Message of the week - January 01 2008

[Guest guest]

Sairam,

 

Happy BABA day to all. Wish you all a very happy and prosperous new

year 2008. Pray BABA guides us and fulfills all our wishes and guides

us always.

 

Here is the message of the week. Let us pray to HIM to guide us in all

our day to day activities. Let us pray to HIM to let us do our

karma/action and leave the result to HIM. For HE only knows what is

good and HE decides and gives us everything we need. Chapter 37, talks

about the wonderful chavadi procession. Let us try to read the chapter

daily, imagine ourselves attending the same and go to bed leaving off

all the worries, tensions, everything at HIS wonderful lotus feet and

thanking HIM for everything HE has given us.

 

Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the Chhatra (umbrella) with its beautiful

pendants which moved in a circle with its supporting stick. Bapusaheb

Jog washed the feet of Baba in a silver dish and offered 'arghya' and

worship with due formalities, then besmeared His arms with sandal

paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the asan (gadi),

while Tatya and others kept standing and falling at His feet. When

Baba sat on the gadi supporting Himself against the bolster, devotees

on both sides waved chamars and fans. Shama then prepared the chillim

and handed it over to Tatyaba who drew a flame out of it by his breath

and then gave it to Baba. After Baba had His smoke, it was given to

Bhagat Mhalasapati and then it was passed round to all. Blessed was

the inanimate chillim. It had first to undergo many ordeals of

penance, such as being treated by pot-makers, dried in the open sun

and burnt in fire and then it had the good fortune to get the contact

of Baba's hand and His kiss. After this function was over, devotees

put garlands of flowers on His neck and gave Him nose-gays and bunches

of flowers for smelling. Baba who was dispassion or non-attachment

incarnate, cared a fig for all these necklaces of jewels, and garlands

of flowers and other decorations; but out of real love to His

devotees, He allowed them to have their own way and to please

themselves. Finally Bapusaheb Jog waved the arati over Baba, observing

all formalities, the musical instruments playing thier auspicious

tunes. When this arati was over, the devotees returned home one by one

saluting Baba and taking His leave. When Tatya Patil, after offering

chillim, attar (scent) and rose-water, rose to depart, Baba said to

him lovingly - & quotGuard Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at

night and enquire after Me. " Replying in the affirmative Tatyaba left

the Chhavadi and went home. Then Baba Himself prepared His bed. He

arranged 50 or 60 white chadders one upon another and thus making His

bed, went to rest.

 

We shall also now take rest and close this chapter with a request to

the readers that they should remember Sai Baba and His Chavadi

procession daily before they retire and go to bed.

 

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

 

 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2008 !!!

 

Humbly Yours, Sairam