THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI
Fourth Year of Publication
Published as Bi-Weekly
Issue 26 / 2006
21-12-2006
-----------------------
Saidarbar Wishes all “A happy and prosperous New Year
2007”.
“The Glory of Shirdi Sai” will be entering fifth year of
publication
On 01-01-2007
-------------------------
You can also
read this magazine on line
The first
& only magazine in 3d Page turning format.
http://www.ettitudemedia.com
------------------------------------
GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH; GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA;
GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA; THASMAI SREE GURAVE
NAMAHA:
1. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
2. SAI IN DREAMS
3. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY
4. SANATANA DHARMA - NEWS
5. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO …..
6. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES
7. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
8. SAI WITH CHILDREN
9. ARTICLES
FROM SAI DEVOTEES
10. LETTERS
FROM SAI DEVOTEES
11. TELUGU
SECTION
12. SAI'S BOOK
WORLD
13. EDITORIAL.
-------------------------------
1. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:
25th December,
1910: Lala Lakshmichand of Santacruz came to Shirdi.
December, 1911: Kashinath Upasani composed the famous
“Shri Sainath Mahima Sthostra" in Sanskrit.
December, 1911: Bubonic plague raged at Shirdi. (Lasted up to March 15 next year).
5th December,
1911: Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti arrived at Shirdi again
with family and stayed there for three months in Shirdi.
-----------------
2. SAI IN
DREAMS:
http://www.ettitudemedia.com
These are the dream sequences and messages as received by SaiBaNiSaji From our
beloved GURU LORD SAINATH OF SHIRIDI. In Anticipation that this feature will
help in one's spiritual growth are hereby compiled from his personal Diary and
presented to SAIBANDHUS.
Translated and presented by RAGHU RAMAN SATULURY.
04-11-1994
I requested Sai to let me know as to who could be
called a devotee. Sai has shown me the visual that run like this-
A person who can practice equality and remains
comfortable in sharing food in the company of all the fellow human beings
without any inhibitions is my real devotee.
Look for me in all the living creatures.
05-11-1994
I prayed Sainath to tell me about the sense of developing
detachment. Sai has shown the following visual-
Lack of sufficient wealth and comforts in life often
leads to gradual detachment. To overcome, one has to learn to lead a contented
life. To come out of the path of renunciation, one has to draw support from
spiritualism.
Face the facts
of life bold rather than opting to run away.
06-11-1994
How to attain salvation in life?
Sai has shown me with the visual as –
Not wasting time, fulfillment of the life’s
responsibilities, leading a peaceful life and attributing every happening to
God’s will, paves the way for salvation.
Salvation
comes out of self- realization.
To be continued…..
-------------------------------------
3. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S
PHILOSOPHY:
(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao)
"Shashi": shashi_31@yahoo.com
26. Mind Alone Is Held Responsible For the Bondage & Emancipation
Swami Sivananda of Riskesh said: ‘Mind is Atma Sakti. It is born of
Prakrithi. It is the principle of thinking and sensation. Mind connects itself
with the five senses of perception and enjoys all sensual objects. It is the
dividing wall between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. If the mind is
destroyed, the individual soul becomes identical with Supreme Soul. In the
modification of the mind which lean towards sensual pleasures are destroyed,
then the individual soul attains Supreme Peace. Mind is a bundle of vasanas,
sankalpas and likes and dislikes.
If you free yourself from these, the mind dwindles into an airy nothing.
It is the mind that creates this Universe. “Manomantra Jagat, Manokalpita
Jagat”. In deep sleep there is no mind. Therefore there is no world also in
deep sleep. Dispassion, discrimination, renunciation, meditation are all
enemies of the mind. You can destroy the mind easily, if you posses these
virtues. The mind manifests itself as the external world in the shape of pains
and pleasures. The mind subjectively is consciousness, while objectively it is
this Universe. The mind has the potency of creating or undoing the world in the
twinkling of an eye. Slay this mind, through the destruction of the Vasanas of
the control of the Prana and Bhrama vichara. Meditate on the innermost Self ceaselessly. The mind will be absorbed in Brahman. You
will attain Self-Realization’.
To be continued…..
-----------------------------
4. SANATANA DHARMA
NEWS
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, December 11, 2006:
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams blasted into space Sunday carrying a
Lord Ganesha Deity and the Bhagavad Gita.
www.hindu.com
JAMMU, INDIA, November 21, 2006: Each year the
number of devotees worshipping at the cave temple shrine of Vaishnodevi keeps
rising and this year is no exception as over 6.2 millon was the last count of
pilgrims on November 21. Sri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board Additional Chief
Executive Puneet Kumar said, "We are happy to create yet another record
pilgrim turnover and expect nearly seven million pilgrims to visit the cave
this year. We have also re-opened the oldest tunnel of the cave for pilgrims to
get a feel of the ancient pilgrimage route."
www.up-tourism.com
ALLAHABAD (PRAYAG), INDIA, December 7, 2006: Held in the
sixth year following the Kumbha Mela, Ardh Kumbha falls between two Kumbha
Melas. This festival attracts millions of worshippers, as do the Kumbha Melas
held on the 12 year cycle. The dates of the holy baths for the 2007 Ardh Kumbha
at Prayag are: Paush Purnima, January 3, 2007; Makar Sankranti, January 14, 2007; Mauni Amavasya, January 19, 2007; Basant Panchami, January 23, 2007; Maaghi Purnima, February 2, 2007 and Mahasivaratri, February 16, 2007.
bhimani19@yahoo.com
VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA, December 7, 2006: Swadhyaya
Pariwar, inspired by Rev. Pandurang Sashtri Athavale, celebrated the American
holiday of Thanksgiving at the Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, convention
center last weekend. More then 2,000 people attended this event and it was
celebrated in a very unique way. Youth between the ages of 16-30 participated
in a Bhagavad Gita Elocution Competition and two winners were picked from a
pool of more then 700 participants. For additional information, please contact
Dr. Ramesh Bhimani at source
------------------------------------------------
5. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO “RAMALINGESWARA”
Rameswaram is famous for the Hindu temple dedicated
to Rama who, according to belief, had descended on its shores and built a
bridge across the Palk Strait to reach Lanka
in his quest to rescue Sita from Ravana. Additionally, the temple is famous as
the abode of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Siva. The chief idol here is called
Ramalingam. The belief has it that Rama, after killing Ravana, installed a Siva
linga as an offering to the deity. The Jyotirlinga in the Rameswaram Temple set up by the
side of Sri Visalakshi Ambigai Sannithi was established by Vibheeshana. Hence,
the temple is a sacred site for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites.
The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m
pillared corridor consisting of 3.6 m high granite pillars, richly carved and
well proportioned. The perspective presented by these pillars run
uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230 m.
According to the Puranas, upon the advice of Rishis
(sages), Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana, installed and worshipped the
Sivalinga here to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a Brahmin) (Ravana
was a Brahmin the great grandson of Brahma). Rama fixed an auspicious time for
the installation and sent Anjaneya to Mount Kailas to bring a
lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time, Sita herself made a linga of
sand. When Anjaneya returned with a linga from Mount Kailas the rituals had
been over. To comfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama had Anjaneya’s lingam
(Visvalingam) also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and ordained that
rituals be performed first to the Visvalingam.
---------------------------------
6. DEVOTEES
EXPERIENCES:
kaybs25@yahoo.com
On 12/8/06
SaiRam!
This E Book “From the Satsanghs of Saibanisa” is very interesting and I will
request all our devotees in Thanjavur --Tamil Nadu to read this marvellous book.
Baba had come to Thanjavur of his own
accord somewhere in 1949. Two Boxes were brought from Thanjavur Station by an
elderly person and deposited in a shop saying he would come and collect them.
Since nobody came to get item my father Advocate was asked to open and he found
Baba's Marble statue and stone and
he built a small
temple in his agricultural land in 1950 and this was rebuilt as a Big Temple with the help
of Sri K.V.Ramani of Shri Shirdi Baba Trust Chennai, now to cater lot of
devotees. I request you and your wife to please visit our Temple as Baba is
unique here as he had come of his own accord-
-K.B.-Swaminathan, Managing Trustee
of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust Thanjavur. 58
M.K.Moopanar Road Thanjavur-613 001
----------------------
On 12/14/06, Raghav mahajanvit@gmail.com
Dear Sai Devotees
Sai Ram to All
I would like to know that why Thursday is considered as auspicious day
for Sai Baba. I have read many teachings of Sai but I never came across
any relation with Thursday. I have firm faith in Baba and my intension
is not to hurt any one. Just because of curiosity I am asking this
question. Looking for kind replies.
Bow to Sri Sai--Peace be to All
--Raghav
--------------------------------
7. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
"Swamy"
swamymain@yahoo.com
Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:01:34 -0800 (PST)
Sai Ram. Before
we take up the 22nd Chapter of Sri Sai Satcharitra, a few words may not be out
of place. 22nd December this year is very important to all Sai devotees since
that day happens to be the birth tithi (as per lunar calendar) of Sri Nrusimha
Saraswati Swamy, the second incarnation in this Kali Yug of Sri Dattatreya. And
we are entering the 22nd Chapter of Sri Sai Satcharitra. What a great nice
coincidence! Actually, there is nothing like coincidence in this world as per
our scriptures. And since it is He, who is pulling all our strings and getting
His work done through these servants, He bestows His grace this way.
There is a small
change in the way the Spiritual Gems are presented. Sri Sai Satcharitra will be
denoted by the abbreviation SSS and His Spiritual Gems by the abbreviation, SSG
to facilitate easy identification. Sai Ram.
Shri Sai
Satcharitra
Chapter XXII
Rescues from
Serpent-bites - (1) Balasaheb Mirikar (2) Bapusaheb Booty (3) Amir Shakkar (4)
Hemadpant - Baba's Opinion Regarding Killing of Serpents.
SSG: Sai Ram.
All of us are bitten by serpents, the serpents of desires for wealth, health,
happiness (read it as sensory pleasures) etc., and the poison is slowly
climbing and only the Amrutha of Guru Sai can save us from the spiritual death.
Sai Ram.
SSS: Preliminary
How to meditate
on Baba? No one has been able to fathom the nature or the form of the Almighty.
Even the Vedas and the thousand-tongued Shesha are not able to describe it
fully; but the devotees cannot but know and look at the form of the Lord, for
they know that His Feet are the only means of their happiness. They know no
other method of attaining the supreme goal of life, except meditating on the
Holy Feet.
SSG: Sai Ram.
While a serpent is afraid of us and we are also afraid of the serpent, Adi
Sesha, the King of Serpents (THE FIRST SERPENT) is very happy to serve the Lord
and the Lord is also full of love to Him. Since the Lord is one with all, every
being, whether human or serpent has the right to serve the Lord in their own
way and the Lord too accepts the service from all, if offered with love. Hence
Adi Sesha became the bed for the Lord Vishnu and in another form adorns the
neck of Lord Siva, so that He can look at His Lord at a close distance and
praise His glory with His thousand tongues. What a great blessing? Sai Ram. We too
can praise His glory with our tongue all the time and get blessed. Sai Ram.
SSS: Hemadpant
suggests an easy way of devotion and meditation as follows:-
As the dark
fortnight of every month wears out gradually, the moonlight also wanes in the
same degree and on the new moon day, we do not see the moon at all, nor do we
get her light. Therefore, when the bright fortnight begins, people are very
anxious to see the moon. On the first day, the moon is not seen and on the
second day also she is not clearly visible. Then the people are asked to see
the moon through an opening between the two branches of a tree, and when they
begin to see through this aperture eagerly and after concentrated, the distant
small crescent of the moon comes, to their great delight, within their ken.
Following this clue, let us try to see Baba's Light. Look at Baba's posture,
how fine it is! He is sitting with His legs folded, the right leg held across
the left knee. The fingers of His left hand are spread on the right-foot. On
the right toe are spread His two fingers-the index and middle ones. By this
posture Baba means to say, as it were-if you want to see My Light, be egoless
and most humble and meditate on My toe through the opening between the two
branches-index and middle fingers-and then you will be able to see My Light.
This is the easiest means of attaining devotion.
SSG: Sai Ram.
Shri Hemadpant is giving us not only an easy method of meditation, but is also
sharing with us a great esoteric secret! When the Amavasya Tithi comes around,
we can't see the moon. Moon represents the mind in astrology. Similarly, when
our own ego generated Maya clouds our sunlight, our mind becomes dark and we
can't see the truth clearly and we are shackled by the coils of the serpents of
desires for the impermanent sensory pleasures. It is then that the Guru takes
pity on us! Guru literally means one who dispels darkness. And if the light
comes suddenly in the full glory, we become literally blinded and can't
withstand the shock (Pl. recall how Sri Arjuna got frightened when he was given
the divine sight to see Sri Krishna's universal form and requested Him to
appear as Chaturbhuja, a very pleasing form of Sri Vishnu). So, Sri Guru
dispels the Maya gradually. So, after one day, the thin crescent of the new
moon starts appearing and similarly the light of Guru Bhakti starts appearing
in the mental space of the devotee due to the Grace of Sri Guru. Sai Ram. The
index finger shows the way and the middle finger is called the Amrutha finger.
It also represents the Golden Middle Path, which is advocated by all Masters
like Sri Krishna, Sri Buddha and Sri Sai. So, making use of the index and the
middle fingers, one learns Bhakti which is the best means of overcoming one's
ego, Maya. Sai Ram.
SSS: Now let us
turn for a moment to Baba's life. Shirdi had become a place of pilgrimage on
account of Baba's stay. People from all quarters began to flock there, and both
the rich and the poor began to be benefited in more ways than one and in some
form or other. Who can describe Baba's boundless love and His wonderful natural
knowledge and His all-pervasiveness? Blessed is he, who could experience one or
all of these. Sometimes Baba observed long silence which was, in a way, His
dissertation on Brahman; at other times He was Consciousness-Bliss Incarnate,
surrounded by His devotees. Sometimes He spoke in parables, and at other times
indulged in wit and humour. At times, He was quite unambiguous (clear) and at
times He seemed enraged. Sometimes He gave His teachings in a nut-shell, at
other times He argued at length. Many a time He was very plain. In this way, He
gave varied instructions to many, according to their requirements.
SSG: Sai Ram.
Sai's apparent fickleness was a demonstration of the fickleness of our minds
and at the same time, His demonstration of His all pervasiveness was to show us
that the True Spirit was beyond the conscious mind. He always gave the right
medicine to each patient and similarly He gave the right instructions to the
disciples and devotees depending upon the capability of the devotee to absorb
the knowledge. Normally we have teachers who specialize in teaching different
subjects to students of different ages. Thus we have KG teachers and PG
teachers in various subjects! Sadguru Sai, on the other hand is Teacher to all
Teachers! Sai Ram.
SSS: His life
was, therefore, inscrutable, beyond the ken of our mind, beyond our intellect
and speech. Our longing to see His face, to talk with Him and hear His Leelas
was never satisfied; still we were overflowing with joy. We can count the
showers of rain, encircle (tie) the wind in leather bag, but who can gauge or
measure His Leelas? Now we deal here with one aspect of them, viz. how He
anticipated or forestalled the calamities of His devotees and warded them off
in time.
SSG: Sai Ram.
Please recall how He anticipated the problems and advised devotees not to
undertake some journeys which we read in Chapter 9? And we mentioned there that
if the devotee was bent on undertaking the journey (Tatya was bent upon going
to Kopargaon Bazar), He offered to send Shama as help. We referred to this
chapter there too. Now we come to this wonderful story. Sai Ram.
S.V.Swamy
Author, Editor,
Proof-Reader and Book Reviewer
www.freewebs.com/swamyreviews
-----------------------------------------------------
8. SAI WITH CHILDREN:
http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/portraits/7.jpg
Smt. Madhu Gopal Ravada, Saidarbar, Hyderabad.
Hello Children! I am Madhu aunty. Do you know Baba use to play with
children and used to tell stories to them? I felt children visiting Saidarbar
should be entertained with good stories. For the last two years I have told you
about Lord Krishna's Leelas and Lord Rama Story. Now I want to tell the stories
what heard in my child hood.
The story of the blue Jackal
Once upon a time there lived a jackal that strayed into a city in search
of food. He was hungry and was being chased by a group of dogs. He accidentally
entered the house of a dyer and fell into a vat of indigo (blue), and was
stained blue from head to toe. When he escaped from the house back into the
forest, all animals were surprised at his appearance and could not place its
identity. Taking advantage of the situation, the jackal decided to play the
situation to his advantage. He proclaimed that he was Fierce Owl, sent by the
king of Gods, Indra, to earth to guard the forest.
.
The gullible animals believed the jackal. The jackal then appointed the
Lion as his Prime minister, tiger as his guardian of the bed chamber and the
elephant was made the door keeper. He then drove all the jackals out of sight
from the forest for fear of being recognized. The animals would hunt food and
bring it to the self proclaimed king and the king would distribute the food to
all equally just as a king would do. So he was leading a life of luxury.
.
One day a herd of jackals were passing by howling to their glory. Unable
to control his natural instinct, Fierce Owl showed his natural voice and howled
at the top of his voice. Hearing this howl, the animals realized that they had
been fooled by a jackal and killed the jackal instantly.
MORAL: Excess of Greed is harmful.
-----------------------------------------------
9. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES:
Sai ka laadla: saikalaadla@yahoo.com
11/8/2006 05:14:58 -0800
He is the Father - Only Eternal
Aum Sai Sri Sai
Jaya Jaya Sai
The relationship between Sri Sai Baba and His
devotee is expressed in several ways. He is the mother, He is the father. He is
Sadguru and He is God. He can be anything to anyone, just the way one would
like it. However, the difference is that the relationship is permanent and
existed even before it was known or felt. Sri Sai Baba would often say, I will draw my devotee to me, just as a bird is drawn with
strings attached to its legs. The analogy aptly refers to the agitated mind of
the child that is comforted by the thought of His safe hands. Let us see the
relationship beautifully expressed in the following phrases:
This relationship between the Supreme Being
and the individual soul [human being] will never be allowed to be snapped.
Unlike the steps taken by a father to groom his son or daughter and the latter
expressing his gratitude, which acts are merely temporary, the tie between God
and His devotees will be unbroken forever. The essential requirement of the
latter is to shed his ego. Saint Appar has said even as a snake bites a person,
ego stings him resulting in aberration in his behavior. Secondly, as a servant,
he should demonstrate how he is always dependent on the Almighty. Poet Kamban
has pointed out how Rama [God in the form of human being] followed Sage
Vishwamitra and how Laxman dutifully attended on Him. I serve Him to please Him
were his words. Likewise a sincere devotee should declare pleading with God, I
want only You and none else and nothing else'.
The term devotion' has been described in holy
works from different angles. The essence of it, in simple manner, will be that
it represents perfection of humility and ardent service to God and His
messengers and also extinction of ones ego and ill will. It should not be
mistaken with the display of mere emotional rapture. Then, what will be the
definition of a sincere devotee? This too has been stated clearly, namely that
he is one who has clear understanding of his relationship with the Almighty and
that the bond that exists between the two is permanent. He should hold on to
the feet of one God alone without switching his loyalty to various deities. A
devotee will assiduously carry out Divine commands, and will attend on
spiritual guides.
Bow To Sri Sai -
Peace Be To All
May Baba Be Always With You
------------------------------------
10. LETTERS
FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
Sudha vohra: sudha_vohra@hotmail.com
On 12/19/06
SaiRam!
Congratulation; from my side to Sai Darbar group
for celebrating ninth
birthday and fifth aniversary for “The Glory of Shirdi Sai” E- Magazine on 1st Jan 2007. I really
appreciate and thankful to the Sai darbar group for sending me the new year greetings.
Please keep sending valuable articles on Sai Baba.
Your sincerely,
Sudha
----------
Venkateswararao sanku: saipowers@yahoo.co.uk
On 12/15/06
Dear Saibandhu,
SaiRam!
Very good you are doing job. Congratulations to
Sai darbar group for celebrating ninth birthday and fifth anniversary for “The
Glory of Shirdi Sai” E- Magazine on 1st
Jan 2007.
Sai Power Systems
Sanku Venkateswarao
-------------------
Syam Sundar: sai_syam@hotmail.com
On 12/15/06
OM Sairam!
I am really happy to
read the lines of your message. Baba chooses
His loved ones in spreading His message and mission. I feel your are such
a fortunate one to be a vehicle in carrying His message. Congratulations from
my side to Sai darbar group for celebrating ninth birthday and fifth anniversary
for “The Glory of Shirdi Sai” E- Magazine on 1st Jan 2007.
With hearty regards
Seeking Baba's and your blessings
Syamasundar
Houston
-------------------
Ganugapati apparao: gvapparao47@rediffmail.com
On 15 Dec 2006 15:13:13 -0000
Dear Sir,
Ome Sri
Sayinath. Thanks for the message.
Congratulations from my side to Sai darbar group
for celebrating ninth
birthday and fifth anniversary for “The Glory of Shirdi Sai” E- Magazine on 1st Jan 2007.
With best wishes,
Apparao.
-------------------
"Valsala Sivadasan" valsala.sivadasan@hotmail.com
Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:34:33 +0530
Jai Sai Ram,
Sorry for the delay. Our Internet was
out of order so I can’t read the E-magazine “The Glory of Shirdi Sai” in
time. Only I have read the 25th edition
of the the Magazine today.
Really after reading the magazine, I
am so happy. Because last 2-3
days my mind was
very upset. the contents of the magazine, specially “Sai
in Dreams", Importance of Swadharma, it is very very wonderful. Thank you very much babaji for this.
Babaji you are the only one in the
world, everybody will getting happy from
Your words.
Thanks to the member’s of Sai darbar
once again for sending the magazines in time to me. I am praying to Babaji for
everybody, those who are surviving problems in their life, Our Sai Babji will
sort out all problems.
Om Sai Sri Sai Jai
Jai Sai,
With Regards,
Valsala Sivadasan
New Delhi
------------------
"Manjunatha Prabhu”: manjugita@yahoo.com
Wed, 6 Dec 2006 20:34:28 -0800 (PST)
SaiRam!
By HIS Grace I was reading the Spiritual Gems. The
new format is exceptionally great. I noticed one thing which I want to let you
know. First couples of sentences are copied here below:
"Sai Ram. Let us continue with the Spiritual
Gems from this chapter.
Sai Ram. SS refers to Sri Sai Satcharita and SVS
refers to me, Sai's
servant and tool to
bring these Spiritual Gems to you. Sai Ram."
If SAI permits you, Instead of “SS refers to Sri Sai Satcharita",
if you can modify “SSS refers to Sri Sai Satcharita" would be more
appropriate.