Guest guest Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 Pranams to all members, I am Saibanisa - GopalaRao Ravada from Saidarbar -Hyderabad. Kindly go through this issue of "The Glory of Shirdi Sai" and receive the Blessings from Baba. Wish you all A Happy Pongal. In the Service of Lord Sainath and His devotees, Saibanisa - GopalaRao Ravada. ---------------------------- THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI A FORTNIGHTLY E-MAGAZINE Issue 2/2004 16-01-2004 to 31-01-2004 Please visit our Web site: http://www.saidarbar.org ----------------------- " WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY PONGAL " Flash: 1. "The Glory of Shirdi Sai" is celebrated its First Birthday on 01-01-2004. 2. "Saidarbar movement" is entered in the sixth year on 25-12-2003. --\ ------------------------ THIS ISSUE CONTAINS: 1. NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE 2. SAI PHILOSOPHY 3. WHAT IS SAIDARBAR? 4. SAI IN LETTERS 5. SAIBANISA'S THOUGHTS ON GRUHASTHASRAMA 6. CORRESPONDENCE CURSE ON BHAGAVAD -GITA 7. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA 8. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY 9. JOURNEY THROUGH THE OCEAN OF HEMADRI PANTH 10. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES 11. SAI WITH CHILDREN 12. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES 13. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES 14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS 15. EDITOR'S DESK ---------------- 1 SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE: January 1919: Nana Saheb Nimonkar (Shankarrao Raghunath Deshpande an elderly cousin of Shama) passed away at Pune. January 20, 1941: Damu Anna (Damodar Savalaram Rasane) of Ahmednagar passed away (aged 89 years). January 1, 1946: Sri B.V.Deo passed away ( Composer of Chapter 53rd of Shri Sai Satcharitra in Marathi language). January 14, 1980: H.H.Radhakrishna Swamiji passed away at Bangalore. (Aged 74 years) January 1991: Size of " Shri Sai Leela Magazine" enlarged and converted in to a Bi-monthly magazine. ---------------- 2. SAI PHILOSOPHY: SAI PHILOSOPHY FROM THE DIARY OF SAI.BA.NI.SA. These messages are the outcome and essence of the dream sequences of Saibanisa as given by Lord Sainath, which reflect the Sai Philosophy and his high thinking. They carry a sense of deep meaning and are generally thought provoking, enough to set one?s thinking process. 46) 30th January 1996: Let "TIME" be your only binding force. Complete all your responsibilities in time . Be cautious not to get entangled into personal lives and affections of those benefitted in that process. 47) 5th February 1996: You may display your riches to the society. But never exhibit in public the "GRACE of LORD". It is unpardonable. 48) 5th February 1996: Do not fall prey to those who claim to gift you with "SADHGATHI" (Attainment of Lord). It is to be obtained only by self efforts. "GRACE OF LORD" can only grant it. 49) 6th January 1993: Just as a prematurely delivered baby has no option to re-enter the mother's womb, once born it is imperative to complete all the assigned duties and responsibilities. It is also impossible to make every one to live for hundred years. 50) 8th April 1996: Man can fly an aircraft safely so long as there is sufficient fuel in it for landing. Clinging to power and position till the last moment in one?s life is like flying the aircraft keeping no fuel for landing. Translated and presented by RAGHU RAMAN SATULURY --------------------- 3. WHAT IS SAIDARBAR? For answer please browse: http://www.saidarbar.org/saidarbar1.htm -------------- 4. SAI IN LETTERS: Madhusudhan Nori, Hyderabad, India nomavi AUM SRI SAIRAM SAI IN LETTERS(Saibanisa's letters to his Son) http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/ocean_of_mercy/sai3.jpg Translated from the Telugu original into English by Sri Sai Devotee Madhusudan Nori. Secunderabad - 28 February 2000 I request the readers to read first Sri Sai Satcharitra in English by Late Sri Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji, before reading these letters. http://www.geocities.com/seenukv/day-01-thu.htm OM SAI Hyderabad 31 January 1992 Letter - 26 (Chapter 28) Dear Chakrapani, I will elaborate on Chapter 28 to you in this letter. I will explain how Sri Sai used to call HIS devotees to Shirdi and make them come there. If one examines the way Sri Lala Lakhamichand and a female devotee from Burhanpore were made to come to Shirdi, as narrated by Sri Hemadri Pant in this chapter, one will be greatly astonished. Sri Sai gave a vision of HIMSELF in a dream to people, who were not aware of HIM, and made them travel to Shirdi. What lesson must be learned by us from these incidents? Think. Even if you are not a devotee of Sri Sai, HE will appear in your dream in the present birth, if there was a relationship with HIM in your previous births, and that HE will make you come to Shirdi. One can say that THIS IS HIS SPECIALITY and GREATNESS. Sri Hemadri Pant reveals in this chapter Sri Sai?s views thus ? BABA did not approve of anyone taking a loan for either celebrating a festival or going on a pilgrimage. This is very important for ordinary families like ours. One should not perform worship rituals, giving donations and undertaking noble tasks by taking loans. I kept away some percentage of my earnings for these tasks, and thus undertook them from such amount specifically kept aside for that purpose. If you follow this principle then you will not have to face unpleasant situations. Sri Sai compared HIS ardent devotees with sparrows. HE used to say that HE made HIS devotees to come to Shirdi as if HE had tied a string to sparrow?s feet and pulled it towards HIMSELF. Megha was foremost amongst ardent devotees of Sri Sai. Sri Hemadri Pant writes in detail about Megha in this chapter. I did not have an opportunity to see Megha, as I was not born in his lifetime, nevertheless reading about Megha gives rise to a doubt in my mind whether I too can ever become as an ardent devotee of Sri Sai as Megha was or not? A true devotee of Sri Sai wishes for only one thing and that wish is to take the last breath of one?s life at the feet of Sri Sai and merge into the five elements through HIS hands. Megha was lucky to have that wish fulfilled. We must also try to get THAT WISH fulfilled. In Service of Sri Sai, Your father. Translated from the Telugu original into English by Sri Sai devotee Madhusudan Nori. Secunderabad ? 26 September 2000. ------------ 5. SAIBANISA'S THOUGHTS ON GRUHASTHASRAMA : http://www.saidarbar.org/discourses/2b.jpg Sri Shirdi Saibaba practiced celibacy through out his life. BABA advocated his devotees to follow the traditions of family life in order to achieve social harmony. This alone will help in building a healthy society and usher alround happiness in one's life. Baba wanted his devotees to fulfill their moral and social obligations called for in the materialistic World and then to work towards the ultimate i.e. reaching the God. Incidentally a major portion of Baba's devotees are from those who follow 'Gruhasthasrama' without any hindrance. Saibanisa Gopala Rao Ravada has read a number of Books and literature on this particular topic by different authors and desires to put his ideas before you all. Hence an attempt is made to high light his observations on this subject, aptly titled as ' Saibanisa's thoughts on Gruhasthasrama'. We earnestly hope that our readership will appreciate and encourage our efforts. Raghu Raman Satulury 6.It is father's responsibility to make a son ready for independent living by the time he reaches the age of Twenty. 7.A teen - aged daughter should be groomed, educated and married off to a worthy partner. 8.A man should cerate a conducive atmosphere for the growth of a happy family and create a mark for himself with good conduct. 9.Never forget to offer food to those who visit your home during dining hours- may be sick, elderly or destitute. 10. Offer food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and a place for the tired to rest. To be continued? ---------------------- 6. JOIN CORRESPONDENCE COURSE ON BHAGAVAD -GITA: http://www.gita-society.com/lessons/saigita.htm ---------------------- 7. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA "SV.SWAMY" svswamy1 & swamyswarna 1/13/2004 17:34:41 -0000 Sai Ram. The last issue of Glory of Shirdi Sai was supposed to contain the continuation of the article Spiritual Gems from Sai Satcharitra. If readers remember correctly, we were just beginning to explore the Spiritual Gems from the Well called Chapter 9, just as a driller drills for Oil and Natural Gas. The readers have obviously a right to know the reasons for the interruption. So, here I offer the reason again with prayers at the Lotus Feet of our Beloved Master. My mother-in-law, a great devotee of Sai, passed away on 30th of December and I had to go out of town to attend the cremation of her mortal remains. She was mainly responsible for inculcating the Sai Bhakti in her daughters including my wife. And Sai used this connection to pull me to His feet in 1998. She was also a great devotee of another great Sai Bhakta Mataji Krishna Priya, whose Darshan I had at the time of my marriage in 1978. Mataji attained the Lotus Feet of Sai some years later. Needless to say, my devotion to God in general and to Sri Venkateswara Swamy in particular, after whom I was named, and the grace of my Guruji His Holiness the Shankaracharya of Hampi, helped me to reach Sai's abode - Spiritual Abode, which is the real Shirdi, fairly quickly. Needless to say, a lot of work has to be still done on my ego for purification, but there is no need for fear once we are under his protection. Sooner than later, He will create conditions favorable for our spiritual purification and thus pull us near to Him. The only requirement is to hold firmly Two Paise, Sraddha and Saburi. The following article is a tribute to a great Sai devotee. Sai Ram. We shall now continue with the Spiritual Gems from Chapter 9. We saw how Baba begged His food though He was having vast powers at His command. The reasons for this were also given. Shri Hemadpant gives nice arguments in support of mendicancy. He tells us about the five sins that accrue to any person engaged in processing of food. He also mentions that these sins have to be atoned by performance of five yagnas or offerings daily. The last and most important of these five yagnas is the Atithi Yagna. Baba, by His begging, taught us the importance of Atithi Yagna, offering to Uninvited Guests, especially those who come at mid-day the normal time for taking food. Atithi literally means without tithi, the lunar day. What it means is that feeding Atithi is to be done without inquiring into the day, time, the person's merits etc. God Himself is supposed to come in some form, not even necessarily human as we shall shortly see, and partake the food offered by us and bless us. Eating food that is not offered to God is considered a great sin in many households. So, in addition to offering of Naivedya to Idols and Portraits of Gods in our houses, we should offer food to Atithis and also to Fire God. We should in any case, leave a small portion of the food aside and then consume the rest. The portion, which is left, is discarded along with the leaf. It was a custom to invariably eat in banana and other biodegradable plant leaves not stainless steel or silver plates. The vegetable leaf and the left over food was food to dogs and other animals outside. The need to share, to protect and preserve the environment was greatly stressed in our Shastras and Culture, without learned scientific tomes being written. Sai Ram. Shri Hemadpant goes on to describe how Baba accepted offerings of devotees. We will continue with this wonderfully filling - spiritually that is - feast in the coming weeks. Sai Ram. Yours truly, SV Swamy ---------------------- 8. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY: (By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao) "Shashi": shashi_31 8. Pearls of Wisdom - the Moral Teachings of Baba given to the Humanity. 26. If you have lost any article of yours, don?t grieve. God has given it, for good, to someone else needing it badly. Think always like this. 27. Saying one thing and doing quite the opposite, denying in practice what you assert as percept is the sin of all sins. 28. If you follow Satya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa, your life will become fragrant and enhances your spiritualism. 29. In all your worldly activities, you should be careful not to wind up the cannon of your good nature. Make it a point, that you should not play with false prompting of your ego, but you must respect the dictates of your conscience. You must always watch your steps. 30. If there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character; if there is beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home; if there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation; and when there is order in the nations, there will be peace in the world. 31. Peace of mind comes from within but not from outside. Peace is no state of agitation and it is an emotional equipoise. It is an unperturbed state of the inner-Self. 32. If you want to get peace, cross out the ?I?; give up the ?want? and you will be left with peace. Then you will become Zero, in the material sense and emerge as hero, in the Spiritual sense. 33. Peace of mind comes from within. Contentment is a mental condition. Do not feed the roots of attachment to worldly comforts, more than absolutely necessary. They lead you to downfall. 34. Hate, greed, and envy degrade your nature. Love alone can counteract. When you are an embodiment of love, all the above will be banished. 35. The value of TRUTH reflects fearlessness, courage, detachment and humility. The value of ?GOOD CONDUCT? reflects Duty, Discipline, Self-Control. The value of PEACE reflects contentment, equanimity. The value of LOVE reflects kindness, forgiveness and a person who practices NONVIOLENCE gains ?FELLOW-FEELING?. So you all cultivate TRUTH, GOOD-CONDUCT, PEACE, LOVE and NONVIOLENCE towards all beings. To be continued? ---------------------- 9. JOURNEY THROUGH THE OCEAN OF HEMADRI PANTH: QUIZ leela dhar : leedharart Quiz for Issue 2/2004 Chapter 39 and50 1) Baba interpreted a Sanskrit verse from a) Bhaghavat Gita b) Bhaghavatam c) Purnas d) Upanishad 2) Who had the first hand version on the subject of Babas knowledge? a) Nana saheb b) B.V.Narasimha Swami c) B.V.Deo d) Hemadpant 3) Who was proud of his knowledge of Gita and Vedanta? a) Hemadpant b ) Shama c) Kaka d) Nana 4) We must make complete _______ to our guru a) Sarvaswa Sharangati b) Seva c) Shastanga Namaskar d) Pari Prashna 5) Destroying ignorance is _______ a) Seva b) ego c) Jnana d) Light 6) The Sad Guru is Nirgun and a) Anand b) Sat c) Deva d) Satchitananda 7) The Sad Guru has taken a human form to ________ man kind and raise the world a) Elevate b) Eradicate c) Deliver d) Punish 8) The meaning of "Pranipata" is a) Namaskar b) Surrender d) Deliver d) Punish 9) Baba _______ arranged the circumstances and surroundings and the people were surprised at the slow but sure result a) Cunningly b) Skillyfully c) Wantedly d) Delibrately 10) Bapu Saheb Booty got a vision while he was sleeping in a) His house b) Masjid c) Chavadi d) Dixits Wada 11) Baba ordered to build a _______ in Booty's vision a) Wada b) Samadi Mandir c) Temple d) Choultry 12) Bapu Saheb Booty drew the drew the plan with the help of ______- a) Shama b) Kaka c) Nana d) Mhalasapathi 13) Baba also on his way to _______ suggested certain improvements a) Lendi b) Chavadi c) Masjid d) Neem Gaon 14) The idea of having an image of Murlidhar in the Wada stuck to a) Bapusaheb Job b) Shama c) Booty d) Mhalasapathi 15) About _____ of Rupees was spend on construction of the Samadhi Mandir a) Ten Thousand b) One Lakh c) Ten Lakhs d) One crore 16) Who became the Muralidhar? a) Booty b) Krishana c) Megha d) Sai Answers of 39 and 50 1) a 2) c 3) d 4) a 5) c 6) d 7) a 8) b 9) a 10) d 11) a 12) a 13) a 14) b 15) b 16) d ------ 10. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES: 1/10/2004 03:14:05 -0700 sathya_1611 Every minute of my life I experience a miracle of baba in some way or the other. What can one say about this karunyamoorthy. I am going through a troubled phase in my personal life and I find baba talking to me through his messages and people and at every step saying that what I wish for will be mine. To me as it is to millions of my fellow sai devotees, Sai Satcharita is a Bible. Through my insecurities and doubts I have developed a habit of searching for messages in the book. Everyday morning, I wake up and take the book and ask for an assurance and sure enough one saying or the other comes up that conveys his love and assurance that my wish will be fulfilled. Of course me in my insolence keep asking for assurance repeatedly whenever I feel depressed and Baba in his ever loving and motherly care continues to provide me answers and assurance. Words fail to do justice to this epitome of love and who am I, a spec in this universe to try to talk about this mahan. Baba, through all my impatience and restlessness, I just fall at your feet and ask for your ever loving glance to be on me. ------------------------- 1/5/2004 07:23:55 +0000 shanker_veeturi Veetury Venkata Rama Sastry, D.No. 5-39, Vigneswaranagar, Indrapalem, Kakinada - 533006. SAI LEELA NO. 1 I am by name Veetury Venkata Rama Sastry, Ex-Railway Employee of South Eastern Railway from 1955 ? 1994. Soon after my retirement I decided to stay at Kakinada, Indrapalem. At the time of my retirement I served SC Railway, at GRC (Garden Reach, The Zonal Head Quarters of SE Railway, Where GM with all his chief officers remain with their officers). As per the standing rule I booked my entire house hold materials from Broomstick to Double Cot Bed in the railway covered wagon from Howrah to SLO(Samalkot). So, I said good by to GRC with my wife and portable luggage only and reached Kakinada safely on the very next day. From the next day onwards upto one month I suffered like anything for want of Household materials which are daily useful and which were already in the booked wagon. Daily I used to contact Visakhapatnam and GRC also but my trails have been proved in vain. One day I went to DRM (Divisional Railway Manager) at Visakhapatnam and talked over phone with my friends at GRC about the position of my railway wagon. They satisfied me that it was on the track and reach SLO with in a day or two. But on the pukka Information received from my closest officer that it was detained in the middle of the station in SC Railway very near to Nagpur due to the bridge collapsed for heavy rains and the work is in progress. I felt very much sorry for my bad luck. From the then moment itself I started praying god Shiridi Sai like any thing because the household materials in that railway wagon costs not less than 50 to 60 thousand rupees. I started bhajans on Sai, reading Sai Satcharitra, attending Sai?s Temple, daily especially, with household prasadham to distribute to all devotees on Thursday. I finally decided that my booked railway wagon might have been theft as it was on the track from one station to another station where security is not available. So I lost all my hopes and prayed Sai to consider the poor Baktha with his kind grace. One day it has come to my notice that my booked railway wagon was at Vizag Yard. Immediately I ran up to Vizag Railway Yard and requested the yardmaster like any thing to send the booked to SLO as early as possible. I came back to my hometown and requested the railway officials concerned to intimate as a when it comes to SLO. Two days past, but no information received. One I went personally, Samalkot Railway Station and requested the Stationmaster to refer his logbook. He referred it and said sorrowfully that it was gone through to Rajahmundry by mistake. I immediately ran up to Rajahmundry and requested the YardMaster there. He assured me that my booked wagon would be at SLO by tomorrow morning. Accordingly my booked wagon has come to SLO Station. Immediately I Booked a truck and went to SLO Railway yard, opened my wagon and to my great astonishment, any body may believe it or not that even the mirror of the Dressing table was not spoiled or broken either in the loose shunting and quick shunting. Generally happens to goods train. All the inside materials were safeguarded in such a position, the position I loaded at Howrah. My joy on opening the wagon was knew no bounds. What is all this? This is all nothing but a result of my strong belief, faith and favor shown on Lord Sai. ----- 1/08/2004 07:16:01 -0700 thanasb Aum sai Sri sai jai jai sai It was a great to hear sai talking to us in the dream. Recently, I had stomach pain, and I prayed to say to take away the pain, after 3 days, I had a dream that someone come to me and told to read Visnu Sahasran, then in the morning I remember that person should be Baba, because in Satcharita Baba has mentioned to Shama, to read Visnu sahasran. I feel very joy and happy, that I can feel that Baba is with me all the time. Bow to Shri Sai and peace to all Sairam Servant of Baba Sis Thana --------- 12/31/2003 17:14:59 -0600 "Sai Devotee": devotee A Sai Devotee Experience. This incident happened in the first week of November 2003. I was moving from Florida to Chicago. Since it is a 15-hour drive, I have decided to sleep over at my friend's place in Alexander City (in Alabama), and start in the next day morning again. It is a 4-hour drive from the place I started. I started around 7 PM on the Friday evening. I was on US-27N, which is a rural high way with a speed limit of 55 MPH. There were some long stretches of construction zones and some single lane zones along this high way. These zones caused considerable delay. So I started speeding upto 75 MPH whenever I don't see traffic before me. I was close to Columbus, AL. Here the highway is passing through the small hills and valleys. Because of these ups and downs, I was reaching 80 MPH some times, when I am driving down the hill. Suddenly, I saw a Highway Patrol Car far away coming behind me, with lights turned on. I slowed down and when the Patrol car came behind me, I pulled on to the side and stopped. I waited for the Officer and started cursing my bad luck. Two weeks back I lost my job. Around 2 or 3 months before, I got 2 tickets on a single day. While I was thinking like this, the Officer approached my car. Then He identified Himself and informed me that I was going at 75 MPH in a 55-MPH speed zone. Then He asked me why I was in so much hurry? I gave some stupid reason, which I can not believe even myself. Then He asked for my driving license. I pulled out the purse from my pocket and found my driving license in one of leaves of the credit card sized see through booklet (common in wallets, used to keep the credit cards). The opposite leaf to the driving license has a card (calendar) with Baba photo. I gave the driving license to the Officer and then looked at the Baba photo and closed my eyes and remembered Baba in my mind, while the Officer verified my license. Then I heard the Officer saying, "Please, slow down for Me, Sir". I opened my eyes and looked at the Officer, who handed over my driving license. I said, "Yes". Then He went back to his car and left the scene. I was completely surprised. It is rarely possible, to see a case where any speeding (over 20 MPH) driver got only an advice instead of a ticket from an Officer. That night, during the rest of my drive, I was thinking about this incident. And I was thinking about it for the last two months (nearly). Here are some thoughts that passed through my mind and few changes that I am trying to implement in my driving style as well as in my life style. The advice that I got from the Officer is probably the most common advice given to any driver, who was stopped for speeding, by any Officer. But I heard it from the Officer at the exact moment of me remembering Baba. So I strongly believe that it is Baba's Message to me. Considering the road conditions, poor visibility and no to mention my past driving history, this Sai Leela and His Message probably saved me from an impending accident. During that night and next day, I tried to maintain my speed around the speed limits. And these days, I am trying to maintain it with in speed limits, most of the time. By this Leela, Baba also showed me that He is always there, watching over my welfare (like any other Devotee's). November and December are slow for the job market. But I have Faith in Baba, that He will show me a way in the near future. All I need now is the Patience. Mean while during these two months, I decided to pay a small Dakshina to Baba. And my Dakshina to Baba is http://saidakshina.org. I am reading the "Glory of the Shirdi Sai" E-Magazine (from< http://www.saidarbar.org) for the last three or four months. It has several sections, which include Devotee Experiences, Letters from the Sai Devotees. While going through these sections, I got this idea of creating a web site, which provides a platform where Sai Devotees around the world can interact with each other, in a better and effective way. By registering and logging into this web site, Sai Devotees can share their experiences; express their views (jewels) on Shri Sai Satcharitra; post their local events or global events (like SAI NAMA JAPA) for other devotee awareness. I think that the most valuable asset that Baba ever had, is His Devotees. So I am giving this site to the Sai Devotees. And I hope that the Sai Devotees will pass over my Dakshina to Sai Himself and make it a Success. OM SAI RAM A Humble Sai Devotee. ----------- 11. SAI WITH CHILDREN: http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/portraits/7.jpg Smt. MadhuGopal Ravada, Saidarbar, Hyderabad. Hello Children! I am Madhu aunty. Do you know Baba use to play with children and used to tell stories to them? I felt children visiting Saidarbar should be entertained with good stories. I have told you 24 stories during the year 2003. Baba told before He took His Maha Samadhi that He is Muralidhar and would like to play in Booty Wada (Samadhi Mandir) with His devotees. So I will start Krishna Leelas with effect from this first issue of New Year 2004. I Wish you all A Happy New year 2004. Study well and learn good manners. Tell your parents to read the Glory of Shirdi Sai - Fortnightly E-magazine and narrate Krishna Leelas from this magazine. KANSA: Kansa was the prince of Mathura, which was ruled by King Ugrasena, his father. King Ugrasena had become old and the real power lay in the hands of Kansa. But he was very unpopular and the people of Mathura did not favor him at the same time they also feared him for he was very cruel and was infamous for his wicked deeds. But he had great love and affection for his cousin sister Devaki. Devaki was beautiful. She was very religious and sweet natured. Her marriage was settled with Vasudev, who belonged to a noble family and was also a friend of her brother Kansa. Kansa was very happy at this alliance. After the wedding ceremony was over King Ugrasena gave farewell to her daughter with tears in his eyes. He also sent hundreds of maid servants along with her for her personal care and gave her costly presents and lots of dowry. When they set off out of pleasure Kansa himself offered to drive the chariot of Vasudev and Devaki and escort her sister to her in-laws home, as was the custom in those days. The brother accompanied the bride to her new home so that she may not feel lonely and sad. Laughing and joking they moved along with the procession of chariots, elephants and soldiers on horseback and on foot both. Kansa was an expert driver of chariot. Suddenly there was a loud thunder in the sky and a voice heard which said to Kansa, " O fool! Don't rejoice over your sister's marriage for it is her eighth son who will kill you." Suddenly there was sadness all around. Kansa stopped the chariot when the words of divine prophecy fell in his ears. Though he loved Devaki but being an evil man he feared his death. Now he believed that she and her son could be dangerous to him. So he caught hold of Devaki by her hair and declared then and there that he shall kill her at once before she gives birth to the child who would kill him. As he raised his sword Vasudev stopped him. He pleaded with Kansa that a helpless woman like Devaki cannot harm him. And she was innocent because it was not her fault. Vasudev promised that they would hand over each of their children to Kansa so that he may kill them to avoid his death. Kansa thought over it and this suggestion appeared reasonable to him. He ordered every body to return to Mathura. He believed that Vasudev never spoke a lie and always kept his word still he was suspicious so he put both Vasudev and Devaki in a separate place guarded by his soldiers. Kansa knew it well that he will be pulled up by King Ugrasena for whatever he had done so he imprisoned his father as well and put him in prison. He then sat on the throne of Mathura as its new king. He then put Devaki and Vasudev also in prison close to his palace. The prison was heavily guarded. Kansa then became powerful day by day and his wickedness also increased. People in his rule feared him. They disliked him but dare not open their mouth against him. Soon Kansa got news that Devaki had given birth to a son. He immediately rushed to the prison where he meet Vasudev. Vasudev handed over his first child to Kansa as per his promise. Kansa looked at the infant and thought that being the first born he should not fear the child, so he returned the child back to Vasudev. Vasudev was happy and returned to prison. Kansa felt happy at the greatness and mercy that he had shown. Just then the great sage Narad came there and said to Kansa that had been in the place of Kansa he would have killed the child of Devaki, because every child of Devaki was a part of Lord Vishnu who was supposed to kill Kansa. And the supporters of Lord Vishnu had already taken birth in the Yadava clan. Thus Narada made Kansa suspicious and left chanting "Narayan, Narayan." All the goodness in Kansa's heart was gone. He only remembered the words of Narad, which haunted him. He then went straight to the prison and snatched the child from Devaki. He then held the baby with his legs and dashed his head on the ground. The baby was killed on the spot. Vasudev tried to console Devaki as much as he could. Thus Kansa killed all the seven sons born to Devaki and Vasudeva. When he heard that Devaki was pregnant for the eighth time he was very much worried. For this was the child according to the divine prophecy who would cause his death. He made security in the prison very tight and increased the number of guards. Vasudev and Devaki were bound in chains. As days passed by and the day of her delivery came near, Kansa became more and more anxious and worried. He himself went to the prison several times in the day to check all security arrangements. He was also afraid as he had noticed a rage glow on the face of Devaki. He knew in his heart that this was the divine child who would kill him one day. To be continued.. ---------------------- 12. ARTICLES FROM SAIDEVOTEES: Ramesh Anitha" : kandra Wed, 31 Dec 2003 00:09:59 +1100 Second and concluding part Ritualism Vs Faith One author puts it this way: Life goes like this. We get hit by little pebbles - as a kind of warning. When we ignore the pebbles, we get hit by a brick. Ignore the brick and we get hit by a boulder. Let us wake up before it is too late and learn from the failures and correct ourselves before the boulder falls on us and then we would not be able to get up to set our life right. It is time for us to open our eyes, mind and body and feel HIS presence in every aspect of our life, let us progress from rituals and know that HE is there ever listening to us and is waiting to talk to us. Let us talk to Him always and understand the purpose of our life before we claim to be devotees of Baba or believe in Baba. Let us accept that love, faith, surrender, are mere statements, as we do not follow the teachings; and pray only to gain our materialistic needs, if they are not met we move on to the next god in our list. Are we any better than politicians who change parties based on the needs? Let us not use the rope of religion to elevate our position in the society and present a mere façade of goodness, piety and humbleness and humility whilst the mind is constantly engaged in ungodly thoughts and seeks unworthy actions. The only way to show our love towards god would be to try our best to follow His teachings, helping others, praying for others, constantly thinking of Him. We do not need to be clean and practice celibacy to think of God, HE is in us, when our mind and heart is clean dust covered body has nothing to do to reach god. He will come running to us without us asking Him for help. Let us not restrict Him by asking for mundane things instead let us ask Him to enable us to realize His marvel and See Him in action and ask Him to bless us to help others. God conscious people are handful they are not bound by restrictions, rituals and physical show of worship. They are at peace, humble and their love and faith in god far surpasses their rituals, they look at everything as the play of god and do not wince nor have sense of guilt when they miss their rituals. Godly people interact with others and discharge their duties while constantly engaging their mind in naam smaran of the lord. Their scope of love encompasses people beyond their household. Such people don?t ask god for anything in life, they know that GOD KNOWS THE BEST and provides accordingly. Let us make this collective resolution to progress towards godliness and move away from ritualism. Let us seek His blessings in our transition from ritualism towards Faith. Anitha Kandukuri, Saidarbar Canberra, Australia -------- "Sai ka laadla" : saikalaadla Wed, 24 Dec 2003 10:13:59 -0800 (PST) Aum Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai May this Thursday (Baba's Day) bring you strength, goodluck, success and happiness.Lord Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, we thank you for this opportunity to be together in one another's company. We thank you for the light you bring to our Sai family. Oh "Sai" Please grant us the vision to see the highest in one another, and grant us the opportunity to continue to be there for each other in good times, as well as not-so-great-times. Oh "Sai" Give us strength and fortitude to ride the tides of change, and empower us always to be nurturing and loving with one another. Open our spiritual eyes that we may see one another for who we truly are... and love one other in the same spirit. Oh "Sai" May sadness, disappointment and anger be minimal; may happiness, positive thoughts and good experiences together be bountiful. May we always cope, and hope, with each other... with grace. We thank the Divine Sainath for this Love. May all our life be full with health and well-being? Bow To Sri Sai - Peace Be To All May Baba Be Always With You Sai Ka Laadla -------------------- Arun Reddy" : arunreddy_n The Winner To return to other stories of Baba, there was a wrestler in Shirdi, by name Mohiddin Tamboli. Baba and he did not agree on some items, and both had a fight. In this, Baba was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and mode of living. He donned Kafni, wore a Langot (waistband) and covered His head with a piece of cloth. He took a piece of sackcloth for His seat, sackcloth for His bed, and was content with wearing torn and worn out rags. He always said, "Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always brother of the poor" - Sri Sai Satcharitha, Chapter V - The English version by Shri NV Gunaji). Baba lost the fight. However, He won the world and beyond. Stories of lives of saints are uniquely impregnated with interesting events. Some times the events may sound trivial, but every incident seems to have its message. Human life is constant struggle and competition. Usually, the assessment of a person or an event is shaped by the outcome and such a judgement itself in reality is the ego ratified. Sainath?s contention is perhaps the same. Accomplishing victories of mundane nature may ratify one?s ego, but does not necessarily guarantee the permanent happiness, a pursuit every human birth longs for. Accepting God?s dispensation and long for, if any, His grace will bring permanent happiness. True winners are those who accept God?s will, surrender their selves to His cause, accept their roles in His play and strive for the permanent happiness. Arun Reddy Nukala ---------------- 13. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES: karuna jyothi : arunajyothiraj Wed, 07 Jan 2004 01:34:08 IST Sai Ram.... Namaskar.. I really like the saidarbar site so much that I do not have words to describe. I have given the site to many of my friends too. I stay in Connecticut. I really fall short of time once I go to that Saidarbar site. I go on reading and browsing every thing about Baba. I believe a lot, lot in Baba. I too had many miraculous incidents. We have a very good Saibaba temple in Baldwin, New York. I regularly go to that temple. Baba's idol is very lively there. May Baba bless us all with his love Sai Ram. Aruna Jyothi. ------------------- "Raidu Vadlamani": raiduv 1/09/2004 08:04:43 +0530 Dear SaiBanisa garu, I am receiving your Glory of Shirdi Sai magazine every fortnight. I cannot describe in words how much knowledge we can acquire while reading this magazine everytime. I would like to thank all the members of the Saidarbar and all the devotees who contribute their articles day in and day out. You all have done such a marvelous job to bring this magazine to the whole world. This is an accomplishment that you should be proud of. Thank you. Sincerely, Raidu Vadlamani ------------------ Swamy": svswamy1 1/13/2004 17:42:10 -0000 Sai Ram. I was indeed very happy to read the last issue of our beloved ezine, Glory of Shirdi Sai. Completion of 1 year is a very important event in the life of any individual or a magazine. It takes great effort to bring out a magazine every two weeks. So, it is obvious that only the grace of our Sadguru Sainath Maharaj is responsible for the uninterrupted publication of Glory of Shirdi Sai for 1 year. The efforts of Saibanisa and Sai Sevak Sri Kasturi Srinivas are of course praiseworthy as also the individual authors who have contributed. But nothing happens without His grace. So, while wishing A Very Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns of This Day to Glory, let us pray to Sai Maharaj, to continue to bestow His grace on the Spiritual Child Glory and bless Her with a long productive life. Sai Ram. Yours truly, SV Swamy ----------------------- 14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS: Visit http://faith.Ocatch.com/index.html for Saidarbar -Chennai -India activities. Visit http://www.angelfire.com/sd/SaidarbarCanberra/index.html for Saidarbar - Canberra - Australia activities. Visit http://www.viswasaidarbar.com for Saidarbar - London Activities. Visit http://www.geocities.com/wallingfordsai for Saidarbar - Walling ford Activities --------- Om Sai Ram : shirdibabasaisharan Tue, 06 Jan 2004 00:58:33 IST Inauguration of website for naam jaap "shirdisaisharan.org" With the divine grace of Shirdi sai Baba we all as sai brother/sister and sai family have completed Global Sai Naam Jaap in year 2003 up to nearly 9 crore and our sankalp to do Naam Jaap till one billion (100 crore-indian numerals) still remains. With Babas blessing and help of sai family the Sai naam jaap and Shirdi Sai Utsav'2003 at Orlando was a grand success. We have not yet completed the total count and hence we request all the Sai devotees, across the globe and the member of Saisharan family to come forward and share their naam jaap count to us and make this a Babas blessing.For the naam jaap counting and regsitration we have tried to make automation software where Sai devotees can themself register and update their naam jaap On the auspicious occasion last year on 9th Jan Thursday we started the Global SAi naam jaap. This year on 8th Jan Thursday (exactly after One year), we are going to launch our website www.shirdisaisharan.org having the automation of naam jaap. Website is still under construction and we humbly request all and one to join and also share this to the fellow Sai devotee across the globe, Sai family members and sai devotees, please feel free to give your views, suggestions and comments, for the website and automation. May Baba help us grow as family and guide us towards the path of self-realization, service to humanity while doing his naam jaap in our day to day activities. Our humble pranam and thanks to one and all servant to Lord Sainath and Saidevotees Sairam Sri -------------- "leela dhar": leedharart Friday, January 09, 2004 6:59:51 AM Inauguration of website www.saileelas.org Dear Devotees and Readers Sai Ram Today with the grace of Baba, a new website has been launched. The website was declared open by Sri D.Shankariah in the presence of Saibanisa Ravada Gopal Rao in Saidarbar - Hyderabad. Most of the readers world wide do not have access to the articles and books on Baba which are lying with a few individuals, So an effort is being made to have a e-library, which will host books, articles and poems on Baba which are rare and not available commercial and which are not protected by Copy Right. This website is a pure spiritual effort, and we hope that this will serve as a Research Center for the devotees. This website is a collective effort, and without Babas blessings and your support this could not have come out. The name of the website is www.saileelas.org Please visit the website, and contribute to the spread of Babas message and ideals. I take this opportunity to request the devotees to contribute old articles and books on Baba, if they have any, or if any of their friends or relatives have it, so that other devotees can read that and enjoy spiritual bliss. Thanks for the support With humble pranam Leeladhar V.V -------- 1/1/2004 18:55:47 -0800 Shirdi Sai Baba : wallingfordsai Saidarbar: Satsangh held on 1st January, 2004 and Announcement of Next Satsangh. Sairam: Dear Sai Bandhus, Today, 1st January'2004, Saidarbar and Satsangh were held in Ratna and Raj's residence. Saibandhus with their children participated in prayer, bhajans and in study circle. Saibandhu Shri Sundermoorthy gave framed Sai Pictures to devotees, who were in need of them. This was a real prasad and blessings for them on this New Year Day from our Lord Shri Sai. We did a special prayer for Mr. Murali's father on his 65th Birthday. We are very happy to say that, with the Blessings and Grace of Shri Sai, Saidarbar is growing very fast with an increase in number of members. We pray to our Lord Shri Sai to always pour His blessings in this way on us and help us in spreading Shri Sai's Philosophy. Saibandhus expressed their opinions and ideas, to improve the satsangh activities, which will be discussed and considered during next satsangh. We will have a small meeting during next Sai's Darbar and make a resolution on it. Our next Satsangh date was announced and will be held on 17th of January at Saibandhu Murali and Aravinda's residence. The schedule and agenda will follow earlier next week. Best Regards, Bow to Shri Sai and Peace be to all. http://www.geocities.com/wallingfordsai ---------- "Atlanta Sai Temple News" <atlantasai Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:38:04 -0800 (PST) Sun shifts His direction on Pongal day On the occasion of Makara Sankranthi (Pongal), temple hours are extended as follows: January 15, 2004 - Thursday Temple is open: 12 Noon to 9pm Sai Abhishekam - 4:45pm Sai Sahasranamam - 5:00pm Sai Astottaram - 5:45pm Dhoop Aarathi - 6pm Sej Aarathi - 8:30pm Archanas will be performed as and when requested Atlanta Sai Temple (NASSTA) 700 James Burgess Road, Suwanee, GA 30024 www.templeofpeace.org Contact Rangarao Sunkara on E-mail : sunkararr ------------- "saibandhu" ; saibandhu Mon, 12 Jan 2004 02:01:14 -0000 OM SRI SAI RAM Dear Shirdi Sai devotees This week Shirdi Sai Baba Bhajans are at Ramulal/Jesheena's house in Santa Clara. We would like to invite you and your family for these Bhajans on January 15th (Thursday) at: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Regards Saibandhus --- Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center": hamaresai Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:42:14 -0800 (PST) Sai Sandesh Sai Sandesh is a Monthly Newsletter dedicated to the Life and message of Saibaba of Shirdi. Please send your contributions to hamaresai. About Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center. Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Inc., Twin Cities, MN is registered as a Non-profit corporation in the state of Minnesota. The organization is funded by the voluntary contributions of Sai devotees. The Prayer Center is currently located at 725 NE Lake St. Apt. 139, Hopkins, MN, where regular Sai Satsanghs are conducted and occasions of importance to Saibaba of Shirdi are celebrated. In addition to the Prayer Center activities, the organization is also involved with community service including "Meals on Wheels" and "Adapt a Family" programs. Please visit the Prayer Center and participate in its activities. Please write to hamaresai for more details. --\ -- Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir: Columbus sssb_temple Sairam, Shirdi Saibaba Satsangh in Columbus, OH Satsangh in Columbus, OH has been taking place for the past few years. We are grateful to our Lord Sainath who has taken us to the 5th consecutive year. We always have felt Him among us in our Satsangh sessions making us feel blissful. Devotees around Columbus, OH area can visit: http://www.srishirdisaibabamandir.org or email: sssb_temple for more details on events and join us in serving Mother Sai. Thanks and Sairam ------------------ SAIDARBAR - HYDERABAD. SAIDARBAR, HYDERABAD IS ENTERED IN THE SIXTH YEAR ON 25-12-2003 We all know that Shirdi Saibaba encouraged His devotees to read Jnaneshwari (Bhagavad-Gita). For the benefit of the Sai devotees, Saidarbar came to an understanding with American Gita Society, Fremont, California, USA, for starting the correspondence course on Sri Bhagavad Gita from January 2004. We request the Sai devotees to browse on http://www.gita-society.com/lessons/saigita.htm get registered for the correspondence course and receive the Blessings from Baba. To Commemorate Shirdi Sai Utsav-2003, Orlando, Florida, USA, members of Saidarbar - Hyderabad released Saibanisa's Discourses in the form of three C.Ds of three hours duration containing, the following discourses. 1. God is Truth - Sai is Truth 2. Sai In Bhagavatham 3. My mortal remains shall speak from tomb - Baba 4. Sai in Ramayan Those who would like to obtain these C.Ds can contact Sai Sevak Srinivasa Rao Kasturi on his E-mail id saidarbar and please give your support to Saidarbar - Hyderabad in spreading Sai Philosophy across the Globe. ------------------------- 15. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: SAIDARBAR TEAM MEMBERS wish each and everyone a very Happy Pongal. We are happy to inform that we entered the Sixth Year on 25-12-2003 in the service of Sai devotees."The Glory of Shirdi Sai" our Fortnightly E-magazine is celebrated it's First Birthday on 01-01-2004. We would like to thank all Sai devotees for their co-operation and support extended all these years. Smt.Madhu Gopal Ravada W/o Saibanisaji started new article for "Sai With Children" We hope the parents will narrate Krishna Leelas to their children. Another new feature titled Saibanisa's thoughts on Gruhasthasrama is also finding it's place in "The Glory of Shirdi Sai" and we hope readers will be benefited after going through the article. Presentation of few thoughts at a time will continue for some more time. Shirdi Saibaba encouraged his devotees to read Jnaneshwari (Bhagavad-Gita). We are happy to inform we have started a correspondence course section and hope Sai community will get benefited. Please feel free to give your opinions/views on this new service. Sai devotees may write about their Sai activities in their place, essays, articles and poetry on Sai to " The Glory of Shirdi Sai" - they may be address their contributions to E-mail id: saidarbar with a copy marked to webmaster We shall put in our best efforts to include them in the Glory of Shiridi Sai- a Fortnightly E -Magazine. Unless the author of the articles instructs, not to publish his/her E-mail id, we will publish them as a matter of routine practice. You can for THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI for a friend /relative and also read the old issues from: http://www.saidarbar.org/glory.htm Editor does not accept responsibility for the views expressed in the articles published. This e-magazine is intended for Private circulation only. Submitted by Sai Sevak: Srinivasa Rao Kasturi For SAIDARBAR-HYDERABAD P.S. In case you do not like to receive "The Glory of Shiridi Sai ", kindly reply UNSUBSCRIBE for our necessary action. 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