The Samajam offers, in all humility, this SOUVENIR as a flower of perpetual beauty & fragnance at the lotus feet of SRI SAIBABA, on the occasion of HIS MAHA SAMADHI DAY celebration of this year (1990), as a token of its gratitude and thanks giving to BABA for HIS continued and benevolent blessings on this Samajam, since its inception in the year 1957 to date, during which period it has been growing from strength to strength, as could be seen from the history of Samajam, recorded elsewhere in this souvenir, for the benefit of the present and the generations to come.

Unlike ordinary journals, this is not to be read once and kept aside, for it is the "Prasad" of Sai Baba Himself, for His unseen hand has been guiding us throughout the preparation and publication of this small but significant volume. It has many features that have to be studied and assimilated and not merely read and forgotten.

Passages on topics of ever lasting value have been called out from various sources, including the ASHTOTRA SATHANAMAVALI of Baba with an English rendering appearing at the top of each page with one name in each page, as a mark of dedication of each and every page to HIM. Selections from eminent personalities on the spiritual literature adorn almost all the pages.

It is hoped and prayed that Shri Sai Baba will accept this humble offering and bless the committee with success in all its new ventures, as HE has been doing all along. We pray that this sacred effort will be well received by the public in general and by the devotees in particular.

MANAGING COMMITTEE

FOREWORD

It has been decided to bring out a Souvenir on the occasion of Mahasamadhi Day of Sri Sai Baba in connection to raise funds for the construction of choultries at Shirdi. Accordingly, this Souvenir is published consisting of English, Telugu, and Hindi articles which deal with the life and Message of Bhagwan Sai Baba and also other topics of religious and spiritual interest. Though several writers have contributed very instructive articles in response to our request, we could include only some of them in the Souvenir. We express our sincere regret to all the writers whose contributions could not be published. We offer our warm thanks to all the writers who have given their valuable contributions and all concerns who have agreed to insert their advertisements in the Souvenir.

We take this opportunity to express our grateful thanks to several devotees particularly" who have extended their whole hearted co-operation in bringing out this souvenir. We will be happy if this publication helps the devotees to a better understanding and appreciation of the message of Bhagwan Sri Sai Baba. May He lead us to the cherished Goal-God-Realisation.

SOUVENIR COMMITTEE SRI SAI BABA SAMAJAM

NALLAGUTTA SECUNDERABAD

Parepalll Venkateswar Rao,

S.K. Laxman Rao, K. Sai Prasad,

K. Muralidhar,

B. Gourl Shankar &

C. Suresh

RAMAKRISHNA MATH

The Secretary

Sri Sai Baba Samajam

Sri Sai Nilayam

Sir Ronald Ross Road

Nallagutta

Secunderabad 500 003

Dear Sri,

I am happy to learn that you are bringing out a souvenir this year on the eve of Mahasamadhi Day of Sri Sai Baba, which fails on the sacred Vijayaaasanii Day.

The Message of Sri Sai Baba of mutual tolerance and reverence amongst religions and respect to individuals is very much relevant for ail times to come. This has been the ancient message of our Sanatana Dharma echoed through great personalities like Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Sai Baba etc. I am sure your Samajam will strive to fulfil this cherished message of the great.

My good wishes and prayers for the success of your noble efforts. I iook forward to participate in your function on 29th instant

Yours in the Lord,

12 September 1990 ( Swami Paramarthananda)

BRIEF HISTORY OF SRI SAI NILAYAM

SIR RONALD ROSS ROAD, MINISTER ROAD, NALLAGUTTA, SECUNDERABAD.

Great men live but one crowded hour of glory and leave behind sacred foot prints on the sands of time.

It is but meet and proper on the part of the posterity to pay homage to the sublime lives of those men who enthused them into the great endeavour.

We are indebted to one such great soul who, a couple of decades ago, sowed the sacred seed of Sai worship at this sanctum sanctorum. The great soul was Devarsetty Anjaiah. Straight and simple, honest and humble, Devarsetty Anjaiah developed in himself abounding love for Sri Sai Baba as manifestations of Lord Dattatreya.

So profound was his adoration for Baba that where-ever is steped in and whomever he met, D. Anjaiah did not fail to mention the holy name of Baba. Thus he endeavoured to instil in the hearts of the people devotion for Saint of Shirdi. In this task, he reaped the results in a remarkable manner for the simple reason that the soil of the twin cities was already rendered fertile, by then, by the visits of stalwards like H.M. Narasimha Swamiji of All India Sai Samajam, Mylapor and Swami Keshavaiahji of Shenoy Nagar Madras. These pious men not only gave public discourses at important places in the twin cities but also broadcast inspiring lectures on A.I.R. In this context, mention need to be made of two outstanding devotees of Baba, Viz., Sri G.V.R. Naidu and Sri Kasi Viswanatham who played a leading role in organizing the said A.I.R. programme and mammoth meeting in the year 1942.

Drawn by the new faith, D. Anjaiah knew Sri G.V.R. Naidu very intimately. In the year 1957, with Sri G.V.R. Naidu and other ardent devotees like Ramachander Rao Bhange, K. Kondal Rao, K. Shanker Rao, P. Narayana etc., Sri D. Anjaiah lost no time in forming a Committee of devotees of Sai Baba for the spread of Sai cult.

In the same year Sri D. Anjaiah had erected a small hut on a piece of land admeasuring about 110 Sq. metres situated at Sir Ronald Ross Road (Minister Road) Nallagutta along the South side of the said road in the tank bed of Hussain Sagar tank and installed an oil paint portrait of Lord Sri Sainath with five oil lamps and ever burning Dhuni (Sacred fire) more or less on the same pattern as that at SHRI DWARAKAMAI Mosque at Shirdi and called it as Dwarakamai Sri Sai Nilayam. Simultaneously he had also raised two small structures at a distance of about 11 furlongs away from the said Sri Sai Nilayam along the same side of the said road i.e., one adjacent to the said road (Now it is gurusthan) and the other on a rock situated 100 yards away abutting the said road towards railway line with a view to develop this place into a permanent temple complex of Lord Sri Sainath including charitable dispensary, School for Orphans, Library etc. This low-lying area was selected by the founder, Sri Dewarasetty Anjaiah, as it was nobody's land and as it was covered by a big sheet of water throughtout the year since a very long time.

In the year 1958 the construction of temporary Mandir with Zinc Sheets roofing was completed the place mentioned above by a devotee, Sri Vengala Manumantha Rao, in the memory of his mother Late Smt. Manikkamma.

Sri D. Anjaiah fondly cherished the idea of founding about five Samajams for Sri Sai Baba. He founded one at Nallagutta and another at Nizamabad with great success. The third one was to come up at Warangal but before accomplishment of that objective D. Anjaiah passed away from our midst.

In early 1972 for the first time a Samajam under the name of "Sri Sai Baba Samajam" was formed officially with bye-laws and was registered under the Societies Registration Act. Vide registration No. 122 of 1972 dt., 20.2.72. The above said Mandir Sri Dwarakamai (Sri Sai Ni-layam) was donated to the Samajam by Sri Vengala Hanumantha Rao by means of registered, document on 17.4.1972.

In September, 1973 then Samajam had introduced for the first time the "ARATHI" collective prayers viz., Kakad Arathi in the early hours, Madhyanna Arathi at Noon, Dhoop Arathi at Sunset and Sej Arathi at 10.00 P.M. on Thursdays and on important festivals days and also began to celebrate Sri Sai Baba's festivals like Sri Rama Navmi, Guru Poornima, Punyathithi (Vi-jaya Dasami) and Sri Datta Jayanthi on the same tines as those followed at Shirdi.

In the year 1974 the Samajam renovated one of the two structures adjacent to the Sir Ronald Ross Road, in the Tank bed of Hussain Sagar 11 furlongs away from Sri Sai Nilayam as mentioned above and named it as SHRI SAI BABA "GURUSTHAN".

In the same year for the first time for the benefit of the Telugu speaking people the Samajam undertook the task of bringing out the actual "PUJA VIDHI" which is observed at Shiridi in a book form in Telugu script with meanings with the kind permission and approval of the Court-Receiver of Shiridi Samsthan of Sri Sai Baba, Shiridi. This publication has thus fulfilled the longfelt need of the Telugu speaking people. The said book was released on Sree Rama Navami day in 1976 both at Shirdi and Secunderabad simultaneously.

In the year 1982, the temple was renovated, by replacing the zinc sheet-roof, with R.C.C. slab.

In the year 1987, the Samajam, undertook and completed two major items of improvement viz.,

(1) The provision of silver Simhasanam

(2) Construction of meditation hall, in the firstfloor.

As scheduled, the works were completed, satisfactorily, before the Dasara. This exquisite silver Simhasanam work was executed, by Viswakarma Brass Copper & Silver Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd, Pembarthi.

This Simhasanam follows, the same pattern, as that of the Simhasanam at Shirdi, in all details, thus enhancing its authenticity and beauty, at a cost of about Rs One lakh, and was very Ceremoniously installed, by Late. Sri G.V.R. Naidu Garu, the senior most devotee of Baba, in the twin cities, on 27-7-87. The Meditation Hall, was very graciously inaugurated, by Swamy Para-manthananda of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad, along with the unveiling of life size photo of Sai Baba, sitting on a rock. This photo is exactly resembling the one at Dwarakamai of Shirdi.

Again, in the year 1988, The Samajam took up the magnificient work of construction of the Gopuram, which follows the same design as that at Shirdi. This was got ready before the Dasara. After the performance of seven days of sacred yagna, in the temple, which illuminated, on the Maha Samadhi Day of Baba is on 20-10-88, the Shikara Prathista was performed by Swamy Paramarthananda, at 8.06 A.M on the same day, amidst due pomp and pageantry-Last year (1989) the Samajam has launched a new and ambitious venture of construction of a choultry at Shirdi, for the convenience of the devotees visiting Shirdi. For this purpose, land admeasuring 7000 Sq.ft. behind Sai International Hotel, at a cost of Rs 1,50,000/- has been purchased, under a registered deed dated 6-7-'89. Permission for this construction from the local authorities and the designs are being processed presently. The Samajam is Very much thankful to Shri. Nagre, Post Master, SHIRDI, for helping us in this Venture. Simultaneously suitable ways and means of raising the necessary funds for this gigantic task, are being worked out and for this purpose, four Committees have been formed, with three members, inculding the Chairman, in each. The four committees are:-

(1) Development Committee (2) Souvenir Committee (3) Festival Committee (4) Donation Committee.

A general view based on tentative proposals, shown elsewhere in this souvenir.

It is hoped that with the kind co-operation of the general public and the blessings of Baba, this grand project will be completed successfully as an early date.

1. Development Committee:-

A. Shanti Karan

B. Vittal

M. Mallesh

Development committee's main aim is to develop the temple activities by:-

Conducting of Spiritual Discourses 2. Free distribution of books to poor children 3. Conducting Eye camp 4. Free distribution of fruits to patients in hospitals.

On 1-7-90 the Samajam distributed free books to poor children. Mr. V. Jogi Raju Retd Dy. Inspector General of Registration and Stamps, Hyderabad was the chief guest.

2. Souvenir Committee:-

Chariman:- M. Uttam Kumar.

Member:- K. Muralidhar.

After 12 years the souvenir committee is bringing out souvenir, by collecting advertisements, the amount will be utilised for the construction of choultries at Shirdi. The souvenir will be released by Swamy Para-marthananda of Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad.

3. Festival Committee:-

Chairman: N. Sundar Rao

Member: P. Krishna Rao

Member: B. Gouri Shankar.

The committee's main aim is to celebrate the functions on par with that of Shirdi. The committee on 4-9-1990 has distributed Prasadam on the Ganesh immerssion day, by putting a stall on the M.G. Road, Secunderabad.

4. Donation Committee:-

Chairman: K. Sai Prasad.

Member: G. Satyanarayan.

Member: T. Jaihind Babu.

The main aim of the committee is to collect donations for the construction of choultries at Shirdi. Arranging Lottery, Musical Nite and seeking aid or loan from TTD, Tirupathi.

All of us pray that by the Divine grace of Sri Sai Baba the Samajam may Strengthen its activities for long Number of years in future to fulfil Sai's Mission to alleviate human sufferings and bring hope and cheer to thousands who are steeped in misery.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

SAI THE OMNIPRESENT SAINT

OH! SAI BABA, the embodiment of all faiths

You save your devotees who trust in you

Your assurance goes as

"If you look up to me I look after you".

You are indebted to devotees who become one with you

Nothing can move without your grace and command

Your fame spreads all over the universe

Oh! Master, I never forget you.

Omnipotent are your spiritual powers ,

Yours is a concept of socialism and brotherhood

Your ways are the nucleus of all world-faiths ^;

Oh! Sainath, save the humanity from suffering.

Your avatar brought about the spiritual progress of mankind

Your teachings are the essence of all world-faiths

Rescue and rest in our heart for ever and ever

Oh! Omnicient Saint, yourways are mysterious!

It is only you, who can uplift us

Your leelas are manifold everywhere,

Without your grace, there is no salvation for me

Oh! Lord, I am absorbed in devotion to you always.

In mind and heart I surrender to thy lotus feet

Pray, left my life embrace thy teachings

You are all in all to me, my Lord,

Oh! Omnipresent Saint, You know everything.

(MAMIDI SATYANARAYANA)

Superintendent,

A.P.P.S.C., HYDERABAD.

INTRODUCING SRI SAI BABA

/ bow down unto Lord Sainath, my Sad-guru! Thou art the embodiment of Iswara Himself whose splender, omnicience and innumerable leelas beyond human comprehension are commingled in Thee. Yet Thou art egoless (most humble) ever delighting in the Bliss ofatma - bhavam.

SRI SAI BABA OF SHIRDI is an outstanding Sage and Seer of our age and a refuge to one and all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, age and sex. When he was in flesh and blood, he never liked to talk personally about himself. If he had felt, that a knowledge of his antecedents were essential, for spiritual enlightenment of seekers, Baba would have certainly left an authentic record of his life. Baba, perhaps, fell in line with the traditionalists and thought that such inquisitiveness is very often an impediment than a prop to seekers treading the path of spiritual regeneration. The tradition warns us against prying into the origins of Rishis and rivers. That is how we find that Baba's early life story has become a subject of extravagant and fantastic conjectures.

Baba came to Shirdi, as a boy, some time, in the middle of the 19th century. He stayed there under a neem tree, because he claimed the place to be sacred ground, the samadhi of his Master (perhaps in former birth). He wore Kufni and head-gear, like a muslim fakir. They were in rags, but, he kept them spotlessly clean. He slept on the ground and lived during that period, on half a rotee, doled out to him by Narayan Talee's wife.

Baba used to frequent the Takiah at Shirdi (Muslim Rest House) and spend his time there, singing the praise of the Lord, to the tune of anklets that he wore on his wrists and dance to his heart's content, in ecstacy. Sanskrit, Hindi and Mahrati songs were his fares. Justice Rege assures us that Baba was a connoisseur of music in both styles - Indian and Persian.

Muslim savants, well versed in Islamic scriptures, were satisfied, with Baba's exposition in chaste Arabic and Persian of intricate texts, in the Holy Koran, moulds etc. They, however, wondered at Baba's hetrodox practices and incongruities, in his conduct of spirituality. Strange were the moods of Baba in his teens. If anyone tried to pry into the antecedents of Baba, he used to behave like one moonstruck. Whenever any one among them tried to poke his nose into the private life of baba, he would fret and fume and challenge the inquisitive one for a duel to settle the issue: Baba, in the early days, at Shirdi was nameless!

It was in such queer circumstances that the lad (Baba) picked up a quarrel with one Mohiddin Tamboli, who had come to Shirdi some time in 1868. He was defeated in a wrestle with Tamboli, left Shirdi and resorted to the jungle. Was it in despair? Tatya Kote's mother, Baiyaji Bai was in the habit of going to the woods every noon, in search of Baba, in order to offer him food.

It was after four years that Baba returned to Shirdi, along with Chand Bhai Patel of Dhup-Keda, who was bound for Shirdi, to attend his nephew's marriage. He met on the road to Shirdi, Mahalasapati, the Pujari of Kandoba Temple, who accosted the fakir lad reverentially as "Sai Baba" but was reluctant to accommodate him, in the temple, under his charge. The appellation 'Sai Baba' stuck on to him from that day onwards. This same pujari became a constant companion of Baba and was named 'Bhagat' by which name Mahalasapatti is known to Sai Devotees.

Baba lived in a Mosque at Shirdi, which was in a dilapidated condition and, therefore, discarded by local Muslims.

Baba never touched flesh and was a tea-totaller. He was against the use ol narcotis. like Indian hemp (Ganja) and opium, which was in vogue even among Sadhus. He called the mosque the 'Brahmin Musjid', because of its sanctity and purity. Baba's reverence for the women-folk was unique. He had realised in his life the 'Mother-hood of God'. All women to him were divine.

During the later days when Baba became famous and pilgrims and devotees began to pour in Shirdi to obtain his blessings, women folk were free to occupy the inner precincts of the Musjid and even worship him with sandal paste, waving of sacred lights, blowing ol conches and ringing of bells, in the right royal Hindu fashion. Men-folk were restricted to occupy the verandah of the Mosque, behind the wooden frame-work.

Reverence for the 'Mother’ was amply expressed by Baba by calling his mosque abode as 'Dwaraka mayee'. He created a Tulasi Brindavan with his own hands, to mark the naming occasion. Inside the Masjid, he lighted the Dhuni (the eternal fire).

The 'Dhuni' is maintained even today by the Sai Samastan that is administering the Baba shrine and other institutions connected with him. The Udhi (ashes) is even today a coveted prasad for humans as well as sub-humans and is considered to be tokens of 'Baba's Dua' (Blessings).

Sai Baba shed his mortal coil on the 15th of October, 1918 on the Ekadasi Day soon after Dashara;that happened to be the Day of Ramzan Id, sacred to the Hindus and Muslims alike.

Sri Bapa Sahib Bhuti, a millionaire devotee of Baba belonging to Nagpur thought of constructing a Wada in Shirdi to accommodate pilgrims in the year 1913. The place for the wada was selected by Bhuti and a plan of the building was shown to Baba. "Leave a place of about four cubits long and two cubits broad at the end of the hall", said Baba. When asked, "What it was tor?"

Baba said, "A temple of Radhakrishna's Love would be later on built here". Little did people then know that the mortal remains of Baba the embodiment of Divine Love-would be deposited in the self same place and that it would be the centre of spiritual awakening throughout the world!" (Justice Rege).

In 1916, during the Dashara day, Baba was showing signs of "Passion" even as Christ did on the night before His capture on the 'Mount'. Baba threw all his clothes into the fire of the Dhuni, stood like a child from the womb of the 'mother' clad only in air and light. He had to be coaxed into being clothed only after two full j hours. He showed sings of disgust for that clod oti earth, the fetter of a mortal coil and he did pass away, exactly, on the Dashara Ekadasi Day two years later. Was Baba preparing his devotees for the eventuality of his disappearance from, 1916 onwards?

"Baba is not to be identified with this" Sai body".

"Baba is really everywhere".

"Baba is the 'Antaryamin', the inner-most soul of all that exists".

"Baba is to be realised in his portrait or picture".

"This mould of clay shall join the elements".

In short, Sai Baba was steadily preparing his devotees for the inveitable passing away of the mortal body of Baba.

The doubting Thomases needed something, a relic, a fetish, to hold upon, when He was no more. Baba assured them that his mortal remains would speak from the tomb and that he would be active and vigorous everywhere and at all times. It is no wonder therefore that the 'Leelas' of Baba' are in abundance for those who look to him especially in the post-samadhi era.

To a devout Hindu, he pointed out the 'morbie tortoise' fixed on the veranda of the Mosque in front of the stone boulder over which he used to sit. A sculptor once brought a marble tortoise (Kacchapa) and placed it at the feet of Baba. Sai paid a heavy price in his own queer fashion, and handed it over to Mother Radhakrishna Ayee, the de-facto Sai Sansthan of those days (1900-1916).

Mother Radhakrishni (that was the name by which Baba called her) knew what Baba wanted to do with the marble Pratima and she fixed it one day in front of Baba when he was sitting on the hallowed stone boulder; Baba simply nodded his approval and smiled. Kacchapa is the symbol of "MOTHER'S GRACE". Bhaktas call this as "KACCHAPA KISHORA NYAYA". According to mystic philosophers, the Kacchapa hatches its eggs by merely thinking of them, The mother Kacchapa feeds her offsprings by mere thought-force wherever she might be. Such is the 'MOTHER' symbolised in 'KAM AKSHl' according to Adi Shankaracharya. 'MOTHER SAI' and "His Grace' function in this fashion especially in the benighted age of Kali. That was Baba's assurance to his devotees.

"You simply look to me. I shall be with you, inside you and outside you, whatever you may be or do", was the assurance Baba gave to a devotee. "That holds good to every one of us." (Justice Rege).

Bhiku bai, widow of Bayyaji Patil Kothe of Sangammer (a hamlet near Shirdi} was a child widow in her teens. She had intimately known Radhakrishna Ayee at Ahmadnagar. She came to Shirdi in 1908 and stayed with Ayee (Mother) serving Baba with devotion. Baba daily gave her a vessel full of meals during the noon which she took to her abode daily.

On the day Baba passed away Bhikhu Bai was in great agitation and bitterly wept, shedding torrents of tears. She had no food to eat and she knew for the first time that she was fortorn. She cried, "Baba, My Mother (Maje Ayee). Can I see you again" In utter despair and destitution she ran towards the door of her abode and lo! there stood a cobra, with spread hood, as if to assure her of Baba's presence and grace.

"I know only your Sai Baba form" she said. "How can I recognise you in the cobra body?"

Radhaksishna Ayee passed away in 1916 and Bikkhubai's Prop was snatched way. Without Baba, in flesh and blood, who will care for a destitute widow?. Yet Baba did provide for her and give her the insight to see 'BABA' in all beings including serpents. She was alive and energetic when SRI B.V.N.SWAMIJI met her in 1936, eighteen years after the Mahasamadhi serving Baba with the same devotion and love that she was capable of, during Baba's life time. She had determined, in her mind, to lay her clay (body) in the same soil, where Baba deposited His !

M. RAJESHWAR RAO

Gen. Secretary

Sri Sai Baba Seva Samajam

Secunderabad.

SAIBABA AND THE SCRIPTURE

For the finite mind of the mortals, indeed, it is difficult to comprehend the infinite dimensions of the immortals, such as our Saibaba and other great saints and sages, who have attained the acme of spiritual expansion. However, we shall by His blessings try to understand at least, one important aspect of this multifaceted Divine personality, which, often, is overshadowed by His miraculous, but natural and spontaneous Leelas (play) with which great majority of us are familiar. Unfortunately His in-depth insight into our sacred scriptures is not well known, by most of us. A brief attempt is being made in what follows to touch upon this aspect of His wonderous manifestation.

Even as Arjuna was chosen, by Sri Krishna, for his special attention and teaching of Gita, Sai Baba chose Sri Nanasaheb Chandorkar, for imparting some of his unique interpretation of our scripture and bestowing special favours in solving some of his day-to-day problems. The fact that Baba was well versed in our Prasthana-Thraya viz the Brahma Sutras, the Upanishads and the Gita, was not known even to his contemporaries like Nana Saheb and they were struck with wonder and were taken aback, as it were, at Baba's revelation of his deep knowledge of not only of our scriptures but also that of the Divine Language-Sanskrit.

Baba had prepared the fertile mind of Nana Saheb, to receive His teaching by conferring on him many temporal favours by spontaneously manifesting several of his marvellous powers. Just as Arjuna, who thought, till then Krishna was a mere mortal, was struck with awe and wonder on seeing Krishna's "Viswa-roopa Dharsan". Nana was astonished several times to see Baba's astounding powers. Let us hurry to catch a glimpse of Baba's spiritual ministration to Nana Saheb.

Baba, first, dealt with the "Ari-Shad-Varga" the six internal enemies of man, who wants to treat the spiritual path, viz Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha and Matsarya. He, not only explained !hese in words, but also alerted Nana whenever these raised their ugly heads in Manx's mind. By a simple process of mind reading he drew Nana's attention to any lapse, reprimanded and corrected him.

KAMA (Lust): This enemy raised its ugly head, in the mind of Nana, right in the presence of Baba, when a beautiful young girl removed her "burqa" in order to place her forehead on Baba's feet, as a prostration and quickly put back her visor, after getting up. The lightning-like beauty of her fair face sent a voluptuous wave of lust in Nana's mind, for a fraction of a second. At this exact moment "thud" came the blow, from Baba on Nana's thigh. He was rudely shocked and shaken by this. Baba, after the departure of the party reprimanded Nana, for entertaining a bad thought and explained the need for controlling the evil thoughts even at the inception, which is why he beat Nana on his thigh at the exact movement, so that Nana could save himself from such bad thoughts taking deep root and pushing him down.

KRODHA (Anger) This is another enemy against which any spiritual aspirant should guard. Baba had warned Nana against this evil trait in him several times. Whenever Nana used to visit Shirdi, Baba used to welcome him with a special significant smile. But on, one such occasion, on seeing Nana, Baba was cold and unresponsive. Naturally Nana was perturbed over this and requested Baba to reveal the reason, for such unusual occurence. Baba said that how he can be well-disposed, towards a person who ignores his teaching. Nana was non-plussed and Baba asked Nana as to why he got so much of anger, on a begger (Woman) who was persistently insisting on her being given more rice, at his place at Kalyan, as to push her out of Nana's house. Nana was not only wonder-struck at Baba's knowing of a distant event and apparently insignificant one at that, but also his watching Nana and teaching. Nana a great principle, from such trivial incident. Naturally Nana hung his head in shame for his transgression of the teachings of Baba. Thus Baba, taught Nana that these great disciplines of controlling these inner enemies is to be practised in private life consistently and not merely preached from public platforms pompously.

Similarly, on suitable occasions, Baba taught Nana how to control, the other four inimical traits of man viz Lobha (Greed) Moha (Delusion) Madha (Pride) and Mathsarya (Envy).

Out of this, we shall take up "Madha" for our further consideration. Nana Saheb, was a highly placed person with good education and a good cultural family back ground. Perhaps, he was self-conscious of these exquisite qualities and there was a touch of pride in him, even though' he was In constant touch with Baba and was exposed fully to Baba's personal teaching. One day, Nana was massaging the holy feet of Baba, as was his wont, he was muttering a sloka of Gita within himself. When Baba questioned him as to what he was reciting in such a low voice, he replied Baba, rather slightingly, that it was a Sanskrit sloka from Shrimad Bhaghawad Gita, as if Baba could not have known these things even very remotely. On being pressed he gave out loudly the following sloka:-

Tadviddhi Prani-pathena Pari-prasnena Sevaya,

Upadehekshyanti Te Gnanam Gnaniha thathwa darsinaha.

(B.G.IV-34)

Baba asked Nana whether he knew the meaning of this and Nana immediately gave out its word for word for wood meaning. Baba closely cross-examined Nana and found out that he could not stand up, to the test.

He discovered Nana's knowledge was narrow and not deep, like that of a novice. Therefore Baba himself elaborated the hidden meaning of this exquisite sloka, which gives the basis of Guru 'tatwa, the summary of which is given below:-

It is not mere physical prostration, that is referred to here, but total surrender of the body, mind and wealth to Guru. This is the meaning if "Prani-Pathena".

"Pari-Prasnena" means sincere and serious questioning to satisfy a felt-need, of the student.

"Seva" means total dedicated service by one's body without any reservation and sense of "myness" with regards to the body.

"Gnanam" here actually means "Agnanam" as nothing can be predicated about "Gnana" as gnorance or duality. The teacher can explain what "Agnana" is viz:-

1. Jeevoham (I am Jeeva)

2. Dehoham (I am the body)

3. Nanathwam (plurality of jagath, jeeva, Eswara etc.)

the Guru can say, only negatively, that what is opposed to the above Agnana is Gnana (like the sruthi saying "Nethi-Nethi" not this, not this) and thus initiate the spirit of enquiry, in the mind of the sincere student so that he arrives at what is "Ghanam" by his own contemplative effort. Krishna refers Arjuna to other Gnanis and Gurus, because any sincere student should see

no difference between one Gnani and the other, being a "Sad-Bhaktha" and for a sincere seeker Gurus will not be wanting but waiting for him.

From the above, it is abundantly and absolutely clear, to all of us that Baba had an in-depth knowledge of our scripture, he had his own unique interpretation of them, he chose to teach them to his favourite student Nana Saheb and through him to the world at large. This is similar to what Krishna did with regard to his teaching of Gita to his most favourite disciple Arjuna and keeping him as an excuse, He taught Gita to the whole world. If all of us read Baba's bio-graphy with an open mind, with a holy attitude, assimilate his teaching and put it into practice, at least, a fraction of it with grit we will make ourselves fit for his Grace and Blessings.

OM TAT SAT

"Be wherever you like, do whatever you choose, remember this well that all that you do is known to me. I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts. I envelope all the creatures, the movable and immovable world. I am the Controller-the wire-puller of the show of this Universe, I am the mother-origin of all beings - the Harmony of three Gunas, the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserve and Destroyer. Nothing will harm him who turns his attention towards Me, but Maya will lash or ship him who forgets Me. All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is my Body or Form,"

-Sal Baba

SO SPOKE SHRI SAI

Let truth shine forth, like a lamp from you for ever;

Always give prompt help off thy hand, to the needy poor;

Let not thy thoughtless thick, tongue talk ill of others;

Cast not an evil envious, eye on others;

Engage thy hands in honest toil, do not idle;

Bestow on each and all, poor or rich, due regards well;

On thy lips always, let lofty, Lord's name be;

Self contentment is the key note, to piety;

Do cast away all thy cares on me to steer;

Be you undaunted, for I dominate everywhere.

T.P. SUBRAHMANYAM

SAI, THE UNIVERSAL

Right now, right round the world, millions of pious people of different faiths, are offering their heart-felt prayers, to Sat Baba of Shirdi, either as a matter of routine or as a meek supplication for favours or as a thanks-giving ceremony, for favours bestowed on them or for spiritual advancement.

For those, who are still outside this vast fraternity of Baba's followers, the very name "Sai Baba" may seem to sound strange, for "Sai" means a renunciate and "Baba" means father. Who is this "Baba" who is held in the highest esteem by this vast number of people, belonging to different faiths and forums, climes and colours, customes and cultures and trades & traditions?

The answer is not and cannot be so simple as the innocent question seems to suggest and probably is too difficult to be answered In simple words, precisely because the deeper dimension of this divine personality is so profound, that it defies the dexterity of the best one amongst us, blessed with the most subtle and sublime words. However, ingenious or elaborate may be the answer, it can only touch the fringe of this vast and varied personality-lf there is a single word, by which Sai devotees, in one voice, would indicate Him, without any hesitation or reservation, whatsoever, they would opt for this well-known, but often ill-understood and ill-used word, "Bha-gawan" or God.

The word "Bhagawan" has a very vast connotation, Bhagawan is the possessor of all that, are conducive to prosperity of the highest possible degree, such as wealth, properties etc. He is a person of unsurpassable valour and whose wishes cannot be transgressed at all. His Knowledge covers all, That is Physically Possible to know about this mundane world and that unique knowledge, by knowing which every thing becomes known. To put it in another way no other knowledge will any one aspire for; The dispas-sion of Bhagawan is unimaginable for any human being and by the ordinary human standards, we can say that a man, who looks upon a straw and the subtlest enjoyments of the pleasures, said to obtain in the heaven, with an equal eye of extreme indifference, can be said to have some elementary dispassion but not of the highest degree. His fame is unparalleled, in the human world. Similarly there is no end to his glory which comes to him, naturally and not sought after. As Sri Krishna says in the Gita, Wherever there is majesty or glory, it is all due to Him, He has, over-lordship on all the things and persons of all the three worlds. His effort has no equal for he can do end undo anything, anywhere and at anytime without any effort; (by mere thought) His righteousness is razor-like straight-forwardness. He is not only, absolutely independent of all the things, but he is also the sub- stratum for the whole Universe. Thus His independence is absolute and finally, he is not born of anything else, for the whole and the sole source of all things and persons of the seeming multiplicity of mundane existence.

While those who know Baba and his biography or those who had first hand experience of Baba will readily agree with the above, those, who are new will, still be sceptic and will hestitate until they have had the experience themselves or had an exposure to his life and teaching, through well-meaning Sai devotees.

Apart from the above, there are two weighty reasons why Sai is accepted as God, by his devotees of different faiths. He does not belong to any one faith or religion. He looks like a Muslim fakir and never hesitates to proclaim often "Allah Mallik hai" (Allah is the owner). But he speaks like a Hindu Swami, about Srimad Bhagawad Gita, the Upanishads and other holy scriptures of the Hindus. He was well versed in Islamic scripture also. Often un-suspecting learned persons of both the faiths were surprised at his vast and intricate knowledge of the scriptures. Those, who are familiar with his biography will endorse this with their full hearts.

Secondly his immense and intense yearning for the welfare of the devotees is well known. Even, miraculously he has helped his devotees on several occasions, both during the period when he was at Shirdhi and even now, when he is not amongst us. These are well chronicled an published in relevant periodicals authentically.

Apart from these facts, his teachings transcend the barriers of formal religions and have special relevance to the present juncture, when there are political and social problems, related to religion, staring at our face both in and beyond our country. He gave wide freedom of worship to all and did not bind them down to a particular path or procedure.

He emphasised the principles and left the details to be dealt with by the persons concerned. The principles of universal brotherhood, tolerance, mutual love, respect and equality as tought by Baba have to be spread with great gusto and silent sincerity, for the benefit of our society, which is passing through trying circumstances and through a crisis of character.

Therefore, it shall be out endeavour and duty both spiritually and socially to spread his message seriously with his spiritual and universal dimensions added to it. By so doing we can contribute to the causes that are close to Him, in a concrete manner.

May all the well-meaning and selfless sincere Sai devotees uphold, the humane principles of equality, fraternity, charity, mutuality, tolerability, simplicity, sincerity and spirituality as shown by Sai, the universal;

May our efforts lead to the Vedic ideal for I "Vasudaiva Kutumbakam" or "Universal family." I

OM TAT SAT

The Characteristics of Religious Experience

It is impossible to brush aside the evidence of the messengers of God. It is illogical to think that we have a right only to believe in the testimony of our sense perceptions and not to place out trust in the genuineness of mystic experience. God is as real to the mystic as matter and life are to us. The first question put by Swami Vivekananda then a youth fresh from college to Shri Ramakrishna, his future master, was, "Have you seen God ? Shree Ramakrishna gave the reply, 'I have seen Him. My seeing Him is more real than my seeing you, and what is more, I can show Him to you. Such is the testimony of God-men. The experience of God to them is as much a fact/as a green leaf or the Sun is for a dispassionate observer. The limited understanding of the unlettered folk cannot grasp the subtle truths of Science. But this does not mean that scientific truths are myths. To us who cannot rise above the intellectual level of knowledge, the mystic experience of the saint and the sage appears mythical. But when we too are blessed with spiritual vision (divyacaksus). God will become to us the real of the real (satyasya satyam). Spiritual things are to be spiritually discovered. Higher than the perceptual imaginative and intellectual ways of knowing there is intuition, which is the instrument if God realisation. We are not utter foreigners to the intuitive way, for we get its broken areas in artistic experience and in the life of disinterested love and service.

Religious experience is unique in the sense that it removes the barriers between subjects and objects, knower and known, and the distinctions of space and time. As we remarked above, it is intutive experience. It is integral and undivided and self certifying and unsublated. Whether the supreme object of religious experience be regarded as the impersonal Absolute or the personal God, there is no room for pettiness of the ego in that Divine' Flood. The experience is sovereign in its own rights and carries its own credentials says Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. 'It is self established (swatasiddha), self evidencing (swasamveda) and self luminous (swayamprakasha). To us it appears to be super-normal. In fact, however, it is the fulfilment of the normal.

A second characteristic of this experience is that it is the expression of perfect freedom. Freedom implies absence of fear. Fear arises when there is awareness of another, suspicion of discord and expectency of strife. Since Religious experience is unitive and suversive; of all limitations, there can be no fear there, hence it is that this supreme State has been called "Abhaya", fearlessness and the end of the religious quest has been defined as "rnoksha" freedom.

Thirdly there is a positive content for this experience. It is not merely a negative state of being merely free and fearless; it implies the positive peace (Santi) and the highest happiness (Ananda). There is a significant prayer in the Brhadharanyaka Upanishad. "From the unreal lead me to the real. From darkness lead me to the light. From death, lead me to the immortality". Mystic experience is the fulfilment of this prayer. To the popular mind heaven is painted in glowing colours and is described as a land flowing with milk and honey. This is figuratively true. In religious experience man discovers his lost soul and this certainly means supreme felicity of joy.

The characteristics of religious experience set forth above are not peculiar to any particular religion. They are illustrated in the lives of ALL prophets. The essence of religion is the same though the outer dress may vary; even as human nature is the same inspite of variation in colour and constume.

All the great world religions may be regarded as universal in spirit Some of them were founded by individual prophets. The others are considered to have been revealted to a number of seers. Buddism, Christianity and Islam are founded religions. Hinduism has no single founder; the ancient seers served as but channels for the transmission of religious truths to humanity. All these religions are universal by virtue of their appeal to the spirit of man. None of them is professed by all the men in the world. There can be no such dictatorial religion. The universality ot the world faiths consists in the provision they make for the perfection of man. Each of them has a system of rituals which besides, shaping the artistic insticts of the individual on the right lines, exert a stabilising influence over the institutions of the religion, a scheme of ethics to make man morally perfect, a path or paths to conduct the piligrim to his destination, namely God, and a philosophy to satisfy the most vigorous intellectual demands and serve as a portal to the intuitive experience of me Absolute.

- Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan –

- From his book "Outlines of Hinduism".

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"Rama (the God of the Hindus) and Rahim (the God of the Mohomedans) were one and the same; there was not the slightest difference between them; then why should their devotees fall out and quarrel among themselves? You ignorant folk, children, join hands and bring both the communities together, act sanely and thus you will gain your objects of national unity. It is not good to dispute and argue."

-Sal Baba

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Who is Sai Baba

R.S. Sharma

A sweet smelling flower needs no introduction; whether one knows about it or not he is attracted by its fragnance and spots it out all by himself. So is a God-realised soul. Sai Baba was and is a God-realised soul.

One fine morning in a unknown little village SHIRDI appeared a boy of sixteen, very charming and attractive to look at. He never talked to anybody nor mixed with anyone, but remained sitting under a 'Neem tree lost in meditation. He was taken to be a crazy fellow till He revealed His real self by saving at the nick of time a herd-boy from being bitten by a deadly cobra. The cobra hearing His thundering voice 'Khabardar' (beware) and at the sound of his 'Danda' quietly crawled to His feet as if to pay obeissance in utter surrender and disappeared. People round about then realised' this was no ordinary boy.

As he came so did he disappear but appeared again in the same village after about a couple of years. He stayed there for the rest of his life and thereafter. Although nobody knew who He was, whence He came, and what His caste was He was called 'SAI'. He caste and origin are a mystery to this day. He made a dilapidated mosque His abode and called it 'Dwaraka Mayi'. Whosoever climbed the steps of this mosque found his sufferings coming to an end. This stands true even today. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsees, and Sikhs in due course started coming to Him. He was surrounded by the scholars and the illiterate, by the rich and the poor, by the sick and the healthy, by the spiritual aspirant and the householder. Sai belonged to all and to none. He was a most potent divine force permeating, transforming, and developing everything He touched. He showed great interest in the family life and problems of every one who came to him for their health, jobs, marriages and children. He drew people by His love and mysterious powers as also His supreme wisdom. His popularity thus grew and today His name has become almost a house-hold word. Wherever one goes one comes across the picture of Sai, sitting majestically on a block of granite, right leg across the left, in the torn robe (Kupni), a piece of white cloth tied round His head, a spiritual halo surrounding His face and deep and penetrating eyes capable of reading one though and through. He appears to say 'why fear when I am here’?

In His life time Sai said, 'no devotee of mine shall lack food and shelter, wherever and whenever you think of me I shall be with you. I shall remain active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body. My shrine will bless my devotees and fulfil their needs, my relics will speak from the tomb-l am ever living to help those who come to me and surrender and seek refuge in me. If you cast your burden on me I shall surely bear it-l give people what they want in the hope that they will begin to want what I want to give them. Experiences of devotees of every day bear testimony that Baba is carrying out all these assurances most effectively even today.

Sai knew well that in this world everyone is overburdened and is undergoing perpetual sufferings mental or physical. He offered his Salutation to Sai (our) universal father helping hand to each and all irrespective of caste, colour, creed or position. By his mere look and touch he cured the sick and ailing. He blessed the issueless with issues, gave joy and happiness to the wretched and miserable and guided the spiritual aspirant to achieve His goal. Even today when Baba is not with us in physical from hundreds and hundreds are blessed by HIM as were those who lived with Him during His life time. All those who seek His help and guidance immediately get them. People turn to him in distress find relief, and deeper down beneath this gracious help in the storm of life, is the spiritual current, ensuring them for deeper and less tangible rewards. A devotee of course has to be chaste, Pure, simple, upright and faithful to receive His grace. Baba often appears to His devotees in dreams and visions and guides and influences them invisibly. He bestows his loving care on one and all.

Ours is a land of Gods and Goddesses, Gurus and Satgurus. Sai become unique in his own way. He was and is a saint of the highest spiritual eminence. His divine personality captures the heart of all who just look at him. He taught each in terms of his own religion and did not encourage anyone to leave his path.

He expected goodwill and tolerance between the people belonging to different castes, creeds or religions. As a sign of goodwill He liked his followers to rejoice in one another's company. He did not with anyone of his followers to renounce the world and go forth as a sanyasi or mendicant. He wished his devotees to develop inwardly through the medium of family life. In his life time and even after he took samadhi, his devotees find in him a mother, father, guru, god, friend, guide, in fact all in one. To each and all he advised 'to live and let live', 'to forget and forgive', to avoid rivalry and bickerings - 'if anyone is angry with another he wounds me to the quick if anyone abuses another I fell the pain', -Sai's nature, deeds and teachings appeal to almost everyone. Sai does not belong to any race, caste or creed. He belongs to humanity at large. He is everything to everyone, the central object of love and worship by all. He appeared on the scene at a time when this country was torn asunder by religious fanaticism and communal antagonism. He brought people belonging to different classes, communities and religions together. His life and teachings are the strongest and the most forcible exposission of the underlying unity of all communities and creeds of the country.

God Shirdi Sai Baba

Dr. Babaji

G od is Lord - Lord is God

Shirdi Sai Baba is God and Lord

God is Avatar - Lord is Yuga Avatar

Shirdi Sai Baba is Kali Yuga Avatar in Thou.

O mnipotence is God - Lord is omniscience

Shirdi Sai Baba is Omnipresence

God is obligation - Lord is Affection

Shirdi Sai Baba is Liberty and Liberality in Thou.

D ivine is God - Lord is grace

Shirdi Sai Baba is Supreme Divine grace

God is Simple not compound

Shirdi Sai Baba is Sacred word and sound in Thou.

S implicrty is God - Lord is sincerity

Shirdi Sai Baba is substance and superiority

God is Sairam - Lord is Sai Krishna

Shirdi Sai Baba is Supreme Gita in Thou.

H umanity is God - Lord is Honesty

Shirdi Sai Baba is Humility and Tranquility

God is SAI ALLAH - Lord is Unity Shirdi

Saibaba is Holy QURAN in Thou.

I ntegrity is God - Lord is Purity

Shirdi Sai Baba is Parity and cordiality

God is SHIRDI JESUS CHRIST – Lord is charity

Shirdi Sai Baba is Universal BIBLE in Thou.

R eality is God - Lord is Agility

Shirdi Saibaba is Beatific Splendour

God is subsistence - Lord is Harmony

Shirdi Saibaba is Supreme Succour in Thou.

D elight is God - Lord is sight

Shirdi Saibaba is - Right and Bright

God is might - Lord is light

Shirdi Sai Baba is Supreme grace light in Thou

I mmorality is god - Lord is Impartiality

Shirdi Saibaba is Nobility and Almighty

God is creator - Lord is Destroyer

Shirdi Saibaba is Preserver and Reabosorber in Thou.

S ilence is God - Lord is sweetness

Shirdi Saibaba is Truth and Faith

God is Patience - Lord is Happiness

Shirdi Sai Baba is Name and Fame in Thou.

A bility is God - Lord is Actuality

Shirdi Sai Baba is Adherer and Adviser

God is seed and comes in Need

Shirdi Sai Baba compassionate indeed in Thou.

I nner Ruler is God - Lord is Indweller

Shirdi Sai Baba is Real leveller and Nectar

God is Freedom - Lord is wisdom

Shirdi Saibaba is Believer and Reformer in Thou.

B enignity is God - Lord is Equity

Shirdi Sai Baba is Eternity and Equanimity

God is Bliss - Lord is consciousness

Shirdi Sai Baba is Existence consciousness Bliss in Thou.

A usterity is God - Lord is chastity

Shirdi Sai Baba is Amenity and Congruity

God is All Beautiful - Lord is Eternally Blissful

Shirdi Sai Baba is Universal Player in Thou.

B reath is one - Thy Earth is One

Thy Sky above is one - Thy Heart is one

Thy Sun is One - Maganimity in God is One

Thy spirit is One - Thy goal of life is one in Thou.

A Imighty Mother is God - Lord is Almighty Father

Shirdi Sai Baba is All in All

God is one - Shirdi Sai Nath is One

Lord is one - Shirdi Sai Baba is one in Thou.

"Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished, take to My worship. If you always say ** Sai, Sai ** I shall take you over the seven seas: believe in these words and you will be certainly benefited. I do not need any paradhernalia of worship-either eight-fold or sixteen-fold. I rest there where tfiere is full devotion"

- Sai Baba

MAYA AND ILLUSION

Generally the word MAYA is used, though incorrectly, to denote illusion or dellusion or "some such thing. The theory of Maya forms one of the pillars upon which the Vedanta rests. The oldest idea of Maya in Vedic literature is the sense of illusion; later on, it assumed the meaning of something like "magic". For Buddhists Maya became very much like what is called Idealism. But the Maya of the Vedanta, in its last developed form, is neither Idealism nor Realism, nor is it a theory. It is a simple statement of facts - what we are and what we see around us.

There is the tremendous fact of death. Empires rise and fall, Death is the end of everything. Death is the end of life, of beauty, of wealth, of power, of virture too. Saints die andSinners die, kings die and beggars die. They .are all going to die, and yet this tremendous dinging on to life exists. Somehow, we do not know why we cling to life; we cannot give it up.And this is MAYA.

The mother nurses a child with great care; her soul, her life is in that Child. The Child becomes a man, and perhaps becomes blackguard and brute, kicks her and beats her everyday and yet the mother clings to the child; and when her reason awakes she covers up with the idea of love. She little thinks that it is not love, that it is something which has got hold of her nerves, which she cannot shake off; however, she may try, she cannot shake off the bondage she is in. And this is MAYA.

People run after gambling, races, lotteries. Every reasonable man sees that his chance is perhaps, One in twenty millions, Yet every one struggles for it. And this is MAYA.

Once KING Yudhishthira was asked to name the most wonderful thing on earth. He replied "Every day people are dying around us, and yet every one struggles for it." And this is MAYA.

As we increase our power to be happy, we also increase our power to suffer, and sometime I am inclined to think that if we increase our power to become happy in arithmetical progression, we shall increase, on the other hand, our power to become miserable in geomertical progression. We who are progressing know that the more we progress, the more avenues are opened to pain as well as to pleasure. And this is Maya.

Thus we find that Maya is not a theory for the explanation of the world, it is simply a statement of facts as they exist. Life without death and happiness without misery are contradictions and neither can be found alone, because each of them is but a different manifestation of the same thing. Desire is never satisfied by the enjoyment of desires, it only increases the more, as fire, when butter is poured upon it. Whenever we struggle we get a little enjoyment, a mass of misery falls upon us. The best and only explanation from all this is MAYA.

The agnostic position takes this life, MINUS the ideal component to be all that exists. And this, the agnostic claims, cannot be reached, therefore he must give up the search. This is what is called Maya-this nature, this universe.

Maya is everywhere. It is terrible. Yet we have to work through it. The whole history of humanity is a continuous fight against the so-called laws of nature, and man gains at the end. Vedantic Philosophers find something which is not bound by Maya; and if we can get there, we shall not be bound by MAYA.

From: Complete works of SWAMIVIVEKANANDA (pages 88 to 104 Vol.II)

UNSELFISH WORK IS TRUE RENUNCIATION

This world is not for cowards. Do not try to fly. Look not for success or failure. Join yourself to the perfectly unselfish will and work on. Know that the mind which is born to succeed joins itself to a determined will and perseveres. You have the right to work, but do not become so degenerate as to look for results. Work incessantly, but see something behind the work. Even good deeds can find a man in great bondage. Therefore be not bound by good deeds or by desire for name and fame. Those who know this secret pass beyond this round of birth and death and become immortal.

The ordinary Sanyasin gives up the world, goes out, and thinks of God. The real Sanyasin lives in the world, but is not of it. Those who deny themselves, live in the forest, and chew the cud of unsatisfied desires are not true renouncers. Live in the midst of the battle of life. Anyone can keep calm in a cave or when asleep. Stand in the whirl and madness of action and reach the Centre. If you have found the Centre, you cannot be moved.

Through Renunciation only one can attain SALVATION.

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA from Vol. VI

THE PATH ACCORDING TO THE GITA

Different types of people seek the Lord, along different paths Suitable to their respective mental make up and other circumstances of life. "Some behold the Self in their own hearts with the help of pure reason resorting to meditation; others by the path of knowledge and other by the path of action. Others not knowing thus, however, take to worship, by hearing from others and they too, who are intent on hearing from others transcend death" (XIII - 24 & 25).

Whatever path one follows, it is absolutely necessary that one should observe certain discipline in respect of the body, speech and mind. "The worship of gods, learned people, elders and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, continence and non-voilence must be practised in respect of the body. Unoffensive words, truthful, agreeable and wholesome speech and practice of the study of the sacred texts and the repetition of divine names must be observed in respect of one's faculty of speech. Cheerfulness, serinity, meditation and self-control, must be kept in view for the control of the mind (XVII-14 to 17). A common code of conduct is laid down for all. "He, who does his duty, without expecting the fruit of action is-a Sanysain as well as a Karma Yogi, not he who has merely renounced the sacred fire and given up all actions. What they speak of as Sanyasa know that to be the same as Yoga, for none becomes a Yogi who has not given up the mental craving". (VI-1 & 2).

"To the cotemplative soul, who desires to rise to the heights of karma yoga action is said to be the means; for one who is established in yoga, tranquility of the mind is said to be the way to blessdness (VI-3). Therefore, without karma yoga, sankhya yoga is difficult to attain, whereas the karma yogi, who keeps his mind fixed on God, reaches Brahman in no time" (V-6).

"The supreme State reached by the Sankhya Yogi is attained also by the Karma Yogi. Therefore, one who sees both productive of the same result really sees. It is childish to day that Sankhya yoga and Karma Yoga are productive of different results. For one who is firmly established in one gets the fruits of both. Moreover karma Yoga is superior to the yoga of knowledge (VI-5, 4 & 2).

Although for the generally Karma Yoga is recommended on more than one score, perhaps still a few may find the path of knowledge suitable for their particular mental texture. Of course such persons are free to choos that path, which is why the Lord says "Arujna ! In this world two courses of practice have been enumerated by me, in the past. In the case of the speculative the practice is the path of knowledge whereas for the active the path is the Karma Yoga. (HI-3)

Under Karma Yoga, Bhakthi Yoga and Dyana Yoga are also classified. In other words, all practices (Sadhanas) other than the path of knowledge, come under this common and all embracing disciplines. The Lord defines the Karma Yoga as dexterity in action, at the physical level and quanimity of mind at the mental level. He exhorts us, thus, "Your right is to work only, but never to the fruits of your action. Let not fruit of your action be your object not let your attachment lead to inaction, be indifference to success or failure" (11 - 47 & 48).

This is the heart of Karma Yoga and the surest way to success, as there is no dissipation of mental stamina, by way of anticipation of or anxiety is no dissipation of mental Stamina, by way of anticipation of or anxiety is not dissipation of mental Stamina, by way of anticipation of or anxiety about the fruit, "Therefore, dedicate all action to me, with your mind, fixed on me, the Self of all, freed from hope and the feeling of meum, cured of the pernicious tension and fight." (111-30). This will not only ensure success, but also will enable one to escape from the clutches of the binding effect of karma. For the Lord says, "He who has dedicated all his actions to Me, according to the spirit of Karma Yoga, whose doubts have been dispelled by wisdom and who is self-possessed, actions do not bind him." (IV-41). The Karma Yogi, who has identified his self with the self (God) remains unaffected even though performing action (V-7). He performs action only with his senses, mind, intellect and body as well, withdrawing

I the feeling of meum, in respect of them, shaking off attachments, simply for the sake of self-purification" (V.11). In the discourse on the Bhakthi Yoga, the Lord advises Arjuna, as the last alternative, "Subduing your mind, senses, etc., relinquish the fruit of all actions" (XII-11). Towards the end of the 18th Chapter, Sri Krishna indicates, The Performance of one's own duty is the way of worshipping the Lord, who pervades this universe and who is the source of it as well. Such a person is bound to attain perfection". (XVIII-46)

From the above brief discussion, based purely and directly on the necetarean words of the Lord, as recorded in the Holy Gita, it is abundantly clear that Karma Yoga is a powerful and, perhaps easy discipline, which, when faithfully followed and consistently implemented, is sufficient for all pragmatic people to put them on the royal road to self-realisation, through the arch way of knowledge, making each and every one a responsible citizen and a consciensious worker, with due regard and brotherly concern, for the welfare of the fellow citizens, in the process.

Let us conclude with the clarion call given by Swami Vivekananda," "Arise! stop not till the goal is reached!"

T.P. SUBRAMANYAM

HYDERABAD-A.P.

Note: The relevant Chapter & Verse numbers are given within brackets. The translation is mainly based on that of Gita Press, Pocket Book. Our grateful thanks are due to that Publisher.

SHIRDI SAI BABA AND NATIONAL UNITY

No one knew who he was. He first appeared in the little town of Shirdi as a lad of about sixteen in 1872. His fame began to spread in 1900 and and since then it has continued. According to A. Obsorne "there is probably no saint in India who has more devotees and whose cult is widely spread". One saint in Shirdi described Him as jewel on a Dung Hill. People of all castes and creeds turn to Him in distress and find relief. His 'Udhi' still gives relief to innumerable devotees from diseases, miseries and accidents.

There are people of various faiths living in India viz. Hinduism, Islam and Christianity etc. Shri Dabholkar Sahib has written a book under the title "Sri Sai-Sat-Charita" which describes the Leelas of Baba and also His Teachings. Sai Baba's declaration that "God is one" is the only way to knit India into a nation and to promote peace and love among all the communities and countries in the world. Today His followers include Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jains etc. His blessings are always available to those who seek them and to those who surrender to Him completely.

Baba emphaises the need of selfless service. He says, service to mankind is real service to God. Many saints like Kabir, Shri Nanak and Shri Farid etc. also stressed the importance of respecting faiths other than your own and thus emphasizing the truth that there are a number of ways to approach the Almighty. Sai Baba says that one should lead an honest and pious life to achieve the goal of life i.e. Salvation. Baba also says, "I give the people what they want in hope they will begin to want what I want to give them". Thus Baba's teachings have relevance even to-day.

Jugal Kishore Puri Advocate,

Chairman, Shirdi Sai Baba Prachar Sabha,

Chandigarh.

SAI RAM AS I SAW

Kavi Yogi Maharshi Shuddhananda Bharati

(1) A Light I saw in human from

Smiling serene and calm-

A lightning touch that did transform

My being's human norm...

(2) Under a celestial Neem tree

I saw a Spirit free

Seated in Dwarak Mai, Shirdi

It helps the devotee.

(3) He read my thoughts and felt my heart

"Fear not, I'm here" He said

"Peace and bliss have a silent Art;

"Silently go ahead"

(4) His sweet embrace gave me rebirth

"Allah Malik, believe

By true surrender, love and faith"

He said "His Grace receive"

(5) I enjoyed heaven at His feet

That joy flows in me still

His living Love daily I meet

It's a dynamic Thrill.

(6) My soul sings "Aum Jai Sai Ram"

And my heart-beat keepstime

Sing my all with me AUM SAIRAM

With joy your life shall brim Hail Eternal Truth-Light

(7) Immaculate Delight!

Thy dawn tears the veil of night

A Cosmic Age is in sight

Hail Sai Ram, Hari Aum Hari Aum !

BABA'S MISSION AND ADVICE

Sal Baba came to bridge the gulf. His constant advice to all was to this effect. "Rama (the God of the Hindus) and Rahim (the God of the Mohammedans) were one and the same, there was not the slightest difference between them, then why should their devotees fall our and quarrel themselves? You ignorant folk, children join hands and bring both the communities together. Act sanely and thus you will gain your object of rational unity. It is not good to dispute and argue. So don't argue, don't emulate others. Always consider your interest and welfare. The God will protect you. Yoga, sacrifice, penace, knowledge are the means to attain God. If you do not succeed, in this by any means, vain is your birth. If any one does any evil unto you, do not retaliate. If you can do anything, do some good unto others. This in short, was Sai Baba's advice to all and this will stand in good stead both in materials and spiritual matters.

DEVOTEE.

"If you spread your palms with devotion before Me, I am immediately with you day and night. Though I am here bodily, still I know what you do beyond the seven seas. Go wherever you will, over the wide world, I am with you. My above is in your heart and I am within you. Worship Me always, who is seated in your heart, as well as in the hearts of all beings. Blessed and fortunate indeed is he who knows Me thus."

-Sai Baba

BEHAVE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS

It is extremely difficult to attain Self-Realisation, in the present times. Don't bother about it. Even if you behave like human beings, it will be a great achievement in life. People do not behave like human beings. They do not believe in God and Religion. They behave most brutally and murder others. This tendency is ever increasing. Brutal instinct is becoming predominant in men. They behave thoughtlessly. They shoot men like beasts. There is complete absence of humanitarian feeling in them. If you dislike the policy of anybody, you may remove him from the post-But, never kill him. Kennedy, Gandhiji and some others were shot down. But people forget that these Great Souls had done good to humanity. People possess no thought for this. They behave like beasts, very brutally. It is bad to think ill of others. Do not do a bad turn to others, at least, if you cannot do good to them.

H.H. Shri Godavari Mataji

"Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb will give you hope and confidence. Not only Myself, but my tomb would be speaking, moving and communicating with those who would surrender themselves whole-heartedly to me. Do not be anxious that I would be absent from you. You will hear My bones speaking and discussing your welfare. But remember Me always, believe in Me heart and soul and then you will be most benefited."

-Sai Baba

THUS SPOKE THE MOTHER OF ARBINDOASHRAMAM

1. It is always better to keep a quiet mind and to abstain from rushing to conclusions before you have the necessary information.

2. In silence lies the source of the highest inspiration.

3. Whatever is the difficulty if we keep truly quiet the solution will come.

4. We must march on with quiet certitude (feeling certain) that what has to be done will be done.

5. Doubt is not a sport to indulge in with impunity (freedom from punishment or danger), it is poison, which, drop by drop corrodes the soul.

6. You should always do what you say, but it is not always wise to say all that you do.

7. There is a great beauty in simplicity.

8. Do not forsee difficulties, it does not help to surmount them and helps them to come.

9. Never grumble. All sorts of forces ENTER you when you grumble and they pull you down.

10. The happiness you give makes you more happy than the happiness you receive.

11. Our best friend is he who loves us in the best of ourselves and yet does not ask us to be other than what we are.

12. There is no better way to become friends than tolaugh together.

13. When two persons quarrel, always both are in the wrond.

14. To smile to an enemy is to disarm him.

15. You must abstain from thinking about some one when you cannot think well of him.

16. If you can always smile at life, life will always smile at you.

17. We are always surrounded by the things of which we think.

18. Always do what you know to be the best even if it is the most difficult thing to do.

19. To love is not to possess but to give oneself.

FAITH & PATIENCE UNLOCK BABA's GRACE !

ARKEY MOORTHY

M.A. (Philosophy)

Secunderabad

It was during the year 1977, I took up the worship of Saibaba. Since then myself and my family members, have been experiencing hundreds of Baba's miracles. In this article, I shall confine myself to my first hand experiences, in respect of Baba's miracles.

Entry into Baba's Path

During the year 1977, I first came across an article in BLITZ weekly, wherein several experiences of Shiridi Sai, were given by devotees, with their addresses. This attracted me very much. Items required for Baba's Pooja are, Baba's Photo, Garland, Dhoop, Deep and Peda as Naivedya.

Most of the devotees, expressed that their wishes were fulfilled and problems were solved by Baba, within five weeks from the commencement of Baba's worship.

Seeking solution to a problem, I have takenup Babas worship from the following Thursday. One after the other, the four Thursdays passed, to my disappointment there was no solution to my problem. I became desperate and much disturbed. I stopped worship of Baba on the fifth Thursday. No offerings to Baba on that day ... neither I bought Garland, nor I let any Dhoop sticks. I thought I have been carried away by the false propaganda; of the so called devotees who gave their experiences in the "BLITZ" paper, but this wrong notion of mine was short lived.

It was in the early hours of the next day i.e. on Friday. Baba appeared in my dream. A tall figure dressed in white clothes.radiating face. I have experienced a magnetic vibration. Immediately I prostrated on Baba's feet. These were the words of Baba in English "Even though I left my body, my miracles shall be experienced by my devotees for thousands of years...you should have "faith & patience". As I wokeup Baba's vision gradually disappeared, but this thrilling experience was felt by me throughout the day. I was almost in a trance the complete day. I first prostrated in front of Baba's photo and requested him to pardon me and narrated my experience to my wife. Later on I rushed to market in the early hours, brought garland, peda etc. and completed the Thursday's pooja on Friday.

First visit to Shirdi

After this experience, my faith in Baba increased. There was a strong urge in me to visit Shirdi. This materialised in a most surprising and miraculous way, within one month. One of my friends, while proceeding towards Shirdi requested me to accompany him. He had an urgent personal work with a relative, in a nearby village i.e. about Hundred Kms. from Shirdi. I said that I shall surely give him company, if we can touch Shirdi and spend a few hours. My friend readily agreed to my bargain. Thus Baba has arranged my Shirdi visit. I have not spent a single pie for the Visit When I entered Shirdi Temple, I was very surprised to notice the words "FAITH" and "PATIENCE" at the internal main entrance. Immediately, I recollected my dream and Baba's words. What a thrilling experience which I cannot explain in words! Since then, I had hundreds of experiences in my day to day life. Baba is protecting and guiding me from time to time. What is required from us is true devotion and surrender. Baba is the wirepuller of all our actions and supreme controller. Baba rectifies the defects of his devotee, by adopting all the methods. He protects his devotees and safeguards them from danger, all the time. He renders timely help when his devotee is in distress. His existence is not limited to Shirdi alone. He is omnipresent throughout the world Sai devotees experience miracles irrespective of religion, colour or caste. Baba knows the wishes of his devotees and fulfills them. He corrects, suggests and guides his devotees from Darkness to light.

Sarvejana Sukhino Bhavanthu.

"There will never be any dearth or scarcity regarding food and clothes in my devotees' houses. It is my special characteristic that I look always to, and provide for the welfare of those devotees who worship me whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on me. Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore, strive not much for food and clothes. If you want anything, beg of the Lord, leave worldly honour, try to get Lord's grace and blessing and be honoured in His court. Do not be deluded by worldly honour. The form of the Deity should be firmly fixec; in tne mind. Let all the senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the Lord, let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix the mind in remembering Me always, so tha it will not wander elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peacful and care-free. This is the sign of the mind being engaged in good company. If the mind be vagrant, it cannot be called well merged."

-Sai Baba

OH! WHAT A FOLLOW UP BY BABA

When I was in Indore on my official duties, one day my Client's Mother expired at an old age and I had to attend the funeral rites.

My client has Two sisters, one stationed at Ratlam, and the other in Bombay. Immediately he got in touch with his sister in Ratlam and they could reach quickly, as it is a very near place from Indore.

The other sister residing at Bombay, was also contacted on telephone but unfornunately he got a message that all of them had gone to Shirdi for Baba's darshan and were expected after a couple of days. Since, there were no hopes of contacting them at Shirdi, they were planning for the funeral rites.

At about 11.00 a.m. when everything was ready, suddenly an auto-rikshaw reached the house, in which the eldest daughter of the old lady, her husband and children were there.

It was great shock for the family that arrived from Shirdi, who were not expected to see the face of the old lady. This was big surprise for the big gathering.

You know who has done this big follow-up? It is none else than our Lord Sainath from the Samadhi at Shirdi.

I had made enquiries with the eldest daughter of the old lady who died, as to how they could drop in at Indore. She said that after compleating Baba's darshan at Shirdi, they were planning to return to Bombay, but she had a vision of Lord Sai Baba, who had directed her to go to Indore, to see her ailing mother, as they were half the way to Indore.

All the families of Indore, Ratlam and Bombay are the devotees of Lord Sai and they were very grateful to Baba for his good turn.

So devotees of Baba, please note that our Lord Sainath is still alive and from the Samadhi at Shirdi, he performs all these miracles.

J.P. NARAYAN RAO

SAI's SPORTIVE SERVICE

It is with great pleasure that I wish to narrate to the devotees of Shri Sai Baba, my experience, when bringing forth, our child into this wonderful. It was something beyond our expectation or imagination.

I had a very miserable and painful period of pregnancy. Finally, on the fifteenth of May, 1986 (Thursday), we became the proud parents of our wonderful child, with Baba's blessings. Being a thursday her father (my husband) gave me Baba's Prasad and Udhi, which I applied on my forehead. She was a premature baby and very tiny. Therefore, we were asked to look after her very carefully. A day later when my mother was, on her way, for visiting me, at the hospital, a scooter knocked her down and, thanks to Baba, she escaped with a minor injury. Her leg was sprained.

Suddenly from, nowhere, a rickshaw puller appeared, helped net out and dropped her at the hospital. He came inside, informed me about the accident and told me that he would, daily, drop her and take her back home. He helped us, thus with this daily chore, till I was discharged.

And believe me when I say, he refused to take any money. Even after I had been discharged, he was still with us in our service. And finally, on the first of June, he said he would collect the 15 days wages and go back to his native town of Warangal. But what surprised, each one of us, is, till this day, he had not turned up either to take back his belongings or to collect the money due. If we really give deep thought to this, we will wonder, if there will be any one, who will help out some one, unknown, for nothing! It was then we realised that it was no one else, but, "Baba" Himself who was, with us all day and night, for those 15 days, without revealing, in the least, as to who he was. It is now more than four years and none of us have seen him to this day.

Hence the saying of Baba, "If you look up to me, I shall look after you" is proved to be very true. I look forward with devotion and reference to Baba's Darshan once again.

Smt. P. Raj Kumar

SECUNDERABAD - 500 003.

BABA THE GUIDE

In the year 1942 even when I was a boy of 10 years old, I had the good fortune of visiting Shirdi, along with my respected parents. There after, for a number of years, I had been trying to visit Shirdi. But I could not make it, because, there was a huge loss, in my business, there was trouble, in property matters and a criminal case was pending against me. All these worries upset me. However, for having peace of mind, I was worshipping Baba, in Sri, G. V. R. Naidu's temple, which is close to my house and reading Satchar-ithra regularly, with great devotion and completing each round of reading, in seven days (Sapthaha).

By Baba's grace, the criminal case was dismissed in year 1973. In spite of failures of earlier attempts to visit Shirdi, I made a final attempt and succeeded subsequently. After getting into the train possible difficulties and troubles, that may arise in an unknown place, began to bother me. I was wondering as to how I will get over the language problem and as to who will guide me during my stay over Shirdi.

On reaching Manmad, nextday, on being told that I should take a bus, to reach Shirdi I went to the bus stand. I was puzzled to see large crowds of people waiting there for catching the bus to Shirdi, as that day was Gurupoornima Day, which draws large number of devotees to Shirdi. To my great relief extra buses were arranged to clear the crowd and I got a seat in the bus.

There, in the passage, between the seats, a gentlemen had kept a huge bundle, making it difficult for passesengers, to use the passage. Due to rush, a person was about to step on the bundle and go inside. But the concerned gentleman scolded him and said that the bundle contained Baba's books and great respect should be shown to it.

Out of curiosity, I enquired thai gentleman, what books they were. He replied that they were copies of Satcharithra books in Telugu. The idea flashed, in my mind, that they should be from Shri G. V. R. Naidu of Secunderabad. Therefore, I enquired him about his name and address and was told that his name was Sri T. Bhaskar Rao, the address he gave, was weII known to me and close to my house. His brother, brother-in-law and his father were all known to our family and me. He also disclosed, that he was the secretary of Sai Baba Samajam, Nallagutta, Secunderabad. (Which office I am presently bearing by Baba's Grace).

He, being regular visitor, to Shirdi, acted as a good guide to me and the question of language problem was also not there. Thus at one stroke, both my immediate problems were solved.

Being the Garupoornima Day, there was a great rush of devotees. In the Dwarkamai Shrine, I stood in front of Baba's picture. To my great shock and dismay, I was unable to see his face, which was like an angry lion or like the face of Lord Narasimha. The same was the case, When I viewed him from different angles. As I could not bear the sight of such a terrible face, I left the place, much disappointed and with great fear. After feeling for this sort of un-expected turn of events and after spending sometime, in introspection and prayer I came back and stood before Baba, in all humility and devotion, with my eyes full of tears! Believe me, when I say, that there was an ocean of difference in Baba's face. I saw, Baba's face was like a fresh lotus, in full bloom, cool and smiling, as though he was about to tell me something important (Perhaps, in this way Baba taught to shed my egoism! I learnt this first lesson in the holy book of spiritual practice! I stood there for a long time and afterwards, with great effort, I moved out of that place, to do Pradhakshana of the Samadhi, practical, during the remaining part of the night. There was Rath procession, covering the whole village, accompained by devoties doing Bhajans, for nearly 3-5 hours. This gave me the greatest happiness, which may not repeat again, in my life time at all!

Naturally lam extremely greatful to Sri Bhaskar Rao, for having acted as a bridge between me and Baba. With this new-born strength given by Baba I am leading good life and in my own humble way I am serving Baba at Sri Sai Baba Samajam.

OM TAT SAT.

STRANGE BUT TRUE

The two incidents, in my life, which I narrate below are not only unforgettable & unbelievable, but are also absolutely true !

The first incident: Relates to my health or rather want of it. In the year 1975,1 was affected with Diarrhea and dehydration and was, consequently, bed-ridden for a long time. That prolonged illness and agony caused a lot of inconvenience and severe weakness. Everything was upset and disturbed. The whole family life was thrown out of gear, as it was. Although, I was treated, by a number of eminent doctors, they were of no avail, as none of the doctors could diagnose, the actual ailment. My suffering continued, unabated, for more than forty days. I am accustomed to pray Baba, every day and night, from the year 1956, regularly. One day, I had feeling as to how couId Baba test me, for so many days. I grew rather desperate and on that particular night, before going to bed, I prayed Baba very earnestly and in all humility, as follows :—

"Baba, if you are convinced and satisfied that I am your staunch and sincere devotee, don't trouble me and test me any further. I had enough of suffering. Kindly forgive all my sins, if at all, I have committed and help me and crure my disease". Unbelievable, though it may seem to be, a Sadhu appeared in my dream, that night and offered Thirth to me. On the very next morning, I was astonished to see that I was able to walk, on my own, which I could not do, for more than forty days and within another three or four days, I started attending to my normal duties, including my office work.

The second incident: Relates to my life or rather escape from death. It was, after Sej Harathi at our Nallagutta temple, on a certain Thursday! was returning to my home, at Prend-herghast Road, where I was living then, on my Bajaj Scooter (150 cc old model). Suddenly an old man, who appeared to be drunk, blocked my way and therefore, I was forced to take a turn and went home, in a different route, which was straight. At the end of the journey, after taking a turn I entered my compound. Suddenly the scooter got automatically locked up and I fell down. Fortunately, I escaped, with minor injuries. Had that old person not prevented me, in the begining itself, I would have gone along the first route and my scooter would have got automatically locked up, in one of the many turns, when I would have been going at a considerable speed. Just, imagine what would have been my fate !

In both, the above incidents, I am fully convinced that it is HE, who saved me and my life. Whatever I am now and my family is today, it is only because of the mercy and grace of my god Baba. That is the reason, why I see all the "MUKKOTIDEVATHALU" in and through Baba & Baba alone !

A DEVOTEE & A REGULAR VISITOR OF NALLAGUTTA SAIBABA TEMPLE.