My Sai

MY SAI

by: Shantha

You, my Sai, are so close, yet so far.

Some say, to see You, just look at a Star.

You, my Sai, are very simple.

Whenever, i walk into your temple;

You, my Sai, look straight at me, above the bee-line of devotees.

With all the heaps of flowers and garlands that are brought to you;

You, my Sai, adorn Yourself with just that one garland i offer.

Even amidst the crowd that throngs for Your Darshan;

You, my Sai, give me a garland to show me i am special.

To show that You joyfully accept what i give You,

You, my Sai, pour honey in Your Holy bath!

Sorry, my Sai, yet i fail in treading Your path.

When i am deep in distress;

You, my Sai, reach me through SMS !!!

The love that You display chokes my throat with joy;

Yet i am not content, because i want You more, my Sai.

You smile, my Sai, when i call you by pet names  

My Love for You, is true my Sai.

My Sai's Pics

Sai’s graceful frame and virile beauty, his strength, his courage, the purity of his heart, his perfect life, his compassion, the sweetness of HIS speech, his serenity, his deep wisdom and his statesmanship are admired by the people.

A royal radiance shines from HIS face.

His words are full of meaning and charm all ears.

Sai is mercy embodied in human form.

Sai is living example of truthfulness, right conduct and humility.

ABOUT SAI

Life of Shirdi Saibaba

Shri Saibaba of Shirdi lived between 1838 and 1918, whose real name, birthplace and date of birth are not known. An Indian spiritual guru and a fakir that transcended the barriers  of religions, Saibaba of Shirdi was regarded with great reverence by both Hindu and Muslim followers. He lived in a mosque and after death his body was cremated in a temple. 

His philosophy ingrained 'Shraddha' meaning faith and 'Saburi' meaning patience. According to him Shraddha and Saburi were the supreme attributes to reach the state of godliness.

It is believed that at a tender age of 16 yrs Shri Saibaba arrived at the village of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and remained their till his death. He found shelter in Khandoba temple, where a villager Mahalsapathi in the temple addressed him as Sai or Saint.

Saibaba of Shirdi lived an extremely simple and austere life, sleeping on the floor of temple and later taking a ruined mosque as his shelter. With his arrival to Shirdi, in no time he began exhibiting a hypnotic attraction among people as they began flocking to him. He is attributed many miracles doing things that were beyond a mortal's power. He never discouraged these attributes and soon his fame spread like wild fire. Many pilgrims came seeking his blessings. Such was his hypnotism that even the mundane of his activities attracted large crowds. 

Popular among both Hindus and Muslims, Shri Saibaba became a great building force between the two disparate communities. He regularly recited Hindu and Muslim prayers. His Hindu followers considered him to be an avatar or reincarnation of Shiva and Dattatreya. Sai Baba did not leave any written works. All his teachings were oral and catchy. His sayings were short, crisp and in layman language with which the common mass could easily associate. 

Saibaba encouraged charity and said, "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect." 

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi was unique in the sense that he lived his message through the essence of his being. He lived among the common people adorning a torn kafni (long robe), sleeping over a mat while using brick as his headrest and got his food by begging. Such was his smile that radiated a mystical charisma and deep seated inward look that hypnotized the people who visited him.

His most concise message for one and all alike was "Why fear when I am here". 

Saibaba said that he was a slave in the service of those who loved him. He was ever living to help those who turn to him and that he has to take care of his children day and night. 

Saibaba's mission was to restore belief in god and according to him, "I give people what they want in the hope that they will begin to want what I want to give them (knowledge of the Ultimate)." He then taught values of total surrender to the Almighty Master (ALLAH MALIK EK- The only ONE) and experiences his grace.

Today, Shri Saibaba has millions of devotees in India and abroad. Shirdi, the obscure village in Maharashtra has become a pilgrimage destination much as Bethlehem, Jerusalem or Varanasi. With over 25,000 pilgrims thronging in here each day the number of pilgrims climb to over a hundred thousand on holidays and festival days. There are over 2,000 major Sai temples in different parts of India and 150 abroad in places as far-flung as Canada and Kenya, Singapore and England.

Sai Baba's Teachings

Sai Baba of Shirdi is the epitome of reverence a guiding force who generates supreme faith and confidence among his devotees looking for salvation and in quest of coming out of the drudgery of living. As a divine mother he is saturated with love for those who seek him. With his mission of making people about the divine consciousness and transcending the limits of mortal body, his teachings are guiding his devotees to the path of salvation. People are blessed who follow his teachings.

Among the teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi there are the cardinal principles of Sai Path called 'Shraddha' and 'Saburi'. Sai Baba looks for these two qualities in his devotees. Here are the teachings and philosophies of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Shraddha
'Shraddha' is a Sanskrit word, which roughly means faith with love and reverence. Such faith or trust is generated out of conviction, which may not be the result of any rational belief or intellectual wisdom, but a spiritual inspiration. According to Sai Baba of Shirdi, steadfast love in God is the gateway to eternity. Baba's teaching, both direct and indirect explicate the significance of 'Shraddha'. Baba reiterates the spiritual guidance of Shri Krishna to Arjun - "Whosoever offer to Me with love or devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of pure love is readily accepted by Me". 

Saburi  'Saburi'; means patience and perseverance. Saburi is a quality needed throughout the path to reach the goal. This quality must be ingrained in a seeker from day one, least he looses his stride and leaves the path half way

Purity  For Sai Baba it was not the purity of the body but inner purity that mattered. No amount of physical and external cleansing would serve any purpose if the man remained impure in mind and heart. Therefore, Baba cautioned His devotees not to make austerity as an end itself, lest they should indulge in physical mortification.

Compassion Himself an epitome of compassion and love, Sai Baba taught compassion among his disciples. Baba often told His devotees, 'Never turn away anybody from your door, be it a human being or animal'. 

Complete Surrender to the Guru
Sai Baba put Guru on a high pedestal of reverence. For Him Guru was the profound base of the path of devotion. Pointing to his physical frame, "This body is my house. I am not here. My Guru (Master) has taken me away". He asked for complete surrender to the 'Guru'.

Sai Baba's Teachings through 'Udi' and 'Dakshina'

Udi Udi or the sacred ash was produced from the perpetual fire called 'dhuni' lit by Sai Baba in Dwarkamai at Shirdi. Explaining the meaning of life He would refer to Udi and taught that like Udi all the visible phenomena in the world are transient. Through this example Sai Baba wished to make his devotees understand the sense of discrimination between the unreal and the real. Udi taught the devotees discrimination or vivek.

Dakshina
Sai Baba would demand 'Dakshina' or alms from those who visited him. This explained the sense of non-attachment to worldly things. Hence Dakshina taught the devotees non-attachment or Vairagya. 

Assurances of Saibaba

Shri Saibaba of Shirdi inspires unflinching faith and conviction from the Sai devotees. His simple and straightforward messages strike an immediate chord with people of any faith. Saibaba has imparted eleven assurances to the mankind inspiring confidence among His disciples. 

Here are the eleven assurances that Shri Sai Baba disseminated to the world:

• Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi's soil, his sufferings would come to an end.
• The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy and happiness, as soon as they climb the steps of my Mosque.
• I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body.
• My tomb shall bless and speak the needs of my devotees.
• I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb.
• My mortal remains would speak from my tomb.
• I am ever living to help and guide all, who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek refuge in me.
• If you look at me I look at you.
• If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.
• If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.
• There shall be no want in the house of my devotees.

Sai Literature

Sai Baba of Shirdi has been a great influence on literary mindscape of those who were inspired by his life and philosophy. He has been written about in volumes and bookshops are agog with Sai Literature. Books on Saibaba are immensely popular among people of all faith and tradition. The life, philosophy and all the things that were linked to this epoch making saint and guru has been the treasure trove for writing books that are always in demand. Here are some of the works that are written on him by different authors, which will be of your interest.

·         108 Names of Shirdi Sai Baba, compiled by Vijaya Kumar

·         Ambrosia in Shirdi : 101 Experiences of Devotees when Sai Baba was Embodied, and 100 Experiences of Devotees after Sai Baba's Samadhi in 1918, by Ramalinga Swamy.

Shri Sai Satcharita (Enlarged Edition), by G.R.Dabholkar

• The Blossom of Praise to Shri Sainath, (Shri Sainath Stavan Manjari), by Das Ganu
• Children's Sai Baba, by D. L. Parchure
• Devotees' Experiences of Shri Sai Baba (Statements of 81 Devotees Most of Whom had Seen Sai Baba), by B. V. Narasimhaswami,
• Golden Words of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Ramalingaswamy, Munja
• Guide to Holy Shridi, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan
• Gurus Rediscovered : Biographies of Sai Baba and Upasani Maharaj of Sakori, by Kevin R.D. Shepherd
• The Incredible Sai Baba (The Life and Miracles of a Modern Saint), by Arthur Osborne
• Introduction to Sai Baba of Shirdi, by B.V. Narasimhaswami
• The Life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Antonio Rigopolous
• The Life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi, by T.S. Anantha Murthy
• Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba, by Ammula Sambasiva Rao, Sterling
• Life of Sai Baba, by B.V. Narasimhaswami
• A Mission Divine (novel on Shri Sai Baba), by R.S. Junnarkar
• Pictorial Sai Baba, Sri Sai Baba Sansthan,
• Sai Baba: The Master, by Acharya E. Bharadwaja
• Sai Baba : The Perfect Master, edited by D.N. Irani
• Sai Baba : The Saint of Shirdi, by Mani Sahukar
• Sai Baba of Shirdi (Pictorial), by Indira Anantha Krishna
• Sai Baba of Shirdi : A Unique Saint, by M.V. Kamath and V.B. Kher
• Sai's Help, by B.V. Narasimhaswami
• Santakathamrita, by Das Ganu, 1903
• Shirdi Darshan (Pictorial), Sri Sai Baba Sansthan
• Shirdi Diary of the Hon'ble Mr. G.S. Khaparde (events between 1910 December and 1918 March), Shri Sai Baba Sansthan,
• Shirdi Sai Baba : An Epic, by Basavaraj Gunaki
• Sree Guru Charita, by Gangadhara Saraswati
• Shri Sai : The Superman, by Swami Sai Sharan Anand
• Shri Sai Baba, by Swami Sai Sharan Anand
• Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, by Rao Bhhadur Moreshwar W. Pradhan
• Sri Sai Baba's Charters and Sayings, by B.V. Narasimhaswami
• Sri Sainath Sagunopasana, by K.J. Bhishma
• The Eternal Sai, by S. Maneey
• Sai Baba: The Perfect Master, Compiled from writings by Dr. A.G.Munsif
• Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism, by Marianne Warren

Sayings of Saibaba of Shirdi

Saibaba of Shirdi is revered as one of the greatest saints that India ever had. Worshipped as God incarnate, Saibaba had his sole mission to give blessings to one and all. Beyond the narrow boundaries of religions, castes, creeds Saibaba preached the universal religion of love. The sayings of Saibaba have been a rich resource of solace among the distresses lot of mankind. Devoid of any metaphysical intricacies and high sounding words, the sayings of Saibaba struck an immediate chord with people. Here are the eleven sayings of Shri Saibaba of Shirdi that has been the guiding principles for millions of his devotees across the world.

• No harm shall befall him who sets his foot on the soil of Shirdi.
• He who cometh to My Samadhi, his sorrow and suffering shall cease.
• Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall ever protect My devotees.
• Trust in Me and your prayer shall be answered.
• Know that My Spirit is immortal. Know this for yourself.
• Show unto Me he who sought refuge and been turned away.
• In whatever faith men worship Me, even so do I render to them.
• Not in vain is My Promise that I shall ever lighten your burden.
• Knock, and the door shall open. Ask and ye shall be granted.
• To him who surrenders unto Me totally I shall be ever indebted.
• Blessed is he who has become one with Me.

Best Time to Visit Shirdi

Monsoons : June to August
Ramnavami : March/April
Guru Purnima : July
Vijayadashmi (Sri Sai Punyatithi) : October

Shirdi is the holy abode of Shri Sai Baba and thousands of pilgrims throng the town each day from across India and beyond. You can visit the Shri Saibaba temple at anytime you wish, however Monsoons i.e., between June and August are the period considered to be the best time to be here. Reason being the weather, which is simply so pleasant and inviting. You don't need to bother about sweat and heat; with drizzling and cool breeze all around your mystical journey to Shirdi becomes heavenly. Winters are also quite a good time to visit Shirdi. Winters are not harsh in here and temperature can dip to 7 degree Celsius.

However, you can plan your trip or pilgrimage to Shirdi during one of the three major festivals that are celebrated here with great fervor and excitement. These three festivals are Ram Navami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashamai. During these festivals thousands of devotees flock in here and the whole atmosphere of the Shirdi becomes vibrant with puja, bhajan (music), rath yatra (processions with palanquin) and many more events. 

You can come to participate in Ramanavami at Shirdi, celebrated every year in March or April. It is also the time when Saibaba's urus is held. Urus is a muslim festival that is celebrated to honor a saint. This shows the kind of communal harmony that weaves people of different faiths at Shirdi. This year that is in 2007, Shirdi is celebrating the Ramnavami from 26th to 28th of March.

Gurupurnima or Full Moon is also a wonderful time to visit Shirdi. In 2007, Shirdi is celebrating Guru Purnima from 28th to 30th July. This is the time devotees all across the world converge in Shirdi to seek Saibaba's blessings. There is also Vyasa Puja that is held during Guru Purnima, in honor of Ved Vyasa who wrote the epic Mahabharata.

Vijayadashmi is a big festival in Shirdi, venerated as a holy day when Shri Saibaba left his mortal body for heavenly abode. The festival is celebrated as Shri Sai Punyathithi in Shirdi attracting great number of devotees from all over the world. This year the festival is celebrated from 20th to 23rd October.

You can choose any of the festive seasons to make a spiritual journey to Shirdi and of course any other time is equally fulfilling.

Sai in the form of Satcharita.

By: Shantha 

Shirdi Sai Satcharita is the most blessed gift straight from Sai. 

Sai Himself gave permission to 'Hemadpant' to write His Life.

When Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias 'Hemadpant' requested Mr. Madhavrao Deshpande alias Shama, to speak to Sai for permission to write Sai Satcharita, Sai was moved and blessed Hemadpant by giving him HIS Udi (sacred ashes) and placing HIS boon-bestowing hand on Hemadpant’s head said: - "Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees. He should get rid of his ego, place (or surrender) it at My feet. He who acts like this in life, him I help the most. What of My life-stories? I serve him in his house in all possible ways. When his ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it, I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life. Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees' hearts and they will easily get self - realization and Bliss; let there be no insistence on establishing one's own view, no attempt to refute other's opinions, no discussions of pros and cons of any subject."

All those who truly want to be with Sai Baba will certainly agree that Sai Satcharitha connects us to Sai.  Everything is ordained by Sai.  Some read Sai Satcharitha for curiosity, some read to challenge beliefs, some read to gain knowledge.  How we get to know Sai is His ordain.  Sai knows that HIS Bhaktas will benefit by reading HIS Satcharita.  Even those who scoff at Sai initially, turn out to be the truest and devoted Bhaktas of Sai.  Sai’s method to bring each one close to HIM is unique.

While reading Sai Satcharita, let us seek Sai to guide us to understand what we read, hear what HE says.  There are many instructions Sai gives us in Sai Satcharita, let us read those instructions over and over, store them in our heart.

Abiding by what Sai says is also a Guru Dakshina.  In Sai Satcharita one can come across Sai asking for dakshina in various denominations. Let us see what they mean.

It is not enough if we offer just coins to Sai:

Ø  One Rupee: Our oneness with SAI, complete surrender to SAI.

Ø  Two Rupees: These two coins are “Faith” and “Patience”.

Ø  Three Rupees: Sai is the Harmony of three Gunas. One should see Sai as Trimurthi (Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar).  We should get rid of and become free from the three main Desires, viz. (1) for progeny, (2) for wealth, (3) for fame.

Ø  Four Rupees: Sai stresses on number 4 in a lot of instances in HIS Satcharita.  These are the four objects of Life; Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.  Sai always refers to him as the Fourth, i.e., Moksha (Liberation) and Moksha can only be had with the help of our Guru (SAI).

Another illustration of Four: There are four paths to reach God. (Karma, Jnana, Yoga and Bhakti).  Fourth path i.e., Bhakti is thorny and full of pits and ditches, and thus difficult to traverse, but if we, relying on our Sadguru, avoid the pits and thorns and walk straight, Guru will take us to the destination (God). So says, Sai Baba.

Ø  Five Rupees: When Sai asks for Five Rupees, it is to teach us Non Attachment. For getting Brahma Jnaana one has to give five things, i.e. surrender five things viz. (1) Five Pranas (vital forces), (2) Five senses (five of action and five of perception), (3) mind, (4) intellect and (5) ego. This path of Brahma-Jnana or self-realization is 'as hard as to tread on the edge of a razor'.

Ø  Six rupees: Sai wants us to give up six inner enemies (desire, anger, greed, lust, pride and jealousy), and surrender them to SAI. 

Ø  Seven Rupees: Sadguru is better than 7 objects of worship. Sai will take us across 7 seas if we say “SAI, SAI” always with Love. Sai knows what we do even beyond 7 seas. Sai will cross 7 seas to save us. Sai will draw us to HIM even across 7 seas. Sai encourages reading HIS Satcharita in 7 days, Sai loves Nama-Saptah (singing the glory of God s name continuously day and night for 7 days). 

Ø  Eight Rupees: We should offer to Sai eight lotuses in the form of our eight Sattwik emotions (equilibrium, gentleness, purity, harmony, peace, kindness, clarity, love).

Ø  Nine Rupees: Even after collecting dakshina for years, SAI had only nine coins left.  Nine denotes the nine types of Bhakti and nine characteristics for us to cultivate.

Ø  Eleven Rupees: Sai has given eleven assurances to us.  We should always hold fast to Sai’s holy feet to be worthy of those 11 promises.

Ø  Fifteen Rupees: Sai asked Narke for Rs.15/- and when he said he did not have it, Sai told him to give dakshina from his reading Yoga-Vashistha.  Sai wants us to derive lessons from the book and lodge them in our heart where Sai resides.

Ø  Complete Surrender: To quote an instance, Mr.Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi autobiography, that on Baba pressing him often and often for Dakshina, he emptied his money-bag before Sai. The result of this was, as Mr. Bodas says, that in later life he never lacked money, as it came to him abundantly. (It is implicit obedience to and prompt compliance with Sai’s order is the real Dakshina that pleases Him most).

Now let us decide what Dakshina we want to give Sai.  When we embark upon Sai path, there is a natural growth of Sai’s divine grace and peace upon us. 

Reading Sai Satcharitha should be our continuous and constant effort.  Each time we read, a newer meaning strikes us, a newer message is heard.  Let us dive deeper and deeper into the ocean of Sai Satcharitha and find what Sai has in store for us. Let us Love Sai, Think Sai, Praise Sai, Obey Sai, be with Sai. Say Sai, Sai, Sai, Sai, Sai, Om Sai.

Happy to be stuck with You, my Sai J                     

By: Shantha

Oh my dearest Sai, there are so many songs which I dedicate to You.

When I hear some songs, it feels like the lyrics are written keeping You in mind.

I am so happy to be stuck with You, my Sai.

Your love and mercy upon me is inexplicable.

You prove Your affection time and again through Your innumerable Leela.

I am so happy to be stuck with You, my Sai.

When I feel low, I question You, why?

I rave and rant at You.

I cry at Your Holy Feet.

I vent my anger at You.

Before I know it, You fill me with great delight and show me that everything is fine and will be fine.

Truly sorry my Sai for being harsh with You.

Only because You are my only True Love and Confidant I am able to be myself with You.

I am so happy to be stuck with You, my Sai.

You made those eleven promises to Your devotees.

Your immense help to me shows those assurances are all for me. J

For each of your Devotee to feel that way is Your prowess, My Sai.

I am so happy to be stuck with You, my Sai.

Even in Your crowded temple, You give me complete attention.

You reserve the best place for me in Your temple and shield me from disturbance.

You save part of Your food because it is my favorite dish. J

You play my most favorite bhajans and prolong Your worship.

You pick me from devotees gathered and allow me to perform Aarti for You!

You celebrate my birthday in a special way.

You solve jumble, crossword, sudoku to score high J

All this is only because of Your immense true love for me, my Sai.

I am so happy to be stuck with You, my Sai.        

                 

I beg You SAI, now and forever, stick with me and help me be stuck with You. Amen