May the Wicked Turn Good;
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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 Everything happens as willed by God. We have to submit to His will. This is the only way to remain calm ana1 serene in the midst of this whirlpool of life. -SRI RADHAKRISHNA SWAMIJI
1. A New Year Wish 2. A story of greed 3. A Garden of Spiritual Life 4. Moral Substratum of Names 5. Power of Guru 6. Gospel of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji 7. Unique Sai Miracle 8. Caution! Danger Ahead 9. At the Feet of the Guru 10. My experience in New Jersey 11. Sri Sai Baba's 80th Mahasamadhi Day 12. Eightieth Special Sai Nama Japa at Shirdi 13. Foundation stone laid for Sai Shrine & Dwarakamai 14. Life and Work of Saipadananda 15. Book review 16. To the other shore Editorial A New Year Wish
So many things we do, we start off enthusiastically, put in a lot of effort and then abandon them altogether. The work as a result is left unfinished, a lot of energy is spent without the final purpose being achieved and then we start off with another task. Have you ever seen a building site lying derelict and half finished? An exercise program you started off with zeal and now all the year is lying unused in your basement! A book you started reading and are still unfinished for months. Patience and perseverance are two most important virtues for accomplishing any task, great or small. Don't allow yourself to fall into the habit of leaving things half done.
Thomas Alva Edison tried 9999 times to invent the light bulb and had not succeeded. Someone enquired: "Are you going to fail the ten thousandth time also?" He replied: "I have not failed. I just discovered another way not to invent the light bulb." He then added that he was a lot closer to achieving his goal.
Many inventions came very close to inventing the airplane before the Wright Brothers. While others abandoned their efforts, the Wright Brothers employing the same principles, went one step forward and added something more. They attached movable flaps to the edges of the wings so the pilot could control them and maintain equilibrium. Adding a little more-be it effort, skill, thought, prayer-can help you finish what you started off. If you feel like taking a break, then by all means take one but then get back to your task and finish it.
In the early fifties, Sri Narasimha Swamiji was in Calcutta. Swamiji and his followers were invited to a devotee's house for lunch. There were several local devotees assembled there. When Swamiji arrived, one gentleman with a wish to take the seat next to Swamiji got up and then abruptly retraced and sat down where he was. Swamiji perceiving his intention, immediately commented: "You should have sat down only after having finished the task you had wished to accomplish." Are there any unfinished tasks that you had started off enthusiastically? Make sure you don't fail and lapse in your effort for any task at hand. Don’t allow boredom or any distraction to shunt you off in a different direction altogether. Learn to prioritize and then invest your effort accordingly. Resolve to finish what you got up for and enjoy the experience of satisfaction and goodness.
In 1999, let us resolve to attain the greatest spiritual accomplishment. We pray to Lord Sainath, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji to take us to greater spiritual heights and ultimately attain the goal of Self-Realization.
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS (OM SRI SAI BABA) Ring out Ostentation and Obstinacy Ring in Magnanimity and Morality Ring out Selfishness and Sensuality Ring in Righteousness and Refinement Ring out Ignorance and Indolence Ring in Sincerity and Sobriety Ring out Arrogance and Affection Ring in Integrity and Intelligence Ring out Baseness and Bitterness Ring in Abstinence and Artlessness Ring out Belligerence and Boastfulness Ring in Affection and Affability May Sri Samartha Sadguru Sai Guru shower his choicest blessings on us all for a Happy and Prosperous New year.
A story of greed By Sri Narasimha Swamiji THE LORD'S MY SHEPHERD A brilliant and accomplished writer was invited to deliver a talk on Psalm 23 - "The Lord is My Shepherd." For over an hour he spoke feelingly on the thought content, the beautiful language, the lyrical verse and the poetic metaphors in the Psalm. At the end of the talk, an old pastor came up and shook his hands. His eyes were touched with tears, and he asked if he could recite the Psalm to conclude the meeting. The speaker requested him to do so.
The old man held his hands in devotion and with eyes closed in piety, recited the entire psalm from memory. A hushed silence fell on the audience.
The speaker said to his audience; "I know the psalm. But this gentleman here knows the Shepherd!" Sai Baba occasionally narrated a few reminiscences of his own past births. These were never taken down and most are forgotten. But a few are still fresh in the memory of the hearers. One of these is given below, substantially as given out by Baba. The readers will note how every sentence of his brims with wisdom and virtue; and now, for centuries, Baba is the same Samartha carrying on his mission of helping humanity with his superhuman power, lofty principles and benign impartiality.
One morning Sai Baba strolled along till he came to a river bank. There he sat under a tree, admiring the dense foliage of an alley and lit his pipe with a pair of flints. A wayfarer came up and the hospitable Baba gave him a few puffs out of his pipe. Then a peculiar sound was heard.
Wayfarer: Let us see what the matter is.
Sai Baba: Matter! It is the croaking in pain of a frog seized by a snake. It is reaping the fruit of its own karma. What we have done in the past comes to us now as present suffering. And yet there is an outcry against Fate! The wayfarer went out to see the frog for himself.
Sai Baba (without leaving his seat): The frog is caught by a huge serpent and is crying. But both the frog and the serpent were wicked in their past birth and have come into their present bodies to reap their reward.
The wayfarer, returning to Baba: Yes, I went and saw. A big frog, it is, in the mouth of a huge black serpent. In 10 or 20 minutes, it will be all over with the poor frog!
Sai Baba: No I am its father and am here. Will I let the snake eat it? Just see how I release it!
Then Baba walked on to the place where the frog was. The wayfarer who was going in advance suddenly took fright.
Wayfarer: Baba! let us go back. Do not go nearer. The serpent may fly at us.
Sai Baba: Do not fear.
Sai Baba then went near and thus addressed the creatures.
Sai Baba: Hallo! Veerabhadrappa! Even now, you have no pity for your enemy Basappa though he has now taken birth as a frog, just as you have turned into a serpent? Shame! Shame upon your hatred! Get rid of hatred and rest in peace!
These words acted like magic. The snake let go its prey, dived into the river and was lost to sight. The frog hopped away and hid in some tree.
Wayfarer: What a wonder! I cannot see why the snake dropped its prey at your words. Which of these creatures is Veerabhadrappa? And which Basappa? Give me their full history, please. Sai Baba resumed his seat, shared a few puffs with his visitor at his pipe and spoke: Some 6 or 7 miles off my place, there was a village sanctified by a temple of Maheshwara. That temple was getting dilapidated. So the villagers began to collect funds for its renovation. The treasurer appointed was a rich miser. He spent but little of the collections on the renovation which consequently made very poor progress; and he swallowed much of the public funds. Seeing the work thus hampered, God appeared in a dream and told the wife of the treasurer: "If you spend any money in renovating this temple, Maheshwara will give it to you back a hundredfold". On waking, the wife communicated the dream to her husband. But he sniffed "expenditure" as the drift of her dream and this Shylock would launch into no such venture. He replied that this was no business proposition. Was he not the man in charge of funds? If God meant business, would He not have come to him? And how far was he from her?
Another night, God again came to the wife in her dream and said: "Do not bother yourself about your husband and his money. Give, if you like, out of your own." The wife then told her Lord that she was going to endow the temple with the value of her own jewels. They were worth Rs. 1000. Then this treasurer, not content with the amounts already embezzled by him, wanted to do Maheshwara, even in this transaction. He told the wife that he would take the jewels himself and give them to God i.e. the temple, his vast stretch of land as its endowment; and the simple woman agreed. But the land was not his. It was the property of one Dubaki, a poor widow, who was just then too poor to redeem it. But there was no period of limitation for exercising the right of redemption. And the present possession of the land was worth nothing. It was barren, saline coastland yielding nothing in the best of seasons.
Thus ended this transaction; and sometime later there was a terrific storm. Lightning struck down the house of the treasurer. He and his wife died. That lady was born in the same village, as the daughter of the temple priest, to whom the above land, had been given as service inam. And she was named Gowri. She had come back to enjoy the land and the priest who was very fond of her devoted the land to her use. Then he adopted a boy Basappa who was no other than Dubaki, the mortgager of that land in the previous birth. Basappa was to have the reversion after or a joint right with Gowri.
Gowri had to be married and the priest came to his great friend Sai Baba, living in a mosque in that birth also, and asked for advice. Baba told him to wait for the man destined to marry her would himself soon turn up. Then came a poor boy of their caste, named Veerabhadrappa, and he married Gowri. Who was Veerabhadrappa? That embezzler of public money, and God's money, the treasurer. He had been born of poor parents at Muttra and named Veerabhadrappa. Veerabhadrappa was at first devoted to Baba as the latter had proposed his marriage to Gowri.
But the old hankering for wealth was still working in Veerabhadrappa and he appealed to the Fakir Baba to get him wealth. Baba told him to wait, for the suitable time would be coming soon.
And it came. For that vast stretch of coast land, there was at last a demand and a sudden appreciation of value. It sold for Rs. 1, 00,000 (just 100 times the worth of the jewels) a moiety of which was paid down in cash, the rest being payable in 24 annual installments. Now was Veerabhadrappa's chance. He tried to clutch at that money. Basappa was naturally hostile to his claims and resisted his efforts.
Baba's intercession was sought and Baba pointed out that Gowri had the right to the entire money and that none else should interfere. Veerabhadrappa got angry with Basappa and Baba. He threatened to kill Basappa who, in his cowardice, sought refuge from Baba. Baba plighted his word that he would shield him from the wrath of his wicked foe. Then the parties to this feud died. Veerabhadrappa was born as the serpent and was still unrelenting in his hatred. The coward Basappa was born as a frog. Veerabhadrappa tried even in this birth to kill his enemy.
Winding up, Baba said, "Hearing the miserable croaking of Basappa, and remembering my pledge to save him, I am here. I have kept my word and saved him." Baba then changed his expression and said "God saved Basappa, his devotee, by sending me. All this is God's leela or sport."
This may be taken for a perfectly true history. For Baba never spoke anything but truth. This anecdote has been embodied in grand sonorous Olivares in Dabolkar's Sai Satcharitra Ch. 47.
That book is read for daily study, "Parayana" by numerous devotees of Sai Baba. One day, Mr. G. B. Dattar, B.A., LL.B., a Pleader of Thana, was reading it. A lady in the house was listening to it in a half drowsy condition. She suffered from periodical internal pains. As she listened, she burst out half involuntarily, in that drowsy condition, and said "Baba, you have such pity for a dumb irrational creature. Have you no pity for me, a human being?"
Then she heard a voice emanating apparently from a peg in the wall saying "Will you give me Rs. 5 Dakshina for the Dasara?" And she answered she would, if she was cured. At once she woke up from her dozing condition and had the money sent up to Sai Samsthan. She began to improve and in some hours, her agony considerably abated. This was in 1932.
To love God with all your soul: How can you do this if you don't know what your soul is? Meditation is the way to know your Self as the soul. As you progress in meditation, you suddenly realize. "I am not this little body made of flesh. I am not all of these emotions and these habits. I am that something which is behind this flesh, which is behind these thoughts, which is surely directing the course of my life." Gradually you see that you are the master of your own fate. You see you are that which is made in the image of the Divine-the soul of Self within you. And you feel a sense of expansion as your soul- awareness unfolds revealing itself as a part of the Infinite. - Self-Realization
A Garden of Spiritual Life By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
A servant of the Lord In love And prayer did build a temple small He Jo vedandhe did pray for ail And he was gentle as the dove! His temple was not seen by eyes Of men who glare and glitter see: His temple was forth simple free-The truly pure and fair and wise! He built this temple in the soul Of the little ones: and they adored The Lord of Love and they outpoured On all their love: they saw the goal!
Travelers come to a crossroad on their journey. To one side of the road is a barren plot, full of weeds and thistles. Travelers look at that barren place and frown. But on the other side of the road is a beautiful garden - full of trees, shrubs, and fragrant flowers. In the spring, in the summer, even in the winter, varieties of flowers bloom there. Travelers look at the plot, so beautiful and fragrant, and praise the owner of that garden.
Our life can be compared to a piece of land. If we are careless, our life becomes just as that barren plot- full of thistles and unwelcome growth; a Godless life; a life in which there is no peace, no harmony; a life which has cultivated only material pleasures and harvested egotism, vanity, greed and hate. But if we have dedicated our life to spiritual and moral values, it becomes like the fragrant flower garden - a life grounded in faith in God; a life in which the character has been freed from greed and unwelcome passions. A person of such character will be known by his behavior he will have cultivated sweetness, compassion, kindness, understanding, and patience.
Spiritual life is indeed a flower garden. Sometimes we are afraid of living a spiritual life. We think that if we travel too far in this direction, we will be deprived of many things. There will not be any emotion, any love, and any action. We will become like stone; our life will be like a desert. That is a wrong idea. On the contrary, if spiritual life is rightly understood and rightly lived, it becomes a wonderful flower garden. A flower garden is not simply dear to the person who works in that garden; it is dear and appealing to any onlooker. So too with a spiritual life; it is very dear and precious not only to the person who is living that life but also to all those who come in contact with it.
Spiritual Blossoming Sri Ramakrishna said," The greatest purpose of human life is to see God, to realize God." God has to be brought into every fiber of our being - in our body, in our senses, in our will, in our emotions, and in our knowledge. When this happens, our life becomes like a flower garden in full bloom. Such a flower garden cannot be kept concealed. People will stand by such a garden and enjoy it, even if they have not worked in it. Whoever comes into contact with a genuinely spiritual person imbibes the peace, the sweetness, the love, the compassion, and the faith emanating from that individual. It is in the gardens of full blossoming that we find the treasures to humanity.
But spiritual life requires care. A person cannot bring forth a vegetable or flower garden from the soil overnight. At first it seems baffling. You clean out the weeds one day and then, only three days later, the weeds come again. Gardening requires patience and hard work. You plant a seed, but it may take one or two years for that seed to grow into a shrub and become beautiful. So it is in our spiritual life with whatever we plant. We plant faith, we plant love, we plant detachment, we plant self-control, and we plant knowledge. All of these seeds must be planted, and we must not be impatient. We must go on watering and feeding and weeding the soil until, slowly, the barren plot is transformed into a garden of beauty.
Spiritual interest comes to a man as a result of great, good karma. The Bhagavad Gita says, "Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye"; "Among thousands and thousands of human beings, maybe one person becomes interested in the search for God." This person is not satisfied with his normal life of pursuing pleasures; intellectual achievement, honor, fame - none of these things satisfy him. His life may be fully successful from the worldly point of view, but he feels emptiness, a vacuum. What is lacking is spiritual Truth. Or, as we read in the Taittiriya Upanishad, "The great Paramatman, infinite Spirit, who is ever pure, eternal, immortal, who is of the nature of infinite Bliss; that immortal Spirit, after creating these jivas, entered into those individuals." In other words, the spirit of God, that infinite divine Being, resides in the heart of every man.
But in most men He is neglected. He is covered over with our distractions or what we call the worldly life, the ignorant life, the life in Maya. Among thousands of people, maybe one becomes restless for God. Even then, the Bhagavad Gita says, "And among thousands of people who are struggling for that spiritual enfoldment, maybe one becomes really successful". If it is the highest fulfillment, one cannot have it too easily. One must carry on the search with patience, with perseverance, with faith, with courage. Only then does the garden slowly become living.
The important step then is the awakening of this spiritual interest. Let a spiritual seeker compare his life to a plot of land; let him resolve to make that land into a beautiful garden. It will be a garden of enjoyment, but not in the worldly sense, it is a refined enjoyment to feed the emotions and bring harmony to the mind and nerves.
In this way spiritual experience grows as a garden grows. One season we have certain plants; next season we replace some with different kinds of annuals. But the garden is all the time filled with shrubs and flowers. Our journey has come to an end. God is the totality of things; God is the totality of all experiences. What more do I want? There is nothing for which to ask. There is no more fear. Where shall I go?
All these questions are relevant only in the life of ignorance. But when the Light of God has come, when that experience of God has come, these questions cease because we find our true Self, our eternal companion. We become eternally linked with that truth. This truth will not deprive us of our normal activities and ideas; it transforms them, giving them new colour, new fragrance. Such is the glory of spiritual life. If we compare it to our known experiences, indeed a spiritual life is like a beautiful garden, a source of joy and peace to us and to ail those whose lives we touch.
Swamiji's Portrait at Thirumanilaiyur Sai Mandir
Sri Narasimha Baba installed a portrait of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Thirumanilaiyur, near Karur, (Tamil Nadu) on December 10, in the presence of a gathering of Sai devotees.
The portrait, offered by Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore, was carried to the Sanctum by Sri R. Seshadri, President of SSC and Sri B. H. Chamaraj, Convenor, Shirdi Sai Baba Satsang, Bangalore.
Sri Seshadri spoke on Baba's greatness and helps to His devotees and the stupendous Sai Prachar undertaken by Sri Narasimha Swamiji, assisted later by Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. He also praised the noble work being done by Sri Narasimha Baba, Managing Trustee of the Thirumanilaiyur temple, in treating hundreds of ailing people. Sri K. Ramarathnam, a senior devotee of Baba, from Hyderabad and his wife were present. After Bhajan and poojas, Sri Narasimha Baba treated many patients who had gathered there. The temple complex, beautifully renovated recently, is attracting a large number of devotees. Patients from far and near throng the sacred place to get relief from Sri Narasimha Baba.
A Dip in Vishnu Sahasra Nama -32 Moral Substratum of Names By Dr. H. Janardhana Acharya
All finite things live in eternity but eternity lives in nothing else. All finite beings live in God, but the infinite God lives in nothing else beyond Him. All dreams exist in the consciousness of the dreamer, but his consciousness exists beyond all his dreams. Consciousness can exist by itself without dreams. All finite dreams of creation exist in the formless consciousness of the ever-existent ever-conscious, ever-new God of bliss; but His cosmic consciousness can exist by itself without the dream forms of creation. - Paramahansa Yogananda
Sahasranamna is of a novel design and construction. To answer the six questions of Dharmaputra through the medium of names, Bhishma had to devise a method of his own. Certain names in the Sahasranama float on moral current. To arrest their flow, the current has to be reversed. They are to be interpreted by negative argument. A straight approach gives a fiat or clumsy interpretation.
The ‘Anamayah’ (689), when explained as One devoid of disease, becomes commonplace bringing the Lord to the very human level and saying that He is healthy. The words previous to that 'Punyah Punyakotihi' should be availed of an argued saying 'While Thou Art 'Punyah' itself and while Punyah is Thy fame and glory, where is the possibility of Thy being ill?' More than the names of God these are to be considered as precepts in the Sahasranama. It is the Punyah – sinlessness that prevents all ills. When He is first-born 'Agrajah' where is the possibility of any karma to accrue to Him, let alone any grief (Anirvishnuhu)? Doubtless He is born many a time (Naikajah). But these appearances (Sambhavah Bhavanah) now and then are meant to restore Dharma, and not to clear off Karma. Again there is a moral here. The word ‘Sadamarshi’ the ever- forgiving, argues that If you have a tendency to forgive believing that the whole universe is run under His control and is based on His will (Lokaadhistanam) where is the chance for grief to take hold of you (Anirvinnah).
The couplet ‘Jithamitrah Pramodhanah’ is more a maxim than a God's name. Control of passion leads to Athmananda - the Self-joy. The 'Swabhavyah' leaning on 'Jrtamitrah' speaks for the seekers' self centered inward contemplative joy.
‘Jitakrodhah Veerabahuh’ substantiate Gandhi's dictum that non-violence is for the brave and the valiant and not for the timid and the weak. If America accepts non-violence, then that nonviolence is glorious. Brahmacharya in the young is continence. In the opposite it is imbecility.
He knows all the four Vedas and He treads on only one path {Chatur Vedavith Yekapath). Or it may be taken that all the four Vedas pinpoint to the one path of Sathya. Precept and action should go together.
The Dhanu in His hand is not ornamental (Dhanurdharo Dhanurvedah). He knows how to wield it. He is proficient in archery. All the facilities gathered and faculties endowed should not be idled away and left to waste. One's library should not be a place of exhibition but an object of study.
Where is the sin to gather before one's birth {Jagadadijah Anagha). And having manifested since He remains transcendent - Jetha, sins do not affect Him and He remains Anagha. He is neither having sorrow nor sin {Anagha) and finds no necessity at all to take birth (Amurthi) or form to expiate it or experience it.
The word 'Dhananjaya' stipulates the eligibility of the seeker of Brahma-Vidya. It prescribes the qualifications that Arjuna had while he was taught Brahma Vidya through Gita by Lord Krishna. Sahasranama maintains a strict discipline. The ushererat the court of Brahma Vidya run by Vishnu Sahasranama, is Dhananjaya and anybody who has not conquered the love of money and who is the victim of passion is out of court here.
Power of Guru From the glorious life of Guru Nanak By Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar
It does not matter much whether you are a family man or not. Always perform your duties unattached with your mind fixed on God. As for instance, the man who has got a carbuncle on his back talks with his friends and others, and even carries out undertakings, but his mind is all the while on his pain. -Sri Ramakrishna
(Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, was born in Talibandi (now in Pakistan) in 1469. His father's name was Kaluchand Mehta and mother's Truptaji. From childhood he seemed to be introspective and disinterested in worldly living. During playtime he used to teach his friends to 'play a game' by sitting in a lotus posture to meditate and chant 'Satyakartar-Satyakartar'. Later when he was asked to look after the field, he used to sing: "Rama's birds, Rama's fields, OH, little birds eat to your heart's content."
He took up a job in the court of Dolat Khan Lodi. He was to manage the State's finance. But Nanak had no interest in this. When weighing out grain, he would give extra and utter: "Your's... Your’s.... and this is your's...." When the losses mounted, he was dismissed. In 1487 at the age of 18, he married Sulakshani. Once, while bathing in a river he heard an inner voice say: "You have been born to uplift others." He then dived into the river. Three days passed. People thought he had drowned. On the fourth day he surfaced having had a divine experience - 'Sakshatkar'. He uttered: "Oh Lord, I have arrived at your lotus feet. There is no misery, only instant grace, I sing your glory jubilantly." Since then, he used to preach ‘Satnam’ - the Truthful Name, to Hindus and Muslims alike. He regarded everyone as equal. Hindus regarded him as a Guru and Muslims as a Pir.
Once instigated by a dissenter, Dolat Khan asked Nanak: "Do you believe in one God or many?" Nanak replied: "One". "Then come and pray with me in the mosque". Accompanied by the Kaji, the Suba and Nanak entered the mosque. When everyone bowed on their knees Nanak remained standing. The Suba questioned him, "Why don't you offer Namaj?" Nanak laughed: "You did not offer namaj either. You were thinking about buying a horse. And the Kaji was worried that his untied fowl would fall into the well." The two sheepishly remained silent. In 1526, the Moghal rule commenced. This threw the land into chaos and extreme misery. Nanak recorded Babar's atrocities and slaughter of his sons in ‘Aso Ashtapadi’. He vehemently denounced the attackers and pointed out the duties of Rulers. This caused Babar to imprison Nanak. Later realising Nanak to be a saint, Babar released him.
Nanak then performed four pilgrimages of India's sacred rivers including Haridwar, Jagannathpuri, Saurashtra and South India. He also visited Mecca and Baghdad and propagated Sat-Dharma. In one Muslim holy place, he was invited for prayer. There he gave them a sermon: "How can God be pleased when you kill those animals to which He has given life? You should be merciful to all living creatures. Working for the good of others is true sacrifice."
In Baghdad he came to know that the Ruler looted even the poor to fill his coffers. He then devised a plan to reform the Ruler. Not far from the palace, Nanak piled a large heap of pebbles from nearby streets. When people asked him what he was doing, he told them: "This is my saving and I want to present it to the King." When the King heard of this, he decided to meet this 'mad fakir'. When the King arrived, Nanak told him: "I want you to look after this saving of mine."
The King asked mockingly: "When will you collect it?” Nanak replied:" When we both die, I will ask for it in Heaven." The King admonished him: "Fool. Don’t you know that people are born empty-handed and die so?" Nanak replied: "Oh King! Then even you will not be able to take your treasure with you. Therefore, it is as worthless as my pebbles." This enlightened the King. He then gave the treasure away.
Guru Nanak later lived in Kartarpur. He had two sons -Srichand and Lakshmidas. Srichand founded the 'Udasi Panth'. At the age of 69 in 1538, Guru Nanak left this world. Guru Nanak's sermons were compiled in the 'Granth Saheb' by Guru Arjun, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. Their worship place is known as a Gurudwara, in which there is no idol. Only the 'Granth Saheb' is worshipped. The scripture written by Guru Nanak is known as Japji, whose beginning starts with 'Om'. In 1916, when Sikh soldiers visited Baghdad, they discovered a 16th century stone inscription of Nanak's sermons: 'O mind! Remember God's name, your life has wasted away without Hari's name..."
On the New Year's Day of 1999, let us remember Guru Nanak's poignant rhyme directing us to imbibe humility in our lives: "The plant which stands stiff in the flood will be washed away. The grass which bends with the flow will not be washed away."
Shall I ever have such good days, when the old dears will rub with impunity their bodies against mine, while I will be wholly absorbed in meditation of Brahma (God) sitting on a Himalayan slab in Baddha Padmasana (tight-lotus-posture) by the side of the sacred Ganga? - Swami Rama Tlrtha
MEDITATION A devotee fell asleep and dreamed that he had entered Paradise. To his astonishment he found Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and other devotees sitting there and reciting Vishnu Sahasra Namam.
"Is this the reward of Paradise?" he cried, 'why this is exactly the sort of thing we did on earth in Sri Sai Spiritual Centre!"
He heard a voice exclaim, “Fool! You think those devotees are in Paradise? It is just the opposite - Paradise is in the devotee's meditation."
REALISM A gambler once said to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji.
"I was caught cheating at cards yesterday so my partners beat me up and threw me out of the window. What would you advise me to do?" Swamiji looked straight through the man and said: "If I were you, from now on I would play on the ground floor."
This startled the other devotees. "Why did not you tell him to stop gambling?" they demanded.
"Because I know he would not" was Swamiji's simple and sagacious explanation.
Gospel of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji By Prof. R .N. lyengar (Continued from the previous issue) Returning from Sai Samaj, Swamiji had food and rest. In the afternoon around three 0' clock Swamiji has started for his further programmes. He has to visit a Bhajana Mandali and the houses of several devotees and also he has to participate in an evening function at Satsabha in Tallakulam. Swamiji has arrived at the residence of Sri Narasimhan T.T. in the railways. The house is old fashioned and small. In the central hall directly visible from the road, a chair has been kept for Swamiji; others are squatting on the ground here and there. As soon as Swamiji sat on the chair, Narasimhan couple started the Padapooja. Swamiji immediately started Sahasranama. After the pooja Swamiji is explaining "you see Padapooja means, the worship of the feet of the Lord. That is why I recited Sahasranama, so that the pooja may reach Him." Swamiji has arrived at the Bhajana mandir and has had two to three rounds of v.s. chanting. After the bhajans, we have visited the house of a devotee on the same street and proceeded to the residence of Sri Meenakshi Sundaram in Tallakulam. It would appear that every one in the household is expecting the visit of Swamiji, eagerly. They are ready with all the paraphernalia for pooja and bhajans. The small children of the household themselves are doing the bhajans very nicely. After the arathi Swamiji is eager to go out. However since a devotee from a neighboring house is insisting on Swamiji visiting his house, Swamiji has agreed to go to his place also. It is around six 0' clock in the evening. We are going towards the Tallakulam temple where the satsabha function will be held. Swamiji is telling Varadarajan the atmosphere in that bhajan mandir was very good, the vibrations are positive. I saw child Krishna playing there. In the room where I rested at your house, I saw an old person coming to do mangalarathi, I saw this some three times. I do not know what this means. Any way it should be something good only.'
By the time we reached the temple, it is already dusk. There is a large Mantap in front of the temple. Nearby hawkers of fruits and flowers are calling “come here, come here.” Swamiji is being welcomed with all the honors of the temple. Even as the music is going on, the temple elephant has garlanded Swamiji and is bowing to him. Swamiji is straight going towards the Sanctum Sanctorum. The temple is quite big with several hails and columns with sculptures. The gathering inside is not very large. After receiving another round of honors from the Chief Priest, Swamiji is going round the outer courtyard. The outer periphery consists of a temple for Hanuman. After a brief pooja here also, Swamiji has finally arrived at the Satsabha hall, which is part of the temple complex.
After the customary welcome speeches, Swamiji released a book published by the Sabha. Swamiji looks very tired. Still, Swamiji spoke in chaste Tamil very peacefully for about ten minutes on Japa, Bhajans and Satsang. The main program for the evening is Harikatha performance by Smt. Rajam Saranathan, a famous exponent of the art. She is daily telling the story of Ramayana. Today is the story of Anguli Pradana - Sita giving her ring to Hanuman to be taken to Rama. The function has got over by 9.30. On the way back Swamiji has to visit another three devotees. By the time Swamiji returned to Varadarajan's place it is quite late. Today he had a hectic schedule.
24.6.1974 We have to return to Bangalore today. So Swamiji is eager to finish the remaining visits fast. Swamiji has started at 6.30 in the morning for the famous hill temple Tirumalirumcholai and also called Alaghar Kovil. The morning journey is very pleasant. After a few rounds of Sahasranama, Swamiji is enjoying the beautiful scenery. On both the sides of the road there are several mantaps and temples. At some places Swamiji is bowing from inside the car itself. The natural scenery is equally attractive. A hillock like an elephant is visible; indeed it is called yanaimalai {elephant hill). Now, the Alaghar hill is visible. A steep hill, at the top of the hill there is a famous Muruga (Subramanya) temple. At the foot of the hill, the equally famous temple is for Vishnu. Even as we think that the hill is far away, our car has reached the base of the hill and the temple. The atmosphere is very calm and peaceful. A few pilgrims are moving here and there. On one side is the steep hill; from somewhere comes the constant sound of a waterfall, mixed with the chirping of the birds of the forest. An ancient temple in such sylvan settings with a vast front yard. The attraction created by the temple cannot be described; easily one feels a special presence in the place. Some special pooja is going on for Sundara Raja Perumal, the presiding deity none other than Vishnu. The main sanctum sanctorum is covered by a screen. It would take another 30-40 minutes for us to have darshan. Swamiji is coaxing us to recite Vishnu Sahasranamam. Inside the temple near to the main shrine, there is a beautiful idol of Ganapathi.This is quite rare in a Vaishnava temple. Swamiji has decided to sit in one of the corridors to recite Vishnu Sahasranama. The temple is not only architecturally beautiful, but also remarkable for the engineering skills of the builders. The level differences in the hilly terrain have been handled in a masterly way. On the walls apart from the paintings of the Saints and Alwars, several of their poems have been written. After Vishnu Sahasranama recitation for 5-6 times, the call has come from the main shrine.
After the traditional shattumurai as per strict Vaishnava Canons, the holy water and prasad have been distributed to all the assembled devotees. After the general pilgrims have gone, Swamiji and his devotees were allowed into the inner precincts. The Lord is aptly named Sundararaja, the beautiful king. The utsava idol is also equally beautiful and majestic. After another round of arathi and prasad, Swamiji is proceeding towards the shrine of Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. The temple is so huge; there is considerable distance between the two shrines. The temple is full of columns, corridors, halls and shrines. In its heydays, the temple should have attracted thousands of devotees daily. While returning from the Lakshmi shrine, Swamiji has observed the shrine for Andal (also called Goda Devi). This shrine is almost a temple by Itself. Outside the temple it is again the forest with monkeys prowling around, peaceful and beautiful with the hill in the background. No one is eager to leave the place; reluctantly the journey back to Madurai has begun.
Already many devotees are waiting for an interview with Swamiji at Varadarajan's house. It is not yet decided where Swamiji will have his lunch. Sri Viswanathan, the Divisional Superintendent of the Railways, has invited Swamiji to his residence. It is around 9.30 AM. Viswanathan has come to take Swamiji to his place. Swamiji has started with him; Viswanathan wants D. V. Krishnamurthy also to accompany them. Doraiswamy has gone to visit his relatives. Bhaskara Rao and myself are the only ones staying back. (to be continued……)
Swami Dayanada Saraswathi visits S.S.C. H.H. Swamiji Dayananda Saraswati accompanied by Swami Sadadmananda (Bangalore) Swami Chidrupananda of Hubli and a Swamiji from Nagarcoil, visited Sri Sai Spiritual Centre on November 2. In his benedictory address to the devotees, he said, idols and images are reflections of Iswara. Whomsoever we worship, it is of the one Super Power. God being all pervasive, you can get into the Whole, when you cast off your ego.
The Swamiji was received on arrival with 'Poornakumbha' by the President, Sri R.Seshadri, Secretary S.Syama Rao, Sri D. V. Narayana Murthy, Trust Secretary and other devotees.
Swami Dayanada Saraswathi is the architect and Founder of the world famous school of Vedanta, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimbatore. The Swamijis and Brahmacharis trained at this Gurukulam are engaged in the sacred task of propagation of the life giving message of Vedanta in the country and abroad, bringing solace to the suffering humanity. The Swamiji gave a series of profound discourses on the “Need for Cognitive Change”, to a huge audience each day at the Town Hall from November 28 to December 4. He addressed eager audiences in the mornings on "Purnamadah Purnamidam" at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, besides conducting a seminar on Management at West End on December 4. - S. Syama Rao
Unique Sai Miracle By Mrs. Rathna Chandrasekhar
Baba gave me an opportunity to visit Shirdi from November 16 to 18, 1998, along with my nephew, Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar, and his wife Seetha. My nephew generally performs 'Pradosh' pooja to Lord Mahadev and while planning the trip, he asked us to leave Bangalore after finishing the Pradosh pooja on November 16. Somehow this was not convenient and we had to plan in such a manner that we would be in Shirdi between November 16 and 18. My nephew reluctantly agreed saying that Sai-willing still he could perform 'Pradosh pooja' on November 16.
We reached Shirdi on the 16th forenoon. We had darshan to our heart's content. In the evening, we went to the Mahadev Mandir in the precincts of Samsthan and enquired the priest about ‘Pradosh’ pooja. The priest said that such a provision is not there and individual devotees could offer worship to the Shiva Linga. My nephew was disappointed. He asked us to fetch some flowers and other offerings and meanwhile, started chanting 'Rudra' and 'Chamaka' hymns preparatory to Abhishekam.
Lord Sainath always provides where He guides. At this moment, a miracle occurred. Even before we started to get pooja materials, a middle aged lady appeared there from nowhere. She brought a basketful of Bel-pathra, Bilva fruits, flowers, seven litres of milk, a pot of curds, a little quantity of honey and sugar, apart from other pooja materials. She placed all these things at our disposal and wanted to perform pooja to Lord Mahadev on behalf of her son. We were happy at the turn of events. We performed, ‘Panchamrit Abhishek’ to the Shiva Linga, offered ‘archana’ by reciting ‘Trishathi’ and finally did ‘Arathi’, which coincided with the evening arathi to Sai Baba. The final outcome was that my nephew could perform ‘Pradosh’ pooja in a much better manner on the holy soil of Shirdi, than he had ever performed at his hometown earlier.
Sai Baba is close behind our thoughts and He is there to fulfill each one of our needs and desires in His own inimitable manner.
IGNORANCE There was a young boy who took pride in his learning the scriptures. He was closely associated with Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and for anything and everything he used to quote Swamiji. He also took pride as the moving encyclopedia of Swamiji's life. Another devotee came to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and said: "Tell me, Swamiji, is it true that the young man knows as much about you as he claims?" Swamiji replied: "Truth to tell, this boy reads so much I don't see how he could ever find the time to know anything."
MYTHS Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji gave his teaching as Sai Baba did, in parables and stories which his devotees listened with pleasure - and occasional frustration, for they longed for something deeper.
Swamiji was unmoved. To all their objections he would say, "You have yet to understand, my dears, that the shortest distance between a human being and Truth is a story."
Another time he said: "Do not despise the story. A lost gold coin is found by means of a candle which costs a few Paise: the deepest truth is found by means of a simple story." Caution! Danger Ahead Devotees worship the Lord variously - as the Infinite or Heavenly Father or Divine Mother, or as Divine Friend (like the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna), or as Divine Lover, Divine Beloved, Divine Master, Divine Child. God responds to the devotee in whatever aspect he holds dear. To the true monist He reveals Himself as the Infinite; to the sincere dualist He appears in the desired finite form......
I is full of pitfalls. But the most hazardous is the influence of bad company. Even a fleeting association with such bad company leads virtuous people to be deflected from their noble path. Conversely, good company can instill noble qualities in even the most hardened sinner.
While contemplating the life of Sai Baba, my mind ruminated as to how ‘Satsang’ among Sai devotees elevates them. But somehow I was wondering as to how Prahlad became a great devotee of Vishnu even though he was born to Hiranyakashipu, who had hatred for God.
It so happened that Sai brother S.P. Ruhela came down to Nagpur in one of his Sai- missions. In our Satsang, I expressed this doubt and he gave me a scholarly exposition, which I would like to share with my Sai-bandhus.
Once, while King Hiranyakashipu was out on a war, the Chief of Devas, Indra decided to kidnap queen Kayadhu, the King's wife. She was pregnant and Indra thought that if the child is born, he will grow upto be just as villainous as his father. For this reason, he kidnapped Kayadhu with the intention of killing the unborn child. On the way to his palace, he came across sage Narada.
"Say Indra! Where are you taking the queen?”
"To my palace to kill her unborn child. Because when he grows up he will be as just villainous as his father!" "You know Indra; it is not always true that only a villain is born in a villain's family. And if you kill this child, you will be committing murder."
'But revered sage! What can I do? His father is harassing us terribly and this child will do the same when he grows up. That is why it is better to get rid of him now."
"Have faith Indra, I will take care of the queen and ensure that the child does not become a replica of his father."
Indra, trusting the wise words of the sage, handed the queen over to him. Narad gave refuge to the queen in his hermitage and told her she could stay until her husband the King returns from his battles. Now, being a sage, everyday there were spiritual discourses going on in his hermitage. The queen listened to these discourses and simultaneously the child in her womb also listened. Thus, when this child Prahlad was born, he was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. The constant spiritual discourses in Narada's hermitage had an effect on him. Because the unborn child had the company of Narada who was attached to God, Prahlad too developed an attachment to God. From this incident one can see that the type of company a person keeps has a profound effect on one's development.
Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji stressed the need for ‘Satsang’, bhajans, reading scriptures, visiting temples etc., as means of God-realisation. Let us follow this dictum and attain spiritual upliftment.
IMPROVEMENT A young man squandered all his inherited-wealth. As generally happens in such cases the moment he was penniless, he found that he was friendless too.
At his wit's end, he sought the blessings of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and said: "What is to become of me? I have no money and no friends." Swamiji assured him: "Don't worry, my boy. Baba's grace is there. Mark my words - all will be well with you again.
"Hope shone in the young man's eyes. “Will I be rich again?”
Swamiji smiled and said: "No. You will get used to being moneyless and lonely."
PRAGMATISM "The Mountain Path" magazine had carried an item in which Bhagawan Ramana identified himself with the beggars waiting outside a place where a feast was going on. A young girl pointed this to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and told him that when she gets married, she will go against convention by seating the poor guests at the head of the table and the rich guests at the door.
She looked into Swamiji's eyes expecting his approval. Swamiji said: "That would be most unfortunate, my dear. No one would enjoy the wedding. Your family would be embarrassed. Your rich guests insulted and your poor guests hungry for they would be too self-conscious at the head of the table to eat their fill."
At the Feet of the Guru: Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam is Panacea for all ills By R .Seshadri
"Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam is so vast and the import of the thousand names is so great that anyone who goes through them carefully must be struck by the fact that the powerful material embedded in it must suffice for the purification of any soul. The experience of thousands of devotees justifies them in the belief that what is claimed in the ‘phatasruti’ is true. It says that a person who recites it will obtain issue if he is issueless, wealth if he has no wealth, power, fame, glory and success and it adds that the sins of ages would be washed away." - Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji Radhakrishna Swamiji's life breath was Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. He commended its recitation to all his devotees. Most of the day he would be seen leading small groups of devotees in recitation. People in the group might be changing every third or fourth round, but the leader used to be constant. On some days he had recited over 30 times with different groups each day. He would gently persuade and cajole some of the devotees to join in one more round, giving them a piece of sweet or beverage.
I have seen Swamiji instructing some devotee or a visitor at the end of some round to offer some pooja or visit to a temple and thus solve his problem. Occasionally he used to hold some ‘Udhi’ in his closed right palm and pass the same on to a devotee to make use of the sanctified 'Udhi' which always had a miraculous effect. Swamiji has initiated hundreds of devotees in Sahasranamam recitation, the effect of which we are seeing and experiencing today, when even children of five and six years old recite Vishnu Sahasranamam at Sri Sai Spiritual Centre.
We shall see how Sri K.S. Rajagopalan, a senior lawyer of Rajajinagar, Bangalore (he passed away about six months back), who had shunned saints and God-men, became Swamiji's staunch devotee. Sri Rajagopalan's transformation started dramatically one night. He was woken up from sleep after 2 a.m., by a bearded Swamiji, who asked him to start Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam recitation, which would do him immense good. The saintly person initiated him in the recitation. The next morning, a perplexed Rajagopalan started making enquiries with some of his friends, narrating his strange dream. His friend Srinivasan, working then in the Postal Department, brought Sri Rajagopalan to his Guru, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji at Thyagaraja Nagar for consultations.
Sri Rajagopalan could not believe his eyes to behold the bearded saintly person in his dream in flesh and blood. It was Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. Thus started the very moment strong Guru-devotee bond, resulting in his wife and children and their near relatives becoming ardent devotees of Swamiji, all of them starting Sahasranamam recitation. The family has had very many spiritual experiences and help. Sheela Srinivas, Sri Rajagopalan's second daughter, merits special mention. Even as a child, she started pooja to Baba, always consulting Swamiji, whom she has been holding very dear to her heart. Sheela, now a resident of Chicago (U.S) continues her pooja and prayers at her apartment, never failing to visit Sri Sai Spiritual Centre whenever she comes to India.
Non-activity is far from God-consciousness. The lazy man bound to flesh is not free; he is not a Yogi. The materially active man, if ever fixed in the inward peace is not a worldly man but one united to God; he is a true Yogi. - Paramahansa Yogananda
HARMONY For all his traditional ways, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji had great respect for rules and rituals. Once there was a difference of opinion between a devotee and his daughter because the man kept insisting that the girl conform to the rules of their religion in the choice of her prospective husband.
Swamiji openly sided with the girl. When the devotee expressed his surprise that the Swamiji would do this, he simply said: "you must understand that life is just like music more by feeling and by instinct than by rules."
UNDERSTANDING A devotee asked Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji: "How shall I get the grace of never judging my neighbor"? Swamiji replied: "Through Vishnu Sahasranamam." The devotee said: "Then why have I not found it yet? I recite Vishnu Sahasranamam twice a day" Swamiji: "Because you have not prayed in the right place." Devotee: "Where is that?" Swamiji: "In the heart of God." Devotee: "How do I get there?" Swamiji: "Understand that anyone who sins does not know what he is doing and deserves to be forgiven."
My experience in New Jersey (USA) By N. G. Ravi It was on a tour of the U.S.A. and Canada during July-September 1998. I was accompanying a dance artiste on the Mridangam in the programmes. At the fag end of my tour, I was in New Jersey, to play Mridangam for an Arangetram program for a local artiste.
I was very much tired and exhausted after the hectic programmes and tours in many parts of America. On the day of the Arangetram I had pain in my hands and fingers, which were almost out of control. I was very much worried about my performance that day {12th Sept. 98).
Everything was ready on the stage. Sound checks were done. I was doubtful about my performance on the Mridangam. I was sure I was not at all fit to perform that day. As was my practice, I prayed intensely to Sri Sai Baba to save me from the awkward situation and to give me enough strength to my fingers so that I could do my part properly. I prayed: "Baba, the credit is yours, whether I fair well or bad." I could not believe myself how I could perform so well that day without my knowledge. I got repeated applause and appreciation of the audience and the other artistes. No doubt, it was only BABA who gave me strength to play so wonderfully well during the program and it was only Baba who saved me from a critical situation. I sincerely prayed to BABA with all humility and fall at his lotus feet. ‘Sai charanam sharanam mama.’ Om Sri Sai Ram.
Sri Sai Baba's 80th Mahasamadhi Day Celebrations 80th Mahasamadhi Day celebrations of Sadguru Sainath Maharaj were conducted at Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore, from September 28 to October 5. H.H. Sri Rangapriya Swamiji inaugurated the celebrations on the 28th evening by lighting the traditional lamp. In the course of Anugraha Bhashana, the Swamiji recalled the great qualities of H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji like Samatva bhava, universal love, simplicity etc., and appealed to the audience to follow Swamiji's example and to chant Vishnu Sahasranama regularly. The preliminary Homas were conducted on September 29 and morning of 30th September before the samprokshna of the idols of Sri Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, in the renovated sanctum sanctorum. H. H. Sri Brahmananda of Sri Chinmaya Mission performed the Kumbhabhishekam to the idols at 11 a.m. on September 30. In his Asheervachana to the devotees, he appealed to them to come to the temple with an open mind and not to pray for fulfillment of wishes, but to meditate on his Form and the Lord would take care of the devotees' requirements. On 29th evening Vidwan Sri Sashidhar Kote gave a memorable performance of devotional music, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. On the 30th, Sri Ramesh and party from Ulsoor rendered Bhajans, charging the atmosphere with devotional fervor.
Shata Rudrabhisheka was performed on October 1 i.e., Vijayadashami / Mahasamadhi Day of Sri Sai Baba by the priests Sri D. V. Krishna Murthy and Sri Subrayaswamy. Thousands of devotees participated in the Samoohika Abhisheka to the idols of Sadguru Sai Baba, H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji and H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. After the Arathi prasad was distributed to all the devotees. Vidwan Sri R. Gopalakrishna and party gave a delightful recital of devotional songs in the evening.
A good number of ladies participated in Sri Lalitha Sahasranama and Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Archana on Friday, October 2 in the morning. The famous artist of Karnatic Classical music, Vidushi Nagavalli Nagaraj gave an excellent performance of classical music which thrilled the music lovers.
A large number of devotees participated in Sai Sahasranama Bhasmarchana in the morning of Octobers. In the evening the well known Vidwan Kalaimamani Kadri Gopalnath gave an excellent Saxophone performance to the delight of the audience for about four hours. He was accompanied on the Violin by Kalaimamani K. Kanyakumari, who provided excellent support, along with Vidwan Sri Arjun Kumar on the Mridangam, Vidwan Sri Srishaila on the Ghatam and Vidwan Sri B. Rajasekhar on the Morsing.
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Homa was conducted on October4. Veda Brahmasri Sri Srinivas conducted the necessary rituals. Earlier, devotees participated in the Samoohika Abhisheka to Sri Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. After Maha Mangalarathi Narayana seva was done. More than one thousand devotees partook Baba's Prasad. There was a colorful procession of the portraits of Sadguru Sainath Maharaj, H. H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji and H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, in a specially decorated and illuminated chariot in the main streets of Thyagarajanagar and N. R. Colony. Melodious Nadaswaram music led the procession. Thousands of devotees participated in the procession singing Bhajans throughout. A group of devotees chanted Thaithriya Upanishad and some devotees chanted Vishnu Sahasranama during the procession. A large number of devotees thronged the Mandir on all the days. They were very appreciative of the new look given to the sanctum sanctorum with polished brown colour granite slabs. - S. Syama Rao
A decorated 'Ratha' carrying the portraits of Sai Baba and Swamijis being taken in procession on Baba's Mahasadhi Day, October 27, 1998.
ILLUSION A devotee questioned Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji: "How shall I attain Realisation?" Swamiji replied: "Realisation is right now here. Come into the present." Devotee: "But I am in the present now, am I not ?" Swamiji: "No" Devotee: "Why not?" Swamiji: "Because you have not dropped your past." Devotee: "Why should I drop my past? Not all of it is bad." Swamiji: "The past is to be dropped not because it is bad but because it is dead."
PROPHECY A young man expressed his desire to take up Sanyas. Swamiji asked him: "Are you prepared to be ridiculed, ignored and starving till you are forty five?" The young man said: "I am. But tell me Swamiji what will happen after I am forty-five?" Swamiji replied in a cool tone: "you will have grown accustomed to it."
Eightieth Special Sai Nama Japa at Shirdi By S. Syama Rao
All India Akhanda Sai Nama Seva Samtthi organised the 80th Special Sai Nama Japa for 48 hours from September 24 to September 26, 1998 near the Khandoba Temple at Shirdi. The organizers earlier during the year had organised 76 such Sai Nama Japa programmes throughout the country, the first being held at Shirdi.
The 77th Sai Nama Japa was arranged at Pathri village the birth place of Sri Sai Baba, on 19th and 20th of September 1998 for 24 hours. The 78th Japa was held at Selu on the night of Sept. 26 and the 79th at Dhupkheda (Khedgaon), the place where Baba found the lost horse of Chandbhai Patil.
There was very good response to all these Sai Nama Japas from the local devotees, who participated in full measure. After the Nama Japa at Dhupkheda, the devotees visited the place where Sai Baba sat and met Chandbhai Patil, and also the river where the horse was found. Chandbhai's grandson accompanied the touring Bhajan group to Shirdi for participating in the 80th Sai Nama Japa. An interesting feature of the function at Dhupkheda was a six year old boy continuously dancing to the different tunes of ‘Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai’ for three hours, posing himself as Rama, Krishna and Vittal.
AT SHIRDI There was a procession of the portrait of Sai Baba through the main streets of Shirdi, which started at 6.00 P.M. on Sept. 23. A special band party from Chttradurga and thousands of devotees from all over the country formed part of the procession. The people of Shirdi were very much impressed by the grand procession and the special band music.
The function started in the morning of Sept. 24, with Ganapathi Homa. Navagraha Homa, Hanuman and Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana. The homa rituals were conducted by Sri D. V. Krishna Murthy of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore, assisted by Sri D. K. Sai Kumar. The Sai Nama Japa was inaugurated by Sri Sopanroa Dhorde, Trustee, Shirdi Sai Samsthan, at Shirdi in front of the Khandoba Temple on the 24th morning, by lighting the traditional brass lamp. The Chief organiser, Sri S. Radhakrishnan spoke on the occasion giving details of the events at Pathri, Selu and Khedgoan. Bhajan groups from Hyderabad, Adilabad, Machilapatnam, Guntur and Bangalore, participated in the non-stop Sai Nama Japa from 24th to 26th Sept. for duration of two hours each. Devotees from Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune and nearby places took part in the function.
On the 26th, the concluding day, just before the end of the program there were a few showers for some time as a sign of Lord Sainath's approval of the function and His blessings to the devotees.
One of the organizers, Sri V. S. Kuber, spoke on the occasion and honored the local dignitaries like Sri Gopinath Kote Patil, Ashok Mahlsapathy’s, grandson of Sri Mahlsapathy, the grandson of Chandbai Patil, and the priest of Baba's temple at Pathri village, Sri Mahadev.
Sri Radhakrishnan and Sri E. Radhakrishnan from Chennai spoke on the occasion. Sri S. Syama Rao, Secretary from Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, spoke and lauded the efforts of the organizers in conducting 80 Sai Nama Japas during the year throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Sri Kuber proposed a vote of thanks to all those who helped in making the function a grand success. The event concluded with Gopalakala at 1 P.M.
Foundation stone laid for Sai Shrine & Dwarakamai Centre K. V. Ramani, Managing Trustee of Shirdi, Sai Trust, Chennai laid the foundation stone for the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple and the Dwarakamai Centre at Mekkudi Village, Manikandam, Thiruchi, on December 13, amidst Vedic chanting. Earlier special pooja and Homa were conducted before a good a gathering of Sai devotees. Sri R.Seshadri, President of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, spoke briefly about Sai Baba's role as a savior of a troubled and violent world, and the noble services of Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. He mentioned that Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji hailed from Poyyamozhi, a village in Tiruchi district.
He paid a handsome tribute to Sri Ramani, for his great but silent services in the construction of new Sai temple. As a token of appreciation, he presented him with Baba's 'Sesha Vastra' and also honored Sri M. Meenakshi Sundaram, Managing Trustee, Shirdi Sai Trust, Thiruchi, under whose stewardship the whole temple complex is coming up, and Sri K. Ramarathnam, an ardent Sai devotee from Hyderabad with 'Baba vastras'.
A Bhajan group from Hyderabad conducted Bhajans, after reciting Sri Vishnu Sahasranama.The.programme included "Anna Dhanam" at noon and Arathi and prasad distribution in the evening.
The holy Dhuni was lighted at 9 a.m. Hundreds of devotees consigned coconuts to the flames.
The Shirdi Sai Trust has been formed with the object of serving society through running educational institutions, medical aid to the poor, Home of the aged, school for mentally retarded children and poor feeding.
Manikandam is about 18 kms. from Thiruchi, which can-be reached by buses running from the town.
Life and Work of Saipadananda
Sri R. Seshadri, President, Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore, addressing a gathering at the Indian Institute of World Culture, Bangalore, on Nov.2, on "Saipadananda, a Modern Apostle of Shirdi Sai Baba." stressed how Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, Founder-Patron of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, was guided by Divinity right from his childhood.
Here is a brief round-up of the talk. When Swamiji was a young boy, Kanchi Kamakshi played with him. When he was seven, he was blessed by an Avadhoota at the bathing ghat of Cauveri at Tiruchi. He was influenced by the Paramacharya of Kanchi Mutt. He spent 48 days in a cave in Parvati Hills, Pune. On the 46th day, Dattatreya appeared before him and ordained that he be with the world helping fellow beings.
For about 21 years he was at Ooty, staying with his elder brother, Sri Rajagopala lyer, his spiritual preceptor. He was blessed by Bet Narayana Maharaj of Khedgaon, who initiated him into Datta Mantra, in 1927. His first meeting with his future Guru, Sri Narasimha Swamiji took place subsequently at Ooty. Sri Ramana Maharshi, Mahan Seshadri Swamigal of Tiruvannamalai and Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh also made profound impact on young Radhakrishna.
Sri Radhakrishnan joined his Guru, Sri Narasimha Swamiji in 1943 at Chennai and assisted him and served the All India Sai Samaj in various ways. He was sent by his Guru in 1952 to Bangalore for Sai Prachar in Karnataka where he founded Sri Sai Spiritual Centre. For 10 years, he was President of All India Sai Samaj, Madras, shuttling between Bangalore and Madras. Next to his Guru, he effectively propagated Sai Baba's teachings and lived a glorious life as specified by Sai Baba.
He had cured the ills of his devotees, gave them all material benefits, and spiritually elevated them. Being convinced his mission was over, he relinquished body after being unwell for 19 days on Jan. 14.1980. All his numerous devotees still feel his living presence and get help whenever needed,
Book Review: Aapathbaandhava Sai Author: Sri Sai Sevaka. Publisher: Sri Sai Mandali, Malleswaram, Bangalore. Printed by Laser Scripts, Bangalore - 560 003. Price: Not mentioned.
Recently released by Sri Sai Mandali, Bangalore, Aapathbhaandhava Sai, in Kannada is a welcome addition to the growing Sai Literature. Written by 'Shirdi Sai Sevaka', the book depicts the glorious life of love, compassion and sacrifices of Sai Baba. The sources for the contents are Hemad Panth's "Sri Sai Satcharitra with some permissible deviations. The book covers in graphic detail the arrival of Sai Baba at Shirdi along with a wedding party till his Mahasamadhi. It carries very useful information regarding fasting, karma, daana, contentment, meditation, japa, Nama japa and recitation of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama.
There is a brief description of the Sat Prachar done by Hemad Panth, Das Ganu Maharaj, Upasani Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, Sri Sivanesan Swamiji, Sri Keshavyaji, Acharya E. Bharadwaj and Sri Chandrabanh Sathpathi.
Visitors to Shirdi will find the map of Shirdi and important places to see very useful. A chapter has been devoted to the Ashtothara Namavali by Sri Narasimha Swamiji with the meaning of each Nama. It carries some interesting pictures. The cover page and get-up are praiseworthy. A book that has to be treasured by all Kannada-knowing Sai devotees. - S. Syama Rao
To the other shore Sri T. Kesava Rao
We record with profound regret the passing away of Sri T Kesava Rao, Editor of 'Sai Sudha' and former President of All India Sai Samaj, Chennai, on Dec. 20, 1998, after protracted illness. He was 72 years. He leaves his wife. Sri Kesava Rao has rendered noble service to All India Sai Samaj, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji for nearly five decades. He retired as Administrative Officer of BEST & CO., over a decade back. Even while in active service, he had allocated considerable time for Sai Prachar.
He came into contact with Sri Narasimha Swamiji somewhere around 1945 and never looked back till about four years ago when he fell seriously ill. He had been Joint Secretary, Secretary and President of A.I.S.S., besides editing ‘Sai Sudha’. He had written numerous articles on Baba and Sri Narasimha Swamiji in "Sai Sudha."
He was in constant touch with various Sai institutions in the country and had successfully conducted All India Sai Devotees' Conventions at Chennai and also helped and guided many other institutions in successfully organizing such annual conventions in other cities. Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore, had always close contact with him. He played an active role in two of the Sai Devotees' Conventions held at Bangalore.
With his disarming manners and friendly disposition, Sri Kesava Rao had earned the friendship and goodwill of hundreds of Sai-bandhus who have been now plunged in deep sorrow. May Lord Sainath grant 'Sadgati' to him.
Smt. Saraswathamma Smt. Saraswathamma, wife of late Sri Ramachandran (Shalimar Paints) passed away on Sunday Nov. 8, 1998 after protracted illness. She was an ardent devotee of Sai Baba and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. She leaves behind two sons. May Sai Baba and Swamiji grant her ‘Sadgati’?