PRAYER
{At Dwaraka}
May the wicked turn
good;
May the good attain
peace;
May the peaceful be
freed from all bondage, and
May the liberated
redeem others.
May everybody be
happy.
May everybody be free
from disease;
May everybody have
good luck;
May none fall on evil
days.
May everybody
surmount difficulties?
May everybody have
good fortune?
May everybody realize
his ambitions?
May everybody rejoice
every where.
- Sri Saipadananda Radhaknshna Swamiji
A Thought
We are all temporary residents on this earth. Each one of us must leave
it when the God-appointed time comes. After all, the world is, if it is seen
with a clear vision, a passing show.
-
SRI RADHAKRISHNA SWAMIJI
Contents
6. The Saint with a rare
prophecy
7. Difficult
expressions in Sahasranama
9. Gospel of Sri
RadhaKrishna Swamiji
10. Sai Baba
presides over conference of Masters
11. Use of Yogic powers
for Devotee's Welfare
13. Baba confers
powers on some his devotees
14. Baba's sayings and happenings
15. Birthday
celebrations of Radhakrishna Swamiji
17.
Sai devotee's convention at
Guntur
Heart Attack - mentions these words and you generate visions of death.
But recently, some doctors in England and Germany have been purposefully giving
their patients heart attacks. Patients with Hypertrophy Obstructive
Cardtomyopathy - a disorder of heart muscle which decreases the contractility
of the heart and reduces the outflow of blood when the heart beats - have benefited
substantially from deliberately and strategically induced heart attacks. This
treatment reduces the amount of nuisance heart muscle and enables the heart to
pump more efficiently. It is, in effect, a form of amputation - effectively
protecting the good heart muscle from the interference of bad heart muscle.
We all know that if a person's finger develops gangrene, and is
immediately removed, then the rest of the body remains healthy. From this we
can conclude that if a person is recognized as evil, then one should
immediately shun him. Once Sri Narasimha Swamiji was in Coimbatore for the All
India Sai Devotees' Convention. Some volunteers were busy washing the used
utensils. When washed, the utensils were stacked in a tall pile. Swamiji
unexpectedly arrived at the washing area. The youths suddenly noticed Swamiji's
presence. And amid their excitement, one of the youths, as he turned to see
Swamiji, knocked the pile of utensils and sent crushing and sprawling across
the floor. Instantly, Sri Narasimha Swamiji said: "Bad company is like
this. You work hard to develop good habits, but the slightest contact of bad
company washes away your efforts. Just like you worked hard to clean these
utensils, but the slightest knock has undone your good work."
Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji once said to his Guru: "Maharaj, we do not
understand these scriptures. We know only one thing. We are yours and you are
ours.' Sri Narasimha Swamiji was pleased." That is all that is to be done.
Even an iron nail floats when nailed in a piece of wood; in like manner, your
taking my refuge ensures your liberation." Refuge, shelter, surrender and
in Sanskrit, 'Prapathi'. A nail takes prapathi of a piece of wood and it
floats. Devotee takes prapathi of God, and he finds himself floating -
liberated. Such a simple formula for 'moksha' and yet so easily forgotten.
The nature of human ignorance and the resulting blurred vision often
bind the aspirant to an almost mechanical life of spiritual toil. This is not
to say that many religious practices are a waste of time. On the contrary,
merit is gained by whatever we do, be it japa, Namasmarana or Bhajans or
whatever. But are we drawing the full benefit of what we practice? Are we
speeding towards our goal or do we barely outpace a snail! Important questions
are had you ever queried yourself and sought true answers?
Lord Krishna in the Gita commands Arjuna: "Come unto me only."
And the Upanishads constantly call the seeker to learn at the feet of a Guru -
the knower of God. 'Prapathi' - surrender is a sign of mature devotion.
Unwavering, unflinching total loyalty, unshakeable faith. Many Sai devotees
have taken 'Prapathi' in its fullest sense and thus gained escape from the
cycle of birth and death. Sai Satcharitra points to 'surrender to Sadguru Sai
Baba'. The Lord has approved it and countless have lived it. The ball is in
your court.
Everyone who breathes young and old has a mission, has a work. We are
not sent into this world for nothing. We are not born at random, we are not
here so that we may go to bed at night, and get up in the morning, toil for our
bread, eat and drink, laugh and joke, sin when we have a mind, and reform when
we are tired of sinning, rear a family, and die. God sees every one of us; he
creates every soul, he lodges it in the body, one by one, for a purpose. He
needs, he deigns to need, every one of us. He has a purpose for each one of us,
when the repetition of the name is going on in the mind automatically, then you
may be sure, that is all by God's grace. You are always safe when the Lords
name is on your lips.
by Sri Narasimha Swamiji
The SECRET
OF GOD-REALISATION
The Lord's blessings are ever with His devotees whoever chants His sweet
names and who work in the world as His instruments, enthrone Him in your heart
merge yourself in Him. Continuous remembrance of the Lord is the secret of
success in life and God realization.
-
swami sivananda.
Term ‘Mission’ is derived from the Latin root ‘Mitto’ meaning ‘send.’ So
a missionary is one who is sent
with a message or direction, ordinarily by God, and, as used in Christian
literature, a mission was the most valuable characteristic of the lives of such
great Prophets as Moses, Jesus, etc. Jesus’ mission was, by his own death,
i.e., sacrificing himself on the cross, to absolve mankind from hereditary or
original sin, that is, the sin derived by being the descendants of the first
sinners and rebels - Adam and Eve.
His death was considered a sacrifice on behalf of entire humanity.
Others' mission, for example, Moses, was to lead the Jews from captivity in
Egypt on towards the Promised Land and also to make Laws that the Jews should
submit to and so he proclaimed Laws of the 12 tables. The idea of a missionary
is practically that of an agent. In the case of Sai Baba, he declared "God
has agents everywhere. They have great powers".
Baba added, ‘I also have great powers’ implying thereby that he also was
an agent of God. He also expressly told D.S. Rasane ‘I can do nothing except
what God orders.’ He did not give a kupni to G.G. Narke saying, ‘The Fakir’
(God) has not permitted me to give you kupni, i.e., the robe of the sanyasi or
begging fakir - as G. G. Narke was to be a family man, an earning Grihastha,
according to God's plan - and not a beggar. As an agent he said that he had
vast powers, that is, divine powers.
The powers and the mission have a close relation. The mission has to be
worked through the powers given and the powers are given only for carrying out
the mission. Baba had by concentration on God practically every siddhi that one
can think of, and Srimad Bhagavatha XI (15) 32 says "What power is there
that cannot be got by concentration on God with conquest or control of mind and
senses and breath?"
So his possession of vast powers (both acknowledged and proved), was
always utilized for the benefit of mankind, promoting individual benefits that
were obvious, seen and well understood, and general benefits which were not so
equally obvious or well seen and understood. In Sai Baba's life we see one
marked difference between his life before 1886 and the life thereafter. Before
1886, the main stress of his activities and views appears to be on doing good
to those who were near him and connected by rinanubandha (prenatal
obligations). But rinanubandha cannot stop within definite geographical limits.
By reason of that principle, people from a far had to benefit, and in
working it out, he achieved other things also than doing good to the immediate
comers. The benefits derived by others consist in {1)the development and spread
of the Sai faith intensively and extensively i.e. all over the country (thus
arresting the spread of Atheism and Agnostic ism) and (2)the unification
thereby of dharma and religion regardless of existing diversification and
divisions of religion, caste, creed etc.
The main benefit is the unification of the Hindu faith within itself and
of Islam within itself, and, by purification and refinement of both, the
building up of one common central religion or faith that is fitted to be the
world faith also (3) Incidentally India's National problem of unifying
conflicting groups is helped to near its solution.
The essential part of Baba's life is that which comes after 1886,
(perhaps that which is yet taking shape) though this is grounded upon the
earlier part, especially upon the training he had and the work he went through
in the earlier stages. The Guru's training and the further concentration of his
entire soul upon the Guru in solitude, etc., all ripened this plant called Sai
Baba so that it might produce an exuberance of flower and fruit. We shall point
out. The first prominent flower or fruit that the Sai tree (Kalpataru)
produced. That first flower or fruit is Narayan Govind Chandorkar. He may be
termed appropriately the first apostle or Saint Peter of Baba. We shall see how
Baba sent for him.
Sri N.G. Chandorkar was Deputy Collector of Ahmednagar, and was camping
at Kopergaon for "Jamabandi" i.e., Land Revenue Settlement work. All
Karnams of the taluk had to attend at the Jamabandi, and the Shirdi karnam also
had to attend. No one left Shirdi without permission of Baba, as the experience
of everyone was that by leaving with Baba's permission he was safe, and leaving
without permission he ran many dangers. So the Shirdi karnam Appa Kulkarni,
went to Baba and asked him for leave to go to Kopergaon for jamabandi work, as
the Deputy Collector (Narayan Govind Chandorkar was there. Baba gave him leave,
and added, ‘tell your Nana (that is Narayan Govind Chandorkar), to come here,’
With great diffidence the karnam at the close of the day approached the Deputy
Collector and told him that Sai Baba, a fakir of Shirdi, invited him to come to
Shirdi. Chandorkar was astounded. He thought that it could not possibly be, and
told the Karnam that he was a stranger to the fakir and the fakir was a
stranger to him, and that he (the karnam) must have some purpose of his own to
invite him to his village, in spite of the Karnams protests Chandorkar would
not believe him and sent him away.
When the Karnam reported his failure to Baba, Baba repeated the
invitation; and again the Karnam with considerable diffidence approached the
Deputy Collector the second day and repeated the invitation. The second
invitation had the same fate and for the same reason as the first. That again
was reported to Baba and like the Prophetess Sibyl of Rome, Baba tried a third
time and with success. Baba pressed the hesitating karnam to repeat the
invitation for the third time.
This time the invitation told, Nana Chandorkar thought that there must
be something in it, and so he told the Karnam that he would visit Shirdi but
not immediately. Chandorkar did keep his promise. Sometime after going to
Ahmednagar, he did go and pay a visit to Shirdi.
After making a present of sugar candy and almond with some reverence to
Baba, Chandorkar asked Baba whether it was true that he sent for him, and when
that was admitted, why he had sent for him. Baba said, there are thousands of
persons in this world, and do I send for them all? ‘Should there not be some
special reason why you alone should be sent for?’ Chandorkar said that he was
unable to see any special reason. Then Baba made the solemn statement. 'You and
I have been connected with each other in four former births.
I now invite you to come and again have your contact. When leisure
serves, you may come. Chandorkar was surprised by this statement, and in any
case was not fully impressed. He left the place with the impression that he
need not return to Shirdi. But he did come and began his grand work of carrying
on propaganda for Baba. With that Baba's mission and life, and personality
enter on a new stage.
The Illuminated Teacher, the great poet and mystic of Iran, Jala lal-Din
Rumi, rightly said, I am neither Christian nor Jew, Neither Gabir nor Turk, I
am not of the East, I am not of the West, Nor of the Land, Nor of the Sea Ami!
I belong to the Soul of the Beloved!
I have seen that the two are one!
And one I seek, and one I know!
One I see!
One I adore!
He is the First!
And He is the Last!
He is the Outward!
As He is the Inward, too!
By
Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
Divine Knowledge
Do not be puffed up with your knowledge. Be humble; learn Brahma vidya
or the knowledge of the self. This science can be learnt only by those who have
humility. You must give up all intoxicants - including the intoxication of
false learning. What you have learned is only a handful; you have still to
learn an ocean full. You should acquire the supreme knowledge. This Brahma vidya
alone can make you immortal. That alone will bestow on you strength. Sow the
seed now.
- Swami Sivananda.
Social Values belong to a realm of ethics. Hinduism discusses ethics
from two standpoints: social or objective, and personal or subjective. The purpose
of social ethics is to promote social welfare and thus create an ideal
environment for developing the inner potentialities of its members. The aim of
personal ethics is to purify the mind and thus create a proper mood for the
practice of higher spiritual disciplines for the liberation of the soul from
entanglement of the world.
Hindu ethics are based upon certain spiritual concepts. The ethics of
non-dualistic Vedanta are derived from the solidarity of man and the oneness of
existence; the ethics of dualism are derived from the doctrine that all beings
are created by God and are therefore His children. Hindu ethics is different
from the ethics of biology which stresses the survival of individuals or
species by methods of competition or struggle for existence. It is different
from the utilitarian ethics which seeks to promote the maximum good for the
maximum number by eliminating friction from society.
The example is given of a number of porcupines who are driven to seek a
sunny spot from the bitter cold of a wintry morning. Their quills prick one
another and thus create an uncomfortable situation. A kindly man covers each
quill with a piece of felt to eliminate the pricks. Men are generally
anti-social, brutish and nasty. Ethical laws act as a felt covering. According
to Hinduism the excellence of a culture is not to be judged by the material
affluence or creature comforts it provides. It extols the principle of plain
living and high thinking. A man profits very little if he gains the whole world
but loses his soul, as the Bible says.
If the Ultimate Reality of Vedanta is beyond good and evil then, it is
contended, social values become meaningless. If the world is maya, social
welfare loses its meaning.
According to non-dualism, Brahman atone is real and changing names and
forms are illusory. This refers to the ultimate experience of the illumined
souls, but for the unenlightened, who seek liberation, the empirical reality of
the world is admitted. The Mundaka Upanishad says that the tangible world is
real and Brahman is also real though under different conditions. The
illustration is given of the mirage and the desert, and of the illusory snake
superimposed upon a rope. Both the mirage and the illusory snake are real as
long as one perceives them to exist but when one sees the desert and the rope,
the water and the snake disappear. When you see the one you cannot see the
other.
It will not be out of place to give here a few statements from Hindu
religious traditions to show that Hinduism is not other-worldly or unrealistic
or insensitive to social values. The Vedic seers regarded with awe the sun, the
fire, the earth and composed many hymns in their honor. They reflected deeply
on the moral principles guiding the universe and sang praises in honor of Ritam,
the Cosmic Order. They did not deny the physical world nor did they spurn the
pleasures it affords. It is said in the Isa Upanishad that one should desire to
live for one hundred years performing ones duties. The Rishis took keen
interest in marriage, procreation, liberality, hospitality, longevity, health
and vigor, domestic life, general prosperity, the welfare of the king, a
righteous battle and such other mundane affairs.
One reads in the Rig-Veda about marriage: "I take your hand in mine
for a happy future that you may reach old age with me as your husband.” The
Atharva-Veda says; "We will dwell together-parents of children to
come."
About liberality: ‘Let the rich satisfy the poor and keep in view
the long pathway. Riches come now to one, now to another, and like wheels of
chariots are ever turning"- Rig Veda.
Hospitality: "A man, who eats before the guests, eats
of the sacrifice and the merit of the house, he devours the milk, the sap, the
vigor and prosperity and progeny and fame, reputation and understanding of the
house"- Atharva-Veda.
Concord in council "Walk together, speak together, let your
minds be all alike. May the purpose be common, common the assembly, common the
mind? May your thoughts be united?" - Rig-Veda.
Longevity: "May we see a hundred years. May we live a
hundred years? May we know a hundred years? May we assert our existence a
hundred years; yea, even more than a hundred years"-Atharva-Veda.
Strength and vigor:
"May
I have voice in my mouth, breath
in my nostrils, sight in my eyes, hearing in my ears, hair that hath not turned
grey, teeth, free from yellowness and much strength in my
arms"-Atharva-Veda.
General prosperity:
"Oh, lord! may there be born
in the kingdom Brahmins distinguished for knowledge of Brahman, heroic Kshatriyas,
skilled marksmen piercing with shafts mighty warriors, cows giving abundant
milk, oxen good at carrying weight, swift horses and industrious women" -
Yajur-Veda, XXII 22.
Victory in battle: "May Indra aid us when our flags are out;
may our arms be victorious, may our brave warriors come home with flying
colors, O Lord, protect us in the din of battle" - Rig-Veda.
"Confusing the minds of our enemies seize their bodies; depart O
panic. Attack them, confound them, and consume them. Let our foes abide in
darkness."-Yajur-Veda.
High moral tone of
society: King Asvapati says in the
Chhandogya Upanishad: "In my kingdom there is no thief, no miser, no
wine-bibber, and no man without a sacrificial fire, no ignorant person, and no
adulterer much less an adulteress".
Prayer for wealth: "Bring me without delay fortune which will
always provide me with clothes and cattle, food and drink. May I become famous
among men? May I become richer than the rich?"
It will be seen that the Indo-Aryans in Vedic times lived a full and
happy life. They never explained away the world as unreal. They communed with
gods, discharged social responsibilities and showed compassion for other
created beings. Social welfare is achieved through co-operation and not through
competition. Pleasures derived from competition are temporary and boring at the
end. On the other hand, pleasures derived from co-operation endure long and
have a spiritual value.
For those who are weary of the world and the pleasures it affords, and
who seek knowledge of Brahman for ultimate liberation, the Upanishads lay down
various disciplines. The liberated souls devote themselves to the welfare of
all beings. The Hindu scriptures do not repudiate the importance of moral
actions. "As the scent is wafted afar from a tree laden with flowers, so
also is wafted afar the scent of a good deed." (Mahanarayana Upanishad}
The seers of the Upanishads prayed for children, grandchildren, long
life, gold and cattle and happiness after death. Through the observance of social
ethics the heart is purified. It gets rid of self-centeredness. Now the
individual is ready for the practice of subjective or personal ethics of which
the main disciplines are: austerity, self-control, renunciation and
introspection. He takes the final step for spiritual illumination. A man cannot
see God everywhere, which is the ideal of Vedanta, as long as he sees evil and
imperfections in the world and struggles against them. Ethics speaks of a life
as it ought to be lived.
Oughtness is the very crux of ethics. An ethical man is constantly
assailed by the thought, "I ought to have done this. I ought not to have
done that. "He engages himself in constant struggle. As the heart becomes
purified by the practice of ethical disciplines he begins to see God everywhere
and finally through God's grace he becomes enlightened. After illumination he
no longer consciously struggles to acquire moral virtues. They adorn him like
jewels. The Upanishad says: "Evil does not overtake him, but he transcends
evil. He becomes sinless, taintless, and free from doubts and a knower of
Truth."
An enlightened man is by no means inactive or unconcerned about the
welfare of the world. Buddha, Christ, Shankaracharya, Ramakrishna and other
God-men worked incessantly for the lasting benefit of mankind. They did not act
under the compulsion of duty or moral oughtness. Their work was prompted by
universal love. From their hearts there welled up always the prayer. "O
Lord, I do not want any kingdom or heavenly pleasure or escape from rebirth. I
only desire that the afflictions of all beings tormented by the miseries of
life shall cease forever."
Sri Radha's Self-Offering To
the Lord
To You alone have I dedicated my mind and life-breath; to You have I
consigned the sense of possession and the ego-sense. Treating them as
absolutely Yours, use them as and when You, will. Do not be shy of doing as you
please (with them), do not think otherwise. Nothing whatsoever is left now,
which I can call my own; everything is fully known to You. Honor and dishonor,
joy and sorrow are no longer my concern. You alone are my absolute emancipation
(from the hold of matter). You alone constitute my bond. Wherever and in
whatever condition I may live I eternally abide in You. All other supports have
now fallen, all transient relationships have ceased for good. Ah! My world lies
relinquished at Your lotus feet alone, my Lord, and You alone are (now) left:
(as such) cam' on Your pastime ever at will.
Permanent Feature:
From the glorious life of Sri Ramanuja Acharya
By
Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar
REAL GROWTH
To defend the weak to guard those that are below us in the scale of
evolution, is to grow in the nobility strength of life, Sriperumbudur, Tamil
Nadu, the birth place of Sri Ramanuja, third in the lineage of Vaisnavite
saints, has interesting legends associated with it. According to a legend, one
day Lord Shiva in a joyful mood started dancing in Kailas as if possessed. His
‘Bootha Ganas’ seeing this strange behavior of their Master were amused and
started laughing. Enraged, Shiva cursed them to be born on earth. Bootha Ganas
did penance and Lord Shiva forgave them. He asked the divine architect Anantha
to build a pond and when Bootha Ganas bathed in it, they could wash away their
sins. This pond is called ‘Anantha Saras’ and in accordance with the wishes of
the Devas, the Lord built a city called ‘Bootha Puri’, now called
Sriperumbudur.
According to another legend, King Ambarisha was on a hunting expedition,
when he spotted a tiger attacking a cow. In order to save the cow, he killed
the tiger, but the cow also died in the process. He was grief-stricken and then
a heavenly voice, asked him to go to Sriperumbudur, bathe in ‘Anantha Saras’
and then pray to Lord Narayana who would forgive his sins. The King dutifully
obeyed the instructions. Then Lord appeared before him and told him that Adi
Sesha would be born in his lineage and so asked him to build a temple. True to
the Lord's words, after many years, Adi Sesha was born to a devout Brahmin
Vaishnavite couple, Asuri and Kesavacharya, in Sriperumbudur and was named
Ramanuja. Ramanuja displayed his skills as a genius from an early age and
showed an inclination to the religious path shunning the materialistic world.
He was regarded as equal to Adi Sankara in the exposition of the Vedas, with
whom he differed regarding the concept of Brahmin.
Ramanuja upheld the view that Lord Narayana was identical to the Brahman
of the Upanishads. He strongly believed that all devotees of Lord Narayana
belonged to one caste and showed great reverence to a Kancheepuram born devotee
of Lord Varadaraja, Yadavaprakasa who was not a Brahmin. He was above caste
prejudices.
Ramanuja lived in Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram and Srirangam. Fear of
persecution by the then Saiva Ruler made Ramanuja and his followers leave
Srirangam and reach Melkote (Karnataka). Ramanuja established a Vishnu Temple
and retrieved the ‘Utsav’ idol from the Muslim Ruler of Delhi and consecrated
it at Melkote. The Muslim ruler refused to give him the idol as his daughter
had taken a fancy for it. The Muslim Ruler asked Ramanuja to call the idol by
its name and if the idol had power, it would follow him. Ramanuja in a fit of
frenzied devotion, sang about the glory of the deity, called it his ‘Chella
Pillai’ (Darling child) and asked it to follow him. To everyone's amazement,
the idol followed Ramanuja to Melkote where it was consecrated in the name
‘Chella Pillai.’ Later Ramanuja returned to Srirangam and stayed there till his
Maha Samadhi. He advocated ‘Ashtakshari’ chanting for attaining Moksha.
The
saint with a rare prophecy
By s.
Mahalingam
Jadgadguru Adi Sankara visited Kancheepuram during one of his many
travels across the country and decided to make it a major centre of divine
learning. He brought to this town a few families of Devi Bhaktas from the banks
of the Narmada in order to propagate the cult. This cult took the name
‘Kamakoti cult’. On Jan 22, 1870, a divine child was born to the devout couple
from the cult, Maragatham and Varadharajan. The baby was named Seshadri. At the
age of four, he was captivated by a small Krishna idol. The shopkeeper who
noticed his interest, at once presented it to him. That very day, thousands of
idols were sold. The boy was proclaimed lucky and born with the golden touch
(thangakai).
Seshadri showed exemplary brilliance in whatever he learnt. He was soon
well-versed in the Vedas and Shastras. His mother's death stirred in him a deep
yearning for Arunachala. In his early days at Thiruvannamalai he used to wander
about the town with matted hair and total disregard for his bodily appearance.
His natural golden-hued skin was often covered in dirt. He was known to eat
very little or nothing at all. But he had a melodious voice. Swamigal had a
soft corner for Ramana Maharishi. Young Ramana was meditating in the cave near
Arunachaleswarar temple. Boys playing near him chose to make Ramana their
target and flung stones at him.
Seshadri Swamigal appeared at the site and frightened them away, saying
his son was doing tapas inside and was in a bad condition. Ramana was brought
out of the cave as per his instructions. The people were aghast to find that
the young saint's penance had been for so long a duration that maggots were
beginning to eat into his body. Seshadri Swamigal then revived him using the
milk and water offered to Lord Arunachaieswar. Leaving Kancheepuram in 1889, at
the age of 19, Seshadri Swamigal did not leave Thiruvannamalai until the
Mahasamadhi 40 years later, in 1929. At Thiruvannamalai, an adhishtanam can be found
at the site of his Samadhi. Seshadri
Swamigal had blessed Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji who went to him as a boy.
A Dip in Vishnu Sahasra Nama - 30
difficult
expressions in - sahasranama
By, Dr. H. Janardhana Acharya
Place your burden at the feet of the Lord of the universe who
accomplishes even-thing. Remain all the time steadfast in the Heart, in the
Transcendental Absolute. God knows the past, present and future. He will
determine the future for you and accomplish the work. What is to be done will be
done at the proper time. Don't worry. Abide in the heart and surrender your
acts to the Divine.
Sri Bhagavan
Certain places in Sahasranama, the words are arranged together as
explaining each other. ‘Narayanah
Narah’ - He residing in everybody, leads him to action. ‘Boothavatah Vasudevah’
- He is called Vasudeva because He resides in every being. ‘Sarva dhrik simarT
- He supports all and is powerful and valiant. With certain words the meaning
is intricate for the understanding of the ordinary. For such, Bhishma admits
their difficulty as in the verse.- ‘Arthah Anarthah Mahakoshah’ (perfectly
concealed). Artha and Anartha are difficult to understand when one negates the
other. This reminds us of Sai Baba's exposition of the Gita in Chapter 39 of
Sai Satcharitra, wherein he poses the insertion of the word Jnana with Ajnana
to Nana Sahib Chandorkar. Similarly, in the series of words with the prefix of
'Yajna', namely 'Yajnah Yajnapthiryajva....etc.,' and with ‘Yajna Guhyah’. This
crowning word of 'Yajna Guhyah' explains that the whole aspect of Yajna as
narrated is esoteric and difficult to answer.
In another difficult situation, Bhishma, while allowing the seeker's
problem, nevertheless goads him to be industrious and to investigate and
promises that God will certainly (Dhruvah) find for him a place or his goal:
‘Karanam Kaaranam Kartha... ..Dhruvah’ (378-389). He is the instrument and
implement (Karanam). He is the cause (Kaaranam). He is the doer (Kartha). He is
the non-doer (Vikartha). As such He is formidable and difficult to understand
(Gahano Guhah). On this score one should not run away from understanding Him.
So Bhishma continues to say 'Vyavasayah' be industrious. You will be awarded
and be placed properly (Vyavasthanah). He, from His highest position (Samsthanah)
will condescend to place you (Sthanah). This He will do certainly without doubt
(Dhruvah).
‘You look to me-I look to you’ so said SaiBaba. Is this not a precedent
for such an assertion? The Sahasra Nama says 'Yes'. Did not Dhruva attain a
place in ‘Shimshuman’ by incessant striving (Vyavasthanah).
By Major A. W. Chadwick
Will you not let me
go?
Like some insidious druggist you would make Me come with craven pleading
to your door, and beg you of your mercy let me take From out your potent wares
a little more.
And so,
You will not let me go. Will you not let me go?
Here, in an alien land I pass my hours, Far from my country and ail
former ties. A restless logging slowly I devour that me all worldly happiness
denies. And so,
Will you not let me
go?
Will you not let me go?
You tell me ‘yes’, I do not keep you here.
That's but your fun.
Why else then should I stay?
While months pass by and mount up year by year
So that it seems I will never go away.
And so,
You do not let me go.
Will you not let me
go?
I am only sorry wax beneath your hands, You have striven long to mould
me into shape. Your endless patience no one understands; Your boundless love
there's no one can escape. And so, You will never let me go.
Will you not let me
'go?
Nay, I am a tool, I cannot if I would. I am your slave, do with me what
you will, that you should all deny, well, that is good if so it pleases you. I
will speak no ill.
And so, refuse to let me go? Will you not let me go?
I am a fool that I should try to flee;
For here, there is a peace I will never find When I the least am
separate from Thee;
Then I will be but a slave to caitiff mind.
And so, I do not wish to go.
real love
Whatever you behold in the external world is for you, nothing but the
expression of the Spirit. Now you do not see any duality or diversity-not only
spirituality, but even in the Manifestation, your love goes out towards the
whole creation so much so that you are above body-consciousness even when you
are active, because, in this vision you are filled with a strange ecstasy that
overpowers and absorbs you. You live in a state of perennial joy because you
attain an equal vision, where all diversity resolves into unity, all discord
into harmony and all multiplicity into oneness. In this ineffable experience
you feel you are the very embodiment of the Divine. Your heart is absolutely
pure. It will never be disturbed by a single wave of desire.
The great saints and sages who have realized the Truth have been dinning
into our ears that God is within us. In the Bhagavad Gita, God has Himself
said; I am seated in the hearts of all beings in the world. I am pervading
everywhere. ‘All are in Me and I am in all.’ This is the great message which
has been handed to us also by the great souls who have realized God, who are to
us His very embodiments. They are permeated with divine love, joy and bliss. It
is by the contact of such great souls that we are awakened and we get the
necessary strength to walk on the path. By their grace we achieve the fullness
of spiritual experience.
Therefore contact of saints is essential. Without their help we cannot
step on the path. The impersonal God cannot have any relationship with us. We
must be devoted to the personal God.
- Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji
GOSPEL OF SRI RADHAKRJSHNA
SWAMIJI
(Continued from
previous issue) 22.6.1974 Prof. R.N.
lyengar
Swamiji himself has woken up all of us at 4 A.M. The trip to Madurai has
started by 5 A.M. As usual, repetition of Ganesha Mantra and Sahasranama are
going on. In between some conversation also is taking place. Having finished
breakfast at a place called Palakode; we have reached Namakkal by 9 O’clock.
The Narasimha Temple here is very famous. Except for Swamiji, others visited
the temple. Since he had not yet had his bath, Swamiji decided not to come into
the temple. Near Karur, the river Kaveri flows gently over a rich bed of white
sand. Swamiji had a pleasant bath in the river.
The car is still troubling one way or other. After fixing a punctured
tyre, we have reached Karur by midday. While we all had lunch in a hotel,
Swamiji was reluctant to eat in the hotel. So DVK packed up a brief lunch for
Swamiji. Outside the town, in the shade of a tree Swamiji has decided to have
his frugal lunch. Due to the heat, the curd rice meant for him has dried up.
Unfortunately, DVK has forgotten to buy butter, milk or curds. Swamiji mixed
the rice with water and ate a few morsels only. As the travel is progressing,
Swamiji is now and then teasing DVK in a very friendly manner.
DVK has started narrating the story of Dhurva in a rather funny fashion.
Swamiji is laughing uncontrollably! Several Bhajans have also been sung.
Swamiji narrated some past incidents such as his trip to Guruvayur. He
explained how their car got involved in an accident, after a tyre burst. They
were saved miraculously as the car slid down the road and stopped by the side
of a Neem tree.
We have reached Dindigul by 4.30 in the afternoon. Swamiji is eager to
visit the house of Sri Ramaswami, father-in-law of Col. Murthy, a close devotee
of Swamiji. After rest and refreshments, the journey to Madurai is progressing.
By the time we reached Sri Varadarajan's house in Jawahar Street, it is already
7.30. As soon the car has arrived in front of his house, the host has received
Swamiji with great joy and devotion. It appears Swamiji had promised a visit to
this house several years ago. Today his promise is getting fulfilled.
Already a large number of persons have gathered in the house for the
Divyanama Sankirtana celebrations. The small place is overflowing with young
and old, men and women in a festive mood. Old acquaintances are happy to see
and talk to Swamiji. New persons are curiously watching him, conduct himself in
a very loving but still distant manner. Notwithstanding the grueling journey,
Swamiji is his usual peaceful self, enquiring and endearingly soothing alike at
and sundry. Swamiji's permission is being sought as the pooja is about to
start. Swamiji is inaugurating the function "As an introduction to the
forthcoming rituals and proceedings, I like to say a few words. You need not be
surprised if Sai Baba of Shirdi is hailed as an Avatar in this
kaliyuga.........You are all aware of what Krishna has said in the Gita.
"YADA YADA HI DHARMASYA GLANIRBHAVATIBHARATHA ABHYUTTHANAM
ADHARMASYA TADATMANAM SRLJAMYAHAM."
Sai Baba led a life reflecting the above promise of the Lord. "The
Divyanama chorus is led by Sri Rajagopalan. After the traditional slokas and
songs, Swamiji is being requested to join the group. Swamiji has been adorned
with a big garland. Swamiji has formally installed a tall decorated oil lamp in
a central place. The Bhagavathas are all singing and dancing around the lamp.
Swamiji is sitting in his chair and watching the proceedings as a witness. Some
devotees are sitting on the ground near Swamiji, enjoying the dance and music.
The performers, for whom this is part of their spiritual exercise, are adepts
in this system of Bhakti marga.
Even as the program is concluding, Rajagopal dancing as if in a trance.
A few devotees are paying respect to him by touching his feet and then pressing
their hands to their eyes. Rajagopal is lying face down on the ground. It is
not clear whether or not he is conscious. Swamiji is simply observing the
happenings, who can fathom what may be going on in his mind? In about fifteen
minutes, Rajagopal has woken up. The function has ended with final
Mangalararhi, prasad etc.
The host has arranged for Swamiji to sleep on a cot in one of the front
rooms. DVK has spread Swamiji's bed consisting of a spread, a pillow and a
sheet. Others are going to sleep on the ground on mats. Swamiji is jocularly
cautioning DVK "hey, don't snore!”
In the morning all of us have completed our morning routine and are
ready to go to the famous Meenakshi Temple. Swamiji is silently doing his
japa/meditation. Since some repairs are going on in the Temple, the
purification ceremony is yet to take place. Thus it is not clear whether or not
we can have darshan in the sanctum sanctorum. After reaching the temple, it is
learnt that no one is being allowed into the inner precincts. As we are going
round in the outer corridors of the great Temple, Swamiji is enthusiastically
explaining the details of the small shrines which abound everywhere.
Since this visit has ended quickly, it has been decided to go to
Tirupparankunram, where one of the six famous canonical Muruga temples is
located. The temple has been ingeniously built on the slope of a hill. The
sight of the temple is beautiful to behold even from a distance. The temple is
crowded with devotees. The place is popular for celebrating marriages also. The
temple is very spacious. An interesting feature of the structure is that it is
not at one level. Since the temple is built on a slope there are steps from one
hall to another. After climbing several levels we are near the Garbha griha.
Swamiji is appreciating the architectural marvel and the beautiful
sculptures of Vyasa and Parashara. There is a considerable crowd in front of
the main shrine, but with good control and arrangement, all are able to see the
deities. The spear (vel) which is the symbolic weapon of Kartikeya is specially
worshipped here by Abhishekam. The main idol is remarkably attractive. On
either side of the shrine there are smaller shrines for other Gods. On the left
side of the main shrine, are places for Parvathi, Shiva and Ganesha. On the
right side Vishnu has a shrine. Very near the devotees, a real Peacock finds a
place. The bird, which is the mythical vehicle of Lord Muruga, appears to be
very aged and thus not active. After this memorable visit Swamiji is eager to
return to Madurai for further engagements.
Watching the tall imposing spires of the Meenakshi Temple we have
returned to the town, to visit a Vishnu Temple called Urazhahar - a small clean
and well-maintained temple. After returning to the house of Sri Varadarajan,
within fifteen minutes, Swamiji is ready by 9 O' clock to visit the local Sai
Samaj. The place is by the side of River Vaigai. Some fifty persons have gathered
to welcome Swamiji with traditional Poornakumbha. The President of the local
Sai Samaj Dr. Suryanarayana Rao conducted the party around the premises
explaining the ongoing programmes. Dr. Rao requested the gathering to assemble
and read, from a book in Tamil, a few incidents from the life of Sai Baba. He
also briefly described the life history of Sri Narasimha Swamiji. After this,
Swamiji gave an inspired talk in Tamil.
"I am extremely glad to be here today. Do not bother about that
wall. Even though there is no approach to this place from the main road,
another route has been given by this side. True, this is not convenient, but
let us not get perturbed. Baba has been kind enough to give this and let us
take this as his will. From Baba's life you know, how he answered the
Commissioner from the court. Let us take everything in that spirit. Everything
happens by His will only; there is no doubt about this. The land next to this
place belongs to the Ramakrishna Ashram. This is a very good thing. Those who
come here would like to visit Ramakrishna also. The two mahatmas have decided
to be together, isn't this nice? Householders come here to get peace of mind.
This should not be spoilt by getting into some petty quarrels. So long there
are no perturbations in ours mind we are at peace. Once the balance goes away
all sorts of difficulties get into us.
In the olden days, the country was full of food and other wealth, just
because our people were pure in their mind and heart. They did not covet
other's property. But we have degenerated these days. It is not necessary that
one should actually steal the property of another person; even such a thought
is degrading. The heart becomes pure by Karma, Jnana and Bhakti. These are the
three steps everyone has to walk on. You know Baba used to say come up by the
three steps into Dwarakamai. First we should do good deeds (Karma) but not get
attached to the results of these actions; that is, we should continuously
practice Karma-phala-thyaga.
This would gradually take us to the next step and we begin to understand
that the Lord is everywhere. He is in us and also in all beings. This would
give us great courage and conviction. This also leads to Bhakti. When once we
feel that he is all and He pervades the whole universe, what else is there for
us to do? We simply sit quiet and chant His name or sing Bhajans. This is what
Krishna has said in the Gita;
"YO MAM PASHYATI SARVATRA SARVAMCHA MAYI PASHYATI TASYAHAM NA
PRANASYAMI SA CHA ME NA PRANASYATI”
After all what this body needs is a few morsels of food when hungry and
a few hours of rest when tired. Tell me what more is really needed. At all
other times one should be in the Lord thinking of Him only. This is what is
called being Samarasa. This is also the reason why in Baba's archana we say “Samarasa-sanmarga-sthapakayanamah.”
(to be
continued……..)
sai baba presides over conference of masters
By Bhau Kalchuri
I am lost in the rapture of the song that sings of my immortal Beloved
His sweet name stills my mind striking within unstuck chords that waken hidden
cadences. I hear celestial melodies And through my being runs A nectar-a bliss
unsurpassing. Am on the crest of a divine perfection Feeling: “am one, I am all.”
Late Shi Sadashiv Govind Shelke Patil was the chief of the fisherman
community at KasbaPeth. He was very close to Upasani Maharaj in his love and
devotion. He was one of those whom Upasani Maharaj advised to follow Meher
Baba. The following incident was narrated by Patil which happened in 1919,
after Baba's Mahasamadhi.
Upasani Maharaj asked Patil to go to Benares along with Merwan (Meher
Baba then known), with instructions to acquire a place for their stay and to
collect articles required for a great yagna (sacrifice) he wished to perform.
The Maharaj also told Patil that it was going to be a conference of all Masters
of the Spiritual Realm, which would be presided over by Sai Baba. Patil felt
funny when he heard this and expressed surprise, because Sai Baba had already
left his body on 16 October, 1918. Sensing this, the Maharaj said, "Do as
I say, and don't worry. You will not understand this". A perfect Master's
words and actions are often clothed in mystery, because God's ways of
functioning in the affairs of all men and creatures are hidden. When Patil
enquired as to how the Maharaj would come to Benares, he simply said that he
would be found at a certain place near the Railway Bridge. And there he was!
Patil and Merwan traveled by train and reached Benares, hired a place as
instructed by the Maharaj and placed their luggage.
Preparations began for the performance of the Mahayagna - great
sacrificial offerings to the Fire God. A large number of Brahmin Pundits
chanting Vedic hymns under a spacious mandap, throwing grains and various other
articles into the fire. Sai Baba's photo was placed prominently garlanded at
the centre of the large mandap. When Patil saw this spectacle, with Sai Baba's
photo in the centre, he realized what Upasani Maharaj meant when he told him
that Sai Baba would preside.
Merwan and Patil would go to the market daily and purchase all that was
required for the meals for a large number of people gathered for the occasion.
Meals were specially prepared by Brahmins under the supervision of Merwan and
Patil, who were in charge of the food arrangement.
The great sacrificial fire burned continually for eleven days and on the
twelfth day a feast in honor of the Brahmins was held. Over ten thousand
Brahmins had gathered and food for all of them was ready by noon. But when the
Brahmins sat down under the large mandap for their meal and saw the large photo
of Sai Baba, some raised an uproar exclaiming, "We cannot join in the
feast of a Muslim! Sai Baba was a Muslim!"
Upasani Maharaj who was of Brahmin descent, advised them to forget their
religious prejudices and opinions and to partake of the food. He explained to
them that Sai Baba was a Perfect Master and thus above religious distinctions.
Upasani Maharaj could not persuade the Brahmins to share in the feast
and He refused to take the painting of Sai Baba down. At last Upasani Maharaj
instructed all of his devotees, who were present in the gathering to go to the banks of the Ganges River and to
strike drums to call for the poor to gather there. Merwan and Sadashiv joined
by Upasani Maharaja’s several hundred devotees served the food to the poor who
gathered. Although nearly fifteen thousand poor people were fed, there was a
considerable amount of food left over, Upasani Maharaj then directed,
"Throw the remaining food into the river! This greatly shocked the Hindu
priests who saw bucket after bucket being flung into the river. They then
approached Upasani Maharaj and begged for his pardon saying, "Great one,
we are now ready to partake of the food. Do not waste the food - forgive
us."
Sadguru Upasani Maharaj angrily retorted," You call yourselves the
pundits of Kashi! What can I say about you priests? There is nothing in Kashi
for you and there is no food left either! I forgive you, but you will not
partake of the feast. He, Sai Baba, whom you call a Muslim, is the real
Pundit!" Upasani Maharaj then angrily sent the priests away and bade his seven hundred follower’s
farewell.
SRI SREENIVASA KALYANA
Padmavathy Sreenivasa Kalyana was performed at our centre, on the 6th
May. 1998. Veda Brahman Srinivasa and Sri Venkatesha were in charge of the
religious rites. Smt. and Sri S. Syania Rao and Smt & Sri D.L.
Chandrashekar acted as ‘parents’ on behalf of the bridegroom and the bride.
A homa was conducted in the morning for 'Loka Kalyana.' by Sri R. Seshadri.
After the ‘Kalyana’ Sri C.V. Bhaskara Rao spoke and explained the
significance of the kalyana. A large number of devotees participated in the
program.
use of yogic powers for devotees' welfare
by R. Seshadri
(Our Rishis of yore had acquired great yogic
powers during their penance and 'Sadhana' and they used them for the benefit of
humanity. The phenomenon of 'Siddhis' 'Chamatkars' or 'miracles', considered
supernatural by people are just natural for the yogis, has drawn the attention
of people of the world from ancient times. It has a role in rousing in man
religious and spiritual impulses.
This phenomenon also gets embroiled in
controversies, with the intellectuals and scientists looking down upon them and
the credulous swearing by them. The fact is that a yogi acquires such powers in
general, even though he is not enamored of them, in the course of his
'Sadhana', leading to the ‘Samadhi state’. These powers are gained as
by-products during the evolution of a saint. Patanjali's Yoga Shastra mentions fifty-four
'Siddhis'. Even some world renowned scientists have conceded the reality of
miracles. Even today you may find saints, yogis and God-men performing
miracles. The main purpose of using them is to implant faith in man, in
religion, devotion, values etc. This is laudable. But unfortunately, there are
also some fake saints who use them for personal gains, popularity and to entice
people.
Appropriately called ‘Apostle of Love.’ Radhakrishna Swamiji, shunned
publicity, assuming a very low profile all his life. Most of the people who had
met him even casually, let alone his devotees, not were only convinced of his
spiritual powers, but had experienced their beneficial effect. He had never
made any claim, and used to say: "I don't know anything. But my gurus have
asked me to give Udhi (vibudi) prasad to the seekers. After listening to
fellow-devotees accounts and from my own personal experiences, invariably in
all cases various kinds of problems like health, financial, employment and
grave crises threatening life had been solved. I had sought clarifications from
Swamiji on some occasions on miracles. He had told me that the power of
clairvoyance was natural to him, this having been endowed on him by the Lord.
Most other powers came to him unsought and he made use of them rarely.
No devotee who had approached him with any genuine problem was ever
disappointed. Relief was certain and instantaneous on occasions when Swamiji
felt he himself was involved in the problem after listening to the devotee's
accounts.
I asked Swamiji once when many God-men were striving to acquire Siddhi
powers, why he was suppressing his powers. He replied such powers should not be
used indiscriminately. They should never be misused. In fact, Swamiji had
demonstrated many of his great powers, explaining their effect. He told me:
"In two years, you can get these powers if you aspire for them and observe
some Sadhana. But do not have such desires. Our ultimate goal is different -
liberation. The Siddhis are a trap and divert us from our path. Let me share
with the readers two events which he had forecast casually. Being a
newspaperman by profession, one of them would have been a scoop for the English
daily in which I was working. When I met Swamiji in his cottage one evening, he
asked me to take out his diary lying on his cot and pointed out a particular
page carrying a few lines written by Swamiji. It read: "Nithya has left
us. Will come back to serve humanity." He just mentioned that he had
written it at 3a.m that day and did not explain anything further.
A couple of days later, Deccan Herald carried on obituary item stating
that Swami Nithyananda (a very well known saint of Ganeshpuri) had passed away,
with some more details. When I took the newspaper and showed it to Swamiji, he
said he had a premonition and had recorded the same in his diary. He explained
the later part of his writing by saying the great saint who had attained
'Samadhi' would be reborn to serve humanity.
On a Shivarathri day, I went to pay my respects to Swamiji, who was
staying in an upstairs room of a building at N.R. Colony; I sat in a corner of
the room seeing Swamiji in deep meditation. A few minutes later, Swamiji opened
his eyes with a start mentioned that Swamiji's meditation had been disturbed
and interrupted.
Swamiji said: "Yes, I have been disturbed. Watch out, there wilt be
a very big plane crash tomorrow night in the United States, entailing a heavy
human toll. I am praying to the Lord to mitigate its intensity."
The morning editions of all newspapers two days later carried under big
headlines as the lead story (page one) the crash of an American Jet Plane near
New York killing more than hundred people.
A meaningful Touch
During the war, a boy was brought into the hospital badly wounded. Word
was sent to the mother that the boy was
dying. She came to the hospital and begged to see him, but the doctors said
that he was just hovering between life and death and that the slightest
excitement might kill him. Besides, he was unconscious and would not know her.
She promised that she would not speak to him or make the slightest noise, but
begged to sit by the side of his bed and be with him. The doctor relented and
gave permission for her to sit there without a word. She sat by her boy with
her heart bursting. His eyes were closed. She gently put her hand upon his
brow. Without opening his eyes the boy whispered. 'Mother, you have come. ‘The
touch of that mother's hand was self-verifying to the boy. Did you have any
such experience from your mother, father, brother, sister or friend?
A thrilling sai leela
By S. Mani
The Shrine of All Saints
Pilgrimages will not help thee!
Thou wilt fail to find the Truth as long as thou
will not look beyond the books into the Heart within.
Verily, in the Hear is the shrine of all
Prophets and Saints
Baba's miracles are a living legend and bring bliss to any devotee at
any time and I am one among millions of Sai-devotees who have experienced that
he is close behind our thoughts and is taking care of us in every moment of our
lives. I stay in a first floor flat in Virar, Mumbai and my neighbors who stay
in the ground floor (Yogesh Patel, his wife and a son Jash) are Gujarathis and
ardent Sai-devotes. One evening recently the boy master Jash came to our flat
and asked me surprising questions,
"Uncle, are you a Sai Bhakta? Why are you worshipping Sai
Baba?" asked the six year old Jash. I replied to him "I am doing
pooja just like your going to school. I am a Sai sewak and do not call myself a
Sai Bhakta."
He queried 'Uncle, what is the difference between a Sewak and a
Bhakta." I told him "Sai sewak is a humble servant, who offers
service to needy persons, read Sai-literature, perform pooja every day and
spread his gospel. A Sai-bhakta is an apostle of Sai Baba who can see Him 'eye
to eye', talk to Him and convey His messages to trusted devotees and protect
them from all sorts of hurdles."
He listened to me keenly. His next query put me off guard. "Uncle,
do you wish to speak with Baba?" I told him "I wish to speak to Sai
Baba. But Baba is not free to talk with ordinary mortals like me." He
said: "Uncle, you have to fast, meditate and offer flowers regularly for
two years and then you can also talk to Sai Baba. In a huff, he ran away to
play. These words of a six year old boy made me think deeply. As if an answer,
I came across a quotation of Sri Ramakrishna within the next few seconds.
"Some times God acts as the magnet and the devotee as the needle; God
attracts the devotee to Himself; again sometimes the devote acts as the magnet
and God as the needle. Such is the attractions of the devotee that God comes to
him unable to resist his love."
I felt what Jash told me was not his own. It is a transparent command of
Baba through him to me to attain a higher spiritual plane. The whole night I
was thinking about this, and the difficulties to obtain flowers as we live in
the first floor of the apartment.
The next morning, 22nd July 1997, it was Thursday. The door bell rang
and on opening it I saw Mrs.Yogesh Patel with a basket of flowers. She mumbled
that they have plenty of flowers in their garden and I am free to collect
everyday. My joy knew no bounds. I could not control my emotions and stretched
out both my hands and accepted the basket with flowers from Mrs. Patel and saw
Sai Baba in her. I remembered the Vedic verse "Bhagawan Manushya
Roopena" and offered my tearful tributes to Baba and Jash's Mother too.
divinity of baba
There are numerous, or one might say innumerable, instances of Baba's
conduct and mode of life running on exactly similar lines to those of Sri
Krishna or Sri Rama in respect of their divinity. It is thus that the
conviction gained greater strength and depth in the mind of this author that
apart from name and form, divinity is the same, whether manifested in Sai Baba
or in Sri Krishna or for that matter in Jesus Christ and Allah etc. Thou-art
human and divine' is a statement that can be applied to all these. The divine
portion within the human frame has so powerfully radiated its light as to throw
out or drown out the human side and impress on us that we are dealing with the
divine when dealing with Sai Baba as with the other great names mentioned
above-The divine and the human blend together and or both necessary to make up
the entity that gives human beings their impression of God. Without the human
element, no approach is possible, and without the divine element, the approach
is worthless, for we do not wish to approach mere finite entities like human
beings but rather wish to approach the divine, though the divine may be
enshrouded for the time being in a human casing.
- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
baba confers powers on some of His devotees
By R.
Seshadri
Kasinath Sastri was born in a poor purohit's family in a tiny
Maharashtra town. He evinced no interest in education. Considered as a good for
nothing lad by not only his family but the other village folk also, he tried to
eke out a living later by learning Ayurveda and started dispensing medicines to
patients. Years later, he became Upasani Maharaj with yogic powers and a large
following of devotees in the country. It was Sai Baba of Shirdi who brought
about this great transformation. Even today Baba is helping his devotees
through some of his chosen ‘bhaktas’ by confirming on them curative and other
powers. In this context, Sai devotees should guard against pseudo saints
proclaiming His name to serve their personal interests.
In a
brief account of an literate rustic woman, who has been blessed by Sainath
Maharaj with predictive and curative
powers. Eighty three-old Mullayamma of Mulangudi village of Thanjavur
District (Tamil Nadu) lives along with her only son, Periasami, in a hut a
precarious life. Hearing about her from friends, a pious sadhaka took me to her
some months back. Baba’s portrait and meager pooja materials greet those who
get into her hut. (1C, Yanaiyadi Street, Melacauvery, Kumbakonam-612 002 Tamil
Nadu).
After formal introduction, Mullaiammal, holding a silver paper on her
right palm, started giving details about me. She also said that I was frequenting
a Sai Shrine at my place and three deities are worshipped there. She was able
to describe the location and other details of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre at
Bangalore.
When I asked her about the health of my friend's wife, she immediately
pointed out her malady. When asked how she gained these powers, she and her
son, Periasami, gave the following account. Even as a five-year old she had
experienced unusual visions. When she was ten, she was blessed by Kanchi
Paramacharya, who gave her some herbs as prasad. She was able to identify lost
articles and where they could be found, by starting at the mud floor of her
hut.
At this time, during her sleep at night, she started hearing Shirdi Sai
Baba asking her to gaze at her own palm. Though she ignored the call in the
beginning, after persistent instructions from Baba, she was thrilled to find
Baba's image on her palm. Then she surrendered to Baba, who has been responding
to her queries whenever people approach her with their problems. She claims to
have diagnosed major maladies and had also successfully prescribed remedies.
She even gives details of her astral flights by Baba's grace. She speaks Tamil
only. With all this, hers is a hand-to-mouth existence. She gratefully accepts
money being offered by her visitors to keep the pot boiling.
DHARMOPANAYANA
Sri Sai Spiritual Centre. Bangalore,
conducted Dharmopanayanaon 1st May, 1998. Six vatu with their parents and
relatives participated in the Dharmopanayana; Veda Brahmashri Srinivasa
conducted the necessary homa and rituals before the Brahmopadesa. Sri D. K Lakshminarayana
was in charge of all the arrangements.
god is the deity of your heart
Everybody wants God. But they do not know where to find Him. They think
that He is somewhere outside. This is a mistake. They try to see Him in
churches, mosques, temples, caves, mountains and the like. They pray to a God
who is far away in the heaven. As Jesus has rightly said, The Kingdom of Heaven
is within you.
This is the great secret he taught his disciples. A devotee was once
told to seek God in places of pilgrimages, shrines and temples. He wandered all
over India, visited all the temples, bathed in all sacred rivers, but with all
this he could not find God. Then in a state of despair, he sat on a stone and
reflected within himself that his life had been wasted as he could not find
God.
In this state of mind, his mind was drawn within. From within God spoke
to him: 'I am here'. There is a saying, 'Be still and know that i am God'. The
mind must be perfectly wave less, free from all thoughts, calm and serene. It
is then that you become conscious of God within you. Just as you cannot clearly
see your face reflected in moving waters, but you see the reflection when the
water is still, so you cannot have the consciousness of God so long as the mind
is restless. But when the mind is still, he reveals Himself to you in your
heart. In such a pure and wave less state, mind as such does not exist, the
Divine Spirit alone exists. The Spirit is universal.
-Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
By
T.A. Ram Nathen
First give up all ideas of enjoyment in this world and the next, care
only for God and Truth. We are here to know truth, not for enjoyment. Leave
that to brutes that enjoy as we never can. Man is a thinking being and must
struggle on until he conquers death, until he sees the light. He must not spend
himself in vain talking that bears no fruit. Worship of society and popular
opinion is idolatry. The soul has no sex, no country, no place, no time.
Swami Vivekananda
says here, that happen
there, so said Sai Baba. And how? Only a saint knows another saint and his
ways. Avatar Meher Baba has enlightened us on the mysterious ways of Sai Baba's
sayings and happenings. Meher Baba has said: "....... the Jivatma in the
gross sphere uses the mind through gross matters; in the subtle sphere, He uses
the mind directly without the aid of gross and subtle means."
Strictly speaking, unless and until the mental sphere is reached, none
really knows what the mind actually is much less to do things through the
medium of the mind itself to bring our tangible results.
Suppose a pilgrim in Egypt reaches the mental sphere and conceives the
idea of visiting America, the pilgrim has not even to think about America; but
simultaneously with a wish on his part to be there he will find himself
actually there speedier than the time it takes to think about America in the
ordinary way. And how does the pilgrim travel faster than the thought itself?
Because he does not, strictly speaking, travel as the mind is everywhere. The
pilgrim in the mental sphere, whom we address as ‘Mahaan’, ‘Vali’, ‘Maha Yogi’,
can be anywhere he likes without availing his gross and subtle organs.
In the gross and subtle spheres, the souls work with full consciousness
through the media of the mind, gross and subtle organs. While in the mental
sphere, the soul works with full consciousness through the mind itself without
necessarily using the gross and subtle organs. If the room is dark, the constant feeling and repeating of darkness will
not take it away, but bring in the light. Let us know that all that is negative
all that is destructive is bound to pass
away. It is the positive, the affirmative, the constructive, that is
immortal, and that will remain forever.....
-Swami Vivekananda.
Directory of Sai Institutions
It is proposed to bring out a Directory of Sai Institutions in
Karnataka. All institutional authorities or any one having knowledge of Sai
Institutions are requested to furnish the following information:
1. Name of the temple or institution
2. Address
3. Telephone No., if any.
4. Names of President and
Secretary.
The above information may please be sent to the Hon. Secretary. Sri Sai
Spiritual Centre. 63-7, Sai Baba Mandir Road. Thyagarajanagar. Bangalore - 560
028.
god is love
To realize God who is love, you are asked to love one another; to look
upon others in the same light as yourself; to feel for others as you do for
yourself. Can you understand the secret of this love if you on try strive to
attain it through physical or mental perfection without seeking for a greater
ideal?
No, this is not possible. On no lower plane can you love another as
yourself. You have to transcend individuality; you have to rise higher than the
body and mind and realize the universal and immutable essence of your being,
and then alone can you love another as yourself - not otherwise. You must
attain to that consciousness in which you experience the ecstasy of oneness
with all beings and creatures of the world. You must feel at the core of your
heart that you another and all are forms of one underlying Spirit. Diversity is
merely on the surface, in the splendor of Truth, you and all are one.
In the vision of oneness and sameness of the life-principle there can be
no dualism and the consequent clash of opposites. This vision is of love - a
pure emanation of an almighty and impersonal Spirit. Love's nature is therefore
equality and harmony founded on the knowledge of oneness of all things. Compassion
is the first quality to be developed in order to attain the bliss of impersonal
love. At the sight of suffering, your heart is touched and it melts. In a
mysterious way you now feel the suffering of another as your own. This feeling
is not of the body or mere mind.
- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
birthday celebrations of sri radhakrishna swamiji
By
S. Syama Rao
93rd Birthday of H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was celebrated on 18th
April 1998, at Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore. The celebrations started
with Abhisheka to the marble idols of H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, H.H. Sri
Narasimha Swamiji and Sadguru Sainath Maharaj at 7.30 a.m., immediately after
Kakad Arathi. The devotees were waiting to participate in the Samoohika
Abhisheka right from 6.30 a.m. in large numbers. They performed Abhisheka to
Gurudev Radhakrishna Swamiji, Gurudev Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sadguru Sai
Baba with great devotion, standing in the queue for more than an hour.
After Abhisheka, Vishnu Sahasranama Homa was conducted by Veda Brahmasri
Srinivasa assisted by Sri Venkatesha. All the devotees were chanting Om Namo
Narayanaya when the homa was being performed. After Purnahuthi and
Mangalarathi, all the devotees were served prasad.
SAI
NAMA CHANTING (24HRS.)
To commemorate the 80th Mahasamadhi of Sri Sai Baba, a 24 hour non-stop
chanting of ‘Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai’ was inaugurated by Sri R. Seshadri
President of the centre, at 6.30 p.m. On April 19 Sri D.L. Radhakrishna of Sri
Sai Spiritual Centre, started singing the Taraka Nama. Bhajan groups from Sri
Sai Mandali, Malleswaram, Akhanda Sai Nama Saptaha Samithi, Sri Sadguru Seva
Samithi, J.P. Nagar, and Dwarakamai Sai Mandali, Vidyaranyapura participated in
the Nama Sankeerthana on 18th and 19th April 98.
As a grand finale to the celebrations,
Sri T V. Hariharan and party presented a
soul-stirring recital of devotional songs before a big gathering.
AN APPEAL TO ALL THE MANAGEMENTS
OF SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLES ALL OVER INDIA
It has become a very common and popular practice all over India to print
the photos/ imprints of Sai Baba on all the pamphlets, invitations, envelopes
and other perishable materials, like ‘Agarbatti packets’ etc. After reading or
using the material, they are thrown away as waste, which mix up with refuse and
even get trampled upon. Actually we show disrespect to our God if photos are
torn off or thrown away after reading or using the material. God's place is in
the Mandir, homes, and institutions and not on the road or dustbins. I feel
very hurt to see the photos/imprints of Sai Baba being disposed off in such an
impure and degrading manner and I believe every devotee of Sai Baba may be
feeling the same way.
I, therefore, address this humble appeal to all to maintain the sanctity
of the image of Sai Baba and henceforth avoid/stop the publishing of Baba's
photos on pamphlets, invitation cards or any other material which is to be
discarded later on. It will be appreciated if instead of Baba's photos, we only
print "Om Sai, or Sai Ram" etc.
This appeal, to stop publishing God's photos on perishable material is
submitted in humility for the worthy consideration of all the revered and
enlightened devotees.
May Sai Baba bless all.
By Anbumalai
Oh, ego! Down the ages men have condemned and maligned you, but Anbumalai has
nothing except praise for you. You aren't the ordinary mischief-making type of
ego. You are a good purified ego and Anbumalai has much to thank you for.
Your lack of ambition and greed made Anbumalai turn his back on worldly
success, and made him probe into the mysteries of life and death. If you had
been satisfied with the ways of the world, where would Anbumalai be today?
Eating grass with the rest of the herd! Luckily your 'mad' Love for
Arunachala-Bha'gavan made Anbumalai lose all interest in human bonds and
earthly pleasures. Your 'mad' Love was an all-consuming fire which burnt to
ashes all things, including you.
You are now as good as a charred piece of rope which has the form but
not the binding power of a rope. You are not part of the world of ‘maya’. You
are no more a cloud hiding the sun of self, but a clean transparent glass
through which the sun shines bright and clear. O ego! When you are thus a mere
appearance, why should not Anbumalai write all this; praise of you? O ego fully
dead! May you live long thus!
Devotion and Ego
We want to go to God and go to God in a beggarly spirit, with unclean
clothing. Will you be allowed to enter? No. When you go to a king you will have
to put on your nicest dress; when you go to God you will have to put on the
dress of desire-lessness. If you want to see God, to realize the kingdom of
heaven, then you will have to put on the clothing of want-lessness. You will
have to be above want, you will have to be above desire.
-
Swami Rama Thirtha
It is not good to make a show of devotion to others. When your heart
dwells up with divine love, you feel thrills of ecstasy and it is now that your
hairs stand on and your eyes become moist. Pray to God with all your heart to
grant you this supreme devotion.
Ego is the source of unwanted baser instincts such as anger, jealousy,
greed and others. If one has ego then one can never in life and after death -
experience happiness.
-
Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji
Sai Devotees' Convention at
Guntur
By Capt. A.S. Rama Murthy and B.S. Ramalinga Rao
National Convention of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and celebration of the 80th
year of Mahasamadhi of Baba were held at the Vignana Bhavan, Guntur (A.P) on
May 9th and 10th.
Delegates from all over the country participated in the convention
prominent among them being Sri Sai Rathna M. Rangacharya, Hyderabad. Sri K.
Ramaswamy, President, All India Sai Samaj, Chennai, Sri Mothilal Gupta,
Faridabad, Matha Sai Leelamma, Secunderabad, Sri Sathyapadananda Prabhuji, Sri
Jaya Bhaskara Rao, Vijayawada, Sri Vittalananda Maharaj, Maj Patro, Sri
Kanakayya, Sri R.S. Harinath Prabhu, President Shirdi Sai Seva Samithi, Sri M.
Sudhakar, Chairman, Jana Chaitanya Group of Companies, Sri Ramana Murthy,
Eluru, Sri Sai Chaitanya, Shirdi, Matha Sarojini Devarajulu, Calcutta, Shri
Ganeshprabhu Maharaj, Himachal Pradesh.
The convention started at 10.30 A.M. on May 9th, under the President
ship of Sri K. Ramaswamy, Sri Harinath Babu President, Shirdi Sai Seva Samithi,
and Guntur, welcomed the delegates, and gave details of the programmes. Sri M.
Rangacharya and Matha Sarojini Devarajulu spoke on the occasion and introduced
the delegates.
After arathi and lunch break, the president of the National Convention,
Sri Harinath Babu, spoke explaining the aim of the convention and requested the
delegates to extend their co-operation for its success.
The topic of discussion was Is Sadguru Sai Baba, an Avadhuta or Avatara
Purusha? Many delegates participated in the discussions. The conclusion of the
deliberations was Sri Baba is an Avathara Purusha more than an Avadhuta.
At 6.30 P.M. Sri Harinath Babu and his group rendered bhajans of Sai
Keerthans, followed by Sai Ghazals by Sri Ghazal Srinivas. On the 10th, the
proceedings started with a prayer at 8.00 A.M. From 9.00 A.M. to 9.00 P.M. The
delegates participated in Tharakanama ‘OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI’.
The President of A.I.S.S. Chennai requested the delegates to speak on
Sai philosophy. Capt A.S. Rama Murthy from Bangalore spoke on H.H. Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji and the printed copies of Swamiji's Universal Prayer from
our centre, was distributed to the delegates present and gave details of his
services to humanity. The convention also launched the services of H.H. Sri
Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, in spreading Sai messages to
all corners of the world. Capt. Rama Murthy distributed the quarterly magazine
of Saipadananda and the handbook on Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, to prominent
delegates.
The souvenir ‘Sai Smaran’ was released during the afternoon session on
the second day. The convention gave a call to protest against the move by the
Andhra Pradesh Government to bring all Sai temples under its control. Sri Sai
Satyanandaji and Sri Pandurangaji spoke about the Government's plans in the
regard. The delegates approved the convention's proposal to take necessary
steps to stall the Government's move. The convention concluded with a vote of
thanks by Sri Harinath Babu.
K.R.
Rajagopalan
We report with profound regret the passing away of Sri K.R. Rajagopalan,
Advocate, on June 5, 1998, at his residence in Rajajinagar, Bangalore. He was
73 years old. He leaves his wife, two daughters and a son. Sri Rajagopalan was
a popular Labor Lawyer, active till about a year back.
He came under the spell of Shirdi Sai Baba through the blessings of Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji. He was woken up from sleep one night by Sri Swamiji, who
appearing in his dream, commended recitation of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama. Sri
Rajagopalan had not even met Swamiji before that. Sri Rajagopalan and his
family became ardent devotees of Swamiji. Sri Rajagopalan had served his Guru
and Sri Sai Spiritual Centre with perfect devotion for many years.
May Lord Sainath grant him ‘Sadgati’.
K.S. SIVAPRAKASAM
A
veteran Sai - devotee of Bangalore, Sri K.B. Sivaprakasam passed away on 17
March. 1998. A very close devotee of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, he was a man of
few words and more work. He was the Chairman of the Karnataka Electricity Board
and was a regular visitor to the Mandir. He was connected with the Sai movement
launched by Sri Narasimha Swamiji in the early forties and gave a helping hand
to Swami Kesavaiah in Sai Prachar.
Last time he visited the Mandir, he said that he regarded life as a
cosmic drama and tried always to do his part in the best way he could. He kept
a glow the love he had for Sai Baba and Swamiji in his heart and served the
poor and needy, which he regarded as pictures of his Masters.
He had presented a small beautiful idol of Sri Ganesha to Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji which he got installed on top of the entrance to the main
hall.
He was 92 years old and we recall the memory or our readers those two days before Sri S.P. Nanjunda Mudaliar merged in Sai at Shirdi, Sri Sivaprakasam dreamt SPN telling him – ‘Swamiji is calling me - I am going.’ He was indeed a Great Soul! Sai Baba and Swamiji would have granted him ‘Mukthi’. May his soul march on……..