Sai Baba For the countless millions of devotees who have come into his fold, Sai Baba is the avatar of this age. He is revered as the incarnation of the full power of divinity. Such an auspicious advent has not occurred since ancient days when the divinity came into human form 5000 years ago, in another major age of mankind. Then he came as Krishna, to enact the role of avatar of that particular age. Now, the divinity has come again in the role of world teacher, to guide and uplift mankind at this present critical time in human history. Just as sweetness cannot be understood through words alone, but must be experienced directly through the taste, so also the Sai phenomenon cannot be understood by merely reading about him or studying his words or even experiencing him first-hand. His truth can be known only by fully living his teachings and practicing them in every thought, word and action of daily life. By transforming our lives in this way, we discover our own truth. This is the rarest of all jewels that this avatar has come to bestow on us. It is the deeper message of the mission for which he has incarnated, namely, that the divinity appears among us in order to remind us of our divinity. “I know who I am,” he says. “I have come to help you to realize who you are.” In essence, we are no less than he. We are God incarnate. That is the principal teaching of his Gita. He has come as the guide to help us realize our truth and return mankind to its divine source. The three Incarnations of Sai Like Allah of the Muslims, or Jahweh of the Jews, or Divine Father of the Christians, or the Buddha Nature of the Buddhists, or Ahura Mazda of the Parses, or the Supreme Self of the Vedantins, or the Great Spirit of the native Americans, Sai Baba is a name for the omnipresent, supreme reality, which in most religions is known as God. The one divinity takes on countless names and manifests itself in countless forms. It has chosen a 250 year period beginning in the early 19th century to manifest successively in three human forms as avatar for this kali age, to restore righteousness to floundering humanity. All three of these incarnations are called Sai Baba, which means divine mother-father. The present Sai Baba, born in 1926, is the second in a succession of three incarnations of the Sai avatar. He is known as Sathya Sai Baba. The first incarnation was Shirdi Sai Baba, who left his mortal body eight years earlier in 1918. Shirdi Sai Baba lived his life exemplifying the unity of God and the brotherhood of man, by ministering to both the Hindu and Muslim communities of central India, each of which claimed him as their own. For many years, he would spend alternate days living in a Hindu temple and in a Muslim mosque. The Sai avatar will remain in the present Sathya Sai form until his mid 90’s, well into the 21st century. Then, shortly after leaving his physical body, he will be born again in the south of India, appearing as the third and final incarnation. At that time he will be known as Prema Sai Baba and will complete the mission of the Sai avatar to end this kali age and usher in the golden age for mankind. Sai Baba’s Ashram – Prashanti Nilayam Sathya Sai Baba took birth in the little out-of-the-way hamlet of Puttaparthi in the south of India, near Bangalore. Now, a modern township has sprung up there, called Prashanti Nilayam, the abode of ultimate peace, which is his main ashram. It provides accommodations for thousands of pilgrims from all over India and from all parts of the globe, who come to experience Sai Baba’s daily public contacts with the devotees and private interviews for those who are fortunate to be chosen. The ashram houses a comprehensive educational complex where students come from all parts of India and abroad to live and study together. Small children can come into the residential program starting at the age of five in the primary school, then go on to the high school, college and university levels, and finally on to the postgraduate and doctoral levels, to complete their education twenty years later. The Sai educational system, with campuses in various states of India, is wholly non-denominational and completely cost-free. All the educational costs for thousands of students are borne directly by the Sathya Sai Baba Trust.

Naadi Inscriptions Naadi in Tamil means “in search of”. Because one individual go in search of his details in the naadi at the meant time these are called naadis. These predictions were inscribed on palm leaves. These predictions or prophecies are written by our ancient Rishis thousands of years ago. These are scattered throughout India. Some of these palm leaf inscriptions available in Tamilnadu were standardized, ordered and classified in Tamil Nadu nearly 1000 years ago during the reign of Cholas in South India. There are Number of Naadis available named after the Rishis who composed the same. There are only a few Naadi readers are available who could interpret the inscriptions which are written in the poetic language. There are various Naadis available like Agathiya Naadi, Suka Naadi, Brahma Naadi, Kausika Naadi etc. One article, which was taken from Sanathana Sarathi of February 1961 is entitled “Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba’s 500-year old Horoscope.” It reads: “There is an institution in New Delhi known as Indian Astro-Occult Research Association. Dr. E.V. Sastry, a famous and prominent member of the association happened to read the book Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. He then began a search to find out from Nadi Grandham available in Tamil Nadu, about the indications in Baba’s horoscope. … In these collections of grandhas, which are more than five hundred years old and are considered as one of the wonders of the world, were found some parts describing Baba, all of which were not in a single instance different from what is published about Baba’s life in the book Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. This truth made him wonderstruck. … Dr. Sastry … [whose] pen name is Leo … happened to come to Puttaparthi in November 1960 on the birthday of Baba. On that occasion Dr. Sastry had with him an old palm leaf taken out from the Nadi Grandham, which contained details about Baba, written by … an old, famous and well-learned Rishis. One of the Naadi,named Brahma Naadi says that Another naadi, Agastya Naadi says The Sukra Naadi states that, The Bruhu Samhita is a famous manuscript that predicts the future of everyone who will consult it.This Bruhu Samhitha written in the language Sanskrit , is famous especially in North India. People had found their name contained in it, along with the names of their parents, their life’s history and something about their destiny. Several people, who consulted the script have been told that they would visit Sai Baba, even though they didn’t know who he was at the time. A well-known astrology professor of Bangalore, Sri Ganjur Narayana Shastry, recently traced a Shuka Naadi Grantha (a volume of palm leaf manuscripts by Sage Shuka) on Sri Sathya Sai Baba, entitled Saicharitamrita Grantham. It consists of hundreds of palm leaf manuscripts written in Sanskrit and is thought to have been set down over 5000 years ago. It describes, accurately and at great length, Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s family tree and many facts about him. …

Living Divinity Respected elders, brothers and sisters and my young friends. During a very significant speech in 1981, Swami spoke about the ‘eight flowers of worship’. Out of these He said that Ahimsa, non-violence, is the most important. Swami’s concept of Ahimsa is far beyond the connotations of not causing physical harm. His concept of Ahimsa is not causing harm in word, thought and deed! I would like to commence today with an offering of such a flower at the Feet of our Lord Albert Einstein, the famous physicist, was once asked whether it is possible for him to explain Divinity in scientific terms. He said that it is conceivable but it would make no sense; it would be like explaining Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in the form of an air pressure curve. We have the same kind of a problem in speaking about Bhagavan’s Divinity. The Living Divinity cannot be explained in metaphors or examples; the limited cannot comprehend the unlimited; no form can contain it; the wayward cannot measure the stable; or the now measure the ever. We can only repeat the words of Sir Isaac Newton who said after enunciating the principle of gravity “I feel like a little boy playing with the pebbles on the seashore while the ocean of Truth lay all undiscovered before me”. Bhagavantham tells the story of how in the early years Swami once materialised a beautiful sapphire and stuck it on the statue of Shirdi Sai next to him. Bhagavantham was not only a staunch devotee but also a renowned scientist. The scientist in him wondered how the sapphire stood there without any ostensible means of support defying all laws of gravity. He started chuckling to himself, “Here I am accepting the principle miracle of the creation of a sapphire and I am questioning the secondary miracle of the sapphire defying the laws of gravity. Surely one who creates matter can also transcend the laws of matter.” A Malaysian devotee once told me the story of how 20 miles from Prashanti Nilayam his car stopped for want of gas. This was his first visit to Prashanti Nilayam and it was late evening. He was naturally concerned; he prayed to Swami, “Swami, make this car move forward to Prashanti Nilayam this evening.” He prayed, asked the driver to start, and the engine stuttered and they started moving to Prashanti Nilayam. Next day the grateful devotee told Swami at Darshan time, “Swami thank you for the Grace of moving this car to Prashanti Nilayam without gas.” Swami looked at him and said, “But that was not your only problem.” Puzzled he went back, filled gas in the car, started the engine and turned the wheel. The wheel just locked and a mechanic was brought who found out that there was a broken tie-rod end. There was no way this car could have travelled 20 miles with or without gas. How many of us have travelled in cars with our broken tie-rod ends fixed unbeknown to us by this cosmic welder. On this forum, several devotees in the last few days have shared their experiences of Swami. Each one of us have received this benediction from Swami if only we know where to look for it. Some of these we know; many like the Malaysian devotee we do not know at all. Howard Murphet, whose books have brought more foreign devotees to Swami than any other writer, calls all these ‘parables in action’. Whenever Swami materialises something, blows into something and creates something else or cures an affliction, He is in fact demonstrating these ‘parables in action’. Their purpose is not to make us richer, or to cure an affliction but to demonstrate to us and instruct us in the science of being and in the art of living through the demonstration of His Omniwill. I would like to share with you one such parable, one of many that I was privileged to have. I would like to share with you not the experience but the education behind the experience – it was like learning at the Feet of Divinity.  story I am about to tell has a lot of political implications, I seek your indulgence not to name the country where this took place as some of the people involved are still alive today. This country was a totalitarian military state and had had 3 major coups. There were 3 ethnic groups in the country – Muslims with political clout; Christians with economic strength; and tribal leaders who had their own axe to grind. Because of recent struggles there was a distrust of foreigners, particularly Asians. There was no constitution in this country and there was complete anarchy. I had heard of friends who had been taken away in the middle of the night and were never heard of since. There were summary executions – this was the order of the day. You could see bodies tied to automobile tyres and set fire to at the end of the streets; the stench of burning flesh and vulcanised rubber quite often rent the air. This was the background of the country where we wanted to introduce Swami’s concept of Education in Human Values. We organised a conference of secondary school teachers and in order to give a big PR event to this incident, I was given the responsibility of inviting the wife of the president of this country to inaugurate the session and preside over the first day. I went and met the president’s wife, she listened patiently and ultimately said that her office would get back to us as to whether she can preside or not. A couple of days later, as I was driving to work I found that there was a big black limousine that was following me. I was concerned because this country had a fearsome secret service system. I made some enquiries with a contact that I had in the government and I learned that an enquiry had been ordered against me. As there was a lot

Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba FIRST DAY’S PARAYAN – THURSDAY Chapter I The earth is only a small planet in this great Universe which is beyond the grasp of human intelligence. On this planet earth, there are numerous rivers, mountains, forests and oceans. Out of 84 million kinds of insects, birds and animals and other living creatures on this planet, great sages have concluded that the humans are the best living forms who can lead a very high form of divine life. But they, without realising their higher form among the living beings, fell prey to arrogance, egoism, and agnana (ignorance) with the result there is no peace for them, putting the entire creation to chaos and confusion. What is the cause for all this ? We must know the answer for this in the first instance. Going further to know the evolution of life forms on this earth, we came to learn that life first started under the water. Later on, the creatures living under water learnt to live outside the water, i.e. on the earth also. Further evolution took place and creatures that can live on earth alone developed. Out of these creatures and animals developed the human form and finally man came into existence. According to the above mentioned theory of evolution only, the order of Dashavatharas is determined in the Puranas. Firstly, Matsyavatara (in the form of fish) – Fish can live under water only. Then Kurmavatara (in the form of tortoise) which can live inside water as well as outside water, i.e. earth. Then Varahavatara, Narasimhavatara, Vamanavatara, etc. The Ramavatara and Krishnavatara have shown to what divine heights man can reach. If we examine carefully the order of Dashavatharas, you find that there is no difference between this order , and the theory of evolution of man. This theory of evaluation establishes that life at first started under water, then slowly spread to the earth adopting itself to the climatic conditions of the earth. These creatures slowly developed into animal forms and man has also developed from animal. Man is superior from other forms of animals, in as much as he is endowed with thinking power He has established a social order in the society where everyone can live happily. Toward this end, certain social orders and regulations have started to come into being. People living in different parts of the earth have formulated their own set of social orders depending on the local conditions. Over a period, these social orders and regulations have strengthened and become the “religion” of those people. People started strengthening their religions. The powerful among them became leaders and rulers. Religions started bowing before the powerful and a situation came when the religions had to toe the line of the powerful. Under religious banners, powerful rulers started invading other countries as well as attacking other religions also. This is the naked truth which is revealed by World History. Thus, many religions started coming into our country ‘Bharat’. Several foreign countries invaded our motherland and started spreading their religions here. Thus Christianity and Islam entered and established themselves. Religion is meant for leading an orderly and disciplined way of life in the the society and nothing else. But towards the end of the twentieth century in our country also, several attrocities are being committed in the name of religion by certain religious fanatics or fundamentalists, considering today the country’s political scenario – this should be carefully noted by all Sai Bhaktas. Though religion is good for the spiritual advancement, only peaceful methods should be followed as per Hindu dharma. In the present day conditions, though it is desirable to have one religion for one country, the ‘means’ adopted to achieve this should be through ‘Love’ or prema marga only. We will try to know more about this as we proceed further. India has been described by our ancestors as Punya Bhoomi , Karma Bhoomi, Dharma Bhoomi, and so on. We will now make an attempt to know how these names were given. Our country’s history of the mid-18th century reveals how during the British rule, our ancient civilisation gradually adopted the modern ways of British Civilisation. Under such circumstances, the Adi Devtas (celestial beings), Ashta Dikpalakas who guard our Punya Bhoomi, along with Bhoodevi (goddess of earth) went to Vishnu and narrated their woes to him as follows. “All through the ages, we have been happily discharging the duties allotted by you in Bharata Desha. But under the changed circumstances, the people are preferring happiness to dharma, wealth to justice, strength to love, bodily happiness to sacrifice, materialism to Godliness. Unless these undesirable qualities are nipped in the bud, it will lead to utter chaos in the near future. So you must take Avatar again in this world to set things right as you have done during your Krishna Avatar in Dwaparayuga and established peace after the Maha Kurukshetra war. After hearing their appeal, Lord Vishnu replied as follows: “All of you have discharged your duties properly and established peace, prosperity and happiness in Bharata Desha all these ages. But as soon as I finished my Krishna Avatar, Kali entered the earth. Adishakti has created this Kali with a purpose and therefore it is not proper to stop him from doing his work. The changes that you are noticing in the people of Bharata Desha are only due to this Kali.” Then they asked Lord Vishnu as to how to save the people from the actions of Kali and Lord Vishnu answered them as follows: “You all know why Bharata Desha is called Punya Bhoomi. There are a number of places on earth, with heavy snowfalls and cold waves. There are several places where you cannot get water for drinking or proper food. There are other places which are very hot. But only in places like Bharata Desha, there are different seasons. There are also a number of life giving rivers. Therefore, the people are able to raise good

Isa is Sai “When the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, Who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me, bear witness to me… “When He, the Spirit of Truth (Sathya) comes, He will guide you into all Truth… and He will declare to you and show you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me for He will receive of Mine and declare it, show it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore, I said that He will take of what is Mine and declare it, show it to you.” (John 16:13-15). In a discourse given on Christmas Day, 1978, Sathya Sai Baba pointed out a link between Himself and Jesus Christ: “Jesus’ original Name was Isa which, when repeated, is Sai. Isa and Sai, both mean Isvara, God, the Eternal Absolute, the Sath-Chith-Ananda (Being-Consciousness-Bliss). In the Tibetan manuscript at the monastery where Isa spent some years, His Name is written as ‘Issa’, which means: ‘the Lord of all living beings.’” We should note that “Isa” is the Muslim name for Jesus, also. Sathya Sai Baba has explained the meaning of His Name thus: “Sathya” means “Truth” or “True”, “Sa” means “Divine” and “All”. “Ai” or “Ayi” means “Mother”. Hence “Sai ” means “the Divine or Supreme Mother of all. ” “Sa” also means “Self-realization and visulization of the Lord – the highest stage of ‘samadhi’ and sadhana or spirtual practice.” “Aayi” means “Master” and “Baba” means “Father.” Thus “Sathya Sai Baba” mens: “the True Divine Mother/Father of all, the Goal of all yogic or spiritual endeavor, the ever-merciful Mother, the all-wise Father and the Goal of sadhna.” And, as per the Buddhist prophecy, spiritual people have indeed been drawn to this “Word of Truth.” In the Book of Revelations in The Bible, the Lord appears in His bloodred robe, His Name again being “True” – “Sathya”. On His Robe, on the thigh area, “He has a Name inscribed which no one knows but Himself.” (Rev. 19:12) We should remember that when Sathyanarayana announced Himself as “Sai Baba”, no one in his village of Puttaparthi even knew who “Sai Baba” was!

Immortal Words from Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

Four important discourses by Sri Sathya Sai Baba Shiva Shakthi(6 July 1963). Swami heals himself from an 8-day stroke and announces his third incarnation as Prema Sai eight years after he leaves this body. The revelation(17 May 1968). The last part of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s discourse at the “World Conference of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations” in Bombay, 17 May 1968. Sai Baba states plainly and directly that he has come as an incarnation of God to restore righteousness (dharma). Forty-Third birthday discourse(23 November 1968). Swami speaks about His being the Avatar and proclaims his mission on earth: the establishment of righteousness. Who is Sai?(9 June 1974). Sai Baba talks about God, the Religion of Love, and His Avatar-hood. He explains why he materializes rings, etc., and gives them to people, and he explains what “Sai Baba” means.

Shirdi Sai Baba Chronology of the life of Shirdi Sai Baba CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS (Episodes) CONCERNING SHRI SAI BABA  1835Sai Baba was born in very early hours of September 27 or 28, 1835 to a poor Hindu couple, Gangabhavadya and Devagiriamma. The newborn infant is left in the woods, abandoned. The infant is immediately discovered and adopted by a childless Muslim fakir and his wife. 1838Sai Baba lives with the Muslim couple for 4 years. Meanwhile the fakir dies.. The wife is left to tend the child alone. Even as a small child Baba stirs up sentiments between the Hindu and Muslim community by worshiping Allah in Hindu temples, and Hindu gods in the mosque. In fear of increased problems by a sole widow, Baba is handed over for care with a local mendicant and story-teller, Venkusa. 1839-51 Sai Baba spent 12 years with his Guru. The name of his Guru was Gopal Rao Deshmukh (Venkusa, also known as Venkavadhuta) ) of Selu. Some say ” Baba practiced penance at the tomb of His Guru in the cellar under the Neem Tree at Shirdi”. Arrival of Devidas at Shirdi (Aged 10-11 years) took place in 1846. When he enquired, BABA mentioned the name of his GURU as Venkusa implying VISHNU (Parvardigar). 1851Sai Baba first appeared at Shirdi and stays in the village for two months. He is noted to reside day and night under a Neem Tree (aged about 16 Years) which he claims is growing over the tomb of his old guru. After two months Baba disappeared to an unknown place.  ca. 1855-1857Sai Baba travels about from place to place and finally ends up in Dhoopkheda (or Dhoop) in Aurangabad District. There he ends up attending the marriage of Chandu Patel’s son in 1858. 1858Sai Baba returns to Shirdi along with the marriage-party of Chand Patil and remained at Shirdi for ever till His Samadhi. A widowed Deputy Collector and Settlement Officer by name H.V. Sathe (Hari Vinayaka Sathe) comes to Shirdi on the death of his wife. Baba takes great fondness to Sathe. Sathe was the first to set up apartments at Shirdi for temporary visitors. Baba regarded Sathe as his right hand in regard to all matters. Because Baba was keeping Sathe close to him and relying on him for everything, the residents of Shirdi grew jealous towards him.1865Saint Manik Prabhu of Homanabad in Bidar District of Karnataka passed away in 1878, Chaitra Vadya 14.  H. H. Akkalkot Swami left His mortal coil at Akkalkot in Solapur District of Maharashtra. (First appeared in 1835). It is reported that three of them (Manik Prabhu, Swami Samartha and SAIBABA) met at Humanabad.1885Saint Anandnath (aged 95 years) of Yewala Math and a disciple of Akkalkot Swami visited Shirdi and seeing Sai Baba exclaimed, “This is a precious real diamond.” 1886, April 16Mahasamadhi of Shri Ramkrishna Paramahansa of Bengal 1886, Margashirsh 15 Sai Baba got rid of an attack of asthma, by going into samadhi for 72 Hrs.  1887Manthrapragada Ramalaksmhi Devi, and my father, Venkata Narasimha Rao???who were childless in spite of efforts???visited their Guru, Shirdi Sai Baba, in 1887 and prayed to him for a child. As the fruit of Shirdi Sai Baba’s grace, I was born to them on August 8, 1888. Shirdi Sai Baba himself gave me my name, Shringeri Sharada Devi. As I am of fair complexion, he used to lovingly call me Gori.1889Abdullah arrived at Shirdi from Nanded (in West Khandesh near Jalgaon and Amalner).1892 (approx)Nanasaheb Chandorkar arrived at Shirdi for the first time after being invited by BABA many a time showing his intimate relations with NANA since his many previous births.  1894 (approx)Das Ganu (Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe) accompanied Nanasaheb Chandorkar to Shirdi for the first time.1896Celebration of ‘Urus’ ( fair) started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Gopalrao Gund, a Circle Inspector of Kopargaon.1898Sai Baba was seen sleeping on a narrow plank suspended with old rags about 7 or 8 feet above ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank. (Uknown year) About this time, the parents of Shyam came to Shirdi with the two-year old child named Mohan Shyam. A small school for children were adjoining Baba’s room. Shyam used to watch Baba at nights through the ventilator. Baba used to sleep on an eighteen-inch wide plank suspended suspended with old rags about 7 or 8 feet above ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank. Shyam was apprehensive that Baba might fall from his lofty but narrow perch during sleep. Shyam prayed to stay near Baba and serve him for his remaining days. 1899-1900Nanasaheb Chandorkar visited Shirdi with his sister-in-law’s husband, Shri Biniwale. Baba scolded Nanasaheb for dissuading Biniwale, a devotee of Shri Dattatmya from visiting Datta Temple on the bank of Godavari River to avoid delay in reaching Shirdi.  1900-1902Sai Baba like a learned Pandit explained Geeta to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who believed that BABA was not well versed  with Sanskrit  language of Pandits (learned people). 1903Das Ganu left Govt. service and as per Baba’s instructions settled at Nanded and started performing keertans and writing life histories of recent saints. 1903Das Ganu’s book ‘Sant Kathamrit’ was published. (Ch. 57 about Sai Baba’s advice to Nanasaheb Chandorkar). 1904, AprilRao Bahadur H. V. Sathe first arrived at Shirdi. (Aged 49 years). 1904-1905Nanasaheb Chandorkar’s pregnant daughter Mainatai at Jamner in Jalgaon District had severe pains of delivery. Sai baba sent Udi and Arati with Ramgir Gosavi from Shirdi and she had a safe delivery. Sai Baba even took the form of tonga’s Rajput driver to make Ramgir reach Jamner safe and on time. 1906Das Ganu’s book ‘Bhakta-Leelamrit’ was published. (Chs.. 31, 32 and 33 about Sai Baba). 1906Nanasaheb Chandorkar was transferred as Mamlatdar from Nandurbar to Pandharpur. On the way, he stopped at Shird! with his family and started requesting Baba to accompany them to Pandharpur and stay there permanently with them. The devotees then told Nanasaheb about the singing of bhajan just finished in which Baba’s mood of going to Pandharpur and staying there for ever was expressed. The