Let us look forward to a happier tomorrow; let the name of Shri Sai resonate in all corners of the globe.”

[Guest guest]

Let us look forward to a happier tomorrow; let the

name of Shri Sai resonate in all corners of the

globe.”

 

……“The greater miracles of Baba are instances of

control of natural forces like fire, air and water

(rain). The Satcharitra narrates of an evening when

torrential rain accompanied by lightning and

thunderstorm hit Shirdi flooding it entirely. This

terrified all the disciples, animals and birds who

took refuge at Dwarakamai Masjid and prayed for help.

 

At their request Baba commanded the cloud in a

thunderous voice to stop its fury and to allow his

children to go their houses. Within minutes the rain

stopped and the storm settled down. Another instance

documented was on an afternoon when flames from Baba’s

dhuni rose up to the roof of Dwarakamai Masjid

threatening to burn it. Baba took his satka (stick)

and hit a pillar commanding the fire to calm down. At

each stroke of the satka the flames gradually settled

to normalcy.

 

Baba gave numerous other types of experiences to his

devotees but it would not be possible to codify or

cite such examples due to lack of space. The more

surprising and interesting fact to note is that even

after departure from his bodily abode in 1918 and till

the present day, devotees continue to report similar

experiences. Truly speaking, even on the day Baba left

his body and thereafter, devotees have been

experiencing such unexplainable events. Such

experiences of Baba are not limited to the gullible

and uneducated rural youth as is commonly believed to

be, but cuts across the “intelligentsia” of the

society including lawyers, professors, officials,

doctors, scientists and others.

 

It is interesting to observe that even in this era of

esoteric, atomic individualism, with population (the

number of devotees) having increased manifold, where

rationality and objectivity rules the minds of the

people, such spiritual experiences continue to affect

millions. Cutting across the man made differentiations

of caste, races, religions, socio-economic

diversities, all are making a beeline to Baba’s

Samadhi at Shirdi as Baba had once uttered in a state

of spiritual ecstasy.

 

Despite the modern day youth’s affinity to western

culture, Baba’s message remains ever relevant and

appealing. That is why so many temples have come up

across the globe. Sai Baba not only crossed the

boundaries of humanism but gave shelter to all living

creatures. The Sai Satcharitra narrates numerous

instances of his compassion towards dogs, snakes,

horses, tigers and even birds.

 

Today on an average 35,000 people visit Shirdi every

day and on weekends the numbers go upto a lakh or

more. There has been a phenomenal growth in the Sai

faith as can be seen in the astronomical growth in the

number of temples, literary publications, devotional

music etc. The number of devotees dedicated to spread

the name and message of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is

mind-boggling.

 

Today the Sai movement is not limited only to

Maharashtra as was during the time of Baba, but within

decades of his departure has crossed the national

boundaries to become a global movement. This new era

of “Saiism” does not touch the religious aspect of the

devotee’s life only but affects and permeates all

aspects of an individual’s life (family, culture,

social behavior etc). For the devotees Shri Sai Baba

is not a part of their life but their life itself in

all its aspects.

 

The spirit of Sai is more active and alive today than

perhaps it ever was. This raises in our mind a

fundamental question - “Who is Sai Baba?” Some address

him as a Sadguru, some as a fakir, some as a Yogiraj,

some as a saint and to most of the devotees he is “God

the Almighty” Himself.

 

He has been accepted as an incarnation (Saguna Sakara

avatara), which means, God who in human form walked on

earth. History has shown that the expansion of

religions and/or faiths started by the incarnations

expanded phenomenally after they left their human

embodiment. This was the case with Jesus Christ,

Buddha, Mohammed and Shri Krishna.

 

The Sai movement is ever on the increase in a similar

manner, which goes to reinforce the faith that Sai

Baba was an incarnation of God (Paramatma). This goes

to prove Baba’s promise that after leaving his body he

will be ever active from his tomb to protect and guide

his devotees. As Baba had once promised, He continues

to exist in a subtle form (Mahakarana sheath) as a

unifying force, to spread and re-establish compassion,

love, truth and tolerance amongst human beings and

among all living entities on earth.

 

Let us welcome and embrace this age of Sai, who is the

panacea for all the evils of the present world, torn

asunder by forces of regionalism, racialism, economic

and social differences, religious bigotry, fanaticism

and lack of faith in “God”. Let us look forward to a

happier tomorrow; let the name of Shri Sai resonate in

all corners of the globe.”…….