FROM SHRI C.B. SATPATHY'S MESSAGE 

……“Avatars have always shown two prominent traits in their personality. One is that of a perfect man, which would mean a perfect father, perfect husband and perfect friend, all put into one. The other is the vast and unfathomable power of divinity, they at times display when it is needed. In the first role they function as Sadgurus ¬showing examples of a perfect human life to be emulated by others. Through their mighty divine power they help the devotees out of distress and bring about big changes in the society, many times through wars, for which they had taken the human form. Sri Sainath’s life displays both these attributes. Therefore, celebration of Baba’s birthday on the Ramnavami day is appropriate.

Except God no one and nothing in this world is perfect. All the imperfect beings and things in the world which include all species get birth because they are imperfect. Life after life they go on perfecting themselves little by little. The meaning of life is an endeavour to become perfect. Self¬-analysis, self-study, self-oriented actions towards that goal and prayer to Sadguru to lead us in that path is the only way to progress meaningfully in life. We pray to Sadguru Sri Sainath to lead us towards perfection.”…….

FROM "LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI   

……“Nana was under the delusion that he was the great supplier of Baba, and that Baba had to depend upon him for money. Nana had to be disabused of that idea. So, Baba made use of Sri M. B. Rege on one occasion, and exhausted all the funds he had by taking them out as dakshina, and when M. B. Rege said that he had no more money, Baba said, ‘Borrow’. ‘From whom’ asked Mr. Rege. Baba sent him first to Shama who had no money at all, and who was a very poor man. Shama’s explanation of Baba’s demand was that Baba wanted him and not his cash, and, therefore, he (Baba) wanted him to feel the want of cash was nothing. So saying, he sent his namaskars through Rege to Baba. Then Baba sent Mr. Rege to H. S. Dixit who also had not the money with him at that time. He explained Baba’s demand to Mr. Rege thus: ‘You must not feel begging at all to be a shame, much less begging for the sake of your master’. Then Baba sent him to Nana Chandorkar. Nana Chandorkar then explained to M.B. Rege his policy. He used to leave one half of his money at Kopergaon and come with the balance to Shirdi, and when this was exhausted, he would send for the reserve at Kopergaon. When Mr. Rege reported this, Baba sent for Nana Chandorkar and from him (by repeatedly asking for dakshina) all the money he had in his possession. Then he again asked him for dakshina, before the reserve from Kopergaron arrived. Nana felt humiliated. His moha received a blow. The subjects of moha and dakshina are closely connected with daana.”……

Why fear when I am here

Shirdi Sai Baba is a mystery. His birth, to whom he was born, who nurtured him, his travels before coming to Shirdi and his scholarly interpretation of Hindu and Muslim philosophy, baffled the most eminent scholars who visited him. His miracles that cured any kind of suffering, are as valid today as in the past and through them he created millions of devotees. When Sai Baba came to Shirdi it was a village. Today Shirdi has luxury hotels, motels and, is full of activity.

A friend of mine is a fighter pilot with numerous battle honours. His one and only weakness was addiction to smoking, and however hard he tried he was unable to give up this habit. He prayed to Shirdi Sai Baba very sincerely, as only a miracle from Sai, would give him the will power to leave smoking forever. One day, while on a flying mission, he thought he saw, a figure like Sai blessing him that his wish to leave smoking was granted. Shortly after this experience he landed. As per usual practice his wife was waiting with a packet of cigarettes, for she knew he enjoyed his cigarettes as much as he enjoyed the flights. But on that day, he took the packet and threw it away. His wife was thrilled, and from then on, he never touched cigarettes. He kept this vision as a secret, till I met him post school, after three decades of his joining the air force. I had known him as a chain smoker and so took a special brand of cigarettes for him. He flatly refused to light the cigarette. I was amazed at his will power in giving up this addiction. Like him, I too had tried various ways of giving up my addiction, but failed miserably even under threat of breathlessness. I asked him how he had accomplished this, thinking that if he could do it I would follow the same mantra to give up this deadly addiction. He smiled and said that if I could become a devotee of Sai Baba, pray religiously, put complete faith in Baba granting my wish, then, may be, He would bless me in my dreams and help me never to touch cigarettes.

My fervent wish is that Sai will grant me the ability to stop smoking, to save my breath, to witness auspicious events. Let not cigarettes take away my breath. I do not want to take birth again just because I wanted one more puff of a cigarette that was denied. Ramana Maharishi compared tobacco to poison, for the poison will kill body, mind and soul. A great English author seeing a young man smoking remarked, I am happy that you have a useful occupation in smoking. If one devotes one hundred percent of one’s mind to Sai, everyday, at specified allotted time, then Sai will occupy the mind and release one from the tobacco; and mind and heart will no longer be slaves to this breath killing habit.

Jagannathan Padmanabhan

ARTICLE  

SAISM--The making of a new religion

It is nearly 87 years since the Mahasamadhi of Sainath. Sai's grace is overflowing, throughout the world... What we see today is spreading of Sai message of love, compassion. A sure sign of this is the increasing number of Shirdi Sainath temples in several countries and in hundreds of towns in India. In large cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai, one finds dozens of large temples and innumerable small temples and shrines. In some cities, one can find a Sai temple within a distance of even 2 or 3 kilometers. Some temples are so crowded with devotees on Thursdays that one has to wait in a line for an hour or more for Baba's darshan.

As a long time devotee of Sadguru Sainath, I have observed this efflorescence of Baba devotion for several decades. It is thrilling to observe this growth of Sai temples in the last two decades...What could be the reason? Is it the media power? Is it the explosion of information technology? While these factors may help, it is just this! SAI's grace alone has created this, for the struggling, stress-ridden men and women of this period. It is Sai who creates this devotion, this urge to build and maintain temples.

I often like to think that in course of time, may be next decade or so, a new religion in the name of SAI would come into being...call it SAISM or by any other name.. SAISM will be the new religion of universal LOVE, with Shraddha and Saburi as watch words, irrespective of the formal religion one is born with or had adopted earlier. The building of numerous temples is only an indication of this direction. How blessed we are to be born and live in this period---with Sai's grace.

N K Srinivasan

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DEVOTEES' FORUM

The Search for God

It is needless to search for God elsewhere. Only thoughts of God and intense love for Him can bring peace. As worldly thoughts diminish, thoughts of God increase..Sathya Sai Baba says that our daily prayer should be..Loka Samalangha,Sukshina Bhavanta or May all people of the world be happy...By constant prayer, man can overcome any difficult situation. The soul will be in a state of continuous peace that never deserts it. Prayers purify the mind from selfishness and hatred. A constant remembering of God (as did Shirdi Sai) purifies the mind from impurities that are accumulated in it and can raise us to spiritual radiance.

Who are now the five great masters (Qutb) living in year 2005 in this world? I would appreciate if any reader can tell me.

Abdelfattah Badawi, Cairo, Egypt

Share your feelings about Shirdi Sai in Devotees’ Forum

“I like this magazine a lot. Baba’s messages are just an inspirational force for me. Whenever I feel sad or disheartened, I read these messages and other people’s experience about their miracles.”
Dimple Sharma, Delhi

Pt. Ajitkumar Kadkade will be performing in various parts of North America during a tour spanning over 2 months.

Shirdi Sai Baba Murthi Pratishta Mahotsav

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Toronto, Canada

Friday Sep 29, 2006 - Monday Oct 2, 2006
Devotees are invited to attend and participate in Shirdi Sai Baba Murthi Pratishta Mahotsav during the auspicious days of Navratri from Friday, Sep 29 until Monday, Oct 2 - Vijaya Dashami, Baba's Maha Samadhi day. Pranapratistha ceremonies will be conducted on Shirdi Sai Baba's life-like Murthi across four days to the accompaniment of sacred Vedic rites, Bhajans, Naam Sankirtan and Satcharita Prayan. Garba, Dandia and other cultural activities are also planned during all days of Mahotsav. Please mark your calendars and do not miss this rare opportunity to receive Baba's Grace and be immersed in Divine Bliss. For details please visit www.theshirdisaimandir.com/ or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com or call 647-444-4724.

Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ Inc
Sai Baba Temple, P.O. Box 16142, Sandringham, Auckland
Country: New Zealand
NameofTrust/organization: Sri Shridi Sai Bab Sansthan of NZ Inc
Events: Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ Inc is performing Sai Baba Maha Samadhi Day on 7th OCT 2006 at 4pm , Sai Baba Bhajans, Pravachan , Sai Ashotram and Sai Baba Dhoop Arthi followed by Sai Baba Prasad at 5.30 pm at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, May Road , Mt Roskill , Auckland. Please join with friends and families and seek the blessings of Sai Baba.

Shirdi Sai Mandira
Sri Shathashrunga Vidya Samsthe®, Magadi Main Road, Behind Kamakshipalya Police Station, Bangalore-560079, email: saishathashrunga@yahoo.co.in, tel 080-57744468, mobile: 92424 52428, 92421 61440

Shri Shirdi Sai Punyatithi on 02.10.2006

Dear Saibandhu ,

As ordained by Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, we welcome all of you with family and Devotees, to join us for Shri Shirdi Sai Punyatithi on 02-10-2006. You are all hereby requested to participate and receive the blessings of Sri Shirdi Saibaba

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