Shri Sai Satcharita - Final Chapter with Sai Aarati

EPILOGUE

Now we come to the last Chapter (No. 52 in the original). In this Hemadpant gave his concluding remarks and promised to give an index, giving the contents of all the Chapters in verse as is given in Marathi sacred books, but unfortunately that index was not found in Hemadpant’s papers. It was therefore, composed and supplied by an able and worthy devotee of Sai Baba, Mr. B.V. Deo (Retired Mamlatdar) of Thana. As we give in English books an index in the beginning and contents of each Chapter at its top, we need not consider the last index Chapter here; and so we consider this Chapter as the Epilogue.

Unfortunately Hemadpant did not survive to revise the manuscript of this Chapter and made it ready for the press. When it was sent to the press Mr. Deo found it to be incomplete and unintelligible in certain places; but it had to be published as it was found. The chief topics dealt therein are briefly given below.

Greatness of Sadhguru Sai

We prostrate ourselves before and take refuge in that Sai Samarth Who besets all animate and inanimate things in the universe-from a post to God Brahma, pots, houses, mansions and even sky, Who pervades all creatures equally without any differentiation, to Whom all devotees are alike; and Who knows not honor and dishonor, like or dislike. If we remember Him and surrender to Him, He fulfills all our desires and makes us attain the goal of life.

This ocean of mundane existence is very hard to cross. Waves of infatuation beat high there against the bank of bad thoughts and break down trees of fortitude. The breeze of egoism blows forcibly and makes the ocean rough and agitated. Crocodiles in the form of anger and hatred move there fearlessly. Eddies in the form of the idea "I and Mine" and other doubts whirl there incessantly and innumerable fishes in the form of censure, hate and jealousy play there, though this ocean is so fierce and terrible, Sadhguru Sai is its Agasti (Destroyer) and the devotees of Sai have not the least to fear of it. Our Sadguru is the boat, which will safety take us across this ocean.

Prayer

Now let us prostrate before Sai Baba and holding His Feet make the following prayer for the public:- Let not our mind wander and desire anything except Thee. Let this work (Satcharita) be in every house and let it be studied daily. Ward off the calamities of those who study it regularly.

Fala-Shruti (Reward of Study)

Now a few words about the reward you get, from a study of this work. After bathing in the sacred Godavari and after taking the darshan of the Samadhi in the Samadhi-Mandir in Shirdi, you should read or hear the Satcharita. When you do this, all your threefold afflictions will vanish.

Casually thinking about the stories of Sai, you will get unconsciously interested in spiritual life and if you then go on through the work with love, all your sins will be destroyed. If you wish to get rid of the cycle of births and deaths, read Sai's stories and remember Him always; and get yourself attached (devoted) to His Feet. If you dive into the sea of Sai's stories, and then give them out to others, you will get an ever-new flavor of them and save the hearers from perdition. If you go on meditating on Sai's Form, it will in course of time disappear and lead you into self-realization.

It is very hard to know or realize the nature of Self or Brahma, but if you approach through the Sagun Brahma (Sai's Form) your progress will be easy. If the devotee completely surrenders himself to Him, he will lose his individuality and be merged in Him and be one with Him, as the river in the sea. If you thus become merged with Him in any of the three states, viz., waking, dream and sleep, you get rid of the bond of samsara. If anybody after bathing reads this with love and faith, and completes it within a week, his calamities will disappear; or if he hears or reads it daily and regularly all his dangers will be warded off. By its study, a man wishing for wealth will get it and a pure trader, success in his life. He will get the reward according to his faith and devotion. Without these, there will be no experience of any kind.

If you read the Satcharita respectfully, Sai will be pleased, and removing your ignorance and poverty, He will give you knowledge, wealth and prosperity. With concentrated mind, if you read a Chapter daily, it will give you unbounded happiness. One who has his own welfare at heart, should study it carefully and then he will ever remember Sai gratefully and joyfully in birth after birth. This work should be read at home especially on Guru Poornima (Ashadha full-moon day), Gokul-Ashtami, Rama-Navami and Dasara

(Baba's anniversary). If you study this one book carefully, all your desires will be satisfied and if you always remember Sai's Feet in your heart, you will easily cross the Bhava (Samsar) sugar. By its study, the diseased and sick will get health, the poor wealth, the mean and afflicted the prosperity, and the mind will get rid of all ideas and get steadiness.

Dear good and devoted readers and listeners, we also make our bow to you all, and make you a special request. Never forget Sai whose stories you have read day by day or month by month. The more fervently you read or listen to these stories, the more encouragement Sai gives us to serve you and be of use to you. Both the author and the readers must co-operate in this work, help each other and be happy.

Prasad-Yachana

We close this with prayer to the Almighty for the following Prasad of favor: - May the readers and devotees get complete and whole-hearted devotion to Sai's Feet. May Sai’s  form be ever fixed in their eyes and may they see Sai (the Lord) in all beings. Amen!

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

AARATI

Arati Sai Baba
Composed By: Shri Madhavrao Vamanrao Adkar

1)     Aarti Sai Baba, saukhyadaataara jeeva. Charana rajaatalee
Dhyaava daasaan visaawaa, bhaktaa visaawaa. Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: We do Aarti to Sai Baba, the soul that and the giver of happiness to all. Give refuge to the downtrodden devotees who are at your feet. We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

2)     Jaaluniyaan aananng swaswaroopee raahe dhanga
Mumukshu janaan daavee nija dolaan Sreeranga, dolaan Sreeranga Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: Burn the desires. To the seekers of Self, teach them the way to get Moksha (state of pure bliss). With their own eyes they see the Lord Vishnu (Sriranga). We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

3)    Jayaa manee jaisaa bhaava tayaa taisaa anubhava
Daawisee dayaaghanaa aisee tujzee hee maava tujzeeheemaava Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: You grant suitable experiences to everybody in accordance with their Faith and devotion. O, merciful one, such is your way.O kind one. We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

4)     Tumache naama dhyaataan hare sansrithi vyathaa
Agaadha tava karanee maarga daawisee anaadhaa,daawisee anaadhaa Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: Meditation of your name removes the worldly sufferings. Your actions are unfathomable. Show the path to unfortunate ones. We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

5)     Kaliyugee avataara saguna parabrahm saachara
Avateerna jhaalase swami Datta digambara, Datta digambara

Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: In this age of Kaliyug (The dark and troublsome age of present ), you are true incarnation of Brahama, that has taken form and descended on this earth. You are also Swami Datta digambar (Three-headed diety who is considered as combined incarnation of Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara). Datta digambar. We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

6)     Aattan divasaan guruwaaree bhakta karitee waaree
Prabhupada pahaavayaa bhavabhaya niwaree, bhaya niwaree Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: On Thursdays, every week, the devotees take a trip (to Shirdi), to have a glimpse of the Lord’s feet and to avert their worldly fears. We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

7)    Maajan nija dravya tteewaa tav charan rajasevaa
Maagane hechiyaataa tumhan devaadhideva, Devaadhideva

Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: The only wealth I desire is to serve at thy feet. O Lord of Lords. We do Aarti to you Sai Baba.

8)   Ichchita deena chaatak nirmala toya nijasookha
Paajaawe maadhavaa yaa saambhal aapulee bhaaka, aapulee bhaaka Aarti Sai Baba

Meaning: Just as the chatak bird desires to drink pure raw water, so O Lord! Kindly give me also your assurance (that I will receive such direct knowledge).

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all