Ananya Bhakti… How many of us do get immersed in the melodic, enchanting music of Sai Krishna’s flute, completely intoxicated, forgetting our own selves??? Bhagawan narrates the essence of true, unparalleled devotion…Ananya Bhakthi… From Bhagawan’s Divine discourse at Abbotsbury, Chennai, on 19 Jan 1986. A Gopika once asked Radha how she felt when she saw Krishna, how her heart responded, what transformation occurred in her and what joy she experienced. Radha replied: “The moment I hear the melodious flute of Krishna, my heart becomes still, and I forget myself when I learn that Krishna is coming. I am lost in the music of His flute and I am aware of nothing else. How can I describe to you my feelings when I am intoxicated by the magic of His melody?” The God intoxicated devotee cannot describe his blissful experience in words. One who attempts to express it, has no real experience of it at all. Those who regard themselves as devotees should recognise the vast difference between their narrow minded attitude and the ineffable character of true devotion. They should resolve to shed all their petty attachments and develop steadfast devotion to God as the main object of their life. For this purpose, the company of the good is essential. Good thoughts are promoted only through association with the good. This means avoiding contact with the evil minded and the unrighteous. Association with bad persons makes even a good person bad. There are classic examples of the evil consequences of association with the bad. Kaikeyi in the Ramayana and Dharmaraja in the Mahabharata are examples of persons who suffered grievously because of their association with evil minded persons Manthara in the case of Kaikeyi and the Kauravas in the case of Dharmaraja. Everyone must strive to fill the heart with true devotion. Constant contemplation on the form of the Lord and frequent repetition of the Lord’s name are the means by which the heart is filled with the love of God. When there is this love, the devotee is filled with inexpressible ecstasy. It was out of such ecstasy that Kulasekhara Alwar, the royal saint, exclaimed: “Oh Lord! People talk of Moksha as the means of redeeming life and getting rid of birth and death. I do not ask for such redemption. I shall be content with loving you and serving you in countless lives. Allow me to love you and serve you that is the only blessing I seek from you and not Moksha.” II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

My Task Is This… 67 years ago, when Bhagawan was just over twenty years of age, He wrote a very revealing and inspiring reply to a devotee, who was perturbed by adverse talk by aimless tattered tongues, attempting to tarnish the Divine image. Pacifying the agitating mind Bhagawan responded, explaining His Task and His Divinity. The letter was dated 25th May 1947. To Bhaktas! My dear Boy. I received your letter and I noted the flow of the current of Prema and the echo of Bhakti in every word. It is impossible to see into the hearts of Jnanis and Yogis; nor is it possible to understand their ways. So, naturally, people talk about them, just as their fancy prompts them. No amount of fault-finding indulged in by these people can affect us, so long as we act truly and well, keep our purpose steadily in view and so long as we do not lose hold of the values dictated by Jnana. Don’t you know that only those trees get stoned, which have fruit on their branches? The tree with no fruits is not noticed by passers-by. Good and bad co-exist; they are companions for ever. That is in the very nature of the world. And, why, let me ask, should these people be blamed? Poor fellows! What do they know? What can they know? They are caught by every gust of greed, anger, envy and hate. So, they become intolerant and have no control of mind or tongue; they indulge in loose talk and slander. Those that know will never talk like that. It is not wise to take such ignorance seriously. Truth alone can win, believe Me. Un-truth must fail. It might appear to win for some little while, but, as soon as Truth appears on the scene, un-truth does flee. It is not the nature of Mahatmas to exult when worshipped or droop when they are neglected or cal­umnied. No Gita has laid down rules and regulations for the behaviour of Mahatmas; but, Sathpravarthana and Sadbuddhi are the fundamental traits …Beneficial Activity and Beneficial Thoughts. Provided these are there,  whatever is done over and above this for the benefit of the Bhaktas and for their welfare according to their deserts, we can afford to be free. You should pay no heed to the talk you men­tion. The Mahatmas do not owe their greatness to others who recognise them as such; nor do they lose their great­ness if some one fails to recognise them. Their stature is not heightened by praise or lowered by blame. Of course there are some “Yogis” who suffer from blame and they have every reason to fear. I shall tell you who they are. They quaff their full, they swallow pills Of opium, and chew the bhang—these ‘noble’ folk! They drink, they eat their fill Of low unwholesome food—these `famous’ men! “Tis wrong to state ’tis false to say That anything dies, they never die,” They swear while (!) cutting throats and eat The living things they like—these `teachers’ grand! They preach the lessons of love and peace But hate and fight, all on the sly—these `gurus’ great! They fret and fume and speak for long On dry as dust philosophy! This wondrous gang of Yogis false They surely dread a fall. It is only such that have to be afraid. You must have read, in the lives of Mahatmas, how they were as­sailed by small men in even worse ways. It is all part of the scheme,: don’t worry. How long can the poor dogs bark at the star? How can they produce any effect on the star? All this will continue just for a little time; our integrity is the means to victory. I shall not slacken My Task, My Activity, My Determination. For Me, Reputation, Fame, Blame, Calumny—all are equally insignificant. I am quite unconcerned with the whole lot. I speak and act, only to help the world and for the sake of the people. But, let Me tell you, I have no name, no place, no possession. By whatever name I am called, I respond! To whichever place I am called, I go and make My appearance. I have this as My very first, My vow, My self-imposed task. I have not spoken of this to anyone so far; I am not a part of this world; I am far far away from it. But yet, I engage Myself in the uplift of its inhabitants. My Shakti, My Power, My Mystery can never be understood, whoever studies it, howsoever intensely and well. You can yourself witness the glory that will be manifested hereafter. Bhaktas must learn patience and await events. Then, you will yourself realize the absurdity of your fears. I wrote this reply to you, because I felt you will be sad, unless I wrote. Otherwise, I would not have replied at all, for it is not in Me to pay heed to such things. Thus…..Your Baba. II Samastha Lokaha Sukhino Bhavantu II

Now And Forever As humanity is passing through a crucially important phase in its history, man needs to attempt to reinvent his lost fervour, fervour for spirituality utilising all God-given agendas to the best… and thus comes the supreme importance of “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu” – the Universal MahaMantra born of Sri Sathya Sai HimSelf. Dwelling upon the sublime living exemplified by Bhagawan, the Sri Sathya Sai Bhagavatham, writes Sri Jullie Chaudhuri about the supreme importance of the phase humanity is passing through… Easter Day 2011 the world received some excruciatingly devastating news.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba had chosen to aloof Himself from the Physical. Easter was on 24th April that year. This year Easter Day just passed us by on 27th March. Incidentally, 28th March, was the day The Lord selected to admit Himself into the SSSIHMS. Then on, each day every devoted heart experienced tremendous soreness and awaited any bit of news, each moment of the day about their Beloved Swami – their Centre of Adoration. The fervour for Bhagawan surpassed limits. And anxious thoughts flooded each cell of the being.What all has He taken upon Himself? What can we do to ‘ease’ things?  Are we not responsible in some way for all that was happening? How can we share in howsoever a minute manner the colossal expanse, the unimaginable magnitude, the almighty contamination the Almighty had thrust upon His most adorable Form? Bhagawan is beyond pain, yet, each heart was writhing, burning in agony. And still is.Prayers rented the ether…prayers to Him…for Him. On this day, on 28th March 2011, a pacemaker was fitted into the heart of the One Who is the Heart of the Universe…Who sets the pace of every atom in creation! Is there anyone Who can fathom the leelas, the sportive play, the mystical pronunciations, the transcendental acts of Bhagawan? The human mind is fixed in limitations, confined in conditions. Conversely, God is beyond conditions, beyond logic, beyond any and every limitation. There are no laws binding upon the One Who makes the Laws…for, even as the energy structure is being altered, transformed and amended as each person and the environment evolves…classifying a dynamic process…His Will too refines, redefines and decides the Cosmic Script and the laws that harmonise and fit the script. No one can comprehend the ways of God. They are beyond description. – Baba Avatars do not manifest to please or convince any mortal. The descent of God in the Physical is for the resuscitation of Dharma, for reviving Shanti, for escalating pristine Prema, for establishing Ahimsa, for the protection of the meek and downtrodden, to bless the helpless, fundamentally the Divine Being appears so as to facilitate the wellbeing of each being. The welfare of all beings attracts a Divine Incarnation. Consequently, the life, breath, message and mission of the Sathya Sai Avatar, the Source of Creation, the eternal spring of Compassion is essentially Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu. Moreover, the essence of Samastha Lokaah was planted in each individual soul as it birthed itself from the Cosmic Womb…the womb of Mother Sai. Quite essentially and unknowingly all are silently exuding this Mantra. It is time enough to arise, awaken and be aware of this truth, this Dharma of our existence especially during this period of Sai Lent. Then on may it blend with every heartbeat, each inhalation that destiny has bestowed upon us. Isn’t this what pleases the ever blissful Supreme Father and Mother of Creation? Isn’t this the bliss of our Precious Lord? Come, let us dwell upon the sublime living exemplified by Sai…may Sathya Sai Bhagavatam continuously absorb our soul, may Samastha Lokaah/Jeeva Sukhino Bhavantu propel our thoughts, words and deeds. May His compassion be our everyday mission. Together let us offer allegiance to the breath of Sai. Every dawn guide us, Oh! Beloved Master,How may we reach out to all incessantly?How may we live to please only Thee?May the shimmering pink-gold Light of Thy Prema,Embrace our heart space,Help us to be kind to ourselves too,Strengthen our personal sadhana,Intensify our Aradhana,That we may  sychronise the five senses with each human value,In thoughts, words and deeds as they flow through,Deepen our understanding of Samastha Lokaah/Jeeva Sukhino Bhavantu,Whereby,We remain ensconced in the sphere of Sathya Sai,Enhance our link and association with You,You are Now, You are Forever,May we ever bask in the realm of forever with You.Now and Forever. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

The Legend Of “Sathyam Sivam Sundaram” One Word… many meanings, One Glance… countless answers, One Smile… an instant glimpse of Infinity, One Touch… The Liberating Elixir, and now, with a full life-time with The All-Mighty… Who Is Sampoornam, The Sampoorna Avatar Who holds the Key for Liberation… Infinity… Oneness, can humans attempt to read Him between lines? Acting out a ‘preceding’ drama, Bhagawan had long ago told His biographer Prof Kasturi that, ‘…this Swami cannot be understood through books,’ that led to the birth of ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’, the ‘Beauty Beyond Compare’ mystical biography series of The Sampoorna Avatar.    It was an afternoon in Prasanthi Nilayam, almost seven decades ago. Prof Kasturi, Bhagawan’s biographer-cum-translator, who had ‘many pens in his pocket’, was standing on the portico of the then Sanathana Sarathi Press, absorbed in an active conversation with himself, until a ‘curious’ gentleman came by and asked him: Are there any books on Swami available here? Kasturi: No, we print only a monthly magazine. The curious ‘soul’ moved on, apparently disappointed, not ‘knowing’ that he was being made an instrument in His Hand. The said portico of the then press building could be seen from the first floor of the Mandir, that housed The Divinity in person then. Interestingly Bhagawan had ‘noticed’ the conversation, and soon sent word for Kasturi. Ever implicitly obedient to The Master, Kasturi ‘instantly’ presented himself in The Master’s Presence. Bhagawan: What did that person ask you? Kasturi: He asked whether there are any books on Swami. Bhagawan: And what did you tell him? Kasturi: I told him there were no books. Bhagawan: That is not the right answer; you should have told him that this Swami cannot be understood through books. Saying so Bhagawan permitted Prof Kasturi to leave, only to ignite a burning volcano of ‘deep introspection’ inside of him. Narrating the events after, writes Prof Kasturi. “I came down the steps, wiser as a result of the glimpse He gave me of His inscrutability and sadder, at the prospect of no book being published on Swami, not even the one by me. Baba was looking down on me when I slowly wended my way back to the press. When I was half-way through, I looked up through the wet film. I then knew that He had read my mind, for, He waved the reassuring Palm to calm the surging sadness.” “Consolation was conferred pretty soon. Baba was among devotees at Madras (Chennai) and Venkatagiri for a few days. At Puttaparthi we were hoping He would return by the weekend. But, His car negotiated a newly-laid macadam road and pulled up, quite surprisingly on Thursday itself. He sent for me. My heart went pit-a-pat. What was I in for? Had I done anything reprehensible? Talking ill of others or even thinking ill? My mother who realised that I was summoned into the Presence started praying that I may be pardoned for any blunder into which I had stumbled. I presented myself before Him. He smiled at my situation, eyed me from head to foot and said, “At Madras and Venkatagiri, people are asking, “Any literature on Swami?”, and you are sitting quiet here.” Eleven years after that first meeting at Bangalore (Bengaluru) , Baba had decided that the time was ripe, the world had developed the appetite, and that the book can be served to the hungry. When the typescript was nearly ready, I struggled long to discover a title worthy of the Avatar. Baba had the letter S S S repeated on the parapet on the first floor of Prasanthi Nilayam. He referred to Himself as S S S often, in such statements as, “Unless I say S S S, how could it come through?” or “Sai Ki Sarvamoo yes yes yes” (For Sai, always, it is S S S). I decided therefore that the “Life” must have three words in its title each beginning with an S. It must also be redolent with Divine vibrations and convey the glory of God whose leela (Divine sport) the book was presuming to narrate. I roamed over Vedic, Upanishadic and Epic pastures but could not hit on any better phrase than ‘Sathyam Jnanam Anantham’ expressive of God or Brahman. S S S is Sri Sathya Sai, Sathyam has to be in the title, but, what are the other two S’s to be? Santham, Sundaram, Sivam, Santhosham, Sukham? I posed my problem before many. At last one night while waiting for a train on the platform at far-off Davangere, I decided that “Sathyam Sivam Sundaram” sounded appropriate and authentic. Baba blessed it the instant I consulted Him at Nandanavanam, Whitefield. He went into the room behind and brought out an album of photographs. He showed me three photographs of Himself when seated on the same chair at Nandanavanam taken within a few moments of each other by Matthews, saying, “You can have these three together, side by side on the cover. See! This is a little serious Sathyam. Here you find Me with the bud of a smile, as Sivam, and this is a full smile, Sundaram. Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram is good”, He said with a pat on my shoulder. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavnatu II

Manasa Bhajare… With this first-ever message to humanity, He spilled out The Secret For Liberation… Now, man must remember that every recurrence of 20th Oct is a ‘SaiLent’ reminder to him to revisit His ‘first-ever’ message to make ‘’Manasa Bhajare…’ one’s life-breath and . . . beyond!!! Announcing the dismissal of Maya, announcing His True Truth, Sathya, The ‘little’ Divine at 14, bestowed upon the humanity the first blessing and in fact, the Ultimate Blessing… Prayer For Liberation, Manasa Bhajare… While revisiting the epochal happening on the 20th October 1940, man should ponder upon as to what does The Mantra entail? It is simpler than the simplest. The mind that serves as a mirror for the individual jeeva need to be purified with the everlasting presence of the Guru, The SadhGuru, Who Is nothing but the purest feeling of I Am…SAI…I Am… Bhagawan says, the ‘I’ represents The Brahmam, and He…Sathya Sai Is the very Source of this Brahmam…Para Brahmam…The True Truth, The Absolute!!! It is this Truth that the then 14 year old ‘Little Divine’ pronounced to you and me and to one and all, to His creation at large! The Mantra that becomes the essence of human life, that contains the Secret For Liberation! A recap of the epochal happening on the Annunciation Day, as penned by Prof N. Kasturi. On the 20th day of October, 1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by special bus, Sathyanarayana started for school as usual. The Excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu who was very much attached to the little Baba, accompanied Him, as far as the school gate and went home, rather reluctantly. He seemed to see a superb halo, round the face of Baba that day and he could not take his eyes away from that enchantment. Within a few minutes, Baba too turned back to the house. Standing on the outer doorstep, he cast aside the books He was carrying and called out, “I Am no longer your Sathya.” “I Am Sai.” The sister-in-law came from the kitchen and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendour of the halo, which she saw around Baba’s head! She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, “I Am going; I don’t belong to you: Maya has gone; My bhaktas are calling Me; I have My Work; I can’t stay any longer.” And, so saying, He turned back and left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing all this; but, Baba only told him, “Give up all your efforts to ‘cure’ Me; I Am Sai; I do not consider MySelf related to you.” Neighbour Sri Narayana Sastri heard the noise; he listened and realised that it was something serious; he ran in; he saw the splendour of the ‘halo’ and fell at Baba’s Feet. He too heard the Historic Declaration, “Maya has left; I Am going; My work is waiting.” Seshama Raju was nonplussed; he could scarce collect his wits to meet this new situation. A boy, just fourteen, talking of bhaktas, work, maya, and the philosophy of belonging! He could think of only one plan: Sathya was entrusted to him by the parents and it was therefore his task to inform them; Sathya could leave the house, only after they came to Uravakonda. But, Sathya would not step into that building again; He moved out into the garden of Excise Inspector’s Bungalow, and sat on a rock, in the midst of the trees. People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers and fruits; the tope resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the lines that Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them that day was, as many still remember, Maanasa bhajare GuruCharanamDusthara bhava saagara tharanam “Meditate in thy mind on The Feet of The Guru; that can take you across the difficult sea of samsara.” His classmates wept when they heard that Sathya will no longer attend school, that He was much beyond their reach, that His company was hereafter only for those upon whom He showers His Grace. Many came to the garden with incense and camphor, to worship Him. Some came to sympathise with the family, some to congratulate them. Some came to learn and some, alas, even to laugh! Three days passed thus in that garden; three days of bhajan and namasankirthan. A photographer came with a camera; he wanted Baba to remove a crude stone that was right in front of Him but Baba did not pay heed to that prayer. He clicked nevertheless and lo! As can be seen ‘above’, the stone had become an image of Shirdi Sai Baba! But only in the photograph, not for all assembled there. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

The Divine Name Is The Panacea How in times of adversity can man win the oddities of nature and time by relying on The Divine Name, explains Bhagawan, citing the cholera epidemic that had hit Puttparthi when Bhagawan’s physical frame was just seven years old. A holy read during this testing time of coronavirus pandemic looming large over the globe. Once the village of Puttaparthi was affected by infectious diseases like cholera and plague. Several people died due to these diseases. Then, I warned the children of the village that these diseases would spread through drinking polluted water and eating impure food. I, therefore, advised them to take proper care in this regard. I advised them to drink clean and pure water. I told them, “Do not eat too much. Avoid unclean food. Eat only clean food in small quantities. Not only that, keep your mouth always fresh and clean. Several diseases affect you due to unclean mouth. It is not good to eat anything and everything when you feel hungry. Eat only wholesome food. God’s grace is important both for good health and happiness in life. Hence, always pray to God.” Happiness can be attained only through constant contemplation on God, nothing else. It is not something that can be attained from outside. It springs forth from one’s own heart. In order to attain health and happiness, we should constantly contemplate on God and thereby sanctify our time. Each one should enquire for whose sake he or she is living. When any one poses this question to oneself, the answer is: “I am living for myself and not for others.” He justifies his answer by saying: “I am eating to appease my own hunger. I am taking medicine to cure my illness. It cannot be cured by anyone else taking the medicine.” When two persons are sleeping in the same cot, they do not get the same dreams but have different dreams. Basing on these facts man feels that he is living for himself. Later on, when he grows up he seeks a job on the ground that he has a family to look after and support. The same person, who once said he was living for himself, later on pleads that he is living for his family. When invited by a friend to accompany him to Bangalore for an interesting sports event, he says that he has to attend his office and cannot take leave and hence he is unable to accompany him. He thus cites his duty as a reason for his inability to enjoy the sports. But when his wife or child is sick and in a hospital he takes leave even on loss of pay and goes to attend on them. The same person, when he is hungry and just sits for taking his dinner, leaves the meal served on the table and rushes out when he hears that his son or daughter is involved in an accident. Even hunger is forgotten. The person, who was proclaiming that he was living for himself only, now starts caring for his wife and children. When the village is in the grip of an epidemic like cholera or plague, the same person comes forward to do his best to combat the spread of the disease, because this may affect his own family too as they are part and parcel of the village. Thus man is born in society and grows in society. It is the bounden duty of everyone to feel that his own welfare is bound up with the welfare of all others in society. When this body was seven years old, this tiny hamlet of Puttaparthi was afflicted by dreadful and infectious diseases like cholera and plague. Fear-stricken parents would not allow their children to go out of their house. But the children, out of their love for Me, would come to Me without even telling their parents. All those children were of the age group of six to eight. One day, nearly 12 boys gathered around Me and said in an anxious tone, “Raju, we have come to know that cholera and plague have spread in our village. It seems they are dangerous and fatal. What would be our fate?” I told them, “The body has to perish one day or the other, whatever may be the precautions you take. So, do not be afraid of death. Contemplate on God and take care that the diseases do not afflict you.” The boys asked Me as to which form of God they should contemplate on. They were all very innocent. In those days, this was a very small village with a population of 106. They had no idea as to which form of God they should worship. I told them to light a lamp, place it at a thoroughfare at 6 o’clock in the evening and do bhajans. They did not know what bhajans to sing. Then I composed a few bhajans for them. I told them, “We need not search for God outside. He Is within us. Let us go round the village chanting the name of Ranga, wearing ochre robes and anklets and playing cymbals. Let us also get rid of the evil qualities of anger and desire.” In those days, after 5 o’clock in the evening no one dared to go beyond the Sathyabhama Temple as people considered it to be far off from the village and believed that the area beyond the temple limits was haunted. I infused confidence in them, saying there were no ghosts or spirits and advised them to drive away the diseases of cholera and plague by chanting the Name of God. We wore anklets and walked up to the riverbed of Chitravathi playing the cymbals and singing bhajans. It was the Divine Name which eradicated the diseases of cholera and plague within a short span of three days. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II