Day-41. . “Om Shri Sai Bhaktanaam Maatru Dhaatru Pitha Mahaayaa Namaha.”

Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala – Meaning, Meditation and Miracle 

Day-41. . “Om Shri Sai Bhaktanaam Maatru  Dhaatru Pitha Mahaayaa Namaha.” 

Meaning:

Humble salutation to the Master, who is the Mother, Brother and great Father to His devotees. (Shirdi Sai Trust). 

Meditation: 

An angel requested God to permit it to be born as a human and come back. God permitted. But the angel changed its mind. God asked the reason. The angel replied, it never wanted to leave the company of God. God said, “I will be there with you. I will be always with you in the form of your Mother”.. The angel happily was born as a child.

The simple story we heard in our childhood is the essence of Motherhood. Excepting the DNA recognition (which is the great contribution of Modern science) there is only one nature defined relationship that is, the relationship between a mother and her child. All others are derived relationships or relationship shown by mother to her child. Just like the natural instincts of survival and procreation in all living beings the love and care of a mother to the child is also a natural instinct. Created by God.

 Even great saints Adhi Sankara who had abandoned all bonds with the world could not abandon the bond of love for Mother. When Supreme love and care is thought one thinks of Mother. The extent to which Mothers in every species got to take care of their younger ones, from the time of conceivement is amazing. God, can be seen in every effort of the mother to provide and protect the offspring. The care of the Guru for His true devotee is as intense as that of a mother for a child.

Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Sardar Kakasaheb Mirikar, was going on tour to Chitali. On the way he came to Shirdi, to see Baba. When he went to the Masjid and prostrated himself before Baba. The usual conversation, regarding health and other matters commenced, when Baba sounded a note warning, “Do you know our Dwarkamai?” As Balasaheb did not understand, he kept quiet.  Baba continued, “This is our Dwarkamai, where you are sitting. She wards off all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit in her lap. This Masjidmai (its presiding Deity) is very merciful; she is the merciful Mother of the simple devotees, whom she will save in calamities. Once a person sits in her lap, all his troubles are over. He who rests in her shade, gets Bliss.( Shri Sai Satcharita-Ch:22).

Hemadpant, in Sai Satcharita, while writing on the “Motherly love of Sai Baba” writes:

“Everybody knows how a cow loves her infant calf. Her udder is always full and when the calf wants milk and dashes at the udder, out comes the milk in an unceasing flow. Similarly, a human mother knows the wants of her child before- hand and feeds him, at her breast in time. In case of dressing and adorning the child, the mother is peculiar, extraordinary and disinterested, and has no parallel. Sadgurus feel this motherly love towards their disciples. Sai Baba had the same love towards me, and I give an instance of it below:

 In 1916, I retired from Government service. The pension that was settled in my case was not sufficient to maintain my family decently. On Guru Pournima (15^th of Ashadha) day of that year, I went to Shirdi with other devotees. There Mr. Anna Chinchanikar, of his own accord, prayed to Baba for me as follows:” Please, look kindly at him, the pension he gets is quite insufficient, his family is growing. Give him some other appointment, remove his anxiety and make him happy!”  Baba replied,” He will get some other job, but now, he should serve Me and be happy! His plates will be ever full and never empty. He should turn all his attention towards Me and avoid the company of atheists, irreligious and wicked people. He should be modest and humble towards all, and worship Me with heart and soul. If he does this, he will get eternal happiness.”(Shri Sai Satcharita-Ch: 3).

Like a loving mother forcing bitter, but beneficial medicines down the throats of her children for the sake of their health, Sai Baba imparted spiritual instructions to His devotees. His method was not veiled or secret but quite open. The devotees, who followed His instructions, got their object. Sadgurus, like Sai Baba open our (eyes of the) intellect and show us the divine beauty of the self, and fulfill our tender longings of devotion. .(Shri Sai Satcharita-Ch:18&19).

 

Millions of devotees have been taken care by Him in the same way as a Mother takes care of her Child.  He loves His devotees like a mother, supports them like an elder brother and guides them like a Pithamaha. He is Bhaktanaam Maatru Dhaatru Pitamahaaya.