The Glory of Shirdi Sai - Issue 22-2005

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THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI

Third Year of Publication

Published as Bi-Weekly

Issue 22 / 2005

27-10-2005

Please visit our Web site: http://www.saidarbar.org

DIWALI SPECIAL ISSUE

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THIS ISSUE CONTAINS

 

1. FOUNDATION STONES FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

2. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE

3. FOOT STEPS OF HOLY FEET

4. SAI IN DREAMS

5. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY

6. SANATANA DHARMA& SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA

7. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO …..

8. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES

9. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA

10. SAI WITH CHILDREN

11. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES

12. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES

13. TELUGU SECTION

14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS

15. SAI'S BOOK WORLD

16. EDITORIAL.

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Saibanisaji & Saidarbar team wishes the readers of THE

GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI A HAPPY DIWALI—01-11-2005

 

Ashwin/Vadya 13, 1910: (Naraka Chaturdasi day- the day

before Diwali) Sai Baba pushed His arm in to the

brightly burning Dhuni to save a blacksmith's child.

 

 

Killing of Narakasura: Narakasura ruled the kingdom of

Pradyoshapuram. Puranas have it that Naraka, son of

Bhudevi, acquired immense power from a blessing given

by Lord Brahma after a severe penance. Under his rule,

the villagers suffered a lot of hardship as the demon

tortured the people and kidnapped the women to be

imprisoned in his palace with his invincible might.

 

Unable to bear the tyranny of the demon, the celestial

beings pleaded with Lord Krishna to save them from his

torture. But Naraka had a boon that he would face

death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So,

Krishna asks his wife Sathyabhama, the reincarnation

of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer in the battle with

Naraka.

 

When Krishna fell unconscious after being hit by an

arrow of Naraka, Sathyabhama takes the bow and aims

the arrow at Naraka, killing him instantly. Later Lord

Krishna reminds her of the boon she had sought as

Bhudevi. The Narakasura Vadh by Sathyabhama could also

be taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate

to punish their children when they step in to the

wrong path.

 

The message of Naraka Chaturdashi Parva is that the

good of the society should always prevail over one's

own personal bonds. It is interesting to note that

Bhudevi, mother of the slain demon Naraka, declared

that his death should not be a day of mourning but an

occasion to celebrate and rejoice. It is said Lord

Krishna had an oil bath to rid himself off the blood

spattered on his body when Naraka was killed.

 

The tradition is followed and people offer prayers on

the previous day of the Diwali to the vessel in which

water is being heated for having bath. Hindus light

fireworks, which are regarded as the effigies of

Narakasura who was killed on this day.

 

Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar – Hyderabad.

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