|
FROM SHRI C.B. SATPATHY'S MESSAGE
……“Shirdi Sai Baba of
the past has become a phenomena of today.
This can safely be
stated on the basis of the unexpected and amazing number
of activities happening around in India and the world
towards the propagation of the path He had shown. It is
seen that in the last few years the Shirdi Sai Sansthan
at Shirdi has expanded its activities multi-fold. This
is somewhat expected given the fact that an average of
about 40 to 50 thousand devotees visit Shirdi everyday.
On important days it is a few lakhs.
What is amazing is
the construction and opening of hundreds and hundreds
of Shirdi Sai Baba temples and other related institutions
in India and abroad through the self-motivation of the
devotees. Would one historically examine the way in which
temples have been created by devotees following other
paths, it would become clear that usually the main trust
(like the Shirdi Sai Sansthan at Shirdi) opens its branches
at other places as the first step.
Then the main trust
and the branches take up temple construction projects
which include planning, financing, constructing and supervising
etc. But in name of Shri Sainath Maharaj, self-motivated
devotees and groups are themselves creating resources,
constructing temples and carrying out a number of other
religious and charitable activities. No doubt such self-motivation
is a result of the existing spirit of Shri Sai.
Most of Baba’
s devotees are emotively linked with Him and are prepared
to undergo any amount of hardship and sacrifice to do
a task in His name. The rate at which the number of His
devotees and institutions are multiplying is simply astounding.
There are a large number of publications about Baba in
various languages in the form of books, journals, magazines,
booklets and the number runs to thousands. Devotees are
ever avid to know more and more details about the past
of Baba as also the happenings of today relating to Him.
There are a large number of web-sites on Baba on the internet.
Notwithstanding these
multi faced activities, one important aspect which is
necessary to spread the name of Shri Sai Baba is prominently
lacking. That is, serious research on Baba, using modem
research methodology, is much below the desired standards.
Some scholars from India and abroad, independently or
through research institutions, have made substantial contribution
in research and some books and research findings in the
form of articles have been published.
However, a study of
these volumes would indicate that the researchers/authors
have not had access to many of the important documents
published during Baba’s time and thereafter. This
is because initially most of the books and articles written
on Baba were in Marathi language and later English versions
or original writings in English came to the market. There
is hardly any library that has a comprehensive collection
of literature on Baba.
To undertake serious
research, a good library maintaining the required documents
like books, journals, newspaper items, manuscripts, hand-written
notings, photo¬graphs, paintings, sketches, maps,
research papers and a well maintained bibliography is
a must. Unfortunately no such library is in existence,
to enable the researches on Baba to undertake serious
study. Some devotees, particularly the writers, are in
possession of some of the important documents but what
is needed is to create a single forum/ body that possesses
and maintains this for posterity.
It should be the endeavor
of each devotee to collect all such records of the past
and maintain them properly for use by future researchers.
That would be a great contribution for Baba's cause. Let
us resolve to work towards this end in the New Year to
come.”…….
FROM "LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI
……“Next Das Ganu was
anxious to render even a Sanskrit Upanishad, namely, Isavasya
Upanishad, into Marathi. This famous Upanishad consists
of only 18 verses. It is full of great thoughts and has
been considered by Mahatma Gandhi to be peculiarly important.
Mahatma Gandhi said that if the whole of Hindu spiritual
literature were gone leaving only this Isa Upanishad,
the whole of Hindu dharma could be reconstructed with
this alone.
Though the Upanishad
has received such high encomia, it is a very difficult
and tough Upanishad even for separation of sentences and
phrases in it, and much more for the interpretation of
the same. Different writers have adopted widely different
courses. Taking even the very first verse, the punctuation
varies. Having so many difficulties in the way of his
ambition, Das Ganu Maharaj went to Baba. Baba said, ‘What
difficulty is there in this?
You had better go, as
usual, to Kaka Dixit’s bungalow in Ville Parle.
And there that (cooly girl) Malkarni, will give you the
meaning’. People would laugh at a great pandit like
Das Ganu getting interpretation of an Upanishad from a
cooly girl. But all the same Das Ganu went to Kaka’s
bungalow. He slept there. When he woke up in the morning,
he heard a girl (it must be the Malkarni mentioned by
Baba, he thought) singing songs in great joy. She was
praising some orange coloured silk sari, wondering at
its fineness and the beauty of its borders, and the floral
embroidery on it. Then he just peeped to see who the songster
was. The songster had no sari. She wore a rag which was
not silk, nor orange coloured, had no borders and no embroidery.
He pitied the girl and
got a friend to give her a sari-a small cheap sari. She
wore it just one day, and went about enjoying it. But
the very following day, she cast it aside, again wore
her tatters and again began to sing joyously the song
about the orange coloured sari and its beauty. Then Das
Ganu understood the Upanishad. He found out that the girl’s
happiness lay not in the external sari which she had ‘thrown
away’ (tena tyaktena, which means, that being thrown
away) but in herself.
And Isavasya Upanishad
says the same thing. ‘All this world’, says
the first verse, ‘is covered by the Maya of Iswara.
So enjoy bliss, not by having the externals, but by rejecting
the externals (Tenatyaktena)’. 'Tena Tyaktena' might
mean being content with what God gives you. The girl was
happy as she was contented. Thus Baba taught Isa Upanishad
to Ganu through a cooly girl. Baba’s ways of teaching
were and are peculiar and different in the case of different
individuals.”……
DEVOTEE EXPERIENCE
I have been a Sai devotee
since 1993, which is when I was first drawn to him. It
was in that year that my grandmother passed away. She
had always been the person to whom I was closest as a
child, and who gave me the most love. Sai knew that I
needed a replacement and immediately took me into His
fold. Since that time Sai has consistently taken care
of my family and me during difficult times in our lives.
Throughout my life, I have cultivated the habit of praying
to Baba as soon as I open my eyes every morning. I also
give thanks and prayers before going to bed, regardless
of how the day may be.
In the summer of 2006,
my daughter went to East Africa as a visiting medical
student. She had a wonderful time, both working with the
population and visiting many different regions. It was
a thoroughly magnificent experience for her. While touring
various cities, she had a 30-hour bus journey on a road
made of sticks and stones. The ride was no less than miserably
uncomfortable. But the worst came at the Kenyan-Ugandan
border.
After spending nearly
ten minutes finding a “restroom” (which was
essentially a hole in the ground, around which rodent
and insect visitors gathered), she walked back out onto
the road just in time to see the tail lights of her bus
disappearing in the distance. Her stomach sank as the
bus carried everything that she owned with the exception
of twenty thousand Tanzanian schillings, a roll of toilet
paper, and her passport.
Before she realized
what was happening, she started sprinting in her flip-flops
and skirt, just as the tears started rolling down her
eyes, as she was cursing herself and her small bladder,
a man on a moped drove up next to her. She jumped on,
they finally made it to the bus, got their attention and
the bus stopped. In a daze of adrenaline she hugged the
man who saved her life, handed him her Tanzanian schillings
and toilet paper, and climbed on the bus. The driver and
passengers all looked extremely annoyed at her, since
she was also the passenger who had to have the bus stop
4 times previously to use the restroom. She was so happy
to be back on that bus and needless to say she did not
drink another drop of water for the rest of her journey.
After this horrifying
episode, she sent me an email narrating this episode.
While reading that email I developed heart palpitations
and by the end I had tears in my eyes. I instantly realized
that this man who saved my daughter that day could only
have been my beloved Sai. It was a true manifestation
of his pledge, “I would cross seven seas to help
my devotees,” which is a tenet that I have read
in Sai Satcharita several times. Sai truly does prove
his love for his devotees. He has affected my life in
innumerable ways and I am confident that he will continue
to express his protection over my family and me for years
to come…
Vijaya, California,
USA
Share your
experience, articles poems etc.
POEM
Whatever your cross
Whatever
your cross,
Whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine,
After the rain...
Perhaps you may stumble,
Perhaps even fall,
But Sai is always ready,
To answer your call...
He knows every heartache,
Sees every tear,
A word from His lips,
Can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger,
Throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish,
In dawn's early light...
Sai is waiting,
Somewhere above,
To give you His grace,
And send you His love...
Whatever your cross,
Whatever your pain,
"Sai always sends rainbows...
After the rain..."
Deepa H.
Share your
experience, articles poems etc.
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Devotion
Devotion is a feeling
of love, faith and awe expressed by devotee/spiritual
seeker towards a super power – God or Guru who has
the power to alleviate his mundane problems. This feeling
takes the form of an action such as singing, dancing,
writing the glories etc. It is not always true to assume
that when people resort to the holy feet of the Lord they
would be spared the pain inflicted physically and emotionally.
One finds that there
is increased restlessness, pain, suffering and melancholy
in the world with passing time and everybody who resorts
to the feet of god or guru is not a devotee. As explained
in Satcharita “when Damu Anna once thought “There
are so many crowding to Sai Baba. Do they all get benefit
from Him? To this, He (Baba) replied orally - "Look
at the mango tree in blossom. If all the flowers brought
fruit, what a splendid crop it would be. But do they?
Most fall off (either as flowers or as unripe fruits)
by wind etc. Very few remain".”
"A cheerful,
courageous smile perennially dancing on (our) lips is
the visible proof of (our) invisible faith in God"
“Smiling Tears” - Sriram. Devotion is expressed
in various ways towards God/guru. People can resort to
one or more of the navavidha bhakthi such as (1) Shravana
(Hearing); (2) Kirtana (Praying); (3) Smarana (Remembering);
(4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet); (5) Archana (Worship);
(6) Namaskara (Bowing); (7) Dasya (Service); (8) Sakhyatva
(Friendship); (9) Atmanivedana (surrender of the self)
as described in chapter 21 of Satcharita. Though there
is no prescribed form or practice of showing devotion
towards God or Guru however in the present age the best
or highest form of expressing devotion is Dasya (service).
Service to man is
service to God. The other types of service can be done
in isolation and do not require contact with other people
and will help man to achieve his goal gradually but that
becomes selfish doesn't it? While serving others we not
only serve God but also help those in need and influence
them through our spiritual beliefs and actions. Service
should not distinguish between people, caste, class or
religion. While serving, the thought process is important,
what does an individual feel and think? Does he think
he is free to offer and restrict his service as and how
he chooses? If there is any thought of discrimination,
superiority, self importance or selfish motive then that
does not constitute devotion. A devotee involved in serving
will gradually lose his ego, and his actions will be completely
controlled by BABA.
Humility is the ornament
of a true devotee. Devotion is not said to have achieved
its purpose unless a man is humble in his service and
knows that he is there to serve God by serving His children.
“The beloved of the Almighty are the rich who have
the humility of the poor, and the poor who have the magnanimity
of the rich.”
True devotion inspires
people to shower nectar through the words they speak “Kind
words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes
are truly endless.” - Mother Theresa. A devotee
with these qualities radiates his perfection, sincerity
for the love of God by his actions, service and the above
mentioned qualities. Though loving God and showing devotion
seems simple enough it is not an easy path to tread.
Baba Himself describes
devotion or bhakti as a double edged razor - only a true
spiritual seeker can withstand the hurdles they come across
in the path of devotion. Very few people remain steady
in their devotion towards God and practice spirituality
while being subjected to tests and turmoils in life. The
rest give up and fall behind or seek solace from elsewhere
in the search for unburdening their problems.
True devotion inspires
a sadhak to aspire and practice the teachings of Guru.
While treading the spiritual path one comes across a number
of hurdles in life. The victory lies in clearing these
hurdles. Perhaps the devotees might stumble while crossing
the hurdles but holding on to the feet of the lord and
taking His name would help them clear these hurdles. Devotion
is the first step towards reaching God.
Once a person is on
this path, and places full faith in his guru, rest of
the journey is taken care of by the guru. Guru stands
by the devotee in face of all perils and helps the seeker
rise above the mundane problems and worries. God has given
us faculties and limbs to help ourselves and also those
around us. It is not enough to say that we love God.
To love God we need
to love His creation and people and serve Him by serving
people. Let us not wait for others to take the first step
in serving others. We are the leaders and initiators.
Show the world that Service is the highest and the richest
forms of devotion, which helps us progress not just spiritually
but also as a community and a nation. This form of devotion
is beneficial to the whole of mankind rather than restricting
it to one individual. May Baba bless us and guide us in
the right path.
Anitha Kandukuri,
Canberra, Australia
Share
your views on Topic of Discussion- PRARABDH
DEVOTEES' FORUM
Ramana Maharishi was asked by devotees that why Ramana
does not perform miracles? There was a huge crowd outside
the ashram as a yogi was performing unbelievable miracle.
Ramana replied, Ramana as body ceased at the age of sixteen,
his identity was the manifestation of Arunachala Siva.
Since he did not exist how will he be aware that he is
performing miracles. He was an instrument of divine for
Ramana was not in the body. He lived in cosmic consciousness
- there was no yesterday, today and tomorrow. Clad in
loin cloth, living in caves, he was a diamond adorning
the hills of Arunachala, and lived in such state for fifty
four years At the time of his passing away, he said he
is eternal and his spirit lives. Where will he go? In
excruciating pain with severe form of ulcer in my mouth,
my lungs drawing oxygen from a machine, I was feeling
dehydrated at three o’clock at night. I intensely
kept my mind on Ramana and fell asleep as my eyelids were
tired. In my dream I saw an old man prophesizing that
by next morning at 9 am I should open my mouth will find
no trace of ulcer and blister in my mouth... at the appointed
time I found my mouth clean with no trace of the bruises
and blisters. Who cured? Om Namo Bhagwate Sri Ramanaya.
Jagannathan Padmanabhan, Bangalore
Jai Shri Sachinand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj
Ki Jai, my many, many millions of thanks to our dear Sainath
Maharaj, as today I feel that my faith and trust on you
paid off with your miracle and blessings. It was today
that after almost a year my wife called and has given
me a chance to work out our differences. Baba knows how
much I have been wanting to be with her and I know this
is a fresh start and once again I ask Baba's blessings
to save our marriage. I love you very much Baba, everybody
please believe in Him and trust Him wholeheartedly as
He is so generous to His devotees and all living beings.
Thank you again Baba.
Adi, USA
Share your
feelings about Shirdi Sai in Devotees’ Forum
READER'S REFLECTION
“This magazine is indeed a great effort to spread
the teachings and blessings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. Every
Sai devotee should try and contribute to this as much
as possible. May Sai shower His blessings on all those
taking this effort and reward them with all success in
their life.” Jai Sai Ram
Swamy Mahadevan, Cochin
To introduce myself, I am a Sai devotee. I went through
the site in rapt attention. To say the least it is EXCELLENT
in its conceptualisation, formatisation, contents, artwork
and communicative skills. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SITES
ON SHRI SHIRDI SAI . I recommend readers to visit the
site and contribute as desired by the org. Whosoever has
created the site and updates it deserves the highest kudos.
May Shri Sai bless all those that have created this beautiful
work of art.
C. B. Satpathy, Delhi
Share
Reader's Reflection
NEWS OF SHIRDI
SAI ACTIVITIES
SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN,
CANADA
Sai Dwarkamai : 147
Winston Castle Dr., Markham, ON L6C 2N4 (Open to Public
on Thursdays for Darshan - Satsang at 7:00PM)
Mail at: PO Box# 64721 Hwy7 East., Unionville, ON L3R
0M9
Phone: 416-294-4804 Website: http://www.shirdisainath.org/
(Visit regularly for Event and Activity update. Post
your Divine Experiences with Baba in the Guest Book.
Three Annual Events
: Ram Navami Guru Purrnima, and Vijay Dashami, Monthly
Weekly and daily Activities: Abhishek - Akhand Parayan
- Bhajan Sandhaya - Aarti - Annadaan - Chitra Yatra -
Paduka Puja - Palki Pothi & Portrait Procession -
Volunteer Sevices - Character and Moral Values... Youth
Program based on Baba's Teachings (in Progress)
THE RESOURCE
CENTRE
Maple Crest Private
School 28 Roytech Road. Woodbridge, ON L4L 8E4 PHONE -
416-294-4804 (by appointment only). Complementary copy
of "Sai Satcharita" (one per family) in all
languages is now available, excluding Pothi in Marathi,
Indira kher ji's English Version and Hindi Pothi by Kakaria
ji,. Reserve your copy today. On Line Shopping will be
coming soon.
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Canada holds Satsang on Thursdays
and third Sunday of every month at Gur Mandir, 207 Queen’s
Plate, Toronto Etobicoke). For other Details call 416-294-4804
or visit http://www.shirdisainath.org/
SHIRDI SAI MANDIR,
TORONTO, CANADA
The Shirdi Sai Mandir
located at 2721 Markham Road, Unit# 8, Toronto, Ontario,
M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open
through out the day on Saturday, Sunday and holidays and
in the morning and evenings on all weekdays. Baba's Kakad
Aarti, Abhishek Puja, Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Satcharita
Reading and Shej Aarti are performed every day. Bhajans
and Sai Naam Sankirtan in the evening on Thursday and
Saturday. or information regarding the daily schedule,
temple activities and events please visit Mandir's website:
http://www.theshirdisaimandir.ca
or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.ca
or call 647-444-4724
SHIRDI SAI PARIVAR
VANCOUVER
Shirdi Sai parivar in Vancouver
holds Satsang on Thursday (6.30-7.30pm)and Sai abhishek
and aarti first Sunday of every month at 8571, 118A St,
Delta, V4C 6L2. For further details contact (604) 592
4182 or email, say.sai.sai@gmail.com.
SHRI SHIRDI SAI
SANSTHAN LOS ANGELES
By the grace of our Shirdi
Sai we are happy to announce the inauguration of Shri Shirdi
Sai Temple in LA region in the city of Montebello. We need
the support of all Sai Devotees. For more information please
email krishna@shirdisaila.org
SRI SAI BABA
MANDIR OHIO USA
Location:7674 Sawmill
Road, Dublin, OH-43016
Daily timings and activities:
Weekdays:
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM 9:00 AM Kakad Arati, 12:00 Noon:
Madhyan Arati 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: 6:00 PM: Dhoop
Arathi, 8:30 PM: Shej Arathi
Weekends:
Temple is open from
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Every Thursday:
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Sai Bhajans followed by Mangal
Arati and Shej Arati at 9:30 PM.
For more information
please call at 614-799-8411 or visit
http://www..saibaba.cc
SHIRDI SAI CENTER,
BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
Location: 897-B E. Kifer
Rd, Sunnyvale, CA - 94086
Daily timings and activities:
Weekdays:
6:15 am – 7:40 am: Abhishekam and Kakad Arathi at 6:30 am
11.45 am – 12:30 pm: Madhyan Arathi at 12:00 pm
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Dhoop Arathi at 6:30 pm and Shej Arathi
at 8:30 pm
Weekends:
6:15 am – 7:40 am: Kakad Arathi at 6:30 am
11:00 am – 9:30 pm: Madhyan Arathi at 12:00 pm, Dhoop Arathi
at 6:30 pm and Shej Arathi at 8:30 pm
Every Thursday:
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Shirdi Sai Bhajans
For more information please
call 408-705-7904 / 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com or
visit our website at http://www.shirdisaiparivaar.org/
NORTH AMERICA
SHIRDI SAI TEMPLE OF ATLANTA
Location: 700 James
Burgess Road,Suwanee GA 30024, USA
The North America Shirdi Sai Temple is located at 700
James Burgess Road,Suwanee GA 30024.Temple is open all
seven days of the week. Baba's Kakad Aarti, Abhishek Puja,
Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti and Shej Aarti are performed
every day. Bhajans are sung on all thursday and sunday
evenings. For information regarding the daily schedule,
temple activities and events please visit Mandir's website:
http://www.templeofpeace.org/
or call 678-455-7200
SHRI SHIRDI SAI
SAMAJ MALAYSIA
No.744-1, Tingkat 1, Jln.
Sentul Selatan, Sentul, 51000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This is a new Shirdi Baba center in malaysia. We conduct weekly
prayers/arathi at the following times:
Friday - 7pm - 10.30pm
Sunday - Noon - 2.30pm
Our official centre website
is http://saisamaj.blogspot.com/
For more information, please email mailto:hyperkinetix@gmail.com
PERSATUAN SHIRDI
SAI BABA SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
This is to inform all of
you that we have a Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Malaysia. Here
we have daily prayers and special prayers on thursday mornings
9.00am and bhajans and satsang from 8 pm onwards. Also breakfast,
lunch and dinner, cooked by our seva-group is provided to
all devotees. other than that first thursday of the month
we have talk on spirituality, second thursday on health, third
thursday satsang on Sai Satcharitra, fourth thursday talk
on general topics, by experts in the respective fields. Lot
of charitable activities are conducted by our Centre,like
sponsoring immediate services to childrens\' homes, old-folks
homes, sick and needy, etc. etc.
If any devotee, from Malaysia
or Singapore likes to join our Centre, please contact Mr.SP
Kannan at Mobile -012-2739486; usha - 006122392911; Res: 03-33717540.
Our Centre address is : Persatuan Shirdi Sai Baba Selangor,
No.2574, Jalan Seruling 59, Taman Klang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.Thank
you and Sai Ram.
SHIRDI SAI TEMPLE
SINGAPORE
The dream of having a full
fledged exclusive Shirdi Sai Temple in Singapore, will soon
come true. Thanks to the efforts of a Sai devotee in making
this happen. The Shirdi Sai Baba Centre in Singapore is now
live with the 3rd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman
temple, being secured and converted to a full fledged exclusive
Shirdi Sai worship centre. The Centre will be devoted to celebrating
the life & teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba only. For more
information visit our website http://www.saisansthan.com/
SHIRDI SAI BABA
SANSTHAN, AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND
Bhajans Every Thursday
Venue Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 13 May Road, Mt Roskill,
Auckland
7.00 pm - 7.50 pm Sai
Bhajans,
7.50 pm - 8.10 pm Pravachan and Sai Ashtotharam
8.10 pm - 8.30 pm Shej Aarthi
8.30 pm - 9.00 pm Prasad distribution.
For more details Contact us Amar Alluri(President) Mobile:
(+64) 27 230 5360 Email: President@shirdisaibaba.org.nz
or Srinivas Sadam (Secretary) Mobile: (+64) 27 463 0175
Email: Secretary@shirdisaibaba.org.nz
Address: Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ, P.O. Box:
16142,
Sandringham, Auckland, New Zealand. Visit our website
http://www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz/
Share
News from your part of the world
|
