14 January Sankranthi Message

[Guest guest]

Om Sai Ram

SANKRAANTHI

Develop love and share it with others. Transform this world into a paradise of

love. Then there will be no misery at all. Understand the nature of the mind

and you will be redeemed. You took part in Sports Meet, exhibited great talent

and won many prizes. This is also very essential from the worldly point of

view. Worldly education is for life here and spiritual education is for the

life hereafter. So, both are essential. Worldly education is like left leg and

spiritual education is like right leg. Both the legs are needed for marching.

Likewise, both forms of education are needed for progress in life. Left (world)

has to be left some day or the other, but right (spirituality) is always right.

Most of us use right hand to do our work. What does it mean? It means that we

should do only right things and make everybody happy. Even in the daily life,

the left hand is used to clean the dirt and the right hand is used for

performing one's

duty.

What is the goal of human life? One has to recognise the fundamental truth,

i.e., the principle of Atma. It is within you. It is possible to know this only

through the intellect because it has the capacity to discriminate. If you want

to partake of an orange, you have to peel out the bitter rind. Even the monkey

peels out the skin of a banana before partaking of it. Likewise, the intellect

should give up evil and accept the good. What is the use of human birth if man

acts in the same manner as a monkey or a buffalo? There is a lesson to be

learnt even from buffaloes and cows. They graze in the fields without wasting a

minute and masticate leisurely whatever they have eaten. Likewise, whenever you

come across anything good, accept it without delay. Later on contemplate on it

and assimilate it.

Pray wholeheartedly for the welfare of humanity - Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

(May all the people of the world be happy). You can be happy only when the world

is happy. There is an intimate and inseparable relationship between you and the

world. Chant the Divine Name. Pray for the welfare of the world and participate

in service activities.

Divine Discourse: Jan 14, 2002

God does not exist for those who deny Him. He exists for those who believe in

His existence. He says 'yes' for those who say 'yes' and 'no' for those who say

'no'. You may say 'yes' or 'no', but, for Sai, everything is 'yes, yes, yes'. If

someone were to tell you that God does not exist, teach him a lesson saying,

"God may not exist for you but He does exist for me. You have no right to deny

the existence of my God. "With such courage and conviction, you should uphold

our ancient culture. Being born as the children of this land of courage and

valor, do not give scope for weakness of any kind. You are not weak, you have

all the strength in you. Take a pledge to accomplish the task of restoring our

ancient culture with courage and determination. God Himself has taken three

pledges - that, He will incarnate age after age for the establishment of Dharma

(Parithranaaya Saadhunaam Vinaashayacha Dushkritam Dharma Samsthapanaarthaya

Sambhhavami Yuge Yuge), that, He will take care of those who constantly

contemplate on Him (Ananyaah Chinthayanthomaam Ye Janaah Paryupaasathe Theshaam

Nithyaabhiyukthaanaam Yogakshemam Vahamyaham) and that, He will grant liberation

to those who surrender to Him completely (Sarvadharmaan Parithyajya Maamekam

Saranam Vraja Aham Twa Sarvapaapebhyo Moksha Ishyaami Maasuchaha). Likewise,

you too should take three vows that you will firmly believe in the existence of

God, that you shall see Him and that you will become one with Him. Make every

effort to fulfil these vows.

Develop love in order to acquire Divine grace. You cannot get even a

handkerchief unless you pay for it. You are asking God for peace, happiness and

liberation. But what are you giving to God in return? Offer your love to Him and

receive His grace in the form of peace, happiness and liberation. You have no

right to ask unless you give. Only through love and service will you earn the

right to ask.

Divine Discourse: Jan 14PM, 2000

Tomorrow marks the commencement of holy Uttarayana. It is for this auspicious

moment that Bhishma waited for 56 long days lying on a bed of arrows to give up

his mortal coil. Tomorrow the sun begins its northward journey, which is most

auspicious.

Make best use of the divine proximity of Sai. Once you lose this precious chance

to serve the Lotus Feet, you will never regain it. Sai confers devotion, power

and ultimately liberation on you. Never get misguided by the words of others.

Keep this in mind and redeem yourself.

Divine Discourse: Jan 14, 1999

This festive day has been celebrated from ancient times as a day of fulfillment

and joy. Every festival is a social occasion, arising in society, flourishing

in society, and promoting the well being of society. Every festival has been

designed to promote the welfare of society. With social changes, festivals also

have undergone changes.

Today's festival is an extremely important one for Bharatiyas. It is a festival

to celebrate the glory of the Sun God.

The Sun moves every month from one sign of Zodiac to the next.

Sankranthi meaning 'sacred change' - occurs every month as the Sun moves from

one house of the Zodiac to another. But special sacredness attaches to the

movement of the Sun to Capricorn (Makara-Sankranthi).

The Sun appears coolThe day gets shortenedAnd is made pleasant by chill windOn

the fields lit by moonlightThe crows caw over the grain heapsWhile the farmers

sing in joyOver the golden harvestThe flowers express their joyBy putting forth

their petalsWhile in every home, filled with grain,The people welcome the advent

of Sankranthi(Telugu Poem)

On Sankranthi day the farmers rejoice over the fullness of the granaries in

their homes with the newly harvested crop.

When the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn, he begins his northward motion. The

sun shines in every human body illuminating the 'six chakras'. Of these chakras

(spiritual centres in the body) two are most important: the Hridaya Chakra and

the Sahasraara Chakra. The Hridaya Chakra has eight petals. God is the Lord of

the eight- petalled Hridaya Chakra. These eight petals are regarded as eight

consorts of the Lord. In this context the Lord is adored in the form of the

Sun. The world cannot survive without the Sun. The solar system is derived from

the Sun. Hence the Sun is worshipped as Divine.

The ancient sages adored the eight petalled Divine centre in the heart and

thereby reached the Sahasraara Chakra and enjoyed supreme bliss.

Divine Discourse: Jan 14, 1998

Today's holy festival is related to the beginning of the apparent northward

movement of the sun (Uttaraayana). The sun moves every month from one house of

the zodiac to the next. Today the sun enters the house of Makara (Capricorn)

and hence it is known as Makara Sankraanthi. This auspicious day heralds the

conferment of many worldly and spiritual blessings on man. The Sankraanthi day

is a witness to the prospective successes of man in many fields.

Sankraanthi day marks the arrival in the farmers' houses of the grains which are

the fruit of their labors. Sankraanthi is a holy festival for a worldly

achievement. It is also a cherished day of rest in the cool atmosphere. Man

needs days of rest after a period of hard work. Only then he can enjoy peace of

mind. "Samyak kranthi iti Sankraanthi". Sankraanthi confers peace and heralds a

welcome change. It brings out the inner joy in people. It effects a change in

the life-style. It generates sacred thoughts.

Divine Discourse: Jan 14, 1997

Sankramana is the time when the inward journey towards a pure and unsullied

heart is made. Just as the sun embarks on his northward journey, Sankraanthi is

the day on which the intellect should be turned towards the Atma for

Self-realization.

The Veda has declared the Uttaraayana as a sacred period. The great warrior

Bhishma, lying on a bed of arrows, waited for 56 days for the advent of

Uttaraayana to end his life. The puranas have stated that whoever passes away

in Uttaraayana will attain liberation.

In the movement of the sun from house to house in the Zodiac, the entry into

Capricorn is most important. Capricorn is a sign of peace and contentment.

According to the Gregorian calendar, Sankranthi begins on January 13 or 14.

This confers a kind of mental and physical peace.

Few people understand the true significance of festivals like Sankranthi. Man

cannot secure enduring bliss through physical pleasures. He has to discover

that the source of this bliss is within himself. Sankranthi enables man to make

this discovery, like a man who carrying his spectacles on his forehead searches

for it everywhere and discovers to his joy that it has been with him all along.

The Divine is not anywhere else. It is enshrined in one's heart. Hence, the man

who seeks the Divine within his heart redeems himself. He then attains

liberation. All external spiritual exercises are of temporary value. They

should be internalized to experience lasting bliss. All mental exercises also

leave the heart unaffected. In the nine paths of devotion, beginning with

listening to sacred things and ending with total surrender of the self (Aatma

nivedanam), the last is the most important. After "Aatmanivedanam" (total

surrender) there is no need for any other effort.

"Sankraanthi" gives the call for this total surrender. Sankraanthi is a kind of

family festival. Yes. This is so. But the whole world is one family

("Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"). The festival relates to the entire world. It is not

confined to one's kith and kin. Sankraanthi is related to the entire mankind.

Whether people realize it or not, Sankraanthi promotes in one and all a feeling

of happiness.

Sankraanthi promotes mental transformation. It illumines the minds of people. It

induces the unfoldment of inner feelings. It brings about the manifestation of

the invisible Atma within everyone. Sankraanthi is pregnant with such immense

significance. It influences not only the mind but also the powers of nature.

Nature is a projection of the mind. The world is rooted in the mind.

(Manomoolam idam Jagath"). When the mind is turned towards the heart and the

heart is filled with the Divine, the mind will cease to be a source of trouble.

The mind is the master of the senses. When the senses are controlled the mind is

under control. Only the master of the mind can attain Madhava (the Divine).

Divine Discourse: Jan 15, 1996

In the Dwapara Yuga the cowherds and cowherdesses used to experience boundless

joy in the presence of Krishna, forgetting themselves in their devotion to the

Lord. On Sankraanthi Day they used to employ cow-dung as a sacred means of

cleansing purposes. They demonstrated also the inner significance of the

Sankraanthi celebration. They placed three balls of cow-dung in front of their

houses, fixing three pumpkin flowers on their top and went round singing and

dancing in adoration of Krishna. What is the significance of these three balls

of cow-dung? In olden days, people used to sprinkle water mixed with cow-dung

in front of their houses. The cow-dung helped to destroy the bacteria in the

atmosphere. The cow-dung was considered a symbol of health and happiness. The

first cow-dung ball represented Krishna who was worshipped as Gopala (the

protector of cows). Krishna was adored as bestower of joy and health. The

second cow-dung ball was placed as a symbol of the Govardhana Hill which Krishna

lifted and thereby demonstrated his divinity. The third cow-dung ball symbolised

the cow, which is the source of health and joy for the people as the giver of

milk. Gopala, Govardhana, and Go (the cow) were worshipped in this manner.

Among vegetables the pumpkin has a place of honour as the largest in size. The

Gopikas looked upon the pumpkin as a symbol of large heartedness. Hence,

pumpkins were offered as fitting gifts on Sankraanthi Day. What is the gain

from this offering? The pumpkin does not rot quickly. It can be preserved for a

long period. Any number of edible preparations can be made from it. It can also

be used in combination with many other vegetables. Because of its distinct

qualities, the offer of a pumpkin also meant making an offer of one's virtues.

The Sankraanthi festival should be regarded as the day on which man turns his

vision towards God. Man's life may be compared to a stalk of sugarcane. Like

the cane, which is hard and has many knots, life is full of difficulties. But

these difficulties have to be overcome to enjoy the bliss of the Divine, just

as the sugarcane has to be crushed and its juice converted into jaggery to

enjoy the permanent sweetness of jaggery. Enduring bliss can be got only by

overcoming trials and tribulations. Gold cannot be made into an attractive

jewel.

Divine Discourse: Jan 15, 1992

Source: http://www.eaisai.com/baba/docs/sank.html

 

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