Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006. --- GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH; GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA; GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA; THASMAI SREE GURAVE NAMAHA: none;">http://www.saidarbar.org/dattatreya/saidatta.htm ----------------------- THIS ISSUE CONTAINS 1. FOUNDATION STONES FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE 2. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE 3. FOOT STEPS OF HOLY FEET 4. SAI IN DREAMS 5. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY 6. SANATANA DHARMA& SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA 7. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO ….. 8. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES 9. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA 10. SAI WITH CHILDREN 11. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES 12. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES 13. TELUGU SECTION 14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS 15. SAI'S BOOK WORLD 16. EDITORIAL. ------------------------------- 1. FOUNDATION STONES FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: >From the Satsanghs of Saibanisaji http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500055.htm Sai Sevak Smt. Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar – Hyderabad. 160. The person who treats the life as a battle and in that battle when he gives the equal stand for happiness sorrow, profit, loss and marches ahead, no sin will be attached to him. 161. Naturally desires attract and unfulfilled ones will lead to anger. Once angered, wisdom is lost and downfall starts by itself. Why invite such a situation? 162. Ravana and Duryodhana never listened to the good words of elders and engaged themselves and implemented unilateral decisions and history has shown them their due place 163. If you want to be a successful person, avoid long sleeping hours, laziness, fear, anger and postponement of actions. 164. People say that there is no permanent enmity and friendship in politics, but a person in the spiritual field will feel that there are no enemies or friends. Every one is a divine soul. 165. You should know that every learned person is not your well wisher. In the similar way, your well wisher may not be a learned person. 166. Hasty actions are the root cause for the mistakes in the life. So think twice before taking any action. 167. Insulting the weak and poor person in the society may give you momentary happiness. But never forget one day that person may become a giant and swallow you. 168. It is a fact that mighty elephant can be tied with a rope made with tiny grass bundles and small ants together can kill a poisonous snake. So understand Unity is the strength. 169. Normally a person will commit mistakes while in power, in his youth, in richness, and having no sound mind. At a time if all these four qualities are with any one person - Imagine the fate of that person and society! To be continued… ----- 2. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE: January 1919: Nana Saheb Nimonkar (Shankarrao Raghunath Deshpande an elderly cousin of Shama) passed away at Pune. January 20, 1941: Damu Anna (Damodar Savalaram Rasane) of Ahmednagar passed away (aged 89 years). January 1, 1946: Sri B.V.Deo passed away (Composer of Chapter 53rd of Shri Sai Satcharitra in Marathi language). January 14, 1980: H.H.Radhakrishna Swamiji passed away at Bangalore. (Aged 74 years) January 1991: Size of “Shri Sai Leela Magazine" enlarged and converted in to a Bi-monthly magazine. ------------------------------- 3. FOOT STEPS OF THE HOLY FEET –21 http://www.ebeacon.indiainabook.com/other_books.htm EXPERIENCES OF SAI.BA.NI.SA WITH SHIRDI SAI The family of Sai devotees is well aware of how the title of HEMADRI PANTH was conferred on Shri. ANNA SAHEB DHABOLKAR. It was done by no less than a person -our SAMARDHA SADUGURU- LORD SAINATH himself. Quite a good number of visitors to our site were eager to know and questioned me as to how I got addressed to the word 'SAIBANISA'. This experience is intended for those of such readers. I am born to Smt. Ravada Venkata Ramanamma and Shri.Ravada Vennkata Rao couple and was named Ravada Gopala Rao. We are Bharadwajasa Ghotriks. Shiridi Sai was instrumental in drawing me to His lotus feet and gave a new birth and direction to me in the World of spiritualism in the year 1989.Days progressed and it was later in the year 1995, I decided and fully offered myself to him in 'SARVASSYA SARANA GATHI'. I cannot exactly recall the date but it happened to be a Thursday. I went to SAI temple situated near my house and prayed before him to take me as his slave. Half an hour prayer to him has not yielded any result. I went in to deep meditation and after passage of some more time, I could feel some body standing near my proximity and whispering to me in TELUGU Language i.e. my mother tongue, as follows: "' Open your eyes - NA BADHYATHALU NIRVARTHINCHE SANYASI When I opened my eyes I could gaze the beholding gentle smile of SAI in his idol opposite me. My thinking process started working and I was eager to confirm the contents. The best way out from the present predicament was to seek advice from Sai himself. I took two papers, scribbled on them in one paper as - SLAVE and in second paper as - SAI.BA.NI.SA. . I folded them exactly in identical fashion and placed them at his lotus feet. Once again I prayed and requested him to name me as he pleases and appropriate. Saying so I closed my eyes and picked up one of the two papers to be delivered with his final judgment. The inscriptions were 'SAIBANISA'- literally meaning a person who obeys Sai's instructions and implements them. This is the genesis of my being addressed as SAIBANISA on a Thursday in his very presence. From that day onwards, it has been my earnest and endless desire to live and serve the family of Sai devotees as SAIBANISA. For this to happen I need the continued blessings of Sai and his devotees. BOW TO SAI - PEACE TO ALL --------- 4. SAI IN DREAMS: http://www.ebeacon.indiainabook.com/ These are the dream sequences and messages as received by SAIBANISA From our beloved GURU LORD SAINATH OF SHIRIDI. In Anticipation that this feature will help in one's spiritual growth are hereby compiled from his personal Diary and presented to SAIBANDHUS. Translated and presented by RAGHU RAMAN SATULURY. 10-03-1994 Yesterday was ‘Sivaratri’. As usual I sought Baba’s blessings and slept. Sai gave me a visual- I set out with a pen and book in my hands dressed up in pure white under garments. I came across a hoarding with inscription, directing for a place called ‘ATMAKUR’. As I was walking, a bus moved past me. The book and pen fell down my hands leaving papers fluttered all around and pen crushed under the wheels. I leave the book on the road and moved in the direction towards Atmakur. I concluded to know about ‘ATMA’, (Soul); one need not go with a pen and book. One has to go all alone leaving attachments behind. The search for the God begins where the materialistic ends. 15-03-1994 I prayed Lord Sainath to detail me more on spiritual power. 11pt;"> SAI said the art of forgetting the past difficulties is spiritual power. Future is born out of the past. 20-03-1994 I was shown with important happenings in my life concerning our relatives. “We subject ourselves to solace by thinking that we can give birth to our children but not their destiny, but Samardha Sadhguru takes the responsibility to shape the future of HIS devotees and their children”. Samardha Sadhguru can only change the destiny. 21-03-1994 Today I prayed Lord Sainath to help me in visiting Ajmer Darga and Lord Ganesh in Ranathambore. “The quest and search for a proper Guru and a deserving disciple is equal and opposite. Go ahead and prepare for the journey”. Ultimate place of rest is where you find peace. To be continued….. ---- 5. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY: (By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao) "Shashi": shashi_31 22. Atma – Jnana Purification of the mind leads to Atma – Jnana. By attaining Atma Jnana, we will get salvation. Search for the Atman. Those who see all the living beings (Sarva Bhoota) in ‘Atma’ and ‘Atma’ in all beings will not have hatred. Atman is devoid of either birth or death, nor beginning, nor ending nor does it have body. Though the body changes ‘Atman’ does not change. Body decays out but not the Atman. Atma is devoid of bondage (Bandha) or salvation (Moksha), sin (Papa) or Punya, Nama or Roopa. Atma is devoid of vagrancy, mobility, passion (Raga), dispassion (Vairagya), old age, death and hunger. Those who acquire knowledge about Atma are not blemished by Karmas of sins. We are doing Karma on the incitement of ‘Atma’ only. All this is the work of Atma’s Omnipresence. We must always think about ‘I am Atman’ and Brahma. Atma is indestructible and infinite. It is absolute knowledge. Atma is the nectar of knowledge, which is beyond all senses. We must know that Atma is eternal by itself and an identity. Atma is not known to him who says that he knows it. That is because Atma is Sadvasthu. Atma has neither birth, death, nor body. Nothing exists prior neither to it nor after it. Atma is Brahman. This Universe is not Universe, but Atman, in essence. Baba says: “You are not you – I am not ‘I’. All this is Atman. Atman is the only thing (Sadvasthu). Atma does not have Sabdha, Sparsa, Rasa, Roopa and Gandha. All this is completely identical with ‘Atman’. The essence of this Universe is Atman. Atman is all pervading equally- Atman involves only in meditation and mind. Baba says: “Heart is unique. To get Atma –Jnana, meditation is necessary. That pacifies and carries the mind into Samadhi. If the mind is thus concentrated, the goal is achieved.” To be continued….. ----------------------------- 6. SANATANA DHARMA & SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA AKHILANDAKOTI , BRAHMANDA NAAYAKA, RAAJAADHI RAAJA, YOGIRAJA, PARABRAHMA SREE SATCHITANANDA ,SAMARDHASADGURU, SAINATH MAHARAAJ KI JAI” Sai In Ramayan: By Sri SAIBANISA Gopal Rao Ravada Power of Interpretation of the language of the creatures Kekaya Maharaj had the rare power of understanding the language of animals and creatures. He could understand the language of the ants Jumbanaka and could interpret it to his wife. Similarly, Baba could also understand the language of other creatures. Once when Baba was sitting in the Dwarakamai, a lizard tick-ticked. One devotee asked Baba whether this tick-ticking signified anything. Baba said that the lizard was overjoyed as her sister from Aurangabad was coming to see her. Immediately a gentleman from Aurangabad came on horseback to see Baba. He took out a big bag of grams to feed his hungry horse. A lizard jumped out of the bag and climbed the wall and went strutting towards her sister. Baba’s prophecy of the meeting of the two lizards proved the omniscience – the all-knowing nature of Baba. All are equal in the eyes of GOD On the first day of Vanavas, Ram reached the bank of the Ganga. Guha, the chieftain of the tribes who dwelt on the banks of Ganga welcomed Ram and offered Him lavish food. Ram moved by Guha’s hospitality happily ate the food lovingly offered by Guha. Ram did not discriminate Guha on the basis of His caste or creed. Same way when Baba was wandering in the jungle in quest of His Guru, a Vanjari offers Him food. Baba moved by the Vanjari’s extraordinary love, accepted the food offered by Vanjari and happily ate the loaf of bread. Kshatriya Dharma: Ram is a Kshatriya and it is the duty of a Kshatriya to protect anyone who takes refuge in him. He has protected Sugriva and then Vibeeshana who took refuge in Him. This is Kshatriya Dharma. This also illustrates the doctrine that Lord accepts all who seek absolute surrender at His feet. Sainath also followed this dharma. He protected anyone who surrendered to Him regardless of his or her merits or demerits. During His lifetime Baba never revealed his caste to anyone. But Baba has indirectly told 33rd in chapter of the Sai Sat Charita in the Jamner Miracle that He was a Hindu Kshatriya. When Mainatai, the daughter of Nana Chandorkar was suffering from labour pain, Nana cried to Baba for help. Baba asked Ramgirbuva, who was going to his native place, to stop at Jamner and give a packet of Udi and Aarthi song to Nana Chandorkar. When Ramgirbuva refused to go saying he did not have enough money, Baba said that He would take care of everything. Ramgirbuva reached Jamner and there a tonga was waiting for him with the tongawala to take him to Jamner. The tongawala was none other that Sai himself. On the way, the tongawala (Sai) offered food to Ramgirbuva. Ramgirbuva suspected the tongawala to be a Non Hindu and was unwilling to take the food. Here Baba (tongawala) says that He was a Hindu, a Kshatriya of Garhwal. From this incident I personally feel that Baba is also a Kshatriya like Ram. He has gone one more step and promised to take care of the devotees who surrender to Him not only in this birth but also in births to come. SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA-and- Makarasankranthi—S.S-28 On one Makar-Sankranti day, Megha wanted to besmear the body of Baba with sandal-paste and bathe Him with Ganges water. Baba was first unwilling to undergo this operation, but at his repeated requests, He consented. Megha had to traverse a distance of eight koss (going and returning) to bring the sacred water from the Gomati river. He brought the water, made all preparations for the bath at noon and asked Baba to get ready for the same. Then Baba again asked him to be freed from his bath saying that, as a Fakir He had nothing to do (or gain) with Ganges water; but Megha did not listen. He knew that Shiva is pleased with a bath of 11pt;">Ganges water and that he must give his Shiva (Baba) that bath on that auspicious day. Baba then consented, came down and sat on a pat (wooden board) and protruding his head said - "Oh Megha, do at least this favour; head is the most important organ of the body, so pour the water over that only-it is equivalent to the full or whole bath.Alright" said Megha and lifting the water pot up, began to pour it on the head but in doing this he was so much overwhelmed with love that he cried out 'Har Gange' and emptied the pot on the whole body. He kept the pot aside and began to look at Baba, but to his surprise and amazement he found that Baba's head was only drenched but the body quite dry. .------------------------------- SANATANA DHARMA 11pt;"> Makarasankranthi—13-01-2006 to15-01-2006 Makara literally means 'Capricorn' and Sankranti is the day when the sun passes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. The Sankranti of any month is considered auspicious as it signifies afresh start. However Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the month of Magha when the sun passes through the winter solstice, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. According to Hindu mythology, one 'human' year of 365 days is equivalent to one day and night of the gods. Saur Varsh (solar year) is the period of during which the earth completes one circle of the sun. This going in circular from round the sun is called as Kranti Chakr (zodiac). Dividing this into twelve months makes twelve rashis (signs of zodiac). These have been named according to twelve constellations. The movement of one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti. Earth in Northern direction (Uttarayana) is called Makara Sankranti and Southern as Kark Sankranti (Dakshinayana). The movement of the sun from the northern tip to the southern tip during Shravan to Posh (July to December) is Dakshinayana and from Magh to Aasadd (January to June) from southern tip to northern tip is Uttarayana. The days are longer during uttarayana and are brighter. The opposite happens during dakshinayan. According to Hindu scriptures, uttarayana period is gods day and Dakshinayan their night. Makara Sankranti marks the beginning of the day of the gods, which is equivalent to six solar months and is believed to be the auspicious part of the year. The previous six months, considered the night and therefore symbolic of darkness and evil, are inauspicious. Thus Makara Sankranti is the morning of the gods. On Makara Sankranti to receive the offerings, the gods and deities come to earth justify;">Makara Sankranti is believed to be the time when Surya rides his chariot, drawn by seven horses, from the southern skies to the north. For the pastoral people therefore, it is of prime importance for it signifies the end of the winter and the 'turning back' of the sun to the north. This festival has been celebrated for thousands of years. Initially, this was probably a festival celebrated in the cold climate, when people prayed for the warmth of the sun. Today, Makara Sankranti is celebrated throughout India as a harvest festival. It is a way of giving thanks to the elements of nature that help man. This is the period when the winter recedes, paving the way for the summer. It is the time the farmers bring home their harvest. In the coast al regions, it is a harvest festival dedicated to Indra. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated as a three-day harvest festival Pongal. In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu, and in Punjab it is called Lohri. In North India, a ritual bath in the river is important on this day. In fact, bathing is considered mandatory on this day, Khichiri is eaten and given away as charity, and some call the festival Khichiri Sankranti. People also distribute rice and lentils to the poor and needy. In 11pt;">Maharashtra, a special dish called tilgul, or laddoos made of jaggery and Sesame seed, the chief crop of the season. A big fair is held at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Sarasvati rivers at Triveni in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) on this occasion. Being the month of Magha, this fair is also called Magha Mela. Apart from Triveni, ritual bathing also takes place at many places like Haridvar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, and Patna in Bihar. Since it is also the season to fly kites, the evening sky is awash with colorful kites of all shapes and sizes. Several kite competitions are held in various localities. -------------------------------- SANATANA DHARMA –NEWS FROM ABROAD: New Hindu Temple in Florida is Consecrated www.hindu.com SOUTHWEST RANCHES, FLORIDA, December 12, 2005: Another milestone for Hindus in America took place in December with the opening of the South Florida 10,000-square-foot Hindu Temple in Southwest Ranches. Nine Deities were ceremoniously installed with elaborate pujas. One thousand Hindus attended the event. The temple is expected to serve 70,000 Hindus in the South Florida area. Rajendra Gupta, one of the temple's founding members, said, "Organizers spent nearly a decade raising almost $5 million to build the ornate temple, which was partly designed by silpies, or stone craftsmen, from India. The temple will be open daily for Hindus to perform pujas, or worship rituals." Eleven-year-old Faren Rajkumar sums up the event, "I think it's beautiful, a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I'm proud to be a part of this." Compiled by SaiSevak SrinivasaRao Kasturi Saidarbar – Hyderabad. ------------------ 7 14pt;">. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO “Swami Vivekananda” 12-01-1863 to 04-7-1902 Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Dutta) was born in Shimla Pally, Kolkata, West Bengal, India on 12 January 1863 as the son of Viswanath Dutta and Bhuvaneswari Devi. Even as he was young, he showed a precocious mind and keen memory. He practiced meditation from a very early age. While at school, he was a leader among his group of friends. Even when he was young, he questioned the validity of superstitious customs and discrimination based on caste and religion. In 1879, Narendra entered the Presidency College, 11pt;">Calcutta for higher studies. There started to arise questions about God and the presence of God in young Narendra's mind. This made him associate with the Brahmo Samaj, an important religious movement of the time, led by Keshab Chandra Sen. But the Samaj's congregational prayers and devotional songs could not satisfy Narendra's zeal to realise God. He would ask leaders of Brahma Samaj whether they have seen God. He never got a satisfying answer. Narendra met Ramakrishna for the first time in November 1881. He asked Ramakrishna the same old question, whether he had seen God. The instantaneous answer from Ramakrishna was, "Yes, I have seen God, just as I see you here, only in a more clear sense." Narendra was astounded and puzzled. He could feel the man's words were honest and uttered from depths of experience. He started visiting Ramakrishna frequently. Though Narendra could not accept Ramakrishna and his visions, he could not neglect him. It had always been in Narendra's nature to test something thoroughly before he could accept it. He tested Ramakrishna to the maximum, but the master was patient, forgiving, humorous and full of love. He never asked Narendra to abandon reason, and he faced all of Narendra's arguments and examinations with infinite patience. In time, Narendra accepted Ramakrishna, and while he accepted, his acceptance was whole-hearted. While Ramakrishna predominantly taught duality and Bhakti to his other disciples, he taught Narendra the Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy of non-dualism. During the course of five years of his training under Ramakrishna, Narendra was transformed from a restless, puzzled, impatient youth to a mature man who was ready to renounce everything for the sake of God-realization. Soon, Ramakrishna's end came in the form of throat cancer in August 1886. On July 1890, Vivekananda set out for a long journey, without knowing where the journey would take him. The journey that followed took him to the length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent. During these days, Vivekananda assumed various names like Swami Satchidananda, etc., it is said that he was given the name Vivekananda by Maharaja of Khetri for his discrimination of things, good and bad. During these wandering days, Vivekananda stayed on king's palaces, as well as the huts of the poor. He came in close contact with the culture of different regions of India and various classes of people in India. Vivekananda observed the imbalance in society and tyranny in the name of caste. He realized the need for a national rejuvenation if India was to survive at all. He reached Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent in 24 December 1892. There, his devotees claim that he swam across the sea and started meditating on a lone rock. He thus meditated for three days and said later that he meditated about the past, present and future of India. The rock went on to become the Vivekananda memorial at Kanyakumari. Vivekananda went to Madras and spoke about his plans for India and Hinduism to the young men of Madras. They were impressed by the monk and urged him to go to the United States and represent Hinduism in the World Parliament of Religions. Thus, helped by his friends at Madras, Raja of Ramnad and Maharajas of Mysore and Khetri, Vivekananda set out on his journey to the USA. Vivekananda perhaps, is best remembered as the man who "stole the show" at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Illinois, where he earned wild applause for beginning his address with the famous words, "Sisters and brothers of America." Vivekananda's arrival in the USA has been identified by many to mark the beginning of western interest in Hinduism not as merely an exotic eastern oddity, but as a vital religious and philosophical tradition that might actually have something important to teach the West. Within a few years of the Parliament, he had started Vedantic centres in New York City, New York and London, lectured at major universities and generally kindled western interest in Hinduism. After four years of constant touring, lecturing and retreats in the West, he came back to India in the year 1897. Admirers and devotees claim that he was overwhelmed by the reception he received on his return. In India, he delivered a series of lectures, and this set of lectures known as "Lectures from 11pt;">Colombo to Almora" is considered to have uplifted the morale of the then downtrodden Indian society. He founded the Ramakrishna Mission. This institution is now one of the largest monastic orders of Hindu society in India. He once again toured the west from January 1899 to December 1900. He was 39 when he passed away in Mahasamadhi on July 4, 1902 at Belur Math near Kolkata. ------------------------------- 8. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES: From the files of Saidarbar: OM SHRI SHIRDI SAI NADHA SARANAM I would like to share the experience of my Brother's fiancé (Ms.Uma Keerthivasan) being an Ardent Lord Sai devotee. Three years ago when we were in Godavarikhani and when I was in my Graduation, My younger sister Bharathi was a great Devotee of Sai and she painted a SAI Image and kept it in POOJA room. My sister believed on SAI very much and used to pray Sai daily and she got a seat in MCA She asked me too to follow SAI and asked me to do "Sai's one week PARAYANAM" and Said that I would M.B.A seat. I was very lazy and I said that I can't do fasting and also I don't believe in this. My mother forced me and started that "Sai's one week PARAYANAM" That book contains all the stories of SAIBABA and how he helped POOR, DISABLED. Hope you must have read that book. "Sai's one week PARAYANAM" should start on Thursday and should end on next Thursday, In this entire week we have eat only once and Sleep on the floor and on the final day of this POOJA we have remain in fasting and have the food after offering the food to most wanted Beggar or poor person or a Person who cannot afford to have Food. It is written in the book if we give food to a person suffering from Leprosy or a Handicapped or a very hungry beggar, BABA will be very happy and he will come to our house in the some or the other form. So on the final Thursday I was fasting and was waiting for a Beggar so that I can give food, but in that place Sighting a beggar was very rare and nobody came that day. I was waiting near the gate till 3 PM. then my mother told me to give the food or Servant as she was also poor, but I didn't agree I said she was poor but she can afford to buy vegetables and prepare lunch and have it. I wanted a Handicapped person I was very determined and made up my mind that I was end this fasting till I find a suitable person. Mummy was forcing since my elder brother who was very close to me was waiting was my lunch at last mother told to keep some food aside for a poor beggar and have my lunch. I told that I will a last glance and went to the gate and found a Very old lady was passing by and she was handicapped and she was the right person. I called her and said that today I did Sai Baba's Pooja and asked her to have the Lunch in our house. She was very happy and she said that she did not have food from past few days my sons are very bad and they don't take care of me & they have sent me out. and she was moving her handicapped hand so that I can notice. Mummy asked from which place she is coming and belong to and she told that our native place is GodavariKhani which is also our Native place. We felt so pity on her and my second brother asked her to come daily to our house and have the lunch here itself. We gave her prasadam, rice, poori and everything we prepared. She ate only prasadam and said that I will take the rest in the evening, I told her I will give you food for evening also, and have the food here itself. She said NO NO I ATE PRASADAM AND STOMACH IS FULL. She thanked us so much for giving food and she went off. First we came inside and my brother said we will find Address So that we can send food, we came outside only in the matter 15 to 20 seconds gap, but we could not see her. From our gate we can see people coming and going for almost Half Kilometer. She was very weak and it has taken her almost 1 Min to come from previous house to our house but we could not trace her we tried a lot even by coming outside. Then we thought it was SAIBABA who came to our house in the form of an OLD LADY and I was very happy. From that time I started worshipping Sai Baba and I got a M.B.A seat. By Uma Keerthivasan, Hyderabad. (This experience was received by Saidarbar during the year 1998)-Editor. 11pt;">--------------------- 9. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA swamymain Tue, 17 Jan 2006 07:51:05 -0800 (PST) Sai Ram. Let us continue with the Spiritual gems from the last issue. "Then Shama began to tell the following story." Sai Ram. That story is indeed enlightening. Briefly the story is like this: One old lady comes to Shirdi to see Baba and begins fasting with a determination to get an Upadesh of a Mantra. Shama waited and then interceded on her behalf with Baba to call her and give her a suitable upadesh and make her give up her fast. Baba called her and gave her a beautiful discourse of His own discipleship with His Guru and gave her a wonderful analogy (nyaya) of a tortoise and her children. The tortoise gives birth by laying eggs which hatch and later she neither gives them milk or any other food. The baby turtles thrive by meditating (remembering) upon their mother. Baba asks the old lady and through her all other devotees to always remember Him, wherever they are. Just as Shama finished that story, the bells started ringing in Dwarakamai to signify that the noon Arathi was in progress and both Shama and Hemadpant rush there. Shama pushes through the crowd and makes Hemadpant sit very near Baba. Baba also wants to hear all that Shama and Hemdapant discussed and leans closer to hear Hemadpant over the din. Hemadpant explains to Baba that he felt blessed through that story and his restlessness of mind has subsided. Baba tells him that His methods of instruction are unique (that is they are uniquely tailored to suit the individual and the occasion). Sai Ram. Through this chapter and the story, Baba gives all of us a very valuable lesson in discipleship. One important difference between the tortoise nyaya and the other two nyayas (the markata kisora nyaya and the marjala kisora nyaya) is the absence of any physical intimacy between the God/Guru and the devotee/disciple in the former. Let me explain. The monkey and its baby, and also the cat and the kitten need physical nearness. The kachhapa (tortoise) on the other hand is not near its babies at all. But the relationship is no less strong. Baba alludes to this when He told: 11pt;"> "My Guru never expected any other thing from Me. He never neglected Me, but protected Me at all times. I lived with him, and was sometimes away from him; still I never felt the want or absence of his love. He always protected Me by his glance, just as the tortoise feeds her young ones, whether they are near her or away from her on the other side of the river bank, by her loving looks. Oh mother, My Guru never taught Me any Mantra, then how shall I blow any Mantra in your ears?" Sai Ram. Another example of such a physically distant but spiritually near relationship can be found in the story of a man whom Baba sends to Machindragarh for meditation. Baba materialises there in front of Him. There are a few more instances. Sai Ram. Baba seems to be deprecating the practice of giving Mantra Deeksha to His disciples by the above. But He gave a mantra to another lady, Mrs. Khaparde. And always remembering His name, Sai is a very potent mantra. Sai Ram. We will continue with this chapter. Recently I had a few instances of Guru's grace which I will share with you the reader at the appropriate time. Sai Ram. Swamy Author, Editor, Proof-Reader and Book Reviewer www.freewebs.com/swamyreviews To be continued….. ------------------------------- 10. SAI WITH CHILDREN: http://www.saidarbar.org/HTML/portraits/7.jpg Smt. Madhu Gopal Ravada, Saidarbar, Hyderabad. Hello Children! I am Madhu aunty. Do you know Baba use to play with children and used to tell stories to them? I felt children visiting Saidarbar should be entertained with good stories. For the last 2 years I have told you about Lord Krishna's Leelas and Lord Rama Story. Now I want to tell the stories what heard in my child hood. THE PROUD PEACOCK: Once, a proud peacock lived in a forest by the side of a lake. Every day he would go to the lake. There he would open his beautiful, colorful feathers and preen them with his beak and beautified himself. Then he would see his reflection in the lake water and admire his own beauty. One day, a white crane came to live by the lake. The peacock thought, “Oh! A new visitor is here to stay. I must go and introduce my self to him. After all, he must know that a beautiful peacock is his neighbor.” So, the peacock walked with a pompous gait to the lake side. The crane was busy catching fish for lunch. The peacock began his daily ritual. He went near the water and spread out his gorgeous feathers for display. Then he preened them with his beak, beautified himself and looked into the water. He felt very proud at his colorful reflection. Then, with pride, he turned his head towards the crane and addressed him, “Hello, Mr. Crane! So you are my new neighbor. Welcome to the forest.” “Thank you so much, Mr. Peacock,” the crane said. Then the peacock continued, “Mr. Crane, I was wondering how you feel with the plain with white feathers. They are so simple to look at and do not add to your appearance at all.” The Crane smiled at the peacock. He flew in the air and landed by the peacock’s side. Then the crane said, “Feathers and wings are given to us so that we can fly. No doubt, your feathers are very beautiful but, they are of no use because you can not fly with them for long. I would rather have simple and useful wings than showy and useless ones like yours.” At this moment, the peacock got speechless. He went a way ashamed without a word. After that day, he never preened his feathers to show off to others. -------------- 11. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES: "Sankaraiah Dubagunta" sainama NAMA JAPA OF DATTATREYA Lord Sainath ordered Sri S Subba Rao pleader, Gooty, Andhra Pradesh through a dream vision to do Dattatreya Nama Japa. Sri Rao narrated this in Sai Sudha of April' 1944 issue as follows: "On or about the end of the 1st week of Feb'1944, I heard a voice in my sleeping moments saying "Make incessant nama japam of Dattatreya". I got up from the bed and thought that Baba has armed me with a weapon to ward off the calamity that is about to befall. I seriously resolved to make namajapam of Dattatreya as directed by Baba, but owing to my preoccupation with other worldly matters I could not do Namajapam. Next day Baba appeared as a judge in my dream and was very angry with me for my act of omission to do Namajapam. I got up and could not then understand because of Baba's indignation. I again slept and dreamt having seen gingelly seeds and having eaten them in large quantities. This is really a very bad dream and indicates death according to the Science of dreams. I got up in the morning and was sorry for the bad dream. I got a letter from my son at an 11pt;">Engineering College, Guindy that he was laid up in the in patient sick ward of Guindy hospital, suffering from a severe attack of asthma and in a precarious condition. This letter on the subsequent day, reminded me of Baba's precaution on the previous night directing me to do Nama japam. I went before Baba's picture in my house, repented for my folly and made a serious namajapam of Datta. Three days after that I received a letter from my sick son at Guiindy that he was getting better by Baba's grace and that he would go over to Gooty in spite of his serious and awful weakness. I ran up to Madras to put him in a nursing home but the Doctor in charge advised for a change. I accompanied him to Gooty from Madras by day train inspite of his dreadful weakness entirely relying on Baba's Udhi and doing Datta Namajapam even in train. We reached Gooty and he began to recover without any further medication. Even now I am doing Nama japam for his complete recovery." Dear readers, the above narration reveals Baba's motherly care of His children. Baba's suggested to all to do Namajapa for warding off evils. Why Baba did not suggest Sai Nama instead of Datta Nama? Was there any connection between Datta and devotee? Did Baba feel the antidote for the problem which the devotee was facing Datta Nama? To speak frankly, a Sai only can understand Sai's language. Perhaps Baba wanted devotee world to know that He is Datta and there's no difference between Datta and Himself. Did not Baba give Darshan to a devotee in Dwarakamai as a three headed Datta? Did He not redeem devotee's from vows to Datta? Above all in the evening aarthi we pray "Na datta guru Sai mama javari kadhihi ruso"- well demonstrated. OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI D.Sankaraiah. -------------------------------- 12. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES: subbu_73 On 12/25/05 SaiRam! I wish you all the best in 2006 for you & your family and all the Sai Activities that are being taken up by Saidarbar. We enjoy reading the news letter. It is a great inspiration. Subrahmanyam Kappagantula ----------------------- sai_syam (AT) hotmail (DOT) com On 12/26/05, SaiRam! With the blessings of Lord Sainath and great Sai Bandhus like you we are doing well. We sincerely pray and wish you, Saidarbar members a very Happy, Prosperous and eventful New Year 2006. We pray that Samartha Sainath make each effort of yours a success in spreading His Awareness to nook and corner of the Mother earth. With warm regards Syamasundar ------------------ "Vimla Primlani" prmlani3 (AT) (DOT) co.in Sun, 25 Dec 2005 10:33:16 +0000 (GMT) SAIRAM My husband and I congratulate you on the completion of 7 years of opening of Sai Darbar. May the blessings of Sai Baba be showered more on you, so that this Darbar continues to provide all the devotees with wonderful information and knowledge. Good luck!!1 Arjan & Vimla Primlai Fremont, CA, 11pt;">USA ----------------------- 13. TELUGU SECTION: Please visit: http://68.88.118.16/telugupages/Misc/ShiridiSai/shirdisai.htm Please visit for Sai Aartis in Telugu: 11pt;">http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/PDFS/pdfs.htm Please visit for Sai Aaratis Audio: http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/saibaba/saibaba_aarti.asp ------------------------------- FOR STARTING A SAIDARBAR CHAPTER OUT SIDE INDIA: Please contact: saidarbar (AT) saidarbar (DOT) org & saidarbar --------------- 14. FROM SAI ORGANISATIONS: Sreekanth Devarakonda devarakonda SaiRam Active member of Saidarbarmovement & Renowned Telugu film singer Usha (two-time Nandi award winner) will be performing for the Roshni Telugu Light Music Show conducted by the Sankara eye foundation. She will be in Hayward, CA on the 21st January, 2006 for the program. Sai devotees interested to meet her may contact her on singerusha during her 2 day trip. Regards, Sreekanth ----- sathgurusai2002 1/6/2006 21:24:21 -0800 For activities of Saidarbar Orlando, Florida USA Please contact: sathgurusai2002 --------------- murali_krishnamurthy2003 1/6/2006 06:08:34 -0800 January 2006 Shirdi Sai Satsangh for Saidarbar Laurel, MD USA Jai Sai Ram. Saidarbar Laurel, MD USA wishes everybody a Happy and Prosperous New Year! With the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba, the first satsangh for Year 2006 was celebrated treading into the New Year on Jan 5th at the residence of Shri Krishnamurthy and Smt Madhavi Mukku. The chapter chosen by Baba himself from Sai Sathcharithra was Chapter-4, the first Advent of Sai in Shirdi for us to do parayana. By this Baba showed us the way on how the year is going to be by indicating how he stepped his holy feet in the soil of Shirdi. Once again it was the children who were brought into the limelight. Saidarbar Laurel makes it to a point that children are involved in the satsanghs. This gives them more exposure to our culture and spiritual aspects while we live away from India. The Bhajan was started by young lad Chi. Gaurav (Son of Shri Devanand and Smt. Geetha Luthria) who sang the beautiful Bhajan, signifying God and Bharat varsh. Followed by Saraswathi sloka recitation by another young lad Chi. Advait (Son of Shri Kamal and Smt. Paroo Chauhan). This was followed by bhajans from other devotees and Sai nama Japa. Shej Arathi was performed and dinner was served. For Activities of Saidarbar Laurel, MD USA: Contact none;">murali_krishnamurthy2003 Saidarbar Chennai: saidarbarchennai (AT) (DOT) co.in For Activities of Saidarbar Chennai Contact saidarbarchennai (AT) (DOT) co.in Chennai Saidarbar Team. "Ramesh and Anitha" kandra (AT) iprimus (DOT) com.au Saidarbar-Canberra For Further details visit: http://angelfire.com/sd/SaidarbarCanberra --- Shirdi Sai Baba" technical (AT) saidarbarusa (DOT) org Saidarbar Wallingford-PA- USA: For further details please visit www.saidarbarusa.org ------------------- "Shanthi Ramakrishnan”: shanthi (AT) sigmacgi (DOT) com Sai Darbar Portland OR USA For Further details please contact shanthi (AT) sigmacgi (DOT) com ------------------------ A.S.Rao, - raoas (AT) zamnet (DOT) zm For Activities of Sai Darbar Kitwe, Zambia Please contact: raoas (AT) zamnet (DOT) zm -------------------- Anil Zutshi: zutshi_anil_k (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net For activities of Saidarbar Danbaru-Canitcut-USA Please contact: zutshi (AT) msn (DOT) com,zutshi (AT) magnai (DOT) com ------------------- Satish Achanta: vskachanta (AT) hotmail (DOT) com For activities of Saidarbar Woodland Hills-CA-USA- Please contact: vskachanta (AT) hotmail (DOT) com ----------------- Ravi Subramanyam: sai_ravi (AT) hotmail (DOT) com For activities of Saidarbar Livermore-CA-USA Please contact: sai_ravi (AT) hotmail (DOT) com ---------- Suresh Vaghela: suresh (AT) vaghela (DOT) net,suresh (AT) somtek (DOT) com For activities of Saidarbar-London Please contact: suresh (AT) vaghela (DOT) net,suresh (AT) somtek (DOT) com -------------------- Hariharan Iyer: hariharan_r_iyer 12/22/2005 08:15:56 -0800 Sai Activities in NJ Shirdi Sai Dham, Inc regularly conducts Sai bhajans followed by Aarti and Prasad on every 1st Saturday of each month at Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, New Jersey from 3 pm to 5 pm (Winter Hours). All are requested to kindly come and receive Baba's blessings. For more information visit www.shirdisaidham.org or email us at shirdisaidham (AT) hotmail (DOT) com Thanks and May Baba bless all your initiatives. Hari ----- "Raja" rajamm (AT) starhub (DOT) net.sg 12/1/2005 12:35:25 +0800 Sai Sansthan, Singapore Weekly Satsanghs on all Saturdays Venue: Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple, 11pt;">555 Serangoon Road Singapore 218174 Time Program 6.30 pm Start of the Bhajan Session. Playing of Sai Baba's mantra CD 7.00 pm Reading of Sai Satcharitra 7.30 pm Sai Baba Bhajan - Singing / CD 8.00 pm Sai Baba's Aarti 8.15 pm Distribution of prasadam More details on www.saisansthana.com ---------------- "The Shirdi Sai Mandir, Toronto": none;">events (AT) theshirdisaimandir (DOT) com The Shirdi SAI Mandir, Scarborough, Toronto, Canada The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, ON M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m and Saturday to Sunday from 10.30 a.m to 8.30 p.m. Dhoop aarti - 7.30 p.m everyday. Bhajans - Saturday, from 11pt;">5.00 p.m onwards. For other temple activities and information please visit www.theshirdisaimandir.com or send an email to info (AT) theshirdisaimandir (DOT) com Sincerely, Suhas Godkhindi ------------------------- "Atlanta Sai Temple News": webmaster (AT) templeofpeace (DOT) org Dear Devotees, Continuing our tradition of celebrating Sai Vrath on every second Saturday. Pooja will be performed from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Please bring your friends and family to witness this pooja and receive Baba's blessings! . Atlanta Sai Temple 700 James Burgess Road, Suwanee, GA 30024 ------ "Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center": sai (AT) hamaresai (DOT) org For Further details Visit: Web Page: http://www.hamaresai.org/ Email: hamaresai -------------------------------- "Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW" USA: shirdisaidallas Baba Pada Puja & Abhishekam This event repeats on the first Saturday of every month. Event Location: 11pt;">2109 W. Parker Road, Plano, Texas It will be followed by Vishnu Sahasranamam at 11:00am. Please email your questions, comments or suggestions about the web site to: admin (AT) shirdisaidallas (DOT) org none;">http://www.shirdisaidallas.org ---- "Om Sai Mandir" saisandesh (AT) omsaimandir (DOT) org Sai Sandesh's present issue and archives can be read at: none;">http://www.omsaimandir.org/newsletter1.cfm "S Chopra" saileela99 Thu, 05 Jan 2006 17:14:06 IST 11pt;"> SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN, CANADA invites all to join every Thursday for Satsang at 7:00PM at the following two locations 1. Sai Dwarkamai, 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham ON L6C 2N4 email: saileela99 2. Gur Mandir, 207 Queens Plate Drive, Etobicoke Ontario, M9W 6Z7, 11pt;">Canada email: saileela99 Shammi Chopra ------------- babamandir (AT) babamandir (DOT) org Om Sairam! Mandir Pathrika is now in its third Year of publication. We request all devotees to contribute articles to Mandir Pathrika. Articles can be any information on Saibaba, Jalaram bapa or devotee Experiences, suggestions etc. Please email your articles to babamandir (AT) babamandir (DOT) org You can view all previous issues by opening the following link. http://www.babamandir.org/mandir/OnlineResources.html Vijay ------ info (AT) dwarakamaishirdi (DOT) org SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE, 46-16 ROBINSON ST, FLUSHING, NY 11pt;">---------------- Voora srinivas: voora Sri Shirdi Sai Florida Center 4707 S. Pleasant Grove Road Inverness, FL 34452 border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-width: medium medium 1pt; padding: 0in;"> For further details contact voora ----------------------------- 15. SAI'S BOOK WORLD: Books in English: 1. MY LIFE WITH SRI SAI BABA Author: Smt. Bharam Mani Umamaheswara Rao Published by: Sri Sai Publications Flat No.12, Sai Towers 4th Line, Brindavan Gardens GUNTUR – 522 006-AP-INDIA Phone: 0863--2351381 Books in Telugu by Late Sri Bapatla Hanumantha Rao 1. Emi Ninnu Upekhintuna – Part I Price: Rs.80/- 2. Emi Ninnu Upekhintuna – Part II Price: Rs.98/- 3. Sri Sai Anusaranam Price: Rs.116/- 11pt;">4. Sri Sai Karuna Price: Rs.62/- Published by: Sri Sai Hanuma Sai Kuteeram Trust Sri Sai Nilayam, CEERUVU (Post) Bapatla Mandal, Guntur (Dist) A.P – 522 113 Phone No: 08643 250 165 ------------------------------- Please Note: Those desirous of using this facility (Sai's Book World) to spread the word about their books may send ONE new copy of the book to Saidarbar, for details contact: webmaster (AT) saidarbar (DOT) org , saidarbar (AT) saidarbar (DOT) org & saidarbar (AT) hotmail (DOT) com Acknowledgement of receipt of books will be done by E-mail only. Book(s) sent to Saidarbar will be retained by Saidarbar and cannot be returned. -------- E- Books from Saidarbar: 1. SAI A BEACON FOR HUMANITY: You can obtain your copy at http://www.ebeacon.indiainabook.com/other_books.htm 2. SAI IN DREAMS You can obtain your copy at http://www.ebeacon.indiainabook.com/ Contact for further details: Sai Sevak-Vijay Agarwal: vijishvanya - SAIDARBAR – HYDERABAD: http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/saidarbar/pages/S3500041.htm We will be happy to conduct Tele-Satsanghs to cities out side Hyderabad, India on prior intimation. For further details please contact none;">saidarbar ------------------------------- 16. EDITORIAL. Things impressed me from this Magazine: People say that there is no permanent enmity and friendship in politics, but a person in the spiritual field will feel that there are no enemies or friends. Every one is a divine soul. It is a fact that mighty elephant can be tied with a rope made with tiny grass bundles and small ants together can kill a poisonous snake. So understand Unity is the strength. The human mind is a very receptive instrument. If you place it in evil company, it will acquire evil tendencies. If you place it in holy company, it will acquire divine traits. The sage is very silent. He speaks a few words. These words produce a tremendous impression. They give a new life and joy to all who understand him and his message. In his presence alone all the doubts of the aspirants are cleared, though he remains mute. 11pt;">The company of saints generates love for God. The love for God brings salvation. Sai devotees may write about their Sai activities in their place, essays, articles and poetry on Sai to "The Glory of Shirdi Sai" – they may be address their contributions to E-mail id: saidarbar (AT) saidarbar (DOT) org with a copy marked to webmaster (AT) saidarbar (DOT) org We shall put in our best efforts to include them in the Glory of Shiridi Sai- the bi-weekly E -Magazine. Unless the author of the articles instructs, not to publish his/her E-mail id, we will publish them as a matter of routine practice. You can for THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI for a friend /relative by submitting e-mail ID in the main page of http://www.saidarbar.org Also read the old issues from: http://www.saidarbar.org/glory.htm If you are subscribing this E-magazine for your friend or a relative, we request that the person concerned may be notified about receiving the same. Editor does not accept responsibility for the views expressed in the articles published. This e-magazine is intended for Private circulation only. Submitted by Sai Sevak: Srinivasa Rao Kasturi P.S. In case you do not like to receive "The Glory of Shirdi Sai ", Kindly reply UNSUBSCRIBE for our necessary action. ------------------- Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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