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.