Day -78. “Om Shri Sai Vasudevaya Namaha.”

              Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

                     Day -78. “Om Shri Sai Vasudevaya Namaha.”

Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him, who is the embodiment of Lord Vasudeva or Lord Krishna. (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

Upanishads try to show us the qualities of Brahmam, though Brahmam is described as Infinite, Nirgun, and indescribable and only to be realised. One such description of Brahmam is in Maha Upanishad as Vasudeva. The description relates to the Brahmam in the form of individual self as one who has attained the highest level of spiritual progress and one who is capable of performing his wordly duties without attachment to material possessions. When the individual self is fully conscious of its nature, transcending beyond the creations, and still goes through the experiences of the worldly creations without being affected by it we call this appearance as Avatar. True, the great Mahabharat is the story of the fight between Pandavas and Kauravas. But Lord Krishna  is the one who is the master of the orchestra. He shows both his infinite power as God, and also shows how he is still bound by and adhering to the day to day rules of human existence. While He uses his infinite power over natural laws as Brahmam, while saving Draupathy’s honour, and in many other occasions, He still refuses to take arms against Kauravas and performs his role as,” Paratha Sarathy”. He gives Vishwa Roopa Darshan and great Bhagwad Gita to Arjun and the world. And yet begs the pardon of Karna after getting his Punya in “Dhan” as a Brahmin in disguise. Vasudeva, The Lord Krishna, the Avatar of Brahmam just before the onset of Kaliyug,is a real example of the realised self which has infinite power and yet going through the worldly experiences without attachment, just due to the awareness and conscience, true to the nature of Brahmam, God or Guru.

Hemadpant writes in Sai Satcharita:

“Blessed are the people of Shirdi, in front of whose houses, Baba stood as a beggar and called out,” Oh Mai, give Me a piece of bread!” and spread out His hand to receive the same. In one hand He carried a Tumrel ( tin pot) and in the other a Zoli or Choupadari,ie., a rectangular piece of cloth. He visited certain houses daily. Liquid or semi- liquid things, such as soup, vegetables, milk or butter milk, were received in the tin pot, while cooked rice, bread and such solid things were taken in the Zoli. Baba’s tongue knew no taste, as He had acquired control over it. So, how could He care for the taste of different things mixed up together? Whatever things He got in His Zoli and in the tinpot, were mixed together and partaken by Baba to His heart’s content. Whether particular things were tasty or otherwise, was never noticed by Baba, as His tongue was devoid of the sense of taste altogether. Baba begged till noon, but his begging was very irregular. Some days He went a few rounds on other days up to twelve noon. The food thus collected was kept in a Kundi, i.e., earthern pot.  Dog, cats and crows freely ate from it and Baba never drove them away.  The woman who swept the floor of the Masjid, took some 10 or 12 pieces of bread to her house and nobody prevented her from doing so. How could He, Who, even in dreams never warded off cats and dogs by harsh words and signs, refuse food to poor helpless people?  Blessed indeed is the life of such a Noble Person! People in Shirdi took Him in the beginning for a mad Fakir.  He was known in the village by this name. How could one, who lived on alms by begging a few crumbs of bread, be revered and worshipped? But this Fakir was very liberal of heart, detached and charitable. Though He looked restless from outside, He was firm and steady inside.  He was inscrutable.  Still in that small village, there were a few kind and blessed people, who recognised and regarded Him as a Great Soul. (Shri Sai Satcharita- Ch: 8).

He was aware of His power to transcend time and space. Yet he went through the life begging for His food! Going through the experiences of life like any ordinary human being, yet inwardly conscious of His Self to which creations bow down. He is Vasudevaya.