SAIPADANANDA
A Thought
The object of your life is to be happy
yourself and give happiness to others.
-
Sri
Radhakrishna Swamy
CONTENTS
Lord's
thought-force in Sahasranama
Gospel
of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
A
Memorable Pilgrimage with Sri Saipadananda
Illusion
in Reality and Reality in Illusion
Sri
Saipadananda's 98th Jayanthi Celebrations
Performing a task requires people, money,
tools, plans, time etc. When all means are at one's disposal, one feels
reassured and confident. But besides these tangible essentials, spiritual faith
provides the courage, confidence and the means to realize impossible feats or
accomplishments.
Prahlada's faith in God saved him from his
father's schemes to kill him. Mirabai's devotion neutralized the poison given to
her by her in-laws. The venom of a cobra bite of Madhavrao Deshponde was
neutralized by Sai Baba's merciful glance. Hundreds of Sai Mandirs consecrated
by Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji were built in impossible
circumstances. There are many incidents that testify to the underlying force of
spirituality that is responsible for accomplishing a task, which otherwise the
dearth in physical means would not allow.
Rama Sastry was the royal pundit at the
court of the Maharaja of Mysore. On a visit to Madras in 1953, he saw the
impressive plans of the Mandir being built by Sri Narasimha Swamiji. He was
aware of the meager resources available to Sri Narasimha Swamiji. He asked with
due reverence to Sri Narasimha Swamiji, "Swamiji, I am a royal pundit. If
the Maharaja was pleased with me and were to ask me to request for anything, at
the most I would be hesitatingly ask for one or two villages. I would not have
the courage to ask for 50-60 villages. How is it that in your prevailing
situation, when you have nothing, you perform this task of Mandir
building?"
Sri Narasimha Swamiji simply replied,
"It is due to the power and strength of Sai Maharaj that the Mandir work is
going on. I believe in the all-doership of Sai Baba and so the work is being
done by Him."
Despite all odds, Sri Narasimha Swamiji
accomplished his task with the instrument of absolute faith in Sainath Maharaj.
Similarly, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji built Sri Spiritual Centre in the sixties
and it is now our turn to accomplish the task at Vasanthapura.
-
Sri Sai Spiritual
Centre's Golden Jubilee Year 2003-04
By
Sri Narasimha Swamiji
I am ever living; I am the same as I was
in childhood but the body changes every moment, but how can this body be 'for
Secondly bow can the body be for me for because one which lives with
me all the time, can be for me. When it doesn’t t live with me and is not
useful for me all the time, now is it for me?
-
Swami Ramsukhdas.
In Sai
Baba, you have one of the most glorious exemplars of our country's Sanathana
Dharma and the highest ideal of Sadachara. His was a spotless and blameless
moral life which placed before all a wonderful model of ethical perfection.
Further, by his personal example, Baba showed Himself to be a great unifying
factor and a universalizing Force. He taught people to overcome meaningless
barriers of separation between man and man and made them realise the brotherhood
of all humanity.
His tolerance, equal vision, and
universality, are a unique and unparalleled phenomenon. He showed people how to
recognize the immanence of God in all beings. He was rightly described by a
contemporary saint as 'a Diamond upon a dung heap'. Sai Baba is one of the
finest flowers of Indian Spiritual Idealism and Culture.
Let me remind you that just as it is the
proud privilege of each one of us to associate ourselves with this significant
Sai Baba movement and to add our little mite to its grand march, it is equally
ours to look at the duty born of it and to notice what responsibilities and
sacrifices are involved in the situation. In the first place, we must take a
fair and impartial view of the situation and note the state which the movement
has reached. In our over-enthusiasm, we are apt to over-estimate the success
achieved.
Every obstacle, and every obstruction
should be the occasion for drawing forth fresh energy, fresh resolution and
fresh march from success to success on our part. Sri Sai is, therefore, behind
us and he will surely help us to march on step after step provided we
yield ourselves to his lofty inner inspiration. Talking of the need for
propaganda work, I am depressed at times, especially when I notice that the
hundreds of places I have visited cannot possibly be covered by me again in the
short remaining span of life that alone confronts me. 'My life is in the sere
the yellow leaf! Power has fast faded from brain and nerves, from muscle and
organs, and I am rapidly marching on to the 7th act of life.
If in the cycle of spring, life should
rebound and work of Sai be carried on to higher and higher successes, not merely
in arithmetical but also in geometrical progression, that is a consummation
devoutly to be wished for; but to make it a fact, not one Narasimha Swami but
dozens of Narasimha Swamis should go forth, and not merely repeat the endeavors,
but reduplicate and quintuplicate the volume of work.
I am looking forward to the time when
there will be no homes in a city like Madras where Sai's picture is not kept.
There should be regular Sai worship in every home. There should be a central
place of worship where Sai bhajan can be attended by every person that desires
to attend. There must be at least one Mandir for every 10.000 or 20,000 people
in a City like Madras.
As Sai devotees, we must make it a point
to go to Sai Mandir at least on Thursdays and on three important days namely
Rama Navami, Guru Poornima and Baba's Maha Samadhi Day. If there is no Sai
Mandir in our place, we can worship Sai at home doing Sai Ashtottara pooja and
Sahasranama pooja if possible. Whenever we happen to go to a new place, we must
try to find out if there is a Sai Mandir in that place and make it a point to
have Baba's darshan there. We can also try to collect Sai Literature available
in the Sai Mandir arid read Sai Satcharitha and other books on Sai containing
devotees' experiences. So let us always have Baba with us in our heart and mind
and earnestly try to get the blessing of Samartha Sadguru Sainath Maharaj.
When you will accept dispassion as your
way of life, you will get rid of the selfishness and be free from thousands of
shackles. O Form Eternal, you should turn towards your Real Self and attain
Godhood.
-
Swami Rama Tirtha
By
Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
Divine Lire is life in God. It is
practical Sadhana for God-Realisation. It is the Jiving or the Yoga of
Synthesis. It is the harmonious development of the hand, heart and head.
-
Swami Sivananda
Guru means the dispeller of darkness of
ignorance. Guru may also be defined as one who imparts information or gives
training to another. The object of seeking a Guru may be temporal or spiritual.
Persons who lead highly moral lives naturally affect their neighborhood and all
persons who come in contact with them rise in their grade of morality and
spirituality. Some of them may get into the position of Gurus for others. In
Baba's marga the Guru provides everything, including food, safety and protection
to the sishyas. A person is likely to make a very good advance alike in temporal
and spiritual matters if he has perfect faith in Guru. Surrender to a loving
Guru and love towards that Guru alone can solve problems. Faith in him is the
thing needed. Without a guru, there is no realisation. When the Bhaktha is fit
for further progress, he will get his guru. It is not the truth that sishyas
always go out to find the guru. The reverse is often true.
The worship of Sai Baba expanded and
assumed vast proportions during his life time. This however did not stop with
1918, but continued to expand further and further not merely as to the forms and
modes of worship and also in respect of the population and area covered and
further extended in its inwardness and heightened its results. There are over
hundred institutions named after Sai, carrying on Sai Pooja, Sai Bhajan and Sai
Prachar. Most of them have Sai Mandirs.
Though Baba first objected to his worship,
his gradual permission of his worship has been specially stressed that Baba
allowed his own worship as a means for providing temporal and spiritual
benefits. Kabir, Guru Nanak and others tried to establish the bedrock of ideas
on which Indian unification in religion could be accomplished. Baba declared on
one occasion that in a former janma, he was Kabir. Hindus, Muslims, Christians
etc. who came to know about him felt that they were before a higher influence
and that they could all approach and reach God through him. They willingly made
him their Gurudeva or Protector.
Sai allowed the Hindus to adopt their
method of worship and treat him either as an Avatar or, Ishtadeva or a Gurudeva
while he allowed the Muslims approaching him to read their Koran and the shariat
at the Mosque treating him as an Avalia or a saint with remarkable powers.
Offerings brought to Baba were distributed by him to all after Fatia was
pronounced in true Muslim fashion. Though Baba did not himself perform the five
namazas every day, he encouraged the orthodox Muslims to do so at his place.
Baba was displeased when any religious intolerance was exhibited.
To many a Hindus, Baba was identified with
various Gods or Avatars. Each man saw in Baba, sometimes the very form of the
deity that he wanted to worship. He was Sat-Chit-Ananda. Thus he was Shiva to
Megha, Ram to South African doctor and Madrasi Ramadasi, Krishna or Vittal to
Krishna Bhakthas, Maruti to Maruti Bhakthas etc. Baba on the other hand allowed
people and even directed people to go to particular temples.
Today, in our busy and mechanical life, we
may not be able to adopt a particular mode of worship and follow it earnestly
everyday. Various problems, worries and other difficulties in our daily life are
to be solved. Then only we can peacefully sit for some time to think of God and
meditate. So the easiest and best way of worship is to surrender completely and
whole heartedly to our Samartha Sadguru Sainath Maharaj who will lead us in the
correct path and guide us in all walks of life. He will certainly give us
material and spiritual help finally granting us salvation.
Words of the Wise
Power
of Guru
(From
the glorious life of Mahan Seshadri Swamigal of Tiruvannamalai)
By
Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar
I must never forget
that every thought I think, every
word I utter, every action I
perform, every feeling and I emotion that
wiles up
within me
is recorded in
the memory or nature. I may be able to deceive those around me.
I may even deceive myself. But
I cannot deceive the nature.
-
J.P. Vaswani
Sri Sai Spiritual Centre's Golden Jubilee
Year 2003-04
Mahan Seshadri Swamigal, who lived in
Tiruvannamalai as a wandering saint was a contemporary of Sai Baba and Sri
Ramana Bhagawan and even though attained 'Mahasamadhi' in 1929, is ever living
and protecting his devotees. He appears to his devotees in dreams and several
forms. He talks to devotees through several mediums also.
When we had the Vishnu Sahasra Nama Homam
at Sri Sai Spiritual Centre in October 2002, He called me through a medium and
referred to my wife's illness and assured me that all would be well soon.
I undertake 'Giri Pradakshina' once a
month at Tiruvannamalai and since Sri Seshadri Swami's Ashram is on the Giri
Pradakshina route it has been our practice to bow down in front of the Ashram
gate. We generally pass his ashram beyond midnight and in February 2003. I had
an ardent desire that the gate should be open and we should be allowed to go
inside the ashram.
As
usual the gate was closed. With disappointment writ on my face, I prostrated in
front of the gate. Just then, the watchman came running, opened the gate and
asked us to come inside the ashram. I praised the Mahan's glory and went inside
the ashram.
My friends asked me about Mahan Seshadri
Swami. Whatever I knew of Him I told them, but when we reached 'Nairuthi
Lingam', a surprise awaited us. The priest gave me a book in Tamil on the life
of Mahan Seshadri Swami and said, "It is for you". He also asked me to
read the chapter of Sri Seshadri Swamigal in the book 'Self-Realization' by Sri
Narasimha Swamiji. For a minute I visualized Mahan Seshadri Swami in that
priest.
When Mahan Seshadri Swami was in flesh and
blood, thousands were attracted by him to Tiruvannamalai. There was a devotee by
name Selvam, who was so fascinated by Mahan Seshadri Swami that he began to
neglect his home, duty and all. His wife was deeply concerned at his
indifference. Her anger turned against Mahan, who he thought was responsible for
her husband's callousness. She waited for an opportunity to harm the saint.
On his usual rounds every morning, one day
Mahan Seshadri Swami came to this devotee's house. The devotee welcomed the
saint and offered him a cup of milk. When the saint was drinking it, the
devotee's wife poured boiling oil on Mahan Seshadri Swami's head. Unperturbed,
the saint mentally offered to Lord Arunachala both the sweetness of the milk and
the heat of the boiling oil.
God protected the saint and sent his
blessings to the couple in different ways: to the husband in the form of
spiritual illumination and to his wife in the form of blisters all over her
body. Unable to bear the excruciating pain she fell at Mahan Seshadri Swamigal's
feet and prayed to be cured.
The saint smiled and with his grace
relieved her suffering. She asked her: "My daughter, what was your
intention of pouring boiling oil on my head?" She replied - "O holy
one, I was not aware of your greatness and was foolish enough to try to kill
you."
The saint said smilingly, "Don't you
know, my sweet daughter, that Seshadri's ego, which you wanted to kill died long
ago when he was initiated into spiritual life with the Lord's holy name? All
that is left in him now is Lord Arunachala and nothing else. Everything is His
glory." The lady prayed for his forgiveness and from then on became his
devoted disciple.
Sri
Sai Spiritual Centre's Golden Jubilee Year 2003-04
Lord's
thought-force in Sahasranama
By Dr. H. Janardhana Acharya
In Sahasranama before 'Bhuh' appears
‘Sthavishtah’ which is appearing for a second time. The 'Sthavishta’
is half a Dwandwa, the other half is Thwashta'. Bhishma has deliberately put the
half of a Dwandwa here so that the reciter should bring the other half for the
completion of the idea he intended to place here before 'Bhuh'. The 'Sthavishta'
with the other inseparable half Thwashta' appears much earlier amongst 'Viswakarma
Manuh Thwashta Sthavishtah Sthaviroh Dhruvah'.
It is important to note that in Vishnu
Sahasranama, whenever an important point is discussed, Bhishma goes to the first
all embracing word 'Vishwa’ and brings it to the context and hence 'Vishwakarma'
is here. 'Bhuh' by the very word means birth. At this place Adi Sankara says 'AjanrnahAbhuh'.
Now it may be asked how then the 'Vishwa' came about? As though answering the
question, Bhishma traces the origin of the 'Vishwam' and says 'Vishwakarma Manuh'.
Manuh means thought-force. The 'Vishwakarma Manuh’ jointly say that the whole
'Cosmos' or Viswam' from the microcosm to macrocosm, from the fetish to the
profundity, Thwashta to Sthavishta' is His - Vishwakarma's crystallized thought
force or His thought force itself. To bring oneself to the idea that the whole
thing in and around us is but His thought-force is beyond one's grasp.
However,
some common illustrations might help to solve this problem. After all what is a
book? It is the thought-force of the author in print. The print and the paper
are the thought-force of some ingenious brain or brains materializing in those
forms. Similarly, take the instance of a chair. It is the thought-force of a
carpenter appearing in that form. The basic material of paper namely cotton of
which the book is made and of the wood of which the chair is made, are the
products of His Twashta's thought-force. Expanding and extending this idea in a
similar fashion will bring one intimately to the idea that the whole universe is
but the eventuality of His 'Manusthwashta's thought-force.
Prayer for Spiritual Growth
Oh, Lord Sainath, help me......
to be glad of life because it gives me the
chance to love and to work, and to look up the stars;
to be satisfied with my possessions, but
not contented until I have made the best use of them;
to despise nothing in the world except
falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice;
to be governed by my admirations rather
than my disgusts;
to covet nothing that is my neighbor’s
except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners;
to think seldom
of enemies, but often of friends, and every day of Sainath.
- Mrs. Seetha Vijayakumar
Gospel of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
By
Prof. R. Narayana lyengar
(Contd.
from previous issue)
Swamiji is almost talking to himself
something in Tamil "lyendai tirutti". Suddenly he is asking
"have you seen the temple of Bayalanjaneya, near Tumkur?"
"No, Swamiji. What was that you said
Swamiji I could not hear it clearly."
"All right, I will repeat lyendai
tirutti anbai perakkidil anandamuralame. Haven't I told you the story of
Anjaneya giving me fruits?"
"No, Swamiji. I do not know the
details."
"Once, several years ago I had an
experience early in the morning. I do not know whether it was a dream or a
vision or whatever else. I am walking in a garden along with others. Suddenly a
large sized monkey jumps from a huge tree and approaches me. The monkey is so
big, for a minute I wish, may it not harm any one. As it approaches me, I
recognize 'oh! This is Anjaneya.' That monkey puts a fruit into my hand and says
'eat this.' I respond by asking 'how can I eat alone, I will share this with the
persons accompanying me'.
To this, that monkey answers, indicating a
bear standing nearby 'for them he will shake other fruits from the tree.' While
giving the fruit the monkey tells lyendai tirutti anbai perikkidil
anandamuralame like a formula! Isn't it funny? He also said 'having consumed
the juice of this fruit, you distribute love to every one.'
Even
as he is narrating his vision, Swamiji is reliving the wonderful incident. It is
as though his love is flowing through his glistening eyes, for any one to
receive. Now he is explaining the meaning of his vision statement. "What is
lyendai tirutti (having controlled the five). Five are said to be the
sheaths in which we reside, namely annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, uynanamaya and
ananadamaya kosha. We can take it in that sense. Otherwise, we can take
the five to refer to the five elements, or even to the five senses (indriyas).
After having won the five and distributing love, one can get ananda. Oh,
how wonderfully Anjaneya explained love and bliss.
Suddenly, Swamiji has become emotional. He
is brimming with that love and joy so much so he is unable to speak. His
reddened face and shining beard have added a divine aura to the already saintly
figure. With his infinite grace and love, Swamiji is further explaining
"did you understand what I said. Now tell me what the meaning of lyendai
tirutti is".
"Swamiji, we can take it to refer to
control over the five senses."
"Yes, correct! Now, let me tell you
what happened later that day. After that vision I was eager to visit a temple of
Anjaneya. At daybreak, as soon as others woke up, I started with Krishnamurthi,
Narayan and a few others. But, I did not know exactly where to go. Some how, we
decided to go towards Devarayanadurga Hills. A strange incident took place
there. You might have heard of a famous spring there, called namada chilume. It
is a perennial water source. We wanted to take some water from the spring. As we
approached the place, I saw five ladies worshipping at the spring. They had a
leader also, whom others were referring as 'mataji'. When Krishnamurthi went
near the spring, I told him 'let them complete their pooja, let us not disturb
them. After they vacate the place let us go there'.
I sat on a nearby rock. Krishnamurthi,
Bhaskara Rao and others were all sitting near me, when the ladies were doing
their pooja. They were not even looking at us. You know what happened... this is
what is called strange and mystical. They finished their pooja, turned around
and came towards me. The leader of the group told the others, 'Oh! This is
Ramachandra Prabhu, do his pada-pooja.' I did not understand anything! I was so
perplexed that I just sat still. What Maruthi had indicated on the previous
night was five, and here was also five. This coincidence amused me. Till
that time, I was not usually allowing all persons to touch my feet. When people
came to bow to me, I used to withdraw my feet or fold them!
But, from that day I relaxed this. If by
touching my feet and bowing, if others get a little bit of happiness, why should
I say no to that. This is what Anjaneya had advised me....."
"When did this happen Swamiji?"
"It was in 1958."
"Who were they Swamiji?"
"I do not know precisely. They seemed
to have an Ashram in Hubli and were on a pilgrimage in these parts. Probably
they belonged to the Lingayat sect. They were all wearing white sarees, looking
very dignified and reserved. I think they left their address also, but it is
lost now.... But this is only one part of the story! We were still eager to
visit a Maruthi temple and enquired about it here and there. We came to know
that somewhere around, there is a shrine called Bayalanjaneya Temple. When we
located that temple it was already past noon, but we were determined to see
Maruthi. What a surprise, my boy! In front of that temple, we saw a huge tree;
and that was exactly the same as the one in my vision. It became clear that that
was the place of my search. The temple was open, even though it was rather late
in the morning. I went inside to behold the beautiful and attractive idol of
Anjaneya.
But the strange happenings of that day did
not end with this; there were still more strange things in store! The chief
priest of the temple indicating me murmured something into the ears of his
fellow priest. Then, he offered a cup full of fruit juice and asked me to drink.
I was wonder struck and thought 'Oh, my Lord! How peculiar is your play with
us.' How could I eat alone? So I was about to distribute a little bit of the
fruits to the persons with me. Then that priest intervened and declared
"No, no! This should be taken by you only. Yesterday in my dream Anjaneya
has ordered me to do like this. He had shown me your arrival. For others there
is another prasad ready." Like this he distributed Bananas to
others. Oh! What shall I say! He took me inside and made me eat all of that
fruit mix."
Swamiji
is explaining the incidents with such tenderness, as though he is once again
experiencing the miraculous scenes. The way the incidents got stringed together,
they cannot be brushed aside as due to chance. It can only be concluded that
there are more things in this world than what meets the eye. Some unseen force
seems to have shaped the things for Swamiji, on that day. Swamiji is continuing:
"this type of strange experiences have happened several times. Before I was
invited to inaugurate the Ragigudda temple, I had a similar experience. These
cannot be called dreams. We can only categorize them as some type of strange
visions."
"What happened, Swamiji?"
"I am going up the steps to a Maruthi
temple; when some devotees come down to receive Rama with poorna kumbha, something
like this." Swamiji is talking as though he is hesitant to explain the
vision fully. "Within three or four days of this vision, a few people
approached me explaining about the Ragigudda temple. They requested me to visit
the place. Not only that, when I went there, they received me with poorna
kumbha also.... I don't know anything. I am only a puppet in his hands. But
do you know something? If we understand these things correctly and proceed on
this path, we get limitless joy (amita ananda). In what else can one get
this much joy and happiness? In reality what is it we can give others? We can
only say a few kind words. When they are in difficulty we can help them a little
bit. But this should be devoid of selfishness....Joy is only this. This is what
Maruthi said! lyendai timtti anbai perukkidiL anandamwalame!!!
Recollecting this, I feel like laughing!!"
Swamiji is laughing and laughing. He is
happily roaming in a world of joy and bliss! After some time he is continuing.
"Do you know what the first step on this path is? The mind has to be
brought under control...."
Swamiji is speaking haltingly. Evidently,
he is again and again going into a sea of joy before coming out. Suddenly he is
talking. "For everything grace is needed. Do you know this?”
Manam adangidil mathi thonridam; mathi
tihonridil vidhi attridum
Vidhi attridil padi attridum: Esan anil
petrorku.
"Swamiji! Is this from
Manickavachakar?"
"No! My boy! I visualized this once.
It came on its own! Early in the morning on some days I see these poems!"
"Do you have many others of this
type, Swamiji?"
"Yes. I have written them somewhere.
If I locate them I shall give you the writings. Did you follow this poem? If the
mind subsides, then mathi, (that is buddhi, viveka) dawns. As
buddhi grows, vidhi (karma bartdha) meaning the attachment to our past
karmas gets loosened. After this, padi, that is the path, automatically
becomes clear. But do you know to whom this happens? 'Esan arul petrorke' Only
to those who have accessed the grace of God not for others.
(To be continued…………)
Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji performing Vyasa Pooja on the occasion of Guru
Poornima (1978)
A Memorable Pilgrimage with Sri Saipadananda
By
R. Seshadri
Sadguru Radhakrishna Swamiji used to visit
popular temples and places of pilgrimage in Karnataka and Tamilnadu, always
accompanied by some of his close devotees. The practice was for Swamiji to
invoke the grace of Lord Ganesa, while starting and also stop the car in front
of the Ganesa Temple adjoining the Bull Temple, Basavanagudi, to offer prayers,
breaking a coconut on some occasions.
Swamiji would start chanting Sri Vishnu
Sahasranama along with the group, followed by Bhajan and Satsangh throughout the
journey. The accompanying devotees invariably used to get some extraordinary
experiences on every occasion in the holy company of Swamiji. Shall we recall
one such holy trip?
Accompanied by Sri Vittal Srinivasa
Bhagavathar, Sri S. Doraiswami and myself, Swamiji left by car one evening,
reaching Thiruchirapally at 2 a.m. Luckily we came across a Travellers' Bungalow
on the outskirts of the town. The watchman was good enough to accommodate us for
the rest of the night. Just before retiring, Swamiji called me by his side and
said: "Pantureethi' of Sri Thyagaraja Swami is ringing in my ears."
Rising up early, we reached Pudukottai
soon after. After parking the car on the wayside, a visibly disturbed Doraiswami
whispered into my ears that his purse containing a big amount was missing. Both
of us were walking ahead of Swamiji, who was not told about the loss. After some
time, while returning to the car, a pleasant surprise was awaiting us. The
missing purse was lying right on the middle of the main road, standing on its
side, to be sighted and picked up by Sri Doraiswami. Then only we revealed to
Swamiji the story of The Mystery of the Missing Purse",
After visiting the Eshwara Temple, we
reached a nearby village, where Kanchi Kamakoti Paramacharya was camping by the
side of a beautiful, well maintained tank full of water. After having the Seer's
darshan (the Seer was observing 'mouna' then), we resumed our journey to find
ourselves at the holy Thiruvayaru Kshetra, which was incidental as it was not in
the itinerary. We hastened to the Sannidhi of the Saint Composer. Just before
the evening Aarathi, a smart girl of about ten years came there and rendered
Thyagaraja's 'Pantureethi' beautifully!
The Pre-Eminence of Dharma
Dharma alone, which follows an individual even after death, is great and
pre-eminent. All other things of tire earth which the body enjoys go to
destruction. What need has one for gross ornaments when humility has become his
head-dress or crown, truth and Dharma have become his ear-rings and renunciation
is his bracelet? Throwing away his dead body like a clod of earth or piece of
wood, the friends and relatives of a man turn their races from him and go their
way. Dharma alone goes after him. Artha (prosperity) and Kama (desire) which are
devoid of Dharma, should he abandoned; for Dharma brings in its train all forms
of happiness like possessions of Artha and Kama. Duly observed Dharma is the
best of one s possessions. Therefore, observe Dharma with firmness. The fickle
breaths of man blow in and blow out hundreds of times in the course of an hour;
his life is dependent on them. Being fondly attached to such a momentary life,
who should delay in the performance of Dharma?
Change Of Heart
Wronged and wounded by a Sai-brother,
I cried to you, Lord Sainath.
Asked for Justice, stretched my hand to
you,
Your’s was not there.
Suddenly it flashed Your advice: 'Don't
fret and fume'
I sought to understand Wronged and wounded
Prayed that I might love, forgive YOU REACHED and took my hand.
-
R. Subramanian
Illusion in Reality and Reality in
Illusion
By
Dwaraka Mohan Misra
"Sweetness cannot be separated from
sugar Light cannot be separated from sun.
Similarly God cannot be separated from
creation."
When my devotees pray to me lying down,
I sit near and listen,
When he sits
and prays. I stand by and listen.
When he stands and prays, I dance before
him and
When he dances in ecstatic prayer to me, I
prostrate before him
-
Sri Sai Baba
We do not see the stars in daylight but that
does not mean that there are no stars in the sky. Standing by the bank of a
pool, thickly overspread by scum and weeds, we say that there is no water in it.
If we desire to see the water we have to remove the scum from the surface of the
pond. Likewise, because we fail to conceive and grasp the existence of God or
Avatar due to non-removal of the film of 'Maya' from our eyes, that does not
mean, there is no God or Avatar in the universe. So as long as man remains
subject to the dualistic delusion of nature, he cannot know the Avatar. Who is
God and is 'One’ only. When one removes the veil of Maya, he is
able to uncover the secrets of creation that ultimately lead him to know the
Avatar or God and his purpose.
The
purpose of the Avatar is the descent of the Divinity for the ascent of mankind.
Avatar or incarnation is a highly concentrated, condensed centre of Divine
effulgence in human form. Avatar is actually the condensed beam of rays of the
Lord. The divinity of the Avatar is all-encompassing as, it is the substance of
all symbols. Its vision is universal and it embraces all the dimensions of time.
As there is a double element in the Avatar human in front, divine behind, we
with our external eyes see him only as a human being as many people looked and
assessed Shirdi Sai Baba during His lifetime. But Baba the Avatar was actually
an integrated manifestation of the divine and was always at work and at rest.
The appearance of Baba as an Avatar was an
extremely monumental event in the history of mankind as His appeal was
universal. He represented the highest expression of man's potential,
consciousness without limit, and love without boundary. He was all powerful all
love, capable of accomplishing anything unimaginable and dictated history, whose
activities were carried out only for the benefit of all the mankind. He was the
source of all knowledge knowing the past, the present and the future and was at
all places at all times, that were revealed from His Avataric role i.e. (Leelas).
Even if He operated in the physical world in His physical body, while at the
same time operating in the spiritual world and would travel in His invisible
body over great distances of space who is one-in-all and all-in-one to
His devotees.
Baba was really one, who was conscious of
the presence of the power of the Divinity born in Him or descended into Him and
governing from within His will, the life and actions, identified inwardly with
the divine power and presence, came in a new-age for humanity, to enable it to
take another step in its evolution towards its ultimate goal. In the words of "Swami
Abhedananda" and "Swami Sivananda", Sai Baba is the
one ever great, ever bright luminary still having unparallel existence,
ever-shedding his resplendent rays to illumine every nook and corner of the
world. HIS cosmic message of universal brotherhood, rendering humanism for all
beings, is eternal.
It is a mythological and historical
reality that when a Saint attains Mahasamadhi, he attains disembodied freedom
for a simultaneous identification or merger with Brahman. But a few liberated
saints like Buddha, Vyasa, and Krishna, Jesus, Zorastar, Hanuman, Sri Sripad
Srivallava, Sri Narasimha Saraswati. Sri Manik Prabhu, Sri Swami Samartha,
Akkalkot Maharaj, Sri Gajanan Maharaj, Sri Jangli Maharaj, Sri Vasudevananda
Saraswati and many others like Sri Gnanadeva, Sri Chaitanya, Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa, Sri Gorakhnath, even after having the supreme state of Liberation,
voluntarily choose to participate in the cosmic scheme of helping the souls
still in bondage and struggling to attain Liberation. Baba was such a saint who
while He was in His Physical body, assured His devotees that He would not leave
them but act more powerfully even after His disembodiment: I shall be ever
active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body. My tomb shall bless
and look to the needs of My devotees; My mortal remains would speak from the
tomb. I am ever living to help and guide all, who come to me, who surrender to
me and who seek refuge in me".
The great Saint Meher Baba found in
Sai Baba the highest manifestation of the supreme reality, the personification
of perfection and considered Him as the Master of creation who was Brahman
Himself having realised Brahman. In Baba, He found His spiritual pursuit and
in 1915, when He sought Baba's grace and asked for a message, Baba said "Love
God to such an extent that you become God". Baba also, much earlier,
confirmed through His utterances that is reflected in the "Shri Sai
Satcharitra" by Sri Hemadpant with Baba's concurrence and grace".
Remarkably, Baba was the great harmonizer
of all faiths. His compassion and love are significantly catholic and never
critical but easily and equally available to the pauper and prince to the
illiterate and the learned, to the sinner and the puritan, to the young and the
old, to the atheist and the theist without any exclusiveness. The common man saw
divinity in human form possessing uncommon divine qualities like utter
selflessness, utter truthfulness, utter simplicity, utter faith in God and
extreme love and compassion for all living beings.
As the Avatar of the age through His
divine functioning (Leelas) He put an equilibrium amidst the doctrinal tussles
of various religions, sects, admitting all as true, being different paths to the
same God, just as many rivers proceeding through various zigzag courses
merge into the same ocean.
Through
His mere Leelas, He saved many devotees, relieved their sufferings, conferred
perpetual grace, but the ultimate purpose of Baba, THE UNIVERSAL GURU, in all these was for reinforcing of their
devotion and faith in the divine power, to push them more and more forward on
God-ward path. There was nothing beyond His power as He revealed supreme Mastery
over nature, over the Five Elements, saved His men from situations unwelcome and
unpleasant, revived the dead, knowledge infinite, power unlimited, presence all
pervading, love immeasurable, making all impossible possible, that transcended
all sciences and human understandings. The Leelas also display the uncanny
omniscient visions of His infinite correlating ability for the benefit of His
devotees, even when the circumstances involve the question of devotee's life and
death. Baba has divinely changed the creator's design and created a new destiny
for them. Actually His was the science of spirituality, the science of
all sciences, the learning of all learning’s and the knowledge of all
knowledge’s that gives only the knowledge of THE SELF.
Baba, the incarnation of purity has showed
mankind as how there is illusion in reality and reality in illusion and
once told Maya ends only when Chaitanya is realised. Chaitanya is
endless. Chaitanya is a cave and he who enters in to that cave never returns but
becomes the cave., He through His invisible spiritual force has left behind such
powerful perennial wave for international integration of mankind, the colossal
impact of which shall definitely sway the whole of humanity, without being
conscious of the process and ultimately shall merge all men in the divine ocean
of true consciousness that goes a long way to establish Universal Faith and
Spiritual Fraternity in the World.
Sai in a (Nut) Shell
Sai is in every 'swasa' (breath). He lives
in you. He is not different from your self, Self and Sai are 'one' in 'pure
consciousness', which the Jnanis call Parabrahman. Sai is really a Parabrahman
in His existence and a Brahmin of liberal outlook not bound by orthodoxy. He is
a Poorna Avatar of Kaliyuga, The constant breathing of 'Sai consciousness' and
His regular darshan will recharge one's soul with mental and physical
purification and His namasmaran will cleanse the heart and revet the image of
Guru God.
-
Sai Ananda
Sai-Assurance
"Look up to me and I will look after
you' as assured by Sainath, which is not new. Yet, I request for Sai-assurances,
the following few.
Sainath give me the assurance of your
love, so that I serve you with full warmth and love. When I am amidst people
with hate and sans love; Sainath give me the assurance of your generosity, So
that I serve you with full zeal and intensity, When I am faced with severe
financial scarcity Sainath give me the assurance of your humanity, So that I
serve you will full humility, When I experience the near and dear ones' cruelty.
Sainath give me the assurance of your mercy, So that I serve you with full
courtesy; when I am endangered and you come in emergency.
Sainath give me the assurance of your
protection, So that I serve you with full concentration, When I am working under
constant tension. Sainath give me the assurance of your presence,
So that I serve you with clear conscience,
When I feel prey to easy temptations thereby losing patience.
Sainath give me the assurance of winning a
Sai-gem, So that I serve you justifying my name of a gem, when it is difficult
even to acquire one costly gem.
Sainath give the assurance of you granting
me promotion, So that I serve you with complete surrender & devotion; when
my superiors in all fields are bent on suppression.
-
N. Hima Sanglikar
Inauguration
The
Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre were inaugurated by H.H.
Srimath Paramahamsa Rangapriya Mahadesikan Swamy at a grand function on 4th
April 2003. A large gathering of devotees and invitees cheered with joy when the
Swamiji lighted a lamp to mark the inauguration.
Delivering the 'Ashirvachana’ on the
occasion the Swamiji paid a glorious tribute to Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna
Swamiji's role in spreading the teachings of Baba among the devotees. He said
that Swamiji's emphasis on "Vishnu Sahasranama” chanting, Saranagathi or
total surrender, Gurubhakthi and Love was similar to the teachings of the great
Vaishnava Acharya, Bhagwat Ramanuja. He called upon the devotees to follow these
values in their life and he concluded that it would be the most fitting homage
to Baba.
Left: H.H. Sri Rangapriya Swamiji releasing
the Saipadananda Magazine April-2003 issue
Right: The Swamiji lighting the lamp to mark
the inauguration of the Golden Jubilee year
2nd Swamiji- He invoked the blessings of
the Lord in making the Golden Jubilee celebrations a grand success.
Sri R- Seshadri, President of the Centre,
explained the term "Apantarathma" referring to those saints who after
casting off their physical frame continue to be active in their astral form for
the sake of their devotees. They continue to live and guide the devotees and
render both worldly help and spiritual guidance and lead them on the right path
to their spiritual goal.
Sri Seshadri quoted many instances of such
help to the devotees by Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji and said that
Swamiji is an Apantaratma who continues to be present with his devotees.
Earlier welcoming the gathering, Air Comde.
Raghavan, Vice-President of the Centre, recounted how Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
arrived in Bangalore in 1952 and won over the hearts of people with his love and
sympathy for one and all. He traced the growth of the Centre after it was
founded by Swamiji on 4th April 1954. He paid glowing tributes to the services
of the past Presidents Sri Narayan Rao, Sri Nanjunda Mudaliar and Sri C.V.
Bhaskara Rao and the present President Sri R. Seshadri.
Sri S. Syama Rao, Hon. Secretary outlined
the various programmes which will form part of the year long celebrations. He
explained that special bhajan programmes, pujas, discourses, chantings,
devotional music etc., are being organised throughout the year.
Led by Sri R. Seshadri and Sri D. V.L.N.
Murthy the whole gathering chanted the 'Universal Prayer of Swamiji” in
English and Kannada. The invocation was rendered by Kum. Swetha and Kum. Swathi
of Sri Saipadananda Bala Vihar. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by
Sri D.V.L.N. Murthy, Secretary of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre Trust.
Devotional
Music: Master Sirivennala Govinda, a budding but popular singer, gave an
excellent recital of devotional music on April 5th.
Samoohika Sri Sai Sathyanarayana Pooja was
arranged on; the 6th morning, around 108 couples and 50 individuals
participating in the Samoohika pooja.
Samoohika
Sri Sai Sathyanarayana Pooja conducted at our Centre
Bhajan: Swami Yogeswaranandaji Maharaj,
President of Sri Ramakrishna Yogashrama, Girinagar, rendered bhajans in the
evening.
Sri Ramanavami & Sri Shirdi Sai Baba's
Birthday
Sri Ramanavami & Baba's Birthday
celebrations were conducted from 11th April to 13th April. Panchamrutha
Abhisheka to Sri Baba and Swamijis was performed in the morning followed by
bhajans later in the evening a procession of Sadguru Sai Baba and Swamijis was
arranged on 11th. Sri Sitarama Bhajana Mandali rendered bhajans on 12th. On
April 13 Rama nama Taraka Mantra a 12-hour non-stop "Sri Ram Jaya
Ram JayaJayaRam" Bhajan program was conducted. Apart from our Centre
Bhajan groups from Sri Dattatreya Temple, Sai Smaran, Sri Audumbara Bhajan
Mandali and Sri Srinivasa Sahodararu participated.
Silver Jubilee Year of the Installation of
Baba's Idol
The 25th Anniversary of installation of
Baba's Idol at our Mandir inciting the Akshaya Thadige was celebrated on the May
4th. After Panchamrutha Abhisheka to Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji, Samoohika Sri Sai Sahasranama Bhasmarchana was conducted
to mark the occasion. A devotional music program by Vidwan Gururaj was arranged
in the evening.
Padmavathi-Srinivasa Kalyana Mahotsava
The Centre conducted the annual
Padmavathi-Srinivasa Kalyana Mahotsava in the authentic 'sampradaya' by
Vedabrahmasri Subbarama Bhagavathar of Delhi and Sri Venkataramana Bhagavathar,
assisted by Sri Seetharama Bhagavathar and Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagavathar of
Bangalore, from May 9 to May 11. Jayadeva's Ashtapathis were rendered with
devotion on all the days.
Subbarama
Bhagavathar, Sri Venkataram Bhagavathar and Party conducting Padmavathi
Srinivasa Kalyana
Sri Papanasam Ramani Bhagavathar,
accompanied by his wife and sons, enthralled the gathering with excellent
rendition of Oothakkadu Venkada Subba lyer's Krishna Ganam (Rasa Sabdham) on May
9th evening. His recital was superb on the 10th evening, when Abhinaya
Chakravarthi Eshwari Prasad of Hyderabad played the role of Krishna, through
Abhinaya-Nritya. Sri Raghavendra Bhagavathar of Hyderabad also ably assisted in
the Natya sequences.
Music
recital by Sri Papanasham Ramani Bhagavathar and Family
Abhinaya
ChakravarUii Eshwari Prasad in the Nrutya sequence playing the role
of Krishna, while at left Sri Narasimha doing "Samhara" ofHiranya
Kashipu
The three-day programme consisted of
Ganesha Pooja, Guru Dhyanam, Divyanama Bhajan. Unchavrithi ending with Vasantha
Kelike, Pawalimpu and Anjaneya Utsavam.
Sri R- Seshadri, President of SSSC,
complimented the Bhagavathars and honored all of them. Sri Aswathanarayan
Swamiji was instrumental in bringing together the various visiting and local
Bhagavathars.
Sri Shanthananda Swamiji visits our temple
May 16
- H.H. Sri Shanthananda Puri Swamiji from Vasishta Guha, Himalayas, after
visiting the Vasanthapura temple under construction, also paid a visit to Sri
Sai Spiritual Centre, Thyagarajanagar. He was received with full Poorna Kumbha.
He gave a pravachana on Baba and Guru's Grace, and blessed the devotees. A
detailed report of his speech will be published in our next issue.
May 23 to June 2
- A 10-day Sanskritha Sambhashana Sibiram was conducted at our Centre under the
auspices of Samskritha Bharati. Sri Ramakrishna Kulakarni trained about 20
devotees in conversing in Sanskrit.
May 29 - Sri Belegare Krishna Sastry, a
renowned Kannada writer and devotee of Bhagawan Sri Ramana, spoke of his
experiences of the Maharshi.
June 14 - Samoohika Sri Vishnu Sahasranama
Jyothi Laksharchana was conducted by the Centre. Hundreds of devotees performed
Laksharchana in the duration of 12 hours (from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
June 15 -
12 Hours (8.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.) Non-stop chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama
was arranged by the Centre in which numerous devotees participated.
-
S. Syama Rao
Teachings of LORD VISHNU
L
Love all mankind.
0
Obey all superiors and elders.
R
Realise your duties and perform them.
D
Devote yourself for good causes.
V
Variety of good deeds will satisfy our self.
I
incorporate good teachings in life-style.
S
Share grief of sufferers.
H
Humanity must be our basic region.
N
Never forget that Lord Vishnu is always with you.
U Ultimate aim of life is God realization.
Sri Saipadananda's 98th Jayanthi Celebrations
The 98th Jayanthi celebrations of our
Poojya Gurudev, H.H. Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji started with a public
meeting under the auspices of the Saipadananda Brotherhood on April 19.
Sri S.N. Murthy, Chairman of Sri Rama
Mandira Association and President of N.R. Colony Association, was the Chief
Guest. Sri R. Seshadri, President of the Centre, presided over the meeting. Sri
Murthy recalled his acquaintance with Sri M. Subbaramaih, former President of
the Centre, and how he made him visit and meet the Swamiji in 1954. He expressed
in detail the love and compassion of Swamiji for his devotees. Smt. Sharada
Krishna Rao, a devotee of the Mandir spoke of how she met Swamiji about 45 years
back and narrated her experiences while Sri S. Syama Rao, Hon. Secretary of SSSC,
spoke on Swamiji and His Vision. (A detailed report on the Brotherhood meeting
appears elsewhere in this issue).
A Samoohika Pada Pooja was performed by
the devotees the next day, with over 400 devotees taking part in it.
A
free Medical Camp in association with the Trinity Hospital and Heart Foundation,
Basavanagudi, was arranged on the 20th. More than 250 people got their blood
sugar, blood pressure and ECG checked up. Free medicines were also distributed
to the needy patients. Sri K. Subba Reddy, M.L.A., was present on the occasion.
Dr. B.C. Muralidhar, Chief Cardiologist of the hospital spoke on the camps
conducted by them to bring in awareness among the people to have health check-up
periodically to prevent heart problems. Dr. M.R.V. Prasad, gave a delightful
devotional music program later in the evening
Dr. B.C. Muralidhar
of Trinity Hospital examining the patient at the Free Heart Checkup Camp conducted at our Centre,
Sri R Seshadri, President of the Centre and Sri K. Subbareddy, M.L.A
are at the back side.
A competition
for children in the recitation of Vishnu Sahasranama was held on the 21st. About
30 children participated. Veda Brahmasri Sridhar and Veda Brahmasri Srinivasan
acted as judges and selected the prize winners at the junior and senior levels.
Sri Srinivasan lauded the efforts of the Centre in encouraging Vishnu
Sahasranama at a young age. Sri Seshadri distributed the prizes. All the
participants in the competition were given consolation prizes.
Samoohika
Abhisheka by the devotees to Sri Sai Baba, H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji and H.H.
Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and Vishnu Sahasranama Homa, made the Jayanthi of Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji on the 22nd. A good number of devotees participated in the
Abhisheka and Homa. More than 1500 devotees partook of the Mahaprasada after the
Poornahuthi and Arathi.
Vidwan T.V.
Hariharen, a popular musician, who had a successful tour of the U.S.A., Canada,
Dubai etc, gave a superb devotional music performance and thrilled the audience.
-
S. Syama Rao
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI
Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai Mother Sai
Father Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.
Shirdi Sai Sadguru Sai Jaya Jaya Sai Allah
Sai Almighty Sai Jaya Jaya Sai I adore you Sai dear Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.
Samartha Sadguru Shirdi Sai Jaya Jaya Sai
Righteous Sai, Redeemer Sai Jaya Jaya Sai I love you Sai dear Sai, Jaya Jaya
Sai.
Sai is ever watching His devotees, Jaya
Jaya Sai Always we should meditate on Sai Jaya Jaya Sai. Indeed we are Your
devotees Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.
Jamner miracle well known Sai Jaya Jaya
Sai; All of us worship you with devotion Sai Jaya Jaya Sai You are our protector
always, Sai Jaya Jaya Sai Always we do Sai Nama Japa Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.
Janmanthra suhirtham Sai kataksham Jaya
Jaya Sai Antaryami Malik Sai Jaya Jaya Sai Yes. Sadguru Sai is ever with us Jaya
Jaya Sai Almighty Sai, Omnipotent Sai, Jaya Jaya Sai,
Sraddha and Saburi Sai wants Jaya Jaya Sai. Always we
should obey Sai Jaya Jaya Sai. I surrender completely to the will of Sai Jaya
Jaya Sai.
- Jayamani
Sri
Rangaswamy Parthasarathi
Sri Rangaswamy Parthasarathi, former News
Editor of 'The Hindu", and Chief Patron of Saipadananda Brotherhood, passed
away in the evening of June 4th, in Chennai, plunging hundreds of Sai devotees
in sorrow. He was 88, and leaves his wife, a son and two daughters.
Sri
Parthasarathi had a distinguished career as a senior Journalist, with the 'The
Mail" and for over 30 years in the "The Hindu", from which he
retired as Asst. Editor-News Editor, with a fine record of work and
achievements. He was also the popular Cinema Editor of the "Sports and
Pastime", winning the admiration of numerous drama and cine artistes and
readers. He produced the Centenary Volume of "The Hindu", which was
his crowning glory.
He had authored "Thirty years with
The Hindu", besides very popular books (Text Books in many Universities and
the B.V. Bhavan's Colleges) on Editing, Reporting and History of Indian
Journalism. He also served as the Principal of the Bhavan's College of
Communication and Management, Chennai for a brief period.
Strange are the ways of the Guru-God.
Though an agnostic till the late Fifties, he wrote two popular and eminently
dabble books. "Apostle of Love, Life of Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji", who totally transformed him, by taking him into his
fold. The Author became a staunch devotee of Swamiji, to whom he totally
surrendered, of course, after putting the Guru to many a test. Having been
witness to his coming into contact with Guru Radhakrishna Swamiji, I have known
most of the extraordinary 'experiences' Swamiji bestowed on him, and the 'Manthropadesa’
at the Vaishnavi temple, Thirumullaivail, soon after their first meeting. He
initiated him in 'dhyana' (meditation) also. The recipient - sadhaka practiced
meditation till he fell ill a few weeks back.
He wrote another popular book on Shirdi
Sai Baba, "God Who Walked on Earth", which attracted and impressed
readers and Sai devotees not only in India, but in the U.K. and the U.S.
Simple and loving, Sri Parthasarathi was
naturally lovable. With his endearing and friendly manners, he had a large
circle of admirers and well wishers. He was taking active part
in the major activities of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore. Saipadananda
Brotherhood was his brain child. Hence, he was made the Chief Patron. He was in
close touch with the Convener, Air Cmde. T.M.M. Raghavan on its activities.
We all miss his physical presence, but
then Sri Parthasarathi has attained the Holy Feet of His Acharya, Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji.
- Editor
The
Holy Grace
O! Sai! The monarch of this universe,
How dare, I praise Thee in verse!
For Thy drop of mercy this restless soul
Craves eagerly with heart's open bowl;
The nectar-drop of motherly love,
Falling down from Thy bosom above,
Will make this child raise his hands
In praise of Thee, the Lord of Celestial
Lands!
In the sweet smile of the dreaming body I
see Thy grace;
In the fragrant blooming flower I see Thy
lovely face.
I feel Thy caress in the fondling touch of
the breeze
That checks my hopes from becoming frail
and freeze.
In the whistling wind I hear Thy endearing
whisper
That tells me closely to trust Thee
without any murmur.
I see Thy various visions in the varying
seasons of the year
That amaze and amuse us amply as our near
and dear.
The pearly dews of the morn are tears of
Thine
For those who tirelessly toil in shower
and shine.
The star-studded sky in Thy perspired brow
Thy work and worry to free us from woe.
The thundering black sky is the angry mood
To see the idle and crooked snatching
other's food.
How wisely Thou hast coupled the thorn
with rose!
Only to make us know how pain and pleasure
are close!
-
V. Vijaykumar