SRI SATHYA SAI VRATHA KALPAM – Part III (Procedure of Worship of Sri Sathya Sai)

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Om Sri Sai Ram

SRI SATHYA SAI VRATHA KALPAM – Part III(Procedure of Worship of Sri Sathya Sai)

By

Pedda Bottu

Translated from Telugu by

SAI BANGARU CENTRE

DIVINE MESSAGE

Sri Sathya Sai Vrata Kalpam is a very admirable effort and this would be a treat

for the devotees. In times to come, it would be a Bible for the devotees for

Thursdays, especially for those who know English only.

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

PRAYER

Om Sri Sai Ganesaaya NamahOm Sri Sai Brahmadevaaya NamahOm Sri Sai Vishnudevaaya

NamahOm Sri Sai Maheswaraaya NamahOm Sri Sai Dattatreyaaya Namah

SARVA DEVATHAATHEETHA SWAROOPA SRI SATHYA SAI VRATHA KATHA

Chapter 1

LEELA KAANDA (Swami's Child Plays)

It is quite well recognised that since times immemorial, in this sacred land of

Bharat, God manifested Himself from time to time in numerous divine Avatars for

the sake of ensuring the well being of mankind. There are many countries in this

wide world. How is it that the Glory of God is bestowed in such special measure

on Bharat alone! This is an important point worthy of deep consideration.

Numerous yogis, recluses, seers, devotees and Rishis took birth here. They

ardently adhered to Sanathana Dharma (the most ancient creed), practiced the

numerous austerities enjoined therein, dedicated themselves heart and soul to

the Divine and followed scrupulously in the traditions of the ancient sages.

They unveiled the secrets of spirituality to the common people all around.

Because such eminent souls took birth in large

numbers in this sacred land, Bharat has come to be known also as Aaryaavartha.

Whenever Sanathana Dharma is in peril and impediments arise to the due practice

of Dharma according to the precepts of ancient sages, God, on His own volition,

takes birth in earthly form, overcomes those obstacles and restores the well

being of the world. This phenomenon is nothing new. It has been happening age

after age; and God has been fulfilling this role ever since creation. Divine

Will is all pervading, uninterrupted and endless. No man, be he ever so

eminent, can comprehend its true nature fully, nor can he adequately explain

it. How then can ordinary mortals hope to understand it? God Himself stated in

the Bhagavad Gita: "I will incarnate myself age after age for establishing

Dharma". In other words, Dharma is eternal and immutable. Whenever it is

threatened by forces of Adharma, injustice, evil and

oppression of the virtuous, God will manifest Himself in every age in order to

vanquish adhaarmic forces and restore Dharma to its rightful pre-eminence. But

we, common human beings that we are, cannot keep count of the countless Avatars

that God in His Infinite Mercy may have assumed. We are now in the Kaliyug. We

witness around us any amount of Adharma, wickedness, oppression, cruelty and

evil of every description. The Arishadvargaas, i.e. the six major impediments

to man's spiritual development (viz., Kama - covetousness; Krodha - anger;

Lobha - miserliness; Moha - infatuation; Mada - arrogance; Maathsarya - envy)

have grown wild in intensity. Rarely do we come across basic virtues like

devotion, faith, regard and respect for each other or even simple decency in

day-to-day conduct. If some odd person clinging to such virtues does exist, he

finds his path in life beset with self-doubt and difficulty at every step. To

add to this chaos of values, virulent poison in the shape of

atheism is spreading its terrible influence everywhere.

The ever-Merciful God has taken note that the present times are in pressing need

of materialisation, in human form, of the Divine Parabrahmah Satchidananda

Moorthy, on this earth. For fulfilling his divine purpose, he chose the tiny

village of Puttaparthi on the banks of the sacred river Chitravathi near

Bukkapatnam town in the Anantapur district of the Rayalaseema region of Andhra

Pradesh. The village breathes sweet and reposeful atmosphere and calls to mind

sacred memories of the village of Vraj where Krishna, the divine child, played

his games of fun and frolic. Puttaparthi was at one time under the rule of

kings of the Surya dynasty bearing the surname of Rathnaakara. Members of the

family were generally very devout and saintly. Many of them even renounced the

world and took to Sanyas and rose to the order

of Avadhoothas, of whom one, Venkaavadhootha, particularly distinguished

himself. In more recent times, a saintly person, Sri Kondama Raju, was born in

that family. Deeply devotional, he learnt many songs from the Ramayana by

heart; and when he sang them in religious gatherings, the audiences were moved

to transports of joy. It is said that he established several charitable

institutions on a permanent footing. His wife, Smt. Lakshmamma, was a devoted

wife and herself performed many Vratas with great dedication and devotion.

The couple had two sons, Pedda Venkama Raju the elder, and Chinna Venkama Raju,

the younger. The elder boy followed in his father's footsteps and acquired

commendable musical skills and used to sing songs from the Ramayana. The

younger boy took to writing books and practicing herbal medicine and astrology

and, in course of time, acquired valuable experience in all these fields. Pedda

Venkama Raju was in due course married to Easwaramma, daughter of Meenaraganda

Subba Raju, a close relative of the Rathnaakara family. The couple was before

long blessed with three children, a son called Seshama Raju and two daughters

called Venkamma and Parvathamma.

Sometime later Easwaramma was again with child, her fourth. To the outward eye,

this baby yet in the womb was no different from the ordinary. But in truth it

was not so. The Vedas proclaim that Parabrahmah is the primordial source of all

creation; they also describe that Supreme Being as Sath, Chith and Ananda. It

was really that Supreme Being that was growing up in Easwaramma's womb. As

though that Divine Being was displaying his extra-ordinary powers even as he

lay in the narrow confines of his worldly mother's womb, the household of

Kondama Raju used to hear, on occasions, during night time, strange notes of

musical instruments like mridangam being played. But no one suspected or

imagined that those sweet sounds were but auspicious signs and indications

occasioned by the child soon to be born. Such is the

overwhelming effect of the veil of Maya, which the Lord himself spreads.

A significant coincidence occurred in relation to the birth of the child. His

paternal grandmother, Lakshmamma, happened to attend a Pooja of Lord

Sathyanarayana, brought some Prasadam home and gave it to her daughter-in-law.

The delivery took place moments later.

God himself, who cannot be comprehended either by word or by mind, assumed human

form for fulfilling His divine purpose of ensuring the well-being of the world.

The time was the Brahma Muhoortham in the early hours (before sunrise) of

Monday the 23rd November 1926. The year was Akshaya; the month was Karthik; the

Thithi was Bahula Thadiya. Even at birth the baby was astonishingly beautiful

and attractive. Striking large eyes sparkling with compassion and kindness,

smiling face, beautiful ringlets of hair playing around the forehead, dimpled

cheeks - everybody was bewitched on seeing the newborn. Just as the celebrated

Sri Vatsa adorning the bosom of Lord Vishnu, the baby had a birthmark on his

bosom. The tiny lips were finely moulded and enchantingly pink. On the little

feet one could discern the divine marks of Sankhu and Chakra. He was like the

full

moon in all glory and splendour.

The households as well as the entire village were in raptures as they beheld

this wonderful baby. Since he was born moments after his mother had partaken of

Lord Sathyanarayana's Prasadam, the devout grand parents considered it

appropriate to name him Sathyanarayana. Although they had no idea that their

baby was God incarnate but selected the name solely on the grounds of their

devotion and love of God, nevertheless that divine name was perfectly in tune

with the true form of Nirguna Parabrahmah, that which is changeless, eternal,

boundless, having no beginning or end and perpetually effulgent. Sathya means

True and Narayana means the sustaining divine force, which is all pervading.

Thus, by the combination of the two words so pregnant with profound

significance, Sathyanarayana truly symbolised the Supreme Being

even as a baby.

As the child grew up, his innate godly qualities were getting slowly unfolded.

Powers out of the ordinary, immense compassion, abounding love, mellifluous

utterance, dedication to Ahimsa, entrancing musical voice recalling to mind the

flute of Balagopal himself, unruffled mien, poise, sedate dignity of bearing

which was way beyond his young years - all these lovable traits were seen in

him. Several people were wondering, deep down in their hearts, whether God had

indeed come down to earth in this little boy, although no one could correctly

gauge his true identity. All in all, the whole village took him to their

hearts. They were feasting their eyes on this boy, who was moving about just

like any other boy of his age but with a subtle and indescribable aura of

distinction. His word was law; none would go against

it. He would gather the village children around him; led by him groups of

children would go round the village, street by street, singing devotional songs

and Bhajans. He would compose new songs from time to time and train his

associates to sing them. Everyone grew fond of this multi-talented boy and his

Bhajan groups. He was inordinately kind to the afflicted, the blind, the lame

and the poor. Behind the back of the household, he would take out food and give

it away; he would even forego his own meal but was intent on feeding the needy.

If villagers were struck down with disease like cholera, he would visit the

sick persons along with his group of child singers, entertain with Bhajan

singing and also alleviate their suffering. Gradually, the children learnt to

treat him as their guru. They would do his every bidding with alacrity and

would never leave his company. Even at that tender age, Sathyanarayana was

going around with his little friends staging plays, singing Bhajans and

taking out devotional processions. Without ever giving any inkling of his inner

divine identity, he would busy himself with numerous good deeds and virtuous

activities, which were, at the same time, of benefit to the community. His

exemplary conduct soon made him the beloved leader of the entire village of

Puttaparthi even though he was but a child. When the whole village was thus

enthralled, needless to add, members of his own household rejoiced.

Puttaparthi had an elementary school. The teacher who presided there was by

nature quick to anger and harsh in handling his charges. The slightest trans

gression invited severe punishment. Sathyanarayana was one of the pupils and he

could not bear to put up with the teacher's ways. So, he composed songs, in

simple and sweet words, stressing the importance of observing proper code of

behaviour by one and all, and trained his fellow pupils to sing them. The

teacher felt abashed and corrected himself. God is the Supreme Master of all

the fine arts. No wonder, poetry came to this tiny child naturally and so early

in life. After all, he is but the human manifestation of Satchidananda Moorthy

who carries all the fourteen universes in the confines of his stomach. Every

frolic, every prank of the child Sathyanarayana

was but the Leela of that Supreme Divinity.

The sweetest songs composed by him in his childhood are being sung and heard by

devotees even to this day. Just like Balagopal of yore, he was playing and

frolicking to his heart's content in the sands of the Chitravathi in the

company of his bosom friends, partaking of food along with them and performing

intriguing Leelas (playful pranks). Day after day he would materialize

delicacies like savories, candies or fruit and distribute them as Prasadam all

around. Asked wherefrom he was getting such delightful pieces, with a smile

playing on his lips, he would tell them that a Shakti residing in his house was

giving them.

Eight years thus passed by and Sathyanarayana finished elementary school. He was

then taken to Bukkapatnam and admitted in the middle school. Teachers and boys

there were treating him with loving care and affection. The good conduct and

exemplary character ingrained in this young boy delighted them. He never gave

an inkling that the cosmic purpose of his advent in this world was to defend

and protect the devout and the virtuous, nor did he reveal the secret of his

own avatar. While in class he would often appear to be deeply lost in his own

thoughts. That was his habit. One day, a particular teacher who was harsh by

nature pulled up Sathyanarayana for not writing down in his notebook what was

being taught, and ordered him to stand on the bench until school closed for the

day. The boy obeyed and promptly stood on

the bench. The rest of the class were feeling upset but could do nothing about

it as, after all, the punishment was ordered by the teacher himself. When class

was over and the teacher was to move out, he found himself stuck in his seat.

When the teacher of the next period came in, he was surprised at what was

happening. He had much love and affection for Sathyam; in fact, he entertained

an inner conviction that this boy was nothing but God's avatar. He got Sathyam

down and made him resume his seat. At that very moment, the unfortunate teacher

was able to get up from his chair. The news spread all over the school. Surprise

and astonishment was everywhere.

The teacher's predicament, it needs to be appreciated, was hardly due to

Sathyam's anger or malice. It was but a trifling prank of his to demonstrate a

tiny bit of his immeasurable divine powers.

People used to be enchanted not only by the boy's surpassing charm but also by

his commendable moral qualities, self-discipline and calm, self-possessed

bearing. Be it a celebration or function, only Sathyam should sing the prayer

songs. At play or sport or song or stage play or dance, Sathyam would always

take the principal role and distinguish himself. However much the little boy

might try his utmost to conceal his divine powers and keep his Leelas under

cover, they were spontaneously blossoming, bubbling and bursting forth into the

open. Meanwhile, things were inexorably on the move. Seshama Raju, the elder

brother of Sathyam, was teaching Telugu in a High School in Uravakonda town in

Anantapur district. He was keen to see his younger brother educated in English

and to see him in due course become a highly

placed officer. Accordingly, he persuaded his parents, took Sathyam to

Uravakonda and got him admitted in his own school in the eighth class.

Sathyam's amazing reputation had already preceded him in Uravakonda and all the

teachers and students there were looking upon him with great regard and love.

People came to consult him about their problems, and he would tell them about

their past and foretell future events and set their minds at peace. He was

materialising, as was his wont, flowers, fruits and sweetmeats in immense

quantities by a mere wave of his hand. Witnesses to such occurrences would be

spellbound. People wondered what awesome divine powers he held in his command

that he could make such displays, what might be the immense measure of his

auspicious karma in past births that resulted now in the divine gifts he was

evincing before one and all. The boy's fame traveled far and wide - to

Kamalapuram, Dharmavaram, Penukonda, Bukkapatnam and beyond; and crowds began

swarming in

droves to Uravakonda. Those suffering from misfortunes, problems or losses would

come to consult him seeking relief. Learned scholars and savants of philosophy

were dreading to meet Sathyam face to face. Even though they had spent years

and years in studying learned treatises, once they met Sathyam they would

discover that what they had understood from their long and arduous studies, and

also taught others, was all erroneous, mistaken and wrong. Sathyam would correct

them. He would interpret the texts in his own masterly manner; teach them new

meanings they had never dreamt of. As a result of such encounters they all

developed a deep and healthy respect for his profound knowledge and unique

understanding; they would never again dare question his expostulation. However

eminent they be, Sathyam would pull them up without hesitation, contradict

their erroneous ideas and thoughts and correct them. Onlookers would often

stand bewildered at the depth of Sathyam's knowledge. To the outward

eye, what they were seeing was a mere boy by appearance; his education was but

meager. When did this slip of a child master all these intricate scholarly

works? How could this little boy contain in his tiny frame such awesome command

over the deepest secrets embedded in the great books of learning which scholars

needed years and years to study and unravel? Unbelieving, wonderstruck, people

spoke to each other in whispers, but who would give them the light of knowledge

to clear their doubts?

Sathyam was often found staring into space and smiling to himself. As he talked

with those around him, he would be found to keep his eyes on something far

beyond. Quite often, he would close his eyes and go into rapturous singing. Or,

now and then, he would remove himself somewhere and sit all by himself for hours

on end. Members of his household who noticed such happenings were concerned or

even frightened. Was it due to some evil spirit that possessed him, or to some

ailment or mental illness? Tongues wagged. Gossip was on wing. But the exact

nature of the problem, the underlying truth was beyond their comprehension.

Poor Seshama Raju was at a loss to know what to do. He sent for his parents and

handed over the boy to them. That was the end of further studies in Uravakonda

and the boy resumed his former

activities with renewed vigor and zest, performing Bhajans along with his

friends, taking out devotional processions in the streets of Puttaparthi and

playing in the crystal sands of the Chitravathi.

Before long, the stage was reached when Sathyanarayana decided that he should no

longer keep in wraps his immense divine powers and capabilities to perform

supra-natural deeds (Mahimas). Early one fine morning he summoned all members

of his household to his presence. Before them he manifested with a wave of his

hand a large quantity of crystal sugar (misri) and began distributing it to one

and all including neighbours. The astonished onlookers sent for Pedda Venkama

Raju to come and see the miracle. The father flew into a rage. With a stout

stick in hand he came rushing home shouting that he would never permit such

nonsensical, vile and harmful activities under his roof. He accosted his son

and demanded, "Who are you? Are you God? Or, are you some evil spirit"? Cool

and collected, Sathyam replied briefly, "I am Sai Baba". Pedda Venkama Raju was

aghast. The stout stick slipped from his hand by itself. The boy proceeded to

speak. "I am not your Sathyam. I am Sai Baba, of Aapasthamba Soothram, of

Bharadwaja Gothram. I have taken birth in order to relieve hardship and to

resurrect and elevate all of you. All of you here must keep your residences

clean and pure in every respect". Seshama Raju drew close to Sri Sai Baba and

asked him: "What exactly is the purpose behind your reincarnation"? The reply

he got, sharp and clear, was, "Your ancestor, Venkaavadhootha, had prayed to me

that I should take birth in his family (vansh). In fulfillment of that prayer I

have incarnated here". On being asked for something by way of proof of

authenticity, Sri Sai Baba took a quantity of jasmine flowers from the hands of

those around and threw them, in a bunch, on the floor saying, "Look at

this". The flowers were found to have arranged themselves into letters reading

"Sai Baba" in the Telugu script. All doubts melted away at this marvelous

exhibition of proof.

>From now on, people came in swarms to Sri Bala Baba to worship him and to serve

him with total devotion and dedication. Members of the household found such

crowds unmanageable, a distraction and inconvenience. They did not quite know

what to do. One day Sri Bala Baba told them, "The purpose of my advent cannot

be fulfilled if I continue to stay in this house. I will move out to some other

place". At this, Smt. Easwaramma felt distressed. She entreated him not to leave

the house. She met with no success. Sri Baba left the house [on 20-10-1940],

went to the village orchard and seated himself

there. The distraught mother hastened there and begged him again and again to

return home. She conceded that he could continue to attend to his devotees'

needs in whatever manner he wished, that no hindrance of any kind would be

raised to his chosen mission. She requested him, with all her persuasive

skills, to come back home and have his meals. Sri Bala Sai felt that it was his

duty to please his mother. So, he relented and returned home. The jubilant

mother cooked his usual food with her own hand and set it before her son. He

ate just a little thereof, a mere three morsels. Then he got up, saying, "Oh

God, the mist of Maya has lifted. Why struggle any longer?" He proceeded

straight to the house of Subba Raju, the brother of Smt. Easwaramma. After

spending some time there, he re-moved to the house of Smt. Karanam Subbamma and

established his abode. Smt. Subbamma had, right from the beginning, recognized

the divine in Sri Bala Baba, earnestly believed that he was God incarnate and

worshipped him heart and soul. She felt extremely pleased that she was blessed

because Sri Bhagawan chose to make his residence in her house. From that

blessed residence Sri Baba continued to display his multifarious Leelas and to

grant immense pleasure and happiness to his devotees.

End of Chapter 1

Pooja will be performed once again. A coconut or fruit will be offered as

naiveidya and Aarti will be offered. In the same manner, the ritual will be

repeated at the end of every succeeding Chapter of this Katha.

TO BE CONTINUED…

 

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Divine Lord Sai

Sai brother, M. Palaniswamy

/

 

 

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