Day -73. “Om Shri Sai Anathanatha Dheena Bhandhave Namaha.”

         Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

  Day -73. “Om Shri Sai Anathanatha Dheena Bhandhave  Namaha.”

Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him, who is eternal and who protects the poor and downtrodden. (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation: 

When do we talk to our Ishta Devata, or our chosen Guru from the bottom of our heart? When do we ask the question, are you there, are you not hearing, why you are silent, why you are not doing anything? The call, the cry, the anxiety, the passion comes when we feel that some brazen injustice, some unfair treatment was meted out. When we feel oppressed and find no recourse and say in despair,” Remember, there is one God, He is looking at whatever injustice you are doing” we feel close to the Brahmam, God, or Guru. The one who is poor, the one who is in a position to be exploited or oppressed, the one who often is positioned at the receiving end often thinks of God or Guru. Often calls them to come to his support. The more devoted one is, the more dedicated one is, the more he feels closer to his Guru or God. The one who is in a position to exploit, the one who is in a position of power and strength feels his own power and strength and does not feel the necessity to call or feel close to Brahmam, God, or Guru. Is it the reason that the poor and downtrodden seem to be closer to God, than the affluent? Probably it may be true as material weath, name, fame, comforts and power accumulate around a person, whoever he may be, the necessities and circumstances to seek the help of God or guru give way to the opportunities to enjoy these  worldly comforts. It requires extra ordinary efforts to be rich and famous and yet be feeling so close to God as poor downtrodden. 

Hemadpant writes in Shri Sai Satcharita: 

 “If Baba was such a great personage- God manifest, why should He have taken recourse to begging bowl throughout His life? This question may be considered and replied from two stand points. (1)- Who are the people, who have a right to live by the begging bowl? Our Shastras say that those persons, who after getting rid of or becoming free from the three main desires,viz.1- for progeny, 2- for wealth, 3- for fame, and accept Sanyaas, are the fit persons to live by begging alms. They cannot make cooking arrangements and dine at their arrangements and dine at their home. The duty of feeding them is laid on the shoulders of house- holders. Sai Baba was neither a house holder  nor Vanaprashta. He was a celibate Sanyaasi, i.e.  i.e. Sanyaasi from boy-hood. His firm conviction was that the universe was His home. He was the Lord Vasudeva-the supporter of the universe and the Imperishable Brahma. So, He had full right to take recourse to begging. (2) Now, from the standpoint of ‘Panchasoona’ – five sins and their atonement.  We all know that in order to prepare food-stuffs and meals, the householders have to go through five actions or processes, viz.,1. Kandani-Pounding,2. Peshani-Grinding, 3.Udakhumbhi –washing pots,4.Marjani-Sweeping and Cleaning,5.Chuli-Lighting hearths.  These processes involve destruction of a lot of insects and creatures; and thus the house-holders incur sin. In order to atone for his sins, our Shastras prescribe six kind of sacrifices viz., 1.Brahma Yagnya, 2.Vedadhayan-offerings  to Brahman or the study of Vedas, 3.Pitri Yagnya – offerings to ancestors, 4.Dev Yagnya – offerings to God, 5.Boota Yagnya – offerings to the beings, 6.Manushya Athithi Yagnya – offerings to men or uninvited guests.  If these sacrifices, enjoined by the Shastras, are duly performed, the purification of their mind is effected and this helps them to get knowledge and self realisation. Baba, in going from house to house, reminded the inmates of their sacred duty, and fortunate were the people who got the lesson at their homes from Baba” (Shri Sai Satcharita Ch: 9 )

The very powerful One became one among the poor and downtrodden and lived a life of the poorest, only to be closer to them.  The poor and the downtrodden feel at home at His Samadhi even today as they were feeling in His presence before He took Samadhi.  He is there to help and give hope as He is Anathanatha Dheena Bhandhu.