Shri Baba and Vedic Religion by Sai Rag

[Guest guest]

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.

 

Deva Yagna

We next take up Deva Yagna - the offering to Gods. Instances abound in

Shri Baba's life and teachings, where he emphasized the importance of

offering to Gods. Shri Baba Himself whenever " He cooked food, first offered

it to God before distributing it to others. When Nana bypassed Datta's

temple to avoid an offering of Rs. 500/-, which he had vowed, Shri Baba

chided him and refused to talk to him and Nana realised his mistake. Shri

Baba advised all His devotees not to neglect the worship and offerings to

their family deities. Shama had to offer silver breasts to the Goddess

Saptashringi to fulfill the long standing vow of his late mother. When he

approached Shri Baba with the silver offerings, He refused to accept them

(although He identified Himself with Lakshmi) and directed him to make a

pilgrimage to the temple of the Goddess and make the offering there.

 

Bhoota Yagna

Bhoota Yagna comes next. This is the offering to beings. Shri Baba used to

beg for His food and on His return to Dwarakamai he used to deposit the food

in a kundi. Dogs, cats and crows ate the food from the kundi freely. Once

when Mrs. Tarkhad was carrying specially made dishes for Shri Baba, a hungry

dog turned up. Mrs. Tarkhad threw some food for the dog. When she reached

Dwarkamai Shri Baba told her, " Mother! Take pity on Me like this. First give

food to the hungry and then eat yourself " . Shri Baba added further, " The dog

which you saw before meals and to whom you gave the piece of bread is one

with me, so also other creatures. He, who sees Me in all these creatures is

my beloved " .

 

Manushya or Atithi Yagna

Lastly comes the Manushya or Atithi Yagna or the offering to men or

uninvited guests. Shri Baba always said that without " Rinanubandh " nobody

comes to any one. To quote the words of Shri Baba, " Unless there is some

relationship or connection nobody goes anywhere. If any man or creature

comes to you, do not discourteously drive him away but receive him well and

treat him well. Lord Hari will be certainly pleased if you give water to the

thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked and your verandah to the

strangers for sitting and resting " . By numerous incidents, Shri Baba

encouraged those who followed this advice and scolded those who behaved

rudely to beggars and strangers; the compassion which Shri Baba himself

showed to the poor and needy cannot be described in words.

 

All the above examples show that Shri Baba was the greatest exponent of the

Vedic and Upanishadic teachings by His words and more than that by His

deeds. As devotees of Shri Baba, it is our duty to meditate on His teachings

and lead our lives accordingly. That is the surest way of pleasing Baba and

getting his ever lasting blessings.

 

Sai Rag

Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine February 1979)