Shirdi Sai Baba

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A unique Saint

description

Shirdi Sai Baba is a unique saint who taught faith and compassion and assured his devotees peace and happiness.

Transcript of Shirdi Sai Baba

Page 2: Shirdi Sai Baba

His Temple, located at

Shirdi, Maharashtra, India

attracts millions of

devotees of all religions,

castes and creed who

come to pay homage to

Shri Sai Baba. The temple

is a beautiful shrine that

was built over the

Samadhi of Shri Sai

Baba.

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Rising above religion, Shirdi Sai Baba, the Indian

sage preached simple moral and spiritual laws.

While his message appeals to many in this age of

complexity, others take refuge in him because of his

promise to help devotees in times of crisis

A fakir in a tattered kafni who begged for alms till his last

day. Who founded no religion or sect, started no

movement, initiated not a single disciple, left behind no

apostles. Who breathed his last eight long decades ago

and about whom very few had heard till the 1960s.

[By Parveen Chopra]

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The Sai Baba of Shirdi

Today, he has millions of devotees in India and other

parts of the world. Shirdi, the obscure village in

Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, in India, has

become a pilgrimage destination much as Bethlehem,

Jerusalem or Varanasi. The number of pilgrims go there

average 25,000 a day and can climb to over a hundred

thousand on holidays and festival days. They belong to

every strata of society and all religions, and include

politicians, film stars and rich businessmen.

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Sri Sai Baba

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His philosophy ingrained 'Shraddha'

meaning faith and 'Saburi' meaning

compassion. According to him Shraddha

and Saburi were the supreme attributes to

reach the state of godliness.

He regularly recited Hindu and Muslim prayers. His Hindu followers

considered him to be an avatar or reincarnation of Shiva and

Dattatreya. Sai Baba did not leave any written works. All his

teachings were oral and catchy. His sayings were short, crisp and

in layman language with which the common mass could easily

associate.

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EVER-LIVING PRESENCE

Sai Baba had the reputation of being clairvoyant,

healing the sick, restoring eyesight, affecting

events at a distance, appearing in devotees'

dreams, and exercising control over the

elements. Biographies of Baba are replete with

stories of how he helped his devotees out of

problems and crisis.

He continues to do so.

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Never ask a saint his caste or creed, said Kabir.

Nonetheless the question is discussed threadbare

in Sai literature and is surrounded by controversy.

However, even a casual study of Sai Baba's life shows

that he offered an eclectic Hindu-Muslim synthesis,

perhaps to promote amity between the two dominant

and mutually distrustful communities in India. Sai

Baba is not a name; the word Sai comes from the

Persian expression saih, which means an itinerant Sufi

fakir. He came to be called Sai Baba after coming to

Shirdi

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By appearance, he was a Muslim fakir, but, his ears were

pierced—a Hindu sign—and he was not circumcised. He

lived in a mosque but curiously christened it Dwarka-

mai and kept a sacred fire going there. He had intimate

knowledge of the Hindu holy books and the Koran and

was well versed in the Indian Sufi lineage. He promoted

Hindu and Muslim festivals and sent money and

materials for the renovation of temples. When Muslims

asked him why he allowed Hindus to do puja to him, he

remarked: "Do in Rome as the Romans do", indicating

that he was ministering to a Hindu following.

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In her thesis, Marianne Warren, however, makes a strong case

that Shirdi Sai Baba was a Sufi divine who has been progressively

Hinduised in his biographies written by Hindus. Her main source of

evidence is the note left by Abdul, Baba's servant and Sufi pupil for

many years. The unpublished manuscript in Deccani Urdu,

contains Baba's instructions and teachings based on the Koran. She

also refers to the Baba doing dhikr (constant repetition of Allah's

name) even during sleep. Then, Allah Malik (Allah alone is the Lord

and master) was Baba's pet expression. Warren also

interprets Baba's own spiritual growth, his life and sayings in the

light of Maqamat and Ahwal (the stations and states of the Sufi way).

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Sai Baba encouraged his devotees to pray, chant God's

name and read holy scriptures - he told Muslims to

study the Qur'an and Hindus texts like the Ramayana,

Vishnu Sahasranam, Bhagavad Gita (and commentaries

to it), Yoga Vasistha. He advised his devotees and

followers to lead a moral life, help others, treat them

with love and develop two important features of

character: faith (Shraddha) and patience (Saburi). He

also criticized atheism. In his teachings Sai Baba

emphasised the importance of performing one's duties

and being content.

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compassion

Sai baba encouraged charity and said, "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere.

If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect."

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Human being is

subjected to `Karma' for

his actions in the

past lives as well as the

present one. It is

cumulative in effect.

Redemption from

`Karma' in its duration,

magnitude and intensity

is in the hands of God.

As such, faith in God

and prayer to Him are

essential to eliminate

`Karma'.

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Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi soil, their sufferings will

come to an end.

The wretched and miserable will rise to joy and happiness as

soon as they climb the steps of my Samadhi.

I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this

earthly body.

My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of my devotees.

I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb.

My mortal remains will speak from my tomb.

I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who

surrender to me and who seek refuge in me.

If you look to me, I look to you.

If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.

If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.

There shall be no want in the house of my devotee.