Ambrosia for Sai Devotees

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Ambrosia for Sai

Devotees

By

D. V. Murthy

 

God stands for unity, harmony and

oneness. When we make God our very own, we realize unity in diversity and so we

will have harmony within and harmony without. We will then create a tranquil

atmosphere around us, and then there will be no strife, conflict or war that is

why we must turn to that Spirit within us which stands for unity and harmony.

 

Poojya Sri

Narasimha Swamiji, who familiarized our Samartha Sadguru Sri Shirdi Sai

Baba to millions of devotees all over the country, was an apostle worthy of

great esteem and veneration. After his first visit to Shirdi and to the very

end he breathed and talked SAI and dedicated himself to Sai Prachar

work traveling all over the country.

 

All of us of this generation, who

were fortunate enough to come in contact with him during his lifetime, should

consider ourselves lucky and blessed. Apart from his innumerable writings like

" Wondrous Saint Sri Sai Baba " , " Sri Sai Baba Charters " ,

" Devotees Experiences " etc., one of the most significant

contributions of Swamiji was the composition of

" SRI SAI BABA ASHTOTTARA NAMAVALI " , recanting the innumerable,

auspicious attributes of Baba for daily Parayana

which are chanted by devotees in Sri Sai worship daily.

 

Unlike other Ashtottaras,

which are usually composed in alphabetical order, Swamiji's

Ashtottara Namavali starts

with the basic personality of Baba that he could be Sri Rama or Sri Krishna to

some, Sri Dattatreya to someone else, or Maruthi to others etc. Thereafter, it deals first with the

material benefits conferred like food, shelter, clothing, riches, good health

summed up aptly as " Yoga Kshema " .

 

Very interestingly Baba never

permitted his devotees to observe fast. He used to say that with pangs of

hunger it would be difficult for any to fully concentrate on the spiritual

side. The help rendered during distress of the devotees is described as " Aapathbandhava " . Baba is also the guide during one's

life journey and problems faced being " Maargabandhu. "

He is also the Supporter - " Jeevadhara " who

has taken the vow to protect his devotees 'Bhaktavana

Pratignya. " Thereafter comes

the very apt description " Bhukti-Mukti Swarga Marga - Daya - the bestower of worldly

pleasures.

 

One of the descriptions given of Baba

is the helper of the helpless - and protector of unprotected " Asahaya-Sahayaya " and " Anaathanatha

Deena Bandhu " but the

best to my mind is " Sarva Bhavabruta "

sums up my real Baba all these seventy and odd years who takes the entire

burden of the devotees on himself. " Look unto me " and I look to

you " has been the key word as to why millions flock to him for succor and

strength.

 

Many of us believe in the laws of

" Karma " . It is also said that all our present misery and troubles in

this world are due to our past Karmas {Prarabdha

Karma) and one has to undergo the results of the same. It is also said that in

case of Sadgurus, they have the power to mitigate the

Karmik effects. Sri Sai was and is one who has this

power as experienced by his many devotees and is aptly put as " Karma - Dhvamsine " and " Ashakya

Rahitaya " as one for whom nothing is impossible.

 

Our entire life provides instances of

special blessings in times of dire need and distress when we recite " Om Sri Sai Aapthabandhavya Namah " , we automatically recollect the myriad

instances where He came to our succour and tears

swell in our eyes. The same is the case with many other Naamas

in the Namavali.

 

The piece de resistance of the Naamavali is perhaps the apt description - " Bhaktanugraha Kataraya " the

one tremulously eager to shower His blessings on His devotees. What an apt

description of Baba; But do we deserve him?

 

In a way the recitation of Ashtottara Shata Naamavali is a very handy Sadhana

to all householder Sai devotees to directly commune with Him with our limited

vocabulary and coupled with Bhaava will surely lead

to our goal.

 

Sri Sai Ashtottara

can be recited individually or in groups. It has been our experience that Group

chanting with " Bhava " (feeling) has been

found to confer immense benefits to one and all.

 

God is all love and kindness and He

means no ill. He is also the sole doer. If we have this faith and surrender, we

can remain happy and cheerful in all conditions.