From the reports published earlier in this magazine our readers might remember that the 20th All India Sai Devotees' convention was held at Nellore in the Andhra Pradesh in the month of January 1983. In one open session in all such conventions all delegates are allowed to speak on any subject, they like, relating to the aims and objects of holding that convention. In the open session in the aforesaid convention many delegates expressed their frank opinion about the duties of the Sai devotees and about the utility of the conventions of .Sai devotees on the All India basis.
Many of the delegates of the former
generation spoke about the necessity of spreading Sai devotion among the masses
in general and about the spreading of devotion among the younger generation in
particular. Though most of them did not have the darshan of Shri Sai Baba,
during His life-time, still they had the good fortune of associating with
saints like Narsimha Swamiji or late Saipadanand Radhakrishna Swamiji or some
other saints in their vicinity and therefore in their opinion devotion was the
basis of a common tie among Sai devotees. They therefore thought that this
sentiment of devotion, which is a natural instinct among human beings, should
be used for bring in together Sai devotees and later on infuse in their minds
the urge to do some social work. Some of the young Turks however did not like
this idea. It may be because of the nature of atmosphere in which they have
been brought up. Devotion to God, devotion to elders, saints and teachers was
being formerly infused by the parents in their children. 'Of late the parent
themselves hardly have any devotion to the aforesaid persons. Some people
attribute this change to the modern fast life and the acute struggle for
existence that every one has to do in the modern world; but the fact remains
that devotion has lessoned to a certain extent among the parents of today and
therefore the young Turks spoke vehemently against the idea of talking only
about the spread of Sai devotion among the masses. The purport of their speech
in short may be given as follows, "How long are we going to speak only
about the spread of devotion to Sai Baba and think about it? How long are we
going to plan ways and means only to spread Sai devotion? If we mistake not
this item has been given enough thought during the last nineteen conventions
held at 'different places.. During the initial stages it was alright, because
'Sai devotion had not been spread at that time. This great saint was not known
to the masses and they did not know His life, power and philosophy. It was
therefore quite necessary at that time to think seriously about the spread of
Sai devotion,and try whole-heartedly only for that; but the circumstances have
now changed. Sixtyfour years have elapsed since the Mahasamadhi of this great
saint. Sai devotees can perhaps be counted, in this country and abroad, in
millions Sai temples and Sai centres also are about two hundred or more in
number. Does it therefore not seem proper that we now turn our attention to
doing some social work through this medium ? Should we not channelise our
energies towards giving some medical help to the poor and needy through these
centres, which have now got some organisation, and which are definitely attracting
people to them ?." From the above sum and substance of the speeches of the
young Turks, it will be clear that the minds of some young Sai devotees have
started thinking about social work, educational work and medical help to the
poor and needy. It is definitely a welcome sign and suggestion. Shri Sai Baba,
it will be remembered, when He came to Shirdi and settled there, was giving
medicines to the poor and needy. He was even nursing and treating some
patients. During His stay at Shirdi He started so many festivals like
Ramanavami, Gokulashtami, Dasara etc. Giving food to the poor was also His
specialty. He was himself collecting the materials required for preparing the
handi and after the food was ready it was served to the poor without any
distinction and above all what was His advice to His devotees ?.
Leaving aside all your cleverness and
doubts always remember the name of "Sai", which will remove all your
shackles. Do not have any doubt in this respect. (Chapter 10 ovi number 135 Sai
Sachcharit).
Apart from the brief advice of devotion
towards Him by way of chanting His name, given above, Shri Sai Baba has given
advice to have devotion towards God for attaining the stability of mind and
good will to all. In chapter Twentyone Shri Hemadpant has narrated the story of
Shri Anantrao Patankar of Pune. After falling at Baba's feet he said.
“I have read
many books. I have studied the Vedas and Upnishads, I have heard the Shastras
and Puranas; but how is my mind not still at rest ? I now feel that
whatever I have read has gone in vain and that ignorant but devout persons are better than
myself. So long as my mind is restless
all my reading of books, study of the Shastras and bookish knowledge is of no
use.? How useless is the
study of the development of Shastras?
What is the use of remembering constantly the important words of the
great ? What is the use of that
Brahmadnyan which does not help
to achieve peace of mind ? I heard
from many people that by taking darshan
of Sai Baba all your care vanishes.
He guides people on the good path by casual talk, which is full of
humour. Therefore Oh Lord Sai Baba, who
are a store of penance, I came to your feet
Bless me that I will get
peace of Mind").
After listening to the above request from
Shri Anantrao Patankar, Shri Sai Baba told him the story of the Soudagar
(Merchant), who collected nine balls of stools, passed by a mare, and thus got
concentration (peace) of mind. Shri Patankar could not make out the meaning of
the above story. So he asked Shri Ganesh Damodar alias Dada Kelkar as to what
was the meaning of Baba's words,. He replied," I too do not know all that
Baba says and means, but at his inspiration, I will tell you what I have
understood. The mare referred to in the story is God's grace and the nine balls
of stool excreted by the mare are the nine forms or types of devotion
(bhakti);. If any one of these forms is faithfully followed, Lord Had will be
pleased and manifest Himself in the home of that devotee. All the Sadhanas,
viz, Japa, Tapa, Yoga, study of the scriptures and expounding them are quite
useless unless they are accompanied by Bbakti i.e, devotion. Knowledge of the
Vedas or fame as a great Jnani and mere formal Bhajan are of no avail. What is
wanted is loving devotion. Be anxious and eager, like the merchant, to
cultivate the nine types of devotion and then you will attain stability and
peace of mind".
(The above
story of Shri Anantrao Patankar tells us a lot about the teaching of Shri Sai
Baba. Even though Shri Sai Baba was helping a number of families to subsist by
giving them monetary help out of the Dakshina, which He collected every day,
even though He did poor feeding and even though He relieved people of their
bodily ailments by giving them Udi, still He did not advise people to do social
or educational work for getting mental peace or for getting Moksha (Liberation
from the cycle of birth and death). What He advised was the cultivation of
devotion. It appears from His advice that devotion was the base of all well-being.
If you cultivate absolute devotion in you then other things liks liberal mind,
urge to do social work and tendency to work for the well-being of the society
and to sacrifice something for the good of others follow automatically.
The
Bhagawadgeeta also lays great stress on devotion. In earlier chapters Lord
Krishna explained Sakyayoga (Chapter two), Karmayoga (chapter three), Gyana
Karma Sanyasa Yoga (Chapter four), Karma Sanyasa Yoga (Chapter five), Ghyana
Yoga (Chapter Six), Gyana Vigyana Yoga (Chapter Seven) and Akshara Brahma Yoga
(Chapter Eight), but in the ninth Chapter He explains the importance of
devotion as follows (patram, pushpama,
phalam, Toyam, yoga mein bhaktya praychita ). After explaining His Vibhooties
in Chapter ten and giving Vishwaroopa Darshan to Arjuna in Chapter Eleven, Lord
Krishna has spent one full Chapter to explain the qualities and behavior of a
devotee. In this Chapter (Twelve), Lord Krishna categorically says that this
way of devotion is easier than other ways explained by Him earlier and tells in
the last Shloka of the Chapter (those devotees who adore me with great faith
are liked most by me). Really speaking after explaining several ways of
spiritual uplift in chapters two to eight, it was not necessary to point out
any other channel of worship; but Lord Krishna does it later in two chapters
Viz the ninth and the twelfth. In there two chapters He tells us at length the
value of devotion in the spiritual field and explains the place of a devotee in
the realm of God.
In our
Puranas there are a number of stories of devotees
who have been one with God due to their sincere and absolute devotion to God.
The biographies of most saints and
their teachings also point out the importance of devotion on the spiritual
path. Lacs of devotees are flocking at Shirdi, Tirupati, Guruvayur Rameshwar,
Badrikedar, Banares, Allahabad, Nasik, Pandharpur, Mecca, Amritsar, and such
other places of religious importance to all the religions of the world not
because of any social or political reason but because of mere devotion to God. This natural instinct of devotion
in the human beings should therefore be
fostered and made use of for forming a congregation of the devotees with some ultimate aim.
In this
connection we might refer to a thought-provoking article by a modern thinker
and sincere devotee of Shri Sai Baba, Acharya Shri E. Bharadwaj, published at
Pages 26 to 29 of the February 1983 issue of Shri Sai Leela captioned ''Sai
Baba Mandirs". In this article Shri Bharadwaj ,has made some concrete
suggestions to spread Sai devotion in a systematic way. All Sai Mandirs, Sai
Samajas and Sai Spiritual Centres should give a thought to that article and the
suggestions made therein. The suggestions made in the article are mainly for
having a regular system of rituals which are to be (followed at Sai Mandirs and
other Sai Institutions; but while estimating the result of this drill Shri
Bharadwaj observes, "All the countless Sai Devotees all over the country
would be linked together into one spiritual family by this subtle spiritual
power of Baba" and this achievement would be very important from the point
of view of running all Sai institutions. As pointed out before, it is a very
good sign that Sai devotees of the younger generation have turned towards
social, education and other avenues of work and their intention of making use
of the Sai institutions for this type of work is no doubt praiseworthy and
laudable; but for the common man this other work will not appeal so much as
devotion. Therefore devotion should be our sheet anchor and as pointed
out above by Shri Bbaradwaj, we may channelise the energies of Sai devotees
elsewhere after they come together and form one spiritual family by this subtle
power of devotion to Baba, which will form the nucleus of all organisations of
Sai institutions.