THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI – 18
Published Bi-Weekly
Issue 18/2004
Please visit our Web site: http://www.saidarbar.org
------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS
ISSUE CONTAINS:
1.
SAI A BEACON FOR HUMANITY
2.
THE GLORY - - E-MAGAZINE
3. SAI’S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
4. SAI PHILOSOPHY
5. SAI IN LETTERS
6. CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE ON BHAGAVAD -GITA
7. SPIRITUAL GEMS
FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
8. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY
9. DEVOTEES
EXPERIENCES
10. SAI WITH CHILDREN
11. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES
12. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES
13. TELUGU SECTION
14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS
15. EDITOR'S DESK
----------------------------------------------------------
1. SAI A BEACON
FOR HUMANITY
Download from http://www.ebeacon.indiainabook.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. THE GLORY -
- E-MAGAZINE
Please visit: http://www.ebooks.vijishvanya.com/shirdi/emagazine.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. SAI PHILOSOPHY:
SAI PHILOSOPHY FROM THE DIARY OF SAI.BA.NI.SA.
These messages
are the outcome and essence of the dream sequences of Saibanisa as given by
Lord Sainath, which reflect the Sai Philosophy and his high thinking. They
carry a sense of deep meaning and are generally thought provoking, enough to
set one’s thinking process.
Translated and
presented by RAGHU RAMAN SATULURY.
126)
127)
128)
129)
130)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. SAI IN LETTERS:
Madhusudhan Nori,
SAI IN LETTERS (Saibanisa's
letters to his Son
http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/ocean_of_mercy/sai3.jpg
Translated from
the Telugu original into English by Sri
Sai Devotee Madhusudan Nori.
Secunderabad -
I request the readers to read first Sri Sai Satcharitra in English by Late Sri Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji,
before reading these letters. http://www.geocities.com/seenukv/day-01-thu.htm
17.02.92
Letter 43 (Chapter 46)
Dear Chakrapani,
Hemadri Pant narrated interesting Sri Sai Leelas (Miracles) in this chapter. Shyama,
who witnessed and experienced those Leelas, was indeed very fortunate. I am not
anywhere near in devotion compared to Shyama, but Sri Sai has also made me
experience what HE made Shyama experience in those days. I will write about
these experiences of mine in this letter. Before I start writing about my
Experiences recollect what Hemadri Pant wrote in this chapter - "You will
satisfy the wishes of your devotees" so said Hemadri Pant to Sri Sai.
I am waiting for the day when Sri Sai accepts me as HIS own
immediately after HE fulfills my wishes of meeting all responsibilities in my
life. I am going to narrate the
experience given to me by Sri Sai. Hemadri Pant writes in this chapter thus -
"Once Baba accepts anyone as HIS devotee, then HE will be with the devotee
by day and night. HE will follow the devotee at his home or abroad. Let the
devotee go to any place of his choice, Baba will reach that place before the
devotee reaches and remains present there in some unimaginable form". This
aspect was proven in those days in the episode of Shyama's pilgrimage to Gaya.
I prayed to Sri Sai in 1990 for a similar experience. My prayers did not go in
vain. I was told in 1991 that the authorities, in the organization where I
work, have decided to send me to Korea. Sri Sai entered my mind on that day and
told me " I will reach Korea before you and await your arrival
there". What a nice imagination! I spent the day with a thought that how
nice it would be if such a thing actually takes place and then forgot about the
matter. I reached a big hotel, in the city of Chang Wan in Korea, at 6 PM on 6
May 91 and a room was allotted to me. I unlocked the room, entered it and
switched on a table lamp. I noticed a flying insect, which went around the
table lamp three times and flew out through the open door used by me to enter
the room. My mind was filled with joy at the thought that Sri Sai, in the form
of flying insect, reached Korea
before me and blessed me on my arrival there. I bowed and prayed
to Sri Sai. Some people may say that this incident is coincidental.
I will now narrate another incident that took place in the same
room, for asserting that the earlier incident was not coincidental. My return
journey to
is returning to
about two friends of HIS from their earlier births. I sought
clarification on the theory of birth cycles and rebirth from Sri Sai while
meditating on HIM. Sri Sai gave me a very nice answer. It is not appropriate
for me to write those revelations here. I will tell you, about those
revelations, in person at an appropriate time. Sri Sai immensely loved animals.
There are incidents of HIS assuming a form of a cat or dog and saving his
devotees. Sri Sai used to first give pieces of bread to cats and dogs in
Dwarakamayi before HE ate the balance food. Sri Sai told us to see divinity in
all living beings and showed us the way. I have
mentioned in one of my earlier letters how Sri Sai made me build
a low water storage structure in front of our house for animals to quench
their thirst. Make an attempt to
visualize Sri Sai in all living beings.
In Sri Sai Seva,
Your father.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.JOIN
CORRESPONDENCE COURSE ON BHAGAVAD -GITA:
http://www.gita-society.com/lessons/saigita.htm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. SPIRITUAL
GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
Sai Ram. Let us continue with the stories of Chpater 12.
"Once, Kaka Mahajani went to Shirdi from
We have already seen in Chapter 9 how those who did not obey Baba's suggestions
about leaving Shirdi met with a lot of difficulties. It is not as if Baba was
angry with them and caused them problems. He loved one and all equally, but He
also knew the future and gave them the right advice. At the same time, He
didn't interfere in their karma and free-will. "When he went to his office
in
Sai Ram. Thus Sai, the indweller of all of us, knew what was needed. He knew
that Kaka Mahajani's presence in his employer's office was essential and so
ordered him to go immediately, much as He would have liked to allow Mahajani to
stay for a few more days. Faith and devotion also demands self-sacrifice.
Sacrifice of the ego at the altar of social welfare. Sai knew how Kaka Mahajani
was coming off and on to Shirdi and how his employer was quite obliging in that
matter. Now the time to help the employer has come and Sai never believed in
taking any service free. "Now listen to an opposite story. Once Bhausaheb
Dhumal, a pleader, was going to Niphad for a case. On the way he came to
Shirdi, took Baba's darshan and wanted to proceed to Niphad immediately. But,
Baba did not permit him to do so. Mr. Dhumal was then allowed to go and attend
to his case. It went on for some months and was tried by four magistrates.
Ultimately Mr. Dhumal won the case, and his client was acquitted."
Sai Ram. Sai was/is also the unifying force for all opposites and dualities. We
see this in the whole of Sai Satcharitra. In this case, Sai knew that the right
time for Dhumal's client has not come and also knew that the magistrates were
not destined to try that case. It is
very difficult for our ego to accept Sai fully and surrender fully. But it is
essential. Even an imperfect surrender is better than nothing. Slowly but
steadily Sai will transform the imperfect unripe ego and when the ego is ripe,
it falls off.
Sai Ram. We will take up the remaining stories of this interesting chapter in
the following weeks. Sai Ram.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.QUINTESSENCE
OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY:
(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao)
"Shashi": shashi_31@yahoo.com
10. Uniqueness
of Sri Sai Baba and his Teachings
To describe Sri Sai Baba’s Gospels and His actions is a
futile attempt to be trying with a salt ball to measure the depths of the sea.
Though His sayings and actions are outwardly very simple, they reveal the depth
of Upanishathic sayings. Though He was capable of satisfying the hunger of all
living beings, He was begging from door to door for His food. Though He was
competent to quote the Gospels and passages from great scriptures, His
utterances were simple and solacing. His Universal love is extraordinary and
His actions moderate. Though at times, He was angry, He was always serene and
sober. Thus, when we visualize Him from a distance, we get perturbed by His
activities. The more we go near Him with devotion, the more we can understand
Him as PURUSHOTTAMA and see His Divinity in every action. He never asked for
anything for Himself and lived on simple food offered by His devotees in an old
mosque with simple clothing.
As per the clear saying of Sri Hemadpant, Sri Sai Baba is
‘ATMA RAM’ i.e, personification of impersonal God. The omnipresent God has
manifested as Sri Sai Baba to uplift the Universe. The Gospels of Sri Sai Baba
are mainly regarding the Universal God and in the methods of His Teachings,
there is none to excel or even equal Him. Sri Sai Baba was accepting all the
rituals performed by devotees and was accepting the offerings by them, as these
were necessary for purifying the minds of the devotees. Only when the mind is
pure, one can understand the teachings of great saints and can concentrate on
sadhana. Baba’s only aim was to improve all persons and guide them to the state
of Atma Sakshatkara.
This ultimate goal can be attained by the purified mind
only and purification of the mind can be attained by pure, selfless actions and
perfect worship. Man is bound to worldly ties because of his ignorance and his
feelings that he is the body. To know that one is not the body, but pure self
(Atma) one has to get rid of his ignorance by serving saintly people like Sri
Sai Baba and by worshiping them. The blessings of such great Saints can help
the Sadhakas to a great extent.Sri Sai Baba’s teachings were of varied types.
He was allowing all types of worship to Him like decorating Him with flowers
and offering fruits etc., but He was teaching that God is present everywhere
and is not limited to His body alone. For attaining the goal of perfection Sri
Sai Baba was teaching the devotees to do Nama Japa thinking of His form with
one pointed devotion. By doing this with great concentration, one can supercede
the idea that he is the body and further he will realize that he is the
real-self present everywhere. Sri Hemadpant described Sri Sai Baba’s teachings
in this way: The world we see is not real. This is created by Maya which is
under the control of God. This is like seeing a mirage in a desert. There is no
water and thirsty person walking in the desert thinks, there is water and runs
after it but in vain. The same is the case with worldly pleasures. They are
very transitory and actually unreal. He who realizes that the world is like a
mirage in the desert does not crave for worldly pleasures. Our prayer to Sri
Sai Baba is to remove this evil ignorance and to provide knowledge of the
Universal self. In reality, we are all the Universal Self, but we forgot this
truth and so we pray to Sri Sai Baba to make us recall this truth and remember
our selves.
To be continued…
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
9. DEVOTEES
EXPERIENCES:
"Venkateswaraswamy Swarna"
<swamysv@rediffmail.com>
Sai Ram. I would like to share with the readers of Glory
of Shirdi Sai, my following experiences of His grace.
On 15th August, myself and my wife were scheduled to leave our house at about 8
AM to catch a train at Secunderabad Railway Station. The train was scheduled to
leave at 09:20 hrs. I already finished my bath and Puja etc. and my wife was
getting ready. In another few minutes we were supposed to leave the house and
catch an autorickshaw to the Railway Station. I had to go the toilet and then
to my shock, I passed red blood along with the stools. I didn't have piles
problem to my knowledge and except for some such recurrence long ago after
intake of some spicy food, I did not have such problem. It being a Sunday and
that too being early in morning, there was no scope of seeing a doctor and
getting any medicine. Also, the programme could not be postponed to some other
day as we had already postponed it once. We were to go to Khammam and return by
night.
My only option was to get a quick relief of the problem and who but Sai can
give such a quick relief? The doctor of doctors came to my rescue, as usual ( I
got some good experiences earlier too). I prayed to Him and took a little Udhi
in water. My wife saw me taking the Udhi water and sensed that something was
wrong (she knows that I don't resort to that except in emergency) and asked me
what was the problem. I was feeling a little weak and explained my problem. I
also told her that we are going ahead with our programme as I was confident
that Sai will take care of the problem.
As expected, my problem stopped and we went and returned safely. Not
only that, the problem did not recur so far.
I would like to share another experience. On 22nd August, I was feeling very
uneasy the whole day with some vague pain in chest. It may not be out of place
to mention that I underwent a coronary angiogram last month because of a
positive treadmill test for inducible ischemia. While the angiogram did not
reveal the presence of any blocks in the arteries, the cardiologist told me
that my arteries were a little larger than normal and this condition called
ectatic coronay arteries is medically manageable. But the chest pain doesn't
yield to nitroglycerine tablets unlike blocked arteries. Stress and hyper
lipedamia etc. are the possible causative factors. I was on the prescribed
medication but there was no SOS medication to be taken. Anyway on that Sunday,
because of some stressful situation and also rather unpleasant weather, I was
feeling uncomfortable. I was remembering Him and bore the pain, but in the
night at about 8 PM, the pain was sharp and difficult to bear. Again it was a Sunday
night and the only option was to seek Sai's help or rush to the nearest
hospital for ICCU.
Again, Sai came to my rescue. I prayed to Him and told Him that I am not afraid
to die but I want to be absorbed into Him. I then took some udhi and applied it
to the painful spot on my chest and invoking His name, took a little udhi mixed
in water. Lo and behold. Not only did the pain subside but I felt a shield of
energy and love envelope me all around and the external stressful situation
stopped having the slightest effect on my mind. I felt so comfortable and
peaceful that I had a good night's sleep. So, dear friends, let us have total
faith in Sai and surrender to Him. He will take care of us. Sai Ram is such a
potent mantra. I was inspired by Sai to share the experience so that the faith
of other devotees will also get strengthened. This is not a publicity stunt or
to get name as a great Sai devotee. I consider myself to be a very lowly soul
but on whom He has taken pity because of some merit in this or some previous
births.
At His lotus feet,
Swamy
----------------------------------------------
sivadasan_m@yahoo.com
8/26/2004 07:01:48 -0600
Baba is great. He has made THE DIFFERENCE in my life. I just love Sai Baba, I
am a middle class family boy. I go to Sai Baba temple every month. Right now I
am working as a system analyst in German Company. I have every thing in my life
thank you SaiBaba.
Om Sai Ram
S. Manoj.
------------------------------------------------------
10. SAI WITH
CHILDREN:
http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/portraits/7.jpg
Smt. Madhu
Gopal Ravada, Saidarbar, Hyderabad.
Hello Children!
I am Madhu aunty. Do you know Baba use to play with children and used to tell
stories to them? I felt children visiting Saidarbar should be entertained with
good stories. Baba told before He took His Maha Samadhi that He is Muralidhar
and would like to play in Booty Wada (Samadhi Mandir) with His devotees. So I
started Krishna Leelas with effect from the first issue of New Year 2004. Study
well and learn good manners. Tell your parents to read the Glory of Shirdi Sai
- Fortnightly E-magazine and narrate Krishna Leelas from this magazine.
Shri Krishna
and Balaram enter the Rangamandap:
Lord Krishna along with his brother
Balaram and other friends was running on the streets of Mathura. As he moved
ahead he met a short statured lady who was carrying a bowl of chandan wood
(sandal wood) and angrag. She had a hump on her shoulders. She was the
favourite maid of Kansa. She was carrying the angrag for him. But when she was
Krishna she was so impressed with his beauty that she gave the angrag to the
two bothers. The lord was very happy over this gesture and blessed her. She
immediately turned into a beautiful young woman and her hump also vanished.
Krishna after promising her to meet afterwards left the place.
Thereafter,
they reached the Rangshala of Kansa being guided by the people on way. The Rangshala
was a vast one and at one side of it Kansa sat on high throne. Studded with
costly gems. Around him his courtiers were sitting and along with them there
were some wresters also sitting there. The womenfolk of the royal palace were
also peeping from the windows to see the Dhanush Yagna.
Both the
brothers saw that in front of Kansa a big bow was kept which was like the bow
of Indra. Lord Krishna smiled over all this arrangement and despite the guards
stopping him, he lifted up and broke the huge bow with his left hand.
…To be continued
------------------------------------------------------------
11. ARTICLES FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
Sankaraiah Dubagunta" sainama@yahoo.com
7/29/2004 17:54:18 -0000
OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHIHI
Beloved Readers, We always say at the time of
conclusion of Puja, OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHIHI. Why should we repeat three
times??
It is
mentioned that we face three types of sorrows/ difficulties. We seek God's
protection from these three types by repeating 'Shanthi' three types.
1.
Aum -- Oh!
Parabrahma (Prayerful appeal to Him)
2. Shanthi
-- Pl free us from 'Adhyamika' sorrows( Ex : Bodily ailments
like fever etc.,)
3. Shanthi
--- Pl free us from 'Adhi bhautika' sorrows (Which are created
by all embodied creatures ,wild animals, poisonous snakes or even human beings)
4. Shanthi --- Pl
free us from 'Adhi Daivika' sorrows (natural calamities like cyclone,
earthquake, fire accidents etc.,)
Compiled by D.Sankaraiah.
---------------------------------
Sankaraiah Dubagunta" sainama@yahoo.com
Thu, 26 Aug 2004 07:00:22 -0700 (PDT)
LAKSHMI
NARAYANA TEMPLE
We
know Baba Sai got several Temples repaired at Shirdi from out of
Dakshina amount, sometimes through destined devotees. Ofcourse His abode was a
dilapidated Masjid which He named Dwarakamai, also got repaired in 1911.The
experience narrated by Doma Venkata Swamy Gupta's father in law in Sai Sudha of
March'1945 issue is given below.
"When
Baba was in the flesh, this gentleman accompanied his master the
Late Gummadalli Lakshmi Narayana of Secunderabad to
Shirdi and both took Darshan of Baba many times. GL was an ordinary merchant
not very rich at that time. On one occasion Baba told him "You have to
build a Lakshmi Narayan Temple". GL asked Baba "What the
probable cost would be?" Baba replied "Rs 6 lakhs" GL was aghast
as he had not with him even a fraction of that amount. GL therefore
believed that this was either a joke or some meaningless statement of Baba. But
within two years his own business flourished and he became an owner
of many Lakhs and could spare
6 lakhs. At that time Baba had attained Maha Samadhi. Anyhow GL obeyed the
direction of Baba and constructed Lakshmi Narayana temple in Secunderabad
costing about six Lakhs inclusive
of the permanent funds. It is still there well maintained and
well managed by GL's children.
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Sankaraiah.D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
8/26/2004
06:45:05 –0600
This site
http://www.saidarbar.org is one of the best sites which gives lot of
spiritual information to those who are devotional and have belief in Shri
Shirdi Sai. The articles posted in this site are really good and the experiences
posted are electrifying. I stay in Mumbai and I go to Shirdi min 2 times in a
month I like a lot Sai Baba. I would
like to thank all the people behind the organization and maintenance of this
site.
SIVADASAN MANOJ
------------------------------------------------------
8/25/2004
21:49:31 -0600
Sairam,
You people have done a great work. Frankly speaking, visiting this site http://www.saidarbar.org makes me feel that Sai is before me at that
moment.
Thank You so much for all of you who is involved in building this site.
---------------------------------------------------------
13. TELUGU SECTION
Please visit:
http://68.88.118.16/telugupages/Misc/ShiridiSai/shirdisai.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS:
Visit http://www.angelfire.com/sd/SaidarbarCanberra/index.html
for SAIDARBAR - Canberra - Australia activities.
Visit http://www.viswasaidarbar.com for SAIDARBAR - London Activities.
Visit http://www.saidarbarusa.org
for SAIDARBAR - Walling ford Activities
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Badri Narasimhan":saibadris@yahoo.com
Thu, 19 Aug 2004 09:19:03 -0700 (PDT)
Sai Darbar USA – Annual Day Celebrations 2004
www.saidarbarusa.org
With the blessings of Lord Shree Sai Nath,
SaidarbarUSA.org* (Wallingford Sai Darbar) group has completed its first successful
year and cordially invites you with family and interested friends and devotees
for its First Annual Day Celebrations.
Venue : 212 Moore Road, Wallingford, PA, USA 19086
Date and Time : Saturday, 18th September 2004 at 10.30
a.m.
Contact : technical@saidarbarusa.org
(Please confirm your participation)
----------------------------------
8/28/2004 11:54:11 –0600
Sairam
I am very glad to read Sai devotee's experiences on this site and I take this
opportunity to inform that I am also a staunch devotee of Shri Saibaba, Shirdi,
since more than 22 years. In my life everything goes smooth because of
saibabashri only. By the inspiration given to me by Lord Sainath, I have started
one monthly magazine, "Sai's miracles" (Hindi and English) from
Indore, M.P. India. It is completed one year now we are releasing 16th
month issue.
For Further details Please contact: sai_publications@yahoo.co.in
For
Sai_publications: K.Padmavathi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Om SaiMandir saisandesh@omsaimandir.org
SAI SANDESH
The Monthly Newsletter of Om Sai Mandir
45-11 Smart Street * Flushing, NY 11355
www.omsaimandir.org & info@omsaimandir.org
The newsletter is available online at: www.omsaimandir.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Shirdi Sai Baba
technical@saidarbarusa.org
8/24/2004
00:09:57 –0000
Satsang held on
22-AUG-2004: Next Satsang on 11-SEP-2004
Sai Ram:
The Satsangh was held on 22nd August
2004 at SaiBandu Shri. Rajesh and Mrudula's residence. It started with Ganesh
Mantram and followed by Guru Mantram, Ganesh Namavali, Sai Ashtothram, Bhajans,
Sai Gayathri, Gayathri Mahamantram, Aarti and Mahaprasad.
Approximately 40 members attended and read the Shri Sai Satcharitam chapter 23.
Next Darbar and Satsangh is scheduled for 11th September 2004 Saturday at Sai
Bandu Shri. Nagesh and Neeraja's residence . The agenda and direction details
will be sent later. Kindly extend this invitation to your friends and other
interested devotees.
Bow to Shri Sai and Peace be to all.
http://www.geocities.com/wallingfordsai
http://www.saidarbarusa.org
-------------------------------------------------------------
8/18/2004 08:36:18 -0700
Om Sai Ram,
We would like to inform you that we have now added your link to our web site,
you can find the link here: http://www.omsaibaba.com/ We have also updated the site with some new
photos. Om Sai Ram.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ramachandra
ramprasad shirdisaifoundation@yahoo.co.in
Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:46:45 PM
SAIRAM!
Due to
unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances, All India Sai Devotees Convention
September, 2004 postponed to December 2004. The exact dates will be informed in
due course. We regret to all Sai devotees and sorry for the inconvenience
caused by us.
The 5th
Anniversary Akhanda Sai Nama Sapthaha scheduled from 05-09-2004 to 12-09-2004
at Dattatreya Shirid Sai Mandir, Sai Snehadhama Vrudhashram Premises, Shirdi
Sai Gram, Metipalya, Sondekoppa Road, Tavarekere, Bangalore South.
It is requested
all Sai Bahdus from Sai Darbar and Sai devotees from all over the world to
participate and receive the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba.
Accomodation
will be provided to all the non-Bangalore devotees participating in the
sapthaha.
Yours in Sai
service
---------------------------------------------------
Shirdi Sai
Jalaram Mandir”: baba@babamandir.org
Wed, 25 Aug 2004
11:45:32 -0500
Temple timings:
Weekdays (except Thu) - 6.15pm to 7.00pm; Thu – 6.30pm to 9pm; Weekends – 9am
to 7pm. Dhoop (Sandhya) Arathi performed on all days and in addition Kakad and
Noon (Madhyan) Arathi on weekends. All devotees are encouraged to sign up
either by contacting temple committee members or by sending an email to baba@babamandir.org to
sign up for weekend volunteer service
