Shri Baba and Vedic Religion

[Guest guest]

Shri Baba and Vedic Religion

The other day, I was reading the text of a talk by the venerable Kanchi Acharya Jagadguru

Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham at Kancheepuram). The Acharya has

empha­sized that Pancha Yagaa

(Five kinds of Sacrifices) is the best means of atonement of sins and final

salvation. The five kinds of Yagna are:

1. Brahma Yagna or Vedadhyan - Offerings to

a Brahman or the study of Vedas.

2. Pitru

Yagna -

Offerings to the ancestors.

3. Deva

Yagna - Offerings to Gods

4. Bhoota

Yagna -

Offerings to the beings.

5. Manushya

or Atithi Yagna -

Offerings to men or uninvited guests.

 

When I read this, my mind went to our Shri

Baba. He, who had taken Avatar for the emancipation of mankind, had endorsed by

his words and deeds the Upanishad teachings in letter and spirit. A study of

Sai Satcharita amply illustrates this. What I am

attempting is to highlight certain incidents and teachings of Shri Baba, which emphasize the importance of the five Yagnas.

 

Brahma Yagna

Baba loved those, who studied Brahma Vidya

and encouraged them. Once, Bapusaheb Jog received a

post-parcel. It contained a copy of Gita Rahasya by Lokmanya Tilak. Taking it under his armpit, he went to Sri Baba and

prostrated himself before Him. Shri Baba told him

" Read this completely and you will be benefited " . It was a common

sight in Dwarkamai to see orthodox Vaishnavites and Agnihotris

chanting Vedas, Upanisbads and the Gayatri in the presence of Shri

Baba and feel most elevated. Yet Shri Baba knew that

the study of Vedas and Upanishads was possible only for a few. So for many, Shri Baba showed a simpler path. He encouraged Shama, Purandare and many others

to study Vishnu Sahasranamam. He directed Swami Vijayanand to do continuous reading of Bhagawat

(to ensure continuous remembrance of Hari) just before the Swami left his

mortal coils. Many of the devotees read Adhyatma Ramayan, Jnaneshwari and other

scriptures under Shri Baba's guidance. The episode of

Shri Baba expounding the meaning of a verse from Bhagwat Gita to Nana, is too well known. The other interesting incident is

the teaching of the meaning of Isha Upanishad to Das' Ganu. Shri

Baba also knew that for many devotees even the study of scriptures was too

much. He, therefore pointed out to them other simpler

ways. He told Mrs. Khaparde always to chant " Rajaram " and added " If you do this, your life's

object will be gained. Your mind will attain peace and you will be immensely

benefited " . Another devotee was reminded in a subtle way the mantra given

to him by his guru " Shri Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram " . Perhaps the simplest path shown by Him was

the chanting of Sai Ram. " If a man utters my name with love, I shall

fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. The simple remembrance of my

name as 'SAI SAI' will do away with sins, of speech and hearing, "

 

Pitru Yagna

..Let us now take Pitru

Yagna-the offering to the ancestors. A devotee had

not been performing the " Sradha " of his

late father. In " Sradha " the food is

offered to the pitras and ultimately everything

reaches the foot of Lord Vishnu- " Vishmi Pade Dattam " . On seeing the

particular devotee Shri Baba said, " This man has

starved me and his father " . By this statement Shri

Baba made two things clear. First, the importance of Pitru Yagna. Second that

He was Vishnu reincarnated.

Sai Rag

(to be contd…….)

(Source Shri Sai Leela Feb 1979)