WHO IS SAI BABA

WHO IS SAI BABA


"Brahma is MY Father, Maya is MY Mother, Universe is MY House"
SAI BABA

Who is SAI BABA? When and where was HE born? Who were HIS parents? What was HIS Religion?

When questioned. SAI BABA never gave straight and clear answers to the above questions. HE gave two different answers to the same question Perhaps SAI baba does not want us to bother about HIS religion.

However, the answers as recorded in SHRI SAI SATCHARITA are reproduced for the information and ready reference.

Once BABA said to Malasapati that His parents were very pious and staunch devotees of Lord SHIVA. HE was born to them as a boon conferred by Lord Shankara. After some time the parents left PATHRI for performing penance and left the child SAI BABA under the tree. A childless fakir couple brought HIM (SAI) up from childhood days and drove HIM out when found attached to Lord Shankara

At the Dhulia magistrate's court BABA said that people call HIM SAI BABA. HIS Guru was Vekuasa, HIS Religion was kabir, caste parvat digar (GOD). BABA addressed the mosque as Brahmins Masjid.

Saint Madhavanath told that SAI BABA was the eldest son of a Brahmin Yajuredi Deshasth who hand over HIM to a fakir,

SAI BABA came to SHIRDI in 1854 when HE was a lad of sixteen years and lived for about three years left SHIRDI and again; came with Chand Bhai Patil's marriage party in about 1858 and live-s for sixty(60)years till HE attained Mahasamadhi on 15-10-1918.

The mother of Nana Chopdar said that she saw this young Start attractive and very handsome under the Neem tree, left SHIRDI came again.

God Khandobha said that BABA practiced penance for 12 years beneath the present Neem tree. It is also agreed that BABA was first seen under the same neem tree in the year 1854.

When SAI BABA came to Khandoba's temple along with Chand Bhai Patil's marriage party, as soon as Bhagat Mhalasapati, a priest saw this young fakir addressee Him ‘YA SAI' Welcome SAI, SAI is derived from persian word meaning Saint- Since then the fakir is known to one and all as SAI BABA, From this Khandobha temple SAI BABA came to a dilapidated mud walled mosque and stayed there till the Maha. samadhi on 15-10-1918.

The people who say SAI BABA was a Muslim argue that BABA uttered very often "Allah Malik" "Bismilia". During. HIS childhood HE was brought up by a Muslim fakir, perhaps named Roshan Shah. Baba stayed in mosque. BABA expressed the desire that his mortal should be buried. HE used to speak URDU very frequently and inher­ited Islamic customs,

The people who oppose and contradict the above points say that one of the Islamic practice is reading of Quaran and performing Namaz. This Baba did so.

Like Hindu, Baba had holes in his ears. He allowed worship of photos, statues, local deities, Muslims condem idolatry. He kept dhuni burning which was is not Islamic rituals. He addressed mosque as Dwarkamai. Brahmins Majid and in the mosque Tulsi plant was also worshipped by some Hindu Devotees.

Babas mortal were taken to a temple (closed shelter) meant for Murlidhar.

From the material narrated above it is seen that Babas birth, parentage and religion as agreed by Shri Narasimha Swamy and others are still wrapped in mystery.

The most compromising and the judicious approach about HIS religion may be based on HIS frequent utterance i.e. Sub-ke- Malki Ek Hai. It means all the religions are in HIM.

Therefore it is superfluous to think about HIS religion, birth place and parentage. BABA was Ram as well as Rahim. HE was all in one and one in all. HE is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. HE is Casteless, Birthless and Deatheless.

(N.M. DAS in his book SAI THE GOD ON EARTH)

THUS SPOKE THE SAINTS

THUS SPOKE THE SAINTS


BABA is Pandharinath Vithal incarnate and merciful Lord of the poor and most helpless.
(Sri Gouli Buva)

BABA was the original SATCHIT ANNAND SWARUP.
(Upasani Maharaj)

The crest Jewel Best of the Saints.
(Shirdi Sansthan)

If you know about SAI BABA what I know about' HIM you will call HIM the Master of Creation.
(Saint Meher Baba)

SAI is equal to hundred mothers and hundred fathers
(H.H. Basheer Baba)

SHIRBI SAI BABA was a saga in the old Indian, tradition. HIS life and teachings continue to inspire people.
(Late Smt. Indira Gandhi)

SAI BABA is a great spiritual soul.
(Sri Morarji Desai)

I have placed Sri SAI BABA amongst the house hold gods we worship daily. sai baba is god.
(Sri g.g. Narke)

HE appeared to know the inner most thoughts of everybody, relieved their wants and carried comforts to all. HE fulfilled my idea of god on earth.
(Sri Dida Saheb Khaparde)

SAI BABA is Tirloknath and Kohinoor.
(Saint Madhavnath)

SAI BABA is an incarnation of Lord SHIVA
(MEGHA)

SAI BABA Light of All Light.
(Swami Ram Babu)


sai baba is the incarnation of GOD DATTATEEYA.
(Sri Das Ganu)

SAI BABA raises a storm and makes us restless and then calms it down and comforts us.
(Sri Madhava Rao Deshpande Alias Shama)

SHIRDI is lucky to be blessed with a precious Jewel,
(Saint Sri Gangagir)

In fact BABA is a precious and most valuable DIAMOND. You will realise this shortly.
(Saint Sri Anand Math)

SAI BABA is omniscient, Omni Present and Omnipotent.

SAI BABA possessed the qualities of Lord Shri Krishra, Sri Rama, Budha, Christ, Mohammed, Adi Shankaracharya and Gandhiji.
Human birth is the result of karma but SAI's incarnation is a Leela.

The result of Karma is inevitable but by repeating the name of SAI the evil effects shall be mitigated.

An optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty where as a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.

If adverse circumstances arise, we should look upon these as mere trials to test out spiritual strength.

GOD is like a magnet. The magnet does not attract the needle as long as it contains mud and once the mud is washed off and made clean the magnet attracts the needle. Same is the case with GOD.
GOD can only be experienced cannot be explained.

baba's sweet and nectar like words and his boon bestowing hand are everlasting.

By SAI's mere touch, the blind, deaf, dumb and other physically handicapped have got restored the normality.

SAI BABA peculiar, some times mad, tender, merciful, casteless, simple, humble, childish, Bhola and inscrutable.

baba's life was like a rain bearing cloud and his heart is softer than wax.

Just like a child gets the natural food from the breast of mother so also we get our spiritual strength from the lotus feet of SAI.

Sri SAI baba is Kalpa Vriksha (wish fulfilling tree).

Though BABA has cast off his mortal coil yet HE now appears and showers his blessings on HIS devotees.

BABA neither left nay nor advocated any particular method of worship.

HIS Udi is like the arrow of Sri Ram. It cured the enumerable and dreadful diseases. Barren woman begot children, and pregnant woman had easy and safe delivery.

The true test to find out how much we have neared SAI is to find out how much patience and. concentration we have.

(N.M. DAS in his book SAI THE GOD ON EARTH)

SAI THE GOD

I. SAI THE GOD "

“ I shall draw out my devotees from the jaws of Death ".
SAIBABA

SAI, a naked fakir whose existence was ignored by many in the second half of nineteenth century, is mostly recognised at present. Though he is not in blood and flesh, he is widely celebrated now. Readers or devotees are likely to come across many doubts as to the omniscience of SAI, the GOD.

When the entire treasure of the world was under SAI's feet where was the need for HIM to knock a few doors with a begging bowel? Was HE a juggler who performed some tricks to get livelihood? Why did HE extract Dakshina (money) from the people or devotees who went to HIM? When SAI is omnipresent, then why should the people go to SHIRDI? When whatever is written in our fate (Karma) is bound to happen, Why should we pray to HIM?

The answers to the above questions which appear to be conflic­ting, controversial and critic are attempted here under:

When a supernatural power descends on earth, Godly wonders are hidden and never exposed unless the circumstances strongly warrant Lord Shri Rama is worshipped as GOD or an Avatar. Why did HE Wonder in search of HIS beloved wife, Sita kidnapped by Ravana? As an Avatar or omnipresent did HE not know the whereabouts of Sita? Had HE acted like GOD, Valmiki would not have constituted the big epic of Ramayana. Rama wanted to teach the people that the wicked should be punished to establish Dharma, and to prove that suffering is inevitable to each and everyone, however great or small one may be.

Lord. SHIVA, the GOD went with a joli to test the depth of devotees and not to quench HIS thirst or satisfy appetite. Similarly SAI acted like an ordinary man around us. HE never created an impre­ssion that HE is GOD. Of course HE performed miracles not for Him" self but to drag the devotees from calamities.

Whatever the money HE collected was distributed to the poorest of the poor on the same day and was not used for HIS personal ends'

HE never bothered about worldly life and went on serving the humanity selflessly.

HE was neither, a juggler nor a magician who performed tricks but acted as a representative of GOD, a holy Saint, not for HIS live­lihood but for others who suffered.

HE did not go for alms to all, except a few devotees who ha full faith in HIM. Whatever the edibles HE collected were cooked distributed as prasad to ail the people.

People need not go to SHIRDI as SAI is all pervasive. HE is everywhere and gives Darshan and fulfills the desire of those who worship HIM devotionally. Once SAI BABA said to a friend of Shri B.A. Tarkhadkar "was I not with you in Bombay People or devotees who think that I AM in SHIRDI only have not seen ME". When surrendered to SAI whole Heartedly. HE himself went to devotees in disguise of many unrecognised forms and fulfilled their desires. The example of Mataji Shivamma Tai who hails from Tamil Nadu is cited here; She is surviving at present aged ninety eight years and had the good fortune of seeing BABA in her life time. She saw SAI BABA in September 1918 After' taking Maha Samadhi, BABA came to her in the guise of a boy of fifteen years and gave two books. The next day, SAI BABA gave Darshan to her in a dream and made clear that HE himself had gifted her two valuable books 'PABIJATHA' and 'JANANA MARANAM'. BABA said "it is MY special characteristic that I look always to and provide for the welfare of the devotees wherever they may be even thousand miles away from ME provided they fix their minds on ME". For all BABA proved a supernatural power.

Devotees feel that in the daily walk of life it may not be possible to concentrate towards GOD whole heartedly and do full justice to prayer. That being the reason they prefer sacred places temples mosques churches etc. to purify their minds.

SHIRDI is supposed to be one of the holiest places because many Saints came to this place and BABA came and lived till HE took Maha Samadhi. As such it is believed that the soil of SHIRDI is most sacred and blessing one.

So far as the belief in Karma is concerned some argue that when whatever is written in our fate happens without fail then why should pray to GOD and nothing emerges from the pooja. Many saints say that punishment for the misdeeds and sin is a MUST and as such in escapable but by meditating and praying to GOD one is likely to miti­gate the volume of deserving punishment.

SAI B A B A' S yogic powers, giving darshan as Lord Sri Rama, Lord Shri Krishna, producing prayag (i.e., sacred, place where Ganga arid Yamuna meet) from his feet, controll­ing the elements of nature, eradicating the epidemics and endemics, turning water into oil, curing the most incurable and dreadful diseases, rescue from snake bites, fulfilling the various desires of HIS devotees, HIS sleeping styles (keeping the eyes opened while sleeping) reading of minds, HIS reminiscence knowledge about the past telling people about the present) and future, HIS fruitful advise, HIS udi producing magic effect and averting the deaths of HIS favorable devotee Late Shri Ramchandra Patil - all those are the greatest and supernatural achievements. HE had taken on HIM all sorts of diseases of the people with the result that HIS healthy body wash reduced to skin arid bones. HE sacrificed HIS whole life for the sake o people. Above all, to make HIS most beloved devotee Tatya Kote alive HE Himself exchanged HIS life for Kote Can an ordinary man do all the above? The answer is "Nay". The above supernatural deeds lend support to the effect that SAI BABA is VISWATHAMAN an Avatar; More over it is not an ancient history of Ramayana or Maha Bharatha. It is a reliable modern history.

A few out, of some who saw BABA in flesh and blood are still alive in various parts of the country. Mention may be made of Sri Lakshman Rao Alias Bala Sabeb Naik, Yashwant Potdar, Mataji Shivamma Tai, Swami Ram Babu and Sri Morarji Desai.

Late Sri Govind Rao Ragunath Dubholkar (Hemadpant the author of SHEI SAI SATCHARITA in Marathl) Mrs. Sarojini Mulve, Shri Nana Saheb Ramsane, Dr. K. B. Gavankar, Sri Radha Krishna-Swamy, Parvati Bai Sapatnekar, Lakshmi Bai Shinde, Bhagat Mhalasapati and his son Marthand, Kaka Saheb, Dixit Gopal Rao Booti, Bhogoji Shinde (a leper devotee) Nana Saheb Nimmonkar, Madhavarao Despande, Alias Shama are some of the luckiest devotees whom BABA blessed-

When Avatars incarnate in the world, they embody themselves mix and act with the people. SAI acted like a very poor man (fakir) lived like a beggar and died like a man. GOD's life is always wrapped in mystery. SAI is no exception to this fact.

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavath Gita "whenever there is a decay of Dharma, the righteousness, I manifest Myself for the protection of virtue and destruction of evils. When the Lord's creation dwells in ignorance misery and injustice, eternal light (Avatar) descends in to the world to elevate the people and bestow salvation. SAI BABA fulfilled the vow of Lord Krishna and came to earth us an Avatar.

(N. M. DAS in his book SAI THE GOD ON EARTH)

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER? – Part 5

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER? – Part 5

Question: Why is our past karma kept a secret from us?

Answer: Don’t you think it is a great mercy of God that our karmic links are not known t o us> Else, it may be difficult for us to live in the world. Thus, for instance, there may be a man whose wife, in the present incarnation, was his bitter enemy in an earlier incarnation and had now become his wife only to settle previous accounts. If all this were revealed to us, what would be our condition?

Question: How did bad karma originate?

Answer: Man was given free will; he was given the right of choice. He can choose between what the Upanishads call preya and shreya. Preya is the pleasant: the path of preya is the path of pleasure that lures us but leads to our degradation. As a Danish proverb has it: “After pleasant scratching comes unpleasant smarting.” Shreya is the good: the path of shreya may, at first, be difficult to tread but ultimately leads to our betterment and well-being and spiritual unfoldment. At every step man is given this choice. Many of us, alas, choose the easy path, -the path of pleasure, - and so keep on multiplying undesirable karma.

Question: If all that happens today is the result of our past karmas, does it mean that everything is pre-destined?

Answer: No, certainly not! We are the architects of our own destiny. We are the builders of our future. Many of us blame fate, kismet for our misfortune. But let me tell you, dear friends, that you are the builders of your own fate. Therefore, be careful especially of your thoughts. We pay scant attention to our thoughts, believing that they are of no consequence. We say, after all, it was only a thought, what does it matter? Every thought is a seed you are sowing in the field of life, and what you sow today, you will have to reap tomorrow.

God has created a universe of beauty, fullness, happiness and harmony. Each one of us is a child of God. God wishes each one of us to be happy, healthy, prosperous, successful and to enjoy all the good things He has created. We keep ourselves away from all those bounties because of our karma. Change your karma and you will change the conditions in which you live. And you can change your karma by adopting a new pattern of thinking.

Question: Can karmas be wiped off by japa?

Answer: It is believed that the effects of karma can be mitigated through nama japa. In any case, the suffering can be reduced, because nama japa acts as a sort of chloroform. It is like going through an operation. The surgeon puts you under anesthesia and you come out of the operation without feeling the acute pain. Else the pain is so excruciating, that a person could die of it. This is what Nama Japa does to you.

Question: Can saints take over the karma of their disciples?

Answer: They can. However, normally, they do not wish to interfere with the law of karma. For they know that the law of karma is not punitive but reformative. The law of karma does not wish to punish us for what we may have done in the past. The law of karma wishes to reform us and so sends us experiences which may help on our spiritual advancement. It is true there have been cases when men of God have taken the karmas of their devotees upon themselves. It is like having birds released from their cages. A man may purchase the birds and set them free. Likewise, a man who is rich in the wealth of the Spirit may, if he so desires, pay for our karma and released us from the cage of maya.

(Author: Sri J. P. Vaswani)

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER? – Part 4

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER? – Part 4

Question: Why is our past karma kept a secret from us?

Answer: Don’t you think it is a great mercy of God that our karmic links are not known t o us> Else, it may be difficult for us to live in the world. Thus, for instance, there may be a man whose wife, in the present incarnation, was his bitter enemy in an earlier incarnation and had now become his wife only to settle previous accounts. If all this were revealed to us, what would be our condition?

Question: How did bad karma originate?

Answer: Man was given free will; he was given the right of choice. He can choose between what the Upanishads call preya and shreya. Preya is the pleasant: the path of preya is the path of pleasure that lures us but leads to our degradation. As a Danish proverb has it: “After pleasant scratching comes unpleasant smarting.” Shreya is the good: the path of shreya may, at first, be difficult to tread but ultimately leads to our betterment and well-being and spiritual unfoldment. At every step man is given this choice. Many of us, alas, choose the easy path, -the path of pleasure, - and so keep on multiplying undesirable karma.

Question: If all that happens today is the result of our past karmas, does it mean that everything is pre-destined?

Answer: No, certainly not! We are the architects of our own destiny. We are the builders of our future. Many of us blame fate, kismet for our misfortune. But let me tell you, dear friends, that you are the builders of your own fate. Therefore, be careful especially of your thoughts. We pay scant attention to our thoughts, believing that they are of no consequence. We say, after all, it was only a thought, what does it matter? Every thought is a seed you are sowing in the field of life, and what you sow today, you will have to reap tomorrow.

God has created a universe of beauty, fullness, happiness and harmony. Each one of us is a child of God. God wishes each one of us to be happy, healthy, prosperous, successful and to enjoy all the good things He has created. We keep ourselves away from all those bounties because of our karma. Change your karma and you will change the conditions in which you live. And you can change your karma by adopting a new pattern of thinking.

Question: Can karmas be wiped off by japa?

Answer: It is believed that the effects of karma can be mitigated through nama japa. In any case, the suffering can be reduced, because nama japa acts as a sort of chloroform. It is like going through an operation. The surgeon puts you under anesthesia and you come out of the operation without feeling the acute pain. Else the pain is so excruciating, that a person could die of it. This is what Nama Japa does to you.

Question: Can saints take over the karma of their disciples?

Answer: They can. However, normally, they do not wish to interfere with the law of karma. For they know that the law of karma is not punitive but reformative. The law of karma does not wish to punish us for what we may have done in the past. The law of karma wishes to reform us and so sends us experiences which may help on our spiritual advancement. It is true there have been cases when men of God have taken the karmas of their devotees upon themselves. It is like having birds released from their cages. A man may purchase the birds and set them free. Likewise, a man who is rich in the wealth of the Spirit may, if he so desires, pay for our karma and released us from the cage of maya.

(Author: Sri J. P. Vaswani)