BABA AND NANA--CHANDORKAR AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION

The following is a conversation which a devotee, Nana Govind Chandorkar, a Deputy Collector who was a traditionally well read orthodox person, had with Shirdi Sai Baba.



Nana: Baba, I am fed up with this saMsAra. It is only nissAra. Please help me cut the bonds which bind me to it. What appears as pleasant in the beginning ends in misery. Fate tosses us hither and thither. I don’t see an iota of happiness in this saMsAra.
Baba: Nana, you are prattling like a mad man. What you say is only partially true. You have misunderstood the truth. The saMsAra will exist as long as the body exists. No one can escape from it. How can you? Even I am under its clutches. The saMsAra is varied and different. It is the work of Desire and Anger. All the vagaries of the mind and the body constitute saMsAra. By running away and hiding yourself in a forest you cannot escape it. What you are now has been brought on you by yourself. You are only experiencing the fruits of your actions done by you in your previous lives. It is by that cause the effect of the appearance of this body has taken place. This is called deha-prArabdha. The soul gets a body just to experience the consequences of actions of its own previous lives. Without experiencing the consequences of prArabdha karma one cannot leave this world. Why do people look different? Why, in fact, do various living beings look different? It is all because of the karma of previous lives. A rich man’s dog rolls in joy on a cushioned sofa. A poor man’s dog rots at the street corner. The difference is because of prArabdha.
Nana: Since pleasure and pain do any way alternate in this samsAra, one feels like hating it and renouncing it. Is it not good to renounce?
Baba: Pleasure and pain are both mAyA. What appears as pleasant is not really a pleasure. People in the clutches of samsAra take the appearance of pleasure as real pleasure and are drawn towards it. As a result of prArabdha karma one fellow gets tasty, dainty and rich food while another felllow has onoly stale bread to eat. The former thinks that he has no wants and the latter thinks he is a failure. Think well. Whatever you may eat, the result is the same. Appeasement of one’s hunger. One fellow covers his body with costly cloth with zari and all. Another does the same with a torn old rag. Both serve the same purpose. Pleasure and pain depend on the attitude of your mind. This is the effect of mAyA. Do not give place in your mind to thoughts of pleasure and pain.
mAyA manifests itself as the six enemies of Man.: Lust, Anger, Greed, Delusion, Pride and Envy. They make non-real things appear as real. A poor man, seeing the rich man wearing a gold ornament, wishes to have one like that for himself. This is greed. The others are similar to this. Conquer all six of these foes of Man. No desire will then rise in the mind. Otherwise you will become a slave of these six rogues. Use your discretion and kill them. You will not be affected by pleasure and pain caused by mAyA.
Let me tell you how you should go about in this samsAra. A wise person will be content with whatever he has, knowing full well that it is his prArabdha. If you have riches, be humble. A tree with more fruits in it will bend. But do not bend before all. One should certainly be firm and stern with wicked people. But with sAdhus and the devout, you should show humility and modesty.
Spend your wealth in charity and dharma. But do not be extravagant. This body is certainly impermanent but so long as it is there, wealth is necessary to a certain extent. Even bile is necessary for the health of the body. But do not become greedy as money is the be-all and end-all of life. Be charitable. But do not do wasteful expenditure.
Observe happily all the goings-on in the world. Do not forget God. Remember always: ‘This samsAra is not mine, it is God’s.’ Show your sympathy with the poor and the down-trodden. Do not hurt them by showing hate or disgust. Keep a constant mental analysis of the question: ‘Who am I?’
Nana: Baba, Who is God? How will He look? Where is He? How can we see Him?
Baba: Those who toil in samsAra neither understand what is right and wrong nor do they comprehen the nature of God. Pure thoughts are absent in them. Constantly being immersed in the ocean of samsAra they do not have faith in devotion or in the scriptures. They don’t reach God. They go towards hell.
On the other hand those who are eager to rise higher towards salvation, discard this state of bondage and begin to enquire wiuth discretion and intelligence. They are always itching to see God. They develop bhakti towards Him and observe the laws of the scriptures. They adopt nAma-japa and dhyAna and become a sAdhaka (an aspirant to reach God). They continuously move with the devout. When they reach a mature stage in their japa and dhyAna they become saintly. In that stage God and Man are alike. Praise and blame are one and the same for them. Desires have left them. The thought of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ are not any more there. They begin to see that their own AtmA and God are the same. They realize ‘I am brahman".
Observe how each one of them has reached God. You will yourself then understand that God permeates all animate and inanimate objects in the world.
God is everywhere. There is no place where He is not. What prevents us from seeing Him is the power of mAyA. I, you, this world, all are part of ISvara. Therefore no one should hate another. Never forget that the Lord is everywhere. That will generate Love in you. When love overflows, everything is obtained

A PATH TO YOUR DWELLING

How am I to come to you,

When I stand outside a locked gate?

The path to your dwelling

Runs steep and dangerous.

In fear I CLIMB,STEP BY STEP,So steep and dangerous.

O SAI,you seem so far away

That my mind goes up and down.

As I climb the sentinels watch

And robbers wait to waylay me.Though the path to your dwelling

Is steep and dangerous

You have called me home.

My wanderings have ended.

I HAVE FOUND MY WAY TO YOUR FEET

WHAT DOES THE LOOK ON HIS FACE INDICATE OF HIS ATTITUDE?

THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS MADE BY SRI ACHARYA E.BHARADWAJA HAD A DEEP IMPACT ON ME .THE SAME SENTIMENTS SEEMED TO RESONATE INSIDE ME WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT HIS FACE DURING THE DHOOP AARTHI

Was he overwhelmed with compassion for the devotees who came to pay homage,adore and worship him

Or in that mood was he oblivious of his seperate existence,his gaze fixed on the Divine MYSTERY,the ONE OMNIPRESENT SPIRIT?

or WAS IT A LOOK OF RECOGNITION OF THAT ANCIENT SPIRIT,OF HIS

CONTACT WITH THOSE TEEMING CROWDS THAT HAD CONTACTED HIM THROUGH THEIR PREVIOUS COUNTLESS LIVES?And ,was that smile pregnant with his joy of their future possibility of reaching the spiritual summit? Or was he lost in ceaseless contemplation of the one spirit,in his at-one-ment?Or does it signify the PEACE THAT PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING?Or is there a possibility that at a HIGHER level of consciosness all these could co-exist without one interrupting the other?

THIS LAST THOUGHT HE SAYS FLASHED WITH A PARTICULAR INTENSITY AND HIS SPIRIT LEAPT FORTH TO COMPREHEND HOW HE WAS VIEWING ALL EXISTENCE

IS THIS UNIVERSE OF MYRIAD FORMS AN IMAGE PROJECTED IN HIS CONSCIOUSNESS?AND AM I,THEN ,TOO,A THOUGHT IN HIS MIND AND ALL THESE MY THOUGHTS PART OF IT? HE FURTHER GOES ON TO SAY

I AM AWARE HOW ABSURD THESE WORDS MUST LOOK TO ANYONE.

But how ELSE can they be when i verbalise that WHICH CANNOT BE EXPRESSED?

shirdi sai and dakshinamoorthy

IN THIS POST I WISH TO

HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER ASPECT OF

SAI SADGURU AND I WISH TO

POINT OUT THE SIMILARITIES

WITH DAKSHINAMOORTHI

Dakshinamurthy is an aspect of Shiva as a guru (teacher) of all types of knowledge, particularly the jnana. This aspect of Shiva is his personification as the supreme or the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge. This form represents Shiva in his aspect as a teacher of yoga, music, and wisdom, and giving exposition on the shastras. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, Dakshinamurthi, Lord Siva, as a youthful Guru, has been the symbol of the potency of a silent mind from time immemorial. His exposition of the truth, the 'Brahma Tatva', to elderly disciples was through silence. These disciples had mastered the scriptures but not their essence. Their doubts were set at naught in the vast and all pervading silence of Dakshinamurthi

SAI APOSTLE NARASIMHA SWAMIJI HAS SAID--BABA LIKE DAKSHINAMOORTHI CONVEYED EDIFICATION,LIGHT AND BLISS WITHOUT UTTERING A SINGLE WORD.THE TEACHER SIMPLY GLOWED WITH HIS LIGHT BLISS,THE RADIATION OF WHICH ENVELOPED,SATURATED AND SWALLOWED UP THE SELF OF THE DEVOTEES

WITHOUT ANY EFFORT AT LEARNING OR REPEATING SOUNDS AND GRASPING THEIR MEANING OR FORCE AT ONE STROKE, AS THOUGH

BY MAGIC..THE BEING OF THE DEVOTEE WAS ABSORBED INTO THE BEING OF THE GURU AND BECAME THAT OR PART OF THAT..KNOWLEDGE ,POWER AND SUPEROR NATURE BLOSSOMED OUT

AND HID THE FORMER PETTY ,POWERLESS AND WRETCHED NATURE OF THE DEVOTEE.
In Sai's system, (as Sri Narasimha Swamiji puts it), the Guru undertakes every responsibility for the devotee that surrenders himself. The devotee is there styled 'the Ankita', i.e., the stamped child of the Guru. Everything concerning that pupil is looked after by the Guru, with his wonderful superhuman powers

The Dakshinamurthy stotram (Hymn eulogising Dakshinamurthy), viewed as a form of Shiva is a stotra form of the theory or philosophy ofAdvaita vedanta

HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP PURE AND EXCLUSIVE LOVE FOR SAI

THESE ARE SOME METHODS TO DEVELOP PURE AND EXCLUSIVE LOVE FOR SAI

1)Listen to,ponder over

,read and recite the sweet honey like anecdotes illustrating the qualities ,loving nature and greatness of sai

2)Associate with those persons who have faith in sai and love him without earthly gain

3)Repeat and recite loudly the epithets of love on sai,fixing the mind on his divine nature

4)Obey the divine laws and remain cheerful under all circumstances whether favourable or adverse taking it as a divine dispensation.

5)Strive for the good in all creatures knowing them to be his fragments

6)Be eager to grasp His TRUE NATUREand get HIS VISION

7)Pray to SAI in seclusion in A PITEOUS TONE

PRAYER IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LORDSHIP OF SAI OVER OURSELVES,OF OUR FINITUDE AND HIS INFINITUDE AND SUPREME GREATNESS.ALL OUR ILLS ARE DUE TO SEPERATION FROM HIM AND PRAYER IS THE MOST POTENT MEANS OF REBINDING OURSELVES WITH HIM .. .THE MOMENT ONE BEGINS TO PINE IN LOVE FOR THE LORD AND FEELS LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER THE BLISSFUL LORD MANIFESTS HIMSELF IN HIS BEWITCHING FORM

shirdi sai and dattatreya

IN THIS POST I WISH TO DELVE INTO THE

SAI-DATTA LINK.SAI WAS A SAMPOORNA DATTA AVATAR

It is said in the Hindu scriptures that the foremost in line of the divine teachers to incarnate on earth is Sri Dattatreya. To enable mankind to realize the ultimate truth which is but difficult to comprehend; the Lord kindly consented to incarnate on earth from time to time. The first and foremost time is considered to be as the son of Anasuya and Sage Atri to fulfill the promise as a boon to Anasuya. The Lord born to them was called "Datta Atreya", of which the later word is patronymic derived from Atri. Sri Datta, the Lord of the Avadhutas (the naked sages), first taught the highest truth to Sri Parasurama from whom it was passed on to Sri Haritayana and so on. Thus started the lineage of divine teachers on earth. The lord did promise that this tradition would continue till the earth remained in orbit. In the line of divine teachers many names are taken across the world, some very well known and some unknown. But one thing is common to all these divine teachers; they are pretty much self realized, reflect a personality that is very difficult to comprehend, majority of them have their early life shrouded in mystery and their life is dedicated to spiritual evolution of souls that get attracted to them. The tradition of Sri Datta also referred to as "Datta Parampara" continues uninterrupted even after so many millions of years.

Many consider Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi as being in the lineage of Shri Dattatreya. By His life and stories, Shri Sainath did propound the same principles that were first taught by Sri Dattatreya and by many divine teachers since then. Sri Sai Baba's teachings are more geared towards the current age yet the fundamentals remain unchanged. Among the few books Shri Sainath encouraged his devotees to read and listen was Sri Gurucharitra, the book on life and teachings of Shri Dattatreya! Not only did he encourage reading but to one devotee he explained the meaning of it too! When one reads Sri Guruchartitra they will find many parallels in the stories with that in the life of Sri Sainath. It can't be mere coincidence or chance that lead to this!

O Sai! Thou art the Datta Tatva

Who teacheth us to learn from everything. O Baba!

The year 1910 is written in gold on the heart of each of Your devotees, for that was the year that Govindrao Dabholkar alias Hemadpant visited Shirdi. On seeing You grinding wheat, his curiosity was aroused, and he wished with all his heart to write Your biography. When he did bow before You to seek Your permission through Shama, You were moved, and blessed him by giving him Your udi (vibhuti) and placing Your boon-bestowing hand on his head with these words, "Make a collection of stories and experiences; keep notes and memos; I'll help you. You are only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees. When your ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it, Myself shall enter into you and shall write Myself."(Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter 2) And Baba! rest is history, history of the God who descended on earth, history of the God who walked on the soil of Shirdi for 60 years. Nay, Baba! Nay, it is the history of the God who is still, and ever will be with His devotees wherever they be. O my Sadguru! Your 'entry into him' made him experience an epiphany, a spiritual flash that You are an "incarnation of Lord Dattatreya"

Hari Om Tatsat Jai Guru Datta Hari Om Tatsat Jai Guru Datta SAINATHA RUPA JAI GURU DATTA HARI OM TAT SATH JAI GURU DATTA

SAI SAVANT-8 SRI SIVANESAN SWAMIJI

Param Pujya Gurudev SREE SIVANESAN SWAMIJI
He who dwelt near the Boughs of the Neem tree at Shirdi
Offered with many reverential bows at Pujya Gurudev’s Feet.
Zarine (Uma)
courtesy - Shri Sai Leela, July-August 1998
SWAMIJI’S LIFE AND WORKS
Parma Pujya Sree Sivanesan Swamiji was born as the third and last child of Smt. Alamelu and Shri. Muthaiah on 12th April 1927. It was the holy day of Sree Ramnavami. His birthplace was Nayakkan Palayam in Coimbatore District of Tamilnadu, the then Madras State. It was the sound of the ringing temple bells, celebrating the day of Lord Ram’s birth that greeted him.
It is said that the babe already had two front teeth and a ‘jata’ (small tuft of hair at the back of the head) when he was born. Astrologers foretold that he would not lead the life of householder but would become an ascetic or sanyasi.
During his childhood, he showed early signs of withdrawing from mundane world. He was aloof, quiet, calm and meditative, retreating into solitary places - often forgetting about his food, which he ate alone, as he often not present at mealtimes, to join the family. He had very fond memories of his maternal grandmother at whose home he spent some happy times; and also of his paternal uncle who had a good collection of books, which greatly interested young Sivanesan.
His formal education was only up to the eighth standard. This was not due to any paucity of family funds; but because he was not interested in the pursuit of bookish knowledge. His family was of good standing, cultured and of comfortable means. Later in life, his brother held a position of status in a textile mill in south India.
Sivanesan Swamiji worked in his youth as a Record Room Assistant at the High Court of Madras, on a temporary basis, for a short time. This seemed to leave a strong mark on him because he could marshal his facts more ably than a brilliant lawyer could. He also had a phenomenal memory.
In Coimbatore, he worked as a helper in the Electricity Department, on daily wages, for some time. Actually, he was too young to hold any such position and had to hide in the fields, when there was a visit from the Inspector of the Department.
Out of all the short-term occupations, he loved his position as a sales assistant in a bookshop, which he undertook because of his love for books. But as he showed a keener interest in reading the books, rather than in selling them, he lost that job.
After the death of his mother, he left his home never to return, due to his spiritual leaning. He reached Bombay, after his wanderings, during the Navy Bandh month of 1944, at a tender age of seventeen. He did many jobs for his livelihood; such as, at an art silk weaving unit, selling bananas etc., He always lost his job or made losses in his small business ventures. He even worked as a railway porter at Sion railway station. He sometimes became roadside scribe, outside Matunga Post Office, earning the odd four annas (present day twenty five paise) for his daily needs.
The friendships he struck up in Bombay were only with those who showed interest in the pursuit of the Self. Some of those persons disappointed him by leaving the Path and opting for worldly lives. Also, he befriended those who were in need, providing them with cheer and food of which he had very little himself. Matunga, Mahim, Sion were his haunts; and the seashore was a place for his meditation.
But in Sree Muthaiah Swami, who hailed from Vallanadu Village of Coimbatore District, he met his MENTOR. Though Sree Muthaiah was a householder, he really considered him as his GURU, par excellence; and made spiritual progress under him, learning much about the Self, Meditation, Vedanta etc.,
Bombay was not to be Sivanesan Swamiji’s home for a long time. Again he wandered, spending some time in the ‘math’ of Sree Nityanand Swamiji at Vajreshwari. He deeply venerated Nityanand Swamiji and had the good fortune of being in His Divine Presence, drinking deeply of the Knowledge he imparted.
The desire to find and meet the Divinity he saw in his meditation again uprooted him. There was a Divine Call, which he could not deny. So, he moved on Tryambakeshwar, in Nasik District, became his next halting place. He grew very close to Mauni Baba there, who was not observing ‘moun’ or silence, then. After a very congenial stay, he left for Shirdi, with a great wrench for both of them. He put his feet on the sacred soil of Shirdi in 1953, around Sree Ramnavami time, to be with the Jagathguru Sainath Maharaj, the Divinity since his early years and his Master.
Shirdi was home. After reaching Shirdi, he never crossed the borders of Shirdi, except on some special occasions. In fact, in his latter years, he did not even leave the temple complex. He was hospitalized once a private clinic; and on one occasion he crossed the main road to go to the Sainath Hospital to meet a patient. There was a panic among those who beheld that scene, as they feared that he was leaving Shirdi. In the early years, his Guru came to Shirdi to tend him through a severe illness. And in his last days, he refused to be treated at Bombay for cancer, as he could not think of leaving Shirdi.
In Shirdi, at the outset, there was no place for him to lay his head, not any sustenance for him. He learnt to live with nature, eating a variety of ‘Jaswanti flowers and living on the rare cup of tea that was offered to him. His Guru had impose a rule on him, never to beg. So, he starved, rather than breaks the rule.
At last, a certain Chandbhai gave him refuge in the Kanifnath Mandir near Post Office. Also, Sai Baba responded his prayer to somehow provide him with the wherewithal for one square meal daily. The few books that he had brought with him were his most precious belongings, and he keenly felt their loss if they were stolen or borrowed and not returned. He always treasured books and reading.
Once he was in Shirdi, the abode of the Divinity appearing in his meditation from an early age, he abided at His Feet. He spent his time in ‘seva’ or selfless service, wherever or whenever he could be it in the Kanifnath Mandir, or the Maruti Mandir, the Ganapati - Shani - Shankar temples, the Ashta Mahalaxmi Temple, or at the Dwarakamayi, Chavadi and Lendi Baugh. The rest of his time he spent in long and austere meditation, from which it was difficult to arouse him, even by mischievous children’s pranks. He had visions; but it was very difficult to make him speak about them. It is however known that he once saw Sai Baba and Nityanand Swamiji together at Lendi Baugh.
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan was under the control of the Court Receiver for some years. When the incumbent Court receiver observed the sincere and selfless services of Swamiji for some time, he entrusted some duties to him, such as lighting the evening lamps in various places. Swamiji recalled that there were thirteen in all. More particularly, Swamiji as asked to look after the Chavadi on Thursdays. (In those days the Chavadi was kept open for devotees, only on Thursdays) Of course, Dwarakamayee was also a scene of his activity and he tended the Dhuni with great love. His clothes became full of soot, but he did not care for his appearance.
Swamiji performed all his tasks to the utmost satisfaction of the Receiver. He undertook the cleaning of Dwarakamayi, Gurusthan and even the Nanda Deep and Dutta Mandir in the Lendi Baugh. The sandalwood ‘tilak’ was applied by him on Baba’s photos and many deities before the aratis and the evening lamps were lit in various places. In return for his dedicated services, he was allowed to sleep in a room adjoining the Dwarakamayi.
When it was learnt that he knew several languages, including English, Marathi and many South Indian languages, Swami was entrusted with the work of writing names and addresses on the envelopes used for sending UDI as ‘prasad’ to the devotees who sent money orders. Then, the Sansthan gave him Rs. 15/- per month as honorarium. The money was well utilized by him for the needs of others. At a later stage, the Sansthan also provided food for him. When his duties made him very weary, he began curtailing some of them and exclusively attended to the Chavadi after it was kept open on a daily basis. He decorated the Chavadi especially for the ‘Palki’ procession on Thursdays. Those who had the privilege to witness that can never forget the scene.
It was second nature to him to serve Baba, through His devotee. As the surge of devotees increased, Swamiji fulfilled their needs and guided them so that they could take full spiritual advantage of their visit to Shirdi. He bought books in different languages and presented them to the devotees. That is how he used a large proportion of the ‘Dakshina’ that was offered to him, if any. By setting an example himself, he taught the importance of ‘seva’ to all - especially to the sick, the lepers and the needy. He encouraged devotees to set up Sai Baba temples in their own towns and villages in India and abroad. A sine qua of Sai Baba Temples had to be ‘Akhand Deep’ and ‘Akhand Dhuni’ - perpetual light and fire.
He began to have a vast following because of his innate humanity, good nature, sense of humour, patience and deep knowledge of Shirdi lore. He read voraciously and made the fullest use of the Sansthan library, delving into the old issued of the Sai Leela Magazines, in Marathi, to learn more about Sainath. He encouraged devotees to write about Sai Baba, providing them with rich material, garnered by him from his readings and his talks with the old residents of Shirdi. Acharya Bharatwaja and others were helped by him in writing their books on Sainath. He also encouraged devotees to undertake translations from Marathi into English, Hindi, Kanada, Tamil, Malayalam, so that Sai Baba would be known in every corner of India and all parts of the world.
‘Satsang’ with various devotees in different languages was carried out on at all hours, even in the last hours of the night; and sometimes, till the early morning hours. Sitting in one ultra room, under a staircase of the Sansthan’s administrative building, opposite the Gurusthan, in the last few years, Swamiji spread Sainath’s message, throughout the world. He was Love Incarnate. Like orchids clinging to an oak tree, the devotees received their sustenance from him; draining him of his strength and energy. They basked in the sunshine of his love and in the ambrosial gentleness of his cool moonbeam mien and speech a few soft words from him, here and there, tell like gentle cool drops of water on their heads and hearts. They were bathed in that nectar. The hardest hearts were converted to gold by association with him. The alchemy worked invariably, even in the case of the most sinful ones. He was always distributing Udi and Tirth, to as many as he could. And he tailored his teaching to the different devotees, according to their aptitudes. He skillfully used Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga, as Sainath did.
When devotees left Shirdi, Swamiji invariably presented them with some spiritual book, or book of bhajans or photos of Baba. There were no empty hands and no empty hearts. Just a sense of fulfillment and ecstasy!
The practice of doing Akand Nama Japa of Tarak Mantra “Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai”, by groups of devotees started with his benediction. The group from Hyderabad has made this into a fine art, carrying the message of Sai to ,many towns and cities in India. Even in UK and USA, this is a routine practice now. On one occasion, the Hyderabad group did the Japa continuously for 108 days! Japa and Anna-dana go hand in hand. This Sadhana is undertaken without financial arrangements, with the deep and abiding faith that Sainath would provide; and He has always lived up to their expectations.
‘Pradakshina’ was favourite activity of his - round the Gurusthan, and round the Nanda Deep and the Dutta Mandir in the Lendi Baugh. The speed with which he did the ‘Pradakshina’ (circumambulation) was phenomenal and dizzying. He urged many devotees to follow suit, with many beneficial efforts, especially vis-a-vis their health.
Swamiji was well versed in herbal medication and would promptly spell out to the afflicted devotees a course to follow, which would invariably cure them completely or at least give considerable relief. After all, afflictions come because of Karma; therefore, sometimes, the complete cure was not possible.
He believed in Dhuni Puja, participation in Satyanarayana Puja and skillfully advised devotees about them. His teaching method was simple, through allegoric stories and parables. He strongly advocated ‘Anna-dana’ (food distribution)as a good charitable deed. He jokingly said that he was only a kindergarten teacher. Even a question posed by him was, in fact, a lesson in discrimination.
However, Swamiji never discriminated between the devotees - the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, men and women, young and old were part of his fold. Nor did he think about the caste, creed or religion of the devotees. He was very humane and guided the devotees in their worldly and spiritual matters. Though those who had the privilege of being taught by him considered him as their Guru, and he was fondly and reverentially addressed as ‘Gurudev’, ‘Swamiji’ or even ‘Baba’, he always said that he was a Sai Sevak and never thought of himself as Guru. He did not generally permit his devotees to worship him or do ‘puja’ to him. Even if he allowed it for sometime, so as not to hurt the sentiments of the devotees, he put a gentle stop and advised the devotee to do whatever he/she desired, in the privacy of the home. His birthday also was not allowed to be observed - there was one exception in the year 1993, due to exceptional circumstances, when forty years of his stay in Shirdi were commemorated.
The devotees were also told about the greatness of saints like Devi Mayi Amma of Salem, Videhi Annusaya Mata of Padasinga, ram Reddy Tatha of Kurnool, Nayampalli Baba of Hyderablad and others. Those who expressed desires to have '‘darshan'’ of such saints were encouraged to do so. Even visits to other Kshetra and Tirthas were made possible with his grace; particularly in areas close to Shirdi, such as Nevasa, Shanisingnapur, Tryambakeshwar. Stays in Ashrams such as Sivananda Swamiji's Ashram, near Rishikesh, were advocated as beneficial. Those devotees, who had the urge to write were invariably advised to go to Baser, for the darshan of Goddess Saraswati.
His life was simple. His clothes consisted of cotton towel wrapped round his waist (like mundu); a ‘kopri’ or Maharashrian vest, with a pocket and half sleeves; and an uparna or smaller towel wrapped round his head to cover his long hair, in an unique turban. In the cold weather, an old, grey, v-neck sweater was added, as he was always susceptible to chills and wracking coughs. All items of clothing presented to him, including expensive shawls and sweaters, dothis etc. Were distributed by him to the poor and needy. Even three days before he took Mahasamadhi, he ordered such distribution of extra blankets and bed clothes that had been brought during his short period of illness, which restricted him to his pallet. He always slept on the floor, spreading a blanket and thick bedspread on the floor; his ‘asan’ was a gunnysack, with a paper stuffed pillowcase as a bolster.
He braved the sun and the rain, and gave away the umbrellas also. Of course, he never wore any footwear from his early years. He wandered also with bare feet. He was strongly averse to doing ‘hatya’, or killing even of cockroaches, bugs and rats. All these creatures thrived in his room. He died not seem to notice them. But, it he saw the repugnance of the devotees for them, he would skillfully and swiftly scoop them up in his bare hands and release them a few yards away, in the open.
Whereas he had starved in his early days at Shirdi, there was an abundance of ‘naivedya’ food offered to him latterly. But he rarely ate a morsel or two, mostly from the food provided by the Sansthan. He distributed the food to all the visitors who savoured it as ‘prasad’, or gave it to his devotees who were residing in Shirdi and were dependent on him, or to the poor. He was very abstemious and knew no pleasure of the palate. But, when a devotee innocently made an offering of a food item, which he had savoured in his childhood, especially at his grandmother’s home, he grew nostalgic and set it aside. A bread stick was one such item, which he set aside, not to savour it, but as a souvenir! Fruits, dry-fruits, sweetmeats came in abundance, but he quickly distributed everything, walking in the footsteps of the Master, Sai Baba.
Lots of fruits and sweetmeats were distributed after the bhajans he conducted in the Chavadi every day, after the evening arati, for about one hour. He sang in an incredibly sweet voice; and knew hundreds of bhajans by heart, some of which he may have composed himself. The devotees got some of these bhajans printed in little booklets. At one time, there were a number of resident devotees who participated in the singing with different instruments; and a variety of bhajans were sung. There was joy and devotion in all hearts as they sat before Swamiji, who gave the ‘tal’ (beats) with his rod of guarus (bells) that he beat on a coiled mound of cloth, set upon a small tripod. He led the bhajan, with correct words from memory. This practice was carried on for more than twenty years till his last and terrible illness, which took its toll in less than three weeks after it was diagnosed. When many of the skilled singers left Shirdi, the repertoire of the bhajans became limited, and Swamiji carried on his public ‘Satsang’ with a fixed sequence and a daily repetition of the same bhajans. The ‘Sai-Bhavani’ written by Vasant Ranpise, was a great favourite and was invariably sung to a simple tune. Today, the Chavadi is silent in the evenings, and his absence from the scene is poignantly felt.
During the four and a half decades, approximately, that Swamiji spent in Shirdi, he became the best apostle of Sai Baba. His ‘seva’ to Baba and Baba’s devotees was sincere, whole-hearted and selfless. He served ‘Baba Malik’ and his life was an example to all.
He breathed his last at 0.10 hrs on Monday, 12th February 1996, at Shirdi and merged in to the Divine Light of Sai Baba. Sivanesan, the Jnanadeepam of Shirdi, was no more in body. Many believe that the swinging of the ‘kandil’ in Dwarakamayi portended this event. Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi has been built in Shirdi, off Pimpalwadi Road, two and a half kilometers away from the Sansthan’s Prasadalaya, by his devotees on the land of Meher Dhun Endowment. This land had been purchased by a couple of years before Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi, to establish an Ashram for Sainath’s and Swamiji’s devotees; and a Gurukulam. But, destiny had snatched away Swamiji’s bodily presence. Nevertheless, the devotees will be raising a suitable memorial there, after the requisite permissions are received from the Government of Maharashtra and various local authorities. They are eagerly awaited.

Sivanesan Swamiji believed in the well-known lines of a bhajan, he often sang: -
Haridwar, Mathura, Kashi
Shirdi mein saba thirtha samaye hai
Sai Baba ke charano mein
Charo dhama hamare hai
Shirdi is a pilgrimage place in which Haridwar, Madhura and Kashi are all embraced and encompassed. All our four great places of worship are found at Sai Baba’s Holy Feet.
Pujya Swamiji’s bodily presence is acutely missed by all those who come in close touch with him. Many have not been able to visit Shirdi after his Mahasamadhi. A light has gone from Shirdi; and those whose lives were illumined by it, feel they are in deep darkness. May Sainath’s and Swamiji’s blessings be showered on them, so that they may unitedly, co-operatively, harmoniously, joyously and lovingly serve the ideals which were assiduously inculcated in them by Swamiji.
Offered with many reverential bows at Pujya Gurudev’s Feet.
Zarine (Uma)

SAI SAVANT-7 SRI ANAND SAI OF NAGPUR

THE INFORMATION GIVEN BELOW

IS FROM HIS FOLLOWERS

Our "Upanishads" and "Granthas" say that one needs a Guide to attain the ultimate goal.The Guide is one who has already reached the ultimate Goal and Known the pros and cons of the path He Himself has tread. He alone can guide us and sava us from the unseen potholes on the path. This Guide is God sent. The Guide, has all the Divine qualities engraves in Him.This Guide is Known as "Guru". The Guru ,the Guide with all the Divine qualities first works as a megnet. He pulls all the souls which come in His contact. And ,let it be clear that one cannot come in cntact with such a God sent Guide without the wish of Almighty. TheGuide,the Guru with His Divine looks, sweet Nectar words and all knowing,all merceiful Gaze starts transfroming the ones who are in His contact i.e. to say the Guru now works as"Paras".



We are amongest, the very few lucky ones who were bestowed by His Divine Grace. The magnet. Our beloved Gurudev shri Anand Sai ji pulled us. Then the paras in Him started working. By His Divine Grace the transfromation process started. Gurudev our PAPA held us from the deep unseen trenches and po holes on the way. While saving us He Himself suffered numerous physical pains,unshown, unhold, unknown to us. As a mother does for her children. The ones whome He pulled as Magnet. O our all in all Gurudev,we your chidren, are humbly ever indebted.


Those were the golden days of our life when we were in His Divine comany. He was our Divine Mother who cared for each one of us; and every being on earth. He was always concernedabout the detriorating moral condition of the world. That is why He always insisted on "Naam Jap" and recitation of "Sri Vishnu Sahastranam" for world peace and brotherhood. he taught us never ever to ask any favours from the Almighty Lord.He used to say "When you love someone you always try to give, never seek anything beyond love. One's every action,every deed is for the sake of love. And the real love is love for God,love for Gurudev who lead us to the ultimate goal. Other wordly loves are fickle and shortlived but Love Divine is unflinching, unending, unbounded. The master said Love for love's sake, that is real love. He further said that love every creation of His by seeing Him, in His own creation. Never have hatred or disliking for anyone. Even a sigle soul on this earth should not be outside the domain of our love. This shows the master's universalness. the masre, our Beloved Gurudev Shri Anand Sai never ever took even a penny from His disciples. he never accepted any offering nor ever liked to be honoured. He lived as a child of Sai Maa (Baba Sai Nath). Though, He Himself had all the Divine power but He always kept Baba in forefront. He never owned anything, any action. He devoted all His action, deeds to Sai Maa. Achild like nature and total self surrender was His greatness. He lived in "Grahstha" and die all routines a Grahasthi would do, and attained the ultimate ain of human birth. He had come to this earth to set an example for the world to see an follow, as to how can one attain the ultimate even while performing one's wordly duties. Here we will like to narrate asmall but an important instance from the master's Divine Life on earth.


While He was in business, He had fixed His annaual earnings, as per the requirement of His family. He never earned more than that. Once, it so happened that His earnings went beyond the targeted requirement He took that extra amount straightway to His Gurudev swamy ji ordered Him to carryout some work in his cave as Ramtek. His total contentement total surrender and childlike nature to the Divine could be understood through this simple act of His. This can give an indication ho our Beloved Gurudev lived in Grahastha. he always said "Earn according to your need. Accumulation of wealth is a sin. Live and let others live". he lived in what he preached.


'Nishkam Bhakti' True love, Honest earnings, a simple life and child like nature are the core essence of His Divine practical teachings.

SAI SAVANT-6 SRI NARAYAN BABA

Sai SAVANT Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba

To pen down words to give a life-sketch of our most revered Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba would be like gathering pebbles along the sands of a vast ocean. However, with humble prostration's at his lotus feet, we attempt to speak of the greatness of this Bala Brahmachari Sage, who for years now, has been tirelessly spreading the word of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi not only in India but across the seven seas to the continents of the world.


Born on the 20th February 1936 to Param Pujya Swami Kaninananda, who later became his Guru, and Mate Chellamal, He grew up To be initiated by his most illustrious father, who himself was a great spiritual person, a Gayatri Mantra Siddha and an author of a number of books, on spiritualism.


Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba's academics from the Allahabad University and thereafter, his services in the Indian Railways were but, mere interludes, along his unique passage toward reality and its goal wherein intense Sadhana has become his way of life.


About the time when Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba was 22 years of age, he came in contact with the renowned lady Saint, 'Sri Aadi Maha Shakti Balayogini Saraswati Amma' of Versova, Andheri, Mumbai, when he visited her Ashram on 7th December, 1958. The young Narayan prostrated at her lotus feet and said, "Maa, bless me that I may want nothing upto my last breath". These, few words of a rare request, moved the powerful Amma from her state of meditation and after deep thought she granted him increasing eternal peace, love and devotion so that he in turn should spread and impart it to people he would meet. She dropped a pinch of kumkum (saffron colored powder) on his palm and told him to close his fist. She chanted some Mantras and asked him to open his fist. The powder bad been transformed to a dazzling metallic figurine of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Amazed at what he beheld, Narayan asked "whose icon it was?". Maa replied and said, "This is Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi who would Reveal Himself to him and guide him in his quest and His Message would become a torch light for him." Further on the Maha Sivaratri of 1959, a dazzling metallic Shiva ling appeared from nowhere in the palm of Sri Sai Narayan Baba in the presence of Mataji. Once again (during the auspicious Sri Rama Navami of 1959 another metallic darling icon of Sri Sai Baba appeared in the palm of Sri Sai Narayan Baba. Out of the three, one of the icons of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, after being worshipped by Sri Sai Narayan Baba for a few years disappeared miraculously. But the two other icons, one of Sri Sai Baba & another of Shiva are worshipped regularly as per the Vedic rites by Sri Sai Narayan Baba and these two Murtis are exhibited for Darshan once in a year i.e., on the auspicious Deepavali day. These icons are present in the Sri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan, Panvel. Before Sri Aadi Maha Shakti Balayogini Saraswati Amma attained immortality, she willed that all her rare idols of worship i.e., Durga Mata, Shivling, Nandishwar, Shaligram, Shanku etc. that belonged to her Ashram in Versova, be given to Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba.


While working with the Railways, Sri Sai Narayan Baba lived in Kurla Railway quarters which he converted into a small temple of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi in 1964, giving, it the name 'Sri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan' after his reverend father and Guru. Soon his same spread far and wide as he began to wring many a miracle, healing the sick and consoling the troubled but only and only as Baba's humble Sevak, ever in his thought, in mind and aloud he emphasizes that it is Baba and Baba alone who is the giver.


With increasing devotion to Sri Sai Baba, the Sri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan has traversed from 1964 to date and now stands as a beautiful landmark in Panvel a little ahead of the S.T. Bus Stop as one goes towards Pune. The temple program starts at 3:15 a.m. everyday echoing the Kakad Aarti and other rituals which include the Mahabhishek of Sri Sai Baba with 108 liters of milk and more than 1100 liters of water on Thursdays which is ardently collected by throngs of devotees in general and patients in particular, for it has proved to be beneficial for all ailments physical and mental. Sri Sai Baba's magnificent Murti was made by the Late Sri Harish Talim who was the son of Sri Balaji Vasant Talim who had sculptured the original Murti of Baba in Shirdi.


On the Maha Sivaratri of 1968, Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba delivered extempore, the divine epoch "Sri Sai Mahima" which is the essence of the glory of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. The Sri Sai Mahima is a Sai-praise chanted in 15 stanzas in just 20 minutes. For Sai Devotees it has become a daily prayer, and is very popular abroad and in Shirdi itself. People in any frame of mind find peace and solace in it.


The Sri Bhagawati Sai Samsthan was founded by Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba on 28th Feb., 1964 and has since worked towards a number of activities in charity, all under his personal supervision. Care for the poor cover a free medical dispensary with qualified Lady Doctors for Homeopathic, Allopathic and Ayurvedic treatment, and a Nursery school for the children of Panvel, who are given free pre-primary education in English. Both the dispensary and the Nursery School are located within the premises of the Sansthan. Distribution of free study-matter in the form of test and notebooks, etc. and uniforms to over 600 scheduled caste students in and around Panvel, is a regular annual feature. Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba has conducted several marriages of girls. His personal interest in the Blind has inspired him to give generous donations to the N.A.B. in Khandala regularly.


In recent limes, a Modern Gaushala with Swedish technology in automation engineered by M/s. Alfa Laval Agri Ltd. was donated by Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba to the 110 inmates of the Leprosy Institute in Shantivan about 10 Kms before Panvel. Satguruji has provided nine Holstein and Jersey breed cows to the Institute. The milk yield is entirely for the lepers there. Last year again, another such Gaushala with the latest Alfa Laval technology was built in Panvel in the premises of the Sansthan and the yield from the three Holstein cows goes entirely to the children of the hutment.


As he radiates the splendor of godliness, Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba takes aspirants from all parts of the world to new heights of spiritual awareness by his tireless efforts to spread the word of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. On requests from Sai devotees he has set up many Sathsangh centers in India and abroad, among them being hi U.S.A., London, Lagos, Hong Kong and Australia. Sadguru Sri Sai Narayan Baba has visited all these countries and more and has given inter- views to BBC & Asia News to bring Sri Sai Baba awareness. The Senate of America had presented him with an American Flag addressing him as a Messenger of Peace. People of Indian origin gather along with the, people of these countries and organize prayer meetings bringing in and spreading Sai awareness. In 1996/97, IOS Murtis of Sai Baba were installed at various centers outside India.


Once a year, heads of all these Sathsangh centers in India and abroad, get to gather at Shirdi for an International convention where they narrate their center's activities and exchange views. The Sri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan has a huge International complex in Shirdi consisting of 1) A huge wonderfully built 6000 sq. ft. Hall for International convention. 2) Innumerable A/c & Non-A/c rooms self-contained flats. 3) Car parking. 4) In built electric Generator etc. The complex can easily accommodate over 600 visitors at a time, which hosts this Annual International pilgrimage convention. This is held in the third Saturday of November every year and is highlighted by the Vishwa Shanti Maha RudruYagna for world peace.


Another Annual pilgrimage is held nearer to Sri Krishna Janmasthami when about 100 devotees are selected to join Sri Sai Narayan Baba to Haridwar & Rishikesh for Sathsangh and meditation. He celebrates the Krishna Janmasthami in the Sansthan temple in Delhi.


In recent times, Sri Sai Narayan Baba's significant contribution to Sai devotees is the 'Sri Gita Chalisa' wherein, from the 700 shlokas of the Sri Bhagawad Gita, 40 shlokas have been selected to compile the Chalisa. The Gita Chalisa with these 40 shlokas only now stands to be an essence of the complete Bhagawad Gita. Gita Chalisa has been translated in all major languages in India. We praise our reverend Sadguru whose tireless efforts spread Baba consciousness for a good today and a better tomorrow

SAI SAVANT-5

In a search of Sai apostles of the present day, the first name that comes to a Sai devotee’s mind is that of Shri Chandra Bhanu Satpathy. Shri Satpathy ji in his fifties now, is a religious and devout person with inborn divine qualities nourished and blossomed under very pious and caring eyes of his father.
Shri Satpathy ji has been a police officer all his life and was a recipient of the President's gold medal for bravery. As an IPS officer, he had worked for the ministry of Civil Aviation, and as the Director of Vigilance in India. Yet, to the hundreds of people, he is simply a man with the healing touch. Fondly called by a number of people as "Guru ji", Sri Satpathy ji truly embodies the tradition of "Guru" providing guidance to those who seek his help. Several hundreds flock to him every Saturday at the Chatterpur Sai mandir in India, to find solutions to their mundane and spiritual problems. To some Shri Satpathy ji is like a brother while some look at him as a father figure. Guru ji treats everyone like a dear and beloved child of Shri Sai and addresses every lady very affectionately as 'Maa' (Mother). Satpathy ji is no professional astrologer, but it's his divine instinct and the willingness to help prompts his predictions.
Shri Satpathy ji’s enormous motivational and organizational skills are the reasons for the spread of Sai message and teachings in India today. He has inspired and influenced several devotees to come forward and lend a support to the Sai movement in India and abroad. Religion of love knows no boundaries. Guru ji preaches that a single drop of tear from the eyes of a pious person can move - be it Shri Sai or Christ, in a fraction of a second. Thus Guru ji does not recommend the path of running away from the world in search of God but encourages and lends spiritual support to seekers, to become pious and find Shri Sai within us while fighting the materialistic battle. One can live in this materialistic world of money, relations, and duties and still be pious and be a detached 'saint' at heart. Guru ji says that the easiest way to spiritual evolution is to:
1. Believe that the Sadguru is the Divine incarnation to lead people towards temporal and spiritual development.
2. To follow the path laid down by Him as reflected in His earthly conduct and preaching.
3. To understand that no man how much ever he strives, can evolve in the spiritual field beyond a certain limit without the help and kindness of a Sadguru. Even incarnations like Shri Krishna and Shri Rama, in the process of experiencing the God-hood in Them, had to be helped by Sandeepani and Vasishta, the Sadgurus of the time.
4. To focus the entire spiritual consciousness on the Sadgurus, both in Sakara (formed) or Nirakar (formless) and worship them.
5. To believe that the Guru is the repository of all Divine powers -and therefore, He alone should be made the mainstay of one's life. All needs, worries and questions should be projected to him

SAI SAVANT-4 SRI KESAVIAHJI

SWAMIJI  was born in a sri vaishnava family on the banks of pennar river inANANTAPUR DISTRICT  of south India. Swamiji  spent his childhood at pamidi village.he was attracted to temples.he used to go to temples and meditate.He was a devout soul of extraordinary caliber

                             He began his life as a clerk in Registration  dept. in composite state of madras. He  soon became a sub registrar,and proved his worth to his superiors.

HE visited Palani where he had spiritual experience...HE saw a jothi instead of the idol of

Muruga .From that day he seemed to possess rare powers.He could predict  the past and future of anyone who came to him.

             SWAMIJI at that time had not heard of baba  .On one occasion he was relating to  his friend an advocate,some of his personal difficulties His friend told him to pray to BABA.Onthat night swamiji saw SAI BABA in his dreams and BABA made him an instrument to convey his grace to humanity IN 1948 HE CONSTRUCTED A TEMPLE FOR BABA in penukonda,he subsequently came to MADRAS for medical treatment.

After his recovery in 1949 swamiji used to regularly conduct poojas at SAI NILAYAM,SHENOY NAGAR..Thousands of devotees gathered on those days and he gave udhi as Prasad .HE  built the SAI TEMPLE in shenoy nagar,Chennai,which is visited by Sai devotees even today.

         HE ATTAINED SAMADHI ON AUGUST 9,1981.BEFORE  THAT HE APPLIED UDHI TO HIS FOREHEAD AND SWALLOWED IT.THIS OCCURED AT SUNSET

STILL SEATED HE SAID  ALLAH MALIK AND CLOSED HIS EYES.AT ABOUT 6.30PM THE SAGE OF SHENOY NAGAR  LEFT HIS  MORTAL FRAME AND MERGED IN SAI

SAI SAVANT-3 ACHARYA SRI EKKIRALA BHARADWAJA

Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja, lovingly called by his disciples and followers as "Sai Master", is one of the greatest scholars and philosophers of the modern times. He researched the Spiritual science as well as the Physical science of the modern age in the quest for the purpose of all life in the world.
ABOUT BHARADWAJA GARU

Acharya E.Bharadwaja was born on 30th October 1938 and was a post-graduate in English literature. After a decade of intellectual quest for Truth, he was converted by a profound spiritual experience at the Samadhi Mandir of Sri Saibaba of Shirdi. Thereby he left Indian Administrative Service(IAS), which is a highly respected position in the society and took a poistion as Lecturer of English literature for the ease of spreading his master's teachings. Thereafter he devoted himself to a lifetime of intensive research into the lives and teachings of several saints, travelling extensively and personally contacting many of them. Like many other great men he also insisted on the necessity of a Sadguru to direct one smoothly in the spiritual path. The culmination of all this is a series of books on Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi and many more great saints. He says, Sai Baba of Shirdi is the matchless saint, is a blend of all religions and is the answer to all the questions of present day and spirituality. Other books that explain and prove existence of God in a scientific manner and the necessity of resorting to a Sadguru are also invaluable. His writings are getting translated into several other languages of the world.

He made those who contacted him to start spiritual disciplines easily and live a richer, purposeful,righteous and peaceful life. Towards this end in view he founded the Shirdi Sai Cultural Mission at Vidyanagar and Sai Baba Mission in Ongole. He also founded a Telugu fortnightly(now monthly), SaiBaba, which continues to spread his messages, and was the main source of inspiration in the construction of several Sai Baba temples. After a life of incessant activity spreading the teachings of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, he attained Maha Samadhi on 12th April 1989. Though he has left his mortal frame, even now He responds to the call of his devotees. Presently, his work is being carried by the Sri Master Universal Sai Trust & Acharya Bharadwaja Peace Foundation, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.

SAI SAVANT-2 SRI SAI PADANANDA RADHAKRISHNA SWAMI

Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was born in Poyyamani Village in Kulithalai Taluk of Trichy District of Tamil Nadu on 15th April 1906.





In 1952, Sri Narasimha Swamiji deputed Radhakrishnan to Bangalore for Sai Prachar work in Karnataka. It was in 1953 Sri Narasimha Swamiji conferred the title "Saipadananda" on him. That was the Guru's accolade to his devoted disciple.The Guru attained "Nirvan" on 19.10.1956 and on that Poornima Day transferred all his "Spiritual" powers to Radhakrishnan. Sai Baba gave Self Realisation to Sri Narasimha Swamiji on 29.8.1936. That Sai treasure was given in toto to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on the day Sri Narasimha Swamiji cast off his mortal coil.ABOUT SWAMIJI..Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was born in Poyyamani Village in Kulithalai Taluk of Trichy District of Tamil Nadu on 15th April 1906.Even as a child, young Radhakrishna had developed Psychic power and divine influence. He was a nature lover and it accentuated and kindled his spiritual thirst and development. He began meeting Sadhus and Holy Persons and visited temples far and near besides reading books on religion and the great saints and seers of India.
Search for a GuruThe Kanchi Mutt and Kanchi Acharya had a great influence in moulding Radhakrishnan's personality. When one of his brothers was in Poona, young Radhakrishnan stayed with him and made extensive tours of religious places in and around Poona. He lived in one of the caves for 48 days and on the 46th day, Dattathreya appeared before him and asked him to remain in the world helping others.He widely read books on saints like Raghavendra, Sadashiva Brahmendra, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc.
He met Ramana Maharshi and Seshadri Swamigal at Thiruvannamalai. The latter gave Radhakrishnan three stones and asked him to cook and eat them. The former interpreted this that he should go beyond the THREE GUNAS Meeting the Guru In 1927, he met Narayana Maharaj of Khedgaon at Ooty. He initiated him into "Datta Mantra". In 1942, he met Sri Narasimha Swamiji and his search for the "Guru" was over. He became a spiritual heir to Sri Narasimha Swamiji.There was a deep Psychological Crisis in his life during 1936-42. He had even contemplated suicide while travelling on a train from Trichy to Madras. As the train was crossing the Coleroon River near Chidambaram, he opened the door and was about to jump into the river when he felt somebody was pulling his back. He saw an old man with a headgear asking him not to do it as he had a mission in life. Later, he realised that it was Baba.Meeting the GuruIn 1942, Radhakrishnan met Sri Narasimha Swamiji in dramatic circumstances. It is not known when exactly Radhakrishnan came to Madras after he accepted Sri Narasimha Swamiji as his Guru. It maybe in 1943 or 1944.
He was a voracious reader and his favourite haunt was the Theosophical Society at Adayar, Chennai. He used to practise meditation and a Sanskrit book "Mantra Mahodari" was his constant companion. He supervised the accounts of All India Sai Samaj and helped Sri Narasimha Swamiji in other ways in his pesonal and public work. He was a man who never pushed himself up. His surrender to Sri Narasimha Swamiji was total. "Whatever Narasimha Swamiji said was law to him".
In 1952, Sri Narasimha Swamiji deputed Radhakrishnan to Bangalore for Sai Prachar work in Karnataka. It was in 1953 Sri Narasimha Swamiji conferred the title "Saipadananda" on him. That was the Guru's accolade to his devoted disciple. The Guru attained "Nirvan" on 19.10.1956 and on that Poornima Day transferred all his "Spiritual" powers to Radhakrishnan. Sai Baba gave Self Realisation to Sri Narasimha Swamiji on 29.8.1936. That Sai treasure was given in toto to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on the day Sri Narasimha Swamiji cast off his mortal coil.
Swamiji at Bangalore
Sri Radhakrishnan Swamiji arrived in Bangalore in 1952. By 1956 shifted his lodging to an upstairs room in a house near the N.R. Colony bus stop. This also became the home of SwamijiSai Spiritual Centre and here Swamiji lived for about seven years until a permanent building for the centre was contructed.Funds for a building on the site came from devotees all over India. The building was formally opened on June 17, 1965. The centre was registered on May 6, 1970.Swamiji's Mission
Swamiji's mission in life was based on four lofty principles and his life was a symbol and practical demonstration of what he preached. The four pillars are:
1. Love
2. Guru Bhakthi
3. Devotion to God
4. Satsangh
Swamiji felt that "Nama Japa"-recitation of Vishnu Sahasra Namam is the pancea for everything and it should be repeated any number of times in a day so that it shows the way to all our problems. He instructed his devotees to read a chapter from Bhagavad Gita. He was a prolific writer. His only book was on the life of Sri Narasimha Swamiji. Swamiji was an apostle of love. His universality is depicted in the divine incantation which he wrote at Dwaraka, which epitomises his innermost feeling and concern. Here it is:
May the wicked turn good;
May the good attain peace;
May the peaceful be freed from all bondage and
May the liberated redeem others.
May everybody be happy;
May everybody be free from disease;
May everybody have good luck;
May none fall on evil days.
May everybody surmount difficulties;
May everybody have good fortune;
May everybody realise his ambitions;May everybody rejoice everywhere.Swamiji lived a full and active life. He was constantly travelling and propagating Sri Sai Baba's Teachings. He was in tune with Sai Baba all the 24 hours and his actions were in response to its motivations. There is hardly a devotee of Sri Swamiji who has not experienced his grace either spiritually or in material benefit. The devotees continue to recieve it even after he left his body.Swamiji was waiting for "Uttarayana' to leave his body. January 14, 1980 was the day he had fixed for merging with Sai Baba. He had joined devotees in chanting "Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam" and, "Om Namo Narayanaya". Swamiji was conscious till the last and the final moment came at 10.40 p.m. as he drew his last breath with a farewell benediction. He was cremated the next day with full honours amidst chanting of Vedic Hymns.Although he is not present in flesh and blood, his devotees have felt his spiritual presence and his guidance, in times of distress and want. Many have spoken of seeing him in their dreams, encouraging them and advising on their problems. His guiding hand and loving eyes hover over every home of his devotees reminding us of Baba's Words: "Why fear when I am here".



Even as a child, young Radhakrishna had developed Psychic power and divine influence. He was a nature lover and it accentuated and kindled his spiritual thirst and development. He began meeting Sadhus and Holy Persons and visited temples far and near besides reading books on religion and the great saints and seers of India.






Search for a Guru


The Kanchi Mutt and Kanchi Acharya had a great influence in moulding Radhakrishnan's personality. When one of his brothers was in Poona, young Radhakrishnan stayed with him and made extensive tours of religious places in and around Poona. He lived in one of the caves for 48 days and on the 46th day, Dattathreya appeared before him and asked him to remain in the world helping others.He widely read books on saints like Raghavendra, Sadashiva Brahmendra, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc.






He met Ramana Maharshi and Seshadri Swamigal at Thiruvannamalai. The latter gave Radhakrishnan three stones and asked him to cook and eat them. The former interpreted this that he should go beyond the THREE GUNAS. Meeting the Guru






In 1927, he met Narayana Maharaj of Khedgaon at Ooty. He initiated him into "Datta Mantra". In 1942, he met Sri Narasimha Swamiji and his search for the "Guru" was over. He became a spiritual heir to Sri Narasimha Swamiji.










There was a deep Psychological Crisis in his life during 1936-42. He had even contemplated suicide while travelling on a train from Trichy to Madras. As the train was crossing the Coleroon River near Chidambaram, he opened the door and was about to jump into the river when he felt somebody was pulling his back. He saw an old man with a headgear asking him not to do it as he had a mission in life. Later, he realised that it was Baba.






Meeting the Guru






In 1942, Radhakrishnan met Sri Narasimha Swamiji in dramatic circumstances. It is not known when exactly Radhakrishnan came to Madras after he accepted Sri Narasimha Swamiji as his Guru. It maybe in 1943 or 1944.


He was a voracious reader and his favourite haunt was the Theosophical Society at Adayar, Chennai. He used to practise meditation and a Sanskrit book "Mantra Mahodari" was his constant companion. He supervised the accounts of All India Sai Samaj and helped Sri Narasimha Swamiji in other ways in his pesonal and public work. He was a man who never pushed himself up. His surrender to Sri Narasimha Swamiji was total. "Whatever Narasimha Swamiji said was law to him".


In 1952, Sri Narasimha Swamiji deputed Radhakrishnan to Bangalore for Sai Prachar work in Karnataka. It was in 1953 Sri Narasimha Swamiji conferred the title "Saipadananda" on him. That was the Guru's accolade to his devoted disciple. The Guru attained "Nirvan" on 19.10.1956 and on that Poornima Day transferred all his "Spiritual" powers to Radhakrishnan. Sai Baba gave Self Realisation to Sri Narasimha Swamiji on 29.8.1936. That Sai treasure was given in toto to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji on the day Sri Narasimha Swamiji cast off his mortal coil.


Swamiji at Bangalore


Sri Radhakrishnan Swamiji arrived in Bangalore in 1952. By 1956 shifted his lodging to an upstairs room in a house near the N.R. Colony bus stop. This also became the home of SwamijiSai Spiritual Centre and here Swamiji lived for about seven years until a permanent building for the centre was contructed.


Funds for a building on the site came from devotees all over India. The building was formally opened on June 17, 1965. The centre was registered on May 6, 1970.






Swamiji's Mission










Swamiji's mission in life was based on four lofty principles and his life was a symbol and practical demonstration of what he preached. The four pillars are:


1. Love


2. Guru Bhakthi


3. Devotion to God


4. Satsangh


Swamiji felt that "Nama Japa"-recitation of Vishnu Sahasra Namam is the pancea for everything and it should be repeated any number of times in a day so that it shows the way to all our problems. He instructed his devotees to read a chapter from Bhagavad Gita. He was a prolific writer. His only book was on the life of Sri Narasimha Swamiji. Swamiji was an apostle of love. His universality is depicted in the divine incantation which he wrote at Dwaraka, which epitomises his innermost feeling and concern. Here it is:


May the wicked turn good;


May the good attain peace;


May the peaceful be freed from all bondage and


May the liberated redeem others.


May everybody be happy;


May everybody be free from disease;


May everybody have good luck;


May none fall on evil days.


May everybody surmount difficulties;


May everybody have good fortune;


May everybody realise his ambitions;


May everybody rejoice everywhere.

Swamiji lived a full and active life. He was constantly travelling and propagating Sri Sai Baba's Teachings. He was in tune with Sai Baba all the 24 hours and his actions were in response to its motivations. There is hardly a devotee of Sri Swamiji who has not experienced his grace either spiritually or in material benefit. The devotees continue to recieve it even after he left his body.

Swamiji was waiting for "Uttarayana' to leave his body. January 14, 1980 was the day he had fixed for merging with Sai Baba. He had joined devotees in chanting "Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam" and, "Om Namo Narayanaya". Swamiji was conscious till the last and the final moment came at 10.40 p.m. as he drew his last breath with a farewell benediction. He was cremated the next day with full honours amidst chanting of Vedic Hymns.

Although he is not present in flesh and blood, his devotees have felt his spiritual presence and his guidance, in times of distress and want. Many have spoken of seeing him in their dreams, encouraging them and advising on their problems. His guiding hand and loving eyes hover over every home of his devotees reminding us of Baba's Words: "Why fear when I am here".