Varalakshmi Vratham -- A Women's Prayer

Varalakshmi Vratham -- A Women's Prayer

 

Let Godess Varalakshmi shower blessings on you and your family on this auspicious day. We wish you Happy Varalakshmi Vratham and we pray to God Lakshmi for your prosperous life. May you find all the delights of life, May your all dreams come true. Padmaasane Padmakare sarva lokaika poojithe Narayana Priyadevi supreethaa Bhava sarvada.

 

 The Hindu festival Varalakshmi Vratam is celebrated on second Friday of Sravanamasam that is, in the month of July – August. It is a festival to propitiate the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, one of the Hindu trinity. Varalakshmi is one who grants boons (varam).

 

It is said that Lakshmi will enter the house of anyone who thinks of her and bless them. There are many festivals in the year dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Among them, Varalakshmi Vratham is considered very auspicious because it is marked by strict observance of certain practices and austerities. It is also called Varalakshmi Nomu. It is more significant for newly married woman. On this special day, they clean the place tidy and there they place a wooden plank. On that they place rice with turmeric, on top of it they place Kalasam(representing the deity). Lakshmi being consort of Vishnu loves Allamkarana, so decorating her with as many flowers is part of puja.

 

History of Varalakshmi Vratam 

In the kingdom of Magadha of Yore, there lived a Brahmin woman named Charumathi in a town named Kundina. The prosperous town was the home of Charumathi and her husband. Impressed by her devotion to her family, Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in her dream and asked her to worship Varalakshmi(Vara= boon, lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) and seek to fulfill her wishes. Varalakshmi is yet another form of Lord Vishnu's consort. When Charumathi explained her dream to her family, she found them encouraging her to perform the pooja. Many other women of the village joined her in performing the pooja in a traditional way and offered many sweet dishes to the Goddess Varalakshmi. they prayed with deep devotion.

 

"Padmaasane Padmakare sarva lokaika poojithe Narayana priyadevi supreethaa bhava sarvada"

On this occasion women worship Goddess Lakshmi with utmost devotion offering sweets and flowers, usually a kalasam (representing the deity) will be decorated with a saree, flowers and gold jewelry with offerings placed in front.

 

The name Vishnu really means pervading everywhere, and Lakshmi, his consort, is symbolical of the forces found everywhere. Eight forces or energies are recognized and they are known as Sri (Wealth), Bhu (Earth), Sarasvati (Learning), Priti (Love), Kirti (Fame), Santi (Peace), Tushti (Pleasure) and Pushti (Strength). Each one of these forces is called a Lakshmi and all the eight forces are called the Ashta Lakshmis or the eight Lakshmis of the Hindus. As health, wealth and prosperity depend upon the rythmic play of these forces, the worship of Lakshmi is said to be to obtain these three. Hence this festival is observed, invoking the blessings of Lakshmi.

 

Blessed Devotee who Experienced Baba’s Miracle before 1918

Blessed Devotee who Experienced Baba's Miracle before 1918

Baba heals illness to robust health 

Ganeshji Mahajan of Sawantwadi worked as a clerk at Khatau Mahajan Mills, Bombay. He earned a meagre salary of Rs.15/- per month. To add to this, he frequently fell ill with some malady or the other. His mother worried greatly and fervently hoped that her son would go to Shirdi and gain good health. Ganesh too wished likewise. But, he felt that he couldn't afford the trip. 

Once, the water pump in Shirdi required urgent repair. So, his mill manager, R.A.Tarkhad decided to send an engineer to Shirdi. The engineer seized the opportunity and decided to take his family with him. Mrs. Tarkhad, on hearing that the family was going, decided that she would accompany them. 

Tarkhad booked seats and made arrangements for both the families to go to Shirdi. Ganesh knew all this. So, on the date of departure, he came to V.T. station to see them off. He also brought some fruits, flowers and prasad to be offered to Baba. The families were comfortably seated, and there were just a few minutes for the train to depart. When Tarkhad asked Ganesh whether he would like to come, as one of the family members could not make it and there was a spare ticket. Ganesh couldn't believe his ears. He jumped into the compartment saying, "Yes! Yes! Of course I'll come!" Then he sent word to his mother about the wonderful news, at long last, his chance to go to Shirdi. His delight knew no bounds and he thanked his manager and Baba for making all the arrangements for the pilgrimage. 

He reached Shirdi, took Baba's Darshan. From that time, the illnesses took to their heels and he was in robust health.

  

Leela- 59 in Ambrosia in Shirdi - Part-I

(Baba's Leelas before 1918)

 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIRACLE AND PROPHECY

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIRACLE AND PROPHECY

 

 

Baba (to N G Chandorkar): None cares to take from me what I am prepared to give abundantly. But they want from me what I am unable to give.

 

Baba once told to N G Chandorkar about Chamatkars, something very interesting. It was about 1901-04. N G Chandorkar's daughter Minatai, at delivery had been helped by Baba with Udhi sent through Gosavi. That child however died very young. She was also widowed at that very early age and had no other issue. This cast a gloom over all the family. N G Chandorkar and family went to Shirdi and sat before Baba glum in sullen silence. Usually whenever he went, Baba would question and he would talk and all would be cheerful. Now on this occasion there was a sad sullen beginning. This continued for some minute. Then Baba broke the ice.

 

Baba: Why are you so silent?

 

N G Chandorkar: Baba, you know everything. While we are under your care, these calamities have befallen us; bereaved of child and son-in-law etc.

 

Baba: If you care for child (or son-in-law) and come to me for that, you are mistaken. You need not come to me for these. These are not in my power. These (i.e., birth of child and death of relatives) are dependent on poorva karma. Even Parameswar, the great God who has created the world cannot alter these. Do you think he can tell the sun or the moon, "Rise some two yards farther from your usual or appointed place." No, he cannot and will not do that. That would produce disorder, chaos.

 

N G Chandorkar: If that is so, how is it that you tell someone, "You will have a son" and he gets a son and you tell another "You will get appointment" and he gets an appointment. Are these not Chamatkars of yours?

 

Baba: No, Nana. I do not do any chamatkars. You have astrologers. They work 2 or 3 days ahead and give out their predictions, some of which come true. I look further ahead. What I say happens. My art also is a sort of Astrology. But you people do not understand this. To you, my words look like chamatkars, because you do not know the future. So you regard events as proof of my miracle working power and you turn your reverence on to me. I, in my turn, turn your reverence on to God and see that you are really benefitted.

 

 

(Baba's Charters and Sayings, No. 371)

 

 

Guruvaar Prarthna

Guruvaar Prarthna

 

 

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy Day of Guruvaar. Baba, always we conclude our Satcharita reading 'Peace be to all' as peace plays critical role in our life. With your nava-vidha bakthi, we are trying to attain stability and peace in our life. Without your grace, none of our efforts will be successful. Please extend your helping hands to rescue us from this sinking ship on this samsar sagar and help us to attain nava-vitha bakthi , one by one, right from this moment. Baba, on this holy day we start our prayers by reading your divine words in Shri Sai Samartha Satcharita.

 

 

The elucidation of the reality of the Atman is the subject of all Upanishads. This is in itself salvation, without anydoubt. This is the precept of the Gita also.

 

The beings are different but the Atman is one. The Atman is incapable of enjoyment and also action. It is not impure and is not bound by sins or merit of good deeds.

 

'I am a high-bred Brahmin by caste, and all others are low caste.' Till such conviction of discrimination exists, there are necessarily the bonds of Karma.

 

'I am formless and everywhere. There is nobody besides me. I am in all creation' – is the expression of a self-realised man.

 

Man has fallen from the highest state of Brahman-hood. His definite determination should be to retrieve that lost position again, somehow, in some way.

 

The shrutis, smritis and the Vedant philosophy also propagate this. This is surely the ultimate aim that the fallen may be lifted back to his original state.

 

'God resides in every being' – till such time that this consciousness is not attained, enlightenment cannot be granted even by Lord Hrishikesh10 himself.

 

By performance of one's duties, the mind will be purified. The concept of the oneness of the Atman will be clear; and this knowledge will protect, like a shield, against the dualities of passion and miseries of the material world.

 

That Almighty God, who envelops all the three worlds, along with the organic and the inorganic beings is Inactive, Blemishless, Beyond the Material Nature, Formless.

 

God pervades the world of names and forms, from inside and outside. I alone am that all-pervading Spirit, devoid of any particular shape.

 

That which in reality is without a form appears to possess a form because of illusion. For a covetous person only this material world exists; but the very same world is meaningless for a non-attached person.

 

This ordinary material world of beings, movable and immovable objects, should not be taken into account at all. You should have full faith in God, who is the Supreme One.

 

If you cannot comprehend this concept about this world and its nature, then at least try and give up the passion for accumulation of wealth and gold etc.

 

Even if this is impossible to practice, then remember that you only have a right to action. Perform duties as long as you live, even if it be for a hundred years.

 

That should be practiced always in accordance with the doctrines prescribed, by the scriptures, for example agnihotra etc. in the proper fashion, as per the caste and creed to which a person belongs, till the intellect becomes pure.

 

This is one way of inner-purification. The other is renunciation. But without practicing either, only mundane knowledge will be collected and one will have to undergo all suffering as destined, which will chain you forever to the cycle of life and death.

 

This Knowledge of Self-realisation and the Upanishads was not imparted unless the worth of the person is realised. The doctrines of the Upanishad remain only superficial till the sense of oneness is not developed within.

 

 

I bow down to Sree Ganesh

I bow down to Sree Saraswati

I bow down to the Guru

I bow down to the Family Deity

I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra

I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.

 

Sarveshaam Svaastir Bhavatu

Sarveshaam Shaantir Bhavatu

Sarveshaam Poornam Bhavatu

Sarveshaam Mangalam Bhavatu

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanteeh

 

 

 

-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter  20, Ovi 108 - 124)

http://babaprayers.blogspot.in/

 

 

 

The Meaning of Sai Nama Japa

The Meaning of Sai Nama Japa

"Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai"

Many devotees do "Nama Japa" without knowing the meaning of that Nama (Name). But, if we know the exact meaning of that Name and do Japa of that Nama it will be easy and smooth to concentrate on it and attain salvation (self-realization).

Sri Ramana Maharishi says, "If you do Nama Japa constantly of your Ishta Devata (Beloved God/Guru), you become yourself that Nama Japa, i.e., you merge in that Nama (God)."

Let us now know the meaning of the Taraka Mantra "Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai" and chant the same constantly to finally merge with Him.

OM: means, God is creator, protector and destroyer. For ordinary mortals "destroy" means death, but for God's/Guru's ardent devotees, it is Sadgati, liberation from the body. Jeevatma merging with Paramatma (Mukti), and there is no birth for them.

SAI: Sa - means Satva guna or good natured. Ayi means mother in Marathi. God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient and Sadguna Sampanna with six attributes, namely, Jnanam (Knowledge), Aiswarya (Wealth), Balam (Power), Shakti (Energy), Veeryam (Potency), and Tejas (Effluence).

SRI SAI: Sri means Goddess of wealth (Lakshmi). SAI means as defined above, so SRI SAI means Lakshmi Narayan.

JAYA JAYA SAI: Jaya means victory. Jaya Jaya Sai means double victory, i. e., great victory of Lord Sai, who is residing (all pervading) in all hearts. The whole world (Universe) is pervaded by God Sai. So, by uttering/chanting Baba's Taraka Mantra, "OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI" the Sai Devotees invoke His (Sai's) Blessings for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the whole world.

 

OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!

Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.