108 Salutations To Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (91-108)

September 5, 2007

108 SALUTATIONS TO BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA91. SALUTATIONS TO PROMISE KEEPING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"In

the presence of Bhagavan Baba, Indra Devi once described how Baba had

fulfilled a boon which He had granted years earlier to her mother : 'I

shall give you Divine nectar when you leave this world,' He had said.

She left for her heavenly abode one noon, at Prashanti Nilayam, when

Baba was at Brindavan. But a few minutes before she died, nectar gushed

from the idol of Shirdi Sai Baba kept hear her bed, from the toe of the

right foot that was placed over the left knee. She noticed it and held

her cupped palm to receive the gift. Kasturi helped her sit up and

drink the nectar, about two ounces of fragrance and sweetness. Then she

lay down again and passed into Sai. Baba listened to her narrative and

then said, 'Yes, I keep My word to those who are steady in their faith.

I also give Darshan when death calls on those who have dedicated their

lives to Me.'"(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 151, 152)Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Promise Keeping' God.92. SALUTATIONS TO PROTECTING GOD :SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"Not

very long ago, I was almost dead," wrote Marie to her teacher, Hilda

Charlton at New York. "Dead, both internally and externally, for I was

deeply involved with drugs, mostly heroin. When I managed to give this

up, I developed hepatitis, and was sick with this disease for quite a

while. Then Marc Schles sent me some of Baba's Holy Ash from India

which helped to cure me. I was sunk in despair, without a home and

seemingly without a future. But thanks to Sai Baba, I am really happy

now, for I am living at home with my mother and making plans to return

to college. Three of my dear friends who were involved with drugs have

stopped them too. I shudder to think how close to death I was through

over doses of drugs. I would like to express my gratitude to Baba."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part III, pg 222, 223)Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Protecting' God.93. SALUTATIONS TO REMINDING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABAJnani

Greene writes, "Baba has instructed me, 'No more doctors, no more

medicine; let go, give up; let me be your doctor!' And He has proven

His efficiency and readiness many times since. One day, my foot was

broken, caught in a narrow ditch in the dark. I was carried to my room

in excruciating pain. Two hours passed and, suddenly, sensation went

dead; I attended Bhajans at Whitefield, sitting in a perambulator!

Then, I noticed absent-mindedly that my foot seemed rather warm; I put

it on the ground; it was entirely repaired! The repercussions on me was

even more dramatic. For, it gradually dawned on me to turn to Him for

every form of pain, for all sense of limitation, mental and physical

alike; I discovered that His recipe worked equally well for everything.

I am a slow student, and I still forget to ask! But, in His boundless

compassion, He keeps reminding me."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part III, pg 106, 107)Truly, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Reminding' God.94. SALUTATIONS TO REVEALING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABABaba

revealed of Himself and His mission upon earth, to the delegates of the

First World Conference of Sathya Sai Organizations held at

Dharmakshetra Bombay, thus : "I have come to inscribe a golden chapter

in the history of humanity, where in falsehood will fail, truth will

triumph, and virtue will reign, character will confer power then, not

knowledge or inventive skill, nor wealth. Wisdom will be enthroned in

the councils of nations. Do not be misled.""It is not My

purpose to strike men dumb by the display of miraculous might! I have

come to confer the boon of blessedness, the benediction of bliss, as

the reward for genuine spiritual endeavor, and to lead mankind into

liberty, light and love."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part III, pg 22)Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Revealing' God.95. SALUTATIONS TO RESHAPING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABASri

Rasgotra, former India's envoy to France, writes, "A man who goes in

for a meeting with Baba, seldom comes out the same. He emerges from the

encounter, exalted and radiant, as if Baba had striped him of his

motley cloak of many patches and fitted him out in Love's pure raiment,

for a fresh journey towards a bright, new destination."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 160)"Whenever

any person came into His presence, even in those days, Baba immediately

took him in hand and, 'by advice, suggestions, satire, sarcasm or even

downright reprimand, He slowly shaped him into a humble, silent, pious,

but, withal, efficient, enthusiastic limb of society. That is the

alchemy of His touch."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part I, pg 58)Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Reshaping' God.96. SALUTATIONS TO RESPONDING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABAOne

day, while answering some questions posed to Him in the interview room

by some devotees, He said, "You are surprised that I can be in two

bodies at the same time, or in a thousand different places... when I

give you a ring or any other object materialized by Me, it instantly

informs Me whenever you are in imminent danger. I can reach you

immediately and render all necessary help. However, even if you have

nothing on you that has been given by Me, if you have only genuine Love

and Devotion for Me, My response will still be immediate. I respond to

every sincere prayer, no matter what form or name of God you may adore

or worship."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 163)Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Responding' God.97. SALUTATIONS TO RESURRECTING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABAThe

Cowans returned to USA in April 1972. At a gathering of 'friends and

fellow seekers,' Elsie said, "We have come from India, my husband and

I, brimful of the most astounding news that can happen to any one. It

is so fantastic that many of you may doubt it, because hardly any of us

realize the great importance and the tremendous power of this great

high God, who not only walks the earth but cares for all the planes

from earth to eternity. Walter died at Madras. Sai Baba resurrected

him."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 22)Sai Baba resurrected not only Mr Cowan but many others on different occasions.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Resurrection' God.98. SALUTATIONS TO REWARDING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"A

Devotee had come from Madras, bringing with her a jewel in the shape of

OM, which she had got made; she now held it before Baba for being

blessed by His Divine touch. Baba looked at it and laughing, joked

about the OM being more like a curved monkey's tail! Evidently He did

not like the artist's handiwork. He asked the Devotee whether He would

correct the OM or whether she preferred a new jewel, with His own

portrait incorporated in it. She chose the new jewel, naturally.

Keeping the OM jewel in His closed fist, He blew on it and when He

opened His palm, we found to our astonishment that the OM had

disappeared and in its place, there had come into being an exquisitely

designed gold locket, with a large portrait of Baba in natural colors

encircled by diamonds and with a pendant of lovely pearls. 'This is a

reward for twenty-three years of un-remitting prayer,' Baba says, while

placing the jewel in her hand."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part II, pg 120)Baba knows when and where to reward His Devotees.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Rewarding' God.99. SALUTATIONS TO SERVING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABADuring

Bhagavan's East African Tour, Sri Kasturi was involved in a car

accident and was saved by Baba. Soon after that, he, along with the

other occupants of the car, rushed to Pra Safari Lodge and had Darshan

of Baba. Sri Kasturi writes, "Baba came forward to pat us and pet us,

while listening to our description of the accident of which He already

knew. Oh! It was worth all the panic and pandemonium inside the car! No

mortal mother could have been more compassionate towards her injured

child. The curative Vibhuthi was ready. He applied it Himself on the

cuts. He used His own handkerchief as a bandage of my eye. He created

ointments and tablets, out of nowhere. He pressed or rubbed the spots

of pain gently; He drew us near with affectionate consolation. He gave

us the strength to dismiss the picture from our minds. I thanked

'Nakkasongola' and the speedophile who drove our car, for this unique

gift of Divine tenderness."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part III, pg 37, 38)Baba is the supreme exemplar of service through Love.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Serving' God.100. SALUTATIONS TO SHARING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"A

large crowd gathered at Dharmaksetra (Bombay) once, with a hope of

getting Baba's Darshan at around ten that morning. But, Baba stayed

longer at Poona from where He was expected to come. So, Dharmaksetra

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

only at about 1:00PM and the huge gathering there was advised to go

home, since they had been waiting for Baba from ten in the morning; and

Baba did not want them to stay hungry.""But, no one stirred! 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! Baba was barefooted! Yes! Baba's feet, soft and tender,

sweet, silken and small, were moving over the hot sandstrewn pathways

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

the apartment on the first floor of Sathyadeep at Dharmaksetra! But He

demonstrated the truth that he who seeks to lead, must share the

travail with those whom He calls to follow!"(Sathya Sai Speaks Part III, pg 195, 196)Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Sharing' God.101. SALUTATIONS TO SHIRDI GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"Sathya

Sai Baba invariably refers to 'My previous body' when He speaks about

Shirdi Baba; He often describes to His devotees how He, 'in His

previous body' dealt with people and situations, what illustrations He

gave to amplify a certain point, what questions were asked," etc. "He

recognizes all devotees of Shirdi Baba as His own; in fact He tells

them, "I have known you since ten years" or "Though this is the first

time you see this body, I have seen you twenty years ago, when you came

to Shirdi.""Baba was a young boy when He made the declaration

of His identity; so, many a doubter posed the question, "How can we

believe that you are He?" A person who had such doubts was quited by a

novel demonstration by the young Baba of Puttaparthi. The cynic was

flabbergasted by the ocular proof that was vouchsafed to Him. Baba, it

seems, stretched out His palms in front of the critic, and asked him to

look at the opened palms. And lo, he could see on one palm, a

resplendent portrait of Shirdi Sai Baba and on the other palm, an

equally effulgent portrait of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Himself."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part I, pg 143, 148)On various occasions, Baba directly or indirectly indicated to His devotees that He is Shirdi Baba come again.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is 'Shirdi' God.102. SALUTATIONS TO SIMPLE LIVING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"Baba

declares that His life is His message. So, being in His presence,

observing His compassion, His simplicity, His earnestness, His insight,

His Love, is itself a valuable opportunity for the aspirant to gain

fullness and freedom."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part III, pg 119)Baba

said, "Now science and technology have advanced tremendously, but man

has no peace of mind. Tranquilizers and sleeping pills have become a

must for everyone. A simple and regulated life which includes natural

foods and plenty of physical exercise, is the best remedy for the

complicated diseases that haunt man in all lands. I do a lot of work as

you must have seen, and take a small quantity of simple food. I do not

take milk, yogurt, butter or fruit juice. This body will continue to be

in good health until its ninety-fourth year."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 164)Baba Himself lives a very simple life and He recommends a simple living and high thinking to His devotees.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Simple Living' God.103. SALUTATIONS TO SINGING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"When

Baba was emerging from teenage, He sang a song while at the temple on

the outskirts of the village where He was born. He has been, since

childhood, a stream of sweetness, singing His way into the hearts of

all around Him. Since He was not of this earth, but very concerned to

transform the earth into heaven, His songs then, as now, were designed

as a call to man to benefit from the mystery, the majesty, and the

magnificence of His incarnation."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, p ii )To

a Bhajan gathering at Prashanti Nilayam, Baba said, "your life is a

song on the glory of God. Sing it from your soul, sing it aloud, sing

it in chorus, so that the atmosphere polluted by greed, hatred, and

envy can be purified by the Holy Vibrations."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 40)Bhagavan loves to sing. His discourses are marked with songs.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Singing' God.104. SALUTATIONS TO SOURCE AND SUSTENANCEGOD : SRI SATHYA SAI

BABA"Baba's

speech with even casual visitors becomes a pat on the back, often a

prick to the bubble, a stab to the ego, a candle in the darkness, a

stick to the lame, a path in the wilderness, a rose amidst the thorns,

a beacon that beckons to nobility and divinity. A smile from Him is

cherished treasure that one would nourish in the silence of the shrine.

The stories and similes with which He illumines philosophical

conundrums are valued possessions forever. People clamor for the chance

to touch His feet, to have their children named, or initiated into

spiritual disciplines according to scriptural rules by Him, to receive

some token of His grace grants color to the painter, notes to the

composer, voice to the singer, strength to the athlete, endurance to

the climber, and bliss to the Yogi!"(Sathya Sai Speaks Part II, pg 198)He is the source and sustenance to all.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Source and Sustenance' God.105. SALUTATIONS TO STUDENT LOVING GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI

BABA"In

1974, Baba sent this letter to the college students at Brindavan,

Whitefield, "and see in Me, yourself, for I see Myself in you all. You

are My life, My breath, My soul. You are all My forms, all. When I love

you, I love Myself; when you love yourselves, you love Me. I have

separated Myself from Myself, so that I may love Myself. My beloved

ones, you are My own self."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 130, 131)"Students are My hope, the source of My delight. They are what I live by," says Bhagavan Baba."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 66)That is the extent of His love for students; otherwise why would He say, "students are My property."Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Student Loving' God.106. SALUTATIONS TO SUM OF ALL GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"On

the gateway tower, on the inner gateway arch and on the altar inside

the prayer hall, one can see the raised symbol of one's own religion

amidst the equally revered symbols of other faiths. No questions is

asked and no brow raised by anyone who belongs to the Sai Family, when

you declare yourself to be Hindu or a Buddhist, a Parsi, a Christian, a

Muslim or even an atheist. The only question asked and the only things

with which Baba is concerned is how earnest, how distressed, how

compassionate, how self-controlled you are."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 72)"The

message of Bhagavan is that the truly religious will neither deny the

validity of any particular religion or group of religions, nor declare

that salvation can be secured through one path only. So He encourages

all those who have Faith to march forward along their chosen paths,

whichever religion they may follow or be born in, since all spiritual

paths lead to the same goal."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 58)All

faiths are facets of the same truth, which can be spelled as LOVE, and

Baba is the embodiment of that Love. Therefore, Baba is the sum and

substance of all Religions.Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Sum of All' God.107. SALUTATIONS TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI BABA"Baba

is ever conscious that He is the cosmic principle that has transformed

itself into human form. He is the goal, the guide and the guardian whom

every being seeks. He gives expression to this truth in His discourses

and writings.""On one occasion, He sang a poem which had

spontaneously blossomed on His lips : "Why does the sun rise and set

everyday without delay or disruption? Why do the stars that light the

sky to the delight of all eyes, hide their splendorous faces when the

day dawns, and never even slyly peer to tell us where they are? Why

does air always be around, giving us the breath of life? Why do these

streams and rivers roar, murmur, gurgle and gossip over rock, pebble

and sand, as they meander along towards the parent sea? How is it that

the billions that constitute mankind, though they are caskets

treasuring images of the same entity, remain distant from each other in

appearance, achievement, aspiration and attitude? This is the answer.

Know that I am the one who has ordained that these be such and shall

behave so."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 99, 100)What else needs to be said to prove that He is the Almighty God?Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the 'Almighty' God.108. SALUTATIONS TO THE ONE AND ONLY GOD : SRI SATHYA SAI

BABAAnnouncing

the mission for which He has assumed this human form, Baba made a

declaration which nobody since the days of Lord Krishna had the good

fortune to listen to : "There was no one to know who I am till I

created the world, at My pleasure, with one word. Immediately, earth

and sky were formed, mountains rose up, rivers started flowing, sun,

moon and stars sprang out of nowhere to prove My existence. Came all

forms of life - plants, insects, beasts, birds and men. Various powers

were bestowed upon them under My orders. The first place was granted to

man, and my knowledge was placed in man's mind."(Sathya Sai Speaks Part IV, pg 98)Is not this declaration enough?Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is 'The One and Only' God.(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas

Gollapudi) Visit : Sai Messages : http://saimessages.blogspot.com/ Sai Divine Inspirations : http://saidivineinspirations.blogspot.com/ Love Is My Form : http://loveismyform.blogspot.com/ (for non-Sai members)