SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM [45]

[Guest guest]

Om Sri Sai Ram

Ganesha Mantra: AUM Gung Ganapathaye Namah

Ganesh Gayatri

Tat purushaaya vidmahe

Vakratundaaya dheemahi

Tanno dhanti prachodayaat

 

SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM

The Life Stories of the Two Avatars of the Age – [45]

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

CHAPTER XLV

Kakasaheb's Doubt and Anandrao's Vision - Wooden Plank Baba's bedstead and not Bhagat's

PRELIMINARY

We have described in the last three chapters Baba's passing away. His physical

or finite form has no doubt disappeared from our view; but the infinite or

spiritual form (Spirit of Baba) ever lives. The Leelas, which occurred during

His lifetime, have been dwelt upon at great length up till now. Ever since His

passing away, fresh Leelas have taken place and are even now happening. This

clearly shows that Baba is ever-living and helping His devotees as before. The

people who got the contact of Baba when He was living, were indeed very

fortunate, but if any of them did not get a dispassion for the things and

enjoyments of the world

and had not their minds turned to the Lord, it was sheer their ill-luck. What

was then wanted and is now wanted is the whole-hearted devotion to Baba. All

our senses, organs, and mind should co-operate in worshipping and serving Baba.

It is no use in engaging some organs in the worship and deflecting others. If a

thing like worship or meditation is to be done, it ought to be done with all

our mind and soul.

The love that a chaste woman bears to her husband is sometimes compared to that

which a disciple bears to his master (Guru). Yet the former falls far short of

the latter, which is incomparable. No one, whether he is father, mother,

brother or any other relation, comes to our aid in attaining the goal of life

(self-realization). We have to chalk out and traverse the path of

self-realization ourselves. We have to discriminate between the Unreal and the

Real, renounce the things and enjoyments of this world and the next, control

our senses and mind, and aspire for liberation only. Instead of depending upon

others, we should have full faith in ourselves. When we begin to practice

discrimination, we come to know, that the world is transient and unreal and our

passion for worldly things becomes less and less, and ultimately we get

dispassion or non-attachment for them. Then we know that the Brahma, which is no

other than our Guru, is the sole reality and as It transcends and besets the

seeming universe, we begin to worship It in all creatures. This is the unitive

Bhajan or worship. When we thus worship the Brahma or Guru whole-heartedly, we

become one with Him and attain self-realization. In short, always chanting the

name of the Guru, and meditating on Him enables us to see Him in all beings,

and confers eternal bliss on us. The following story will illustrate this.

KAKASAHEB'S DOUBT AND ANANDRAO'S VISION

It is well-known, that Sai Baba had enjoined Kakasaheb Dixit to read daily two

works of Shri Ekanath: (1) Bhagawat and (2) Bhawartha Ramayan. Kakasaheb read

these daily while Baba was living and he followed the practice even after

Baba's passing away. Once in Kaka Mahajani's house in Choupati, Bombay,

Kakasaheb was reading Ekanathi Bhagawat in the morning. Madhavarao Deshpande

alias Shama and Kaka Mahajani were then present and listened attentively to the

portion read, viz., the 2nd Chapter, 11th skandha of the book. Therein the nine

Nathas or Siddhas of the Rishabha family, viz., Kavi, Hari, Antariksha,

Prabuddha, Pippalayan, Avirhotra, Drumil, Chamas and Karabhajan

expounded the principles of the Bhagawat Dharma to King Janaka. The latter asked

all the nine Nathas most important questions and each of them answered them

satisfactorily. The first, i.e., Kavi explained what is Bhagawat Dharma; Hari,

the characteristics of a Bhakta (devotee); Antariksha, what is Maya; Prabuddha,

how to cross Maya; Pippalayan, what is Para-Brahma; Avirhotra, what is Karma;

Drumil, the incarnations of God and their deeds; Chamas, how a non-devotee

fares after death; Karabhajan, the different modes of worship of God in

different ages. The substance of all the exposition was that in this Kali age,

the only means of liberation was the remembrance of Hari's (Lord's) or Guru's

feet. After the reading was over, Kakasaheb said in a despondent tone to

Madhavarao and others – “How wonderful is the discourse of the nine Nathas on

Bhakti or devotion. But at the same time how difficult it is to put it into

practice! The Nathas were perfect, but is it possible for fools like us

to attain the devotion as delineated by them? We won't get it even after several

births, then how are we to get salvation? It seems that there is no hope for

us." Madhavarao did not like this pessimistic attitude of Kakasaheb. He said,

“It is a pity that one who by his good luck got such a jewel (Guru) as Baba,

should cry out so disparagingly; If he has unwavering faith in Baba, why should

he feel restless? The Bhakti of the Nathas may be strong and wonderful, but is

not ours' loving and affectionate? And has not Baba told us authoritatively

that remembering and chanting Hari's and Guru's name confers salvation? Then

where is the cause for fear and anxiety”? Kakasaheb was not satisfied with

Madhavarao's explanation. He continued to be anxious and restless, the whole

day, thinking and brooding over how to get the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas.

Next morning, the following miracle took place.

One gentleman, named Anandrao Pakhade came there in search of Madhavarao. The

reading of the Bhagawat was then going on. Mr. Pakhade sat near Madhavarao and

was whispering something to him. He was mentioning in low tone his dream

vision. As there was some interruption in the reading by this whispering,

Kakasaheb stopped the reading, and asked Madhavarao what the matter was. The

latter said – “Yesterday you expressed your doubt, now here is the explanation

of it; hear Mr. Pakhade's vision which Baba gave him, explaining the

characteristic of 'saving' devotion and showing that the devotion in the form

of bow to, or worship of, Guru's feet is sufficient." All were anxious to hear

the vision specially Kakasaheb. At their suggestion Mr. Pakhade began to relate

the vision as follows.

I was standing in a deep sea in waist-deep water. There I saw Sai Baba all of a

sudden. He was sitting on a beautiful throne studded with diamonds, with His

Feet in water. I was most pleased and satisfied with the Form of Baba. The

vision was so realistic that I never thought that it was a dream. Curiously

enough Madhavarao was also standing there. He said to me feelingly - 'Anandrao,

fall at Baba's Feet.' I rejoined – “I also wish to do so, but His Feet are in

water, how can I place my head on them? I am helpless." Hearing this he said to

Baba – “Oh Deva, take out Your Feet which are under water." Then Baba

immediately took out His feet. I caught them without delay and bowed to them.

On seeing this Baba blessed me saying – “Go now, you will attain your welfare,

there is no cause for fear and anxiety”. He also added – “Give

a silk-bordered Dhotar to my Shama, you will profit, thereby."

In compliance with Baba's order, Mr. Pakhade brought the Dhotar and requested

Kakasaheb to hand it over to Madhavarao; but the latter refused to accept it,

saying that unless Baba gave a hint or suggestion for acceptance, he would not

accept it. Then after some discussion Kakasaheb decided to cast lots. It was

the invariable practice of Kakasaheb to cast lots in all dubious matters and to

abide by the decision as shown by the picked up chit or lot. In this particular

case two chits, on one of which was written 'To accept' and on another 'To

reject', were placed at the feet of Baba's picture and an infant was asked to

pick one of them. The 'To accept' chit was picked up and the Dhotar was handed

over to, and accepted by, Madhavarao. In this way both Anandrao and Madhavarao

were satisfied and Kakasaheb's difficulty was solved.

This story exhorts us to give respect to the words of other saints, but at the

same time asks us to have full faith in our Mother, i.e., the Guru, and abide

by His instructions: for he knows our welfare better than any other person.

Carve out on your heart, the following words of Baba – “There are innumerable

saints in this world, but 'Our father' (Guru) is the Father (Real Guru). Others

might say many good things, but we should never forget our Guru's words. In

short, love your Guru whole-heartedly, surrender to Him completely and

prostrate yourselves before Him reverentially and then you will see that there

is no sea of the mundane existence before you to cross, there is no darkness

before the sun."

WOODEN PLANK BABA'S BEDSTEAD, AND NOT BHAGAT'S

In His earlier days, Baba slept on a wooden plank, 4 arms in length and only a

span in breadth with panatis (earthen lamps) burning at the four corners. Later

on He broke the plank into pieces and threw it away (Vide Chapter X). Once Baba

was describing the greatness or importance of this plank to Kakasaheb. Hearing

this the latter said to Baba – “If You still love the wooden plank, I will

again suspend or hang up one in the Masjid again for You to sleep at ease."

Baba replied – “I won't like to sleep up, leaving Mhalaspathi down on the

ground." Then Kakasaheb said – “I will provide another plank for Mhalaspathi."

Baba – “How can he sleep on the plank? It is not easy to sleep up on the plank.

He who has many good qualities in him can do so. He who can sleep 'with his eyes

wide open' can effect that. When I go to sleep I ask

often Mhalaspathi to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the

'chanting of the Lord's name' there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me up. He

can't do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his head. When I

feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out - 'Oh Bhagat', he moves

and opens his eyes. How can he, who can't sit and sleep well on the ground and

whose asana (posture) is not steady and who is a slave to sleep, sleep high up

on a plank? On many other occasions Baba said, out of love for His devotees –

“What (whether good or bad) is ours, is with us, and what is another's is with

him."

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - PART III [9]

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - [1969-1972]

N. Kasturi M.A., B.L.

THE ALL IN ALL

Ayn Rand, Editor of the magazine 'Objectivist', writes: "Conventional morality

does not teach or show the child what kind of man he ought to become and why.

It is only concerned with imposing a set of rules upon him - arbitrary,

bewildering, contradictory, and more often than not, incomprehensible. The

child grows up with nothing but resentment and fear, for any concept of

morality. Ethics appears to him only as a phantom scarecrow demanding the drab

performance of dry duty. The examples set by adults are not meaningful enough

to point the proper yardsticks of behavior." No wonder the children are

attracted towards Baba who bestows pure love upon those who seek it. "The

Americans come to Me since they do not know a mother's love" said Baba one day.

 

"Baba is Siva and Shakti, Father and Mother." Velury Sivarama Sastry states

thus: "No one can understand, but everyone can benefit from Him. Science cannot

define, logic dealing with cause and effect cannot grasp. Its pristine glory is

unique. It overshadows the fleeting shadows. Only the wise and the pure in

heart can abide in it. Matter seems less material, mind less mental, only Atma

prevails. Each one sees an aspect of its innumerable facets. Enough, if we know

a little but we never have enough. This is so near us and yet so far away. The

love that Sai manifests pales into insignificance the love of every mother in

the universe, gathered together." Sivarama Sastry is no ordinary observer; at

the age of 16, he rose to fame, as a prodigy, a poet of dazzling merit. He was

one of

the few prodigies that have blossomed. He was an outstanding scholar, critic,

and teacher, versed in the intricacies of Yoga, Tantra and Vedanta. He wrote

bold and brilliant treatises on the Adhyasa Conception of Sankaracharya and the

Integral Yoga of Aurobindo. Universities competed with each other in honoring

themselves by including his name on the Boards of Studies in Sanskrit. At the

ripe age of 75, he came to Baba, enjoying close contact for more than 6 years,

before he dropped, like a ripe fruit from the Tree of Life. Sastry attained

renown as a writer who weighs every word of his in the super-'selectronic'

balance of Truth. So, when he says that the Love of Baba as a Mother supersedes

the love of all mothers, he must be speaking with genuine sincerity.

Therefore, the mother festival, or Dasara when it is celebrated in the immediate

presence of Baba, is supremely sanctifying. During this nine-day festival of the

Mother, the first three days are devoted to worshiping the mother as Guardian,

the next three days Mother is worshiped as Provider and, during the last three

days Mother is worshiped as Teacher. Victoria Mills addressed Baba

significantly. "This is your Dream, Mother! A dream of purple flowers and blue

skies; a dream of pleasure, a dream of pain, a dream of bodies moving in the

passing hours, a dream of minds churning desires - in Thy Love, let us live

again."

Dasara is the occasion when the Mother as Baba, or Baba as the Mother provides

us various inducements to progress spiritually. Sanathana Dharma of course, has

the entire armory required to conquer the foes on the path, and help us march

towards the final triumph. One day is spent in celebrating the Annual Day of

the Hospital, so that the vehicle of the soul may be kept trim and efficient,

to enable it to cross the ocean of duality and merge into the One. On another

day the distressed and the destitute are given clothes and feasted. Baba has

assigned to each one of us a role to play, designed and directed by Him, on the

stage of life. On some days the compositions of the great singers of

India are sung granting to the listeners a state of unclouded exaltation. On

other days we get a chance to witness plays based on age-old tales of gods and

goddesses full of ecstatic incidents enacted by little children, and so they

can taste innocence flowing from innocent lips. These plays are written by Baba

Himself, and so they convey to us the lessons He prescribes for the cure of our

mental ills. We are inspired to preserve, despite odds, the moral ideals in the

confusing conflicts of our lives. On the stage and the screen away from the

Nilayam, we only see crime, perversion and pollution dramatized, whereas in the

Abode of Peace everything is designed to elevate, sublimate and save. There are

musical recitations,

and expositions of philosophical parables and mystery tales. Discourses on Veda

and Vedanta are given by pundits, who had believed that they had comprehended

what is beyond comprehension, until they met Baba!

On the Mantap or sacrificial enclosure at one end of the Auditorium, the

adoration of Vedapurusha, the Deity extolled in the Vedas continues for seven

days without break. The fire is adored as sacred, for it ignites and illumines;

it destroys and purifies; it burns and burnishes; it spreads and shines. It

moves fast from one victim to another. So, it is praised and fed with hymns of

praise. The Sun is the giver of life and energy; it nips a day off from our

allotted span of life, with every sunset; so, it is worshiped by continuous

prostration, repeating each time hymns of extolment. Others can visualize God

in the expansive Banyan Tree, timeless, self-propelling through roots dropped

from every branch, providing shade and shelter for bird

and beast and conferring beauty and health to the entire region. Hymns are also

uttered to the spirit of trees.

Some of us do not prefer as the symbol of God, Fire, nor Sun, nor the Living

Laborious Brother called Banyan Tree, but the Linga. During Dasara, a pundit

can be seen on the altar at the Auditorium shaping 1000 Lingas every day, and

after worshiping them with utmost devotion rolling the black clay back into a

ball, for use the next day! The permanent static base, pure existence, is

Shiva. Its projection as dynamic energy is Shakti. Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi

used to write an 'O' at the beginning of the letter he sent to people, says

Yogi Shuddhananda Bharathi. Maharshi explained it as the Lingam, the symbol of

the ultimate principle, which is beyond the triple entities of life, world and

God!

Others might be thrilled by more elaborate representations of the might, majesty

and magnificence of God. For them Baba arranges Pooja for Durga, Lakshmi and

Saraswathi with flowers, incense, camphor, sandal paste, silk and gold. A few

might be elated by the recital of the most mystic sound Om, with all its

undertones and hidden possibilities. This joy persuades us to take the first

step in spiritual endeavor (Sadhana) facilitating our pursuit till the goal is

reached.

Baba Himself announced, on the opening day of Dasara, "To celebrate Dasara at

Prashanthi Nilayam is indeed a rare chance, replete with wonder and joy,

ensuring peace by the extinction of the six inner enemies." His Mission is to

put mankind again on the rails of peace and joy. So, when the Hon'ble Minister

for transport, Andhra Pradesh, announced that he would shortly initiate steps

to improve the road to Prashanthi Nilayam and make it a tarred high way, Baba

said

"The body looks forward to a smooth drive over a tarred road, but the heart

prefers the road of tranquility and humility, so that it may reach the goal,

God, and merge in that ocean of glory. I am more interested in that Road. I am

not enthusiastic about tarring the road, for, that would make even the little

discipline of "slow and careful driving" superfluous for people coming here!

Life is not all-smooth sailing. It is full of ups and downs, sharp turns and

sudden diversions. India has always taught the first lesson in safe travel,

here and hereafter: "Start early; drive slowly; reach safely!"

Since thousands of devotees had to sleep under the sky, piling their belongings

around their beds, the rains that poured during three nights caused a great

deal of discomfort and dislocation. Referring to these, Baba said,

"Some people came running to Me saying, 'Swami! Stop the rains!' Well, getting a

little wet is a trivial bother, when compared to the benefits of timely rains.

The Vedapurusha Yajna is celebrated to persuade the Gods to shower rain that is

its raison d'être as the Vedas assert. While the rite is on, the rains have

come: it demonstrates that the Pundits did the Yajna on strict Vedic lines. The

rains will ensure a good harvest and prosperity for the countryside."

On the 20th of October, 1969, the valedictory Rite of the Yajna was performed.

Baba created a nine-gemmed necklace for the chief priest who officiated; he was

a scholar in Vedanta and Vedic grammar. During the Abhisheka or ritual bath of

the image of the previous incarnation, the Sai Baba of Shirdi, Baba created a

sparkling eight-starred jewel of gold and placed it on the forehead of the

silver idol; it stuck! Dr. S. Bhagavatham and Mr. Tideman Johanessen who were

among the audience wondered at this: How could gold stick on

silver, without adhesive? Baba knew their thoughts. He told them a few hours

later, without their asking Him or anyone telling Him,

"If I can create the jewel, can I not make it stick, too? When you doubt one

incident, you start doubting all. Accept Me for what I am. Then, no doubt can

interfere with your faith."

"You complain that God is hardhearted; that He does not respond to prayer, or

give signs from His portraits, or speak from 'nowhere' to assuage or assure;

but let Me tell you, God is Love, Love is God. When there is no response you

have to infer that the cry from your heart is insincere, it is mere

play-acting. It is set to a pattern, addressed to someone alien to you, someone

accepted by you as a far away tyrant or a taskmaster. Know that God is your

nearest and dearest kin."

On the 21st, when Baba was on the floral Jhoola, a number of poets recited the

poems that He 'painted' in their hearts - Deepala Pichayya Sastry, Begum Tahira

Sayeed, the writer, Vidwan Rama Sarma, Vidwan Seshama Raju, and others. They

were in a multitude of languages, English, Urdu, Kannada, Sanskrit. Baba

advised them to see the handiwork of God, the greatest Poet of all, in every

grain of dust, every twinkle of light, every drop of rain, every whiff of air.

"Great poems deal with the eternal thirst of man for God; they are rich in the

ambrosia that quenches that thirst. They satisfy and build up strength to laugh

at life's fortunes. Without spiritual Sadhana, the expansion of the

consciousness, the broadening of sympathy, the sharpening of vision, the

deepening of contacts with the springs of wisdom within oneself and within

others, poetry is but a purposeless, pallid pastime."

The 7th of November will be remembered as a landmark in the history of the

Women's College at Anantapur for on that day amidst colorful scenes of grace

and glory the Vice-president of India laid the foundation for a magnificent

building. Dr. S. Bhagavantham welcomed the Vice-president Sri G. S. Pathak, as

well as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh Sri Khandubhai Desai who laid the

Foundation Stone for the college hostel, and said, "I have considerable

experience in raising colleges, all over the country; I am wonder struck when I

consider how within a year and a half, this college has gone ahead, with 300

students and the full complement of a library, laboratories, ancillaries and a

gas plant too!" Baba says that no task on which He sets his Heart can fail. His

will is supreme.

Dr. V.K. Gokak said, "At a time when disorder has become the order of the day,

this college will transmit, under the guidance of the Master, the lesson of

Order." The Vice-chancellor of the Venkateswara University said, "The Sathya

Sri Trust managing this college has a symbol which reveals the core of Indian

culture, the kinship and

closeness of manifold philosophies, religions and ideologies formed by the

aspiring mind of man." Sri Khandubhai Desai also appreciated the symbol, as a

sign of genuine secularism, "Secularism does not mean irreligion; it means real

religion. And real religion recognizes all faiths as facets of the Truth."

The Vice-president said that the Day was a Day of Devotion and Delight for him.

"I am happy to find that the Trust has taken note of the need of the nation.

The next generation has to be shaped straight and strong, so that it

efficiently bears the burden of this vast country. We want disciplined,

enlightened people to assume national and international responsibilities." Baba

spoke of His Resolve to establish such Colleges in every State of India, "My

Sankalpa, plan of action, is to provide youth with education, which, while

cultivating the intelligence,

will purify the impulses and emotions, and equip them with the physical and

mental disciplines which can awaken the springs of calmness and joy in their

hearts. Their higher nature has to be fostered and encouraged to blossom by

means of study, prayer, Sadhana, contacts with sages, saints and spiritual

heroes and heroines of their land; they have to be led on, to the path of

self-confidence, self-satisfaction, self-sacrifice and self-knowledge." Baba

blessed the College with these words, "May this College educate generations of

noble mothers who will live Dharma, raise heroes surcharged with dedication to

God and Devotion to Truth."

November 23 is the Birthday of Baba. But, as Baba told Penn in one of His

transoceanic lessons, "It is not My Birthday that you celebrate. It is your

own." And again,

"My mission is to raise the consciousness of man to a level at which he neither

rejoices nor mourns over anything. In that supreme state, one is going through

rebirth and re-death each moment, for these acts are one and the same, emerging

from the formless into form, merging from the form into the formless. Then,

there is no success or adversity, no joy or pain. When the devotee attains this

Oneness, his journey towards Me ceases for he will be with Me endlessly."

The 1969 Birthday was marked by another event, namely, the 3rd All-India

conference of the office bearers of the units of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organizations. The delegates were happy that the conference was to be at the

Nilayam, in the very center of Prashanthi (Higher Peace) and the Host was no

less a Person than Bhagawan Himself. At Madras during the first conference Baba

had allowed the delegates to share His gracious presence during most hours of

the day. At

10pt">Bombay, during the World Conference, Baba moved around the hostels where

the delegates were accommodated and was present at the dining halls on most of

the days. Besides Baba had invited them to Dharmakshetra and He took groups of

them round the building explaining to them the significance of the numbers of

steps, pillars, concrete wind-cups, etc., to the happy edification of the

uninitiated. The number was nine, multiples of nine, adding up to nine, as was

necessary in a building that symbolized Sathya - Truth, or Brahman - the

ultimate Truth, whose numerical symbol is 9. Now, the third conference was

being held in the lap of Prashanthi Nilayam, under the loving and watchful eye

of Baba Himself.

The conference began on 20th November, with more than 2.000 delegates from all

the states of India, and also representatives from Ceylon,

10pt">Australia, Fiji, America, Europe, and

10pt">Africa. The presidents of the organizations of each state gave short

summaries of the various lines of activity in their area. It was a heartening

and instructive recital, for each state could contribute some fruitful ideas of

service and Sadhana to the rest.

Baba explained that the Sai Organization is unique in more respects than one. It

does not seek donations and patrons. It works under a Master who is present

everywhere at all times, and so the Organization is only a name for a group of

people who carry on work that would win His grace, in a spirit of worship.

There is no scope here for malingering or personal rivalry or the virus of

vanity or envy. Baba said, "These are associations of aspirants. Pay attention

to your duties and responsibilities; do not infect yourselves with caste

affiliations, or personal prejudices or political predilections. I can see you

through and through, wherever you are! Do not carry your head high and taunt

people. Stoop, so that you can lift the burden on to your shoulders; serve, so

that you may be an example and an

inspiration. Follow, so that you can lead seekers into the heart of God. Be

humble, be cordial, with all. Devotion should not be publicized. It does not

end with the acquisition of a badge which decorates that shirt. It is a secret

gain, a precious boon."

While the Conference was considering the recommendations of the four

subcommittees which dealt with Organizational matters, Spiritual activities,

Publication of Sai Literature, Mahilavibhag (Women's section) and service

activities, Baba counseled that devotees should not seek concession and

exemptions from participation in the activities set out by the Samithis, but,

on the contrary, look forward to the chance provided by the Sai Organizations

for Satsang. It was resolved that members must attend at least sixty percent of

such meetings. It was also emphasized that there must be unanimity in the choice

of Office Bearers. The Office Bearers should behave as Torch Bearers, reflecting

in their behavior the light of His Wisdom. "The Sai Organizations should try to

reduce and remove the hurdles and handicaps

in the way of spiritual progress, its members should be ennobled by tolerance,

truth speaking and compassion, and saturated with love for all. Whoever

neglects his parents and allows them to languish in poverty or sorrow does not

deserve to be a member. Carry the message of self-realization through the

Sadhana of service, among the women, the youth and the children. Encourage the

formation of active groups of women, who will take up the teaching of children,

develop Sevadals."

Addressing the Valedictory Session of the Conference on the 22nd of November, Baba said,

"Let Me end on this note: Do not doubt your destiny: it is to merge in the

Highest Wisdom, Power and Love. Do not waver or stay away. At every step,

inquire, discriminate, and search for Truth. Be self-reliant, bold and free.

Know that you are the instruments of God in a Divine Task and so there is no

justification for weakness or vacillation. Be an example to others in humility

and devotion. Do not scatter advice, without the authority of practical

experience. Love, co-operate, serve. Your Office is a call for spiritual

exercise, a reminder of your being under My care and direction."

The Conference was a baptism of faith for the participants; it revealed to them

the Divine Love of which Baba is the embodiment. He was the Person on whom all

eyes rested, all ears were focused, all minds dwelt and all hearts poured

adoration. He sat among the members of the subcommittees during their

deliberations and shed light and laughter on suggestions pompously placed and

assiduously argued upon. He moved among the delegates, scattering Grace; He met

the representatives, State-wise, for hours at a stretch, and amidst roars of

laughter, and brilliant banter, He smoothened rivalry, suppressed factionalism,

softened fanaticism, and sweetened bitterness. In spite of being concerned with

every detail of diet, agenda, seating, and discussion, He was the very picture

of freshness and light. To see Him

was to learn the lesson of selfless activity, to hear Him was to yearn for Grace

and for the chance to share His Task: to touch His Feet was to change oneself

with strength and courage to face the world and its challenges.

The delegates stayed on for the birthday celebration on 23rd and 24th November.

"The Day I am born in you as Love, that Day is My Birthday for you." Baba

announced on the 23rd. He reminded the 15.000 people who sat before the Nilayam

to witness the hoisting of the Flag, that "Here is the Siva Shakti, born in

human form to lead mankind towards Him." When Baba declared that each

individual is a flower in the garden of God, drawing strength from the earth

and beauty from the sun, one was reminded of the poem sung by Sri Das Ganu

Maharaj while expounding the life and teachings of the 'previous body' of Baba:

 

"The Bakul, Lotus, Chamelee, Dawan, Marwa, Panch - such a variety of flowering

plants bloom together in a garden and make it grand. All flowers spring from

the earth and return to the earth from which they sprang, and after they

re-enter, there is no more distinction!"

"Religion is a perpetual encounter of the individual with the Universal, a

persistent invitation which insists on acceptance," said Baba. Those who have

tasted the sweetness of that Invitation from Baba know that He is the Lord who

as He Himself sang in the introductory verse of His birthday discourse,

"commands the sun to illumine, the stars to lend brilliance to the sky, the

wind to blow and bolster life, the rivers to meander murmuringly on, the fire

to reduce everything to irreducible ash, and the million species of living

things to populate the earth and sea, proclaiming the might and majesty of the

Lord." We have heard of gifts being given to a person on his birthday, but, to

the Lord who

is amidst us, what can we give? Therefore, Baba gives gifts to us, on the 23rd

November. We sit in long lines all over the grounds of Prashanthi Nilayam, and

he gives each one a packet of sweets, with a loving word or a charming smile as

a keepsake forever.

During these festivals, after every discourse He sings a few Bhajan songs, with

which He activates devotion and faith among the thousands. His songs are

genuine Muraligana, that is to say, replicas of the magic music, which flowed

from the Flute of Krishna on the banks of the Yamuna. The water of the Yamuna

forgot to flow and halted in ecstasy, when the Flute conveyed the breath of the

Lord to them. It is in the nature of water to flow! So, the Chitravathi at

Prashanthi Nilayam has freed itself of water so that it can listen to Baba's

voice, without the bother of

halting and holding still!

A devotee writes, "In the blissful joy of listening to His melodious voice

extolling the glory and majesty of divinity one forgets all the cares and

distractions of living; one is released from the prison of time and space."

On 31st December, 1969, Baba was in the midst of delegates from all the Units of

the Sathya Sai Seva Organizations in Mysore, and called them lovingly as

instruments of His Divine

10pt">Mission of Dharmasthapana. While the Presidents from each district were

presenting their reports, Baba was standing at the farther end of the Shamiana,

instead of sitting on the chair placed for Him on the Dais. In explanation He

said,

"My place is among you, with you and wherever work lies! Do not believe that I

am on a special seat, apart, distant on a pedestal. I am part of you, partner

and partaker, inspiring, instructing, when you ask Me or need Me for

inspiration and instruction.Do not exude pride," He advised the workers.

"Spiritual pride is the most poisonous variety of pride: it is the highest of

hypocrisy. Fear too is spiritual poison, for, when you have in your heart the

Person who declares that you need not fear, why should you fear? If you do,

your lips belie your heart. An uneasy conscience is a torment."

"If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character,"

"If there is beauty in character, there will be harmony in the home;

when there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation;

when there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world... "

Said Baba.

"So, be righteous in speech, thought, and action. Avoid all prejudices on the

basis of caste, creed, color, status or degree of scholarship or affluence."

That was the directive with which the delegates returned to their place of

work."

Within a few days, Baba inaugurated a Mahila Satsang, under the auspices of the

Organization, and the advice He then vouchsafed to the women workers has far

reaching implications. Baba has come to clarify Dharma, mark out the bounds of

behavior, prescribe laws and limits of conduct, so that vagaries may be

controlled and sublimated. He said, "Let the Satsang start with your homes! Let

your homes be happy, harmonious, with no friction or faction or frills, fanfare

or fanaticism. Let the different generations, living in the home with varying

levels of intelligence, experience growth and attainments, earnings, tastes, or

prejudices, learn to live together in mutual cooperation, tolerance and loving

kindness. Each one of you must do your part in ensuring that your home has the

fragrance of a,

charged with the Sai atmosphere. Learn to put up with different opinions,

different temperaments. Develop the desire to understand others, be sympathetic

towards them, be happy when others are happy, be compassionate when others are

sorrowing. Engage yourselves in Seva - go into the slums, the hospitals and the

jails, the remand homes where delinquent children are housed. Seva is better

than even Dhyana as a Sadhana. 'Dill me Ram, hath me kam,' Perform your duty,

with God installed in your heart."

Maha Shivarathri, 1970! A flood of devotees flowed into Prashanthi Nilayam.

There was tremendous rush, but absolute silence. Baba told the young men and

women of the Seva Dals, selected by the Sathya Sai Seva Samithis from the

different States of India,

"You yearn to do some Seva in My Name, don't you? Well I have a thousand heads,

eyes and feet! The Vedas proclaim that God is 'Sahasra Seershaa Purushah,' 'He

has a thousand heads!' The thousands who have come here, the aged, the

children, the diseased, the afflicted - they are all Me. Serve them, you serve

Me!"

Baba hoisted the flag on the Nilayam, and said that loyalty to higher truths has

to be built up from childhood, even through the lessons learnt while in the

mother's lap. At noon the creation of the huge stream of Vibhuthi caused wonder

and amazement, even to those who know that it was part of the Shivarathri

Festival. In the evening, Sri Nakul Sen, I.C.S., Lt. Governor of Goa

green; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">, Dr. Gokak, and Dr. D. Venkatavadhanlu, Professor of

Telugu, Osmania University, addressed the gathering.

Baba's compassion led Him to begin His discourse with a Sanskrit verse, meaning,

"I am not a human being nor a god or a superman. I am neither a Brahmin, nor a

Ksatriya, nor a Vaishya nor a Sudra! Then you may ask Me who I am. Well, I am

the Teacher of Truth; I am Truth, Goodness, and Beauty!"

During the discourse the Linga that was growing in the stomach of Baba since

about a week announced itself as ready to emerge, and so Baba sat on the chair.

The huge gathering sensed the cosmic undertones of the movement and sang with

eager excitement a song in praise of Shiva, the God represented by the Linga,

for whom Shivaratri was dedicated.

Fifteen minutes later, a heavy oval Linga of a substance akin to an opal came up

and out; the enormous gathering shouted Jai in adoration and uncontrollable

bliss, when Baba held it in His hand for all to see. Throughout the night, the

Bhajan continued, the divine offspring was placed in full view of all, so that

it may inspire them in their vigil and fast.

The next day when the Bhajan ended, Baba Himself gave consecrated food to the

devotees. He spoke of the Geeta and its Message. He said that the song

celestial recommended action, Karma, first; then, in subsequent chapters, it

wanted that the Karma must become untainted by any desire for fruits. Later, it

recommended righteousness, Dharma; a few chapters later, it advised that Dharma

has to be given up, so that liberation, Moksha, can be attained. Finally it

recommends that the Moksha desire has to be given up, for even that is bound.

It declares that one is free, all the time, even when he imagined he was bound.

"Awake from ignorance; you know that your bondage was unreal; it was a dream,

which was denied when you woke. You are always free, liberated. You

are always the Atma that can never change or suffer."

Baba left for Brindavan after a few days, so that He could expedite from there

the construction of the college He had planned.

UNEARTHING THE LIGHT

Early in the afternoon on 9th May, 1970, Baba left Brindavan for Bombay. Three

cars formed the 'Caravan' the last one being a carefully reconditioned one,

brought by two members of the Seva Samithi, who had come to escort Baba and his

party. I was in that car and I was a victim of the poor quality of that

reconditioning process! Baba

had questioned the Samithi members, at more then usual length, on the details of

the repairs done, and the two had assured Him that all was well.

When about 30 miles had been traversed, something from the car fell on the road

with a thud: the vigilant chauffeur stopped the car, retrieved the part and

quietly put it under his feet, as if it was a superfluous gadget! Fifty miles

off, he heard a squeak; he stopped and lifted the bonnet to peep inside and

assured himself that all was well. A few miles off, he stopped again and

sniffed a little. He got out of the car and went around it, and with an

expression of audacious courage, hopped in again and started off! The friends

from Bombay who were with me were unconcerned.

But, my nervousness increased with every interruption.

Very near the seventy-fourth mile, he stopped again! The bonnet was lifted for

another casual examination and I could see the man recovering a 'something'

that had got loose and quietly putting it under his foot inside the car! My

fears mounted. A little distance away luckily for me, we found Baba parked at a

lonely spot by the side of the road, awaiting us. I ran forward and pleaded with

Him that I may be shifted to another car, for, the car carrying me seemed to be

fast disintegrating. Baba replied with a chuckle of amusement. He described an

item given by the clowns in circuses where as they go round and round the ring

in a car, the parts fall off one by one until they find themselves squatting

happily on the ground!

I looked pathetically at Him so that He might take pity on me; but, the only

remedy He proposed was: "Don't worry! If you fall out, we shall ensure that

some one picks you up and puts you in!" We reached Dharwar, 250 miles further

off, at 1 a.m. The car behaved well. We drove merrily through the evening hours

into the hours of dusk and darkness, between avenues of trees until midnight

came, when we found the trees relaxed and rested, in profound silence.

At the bungalow of vice-chancellor Adke, Baba asked me, "After you reported to

Me, was there any trouble?" I answered, "How could there be, Swami!" Thereafter

we proceeded in the same car to Poona and thence to Bombay, without a squeak or

a spasm! At

green; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Bombay, when it was sent to the workshop for servicing,

the mechanic asked the chauffeur, "How did those who came in this car reach

Bombay alive? The spring plates of the front wheels are cracked!" While

relating this miracle to Baba, the owner Java said, "The driver is a devotee,"

and I added, "The occupants are also devotees, Swami!" But Baba said, "Not you;

the car is the devotee, a great devotee!"

That car had a personality and it prayed for Grace and got it! In fact, every

artifact has human feelings Baba announced so. He affirms, what Jagadish

Chandra Bose discovered, that machines get tired. He goes further and asserts

that mountains weep. And that 'Saris' weep! At Bombay, later, he asked some one

to bring for His selection and purchase, some saris to be given as gifts to the

women laborers, who helped build the

10pt">Sathya Sai College at Anantapur. He selected 96 and rejected four! He kept

the rejected ones apart, so that they could be returned!

When Baba returned an hour later, to the table on which they were kept, he found

signs of tears. Calling our attention to this He said, "Poor things! They are

sorry I kept them aside! All right. I shall take them also to Anantapur with

Me." Months later, He repeated this incident at a meeting at Prashanthi

Nilayam, when He was describing the Puranik story of Govardhana Hill. When Rama

decided to build a bridge over the sea towards Lanka, Divine monkeys in His army

pulled huge mountain peaks up by their roots and passed them along the conveyor

belt from shoulder to shoulder, until they were finally dropped into the sea.

After the construction of the bridge, the mountains were not required any more.

At this, each monkey kept aside whatever peak it had with it, and hurried to the

bridge head, with the

result that one mountain that had been plucked from its native spot and brought

pretty far, started weeping!

Rama heard its wail and consoled it, saying, "Stay! I shall use you when I

incarnate next, and hold you as an umbrella to save the Yadavas from the anger

of God Indra.The hill that wept was Govardhan," Baba announced.

At Dharwar, Baba expressed concern that a large number of persons were waiting

until the small hours of the next day to have His Darshan. He moved among them,

and quenched their thirst with a gentle glance, an affectionate pat, a word

scarcely heard or a look of recognition, a questioning brow, and sometimes, a

pinch of ash created on the spot for a person found ill; or the acceptance of a

bow, or letter, a flower or prayer.

That night people slept on ground that had been consecrated by His Feet. Dawn

found them at Bhajan or with rosaries. Baba spoke to the office bearers of the

Seva Samithi Units about the immense significance of Nagarsankeerthan. I felt

that this choir movement was really more profound than the Dandi march to the

sea, for, the imperialism of the six passions that rule over men is much more

insidious than the imperialism that the Salt Satyagraha was designed to

destroy. This movement where good men march into the nooks of hate and greed in

every village with the name of God on their lips, along every lane polluted by

anger and avarice, was the thin end of the wedge, destined to put a stop to the

decline of Dharma among mankind.

Baba was present at the dais in the Shamiana for some time during the noon

Bhajan, and, started off towards Poona, soon after lunch. Passing through

Belgaum

normal"> and Satara, where devotees had Darshan, the cars sped on, Baba keeping

every one fresh and happy! Baba stayed at Jamnagar House, on the outskirts of

the city of Poona, but that did not discourage those who had tasted the

sweetness of the Sai Name. The lawn of the house was dotted with devoted groups

sitting in meditation during the early hours of the next day, and by about 7, it

was no longer lawn! It was a multicolored flower-bed of bright eyes, looking up

in ardent

plaint, towards a room on the first floor, where they knew Baba was. Baba went

down among them and rewarded them for their earnestness.

Dr. Adke and his son Manohar, an engineer at Bhadravathi, accompanied Him to

Poona. Baba was conferring on the son, signs of His Grace at Bhadravathi itself

for, Vibuthi was showering from the portrait of Baba which he worshipped at

home! While father and son were taking leave of Baba, Manohar held before Him

the ring He had materialized for him, months back, at the end of the

unforgettable Karnataka tour. Its yellow gem was a little chipped in one

corner. "Do you require me to repair it? O, you want My Form on it, is that

it?" He said, taking it in His hands. "No! You are

an engineer. Your hands are ever busy handling machinery, or ought to be. If I

give you My Form on it , it will get scarred, and grated. Poor fellow, you will

have no peace then. I shall give you My Form on the ring when you go for higher

studies overseas." With that, He held the ring between the thumb and

forefinger, high for all to see and blew on it once, a little hard. "You are

lucky." Baba said.

Yes, indeed! His ring had disappeared. In its place shining in Baba's hand was a

brilliant ring of burnished gold, with no gem, but with the letter M embossed

most charmingly, by some skilled artist. "You get more gold now." Baba said,

putting it on his finger, "And it is not Morarji gold." That is to say, it is

not 14 carat, as Morarji Desai wanted all ornaments of gold to be, when he was

Finance Minister of the Government of India! It was 22 carat gold! Baba left

Poona at about 10.30 a.m.

Dharmakshetra was called over the phone, and informed that Baba would be

arriving only at about 1 p.m. and the huge gathering there was advised to go

home, since they had been waiting for Baba from 10 in the morning. He had

stayed on at Poona, and did not want them to stay hungry. But no one stirred!

No car out of the hundreds parked in the broiling sun budged! A Parsi

gentleman, who had been waiting since 8, seated in the front row near the dais,

was asked by his wife whether he intended to leave, for she had persuaded him to

come after Herculean efforts, to take the

Darshan of Baba. He did not want to miss a chance of witnessing this strange

phenomenon that fascinated millions in the world. So, he decided to stay,

though the sun was burning the top of his head and the ground underneath him

was hot. He was thankful that he had worn two pairs of socks for, he was warned

early that shoes had to be removed at the gate itself!

At ten minutes past one, Baba came. His car stopped at the gate, and Baba walked

slowly up the grueling hot pathway rising sharply when it neared the dais! The

Parsi gentleman cast a look at Him, his first, and tears gushed and hid the

next look. Baba was barefooted! Yes! Baba's feet, soft and tender, sweet,

silken and small, were moving over the hot sand strewn pathways between the

squatting thousands! He could have driven on straight to the apartment on the

first floor of Sathyadeep at Dharmakshetra! But He demonstrated the truth that

he who seeks to lead, must share the travail with those whom he calls to

follow! He blazes the trail, goading others to aspire. The gentleman went home

and came back soon; to attend the evening Bhajan after which he hoped Baba

would give His Discourse!

The teachers of the Sathya Sai Bala Vihars of Bombay City had arranged an

exhibition of children's art, and Baba went into the hall where it was held.

The exhibits revealed the lispings of the new age in education, which is being

inspired all over the country, the child being oriented towards God to discover

the mystery of existence. The answers

discovered so far by sages are not being understood today because those

questions are not being asked. Now Baba is offering a synthesis of those

answers of the ancient seers.

The children knew that trees blossomed because Krishna leaned against the trunk!

Cows were happy, since Krishna patted them. A boat was worth drawing, because

Rama and Sita and Lakshmana used it to cross the Ganga. A horse is a good

subject for painting since it carried Siddhartha from palace to forest, on his

historic journey to discover the remedy for human grief. Many tried to make

models of Prashanthi Nilayam, which they had enshrined in their hearts as the

abode of God. Others took delight in drawing Baba, as He was at Shirdi or as He

is now. Reverence and care were evident in every line; they are enough

credentials for receiving Grace. There were models and drawings of Dwarakamayi,

Dakshineswar, Govardhan, St. Peters, Juma Masjid, and other places associated

with man's undying yearning for God. That night the children enacted a play in

the Divine Presence. Toddlers of six and seven expressed emotions of poignancy,

surprise, resentment, triumph, pity and pride so clearly and genuinely that the

play gripped attention and won appreciation. There was not a dry eye in the

hall when two children enacted the scene where Lakshmana, under orders from his

elder brother Rama, took Sita, unsuspectingly, into the thick forest and

deserted her there, leaving her to the care of the sylvan deities. The scene

where Lakshmana retraces his steps to the capital and Sita discovers that she

is left alone to the tender mercies of the forest and his denizens pulled the

heartstrings of every one in the audience until they nearly broke. Baba, whose

presence inspired the children beyond measure, caressed them and blessed them,

and appreciated the teachers who had trained them and directed the play. He

wanted that the play be enacted during Dasara at Prashanthi Nilayam, a great

occasion, when thousands from all over the world could be thrilled by their

innocence and charm.

12th May was the day when Baba inaugurated Dharmakshetra in 1968; it is a red

letter day in the calendar of Bombay and in the chronology of the Sai Era. No

wonder therefore that the city celebrates the day with "Thanks giving." The

multi-lingual, multi-credal, multi-state population of Bombay gathered in

massive numbers and chanted Bhajans

continuously for ten hours, as their offering of adoration. When newspapers were

carrying banner headlines on the Bhiwandi riots fanned by fanaticism and fed by

fear and falsehood, this celebration was an assurance, a promise, an oasis of

faith and strength.

Baba referred to the surgent of communal riots and the sudden emergence of faith

in violence as a solution for the problems of life.

"Look at a tree! The roots, the trunk, the branches, the twigs, the bark, the

timber, the pith, the sap, the leaf, the bud, blossom and fruit, the seed -

each has a distinct taste, color, feel, smell and shine; but, you do not deny

that they are all from the same seed. Each has its separate use and function.

All have been fostered by earth and sun. 'Bîjam mâm sarva-bhûtânâm', says the

Lord in the Gita: I am the seed of all Creation! It is a pity that man is

indulging in the arts of slander and faction, mudslinging and character

assassination, hatred and war so that his ego might be satisfied. Love is the

best balm to quieten anger."

The ones who do evil and the foolish do not surrender to Me; the lowest of

mankind whose knowledge is stolen by this Maya have adopted the atheistic

[demoniac] nature. Of the pious of men there are four kinds that are devoted to

Me, o Arjuna: the distressed, the inquisitive, the ones desiring material gain

and the ones who know things as they are as well, o great one of the Bhârata's

It gave the listeners good cheer and Armour against fear.

Sri M.M. Pinge, State President of Maharashtra for Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organizations is the founder and administrator of a very efficient chain of

institutes known as Pinge's Classes which prepare thousands of students from

offices, factories, fields and homes for various technical and other

examinations, helping them to improve their skills and abilities. The silver

jubilee of this vast network of schools was celebrated at the Rang Bhavan

Auditorium, on the 13th May in the Divine Presence of Bhagawan. The creams of

Bombay’s intellectual and artistic elite were there, as

well as a large number of students and teachers from many colleges.

When He was led to the dais where a special chair had been placed for Him, Baba

quietly turned towards the audience. He moved among the people, with his

heart-warming smile, and the loving look of one's dearest kinsman and friend.

While the Invocatory Verses adoring Him were being sung, He was busy with His

mission of showering Ananda (bliss) on parched eyes.

Later, He ascended the dais and stood for a few minutes leaning forward on the

back of a chair. Then He sat on the carpet, a picture of Divine Charm, to the

delight and amazement of the spellbound gathering. When Dr. Gokak, Sri Bharde

and Sri Sawant and other distinguished guests came upon the dais, Baba rose and

occupied the special chair, and bade the proceedings to begin. Dr. V. K. Gokak,

a clear and forthright thinker on educational and allied problems, who had been

principal for many years and who was the vice-chancellor of the Bangalore

University, addressing the gathering said, "I shall only draw upon the

educational ideals put before us by Bhagawan, for, they alone can save us from

the sad state into which the system has landed itself. Baba has laid down the

cardinal principles that should

be the very basis of education - unquestioning loyalty to truth, faith in

righteous activity, cultivation of serenity and the spontaneous upsurge of

Love. Baba has put Atma Vidya (learning of the inner reality) in the very core

of the system, for where the centre does not hold, where there is no

soul-sight, things are bound to fall apart. Baba has emphasized that education

must impart knowledge, develop skill, confer balance and implant insight. The

student must become a useful member of society, earning not only his bread, but

bread for others in the community. Destructive attitudes are prolific in the

soil of imbalance; the vibrant energy of youth must be given constructive

outlets, so that the balance is set right. Their emotions have to be chastened,

not by reading moral texts, but by means of contact with men of mature minds,

integrated personalities, impartial but beneficent servants of mankind."

Baba in His Discourse referred to the four cardinal principles, knowledge,

skill, balance, and insight about which Gokak had spoken, and said that

knowledge is gained through the senses, inference, and observation. At some

unfortunate periods of history this knowledge is used not for integration but

for the disintegration, not for the well being of man but for the skilful

destruction of man. So the skill gained through knowledge turns out to 'Kill,'

consequently disturbing the balance; hence 'insight' turns into 'outsight,' the

pursuit of sensual pleasure in the outer world.

Continuing, Baba observed,

"Sri Rama paying heed to flippant scandals, respecting public opinion, sent His

Queen to exile. Socialism was observed in practice considering that the

peasants and workers were honored during the age of Rama and Krishna.Krishna

tended cattle; his elder brother, Balarama (an Incarnation in his own right) had

as his constant companion, a plough. They both declared that agriculture and

cattle-rearing were consecrated occupations."

FONT-SIZE: 10pt">

"Although with modern speed, the continents of the world have been knitted

closer to each other, yet mankind has not learnt the art of living as one human

family in the Universe. With the advance of science, man has obtained higher

techniques for controlling outer nature to a large extent, but has yet to learn

to control his inner nature. This he can acquire through study and practice of

the ancient way of life."

Therefore Baba exhorted all to plan and establish a new educational system

"which will instill discipline, canalize passions, control emotions and equip

youth for mutual co-operation, compassion and comradeship, calm deliberation

and constructive service. At present, education equips youth only with a

begging bowl, entitling them to clamor for jobs!" Baba said that He would

establish a college in Bombay City if "you first prepare students worthy of

entering its portals.Teach them spiritual truths and the discipline that

promotes their translation into daily life. Intellect without integrity is

infructuous and injurious. Politics without principles, education without

character, science without morality are positively poisonous."

On the 14th, Baba blessed hundreds of children, who are being prepared with

devout care to enter the portals of His Grace, through Bala Vihar classes all

over Bombay. Later during the day Baba proceeded to Jamnagar in

10pt">Gujarat, by a specially chartered plane. The scorching heat was

unbearable; the tarmac was a trail of fire. And yet, thousands greeted the

plane and rushed to have the coveted Darshan. At this, Baba willed shade and

breeze, and as He stepped out of the plane, the change in weather was

miraculously sudden and satisfying. Every one felt a thrill of joy from head to

foot at this sign of Grace. The Rajamatha of Nawanagar was the happiest of all.

At 'Amar Vilas' Palace, Baba was received, by a guard of honor provided by the

home guards (men and women) with the Police band in attendance. In the evening

more than ten thousand people had the long-awaited chance to listen to Baba's

discourse and the enchanting Bhajans which He sings, in order to initiate man

into the path of faith. Baba said that congregational singing of the Glory of

the Lord will fill the atmosphere, internal and external, with Love.

On the 15th Baba left for Dwarka, 150 miles away, with the Rajamatha and members

of His party. All along the route, in the busy squares of cities on quiet

suburban roads or in the midst of flat treeless wastes, clusters of families

had gathered to catch a glimpse; they had inscribed Baba in their hearts and

taken His pictures into their shrines. As we drove along, the pages of the

Bhagavatha unfolded before our eyes: Lord Krishna was re-entering His ancient

homeland, we felt.

The people of Dwaraka, and Sai devotees from other towns had filled the wide

corridors of the Krishna Temple, long before Baba arrived, while He could go

smoothly in, through the thick mass, we were pushed, jostled and pressed; so

seeing our plight, Baba came out of the temple to draw those Gopas and Gopies

into a wider space. When we were inching our way to have a Darsan of 'Krishna,'

the inhabitants of Krishna's City were swarming around the Sai Krishna. They

feasted their eyes on Baba, and congratulated each other.

Baba left for Mithapur, where the employees of the chemical and allied factories

established by Tatas were having a Bhajan Mandali for years. On the way to

Mithapur, Baba inquired from a devotee accompanying Him, if he would like to go

back and see the Shrine of Dwaraka and have a Darshan of the idol of Krishna

installed there; the devotee affectionately prayed that he may not be sent back

to Dwaraka, as he was very happy to be in the presence of Sai Krishna. A

continuous stream of men, women and children flowed on to the lawns around the

Guest House. Baba moved among them showering compassion and charm.

While returning to Jamnagar in the evening, Baba was full of sympathy with us

for the confusion and congestion inside the temple, which deprived us of

Darshan of the Lord of Dwaraka, Krishna, as, installed in the temple. Suddenly

He said, "O! The sea is here!" and the cars stopped. We came upon a wide patch

of sandy shore, with a temple on a heap of rocks at one

end. The place was called, we learnt later, Kuranga, meaning 'the deer'. The sea

and the wave always elicit the playfulness inherent in Baba. For His play was

first evinced when a tiny titillating wave appeared on the deep calmness of

Fullness. He walked along the watery edge, gleefully daring the mischievous

cohorts of waves. He laughed when others were drenched with saline stuff. He

picked shells and searched for more, and sat on the sands at last, as Krishna

must have sat, some fifty centuries ago.

He heaped the soft sand to the height of a cubit in front of Him, putting us all

into a state of extreme expectancy. He flattened the heap and drew on it with

His finger a three-slanted line. He drew a rough circle on top; he added a

small triangle over it. He drew a short line across a circle. "It is ready," He

said, wiping the sand from His palms.

We were unable to guess what exactly was ready, though the line must have been

for the "Thri-bhangi body," the circle the head; the small triangle, the

peacock feather and the line across, the Flute! 'It is ready,' He said and

digging His hands deep into the pile, He drew forth a bright golden image about

15 inches high of Lord Krishna playing the flute, the very acme of the

goldsmith's art and craftsmanship. "You did not get Darshan of Krishna in the

temple; have it, now," He invited us. It was a moment of 'supreme' ecstasy.

The image was iconographically perfect; we could see a captivating smile playing

around the golden lips. We do not know how long we sat contemplating the

majestic beauty of the Krishna before us. It was Baba who awakened us. "Come,

let us go." The chauffeur of the Jamnagar

green; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Palace was the first to rise: Baba noticed his

wonder-filled eyes. He asked him, "Which is your favorite God-form?" He

replied, "Amba-Bhavani" (Lord Shiva's consort). The divine Hand went through

the circular wave twice and a float round gold plate with the figure of

Amba-Bhavani embossed on it was ready for him.

Reaching Jamnagar at 9 a.m., Baba saw thousands still engaged in Bhajan, hoping

that He would approach them and move along the lanes they had set apart. They

were not disappointed. A few were even lucky to receive Vibhuthi created to

alleviate their particular ailments.

On the 16th, Baba drove to the Ayurvedic University, established and endowed by

the Nawanagar Royal Family, the only one in India

normal"> devoted to the teaching of that ancient science of healing. It lays

great emphasis on the hidden springs of strength in man and the vast reservoirs

of well-being which can be tapped through Yoga and mantra, meditation and

detachment.

"Ayur Veda or the Scripture of Living." To promote research, to unravel the

intricacies of Ayurvedic texts and discover the ancient remedies for modern

illnesses, the University has a band of devoted experts. Baba blessed each of

them in his own laboratory and worktable. He passed through the entire complex

of the University, bringing cheer with every word and look of His.

Thence, He drove to a bungalow called Indraprastha where members of the Sathya

Sai Seva Dal were receiving advanced training in "Service as Spiritual

Sadhana." He spoke to them of faith and fidelity, obedience and surrender,

love, renunciation and service. "Remain always ready to receive the rays of the

sun, imparting illumination, health and joy.Religion springs not from the

intellect but from the will to love."

In the evening, Baba addressed the Rotarians of Jamnagar at the town hall. He

warned them against the futility of speeches and dinners. He told them about

the fatal consequences of resorting to artificial methods of birth control.

Contraceptives will lead to mental disorders, to increased irreverence and

irresponsibility, and deterioration of the moral standards upheld by Indian

culture. "Spiritual discipline, intensification of Japa, Dhyana, Seva and

Sankirtan - these can achieve the same end, without landing the human community

in the morass of animality," Baba said.

Well! The Sea prayed for Baba's Presence again! About 9 at night, Baba drove to

Balachchdi seashore, near the Sainik School. The staff of the Sainik School

joined the party at Bhajan. Baba sat on the soft sands by the side of murmuring

waves. In the midst of the Bhajans, Baba inquired from Dr. V. K. Gokak the

implication of the letters V and K; and when he started telling "V for

Vinayaka," Baba created out of the sand, a "silver" idol of Vinayaka and handed

it over to him.

He related the story of the birth of Vinayaka and explained the meaning of

Vinayaka, as the great leader or as the One without a bigger leader whom he has

to follow. Then, he asked those around Him: "Ask for anything you want from Me

now." Most of us asked for Grace only, but He insisted we should ask for some

concrete article He would create. While brains were busy formulating the needs,

He created a picture of Vinayaka, an exquisite calligraphic marvel, each line,

big or small, being an Om - the ear, the mouth, the eye, in fact, the entire

picture was a composition of a 100 OM's, drawn with skill and care, to

represent Vinayaka, the elephant-headed God. One person wanted a ring and he

got it - made of gold with Baba's portrait in enamel. Another asked for a

rosary and she

got it, 108 Rudrakshi beads, encased in gold. The principal of the Sainik School

- blessed be his name - prayed for some auspicious gift for his school!

Unhesitatingly, Baba played with the sand, pouring it through His fingers and,

there was in His hand for all to see, a beautiful five-inch 'silver' idol of

Annapoorna, the Goddess of Plenty, who confers food on all Her children. "Keep

this in the dining hall. The boys will eat with relish, and flourish

amazingly," Baba announced. "Anna, the food, which she gives.

Poorna, to the full, is not only for the Body; Anna means 'in take,' through the

mouth, the senses, the brain, the nerves. So, this Goddess will grant sustenance

for the body, the mind and the spirit, of the teachers and the taught in your

school," He blessed. Two hours of mystery, suspense and divine delight were

spent there.

The 17th was an epoch-making day. Baba 'charged the Somanath Shrine' that day

with Divine potency. He also fulfilled the prayers of the late Jamsahed of

Nawanagar, the person primarily responsible for the renovation of that historic

temple, by visiting the place and allowing His Name to be associated with a

structure that is a limb of that complex. The Rajamatha succeeded in persuading

Baba to inaugurate the imposing architectural gem called Dig Vijaya Dwar (after

Sri Digvijaya Singh, the late Jamsaheb), the Gateway of Victory.

This temple is situated on a spot celebrated in the Vedas and Epics. The shrine

is of Shiva, as Sauma, with Uma, as Shiva-Shakti. Baba has come as Shiva-Shakti

in human form to charge the ancient shrine with Divine potency. The Shivayogis

who specialized in Soma Vidya and the followers of the Paasupatha cult founded

by sage Lakulisa about 200 AD, spread the fame of this temple from sea to sea.

They established Somanaths with Somesvara Shrines all over the land, in

Ratnagiri, E. Godavari, Purnea, Jodhpur, Mysore, and South Kanara Districts.

Somanath was one of the richest temples of India. When the Muslims conquered and

ruled over the Punjab and Sindh, it attracted the plunderers. Depredation,

desecration, destruction, reconstruction and rededication became recurring

chapters of

its long history. The infamous raid by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 AD was the third

in the long list of catastrophes. The fifth temple too met with a similar fate,

at the hands of the rulers of Delhi.

On Diwali Day, 1947, when the Indian Army entered Nawabdom of Junagadh and

liberated the pathetically dilapidated pile of stone recognized by many as

Somanath, it was rescued from those who could not appreciate the value and

validity of idols, images and symbols of the Unknown and the Unknowable. Sardar

Vallabhbhai Patel announced that day, amidst the joyous roar of the waves of

human and saline seas, "We have decided that Somanath should be reconstructed.

This is a holy task in which all should participate."

The new temple (named Mahameru Prasad, like the previous ones) was planned

closely on the basis of the earlier temples and now, the Gopuram, the main

gateway through which seekers would enter into the portals of Jyothirlinga, was

to be inaugurated by Someswara, come in human form: Shiva-Shakti, come as Sathya

Sai!

Baba declared that He would reveal, that day the genuine Somanath! This

declaration filled us with wonder and enthusiastic exuberance. So all roads

converging from Jamnagar to Somanath were shouting Jais in exhilaration. Baba

was received at the decorated Shamiana in front of the Digvijayadwar by the

trustees of the Somanath temple, as well as by the high officers of the

District and States. Amidst strains of temple music, He walked on the red

carpet laid on the steps, and opened the lock on the artistically carved and

silver-embossed door with a silver key. Then, He

proceeded along the festooned pathway, between rows of fresh banana trees, to

the main shrine of Someshwar, the focal point of the faith of millions for

millennia!

He entered the holy of holies; Brahmin Pundits were reciting Vedic Hymns, which

reverberated from the arched and conical roof, from the finial 150 feet above

the ground! He directed that a plate be brought. He spread the fingers of His

right hand and shook it over the plate, 108 silver Bilva leaves and 108 golden

flowers fell from His hand in a clinking shower. Devotees’ reverentially

touched themfor it is on their behalf and for their sake that he was

undertaking the process of ‘charging the 3 feet high Lingam’. This Lingam had

been recently installed, when Babu Rajendra Prasad, President of India

normal">, inaugurated the Temple. He poured the leaves of silver and flowers of

gold on the Linga, as He had done at Srisailam when He was set on revitalizing

the Linga there. It was like Ganga water poured into the stream of the Ganga.

Within seconds, He waved that Divine hand! Lo and behold, a ball of brilliant

light manifested in His palm. I was at that time reciting within myself the

Dwadasa-Jyothirlinga-Stotram, the verses in praise of the twelve "Lingas of

Light" which every Hindu is exhorted to remember reverentially. The twelve

include Viswesa or Varanasi, Kedarnath in the Himalayas,

Rameswaram in the extreme south, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, Mahakala at

Ujjaini and Tryambaka in Nasik. But the very first in the list is "Sowrashtra

Somanatha," Somanath of Sowrashtra. The Somanatha Linga is the only one of the

twelve which is adored as Jyothirmayam, "Imbued with the splendor of light."

And, Baba had the "Linga of Light" right now in His grasp! What a great moment

was this, I wondered.

Then I remembered Baba's announcement: "I shall show you the genuine Someswara

Linga today!" so, this was It, the Genuine One, installed, as legend says, by

Brahma Himself, and worshiped by the Moon-God, the God who presides over the

mind of man.

In a pamphlet issued by the tourist department, it is said that Skanda Purana

mentioned thousands of years ago that "the Sparsa Linga of Somanath is a

'Swayam-Bhu' (self-originated) Linga, of great prowess, as bright as the sun,

of the size of an egg of a hen, which is situated underground." It is a

characteristic of Vayu, air. These are the other Lingas representing the other

four elements: Akash, Tejas, water and earth.

So the oval ball of light in His hand was the authentic Someswara He had

resolved to bring up from its underground niche, kept away since many centuries

from depredation and desecration. The Sparsa (touch) Lingam was nestling for

centuries under the Linga in the Shrine. This information was given to us by

Baba, as well as by the priests and trustees. Baba waved His hand again and

created a silver stand on which it could be placed. He gave it to the chief

priest, "Let it be in the full light of day hereafter! Let pious eyes admire

its brilliance and imprint its glory on their hearts. There is no need any more

to keep it away. The avatar

has come to remove all fear," Baba declared.

To make the triumphant emergence of Someswara, Baba unfurled the flag on the

towering finial over the central shrine. Thousands acclaimed 'Jai Bhagawan' as

He gave Darshan on the temple steps. Baba left for Rajendra Bhavan at Veeraval

and at 2 p.m. He motored to Keshod aerodrome from where He enplaned for Bombay.

Over 30.000

devotees were awaiting the arrival of Baba at Dharmakshetra, Bombay.

Dr. Gokak gave them an intimate account of His Leelas and Mahimas, (signs of

Divinity) at Jamnagar, Dwaraka and Somanath. Baba also spoke to them of the

immanence of God in every being and the need to practice Sadhana and Seva.

"You try to discover God, probing and peeping into every particle of the

universe. Of course, if you have eyes to see, you can see Him there, too; for

the universe is the Body of God. You are a spark of the Divine, so are all; so

is everything!" He announced. "Before you experience the Divine in every being,

in every cell and atom, you have to experience it as a totality of your being,

that is, in your words, thoughts and deeds," He advised.

Baba left Bombay for Brindavan on the 20th. While conferring His blessings on

the 25th at the Inauguration of the Bharath Engineering Workshop, He spoke of

the employer-employee bond as a loving partnership for mutual strength and joy.

On the first day of June, He visited the village of

normal">Kalkunte, hidden away behind a belt of trees, accessible only by a

tortuous country road twelve miles long. Each hamlet on the hallowed road had

erected a Pandal, where young and old were waiting with flowers to welcome Baba

as he drove along. The villagers gathered at Kalkunte noticed a radiance on the

distant hill; as Baba's car came nearer, the radiance around it was fringed

with amber and gold.

Baba alighted from the car and was preceded by priests chanting hymns from the

ancient scriptures, followed by a band of temple musicians with pipe, drum and

cymbal, and groups of peasants singing in chorus the glory of God. He walked

about two furlongs towards the Sri Ranganatha Temple, where the form of God

installed shows the Deity reclining in ease and directing unconcerned the

Cosmic Play of Emergence, Sustenance and Mergence!

There Baba laid the foundation stone for a building to house the village school.

During His discourse, He said, "Make yourselves moving temples. Become aware of

the God that resides in you. It is He who protects you, provides for you, and

prevents you from falling prey to pernicious propensities." And referring to

the school which was to move into the new building, He said, "I have entered

the field of education and established colleges for the new era for both boys

and girls in different states, for, these are temples of Saraswathi, the

Goddess of Learning. Liberation can be achieved through the Awareness of Truth,

by learning the

Unity that underlies Diversity. Now, teachers and parents, comrades and elders

tarnish the immaculate tendencies of children by setting wrong precepts. If

they grow in an atmosphere of sacrifice and service, truth and justice, love

and light, they will grow into pure, good, brave and active citizens. Now they

are a perpetual problem to themselves and to the nation. If they are allowed to

soak themselves in godliness, they are sure to be invaluable assets to

themselves and to others."

That evening, the Bangalore Centre of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan had invited

Baba at its premises and offered grateful homage, Sri R.R. Diwakar, a keen

student and interpreter of Upanishadic and Post-Upanishadic mysticism and a

Gandhian Sadhak honored by the country for his high-souled patriotism, welcomed

Baba on behalf of all those assembled there. He spoke of Baba as the greatest

and the most effective moral force in the world today. Baba pointed out that

"It is the responsibility of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and kindred institutions

to uphold the validity Bharatiya Vidya or Atma Vidya and to demonstrate by

precept and example, the lasting benefits it can bestow upon the individual and

society. Churn the sacred scriptures and the text books on Yoga and other paths

for self-realization and collect the nutritious butter and share it as the

sustenance of mankind which is starving in the midst of pseudo-prosperity.

Every worker at the Bhavan must shape himself into a perfect picture of the

munificence of Bharatiya Vidya - that is to say, he must be tolerant of all

faiths, patient in the face of odds, reverent towards the old, the sacred and

the historic, and humble in spite of the insidious urge to demonstrate and

display."

10pt">

On 5th June, Baba reached Prashanthi Nilayam.

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

/

 

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