Sunday 30 March 2014

Day 108 - An Arati to You, Baba, from me, your devotee.




 
                         Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala - Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

               Day 108 - An Arati to You, Baba, from me, your devotee.

                                             Om Tat Sat.

Baba, I thank you for your immense blessings in taking me through this Meaning, Meditation and Miracles in these 108 Namavalis.

In going through this Yagna of 108 Namavalis, I am carried, led and enlightened by you as you are always with me, your devotee.

Every one of your Namavali took me into a higher level of spiritual understanding and a fresh outlook on this beautiful life, people and creation around me.

You are Brahmam to those who want to see the Brahmam, through Gnana Marg, the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent transcending space and time having manifested yourself anywhere anytime.

You are God to those, through the Bhakti Marg, want to see the God, having manifested as Shiv, Ram, Krishna, Vithoba, and Panduranga.

You are Guru to those, through the Karma Marg, want to see the Guru having manifested yourself as their own Gurus as Dattatreya, Raghavendra and Raghunath Maharaj.

I understand that these  108 Meanings and Meditation on them can apply to any God or Guru who can be seen in your incarnation;  that this is the essence of Sanathan Dharma that the Universal Self can be reached in any of the three forms of worship namely as Brahmam, God or Guru.

I bow my head before your kindness to inspire me as to the structure of each Namavali giving its meaning through the Shirdi Sai Sansthan and meditating upon it and then relating it to your life in Sai Satcharita of your great devotee Hemad Pant.

I bow my head before your kindness in blessing all those Seekers, who will recite your Namavali for 108 days continuously and meditate on you and Sai Satcharita and get peace and bliss both in this life and in the life after.

                 Satchidanada Sadguru Sai Nath Maharaj Ki Jai.                                         

                                           Om Tat Sat.

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Day-108 – “Om Shri Sai Samartha Sadguru Sai Nathaaya Namaha.”






      Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

  Day-108 – “Om Shri Sai Samartha Sadguru Sai Nathaaya Namaha.”
 

Meaning:

Humble salutation to the greatest of all Teachers-Lord Sainath of Shirdi (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

Be it Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Economics, Psychology, Geology, or Information Technology, we all are part of an era that witnesses explosion and expansion  in knowledge, pushing the frontiers of knowledge very fast. With the physical world shrinking due to the tremendous increase in speeds of communication and transport the knowledge explosion and expansion is spectacular particularly in late twentieth and the twenty-first century so far. 

What is the destination of all these expansion in knowledge? What is the ultimate objective of the human race as whole? Is it thirst by itself or is it a thirst for better and comfortable life for all humans?  If it is for the betterment of humans, why there is so much spending on weapons, why there are so many wars, why there is so much unrest, and why the number of poor is increasing in the world?

A careful reflection on these questions leads us to the understanding of the Self in every human being. All the efforts for expansion of the frontiers of knowledge are directed to understanding and master over the Nature, which governs our existence. We want to delay or stop the process of ageing and death, we want to break the barriers of space and time and so on.  Every one of us ideally would want to be Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent like Brahmam God or Guru. This thirst comes with our Self, and is within us. The Self wants to realise its potential of being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent.  The Self-realisation is the greatest knowledge any human can think of as it is the ultimate objective of all scientific research to win Space and Time. 

Our Rishis and Sages understood long ago that it is impossible to achieve the status of Self Realisation by following the knowledge acquiring process through the five senses as they have physical limitations.  The realisation and empowerment has to come from one’s own Self and realise itself.  The Guru who has realised this and achieved Self Realisation and sets himself as an example, is the Greatest Teacher who shows the way to become Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent.  Seeing Him, the devotee who totally identifies himself with Him, marches on to Self-Realisation which is the ultimate result of any research in any field.  The Brahmam, God or Guru is the greatest teacher.   

“Though, Sai Baba acted outwardly like an ordinary man, His action showed extraordinary wisdom and skill.  Whatever He did, was done for the good of His devotees.  He never prescribed any Asan, regulation of breathing or any rites to His Bhaktas, nor did He blow any Mantra in to their ears.  He told them to leave off all cleverness, and always remember “Sai” “Sai”.  If you did that, He said, all your shackles would be removed and you would be free.  Sitting through five fires, sacrifices, chantings, eight-fold Yoga are possible for the Brahmins only, they are of no use to the other classes.  The function of the mind is to think, it cannot remain without thinking for a minute.  If you give it a sense object, it will think about it. If you give it Guru, it will think about Guru.  You have heard most attentively the grandeur of Sai.  This is the natural remembrance of Sai.  Hearing the stories of saints is not difficult, as the other Sadhanas mentioned above.  They (Stories) remove all fear of this Sansar (worldly existence) and take you on the spiritual path.  So listen to these stories, meditate on them and assimilate them.  You may attend to your worldly duties, but give your mind to Sai and His stories, and He is sure to bless you.  This is the easiest path, but why do not all take to it?  The reason is that without God’s grace we do not get the desire to listen to the stories of saints.  With God’s grace everything is smooth and easy.  Hearing the stories of saints is, in a way, keeping their company. The importance of the company of the Saints is very great.  It removes our body consciousness and egoism, destroys completely the chain of our birth and death, cuts as under all the knots of the mind and takes us to God, who is pure consciousness.  It certainly increases our non-attachment to sense-objects and makes us quite indifferent to pleasures and pains, and leads us onward on the spiritual path.  If you have no other Sadhana, such as uttering God’s name, worship or devotion etc., but if you take refuge in them (Saints) whole-heartedly, they will carry you off safely across the ocean of worldly existence.  It is for this reason that the saint manifest themselves in this world.  Even sacred rivers such as the Ganges, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri etc., which wash away the sins of the world, desire that saints should come to them, for a bath and purify them.  Such is the Grandeur of the Saint.  It is on account of the store of merit in past births that we have attained the feet of Sai Baba” (Sai Satcharita Ch.: 10).

“He the graceful and handsome Sai, standing on the edge of Masjid and distributing Udi to each and every Bhakta, with a view to his welfare, He Who thinks of the world as an illusion and Who is ever engrossed in Supreme Bliss – before Him, we humbly prostrate ourselves. Samartha Sad guru Sai Nathaya. 

Day-107 – “Om Shri Sai Samarasa Sanmarga Sthapanaya Namaha.”






 
          Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle 
 

  Day-107 – “Om Shri Sai Samarasa Sanmarga Sthapanaya Namaha.”

Meaning:
 

Humble salutation to Him who consolidates the true path of amity, unity and understanding among all people” (Shirdi Sai Trust). 

Meditation:

Almost all ethnic groups of humanity have pursued one quest invariably. That is the quest to find a Super Human, who they believed had the power to go beyond the natural limitations, had the power to defy death, had the power to mitigate their difficulties, give relief from pains, and reward the “good”   and punish the “bad” among them as defined by them, either in this world while living or at another world after death. The Super Human was given different names according to the language, culture, nature’s forces etc., All the perceived powers and virtues were attributed to this Super Human without any limitation particularly power over nature’s forces and nature’s laws. The more experienced, more intelligent or the more articulate among the group became the most vocal to explain this Super Human to others.  Over a period this person self-declared or declared by close associates as the spokesperson for the Super Human and a link for the group and the Super Human.  This spokesperson or the close associates or leaders of believers of the Spokesperson laid down the conventions, traditions, and rules, all in good faith and sincerity speaking on behalf of the Super Human.  Thus codes of religions, scriptures, religious traditions and conventions and religious hierarchies were formed.  Some of them were indeed able to demonstrate a power to perform miracles which others believed to have been delegated by the Super Human.

Though this process was the same for all groups, each culture evolved different conventions, codes, and traditions suitable to its physical and other living conditions, and creativity and knowledge accumulation developed different forms and attributes to the Super Human and evolved different religions.  When two such groups came to face each other, each claimed its own religion and Super Human was better than the other, wanted the other group to change its concepts thus creating religious differences.  The sophistication and advancement of knowledge of one group decided the understanding and tolerance for the religion of the other group.  The more refined and knowledgeable the group was, the higher was the level of tolerance and understanding shown.

Our Rishis and Sages understood the “Super Human” and the process of evolution of a religion.  They found that the Super Human in effect as the Brahmam, God or Guru and resides in each human being.  Having found that it is “Aham Brahamasmi” (Self is Brahmam) they found that God can be found in all creations if one attains Self-realisation. This should result in Universal Love, love and respect for all cultures all religions all traditions.  The Brahmam God or Guru, a realised Self indeed teaches that to all, creating love, amity and unity among all groups of human race.

Urus, Sandal Procession and Ramnavami in Shirdi

“As Ramnavami is the most celebrated festival at Shirdi, another fuller account, as published in Sri Sai Leela Magazine of 1925 page 197, is also referred to and a summary of the festival as related in both accounts is attempted here.

Origin

One Mr.Gopalrao Gund, was a surveyor in Survey dept. at Kopergaon. He was a great devotee of Baba. He had three wives but had no issue.  With Sai Baba’s blessings, a son was born to him.  In the joy that he felt due to this, an idea of celebrating a fair or ‘Urus’ (Urus are celebrated at the tombs of Muslim Holy men.   It is surprising that how Mr Gund, a Hindu got this idea) occurred to him in the year 1897, and he placed it for consideration before other Shirdi devotees viz., Tatya Patil, Dada Kote Patil and Madhavrao Deshpande(Shama).  They all approved of the idea, and obtained Sai Baba’s permission and blessings for it.  Then an application was made to get the Collector’s sanction for celebrating the Urus, but as the village Kulkarni held against holding the fair the sanction was refused. But, as Sai Baba has blessed it, they tried again and ultimately succeeded in getting the Collector’s sanction.  The day for the Urus was fixed on Ram Navami, after having consultations with Sai Baba.  It seems He had some purpose behind this, viz., the unification of the two festivals, the Urus and the Ram Navmi and the unification of the two communities – the Hindus and the Mohammedans.  As future events showed, this end or objective was duly achieved. 

Though the permission was obtained, but other difficulties cropped up.  Shirdi was a village and there was scarcity of water.  There were two wells in the village, the one in use dried-up soon and the water from the second was brackish.  This brackish water was turned into sweet water by Sai Baba, by putting flowers into it.  As the water of this well was insufficient, so Tatya Patil had to arrange to get water from outside.  Temporary shops were to be constructed and wrestling bouts arranged. Gopal Rao Gund had a friend by name Damu Anna Kasar of Ahmednagar. He also was similarly unhappy in the matter of progeny, though he had two wives.  He too was blessed by Sai Baba with sons and Mr Gund prevailed upon his friend to prepare and supply one flag for the procession of the fair.  He also succeeded in inducing Mr Nanasaheb Nimonkar to supply another flag.  Both these flags were taken in procession through the village and finally, fixed at the two corners of Masjid, which is called by Sai Baba as ‘Dwarkamai’.  This is being done even now.

The ‘Sandal’ Procession

There was another procession which was started in this fair.  The idea of ‘Sandal’ procession originated with one Mr Amir Sarkar Dalal, a Mohammedan Bhakta from Korhla.  This procession is held in honour of great Muslim saints.  Sandal i.e., chandan paste and scrapings are put in a  Thali ( flat dishes) with incense burning before them and carried in procession to the accompaniment of band and music through the village and then, after returning to the Masjid, the contents of the dishes are thrown on the ‘Nimbar’ (niche) and walls of the Masjid by hand.  This work was managed by Mr.Amir Shakkar for the first three years and then afterwards, by his wife.  So, on the same day the two processions, the  ‘Flags’ by the Hindus and ‘Sandal’ by the Muslims went on side by side and are still going on without any problem.

Arrangement

This day was very dear and sacred to the devotees of Sai Baba.  Most of them turned up for the occasion and took part in the management of the fair.  Tatya Kote Patil looked to all outward affairs, while the internal management was entirely left to Radhakrishnamai, a devotee of Baba.  Her residence was full of guests on the occasion, and she had to look after their needs, and also to arrange for all the paraphernalia of the fair. Another work, which she willingly did, was to clean and white-wash the entire Masjid, its walls and floor, which were blackened and were full of soot on account of the perpetual Dhuni,(Sacred fire) of Sai Baba. This she did during the night, when Sai Baba had gone to sleep every alternate night in the Chavadi.  She to take out all the things, including the Dhuni,   and after thorough cleaning and white washing replace them, as they were before.  Feeding the poor, which was so dear to Baba, was also an important item in this fair.  For this purpose cooking on a grand scale and preparing various sweet dishes, was done in Radhakrishnamai’s lodging, and various, rich and wealthy devotees took a leading part in this. 

Transformation of Urus in to Ramnavami Festival. 

Things were going on in this way and the fair was gradually increasing in importance till 1912, when a change took place.  That year one devotee, Mr.Krishnarao Jogeshwar Bhism (the author of Sai Sagunopasana) came for the fair with Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amravati and was staying ( on the previous day) in the Dixit Wada.  While he was lying in the veranda, and while Mr.Laxmanrao alias Kaka Mahajani was going with Puja materials to the Masjid, a thought arose in his mind and he accosted the latter thus – There is some providential arrangement in the fact that the Urus or fair is celebrated in Shirdi on Ram Navami festival – the celebration of the birth of Shri Ram on this day here?  Kaka Mahajani liked the idea, and it was arranged to get Baba’s permission in this matter.  The main difficulty was how to secure a Haridas who would do ‘Kirtan’ and sing the glories of the Lord on the occasion.  But, Bhism solved the difficulty by saying that his ‘Ram Akhyan’, the composition on Rama’s birth was ready and he would do the ‘Kirtan’ himself, while Kaka Mahajani should play on the harmonium.  It was also arranged to get the ‘Sunthavada’ (ginger-powder mixed with sugar) as Prasad, prepared by Radhakrishnamai.  So they immediately went to the Masjid to get Baba’s permission.  Baba Who knew everything and aware of what was happening there, asked Mahajani, as to what was going on in the Wada.  Being rather perturbed Mahajani could not catch the purport of the question and remained silent.  Then Baba asked Bhism what he had to say.  He explained the idea of celebrating Ram Navami festival and asked for Baba’s permission and Baba gladly gave it.  All rejoiced and made preparations for the Jayanti-festival.  Next day the Masjid was decorated with buntings etc., a cradle was supplied by Radhakrishnamai and placed in front of Baba’s seat and the proceedings started. Bhism stood up for Kirtan and Mahajani began to play on the harmonium.  Sai Baba sent a man to call Mahajani.  He was hesitating to go, doubtful whether Baba would allow the festival to go on or not but when he went to Baba, the latter asked him as to what was going on and why the cradle was placed there.  He answered that the Ram Navami festival had commenced and the cradle was put out for that purpose.  Then Baba took a garland from the ‘Nimbar’ (niche) and placed it round his neck and sent another garland for Bhism.  Then the Kirtan commenced.  When it came to a close, loud sounds of “Victory to Ram” went up and Gulal (colour-powder) was thrown up all around, amidst band music.  Everybody was overjoyed, when suddenly a roar was heard.  The red powder thrown promiscuously, went up and somehow fell into Baba’s eyes.  Baba got wild and began to scold and abuse loudly.  People got frightened and took to their heels.  The intimate devotees who knew Baba well, took these scoldings and outpourings of Baba, as blessings in disguise. They thought that when Ram was born, it was proper for Baba to get wild and enraged to kill Ravan and his demons, in the form of egoism and wicked thoughts etc.  Besides they knew that, whenever a new thing was undertaken at Shirdi, it was usual with Baba to get wild and angry and so they kept quiet.  Radhakrishnamai was rather afraid and thought that Baba might break her cradle and she asked Mahajani to pull the cradle back.  When he went to loosen and unfasten the cradle, Baba went to him and asked him not to remove it.  Then after sometime Baba became calm and that day’s programme including Mahapuja and Arati was finished.  Later on Mr.Mahajani asked Baba, for permission to remove the cradle, Baba refused the same saying that, the festival was not yet over.  Next day another ‘Kirtan’ and Gopal-kala ceremony (an earthen pot containing parched rice mixed with curd is hung, to be broken after the ‘Kirtan’ and the contents distributed to all, as was done by Lord Krishna amongst his cow-herd-friends) was performed and then, Baba allowed the cradle to be removed.  While the Ram Navami festival was thus going on, the procession of the two flags by day and that of the ‘Sandal’ by night, went off with the usual pomp and show.  From this time onwards, the ‘Urus of Baba’ was transformed into Ram Navami festival. 

Since 1912, this festival began to grow gradually year by year. From the 8th to 12th of Chaitra, Shirdi looked like a bee- hive of men. Shops began to increase. Celebrated wrestlers took part in wrestling bouts. Feeding of the poor was done on a grander scale. Hard work and sincere efforts of Radhakrishnamai turned Shirdi into a Sansthan. (State) Paraphernalia increased. A beautiful horse, a palanquin, chariot and many silver items, utensils, pots, buckets, pictures, mirrors etc. were presented. Elephants were also sent for the procession. Though, all this Paraphernalia increased enormously, Sai Baba ignored all these things and maintained His simplicity and modesty as before. It is to be noted that both the Hindus and Mohammedens have been working in unison, in both the processions during the entire festival, and there has been no confrontation or quarrel between them at all so far. At the first about 5000- 7000 people used to gather, but that figure went up to 75,000 in some years, still, there was no outbreak of any epidemic disease nr any riots worth the name during all these years.( Shri Sai Satcharita- Ch. 6).

Day-106 – “Om Shri Sai Sarvaa Bheeshta Pradhaya Namaha.”







          Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

   Day-106 – “Om Shri Sai Sarvaa Bheeshta Pradhaya Namaha.”

Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him who fulfils all legitimate wishes of His devotees (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

Wants are endless and the fulfilment of a want generates one or more other wants.  This is the view of not only philosophers but also eminent economists. The child in the womb needs nutrition and care from the mother.  The wants and needs that started from the mother’s womb continue in one or many forms throughout our lives as long as we live. For some of those who relinquish by heart, the want is Liberation from wants after death.  For those who are not so lucky, the will they leave behind indicates their wants after death like even the disposal of the remains.

Wants and wishes are natural to the Self which has come from its original Universal Self to experience the manifestation by the Brahmam, God or Guru.  Controlled desire is thus a nature in ourselves and need not be discouraged as this is the motivation for life.  While some schools of thought perceived “desire” as a totally renounceable one from the beginning, our great Rishis and Sages perceived “desire” is to be renounced only in the fourth and final stage of life which is Sanyasam after leading a dharmic life in the earlier three stages of Brahmacharyam, Grahastham and Vanaprastham. Desires, such as the desire of knowledge in Brahmacharyam, desire of children Grahastham, desire for spiritual development and Mukthi during Vanaprastham were considered as essential and desirable and not as “sin” by our Sages.  That is the reason for God or Guru granting the “boons” to a devotee and fulfilling the thirst for experiences of the manifestation by his Self before returning to the Universal Self in the through Mukthi or Liberation.  The fulfilment completes the purpose of entering the cycle of births and deaths. But these experiences always have up and down sides reminding the self of its origin and encouraging it to find and seek and merge into the Brahmam, God or Guru where it belongs. The devotee who seeks to fulfil his desires with the awareness of Brahmam, God or Guru goes through the controlled desires in the first three stages, gets fulfilment blessed by Brahmam God or Guru and renounces all in the fourth stage to go back through realisation of Self as Brahmam, God or Guru.  

When Hemadpant (The dedicated devotee-author of Shri Sai Satcharita) asked Baba’s permission to write the Satcharita Baba said: 

“If My Leelas are written the Avidya (nascence) will vanish and if they attentively and devoutly listened to, the consciousness of the worldly existence will abate and strong waves of devotion and love will rise up and if one dives deep in to My Leelas, he would get precious jewels    of knowledge”. 

He further said, “If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfil all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall be set in front and back and on all sides.  Those devotees, who are attached to Me, heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories.  Believe Me that, if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and everlasting contentment.  It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and who worships Me faithfully, and who remembers Me and meditates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life, and who thus, always remember Me! I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of death.  If My stories are listened to, all diseases will be got rid of.  So, hear My stories with respect, and think and meditate on them, assimilate them.  This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if he has whole hearted and complete faith, he will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as “Sai, Sai” will do away with sins of speech and hearing” (Shri Sai Satcharita-Ch: 3). 

Sai Temples all over the world are the beautiful tributes and show of gratitude by the millions of devotees whose prayers have been answered and fulfilled by Him.   He brings back to life even a dried tulsi plant when the devotee prays to Him intensely with total devotion.  He is Sarvaa Bheeshta Pradhaya.

Day-105- “Om Shri Sai Sarva Mangala Karaya Namaha.”



 
Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

Day-105- “Om Shri Sai Sarva Mangala Karaya Namaha.”

Meaning:
Humble salutation to Him who bestows all auspicious grace (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

There are so many books written on Will Power and the Power of Positive Thinking. From time immemorial, just by the power of the mind, devotees have walked and still walk on burning embers without feeling the heat and getting burnt.  Just by the power of the mind one Rajo Devi Lohan goes through the process of pregnancy and motherhood and becomes a mother of a girl child at the impossible age of 69! A patient declared dead by a panel of doctors gets up from the funeral pyre saying that he wanted to come back and live. Bullets have entrenched themselves within the body, millimetre away from the major arteries making the surgeons wonder at the survival of the victim. When all the avenues closed, the procedures completed, and the list is finalised by the Ministry of External Affairs for the selected devotees for the Kailash Yatra, one receives a phone call asking whether one is still interested to join in place of a last minute cancellation. What makes such impossible things we call as miracles to happen which can never be explained by normal reasoning and logic?

Probably there can be only one explanation - that there is a Power or Force that responds to the powerful vibrations that escape into the cosmos generated by the prayers and devotion with the devotee’s sincerity, will and positive thinking.  The Power, we know as the Brahmam, God or Guru responds by transcending normal natural laws and makes the seemingly impossible wish or prayer, a possible and happening reality.  The good things do happen including the ones which appear to be impossible, when a good heart devotedly prays for a good and auspicious cause for which the Brahmam, God or Guru vibrates and responds, at times, even transcending the physical laws. Irrespective of language, caste, creed or religion, the power of prayer is so great that the greatest of all Powers, i.e., Brahmam, God or Guru bends and blesses the devotee positively, and many times miracles do happen.

 Once Shama, was bitten by a poisonous snake. His little finger was bitten and the poison began to spread in the body. The pain was also severe and Shama thought that, he would pass away soon. His friends wanted to take him to the God Vithoba, where such cases were often sent but Shama ran to the Masjid to his Vithoba (Sai Baba). When Baba saw him, He began to scold and abuse. He got enraged and said,” Oh vile Bhaturdya (priest) do not climb up. Beware if you do so!” and then, roared,” Go, Get away, and Come down!” Seeing Baba thus, red with wrath, Shama was greatly puzzled and disappointed. He thought that the Masjid was his home and Sai Baba his Sole Refuge, but if he was driven away like this, where should he go? He lost all hopes of life and kept silent. After a while, when Baba became normal and calm, Shama went up and sat near him. Then Baba said to him,” Don’t be afraid, don’t care a jot ( a small amount), the Merciful Fakir will save you, go and sit quite at home, don’t go out, believe in Me and remain fearless and have no anxiety”. Then he was sent home immediately afterwards. Baba sent Tatya Patil and Kakasaheb Dixit to him with instructions to the effect, that he should eat what he liked, should move around in the house, but should in no case lie down and sleep. Needless to say, that these instructions were acted upon and Shama got all right in a short time. The only thing to be remembered in this connection is this- the words of Baba ( or the five syllabled  Mantra, viz., ‘Go, Get away, Come down’) were not addressed to Shama as it apparently looked, but they were a direct order to the snake and its poison not to rise up and circulate through Shama’s body. Like others well- versed in Mantrashastra, He had not to use any incantation, charged rice or water etc., His words only were most efficacious in saving the life of Shama.( Shri Sai Satcharita- Ch.23).

Like a mother devoted to the child, caring and protecting, He is devoted to His devotees caring even for their small needs, giving them the strength to face the challenges in life and blessing them with peace and prosperity.  He is Sarva Mangala Karaya.

Day-104-“Om Shri Sai Sarvantar- Bahih-sthithaya Namaha”





             Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

            Day-104-“Om Shri Sai Sarvantar- Bahih-sthithaya Namaha”
 

Meaning: Humble salutation to Him who is existent everywhere all-pervading all knowing” (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

Our scriptures say that the whole universe is Maya or Manifestation of Para Brahmam. The Universe or Creation is just the physical form of the thought of Brahmam, God or Guru.  When the thought vanishes the Creation is absorbed.  To that extent it is unreal and hence it is called Maya.  The Maya comes and exists as the manifestation of thought and vanishes as the thought ceases and absorbed into the thinker, who we know as Brahmam God or Guru. Rishis and Sages personified for our understanding Brahmam as Shiva (in Spanda Karikas) or by another school of thought as “Raja Rajeshwari”, the Shakti or Energy in the form of Bindu in the central, Sixteenth level of Mahameru Yantram ( The  3 dimensional version of Shree Chakra in 2 Dimension). It is obvious that the one who manifests the thought as Creation or Universe is aware and exists in every part of it which includes the space and the matter contained in it. The Brahmam, God or Guru is there everywhere in this Creation as the one who manifests this “Maya”.  It easily follows that the Brahmam, God or Guru has the knowledge and the cause of all happenings everywhere and anywhere and at any time. The Self which can identify itself with the Brahmam, God or Guru after its realisation of its true nature is also able to be part of the manifestation everywhere and all pervading.  The very all-pervading nature in space and time shows the unlimited nature of Brahmam, God or Guru and thus all-knowing or Omniscient.

Das Ganu Maharaj was once doing his Kirtan and singing the glory of Sai Baba, in the Koupineshwar temple in Thana. One Mr.Cholkar a poor man, serving as a temporary employee in the civil courts in Thana, was amongst the audience. He heard Das Ganu’s Kirtan most attentively and was much moved. He there and then, mentally bowed and vowed to Baba saying, “Baba I am a poor man, unable to support my family. If by your grace, I pass the departmental examination and get a permanent post, I shall go to Shirdi, fall at your feet and distribute sugar candy in your name”.  As luck would have it, Mr.Cholkar did pass the examination and did get the permanent post, and now it remained for him to fulfil his vow, the sooner the better.   Mr.Cholkar was a poor man with a large family to support and he could not afford to pay the expenses of a Shirdi trip. As Mr.Cholkar was anxious to fulfil his vow as early as possible, he resolved to cut down his expenses and save money.  He determined not to use sugar in his diet and began to take tea without it. After he was able to save some money in this way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba’s darshan, fell at His feet, offered a coconut, distributed it with a clean conscience along with sugar candy, and said to Baba that he was much pleased with his darshan and his desires were fulfilled that day. Mr.Cholkar was in the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog.  When the host and the guest got up and about to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows, “Give him (your guest) cup of tea fully saturated with sugar”.  Hearing these significant words Mr.Cholkar was much moved, he was wonderstruck, his eyes were bedewed with tears and he fell at Baba’s feet again. Mr.Jog was also curious about this direction.  Baba wanted by His words to create faith and devotion in Cholkar’s mind.  He hinted as it were that, he got the sugar candy as per his vow and that he knew fully well his secret determination not to use sugar in his diet.  Baba meant to say “If you spread your palms with devotion before Me, I am immediately with you, day and night.  Though I am here physically, still I know what you do beyond the seven seas.  Go wherever you wish, over the wide world, I am with you. My abode is in your heart and I am within you.  Always worship Me, who is seated in your heart as well as in the hearts of all beings. Blessed and fortunate indeed is he, who knows Me thus.” (Shri Sai Satcharita Ch: 15).
 

He loved and loves His devotees.  He knows what is needed for them. He is the Satchidanada Sat guru knowing all and taking care of His devotees.  He is Sarvantar- Bahih-sthithaya.

Day-103- “Om Shri Sai Sarvavit Sarvato Mukhaya Namaha.”







             Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

            Day-103- “Om Shri Sai Sarvavit Sarvato Mukhaya Namaha.”

Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him who is Omnipresent with His face turning in all directions all knowing” (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

All our knowledge comes through the five senses of Touch, Taste, Sight, Smell and Sound located in the five sensory organs of Body, Mouth, Eye, Nose, and Ear respectively.  These sensory organs are the only channels for any information to our brain.  All information from these five channels  are the inputs processed by the brain, and as per the various earlier inputs stored and  programmes already installed , out puts result in the form of responses.  Any action like temporary storage, (memory), permanent storage (memory), voluntary, semi voluntary and involuntary action, is the output of the immense and complicated organic machine called brain with the power of Mind and Self within ourselves. Except for the genetic code built in, there is no way to get any knowledge other than through the five sensory organs.

These five sensory organs however got their limitations of space and time. For e.g., eye cannot see a far-off scene in detail. It cannot see even a bacteria not to talk of molecules and atoms. It cannot see a scene which existed and vanished just a second before! Similarly all other sensory organs are also limited by space and time.  They cannot sense or get input (knowledge) beyond the physical space and time limitations. Consequently all our knowledge is limited by the physical limitations of space and time.  Scientists are constantly trying to extend the frontiers of these two great limitations through inventions and many times by logic.

Our Rishis and Sages appear to have found the answer for eliminating the limitations by seeking knowledge not through the five sensory organs with limitations but developing a sixth sense which is not physical and consequently beyond physical limitations. They found that the Self within us can identify itself with Brahmam God or Guru which is limitless knowledge itself. They found that this identification can happen and has to come from within as Self Realisation. The realised Self can have nonphysical sixth sense.  Once having a sixth sense they could see what cannot be seen by the normal eye, they could hear what cannot be heard by the normal ear and so on transcending the physical limitations. The realised Self can see the inside of an atom  without a logic or particle accelerator, the twelfth satellite of Jupiter  without a telescope, see an accident that is going to happen  in future, prescribe the herb seeing its molecular structure to correct the mutated structure of a diseased  human tissue!  This probably the only possibility of the wealth of knowledge that we have in Indian traditions, Indian Astronomy and Astrology and Ayurvedic Medicines. The realised Self, the Brahmam God or Guru is thus the infinite knowledge capable of being there anywhere anytime, becoming the Omnipresent.

“Now we close this chapter with a story of two little lizards.  Once Baba was sitting in the Masjid.  A devotee sat in front of Him, when a lizard tick-ticked.  Out of curiosity the devotee asked Baba, whether this tick-ticking of the lizard signified anything good or was it a bad omen?  Baba said that the lizard was overjoyed as her sister from Aurangabad was coming to see her.  The devotee sat silent not making out the meaning of Baba’s words.  Immediately a gentleman from Aurangabad came on horse-back to see Baba.  He wanted to proceed further, but his horse would not go as it was hungry and wanted grams.  He took out a bag of grams from his shoulders to bring grams and dashed it on the ground to remove dirt.  A lizard came out from there and in the presence of all, climbed up the wall.  Baba asked the devotee to mark her well.  She at once, went strutting to her sister.  Both sisters met each other after a long time, kissed and embraced each other, whirled round and danced with love!  Where is Shirdi and where is Aurangabad for the lizard?  How should the man on horseback come from Aurangabad with the lizard?  And how should Baba make the prophecy of meeting of the two sisters? All this is really wonderful and proves the Omniscience – the all-knowing nature of Baba (Sai Sat Charita Ch.: 15)

What ever happened in the past, whatever is happening now, and whatever that is going to happen in future, He knows all.  The devotee who has surrendered to Him has nothing to worry for future.  He knows and takes care.  He is Sarvavit Sarvato Mukhaya.

Day-102- “Om Shri Sai Samsara Sarva Dukhakshaya Karaya Namaha.”






         Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

Day-102- “Om Shri Sai Samsara Sarva Dukhakshaya Karaya Namaha.”


Meaning:

 Humble salutation to Him who rids of all pains arising out of worldly life” (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

The cancellation of an important order in the business, Failure in an exam, diagnosis of a terminal disease, the loss of a very close member of the family or friend,  or a natural disaster and so on –life continuously gives many shocks and surprises to every one of us that may shake and threaten our very existence and values. There is almost no one who can boast of having never come across such shocks. May be the intensity of pain and suffering vary from one individual to another. The one who is capable of absorbing the shock, come out soon and march on in life, succeeds. The biggest challenge such shocks pose is the very acceptance of the situation. The one who accepts the situation at the earliest, is easily prepared to analyse and move on for the better handling of the future. The capacity to accept an unavoidable painful happening is greatly increased by the devotion to Brahmam, God or Guru on whom the cause of happening is shifted.” Let thy will happen”. These four words, shift the burden of acceptance to the Brahmam, God or Guru and the devotee immediately gets the strength to move on into the future. The Brahmam, God or Guru thus becomes effective in getting rid of the pains and be the guide and future actions of the devotee. Having overcome the pain through his intense faith on Guru, the devotee feels strong and ready to march on with his worldly life. He is prepared for the future ups and downs in life having said,” Let thy will happen”.

Mr.Gopal Narayan Ambadekar of Poona was a devotee of Baba.  He served for ten years in the Abkari department in the Thana district and in Javhar state, from where he had to retire.  He tried to get some other job but he did not succeed.  He was overtaken by other calamities and his condition grew from bad to worse.  He passed 7 years in this condition, visiting Shirdi every year and placing his grievance before Baba.  In 1916 his plight became worse and he decided to commit suicide in Shirdi.  So he came there with his wife and stayed for two months.  One night while sitting in a bullock cart in front of Dixit Wada, he resolved to end his life by throwing himself into a well close by.  But Baba wished to do something else.  A few paces from this place there was a hotel and its proprietor Mr.Sagun, a devotee of Baba came out and accosted him thus: “Did you ever read Akkalkot Maharaj’s life?” Ambadekar took this book from Sagun and began to read it.  Casually, or we may say providentially he came across a story, which was to this effect, during the lifetime of Akkalkot Maharaj, a certain devotee suffered from an incurable disease and when he could no longer endure the agony and pain, he became desperate and in order to  end his miseries threw himself one night into a well.  Immediately, the Maharaj came there and took him out with his own hands and advised him thus: “You must bear the fruit- good or bad – of your past actions; if it is incomplete, suicide won’t help you.  You have to take another birth and suffer again; so instead of killing yourself, why not suffer for some time and finish up the fruits of your past deeds and be done with it once and for all?”

Reading this appropriate and timely story, Ambadekar was much surprised, and moved.  Had he not got Baba’s hint through the story, he would have been no more.  On seeing Baba’s all pervasiveness and benevolence, his faith in Him was confirmed and he became a staunch devotee.  His father was a devotee of Akkalkot Maharaj and Sai Baba wanted him to walk in his father’s footsteps and continue his devotion to Him.  He then got Sai Baba’s blessings and his prospects began to improve.  He studied astrology and gained proficiency in it, and thereby improved his lot.  He was able to earn sufficient money and passed his later-life in ease and comfort.  (Shri Sai Satcharita Ch. 26)

He knows the pains and sufferings of His devotees and allows them to finish up the fruits of their past life. He takes care of them by mitigating their pains of the worldly life when needed and blesses them with happiness.  He is Sansara Sarva Dukhakshaya Karaya.   

Day -101. “Om Shri Sai Prapannarti Haraaya Namaha.”






           Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

              Day -101. “Om Shri Sai Prapannarti Haraaya Namaha.”
 
Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him who destroys the pain and distress of those who surrender to Him (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

What is pain? What is stress? How and when one feels the pain and distress? When the hunted feels the pain, why the same incident causes the pleasure in the hunter? If for the same incident the victor smiles with the victory why the vanquished cries in pain? We find pain and distress are not actually in the incident itself but they are related to the individual beings involved in the incident and experienced by them as long as they are conscious or aware of the incident and how the incident is processed by their conscious Self. Once the Self shuts down the consciousness or awareness the pain ceases and the distress vanishes.  Gandhiji was reported to have had a successful operation without anaesthesia, against the suggestion of the surgeons. A mother who involuntarily rushes into the raging fire and brings out the child does not feel the burn at the time of her action.

Devotion to Brahmam, God or Guru can take one to a stage where the Self can have conscious shut down of all pains and distress. The devotees of Lord Muruga in many places who pierce their tongue or cheek, or walk on fire have confirmed reaching that stage of freedom from pain. The devotee who loses his conscious Self in the process of surrendering to the Brahmam, God or Guru does not feel the pain or distress in any stage of his life, not only for completion vows, but for any other situation and feels protected. He is confident that the Brahmam, God or Guru destroys the pain and distress.

“A gentleman from Harda, by name Dattopant, suffered from stomach- ache for about fourteen years. None of the remedies gave him any relief. Then, on hearing Baba’s fame, that He cures diseases by sight, he ran to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s feet. Baba looked at him kindly and gave him blessings. When Baba placed His hand on his head and gave him udi with blessings, he felt relieved and there was no further trouble from the malady.

Towards the end of this chapter (Chapter 13) three cases are cited in foot notes:
Madhavrao Deshpande suffered from piles.  Baba gave him decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods).  This relieved him.  Then, after two years the trouble recurred and Madhavrao took the same decoction without consulting Baba.  The result was that, the disease aggravated, but later on it was cured by Baba’s grace.

Kaka Mahajani’s elder brother, Gangadharpant, suffered for many years from stomach pain.  Hearing Baba’s fame he came to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him.  Baba touched his belly and said “God will cure”. From that time there was no stomach pain and he was completely cured.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from acute stomach-pain, he was restless the whole day and night.  Doctors administered injections, which produced no effect.  Then he approached Baba, who told him to eat burfi (a kind of sweetmeat) mixed with Ghee.  This recipe gave him complete relief.

All these stories show that, the real medicine that cured the various diseases permanently, was Baba’s word and grace, and not any medicine or drugs.” (Shri Sai Satcharita Ch: 13)

His touch, His word, His look, His grace cured the chronic and difficult diseases and destroyed the pain of the devotees.  He is Prapannarti Haraaya.