Day -84. “Om Shri Sai Bhaskara Prabhaya Namaha.”

 

           Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and Miracle

               Day -84. “Om Shri Sai Bhaskara Prabhaya Namaha.”

Meaning:

Humble salutation to Him, who shines brilliantly like the Sun. (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Meditation:

The epic war between Ram and Ravana was about to begin. The great Rishi Agasthiyar rendered the Aditya Hrudaya Sthothram, eulogising The Sun, from whom Lord Ram’s ancestors descended. Aditya Hrudaya Sthothram, which is a spiritual presentation of the immense cosmic knowledge of our sages says:

 

 “sarva devatmako hyesha tejasvi rashmi-bhavanah |
                esha devasura gananlokan pati gabhastibhih || 7

 

Indeed, He is the very embodiment of all Gods. He is self-luminous and sustains all with his rays. He nourishes and energizes the inhabitants of all the worlds as well as the host of Gods and demons by his Rays.

 

esha brahma cha vishnush cha shivah skandah prajapatihi |
        mahendro dhanadah kalo yamah somo hyapam patihi || 8

 

He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajapati, the mighty Indra, Kubera, Kala (eternal time), Yama, Soma (the moon god that nourishes), and Varuna (the lord of sea and ocean).

Like the high voltage electricity has to be brought down safely to the domestic use, for those who want to see God in a physical form, Sun is the small visible manifestation, though Brahmam, God or Guru is infinitely more powerful. We, humans, originated on Earth, which originated from the Sun (Brahma) and maintained by the Sun (Vishnu) and after 5 billion years will be engulfed by the expanding Sun (Shiva). Every type of activity of activity, and energy in this planet is due to sun except for a very small cosmic radiation coming from the outer galaxies in cosmos.

This is the reason Sun is identified as as Brahma, the creator, Vishnu the one who maintains and Siva one who absorbs back and conceals before manifestation again in Aditya Hrudaya Sthothram. It is so amazing that present day science, studying the cosmos with all its radio telescopes and particle accelerators converges into the understanding of cosmic manifestation by our sages.

The devotee who identifies himself with the Brahmam, God, or Guru realizes the Brahmam God or Guru in all its glory with infinite and immense power and brilliance, of which Sun is just a small manifestation. He feels enlightened, energized and enjoys great bliss. Whenever he meditates he sees the Brhamam God or Guru in the form of divine light internally.

“Baba said that He was Omnipresent, transcending land, air, world, light and heaven, and that he was not localized. To remove the misunderstanding of those who thought that, Baba was only His body-three cubits and a half in length, He incarnated Himself in this Form, and if any devotee meditated on Him, day and night, with complete self surrender, he experienced complete union with Him, like sweetness and sugar, waves and sea, eye and its sight.  He who wants to get rid of the cycle of births and deaths, should lead a righteous life with his mind calm and composed. He should not speak harshly to anyone, so as to hurt him.  He should always engage himself in good actions, should do his be afraid of anything.  He, who trusts Him entirely, hears and expounds His Leelas and does not think of anything else, is sure to attain self realization.  Baba asked many to remember His name and to surrender to Him but to those who wanted to know who they were, (“Who am I”) He advised Shravan (study) and Manan (Contemplation).  To some, He advised remembering God’s name, to others, hearing His Leelas, to some worship of His Feet to others, reading and studying Adhyatma Ramayan, Dhyaneshwari and other sacred scriptures.  Some, He made sit near His Feet, some He sent to Khandoba’s temple and some, He advised the repetition of  thousand names of  Vishnu, and some, the study of Chandogya Upanishad and Gita.  There was neither any limit, nor any restriction to His instructions.  He gave in person or by visions and dreams.  To someone addicted to drink, He appeared in his dream, sat on his chest, pressed it and left him after he gave a promise, not to touch the liquor anymore.  To some He explained some Mantras, like “Gurur Brahma” in dreams.  To some devotee, who was practicing Hath Yoga, He sent word that, he should leave off Hath Yoga practices, sit quiet and wait (Saburi)!  It is impossible to describe all His ways and methods.”(Shri Sai Satcharita Ch:18 & 19)

He is Omnipresent, radiating kindness, energy, life and hope for all His devotees.  He is the manifestation of Brahmam and God in human form at Shirdi.  He is Bhaskara Prabhaya.