SHRI SAI LEELA
(Official Organ of Shirdi Sansthan)
1. Editorial Deepawali
2. The Science of Religion by
Swami Chinmayanand
3. Yogiraj Vasudevananda Saraswati Shri S.N.Huddar
4. Non beside me Sai Baba I
have thee Late Zarine Adi
Sahukar
5. Control of Elements P.V.Satyanarayana
Sastry
6. Saint Gora Kumbhar Dr.S.D.Parchure
7. Blessings of Shri Sai Baba Miss Shobhana Rao.
8. My experience at Shirdi Shri
C.K.Ramanatha Chetty
Bread and righteousness
are inter-related. Would you bring the Kingdom of God in your homes ? Then
share your bread with others: do not cook for yourself only. Give food to the
hungry and you will make him good, and you will grow in virtue and wisdom: for
you will begin to realise that you are one with the poor, and the poor are one
with you in the One Family of God. The rich ate, often wanton and arbitrary,
and become slack and gross because they do not aspire and do not share.
Editor :
Shri K. S. PATHAK Receiver, Shirdi
Sansthan of Shri Sai Baba
Executive Editors: Dr. S. D. Parchure M. A., Ph.
D.
Shri Sadanand Chendwankar b! Sc., S. T. C. R. B. Pravin.
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Deepawali or Diwali as
it is commonly called, is the festival which is most joyfully celebrated
throughout India by the rich and poor alike. Other festivals are of short
duration and hence no special preparations are made for
them; but this
festival normally lasts for
four days and
every day has got a special
importance of its own. Hence all the
people in the house from young to old take interest in
celebrating the festival in their own way and make preparations for the same
for days together.
The usual days for this
festival are the last two days of the month of Ashwin and the first two days of
the month of Kartik. Sometimes
according to the almanac, the
festival lasts for only three
days or sometimes
it is extended upto five
days. The general tendency of
the human beings is to expect joy for as long a period as possible
and hence people
expect the Deepawali festival
to last for a long period. The
elders, who have enjoyed this festival
for many years
are not much worried about the duration of
this festival; but
the youngsters who are having special holidays for this
festival always like to have the Deepawali lasting for the maximum number of
days. Whenever the calendar for the
new year is received, the youngsters in the house always try to find out
from that as to the number of days
allotted for this festival. The children also
want this festival to last long
because when the elders are celebrating a festival, they are usually giving
full freedom to the youngsters and they
do not mind
if they behave a little out of the way.
Like other
Hindu festivals, this festival also has a mythological and
social background behind it. Though
the first day of Deepawali is known as Narak
Chaturdashi, the day
preceeding is day also has its importance. This day is the thirteenth day the second
half of the month of Ashwin and it is known as ie "Dhanteras" The distinguishing feature
of this festival
is row ( Awali) of lights (
Deep) from which the festival gets name and these lights are actually
kindled from Dhanteras. The mythological story behind
the importance of this day goes to say that Yama the Lord of death once asked
his assistants as to 'whether they felt
sorry any time while performing their duty, 'hey replied that once when they had to snatch
away the son of King Haima, only on the fourth day of his marriage,
they were pained much to inflict premature death on that young boy. They further requested that in future no
such case should happen and _take
them to suffer
from the pangs of grief.
Yamaraj agreed and declared that those who will observe the
festival for five days
from Dhanteras and
light lamps will not have
premature death. From that
time it became
a practice to
observe this festival by lighting lamps for five days.
The programme for the
first day of Deepawali starts early morning with a hot water bath accompanied
by ointments, scented soaps and scents of various kinds according to the choice
of every individual. This day is the fourteenth day of the second half of the
month of Ashwin and is known as Narak Chaturdashi. As usual a mythological
story is told bringing out the importance of this day also. Once upon a time, a
demon named Narakasur became very powerful. He was having his kingdom in the
region south of the present Nepal and Bhutan states. He invaded the territories
of the surrounding kingdoms and imprisoned sixteen thousand ladies whom he had
captured by force. He had the audacity even to trouble the gods.
When Lord Shrikrishna
knew about this disorderly behavior of the demon, he decided to kill him; but
his wife Satyabhama came forward to achieve this task and marched on the demon.
She fought bravely with
the demon and killed him before the dawn of the fourteenth day of the second
half of the month of Ashwin and freed all the ladies in distress. They all went
home and expressed their joy by illuminating their houses. Hence we even now
get up early morning on this day and have a bath and have the illuminations by
the night.
The second day of the
Deepawali festival is the no-moon day or Amavasya. Usually the no-moon day is
supposed to be inauspicious for any festival; but this day is supposed to be
auspicious, because this was the day when the Goddess Laxmi was freed from the
fetters of King Bali by Lord Vishnu in the Waman incarnation. On this day Laxmi
i. e. wealth (Cash, Gold etc.) is worshipped in all the houses as well as in
all the shops. In old days the merchants and businessmen used to celebrate this
day on a very grand scale. They used to have special illumination on that day.
They used to entertain their customers with sweets and drinks; but with the
scarcity of all things and the sky high prices of all essential commodities,
they are not now able to celebrate this day on the same scale as before. However
the old practice of worshipping the accounts books etc. is continued by them as
before. Their financial year ends on this day. Hence the new books of accounts
that they have to open on the new year are worshipped by them on this day,
which is dedicated to the Laxmi Pujan.
The third day of the
festival is the Padwa. This is the first day of Kartik. The samvat year starts
from this day. Many of the business firms who still observe traditional way of
keeping accounts, begin their financial year from this day. This way of
counting the year is even recognised by the Government, because the assessment
of income tax is also done according to this year for so many business firms,
who maintain their accounts according to this financial year.
The fourth day
of the Deepawali festival is a day of the brothers and
sisters. On this day sister is supposed to entertain the brother, give him a
feast and the brother in his turn, has to give a gift to his sister. In all the
houses this function is celebrated on a grand scale. Waving the Aarati round
the face of the brother by the sister on this day is supposed to be very
auspicious and it is scrupulously observed by all. Most of the brothers make it
a point to pay a visit to their married sisters even if they are staying far
away. A mythological story of Yama, the God of death, and his sister is told in
this context which throws light on this custom of fostering the relations of
the brother and sister on this day.
Thus ends this great
festival of the year. This festival is of the longest duration and there is
more of social element in it than religious. There might be some economical
background behind the celebration of this festival at this particular time of
the year. Since long India is essentially a country of farmers. Our whole
economy even today depends on the agricultural products that we procure in the
year. Though of late some dams have been constructed and few irrigation works
are supplying water for farming, still we are even today mainly depending on
the crops which we produce in the monsoon. By the end of Ashwin the monsoon
mostly gets over in our country and expectation of a good crop, which is by
that time blooming gaily in the field, makes the farmer hilarious. He is
therefore in a good mood to enjoy the functions of the festival. The children
have got long holidays and they are gay because of the firing of crackers that
they do freely in this festival. In good old days stitching of new cloths for
the ensuing year was being done on the eve of this festival and buying gold and
preparing new ornaments for this festival was being done. As now the purchase
of clothes does not require any particular occasion and as we are purchasing
clothes throughout the year and as the price of gold has soared so high that
gold is hardly purchased unless it is absolutely necessary, both the above
practices are mostly abandoned.
We wish
all our readers
and all Sai devotees
a happy Diwali and a prosperous
new year.
By:- Swami Chinmayananda
In order to make the
intelligent skeptic in Arjuna accept the philosophy of working in the Yagna-spirit,
Krishna now shows how it is a universal law of nature. Everywhere around
us, from the twinkling stars to the flowing rivers, nature serves the world in
the Yagna-spirit. The sun shines, but demands no appreciation from
anyone. Rains fall; rivers flow; plants flower; trees bear fruit; oceans heave;
towering mountains stand ... all serve the world to make it what it is, and none
of them seem to demand even a passing recognition from the people populating
it. They all do their duties discovering a joyous fulfillment in the very
performance.
In the style of a
mythology here Krishna sings. Vyasa was a poet-philosopher and therefore, in
him poetry, science and philosophy often get mingled to enrich each by the
other. This is the style of the Geeta Acharya.
Lord Krishna says,
(111-10) "The Creator ( Prajapati) after having created mankind,
together with the Yagna, said, 'By this shall you create: this shall be the
fulfiller of all your desires.'" The idea of the Yagna-spirit is
the universal law of nature and is given out against an awe-inspiring and
dignified background. The Creator conceived the Yagna-spirit along with
the creatures, and as a parting gift, to the best of his creatures, the
highest-evolved, the intelligent man, He presented it. Said the mighty,
creator, "Now I give you the Yagna" —the power to
co-operatively work together for a desirable goal. With this — functioning in
this co-operative spirit of selfless dedicated endeavor __may you all prosper (
Anna prasavishyadhvam) Nay, even if man were to discover any
imperfections in nature, or
in the scheme of life in the
world, an intelligent community can,
all by itself, striving in the Yagna-spirit of selfless co-operative endeavor,
bring about all improvements and
every conceivable progress (esha vostu
ishtakamadhuk). The story of the scientific world and its
growth during the last 1,000 years? the
story of the economic and political revolutions the world goes through from
time to time, are all examples. Alas
! men co-operate and act as
a team more often for
destructive wars than for constructive work of creating peace and harmony among
themselves! It is due to a weakness inherent in man that he fails in
his attempts at co-operative endeavors. We know if
all decide and work for a cause, good or bad, we can succeed. We can make a heaven of earth, or
a hell of
life around us. In order to
co-operatively work each will have to sacrifice his ego and his personal desire-gratifications. If
any one in
a team asserts
his ego or grows anxious for his own desire-gratifications the cadence
in work is lost,
and the co-operative scheme breaks down. Thus for success the entire team must have one single inspiring
ideal at the altar of which everyone
must readily surrender their
personal vanity and greed. A
large number of people, coming together to act in unison
at the same altar of Grace, for the total glory of all, is the
ritual Yagna. This
Yagna-spirit is a gift received from the Creator by man as a community,
not as an individual.
The power
of changing the
world is in the hands of the community though they may draw their
inspiration to co-operate and act
for its accomplishment from a
single individual 'leader'. And they can exert
this power only
through selfless dedicated team-work ...... the "dynamism of togetherness"
can change the world and inaugurate any progress conceived by man.
This
"blessing" pronounced by the Creator need not necessarily work out in
life, because we know that we can only strive, but our efforts often do not
bear fruits when the environments and circumstances are not conducive. A farmer
may work hard but inclement weather can spoil his harvest. Nature also must
co-operate in order to make man's efforts a grand success. Will the
Cosmic-Forces obey us? Have we any command over them?
To clear this doubt, the
Geeta continues, (Ill-ll) ''Cherish the Devas with the Yagna-spirit and
those Devas shall in turn cherish you; thus cherishing each-other you shall
gain the highest good." These words are put into the mouth of the
Creator —— it is his command. When men in a community co-operatively strive,
without ego and ego-centric desires, the Cosmic-Forces that constitute the
environments shall cherish them in turn. In short, when man works in the
Yagna-spirit, the outer circumstances must miraculously change their pattern to
be conducive to the common will of the selfless community striving for the good
of all.
When we cherish the
outer Cosmic-Forces (Devas), they shall in return cherish us with the
fulfilment of our welfare, or whatever is the common demand of the total
community striving together. This is a divine Law — a universal Truth —— a
scientific Fact. Thus, mutually cherishing each other, let man, with the grace
of the Devas, achieve the greatest prosperity —-(parasparam bhavayantah shreyah
paramavapsyatha).
(Courtesy:- Geeta
Office, Powai)
(A Biography) By:- Shri
S. N. Huddar
(Continued from the last
issue) Chaturmas-19 Shaka-1830 (1908 A. D.)
MUKTYALA
Swami Maharaj liked
Muktyala very much as there were at this place many learned Brahmins of good
behaviour. Females here also knew Sanskrit and showed great regard for Swamiji
due to his vast Knowledge. Swamiji observed Vyas Puja on Ashadh Purnima and
started his Chatunnas. As few persons came to him, he got time to write
'Yuvashiksha' 'Vriddha Shiksha' and 'Stree. shiksha'.
In Bhadrapad Vadya he
left Muktyala and Via Tadvai reached Nagesh in Ashwin Vadya. By Diwali he
reached Hansla-devi, where the Krishna meets the sea. He bathed on Tilsankranti
and went about 20 miles. Shri Datta asked him to go to 'Sapta Godavary'. He
returned to Nagesh and stayed at the Math meant for Sanyasi. He went to
Pedkallapalli near Machhlipatam and proceeded to Sapta Godavary.
Here people showed great
regard for a Sanyasi and they were religious minded. Godavari meets sea here by
seven streams and hence this place is called 'Sapta Godavari'. They are known
by 7 names Viz. 1. Vashishta, 2. Kotilinga, 3. Koushika 4. Vriddha Goutami, 5.
Bhardwaja 6. Atreya and 7. Turya.
Shri Datta asks to go to Kashmere In Kartik
Vadya, Shri Datta
asked Swamiji to
go to Kashmere. Swamiji said
flatly that he did not wish to go to Kashmere and if Shri Datta desired, his
body may be placed anywhere as Tantuk or Ganganuj. Shri Datta asked "Why
do you avoid to go to Kashmere." Swamiji said, "Because gond live
there". Shri Datta said, "What is the need of observing Varna,
Ashram, caste etc. for a Sanyasi like you?"
Swami Maharaj kept quiet
and roamed by the bank of Godavari. He reached Bedavad Palli and observed Datta
Jayanti the next day. Then he passed by Kogur Palar, and came to Rajmundri. He
did Poush Purnima Kshour here. A Sanyasi named Parmananda Swami was here. On
his invitation he went to see him by boat which was rowed by Brahmins.
Brahmanand Saraswati, who had met Swamiji at Kogur accompanied him He said to
Swamiji, "i was longing to see you since long. Kindly come to
Rajmundri." I wish to instal Dattamurti and Paduka at the Acharya Math by
your holy hands." Swamiji agreed.
Peethapur
Swamiji came to
Peethapur in Poush Vadya. Shripad Shri Vallabh, Datta incarnate was born here
in the 13th century. His birth place was shown to the local people by Swami
Maharaj. So far they did not know this. He installed Paduka at this place.
From Peethapur Swami Maharaj went to Kokonda and
had Amavasya bath here. Some persons of Vadi had come here to ask Swami Maharaj
to come to Vadi They were roaming, reciting, "Digambara Digambara Shripad
Vallabh Digambara" in search of Swamiji. Hearing the familiar voice,
Swamiji stood under a tree and said "Narayan Narayan," loudly.- Vadi
persons heard Swamiji's voice and approached him They fell Straight before him
and bowed to him. Swamiji -had samadhi and Shri Datta said to the Vadi people,
"Swami had told you to improve your behaviour several times, but you are
not improving. I am asking Swami to go to Kashmere." Hearing this, the
persons bowed humbly and prayed, "We are your children. Forgive us for our
faults and allow us to serve you. We shall obey you." After awakening
Swamiji warned the priests to behave well and told them to return to Vadi.
Shri Shankaracharya of
Shringeri had great regard for Swami Maharaj. When he met Swamiji, Shri Acharya
asked Swamiji to give him some books written by him. But as Swamiji had none,
he wrote a Stotra and gave it to Shri Acharya by which he was much pleased.
Later on Swamiji managed to send Datta Mahatmya, Gurucharitra etc, to
Shringeri.
Rajmundri
Swami Maharaj came to
Rajmundri and stayed at the Acharya Math. On Magh Purnima he installed three
headed Shri Datta Murti and Paduka in the Math ceremoniously at the request of
Brahmananda Saraswati. This Datta Murti is known as 'Bhakta Vatsal'.
Ramchandra alias Ramappa
is the first name of Brahmananda Saraswati. He was born in Govind Raju family
of Mangalgiri in Bezwada District. Before taking sanyas he had been to Vadi and
had met Swami Maharaj. After taking sanyas he visited all the holy places of
Bharat. He had been to Garudeshwar at the time of Swami Maharaj's samadhi.
When at Kogur, Swamiji
received the news about the samadhi of his guru Narayananand Swami. He took
Dand-Snan as per rules. He crossed the river and proceeded further and saw
Ichcheshwar, Bhimeshwar etc.
Shripad Appashastri's
sister often became senseless. Medical
treatment
was of no use, she was brought to Swami Maharaj,. who said that she had been
affected by a spirit. Shastri said,, "I believe in spirits, but I do not
believe that a spirit can affect human beings." Swamiji said, "See
this yourself." He wrote a mantra on a brick and asked the Shastri to burn
Dhoop and recite the mantra 21 times daily and also told that after 21 days the
spirit would speak.
Shastribua did as
advised. After 21 days the spirit told why he had become a spirit and why he
had affected the woman He further told, "If you do certain things for me,
I shall go away." After doing that the woman was relieved of the spirit
trouble.
Sitaram
shastri, younger brother of Swamiji, came here in search of
Swami Maharaj. He
expressed his desire
through Brahmanand Swami that
he wished to take Sanyasa. Swamij did not agree.
From this
Sitaram Shastri realised
that Swami Mahars would not
give Sanyasa to him.
After Falgun
Purnima, Swami Maharaj came to
Bezwad He found that more and more persons were coming to see
him. To avoid
this botheration he preferred to travel through forest Thus he
came to Manthan
Kaleshwar early in Vaishakh. Here Shri Datta again asked him to proceed
northwards. But Swami was thinking of
having Chaturmas at this place
as it was from people's
botheration. Shri Datta again told
him, "There yet time for chaturmas. Proceed further." Swamiji persisted live there.
Shri Datta
approached in the
form of a Saheb riding horse
and with a cane in hand. He
angrily said to
Swamiji "Don't live here' Go away, else you will be
caned." Seeing Swamiji
prayed,
O Radar, Bow to
your Anger, O Bard,
Bow to you.
Swamiji said, "I
will proceed further as you wish.'' Then Shri Datta became calm and
disappeared. On the way in a village, there was only one Brahmin's house.
Swamiji was anxious to have alms. The woman in the house said to him that she
would cook at three places and then he should take alms.
From Manthan, Swamiji
came to Neighbor Aloha. He ' observed rituals and was sitting under an Adumbral
tree. A Brahmin woman came and asked Swami Maharaj that she desired to instal a
mufti in the Balladic Mender. She asked, "Will this be
accomplished?." Swamiji said, "If your son gives up ganja, this will
be achieved." The woman asked her son to give up ganja; but he said,
"I do not like anyone to advise me in this matter." The woman reported
this to Swamiji who said, "Then the mufti will not be installed."
At the end of Jest,
Swami Maharaj reached Pawing on the Bank of Vain Gaga. Swami Maharaj stayed in
the Vital mender and Gandabua in the Muralidhar Mandir.
Chaturmas-20 Shak 1831 (
1909 A. D. )
Pawani (Dist Bhandara )
Vyas Puja was performed here on Purnima. In the beginning as Swami Maharaj was not
known to the people, they did not
behave well with
him and did
not arrange for his alms. Pawani
was known as Padmavatipuri in ancient
times. Swami Maharaj composed
'Vain Gangastotra' which is published in the 'Stotradi Sangrah.'
For chaturmas Swamiji stayed
here for 2 months and devotees from long distances
came here to see Swami Maharaj.
Sitaram Shastri arranged for their feeding. Those, who acted
against religion are
not allowed to
sit in the rows of Brahmins for dinner. Swami Maharaj did not even
like to see such persons.
There was Plague in
towns and villages round about. One day a rat was seen in the Muralidhar Mandir
where Gandabua was staying. Swami Maharaj prayed Shri Datta, "With your
permission, I have started chaturmas here. Many families with children have
come here. If any one dies, the blame would be on me and I shall have to leave
this place before completion of chaturmas." Shri Datta Assured that no one
would be affected during Chaturmas. Local persons as Nana Shastri Dashputre,
Vithalrao Kalikar took pains for arrangements of the guests.
On the first day Swami
Maharaj went for alms to Naik. But knowing that he was a Gujrati, he did not
take alms. Next day also he had a fast On the third day he went to Bhat who
began inquiry putting many questions. Swamiji said, "It is the duty of a
grahasta to offer food to an Atith. Sundry inquiry should not be made." In
the mean time Umabai, daughter of Bhat, came there and recognised Swami Maharaj
as she had seen him at Brahmavarta. She told all about Swami Maharaj. She would
even go to Swamiji's residence at Vithal mandir and swept and cleaned the
place.
Nana Shastri read Purana
in Vithal Mandir. Once he could not explain one Shloka. Swami Maharaj explained
it to him. He told 2-3 meanings and also said "the book giving these
meanings is in your house." Nana Shastri searched and he found it. Due to
this, his respect for Swamiji was hightened more and he told the citizens about
his greatness.
Balshastri son of Nana
shastri did Kirtan. Swamiji wrote some new Akhyan (Tales explained in Kirtan )
for him and told him that Veda Suktas should not be spoken in kirtan. Once he
uttered Veda sukta, Swami Maharaj at once stood up and saying 'Guru Deo Datta'
began to go out of the place. Balshastri bowed to him and begged apology for
his fault and then only Swamiji resumed his seat.
People applied sandal
paste to the body of Swami Maharaj and did his Mahapuja. Once a blind Brahmin
came here with his keep. He went alone to Swamiji and requested to suggest
means for eye-sight. Swami Maharaj told him, "Give up the keep and then come
to me".
A person .'came and
requested Swamiji to take him beyond the Bhava-sagar. Swami Maharaj was going
to the river for bath. He asked the person to come with him. Swamiji entered
the river and asked the person to follow him and not to be afraid of drowning.
But he had not the courage to enter into the water. Swamiji came up and said,
"If you cannot go beyond this small river, how will you cross the vast
Bhava-sagar ? To have this ability you have to serve God with devotion."
A person of Pawani had left home in anger. His wife
came to Swami Maharaj and said, "My husband has left home 12 years before.
Even his whereabouts are not known." Swamiji looked at her and said,
"you recite this mantra in mind. He will return soon." Swami Maharaj
wrote a mantra on a piece of paper and gave it to her. Within one month she
received a letter from her husband about his coming. Later he came and lived at
home.
Bhairav Prasad
of Mandla Mahapur
on the bank
of Narmada, came to
Swamiji and told him that he
got sons but all of them died in childhood.
He further said, "As the fifth son died at birth, a man with locks
of hair came and took away the corpse
of the child and disappeared.
Kindly bless me." Swami
Maharaj said, "Someone of your family has become a spirit. He does not allow your issues to
survive. That very spirit has taken
away the corpse of the 5th child.
You do Narayan bali, recite Vishnusahasranam (one thousand) times and take prayashchitta. Then your issues
will survive."
Widows with hair on head denied Darshan
Once some Madrasi widows
with hair on their heads came to see Swami Maharaj, but he at once turned his
face. They inquired of the reason, Swamiji said, "I do not see persons
acting against religion" The women said, "we do not have kumkum and
hair after marraige. They are with us from our childhood. So why they should be
given up after the death of the husband?"
Swami Maharaj said,
"At birth a child is small, why that form is not continued in later years.
There is difference in form, behaviour and knowledge in childhood and adult
age. You come in the form which you had at your birth and I shall see
you." This influenced the women so much that the next day they came after
taking off their hair. Then they could have darshan of Swami Maharaj-
Rich and Poor alike
A rich person of Umrer,
Balwantrao Naik requested Swami Maharaj to take his services. Swamiji did not
say anything. Through some one Naik again requested. Swamiji said, "There
is difficulty of drinking water here. Arrange for this " Balwantrao took a
bucket and brought water from the river. He asked his family members-sons,
daughters-in-law also to do the service.
Gold Mohur came out of the cocoanut
A lady came for darshan
of Swami Maharaj. She offered a cocoanut and instead of 8 anna coin a gold
mohur was given unknowingly. She could not replace the coin. Swamiji, realising
her mental uneasiness, asked her to take back the Mohur. But she did not take
it. Swamiji gave her cocoanut as prasad. She went home and broke the cocoanut.
A gold roohur came out of it. And the lady was astonished at its sight.
Members of Gulawani Family Blessed
Shanker Bhat Gulavani of
Kolhapur side wished to come to see Swami Maharaj, who wrote him that he himself
would be coming there. In spite of this Shankar Bhat came to Pawani. He got
high fever. Physicians said that it would last for 40 days. Shankar Bhat prayed
Swami Maharaj to forgive him. Swamiji gave him angara and teerth and he felt
better. His mother Umabai, sister Godavari and younger brother Vamanrao also
came to Pawani and on Bhadrapad Shuddha 14 (Anant chaturdashi), Swami Maharaj
blessed all these three with mantropadesh.
Vaman
Dattatreya Gulavani is one of
the few well known disciples of Swami Maharaj,
who is continuing the mission
of Swami Maharaj of
Propogating religion to this day on
extensive scale. He later had
also the blessing of
revered Shri Loknath Swami Maharaj,
who was wellknown for advocacy
of Shaktipat Yoga Diksha' also known as
'Shri Datta Yoga. Being pleased with the progress, efficiency and pious behaviour, Vamanrao was
given by Shri Loknath Swami the 'Parisatva' meaning
authority to give this
'Yoga Diksha' (also called Vedha Diksha) to the deserved Sadhakas.
Thousands of persons including
women, children, and youths
of different castes and
creeds have been blessed by Shri V. D. Gulavani Maharaj so far. Some of his disciples are in U.S. America,
England and other countries also.
Being born on 23-12-1886 he is running 86.
His disciples and
admirers have got constructed a modern edifice, on Karve Road, Poona-4 for his
residence. But due to his regard for his Guru Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati,
Tembe Swami Maharaj, this edifice has been named as Shri Vasudeo Niwas On the
eve of 85th birth day. Roudri Mahashanti festival was celebrated most
gracefully in May 1971 and he was weighed with silver and the cash value
thereof i. e. about Rs. 30.000 was distributed amongst the Brahmins knowing
Veda-Shastras.
He has done a great
service by publishing all valuable blessing literature, written by his gurudev
in Sanskrit and Prakrit, most of which is poetic, in 12 volumes of 500 to 600
pages each in 1954. From April 1971, he has sponsored 'Panthraj' a Marathi
Quarterly devoted to propogating shaktipat Toga Diksha.
(to be
continued )
NONE BESIDE ME SAI BABA
I HAVE THEE
Thou has given me eyes, that I may see
All beauteous splendour created and governed by
thee.
That I may look at every sea, brook and tear
Hoping that these stupendous and small may draw
me near.
Nearer yet nearer to you Sai; my Creator, my
Maker
Thou blest me thus, so I mayn't be a forsaker -
To Thee; my Lord, my King, my life,
Oh! that I may live, to see, Thee in all and
thrive
having none beside me Sai Baba I have Thee.
Thou has given me hands, so that I may labour.
For Thee; never for feeble praise or greed or
favour;
Oh that I may make coarse mine hands, with toil
–
For Thee and find beauty even in the barren
soil.
And for Thy love; I may when need arises and
cries -
Wipe another's tear and make him see Thou never
denies
So make him reason with a clearer mind,
That Thou are the purpose of life;
the blissful Divine For having none beside me,
Sai Baba, I have Thee.
Thou has given me a mind that, I may reason,
and see the aim of each day, month and season.
The mind, which may if wholly good and pure
Seeing Thy Love; pain and suffering endure.
And doing so may with more certainty see,
That here I stand. Thou caused me to be
Oh were it not, my Sai Baba for Thine wonderful
ways
I would never have existed here, nor breathed
this day
Having none beside me Sai Baba I have Thee.
Thou had given me a heart, that I may love,
All that surrounds me and in doing this love
Thee
That my tender heart may overflow unperplexed
and free, i
Flow with adoration, devotion and love for Thee.
Oh that it may outline, the sinister Death's
knock when Life's done
And see the Ringdom of Glory, when from earth's
door I return.
May love be perpetually burning or none can
cause its light -
To fickle, dim, perish die or take flight
Having none beside me, Sai Baba, I have Thee.
Had I none of these gifts but just one -
To be thine worshipper, Thine ardent slave alone
so taking away all these, give me but a soul.
A soul-unstained, righteous, white. Oh! give me
this,
such that it may take its path, the path of
light and bliss.
Like the restless waves which clasp and meet,
Like a young rider sure of his steed
Like a faithful hou«d returning home without
doubts
Like the high mountain embracing the clouds
Like the silvery lines of streams meeting the
river duly
Like the bird returning to its nest so freely
Like the earnest river gushing forth to mingle
with the ocean
May my soul too meet Thee Sai and thee abide in
true devotion
Just as thee aim, so rightly and find so true.
Show me a way Sai Maharaj
Lest I may lose my path or go astray
And at life's end find Thy doors shut; Nay!
Best I should be but a puppet with broken
strings
Which is useless without purpose or means
Having none beside me
Sai Baba, I have Thee.
Give me soul, possessing which, I may at life's
end find -The paradise of Eternal Bliss and remain to be only Thine For having
none beside me Sai Baba, I have always Thee.
Zarine Adi Sahukar
Zarine is the beloved daughter of Brig. Adi K. Sahukar
(retd) who has now settled at Jaykay nagar in West Bengal. Miss Zarine was a
very good devotee of Shri Sai Baba and it was His will that she had to pass
away into heavenly abode on 22 December 1970 at a young age of 22 - Editor.
BHISHASMAD VATAH PAVATE,
BHEESHMODETISURYAH,
BHISHAASMADA-
GRISCHENDRASCHA MRITYUR
DHAVATI PANCHAMA ITI.
(TAITTEREEYA UPANISHAD )
Through fear of Him
blows the wind. Through fear of HIM rises the Sun. Through fear of Him again
Fire and Moon shine. Fifthly, Death runs to fulfil its duties.
In canto XVI and XVII of
Srimad Bhagavata.we read that after driving Kaliya Nag from the waters of the
Yamuna, Lord Krishna and the inhabitants of Braja with their cows spent that
night near the bank of Kalindi, oppressed with hunger and thirst and worn out
with fatigue. While they were all asleep fire broke out in the forest dried
with summer heat and began to burn down Braja. The fire surrounded the sleeping
inhabitants. The inhabitants found themselves helpless and sought refuge at the
feet of their Lord Bala Gopala. Observing the perturbation and helplessness of
His people, the Lord, in the abundence of His compassion for His devotees,
immediately swallowed up that fierce conflagaration, possessed as He was of
unlimited energy (Anantha Sakthi dhrity)- It is no wonder that as the creater
of the universe and the elements, Lord Krishna had controlled and swallowed the
encircling forest fire.
H. H. B. V.
Narasimhaswamiji of revered memory, in his Preface to Vol. II of Life of Sai
Baba observed "WHAT SRI KRISHNA WAS AND WHAT HE SAID PUZZLED THIS AUTHOR
AND PUZZLED SO MANY OTHER PERSONS; AND AFTER SEEING WHAT SAI BABA SAID AND DID,
ALL THESE PUZZLES DISAPPEARED AND CLEAR LIGHT DAWNED UPON EVERY ONE" etc
When that is the case with a devout and religious minded soul like our Swamiji
it can better be imagined how the sceptics and atheists respect the above
mentioned incident in the life of Lord Krishna as unbelievable and as a figment
of the imagination of the author, sage Veda Vyasa. Let us now see how Lord Sai
in his own ingenious way proved the veracity of the above phenomenon.
One day at noon the fire
in the dhuni began to burn brightly and the flames were seen to be reaching the
rafters of the mosque. The people who were sitting in Dwarka mai did not know
what to do. It was not for them to ask the omniscent and omnipotent Baba to do
something to quell the rising flames. Baba was then evidently in a
transcendental mood. But the feelings of the devotees reacted on him and he
came to his normal condition. He immediately went to the Dhuni and with his
Satka (Small stick) struck on the pillar nearby saying "Get down, Be
calm" several times. The fire obeyed immediately and resumed its normal
condition.
Commenting on this
incident in his Sri Sai Satcharitra, that great devotee Sri Hemadpant says
"This is our Sai, an incarnation of God. He will bless any man who will
prostrate and surrender himself, to him" as did the inhabitants of Vraja
on that fateful night referred to above.
Again on a midsummer day
one of the hayricks at Shirdi caught fire through accident. There were many
hayricks nearby. The wind was blowing fiercely and the other ricks were in the
imminent danger of being caught fire and reduced to ashes. One of the residents
ran up to Baba and craved to save them and their cattle. Baba immediately went
to the burning stack and drew a thin line with water round that stack and said
"Only this stack will be burnt, and no others". Only that stack was
burnt, though other stacks were near and a wind was blowing.
( B. C, S. 342 )
Baba was occasionally
preparing Meetha Chaval (Sweet Rice) or Pulava and feeding the people that
cam&s*o him. He used to personally attend to the cooking
business. To test whether the food was properly boiled or not and to ensure for
its proper condition, jaba used to thrust his bare hand into the boiling
cauldran and churn the whole mess from side to side and up and down. Strange to
say that Baba's hand was never burnt in the process. This fact also evidences
his absolute control over the fire and its attributes.
In this connection, it
is worthwhile recollecting what Sri Sai Saran Ananda Swami (Vamanrao P. Patel
in his poorva Ashram) says on this aspect of Baba's supernatural powers, in his
"Shri Sai, the Superman". "The idea that He is an entity apart
from God has entirely left Him. He lives, moves and acts in God and when any of
the Supernatural Powers is being exercised or used by Him He never thinks that
He has been doing anything extraordinary, the exercise of these Powers being so
natural to HIM".
In St. Mathew, Chapter
8, verses 24-27 it is stated that when Jesus the Christ was asleep in the ship,
there arose a great tempest in the sea and the ship was tossed up and down with
the winds and waves. Then the disciples woke up Jesus and implored him to save
them. Jesus then rebuked the winds and the Sea and there was a great calm. The
men marvelled saying "What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the
sea obey him".
We find a similar
incident in the life of Sai Baba. Rao Bahadur Moreswar V. Pradhan, B. A. L L.
B. recounts in his statements of experiences how in 1910, there was a severe
storm and heavy down pour of rain in Shirdi and how Baba controlled it saying.,
"O God! Enough, stop the rain. My children have to go back home. Let them
go back without difficulty". Immediately the storm stopped and Mr. Pradhan was enabled to return home that, night.
, Similarly in 1914 Baba
controlled a fierce storm through his divine powers. He continues to exercise
his supernatural powers for the benefit of his devotees, which evidences his
God-head. Here is an instance.
In 1951, I was working
as Stationary Sub-Magistrate, Kai-kalur There is a Sanskrit School there. As a
devotee of Sanskrit Language, I was closely associated with the activities of
the School. The teachers arranged literary meetings on 13th and 14th October,
1951 in consultation with me. I attended the Mahasamadhi Day on 10-10-1951 at
the Sai Mandir, Ventrapragada. At the time of departure on 11-10-51, I
earnestly prayed Baba to make the function a success.
Kavi Samrat, Padma
Bhushan, Kala Prapoorna Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana Garu (Receiptient of Jnana
Peetam Award of Rs. One Lakh) Kalaprapoorna, Pandit Penumatsa Satyanarayana
Raju garu and some ten eminent scholars were invited and they attended the
conference.
The opening session was
held on the morning of 13-10-1951. At 3 PM the evening session began. Soon
there was a gale and drizzle. The sky was cast with clouds and was threatening.
The Pandal appeared to be in danger of being blown off by the wind. I felt
nervous and mentally prayed to Baba. Soon the gale and drizzle subsided.
Everything went on well according to Schedule. When we returned home the court
yard of my house was very damp and wet. When questioned I was told there was a
heavy downpour of rain at 4 PM that day as a result of which the side canals
were flooded. And the whole area overflowed with water. My further enquiries
revealed that beyond a radius of 2 furlongs from the meeting place there was
fierce gale and heavy downpour of rain. The absence of gale and rain near and
at the meeting place was entirely due to the kripa (mercy) and divine powers of
Prabhu Sainath. This happened thirty three years after the Mahasamadhi of Baba
which confirms the following assurances given by the benign Sai.
BABA'S CHARTERS
& SAYINGS.
50. I
shall be active and vigorous from the t9mb also.
51. Even
after my Mahasamadhi, I shall be with you the moment you think of me, at any place.
52. As
soon as a devotee calls unto me with love, I will appear. I require no train to
travel.
This is our Sai who is
Krishna and Jesus rolled into one. The same divinity indeed. It is due to
accumulation of merit of several births that we have become the children of
Mother Sai and receive his constant care and protection. Let us repay our debit
to our Prabhu through constant remembrance of HIM and through repeating His
Holy Name 'SAI' always.
P. V. Satyanarayana
Sastry, B. A.
Retired Thasildar,
Krishna Lanka,
Vijayawada - 2 (A. P.)
By Dr. S. D.
Parchure M. A., Ph. D.
Caste system is a
distinguishing feature of Hindu religion. It naturally follows that some castes
are considered to be higher than others. The so called higher castes always got
reverance from the low castes. They had free entrance to the temples. They were
only supposed to have the access to the Vedas and learning; but inspite of this
there were a number of persons born in the so-called low castes, who were
highly esteemed and sincere devotees of the God. These persons were so highly
devoted to God that irrespective of their caste, they were recognised as saints
and history has given them an honourable position among the saints of Maharashtra.
Hence though generally speaking we find that the majority of the saints in
Maharashtra belong to the Brahmin caste, the other castes also have got their
respresentatives among them. For example there is a tailor like Namdeo, a
gardener like Savta Mali, a barber like Sena Maharaj, an untouchable (Harijan
in the modern terminology) like Chokha Mela and a potter like Gora Kumbhar in
the galaxy of Maharashtrian saints.
Due to our natural
apathy towards maintaining the historical records, the authentic birthdate of
this great saint is not known. In' one book known as "Bhakta Katha
Kalpatatva" the year of birth of Goroba (as he was commonly known) is
stated as Shaka 1189 (1267 A. D.) This year is not corroborated anywhere else
while giving the information of Goroba. However, the time of writing of
Dnyaneshwari viz. 1290 A. D. is not disputed by anyone and Goroba is said to be
the contemporary of Dnyandeo and Namdeo. Hence looking to the life span of both
these saints, the above year may not be far from correct, though it cannot be
said that it must be the correct one.
Though the authentic
date of birth of Goroba is not known, still he is traditionally known to have
lived in a village named Satyapuri alias Ter. In some places this village has
also been mentioned as Terdhoki. No detailed history of the parents and the
childhood of Goroba is available; but he was known to be a pious and religious
minded man. He no doubt attended to his business of manufacturing earthen pots
from mud; but even while attending to his work physically his mind would all
the time be meditating on his favourite god Vithoba or Pandurang. He would also
be chanting the name of God when his hands would be busy in work.
FAMILY
LIFE.
In course of time Goroba
was married. The name of his wife was Santi. Soon after, his wife gave birth to
a son and her joy knew no bounds; but the philosophically minded Goroba, who
had little interest in worldly life, was not much perturbed by this event. His
concentration on god continued as before. In the absence of any elderly person
in the house, once when his wife Santi had to go for fetching water, she left
the child to the care of Goroba, who was very busy in his usual work. Goroba
was working in the ditch. He was pounding and mixing the earth in the ditch
with his feet for preparing the mud. The child, that was kept nearby by Santi,
crept slowly and fell into the ditch. Goroba, who was as usual busy in chanting
the name of god, was almost in a trance and he never noticed the child and
trampled it to death under his feet!
On her return Santi
started looking about for the child here and there, but when she could not find
the child anywhere she peeped into the ditch and finding the mud fully red with
blood, understood what had happened and started crying bitterly. In her sad
bereavement she started putting all the blame of the loss of her child on
Vithoba, in whose 'bhajan' Goroba was spending most of his time. As Goroba had
strong faith in god Vithoba, he got angry at the words of his wife and ran at
her to thrash her. Seeing the wrath of Goroba Santi got frightened and
requested on Vithoba's oath not to touch her.
The above incident may not be thought to be plausible if we look at it from the point of view of reality. If the wife tells her husband to look after the child, how is it that the husband (Goroba) forgot about it so soon? When the child came to the ditch and fell in it, it must have made some noise or cried when it fell in the ditch, where Goroba was preparing the mud. How is it then that Goroba did not come to know about the movements of his child, however much he might have been engrossed in the bhajan? These and some other questions similar to these, are likely to be raised by modern scientific thinkers, who are likely to question the bonafides of the above incident; but these lives of saints have come to us by tradition through generations and there is at present no data to verify the authenticity to such incidents, which are very common in the lives of the saints all over the world We have to look upon them with faith; as all saints are supposed to have some supernatural power.