of his spirituality or Chaitanya and partly dissimilar on
account of his animal nature and susceptibility to the influence of
Maya, is not God Himself.

The soul is bound by the power of Maya. Maya makes him forget his
real, essential, divine nature. The Jiva, illumined and infatuated by
Maya, can naturally have no knowledge of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna
has, therefore, out of His infinite mercy, created the Vedas; and
reveals Himself to the Jiva through the media of scriptures, Guru and
intuition. Then the Jiva is convinced that Lord Krishna is his Lord
and saviour.

The Jiva can have God-realisation through spiritual love or Prema to
Lord Krishna. Bhakti overcomes the force of Karma. Bhakti (devotion)
is the way to the final emancipation. Through Bhakti the soul attains
to a status of equality with God, but he is never absorbed in Him. He
is freed from the round of births and deaths.

The Culture of Bhakti (Devotion)

Chiatanya taught that God could be realised only by means of ardent
and all-absorbing love. He wrote to a royal minister who had asked if
there was any path of salvation for a man leading an active life: "As
an immoral woman constantly thinks of her illicit lover while living
in the midst of her family, so do thou silently and ceaselessly
meditate on Hari while doing your worldly activities".

According to Chaitanya, ardour is born from the culture of Bhakti and
when ardour deepens, it is called love (Prema).

From taste (Ruchi) comes strong inclination (Asakti) which generates
the sprout of passion (Rati) for Krishna. When this emotion deepens,
it becomes Prema. This is the permanent form of Bhakti in Krishna.

When love grows, it is successively called Sneha, Pranaya, Anuraga,
Bhava and Mahabhava, just as we have successively cane-seed, sugar-
cane juice, molasses, sugar and fine sugar-candy.

When the permanent emotion (Bhava) is mingled with Rasa, it is
changed into Vibhava, Anubhava, Sattvika and Vyabhichari; just as
curd, when being mixed with black sugar, black pepper and camphor,
becomes a thing of extreme deliciousness named Rasala. Vibhava is of
two kinds:

Alambana, which is kindled by Krishna, etc., and
Uddipana, by the notes of His flute, etc.,
Anubhava is stimulated by smile, dance and song. Stupor and other
sensations are included in Sattvika Anubhava. Vyabhichari is of
thirty-three kinds, such as delight, rapture etc.

Rasa is of five kinds- Santa, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya.
In the Santa Rasa, Rati advances to the stage of Prema and in the
Dasya to Raga. Sakhya and Vatsalya attain to the limit of Anuraga.

Krishna-Prema – The Supreme Attainment

That devotee who has developed Prema always communes with Lord
Krishna. No mundane sorrow or affliction can perturb his mind. He has
no attraction for earthly objects. He has no fear. He never cares for
material success. He intensely longs for union with Lord Krishna.

Love of Krishna is the highest thing worth attaining. Bhakti is the
means of attainment. Krishna-prema is, indeed, the highest
achievement of life. This Prema makes the devotees serve Krishna in a
selfless spirit and enjoy the Rasa or sweetness of the Lord. Bhakti
is the only means of attaining Krishna and is, therefore, spoken of
as Avidhaya or means. Just as wealth gives comforts, and with the
enjoyment of comforts all worldly miseries disappear of their own
accord, so also, Bhakti generates Krishna-prema, and with the
enjoyment of Prema, the cycle of births and deaths comes to an end.
Escape from the effects of privations and the stoppage of rebirths
are not, however, the fruits of prema. Beatitude or Moksha is Prema's
handmaid. Therefore this Krishna-prema is regarded as the supreme
attainment .

Other Teachings of Sri Chaitanya

Veneration for the preceptor is a fundamental feature of Sri
Chaitanya's teachings. Study of the Vedas, the Bhagavata Purana,
etc., is inculcated. Practice of ethics and development of ethical
virtues such as mercy towards all creatures, humility, purity of
heart, freedom from mundane desires, serenity and truthfulness are
essential. The distinctions of caste have to be ignored. Anyone can
obtain the grace of the Lord.

The following qualities make a Vaishnava. He is compassionate,
truthful, saintly, innocent, charitable, gentle, pure, spiteless,
humble, serene, tender, friendly and silent. He is a universal
benefactor. He solely depends upon Lord Krishna. He is desireless. He
is abstemious in diet and self-controlled. He has mastery over the
six enemies. He honours others and does not care for honour from
others.

Sankirtana – The Supreme Healer

The supreme healer in this iron age is Sankirtana of the Name. It is
equivalent to the Vedic sacrifice. The true sacrificer is rewarded
with Krishna's feet. Sankirtana enables you to conquer sin and the
world. It creates purity of soul and all kinds of Bhakti. It is not
restricted to a particular place or time. It works everywhere. It
bears the name of Sarva-Sakti (omnipotence).

Hari's name should always be chanted by him who must be humbler than
a blade of grass (which is trodden upon); who is more patient,
forbearing and charitable than a tree (which does not cry out even
when it is cut down and which does not beg for water even when
scorched to death, but on the contrary, offers its treasure to
whoever seeks it, bears the sun and rain itself, but protects those
who take shelter under it from rain and sunshine); who, however
worthy of esteem should instead of claiming respect for himself, give
respect to all (from a sense of God's immanence in all beings). He
who thus takes Krishna's Name gets Krishna's Divine Love (Prema).

Sai Vichaar 4-4-02

Suresh Sydney, Australia
My family and I were blessed with the opportunity of visitng Shirdi
and
have Sai's darshan. I could not express in words the feeling I had and
the peace I felt when I had my darshan of our beloved God.

We were returning to Chennai after our trip in the train from Pune.
Very
early in the morning we were all woken by cries of a small baby of 8
months. The baby would not stop crying and the efforts taken by its
grand parents did not stop the agony of the child. My wife found out
from them they were taking the baby to Channai to look after and the
mother is not accompanying them. We told them several suggestions but
none of them worked out to stop the crying. It appeared the baby was
suffering from some sort of stomach ache as it weiled when somebody
touched the stomach. This went on till about noon.

Suddenly a thought occured to me which was based on the experiences of
several devotees mentioned in Sai Satcharita. I wanted to give the udi
to alleviate the pain or any other problem the baby might have. When I
expressed this to my wife she approached them and asked them what
religion they were and also expressed my idea. Though they were
christians they agreed to us applying the udi as they could not think
of
any other idea.

We applied UDI on the baby's forehead and then my whole family prayed
to
Sai to help this baby. For about quarter of an hour nothing happened.
I
thought to myself and prayed to Sai" I beleive in you 100 percent. I
normally don't attempt these things myslef as I feel I am not
qualified
to do these acts. But more or less I was forced to do this seeing the
plight of the baby. If you do not help the baby now I would start
doubting what I read and heard. Please be take pity on me and the baby
and ease its pain"

Within five minutes the baby stopped crying and for the remainder of
the
journey, was joyfully playing. We were all moved by this miracle and
my
faith in Saibaba has grown many folds since then. I thought I must
share
this with everyone.


Dear Sai Devotees,

OM SRI SAI RAM, I would like to share my recent experience with Sai
Devotees about how Shri Sai pulled my friend from a very critical
health condition.

It was in the month of April 2000, I called my friend's home in
Canada to know that he is in intensive care Unit (for two months)
with a massive third Cardiac arrest followed with multiple ailments.
Doctors have not given any Hope and are waiting to pass the critical
period. I rushed to their house with Sai's picture and Udi (sacred
ash) in my pocket and praying Baba. I went to hospital with his
spouse and two little kids. I silently prayed in the Heart that Sai
if you are Here, You must Help to revive the condition of this
patient.

I took out the Sai Picture and Udi from my pocket, which was then
mailed from one of the ardent Sai devotee in New Jersey, USA I
requested the ailing patient's spouse to place the Sai Picture on his
chest and sincerely pray Lord Sai "Please reconcile the condition of
my Husband and I shall be ever indebted to you". The lady did prayers
and took a pinch of Udi and put it in his mouth. The patient was on
intravenous and Oxygen pipes then with closed eyes. I prayed in the
heart of mine "O Lord Sai, please shower your richest blessing on
this traumatic and depressed family. Reassure your faith and miracles
on this patient." Doctors are still waiting for countdown at this
hour.

Trust me, the miracle of Sai happened on the next day, the patient
was able to move and open his eyes slightly, which gave everyone a
ray of hope for survival. Doctors declared that critical moment is
gone now. He should revive in a couple of days. Since then I kept on
inquiring about the condition of the patient, One week later I could
directly speak to the patient in Hospital over the phone and was glad
to hear his Voice once again, "Ravi I am improving now."

If BABA had not showered his Blessings, the whole family would have
been in distress by now.

Now the patient is at home and living a normal life with slight care
and supervision on and off from the specialists. However, those
moments are unforgettable for me in the Hospital.

PRAY SAI THAT RICHEST BLESSINGS BE WITH HIS FAMILY FOREVER AND ALSO
SAI DEVOTEES.
Ravinder Thota   shirdibaba.org




I can never forget SAI BABA who saved my daughter who had lost her
walking power due attack of paraplegia (bone TB) in backbone. Doctors
at AIIMS New Delhi had declared that she could survive only after
operation of the backbone considered to be dangerous with lesser
chances of success.
A friend devotee of Sai Baba for many years came to know about my
daughters operation and visited my daughter when I had gone home to
fetch breakfast for my daughter. He met me at home and informed that
he had been to my daughter and gave Sai Bhabuti (sacred ash) brought
from Shirdi and also prayed for her recovery. When I went to hospital
in the afternoon my daughter was all smiles and laughing as also
other patients. After applying Bhabuti she said she felt like pulling
her left leg and little after right one. Both the legs started moving
after remaining almost dead for 4 months. Doctors came and declared
that only God has to cure her and their operation would not be
necessary. It became news in their AIIMS and people did come to us
for similar blessings. We advised them to pray to SAI Nath and
assured them it was HIS Chamatkar (miracle). My daughter was had lost
the job due to illness. Gradually she was discharged from AIIMS in a
week and brought home where was bed ridden for over two years. And
ultimately with blessing of SAI Baba she regained her strength and we
had entire family gone to pilgrimage at Shirdi to thank HIM for his
blessings and saving a human being. Now that she is married and has
two children I remember Sai's blessings and have been to Shirdi for
getting his blessings.
JAI SAI NATH.
For my daughter she keeps fast every Thursday goes to Lodhi Road Sai
Mandir without fail and is leading a happy life. How can we dare to
forget HIM?
Tilak Bhasker shirdibaba.org



My husband had cancer. While going through treatment, he went into
semi-coma. He called me and said, I have seen a triangle in the
clouds and many white chadars. After that He started going into deep
coma and slurpy speech. All the well wisher who was with me at that
time, helped me to pray to Sai Baba and we used to put vibuhiti on
his forehead everyday in the morning and evening. The day we were
told he is no more, we put bhajans of Sai Baba in his ears the whole
evening and the following day. On the third day he opened his eyes
and also wrote on a piece of paper. After that he recovered, and
finally he told us that he had seen Sai Baba's hand with Om sign
making him turn his route and he is back with us. This is our
experience and we believe Sai Baba is with us all the time.
Sai Baba, You are our mother and father, you are our savior. We pray
you always remain with us.
Rekha

Dearest Friends
Sai Baba is my source of sustenance. He is ALWAYS there with me and
all my friends and loved ones. Most of my friends are now ardent
devotees of Sai Baba, and all of us have countless spiritual
experiences, and feel the healing touch of Sai so many times a day.
I would like to tell you about one event in my life, which, like
every other event, reaffirms my Faith in that supreme all-pervasive
power. It was the second year of my masters, which I was doing in
Jawaharlal Nehru university in New Delhi. I was very worried about
what was going to happen to my career etc. after M.A., and I was
dejected with the way things were proceeding. But when Sai is with
you, life is like a dream. I was in the doldrums and thinking all
those things people think when they are in that state, like what is
the purpose of all this and what's existence all about and so on and
so forth. And Baba was standing there all the time and seeing right
through me, and testing my Faith in Him.
I must confess here that I think it is Baba who instills 'Shradha and
Saboori'. I received 'rejection' letters from Universities where I
had applied with such confidence and motivation and I had put my
heart and soul into it. And then Baba waved His magic band. Someone
passed on a form of the University of York to me and I filled it up
expecting nothing in return. I didn't even receive their first
confirmation of my acceptance in their MPhil program as it got lost
in postal transit. I got that info through e-mail. But then they told
me Scholarship was going to be difficult. So life was a roller
coaster and I was feeling very sick in the ride. Then one fine day I
learnt that I have got the unbelievable...a full scholarship.
Here I am now in a computer-room in this wonderful University (which
is rated first in U.K. in Language and Linguistic Science, my
discipline) and the least I can do is to relate this episode to you
and what happiness it brought me, a very deep and fulfilling
happiness that miracles happen, prayers can move mountains, and BABA
IS THE SOLE DOER. He does what is best for you. Life is still the
roller coaster it always was...but with a huge difference, I quite
enjoy this superficial ride, for the permanence is the deep calm of
the soul within. So for all of you my message is to hang on, things
will look up very soon, WHY FEAR WHEN HE IS NEAR? Have total faith in
Sai dear friends.
Srija Sinha
shirdibaba.org



July 08, 1999
K.Bharathan, 8, Krishnapuram street, Royapettah, Chennai -14, India
I am a devotee of Sri SHIRDI SAI BABA. I have visited six days the
meditation program at BABA PRAYER CENTER. I felt peace of mind every
time I visited there. Sir Kumar Baba talks to SRI SAI BABA. He has
devoted his life to spread the message of SRI SAI BABA. He prays for
the health and education of devotees. My daughter has been getting 25
to 30% in school exams. She is a spastic child. She passed in the
10th PUBLIC EXAM with 54.6% marks- all this due to blessings of SRI
SAI BABA and prayers of Sri Kumar Baba. I have got severe health
problem and retired prematurely from service. I got a peculiar severe
problem of choking last year and was unable to breathe. It was only
through Sri Kumar Baba's prayer and BLESSINGS OF SRI SAI BABA, I have
got rid of this problem. Please contact me at the above address for
more information on Baba Prayer Center and the services of Sri Kumar
Baba




--

July 22, 1999
MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA
I am writing the little I know about Sri B.V.Narasimhaswamyi ji. He
was a leading advocate in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. He was related to
Sri C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji, eminent freedom fighter, scholar,
politician, and spiritualist) who in turn was related to Mahatma
Gandhi. From what I was told, Sri Narasimhaswamiji left his lucrative
practice as a lawyer in Salem, when a very brilliant young son died.
I met him in Madras in thirties when he then was staying with another
son who was doing business. After leaving legal work, he spent three
years (about) in Ramanashramam with Bhagavan Ramana and wrote his
biography. He was more attracted by bhakti marga and became Shirdi
Sai maharaja's ardent devotee. He took pains in thirties to
personally meet devotees who personally saw Shri Sai Maharaj in
physical body and published about eight volumes called Experiences of
Sai devotees. I saw these books and read them. He spread Sai
Maharaja's name allover south of India. I again saw him in 1937 when
he came to our house and addressed series of lectures on Shirdi Sai.
My father was his classmate and so he stayed with us. This was in
Bapatla, Guntur Dist, Andhra Pradesh, India. It will be not an
exaggeration to say that in circar districts of Andhra Pradesh,
Shirdi Sai was known only because of him. By 1949 or so, he settled
down near and then in Shirdi Sai temple at Mylapore Madras. I met him
a number of times in the temple and he did namakaranam (naming
ceremony) to my second daughter in that temple. Even now his marble
statue is in this temple and worshipped by all devotees. He ordered
one late Bapatla Hanumantha Rao to publish Shirdi Sai's books in
Telugu and he produced and published numerous books and they are
still reprinted by his son Sri Bapatla Parthasarathy who is a very
great devotee of Shirdi SAI. I also met Sri Rege, a retired High
court judge of Nagpur at Madras Sai Temple.He knew Shirdi SAI IN HIS
PHYSICAL FORM and he asserted that till then, and all the time Shirdi
SAI IS CONTINUOUSLY BLESSING HIS DEVOUT DEVOTEES. I MET Sri Kesaviah
garu who built a Shirdi Sai temple in Shenoynagar Madras and his life
is available in book form at this temple I also met Sri U.
Sangasmesam garu at madras then living near Vijaya studios, Madras. I
also knew late Krishna Priya who was a great Sai devotee. If you
thought of any problem and placed bananas, she would place before
Shirdi Sai and bring them back to you. Answers were printed on the
bananas. I saw this in Madras.


Dr. K.V. Raghava Rao, Hyderabad, India [ Close devotee of Baba ]
[From Golden Voice and Divine Touch of Sri SAI Baba (1994-95) by Dr.
K.V. Raghava Rao] Three episodes described under this section relate
to members of an Indian family working abroad (UN). They are ardent
devotees of Baba since long. Suddenly the housewife was in critical
condition. The doctors diagnosed it as a case of brain tumor and
advised immediate operation. They were apprehensive about the
possible side effects, such as paralysis of some parts of the body.
They contacted me for guidance and blessings from Baba. Baba
indicated that the surgery should be performed on a Thursday, but as
everything is scheduled in the U.S. the date happened to be
thirteenth August 1991. When the first operation took place the
surgeons could not reach the tumor site and the operation was
stopped. Surprisingly, the follow-up surgery was performed on the
following Thursday. It was successful operation with Swami's grace
there was no side effects and she gradually recovered. The family
members and self offered intense prayers during this period to Baba,
both. Subsequently, she visited India (December 1992/January 1993).
During this period Baba started indicating to me in meditation about
the change of scenario in the health condition of the family members.
I cautioned and also advised them to hasten up the marriage of their
daughter as indicated by Baba. As forewarned by Baba, she had to
undergo another surgery of a different nature when she visited India
(June/July 1994). Udi was applied to the patient on the forehead
before and after the operation. With the grace of Baba everything
went well and the patient recovered to normal condition soon. With
the blessings of Baba, things moved smoothly in the right direction
and the marriage of the daughter took place in December 1994. One has
to measure the benevolence of Sri SAI from His nature to forewarn the
events befalling the devotee and other family members and protect
them in time.

--

Nov 17, 1999
Namasthe to all SAI devotees. Today as per IST is Thursday. May Baba
bring happiness and peace to all His devotees. Many of you might have
heard about the Nagasai Mandir at Coimbatore, TN. When this temple
was consecrated, HH Narasimha Swami was present. When some eternal
Doubting Thomases questioned about Baba's acceptance of the Pooja
performed that day, Narasimha Swami replied in the affirmative. When
the doubts still persisted, Swami told the gathering that Baba would
manifest His presence, but the devotees must be prepared to take it
with equanimity. The Bhajans continued late in the night and all of a
sudden a big cobra entered the hall, went near the lighted lamp and
showed its hood. When the devoteed became panicky, Narasimha Swami
advised calm. He offered Arathi to the cobra and offered Pranam and
requested the Cobra not to frighten the devotees. At the same spot,
the cobra dug a pit and disappeared. Narasimha Swami then told the
gathering that Baba came in the form of Cobra and His presence in the
Mandir confirmed that He had accepted their Pooja. As the temple was
associated with this episode of Cobra, the temple was called NAGASAI
MANDIR thereafter. An old photo of this incident is available in the
rear portion of the Chennai Saimandir at Mylapore. My father narrated
this incident to me as he was present in the Mandir on that day. This
incident took place around 1948/49.


SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM
SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM SAIRAM
I want to share this little experience of mine with you. This last
Saturday I had invited few families over for dinner. I wanted baba to
be present there and take care of our guests. I wanted baba to make
sure that all come and leave happily with the smiling faces. I wanted
the bhojan to be perfect. I had given all these zimavaris to my
dearest SAI. As the evening came closer I started getting panic and
little nervous. The first guest came and when the second came, she
brought with him a very sweet gentle looking Sai's picture in the
form of a magnet. She could have put that in the box and rapped it
but she put it right on top of her gift box and this was Sai's leela
to show me that I am present here and everything will be alright. For
some people this might be a small coincidence. But I know for sure
that my baba wanted me to know his presence.
I want to share my recent experience. Me, my wife and recently
married elder daughter of ours were to travel by train to New Delhi.
Purpose was for seeing off our elder daughter on her much awaited
journey to US to join her husband and start the new phase of their
lives. Unluckily my fatherinlaw fell ill and was hospitalized,
resulting in
my wife canceling her journey.On the day of journey my daughter,with
all her baggage, and self boarded 2 tier AC compartment of the train
at Hyderabad. As our berths were not collocated, I got down from the
compartment seeking the Supervisor for exchange of berth, whereas my
wife remained inside spending her last moments with our daughter
before her departure. We didn't realize that time for departure of
the train had come, the train started moving slowly, I looked and saw
that my wife was not on the platform, ran towards the compartment and
saw that my wife being scared of getting off from moving train sat on
the steps. In my anxiety that she should get down and I should get
in, I told her to hold on to me and pulled her on to the platform. We
both fell down, I was closer to the platform edge and my legs from
knees downwards entered the space between the platform and moving
train. I froze realizing that any movement may result in very serious
injury and in that state of shock didn't even call out to GOD or any
one else for help.In the meanwhile our daughter attempted to stop the
train by pulling chain but without any success.Now a miracle
occurred, in that Sathya SAIBABA, whom I firmly believe to be
incarnation of Shirdi
SAIBABA, in the form of unknown people appeared in no time and pulled
me back simultaneously lifting my legs from the gap between the
platform and moving train thus saving not only my life but also
ensuring that I was not injured. I got up immediately and shakily
jumped into the compartment passing in front of me where safe hands
of Railway staff caught hold of me.When I reached my compartment I
found my daughter crying not knowing how her parents were.Luckily my
wife had the presence of mind to take an autorikshaw and come to
Secunderabad station.Our daughter calmed down after seeing both of us
uninjured and safe.THIS INCIDENT PROVES THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH HIS
DEVOTEES AND COMES TO THEIR RESCUE UNASKED. WHAT IS NEEDED IS TOTAL
FAITH AND SURRENDER. I THANK SADGURU SAINATH FOR HIS GRACE AND PRAY
THAT HE USES ME AS A TOOL TO SERVE ALL. OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI LOKA SAMASTHA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
LOKA SAMASTHA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
LOKA SAMASTHA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
OM SHANTI OM SHANTI OM SHANTIH


A Devotee
August 4, 1999
I thought of sharing my experiences but couldn't have dared to share
among friends. Now I got the chance to share through this web page. I
have firm faith on BABA as He fulfilling all my wishes and this is
the way Shri BABA is making my faith high. In Satcharitra mentioned
BABA used to ask two APIs Daksina from devotees which are SHRADHA
firm faith and SABURI patience. But in my case He has taken those two
in the following way
MIRACLE-1
Actually before 1993, I didn't make bow before any other God except
Lord VenkateswaraTirupati as I had wrong impression on all with name
BABA. My cousin used to go to Sai Temple in Rajahmundry A.P and once
asked me to have the Darshan but I rejected. After some time went to
Hyderabad for job searching and got nothing of some reasons. My
mother was worried so much and discussed with our family friends
about my position. They told her that if you make your son to read
SAI SATCHARITRA one-week parayana, he would get benefit. When I
called my home, mom told me about parayana. I agreed and started
reluctantly. This time I would like to say sentence mentioned in
SATCHARITRA Man will go to Gods feet when he is in troubles and
became true for me. I completed and liked the life and teachings of
BABA and waited for the Invitation from BABA to go to Shirdi. As
mentioned He only will pull us to His feet, suddenly after one week
my classmate invited me for Shirdi trip. After 20 days got 2 offers
and joined in NOV 1994.But I didn't satisfy with my salary and
stopped worshiping. I quit the job in
DEC 95.I tried and failed to get another job took training in
Software and went to Bombay for the job frustrated in job searching
and one night suddenly I thought why dont I start worship BABA from
tomorrow. After 10 days Sept 25th 1996 I got one DREAM which changed
my entire life. The dream follows We were searching for one WHITE
HAND CUFF and after long search my friend got that one and said that
SRINIVAS You should have a FIRM FAITH to get any thing you want and
because I my friend, Sai devotee, in Bombay have a FIRM FAITH, got
this one. Suddenly woke from dream and felt like lively happened to
me. After I woke up and stood before BABA photo and prayed that I
will have firm faith on you if I get the job in today's Interview. My
friends wanted to shift to company in Hyderabad having real
experience and myself having zero experience attended the interview.
Here BABA listened my urge and made a miracle. After written test and
interview my name only is there in the final list. Immediately I
cried in front of all b'coz I couldn't stop and remembered the dream.
I got the offer letter within two days And started Hyderabad via
Shirdi from Bombay.
I joined the job on NOV 1st 1996 and on NON 6th BIG Cyclone washed
out my village and our lands. Every body in my family prayed SAI BABA
in helping to get the job and then He is protecting my family through
retaining my job. SHRI SAI BABA is sole protector of our family. By
this he took FIRM FAITH and created PATIENCE in me.
MIRACLE-2
As I mentioned above, from NOV 1996 I don't have any hitch in my
life. In 1997,Aug got visa and selected client interview in India
itself and till now going smooth by His grace. When called one of my
college senior s in U.S., I came to know that he is also staunch
devotee of SAI BABA. We discussed our experiences and how he blessed
by BABA.While this chat I got attention to one of his experiences and
follows Being staunch devotee, he got lot of visions and used to get
sudden solution when he thinking about some problems. He got fixed
his marriage Feb1998 and prayed BABA how He is going to bless him
while marriage function. On marriage day everybody is busy and one
man came with beard and maroon cloths, looks like sadhu, was asking
about bridegroom. Nobody is caring about this man, as they are
involved with their work. Then finally asked his father and said that
I want to bless bridegroom and dakshina and his father called him. He
immediately realized that BABA came to bless him in this form and
took blessings and gave dakshina to him. He sadhu left that place
with happy. After hearing this one thought arose in my mind that how
BABA will bless me in U.S. At the end of the Feb98, when called my
friends house in Hyderabad, came to know one of my classmates is
coming to NewYork and wanted to meet him. Whenever I go out, worrying
about not reading parayana as daily reading one chapter. I went to
NewYork to meet him
On last weekend of Feb98 and on Saturday morning woke up and asked
about his trip and about any thing for me. Actually I don't want any
thing from him but as being classmate just for sake I asked. He
opened his briefcase and took out one large portrait asked do want
this When I wrapped paper out of that, wonder of wonders for me, It
was SAI BABA photo. I really much excited and stared thinking inside
that in this way You have blessed me and I got for all these years
worship. I asked my friend why did u bring only BABA photo. He said
that he got info from other friend that I'm going to meet him in
NewYork and when he went to Shirdi he bought that extra picture and
he knew before that I'm BABA devotee. I never expect that my friend
will come to NewYork as I'm staying in Connecticut near to NY and
will give BABA picture. This is all because of BABA'S Miracle.When my
sisters wedding fixed on March 6th 99, I thought that You blessed my
friend mentioned above in Marriage function, Ill see how going to
bless me and how You see that marriage will go without any hitch went
to India and very busy with wedding work as I'm the brides brother.
The Muhurtham is at 345 a.m.. At 1 a.m. I wanted to take some money
from my suitcase that is put where all necessary marriage items
located and while coming out from that room suddenly noticed COCONUT
decorated with small chamak items. Because I never seen decorated
Coconut that will be in Brides while marriage. Then I took the
Coconut and observing the design made on Coconut and noticed one
small size photo 25 np size and found that It was SHIRDI SAI BABAS
photo. At that BABA only knew how much I excited and cried for this
wonder. I enquired my mom about this and how it happened to be there.
My mom said that my aunt housewife took that Coconut on marriage day
evening and gave it back with that decoration. But here mystery is,
at that even my mom didn't notice that small photo as busy with work.
After marriage I asked my aunt the reason why she put the photo
there. As she is also BABA devotee at the end of decoration got a
thought to put small BABA photo in the center of Coconut and she
didn't tell any body that she is going to put photo. So in the
presence of BABA, my sisters wedding went fine.
I told this wonder to every body in family and they also got FAITH in
SAI BABA and have feeling like He is sitting in every body's heart.
JAI SAINATH MAHARAJ


A Devotee
September 26 1999
I would like to share with other devotees an experience that I had
many years ago.
One night in 1976, Shridi Baba blessed me by appearing to me in a
dream. It was a dark night and I was standing in the open along with
Baba who held my left hand with his right hand like a small child
held by an adult. I was about 32 years old at that time but in the
dream, I had the physical stature of a small boy say about 45 years
old. Mentally, I was conscious of the fact that I was an adult.
Baba did not talk to me but led me towards a single stored house that
appeared to be several hundred feet away.
The rooms of the house were lit with electric lights. As we neared
the house, I saw that it had a front verandah and
three rooms, one adjacent to the other. Each room had a window and a
door that opened out to the verandah. It appeared that the rooms were
not inter connected. Each room was full of people sitting on the
floor.
Baba led me along the verandah. Baba stooped in front of the door of
the first room. I could see a figure of Jesus Christ on one wall. The
people in the room were singing hymns. Baba said to me, "To
Christians, I am Isa Christ".
Next, Baba then stopped in front of the second door. The people in
this room appeared to be Muslims and they were also offering namaz.
Baba said to me, " To Muslims, I am Allah."
Next, Baba then stopped in front of the third door. The people in
this room appeared to be Hindus who were singing bhajans. He said,
"To Hindus, I am Shiva or Vishnu. But to the whole world, I am Sai".
Saying this, Baba disappeared.
At that very moment, I woke up. Something had stung one of my fingers
sharply. I switched on the light and I saw a big bumblebee flying
away from me. I do not know how the bumblebee got there. I was in
pain and in my anger, I hit the bee with my pillow and it fell down
dead. Somehow, I immediately fell asleep. When I got up in the
morning, I remembered the dream and I was very angry with myself for
having been so immature as not to realize the wonderful dream that I
had. The pain in the finger had all but disappeared. The dead
bumblebee
was still on the floor.
Sairam.
BHAGWAN SAVES A DISTRACTED SOUL
A woman has narrated this incident from Thane, Maharashtra.
" One of my friends Mrs. Parab (true name withheld for reasons of
anonymity) residing at Andheri, Mumbai has a brother in Pune. Due to
the bad company, his drinking habit went beyond control and none of
the relatives could persuade him to give up this bad habit. His
health complaints increased but it was very hard for him to abstain
from drinking.
One day in the month of May, 99 he collapsed and was admitted in the
hospital in the state of coma. Mrs. Parab visited Pune and was
extremely sad when the Doctor mentioned to her that her brother could
hardly survive for a month or so. Her trips to Pune became quite
frequent and on my inquiry she revealed the condition of her brother
which she had been hiding all along for the fear of disrepute to
family name.
Upon my advice, she visited Shri. Bandekar's house in Vile Parle - a
suburb of Mumbai- and collected Baba's Vibhuti, which flows from all
the photos in the shrine of Shri. Bandekar. Her husband being a non-
believer ridiculed her for this as he was relying more on the
Doctor's verdict. Nevertheless, MrsParab took Vibhuti to Pune and
applied on her brother's forehead. Initially the failing health of
her brother was steadied which itself came as a surprise to the
medicos. In a week's time her brother came out of coma. She is ever
thankful to BABA for saving the life of her brother and plans to
visit Puttaparthi with her brother as soon as he regains some
strength. Not to mention that her husband also has decided to
accompany them.

Movielike projection by Swami in 1948
The author Dr. A.V. Lakshminarasimhan, is a Faculty Member in the
Department of Bio-Sciences of the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Learning at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus. This is one of the miracles
mentioned in his article.
"Way back in 1948 when Bhagawan was 22 years of age in this beautiful
physical frame, a certain wealthy man visited Prasanthi Nilayam along
with his twin sons who were born blind. This wealthy man had toured
the world over and had consulted great eye-specialists but all of
them had said unanimously that it was impossible to provide eyesight
to the blind twins. Hence the wealthy man had come to see the young
Bhagawan. Bhagawan did not see them for seven long days. When the
devotees, who had brought this family to Prasanthi Nilayam, prayed to
Bhagawan for an interview, He called the wealthy man and his family
along with the devotees. Bhagawan gave them all a profound discourse
on the law of Karma and human dharma. At the end, when the devotees
prayed and almost persuaded Bhagawan to grant sight to the twins, He
said, 'Look, what these twins have done in their past life' and asked
the devotees to look towards the corner of the interview room. What
they saw was like a movie. These twins appeared as two cruel dacoits.
They appeared to be tying two other persons to a tree in the forest
and plucking out their eyes and robbing them of their wealth. The
devotee was perplexed and disturbed seeing this incident taking place
before his eyes.
Bhagawan asked the devotees.'Tell me, shall I grant sight to these
boys? If you are in My place what will you do?' The devotee had no
answer. He fell at Bhagawan's Lotus feet and cried, 'Baba, pardon me
for my audacity. You are God, being ever present in the past, present
and future. You are our destiny. Please save us all.' Bhagawan with
all His Love lifted the devotee and said that the twins had repented
for their evil deeds and prayed to God for forgiveness. Their
lifestyle had changed. They served the poor with the robbed money and
as a result of which they have been born in the house of the wealthy
man. They cannot, however, escape from the evil act of blinding two
innocent persons and hence had to be born blind. Bhagawan assured
that now that they had come to His divine presence, their future
would be good and that He would take care of them and would bless
them."

A Devotee
October 7, 1999
Dear Shirdi Sai,
I am grateful to you for the miracle. My Son Rohan was brought into
this world in an emergency situation when Doctors started to realize
that his heartbeat was crashing. When they got him out he was not
alive and the doctors revived him to life for 30minutes and his heart
started to beat, they put himeon the ventilator for next few days.
Within few hours of his birth we found out that due to lack of
Oxygenation during the revival period there is a possibility that he
sustained Brain Damage.he had all signs that and next 2 days they did
an MRI and confirmed that he suffered extensive Brain Damage and he
may or may not walk. All the doctors could tell was the Damage was
extensive and it could mean anything. As parents we did not know what
to pray for as he was still on the Ventilator not breathing by
himself. We finally decided to take him of the ventilator, it was
very hard choice, but we thought what life will he have, if he is a
vegetable, but as we decided that, Rohan Raghav decided to breath by
himself and survived without machines. We did not know if we should
be happy or cry for his ill fate, He was the cutest boy I have ever
seen and we went through hell making the decisions we were making and
analyzing what went wrong
without any notice in matter of minutes.
Anyway, we got him home and as my brother who is a doctor and I am
grateful to him suggested I started stimulating him every 1 to 2hrs
by moving him showing colors, touch and feel for the next 3 months.
The Neurologist would not commit what the outcome is other than his
damage is extensive. My sisterinlaw gave me the Sai Charithra and I
read the Sai SatCharithra during this time, I don't remember how long
I took, but I used to read every night and write Guru Raghavendra
swami's name as much as I can. I put all my faith in God and my
mother prayed a lot to Sai.
Today my Son is 10 months old and he is crawling and taking few
steps, which according to doctors is actually advance for 10 month
old, if not have any issues walking crawling or sitting. I cannot say
what this means to us. Neurologists were very surprised to see Rohan
when he was about 6 months to see him sit and crawl. He said I guess
it proves Doctors are not Gods one more time and said Rohan has
overcome any Motor issues. But as parents we are still worried
because we won't know his mental abilities till he grows up and as
usual the doctors say, we cannot predict, brain grows for 18 years
and we won't know until we see him grow up. He also suffered Moderate
hearing loss due lack of oxygenation and wears hearing aids, but
right now he is the miracle kid doing things faster than a normal kid
does.
We are very very very grateful Shirdi Sai, my family and me is
planning to visit Shirdi this December to offer our prayers to Lord
Shirdi. Hope Lord will not have any more obstacles for us to come see
him in Shirdi. I was always believer in God, but this incident makes
me think Gosh God is really there. But I also get scared that all my
problems are not over. I know I should not feel like that, but what
we have gone through has made very skeptical of everything. I cannot
believe God is actually listening to my prayers and I really deserve
his blessings.
I am grateful to Sai's Grace and Well-wishers prayers. Hope no
parents go through this kind of Turmoil with their children. I pray
for the whole world's children suffering. God don't let any child
suffer.
Ohm Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.

A Devotee
I'd like to share the following moment, one of the innumerable times
that I have felt close to Baba. I am a student, and had some extra
classes on a Sunday Afternoon. On my way back home my car broke down
in an absolutely isolated place, there was no petrol pump, garage or
even a phone booth within several kilometers. If that is not
synonymous with being helpless what is? Or rather, with Baba always
with me I can never be helpless. Just when I was on the verge of
tears, a motor bike with two men stopped next to my car on an
otherwise quite road. They were both mechanics and offered to help
me. Without any hesitation, I allowed them to check my car, to
realize that one spare part was missing. So one of them stayed back
with me and the other rushed to the nearest shop to fetch the part.
When all was done and my car alright, I thanked them and asked them
how much they had spent. I realized that I didn't have enough money
to pay them, so I took the address and phone number of the workshop
that the man belonged to and promised to pay him the balance. His
name was Iqbal and he said that he was from Ganga Mechanics in
Nizamudin. I then went home and related the incident to my family and
called up this place to locate Iqbal. To my surprise they said that
no one with that name had ever worked for them. I then went to
another mechanics shop in Vasant Kunj where there was an Iqbal, but
he turned out to be someone else. Till today I haven't been able to
meet that person who I am sure was a roop of Sai Baba. I just wish I
had been able to express my profound gratitude that day.
Jai Sai Ram.

Experience of Sai Devotees with Divine Father, Vol.3

July 30, 1998
Dear devotees,
Thank you for sending me the Sai newsletter. It is a pleasure to read
about Baba. I would like to share a wonderful experience with all Sai
devotees, which I had actually witnessed in 1996. I had a friend who
was polio stricken from birth. In 1994, she met me for the first time
and I was deeply saddened to see a young and beautiful girl dragging
herself to the computer class. One day I mustered courage to ask her
about her condition. She said she was always like that. Next day, I
gave her a locket of Saibaba of Shirdi whom I absolutely revered, I
asked her to wear it and I remember telling her that He will cure
you. I lost all touch with her, once the computer course was over.
One day, in JULY 1996, I heard from her and she broke the news that
she could walk, run do anything with her legs. I was stunned, I have
yet to see such a miracle happen, Baba inspired a doctor in Vellore,
circumstances so happened that she went to visit her uncle in UP,
India and she ran into this God-sent doctor. The doctor said he would
like to operate on her, if the surgery is successful, you'll be able
to walk again, otherwise I will amputate your affected leg and
replace it with an artificial leg. She agreed and Sai spared her leg,
the surgeon straightened her leg, all this may sound unbelievable but
I have seen it with my own eyes. She is married now and what I feel
is that all these years prior to wearing the locket, why no Doctor
had ever suggested or even tried saving her leg? As far as I am
concerned , it remains a sheer miracle of modern times. Sai Ram to
all, I wanted to share this with all esteemed Bhakts' of OUR LORD SAI
BABA OF SHIRDI. Thanks for reading this and please publish it in your
next newsletter because it will be read by scores of devotees. Thank
You.
Babita Lakhanpal

NOVEMBER 05, 1998
I would like to narrate to you the experience when I was first
blessed with the love of Sai Baba. After a lot of struggle, I got a
job in Shaw Wallace and Company. It was a fantastic job with lots of
perks and other benefits. I was thrilled as this was my first job and
that too in such a big company. But when I received my appointment
letter, to my utter dismay I found that I was posted to Guwahati.
Being a resident of Calcutta, I could not move out at that time as my
father was suffering from cancer and being the only child I had to
stay by his side. We had a Mandir of Baba in our locality. In the
evening that day out of sheer depression, I went to the Mandir and
told Baba about my unpleasant situation. The next day I went to the
company to tell that I was not ready for the job but I was astonished
to find a revised appointment letter posting me back to Calcutta. I
could not believe this, but this was a reality. Later I heard that
the General Manager was so impressed with my interview that he wanted
me to work with him in Calcutta, otherwise he threatened to resign.
This was the first incidence I had with Baba and I continued to
receive His blessings till now.

Kaushik Roy Chowdhury,
Embassy of India,Stockholm.
NOVEMBER 12th, 1998
Nila Vaishnav
Marquette, Michigan
I have had several miraculous experiences in my life and I attribute
them to SAIBABA. I would like to share one of my recent experiences.
Four months ago, I decided to take part in a race per one of my
friend's suggestion. She has had several years of experience in doing
this race while this was my first. She was very much willing to help
me with the training and she did. We had a great training schedule
and it all went well until the last three weeks before the race. I
started having problems that I did not know the cause of. I just did
not feel even close to how I was feeling prior to this. In fact, it
kept getting worst. I was really worried since my family and I had
invested so much in me succeeding this challenge. Moreover my friends
and colleagues were quite aware of me doing this and it was a
question of embarrassment should I have to drop out. I did not know
what I was going to do. All along, my friend and I were making plans
to finish the race together. This seemed impossible since I could not
even do 1/4th of the race without having problems while my friend was
getting stronger every day. At this point, I talked to Baba, told him
how important this is for me, and asked if he could help me. As
always, like Baba says, "If you look to me I look to you", he
immediately heard my prayer and I started feeling better. In fact, in
the last issue of Sai Vichaar, I had read about how we don't need to
take any medicine if we have faith in Baba- Vibhuti (udi). I stopped
taking any pain-related medicine and until now, I have still not
taken one, even after my race. We started our race and half way into
the race, my pain started again. I told Baba to please continue to
help me. Like a miracle, my pain disappeared. I had a desire to
finish the race with my friend and she was quite a bit ahead of me so
I had no hope that I would be able to. As I got close to the finish,
all of a sudden I saw my friend next to me. I could not believe my
eyes since she was so much ahead of me all along. We both finished
together in the time we had desired. It was a pure example of another
one of Baba's miracle. I can not thank Him enough for helping me and
my family every every step of the way. I can go on and on describing
how in the day-to-day life Baba comes to my rescue like he is always
there, you just have to call upon him.
Pranam and Thank you Baba


NOVEMBER 26th, 1998
NAVITHA
(Originally posted on Tuesday, Nov 24, 1998)
SAIRAM
Today I would like to share on of my experience with SHIRDI SAI with
you. It happened in 1991, it was time when I just started believing
in SAIBABA. I was doing my post graduation and I used to be in
hostel. I went to a nearby place to a function and had to come back
to college within four days. Unfortunately, in the function I
contracted conjunctivitis, a contagious infection also called as
'madras eye'. I had to come back to the hostel since I was in the
middle of completing my course work. The second morning I noticed
that my best friend who is my roommate also got it. My roommate was
so skinny, weak, and sensitive. I like her very much and I always
used to take care of her like a baby. I felt very guilty that she got
that only because of me. Conjunctivitis stays for atleast four days
no matter whatever medicine you use. In addition, my friend is so
weak I felt she could not bear the pain. As we were about to leave to
the college at 10.00 AM, she complained that she is feeling pain and
itching in her eyes. I felt very sad and guilty then I just turned to
my BABA prayed to him, put udhi on her forehead, and told her just to
sleep. Then, when I came back for lunch at 1200 noon I was very
surprised to see her eyes were so clear and you know what happened,
my friend does not have any belief on SAIBABA but that day in her
sleep she saw Baba came to her and just put his hand on her forehead
and left. From that day, she also started believing in Baba. I felt
very happy because he did this only for me as I was feeling very
upset and guilty and in the class, I was just praying Baba. In this
way my Baba is always with me and where ever I go I always am noticed
as Sai devote which make me feel very happy. I LOVE YOU BABA AND I
KNOW VERY WELL THAT YOU LOVE ME.
SAIDEVA, BE WITH ME IN EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE AND GUIDE ME

DECEMBER 03, 1998
K. P. Rao, Nauru
My wife is an ardent devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba and I am her
supporter. Due to my job in this small pacific island nation of
Nauru, my wife and daughter have been staying away in India for the
past one year.
When I got the Internet connection in this August, I somehow visited
your site and subscribed to the newsletter. As I receive them, I read
and send them to my wife whose joy finds no bounds, not just because
she receives the newsletters but I have started reading them too.
Recently, on my job front, a terrible setback was averted and my wife
believes that it is due to my reading the newsletters.
I give a copy of each letter to a good friend of mine here who enjoys
reading them. If I delay giving them by a day, he would remind me.
Thus, the two persons to whom I circulate are very happy with your
newsletters.
When my wife first put a sticker of Baba in my car back in 1992, I
met with a minor accident on the very same day. When I visited Shirdi
last year, as part of my pilgrimage, my daughter suffered from
hepatitis. But, I do not think that Baba did not help us. I believe
that he helps those who deserve help. One simply can not demand help
from him. We deserve his grace by good thoughts and good deeds. Next
year when I visit India, we plan to visit Shirdi again. Thank you for
keeping us in touch with Baba

DECEMBER 31, 1998

Anitha Ramesh Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia
On December 21st evening after returning from work, kids were playing
in the living room while I was cooking. I heard a news headline by
accident since the cartoon cassette that my five-year-old son was
watching had finished. It was on National news and the Head lines
said "255 women at maternity ward in THE CANBERRA HOSPITAL at risk of
contracting Hepatitis B and HIV A, after undergoing surgical
procedure's by a health care worker". I did not give it a thought but
somehow they kept repeating it again and again. When I thought I
would just listen, I heard them say that women who have undergone
some procedures in the Hospital between since January 1998 and
December 11, 1998 were at risk. It was further said that 255 women on
whom this particular health care worker has done procedures in the
maternity ward were short listed.
I dismissed this news thinking this was not relevant to me. Somehow
it kept flashing back in my mind and I realized soon that I was in
the ward during that period and Shamukh Sai, my second son was
delivered there. Just as a routine measure and to be on the safe
side, I thought I would ring the hospital Hotline for and find out if
it had anything to do with me. The hotline, which was set up only for
this particular catastrophe, was busy and I could not get to talk to
them. Some how my anxiety was increasing and I was feeling
distressed. I prayed to BABA and I have this old habit of asking BABA
for guidance through Saicharitra. I asked him if this would affect me
anyway, praying to Lord Sai I opened the book and there was this
sentence "No, have no fear and anxiety, Shyama and myself will be
there before you". This is in relation to Shyama's trip to
Bhuvaneshwar in Hemandpant's Saicharita. I called my General
Practitioner at home (which I do only in emergency) at night 7.30,
apologized for the inconvenience, and told them about what I heard on
the TV and my anxiety. GP said that I did not have to worry as I had
not been contacted by the hospital. However, to rest my mind she said
she would write a prescription for blood test and leave it at the
reception so I could collect it and get the tests done.
Later that night when Ramesh, my husband, came home at 9.00 PM after
a busy day, I told him what I heard on TV and what the General
Practitioner had said about it. He was anxious to know more details
and tried to call the hospital. On third attempt Ramesh was able to
get through to the hospital hotline for this matter and I spoke to
the lady identifying myself and saying I have had a baby on 21st
January and is there anything that I had to worry about regarding
this issue. The counselor on the other end said she will get back to
me immediately and hung off. This further increased our anxiety
levels. I got a call again after 10 minutes and the same lady asked
me my date of birth, other medical details related to delivery.
Finally she said,"I have to confirm all the details before I give the
information to you, and drop the bombshell, yes you are on our short
listed names of people who has had a procedure and delivery done by
the health care worker who is infected. I am sorry to do this to you
before the Christmas and Newyear. How do you feel about it". My world
came to an end I couldn't breathe. I thought I am not only infected
but I have also passed it on to my children and husband. I asked her
why was I not contacted earlier. I was given the reason that someone
did try to contact me but could not and the lady went on counseling.
I broke down, I cried my heart out for my kids and my husband. She
spoke to my husband too, who could hardly speak. She made and
appointment for next day 8.00 AM at the hospital pathology for me to
have the test first, and if it was positive then for the whole
family.
It was the worst night in my whole life. We couldn't sleep. Next day
I went for the test, got it done and had to wait until 3.30 in the
afternoon for the results. It was the worst fifteen hours in my life.
I did not go to work, I was afraid to feed my kids and sent them off
to baby sitter. I asked the nurse why they thought I was at risk and
what were the criteria for classifying me under high risk. She
explained that it was because I had a surgical procedure done on me
after the delivery by the health care worker who tested positive for
those infections. At last, at 3.30 when I went for the results they
told me "good news, negative for both tests so no infections, have a
Merry Christmas". My husband and I cried in relief and thanked BABA
for his mercy.
This experience has deepened my faith in Him and showed me that He
listens to us in need and never leaves His children. May BABA give
you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.
Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all

Anonymous devotee
The first leela I will write about was one that actually happened a
long time before I was born. It involves my father's father- i.e. my
grandfather. He once was very sick and bed-ridden. He was half-asleep
sitting alone in a room in their house when someone he did not know
came in. He walked around the bed on the floor and said "do not worry
sir, you will be all right soon." then he walked out. There were many
other people in the house but no one went into his room at that time.
Everyone was at a loss as to who came in and how he got in without
anyone noticing. It was dismissed as a hallucination. Soon after the
mystery man came in my grandfather's fever abated and he got well.
One day, soon after he recovered, he saw in a shop a picture of the
man who came in his room. He was much surprised and inquired the name
of the person in the picture. He was told that it was a great saint
who lived in Shirdi. He became a devotee from then on.
The second leela involves my mother. My mother was a staunch devotee
of Swami Samartha Maharaj. Upon coming to America and seeing that
pooja of Sai was being performed, she was unconvinced. She then,
after some persuasion, she read Sai's Pothi. The first story she read
was a story regarding that Sai was the same as her Akkalkot Maharaj.
We have been worshipping Sai and Akkalkot Swami's pictures together
ever since. Once, after I got the Pothi, I attended a dog show
because our close friend's dog graduated from obedience school. ;-)
There were "contests" which the newly trained dogs found challenging.
Prizes were given out to the dogs that did the best. My friend's dog,
god bless her! ;-), did absolutely horrible! She was, in the general
opinion of the spectators, the worst dog there. I though that there
was no way she will win any prize. I had to leave halfway through the
contest. Suddenly remembering Sai, I decided to test him because I
still was not convinced about his greatness. I made a mental bow to
Sai and said that I would read three chapters of the Satcharita if
the dog wins a prize. When I got home, I received a telephone call
from my friend that her dog one third place out of 300+ dogs in spite
of the fact that she failed half of the contests! I was astounded! I
read the three chapters and was convinced of Sai's greatness.

FEBRUARY 04, 1999
B. Laghate, Ex-Sub Judge, Shaniwarpeth, Poona, wrote on 20 July 1936,
as follows:
"I went to Sai Baba about 1913 or 1914. I was in trouble and I went
to get his ashirwad (i.e.) blessings to get rid of the trouble. When
I approached him, he asked for dakshina and I gave it. He said to me
of his own accord `sow margosa and afterwards cut off that tree'.* I
could not make head or tail of this utterance. It was evidently not
the ashirvad I went to him for. I was disappointed and I never went
to him again, though at about that time, I lived with Mr. H.S. Dixit
(who was a staunch devotee of Sai Baba) for three years."
*There was a bribery case in the Criminal Court against him for
having taken bribes and he was convicted and sentenced to a term of
imprisonment with a heavy fine. This was confirmed on appeal. It was,
pending the appeal, that he (B. Laghate) went to Baba to get his
blessings for success. Margosa sowing and margosa reaping was Baba's
parable about the law of Karma. If you sow the bitter seed the result
must be bitter and of the same sort. Therefore, it is better for man
fully to pay the price or penalty of one's folly, wash off one's
karmic debt and profit in the future from the lesson of the past.
(From Devotees Experiences of Sri Sai Baba by His Holiness
Narasimhaswami ji)

FEBRUARY 11, 1999
A Sai devotee
I am a Sai devotee from Hyderabad, India. I just read the last two
issues of Sai Vichaar today as I was out of station. I wish to reply
to a disturbed devotee regarding her not conceiving and her doubts
about Astrologers (Sai Vichaar dt.28.01.99). .My sister has already
written about it in the Sai Vichaar DT 3.02.99 but I wanted to write
about my experience so that the disturbed devotee may get confidence.
My ordeal started four years after marriage when I realized that I
was not conceiving. Until then, I thought "I" could have children
whenever "I" want. I waited eagerly for it but felt awfully depressed
every month. I was so depressed and vulnerable that I started
consulting astrologers. Each had his own predictions to such an
extent that one even told my mother that the marriage itself was not
rightly performed as the horoscopes did not match. This was very
shocking to my parents who have done everything to everyone's
satisfaction. Then started my trauma with doctors, appointments,
tests, endless hours of waiting, and the insensitive people around.
It was then that my sister from Australia had told me about Baba for
the first time. I started reading Satcharita - at first, I read it as
a storybook. I went to Shirdi too with the hope of a miracle. Every
time I read the book, I thought it will do some "magic". Then as I
kept reading I realized that the book could not change anything but,
I have to change myself , my way of thinking.
This was when I told Baba " You are my mother, you know what is best
for me, if you think that me, your child, should have no child , then
its okay with me. But Baba, please let me also feel the joy of having
a child". I cried to Baba every night but slowly I even stopped that
and left it to Him. Then it happened when I least expected it to.
Chanting His name, I went to the Doctor and my pregnancy was
confirmed. I was blessed with a healthy baby boy whom I have named
Sai Sanket, which means a sign or a communication from SAI. Today
when I see any childless couple, I tell Baba "if you have plans of
giving me another child, then give it to those childless couples so
that they too can have the joy of a child in their homes". Going to
astrologers is not wrong, we are all humans but one must have faith
in Baba and most of all have patience. Let us all want only what OUR
MOTHER wants us to have, as MOTHER knows the best. OM SAI RAM.


FEBRUARY 18, 1999
K. Navin Chander, India
(Originally posted in the magazine "Sai Padananda" issued Oct. 1998,
published by Sri R. Seshadri for Sri Sai Spiritual Center, Bangalore,
India 560 028)
It was on 3rd February 1998. I was about to complete an article on
Sai Baba. I heard a sharp rap at the gate of my house. I shouted; who
is there?" Promptly the reply came: "Khaana Lav" (give me food). From
where I sat, I could not see him. Nevertheless, I called my wife to
serve food to him. She bought rice and dhal but oddly, he did not
have anything on him to receive it. My wife did not feel like serving
in the plate she brought. So she came back to the house, took a small
cardboard and served the fare on it outside the gate. He sat on his
haunches preparatory to eating.
Meanwhile, my wife came inside to fetch water for him. It did not
take a couple of minutes for her to do so. But the stranger was not
to be seen anywhere. There were telltale marks of his having taken
the food. He did not even wash his hands. It was impossible to eat
the food, that too without water, and walk away out of sight in less
than a couple of minutes.
It was then the truth hit me like a whiplash. I should have known
much better when he said, "Khaana laav". It was truly a command. Even
during his begging rounds sometimes, Sai Baba never begged. He simply
commanded, "Lassie, roti laav". I asked my wife as to how he looked
like. She said, "He was lean aged and looked like a village Muslim of
the old order, with a sharp beard. He was wearing a faded green lungi
with brownish checks on it and a soiled white long-sleeved kurtha
with a black vest on it. His head was turbaned leaving the top crown
open". Though the description did not actually tally with that of Sai
Baba, I was by then more than convinced who He was. I cursed myself
because the food that was served was overnight food and served on
cardboard outside the gate.
Later when I slowly composed myself, I went into the pooja room and
begged His pardon for my lapse. At that stage my own conscience began
to reply, "Your repentance is enough for me. Keep on feeding the
hungry, who come to your doorstep, as best as you can. Believe me,
charity especially that of food, is indeed a great spiritual virtue".


FEBRUARY 25, 1999
(from Devotees' Experiences of Sai Baba by H.H. Narasimhaswamiji)
Bhaskar Sadasiv Satam, Sub-Inspector of Police, Lamington Road,
Bombay, India
I joined the force (Police force) as an ordinary constable in 1911
and rose to the position of Sub-Inspector in 1930 AD. I met Nagesh
Atmaram Samant, who spoke to me about Sai Baba. I told him I would go
to Shirdi, but for years I did not. In 1940, both of us were at
Nargam Training School. I had then some misfortunes resulting in the
loss of my job. I was suspended (from service) on 16-2-1940. I prayed
to Baba while under suspension. Udhi and Prasad from Shirdi were
wanted and sent to me. Prasad was received but not Udhi - though
Sagun Meru Naik sent both. It is after that I received the dismissal
order on 28-2-1940. Samant wanted me to go to Shirdi unconditionally.
I and my son came to on last Ramanavami here (Shirdi) and prayed to
Baba. We spent only two days here. On my return, at Dadar, I met a
constable and he said that I was reinstated and posted to Lamington
Road. But no such order could have been passed then. On 28-4-49, I
appealed. On 14-5-1940 the order was passed and I was "Reinstated and
posted to Lamington Road". Baba's decision had come from the
constable's mouth two months earlier. I had debts to clear. I prayed
to Baba and he sent me some money. I am now free from debt and I am
well-provided. I prayed to Baba only for this state of happy freedom.


MARCH 11, 1999
Prabodh Telang Chicago IL USA

HARI OM TATSAT, SHREE SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI....
I am a SAI-BHAKTA right from my child hood (with the blessings of my
parents and my Satguru Param pujya Shree Bhaktaraj Maharaj from
Indore MP India). Just like me now my son Jay (3.5 Yr.) is also
proceeding on the same steps. He too loves Sai-Baba and worships him
every day. As far as my experiences are concerned, I have countless
experiences related to BABA and many of them have been just out of
the world kind. I would be glad to share them with any body.
Anyway, this particular experience is one of the simplest kinds. It
was very recent when we had a bad snowstorm in Chicago (Jan 99). It
was a worst of its kind as we had over 18 inches of snow in just one
day. Due to some unavoidable reasons I had to go out in my car and my
son was also with me. While our return, my car got stuck in the
heavily accumulated snow just close to my residence. I tried by all
means to pull my car out, but without a success. Just after that my
son who was quietly sitting in his car seat, told me that " Hey Dad,
BABA just now talked to me and told me not to worry, he said I'll
come to help you". He was pointing to Sai-Baba's photo on my car's
dashboard. After that I carried my son home, leaving my car in the
same condition. When I returned, I was very much surprised to see an
American gentleman parking his huge 4x4 truck, just at the back of my
car. Without saying a word he took out a rope to tie my car to his
truck (this is very unusual in the US, some body carrying a rope and
then doing this without being asked). Within few minuets he pulled my
car out. I duly thanked him and in return he just said, "I enjoyed
it!" He was gone within no time. I was left thinking, how could he
come from just no where. That too in the middle of such a bad
storm??? But then I realized, what BABA had told Jay. BABA actually
came to help us in this form. SAI YOU ARE GREAT. YOU ARE OMNI
PRESENT...



APRIL 29, 1999
Hari Kiran, Hyderabad, India
Om Sai Ram! I am a Sai devote from Hyderabad, India. I would like to
narrate a recent experience of mine- actually my husband's. I
normally get up earlier than my husband. It was one morning that he
was up before me and was talking on the phone. From his conversation
I gathered that he was talking to his broker friend about investing
in a particular scrip. He sounded very excited. Later he told me that
he was expecting a sharp rise in that scrip and that he was going to
invest, and that we would get huge profits in a short time. My
husband believes Baba as any other God. Of late he has started
reading the Satcharita too. He reads it regularly after his bath, but
randomly- any page that opens up. On that particular day, he sat down
after his bath and surprisingly of all the chapters ch.25 opened up-
Damu Anna's speculation where Damu Anna wants to speculate in cotton
and asks for Baba's advice and Baba says "Tell that shet to be
content with what he has, nothing is wanting in his house. Let him
not bother about lakhs." My husband read that that chapter and took
it as Baba's advice. He wanted to invest some very huge amounts that
day and after getting this warning from Baba he decided not to do so.
His broker friend was shocked. He persuaded him and convinced him to
put in some money at least, which he did. In the next couple of days
we realized that the value of that scrip fell and people registered
losses. Had we invested the originally planned amount of money we
would have been in deep troubles by now, we would have had losses
that we could never pay. Thanks to Baba's timely advice in warding
off that calamity. Despite the warning my husband took the risk of
investing some amount which ended in a loss. He took Baba's advice
but not in full. The story about the man falling off the mountain was
an eye opener. What is wanted is COMPLETE faith. Om Sri Samartha
Sadguru Sri Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai.

Books in English
 108 Names of Shirdi Sai Baba, compiled by Vijaya Kumar, Sterling
Publishers, L-10, Green Park Extension, New Delhi-110016, 1997, 120
p.
 Ambrosia in Shirdi : 101 Experiences of Devotees when Sai Baba was
Embodied, and 100 Experiences of Devotees after Sai Baba's Samadhi in
1918, by Ramalinga Swamy.
 The Blossom of Praise to Shri Sainath, (Shri Sainath Stavan
Manjari), by Das Ganu, translated from original Marathi into English
by D. Y. Biniwala, edited by Mukundrao Balwantrao Nimbalkar, Oum Sri
Sai Ram Adhyatmika Chaitanya Kendram, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Andhra
Pradesh, 1988.
 Children's Sai Baba, by D. L. Parchure, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan,
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Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra, 1985, 66p.
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423109, 20p
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Sakori, by Kevin R.D. Shepherd, Anthropographia Publications,
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 The Incredible Sai Baba (The Life and Miracles of a Modern Saint),
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India Sai Samaj, 113/56 Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004, 1938
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Publications, Indian Book Centre, 40/5 Shakti Nagar, Delhi, 1993.
 The Life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi, by T.S. Anantha
Murthy, the Author, 140, 4th Main Road, Malleswaram, Bangalore,
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113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004,1955-56, 4 vols
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Pune, Maharashtra-411011; Prasanthi Prakashan, Vasant Apartments,
Plot No. 47, Kasturi Park, Shimploi Road, Borivali (E), Mumbai,
Maharashtra, 1980, 511p
 Pictorial Sai Baba, Sri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-
423109, 1968
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Master Publications; Shirdi Sai Publications, Vidyanagar, Andhra
Pradesh; Sri Guru Paduka Publications; Lawyerpet Extension, Ongole,
Andhra Pradesh-523001, 1993 (1978), 392 p
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Publications, Avatar Meher Baba Poona Centre, 444/1, Somwar Peth,
Pune, Maharashtra-411011,1986
 Sai Baba : The Saint of Shirdi, by Mani Sahukar, Somaiya
Publications, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 1991
 Sai Baba of Shirdi (Pictorial), by Indira Anantha Krishna, Adarsh
Chitra Katha, 32p
 Sai Baba of Shirdi : A Unique Saint, by M.V. Kamath and V.B. Kher.
Jaico Publishing House, Mumbai, 1991, 316 p
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Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004 (Out of print).
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Maharashtra-423109, 1972,
 Shirdi Diary of the Hon'ble Mr. G.S. Khaparde (events between 1910
December and 1918 March), Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-
423109, 1918, 141p
 Shirdi Sai Baba : An Epic, by Basavaraj Gunaki, Sai Baba
Publishers, 68, Somwar Peth,Tilakwadi, Belgaum, 1994.
 Sree Guru Charita, by Gangadhara Saraswati, translated by Acharya
E. Bharadwaja, Sai Baba Mission, Ongole,1987
 Shri Sai : The Superman, by Swami Sai Sharan Anand, Shri Sai Baba
Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1991 (1962), 139 p.
 Shri Sai Baba, by Swami Sai Sharan Anand, translated from original
Gujarati into English by V.B. Kher, Sterling Publishers, L-10, Green
Park Extension, New Delhi-110016, 1997, 350p.
 Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Rao Bhhadur Moreshwar W. Pradhan, 10th
edn, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1993 (1933),
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India Sai Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004
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into English by Zarine Taraporewala, under the title `Worship of
Manifested Sri Sadguru Sainath', Saidhun Enterprises, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, 1990, 39p
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Sainath, by Das Ganu, translated from Marathi into English by Zarine
Taraporevala, ed by Indira Kher, 2nd edn, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan,
Shirdi, Maharashtra-423109, 1991
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reprint, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1996 (1994), 160p
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India Sai Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004, 1965
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Maharashtra.
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S.P. Ruhela, 2nd edn, MD Publications, 11 Daryaganj, New Delhi-
110002, 1995, 137 p. (Umang Paper-backs).
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Sai Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu-600004 , 23p.
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Samaj, 113/56, Mylapore, Madras, Tamil Nadu - 600004, 110 p.
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Faith by Shri C.B.Satpathy, Shirdibaba.org, 2000, 140p.

There is hardly any authenticated information about the early
life of Shri Gajanan Avdhoot, popularly known as Gajanan Maharaj. His
place of birth, date of birth, parentage etc. are shrouded with
mystery, although people speculate that he was born in a place named
Sajjangarh in Maharashtra. It has been experienced that the terminal
points (birth and death) in the lives of spiritually advanced souls
is often mystical. Shri Gajanan did not reveal about his past and did
not encourage people to search for
it.

However, Shri Gajanan Avdhoot was first noticed collecting left over
food items in a garbage dump on the outskirts of village Shegaon in
Mahrashtra by a person named Bankatlal Aggarwal. The Maharaj,
although having a shining and extremely healthy body, was at that
time in a Super conscious state without a sense of his body; for he
had no clothes on his person. Bankatlal, who had earlier association
with some spiritually advanced persons, sensed that the apparently
crazy person collecting food from the dustbin might be a `Siddha'. It
was 23rd February, 1878. Bankatlal, along with a friend named Damodar
Pant Kulkarni approached Maharaj with humility and asked "Maharaj,
why are you eating left over food, if you are hungry, I will
certainly make arrangements for you." However, Maharaj paid no heed
to his words and continued to eat his food in a state of utter
detachment. Seeing this, Bankatlal ran to the Ashram situated nearby,
collected whatever food he could, and came back to Maharaj. As he
offered food, Maharaj mixed up all the food items and gulped it down.
It may be understood that the saints at this level actually do not
have a sense of taste as they are beyond the body state. Bankatlal,
thereafter, went away to collect some drinking water. By the time he
returned, he was shocked to see Maharaj happily drinking water from
the reservoir meant for cattle. Bankatlal was convinced that he was
in the presence of no ordinary mortal but a highly evolved spiritual
entity. He prostrated in reverence and asked for blessings. By the
time he lifted his head, Maharaj had vanished from there.
Disappearance and reappearance are one of the eight `siddhis' or
powers that yogis of India used to possess in the past.
Bankatlal was extremely sad and depressed at the sudden disappearance
of Maharaj but at that time little did he know that Gajanan Avdhoot
was his own Sadguru (the Master) who had himself come at that time.
Sadgurus or Perfect Masters attract or reach their disciples when the
appropriate time comes, to lead them to their spiritual goal. Their
attraction becomes so powerful that it becomes difficult for anyone
to resist. No doubt, therefore, that Bankatlal was so sad at his
disappearance. His mind could think of nothing except Gajanan Avdhoot
all the time and he searched for him whole day without any success.
However, he again found Maharaj in the evening when he went to the
old Shiva temple to join the worship. He was overjoyed to find him
and in an emotionally choked voice requested Baba to come and stay in
his house. Maharaj, on his request, came to his house from where his
divine function (Leela) started.
The function of the Sadguru is to give a universal push to all the
human beings and other species towards spiritual evolution. For them,
caste, religion, sex, nationality and even difference in species etc.
does not matter. They are humans with human beings and animals with
animals. When they start playing this role, people from far and wide
start getting drawn as if by the pull of an invisible force. In fact,
this is what Shri Sainath used to say, "I draw my children from
thousands of miles like a child pulling a bird with a string tied to
its legs". With the advent of Gajanan Avdhoot thousands of them
experienced temporal upliftment. With so many people visiting his
house, Bankatlal tried to make whatever arrangements he could. It is
not easy to have a perfect master as one's guest, as social or
religious laws do not limit them. Whatever they say or think, happens
as they only carry out the functions of God with the help of nature.
Their behavior at times becomes extremely unpredictable to the common
man. At times they behave like children, at times like a mad man or
even like a person possessed. Nevertheless whatever they do, it is
for the good of others. Only spiritually advanced people can
understand this motivation behind the actions of a Sadguru. Maharaj
often used to quietly escape out Bankatlal used to search him out by
strenuous efforts and would request him to come back.
One day Maharaj quietly strayed away to another village named Adgaon.
At about mid day, when the sun was on the high, he approached a
farmer cultivating his land and requested for drinking water, the
farmer had with him. The farmer, named Bhaskar Patel, thought that he
was one of the ordinary types of mendicant sadhus and started
rebuking him saying that he would not give a drop of water which he
has carried from home to a sadhu who is a parasite on the society.
Maharaj only smiled without any reaction and slowly walked towards
what looked like an old well. Bhaskar Patel again started teasing him
from behind saying that it is a dry well and how can any fool get
water from there. Maharaj reached the well and meditated for a few
moments and soon the well, which was dry for about twelve years, was
filled with clean water. He quenched his thirst with this water.
Seeing this miracle, Bhaskar Patel realized that he (Maharaj) was no
ordinary man and profusely apologized for his intemperate behavior.
The Sadgurus are the ocean of love and mercy, and they are incapable
of getting annoyed or angry-far to speak of being revengeful to the
creations of God. That is why the epithets "Kripa Sindhu" (Ocean of
grace) or "Daya Nidhi" (Abode of Mercy) etc. are used for them.
Seeing the plight of Bhaskar Patel moved Maharaj told him that he has
created water for him in the well so that Patel does not have to
carry water from the village strenuously every day for cultivation or
drinking. The love that we sometimes feel within us, the depth of
kindness that stirs in our heart when we are in touch with a Sadguru,
is because the Sadguru first showers his total love and compassion on
us without any qualification and even without our asking. This is
what in known as "Ahetuk Kripa" (the grace without asking) Thus, by
total sacrifice of himself, the Sadguru tries to evolve his children
towards their goal and teach that sacrifice for others without any
intention of getting returns raises Godly qualities in human beings.
The Sadguru teaches, by his own examples that in order to shine one
must sacrifice one self. No one can truly help others without any
sacrifice on himself.
Protection of the Sadguru is the strongest armoury in a person's life
because the extent to which a Sadguru can go to protect his children
cannot be imagined. Once Maharaj; invited by Bankatlal, went to his
farmland to eat corn stalk (Bhutta). Baba, along with a group of
devotees sat under a tree, lit fire and started roasting the corn
(Bhutta). No body had seen that there was a honey beehive on the
tree. As the smoke from the fire reached the hive, the honeybees got
out in swarms and started stinging everybody. Except Maharaj all of
the devotees ran away. All the honeybees, thereafter, settled on the
body of Maharaj who continued to stay unmoved and in his normal
composure. Suddenly Bankatlal saw this from a distance and was moved
by the plight of Maharaj. When he approached Maharaj to render help,
Maharaj addressing the honeybees said, "you go back to your own
place. My dear devotee Bankatlal should suffer no pain". No sooner
than he uttered these words that the entire swarm of honeybees
returned back to the hive. The devotees on return saw that Baba's
whole body was full of stings. No ordinary person can quietly bear
the stinging of a swarm of honeybees. All of them started thinking
that Maharaj must be in pain. Seeing their plight Shri Gajanan
Maharaj gave a smile and took a deep breath. At once all the stings
fell out of his body in hundreds. In this case what the Sadguru did
was to take on his own body the pain of the honeybees stings and not
allowing his children to suffer.
After a short stay at Khodgaon, the Maharaj returned to Shegaon.
There he moved to the house of one Khandu Patil. His style of living
was so ordinary like that of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi that it was not
easy for everyone to make out about of the depth of his spiritual
personality in the first look. One day, about ten South Indian
Brahmins, with the intention of earning some money came to Maharaj,
who was sleeping under the cover of a blanket. Suddenly Maharaj woke
up during the recitation and pointed out to the Brahmins that they
were pronouncing the vedas in a wrong manner. Thereafter, he himself
started reciting. Soon the Brahmins realized that Maharaj was a Saint
of very high spiritual order and prostrated at his feet. Maharaj
blessed them all and also gave them dakshina.
One day Maharaj went to the Nilakanth temple near the village and
desired to stay there. Patil built a palm cottage for him and people
started visiting the place. Once a group of Gossains (a type of
Sadhu) claiming to be the disciples of one Brahmin Guruji reached the
place where Baba was staying.
The pretentious Sadhus demanded halwa, puri (a variety of food in
India) and ganja (opium) from Patil. They also told him that by doing
so he would get more virtue than by serving a mad and naked person
like Gajanan Maharaj. After taking his food just in order to prove
his superiority over Maharaj the group leader, Brahmagiriji started
lecturing on Bhagavad-Gita to draw attention of people. He started
explaining "Nainam chhindanti Sastrani, Nainam Dahati Pavakam"-
meaning `neither weapons can destroy the soul nor can fire burn it'.
In spite of his efforts, people were found to be collecting around
Gajanan Maharaj who was smoking his Chilum (clay tobacco pipe)
sitting on a wooden bed right opposite to Brahmagiriji. His ego was
hurt and he became very angry finding absence of proper public
appreciation and attention. Strange are the ways of Sadgurus. In this
situation a strange thing happened. The bed on which Maharaj was
sitting suddenly caught fire. As the fire rose up the disciples of
Maharaj requested him to get out of fire and also started arranging
for water. Maharaj said that neither water would be used to
extinguish fire nor would he get out of the fire bed. Addressing
Brahmagiriji who was enjoying the sight, Maharaj said, "since you
have been telling people for the last one hour that neither weapon
can destroy nor fire can burn the soul, please come and prove it by
sitting on fire." On this Brahmagiriji did not react but tried to
avoid the situation. Then Maharaj asked a physically strong disciple
to catch hold of Brahmagiriji and bring him before Maharaj. One can
well imagine the condition of a pretentious sadhu in such a
situation. His ego was totally shattered and he repented not only for
his behavior but also for his pretentiousness. Maharaj pardoned him
and advised him on the path to be followed for spiritual upliftment.
The Sadguru is the Universal Guru. He deals with each person at his
level of consciousness. He tries to destroy their ego through his
superior power in order to evolve that person. Sadguru removes all
such limitations of mind and body that are not conducive to the
evolution of a soul slowly. What methods in the gross, subtle or
mental level the Sadguru may use can never be predicted by anyone.

Shankar Maharaj was a Perfect Master in the tradition of Nath
Siddhas. Different stories are told about the birth and early life of
Shankar Maharaj. But the following story of his birth and initiation
by his guru appears to be most authentic, having been told by Maharaj
himself to his prime disciple Dr. Nagesh Dhaneshwar of Nagar, about
200 kms from Pune.
Once Dr. Dhaneshwar asked Maharaj his age. Instead of answering, he
asked him to judge his age from physical examination since he was a
medical doctor. Dr. Dhaneshwar judged his age to be more than 125
years. Maharaj agreed with him and told him that he was born in about
1800 at Mangalwedha (near Pandharpur) in the family named Upasani. He
used to be a very naughty as a boy. Once, when he was seven to eight
years old, he went chasing a deer. The deer entered the forests on
the banks of the river Chandrabhaga towards a place called Machnur.He
followed it and soon reached a Shiva temple. When he was about to
shoot the arrow a large sanyasi came, lifted the deer and held it in
his arms .He said "My child, why do you kill the innocent animals? If
you want to hunt, hunt wild animals, but don't kill this"
nevertheless he shot the arrow at the deer in the sanyasi's arms. It
hit him but became blunt and fell down. Another arrow also met the
same fate. he become confused but the sanyasi smiled, kept the deer
down, came near and fondled him. Thus Maharaj got " Sparshdiksha" or
initiation by touch of the Yogi, who was no other than Swami Samarth
of Akkalkot. Maharaj stayed with him for six months during which he
gave him all knowledge and instructed him to go on pilgrimage.
He went to the Himalayas where he did a very hard penance .On
returning from there he spent his time with Siddha-Yogis in and
around Vriddheshwar (near Nagar) which is known as the center for
meditation of several Nath Siddhas in the past. Maharaj remembered
having received Dakshina from Peshwas hands in Shanniwarwada in Pune,
the seat
of Peshwas rule. After the British took over Pune, he met a British
Collector who developed a faith in Maharaj and considered him his
Spiritual guide. He took Maharaj to England where he stayed for ten
years teaching the yoga path to this British officer.
Being asked by Dr. Dhaneshwar whether this is how he is able to speak
such good English, he said, " No Doctor, he who understand the
principle which is beyond the source of all languages and who becomes
one with it, knows any language, even the language of animals and
birds. He becomes the energy itself therefore he is able to decipher
the vibration. I understand the English language perfectly .I have
read complete Shakespeare .He had rich experiences of life. Among his
plays, I Like Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Romeo-Juliet."
One can surmise therefore that at the time of samadhi Maharaj was
about 150 years old.
It is not clear when Maharaj came to Maharastra, Pune in particular.
From the biography of Dr. Dhaneshwar who was born in 1899, it is seen
that Maharaj met him at Nagar when he was a schoolboy, that must have
been around 1910 when Maharaj was already past hundred .He used to
move frequently between Nagar, Pune, Solapur and Akluj, also visiting
in places with Shri Dattatreya influence like Gangapur, Narsobawadi,
Mahurgad and Girnar.Wherever he went he attracted devotees.
In appearance Maharaj is described as `Ashtavakra' or bent in eight
places. Maharaj had a short stature, but was ajunubahu or having long
hands reaching below his knees. Most noticeable were his large and
bright eyes and a child like expression on his face.
In later years he had a beard .He often had a brandy bottle in his
hand and a hunter whip with him. He used to address people by the
swear words, but without malice. It was believed that if Maharaj
rebuked anybody he got rid of misfortunes. He used to talk with lisp
which was due to his unusually long tongue. The immense kindness and
compassion of Maharaj were consistent with his being a Nath Panthi in
the Guru tradition.
According to what Dr. Dhaneshwar told "The aim of a Nath Panthi is to
help people without bothering about his own personal liberation.
Because of the compassion for all living, he takes birth again and
again all over the earth in all communities and not necessarily
ordained as a Nath Panthi during that birth. It is because of such
selfless liberated souls that the fabric of human society is
maintained."
Maharaj did not stay long at any single place. He used to move from
devotee to devotee. He was fond of smoking honeydew (popularly known
as Pilo hatthi) cigrattes. He was also fond of drinking brandy and
appeared to be often intoxicated. He used to like the scent (attar)
of hina and loved music.
Maharaj used to drink with a purpose. His drunken appearance helped
him in keeping unwanted people away. Only those people who saw
Maharaj beyond the external looks could come to him. There are
instances when Maharaj drank and another person nearby got drunk.
Some people to whom Maharaj gave a brandy glass and asked them to
drink it told later it was not liquor but nice tasting coconut water.
Maharaj was fond of wearing rings and jewels but he could throw them
or give to others easily.
The life of Shankar Maharaj has been full of miracles he performed to
help his devotees. Such miracles are associated with many Yogis. The
miracle includes the knowledge of past and future events, creation of
matter going from one place to another instantly, being at several
places at the one time, feeding a multitude from the small quantity
of food and so on. Maharaj did these miracles to instill faith in
them and to draw people to spiritual path. Maharaj had said, "I am a
slave of the simple and teach lessons to the scoundrels. I am the
blotting paper of egotistic persons. I cannot tolerate ego. I suck it
out."
Maharaj had large number of devotees and disciples world over. Dr
Dhaneshwar, Maj. Abhyankar and his son Dattareya , Raobahadur Navale
from all from Nagar; G.K Pradhan and Keshavbhai Asher from Mumbai,
Raosaheb Mehendale and his wife Taisaheb, Vasudev Pandit, Baburao
Rudra, Mamasaheb Dhekane, Yellubahi and Gosavi all from Pune,
Mr.Girme and Mr. Vasant Kulkarni from Akluj, are some of well known
names from the large family of disciples. Maharaj gave spiritual
guidance to millions, who are evolving spiritually under his
protection even today.
Dr Dhaneshwar was his principle disciple. According to Maharaj, their
association was for more than six hundred years. Being Nath Panthis
in the earlier births also and closely connected to Gahininath.
Maharaj had shown him the place where he i.e. Dr Dhaneshwar used to
do sadhana in the caves in the Vrishdheshwar hills near Nagar in the
previous birth .He was a very capable person and Maharaj gave him all
his knowledge. Maharaj first appeared before Dr Dhaneshwar when the
latter was a schoolboy but the real training started just after his
Graduation in medicine. Maharaj used to visit him often and throw
things around. This used to make the doctor angry. One Day, Maharaj
scattered some importance articles here and there. Doctor, who was
under tension due to personal worries asked Maharaj to leave and when
he did not, pushed him down the stairs. As a result of this outburst
the doctor became unconscious.
When the doctor recovered from unconsciousness he found his head was
on Maharaj's lap and Maharaj was gently caressing his head with love
of a mother. At that moment he suddenly realized the real nature of
Maharaj. He realized that the Guru's love is deeper than mother's
love. From that moment he completely surrendered to Maharaj.
Raosaheb Balwantrao Mehendale who was a barrister and his wife
Taisaheb Mehendale were also close disciples of Maharaj . One of his
friends Sardar Mirikar was instrumental in bringing Raosaheb to
Maharaj.
Maharaj initiated Tai Saheb and asked her to give discourses on
Dnyaneshwari (an exposition on Geeta). The Mehendale couple left
Bombay and settled in Pune in their ancestral house Mehendalewada at
the Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune. Spiritual programs like the
discourses, bhajans and kirtans were held in Mehendalewada which
became a center of solace for people who were frustrated in life and
needed a relief. These discourses from Taisaheb used to impart deeper
bliss to the listeners and they used to feel the meaning of their
life being unfolded. It was as if Shri Shankar Maharaj was speaking
through her, for he had already told that "I myself cannot give
discourse. I need some intelligent person with pure mind"
This incident of giving darshan of the desired deity was unique. Sir
Chunilal Mehta, once Governor of Bombay Presidency in British Raj was
a close friend of Raosaheb Mehendale. He was a kind natured person
and scholar, well versed in both Western and Indian literature. He
used to attend the discourses in Mehendalewada. One day he told
Raosaheb that inspite of his vast reading, travelling all over India
visiting holy places, he felt something was lacking in his life. This
was just before Taisaheb's discourse on Dnyaneshwari was to start.
The stanzas Taisaheb had selected that day related to seeing
manifested God. Sir Chunilal was considerably influenced and said
that he wanted to experience something like that. Raosaheb took him
next day to meet Maharaj who was at that time in Mama Dhekne's house.
Maharaj was as usual reclining on a cushion, laughing and talking to
himself. Lady Mehta sat with Taisaheb on ground. Sir Chunilal stood
and did namaskar to Maharaj. Raosaheb spoke to Maharaj and told him
that Sir Chunilal had come with his wife to meet him. Maharaj first
ignored him and then fixed his eyes on Sir Chunilal who instantly
went into a deep trance, tears started flowing from his eyes. And
then Sir Chunilal ran to Maharaj and fell on his feet making them
moist with the tears. Lady Mehta was also in a similar condition. Sir
Chunilal later told that in those moments Lord Vishnu his personal
deity had appeared before him. Sir Chunilal was still in trance for a
long time. The feeling of incompleteness left Sir Chunilal
permanently. Thereafter Sir Chunilal continued to remain in that
internal trance state. He never went any more on pilgrimage to holy
places.
A few months before taking samadhi Maharaj had chosen the present
site. It was a farmland owned by one Mr. Malpani who had agreed to
give him the land. A few days before the samadhi, Maharaj told to his
devotees, who had gathered at Mama Dhekne's house, "These clothes
have become old. They must be discarded." everybody realized he was
referring to his body and not real clothes. He then asked them to
gather there after four days and that he would make 'khichdi' for
them. Four days later, when they gathered at Mama Dhekne's house,
Maharaj himself cooked the 'khichdi' and distributed it. Then Maharaj
said, "Dnyaneshwari is not to be read. One must live by it. This
world has been saved only by the advice of the Saints and
Dnyaneshwari He who fills his life with Dnyaneshwari will surely have
a happy life. I have nothing more to say." And with that he bid good-
bye to those who had gathered, except Dr. Dhaneshwar, Gosavi,
Dnyananath, Mehendale couple, Mama and Mami Dhekne. He said, "For
Yogis and liberated persons, samadhi should be taken at an auspicious
time. This time is coming on Vaishakh Suddha Ashtami. I am going to
deposit this material body in the ground that day."
During the next ten days or so, Maharaj broke all outside contacts.
Only the usual group used to visit him at Mama Dhekne's house. Not a
word was spoken. On the seventh day, that is the day before the
samadhi, he told Mami," Give me just a cup of tea. Inside the shelf
spread a small mattress and keep a cushion. I am going to take bath
and sit here. I don't want to speak a word nor meet anyone. The door
should not be opened." And they did accordingly.
Mama and Mami were sitting the whole night in front of the shelf
keeping watch. At four o'clock in the morning voice came from inside
the shelf, "Make further arrangements. Take care of this material
body. This flame of Dnyanadeo is now leaving it".
It was April 24th 1947. People gathered to have a last sight of the
body of the Master. Next day around noon the body was taken in
procession to the place and by the route indicated by Maharaj. Ground
was dug at the indicated place for the body. About five o'clock in
the evening the body was interred and in no time only a mound of
garlands was all that could be seen.
An unusual thing about Maharaj has been that even after samadhi he
visits his devotees Most visits have been out of a need to save them
from calamities or to give guidance.

Akkalkot Maharaj


Believed to be an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya the name of this
spiritual master, popularly called Swami Samarth, is a household word
in Maharashtra and the region around. As this Perfect Master chose to
reside at a place called Akkalkot for 22 years where he took
Mahasamadhi (left his mortal body) in 1878, he is also known as the
Maharaj of Akkalkot, Akkalkot is situated in district Solapur of
Maharashtra state of India.

For the devotees of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, it would be inspiring to
learn about the life and deeds of 'Swami Samarth'. A comparative
picturisation of the lives of these two great Saints, i.e. Swami
Samarth and Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi would establish a surprising
amount of commonness in their lives and deeds which includes their
methods of teaching, the universality of their approach and the
miracles they performed. Even a critical approach by a non-conformist
would ultimately lead to the assertion that the over-all role of
these two spiritual masters during the second half of the nineteenth
century was similar, if not same. One, who is capable of making finer
spiritual analysis, would be faced with a bewildering reality. The
reality is that Swami Samarth and Shri Shirdi Sai Baba were the
manifestations of the same Divine Spirit in two gross bodies. Many
published writings on both these Saints by different writers
authenticate about the interaction between these two Sadgurus both in
the gross, and the subtle planes. Just before Mahasamadhi, Swami
Samrath advised one of his disciples to worship Shri Sai at Shirdi
saying that he (the Swami Samarth) would stay at Shirdi in future.

The early life of Swami Samarth like that of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is
shrouded with mystery. For that matter, even Shri Shirdi Sai Baba's
advent and early life has not been established. Yet it does not
really matter for those who have faith in Him and continue to
experience his benevolence in different ways. How does it matter if
Christ was born of a virgin mother! He took the pain of the suffering
humanity and led them in the path of spirituality. That is what the
world needs.

Shri Narasimha Saraswati, about three centuries before the advent of
Swami Samarth is believed to be the earlier incarnation of Shri
Dattatreya. The 'Guru Charitra' one of the most famous books gives
lot of information about Him. As per the most popular belief, Shri
Narasimha Swami, after helping and spiritually uplifting a large
number of people over a few decades, went away to the Himalayas for
penance and went into Samadhi. In the Samadhi state He remained for
about three hundred years. With the passage of time a huge anthill
grew over him and he was lost to the outside world. One day
accidentally a woodcutter's axe fell on the bushes grown around the
ant hill. He was shocked to find blood stains on the blade of the
axe. He cleared the anthill and Lo, he found a Yogi in meditation.
The Yogi slowly opened his eyes and consoled the dumbfounded
woodcutter saying that it was the Divine Will for Him to re-appear in
the world to resume His mission. This Yogi, in his new role came to
be known as Swami Samarth.

Prior to his settlement at Akkalkot, Swami Samarth visited far and
wide. While moving in the Himalayan region he visited China.
Thereafter, he visited places like Puri, Benaras, Hardwar, Girnar,
Kathiawad and Rameswaram in the South. He also stayed at Mangalvedha,
a town near Pandharpur in Solapur district Maharashtra, which had
been inhabited earlier by famous saints like Domojipant and
Chokhamela. He came to Akkalkot in 1856 where he continued his
physical existence for 22 years. He came to Akkalkot on the
invitation of one Chintopant Tol and stayed at a place on the
outskirts of the town.

What we call miracles are the normal ways of functioning of the God
realized ones. The Risaldar of that area, a Muslim person, wanted to
test the Swami by offering him a 'Chilum' (an earthen smoking pipe)
without tobacco in it and asked him to smoke. Swami Samarth started
smoking the empty Chilum after lighting it as if nothing had
happened. Realizing him to be an advanced spiritual person, the
Risaldar apologized and made arrangements for his stay in the house
of one Cholappa. It is in this small house that Swami Samarth lived
up to his last.

Soon, the name of Swami Samarth as a Spiritual Master spread all
around and devotees came for taking his blessings. The ordinary
people did not understand many of his gestures and mystic statements,
which he used to make cryptically, although their meanings became
apparenton later dates. He treated Muslims, Christians and Parsees
all alike. His Kindness was always bestowed on the poor, needy and
the people at the lowest rung of the society. Both Hindus and Muslim
festivals like Dussehra and Moharram etc. used to be celebrated by
Him. As in Shirdi, Thursday became a special day of celebration at
Akkalkot. Like Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Samarth of Akkalkot was fond of
mass feeding. Once, on his visit to a place called Rampur, a devotee
named Rawaji, to celebrate his visit, cooked food for 50 people.
However, hearing the news of Swami Samarth's arrival hundreds of
people from the neighbouring villages started rushing to the village.
Seeing such a large number of people at his doorstep Rawaji became
visibly panicky. Moved by his plight, Swami Samarth asked Rawaji to
get some empty baskets. When the baskets were brought from the
market, idols of all the deities like Khandoba, Annapurna, etc were
put in them and food materials like chapatis (bread) etc. were piled
over them. Bawaji and his wife were asked to carry these baskets and
take three rounds around the Tulsi plant. After that, they were asked
to serve food from these baskets to the guest without looking into
them. When food were being served, Rawaji and his wife were amazed to
see that the baskets never exhausted even after a few hundred people
had been served. After all the people who had come finished their
meal, Swami Samarth took his meal. This is known as 'Annapurna
Siddhi'.

Swami Samarth had the capacity to read the minds of all the people
coming to him and also was able to know about their past and future.
Baba Saheb Jadhav, one of his great devotees one day came to meet the
Master. Seeing him suddenly Swami Samarth said "Oh Potter! There is a
summon coming in your name". The potter being in the close circle of
Swami Samarth understood the meaning of this sentence and begged of
the Swami to save him from the approaching death so that he could
continue to serve him (the Master). Moved by his devotion Swami
Samarth looked-up towards the sky and muttered something as if he was
addressing to someone who was invisible. Suddenly, he pointed his
hand towards a bull passing nearby and said in a loud voice "go to
the bull". In the presence of a large number of devotees, the bull
instantly fell dead. Jadhav, with a fresh lease of life, devoted
himself totally to the service of Swami Samarth thereafter.
Similarly, A European engineer from Solapur visited the Swami with
the earnest hope of having a son. As he approached Swami Samarth, the
latter just looked at him and told that he would have a son within a
year. That is what exactly happened.

The Sadgurus or the Spiritual Masters always endeavors to change the
quality of men that encounter them. Besides bestowing material
benefit, they try to uplift them spiritually. Once a Jewish doctor,
who was working as an eye specialist in the J.J. Hospital, Bombay met
Swami Samarth. The doctor was very proud of his professional
competence. Seeing him Swami Samarth asked "tell me doctor, how many
of the eye patients you have treated have lost their eye sights for
ever"'. This sentence made a tremendous impact on the doctor. He
realized that many people had lost their sights forever even if they
had been treated by him. His ego immediately vanished and thereafter
he became a devotee of Swami Samarth. After retirement the doctor
settled-down at Akkalkot and served the Master till his last.

It is said that a touchstone can convert an ordinary metal to gold.
The Spiritual Masters are such touchstones that they can convert any
ordinary metal not to that of gold but to that of a touchstone. They
are capable of giving spiritual life to any person in a fraction of a
second by a touch, a look, a word or even by a mere thought. A person
like Ramanand Bidkar who had lived an immoral life for a long period
was converted to a Saint called Bidkar Maharaj by the kind grace of
Swami Samarath, who by one grace i.e. Drishti Diksha evolved him
spiritually. Under his guidance Sri Balappa Maharaj, Shri Gangadhar
Maharaj, Sri Gajanan Maharaj and many others rose to spiritual
eminence and contributed a lot to the society.

After serving the poor, curing the sick and helping the spiritual
seekers over a few decades, Swami Samarth one day suddenly announced
that the time had come for him to go out of his physical existence.
By Hindu calendar It was Chaitra Sudha trayodasi, Shaka 1800 i.e. the
year 1878 AD Tuesday at 4 PM. At this time he seated himself in
Padmasana (Lotus Posture) and uttered his last words - "no one should
weep I shall always be present at all places and I shall respond to
every call of the devotees"". Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi had also said
exactly the same thing before his Mahasamadhi.
Just before he had left his gross body, one devotee named Keshav
Nayak who was emotionally charged, asked "Maharaj, since you are
going, who will give us protection?". Swami Samarth gave him a pair
of his sandals to worship. He told him "in future I will be staying
at Shirdi in district Ahmednagar". Another devotee, Krishna Ali
Bagkar decided to go to Akkalkot and worship the padukas of Swami
Samarth. Thereafter he got a dream appearance of Swami Samarth who
told him "now I am staying at Shirdi, go there and worship me".
Bagkar went to Shirdi where he stayed for six months. Later, when he
wanted to take leave of Shri Sai and go to Akkalkot again Shri Sai
told him "what is there in Akkalkot, Maharaj of Akkalkot is staying
here". Bagkar realized that there is no difference between Swami
Samarth and Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi as he recalled his earlier dream.

The divine game (leela) of Swami Samarth did not end with his Maha
Samadhi (shedding his mortal coil). His devotees continue to
experience the miracles of his visible and invisible help even till
today. It is exactly like the experience received by the devotees of
Sai Baba of Shirdi after his Mahasamadhi in 1918. Many people have
authenticated his appearance in physical form before them. These
people are not the faith-blind rural folk. Many of them are well
educated people like doctors, educationists etc. For example, Dr.
S.V.Marathe, a private medical practitioner of Pune once underwent
treatment in a chest Hospital at a place called Aundh in 1964. Many
of his friends were anxious to come and visit him. At this juncture,
Swami Samarth appeared before many of his friends in a dream and gave
the same message to all of them. He asked them not to worry about
Dr.Marathe, as he was under His (Swami Samarth's) protection and also
not to come to Aundh.

Hundreds of devotees continue to have miraculous experience about the
Perfect Master even today. But his miracles and those of Shri Sainath
are so alike that one would be drawn to the conclusion that they are
not two masters but are one, and the ONLY ONE TRUTH.

SAI SERVICE Newsletter – 05
Issue Date: May 09, 2002

Sai Service Newsletter  is a Weekly newsletter distributed every
Thursday and is
devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates.
Our contact e-mail address is:  essgee@...

This Thursday's Message:  (Baba said)
 I am god (Allah)
 I am Mahalaxmi; I speak the truth-sitting as I do at the Mosque.
 I am Vittoba of Pandari- Go, I am at Pandhari ( to Nana G
Chandorkar)
 I am Ganapathi; Mother, all offerings you made to Ganapati have
reached Me.
 I am Dattatreya; Are you puffed up? Where was male progeny in your=

destiny? (in answer to the prayer you offered before Datta at
Gangapur) I tore up this body and gave you a son.
 I am Laxmi Narain; Why go for Ganga elsewhere. Hold your palm at m=
y
feet. Here flows Ganga.
 What matters it whether in your meditation you see this (Sai)
figure or the figure of Laxmi Narayana?
 I am Maruti; My father dedicated me to Maruti.
I make gestures before his temple telling him I am his brother.


a) Baba's Talk with Devotees
b) Weekly Article: Sri Saibaba's Touch
c) Devotees Page
d) Our Prayers to Baba
e) Baba's Help

a. Baba's Talk with Devotees:

Baba as a dog and sickly Sudra:

Kasinath Govind Upasani Maharaj (KGU) who lived at Shirdi in 1911-14,
prepared his food which a black dog was watching. Offering nothing to
the dog, KGU went to the masjid and offered it to Baba.

Baba: Why did you bring it here, I was there.
KGU: Baba, there was nothing, except a black dog.
Baba: I was that black dog.
Baba refused to accept food that day. Next day KGU prepared his meal
at his quarters and found no dog there. But a sicky Sudra was
standing leaning on a wall and looking him away from that place and
brought the food to Saibaba.
Saibaba: Yesterday you didn't offer me food. today also you drove me
away. Why bring food here?
KGU: Where were you Baba?
Saibaba: I was leaning n the wall.
KGU: What! could you be in such a person?
Saibaba: Yes I am in all things and beyond.

"He pervades the earth and transcends it" – Purusha Sukta.


b. Weekly Article:

SRI SAI BABA'S TOUCH

Sri Narayan Ashram of Vaman Mutt Gangapuri, Wai is a cultured sanyasi
who says that "a considerable and momentous advance in his spiritual
condition was due to Sri Sai Baba". While serving in the Customs
Department in 1910, he approached Baba. But within a few years, Baba
noted that he was after higher things than worldly welfare and
"graciously conveyed" to him without any words, the feeling that
differences between souls, nay all differences, were unreal, that the
one Real Thing is that which underlies all. Baba did not speak out
and express this in words. In fact Baba spoke to him very little.

Baba's influence, he says was mostly silent. Baba's touch was a
potent factor in molding those who come to Him. "Baba had a way of
touching (with His palm) the head of the devotee who went to Him. His
touch conveyed certain impulses, forces, ideas etc. Sometimes He
pressed His hand heavily on the head, as though He was crushing out
some of the lower impulses of the devotee. Some times He tapped,
sometimes He made a pass with the palm over the head etc. Each had
its own effect - making remarkable difference in the sensations or
feelings of the devotee"

The Spiritual Push:

"Baba's touch was one means. Apart from that He would invisibly
operate on the nature of the devotee and effect a great change in
him" For this, immediate proximity was not necessary. Sri N. Asram
(then Mr, Toser) would go and sit even there, he was under Baba's
direct influence.

Unfortunately, almost the whole lot that went to Baba wanted worldly
benefit and had only poor, if any spiritual ambition. Hardly any was
competent to receive the highest teachings. He evidently found none
to receive all that He could confer, and so none has succeeded to His
position at Shirdi.

In the case of Sri Narayan Asram, Baba gave the first great push in
Paramartha about 1914 and left him in charge of the departed, yet
living soul of Vasudevananda Saraswathi (as all great souls are one)
who is responsible for his present condition.

"Baba was pre-eminently practical", says Sri N. Ashram. "He just gave
people a push to carry them a few steps beyond the level at the time
of approaching Him". Others will be there at the exact psychological
moment to give the needed help and guidance at each level and stage.

(The Wondrous Saint Sri Sai Baba, by Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji,
Founder-President, All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai, India)



c. Our Prayers to Baba:

"If My stories are listened to, all diseases will got rid of. So,
hear My stories with respect, and think and meditate on them,
assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment." –
Shri Sai Baba, SSS Ch. III


Kamakshi,
Dear Sai Ram,
I request you to kindly pray for my daughter who is having a growth
in the brain and may require to undergo surgery. Also to help my
elder daughter to deal with her son who is Autistic. Sai Ram thank
you.

S. Vasuki
Dear Saibandhus,
Could someone give method of HEALING PRAYER  seeking Sri Sai Baba's
help? It will be helpful to pray for our Prayer Club members who seek
our efforts in healing their problems. Om Sri Sai Ram.

Indu
Sairam, please pray to Baba for His help to solve some personal
problems
of mine. Please help me with this. Thank you,


Rita
Koti Koti Pranam on BABA Lotus Feet
Sai Ram to all the Sai Devotees
I would just like everyone to pray for Special Need Children all over
the world. Please can you also pray for their Parents as well ,To
give them Strength , Patience and lots and lots of Love to give these
lovely children.
I am also a parent of a lovely Special Need Child and I realise that
how difficult it can be without BABA's love and guidance.
Thank you Sai devotees
Sai ram



d. Baba's Help:

When people struggling to run the family with their meager income,
how can they dream for own house? For many such people, their
ambition will just remain as a day dream for ever. But for Sai
devotees, R.B. Purandhare's experience of having own house is very
interesting and informative; one can realize Baba's Love towards
their devotees' welfare.

Purandhare was a poor clerk and had no worldly financial ambitions.
He was living as a tenant in some house and had to face a lot of
trouble in consequence. Now we will take the first remarkable benefit
Baba conferred on him. When we love a child we love to adorn it's
body with fine clothes and ornaments etc., When Baba, with His
wonderful powers loved Purandhare, He could not endure the idea of
this good fellow being ill-treated by all those whom he had to
contact in occupying a rented house. So, the first thing that struck
Baba was that He should make this poor clerk own a bungalow of his
own. The idea that a clerk on Rs. 35 monthly salary could purchase a
plot of land and build a bungalow on it was so queer that Purandhare
could not think of it. Yet, very early in his contact with Baba, Baba
told him definitely, `Bhav, you had better buy a plot of land and
build a bungalow on it'.

Purandhere naturally thought it was beyond practical politics, and he
could not act upon it. Baba was impatient. When Purandhare went to
Him again and again without building the house. Baba got provoked and
even threw stones at him. Baba told others, for instance, Bade Baba,
to go and tell this R.B. Purandhere, whom He called `Ram Bhav', `Ask
that man whether he thinks me to be a man or a beast? Why does he not
act on my words?' When Bade Baba came and asked Purandhare and found
out what Baba's advice was, he also thought that it was not a
question of practical politics for this Rs.35 clerk to buy land and
build a bungalow on it.

Similarly, Baba complained to Nana Chandorkar and Kaka Dixit about
this instransigent devotee and told Nana to ask that fellow whether
he thought that Baba was a man or a beast. When Nana Chandorkar went
to Purandhare and asked him what Baba referred to, Purandhare frankly
told him the situation. Then Nana went back at once to Baba's feet
and said, `This matter is beyond his means; if you so desire, we will
build a house for him and give it to him'. Baba's reply was most
remarkable, he said, `I do not want anybody else to pay for it'.
There is a lot of money of this Ram Bhav in My Sirkar and I alone
will enable him to build. Nana could not understand how this Sirkar
was going to work, and there the matter seemed to end. But Baba kept
on digging into Purandhare.

At last it occurred to Purandhare that he might get at least a site.
There were plenty of sites available at Bandra. A site in a place far
away from popular quarters would be fairly cheap. Anyhow even that
price was unavailable. At once that friend instead of saying anything
else came and placed the money before him so that he could at once
take the plot. Purandhare asked whether he should execute a document
for the money and what interest he should pay. That friend declined
to have any document or any terms. He simply said, `Go on; build, Let
every other thing wait'. Purandhare then bought the land and secured
the title deed for the land. So he had taken one step in the
direction in which Baba wanted him to move. But it is one thing to
have a site and a totally different thing to have a bungalow built on
it.

Those who have built bungalows know to their cost that actual
building far exceeds the original estimate. Purandhare was faced with
further difficulties. He did not build. But when he went up to Baba
without building it, Baba got angry with him and found fault with him
for everything and for nothing. The conduct of Baba seemed to be to
others most unaccountable. For instance, on the Ram Navami
celebration of Baba's day, Purandhare and a friend of his were
commissioned to regulate the huge crowds that were flowing towards
Baba to take darshan. Purandhare did his best to reduce the force on
the confluence towards Baba. But Baba got angry and said, `You
fellow, you did not give Me peace whether I am in Mosque or
elsewhere. You allow these people to rush at Me and give Me no
peace'. This was obviously an unreasonable remark, for Purandhare had
done his very best. The crowds in those days were so huge that
procession of the darshan seekers would extend for many furlongs from
the mosque where Baba sat. It is not possible for one or two fellows
to control such a huge crowd; Still Baba got angry and severely
threatened him with punishment of all sorts.

Baba said that He would even bury him in the Mosque at His own feet
with His own hands. The way in which Purandhare put up with this
apparently unreasonable treatment is evidence of the strong love that
was growing in His heart. Love endureth all things.

Love does not blame. Love does not find fault. So he quietly endured
without offering a word of explanation for all this treatment. Then
Baba treated him in a different way. Having exhausted the threats and
abuses, Baba inflicted on him, by His own mysterious means, a severe
neuralgic headache, which Purandhare went on enduring, nights and
days.

Once Bade Baba came and asked Baba to give Purandhare some
palliative, Baba simply said, `That fellow would not listen to me'.
Then Bade Baba said, `He is working heart and soul in your service.
So kindly give him some treatment'. No treatment given to Purandhare
would give him relief. It was not Baba's idea to give him relief till
he finished his building. So all the time he stayed at Shirdi, he
suffered intense pain. He was asked to go back his home and carry on
his work. Purandhare went home fully convinced that this headache
inflicted by Baba would only cease, as Baba said, after he built the
house.

How is he to get the money? It occurred to him that the office lent
to the establishment some sums for building purposes for building a
tenement. So he applied and got from his office a sum of Rs. 500 and
got ready some materials like bricks, etc., for building the
bungalow. He was too unwell to look to the building. So his brother
went up and looked after the building work. Quick building is jerry
building and is bound to have serous defects. The wada or bungalow
that was put up in the course of a month by Purandhare's brother was
built so hastily that in a short time, in a year or so, there were
cracks on the walls. It must be remembered that the building was
built on agricultural land without any settu or hard foundation.
Evidently the hasty foundations laid for this wada were insufficient
to keep the walls together and in perpendicular position. So cracks
developed. Anyhow it was built rapidly in a month, and Purandhare
with his orthodox ideas wanted to do Vastupuja himself on the
building before occupying it. So he went up and did Vastupuja and
strangely enough, only after he went and occupies this bungalow, his
neuralgic headache ceased.

Here is a strange instance of Baba's Love forcing a man to get a
bungalow when he could hardly afford it. There were other defects
besides this jerry building. The site was a lonely site in the midst
of a waste. There were no neighboring houses to give one safety of
company. Purandhare was simply afraid of that, with young wife and
child at home, things were not safe, especially when he went away to
his office. Baba told him however, `Don't you be afraid. I am there
guarding your wife all the time'. This was found to be true, because,
though Baba's form was not always seen, no danger befell this family
living a solitary life in the midst of a waste.

(Courtesy: Life of Sai Baba, His Highness Poojyasri B V Narasimha
Swamiji, All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-4)



Publisher's Note:

Mailing Address: Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Saibaba Trust, Vasuki Mahal
Compound, Gandhi Nagar, Edayar Palayam, Coimbatore 641025, India. e-
mail to: essgee@....

To Subscribe Sai Service Newsletter for receipt by Email please
contact us in our above e-mail address. If you are subscribing the
newsletter for your friend or a relative, we request that the person
concerned may be notified about receiving the newsletter and the
willingness to receive the newsletter is confirmed.

To Un-Subscribe receipt, reply to the mail and write `un-subscribe'
in subject column.

To make a contribution to any of the sections of Sai Service, please
submit Articles to Sai Service through our e-mail address. It should
be noted that when a section from any material other than their own
is quoted or referred to, it is the authors' responsibility to
acknowledge the source appropriately.

For any questions or more information regarding this e-mail, please
send an e-mail to us and your inquiries will be attended to promptly.

SAI SERVICE Newsletter – 04
Issue Date: May 02, 2002

Sai Service Newsletter  is a Weekly newsletter distributed every
Thursday and is
devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates.
Our contact e-mail address is:  essgee@...

This Thursday's Message:  "I will be with you, the moment you think
of me, at any place." – Baba.

a) Baba's Talk with Devotees
b) Weekly Article: Fears and Problems
c) Devotees Page
d) Our Prayers to Baba
e) Baba's Help

a. Baba's Talk with Devotees:

A devotee objected to people going to Baba for temporal benefit e.g.,
employment, money, children, cure of disease.

Sai Baba: Do  not do that, My men first come to me on account of that
only. They get their heart's desire fulfilled; and comfortably placed
in life, They then follow me and progress further. I bring my men to
me from long distances under many pleas. I seek them and bring them
to me. They do not come (of their own accord). I bring them to me.
However distance – even thousands of miles away- my people might be,
I draw them to myself, just as we pull bird to us with a string tied
to their foot.


b. Weekly Article:

                       FEARS AND PROBLEMS

The most admirable charters of Saibaba is "Why do you fear, when I am
here!" This itself is an answer to us for the success of our life. It
is universal phenomenon that a success cannot be achieved without
overcoming troubles. The art of facing trouble and converting them in
to success is easy to all Sai devotees and methodology is clearly
explained in Sri Sai Satsaritram.

This world has numerous problems and freely distributed gift to us
according to our materialistic ambitions. If your ambitions are
totally controlled by `maya' then your struggle in the life is
unending. The so called modern needs of life, such as prestigious
profession, overflowing pay and perks, luxurious shelter, beautiful
wife, handsome husband, genius children, reliable relations,
confidential friends etc, Do you think these are the things that will
provide you real pleasures in your life? Be honest in your judgement
with practical current situations.

If you are very sincere in your judgement, the answer will be a big
`no'. Your neighbor in a rented house, earning meager salary in a
private commercial establishment, children studying in government
school is happier than you. Your countless problems on taxes, falling
profits, inability to meet business target, ever increasing household
and business expenditures, disturbed / sleepless nights, mis-
understanding with wife, careless children. etc. etc. is a partial
list. Despite with all these odds, if you are peaceful and happy
that is because of your faith on Sri Saibaba and leading life as per
His teachings.

Baba declared that he had come to give blessings to people, temporal
and spiritual wealth, and that He draws them under various pretexts.
In this world, material aims and objects cannot be ignored and man
cannot be blamed if worldly prosperity is one of the main motives of
their devotion to God. This fact has been recognized not merely by
Saibaba, but by Lord Krishna Himself.

Chaturvidha Bhajante Mam
Janah sucrutino Arjuna
Aartho Jijnasuh Artharthi
Jnani cha bharatarshabha.

This means, `Four sorts of men are drawn to Me. They are all blessed.
They are a) the distressed, b) those seeking knowledge, c) those
wanting worldly objects and d) the man of perfect wisdom. The
distressed people are the largest number in the world and it is not
surprising that they were the earliest to approach Baba. Persons are
indifferent to God and Saints, so long as they are well off. But once
distress besets them, they feel helpless and seek the aid of a Higher
Power. When distress enters, all fancied obstacles of inability to
understand, doubt and carping fly and leave the man with a ready
receptive heart and make him rush to the one who he believes – and
his distress makes him believe- to be gifted with power to redress.
Distress rouses hope and faith and these work wonder of turning a
skeptic into a believer. This has proved thousands of times and it is
true all times.

Baba's message to His distressed devotees " Cast off your anxiety,
your sufferings have come to an end. However, oppressed and troubled
one may be, as soon as he steps in the Masjid, he is on the pathway
to happiness" (Sri Sai Satsaritram Ch. xiii).

Hence Saibaba of Shirdi is our savior and protector,- why fear, when
He is always with us.


c. Devotees Page:

With regard to the issue of Sai Service Newsletter, we are pleased to
reproduce the letter of Saibandhu D. Sankaraiah forwarded to
Saibandhu K. Ramaswamy, Past President, All India Sai Samaj (Regd),
Chennai.

Respected RamaSaiji,

SaiRam.

1.I'm of the opinion the whole issue of Newsletter appears to be
Baba's inspiration only.Please go ahead.H.H.B.V.N.Swamiji in his
letter dt. 03.02.1946
stated "The more we work for others,the greater is our Punya and the
greater the love Saibaba has for us."Having atmost faith in this
statement,let's go ahead.

2.In a way we all owe a spiritual debt to H.H.B.V.N.S for his service
in bringing Sai to the doorsteps of Non marathi knowing devotees.If
we work on the lines
of Sai vyasa in the south,we shall be redeeming our debt.

3.H.H.Sivanesan Swami of Shirdi told me several times to take up Sai
seva in a positive way,ie.,we should prove that Baba is more alive
now than when He was in flesh and blood.

4.On my part i'm ready to lead a nama sankeertan and bhajan mandali
if a week in a month is devoted to Sai prachar in south.

5.Can we organise a function in the place where B.V.N.Swami lived in
Salem.

6.Discuorse on Sai,distribution of Udhi and Baba's photos followed by
Non Stop Sainama Japa will revive Sai spirit in south.Ofcourse
distribution of brouchers
on Shirdi Sai baba will help present day devotee.

7.We must make ourselves doubly sure we are not Gurus,Swamijis,babas
and Matajis to use babas name in exploting innocent devotees. I shall
further discuss with Sai's grace on receipt of your comments.

D.Sankaraiah

d. Our Prayers to Baba:

This week we are providing an article on Effective Prayer.

Effective Prayer

Prayer is an integral part of our life. If you know how right ways to
get maximum yield on your prayers, then you may not face much
difficulties in your life.

Even though prayer and reward are inter-linked, one must clearly
understand the effective time of reward will vary between a fraction
of second and decades. Never mind on rewards, just go on in your
efforts to reach God. Also one must not forget that the reward may
not always be positive, it is purely depending on your accumulated
karmic balance of your past and present life. It is well defined
divine law that there is no escape for your debts, murder and enmity.
One must face the realities of karma; your steadfast sincere prayers
will provide some comfort on your sufferings.

Prayer is the greatest power available to the individual and the
benefits of prayer power are astonishing. To discover amazing power
of prayer, the following are ten rules outlined by Norman Vincent
Peale:

1. Set aside a few minutes every day. Do not say anything, Simply
practice thinking about God. This will make your mind spiritually
receptive.
2. Then pray orally, using simple, natural words. Tell God anything
that is on your mind. Do not think you must use stereotyped pious
phrases. Talk to God in your own language, He understands it.
3. Pray as you go about the business of the day, on the subway, or
bus or at your desk. Utilize minute prayers by closing your eyes to
shut out the world and concentrating briefly on God's presence. The
more you do this every day the nearer you will feel God's presence.
4. Do not always ask when you pray, but instead affirm that God's
blessings are being given, and spend most of your prayers giving
thanks.
5. Pray with the belief that sincere prayers can reach out and
surround your loved ones with God's love and protection.
6. Never use negative thoughts in prayer. Only positive thoughts get
result.
7. Always express willingness to accept God's will. Ask for what you
want, but be willing to take what God gives you. It may be better
than what you ask for.
8. Practice the attitude of putting everything in God's hand. Ask for
the ability to do your best and to leave the results confidently to
God.
9. Pray for people you do not like or who have mistreated you.
Resentment is blockade number one of spiritual power.
10. Make a list of people for whom to pray. The more you pray for the
other people, especially those not connected with you, the more
prayer results will come back to you.

Sai Service Prayer Club is giving us an opportunity to pray for all
Sai Bhaktas who are suffering. Let us list them; pray for them on all
Thursday evenings at our nearby Sai Mandir or at our home.  Please
feel free to post your prayer requests to us and we will prompty
include in our newsletter.

Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.

N. Sivanandam, Coimbatore, India


e. Baba's Help:

Beloved Sai Brothers and Sisters,

While doing Sai service, if we face any unexpected disturbances, we
feel irritation, no matter what we read in Sri Sai Satsaritram over
the years. The moment if any resistance or opposition raised by
someone, either known or unknown persons. Even though our anger may
last for  just a fraction of second, yet our mind is not tolerating.
After all, we are normal human beings, always praying to our Lord
Saibaba to guide us in all walks of our life. Here I wish to narrate
one such incident happened to me recently.

After visiting various web sites on Shri Shirdi Saibaba, I thought of
publishing a monthly magazine on Saibaba in our local language Tamil
and supply free of cost to the poor people of Coimbatore. I humbly
appeal Sai devotees all over the world must think of poor people
around us and make them to understand and follow Sai messages in such
a way they easily  understand, especially in a country like India,
poor people do not have any access for English language education and
most of them just know their local language alone.

It was second Thursday April 11, 2002; I decided to distribute the
copies to the Sai devotees who attended Evening Pooja at Shri Naga
Sai Temple, Coimbatore, India. I distributed one copy to each in
Prasadham counter, and all were very happy to have a copy of the
book. After 10 minutes, one volunteer came and asked me to stop the
books distribution. I politely said, "It is a Sai Service, for the
benefit of Sai devotees, I am supplying these books free of cost to
spread Sai Philosophy". The person got angry because of my argument
and disrespect shown to his ego, then finally he warned me to get out
of that place. As a normal human being I lost my temper for a
fraction of second, then I apologized to Lord Sai for my act.

I didn't get peaceful sleep during that night, I prayed to Baba to
give me some direction or His opinion on my act, whether to continue
this Free book publication or discontinue? I didn't get any clear
answer during that night, I consulted my Sai friend, Shri K.
Ramaswamy, Past President, All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-4,
India. He advised me not to stop this kind of prachaar work,
especially in local language, because such kind of prachaar is need
of this hour. I made up my mind to continue to publish this monthly,
but I was awaiting for clear signal from Baba on proper method of
distribution.

Today is 4th Thursday, April 25, 2002, after completing my morning
prayers, at His inspiration I realized and got clarification on my
doubt on  distribution of books from Saibaba. As the book was
primarily designed to the benefit of poor people who DO NOT  know
about Sri Saibaba. (The contents of the book – Vedic Prayer- one
page, selective sentences of Sri Sai Satsaritra- one page, Devotees
experiences- 14 pages, His Highness B V Narashimaswamiji's work – two
pages, etc.) Majority of Sai devotees who regularly visiting temple
must have read these items and any repetition is not called for. The
entire work must have to go who do not know about Sri Shirdi Saibaba.

I thanked Baba for guiding me to choose correct channel of
distribution for Sai Prachaar work. Nothing is impossible with Baba
and all our prayers will be addressed to by Baba, just have full
faith on Him and constantly seek His advice on all matters in your
life.

Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Yours in Sai Service,
N. Sivanandam, Coimbatore, India


Publisher's Note:

Mailing Address: Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Saibaba Trust, Vasuki Mahal
Compound, Gandhi Nagar, Edayar Palayam, Coimbatore 641025, India. e-
mail to: essgee@....

To Subscribe Sai Service Newsletter for receipt by Email please
contact us in our above e-mail address. If you are subscribing the
newsletter for your friend or a relative, we request that the person
concerned may be notified about receiving the newsletter and the
willingness to receive the newsletter is confirmed.

To Un-Subscribe receipt, reply to the mail and write `un-subscribe'
in subject column.

To make a contribution to any of the sections of Sai Service, please
submit Articles to Sai Service through our e-mail address. It should
be noted that when a section from any material other than their own
is quoted or referred to, it is the authors' responsibility to
acknowledge the source appropriately.

For any questions or more information regarding this e-mail, please
send an e-mail to us and your inquiries will be attended to promptly.

OM SRI SAI NATHAYA  NAMAHA

  SAI SERVICE Newsletter

Issue No. 03 				 Issue Date:
	 April 25, 2002

			 This Thursday's Message:

A DEDICATION OF ALL YOUR ACTIONS TO GOD
OR GURU IS THE TRUE ESSENCE OF DEVOTION

Ahum bhavaan na chaanyastwam: twamevaaham vichakshva bhoh
Na nou Pasyanthi kavayah chidhram jaathu manaagapi: (The Bhagavata)

The meaning is "We are one; the wise discern no difference between
us."
Hence On this Happy occation of Bhagwan Mahaveer Jayanthi, we offer
our prayers to Him for a Happy, prosperous and peaceful life to all.
To mark this occation, we are pleased to give Jain Prayers to our
readers in the prayer column.

Weekly Article:

DIFFICULTIES ARE A TEST OF YOUR INTEGRITY

Wherever we go, almost all devotees had a common question – "Despite
my prayers to God  Almighty since a decade or two, my prayers never
addressed to and my sufferings are still continuing and there is no
scope towards an end. Throughout my life I devoted all my life in
doing good to all my near and dear, yet  the resultant reaction is
bitterness and unhappiness in my life. Why such indifference only in
my life? "

We must understand this question in two contexts. First, what does a
prayer mean? Second, How to perform prayers?

As most of us simply think a prayer is  routine exercise to appeal
God for materialistic gains and just have a satisfaction of
performing poojas and visiting temples. Even one stage up, doing
parayana, participating in yagnas, etc., Do these acts are sufficient
for a person to attain mukthi?

No, not at all. There are instances in the life of Bhagwan Sri
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. During 1847, when the Queen Rajamani of
Kolkatta requested Bhagwan to chant a song on Godess Kali in Kali
temple. While chanting on Godess Kali, queen's mind was thinking on
her long pending litigation in the court. By understanding the
queen's attention was not on Godess, He slapped on her face. While
others wanted to punish Bhagwan, queen prohibited to do any harm to
Him as the she felt guilty on her act.

The above incident clearly defining anyone in front of God, must
surrender themselves in total, our physical body, mental body,
conscious and sub conscious body. You need not demand anything from
God, as He knows what is appropriate to you and definitely, you will
receive without asking. You must practice nistha and sabouri.

In order to get benefits of prayers, it is not necessary to
participate publicity oriented poojas budgeted to spend millions of
rupees. Baba said " I do not need any paraphernalia of worship"  Sri
Sai Satcharitram (Ch. xiii) then how can you expect such above
extravaganza celebrations will please Baba. Also Baba said " Do not
be deluded by worldly honors"  (Ch.vi) you should not be a part of
products of Maya, such as president, governing committee member,
chairman, director, officer, staff etc. We are all servants to our
Lord, realize all living beings are one and love all. Submit your
ahangar (ego) to the Lotus feed of Baba.

For method of praying Baba explains " The form of the Deity should be
firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the senses and mind is ever devoted
to the worship of the Lord, let there be no attraction for any other
thing. Fix the mind remembering Me always, so that it will not wander
elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm,
peaceful and care-free." (Ch.vi) " I rest there, where there is full
devotion" (Ch. xiii)

Now coming to the main topic - the answer is simple. An ardent
devotee, sincere in his devotion, never indulge in any offences,
still he is suffering. Actually God is happy about his devotion, but
it is a test of integrity. In Sri Sai Satsaritra Ch. xxix, "It is to
be noted here that doubts and difficulties surround us, just to move
us and confirm our faith. We are tested as it were. If we only hold
on steadily to Baba, with full faith and continue our endeavors, our
efforts will be ultimately crowned with success."

It is Lord's way of action is unique, He agitate us initially and
comfort us subsequently. In Sri Sai Satsaritra, Ch. xxxiv, Shama
exclaimed to Baba "Deva, what is this play of yours? You first raise
a storm and make us restless and then calm it down and comfort us"

Naturally human mind is made to enjoy the results of their efforts at
once, like doing  a work and getting the wage immediately on its
completion, we usually expect the results of our prayers immediately.
In the event of prolonged sufferings, his mind is upsetting his
prayer process and  fabricating unnatural dilemma on his faith and
efforts. One must have Nishtha and Saburi  to remove all our sins and
afflictions and to get rid of calamities in our life.

Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.

N. Sivanandam, Coimbatore, India

a. Our Prayer to Baba:

All Sai devotees are encouraged to send their Prayers to Sri Saibaba
and will be published in subsequent issues.

On account of Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jayanthi, we are pleased to
present few lines on Jain Prayer for our readers:

1. May the sacred stream of amity flow forever in my heart.
May the universe prosper -- such is my cherished desire.

2. May my heart sing with ecstasy at the sight of the virtuous,
and may my life be an offering at their feet.

3. May my heart bleed at the sight of the wretched, the cruel, the
irreligious,
and my tears of compassion flow from my eyes.

4. May I always be there to show the path to the pathless wanderers
of life.
Yet if they should not hearken to me, may I bide in patience.

5. May the spirit of goodwill enter all our hearts.
May we all sing in chorus the immortal song of human concord.

FIGHT AGAINST DESIRES

O man! Control thyself. Only then can you get salvation. If you are
to fight, fight against your own desires. Nothing will be achieved by
fighting against external enemies; if you miss this occasion, it will
be lost forever.

One's own unconquered soul is one's greatest enemy.

PRAYER

1. May my thoughts and feeling be such that I may always act in a
simple and straightforward manner. May I ever, so far as I can, do
good in this life to others.

2. May I never hurt and harm any living being; may I never speak lie.
May I never be greedy of wealth or the wife [spouse] of another. May
I ever drink the nectar of contentment!

3. May I always have a friendly feeling towards all living beings of
the world and may the stream of compassion always flow from my heart
towards distressed and afflicted living beings.

4. May I never entertain an idea of egotism; nor may I be angry with
anybody! May I never become jealous on seeing the worldly prosperity
of other people.

5. May I never become fretful towards bad, cruel and wicked persons.
May I keep tolerance towards them. May I be so disposed!

6. May I ever have the good company of learned ascetics and may I
ever keep them in mind. May my heart be always engrossed and inclined
to adopt the rules of conduct, which they observe.

7. May my heart be overflowing with love at the sight of the
virtuous, and may I be happy to serve them so far as possible.

8. May I never be ungrateful (towards anybody); nor may I revolt
(against anybody). May I ever be appreciating the good qualities of
other persons and may I never look at their faults.

9. May my mind neither be puffed up with joy, nor may it become
nervous in pain and grief. May it never be frightened even if Iam in
a terrible forest or strange places of cremation or graveyards.

10. May my mind remain always steady and firm, unswerving and
unshaken; may it become stronger every day. May I bear and endure
with patience the deprivation of dear ones and occurrences of
undesired evils.

11. May all living beings of the world be happy! May nobody ever feel
distressed! May the people of the world renounce enmity, sin, pride
and sing the songs of joy every day.

12. May Dharma (truth) be the topic of house-talk in every home! May
evil be scarce! May (people) increase their knowledge and conduct and
thereby enjoy the blessed fruit of human birth.

13. May disease and pestilence never spread, may the people live in
peace, may the highest religion of Ahimsa (non-injury) pervade the
whole world and may it bring about universal good!

14. May universal love pervade the world and may ignorance of
attachment remain far away. May nobody speak unkind, bitter, and
harsh words! 15. May all become "heroes of the age" heartily and
remain engaged in elevating the Cause of Righteousness. May all gain
the sight of Truth called "Vastuswarupa" (Reality of substance) and
may they bear, with pleasure, trouble and misfortunes!

AMEN

-- The above prayers and songs are from *Jainism -- Past andPresent:
Prayers, Articles and Short Stories,* published by Dr.Tansukh J.
Salgia (1984, Parma, Ohio).


b. Baba's Help:

Ahmedabad is a stranger-though not so very dramatic – instance of
Baba's chamatkars. Here a well known lawyer of good standing, Sri
C.C. Mankewalliah, was the person to whom or for whose benefit Baba's
lilas were performed. We may give his experience, as it appeared in
the September 1953 issue of the Sai Sudha, in the words of Sri
Mankewallia.

From 1948 to 1952 for five years continuously, I suffered from Dropsy
and gastric ulcer. I had no appetite. I vomited blood and could not
eat anything or even take water. My weight became abnormal, viz. 300
pounds last year, from January onwards. I was bed ridden. Doctors
attended on me about 1952 April, the chief doctor of the hospital and
other consulting doctors of the city gave up hope of my recovery. On
one day, the chief doctor noticing that blood in profuse quantity was
coming out of my mouth and that my weight due to dropsy was
abnormally high, viz. 300 pounds said that there was no sufficient
blood in the body and that surrounding poisons would prove fatal in
two days. Some friends and relations had advised me to worship
Saibaba (whose temple was opposite to my house) in April 1952 and I
had hung up Saibaba's picture in front of me and worshipped Him.
After looking into His photo, I got affection for Him. First, I had
apprehension that I should not worship a Mohammedan saint. But, the
continuous attraction of His photo on my mind and relation's talk
gave me a sudden vision of Saibaba when I was awake at 6.00 p.m. He
then said to me "I am not a fakir. But I am an incarnation of Guru
Datta. There are nine gems (including Me, who are incarnation of
Datta, namely. Tajuddin Baba of Nagpur, Dhuniwala Dada of Khandwa,
Vishnu Debananda Saraswathi of Narmada, the Mahant of Akkalkot, etc.
" The next day, I got two books in Gujarati on Baba and read them.
Some days later when the doctor completely gave up hopes and stated
that life will pass away in two hours (at noon), then Baba appeared
in front of me at about 1.00 p.m. First a light came from the door
and Baba came in that light, and my mother Sri Sivaganga and I saw
Him and heard His words. He said " Baccha, Mad gabra tumara sub dukha
me hardeya" to me; and to my mother, He said " tumara sub dukha me
hardeya" which means, "Child, fear not, all your disease I have taken
away." "Send your grand son Turt immediately to Shirdi."

	 Then He disappeared through the door. As my son had not
sufficient experience of travel and as my sudden death would
necessitate the presence of my son for funerals as apprehended by
some, I and my mother had to consult together, but we told my son to
start in the evening for Shirdi, and he did. At 6.00 p.m. on that
day, Baba again appeared and told us, "Do not be afraid. I am with
your son also. Tomorrow at 12.00 O' clock you will receive a wire
from your son that he had reached Shirdi safe." After 6.00 p.m. the
doctor visited me. He again gave up hopes of my survival and mocked
at the above experience, which was narrated to him. He said, "This is
mere hallucination." In one or two hours, life would depart. This is
said to my mother, and other close relations. Next day, 12.00 noon, I
got my son's wire "Reached Shirdi safe." then from that moment, I
began to purge. No blood passed. Next day, all poisons had passed out
in that way, in the stools and urine; my body became light. It is
weighed. The weight was 75 pounds. The heart beating and the pulse
were normal. The doctor came when the purging was going on. He was
present at the weighing and resumption of normal pulse and normal
beating of heart. The doctor was satisfied that I had now become safe
and was saved by the "mysterious ways of Baba." From that date, my
health regularly improved. In two months, I could and did take
ordinary food. I am all right since then. I am doing regular lawyer's
work now as before. I am always praying to Baba. In other matters,
example domestic, Baba is guiding me and protecting me. Then I went
to Shirdi and I have now completed my entire south Indian pilgrimages
I will visit Shirdi again on my way back home. I came to Madras 3 or
4 days back, as the guest of Mr. Ambalal Khapadia of Adyar. On 8th
night and on 9th morning, I had a vision of Baba (about 5.00 a.m). He
commanded me to visit His temple in Mylapore and all His devotees
there. So I came here yesterday and today.

	 In 1953 was the first appearance of Baba to Sri Mankewalla
but this did not stop with 1953. in 1954 he had repeated appearance
and help of Baba. That was for his benefit. But Baba appeared before
him in August 1954 for the benefit of the public. This pamphlet had
been written and attempts were being made to print it in August.
There was inordinate delay on the part of some printers who undertook
the task of printing it. Meanwhile Baba made use of the delay for
furnishing the best answer to the question at the top of this
pamphlet. He appeared on the morning of 23-8-1954 to Sri Mankewalla
and the message He gave was for the publication and broadcasting in
this pamphlet and in the history of Saibaba. That was written by Sri
B.V. Narashimaswamiji.

(Courtesy: Is Sai Baba Living and Helping Now? written by His
Highness Pujyasri B.V. Narashimaswamiji, Founder-President, All India
Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-600004)


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to the life, philosophy and teachings of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. Feel
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Beloved Sai Ram,

First newsletter is just an introductory letter for the launch of
newsletter to interested devotees.

We are pleased to forward second newsletter for your reading.

Yours in Sai Service,
N. Sivanandam.

Sai Service Newsletter No.2

I reproduce the authentic version of the origin of
Naga Sai Mandir, Coimbatore. This article was published in the
Mahasamadhi Souvenir, 1963 by the All India Sai Samaj
(Regd),Mylapore,Madras 4.
Naga Sai Mandir, Coimbatore.
During his intensive tour of the country side visiting various
places for spreading the message and blessings of Sri Sai Baba
throughout
the length and breadth of the country, Sri Narasimhaswamiji visited
Coimbatore in the begining of 1941. An ardant devotee Sri
C.Varadarajiah
who has made excellent arrangement for swamiji's visit was mainly
instrumental for his very successful visit. He and his brother late
Sri C.V.
Rajan has already heard of Baba and had visited Shirdi. Swamiji's
visit
intensified the Sai Bhakthi in Sri Varadarajiah who then resolved to
establish a permanent abode for Sri Sai Baba at Coimbatore. In this
noble
task he sought and obtained the blessings of Swamiji. In June 1942 on
the Northern side of the Coimbatore City on the main Road to Nilgris
Sri Varadarajiah purchased an acre of land, dug well and erected a
cottage. He installed Baba's picture in the cottage so that Baba's
devotees could congregate and offer worship. In those days the
Coimbatore Sai
Samaj used to have Bajans during important festivals especially
during the
Vijayadasami day and soon the place began to be called as Baba's
Mandir
by public of Coimbatore. Sai devotees used to meet there regularly
every Thursday for Bhajans and on one such occasion became RED
LETTER DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE COIMBATORE INSTITUTION.
There was the usual Bhajan going on in the twilight of the sacred
Thursday, 7th January 1943.At that moment(around 5.30 p.m.) a King
Cobra appeared before the Baba's picture, in a rich golden colour and
arresting splendour with the conch and Chakra well marked broad hood.
Just then the sun was setting, and the Mandir lights were being
lighted.
The Bhajan was going on in a grand tempo. The Naga did not leave
the Baba's place,though there were many devotees present. There is a
proverb which says that on the side of a serpant even an army would
scatter.
Last in Baba's Bakthi and Baba's grace none felt any fear, and all
considered
that it was Sri Sai Baba himself, giving darsan in that Naga Form.
The news spread fast in Coimbatore, and the suburbs and devotees
blocked in great numbers to see for themselves the Leela of Baba.
In the midst of these bustle and noise created by the gathered people
the
Naga stood still uterly ignoring all this and giving darsan,on the
Thursday and
Friday to the great delight of all the devotees.Lost in divig escatcy
Sri
C.Varadarajiah and other devotees got about a thousand ''THIRU
SAMANDIMAM" flowers and reciting the ashtotram of Baba and treating
the Cobra itself AS SRI SAI BABA they stood round it and close to it
and
threw all the one thousand flowers ove the head of NAGA SAI. The
cobra did not budge an inch but received all the flowers over its
head.
Then they sent for a photographer.
When the photographer attempted to take a photo it was
observed that the Naga was hidden in the heaps of Javanthi flowers.
When
the soul stirring prayers were offered to Naga Sai to grant the
desire of
obtaining a photo, Lo, the Lord answered,and the Naga unfolded its
broad
hood in full and thus helped, in a good photograph being taken. After
fully
enjoying this granduer of the Thursday and the Friday following the
devotees desired that the Naga Lord should disapper. The Naga in
answer
to the prayers came around Baba's picture and lelft the cottage
slowly on
the fields followed by the Devotees, and disappeared in the nearby
shrubs.
Some days after this, just at the place where the Naga Disappeared,
an
ANT HILL APPEARED.That ant hill is being now worshipped as the
"Swambu Lingam" of Naga Sai. At this sacred place the Neem and Arasu
trees were planted, and under their shade have been installed Nagas
and
Vigneswara. Milk and other sacred offerings were made by the
devotees.
who gather there, for worship of the Lord Naga Sai that has become a
Maha Mantra during all ills and conferring all benefits and
protection.
A cottage, where Naga Sai first appeared and gave Darsan has now
been constructed , as a pucca structure.--THE NAGA SAI
MANDIR. On 15th November 1944, the Naga Sai Mandir, its lands and its
possessions were made a Registered Public Trust with Sri
C.V.Varadarajiah
Life Trustee. A big Mandapam and a Gopuram have been built where
Baba's picture was first installed and the Kumbabhisekam of the Naga
Sai
Mandir was celebrated in 1945 in a grand scale. The construction of
the
Maha Mandapam opposite to the sanctum sanctorium was completed in
1953.
During the period 1953 to 1956 with the Blessings of
H.H.Narasimhaswamiji
Sai mission founded by Sri A.V.K.Chari began Sai Baba propaganda
work.
The Sai Baba Vidyalaya valued at a cost of Rs.20,000/-was constructed
and this began functioning on the Independance day of 1947. The Sai
Baba
mission had also started the Sai Baba Kanya Gurukulam, the
residential school for
orphan girls.....
(compiled from Souvenir 1963.....K.Ramaswamy)
(The copy of the original photo of Naga Sai , again obtained recently
and placed in All India
Sai Samaj, Mylapore, Madras at Pujyasri Narasimhaswamiji's cottage by
Sri K.Ramaswamy for the benefit of devotees)

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