Om Sri Sai Ram

"“I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added lustre. I have not come to speak on behalf of any particular Dharma (religion), like Hinduism. I have not come on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into My fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this Universal unitary faith, this Atmic principle (principle of the Spirit), this path of love.”

“This Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting the entire mankind as one family through the bond of brotherhood, of affirming and illumining the Atmic Reality (Reality of the Spirit) of each being in order to reveal the Divine which is the basis on which the entire Cosmos rests, and of instructing all to recognise the common Divine Heritage that binds man to man, so that man can rid himself of the animal in him, and rise into the Divine, which is his goal.”

“All religions teach one basic discipline - the removal of the blemish of egoism from the mind, restraining it from running after trivial joys. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the Glory of God, and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in methods of detachment and discrimination so that he may aim high and attain liberation. Believe that all hearts are motivated by the one God; that all faiths glorify Him alone; that all names in all languages, and all the forms man can conceive denote the same divine principle; His adoration is best done by means of love.
Cultivate that Eka-bhava (attitude of Oneness) among men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. That is the message of love, I bring. That is the message I wish you to take to heart.”

“I have come to help all to acquire this Sathwic (serene) nature. You might have heard people talk about My miracles, of My creating this and giving that, of my fulfilling all your wants, of My curing your illnesses. But they are not as important as the Sathwa Guna (state of serenity and calmness) I appreciate, promote and instill. Of course, I confer on you these boons of health and prosperity, but only so that you might, with greater enthusiasm and with less interruption, proceed with spiritual sadhana (pursuit).”

“I do not have the slightest intention to utilise the Seva Samithis (Service Organisations) for propagating My Name. No! I am content only when spiritual endeavours and disciplines to elevate and purify man progress everywhere. It is only through these practices that My universal reality will be revealed. So, do not limit Me to the boundaries of any one name and form.
Your aim should be to see the same God in all the Forms that are worshipped, to adore Him in all the Names, nay, to be conscious of His presence as the inner motivator of every living being, in every particle of matter. Do not fall into the error of considering some to be men worthy of reverence and some unworthy. Sai is in everyone; so, all deserve your reverence and service. Propagate this truth; that is the function I assign to the Seva Samithis (Service Organisations).”

“Rama, Krishna and other Avatars had to kill one or more individuals who could be identified as enemies of the dharmic (righteous) way of life, and thus restore the practice of virtue. But, now, there is no one entirely good, and so who deserves the protection of God? All are tainted by wickedness, and so who will survive if the Avatar decides to destroy the wicked? Therefore, I have to correct the buddhi (intellect), by various means; I have to counsel, help, command, condemn and stand by as a friend and well-wisher to all, so that they may give up evil propensities, and recognising the straight path, tread it and reach the goal. I have to reveal to the people the worth of the Vedas, the Shastras (India’s ancient scriptures) and the other scriptural texts, which lay down the norms of sacred living.”

“Let me tell you, it is only those who know the scriptures, that can understand Me. I am determined to correct you only after informing you of my credentials. That is why I announce My Nature by means of miracles - that is, acts which are beyond human capacity and human understanding. Not that I am anxious to show off My powers. The object is to draw you closer to Me, to cement your hearts to Me. Getting to know Me is also a part of your destiny.”

“If you accept Me and say yes, I too respond and say “yes, yes, yes!” If you deny Me and say “no”, I also echo “no”. Come, examine, experience and have faith; that is the method of utilizing Me.”

When people forget the One and run after the world, there can be no love, no sacrifice and no spirit of detachment and hence there is a decline in Dharma. It is then that the Lord takes human form and comes among men to restore their sense of values. You may ask, why should the Lord Himself incarnate? Why can He not set about the task of restoring Dharma through the many minor gods He has at His command?
This question was placed before the courtiers by Akbar himself for, he laughed at the Hindu idea of the Formless adopting Form, and descending into the world as an Avatar to save Dharma. Tansen asked for a week's time to furnish the answer and got it granted by His Imperial Majesty. A few days later, when he was in the pleasure boat of the Emperor sailing across the lake with the royal family, Tansen cleverly threw overboard a doll made to look like the Emperor's little son, crying at the same time, "Oh, the Prince has fallen into the water!" Hearing this, the Emperor jumped into the lake to rescue his ‘son’! Tansen then disclosed that it was only a doll and that the prince was safe. He allayed the anger of Akbar by explaining that he had perforce to enact this drama in order to demonstrate the truth of the Hindu belief that God takes human form to save Dharma, without commissioning some other entity to carry out that task. Dharma is the son that God loves so dearly. Akbar could have ordered the many personnel he had on board to jump in and rescue his son; but his affection was so great and the urgency so acute that the Emperor himself plunged into the lake to pull out the ‘son’.

The decline of Dharma is so acute a tragedy; the intensity of affection that the Lord has for good men is so great that He Himself comes. The Lord is Love itself. He comes in human form so that you can talk to Him, move with Him, serve Him, adore Him, and achieve oneness with Him, so that you can recognise your kinship with Him.”

“The Lord comes as the Avatar when He is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhus (the pious) prayed, and I have come. My tasks are primarily two: Veda Rakshana and Bhaktha Rakshana - fostering of the Vedas (ancient Indian spiritual scriptures) and fostering of Bhakthas (devotees).”

“You must dive deep into the sea to get at the pearls. What good is it to dabble among the waves near the shore and swear that the sea has no pearls in it? So also if you aspire to benefit from the Avatar, dive deep and get immersed in Him. Half-heartedness, hesitation, doubt, cynicism, listening to tales, etc. are all of no avail. Unflinching faith - that alone can bring victory. This is true to any worldly activity, is it not? How much more true must it be, therefore in the spiritual field? But if you have already attached yourselves to a particular Name and Form, do not change it, do not choose another in its place.”

“I have not come for propaganda or publicity or gathering disciples or devotees. I am yours and you are Mine. Where then is the need for publicity? I do not give lectures but ‘mixtures’ for your mental health and moral re-invigoration. So take My words as medicine for your spiritual health.”

“Many hesitate to believe that things will improve, that everyone will be happy and joyful, that the Golden Age will ever dawn. Let me assure you that this Dharma Swarupa (personification of Righteousness) has not come in vain. It will succeed in averting the crisis that has come upon humanity.”

Om Sri Sai Ram

Hoping You'll guide me-

this day or the day after-

I await your call from day to day.

Hoping You'll give darshan

but afraid you may not,

I'm all alert from hour to hour.

Hoping You'll come to me straight

This very instant

I'm watching and praying ever anon.

Hoping You'll smile at me

at last, though not at first,

I'm longingly gazing with thirsty eyes.

I shall stand and stay, in deep distress

Until my day of bliss does dawn

I am Yours, Your own, though exiled far.

Dear Father mine! Do heal Your child.”

Om Sri Sai Ram

I firmly believe there is none kinder than You,

to shower Grace on me.

Tell me, is this not the reason why

I am at your Lotus Feet?

I firmly believe You will respond quick

when I do pray and plead.

Tell me, is this the reason why

I am crying aloud for you?

I firmly believe You are ever beside me

to guide my steps aright.

Tell me, is this not the reason why

I am Yours thro' day and night.

I firmly believe You can never say 'No'

Whatever I ask from You.

Tell me, is this the reason why

I long for a glance from You?

What have you designed for me this time?

Why this dire delay to offer boons?

However long you make me wait and wail

I will not leave, I'll be standing still

Until your loving eyes do turn on me.

Om Sri Sai Ram

For the twentieth century Man, the word God is an inexplicable mystery. It is perhaps a vague, hazy idea in his mind associated with the scriptures, conditioned by what has been drummed into his head as a child and modified in light of experiences gained during his later years. Truly, he does not know anything about the Divinity which is enshrined within his body. A mere study of the scriptures will not reveal God to man or grant an experience of Him even in a small measure. The scriptures are like the signposts on a road, pointing to the ultimate destination. They merely point out the ways and the means to reach the Goal. Simply by pouring over a map one does not reach the destination. Similarly, God cannot be known by reading or expounding the sacred scriptures, but by living them. A child who has been taught scriptures by adults who do not practise the disciplined path indicated by the scriptures, will soon discover the hypocrisy of the elders, and will have scant respect for them and even less for the scriptures. That child is today's Man, who has been enveloped by the superficial glitter of science and technology, possession of transitory wealth and acquisition of fickle fame. Steeped in arrogance and pride, he drives humanity from one crisis to another and in the process creates untold misery for millions of people. He still occasionally hears about God but he has never seen Him, and he does not care much about a God who will not co-operate with him by eliminating the misery and suffering inflicted on others, by his own selfish behaviour. Mankind is caught in this mighty grip of ignorance, propagating itself in an endless vicious circle, from one generation to the next. Who can vanquish this terrible ignorance and rescue humanity? It is doubtful if man alone by himself, can ever hope to emerge victorious with ever-lasting peace and equanimity, enshrined in his heart. Only God can break this vicious circle by revealing Himself to humanity and dispelling the darkness of ignorance enveloping mankind. To achieve this herculean task, God has perforce to enter the framework of His creation to reveal Himself as an Avatar, through the agency of a human body. God by Himself is incomprehensible to man. The gulf is too wide between man and God. So in the body of an Avatar, God behaves as an Ideal man and works the miracle of breaking this vicious circle, by giving illumination from within the heart of man. Of all the living creatures only man has the faculty of discrimination and the ability to exercise a freedom of choice. In consonance with this freedom, the Avatar brings about an inner transformation through Divine Love, without any form of external pressure or compulsion. This is the secret of Divine intervention in the affairs of men. Further, by a manifestation of Divine Wisdom and Omnipotence, He gives unassailable proof that He is not just another saintly personage, but God Himself. The most erudite scholar can neither explain these proofs nor understand them;but he can most certainly experience them. From his experience he can also learn the lessons of humility and reverence, and wonder at the Glory of God in human form, walking on this earth today as Shri Sathya Sai Baba. The subject of this story is one such proof given by Baba to humanity, of all climes and all religions. Lingodbhavakara SaiAs mentioned elsewhere, the different religions of the world contain only some aspects of the ONE God and no one particular religion can claim to know God in His totality. A little thought will convince the reader of the subtle truth that all religions are contained within God, and therefore, no one religion can contain the Infinite God. All scriptures and all religions are earth bound and time bound, and therefore they can only present to the people those aspects of the Infinite which were revealed to that particular religion, within certain limitations. As soon as these limitations are recognised, then all obstacles are removed for a broader understanding of the Supreme Infinite. The purpose of all religions is to remove the barriers between man and man, and certainly not to erect them. He who creates such barriers through myopic vision, commits a grave blunder against the very religion he professes, and creates strife between man and man. Many of us also commit this error of limiting God to our own narrow viewpoint, or confining Him to a particular religion. Baba as a manifestation of the Supreme Infinite may therefore perform acts which are not necessarily contained in all the religions, and if such acts or manifestations are not in one's own religion, then an effort should be made to understand the real inner significance of such acts or manifestations. Through such understanding all differences disappear and all religions become one. The Lingodbhava is to be viewed and understood in light of such perspectives. Ling means a symbol, and Udbhava means birth or creation. So the word Lingodbhava actually means symbol of creation. As the Lingam manifests in Baba through His Divine Kala or Sakthi of Srishti, one can say that the Lingam is a Divine Symbol of Creation; and it is only when the inner significance of the Lingam has been understood, that one can grasp the full significance of the act of Lingodbhava, which is a Symbolic Birth of God in Time and Space. The vibhuthi abhishekam Yasoda had seen the Viswaswarup of the Lord, the Cosmic Person, in the mouth of Krishna, and the Lord had given the same Divine Vision to a shaukar's wife in His previous body as Babu, the future Sai Baba of Shirdi. Today, in His present body as Shri Sathya Sai Baba, He, grants a similar Vision of the Divine to millions of devotees, through the act of Lingodbhava. An embryo develops within the womb of it's mother and takes birth into this world as a baby. Symbolically, the Cosmic Person develops within His mother SAI (Divine Mother) and takes birth as the Lingam into this world through the mouth of SAI.

The second verse of AHUNA-VAIRYA or the Word of Ahura Mazda declares that Creation is projected from the Mind of the Lord, and that Mazda or the Sakthi aspect, is itself the Creation. The Lingam, a symbol of this Creation is manifest at the time of Lingodbhava. The Ahunvar and the Lingodbhava together, lay bare the total secret of Creation. To experience this phenomenon, is to know that the Universe rests in the palm of SAI. All the scriptures of the major religions of the world declare that God is Omnipresent, that is to say that He is present everywhere at all times. Thus God cannot be limited to One particular form and it is in this context that Baba says, "All forms are Mine and all Names are Mine". From this one may conclude that the Essence which is manifest in all these forms, is Itself without a form. This Essence of the formless God is symbolised by the Lingam. Birth pangs of the creatorThe Lingam has the form of a mathematically perfect figure: the ellipsoid. It has neither a front nor a back, and is without an end or a beginning. It has no protuberances or irregularities jutting out from its smooth surface, which might give it some character. Its form is based purely on a geometrical figure, the ellipsoid, and hence it cannot be identified with any other known physical form in the universe except another mathematically perfect ellipsoid, which is another Lingam. It is so much devoid of character, that the author is almost tempted to call it a "formless form". Therefore, Baba has said that it is the fittest symbol for representing the formless Divine Essence, that is God. Thus, when the Lingam emanates from Baba's mouth it is symbolic of the birth in time and space of THAT which is formless and eternal, within a simple geometrically perfect entity, the Lingam. This is the real meaning of Lingodbhava. Baba has revealed yet another deeper spiritual significance in context of the Lingodbhava. In the Yagna called Purusha Medha, there is an occasion when Lingodbhava takes place. It has been said that before Divinity takes a form for this Lingodbhava, It utters a loud cry. This cry is addressed to the Devas (Divine Beings) and is known as Deva-Huti. The word Deva means Divine and Huti means a Call or a Challenge. The Manifestation asks a question of the Devas, "Do you know who I am? Who am I? Ko Hum?" A new born babe also cries Ko Hum, Ko Hum, Ko Hum. Baba says, "It is only when you understand the significance of this Divine Cry—the Deva-Huti—when It takes birth in time and space, that one can understand the Divine Innocence and simplicity of a new born child." The secret of creation unvieled Thus it seems that the Deva-Huti is the key to the mystery of the Lingam. Man emerges from the formless Divinity and inquires, "Ko Hum ?" He practises Sadhana,realises "So Hum" (I am That), and merges back into the formless Divinity. Therefore, it is said that all things emerge from the Lingam and finally merge into the Lingam. The Angam or the physical body contains the subtle Lingasarira which houses the Lingam or the Atma. From the Lingam arises movement and flow of life, that is Jungam (Universe). The Angam is the Sangam (meeting place) for the Spirit and Matter, and of association, attachment and activity. As a result of this Sangam, analysis and inquiry, one realises the Lingam. Thus the circle is completed. This is the lesson that is taught by Lingodbhava. The Lingam which emanates from Baba's mouth is made of metal (like gold, in the recent years) or of some semi-precious stone, like agate, for instance. On rare occasions it is made of a pure transparent crystal like substance. Baba has said that the four Vedic Mahavakyas have their aspects portrayed in the Lingam as well. The four Vedic Mahavakyas are said to represent the essence of the four Vedas and they are to be understood as follows:

1. Pragnyanam Brahma. 2. Tat Thwam Asi. 3. Ayam Atma Brahma. 4. Aham Brahma Asmi.

The creator and his creationThe word Pragnyan means eternal, limitless wisdom. So the first Mahavakya declares that Divine Wisdom is itself Brahman. Here, the Atma is equated with Divine Wisdom, because this Wisdom is born out of the Atma. It is not something acquired from outside of one's own Self. This aspect is symbolised by the Sadasivam Lingam. Sada means eternal and Sivam is equated with auspi-ciousness, purity and bliss. Thus the Eternal Brahman which is pure auspiciousness and bliss is revealed through Divine Wisdom. The second Mahavakya, Tat Thwam Asi means That Thou Art. It asserts that distinction is delusion; the Jivatma and the Paramatma are One. The Gnyanam Lingam symbolically represents this awareness of Both Being One. The third Mahavakya, Ayam Atma Brahma means This Atma is Brahman, and is symbolised by the Anda-Pinda Lingam. Anda is the shell and Pinda is the core. Man is also basically an Anda-Pinda, with an outer shell of materialism and an inner core of the Divine Atma. It points out that the Inner Self is itself the Brahman. The fourth Mahavakya, Aham Brahma Asmi means I am Brahman. The Atma Lingam or the Jyoti Lingam is the symbol of the Supreme Light of Atma, and it proves to all that Siva is in everyone. When this Vision illumines the inner consciousness of an aspirant, he becomes one with Brahman. Aham Brahma Asmi. Showing the Golden linga Baba says, "The formless Divinity, the Lingam, is in the very core of the heart of man as the sole purveyor of bliss, power and illumination. Cultivate an inward vision, so that the Lingam may grant you all these three benefits. The mind will then be illumined by the cool comforting rays of Love, like the cool comforting rays of the moon. Chandrama Manaso Jaathah (the moon is born from the mind). Unless you cleanse the mind with Love, the full moon of spiritual Wisdom will not shine in the mind. The recital of the Name, Japa and Dhyan, or the observance of fasts and vigils, will merely scintillate like stars studded in the sky, in the inner sky of your mind. But the darkness (ignorance) will not vanish until the lamp of love is lit." Sivaratri is observed on the fourteenth night of the dark half of every month. It is a well established fact of Yogic discipline, that it is easier to control the mind during the dark half of the month, when the moon is on the wane. The fourteenth night is particularly suitable for a little more intensive Sadhana to completely sublimate the last and the remaining fifteenth fraction of the mind, corresponding to the last fraction of the moon. It is possible to achieve complete victory over the mind during this night. When the mind is fully under control, one becomes an heir to the experiences of bliss, power and illumination. "How is it possible for the moon to influence the Mind ?" Such a question has been often put to the author, by various people. The author does not know the exact mechanism, but he would like to draw the reader's attention to the fact, that the forces emanating from the moon are responsible for shifting gigantic masses of water on the surface of this earth during the tides. Then why should it be difficult to understand the influence of the moon on a human body which is nearly 80% water? The 'lunatics' are so called, because their behaviour sometimes can be predicted to some extent, by the waxing and waning of the moon. The ancient seers and rishis were fully aware of the influence exercised by the planets on the human body and they used these influences for their spiritual benefit. Thus the practise of intensive Sadhana on the fourteenth night of the waning moon is not just an old wife's tale or superstition, but it has its roots in the personal experience of the ancient sages of this land.

In the month of Maagh (Feb.-Mar.), the fourteenth night is known as Maha-Sivaratri. Maha means great, Siva means auspicious and Ratri means night; the Great-Auspicious-Night. Auspicious for what? Not only is the night auspicious' for obtaining complete control over one's mind, but Siva, the formless Divinity, is born in the Lingam on that night. Siva in the form of the Lingam, is adored and revered for the acquisition of Divine Wisdom. In temples dedicated to Siva, it is said that none should pass between Nandi the bull and the Lingam. Baba has explained that the bull or the Pasu (animal), represents the Jiva and the Lingam is the symbol of Siva. As they both have to merge into one, no one should pass between the bull and the Lingam. Also, the installed Lingam has to be seen through the two horns of the bull; which means that one has to see Siva in the various Jivas. Pasu or Jiva, and Pasupati or Siva are one; Nandi or Jiva and Eeswara or Siva, become Nandeeswara. Baba says, "When in bondage it is referred to as Nandi and when free it is Eeswara. When the Pasu is offered fully to the Pasupati and its separate identity is cast away, then it is a true Yagna (sacrifice). This significance has been forgotten by the worshippers today." In this context of worshipping Siva, Baba has also explained the inner significance of offering the trifoliate Bilva leaves. They are symbolic of the three Gunas and the three forms of Worship. The three Gunas, which are to be surrendered to Him are Thamas, Rajas and Sathwa, through Devotion, Detachment and Discrimination; the three forms of worship liked by Siva. There are certain days in the life of an individual, which stand apart from the rest. These are worth treasuring in one's memory, because of their association with some sacred or holy event which was responsible for initiating the individual into the higher spiritual mysteries of the SELF. There have been four such days in the author's life. The first one was many years ago, when as a child the author was invested with the sacred Kusti by his parents and was taught to recite the Ahunvar, the Word of Ahura Mazda. Since then the author has stood by the Word and in return on countless occasions, the Word has stood by him. It is possible that some mysterious forces evoked by the Word, were instrumental in leading the author to Baba's presence. That was the second day, the day when the author met Baba in Shri Munshi's residence at Juhu, and received His "visiting card", the Vibhuthi embodying His Divine secret. This Vibhuthi initiated the process of clearing the author's mind of doubts and ignorance accumulated through academic learning and achievements, over a period of forty odd years. The process still continues. Maha-Sivaratri in February 1974 was the third day, when the author witnessed the birth of the Atma Lingam and saw the Divine Jyoti (Flame) changing colours within the Lingam. Truly, it was a most auspicious occasion. It was a day of triumph over the twins of birth and death; not only for the author but for all those who witnessed this sacred Flame, this ATAR USHTANA, the Divine Fire of the formless or Ahura Mazda, burning mysteriously within this Atma Lingam. In the Gatha Ahunavaiti or the Gatha of the Sacred Word (Yasna 34:4), Zara-thushtra declares: "Thine Inner Fire Ahura, to see We yearn,—He blazes mightily through Truth; "He has Thy Strength, our hope and Goal is He, He lights the faithful clearly through life." That night, the above four lines of the Gathas came to life for the author. The prayer contained in the first line of the stanza, was fulfilled by a Vision of the Divine Jyoti, and the remaining three lines aptly described Baba as He appeared that night with the Divine Jyoti Lingam in His hands. The day Baba performed the marriage ceremony of the author and his wife, was the fourth day. If the reader turns back the pages of his life, he will also undoubtedly discover such days in his own life associated with a Vision of the Divine, which when recalled are a perennial source of joy and infuse a calm, limpid peace, into one's being. On that memorable Maha-Sivaratri night, Baba began with His usual public discourse. The author was wondering whether there would be a Lingodbhava that evening, because there had been no official ceremony in the two previous years and no announcements to this effect, had been made earlier for this occasion. The author had not seen a Lingodbhava ever before and did not know what was going to happen. However, at the end of His explanations on the significance of the Vibhuthi abhishek performed earlier in the day, He terminated the discourse, rather abruptly. Earlier, a couple of coughs had indicated the rising of the Lingam within Him, and so He terminated the speech and started with the bhajans. The gathering joined Him in an exquisite rendering of His popular bhajan:

" Prem-a-mudhite mana-se kaho "Raam—Raam—Raaaam. ......."

Later, during the singing He coughed a few times, drank some water and sat down at the table on the stage. The bhajan singers carried on with extra gusto, and the author noticed that the bhajan leaders were now exclusively singing bhajans dedicated to extolling Siva. Baba spread a large handkerchief in front of Him and held another one in His hands. The frequency of retching had increased and the bhajan singers sensing the impending delivery, had stepped up the tempo of their singing. The whole atmosphere was charged with Divine vibrations. After repeated attempts at delivery on the part of Baba, the Lingam was finally ejaculated from His mouth into His waiting hands. Immediately, He held it up, so that all could see this manifestation of Divine Glory. Then He walked along the stage and amongst the thousands, who were sitting at some distance at the back of the auditorium. The author witnessed this memorable event and photographed this rare, unique crystal Lingam, which contained within itself an orange, cup-shaped flame in the form of a Trishul (a trident). The colour of this Trishul changed every ten minutes, from orange to yellow to blue, and sometimes changed to almost colourless. Ecstasy was writ on the faces of all those who had witnessed this Divine Birth. The author felt very happy, for he had actually seen a small aspect of the Inner Fire of Ahura Mazda. Baba placed the Lingam on a mound of flowers within a circular tray and retired for the night. The bhajan singers continued singing throughout the night, until the early hours of the morning. Just after dawn, Baba came back to the auditorium and gave a short discourse on the inner significance of the Lingam. During this discourse, He made a historic declaration accompanied by an incomparable shower of Divine Grace, which has no parallel in the whole recorded history of human existence. Baba declared, "You have had the good fortune of looking at the Divine Vision. You have also seen the Divine significance of the Lingam and that will grant you complete salvation. So far as you are concerned you have attained complete salvation and there are no more rebirths for you. Why is it that of all the crores of people in the world only you have seen this manifestation of Divinity? It is a piece of great good fortune for you. Some of you have seen this manifestation as a specific form, some as a light and some only as a streak or a flash of light; but it does not matter in what form you have seen the generation and manifestation of this Lingam. What you have really seen is the secret of creation." "There are two kinds of Mantras, the Siva mantra and the Madhava mantra. The Siva mantra has the important letter MA in it, and the Madhava mantra has the important letter RA in it. Together they make RAMA. Rama is the manifestation of Eeswara or the Atma. Rama and Eeswara are inter-changeable and both are represented in this symbol of creation, the Lingam. Having witnessed this secret of Creation, do not spend your time in an unsacred manner; do not do work that will be called unsacred; do not promote ideas that will be called unsacred and do not look at things which will be called unsacred vision. Remember, what you have witnessed today is an unprecedented secret of Creation, and use it to promote the best thoughts, words, and deeds in your life. Whatever good which one can acquire after Tapas for many years, or by involving oneself in Meditation for many centuries, or by performing several Yagnas and Yagas, that good which is acquired by such practices cannot even be compared to the good acquired by witnessing this Lingodbhava. This is something which is unprecedented. It is only you, who have been privileged to see this vision of the Lord, in the form of a Lingam having the dimensions of Dashan-gula (ten inches)." "Whatever is contained in Time, that is past, present and future, and whatever is contained in the three Gunas and the three Worlds, is all contained in this Lingam. The Lingam also contains the symbol of Trishula and every ten minutes the colour of this Trishula goes on changing. The Trishula signifies the responsibility accepted by Divinity, for the past, the present and the future of all Creation. When the circumference of this Lingam is added and put together, it will be Dashangula. Only such a Lingam as this one, can be said to contain the important number ten and contain all the manifestations of Divinity."

"If our heart contains Truth and our conduct is conditioned by Love, then Peace which is within, is available to us. While all these things are within us, why is it that we are not acquiring them? Peace lies within the depths of one's heart, just as water lies in the earth. To get at the water one has to remove the overlying earth. Similarly, one has to remove the sensuous desires to get at the Peace in one's heart. We must make an attempt to follow the ideas and thinking of the Lord. Such sadhana will enable you to reach the destination. Smarana and Chinta (reciting the Name and Contemplation), is the easiest way for reaching this destination in this Kali Yuga. You have been singing bhajans for some hours and you call it Akhand Bhajan, but that is not correct. Akhand Bhajan is that which has to be carried out continuously throughout your life. (Akhand means uninterrupted.) Perform the Akhand Bhajan of Hamsa-Gayatri, and there will be no ups and downs in your life." "By understanding the inner significance of the Lingam which was manifested, your life has been liberated. You have reached the ordained salvation. Develop this thought, keep it in your mind all the time throughout your life, and then you will have made good use of this rare opportunity, granted to you yesterday."

Om Sri Sai Ram

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhaatam

Iswaraambasuta Shriman Poorvaa Sandhya Pravartate

Uttishtta Sathya Saayeesha Karthavyarn Daivamaanaikam.

Uttishttothishta Partheesha Uttishta Jagateepate

Uttishtta Karunaapooma Lokamangala Siddhaye.

Chitraavathee Thata Vishaala Sushaantha Soudhe

Thistanthi Sevakajanaasthava Darshanaartham

Adithya Kanthiranubhaati Samastha Lokaan

Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhaatam.

Thwannama Keerthana Rathaasthava Divyanaama

Gaayanthi Bhakti Rasapaana Suhrushta Chittaaha

Dhaatum Kripaasahita Darshana Maashytebhyaha (Sri Sathya Sai....)

Aadaaya Divya Kusumaani Manoharaani

Sri Paada Poojana Vidhim Bhavadhanghri Moolay

Kar-thum Mahotsuka Tayaa Pravishanti Bhaktaaha (Sri Sathya Sai....)

Deshaantaraagata Budhaas Thava Divya Moorthim

Sandarshanaabhirathi Samyuta Chittavrityaal

Vedokta Mantra Patthanena Lasanthya Jasram (Sri Sathya Sai....)

Srutwaa Thavaadbhuta Charitharamakhanda Keerthim

Vyaptaa Digantara Vishaala Dharaata Laysmin

Jijnaasuloka Upatishtathi Chaashra Maysmin (Sri Sathya Sai.....)(Sri Sathya Sai....)

Seethaa Sathee Swna Vishuddha Hridambujaataha

Bahvanganaaha Karagruheeta Supushpa Haraaha

Sthunvanthi Divyanuthibhihi Phanibhooshanam Twaam (Sri Sathya Sai......)

Suprabhaatamidam Punyam Ye Patthanthi Diney Diney

Tevishanthi Parandhaama Jnaana Vijaana Shobhitaaha

Mangalam Gurudevaaya Mangalam Jnana Daayeney

Mangalam Parthi Vaasaaya Mangalam Sathya Saayeeney.


Asathoma
Asato Maa Sat Gamaya

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya

Mrutyor Maa Amrutam Gamaya


Brahmarpanam




Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havihir

Brahmaagnou Brahmanaahutam

Brahmaiyva Thena Ganthavyam

Brahmakarma Samaadhinaa


Aham Vaishvanaro Bhootva

Praninaam Dehamaasrithaha

Praana Apaana Samaayuktah

Pachaamyannam Chaturvidham


Ashtothara Satha Namavali




Om Sri Baghavan Satya Sai Babaya Namaha

Om Sri Sai Satya Swaroopaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Satya Dharma Parayanaya Namaha

Om Sri Sai Varadaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Satpurushaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Satya Gunatmane Namah

Om Sri Sai Sadhu Vardhanaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sadhu Jana Poshanaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarvajnaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Jana Priyaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Sarva Shakti Moorthaye Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarveshaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Sanga Parityagine Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarvantaryamine Namah

Om Sri Sai Mahimatmane Namah


Om Sri Sai Maheshwara Swaroopaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Partigramodbhavaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Parti Kshetra Nivasine Namah

Om Sri Sai Yashakaya Shirdivasine Namah

Om Sri Sai Jodi Adipalli Somappaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Bharadvaja Rishi Gotraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Bhakta Vatsalaya Namaha

Om Sri Sai Apaantaratmane Namaha

Om Sri Sai Avatara Moorthaye Namaha

Om Sri Sai Sarva Bhaya Nivarine Namaha


Om Sri Sai Apastamba Sutraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Abhaya Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Ratnakara Vamsodhbhavaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Shirdi Sai Abheda Saktyavataraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sankaraya Namah


Om Sri Sai Shirdi Sai Moorthaye Namah

Om Sri Sai Dwarakamayi Vasine Namah

Om Sri Sai Chitravathi Thata Puttaparthi Viharine Namah

Om Sri Sai Shakti Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sharanagata Thranaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Anandaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Ananda Daya Namah

Om Sri Sai Artatrana Parayanaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Anantha Nathaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Asahaya Sahayaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Loka Bhandavaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Loka Raksha Parayanaya Namah

Om Sri Sai LokanathayaNamah

Om Sri Sai Deena Jana Poshanaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Murti Traya Swaroopaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Mukti Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Kalusha Vidhooraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Karunakaraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarvadhaaraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Hridvasine Namah


Om Sri Sai Punya Phala Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Papa Kshaya Karaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Roga Nivarine Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Bhada Haraaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Anantanuta Kartanaya Namaha


Om Sri Sai Adi Purushaya Namaha

Om Sri Sai Adi Shaktaye Namah

Om Sri Sai Aparupa Shaktine Namah

Om Sri Sai Avyakta Rupine Namah

Om Sri Sai Kama Krodha Dhvamsine Namah


Om Sri Sai Kanakambara Dharine Namah

Om Sri Sai Adbhuta Charyaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Apadbhandavaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Prematmane Namah

Om Sri Sai Premamurtaye Namah


Om Sri Sai Prema Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Priyaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Bhakta Priyaya Namaha

Om Sri Sai Bhakta Mandharaaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Bhakta Jana Hridaya Viharaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Bhakta Jana Hridyalayaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Bhakta Paradheenaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Bhakti Jnana Pradeepaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Bhakti Jnana Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sujnana Margadarsakaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Jnana Swaroopaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Gita Bhodhakaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Jnana Siddhidaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sundara Roopaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Punya Purushaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Phala Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Purushothamaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Purana Purushaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Athithaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Kalathithaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Siddhi Roopaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Siddha Sankalpaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Arogya Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Anna Vastradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Samsara Dukha Kshaya Karaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Sarvaabhishta Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Kalyana Gunaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Karma Dhvamsine Namah

Om Sri Sai Sadhumanasa Shobitaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarvamata Sammathaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Sadhumanasa Parisodhakaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sadhukanagruha Vatarksha Prathisthaapakaaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sakala Samsaya Haraya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sakalatatva Bhodhakaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Yoghishvaraya Namah


Om Sri Sai Yogindra Vanditaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Mangala Karaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Sarva Siddhi Pradhaya Namah

Om Sri Sai Aapannivaarine Namah

Om Sri Sai Aarthiharaya Namah


Om Sri Sai Shanta Moorthaye Namah

Om Sri Sai Sulabha Prasannaya Namahah

Om Sri Sai Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Babaya Namah


Sarva Dharma Prayer


Om Tat Sat Shree Naaraayana Tu

Purushottama Guru Tu

Siddha Buddha Tu Skanda Vinaayaka

Savitaa Paavaka Tu Sai

Savitaa Paavaka Tu

Brahma Mazda Tu Jehova Shakti Tu

Yesu Pitaa Prabhu Tu Rudra Vishnu Tu Ramakrishna Tu

Raheem Tao Tu Sai

Raheem Tao Tu

Vaasudeva Go Vishwaroopa Tu

Chidaananda Hari Tu Adviteeya Tu

Akaala Nirbhaya

Aatmalinga Shiva Tu Sai

Aatmalinga Shiva Tu Sai

Aatma Linga Shiva Tu.


Mangalaarati


Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare Swami Satya Sai Hare

Bhakta Janaa Samrakshaka

Parti Maheshwaraa Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare

Sashi Vadanaa Shree Ikaraa Sarvaa Praanapate

Swami Sarvaa PraanaPate

Aashrita Kalpala Teekaa Aashrita Kalpala Teekaa

Aapadbhaandava Om Jai Jagadessha Hare

Maata Pitaa Guru Daivamu Mari Antayu Neeve

Swami Mari Antayu Neeve

Naada Brahma Jagannaathaa Naada Brahma Jagannaathaa

Naagendraa Shayanaa Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare

Omkaara Roopa ojasvi O Sai Mahaadevaa

Satya Sai Mahaadevaa

Mangala Aarati Anduko Mangala Aarati Anduko

Mandara Giridhaari Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare

Narayana (2)Om Satya Narayana (3) Om

Satya Narayana (2) Om

Om Jai Sadguru Devaa

Satya Narayana (2) Om

Om Jai Sadguru Devaa

Satya Narayana (2) Om

Om Jai Sadguru Devaa


GAYATRI MANTRA


"Om Bhur Bhuva Suvaha"

"Tat Savitur Varenyam"

"Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi"

"Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayaat."


SAI GAYATRI




Om Sayeeswaraya Vidmahe"

"Sathya Devaya Dheemahi"

"Tanna'Sarva Prachodayaat."

Hanuman Chaalisa



Sree Guru Charan Saroj Raj, Nij Man Mukur Sudhaar

Baranau Raghubar Bimal Yasha, Jo Daayak Phalachaar

Buddhi Heen Tanu Jaanike, Sumirau Pavan Kumaar

Bal Buddhi Vidhyaa Dehu Mohin Harahu Kales Vikaar

Jai Hanumaan Jnaan Gun Saagar, Jai Kapeesh Tihu Lok Ujaagar

Ram Doot Atulit Bal Dhaamaa, Anjani Putra Pavana Sut Naamaa

Mahaabeer Bikram Bajarangi, Kumati Nivaar Sumati Ke Sangi

Kanchan Baran Biraaj Subeshaa, Kaanan Kundal Kunchita Keshaa

Haath Bajra Au Dhvajaa Biraajai, Kaandhe Moonj Janeu Saajai

Shankar Suvan Kesarinandan, Teja Prataap Mahaa Jagvandan

Vidhyaavaan Gunee Ati Chaatur, Ram Kaaj Karibe Ko Aatur

Prabhu Charitra Sunibe Ko Rasiyaa, Ram Lakshman Seeta Man Basiyaa

Sookshma Roop Dhari Siyahi Dikhaavaa, Bikat Roopdhari Lanka Jaraavaa

Bheem Roop Dhari Asura Samhaare, Ramchandra Ke Kaaj Savaare

Laaya Sajeevan Lakhan Jiyaaye, Sree Raghubeer Harashi Ur Laaye

Raghupati Keenhi Bahut Badhaayi, Tum Mam Priya Bharatahi Sam Bhaai

Sahas Badan Tumharo Yash Gaavai, As Kahi Sreepati Kant Lagaavai

Sanakaadik Brahmaadi Muneeshaa,Naarad Shaarad Sahita Aheesha

Yam Kubera Digapaal Jahaan Te, Kavi Kovid Kahi Sakai Kahaan Te

Turn Upkaar Sugreevahi Keenhaa, Ram Milaay Raaj Pad Deenhaa

Tumharo Mantra Vibheeshan Maanaa, Lankeshvar Bhaye Sab Jag Jaanaa

Yug Sahasra Yojan Par Bhaanu, Leelyo Taahi Madhur Phal Jaanu

Prabhu Mudrikaa Meli Mukh Maahee, Jaladhi Laandhi Gaye Acharaj Naahee

Durgam Kaaj Jagat Ke Jete, Sugam Anu grah Tumhare Tete

Ram Duaare Tum Rakhavaare, Hot Na Aajnaa Bin Paisaare

Sab Sukh Lahai Tumhaaree Sarnaa, Tum Rakshak Kaahu Ko Darnaa

Apan Tej Samharo Aapai, Teenon Lok Haankte Kaapai

Bhoot pishaach Nikat Nahi Aavai, Mahaabeer Jab Naam Sunaavai

Naashai Rog Harai Sab Peeraa, JaPat Nirantar Hanumat Beeraa

Sankat Se Hanuman Chudaavai, Man Kram Bachan Dhyaan Jo Laavai

Naashai Rog Harai Sab Peeraa, JaPat Nirantar Hanumat Beeraa

Sankat Se Hanuman Chudaavai, Man Kram Bachan Dhyaan Jo Laavai

Naashai Rog Harai Sab Peeraa, JaPat Nirantar Hanumat Beeraa

Sankat Se Hanuman Chudaavai, Man Kram Bachan Dhyaan Jo Laavai

Chaaron Yug Parataap Tumhaara, Hai Parasiddh Jagat Ujiyaaraa

Saadhu Sant ke Tum Rakhavaare, Asur Nikandan Ram Dulaare

Asht Siddhi Nav Nidhi Ke Daataa, As Bar Deen jaanakee Maataa

Ram Rasaayan Tumhare Paasaa, Sadaa Raho RaghuPati Ke Daasaa

Tumhare Bhaian Rarn Ko Paavai, Janma Janma Ke Dukh Bisaraavai

Ant Kaal RaghuPat'pur Jaayi, jahaan Janma Hari Bhakta Kahaayi

Aur Devataa Chitta Na Dharayi, Hanumat Seyi Sarva sukh Karayi

Sankat Harai Mitai sab Peeraa, Jo Sumirai Hanum at Bal Beeraa

Jai Jai Jai Hanumaan Gosaayi, Kripaa Karahu Guru Dev Ki Naayi

Jo Shat Baar Paath Kar joyi, Chootahi Bandi Mahaa Sukh Hoyi

Jo yah Padhai Hanumaan Chaalisaa, Hoy Siddhi Saakhi Gaureesaa

Tulsidaas Sadaa Hari Cheraa, Keejai Naath Hriday Mah Deraa

Pavan Tanaya Sankat Harana, Mangal Moorati Roop

Ram Lakshman Seetaa Sahit Hriday Basahu Sur Bhoop.

Night Prayer



Karacharana Kridham Vaa Kaayajam Karmajam Vaa

Shravana Nayanajam Vaa Maanasam Vaa Aparaadham

Vihitam Avihitam Vaa Sarvamedha Kshamasvaa

Jaya Jaya Karunaanidhe

Shree Sai Deva Shambho(3)



Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Sri Sai Ram

Sathya Sai Baba says that He is the second of a triple incarnation. The first was Shirdi Sai Baba and the third will be Prema Sai Baba. Below, we give the information that is known about Prema Sai Baba, with references to the sources.

The first mention of Prema Sai by Sathya Sai Baba appears to be in the discourse Shiva Shakthi, 6 July 1963, In a conversation between Shiva, Shakthi, and Bharadwaja after Bharadwaja performed a ritual, Shiva said that they would take human form and be born in the Bharadwaja lineage, thrice: Shiva alone as Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva and Shakthi together at Puttaparthy as Sathya Sai Baba, and Shakthi alone as Prema Sai, later.

More information about Prema Sai


We have heard often that Prema Sai will be born eight years after the passing of Sathya Sai Baba, which will take place when Sathya Sai Baba is 96. We do not have a reference for this information. In "The Sai Trinity", by Dr. S.P. Ruhela (Taring paperbacks, Vikas Pubishing House Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1997), the author states that Sathya Sai Baba has been disclosing small amounts of information to close devotees from time to time and states that Sai Baba has predicted that Prema Sai will be born in Karnataka about 8 years after He leaves this body.

Howard Murphet, in his book Sai Baba: Invitation to Glory (Chapter 4), says that Finally, Sathya Sai states, there will be Prema Sai who, one year after the passing of the Sathya Sai form, will be born in Karnataka (the old Mysore State), at a place between Bangalore and the city of Mysore.

On page 16 of the book Living Divinity author Shakuntala Balu writes, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said that there will be one more Sai Avatara called Prema Sai. The third Sai will be born in Gunaparthi, a village in the Mandya district of Karnataka. Thus, Sri Sathya Sai Baba refers not only to his past, but also to the future form he will assume as Prema Sai.

In Sathya Sai Baba, The Embodiment of Love, by Peggy Mason and Ron Laing, the authors write about a discussion they had about Prema Sai.

We wondered if the next descent as Prema Sai, to come very quickly after the present form is vacated at the age of ninety six, would be female.

Baba replied, "No, male, in Mysore -- Karnataka." (Since 1972, the state of Mysore is called Karnataka.)

In Glimpses of the Divine: Working with the Teachings of Sai Baba" (1993), author Birgitte Rodriguez writes

In a more private talk to students in recent years, Baba told them that the father of His next incarnation, as Prema Sai, had been born in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

In Spirit and the Mind, by Sam Sandweiss, the author recounts an extended interview given by Sathya Sai Baba to the Senior Editor, Mr. R.K. Karanjia, of Blitz new magazine in September 1976.

Question: Why had this task to be divided into three separate incarnations of the Shirdi, Sathya, and Prema Baba?

Baba: They are not separate. I have already mentioned the complete oneness of the three in the final objective of the mission. ... Their tasks and powers requisite to them differ according to the time, the situation, and the environment. But they belong to, and derive from, the same divine body (dharma swarup).

...

The previous Avatar, Shirdi Baba, laid the base for secular integration and gave mankind the message of duty as work. The mission of the present Avatar is to make everybody realize that the same God or divinity resides in everyone. People should respect, love, and help each other irrespective of color or creed. Thus, all work can become a way of worship. Finally, Prema Sai, the third Avathar, will promote the evnagel news that not only does God reside in everybody, but everybody is God. That will be the final wisdom that will enable every man and woman to go to God.

The three Avathars carry the triple message of work, worship, and wisdom.

Hislop's changing ring


In John Hislop's My Baba and I, page 55-56, Hislop writes about Swami materializing a ring for Hislop with Prema Sai on it. The image of Prema Sai on the ring actually changed its position over the years. Hislop writes,

The stone was a cameo of Prema Sai, the loving Lord of Creation, destined to appear on Earth a few years after the death of the Sathya Sai Body. It was a brownish stone, highly glazed, sculptured in profile, the bridge and length of the nose visible with a suggestion of the arch of the left eye. It was a noble head with shoulder-length hair, moustache, and beard; the head resting on, or emerging from, a lotus flower. His countenance was tranquil, peaceful, majestic.

Baba said, "He is only now in the process of birth, so I cannot show more of him. This is the first time he is shown to the world."

... Wherever I go, devotees ask to see the ring. ... In a year or so, those devotees who had seen the ring sometime earlier said something surprising on seeing it again. They said, "It is turning. The whole nose can be seen now."

My reply was always, in truth, that I could see no change. But they said, "You see it every day and do not notice."

... One day, [in 1980], at a devotee meeting, I was showing the ring, and I looked at it carefully. It struck me, "It is different! It is changing!.

Now the entire nose is there and visible, whereas at first the entire nose was not visible -- or better to say the nose merged into the edge of the stone and did not appear to be fully visible. But now there is a space between the nose and the edge of the stone. Moreover, a portion of the left eye can be seen and also a portion of the left cheek.

Om Sri Sai Ram

Sai baba photo materialised by swami

Om Sri Sai Ram

Ever since Swami started the Veda chanting in Sai Kulwant Hall way back on September 18th, 2003 , there has been very good progress and interest in the Vedas. Not only do a majority of students in Swami's Institutions (including the primary school) chant the Vedas with the aplomb of learned Brahmin priests, but there is also a world-wide resurgence, with devotees in many countries learning to roll the ancient Sanskrit words on their Western tongues.

According to ancient lore, the body of knowledge was embodied as the four Vedas (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharvana Veda) by Lord Narayana Himself for the welfare of humanity. This very sacred body of knowledge was thus gifted to man by the Supreme Lord to help him evolve and elevate himself from the level of humanity to the level of divinity.

One of Swami's oft stated mission is veda poshana or nourishment of the Vedas and to restore its pre-eminence and pristine glory in human society. So while we devotees have made progress in learning the Vedas by rote and perhaps even chant it for the most part with an acceptable intonation, we still need to ask the question - is it enough? Is this all that Swami wants?

There is a story of a religious saint reciting a holy text loudly with intense feeling. Another learned saint, perhaps a little wiser, gently asks the first one whether he understood what he was reciting. The first one replied that he had no need to understand it, for he was reciting it for his God and his God understood it perfectly.

This quaint story perhaps best summarises our situation also. Are we smug in the belief that Swami is coming to sit in Sai Kulwant Hall and derives pleasure from listening to our chanting of the Vedas? Or perhaps, does He now want us to make the next step and actually understand the meaning. After all, this Veda chanting business is really for our own benefit not for the benefit or pleasure of the Lord. So while we now chant it blissfully thinking "He understands even if we do not", it is perhaps time to make the next step and understand the meaning so we can chant it with full feeling, intensity and involvement and derive the maximum benefit. The benefit of realizing our full divine potential! That we are God!

With this preamble, we would like to recount what happened in Sai Kulwant Hall in the afternoon of July 3rd. Swami came in as usual to the sound of Veda chanting by the students, staff and devotees. After He took His seat in the veranda, He started reading the letters that devotees usually hand Him. On opening one oversized envelope, He took out what seemed to be a booklet. Swami perused it carefully and then called one of our brothers, an alumnus of Swami's Institute now working for the Ashram, who is part of the group that leads the congregation in the Veda chants. Handing him the booklet at a page open to a "comic-book" strip on Vivekananda entitled I AM GOD, Swami told him that he should read it to understand the importance of the Vedas that they are chanting. Our brother took the booklet respectfully and resumed his seat.

After a few minutes, he was called again to the Divine Presence and given instructions by Swami for the Narayana Upanishad to be recited and the meaning to be explained to the assembly. The "Vedam Group" first chanted a couple of stanzas from this epic hymn, which were then translated by our brother for the benefit of the audience. And so on it went, a couple of stanzas at a time, till the entire Narayana Upanishad mantram was thus translated for the benefit of the congregation.

The Narayana Upanishad deals with the glory of Lord Narayana as extolled in the four Vedas. The opening stanzas deal with creation and describes what we learn from the Rig Veda - that from Narayana emerged the life principle, mind, all the senses, sky, fire, water and earth; which all combined together to form the Universe. Brahma, Maha Rudra, Indra, all the prajapathis and the other demi-Gods all emerged from Narayana. The twelve Adityas, the eleven rudras, the eight lords of directions, all the Vedas and all types of wealth were born from Narayana. Everything is sustained by Him and ultimately everything merges in Him.

From the Yajur Veda we learn that Narayana is the eternal principle. Brahma, Siva and Indra are all Narayana. Earth and Heaven, Time and Directions are all Narayana. Narayana forms the inner and outer worlds. Everything is the manifestation of Narayana. Past, and the future are all manifestations of Narayana. Narayana is blemishless, ever blissful, and non-dual. There is nothing which is not Narayana. Narayana is the very Supreme self, the one without a second. Narayana and Vishnu pervade the entire universe. It is Narayana alone who exists.

The Sama Veda declares that the primordial sound "OM" has to be uttered first followed by "Namo". Then comes the meditation on "Narayana". " Om " is single lettered; "Namo" is two lettered and "Narayana" is five lettered. All these together form the eight lettered mantra OM NAMO NARAYANA, which is the king of all the mantras. Those who chant this mantra with sincere faith and devotion, will attain good health, long life and prosperity. They will also attain the status of "Prajapathi". They will attain the immortal state of Narayana Himself.

The Pranava (" OM ") is made up of three syllables A, U, and M. Pranava is verily the life principle. Pranava is supreme bliss. It is the supreme state of Brahma or Atma. The masters of Yoga, who know this adore the Pranava chanting " Om " and attain the abode of liberation. Such yogis break the bonds of birth, life and death. Those who adore the mantra, "Om Namo Narayana" will attain the supreme abode 'Vaikunta'. Narayana is 'Parabrahma'. His seat is the lotus of the heart. Knowledge of this Lord is the highest wisdom. This wisdom shines like lightning. Sri Krishna, the son of Devaki, is the very embodiment of Brahma. He is also adored as Madhusudhana. He resides in all beings. He is the fundamental basis of everything. He Himself is causeless. He is the causeless cause of everything. This is what is pronounced in the Atharva Veda.

The last stanza of the mantram calls this Narayana Upanishad as the crest jewel of the essence of the four Vedas. If this Upanishad is chanted in the morning, it destroys the sin committed the previous night. If it is chanted in the evening, it removes the sin committed in the day. If it is chanted at noon , it pulverises the five great sins. One who chants this Upanishad will attain the merit of the study of the Vedas and ultimately attains oneness with Narayana.

When the translation was thus going on, explaining the importance of the OM NAMO NARAYANA mantra and how it would help us attain the supreme abode Vaikunta, Swami asked a question in English to our brother (doing the translation) in a voice just loud enough to carry to him, "What is the meaning of Vaikuntham?" Hah, a divine trick question! For most of us the answer would have been pat and along expected lines - Vaikuntha is the abode of Lord Vishnu. But this brother, better informed than most and with great presence of mind, remembered a definition that Swami had given in a discourse and answered, "Vaikuntham is anything that is not narrow, but broad and ever expansive". Swami beamed at this answer that He was looking for, and wore the proud smile of a teacher who realizes that Her students are finally "getting it".

At the end of the mantra, a pregnant silence prevailed in the entire hall. Swami raised His palm in the classical upward gesture that He so often makes to elevate everyone's mood. And then suddenly, without any warning Bhagavan waved His right hand vigorously and materialized a beautiful golden necklace. After undoing the clasp, He called the brother who had done the translation and handed the necklace to him. Bhagavan also told him something to which he listened very carefully.

By now the entire audience was electrified. The magnificence of the necklace was patently visible to all, even to those seated in the last rows. We also wondered if there was going to be a revelation and we were not disappointed.

The brother turned to the audience with the necklace held up. Hurriedly a mike was set up for him. He then explained to all the significance of the necklace, as explained to him by Bhagavan. Bhagavan had said that the necklace contained the power of the sacred mantra - "Om Namo Narayanaya." He went on to state that Swami explained to him that all the Vedas, Upanishads and the other scriptures illumine the path that man has to take to attain his final destination - Divinity. The mantra "Om Namo Narayanaya" contains the essence and power of all the scriptures. The fatherly and motherly aspect of divinity is contained in this mantra. Without either of them, there can be no creation. But, if one were to contemplate deeply, said Swami, one would realize that there is no difference between the two aspects- Purusha (God) and Prakruthi (nature), they are indeed one and the same.

After explaining the significance, our brother turned towards Swami and held the necklace to hand it back to Him. Swami asked him to keep it in his pocket and return it to Him later. What a signal honour! And what a delightful afternoon basking in the divine presence. How slowly and patiently Swami leads us back to Him. For all of us present there the Narayana Upanishad will come alive everyone time it is chanted, for then the divine images from this afternoon's happening will come before the mind's eye and thrill us to the very depths of our being. Clearly the time has come. And the time is right now. Let us arise, awake, aspire, adore and achieve God!

This brings to a conclusion the chronicles of another month at the divine Lotus Feet. It has been an exquisite month, full of surprises and spiritual gifts. And we are sure more is in store as we count down to the 80th Birthday. We, of course, will continue to report on all the activities for you, our dear reader.

So till next time, Sai Ram.

Om Sri Sai Ram

"That something is God"


"Even those who swear that they did not find any trace of God in the depths of space, or who aver that God is dead, or that even if alive, He has outlived His use for man, that He has ever been a handicap and a costly nuisance for man, these too have to admit that there is something inscrutable beyond the reach of reason, something which pervades the world and reveals itself in Love, Renunciation and Service. That something is God,"

Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Part 111


"MY MISSION
is to grant you courage and joy, to drive away weakness and fear. Do not condemn yourselves as sinners; sin is a misnomer for what are really errors, provided you repent sincerely and resolve not to follow evil again. Pray to the Lord to give you the strength to overcome the habits which had enticed you when you were ignorant."

"Worry, greed and needless agitation and anxiety, these cause even bodily disease. Mental weakness is the biggest cause of disease. Dis-ease is a want of ease; the contented mind is the best drug."

"Be good, be joyful, be bold, be honest, be temperate, be patient. These are the rules of good health."

"I refuse to call anyone an athiest or an unbeliever, for all are the Creations of the Lord and repositories of the Grace. In everyone's heart there is a spring of love, a rock of truth. That love is God, that truth is God. Divinity is there in the depths of everyone's inner being."

"The Lord is above and beyond all limits of caste and color, of wealth and poverty; it is foolish to believe that the Lord asks for this gift or is angry when it is not offered."

"I have come to guide and bless those who undergo the discipline and practice leading to divine union. I am neither man nor woman, old or young, I am all these."

"Do not praise Me. I like you to approach Me without fear, as a right. You do not extol your father. You ask for something from him, as a right, is that not so?"

"You may be seeing Me today for the first time, but you are all old acquaintances for Me. I know you through and through. My task is the spiritual regeneration of humanity through truth and love. If you approach one step nearer to Me, I shall advance three steps towards you."

"I am happiest when a person carrying a heavy load of misery comes to Me, for he is most in need of what I have."

"It is not mentioned anywhere that the grace of God is available only for certain classes or races or grades of people. From the smallest to the biggest all are entitled to it. The Lord is everywhere, everything."

"The world can achieve prosperity and peace only through such persons whose hearts are pure and whose minds are free of prejudice and passion, lust and greed, anger and envy."

"I have not started the work for which I have come for I am still in the stage of preliminary reconnaissance. When I start my campaign the whole world will know of it and benefit by it."

Om Sri Sai Ram

On 24 December 1977, in Thrayee Brindaavan, the Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree was revealed by Swami to Ghandikota Subrahmanya Shaastri, doyen of Vedhik learning, culture, and practice. Years later, on 22 September 1997 the Sai Suurya Gaayathree was revealed to Ghandikota V. Subba Rao, Ghandikota Subrahmanya Shaastri's son, when Sathya Sai Baba was riding the Golden Chariot. (Click on either picture to see a larger version of it.) On 15 February 1999 the Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree was revealed to Ghandikota V. Subba Rao, during Mahaashivaraathree. The last line of the Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree was actually first said by Sathya Sai Baba, as Subba Rao was struggling to complete the Gaayathree.

It was Sathya Sai Baba Himself who coined the term "Saithree" for these three Sai Gaayathrees. The three Sai Gaayathrees, with translations, are presented below.
 
 

Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree Subba Rao chanting it	Om. Saayeeshvaraaya vidhmahe Sathya-dhevaaya dheemahi Thannah-Sarvah prachodayaath	Om. We know this Sai as supreme divinity incarnate. We meditate on this God of Truth. May this Almighty All-in-all Personality lead us on         the path of total liberation.
Sai Suurya Gaayathree Subba Rao chanting it	Om. Shree Bhaaskaraaya vidhmahe Saayi-dheyvaaya dheemahi Thannah-Suurya prachodayaath	Om. We know this Self-shining Entity. We meditate on this divinity as Sai Suurya. May this divine Light enlighten us on the path         of liberation.
Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree Subba Rao chanting it	Om. Premaathmanaaya vidhmahe Hiranyagarbhaaya dheemahi Thannah-Sathyah prachodayaath	Om. We know this embodiment of divine Love, Sathya Sai. We meditate on this Golden-wombed divine personality. May the Truth Incarnate, Shree Sathya Sai, inspire        us on the path of liberation.

Ghandikota V. Subba Rao has written a little booklet titled "Saithree: Manthra, Yanthra, Thanthra", which discusses these Gaayathrees. The booklet is available in the Prashaanthi Books & Publications Trust in Prashaanthi Nilayam. The booklet explains these manthras and their use in detail. For example, the booklet tells us that:

Sai Eeshvaraaya Gaayathree serves as a bridge to the divine cosmic life Principle of Eeshvara. It is related to the deepest Super consciousness in us all. The best time to chant this Gaayathree is 4AM to 10AM.

Sai Suurya Gaayathree relates to the body level in cosmic form --Suurya is the Sun God. It is related to consciousness in the outer world. The best time to chant this Gaayathree is 10AM to 4PM.

Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree enables us to link with the divine cosmic Mind, Hiranyagarbha (Golden-wombed Divinity). It is related to the subconscious-psychosomatic conscience. The best time to chant this Gaayathree is 4PM to 10PM.
 
 
 
 

The Sai Yanthra, or Sai Chakra

A yanthra, or chakra, is a geometrical diagram used like an icon in meditation or worship of a deity. It is a potentised diagrammatic inscription of letters/words pertaining to that deity. The Sri Sai Yanthras shown below were created by Ghandikota V. Subba Rao. They are actually the same yanthra but in different languages: Sanskrit using the roman alphabet, Sanskrit, and Thelegu. Click on a small photo to see a larger version of it --each is about 320KB.

Sanskrit in roman letters     Sanskrit     Thelugu 

In his booklet "Saithree", Subba Rao explains that this yanthra came to him at early dawn on Monday, 11 October 1999, and that Sathya Sai Baba blessed it three times that same afternoon, after discussing its contents with Subba Rao. We draw a few details from that booklet, but you will get much more out of the booklet itself. This explanation deals with the yanthra that contains Sanskrit in roman letters.

The mode of worship of internalizing this Sai Chakra, or Sai Yanthra, and firmly installing it within you is called the Sai Thanthra.

0. General structure. Divine yanthras are generally enclosed by a square, which is called the Apex Spiritual City; it constitutes the universal stage where the play of the individual, collective, and cosmic forces are at work.

The dot at the centre is the nondual, monistic, five-lettered (in Sanskrit) holy formula for deep contemplation, SAI SHIVOHAM (I AM THIS SUPREME UNIVERSAL FORCE, SHIVA SAI). It is enclosed by a triangle, whose sides represent Truth, Goodness, and divine Beauty. These three spiritual illuminating impulses radiate outward and sanctify the whole Sai spiritual field, or Sai Mandala. This Sai Spiritual Terrain between the inner triangle and outer perimeter of the square has three circles, within which are the three Sai Gaayathrees. Note also that there are nine enclosures, each containing Sai principles. We now explain these, from the outer to the inner.

1. Seven-fold mission. Closely following the sides of the perimeter, the square, are the seven-fold missions or purposes of the Sai Avathaar (e.g. Aakarchanaaya Sarva Janaanaam in the upper left). These are (1) drawing all people by His magnetic power of universal love, (2) weeding out wicked qualities by His loving kindness, compassion, and grace, (3) reforming the inactive and ignorant and lazy, (4) rechanneling the energies of the selfishly active and passionate people, (5) elevating the good and noble to ever higher levels of spiritual consciousness, (6) Bestowing direction vision of the Lord on true devotees, and (7) manifesting by His own example the principles of selfless, loving, egoless service to the needy.

2. Swami as the universal embodiment of all religions. This concept is symbolized by the symbols of seven different religions. Clockwise, starting at the upper right, we have:  (1) Zoroastrian flaming fireplace, (2) the Jewish menorah (with seven candles), (3) the Buddhist wheel, (4), the Jain outstretched hand bearing the word ahimsa (nonviolence), (5) the Christian cross, (6) the Islamic crescent and moon, (7) the Sikh double-edged sword surrounded by a wheel held up by a sword on each side. At the top is the Omkaar, or Pranava, standing for both the immanent and transcendental aspects of the Supreme Spirit --this is why it lies partly outside and partly inside the chakra. This is the symbol of the Sanaathana Dharma, the Ancient Eternal Universal Religion, in which all other religions are "sourced".

3. Seven steps to liberation. Between the religious symbols and the first circular space are the seven steps to liberation (e.g. Sath Sankalpam near the Sikh symbol at about 11 o'clock). These are: (1) good resolution, (2) good company and character, (3) good deeds, (4) living a spiritual life, (5) living in close proximity to Divinity, (6) experiencing divine nature and bliss, (7), becoming one with the Divine.

Sai Suurya Gaayathree. The Sai Suurya Gaayathree is in the first circular space.

4. Seven miraculous powers of Sathya Sai Baba. The seven miraculous powers are just within the outer circle (e.g. Vishva janeena dhivya aakarshana shakthi at the top center). The powers are (1) magnetic miracle of universal love, (2) materialisation miracles, (3) medical miracles, (4) metaphysical miracles of teachings, preachings, and reachings, (5) miracles of public service (e.g. free medical services), (6) miracles of micro and macro management, (7) man-making miracles --reforming and transforming vast numbers of people for spiritual progress and welfare.

5. Seven divinities with their respective powers. These seven divinities and their powers are above the seven petals, closely following the inner perimeter of the first circle (e.g. Gaanaapathyam at about 11 o'clock). They are (1) power of intellect, (2) power of right action, (3) power of nondual, unifying knowledge, (4) power of universal divine love, (5) power of beneficial creative activity, (6) power of vital sacrifice, (7) power of supreme Aathma, or Self.

6. Seven-fold moral disciplines. These disciplines are written just under and perpendicular to the powers in number 6 (e.g. Dhamam is under Gaanaapathyam). They are (1) control of outer senses, (2) kindness and compassion, (3) mastery of inner senses, (4) giving, sharing, caring, serving, (5), righteous altruistic service to the needy, (6) courage with self-confidence, (7) contemplation and meditation.

Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree. The Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree is inscribed in the second (middle) circle.

7. Seven-fold stages of self awareness and realization. These stages are just inside the second (middle) circle (e.g. Aathma Vichaarana at about 11 o'clock). These stages are (1) self awareness through self inquiry, (2) developing self confidence, (3) acquiring wisdom of the Self, (4) living in self surrender, (5) gaining self-satisfaction, (6) selfless self-sacrifice, (7) reaching the state of bliss in self realization.

8. Seven-fold paths to Braahmik consciousness. These paths are inscribed on the petals between the middle and inner circle (e.g. Sathyavathi at 12 o'clock). These are (1) the quest for truth, (2) contemplation of the Divine in its partial manifestations in nature (e.g. the five elements), (3) contemplation of the Divine through symbols, idols, pictures, etc., (4) devotional self surrender, (5) acquisition of knowledge of God, nature, and man, (6) experience of unit in diversity and contemplation of "Thou are That (Thatvamasi) ", (7) experience of the truth of "I am Brahman (Ahambrahmaasmi)".

Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree. The Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree is inscribed in the third (inner) circle.

9. Seven-fold Sai values and principles. These values and principles are inscribed in the petals within the inner circle (e.g. sathya at 12 o'clock). These are (1) truth, (2) righteousness, (3) peace, (4) divine love, (5) nonviolence, (6) service through sacrifice, (7) bliss.

Three principles of truth, goodness, beauty. These principles are on the three sides of the inner triangle (e.g. Sathyam).

The nondual formula "I am Sai Shiva (Sai Shivoham)". This aphorism appears inside the inner triangle. Unbroken contemplation of this aphorism will result in liberation.
 
 

Sai Thanthra

A thanthra is a mode of worship, a spiritual technique, a ritual or method for spiritual progress, a manual of worship.

In his booklet, Subba Rao explains the Shree Sai Tanthra, which consists of the principles or methodology of Sai worship. Basically, he says, Sai Thanthra is the proper use of the body, senses, mind, intellect, heart, and ego complex. He says in summary that

the Sai Thanthra consists of (1) Steady contemplation of the truths contained in the Sai Chakra, particularly the three Sai Gaayathrees; (2) continued performance, with devotion, of one's duties and obligations and of selfless service to the needy; and (3) living a life filled with love, service, and bliss, in constant integrated awareness of the all pervasive supreme Reality.

He describes a seven-fold schema for Sai contemplation and worship (puuja) of the truths contained in the Sai Yanthra. Particularly important in this worship are the three Sai Gaayathrees. Here are is an outline of these seven steps:

1. Body-related transformation. Namaskaar --offer salutations by joining both hands (and prostrating, if you wish) before the altar of the Sai Chakra. To be repeated three times, while repeating the verse given below to seek Swami's grace.

2. Senses-related transformation. Aavaahana (invocation). invoke or install the Sai Chakra or Yanthra in the heart by a gesture of turning the palms inward toward the heart area. Mr. Subba Rao gives a verse (see below) to be repeated while doing this. To be repeated three times.

3. Mind-related transformation. Dhyaana (meditation). Meditate in the heart in silence, with even breathing, while dwelling on the meaning of a verse (see below).

4. Intellect-related transformation. Chant the Sai Suurya Gaayathree seven times; perform abhisheka while doing this --sprinkle drops of water on altar of the Sai Chakra.

5. Inner-conscience transformation. Chant the Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree seven times; while doing this, place flowers on the altar of the Sai Chakra.

6.  Ego-complex transformation. Chant the Saayeeshvara Gaayathree, while placing fruit as an offering before the the Sai Chakra.

7. Total unitive transformation. Contemplate on the meaning of Sai Shivoham (I am Sai Shiva); then do aarathi --wave camphor light in a clockwise direction three times in front of the altar of the Sai Chakra.
 

Verse for step 1.

Dhakshine Hastha Chaalana Vibhuuthim
Vaame Bhaktha Lekha Lasath Karam
Aayuraarogya Dhaathaaram
Sai Dhanvanthareem Upaasmahe

Purport: We contemplate on Shree Sathya Sai, who holds in His left hand a big bunch of letters collected from devotees seeking His divine grace to cure their illnesses of body, mind, intellect, and ego; and, at the same time, creates vibhuuthi (sacred ash) merely by waving His empty right palm and distributes it to the needy and suffering. May this Sai Dhanvanthari (divine doctor of doctors) bestow on us health and longevity.

Verse for step 2.

Yo Dhevassathya Saayinah
Buddhim Dharmaadhi Gocharaam
Prerayeth Thasya Yattejah
Thadhvarenyam Upaasmahe

Purport: Let the effulgent energy of Shree Sathya Sai, which pervades my heart as pure consciousness, inspire, guide, and actually direct my senses to perform dhaarmik or altruistic service activities with selfless love. We meditate on this self-effulgent divine Personality.
 

Verse for step 3.

Sarvaruupa Dharam Shaantham
Sarva Naama Dharam Shivam
Sath Chith Aanandham Advaitham
Sathyam Sivam Sundharam

Purport: This Shiva Sai bears all names. He is the very form of peace. He is the embodiment of the nondual principle of Being, Awareness, Bliss. He is the Shiva Shakthi characterised by truth, goodness, and blissful beauty.

 
 
 
 

 

Om Sri Sai Ram

The Magic of Kodai



Imagine! Early morning you are sitting just in front of Swami’s bedroom, Swami comes out of His room and then standing beside you (His robe touching your shoulders) looks out of the window and softly and sweetly hums a divine tune! Or, imagine Swami narrating jokes and humorous anecdotes and smiling and laughing for more than an hour and you are sitting there right in front feasting on this glorious sight! Or, imagine Swami pretending He needs help and asking for your hand and then walking a few steps, His soft and tender palm holding your hand! Or, imagine Swami talking about Lord Rama and then in a jiffy waving His hand and producing a beautiful medallion with Rama’s portrait n it just in front of your eyes and saying, “Look, this is how Rama looked when He was about to be crowned”!

Or, ..or, imagine you are in the plane and Swami walking on the aisle after take-off and coming near you and enquiring if you are comfortable and then asking for your palm and filling it with chocolates! Or, imagine Swami rocking on the tastefully decorated swing and listening to your songs most delightfully! And even giving rhythm to your song by playing the cymbals in perfect synchronization with your music! Or, imagine going with Swami to the highest point in a serene hill station - you are standing in the midst of a cloud - and there Swami posing with you for an exclusive photograph! Or, imagine…well this could go on and on. For, this is the Lord’s Divine Play, most blissful, ever rejoicing, never ending. And this is just a glimpse. A glimpse of the glorious saga that unfolds when Swami is in “Sai Shruti”, His picturesque abode in Kodai Kanal.

Tucked away among the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, in South India, and jealously guarded like a prized jewel by the dark forests, is this heavenly hill station of Kodaikanal. In fact, the name itself, in Tamil means “Gift of the Forest”. You could not have imagined a more provocative and appropriate name for this quaint, clean and green little hill station where the air is intoxicating, the scenery breathtakingly beautiful, and the serenity seldom found in other hill stations. No wonder this exquisite locale has been the Lord’s choice to be His playground summer after summer!

At 2133 m above sea level and 120 kms from Madurai is located this lovely hill station in the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills in the Western Ghats. They say, the best way to spend time here is to just be here and appreciate the beauty. Now, what if you are there enjoying the beauty of Kodai and along with it the beauty of its creator too! Well... that is the magic of being in Kodai during the Lord’s visit here, because the whole place transforms into a dream world. And if you are someone picked up by Swami to be in His troupe, you have an opportunity that has no equal. It is the fulfillment of your prayers of a million life times!

Imagine Swami coming near you while you are having lunch and the Divine Mother asking for an extra helping of your favourite dish to be served to you as you gaze at His compassionate form! Or, imagine you are walking with Swami on the manicured lawns and suddenly there is a small breeze and with great joy you watch the wind playing with Swami’s silken copious hair! Or, imagine you are in a sedan behind Swami’s car and as Swami’s car passes, you witness the devotees’ joy and thrill – some crying in excitement, some hugging each other for they have caught a glimpse, some still in awe and disbelief, some jumping in joy!

Or, imagine Swami filling your hand with currency and then asking you to go for shopping, boating and horse-riding! And not only that - when you come back, enquiring in detail about your purchases and your rides and as you are narrating, revealing His omniscience so casually, so unceremoniously! Or, imagine early morning Swami coming to you and enquiring if you had good sleep and rest and then all of sudden producing a big resplendent diamond and then asking, “Come on! Who wants to take it?” ...Well, these are the kind of experiences and ecstasies that Swami’s visit to Kodai Kanal is composed of. The whole ambience becomes so very divine, so full of delight and full of bliss.


This Year…


After a hiatus of a year, Swami visited Kodai this April-May to the delight of the devotees, students, Kodai’s residents and Mother Nature.

It all started on the 19th of April when Swami emplaned from Puttaparthi around 12.30 pm in an Indian Airlines Flight to Madurai. The plane landed at Madurai in an hour and hundreds had gathered at the airport for a glimpse. And there was an even bigger crowd waiting for Him at a bungalow in Gangavarapatti where He was supposed to stop over for a while. Swami and the boys reached there in an hour. After the boys had their lunch there, Swami came out of the bungalow, blessed the waiting devotees, enquired with the boys if everything was alright and the journey resumed. The rest of the 120 kms to Kodai Kanal was to be on road.

Behind Swami’s car followed the students’ bus. The boys could not wait to get there. There was joy inside and joy outside. The panorama outside the bus’s window through the turns and curves of the Ghat road was exhilarating. What a relief it was to leave the hot, dusty plains behind and drive up into the cool hills! They watched the vegetation gradually change from palm-fringed paddy fields to wild brush with flaming blossoms to plantations interspersed with stately silver oaks. And driving higher, it was such a rejuvenating experience when the cool mountain air brushed their cheeks! The whole countryside, dotted with wildflowers in jeweled colors, magenta and purple, was truly a breathtaking sight. But the boys’ thoughts were not on the glorious mountain outside the window but on the glorious days that were to come inside Sai Shruti.

The excitement increased every passing second in their hearts as the destination got closer and closer. At about 7 pm, they reached the hallowed hill station. All the boys alighted from the bus and stepped into “Sai Shruti” and good gracious! Swami was there waiting for them! Their hearts pumped with delight for all the thirty seven knew they had stepped literally into Sai’s own home! They were to live almost every moment with Him in His beautiful abode for heaven knows how many blessed days!

The Silent Host



After the boys had settled down comfortably in Kodai, from the third day onwards Swami would send them for a walk every morning during the rest of their stay there. It was to perhaps to exercise their bodies, energize their senses and enliven their spirits in the early morning cool and sylvan surroundings of the Kodai Lake. Swami played a perfect host. To Him the hundred and odd troupe of boys, a few kids and elders were guests and His love and concern for them was unbounded. On the second day of their walking, as the boys went towards the lake in the morning, the compassionate Lord sent a vehicle with instructions to follow the last boy walking around the lake and to be of help if any boy felt tired or needed any aid. The boys actually did not know this and found this out only after they questioned some elders about the vehicle following them behind slowly every morning. God loves to do things silently.


Marvelous Darshans



After they returned from the walk, Swami came out of His room, spent quite some time with them, talking and smiling, and then went to the small balcony in front of the Sai Shruti entrance. Thousands had gathered since early morning, draped in shawls and sweaters, braving the cold and mist, for a glimpse of their Lord in the emerald hills. When Swami came out of Sai Shruti, you could see the faces of devotees saying they wanted nothing else. As Swami slowly walked down the Sai Shruti slope, His face, fresh as a beautiful morning rose, the soothing morning light reflecting love, grace and goodness from His immaculate face …the green background of the Kodai hills and the vibrant-coloured flowers of Sai Shruti creating an alluring milieu…it was such a glorious sight! The Lord, looking so radiant and full of beauty, completely one with nature.

And to add to all this was the mild breeze playing with His shining , supple hair and Swami gently moving them away from His radiant face as if persuading them to stop caressing Him and allow Him to confer His loving glances on His devotees uninterruptedly…. As He moved down the slope, He was getting closer and closer to the devotees, little by little and for every devotee, you could see it on their faces, it was the sweet fulfillment of a penance.

After a while, Swami got into the white golf cart and slowly moved towards the devotees. Swami’s car passed so close! There was almost no barrier between the devotee and the Lord. And Swami looked so resplendent, so very compassionate, accepting letters from as many as possible from the 1 st row, 2 nd row, even the 3 rd row, sometimes asking for the letters from the rows even behind. He was just giving out joy and the cup of every devotee’s heart was full. For more than half an hour, sometimes nearly an hour, He was out with the devotees listening to the prayer of somebody, blessing the child of the second one, materializing a beautiful ring for someone here, a shining bracelet for someone there…everyday He was giving away gifts, speaking so affectionately to an old woman, smilingly blessing and conferring gifts to the small children who had come from a Vedic school, a recognizing glance to an old devotee… in the words of a student, “Swami gave Himself away completely, especially to the devotees”.

In fact, one particular evening when it started pouring just before Bhajans and the devotees could not get inside the Bhajan hall, Swami Himself went outside and stood there giving Darshan to the devotees during the whole Bhajan session. He stood there radiating His love for nearly half an hour. Not only that, He asked for arathi to be given there, outside in front of the devotees, while the boys were singing Bhajans inside the Bhajan hall. That was His immense love for the devotees. He was just reciprocating their deep love for Him, as He, we know, is just a pure clean mirror.


Memorable Sessions



After the morning Darshan, Swami gave His time to the students inside the Sai Shruti. On the first day, He was just giving away things: blankets, cameras and clocks to soaps and towels. He gave everything that they would need for a comfortable stay and even said very lovingly, "You came here with less luggage, but will return with double. For the last 15 days, I have been making arrangements for all the things that have to be given to you. It is very cold during the nights here so I have got special Korean blankets for you." Every boy was choked with emotion. Who would not be? It was no ordinary love, it was Love cleaned of all selfishness and multiplied a million times!

There were days when Swami was reminiscing His old devotees like the Rajah of Venkatagiri, a great devotee, who would roll on the ground as Swami’s car had just passed to sanctify himself; and the old time devotee Smt. Kamala Kotnis; His visit to the valley of Kashmir and how all the people in the troupe would struggle to keep pace with Swami’s speedy steps; His days in Venkatagiri and how the then Transport Commissioner of that area, Mr. Hanumantha Rao, baffled with Swami's driving skills awarded Him Driving License when He was only 12!

Another day it was how, years ago, people would gather around Him wherever He got down in Madras (now Chennai) assuming Him to be a film star! And earlier how He used to have breakfast in Puttaparthi and lunch in Madras, driving Himself 270miles at a go at His swift pace! And the days of World War II, when He was in Madras, the M-10 fighter planes, the bombs and the siren…; how He got the just-born Sai Geeta (His pet Elephant) in His own entourage from the Bandipur forest after her mother was cruelly killed by elephant-hunters, and how Sai Geeta would go around everywhere inside the ashram including Swami's room!

One session was entirely devoted to ‘Food and Hygiene’. Swami, in detail, elaborated on what, when and how much should one eat, giving examples from His own life. Recollecting His own childhood He narrated the incident when He would make Rasam (a kind of soup) for His body’s grandfather, Sri Kondama Raju, and how all the village would be lined up front of His small house for a little portion of that preparation because of its irresistible aroma, fine taste and medicinal properties.

Another day it was on religion and about Sikhism, in particular. He explained in detail the five important things for Sikhs and recollected with great enthusiasm His visit to Chandigarh many years back where a group of four strong Sikh devotees lifted His car and put it on the stage when the crowd around Swami's car became unmanageable.

There were quite a few morning sessions when Swami would permit students to sing and they would enthrall everybody with their beautiful rendering of timeless devotional compositions. Swami would graciously accept the cymbals from one boy and start giving beat to the music most wonderfully. Hours would pass like this and He would involve Himself completely with their singing, sometimes asking them to stop and enquiring the meaning of the song, or who taught them, or if they could sing that again or if they know a particular song, or if they know the raga and the beat and so on. As one boy put it, “Swami is truly Ganapriya i.e., Great Lover of Music”. And Swami sealed the issue when He said, "Music is God's Love". Later, Swami rewarded the two student singers by slipping beautiful emerald rings onto their fingers and the boy on the keyboard who was also a singer was gifted with a gold bracelet and a nine-gemmed ring. A perfect example of how one can win the Lord’s heart with heartfelt music. And Swami even elucidated in detail all the gems that make the nine-gemmed ring with their names and properties.

For the boys, it was a continuous learning experience. During one morning session, Swami asked one boy, “Where are you from?” He said, “ Bangalore”. He then asked, “Where in Bangalore?” to which the boy mentioned the street. Then Swami said, “There is a temple near it, isn’t it?” “Yes, Swami” he nodded a bit amazed at His omniscience. Swami then inquired, “How far is it from your house?” The boy said, “Just 2 minutes, Swami”. To this Swami said, “This is not the right way to answer. Whenever anybody asks for distance you should answer in miles or kms, not in units of time as the time taken will differ with the mode of travel. Let people judge the time depending on their conveyance”. How down to earth He gets to teach us small but significant things!

There were morning sessions which were full of laughter. Swami would ask an elder or a boy without a musical voice to sing and the whole group would burst into laughter. Another day there was the game of passing the parcel where a parcel would be circulating in a group and as the music stopped the person holding the parcel is supposed to open the box and pick up a chit and do what is written there. Swami would take the chit from the boy and read out for all to hear. It was another very amusing session.

One very memorable session was dedicated to the small kids in the group. Swami had said the previous day that there are a lot of nice stuffed toys available in Kodaikanal and the next day there were a number of tigers and lions, dogs and bears, big and small, bright and light on the table. When Swami came, like a loving mother, He asked the kids in the group to pick their choice. They rushed and picked up one each. After each one selected his/her toy, he/she came to Swami and showed their well-chosen toy. Swami would take the toy and just like an innocent one would begin to explore and admire the tiger or the lion, then talk to the kid, make some sweet comments and finally pose for a photograph with the kid along with his/her favourite animal. As this was going on, each one present there could not but recollect the famous declaration of Swami – “When among men, I am man; when among women, I am a woman; when among children, I am a child….”

On the Hill Top



On the 21 st afternoon Swami took all the boys to the Hill Top building, the highest point in Kodai Kanal. There was an elderly devotee whom Swami had spotted during Darshan time and had brought him along. The devotee, overwhelmed by Swami’s love and kindness, said, “Swami, I am beholden to you! So graciously you recognized me in the big crowd!” To this, Swami, casting a very benign look on him, said, “Dear one, when I come as Prema Sai, even then I will recognize you.” That is the bond between the devotee and the Lord!

The boys had a beautiful session with Swami on that old but elegant building full of woodwork. Swami, sitting on the swing and asking elders to sing who have never sung in their life… it was a very amusing session. The boys sang heartwarming songs. And after that, an unforgettable banquet on the high balcony overlooking the beautiful greenery of the Kodai hills was like icing on the cake.

And Swami’s love was not restricted to students or devotees alone. That afternoon, Swami beckoned all the gardeners of the Hill Top building and blessed them with excellent clothes and gifts. In fact, in an earlier visit, Swami had materialized a beautiful ring for one of the gardeners and posed with them for a lovely snap on the manicured lawns. Swami never forgot the washer men or the drivers. Before leaving, He would call all of them and give them gifts that they could have never imagined to possess.


Kodai Outings



There were a lot of occasions where the boys could see how the love and concern of Swami is universal. One morning, after the session, Swami gave money to every student and told them to go for shopping. He said, “Look boys, there are a line of Tibetan shops. They have traveled a long distance to sell their goods. You all must buy from them. Buy things for your mother and father. They will be so happy when you give them gifts blessed by Swami. The Tibetans are very honest and kind-hearted. They are very hard-working. When I had been to Kashmir years back, the Tibetans there offered me a shawl and when I gave them money, they respectfully refused. Since then I have been always sending all the boys to Tibetans. They have lot of love for Swami. When they know that you are Sai students they will also offer you a good price.” It was as if the shopping was meant more for the Tibetans than for the boys, one boy remarked. And after they returned Swami enquired with all the boys what they had bought, at what price, for whom and what were the Tibetans saying and so on and looked very pleased when they said, “This saree is for my mother”, “This shawl is for my father”, etc.

On another day Swami sent all the boys for boating. The boys enjoyed the ride on the lake. There were fragments of the sun dispersed through out the lake and there were small pockets of lotuses strewn all around the circular pond. Appreciating the beauty of a particular lotus, one boy thought, “How nice it will be to present it to Swami?” and immediately plucked the lotus. After they returned, with a beaming smile on his face, the boy held it out to Swami and Swami’s first reaction was, “Why did you pluck it out of the lake?” as if feeling the pain of the lotus deprived of the water and the sun.


“I am Chittachor”



On another day as Swami was coming from the Dining Hall towards the boys, one boy hiding his camera behind two other boys was trying to take a snap and not surprisingly, Swami noticed it and immediately said, “Boy, you are a camera chor, but I am Chitta Chor” (meaning, you are a stealer of photographs but I am the stealer of hearts).

One morning as soon as Swami opened the door, He said, “P Sushila is gone. Yes, She is gone.” The boys looked at Swami with


utter shock and disbelief because just yesterday the famous playback singer was there hale and hearty and many times during the day Swami had spoken to her. In fact, one boy, astonished, got up and asked, “Really Swami?” Swami then keenly looked at the boys and suddenly smiled and said, “When I am there here how can anything happen to her? Last night around 10 o’ clock she suddenly fell ill seriously and had to be taken to the hospital. She is stable now.” Neither had Swami come out of His room the previous night after He retired around 7 pm, nor had anyone informed Swami about it physically.

That morning Swami went to the hospital to see her after morning Darshan and when He returned He narrated with great gusto how Smt Sushila was so surprised to see Him there by her bedside and how she was overwhelmed with Swami’s love and just could not contain her joy… The boys could see Swami was so full of joy and energy when He was narrating all this. Truly, the devotees’ joy is Swami’s Bliss, it is His Food, It is His Mission.

There was another occasion when Swami went out of Sai Shruti. It was for a long drive all around Kodai on the 3rd of May. All along the way He was giving Darshan and blessing the devotees from the car window. The boys’ following behind in many vehicles were not seeing the scenic beauty of Kodai but the ecstasy and excitement on the faces of devotees lined up on either side of the road. As Swami’s car passed by them, some were literally in the air jumping in joy, some were crying with happiness and there were some who were in bliss with their eyes closed.


Eswaramma Day



One glorious day during the Kodai Trip was Eswaramma Day. Since morning Sai Shruti was one busy place as arrangements were being made for the Narayana Seva to be held for over 3000 people. It was a miracle that the weather was perfectly fine with no showers or thunders that day because the previous two days it was pouring all the time and the organizers were worried. And after the serving was over, Swami confirmed it when He said, “See, nothing happened. The weather was perfect today. The distribution went on so smoothly and all the people were so happy with the food and the clothes.”

Much before this, when Swami was outside giving Darshan and overseeing the preparations, there was one senior devotee who was inside Sai Shruti and the thought passed in his mind, “What am I doing here when Swami is outside. If only Swami calls me I could go out and have His Darshan.” And just then his son who was outside with Swami came to him and to his utter amazement said, “Swami is calling you.” His joy knew no bounds. He was as much stunned as he was overjoyed at Swami’s omniscience and benevolence!

The whole morning the boys spent preparing food plates inside the Bhajan hall and then passing it outside through a human chain. Swami came there and was extremely pleased with their work. After the distribution was over and the boys were with Swami again, with much concern in His voice Swami said, “Boys must be very tired”. He then lovingly distributed pens individually to every boy so that the joy of receiving the gift from Swami’s hand probably would reduce the tiredness of their bodies. And it surely did. The boys were full of smiles.

That morning Swami informed all the boys that the next day would be the last day of their stay there and they would be leaving to Madurai the next day and from there in flight to Bangalore. All the boys were obviously disappointed. In the afternoon, however, as soon as Swami opened the door, He said, “Anyayam Aayipoyindi (Something terribly wrong has happened). There is no flight for us to go tomorrow. We have to go today itself. Even today, there is only a 20-seater plane. Have you all packed?” The boys were shocked. “You all have to go by bus. Even I will travel in bus. All the elders and kids will go in the small plane.” The boys did not know what to say. They just stared at Swami. The air was tense and there was silence. And then suddenly Swami laughed and said, “I was just joking”, and then came the golden words, “Once I decide something, is there anybody who can contest it?” What a revelation! What enacting by the Divine Director!

After this small divine drama, the whole troupe went to Mr. Srinivasan’s house where Swami spent almost an hour recollecting days when He had stayed in that house and sat next to the fireplace in the corner of drawing room. The boys along with Swami had refreshments there and returned to Sai Shruti to see a nice and entertaining play entitled “Kaliyuga Nachiketa” by the Bal Vikas children of Tamil Nadu.


7th May- Precious Moments...



One very special moment in every Kodai trip for every student is the chance to pose individually with Swami for a very memorable snap. It was already the 6 th of May, their 18 th day with Swami and still no photograph with Swami. The boys were to leave the next day and Swami had somehow never allowed the photograph session to happen. Sometimes He would say, “Not today”, at other times, “There is not enough light now” and so on. Another day He said, “You want my photo? Take”, and then stood immediately in attention position like a disciplined soldier ready to be shot, but no posing with the boys. But on the final day, when the boys prayed and sang a stirring song, He just gave in. “Are the cameras ready? I am ready” He said with a beaming smile. “It is probably the reward for the service that we did yesterday during Narayana Seva,” this was the thought on every boy’s mind.

And He rewarded them profusely. Every boy got a snap kneeling beside Swami’s sofa. Their last wish was fulfilled. But Swami did not stop at that. He stood up and walked to the point in the terrace where the Kodai Lake came nicely as the backdrop and posed again with every boy! Every boy got a bonus snap holding Swami’s hand and standing beside Him. And it did not stop there too. This was followed by group photos, photos of boys in pairs and then some lovely shots of Swami with the background of the Kodai Lake.

It was a great day for devotees too. For, from below they could have Darshan of Swami for more than an hour. It was a lovely day, the sky was clear and Swami was so beautiful with the bright halo of hair. The boys sang heartrending songs expressing their love and gratitude. Swami blessed them all and told them to have breakfast and get ready to leave. There was so much joy, yet so much sadness. What a great climax for such a wonderful trip! Swami had preserved these moments for the last day perhaps to lessen the grief.

Around 8.30 in the morning the convoy started from Kodai Kanal and by two in the afternoon Swami was in Madurai. He went to ‘Ananda Nilayam’, His beautiful abode in Madurai where there were thousands waiting for a glimpse. Incidentally, Swami inaugurated this beauty of a building when he had stopped in a similar fashion in 1999, though He was en route Kodai then. Impressed by the architectural beauty of the structure Swami then had said in Telugu, “Andam Anandam” i. e., “Beauty and Bliss” and had named the building “Ananda Nilayam” (meaning, ‘The Abode of Bliss’) to the joy of Tamil Nadu devotees who had been praying to Swami since His arrival to christen the new building. After a brief stop over there, Swami and the whole troupe moved towards the Madurai airport. The plane left around 4 pm and Swami was in Bangalore by 5 in the afternoon.

The divine odyssey had ended. All good things must come to an end. But the timeless precious memories remain. Memories that are more valuable than all the wealth of the world. Memories that can inspire you for a whole life time. Memories that will stand by you whether you are in pleasure or pain.

Om Sri Sai Ram

A spirited Sai Youth from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Vijay Sohni serves as Assistant Commercial Tax Officer in the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He is also the Convenor of the Indore Sai Samithi and the Madhya Pradesh State Coordinator of Prashanthi Service.

Miracles fascinate all of us. When Bhagavan Baba creates lockets, chains, rings, etc. it baffles us, but Swami says these are not chamatkars (miracles) done to earn namaskars (respect and adulation); these are not pradarshans (exhibitions of power), but nidarshans (evidences of My divinity). These materializations, therefore, are only gifts of His love, a means to another fantastic end, which is the transformation of hearts – the real and lasting miracle. And the story of my life is one such fascinating miracle.

Living a Wayward Life

From my very childhood the members of my family worshipped Shirdi Sai Baba as God, but we did not have faith in Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Actually, on the contrary, I used derogatory language when referring to Sai Baba; I had no love or respect for Him. This was partly because there was no place for spirituality in my life then; mine was completely materialistic.

Though I belonged to a Brahmin family (the priestly class of Hindus), I often went against the traditional norms, and indulged in non-vegetarian food, and occasionally, even shared alcoholic drinks with friends.

It was during this period, 1985-86, that I appeared for the State Civil Services Examination. And in this, I indicated my first preference for the Sales Tax Department (now called Commercial Tax), for the sole reason that it was a 'lucrative' department for 'extra income'. I was duly selected for the post of Sales Tax Inspector and was posted in Indore (the commercial capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India) in 1987. In no time, I was attracted towards the evils of the department, and eventually I got involved in it quite deeply. I was tutored by my seniors about the ways of making 'quick money'.

I returned home everyday with 'extra cash' in my pockets; I did not mind spreading wrong information or even giving veiled threats to businessmen. From 10 in the morning till 9 in the night, I was in the market, moving from one business enterprise to another; I was annoyed if any of the shop owners did not do my bidding. "Nobody dare hurt me" was what I conveyed verbally and otherwise; my ego was obvious and demanded compliance from everyone on my own terms.

During this time I visited an astrologer who, on reading my horoscope, prophesied that a change for the better will come in my life in 1994-95. My immediate thought was that I could be posted in a flying squad (which conducts surprise raids on suspected offenders) and my 'extra income' would jump enormously. In 1992, our family was blessed with the birth of my daughter, and four years later, I admitted her in Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, purely because it was a school of repute in my city, Indore.

At the time of her admission, a close friend of mine talked highly about Bhagavan Baba to me. He had just returned from Puttaparthi and said, "Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is not only Shirdi Sai Baba Himself, but also the reincarnation of Lord Krishna, Rama and Jesus Christ too!" I dismissed this idea entirely initially, but later I thought to myself, "Whoever this person may be, I should at least familiarise myself about Him as my daughter is studying in a school which bears His name".

And so, I started going for Sai bhajans to the house of my friend. Casually, I started attending the programmes of the Sai Centre too. After a while, I do not know how and why, I developed this desire to visit Puttaparthi at least once.

Coming Closer to God

In October 1995, I traveled to Puttaparthi alone. The ashram was abuzz with Dasara celebrations then. Even during this time, I had no special respect for Bhagavan Baba, but maybe I was more open. I sat for darshan everyday, and for three days Swami did look at me. However, on the fourth day, the day I was scheduled to return, Swami came and stood right in front of me.

I do not know what happened to me then; I suddenly burst into tears like a child. My hands automatically folded in obeisance to Him; the next instant I bent down completely and touched His lotus Feet. It was such an elevating experience; He made me feel so light. I cannot really describe that experience in words.

After this first rendezvous with the Revered One, I was definitely a much different person. Once I returned to Indore, I started participating in the activities of the Sai Samithi with great enthusiasm. I also decided that I would join the Sai Organisation formally as a Sevadal volunteer and serve at Puttaparthi whenever there was an opportunity. And this chance materialised for me in September 1996.

This second journey to Puttaparthi in 1996 was truly the turning point of my life. In fact, Swami was giving me indications of things to come much before I reached Puttaparthi on that visit. At about 5 o'clock, while I was still in the train, Baba appeared in my dream and asked,"What do you want?" I was startled. I just said, "I only crave for Your love and blessing." Then He smiled, and again said, "This you have anyway, ask for something else." I had no other reply; I made the same request again. After this, Swami disappeared and I woke up with a start.

It was the first time I saw Swami in my dream. I wasn't sure how to understand this; I conjectured that I dreamt about Him probably because I had been thinking about Him. After reaching Puttaparthi, I immediately went for darshan. And while waiting for Swami, I saw a person next to me reading a Sai book (those days books were allowed during darshan time).

I was inquisitive and asked him if I could see through the book for a few seconds. He obliged and when I opened the book I became still. The bold inscription on the page I opened was an excerpt from Swami's discourse which said, "I appear in dreams at My will. If you think that I appear because of your thinking, you are mistaken." Instantly, all doubts about His mysterious appearance vanished! This was just the beginning.

On the morning of September 26, 1996, I waited in line for Hisdarshan, and was lucky to get the front row. When Swami arrived, He came very near me, and accepted a letter from a devotee sitting on my right. I too tried to present my letter, but He showed both His hands, which were full with letters, and gestured as if to say, "See, I have no room for your letter".

So, I withdrew my hand. But in the next second, to my surprise, I saw Him collecting a letter from another devotee sitting on my left! This was depressing; when I came out ofdarshan, I had a bee in my bonnet. I went into a self-introspection mode.

On the Path of Self Introspection

The voice of my conscience was now speaking louder than ever; my evil habit of taking bribes bothered me terribly. I resolved then and there that I will not accept anything unofficial in future, and mentally, I made this solemn and solid commitment to Swami. The next day, I was fortunate again to find myself in the first line.

This time too, Swami came straight to me, but now, He lovingly accepted my letter without a word. Not only this, He granted me the chance to touch His Feet too. I came out of darshan as if I was in seventeenth heaven. Joyously I shared my happiness with a senior member of our Sai Samithi, who was also present there, and he explained to me that by not accepting my letter on the first day Swami clearly conveyed that He is not interested in a corrupt devotee. I had learnt a vital lesson of my life, but the Lord did not rest at this.

Now, before I started for Puttaparthi on that occasion, I was to do a market survey which could have easily yielded me over a lakh of rupees in unaccounted income. After I returned from Swami, my clerk informed me, with a heavy heart, that my area of operation has been changed, and the present one would fetch me much less income. In other words, my 'extra cash' had shrunk a great deal.

If I was my former self, I would have got wild with my officer. Certainly I would have picked up a quarrel with him, and harbored jealousy against the inspector who had snatched my money-spinning assignment. But now, it did not bother me.

Putting Everything in His Hands

When I set out to the market for my new assignment, shopkeepers, like always, came forward offering me bribes, lest I might write adversely about them in my report. But when I refused, they were obviously surprised, and happy too. In my hearts of hearts, I was so glad and thanked Swami profusely for cleaning my life up so amazingly.

I gave up drinking and non-vegetarian food too. My colleagues and officers could not believe the transformation they saw in me. Many thought this would not last and tried to lure me back to my old ways. "How are you going to maintain your family with your limited salary?", "You have a daughter, remember that! You are going to need plenty of funds for her one day…", "Have you gone nuts?" and so on. They tried to influence me through many clever arguments and strategies. But my only answer was, "All this does not bother me; everything is Swami's problem."

All said and done, it was not easy. Once I stopped taking bribes, my revenue stream shrunk. To manage the household expenses with my inadequate income, we cut down our desires. Earlier, I changed my dress twice a day, but now I am happy with a change once in two days. We decided to restrict the size of our family and reduced all avoidable expenditure.

For three full years, it was a financial tight-rope walk. But I was determined to follow this new path; it had given me so much peace. I was sure Swami would help us and He did. Eventually, my wife was appointed as a teacher in Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar with a decent salary. This solved all our problems. But how this happened is also interesting.

Dispelling All Doubts

Even though I became convinced about Swami's divinity in 1996, my wife was not. In June 1999, for the first time I came to Puttaparthi along with my wife and little daughter. For my wife, Lord Shiva was God, none else. And that very night in Puttaparthi, Swami appeared in her dream, and she saw that there was a snake wreathed round His neck, just like it is with Lord Shiva. This aroused her faith in Baba; still, she was not completely doubtless.

On the second day of our stay in Puttaparthi, I joined the darshan lines at 4 a.m., and when I left the room, I told my wife to follow a little later, carrying along Maitreyee, our tiny daughter. But given her shaky faith in Baba, she did not take this seriously, and slept through the morningdarshan. When my 7-year old Maitreyee woke up at 7 a.m., she cried incessantly for missingdarshan; she loved Swami dearly.

Therefore, the next day, she was up at 4 a.m. and tagged along with me to see Swami. She was a small girl, so I could have her with me on the gents' side. Before Swami arrived that day, she confided with me that Baba had appeared in her dream the previous night and promised her that He would grant her padnamaskar at 7 the next morning.

And so, she sat with eagerness and expectation. I told her Swami always keeps His word. And that's exactly how it unfolded. At 7 a.m sharp Swami was right in front of us, and even though she was sitting in the third row, she just walked up to Swami fearlessly and the Lord too blessed her profusely as she touched His Feet.

Now, this was a moment of revelation more for my wife than anybody else. This sealed her faith in Bhagavan. Soon, my mother too became a sincere devotee, and Sai became the sole inspiration and personal God of our entire family.

Work Becomes Sadhana

Meanwhile, my office environment saw a lot of changes; every activity was now being computerized. This alteration brought Mr. Hari Ranjan Rao as the Additional Commissioner to my department. He was a staunch Sai devotee right from his childhood and was happy to entrust me with many important responsibilities. In fact, one of the projects was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2003.

And on that occasion, I was awarded a certificate of appreciation along with five other top officers. I know certainly that all this has been purely because of His grace. Even today I continue to work in the computer section, and recently have been given a promotion too!

What is more heartening, though, is that my transformation has inspired many other officers to rethink about their wrong ways. Today almost everybody in the office greets me with 'Sai Ram'! Bhagavan Baba has transformed my life, in and out. When I recollect the prophecy of the astrologer now, I understand the true import of his words. Yes, my life has undergone a great metamorphosis. And I do not know how to thank Swami for the amazing miracle that He has performed on me!

Om Sri Sai Ram

Play Of Life



The play is His

The role is His gift

The lines are written by Him

He directs, He decides the dress and decoration,

The gesture and the tone,

The entrance and the exit.

You have to act well to receive His approbation

When the curtain falls

Earn by your efficiency and enthusiasm

The right to play higher and higher roles

That is the meaning and purpose of life

Living with God is the true education

Living for God is the true devotion

Living in God is the true spirituality.

Truth is the mother

Wisdom is the father

Right conduct is the brother

Compassion is the friend

Peace is the spouse

Forgiveness is the son

These six alone are the real relations for every one. -Baba

Om Sri Sai Ram

Puppet doll



"For the present try to grasp the meaning of this song in folk dance style; you will understand who this 'you' is, to a large extent. It is possible you will get Vairagya detachment to a large extent through this. Later, you will understand the meaning of what I have to say more clearly and with greater ease. Do not merely read this song but think well on the meaning of each word. The song will certainly turn your brain!"- Sai Baba




Swami: Listen, carefully.



Thai! Thai! Thai! Thai! Thai! Dummy see the Tamasha play of this puppet doll.
O Jiva, listen to the long, long tale
of its past, its future, behind and front!

It rolled at first in mushy mire
of mother's womb, its prison dark.
It came with a whimper, but all around
they smiled in joy and feasts galore.

'O tragedy! I am born again',
it knew and wept, both loud and long.
But all the while, they caressed it
and laughed to raise a laugh!

In its own dirt it wallowed day,
without a sense of shame;
it rose and fell, at every step,
acting daily a childish play.

It runs and skips with gangs of chums
and learns a hundred tricks and trades;
it grows so tall and thick and broad;
from year to year, very fast and fair.

It moves in pairs, and bills and coos
in rosy rainbow style;
it sings in tunes unheard before,
and quaffs the cup, unique and strange.

'Tis Brahma who makes these dolls in pairs
and dolls and dolls in millions,
but this our puppet does not know
when it plays with dollies: Thim! Thim! Thim!

This Maya doll like the holly bull
has the Thamas rope in nostril hole;
lust and anger are the scorpion whips
which whack the back of the slave.

It gloats with glee, when others stop
before it shuddering low;
it doles them pain; but cannot bear
a microscopic share!

It swears and shouts and waves its arms
and frets and fumes with blood-red eyes;
it is indeed a wondrous sight -
possessed by devil ire!

It scans and spells, it scribbles and swots,
it does not know the reason why,
it runs in panic trying to glean
fodder for belly, willy or nilly.

Ah, did you see this queer little dummy,
with so many books in its tummy,
turning and twisting in jealousy green
when a learned doll encounters it?

And, you should hear its secret cluck
when a shameful sensual urge,
a wicked lurking greed
is satisfied in sin!

It proudly pats; what? its own back!
For beauty, brawn, vitality.
While all the time and step by step
it moves towards senility.

It totters and blinks through wrinkles and folds;
and when the children cry,
'old ape', 'old ape'
it gapes and grins a toothless grin -

its bones do clatter so!
Unto the last, it is lost in fear,
wear and tear and many a tearsome fray!
Of what avail, O dummy doll, your gasp and groan,

your needs must meet the doom.
Aha! The bird! It shakes its wings!
It files out, brrrr, from out the cage of skin.
Empty, it tightens; vacant, it straightens;

o, drag it out of sight; it bloats and stinks.
The elements join their parents five;
the doll's desires are dust and ash;
why weep, you fools, when one of you

falls on the crowded stage?
Uncles, cousins, aunts and friends
march in gloom until door of room!
The Maya doll, alas, forgot its kin,

the divine name, redeemer true!
O Jiva, do not lean upon this slender reed;
just a sneeze! This frail skin boat
endowed with thrice three leaks

will plunge you, middle stream!
This puppet weeps, it sleeps and wakes,
When the string is pulled by unseen hand
The Lord it is, who stands behind,

But the dummy swears, it is I, I, I.
Dharma, Karma are the hardy strings
He tightens or He loosens.
Unaware, the puppet swaggers

criss-cross, on the planks.
It takes the world as stable -
this silly strutting dummy!
A twinkle! He winds up the show!

Exit the pomp and pride!
O Jiva, you have waded
through ant and snake and bird;
seek and find without delay,

the road to lasting bliss!
Bless your luck! You now can see
Sai Krishna, He has come!
Be kin with him and you will know

your what and why and how.
A million words so clever and nice,
can they appease your hunger's maw?
Light the lamp of the soul instead,

and, freed from bondage, run out and play.
This song that tells of dummy doll
makes Jiva sad and wise! I know;
but, Jiva! See the Leela grand of Sathya Sai Nath

and - Know Thyself!

Om Sri Sai Ram

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Shiva Shakthi



Gurupournima Day, 6 July 1963, 6:30PM. (Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks III 5, 19.)

[Editor's note. This discourse was exciting for two important reasons. First, Swami illustrated his powers by curing himself, in a few seconds and before thousands of people, of a severe stroke that he had had for eight days and explaining why this event had to take place. Second, for the first time, Swami mentioned
Prema Sai Baba
, his next incarnation. Swami said that he would come back in a third incarnation as Prema Sai eight years after he leaves this body.]

Prema Sai Baba



This is not Swami's illness; this is an illness that Swami has taken on in order to save some one. Swami has no illnesses, nor will he get ill at any time. You must all be happy; that alone will make Swami happy. If you grieve, Swami will not be happy. Your joy is Swami's food.

(Then, Baba signaled to Kasturi to speak. After his short speech was over, Baba wanted the mike to be held before him. He asked through it "Vinapisthundaa!". But, though he asked again and again, the voice was so indistinct that no could make out what it meant.

He then signed for water. When it was brought, he sprinkled a little with his shaking right hand on the stricken left hand, on his left leg. He stroked his left hand with the right. Immediately, he used both hands to stroke his left leg, and that touch was enough to cure it. He doffed the disease in a trice! He started to speak! It was the same musical voice.)

For those who have no refuge, God is the refuge (Dikku lenivaniki devude gathi). That is exactly the reason I had to take on the disease that one helpless devotee was to get. He had to suffer this dire illness, as well as the four heart attacks that accompanied it, and he would not have survived it. So, according to my duty (dharma) to protect devotees (bakthasamrakshana), I had to rescue him. Of course, this is not the first time that I have taken on the illness of persons whom I wanted to save. Even in the previous Sariram at Shirdi, I had this responsibility. The suffering that you saw was too much for this particular devotee, so I had to save him by going through it myself. This is my play (leela), my nature. It is part of the task for which I have come, sishyarakshana.

People who were near me during the last week were asking me to give them the name of the person whom I had saved. I told them that it would make them angry against that person, for Swami, they would say, "had to undergo much pain in order to save that one person." Then, they replied that they would honor the person because of the extraordinary devotion that persuaded Swami to run to his rescue that Saturday morning.

Some people even asked me whether it was this person or that, giving names of those who had attacks of paralysis, especially on the left side! This is even more ludicrous, because when I save a person I save him completely. I do not wait until he gets the disease, and I do not leave him a fraction of a disease so that he may be identified later. It all looks funny to me, the guesses and surmises that you make.

Even in Shirdi, Dada Saheb, Nadaram, Balawanth, all were saved by these means. Balawanth was destined to get plague, but the bubo was taken over and the boy saved.

This is perhaps the longest period when I kept the devotees wondering and worried. That was because of the heart attacks, which had to come later on the devotee, from which also he had to be saved. Then, there is another reason why the 8-day period had to be observed. I shall tell you why. This means I must tell you about myself, about something I haven't disclosed so far, something that I was keeping within myself for the last 37 years. The time has come to announce it. This is a sacred day, and I shall tell you.

You know I declared on the very day when I decided to disclose my Identity, my mission, and my Advent that I belonged to the Apasthamba Suthra and the Bharadwaja lineage (gothra). This Bharadwaja was a great sage, who studied the Vedas for a full one hundred years; but, finding that the Vedas were endless (anantha), he did penance (thapas) for prolonging life, and from Indra he got two extensions of a century each. Even then, the Vedas could not be completed, so he asked Indra again for another hundred years. Indra showed him 3 huge mountain ranges and said, "What, you have learned in 3 centuries form only 3 handfuls from out of the 3 ranges that make up the Vedas. So give up the attempt to exhaust the Vedas. Perform a ritual (yaga) instead, which I shall teach you; that will give you the fruit of Vedic study, full and complete."

Bharadwaja decided to perform the ritual; Indra taught him how to do it; all preparations were completed. The sage wanted Shakthi to preside over and bless the ritual. So he went to Kailasa, but the time was not opportune for presenting his petition. Shiva and Shakthi were engaged in a competitive dance, trying to find out who could dance longer. Eight days passed thus, before Shakthi noticed Bharadwaja standing in the cold. She just cast a smile at him and danced along as before! The sage mistook the smile as a cynical refusal to notice him, so he turned his back on Kailasa and started to descend. To his dismay, he found his left leg, hand, and eye put out of action by a stroke. Shiva saw him fall, came up to him, and consoled him. Bharadwaja was told that Shakthi had indeed blessed him and his ritual. Then, Shiva revived him and cured him, sprinkling water from the Kamandalu. Both Shiva and Shakthi granted him the boons of a sage (rishi); they would both attend the ritual, they said.

After the ritual was over, they were so pleased that they conferred even more boons on the sage. Shiva said that they would take human form and be born in the Bharadwaja lineage, thrice: Shiva alone as Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva and Shakthi together at Puttaparthy as Sathya Sai Baba, and Shakthi alone as Prema Sai, later. Then, Shiva remembered the illness that had suddenly come upon Bharadwaja at Kailasa on the eighth day of waiting in the cold on the ice. He gave another assurance. "As expiation for the neglect that Shakthi showed you at Kailasa for 8 days, this Shakthi will suffer the stroke for 8 days when we both take birth as Sathya Sai and, on the eighth day, I shall relieve her from all signs of the disease by sprinkling water, just as I did at Kailasa to cure your illness."

It was the working out of this assurance that you witnessed today, just now. This had to happen, this stroke and the cure. The assurance given in the Thretha era had to be honored. I may tell you now that the poor, forlorn devotee who had to suffer the stroke that I took over was a convenient excuse, which was utilized. You see, a railway engine is not made available to haul just one car; when a number of cars are ready, then the engine is put into action. So too, the disease had to be gone through, the devotee had to be saved, the assurance had to be carried out, the mystery had to be cleared, the Divinity had to be more clearly announced by the manifestation of this Grand Miracle. All these were accomplished by this one incident.

Let me tell you one more thing: Nothing can impede or halt the work of the Avathaara. When I was upstairs all these days, some people were foolishly saying, "It is all over with Sai Baba," and they turned back many who were coming to Puttaparthy! Some said I was in samadhi, as if I were a spiritual aspirant (sadhaka)! Some feared I was the victim of black magic, as if anything can affect me! The splendor of this Avathar will go on increasing, day by day. Formerly, when the Govardhanagiri (a mountain) was raised aloft by the little boy Krishna, the cowherd maids and boys (gopees and gopalas) realized that Krishna was the Lord. Now, not one Govardhanagiri but a whole range will be lifted, you will see! Have patience, have faith. Tomorrow morning, I shall give every one of you the Namaskaram Blessing that you missed today.

Om Sri Sai Ram

WILL YOU, O LORD, LET GO THE HOLD?


Prayer written by Baba and given to Kasturi, New Year's Day, 1959


Will you, my Lord, let go the hold?
You will not, you will not,
You will not let go,
However bad I be.

Will you my Lord, let me waste my years?
You will not, you will not,
You will not let me waste,
However dull I be.

Will you my Lord, let me run to ruin?
You will not, you will not,
You will not let me run,
However wayward I be.

Will you my Lord let me escape Your eye?
You will not, you will not,
You will not let me escape,
However wanton I be.

You cannot but rush to rescue Your own,
You cannot delay for weighing pro and con;
You cannot stay unconcerned when we weep;
You cannot but respond to the prayers of the poor.

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