LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA

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Om Sri Sai Ram

LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA

By Ammula Sambasiva Rao

English Translation by Thota Bhaskara Rao

 

 ‘Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba’ was originally written in Telugu by Ammula

Sambasiva Rao, and translated into English by Thota Bhaskara Rao. The book

delves deep into the details of the life of Shirdi Sai Baba right from his

birth till his attainment of Samadhi.

The author has expounded Sai Thathwa or Sai Philosophy in a single language,

interspersed with engrossing anecdotes in the life of Sai devotees.

Ammula Sambasiva Rao, an ardent Sai devotee, has done pioneering work for the

spread of Sai Philosophy and Sai awakening in the people of Andhra Pradesh. He

has undertaken the performance of a unique Yagna called "Sri Sai Koti Nama

Likitha Maha Yagna" in Sai temples in Andhra Pradesh, and other places in

India. He is the Founder-President of the Shree Shirdi Sai Baba Seva Ashram, a

registered body with its headquarters at Hyderabad.

Sri Sambasiva Rao has written several books in Telugu on Sai philosophy and the

life history of Sai Baba.

‘’ take the pleasure of sharing this our Divine Lord Sai

Baba’s Divya life story with our beloved members. We have proposed to post this

Holy life story in Parts with imbedded photos for the benefit of all our Sai

brothers and sisters.

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of our Divine Lord Sai and with prayers to bless

and shower His grace on all.

Sai brothers – ‘’

*****

AUTHOR'S APPROVAL LETTER

Ammula Sambasiva Rao Hyderabad

December 14, 1999

Dear Sri Ravingaru,

Sairam. Thank you for your letter of 13th, which has been handed over to me this

morning. I have gone through the contents of your letter and pleased to note the

activities of Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Organisation (SSBWSO).

I hereby give my approval to SSBWSO for releasing the book "Life History of

Shirdi Sai Baba" in electronic format at the website www.saibaba.org for the

welfare of Sai devotees across the world.

Sairam

Ammula Sambasiva Rao

***

PUBLISHER'S APPROVAL LETTER

December 8, 1999

Shri Mukund Raj CC: Dr. Ravin Gnanasambandam

Dear Shri Mukund Raj ji,

Greetings from Sterling!

I have received a letter from Dr. Ravin Gnanasambandam regarding the website you

had created for the spread of Sai Messages in the world.

I hope you know about our various publications on Shirdi Sai Baba.

Regarding the Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba, by Ammula Sambasiva Rao, I have

no objection of your putting it on the website. You have our permission and I

leave it to you that how much the person can unload from the Internet.

However, if you want any number of copies, we can send you as usual. …

Looking forward to hearing from you,

With regards,

Yours sincerely, S.K. Ghai CMD, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,

***

TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE Om Sree Ganeshaya - Namaha

My salutations to the lotus feet of the Samartha Sadguru Shri Shirdi Sai Baba.

My salutations to Pujya Sri Ammula Sambasiva Raoji, the author of the Life

History of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba in Telugu.

Strange are the ways of Sai Baba in dragging his devotees not only to him but

also to his trusted messengers who have dedicated themselves to the spread of

Sai Thathwa or Sai Philosophy all over the length and breadth of our sacred

motherland.

I have been a devotee of Sai Baba of Shirdi for three decades. While the late

Sri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji of Madras was responsible for the spread of Sai

philosophy in the South, through his great writings about Sai Baba and

establishing All India Sai Samaj, I find Pujya Sri Ammula Sambasiva Raoji doing

pioneering work for the spread of Sai Philosophy and Sai awakening in the people

of Andhra Pradesh, mainly I say ‘mainly’ because of late, his activities are

spreading not only to the neighboring States of Andhra Pradesh, but also to

distant places like Jaipur in Rajasthan, New Delhi and Kharagpur. Before

proceeding to give an account of his activities connected with the propagation

of Sai philosophy, I would like to tell the readers, briefly about my

acquaintance with this great person, who is now ‘Guruji’ to thousands and

thousands of Sai

devotees.

After my retirement from Government service in the year 1991, I longed to do

service to Sai Baba by associating myself with a person doing selfless service

in spreading Sai’s message. At that time Pujya Sri Ammula Sambasiva Raoji was

working as an Officer in the State Bank of India, Secunderabad. Knowing my

desire, a friend of mine, Sri G Manohar Babu who was also working in the same

bank, introduced me to Sri Sambasiva Raoji.

We were attracted to each other from the very moment of my introductions to him.

I used to attend the noon Arathis to Sai Baba in the makeshift Sai Baba Mandir

set up by Sri Sambasiva Raoji inside the bank premises. I thanked Baba for

having sent me to this great and simple person. I used to accompany Sri

Sambasiva Raoji (hereinafter referred to as Guruji) for the conduct of Sai

Poojas and Sai Vratas (observance of fast) in the houses of Sai devotees in the

twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and sometimes in nearby districts,

during holidays and sometimes after office hours. All the services rendered

were absolutely free of cost. Till to this day, Guruji had performed more than

one thousand Sai Vratas.

Guruji had also undertaken the performance of a unique Yagna called "Sri Sai

Koti Nama Likitha Maha Yagna" in Sai Baba temple at several places in Andhra

Pradesh and also at Shirdi, Jaipur (Rajasthan) and New Delhi. In each Yagna two

crores of "Sree Sai" names written by the Sai devotees in the books supplied to

them free of cost, are being put in specially constructed Stupas in the Sai

temples. Till date, 35 such Yagnas were conducted and the details are furnished

elsewhere in this book. His speeches about Sai Baba and the way he expounds

Baba’s philosophy in the Satsang in simple words is a rare experience for the

listeners.

Guruji has since resigned his job as an officer in the State Bank of India, so

that he can be in the service of Sai Baba all the twenty-four hours and work

for the establishment of ‘Sai Yuga’. No sacrifice is too great in the service

of Sai Baba.

Guruji has established "Shree Shirdi Sai Baba Seva Ashram" which is a registered

body. He is the Founder - President with headquarters at Hyderabad. Units of

this parent body have been constituted at six different places in Andhra

Pradesh till now. The important aims of these units are to spread the message

of Shirdi Sai Baba among the general public in order to secure peace and

harmony to mankind and to establish ashrams at different centers to facilitate

Adhyatmic Training Classes for different age groups.

Besides the above-mentioned activities, Guruji has written several books in

Telugu and Sai philosophy and the Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba. The

circumstances under which this book was written and published were given in

Guruji’s (author’s) foreword. This Life History contains certain details, which

cannot be found in other similar publications.

The need to translate this Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba into other Indian

languages was felt with the spread of Guruji’s activities to other States of

India. Hence, he has taken a decision to have the English and Hindi

translations of the Life History, to start with.

Guruji had been asking me to take up the translation into English since

sometime, but I was hesitating and postponing as I doubted my capacity to

undertake such a work, that too connected with Sai Baba, But, he finally told

me in the last week of December, 1995, that I should commence the work from 1

January 1996, under any circumstances, and Sai Baba is there to give me

necessary guidance.

Therefore with the blessings of Guruji and reposing full confidence in Sai Baba,

I commenced the translation on 1 January 1996 as per the directions of Guruji

and completed the work on 14 February 1996, the day on which Guruji left for

Kharagpur.

While I was writing the English translation of Life History, Sai Baba showed his

Leela as follows. The manuscript of the work came to nearly 500 pages in long

hand and I was searching for a person who could type the matter correctly. I

contacted several typewriting-coaching institutes, where such work was done.

But they were not prepared to undertake this work and those who were prepared,

demanded huge sums. Samartha Sadguru Sai Baba came to my rescue in the form of

Jagannadha Rao, a typist by profession, a Sai devotee, and a complete stranger

to me, who volunteered to do the typing, after knowing that the original work

in Telugu was written by Pujya Sri Ammula Sambasiva Rao. He told me that he had

heard the name and activities of Guruji and expressed his gratefulness for being

of some service to him. He did the typing work with great devotion and

promptness.

I pray to Sai Baba to shower his blessings on Sri Jagannadha Rao. If the above

incident is not Sai Leela, what else it is?

I express my deep sense of gratitude to Sai Maharaj and also to Guruji for

having given me the opportunity to be of real service to them and also for

getting myself enlightened about ‘Sai Avatar’.

Thota Bhaskara Rao

Jai Sai Ram Om Sree Sainathaya Namaha!

*****

Om Sri Sai Ram

SHREE GANESH VANDANA

 

CHUKLAM BHARADARAM VISHNUM SHASHI VARNAM CHATURBHUJAM

PRASANNA VADANAM DHYAYETH SARVA VIGHNOPA SHANTAYE

AGAJANANA PADMARGAM GAJANANA MAHARNISAM

ANEKA DANTAM BHAKTANAM EKA DANTAM UPASMAHE

 

Mushikavaahana Modaka Hastha,

Chaamara Karna Vilambitha Sutra,

Vaamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra,

Vighna Vinaayaka Paada Namasthe

 

Sainatha Sainatha Sainatha Sadgurum

Yogiraja Yugapurusha Bhaktakoti Vanditham

Kripanidhim Tapodhanim Sainatha Pahimaam

Divyateja Bhavyamoorthi Punyacharita Poojitam

 

LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA

Chapter I

The earth is only a small planet in this great Universe, which is beyond the

grasp of human intelligence. On this planet earth, there are numerous rivers,

mountains, forests and oceans. Out of 84 million kinds of insects, birds and

animals and other living creatures on this planet, great sages have concluded

that the humans are the best living forms who can lead a very high form of

divine life. But they, without realising their higher form among the living

beings, fell prey to arrogance, egoism, and Ajnana (ignorance) with the result

there is no peace for them, putting the entire creation to chaos and confusion.

What is the cause for all this? We must know the answer for this in the first

instance. Going further to know the evolution of life forms on this earth, we

came to learn that life first started under the water. Later on, the creatures

living under water learnt to live outside the water,

i.e. on the earth also. Further evolution took place and creatures that can live

on earth alone developed. Out of these creatures and animals developed the human

form and finally man came into existence.

According to the above-mentioned theory of evolution only, the order of

Dashavatharas is determined in the Puranas. Firstly, Matsyavatara (in the form

of fish) - Fish can live under water only. Then Kurmavatara (in the form of

tortoise), which can live inside water as well as outside water, i.e. earth.

Then Varahavatara, Narasimhavatara, Vamanavatara, etc. The Ramavatara and

Krishnavatara have shown to what divine heights man can reach.

If we examine carefully the order of Dashavatharas, you find that there is no

difference between this order , and the theory of evolution of man. This theory

of evaluation establishes that life at first started under water, then slowly

spread to the earth adopting itself to the climatic conditions of the earth.

These creatures slowly developed into animal forms and man has also developed

from animal.

Man is superior from other forms of animals; in as much as he is endowed with

thinking power He has established a social order in the society where everyone

can live happily. Toward this end, certain social orders and regulations have

started to come into being. People living in different parts of the earth have

formulated their own set of social orders depending on the local conditions.

Over a period, these social orders and regulations have strengthened and become

the "religion" of those people.

People started strengthening their religions. The powerful among them became

leaders and rulers. Religions started bowing before the powerful and a

situation came when the religions had to toe the line of the powerful. Under

religious banners, powerful rulers started invading other countries as well as

attacking other religions also. This is the naked truth, which is revealed by

World History.

Thus, many religions started coming into our country ‘Bharat’. Several foreign

countries invaded our motherland and started spreading their religions here.

Thus Christianity and Islam entered and established themselves. Religion is

meant for leading an orderly and disciplined way of life in the society and

nothing else. But towards the end of the twentieth century in our country also,

certain religious fanatics or fundamentalists, considering today the country’s

political scenario, are committing several attrocities in the name of religion

- all Sai Bhaktas should carefully note this. Though religion is good for the

spiritual advancement, only peaceful methods should be followed as per Hindu

dharma. In the present day conditions, though it is desirable to have one

religion for one country, the ‘means’ adopted to achieve this should be through

‘Love’ or prema marga only. We will try to know more

about this as we proceed further.

India has been described by our ancestors as Punya Bhoomi , Karma Bhoomi, Dharma

Bhoomi, and so on. We will now make an attempt to know how these names were

given. Our country’s history of the mid-18th century reveals how during the

British rule, our ancient civilisation gradually adopted the modern ways of

British Civilisation. Under such circumstances, the Adi Devtas (celestial

beings), Ashta Dikpalakas who guard our Punya Bhoomi, along with Bhoodevi

(goddess of earth) went to Vishnu and narrated their woes to him as follows.

"All through the ages, we have been happily discharging the duties allotted by

you in Bharata Desa. But under the changed circumstances, the people prefer

happiness to dharma, wealth to justice, strength to love, bodily happiness to

sacrifice, materialism to Godliness. Unless these undesirable qualities are

nipped in the bud, it will lead to utter chaos in the near future. So you must

take Avatar again in this world to set things right as you have done during

your Krishna Avatar in Dwaparayuga and established peace after the Maha

Kurukshetra war. After hearing their appeal, Lord Vishnu replied as follows:

"All of you have discharged your duties properly and established peace,

prosperity and happiness in Bharata Desa all these ages. But as soon as I

finished my Krishna Avatar, Kali entered the earth. Adi Shakti has created this

Kali with a purpose and therefore it is not proper to stop him from doing his

work. The changes that you are noticing in the people of Bharata Desa are only

due to this Kali."

Then they asked Lord Vishnu as to how to save the people from the actions of

Kali and Lord Vishnu answered them as follows:

"You all know why Bharata Desa is called Punya Bhoomi. There are a number of

places on earth, with heavy snowfalls and cold waves. There are several places

where you cannot get water for drinking or proper food. There are other places,

which are very hot. But only in places like Bharata Desa, there are different

seasons. There are also a number of lives giving rivers. Therefore, the people

are able to raise good crops and are happy. They are able to take bath

regularly and conduct divine activities. The Wind-God gives good air. Only

those who are lucky and did good in previous births are born in this Punya

Bhoomi and enjoy their natural happiness. This is briefly the history of this

Punya Bhoomi." Lord Vishnu continued. "Kali came later to our country after

showing his effects in other parts of this planet. His effects will be

intensified in the near future and then the people of this country also

will be subject to a lot of changes.

"Importance to one’s duties will take a back seat while importance to wealth

will increase. Everyone desires that others should work for him. But the fruits

will be enjoyed by him only. This leads to class conflicts. In the name of

religion, caste, regions and also sex, people will form into groups and will

shed blood. Morals will disappear. People belonging to different religions will

pray to their respective gods but none will follow the teachings of gods.

Worship will be mechanical and devotion and worship will be separated.

Opportunists will steal God’s wealth also. It is difficult to save mankind from

such effects of Kali. This is Yuga Dharma. Slowly pious and sincere actions will

disappear and there will not be any connection between thoughts and words; deeds

will also be entirely different.

"It is impossible to save such a situation completely from the influence of

Kali. But to a certain extent, it can be checked and brought to a balance with

dharma. I am the preserver of this world. My work increases with the

selfishness of man. Therefore, I advise you to approach ‘Lord Shiva’ and put

forth your prayers. Then he will come down to this world in the form of Datta

Avatar and will impart ‘Jnana' for mankind and will establish peace by his

teachings." Thereupon the Adi Devatas, Ashta Dikpalakas and Bhoodevi approached

Lord Shiva and put forth their woes. Accepting their pleas, he promised that he

would very shortly come to Bharata Desa as Datta Avatar. But since it is

Kaliyug, where people are more materialistic, he will show more miracles after

leaving the physical body than when he is with the body. Thus assured, by Lord

Shiva, they came back to their respective places in this world

and await eagerly for the birth of Lord Shiva.

As per his promise, Lord Shiva was waiting for an opportune time for pious

parents to whom he would be borne on this planet earth.

"Jnana Swarupa Sai Saranam"

To be continued