Sai Padananda – April 1998 -...

Sai Padananda – April 1998

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PRAYER

{At Dwaraka}

May the wicked turn good;

May the good attain peace;

May the peaceful be freed from all bondage, and

May the liberated redeem others.

May everybody be happy.

May everybody be free from disease;

May everybody have good luck;

May none fall on evil days.

May everybody surmount difficulties?

May everybody have good fortune?

May everybody realize his ambitions?

May everybody rejoice every where.

- Sri Saipadananda Radhaknshna Swamiji

SAIPADANANDA

A Thought

Good and bad are according to our mental attitude. Nothing is by itself good or bad.

Everything happens for the best.

- SRI RADHAKRISHNA SWAMUI

CONTENTS

1. Never Let the Mind Idle

2. Obstacles and Objections

3. Think of Sai Baba Always

4. WORSHIP OF GOD IN SAHASRANAMA

5. Power of Guru

6. LIFE I owe you a Debt

7. Gospel of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

8. Ambrosia for Sai Devotees

9. He stretches his protective Hand

10. The Poor boy who became a Maharaja


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11. Spiritual Value of Food

12. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's Karma Aradhana

13. Sri Saipadananda Brotherhood GetTogether

14. Shirdi Sai Baba Satsang

15. Anil Rasal A Unique personality

Editorial

Never Let the Mind Idle

Capital punishment arouses much passionate debate, both for and against its use. But

did you know that King Parikshit, grandson of the valiant Arjuna, was probably

among the first to occupy 'death row' and be executed! His crime? His impatience led

him to throw a snake around the neck of Shamik Rishi, who at the time was seated

engrossed in meditation. In retribution for such an insult, the rishi's son cursed King

Parikshit and sentenced him to die by means of snakebite! The interval between

passing of the sentence and execution was a mere one-week. Time enough to gain a

last minute reprieve - only there were no international humanitarian organizations, no

political contacts, and no Supreme courts that he could turn to. He was doomed to

death.

But with only one week left to live, what was he to do? Well, he did not panic. He

accepted his fate with immense maturity and planned to meet death with dignity. He

did not rush off in a mad dash to enjoy materialistic pleasures. Instead, he turned to

Shukdev and appealed to him to narrate the divine exploits of the Lord. Listening to

them totally put his mind at ease. He felt inner peace, satisfaction and happiness, for

he had realized the glory of God, and had found the source of eternal bliss. And when

the time came, Parikshit met his fate with a smile and entered the abode of God.

In a sense, we are all on death row. From the moment we are born, we are certain at

some point to die. The only uncertain parameter is the time interval between birth and

death.

Statisticians speak of declining death rates in many countries. But the very fact that

one day we will die means that the mortality rate of mankind has always been and


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well always be 100% -since eventually everybody will die. It is a certainty, which fills

people with uncontrollable fear.

So how can we become free of fear and prepare for our certain demise? The technique

is given to us by Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji.

Just before Sai Baba breathed his last, 'Rama Vijaya' was read during 9th, 10th and

11th day of Dasara within Baba's hearing. He also sent word to another Muslim saint

in these terms: "The light that Allah lit, he is taking away".

Sri Narasimha Swamiji attained 'Mahasamadhi' on October 19, 1956. Even though he

was not well for a week prior to this, he directed from his bed Samaj work, dictated an

editorial to Sai Sudha, attended to visitors and meditated continuously. Just before

merging in the Eternity on January 14, 1980, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji had joined

devotees in chanting Vishnu Sahasra Namam and 'Om Namo Narayanaya' till the final

moments.

Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji used to advise us to chant Vishnu Sahasra Namam always

and if it was not possible at least to say ‘Narayana Narayana’. One should recall the

leelas of God - when one incident is finished, recall another, then another, and so on.

But never let the mind become idle. In this way our understanding of God's glory is

enhanced, our life becomes full of peace and happiness, and our fear of death

disappears.

A saint knows the progress of a spiritual aspirant who comes to him. But he does not

tell him about it, even if he is asked, for two reasons. If he discloses what he knows

and tells the aspirant that he has not advanced, the remark will tend only to discourage

the aspirant and slacken his efforts. On the other hand, if he tells the aspirant that he

has advanced, he would be proud of it and pride will cause his fall. He only says: "Go

ahead; God is at your back."

Do you not see how the colour of a red object placed near glass apparently colors the

glass? In reality, no colour taints the glass. Similarly, the samsara experienced by the

senses and intellect is attributed by the ignorant to the Atman. The individual soul, by

the force of this attachment to the mind and senses, inevitably gets caught in the net of


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the gunas of maya, and so undergoes the pain and pleasure of samsara. It imagines the

gunas and creates the objects of the senses and the three kinds of actions good, bad,

and mixed. This is an eternal law. The individual soul whirls in this self-created

suffering of samsara, indefinitely till he gains the knowledge of the Self.

- Adhyatma Ramayana, 4.3.22, 23-25

Obstacles and Objections By Sri Narasimha Swamiji

SEEK NAUGHT ELSE BUT GOD

"When you are right everything goes well."

Seek your centre - the Divine

Who is the pivot of the worlds?

Know, all revolve round it

At His bidding and call,

Then you have freedom and joy,

True harmony and peace

All other quests are vain

"The objection to Sai worship did not come always from orthodox sections. It came

mostly from the inertia of human nature. People do not wish to move out of ruts or

sloughs into which they have fallen. Sai bhakti is now a fact of very great religious

importance to millions of souls in this country and the SAI light is being carried

across the waters to illuminate distant corners of the earth. Sai bhakti is a live force.

Some times persons ask these questions: -Do you ask us to give up our Rama worship

and Shiva worships? And if we have those worships, why should we worship Sai?

Why should you go on propagating Sai and not Shiva or Rama?

In the first place, one has to give up all hope of satisfying such curious objections

because the objections arise not from reasoning but from the underlying mentality or

emotional factors.


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The first question reminds us of the opt-quoted illustration of a leading question -

Have you left off beating your mother? Answer Yes or no - there is a vicious

assumption, which is patent in the question about the mother. Nobody would object to

people worshipping Shiva or Rama. Sai Baba sent Appa Kulkarni to worship

Mohiniraj i.e., Shiva at Nivas before appearing to answer in a court case. He sent

Shama to worship Goddess Vani on a hill and Megha to worship Khandoba. He

blamed Chandorkar for bypassing a Datta temple.

The second question is again a baseless assumption. Nobody asked people to give up

Shiva or Rama worship and take Sai as a substitute. The question may be however

referring to the fact that several hereditary worshippers of Shiva or Rama or other

Gods have taken ardently to Sai worship which at the final stage drowns all other

worship in rt. Sai becomes finally the one God and so the same as the other forms of

God eg., Shiva, Rama etc., The worshippers find enormous, unmistakable and clear

benefit accruing to them from the heartfelt Sai worship that they are going for, and

above all they felt the presence of Sai as an ever present guardian with them,

undertaking to safeguard and advance all their temporal and spiritual interests and

carrying out the undertaking by most miraculous or remarkable means unavailable to

such worshippers and undreamt of by them till they came to Sai Baba.

Coming to the objection to any propaganda being done for Sai, the short answers are

this. The honey and flavor in the flower do propaganda for the flower to attract bees

and carry on the work of more reproduction of the plant so that the earth may be

replenished and more fruits may be had. This is nature. Similarly the bhakta after

achieving so much of welfare desires in his heart of hearts to share it with others, and

therefore communicates his experience to others so that the others may also have the

same benefit following the well-known principle – “When you get nice things to eat,

do not monopolize it, but share it with others.”

Ramanuja's Guru gave him a sacred 'mantra' for 'Moksha' consisting in the utterance

of the holy name of God and advised him not to reveal it to others, but keep it a

profound secret. What did Ramanuja do? He got up on the temple tower and shouted

the 'mantra', and later said, "If I have committed a sin, let me go to hell. But if the


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'mantra', being heard by others, will save them, let all these innumerable people who

hear it get saved hereby. I am willing to be damned to save all.

This is exactly the feeling of propagandists of Baba. Sai propaganda is downright

truth without the least tinge or taint of falsehood in rt. The present Sai propaganda is

unselfish and absolutely true.

• It was Thirukkoshti Nambi, who initiated Sri Ramanuja into the

ASHTAKSHARI - 'Om Namo Narayanaya' - the Moksha Sadhana.

Think of Sai Baba Always

By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

A PRAYER

It is my joy in life to find

At every turning of the road

The strong arm of a comrade kind to help me onward with my load.

And since I have no gold to give,

And love alone must make amends,

My only prayer is, while I live -God make me worthy of my friends.

- Frank Dempster Sherman

Sai Baba is nearer to those who practice in their everyday life, what he wants to be

done, than to those who merely say 'Baba' 'Baba' without practicing. What does Baba

expect his devotees to do? Shraddha, Bhakti, constant remembrance, an attitude of

humble and total surrender and propagating his message to all as His instrument. Lord

Krishna says in the Gita that none is dear to Him than he, who propagates his

immortal teachings to others.

Man is a mixture of animal, human and divine qualities. Namasmaran is a tapasya

which is a process of eliminating the grosser qualities from the mind till it becomes

pure and divine. Human life itself is a tapasya or life of tapasya from beginning to

end. A person who has not entered this region of tapasya is no better than a corpse.

Sankaracharya says, the undisciplined mind is like a naturally restless monkey made

worse by taking intoxicating liquor.


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Life is short and uncertain. None can say when the call will come. So it will be

unwise to put off sadhana. God gives us various opportunities for fulfilling His will. If

we conduct ourselves in such a way that when the time comes for us to shuffle off this

mortal coil and stand before Baba he can take us in his lap and pat us on the back and

say: ‘well done children.’

Sai Baba is beckoning to each and every one of us, to enter on the most absorbing and

fascinating journey and finding Him -the Supreme Lord of all, within our own Self.

He is the most compassionate and loving Lord, who is eagerly waiting, to take several

steps towards those who take a single step towards Him. He is like the most loving

father and mother who are eagerly waiting with delicious dishes for the return of their

children from their play.

Those who have turned their back on the illusory world of 'Maya' and all their values

it has to offer set their face resolutely on the goal of finding Him; to see Him but with

their eyes, to hear Him just not with their ears; and to understand Him - but not with

their mind. Those who have found him have dissolved in His glory and none of them

survives to tell the tale, like the salt dolls trying to find the depth of the ocean, getting

dissolved in the process.

The easiest and direct way to reach Him quickly is to surrender totally and

unreservedly to His will and allow Him to take us by the hand and lead us towards

himself. If a child catches his father's hand in a crowd there is likelihood of its being

lost. But not, if the father holds the hand of the child.

Real wisdom does not consist in making Baba do what we desire or want but in

praying to Him for strength, faith and light to put ourselves in harmony with His will

and according to what he wants. We do not know what will secure us the real peace

and lasting bliss. I can only pray 'Baba - curb all my desires - do what is best for me'.

The water rises up from the seas as clouds, then falls as rain and runs back to the sea

in streams. Nothing can stop them from returning to their source. Likewise all jeevas

rising from Sai Baba cannot be kept from rejoining Sai Baba although they may be


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caught up in many eddies on the way. So let us always remember Sai Baba and that is

the nearest way to Moksha.

The Touch of a Mother

When I was a little boy and confessed a good man, my mother used to bid me kneel

beside her, and then she would place her hand upon my head as she prayed. Before I

was old enough to “know her worth”, she died, and I was left much to my own

guidance. "Like others. I was inclined to evil passions, but often felt myself checked,

and as it were, drawn back by a soft hand upon my head. When as young man, I

traveled to foreign lands, and was exposed to many temptations. But when I would

have yielded, met the same hand was upon my head, and I was saved. I seemed to feel

its pressure, as in the days of my infancy; and sometimes there came with it a solemn

voice, saying, "Do not this great wickedness, my son, nor sin against your God!"

WORSHIP OF GOD IN SAHASRANAMA

By Dr. H. Janardhana Acharya

The Guru's Grace is bread and milk to the pupil and the Guru is treated as the ONLY

SADHANA by him. These are not merely the words of Baba, but are also found in the

Guru Gita written centuries ago in Skanda Purana, Baba (though never taught

reading) was an All-Realizer and did not require any study of any purana for his

purpose, being thoroughly absorbed in his Guru, who gave him all knowledge,

wisdom and realization, which is the goal of all discipleship. Baba never having

touched a single book, so far as we know in his life and thoughts, and had all

achievements, Intellectual, moral, mental, etc., and could interpret any part of any

scriptures. How did he get that knowledge? By Guru Seva. That was his answer. So

seva, though looked down upon as something menial and disgusting, and is a thing to

be avoided by fashionable people, is the potent means by which Baba achieved the

highest goal of life. Perfect faith in the Guru treating him as God enables a man,

taking the water used for washing His feet as being more valuable than all the Thirtas

in the world, either in his mouth or on his head, to derive the fullest benefit of all the

Thirtas in the world, i.e., to get rid of all bad vasanas, i.e., evil tendencies, and by

purity of heart to be fitted for the perfect satva and illumination.


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The worship of God as usually understood and practiced consists of waving of

incense and light with suitable hymns and songs before an image of God or something

in representation of God like Saligramam etc. This is the worship of one form of God

that has the weight of tradition behind it and its own significance. But we must be

able to worship God in all His forms as depicted in the Sahasra Nama. This can be

accomplished if we could just have some attention to the significance of each name or

form.

Feeding the needy animal or human will amount to the worship of ‘Annah’ and

‘Annadah’. Callous waste of food indulged in feasts and dinners and gluttony should

be deemed as desecration of ‘Annah’ and ‘Annadah’. Good table manners are the rites

of the worship. The cook, being in reality the 'Karanan'{578) or 'Annam' and

'Annadah', he deserved all worship in the form of respect and consideration. The

kitchen man should not be neglected as the least person in the household as is being

done in modern social order. The kitchen is entitled to all the care and cleanliness of a

Pooja room.

‘Mahaswanah or Sughoshah’ (458) is worshipped by always using soft, kindly and

loving words in our conversation. Idle talk and gossip will be nothing but polluting

the ever watchful ‘Sudarshanah Kalah’ (418).

The subtle essence of the entire Sahasra Nama is that God will be pleased with

'Suvrutah' - with one in righteous conduct. The opinion of God, the opinion of Sahasra

Nama is that one's goal (parayan) should be sathya and dharma - truth and

righteousness.

The long and short of worship of the Viswathma', the first and the running word of the

Sahasra Nama comprises noble thoughts, loving words and virtuous deeds.

Don't pester me

"Please, God." the man prayed, "You know me. I'm always praying to you, and yet, I

have had nothing but bad luck, misery and despair. Look at the butcher next door.



He's never prayed in his life and he has nothing but prosperity, health and happiness.

How come a believer like me is always in trouble and he is always doing so well?" A

voice boomed from beyond, "Because the butcher doesn't pester me, that's why!"

H. H. SRI NARASIMHASWAMIJI SAYS: In Bhagavad Gita, in verse (4) 11, Sri

Krishna says, “In what -ever form you surrender to Me, in that form I respond.”

The honey and flavor in the flower do propaganda for the flower to attract bees and

carry on the work of reproduction of the plant so that the earth may be replenished

and more fruits may be had. This is Nature. Similarly many a propagandist, who is

perfectly sincere, is unconsciously a propagandist. His devout Bhakti achieving

various rewards and the supreme reward of getting Baba for one's powerful guardian,

the all - round guardian to look after every interest, is so grand, alluring and

contagious, The Bhakta after achieving so much of welfare desires in his heart of

hearts to share it with others and, therefore, communicates his experience to others so

that others may also have the same benefit, following the well-known principle or

aphorism When you get nice things to eat, do not monopolize it but share it with

others." In the case of the (Founder-President of AISS and) author of Life of Sri Sai

Baba Book, that rule has been his life principle for numerous decades. Sai propaganda

is unselfish and absolutely true.

Real Love

Real love is when you are constantly watching the progress of the soul. As soon as

you cater to someone's physical desires and bad habits you do not love that soul any

more. You are just pleasing that person to avoid ill will. No matter how unpleasant it

is to tell a friend that he is wrong, if you say it with love in your heart and stand firm

on it, sometime that person will respect you if you are right. If you are wrong, even

then he will know that you did it with sincerity, out of love. Never agree with anyone

who is wrong, not even those who are nearest and dearest to you. To agree with

wrong doing is to bribe your soul in order to be looked upon favorably by the

wrongdoer, and that will come out later on in some disastrous results. Do not fight;

that is not the way to convince them. The way to influence others is by our love. Say

what you have to say once or twice and then disband it from your mind. Be humble

and free from anger. Just say, "Let us wait and see. Time will tell." Time brings out



everything; and if there is a sympathetic understanding between friends, there will be

no "I was right and you were wrong" attitude.

You do not know how wonderful that kind of love is. It is sublime. At times you

glimpse it when you are very happy and feel that oneness with God in others - when

you love each other because God is your Father, irrespective of any human relation.

- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

Power of Guru

(From the glorious life of Narasinh Mehta)

By Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar

THE WISE MAY NOT BE HANDSOME

Joshua Ben Hananiah who lived in the second century AD is said to have been one of

the wisest men of human history. He was positively not handsome. A Roman princess

who met him for the first time said disappointedly, ‘Oh! That such glorious wisdom

should come from such a homely vessel!’ And Hananiah replied, 'Princess, wine is

not kept in vessels of gold.'

Narasinh Mehta is a well-known ‘Bhakta Poet’; His devotional bhajans are sung to

this day mostly in Gujarat and Saurashtra since he wrote them in Gujarati. He was

born in a Nagar Brahmin family, in Talaja, a village near Junagadh in 1414. He was

born dumb. His grandmother, Jayakunvar, raised him.

Narasinh often used to accompany his grandmother to the Hatkeshwar Mahadev

Mandir for darshan and listen to the bhajans. Once when he was eight years old,

Jayakunvar approached an ascetic at the Mandir. The ascetic glanced at little Narasinh

and prophesied that he would become a great bhakta. But, Jayakunvar informed him

that the boy is dumb. The ascetic then gave him a herb and asked him to chant 'Radhe

Krishna'. Miraculously Narasinh started chanting 'Radhe Krishna'. His early life was

full of misery, as his sister-in-law gave him a lot of tribulation. He married and had

two children and his family life too was full of misery.



After his wife's death, he took his children and left home. Once Lord Shiva gave him

darshan and asked him for a wish. Narasinh asked for the darshan of 'Krishna's 'Rasa

Lila', which Mahadev granted. He then returned to Junagadh singing jubilantly.

Once to perform 'Shraddha' he invited several Brahmins to dine at his house. But one

devious Brahmin went around town inviting the whole town clan to Narasinh Mehta's

house. Narasinh had gone to buy some ghee. On the way he met a devotee and started

singing bhajans. Back home, a great crowd had begun pouring in. But a miracle

occurred. His daughter could not understand where the cooks and the raw materials

were coming from. They had begun to cook sumptuous sweets and other items. When

Narasinh Mehta returned home, he saw the guests leaving having satisfied

themselves.'

Once a group of pilgrims on their way to Dwaraka asked to be directed to a person

who would write a note of credit - 'hundi'. They were, out of spite, directed to

Narasinh Mehta. The gullible Narasinh wrote a 'hundi' for three hundred rupees on a

merchant named Shamal Shah Sheth and composed a prayer: 'O Lord -please accept

my note of credit'. When the pilgrims sought for Shama Shah at Dwaraka no one had

heard that name. But the Lord himself assumed that form and accepted the hundi.

Lives of bhaktas are generally filled with tests of faith in the form of calumny or

physical harm by the ignorant and evil elements of society. Narasinh Mehta's was no

different. People complained to the King that Narasinh is behaving contrary to

scriptural law. The King decided to test Narasinh's purity. He summoned Narasinh to

the palace and informed him of his plan - "I will place a garland around Damodar's

neck in the mandir and lock the door from outside. If by next morning that garland is

found around your neck, I will consider you innocent."

Narasinh started singing Lord's leela devotedly. Then a miracle occurred. The mandir

doors flew open. The garland drifted through the air and gracefully fell around

Narasinh Mehta's neck. The king became his ardent devotee. He died at the age of

sixty - six but through his bhajans, he has attained an eternal place in the hearts of

devotees.



LIFE I owe you a Debt

By R. K. Dalai

The great Hindi poet Suradasa, who, though blind, had an enlightened heart and a

Divine vision, has well said - "who has named you Govinda, you always believe in

give and take but unfortunately, this could not be done by me. You made Sudama a

rich man because he offered you rice. You protected Draupadi because she offered

cloth to you. You liberated the elephant (from the clutches of the crocodile) because

he offered flower to you. But when it happened to be the turn of 'Suradasa' You have

become hard hearted and have turned deaf ears towards him. O my Lord, who has

given you the name Govinda.

- Swami Rama Tirtha

I owe life an irreparable debt of gratitude. God has endowed me gifts with both hands.

When I think of it, I say with tears in my eyes: 'How much He gives! How little I

deserve!'

The heart that melts at the sorrow of another and feels affinity to the humblest of

God's creation is a neither treasure that money cannot buy nor avarice envy. Often it

bows in humility or in adoration to the Stupendous Power that rules and regulates this

world.

I crave no riches, proud name clever ingenious brain, a muscular body or forbidding

countenance.

I crave simplicity, asceticism, detached state of desirelessness. I really wish to do well

and throw it on the way. 1 doesn’t want to see the effect and assess its excellence and

value. ‘Live and let live’ is my motto, ‘love and forgive’ is my ideal. In all things I

want to cultivate reverence for life. I shall not kill an insect if I can help it.

If life is so much joy to you and you cling to it as a miser clings to his bag of gold,

what right have you to destroy life and the joy of another? Let them drink at the

Fountain of Life as you do. What God has created in His wisdom, let no man destroy.

Often and always, I want to live for:



A little more kindness, a little less creed;

A little more giving, a little less greed;

A little more smile, a little less frown;

A little less kicking a man, when he's down;

A little more 'We', a little less'!';

A little more laugh, a little less cry;

A little more flowers on the pathway of Life,

A fewer on graves at the end of the strife."

When I sleep, O Lord! Close my eyes with Your blessed hands, and let me dream of

Thy Vision - Thy Vision alone. When I live, let me walk in Thy Image. When I die,

let my last words be: "O Lord! How grateful I am for your gifts."

Let me close this with a poem:

"When the great Eternal Auditor,

My Book of Life receives.

And He checks the daily entries

That is written on the leaves;

May He find the accounts in order?

And no need for fear or shame,

But a credit carried forward

To the glory of His Name."

Life, I owe you an irreparable debt of gratitude!

(Courtesy: Bhavan's Journal)

CREAM

Be rid of T and 'mine'

Be mentally united with the Lord

Be of firm resolve and steadfast of mind

Be balanced in pairs of opposites, like joy and sorrow, heat and cold, etc.

Be the same in favorable and Unfavorable circumstances

Be regular in Yoga and meditation

Be upright in body, speech and mind



Be devout in the service of the preceptor

Be non-violent in thought, word and deed

Be contented with whatever is available

Be pure internally and externally

Be full of devotion to the Lord

Be friendly and compassionate

Be forgiving and impartial

Be free from envy, perturbation and tear

Be free torn the sense of doer ship

Be free from attachment

Be free from self-esteem and egotism

Be free from malice towards all beings

Be free from anger even on provocation OF G1TA

Abstain from gossip

Accept both praises and reproach alike

Cultivate humility

Cultivate perfect purity of mind

Chant God's Name and sing His glories

Do charities in its Sattwic Form?

Do not hate or slander

Do not grieve

Develop dispassion towards the

Objects of enjoyment of the world

Develop forbearance, fearlessness,

Sublimity, fortitude and mildness

Keep control over body, mind and senses

Ponder constantly over the hollowness

Of birth, death old age and desire

Surrender mind and resign to the Lord

See the divine in all and love all alike

Study the teachings of the Vedas and other sacred books

Treat alike both friend and foe

Take to contemplation

Worship God as well as elders,



UNIVERSAL RELIGION

Caste, creed and race questions arise out of mutual jealousy and antagonism, among

persons whose ideas of self centre almost entirely on their body. The soul has no race

or caste or creed. Any jeeva rising above the "body is the self" idea is free from the

attachment of repulsions involved in these. Sai Baba was a self - realized soul

worshipped as God by thousands of all castes and races. How can he have any ideas

of his belonging to any particular race, caste or creed? Once when a commissioner

asked him what his race, caste or creeds were, his answer was that he was God and his

religion was Kabir (Which may mean God's or the Saint Kabirs). Yet to meet

everyone on his own level, Baba has said at times that he was a Brahmin, born of

Brahmin parents living at Pathri, in the Nizam's Dominions. He, however, lived

amidst Muslims as a Muslim. This, he accounted for by his declaration that when very

young his parents handed him over to a Muslim fakir who there upon, brought him up

for four or five years. After the fakir's death, his widow took the boy and left him with

care of a great Brahmin saint at Selu known as Sri Venkatesa Guru. After ten years

service with that Guru, Baba received his full grace and became Brahmajani and

mighty Saint. Baba thus became Brahman -not merely Brahmin "Brahmaiva Bhavati"

i.e. the knower of Brahman is Brahmin.

- By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

Gospel of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

By Prof. R N .Iyengar

Swamiji has started for Madurai early in the morning by 5AM. Krishnamurthy,

Bhaskara Rao and Doraiswamy are also accompanying us. After a short distance of

some 25 kilometers, the car started troubling. We had to return to Bangalore to get the

car properly fixed up. Swamiji started Vishnu Sahasranama soon after returning to

Ashram by 7 A.M. It is not certain when we start for Madurai.

Since the repair of the car took a long time, it is proposed that we start for Madurai

tomorrow. In the evening a lady devotee, along with her son spent considerable time



with Swamiji. She has returned from Badrinath. She explained in great detail her

experiences in the Himalyas. Swamiji is talking to us after the lady left the place.

"You see love and affection are beyond caste and creed. But this need not be taken in

a worldly sense. As a ripe fruit separates from the tree of its own accord, one should

also wait for self ripening. Improving the lot of the downtrodden and service to the

weaker sections of the society is important. Yes, we can give good education, we can

teach them Narayana Mantra as Ramanuja did. But by just eating a meal with them or

by cleaning their house once a while what can be achieved? These become gimmicks

for publicity. Do you understand my views?

We should not have political intentions while doing social service. This is how I am

interacting with this world. Nothing can be expected of me beyond the above. I have

not had the necessity to eat in all places. But for partaking of Prasad, I am one among

other devotees. In accepting Lord's Prasad, we should not make discrimination of

caste or creed. But for taking food, one may have ones own choice. These may also

change according to the circumstances. Suppose you are forced to go to a hotel for

eating and you are in the company of strange persons, then you should recite

Brahmarpanam Brahmatavih Brahma Gnan Brahmana hutam Brahmaiva tena

gantavyam Brahma Karma Samadhina. You should suggest to yourself that you are

not going to get affected by the company and surroundings. Of course, this would be

possible, in its fullest sense only for a Jnani, because for such a person Brahmarpanam

is realized as being an offering1-, to the Vaishwanara fire...

"You see, at every step it is the mind which matters. You know the story of that

Muslim girl, don't you? She is Bibi Nachiyar, in Tamil. She was in love with Vishnu

so much; there is a temple also for her. If the Lord's image had to go behind her what

could have been the reason? She had surrendered her whole self to Him! Do you

follow this; the important component here is the mind, not the outward figure. For

example, shaven head, saffron cloth etc., are not all important. You see, that lady who

had come is not a Brahmin lady. But then what is the difference, nothing! She is so

much devoted to me. Here we should not be looking at one's caste. We can show

affection, and respect to any deserving person at any place. But there need not be a

compulsion to eat in their house. It is possible our taste may be different. Also by



eating under compulsion our mind may get affected. But at the same time under

emergent conditions anywhere. This is permitted by the Shastras also.

"Swamiji, that our mind may get influenced by the type of food we take is too subtle a

point to be understood."

"Yes, you are right. This is indeed a very subtle point. People look at all the Swamis

and saints, if they are wearing saffron, people remain at a distance. At some places,

people are not allowed to touch the feet of the Swamis. But you see here, when the

devotees look at me, they perhaps feel that I am one among them, they touch my feet.

What is there in this action? Do you know about my feelings? If a few persons get a

little bit of happiness this way all right; why should I deny them happiness?"

"Swamiji, some feel that they may become impure by the touch of others. Even here

not all touch your feet; many bow on the ground at a distance only."

"Yes, yes, some people say like this, I know. But you see, I do not feel like this at all.

How can I become impure by some one touching my body? Who is pure? You tell

me. If you take this body, this is always a dirty place. On the other hand, if you take

the mind as the location, so long we recite the name of the Lord, we are pure. The day

we do not think of Him, we are impure, I have watched our people in our villages.

The innocent rural folk go round the temple muttering "Shiva, Shiva". Oh! How pure

is their mind? This bathing, dressing are all for external show only. Whenever some

one bows to me I say 'Narayana, Narayana.' I am only a tool or a medium. There

obeisance goes to the Lord only. So it cannot have any effect on me. But, if I think -

oh, this fellow did not bow to me, only that person respect me than I am gone;

because, this would mean I have become an egoist. Feelings of egoism should not

arise. Depending on the will of the Lord, some bow to me, and some others do not;

that is all what I feel. You understand this point. In a sense all the holy idols are only

pieces of stone. But through them as symbols, one can reach God. The same analogy

holds good for Swamijis and sanyasees also".

"Swamiji: Are Gayatri japa and Sandhya necessary?

"Yes, yes. These discipline the mind. Gayatri japa is very essential. You see several

types of women come to the place. Our mind has to be calm and free from all types of



perturbations. For a dispassionate but alert mind in perfect equilibrium, Gayatri,

Sandhyavandana are necessary. But after a state is reached, when you are always in

Him, then you may not need these props. This is like a ripe fruit. It falls off on its

own. But when the mind is not ripe, one should not imagine as though one is mature.

One should get Jnana (Knowledge) from experience. That is only the right type of

knowledge. Whoever he may be, a celibate, a householder or a monk, self-experience

is very essential. The way for this is repetition of His names. Let us always remember

Him, let us not get upset by any happening or agency. You see what happened today.

The car broke down. But I am not upset by this. Lord's wish has been like this, that we

should get the prasad of Badrinath! With what love and affection that lady brought the

prasad all the way from Badrinath. If I were not here, she would have been

disappointed. She should not return disheartened and we should also be blessed, such

has been the will of the Lord!”

Prayer

Almighty God, the doer of everything, the giver of good things and the inspirer of all

noble ideas and ideals, without whose grace all our endeavors are useless, all our

attempts fruitless, bless our deeds so that we may find enough zeal to serve the needy,

help the poor, lift the downtrodden, feed the hungry and console the grief-stricken and

also to earn our daily bread by the sweat of our brow.

Teach me to be completely unselfish so that I may live and work together with my

fellow-men at peace. Forsaking all, let me place my whole being in Thy hands and

commit my cause to Thee for divine disposal in due season for my good. Guide me in

the minutest details and give me the strength for testing times. Enable me to empty

my heart of all useless cares, to resist all temptations, to restrain all longings and to

relinquish lust so that I may find real rest within the closet of my heart. Let not the

world be too much with me lest I should be drawn away with sundry desire and

moved with every wind of words. Help me to keep silence in an evil time to say that

Thy Will will be done. Let my intentions be pure so that I may never find myself in

the valley of despair, but pass safely through any storm. Knowing that God's grace

always seeks a humble heart, I bow before Thee in the quiet of this hour and lie low in

Thy power so that I may learn that Truth alone makes rich and great.



- By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

Ambrosia for Sai Devotees

By D. V. Murthy

God stands for unity, harmony and oneness. When we make God our very own, we

realize unity in diversity and so we will have harmony within and harmony without.

We will then create a tranquil atmosphere around us, and then there will be no strife,

conflict or war that is why we must turn to that Spirit within us which stands for unity

and harmony.

Poojya Sri Narasimha Swamiji, who familiarized our Samartha Sadguru Sri Shirdi Sai

Baba to millions of devotees all over the country, was an apostle worthy of great

esteem and veneration. After his first visit to Shirdi and to the very end he breathed

and talked SAI and dedicated himself to Sai Prachar work traveling all over the

country.

All of us of this generation, who were fortunate enough to come in contact with him

during his lifetime, should consider ourselves lucky and blessed. Apart from his

innumerable writings like "Wondrous Saint Sri Sai Baba", "Sri Sai Baba Charters",

"Devotees Experiences" etc., one of the most significant contributions of Swamiji was

the composition of "SRI SAI BABA ASHTOTTARA NAMAVALI", recanting the

innumerable, auspicious attributes of Baba for daily Parayana which are chanted by

devotees in Sri Sai worship daily.

Unlike other Ashtottaras, which are usually composed in alphabetical order, Swamiji's

Ashtottara Namavali starts with the basic personality of Baba that he could be Sri

Rama or Sri Krishna to some, Sri Dattatreya to someone else, or Maruthi to others etc.

Thereafter, it deals first with the material benefits conferred like food, shelter,

clothing, riches, good health summed up aptly as "Yoga Kshema".

Very interestingly Baba never permitted his devotees to observe fast. He used to say

that with pangs of hunger it would be difficult for any to fully concentrate on the

spiritual side. The help rendered during distress of the devotees is described as



"Aapathbandhava". Baba is also the guide during one's life journey and problems

faced being "Maargabandhu." He is also the Supporter - "Jeevadhara" who has taken

the vow to protect his devotees 'Bhaktavana Pratignya." Thereafter comes the very apt

description "Bhukti-Mukti Swarga Marga - Daya - the bestower of worldly pleasures.

One of the descriptions given of Baba is the helper of the helpless - and protector of

unprotected "Asahaya-Sahayaya" and "Anaathanatha Deena Bandhu" but the best to

my mind is "Sarva Bhavabruta" sums up my real Baba all these seventy and odd years

who takes the entire burden of the devotees on himself. "Look unto me" and I look to

you" has been the key word as to why millions flock to him for succor and strength.

Many of us believe in the laws of "Karma". It is also said that all our present misery

and troubles in this world are due to our past Karmas {Prarabdha Karma) and one has

to undergo the results of the same. It is also said that in case of Sadgurus, they have

the power to mitigate the Karmik effects. Sri Sai was and is one who has this power as

experienced by his many devotees and is aptly put as "Karma - Dhvamsine" and

"Ashakya Rahitaya" as one for whom nothing is impossible.

Our entire life provides instances of special blessings in times of dire need and

distress when we recite "Om Sri Sai Aapthabandhavya Namah", we automatically

recollect the myriad instances where He came to our succour and tears swell in our

eyes. The same is the case with many other Naamas in the Namavali.

The piece de resistance of the Naamavali is perhaps the apt description -

"Bhaktanugraha Kataraya" the one tremulously eager to shower His blessings on His

devotees. What an apt description of Baba; But do we deserve him?

In a way the recitation of Ashtottara Shata Naamavali is a very handy Sadhana to all

householder Sai devotees to directly commune with Him with our limited vocabulary

and coupled with Bhaava will surely lead to our goal.

Sri Sai Ashtottara can be recited individually or in groups. It has been our experience

that Group chanting with "Bhava" (feeling) has been found to confer immense

benefits to one and all.



God is all love and kindness and He means no ill. He is also the sole doer. If we have

this faith and surrender, we can remain happy and cheerful in all conditions.

Bhakti Yoga

A miser who is attached to wealth thinks always of wealth. So also when the devotee's

heart is awakened and he has intense longing for God, he remembers God constantly.

Many people say that when they repeat God's name they cannot concentrate upon

God. This is because they have no longing for Him. This longing for God and holding

God as our dearest object of love is Bhakti.

Bhakti, as described in the Narada Bhakti Sutra, is Parama Prem - greatest love for

God. When you have the greatest love for God, automatically your mind will be

remembering Him; otherwise, your mind will run here and there, because you have

greater love for worldly things. You must have PARAMA PREM for God. When this

Prem or Bhakti is created in the heart by the contact of a saint, and then you cannot

but pine for Him and hunger for Him day and night and therefore remember Him

constantly and become mad of Him. It is divine madness that seizes you in this state.

All allurements of the world leave you and all the pleasures of the senses appear as

dust or ashes to you. Your one longing is to realize God; to feel Him and to see Him.

This is the kind of devotion, the concentrated, one pointed and entire longing for God

that brings you near Him and ultimately makes you feel one with Him.


He Stretches his Protective Hand

By R. Seshadri

Truth or Reality can be attained only through the grace of God. 'God, Guru and Self

are one,' says Ramana Maharshi. Sai Baba has accorded an exalted place for the

Guru, who dispels the ignorance of the devotee and imparts knowledge of the Sat and

facilitates his Liberation, the Guru also fulfils the legitimate needs of his devotee,

ensuring his wellbeing here and thereafter.



Way back in 1962, I was invited by the U.S. State and Defence Departments for a tour

of nine States, newspapers and Defence establishments. It was a group comprising

senior journalists from India. Though I was not very keen on going out of the country,

Sadguru Radhakrishna Swamiji told me that I should as a journalist, undertake the

tour with an open mind. He had also given a few instructions as regards my food and

performance of some daily duties.

The group having been provided with a plane for the jampacked tour, I enjoyed

meeting various people. Government officials and private citizens and Media people,

besides attending a press conference addressed by President J.F. Kennedy.

After about 19 days, while on our way to Warranton (Virginia), for a seminar, I had a

frightening dream in which our plane collided with a huge heavenly object and a

passenger was injured. I woke up with a start, feeling my breast pocket for the 'Udhi'

and started chanting the Lord's name. When the plane landed at the Warranton

Airport, it started raining. We were received and taken by a large Defence Department

vehicle to the venue of the seminar, about 20 miles away. Before we reached our

destination, there was an accident.

Out vehicle, in which I had occupied a window seat, overturned causing some

confusion and fear as the exit doors had got jammed. I was concentrating on my Guru

without losing my cool. Luckily a farmer was coming from the opposite direction in

his tractor. He managed to put our vehicle on the road with the help of some local

people and we reached our venue late.

I had managed to send a message to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji at Bangalore, who also

wrote back to me before I returned; stating that he knew that there would be a mishap

and I that I would not come to harm. He had also asked me to find out from my wife

after my return where he (Swamiji} was, when the accident occurred, calculating the

difference in the time.

Soon after safely reaching Bangalore, I asked my wife whether there was any special

event on the day (of the mishap). She informed me that Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji,



who had come along with Sri Subbaramaiah, a close devotee of his, and Swamiji were

in deep meditation in our Pooja Room.

This shows how a Guru, anticipating some problem for his devotee, visited his home

and offered prayers to ensure his safety. Sri Swamiji alone Knew why he should have

come all the way to my residence. Could he not have performed the rescue act from

his place?

Universal Love

The one great truth that the future will be impressing on all righteous souls is that

Truth is one, that it is viewed and appreciated by numerous people in divergent - nay,

conflicting - ways; that the supreme duty of all is the recognition of fraternity of all

sincere and earnest seekers of Truth and that intolerance should be completely

banished. Sri Sai is the forerunner of this coming race and showed such latitude,

tolerance, and fraternity as part of his nature - universal love. Sai's teachings and

example are diffusing this latitude and love among all castes and creeds, though,

unfortunately, exceptions to this rule abound and that too for very natural reasons.

Intolerance, tearing each other and delighting in extinguishing one's opponents are

part of our brute nature and conceal themselves under the guise and cloak of

orthodoxy in religion.

Sai Baba is the universal teacher, guide, and leader while leading the Adwaitin to the

dizzy heights of non difference; he took care to see that the orthodox Dwaitins among

Christians, Moslems, and Hindus, were not upset by his latitudinarianism and

idealism. With Dwaitins, he was a Dwaitin, and with Adwaitins, he was an Adwaitin.

To really ardent bhaktas dealing with him as their Man-God, he showed that they

were right in their own attitude.




The Poor boy who became a Maharaja

By S. Maneey

It is shameful to be afflicted with sorrow, even in human life- Only those persons

should suffer from sorrow and affliction whose parents are no more. Why lament?

Fortunately, your father, Lord Rama, is ever alive. Just see the miracle. Give up all

your worries and expectations. Do not entertain any selfish desire. Only be firm in

your divinity you will see that all the gods will be prepared to help you at all cost.

- Swami Rama Tirtha

Every one in Mysore seems to know Sri Narayana Raju’s Sai Mandir, a spiritual

seeker's offering to his Guru. A steady stream of devotees visits the temple, which

becomes a flood on Thursdays and unmanageable during Guru Poornima and

Mahasamadhi celebrations.

The inscription at the entrance reads :

Sri Prasanna Sai Mandir

Thiagaraja Road, K.R. Mohalla.

Foundation stone laid by His Highness

Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar in 1954

As one climbs the steps, his soles get washed by the water sprinkler. The Sai mandir

has a very spacious, high roofed prayer hall, which can accommodate about a

thousand people at a time. Worship is made to Sri Sai Baba idol, which is made of

black stone. The idol is of sitting Dwarakamai posture. Facing the idol of Sai Baba is

a balcony which was constructed for the Royal family of Mysore, which used to

observe in privacy, the Sai Pooja by Sri Raju, The prayer hall contains colorful

chandeliers, and colored portraits of saints. Facing the entrance is Ramana Maharshi's

portrait.

This Mandir also has a separate place for Dhuni and for Dwarakamai. The

Dwarakamai portrait of Sai Baba here appears to attract anyone by the sheer power of

the gaze. This portrait was made by Sri Jayakar's son. (Sri Jayakar, it may be



remembered, made the oil painting of Sai Baba which is in Dwarakamai, Shirdi) Sri

Narayana Raju has, by his tireless efforts, made the Mandir into a self-contained and

self-sustaining unit, with its own chariots and a choultry.

Guru Poornima and Mahasamadhi days are special functions. Guru Poornima is

celebrated for five days, with mass feeding on all the five days. The rich and poor

mingle together to partake the prasad. At the end of the function, Baba's portrait is

taken in procession in a chariot in the streets of Mysore, with ail pomp and pageantry.

Sri Narayana Raju, the Founder (1901-1985), was born poor and poverty stalked him

throughout his early years. His parents could not give him even one meal per day, on

many days. But the boy had developed a spiritual bent of mind and would be seen

meditating quite often. Someone had given him a small photo of Ramana Maharshi,

which he kept always in his shirt pocket.

Strange are the turning points in a person's life. One such happened in this way. One

day Raju was more dejected than usual, not having succeeded in alleviating the

miserable existence and in spite of prayers to Ramana Maharshi. On his way to the

school thinking that no purpose would be served by his existence, was about to end

his life. Ramana Maharshi appeared before the boy and physically prevented him

from doing the foolish act. Walking with him till Hardinge Circle, Mysore, he

assuaged the feelings of the boy by encouraging and comforting advice. Before

parting he told the boy "you are earmarked to do the work of a Mahapurusha. He will

come into your life and will look after you" This incident, possibly happened before

the Mahasamadhi of Sai Baba, because the boy Raju was then of school going age.

Several years passed in the life of Raju and no Mahapurusha was to be seen. But

unknown to the boy, the Mahapurusha foretold by Ramana Maharshi had in fact

entered his life. A well wisher of the family had given a photo of Sai Baba stating

that the photo is of a great saint and by his worship the family's hardship would be

alleviated. This photo which the family worshipped is still with the descendents of Sri

Narayana Raju. It took quite a time of Ramana Maharshi's prophesy to unfold. In fact,

it was in 1934, that Sri Narayana Raju realized Sri Sai Baba. After this Sri Sai Baba

began to guide Sri Narayana Raju at step Sri Narayana Raju was seized with the idea



that he would do something to propagate the name of Sai Baba. He brought Sai Baba

to public notice, as he began to worship him in small place in K.T Street, which is

near Prabha-Theatre, Mysore. The Sai movement here had a small beginning.

Sri Narayana Raju had become endowed with some powers which he began to utilize

for public welfare. More and more people, the influential and the wealthy, began to

flock to the temple But he remained a simple spiritual man.

We shall narrate here two incidents about him: His Highness Sri Jayachamarajendra

Wodeyar's sister was a frequent visitor to the Mandir. On one such visit, Sri Narayana

Raju told her "Your brother has planned to go to Germany. Please tell him not to go."

But the Maharaja could not be dissuaded. He went ahead. He was to catch the plane

from Bombay. For some reason he was delayed in reaching the airport, and he saw the

plane taking off. While taking off, the plane burst and crashed. The chastened

Maharaja returned to Mysore.

The marriage hall/choultry was being constructed. Sri Narayana Raju was choosy in

accepting money; with the result the progress was slow and tardy. Many times it

would cease altogether. Even an advanced soul like Sri Narayana Raju felt stranded

and helpless. One night Baba appearing in his dream asked him to meet Him in the

Dhyana Mandir. (Dhyana Mandir is an underground cell below the prayer hall where

Sri Narayana Raju used to meditate). Sri Narayana Raju getting up sat in meditation.

He saw Baba telling him "Narayana, I know your plight. Take all these and use them

for the construction". He saw Baba pouring before him bags of gold and money. Sri

Narayana Raju answered. "Baba, you know that I have not cared for wealth or money.

I shall not bother myself about the construction. Why should I worry when you are

there?" At this Baba disappeared. The next day Sri Narayana Raju received a cheque

for Rs. One lakh from a Sai devotee to be used towards the building construction!

After arathi to Sai Baba, arathi is also performed to Sri Narayana Raju's idol,

followed by a full - throated Sri Narayana Maharaj ki Jai, from the devotees. From a

poor boy to a Maharaja - yes, Baba transformed him to a SPIRITUAL MAHARAJA.



Spiritual Value of Food

By K. Navin Chander

Light and Love the night has a thousand eyes,

And the day but One; yet the light of the bright world dies

With the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes,

And the heart but one;

Yet the fight of a whole life dies

When love is done.

The old saint looked kindly at the old businessman but declined to attend the dinner

proposed by him. All persuasions yielded no result. Finally the businessman slowly

moved out of the ashram. After a distance, a disciple of the saint came from behind

and said that he should not feel disappointed and that he would come and attend the

dinner on behalf of the saint and bless him. The businessman agreed and next day the

dinner was held.

On that night after dinner the disciple could not meditate at all and could hear a low

moaning of a girl. This went on for three days. Ultimately, the disciple approached his

Guru and complained. The Guru asked him to mention all that he had done in the last

few days. The disciple made a clean breast of the only unusual event of the dinner he

had in the businessman's house.

The all-knowing Guru told him that the businessman was merciless money-lender. A

poor agriculturist could not repay the debt and the interest on it. He threatened the

helpless man and finally married his teen-aged daughter in lieu of his debt as he had

no male issue till then. This girl was most unhappy at the turn of events and wept

silently in her lone moments. In that frame of mind, she prepared the dinner which

the disciple ate.

The Guru explained that while cooking, the personality of the cook would enter the

food through subtle vibrations. These unseen vibrations will later enter into the

personality of the eater and influence his mind. That is the reason why his meditations

were disturbed.



The Guru explained that what goes into the mouth would greatly influence what

comes out of it and shape our lives. The food prepared in a spiritual frame of mind,

thinking only of God or Sadguru, will always give peace of mind, with powers to

divinely discriminate between good and evil. Food especially taken in hotels prepared

and served with ungodly tendencies, unruly behaviour and foul in mouth do great

harm to the spiritual make-up of a person.

Once in October 1916, Bhikubhai came to Shirdi with barfi, watermelon and a

garland to offer to Sai Baba. She was a childhood friend of Mother Radhakrishna Ayi

and as she crossed Godavari River in Kopergaon she saw the cremation site of

Radhakrishna Ayi, Overcome with emotion, she collapsed at the site and wept

bitterly. She felt Sai Baba was ungrateful to Radhakrishna Ayi after all services to

Baba. She vehemently accused Baba. In such a frame of mind, she came to Shirdi and

offered barfi and watermelon to Sai Baba. The all-knowing Baba refused to accept

them. When she wanted to garland Baba even against remount’s rations, mysteriously

the garland snapped itself into three parts.

Bhikubai had to return disappointed, Kaka Sahib asked Baba as to why he refused the

gifts of Bhikubai. Baba explained to him that he cannot accept the eatables nor wear

the garland brought with such a troubled heart and mental uneasiness.

Sai Baba exhorted his devotees to think of Him before they partook their food which

would then become sanctified from any spiritual impurities. Every action of Baba had

a meaning behind it. If we go deeper into the matter we will thus begin to understand

why he acted so even while looking harsh externally.

The Tree of Life

By Lama Anagarika Govinda

The heavens of the gods are in the life-tree's crown,

But in the course of time even their pleasures cease.

And one by one they fall

From their bright realm



And drop like falling stars

Into the earth's dark womb,

The life-tree's roots

Grow from the night of death,

Embracing the dark realms

With golden nets.

The life-juice of the stars

Is rising in its trunk.

Transforming steadily

The powers of the dark.

Innumerable suns

Bloom in the life-tree's twigs,

Surrounded by their planets

As by swarming bees.

To be reborn as men

and learn through pain and strife,

That from the night of death

Is born the greater life.

Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji’s Krama Aradhana

By S. Syama Rao

The 18th Krama Aradhana of H.H. Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji was

celebrated at Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore, on January 25, 1998. A four - day

program was arranged from January 23 to January 25,1998, starling with a slide-show

cum lecture by Dr. R. Narayana Iyengar, a close devotee of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

and presently Director of Central Buildings Research Institute, Roorke. The slides

covered a variety of functions like Guru Poornima, Pada Pooja, Vishnu Sahasranama

Homa in which Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji participated and his visits to many places

of interest. Dr. Narayana Iyengar explained in detail the occasion of each photograph

and spoke about the unique character of Swamiji, his love and compassion for the

devotees.



A 'Satsangha' was organized on the evening of January 24, which was attended by a

large number of devotees. The devotees spoke on their experiences of Swamiji and

Baba. Sri R. Seshadri, President, Sri Sai Spiritual Centre and Sri. R. Parthasarathy,

former Asst. New Editor of The Hindu, were on the Dias.

A large number of devotees participated in the Samoohika Abhisheka to Sadguru Sri

Sainath Maharaj, H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji and H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on

January 25 morning immediately after Kakad Arathi.

After Abhisheka, Krama Aradhana of Swamiji was performed by Sri D. V. Krishna

Murthy, a close devotee of Swamiji, in accordance with Vedic rites. The rituals were

conducted by Veda Brahmashri Sri Srinivas. After Thirlhanarayana Pooja and Arathi,

Prasad was distributed to all the devotees present. More than one thousand devotees

participated in the Krama Aradhana and received the Prasad.

The same evening, the First Anniversary of Saipadananda Brotherhood meeting was

held in the Meditation Hall. (A detailed report of this meeting appears elsewhere in

this issue).

A public meeting was held in the evening, presided over by Sri R. Seshadri, President

of the Centre. Air Commodore T. M. M. Raghavan, Vice President, (explained the

aims, objects and activities of Sri SaiPadananda Brotherhood) introduced the speakers

on the Dias viz., Sri R. Parthasarthy, Sri C. V. Bhaskara Rao and Prof. P. S. Narayana

Rao.

Sri Seshadri spoke on H.H. Swamiji with special reference to less known Anecdotes

of Swamiji. The audience was thrilled to know such experiences. Sri Parthasarathy

spoke with emotion on the 'Apostle of Love' and his love towards his devotees. He

narrated the deep devotion of a lady devotee, Mrs. Jyothi Contractor.

Sri Bhaskara Rao spoke on 'Baba', the Great Master and how Baba worked for the

uplift of His devotees from the worldly samsara. Dr. Narayana Rao, spoke both on the

life of Baba and Swamiji. Sri S. Syama Rao, Secretary of the Centre, proposed a vote

of thanks.



Sri Mothilal Gupta, Mrs. Gupta and Sri S.C. Gupta from Delhi, Sri Hari Shankar

Bakul and Sri Pradeep Bakul from Bombay, Sri R. Parthasarathy, Mrs. Parthasarathy,

Sri Jyothi Raghavan, Mrs. Jyothi Raghavan and Sri Jagadeeshan from Madras

specially had come down to Bangalore, to participate in the Aradhana.

The outstation dignitaries were honored with Sesha Vastras by the Centre. The next

day, Dr. Narayana Rao, assisted by Kum. Sunanda presented a cultural program by

the children of Saipadananda Bala Vihara members. The children gave a number of

cultural events, like dance, music and episodes from the lives of Sai Baba Sri

Ramakrishna Parama Hamsa and Sri Vivekananda. Sri Seshadri distributed prizes to

the children in Dance, Drama and various other competitions held earlier.

Sri Saipadananda Brotherhood Get - Together

By Sri T.M.M. Raghavan

The Second Bi-Annual Get-Together of Sri Saipadananda Brotherhood members took

place at the Sri Sai Spiritual Centre on Swamiji's Aradhana Day on Sunday 25th

January, 1998. Nearly 70 members attended. After invocation by Sri B.V.L.N.

Murthy, Sri R. Seshadri, President, SSC, welcomed the gathering and spoke on the

uniqueness of Swamiji among modern saints. He said that such get-togethers should

take place twice a year during Swamiji's Jayanthi and Aradhana days. Air-Cmde

T.M.M. Raghavan presented a report of the proceedings of the first Get-Together held

on 27th April, 1997,

and reminded the members of the objectives of the Brotherhood and the Pledge taken

by all of us to truly and faithfully follow the teachings of Swamiji in our lives and

endeavor our best to spread the message of our Swamiji amongst our family members,

neighbors and friends".

Several members participated in the discussion that followed and offered various

suggestions. Sri C. V. Bhaskara Rao emphasized the importance of chanting regularly

Vishnu Sahasranama, which was dear to the Swamiji. Dr, P.S. Narayana Rao

suggested that a small pocket size booklet thus spoke Radhakrishna Swamiji, should

be brought out. Sri Puttanna informed that he was already bringing out hand written



copies of "Saipadananda Vachanamrita" in Kannada. He suggested regular activities

like 3 hrs, chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama, Chanting of Bhagvadgeetha, Study Circle

reading and discussion of "Apostle of Love" etc., Sri. D.V. Krishna Murthy suggested

that Dr. PS. Narayana Rao's Kannada translation of the book should also be included

in the readings.

Dr. B.K. Raghu Prasad suggested that one or two pages in "Saipadananda" Magazine

should be devoted exclusively to Brotherhood news. Capt. Ramamurthy felt that

devotees of Swamiji were spread all over the City and therefore, some activities of the

Brotherhood could be arranged at other centers also. Sri M.R. Sanjeevi suggested that

addresses of all Swamiji's devotees spread all over India should be compiled. He also

suggested that the sayings of Swamiji should be displayed on the notice board daily.

Sri R. Parthasarathy, Retd. Asst. Editor of The Hindu said that it was a happy

occasion.

Brotherhood promotes thinking and practicing Swamiji's precepts and is a sure way to

salvation. He suggested compilation and publication of the innumerable experiences

of Swamiji's devotees. It would serve as a record and also inspire the younger

devotees who had not seen Swamiji when he was in his physical frame. Our children

and neighbors and their families should all know about Swamiji and his teachings. He

said that there was no need for a formal organization since it was the spirit of

Brotherhood which should be the guiding factor. A few patrons might be selected to

provide guidance to the Brotherhood.

After further discussion, Sri Parthasarathy's suggestions were accepted regarding the

organization and patrons. The following were unanimously selected as Chief Patron

and Patrons

.

Sri. R. Parthasarathy ... Chief Patron.

Patrons:

Sri C. V. Bhaskara Rao

Sri R. Seshadri

Sri Radhakrishnan, Hubli

Sri G. R. Inamdar, Mumbai

Sri M. Rangachar, Hyderabad



Air - Cmde. Raghavan summed up the proceedings and proposed a vote of thanks. He

assured the members that all suggestions would be considered by the Centre and a

suitable action plan would be formulated.

Earlier before the meeting, Sri. A. V. Raja Raman declared open an exhibition of rare

photographs of Swamiji in various moods, events, functions participated by Swamiji

and also the paintings and sketches by Swamiji on invitation cards received by him.

In the evening, there was a public meeting where speakers spoke on aspects of

Swamiji's uniqueness as a saint. Detailed report appears elsewhere in this issue.

SHIRDI SAI BABA SATSANG

Sri B.H. Chamaraj, Covener, Shirdi Sai Baba Satsang at Sri Radhakrishna Temple,

Kamaraj Road, Bangalore, informs us that they have celebrated Sri Radhakrishna

Swamiji's 'Aradhana' on a grand scale. Recently they had a gift of a colour portrait of

Swamiji. Devotees performed 'Ashtottara' archanas to Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha

Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji from January 22 to January 24, 1998,

culminating in the Aradhana on January 25.

Since the morning of January 25, the 'Satsang' hall of Radhakrishna Temple was

echoing with Sai and Swamiji's namasmaran vibrating in the devotional atmosphere.

The function began at 3 PM with archanas to Sai and Swamijis and chanting of

Vishnu Sahasra Namam. Devotees from Madras, Guntakal, Hubli and video troupe

led by Sri Ravichandran participated in the function, apart from Sri Motilal Gupta, his

wife from Faridabad. Devotees offered their obeisance to the articles blessed and

sanctified by our Swamiji. Two rupee coins placed on small pictures of Baba were

given to the devotees, thus imparting our Swamiji's silent Upadesh that “Nishta” and

“Saburi” are essential to Sai-bhakti Sadhana.

As long as the book-learned man does not give up his mistaken identification with the

body, organs, etc., which are unreal, there is no talk of emancipation for him, even if

he be ever so erudite in the Vedanta Philosophy.



Just as thou does not identify thyself with the shadow body, the image-body, the

dream body, or the body thou hast In the imagination of thy heart, cease thou to do

likewise the living body also.

Shankaracharya

People are frightened when they are told that they are the Universal Being,

everywhere present. Through everything you work, through every foot you move,

through every lip talk, through every heart you feel.

People are frightened when they are told this. They will again and again ask you if

they are not going to keep their Individuality. What is individuality? I should like to

see it. A baby has no moustache; when he grows to be a man, perhaps he has a

moustache and beard. His individuality would be lost, if it were in the body...... Says a

Sanskrit philosopher: It is only the Spirit that is the individual, because it is infinite;

no infinity can be divided; infinity cannot be broken into pieces. It is the same one,

undivided unit for ever; and this is the Individual man, the Real Man.

- Jnana Yoga, Swami Vivekananda, Almora Edn. (1955),

SEETHA-RAMA AND PADMAVATI - SRINIVASA KALYANA

The Bhagavatha Shiromani Srinivasa Raghavacharya Bhajana Sabha recently

conducted Sri Seetha-Rama and Sri Padmavathi-Srinivasa Kalyana at Sri Sai Spiritual

Centre on February 7 and 8. Sri and Smt. Sambasiva Bhagavathar of Chennai and Sri

S. Jayarama Bhagavathar of Coimbatore and party conducted the Kalyana

Mahothsava, assisted by Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagavathar, Sri Vittal Srinivasa

Bhagavathar and others from Bangalore.

A large gathering of devotees were present on both the days. Ashtapadi Bhajans and

Divyanama Sankeerthanam attracted the attention of all music lovers and the devotees

were thrilled by the divine atmosphere.

Before the conclusion, Sri R. Seshadri, President of our Centre, honored Sri Jayarama

Bhagavathar with Sesha Vasthra of Baba. Smt. Mahalakshmi Mohan, daughter of



Bhagavatha Shiromani Sri Srinivasa Raghavacharya, sponsored the above program,

with the assistance of Sri Aswathanarayana Swamiji.

- Syama Rao

BOOK REVIEW

SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: Its Message for The Modern Man - by Swami

Shantananda Puri - Publishers: Karnataka Arya Vysya Mahasabha Charitable Trust,

Bangalore - Sponsored by Sakala Narasimhalu Chetty & Sons - Pp. 98, Price: Not

mentioned. Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the Maha Puranas, authored by Veda Vyasa,

extols the exploits and leelas' of Lord Krishna. Just by listening to these with total

devotion and faith for seven days. King Parikshrt attained “Mukti”.

Swami Shantananda Puri of Vasishta Guha, Tehri Garhwal, U.P., Himalayas, has not

recounted in this beautiful, handy book, the tales or the Philosophy of Srimad

Bhagavatam, but directly and instantly addresses the modern man, assailed by doubts

and fear and enticed by fleeting and transient pleasures, in a violent world of today. It

is never late even for such a confused man to correct himself in his day to day

activities and get Redemption, through 'Sadhana'.

The revered Swamiji, with his vast experience, erudition and yogic sadhana for long,

has dished out a spiritual treat to even ordinary mortals, in lucid, simple English. The

types are clean with beautiful printing, compelling reader's attention. The cover page

design in colour with the enchanting Balakrishna makes immediate appeal.

SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA : FROM PADMAPURNA AND MAHADEVA

PROKTA PP. 96 PRICE RS.20

These “Divyanamas” are different from the widely known and popular Sri Vishnu

Sahasranama from Mahabharata. These names, in Telugu script, describe Sri Maha

Vishnu's “gunas” and “leelas” in his different 'Avathars'. In the Phalasruti, it is stated

that it is Pavanakara and Nirvanadayaka.



To facilitate Parayana, the slokas have been given at the end of the book. The

meanings were published by the Gita Press, which have been rendered into Telugu by

Sri K. Subba Reddy.

SRI ANIL KESAVA RAO RASAL - A UNIQUE PERSONALITY

- By G. R. Inamdar

Sri Anil Kesava Rao Rasal, one of the intimate devotees of Sai Baba and Sri

Radhakrishna Swamiji, was absorbed at the lotus feet the Master on December 29,

1997. He passed away at 11a.m. in Mumbai, with a 'Japa Mala' in his hand and in full

'Namasmaran' of Baba. He was with Bombay Port Trust and aged 53 years.

Religiously inclined even from his early years, Anil Rasal

became a Sai devotee in the early sixties. Once in his meditation

in 1977 at Dwarakamai in Shirdi, he visualized a white-bearded

venerable person. He could not understand the significance nor

was he aware of that. When he prayed to Sai Baba, the answer

came in the person of a Sai brother holding in his hands a copy of

'Apostle of Love' on the outer cover of which was a colour picture of Sri

Radhakrishna Swamiji. Anil Rasal recognized him as the one whom he had visualized

in his meditation. He got full details of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji from that Sai

brother. The Guru had located his 'Shishya even before the latter sought him: Anil

Rasal was so impressed by the vision of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji in his meditation

that he developed an intense desire to have his 'darshan'. The opportunity came in

January 1978, when Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji visited Shirdi to preside over the

annual gathering of contributors to Sat Leela magazine. At the first sight itself,

Swamiji blessed him and convinced Anil Rasal that he was his Guru. In fact, Anil

Rasal translated Swamiji's speech from English to Marati in that Annual Gathering of

Sai Leela writers and poets.

Rasal stayed in Wadala, Mumbai, and his wife and two daughters are also keen

devotees of Sai Baba and Swamiji. They had Swamiji's darshan a couple of times

more before he cast off his mortal coil in 1980. However, Anil Rasal used to recollect



several instances in which Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was especially kind and

gracious to him. He also received several invaluable spiritual instructions from

Swamiji.

When Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji attained 'Mahasamadhi' at Bangalore on January 14

1980, he appeared in his subtle form in the meditation of Anil Rasal at Mumbai and

bade him good-bye.

By virtue of his devotion to Sai Baba and Swamiji, personal and spiritual

accomplishments and ability to interpret the teachings of saints, Anil Rasal became a

spiritual guide and from 1989 onwards, he established a 'Satsang' in R.K, Vaidya

Road, Dadar, Mumbai, where he provided solace and support to a good number of

seekers and followers. He was popularly called 'Dada Rasal' by his followers.

He has published a number of articles in several Sai magazines and was a familiar

figure in any Sai devotee's convention or gathering in the last two decades. A simple

and unassuming man, he breathed Sai, talked Sai and was in every moment in

constant communion with Sai Baba.

Fragrant be Anil Rasal's memory: SRI K. G. SRINIVASAN, we record with profound

regret the passing away of Sri. K.G. Srinivasan (77 years), former President of Sri Sai

Samaj, Someswarapura, Bangalore, on January 17. Sri Srinivasan who leaves his

wife, two sons and two daughters, was serving the institution with devotion right from

the forties, when it was inaugurated by H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji. He had trained

up numerous children in Sai Bhajans and Thiruppavai', for several years. He had

retired from the HAL.

Particulars regarding the ownership of SAIPADANANDA, the quarterly, as per Rule

8 of the Registration on Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956.

1. Title of the Newspaper : SAIPADANANDA

2. Registration Number

3. Language/Languages in which it is published

4. Periodicity of Publication



5. Retail selling price

6. Name of the Printer

7. Publisher's Name

8. Nationality Address

9. Editor's Name Nationality Address

English & Kannada

Quarterly Rs. 3. Per copy

P. Sridhar

R. Seshadri

(For Sri Sai Spiritual Centre)

Indian 497, 8th Cross, 7th Block Jayanagar West, Bangalore - 560 082

R. Seshadri Indian

497, 8th Cross, 7th Block Jayanagar West,

Bangalore - 560 082 10-Permise where printing is

Conducted: Elegant Priming Works

No. 74, South End Road Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560 004.

I hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge

and belief.

R. SESHADRI

Publisher Date; 1.3.1998 (for Sri Sai Spiritual Centre)

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